Tuesday Volume 506 23 February 2010 No. 43

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Tuesday 23 February 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] 141 23 FEBRUARY 2010 142

Keynes to good practice elsewhere, to enable it to be House of Commons more effective at recruiting the midwives for whom it does have funding? Tuesday 23 February 2010 Ann Keen: My hon. Friend points out that the funding for the posts exists. In fact, nationally there has been a The House met at half-past Two o’clock 38 per cent. increase in the number of student midwives, so we are hopeful that we will reach our target. However, PRAYERS I would ask her to work with the trust and the Royal College of Midwives, and I would be happy to meet her and explain in more detail our programme of events for [MR.SPEAKER in the Chair] retaining midwives.

Anne Milton (Guildford) (Con): The Minister has not Oral Answers to Questions really explained where the extra 4,000 midwives will come from. The Government’s own projections show that there will be an increase of only 1,000, but a 2009 memorandum on public expenditure states that between HEALTH 2008 and 2012 an extra 1,500 will graduate each year. Yet the same memorandum projects about 1,800 new graduates a year. On my reckoning, that leaves us 3,000 The Secretary of State was asked— short. Perhaps she can explain exactly where those 3,000 will come from. Midwives Ann Keen: I am glad to explain that to the hon. Lady. 1. Mr. Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): What his As mentioned in previous answers, we have been working most recent estimate is of the shortfall in the number of most successfully with the Royal College of Midwives midwives employed in (a) Kettering, (b) Northamptonshire on a recruitment returners project. Actually, we are led and (c) England. [317471] to believe that a 38 per cent. increase in the number of students will deliver the target of an extra 4,000 midwives The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health by 2012, and we are on schedule to achieve that. The (Ann Keen): As of September 2008, there were 143 qualified extra money that has gone into midwifery has proved to midwives at the Kettering general hospital foundation be very successful, and of course we have made maternity trust and 161 qualified midwives at the Northampton services a priority, which is reflected in the latest NHS general hospital NHS trust. It is, of course, the responsibility operating framework. of trusts locally to ensure that appropriate midwifery services are provided. There are more than 25,600 midwives Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton, North) (Lab): Is my in the NHS. Trusts met the Government’s commitment hon. Friend aware that in Northampton there has been to recruit an additional 1,000 midwives a year early and a particular increase in the number of babies born with are on target to recruit 4,000 extra midwives by 2012. special needs and that case conferences are needed because of child protection issues? Will she recognise Mr. Hollobone: There is a shortage of seven midwives that that is putting pressure on maternity services and at Kettering general hospital, which is actually very will she support the primary care trust in looking into good compared with the shortage nationally. However, the reasons for that and in providing the support for the the real problem is the shortage of band 6 midwives—the care needed for those babies with complex needs? more experienced midwives. As a result of the shortage, newly qualified trainees entering the system are not Ann Keen: My hon. Friend asks about neonatal intensive undergoing the preceptorship that they are meant to care and the care of high-dependency babies. In the receive. What will the Minister do to address that problem? latter part of last year, we issued a new toolkit to enable PCTs to manage staff and situations better. Again, this Ann Keen: The hon. Gentleman asks a very important is about retaining staff in a highly stressful area. question. At the same time as recruiting and retaining midwives, we are also looking at how we can retain Reciprocal Health Care Agreement experienced midwives by offering a more flexible approach to work and through working in teams. That is the way forward, and I am pleased to say that the vacancies at 2. Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield) (Con): For Kettering should be filled—I am led to believe that what reasons the reciprocal health care agreement with 12 candidates are now ready to be interviewed for the the Isle of Man is to be ended; and if he will make a remaining six positions. We are also working closely statement. [317472] with the Royal College of Midwives on the preceptorship. The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): Dr. Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes, South-West) (Lab): The Government decided to end their bilateral health Maternity services in Milton Keynes are currently being care agreement with the Isle of Man on 31 March 2010, monitored by the Care Quality Commission following a because it no longer represents value for money. Tourists second damning coroner’s report on a neonatal death in will continue to receive free accident and emergency Milton Keynes. There seems to be a particular problem treatment but will now be expected to have insurance to with recruiting midwives. Can the Minister point Milton cover the cost of further treatment. 143 Oral Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Oral Answers 144

Sir Nicholas Winterton: I am obviously grateful to James Duddridge: How does the Minister reconcile the Secretary of State for that factual response. However, those comments with those of Azara Mukhtar, the clearly he will be aware that the Isle of Man is a Crown deputy director of NHS London, who said at a recent dependency, that the reciprocal health care agreement meeting that has been in place since 1948 and that the Government’s “additional funding was not going to be forthcoming to support decision to end it at the end of next month was an the commitment to offer free healthcare for those participating in arbitrary one without consultation. Has he given any the 2012 Olympics,” thought to the impact on hospitals in the north-west of and that there were therefore serious England, which could be affected by the decision, and “concerns about how to resolve the cost and resource implications to the position, in particular, of elderly people who go without diverting funding from services for Londoners”? in their retirement to the Isle of Man and will be placed in financial difficulty when it comes to their health care? Mr. O’Brien: Fairly easily. The Department of Health has provided NHS London with an extra £1.5 million Andy Burnham: I am aware that we are talking about for this financial year, which it has confirmed meets its a long-standing agreement, but I hope that the hon. current requirements. The Department is also in discussions Gentleman would accept that it relates to a different with NHS London authorities on the provision of further time, when lots of people from the north-west travelled funding, and we are going through some figures that to the Isle of Man for their holidays. The numbers they have provided us with. At the moment they look to travelling now are around half what they were in the be figures for a worst-case scenario, but we want to go ’40s, ’50s and ’60s of the last century, so there is no through the detail and examine what is needed. However, longer any basis for the agreement as it stood. I am sure we are certainly clear that the health needs of Londoners that he would agree that, right now, I have to look at will not be compromised and that the health needs of securing the maximum value for money from every visitors will be met. piece of Government expenditure. However, I hear the Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con): But the concern that has been expressed by those in all parts of figure of £1.5 million that the Minister just cited is well the House, so I will keep the matter under close review, short of the £30 million that is the estimated cost to as I said to the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man when I London of putting on the games. Will the Minister met him on 19 January. publish the information that NHS London has given him, as well as the understanding reached when the Jane Kennedy (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab): Does my games were bid for, about how much they would cost right hon. Friend agree that the success or otherwise of Londoners through the NHS? the reciprocal health care agreement with the Isle of Man has depended on the excellence of the hospital Mr. O’Brien: First, the figure that the hon. Gentleman care available, particularly in Liverpool? Will he undertake gave is contrary to some of the figures that have been to do everything in his power to advance the building circulated recently, which have actually been larger. projects at the Royal Liverpool University hospital and NHS London has put forward a figure of £41 million, Alder Hey in particular, as there is some anxiety about as a cost spread over four years. That is based on whether we will see decisions on either in the near planning assumptions that appear to be based on a future? worst-case scenario, and were made last summer. We know that there is a good deal more planning work to Andy Burnham: I am certainly aware of the long do, to ensure that we estimate the cost much more historical ties between the Isle of Man and Merseyside, carefully and get the figures right, and that we must given my roots. I also congratulate my right hon. Friend work with NHS London so that our health care needs on the ingenuity of her question, in mentioning the are delivered. Royal Liverpool. There is a flow of patients from the Isle of Man to this country and vice versa, and we hope Intermediate Care that that will continue. The Royal Liverpool is a crucial project of great significance for health care and the 4. Mr. Oliver Heald (North-East Hertfordshire) (Con): economy in Merseyside and the north-west. I would like What his most recent assessment is of the adequacy of to make progress on it shortly, but I am not in a position provision of intermediate care in (a) north-east to make an announcement today. Hertfordshire and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [317474] NHS London (2012 Olympics) The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil Hope): In 2009, as part of the prevention package for 3. James Duddridge (Rochford and Southend, East) older people, the Department issued revised intermediate (Con): What discussions he has had with the Minister care guidance, entitled “Halfway Home”, which strengthens for the Olympics on the preparedness of NHS London the original 2001 guidance. It is for local NHS and for the London 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a social care commissioners to determine the range of statement. [317473] services needed to avoid unnecessary hospital admission, help with timely discharge and prevent premature admission The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. Mike to long-term residential care. O’Brien): The Department of Health has been working jointly with NHS London, the London Organising Mr. Heald: I thank the Minister for his reply, but can Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic it be right for the PCT review in north-east Hertfordshire, Games—LOCOG, as I understand it is known—and where we have relatively few intermediate care beds and the Government Olympic Executive to ensure that the where home services are relatively undeveloped, to be NHS will be fully prepared for the 2012 games. looking at possibly removing places from Royston 145 Oral Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Oral Answers 146 hospital—that is, care bed places that are used currently— Gillian Merron: I understand very well the points that and if so, what is the future for all the people using the hon. Gentleman makes. Indeed, the case to which those facilities? he referred is deeply tragic. I accept that products can be damaging, which is why we are keen to take action. Phil Hope: I understand that a review of intermediate The importance of the consultation is obvious to me. It care is being carried out by the hon. Gentleman’s primary asks whether we should regulate and, if so, how. I am care trust and the county council. The Friends of Royston sure that he will join me in paying tribute to Professor hospital and local councillors have been invited to a Mike Pitillo—who, sadly, died recently—for the major workshop in March, and the PCT will, subject to various contribution that he has made to this important area of approvals, begin formal engagement with stakeholders work. about the future of intermediate care in May or June this year. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will take every Alan Simpson (Nottingham, South) (Lab): I congratulate opportunity, as one of the local Members of Parliament, the officials in the Department on their work on this to make a contribution and give his support to the matter, but does not the Susan Wu case add a sense of development of more intermediate care. He might be urgency to the need for us to grasp the nettle in regard interested to know that the number of beds has doubled to regulation in a sector in which the practitioners over the past 10 years, and that three times as many themselves are pushing for a regulatory framework to people are now benefiting from intermediate care. I set standards within which they can operate securely? hope that that is also true of his own area. Gillian Merron: I understand the sense of urgency that my hon. Friend conveys, but regulation needs to be Mr. Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester) (Lab): It sounds as balanced and proportionate, which is why the consultation though some of the changes to the hospital trust in is so important. We have to look at public safety, choice north-east Hertfordshire are similar to those taking and access, but we also need to consider whether regulation place at the Gloucester Royal hospital in my constituency, is justified, and, if so, what type. We will make a where four hospital wards are to be closed by 1 April, decision as quickly as possible, as soon as the analysis according to the chief executive of the hospital trust. has been received. This significant change is happening without any prior consultation with MPs or those in the local health National Autism Strategy community agencies. Will my hon. Friend urge the local hospital trust and its chief executive to consult before 6. Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab/Co-op): What making such major changes? progress is being made on preparation of the national autism strategy. [317476] Phil Hope: Of course it is very important that local The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil people—not least my hon. Friend, as the local Member Hope): We have held a wide-ranging consultation to of Parliament—have a chance to make their voices develop the national strategy for adults with autism, heard in regard to such changes. I urge all primary care which has included contributions from an external reference trusts and local authorities to look at the guidance that group, adults with autism, service users, family members, we have issued on intermediate care. It talks about more staff and many third sector organisations. We have flexibility in relation to the length of time people can received more than 1,000 responses, and the work is get such care, as well as the need to ensure that people progressing well. I am pleased to say that the strategy with dementia can have access to it, and the need to will be published in the first week of March 2010—that include reablement services, which are a critical part of is, in just a few weeks’ time. the success of intermediate care. I hope that those messages will go out not only to my hon. Friend’s Meg Munn: I welcome my hon. Friend’s answer, and hospital but to every hospital across the country. the fact that the strategy will be published shortly. Will it specifically encourage the development of local specialist Complementary Medicine teams such as the Sheffield Asperger’s syndrome service, which is doing excellent work in diagnosis and the 5. David Tredinnick (Bosworth) (Con): What recent provision of support? He will be aware that the National representations he has received on the regulation of Audit Office has identified such local specialist teams as providing particular value for money. herbal medicine and acupuncture. [317475] Phil Hope: My hon. Friend is right to emphasise the The Minister of State, Department of Health (Gillian value of specialist teams such as the one that she Merron): We received more than 6,000 responses to the described. The strategy for adults with autism will consultation on the regulation of acupuncture, herbal include services for those with Asperger’s. It will cover medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. Ministers adults across the complete spectrum, as we discussed at will receive a report on the analysis next month. the reception that you hosted recently, Mr. Speaker, at which many Members were present. I cannot pre-empt David Tredinnick: I am grateful to the hon. Lady; I what the strategy will say when we publish it, but we understand that she has put in quite a lot of work on have heard many strong arguments for specialist teams, this. Given the rejection of the Booth case, which related particularly in relation to diagnosis. There is not just to mis-prescribing, at the Old Bailey last week, is it not one model—my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, important to bring in this time frame? Secondly, is it not Heeley (Meg Munn) cited one in Sheffield, but there are a fact that, in this time of economic difficulty, many others around the country. I would certainly like to Chinese practitioners are desperately seeking statutory encourage those developments, while also enabling local regulation to give them a stamp of authority? flexibility so that variations can suit local circumstances. 147 Oral Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Oral Answers 148

Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con): Can to go through key features of the strategy. The external the Minister confirm that the strategy will incorporate reference group saw the early draft of the strategy, but it all the recommendations of the National Audit Office has changed quite significantly since then, taking on report on autism, as promised to the Public Accounts board many of its concerns. Frustratingly, I repeat that Committee by the Minister’s Department and the I cannot say any more about it at this stage, as we will Department for Work and Pensions? publish the strategy in a few days’ time. I am absolutely convinced, however, that the external reference group Phil Hope: The hon. Lady, along with many other and Members across the Chamber will be pleased at the Members, played a crucial role in helping to develop the progress we are making in what amounts to a landmark Autism Bill and the autism strategy, so I would like to strategy for this country. place on record my thanks to her and other hon. Members. I know that the hon. Member for Chesham NHS Hospital Trusts (Deficits) and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) is not in her place, but she was also critical to that process. 7. Alistair Burt (North-East Bedfordshire) (Con): We have had a number of discussions about the How many NHS hospital trusts in the east of England content of the strategy. The hon. Lady will have to wait have reported an anticipated deficit at the end of until it comes out before I can say what it is, but we have financial year 2009-10. [317477] certainly been mindful and supportive of many of the NAO recommendations. The NAO was helpful in highlighting areas to be included in the strategy. If the The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. Mike hon. Lady can wait just a few more days, she will see O’Brien): According to the East of England Strategic that we have developed a thoroughgoing response to its Health Authority, no NHS hospital trusts in the region concerns. are currently forecasting a year-end deficit for 2009-10. The overall forecast surplus for the East of England SHA remains at £167 million, but one primary care Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab): A number of trust—the Peterborough PCT—is forecasting a year-end representations have been made to me by the support deficit. group in Halton and by parents of autistic children about whether the tribunals that hear the appeals on special needs and the education provision for their Alistair Burt: It is about this time of year in previous children are knowledgeable enough about the needs of years that PCTs in financial difficulties have tended to children with autism. Within the strategy, will it look to go to their local hospitals to say that they have been ensure that the people who sit on those tribunals have overpaid or that there has been over-performance; they the knowledge and background to be able to take fair demand money back, thus precipitating a sudden and equitable decisions? unexpected deficit or financial crisis. Can the Minister assure me that no PCT or hospital trust in the east of Phil Hope: I just want to emphasise that the strategy England is involved in that sort of negotiation and that is one for adults with autism, although I appreciate that by the end of the year there will be no such sudden my hon. Friend’s question was about the needs of unexpected financial problems? children, statements made to the tribunals and so forth. However, the strategy will address issues connected Mr. O’Brien: I understand that East of England SHA with transition, when young people move from childhood supports Bedford Hospital NHS Trust and Bedfordshire into adulthood. My hon. Friend raises a key general PCT by providing mediation on a number of issues issue—the training and awareness of professionals whether affecting the contract between the two parties. The most it is those sitting on tribunals, GPs or others in the significant mediation in respect of payment for out-patient system. We are very aware of that, so a key part of the services concerned a payment of £2.5 million to the strategy for adults with autism will be to raise general trust. Such issues do arise, but they are usually resolved awareness, so that their needs are not overlooked in the by mediation. years to come. Mr. Kevin Barron (Rother Valley) (Lab): That is a Sandra Gidley (Romsey) (LD): The consultation great improvement. When the Health Committee produced document set out five main themes, but I understand a report on NHS deficits in 2006, the east of England that the draft strategy deals only with two of them and was one of the four areas in the greatest difficulty, but repeatedly refers to existing workstreams that could be the money that the Government have put into the broadened—an approach that has failed before. The national health service has made it possible to smooth external reference group, which was disbanded in January, out the problems in the area. responded collectively, raising concerns about that approach, so why did the Government refuse to engage with that Mr. O’Brien: As Chairman of the Select Committee important group of stakeholders at such a key stage in on Health, my right hon. Friend knows a great deal the process? about this subject. There has indeed been an impressive turnaround in financial performance in recent years, Phil Hope: Chair, we—[HON.MEMBERS: “Chair?”] I culminating in the achievement of a £40 million total apologise profusely, Mr. Speaker, forgive me. surplus by acute NHS trusts in the east of England in The autism strategy, Mr. Speaker, has been developed 2008-09. The fact that the present Government have in what I see as a co-production; we have worked jointly invested extra money, rather than cutting money like with a range of organisations, including the external the last Conservative Government, shows that we are reference group. I recently met the chair of that group delivering where they failed to deliver. 149 Oral Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Oral Answers 150

Norman Lamb (North Norfolk) (LD): Given increasing John Hemming: There were a number of odd concern about the potential for deficits in hospital developments during the swine flu pandemic—not least trusts and PCTs in the east of England and elsewhere, the fact that very little effort was put into stopping what reassurance can the Minister give about the people coming into the country with swine flu, and the Government’s commitment to implementation of the fact that people who had it were prevented from leaving. national programme of screening for abdominal aortic Is the Secretary of State willing to place in the Library aneurysms, which have killed 30,000 men since 2002? I the advice received by the Department that justified have been told by a vascular surgeon that the financial their decisions on swine flu, in connection with the situation in Norfolk has effectively blocked the introduction vaccine in particular but in connection with other issues of a screening programme there, and that similar as well? circumstances exist elsewhere. Delay will kill more men. What commitment will the Government give to ensuring Andy Burnham: I will publish all the advice in due that screening takes place for men over the age of 65? course so that the hon. Gentleman can see why those decisions were made. However, I ask him to cast his Mr. O’Brien: That is a good question. We want to mind back to last summer in Birmingham, when there ensure that we deal with screening issues as effectively was a considerable increase in the number of cases over as possible. The chief medical officer has been considering a very short period. That was a difficult situation. He some of the issues, and I shall have a word with him and must also not forget that there have been 309 deaths report to the hon. Gentleman on his conclusions. from swine flu in England, and that there are still people suffering from it in hospital today. Upper Gastro-Intestinal Services I believe that we took the right action. We made preparations, and we got the country through safely. We 8. Mr. Hugo Swire (East Devon) (Con): What recent minimised the amount of disease and suffering as best assessment he has made of the adequacy of the we could. We will now learn the lessons of the decisions provision of upper gastro-intestinal services in Devon; that were made, but I believe that we made the right and if he will make a statement. [317478] decisions at the right time.

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. Mike Mr. Brian Jenkins (Tamworth) (Lab): Does my right O’Brien): In line with the national improving outcomes hon. Friend agree with many in this House that “You’re guidance, upper gastro-intestinal cancer surgery was damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t,” moved from Royal Devon and Exeter and Royal Cornwall and that we must always err on the side of the safety-first hospitals and centralised at Plymouth’s Derriford hospital approach of making sure we have sufficient vaccine, if on 1 January 2010. All pre and post-operative care for we can possibly procure it, for our citizens to keep them patients will continue to be provided locally. safe?

Mr. Swire: That is as may be, but a constituent of Andy Burnham: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for mine says that having volunteered for a trial of a his question. Many people are being very wise after the procedure intended to prevent post-operative complications event, but last April the situation appeared to everybody when he was at Royal Devon and Exeter hospital in to be very different; we had a new virus spreading on a October 2009, before the move, he has been told that as worldwide basis, and we had little information about a result of the move the trial has been cancelled. Can it—about how quickly it would spread and its severity. the Minister clarify the position in regard to research In such circumstances, the only prudent course of action and trials in upper gastro-intestinal surgery since the is to plan with safety first in mind, of course, but I am move? sure that when we reflect on these events, we will realise that there are things we might look at again, and ways Mr. O’Brien: Some consultants who are carrying out we might further improve our pandemic planning in trials involving particular kinds of surgery are reviewing advance of any possible future pandemic. However, I the procedures that they use, and are currently discussing think that, overall, the right decisions were taken, and with colleagues how the operations can best be carried that the NHS coped very well with a difficult situation. out in future. The issues are being examined by the clinicians involved. Mr. Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire) (Con): Can the Secretary of State explain why there was a Swine Influenza Vaccines break clause in the contract with Baxter Healthcare, but there was no equivalent break clause in the contract 9. John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD): How with GlaxoSmithKline? much his Department spent on procurement of swine influenza vaccines in the last 12 months; and how many Andy Burnham: As the hon. Gentleman knows, as units of vaccine have been procured. [317479] part of our planning we had entered into advance purchase agreements so that the UK was able to get The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): swift access to the vaccine in the event of a pandemic. As of Friday, the total amount of swine flu vaccine This was a good part of our preparations, and it put us delivered to the UK from Baxter and GSK is approximately at the very front of the queue internationally for swine 38 million doses. Because contractual negotiations with flu vaccine. At the time, I do not remember anybody GlaxoSmithKline are in progress and because of saying that that was the wrong thing to do. There were commercial confidentiality clauses in the contract, it is different arrangements with Baxter and GSK, which not possible to give a final figure on spend at this stage, then led to different contracts. I am sure the hon. but I will update the House in due course. Gentleman would not expect me to go into all the 151 Oral Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Oral Answers 152 details of those contracts on the Floor of the House, accept vaccination because, although the second wave but I can assure him that at all times we have sought to has ended, there could be a third wave later in the year. get maximum value for money for the public while also For all those reasons, we will proceed with caution. protecting the public. We are still in negotiations with However, when we have concluded the negotiations GSK, and once they are concluded we will be able to with GSK we will set out exactly what we have done, so come back to the hon. Gentleman and give him a full that the House can see the decisions we took and why report. we took them.

Mr. Lansley: I am grateful to the Secretary of State, Overseas Patients (Costs) and, indeed, he knows that we called in this House for the establishment of advance purchase contracts for the 10. Mr. Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): How vaccine and supported the action in implementing that, much money his Department recovered from other EU but we did so on the basis that break clauses would be member states for treatment of their citizens in the UK included in the contracts. The Secretary of State also in the latest period for which figures are available. knows that last summer the question whether there [317480] would be a population-wide vaccination programme should have determined whether we were going to procure The Minister of State, Department of Health (Gillian all the 90 million doses or a smaller amount. With Merron): In 2008-09, the UK received slightly more Baxter, we could put in a break clause; with GSK, we than £33 million from other member states. Given the could not. That is a fundamental difference between nature of the process, payments are frequently made those contracts. Can the Secretary of State explain why several years in arrears, so that figure does not represent there was no such provision in the contract with GSK? the cost of health care, nor claims made in any one year.

Andy Burnham: The hon. Gentleman is right to say Mr. Bone: I thank the Minister for that answer, but it there was a difference between the two contracts. However, is extraordinary: we pay our European Union colleagues the overriding objective that my predecessor had to more than £630 million each year for treatment provided achieve was to secure enough vaccines to cover the to British citizens abroad, yet—I think she said this—we whole population, and that meant having two doses for claim back only about £30 million for treatment provided the population because that was the advice at the time. to EU citizens in this country. Why? The hon. Gentleman must now accept that securing that vaccine was the overriding priority and that a Gillian Merron: The question I answered did not contract had to be put in place to secure vaccines on relate to moneys claimed, and perhaps it would be that scale. Of course there are further discussions to be helpful if I were to explain further. The figures are not had with GSK to ensure maximum value for the taxpayer, directly comparable because, for example, about 171,000 and the hon. Gentleman would expect me to be pursuing pensioners who are UK citizens live in Spain, France those discussions, and we are. However, the first priority and Ireland—it is right that we are responsible for their was to get enough vaccine to cover the whole population, health care—whereas only 5,000 registered pensioners and, of course, any commercial company needs sufficient from member countries live in the UK. I can assure the security if they are to sign a contract of that kind. hon. Gentleman that the average payment per UK citizen who lives abroad is about £3,225 whereas the Mr. Lansley: The Secretary of State has still not amount we claim per citizen from other member states explained why what was okay with Baxter Healthcare is about £3,369. for 30 million doses was not okay with GSK for 60 million doses. Ministers have today announced in a written Mr. Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): Is it not a ministerial statement that they are transferring £200 million fact that many more British citizens live in EU member from the Department of Health’s capital budget to its states than Europeans live here, and that they tend to be revenue budget to meet the costs of the commitment on older and not at work, whereas the younger European pandemic flu, of which the procurement of this vaccine citizens are working here? Thus, it ill behoves the will be a major part. The Secretary of State says he has Conservative party, despite its loathing for Europe, to 38 million doses; we have used 5 million. What will be bring this up with a xenophobic tone such as we have the total cost of the procurement of these vaccines, and heard from those on the Conservative Benches. what capital projects will be cut back now in the NHS to pay for that? Gillian Merron: It is true that we have responsibility for about 220,000 UK citizens who choose to live in Andy Burnham: May I gently caution the hon. Gentleman other EU member states. The House might be interested about being wise after the event? In proceeding on this, to learn that from May new EU regulations will come we communicated with him at all times. We explained into force that will speed up the reimbursement and the actions we were taking, and we took those actions in claims process. That will be of benefit to all member good faith at all times. May I also remind him that states. although we have secured a surplus, the H1N1 strain is likely to replace seasonal flu as the main strain this Mark Simmonds (Boston and Skegness) (Con): I year? must press the Minister further on her response to my We will continue to have a need for this vaccine, so we hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone). will announce in due course the arrangements that we Despite considerable immigration into the UK in the are putting in place to ensure that we have sufficient past decade or so and according to Government figures, stock. He will know that the chief medical officer’s the amount that the UK is claiming against EU member advice to the at-risk groups is that they continue to states is less than 10 per cent. of the net UK payment to 153 Oral Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Oral Answers 154 member states. Is she confident that these figures are The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): comprehensive and complete? Could she explain why NHS continuing health care may be available to help the Government are failing to reclaim 20 per cent. of people to continue to live in their own home if they are the taxpayer’s money owed by these countries? assessed as having a primary health care need. Going forward, providing more care in the patient’s home can Gillian Merron: There is no failure to claim. improve convenience, quality and value for money—for [Interruption.] Because I am not that well qualified as instance in areas such as renal dialysis—and there are an accountancy adviser. more savings to be made from closer integration of Accounts are resource based, and if we look at those health and social care. accounts—they are being referred to—we find that they do include money or claims yet to be received. I hope Mr. Sharma: I thank the Secretary of State for his that the House will also be interested to learn that we reply. Enabling people to continue living in their own have recently negotiated a deal with the Irish Government homes when they need care is a crucial part of developing to reduce the UK liability by some ¤87 million over a national care service. Does the Secretary of State three years, and we will be reviewing our agreement in agree that to create a national care service will require a order to provide further savings. I hope that the House consensual and non-party political approach, which the will welcome that progress. Opposition seem unable to comprehend? Maternity Services Andy Burnham: I said when we published the Green Paper last year that I was seeking broad consensus on 11. Angela Watkinson (Upminster) (Con): What this issue and that remains my objective. It is one of the recent assessment he has made of the capacity of local biggest issues that we face as a society, and I think that hospitals in (a) Havering and (b) England to meet the the country is looking to politicians to work constructively demand for maternity services. [317481] towards a durable solution. Before we leap to criticise each other, we need to focus on the fact that there are The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health people today in all our constituencies paying the cruellest (Ann Keen): It is the responsibility of the local NHS to taxes of all—the costs of care that mean that the more improve access to safe services and to improve outcomes vulnerable people are, the more they pay. A national for mothers and babies. In 2008, the Healthcare care service will create a national entitlement and end Commission published “Towards better births: A review the local lottery in which councils set different rules. of maternity services in England”, which assessed the The principle of a national care service has been widely quality, capability and efficiency of maternity services welcomed, and I call on all sides to help us to make it a in England. reality.

Angela Watkinson: Queen’s hospital in Havering caters Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York) (Con): The Secretary for 7,000 births a year, with the overflow going to King of State will be aware that North Yorkshire is going George hospital in Goodmayes. NHS London is proposing down the path of allowing people to remain in their to close the maternity service at King George and own homes. What does he say to GPs who will say to transfer another 3,000 births a year to Queen’s in Havering. the Department that in rural areas such as North Yorkshire Does the Minister share my concern that when Havering it is very difficult for carers to visit and deliver care to as is over capacity, which it undoubtedly will be, new many homes as they might in urban areas? That is a mothers will have to travel much further afield? Should great challenge that we face in delivering personal care the maternity service at King George not be retained in people’s own homes. and kept open? Andy Burnham: I certainly agree and the hon. Lady Ann Keen: I thank the hon. Lady for the way she makes an important point. The different geography and asked her question. She will of course be aware that the demography of local communities mean that home care birth rate in north-east London is higher than that in will be more suitable in some areas than in others. the rest of the country and is expected to continue to However, in an area such as North Yorkshire, I think rise over the next few years. That will put increasing that telecare will have an important part to play in pressure on maternity and newborn care services. I ensuring that people can be monitored daily without know that the aspect of service at King George that their having to travel to a clinic or hospital. There is was mentioned is being clinically considered at the great potential in this field, although of course it must moment. That is all that will happen—it is way before be a local decision. It must not be imposed on people any consultation process will even commence. Barking but, where people want it, it can be convenient for the will open this summer, and that will also make a difference. public and can provide value for money for the taxpayer. I am fully aware that the clinical needs and safety of mothers and babies at all times must be taken into Information Services (Sight Impairment) account. 13. Miss Anne Begg (Aberdeen, South) (Lab): What Health Care Costs steps his Department is taking to provide information in a form accessible to blind, partially sighted and 12. Mr. Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab): print-disabled people. [317483] What steps his Department is taking to support people who require assistance with the cost of health care to The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil enable them to continue living in their own home. Hope): The Department of Health takes its responsibilities [317482] under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 seriously, 155 Oral Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Oral Answers 156 including helping people to access printed material. All referral pathway. From 1 April this year, there will be a Department of Health publications are published on new right in the NHS constitution for patients to be our official website in the most accessible electronic seen by a cancer specialist within two weeks of urgent format available with technology that can, for example, GP referral. read aloud what is written. We also make publications available on request in Braille, audio, large print and Topical Questions other formats. T1. [317496] Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead) Miss Begg: The DDA notwithstanding, it is still (Lab): If he will make a statement on his departmental difficult for individuals to access their health information responsibilities. via accessible formats, and it is not always working on the ground. Does the Minister accept that health The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): information can be very sensitive and that it is wrong Today the Government are launching their consultation that people who are sight impaired should have to on a strategy for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary depend on relatives, and sometimes strangers, to help disease, which is the UK’s fifth largest killer. The strategy them to access that information? seeks to improve diagnosis and treatment of the condition, which affects more than 3.2 million people in England. Phil Hope: I totally agree. It is wrong for the NHS not Tomorrow we will publish the independent inquiry by to provide information in alternative or accessible formats Robert Francis, QC, into failures at the Mid Staffordshire for people who are blind or partially sighted. My hon. NHS Foundation Trust. On Thursday, we will hold the Friend will be pleased to know that the Department has first dignity action day. issued guidance to every GP practice, primary care trust and strategic health authority to support service Harry Cohen: I welcome the strategy on COPD, but improvements. It will include guidance on improving let me return to cancer. The Secretary of State will be the experiences of people with sight loss in receiving aware that the incidence of cancers is higher than health care and advice. average in parts of north-east London such as my constituency. That is the case for prostate and bowel Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): Will the Minister cancers. What significant plans do the Government consider the merits of transferring the money that is have to improve early detection, treatment and care for currently spent on translating documents into foreign those who are most affected? languages to ensuring that more documents are translated into and are available in Braille? He will know that Andy Burnham: Waltham Forest was one of the early people can learn English, but that people who have no adopters of the Government’s bowel cancer screening sight cannot just see instantaneously. programme, ahead of national implementation. We take these matters incredibly seriously, and, as my hon. Phil Hope: I understand the hon. Gentleman’s point. Friend will know, we have extended the bowel cancer It is a challenge for all health care providers to ensure screening programme to men and women aged between that such service users can access and use services by 70 and 75. gaining access to written material. That is a matter for local decision making, but I hope that local providers When we came to government, we set ourselves the will consider the needs of local populations and ensure objective of reducing deaths from cancer among under-75s that people from all communities can access the information by 20 per cent. The latest report from the national that they need in a format that is suitable for them. cancer director says that we are well on the way to meeting that target, as the figures have come down by Cancer Operations 19.3 per cent. We hope that we can make further progress, and my hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that this 14. Ms Angela C. Smith (Sheffield, Hillsborough) issue is a top priority for the Department and the (Lab): What the average waiting time was for operations Government. Going forward, we will have a one-week for cancer in the latest period for which figures are entitlement to tests for suspected cancers, because we available. [317484] believe that early diagnosis is absolutely fundamental to cutting premature deaths from cancer. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ann Keen): In the latest period for which statistics are Several hon. Members rose— available, 98 per cent. of patients started their first treatment within 31 days of being given a cancer diagnosis. Mr. Speaker: Order. May I remind the House that Some of those patients will have benefited from the during topical questions, quick-fire questions and answers two-week wait, the 62-day standard and the new waiting are required to enable me to maximise the number of time commitments in the cancer reform strategy. people who can participate?

Ms Smith: I thank my hon. Friend for her response. T2. [317497] Paul Rowen (Rochdale)(LD): Primary care Does she agree that it is now critical that the Government trusts in the north-west currently have a year-to-date should proceed to implement the promised guarantee deficit of £15.3 million. Will the Secretary of State tell that patients will see a cancer specialist within two us, or give us a guarantee, that important services to weeks? That is what the country expects and wants. patients will not be sacrificed in trying to reduce those deficits? Ann Keen: I thank my hon. Friend for making that point, because that is of course the case. We have used The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. Mike this year’s operating framework to ask all primary care O’Brien): We have made it very clear that managers trusts to examine GP practice and use of the two-week need to focus on ensuring that they deliver the best 157 Oral Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Oral Answers 158 quality of care. The issue of finance comes second to T3. [317498] Mr. Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): I quality. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that managers am bearing in mind your stricture, Mr. Speaker. Will have been given that very clear guidance. the Secretary of State rule out a death tax? A simple yes or no will do. T5. [317500] Mr. Eric Illsley (Barnsley, Central) (Lab): Last year, a constituent of mine paid £4,000 for a Andy Burnham: We published a Green Paper and are private operation that she required to save her sight. A looking at all the options for building a lasting consensus few months later, the operation was made available on on this issue, which is one of the most important facing the NHS by the National Institute for Health and the country. We would welcome Opposition Members Clinical Excellence. My constituent has obviously lost rejoining the search for a national consensus, rather out. Will the Minister look again at the NICE appraisal than making cheap points at Health questions today. It system, and improve its transparency and speed of is a complicated issue that deserves a considered approach. decision making, to avoid this situation in future? I do not believe that making cheap remarks like that will help. Mr. O’Brien: I agree that transparency is important in all aspects of NICE’s work. Full details of its forward Dr. Howard Stoate (Dartford) (Lab): To ensure that work programme are readily available on its website, GPs maintain their clinical skills, they undergo appraisal wherever possible accompanied by expected publication every year. Starting from next year, of course, that will dates for specific pieces of guidance. NICE consults lead to reaccreditation by the General Medical Council, publicly on each piece of draft guidance before making but unfortunately the NHS appraisals toolkit has gone a recommendation. offline at the critical time in the year when GPs need to get their appraisals sorted out. Will the Minister make a statement to the House on where we are with that Robert Key (Salisbury) (Con): Do Ministers agree website, so GPs can be reassured that their skills will be that the work of the Health Protection Agency Centre tested in the right way and in due time? for Emergency Preparedness and Response at Porton Down is absolutely crucial to the security of our country? Mr. Mike O’Brien: It was found that the toolkit had In view of the work that that extraordinary organisation the potential to be compromised. We therefore took the has done on swine flu and vaccinations, why on earth view that it needed to be examined properly and in are they proposing to move it? Not only does it do effect repaired, to ensure that it cannot be accessed by research into the most dangerous pathogens that might hackers. Work is now ongoing: it is on schedule at the afflict our country, but it puts practical science to work moment, but I will keep GPs and my hon. Friend in making vaccinations against them. Why are Ministers informed about its progress. proposing to move the establishment and its pathogens to Harlow in Essex? T4. [317499] Mr. Hugo Swire (East Devon) (Con): Following a seminar on Lyme disease that I hosted in The Minister of State, Department of Health (Gillian the House in October 2008 and a question that I raised Merron): I can assure the hon. Gentleman that no final in the House in December 2008, the Under-Secretary decision has been taken, and I certainly share his views of State offered to host a meeting about Lyme disease. about the excellent work done by his constituents and I followed that up with three telephone calls to her others at Porton Down. I also understand that he had a office and one letter. Given the fact that there has been very useful meeting to discuss the future there. I know an increase of 90 per cent. in cases of Lyme disease he will understand that the HPA has to look at all since 2006, what kind of message are the Government options to further and develop the very important work trying to send to people suffering from the disease? being done for the future. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Hugh Bayley (City of York) (Lab): Since 2003, the (Ann Keen): I remember the debate and the request. On median waiting time for in-patient treatment at York my return to the Department, I shall enquire what is hospital has fallen from 15 weeks to five. Does the happening. Minister agree that setting targets for waiting times has helped to bring them down and that abandoning the Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle) (Lab): Am I the only targets, as the Conservatives suggest, would cause waits one here to be concerned that primary care trusts are to to increase? lose their role as direct providers of health services?

Andy Burnham: My hon. Friend will know that at the Mr. Mike O’Brien: We want to ensure that primary last election we set a challenge for the NHS to ensure care trusts are the main way that patients ensure they that no patients waited longer than 18 weeks, other than get the services that they deserve. Sometimes it is better those who opted out for clinical reasons or by choice. to ensure that those services are provided by organisations We have made amazing progress towards that goal. The with which the PCT can act at arm’s length to supervise NHS has risen to the challenge and 18 weeks is now the properly and ensure that they are acting on behalf of outside, with many patients being treated, as he says, on the patient and the taxpayer. a much shorter timetable. In my view, removing the target would bring about the return of differential T6. [317501] Mr. James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Con): waiting standards across the country—what the public The Secretary of State has often talked about phasing would describe as postcode prescribing or a postcode out car parking charges at hospitals like the Royal lottery. We will enshrine the right to treatment within United Hospital Bath and the Great Western hospital, 18 weeks in the NHS constitution as a patient guarantee. which serve my constituency. On the face of it, that is 159 Oral Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Oral Answers 160 perfectly welcome. Will he tell us how that will be T8. [317503] Simon Hughes (North Southwark and funded without cutting into front-line medical services, Bermondsey) (LD): If national health service funding is and how that will result in more parking spaces, which meant to be allocated to trusts locally according to is what we need? need, and if wards such as that which I visited in St. Thomas’ hospital at the weekend are clearly overstretched, Andy Burnham: A consultation on our proposals to why was Southwark primary care trust top-sliced? Six change car parking rules in the NHS closed last week. I million pounds was taken back three years ago; it was hope the hon. Gentleman found time to contribute to told that another £8 million of its proper allocation that. The proposal is to phase out charges for in-patients. would have to be taken back in the coming year; and it I believe it is unfair that people should not receive visits was threatened with more money being taken away while they are in hospital from those who cannot afford from what it is told it needs? the charges. The introduction of charges symbolised the NHS moving away from the patient and the public. If Mr. Speaker: Order. I am trying to help hon. and we can come up with a workable and fundable scheme, I right hon. Members, but I need them to help me to help believe it will be widely welcomed by patients and the them—with short questions and short answers. wider public.

Charlotte Atkins (Staffordshire, Moorlands) (Lab): Mr. O’Brien: NHS London is well funded, and we Are my constituents in Biddulph right to be concerned want to ensure that it delivers for patients throughout that, owing to design delays, their Biddulph health London, including those at St. Thomas’ hospital. centre could become the victim of NHS capital funding cuts if the Conservatives were to win the general election? Mr. Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) (Lab): The waiting list on south Tyneside for treatment by an orthodontist is Mr. Mike O’Brien: I am afraid my hon. Friend will more than three years, and 600 people are on the have to have discussions. I understand that the newly waiting list. The wait will be reduced to six months, elected Conservative Staffordshire county council pulled because a new contract is being entered into, but achieving the library out of the project at Biddulph and as a result that will take three years. Will the Minister look into the there have been delays. If a Conservative Government situation and help? were elected, I would be very fearful about the likelihood of any such project getting consent. Ann Keen: I would be very happy to look at that and see what we can do to speed things up. T7. [317502] Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): What are Ministers doing to ensure that money which has been earmarked for PCTs for respite care for carers is getting T9. [317504] Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): Does to carers for respite care? the Minister agree that a good way to control binge drinking is to try to highlight and publicise the amount of The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil kilocalories in a drink? Red wine contains 171 kilocalories, Hope): The hon. Gentleman and others have raised this alcopops 187 kilocalories and a pint of lager 287—more issue. As part of the national carers strategy the Government than the doughnut that I have here, which I just got in have placed more than £150 million in primary care the Tea Room. When will the Minister start to publicise trusts’ budgets to ensure that those primary care trusts those facts? could complement the money that we have given to local councils—some £720 million over the past three Gillian Merron: I thank the hon. Gentleman for years—to provide respite care. The combined funding bringing his snacks into the Chamber. The important to the PCTs and to local councils for respite care is point is what is on labels for alcoholic products, and we some £975 million last year, this year and the next. It is have just launched a consultation on that very matter. a matter for local decision making to assess local needs, There has been huge success in making units better but I hope that the hon. Gentleman and others will ask understood, and I regret the proposal from the hon. their primary care trusts and their local authorities to Gentleman’s party, which is to replace them with something do better in delivering the resources that the Government unknown—that is, centilitres. have allocated to provide respite care for carers, who do such an important job in the community. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): North Central Rob Marris (Wolverhampton, South-West) (Lab): Is London strategic health authority is planning massive the proportion of hospital trusts with anticipated deficits cuts, a £500 million reduction in its budget and the greater among those with significant private finance closure of A and E departments, including one at the initiative funding than among those that wisely avoided Whittington hospital. Many of us find those decisions significant PFI, such as the well managed and solvent unpalatable and wrong, but above all we have great New Cross hospital in Wolverhampton? difficulty bringing to account the people who are making those plans and decisions. Will the Secretary of State Mr. Mike O’Brien: That is an interesting question. I tell me how we can make those officials accountable to will have to look up the detail. However, PFI has the public for their decisions and planning? brought forward a series of projects and enabled us to undertake the redevelopment of more than 100 hospitals Mr. Mike O’Brien: As I understand it, those reviews so that we now have a better health service with more are at an early stage and there are no clear and firm modern hospitals than we have ever had in the history proposals. Local clinicians need to be at the heart of of the country. That is the result of the investment those recommendations, and any changes need to, and provided by the Labour Government. must, be the subject of full local consultation. 161 Oral Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Oral Answers 162

Mr. Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire) (Con): rather than on a pay and display basis, so that people Will the Minister ensure that when GPs in rural practices pay for the car parking that they use. support community hospitals, no restrictions will be put on their rights to refer patients to those community Andy Burnham: I know that this issue raises strong hospitals? feelings throughout the NHS. Indeed, at many of our surgeries it is one of the issues on which we receive most Mr. O’Brien: GPs will need to work with their primary representations. The NHS needs to pay a little more care trusts to ensure that hospitals referrals are made attention to the price and availability of car parking, appropriately. GPs have a broad range of clinical freedoms and that is what I am encouraging it to do. in order to decide where they want to refer their patients. Martin Linton (Battersea) (Lab): Given the success of the Government’s breast cancer screening programme Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): A number of in reducing mortality in London by some 30 per cent. consultants at Wexham Park hospital have sent me a in the past 10 years, and given that breast cancer letter, which I have forwarded to the Secretary of State, remains the UK’s most common cancer, affecting one expressing their belief and concern that the hospital’s woman in nine, will the Minister ensure that there is accounts were rearranged to ensure that it achieved a continued high rate of research in order to foundation trust status. Will the Secretary of State look improve the survival rates and quality of life for cancer into that question and ensure that the consultants’ sufferers? concerns are responded to as quickly as possible? Ann Keen: That investment in research will continue. Andy Burnham: My hon. Friend raises a serious issue, and I shall of course look into it closely and report back Mr. David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con): to her. Why are the Government pressing ahead with the closure of small maternity facilities and increasing the size of those that are left when the evidence suggests T10. [317505] Mr. Henry Bellingham (North-West Norfolk) that smaller units offer better services to expectant (Con): Further to the question that my hon. Friend the mothers? Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray) asked, is the Secretary of State aware of the great controversy about Ann Keen: At all times the safety of the mother and car parking at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in King’s baby is taken into account. Any discussion in relation to Lynn, involving the displacement of cars on to quiet closures or openings is always undertaken with the residential roads in neighbouring communities? Surely safety of the mother in mind, and that is done by one way forward is for hospitals to charge on exit, clinicians. 163 23 FEBRUARY 2010 164

Speaker’s Statement Points of Order

3.35 pm 3.37 pm Mr. Speaker: Following the decision of the House Mr. Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): On a last night on motion 16, relating to the presentation of point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will remember that on public petitions, I am announcing today the new 9 February, at column 771, we had an exchange about arrangements that will come into operation for petitions the inadequate answering of parliamentary questions presented on Monday 1 March. by the Department for Work and Pensions, and you The names of Members wishing to present public gave me what I thought was very sound advice suggesting petitions formally before the daily Adjournment debate that tabling a further question on the Order Paper or at the end of the sitting will now appear on the Order raising a point of order on the Floor of the House Paper. Accordingly, Members will now need to give would concentrate the minds of Ministers. I did indeed notice in person in the Journal Office on the third floor do that. Before the recess, I tabled a lengthy question above the Chamber. The deadline for giving notice will asking when a range of questions—up to 30—would be be the rise of the House on the previous sitting day. answered. You can imagine that yesterday, when that When giving notice, Members will need to have with question was due for answer, I was not very impressed them the front page of the petition, certified by the to receive a further holding answer from the Minister of Clerk of Public Petitions in the Journal Office. State. It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, in the light of our Just before we come to the daily Adjournment debate exchange and the significant number of unanswered at the end of the sitting, I shall call in turn the Members questions, two of which date back to last year, that this whose names are listed on the Order Paper to present is a case of Ministers treating the House with contempt. their constituents’ petitions. The Member will make a What may I do to get answers from Ministers given brief statement limited, as at present, to describing who what I have already done? the petition is from and what it is about, and, finally, reading out the prayer that sets out what the House is Mr. Speaker: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for being asked to do. The Member will then bring the top his point of order. Regular attenders at sittings of the page of the petition straight from the Member’s place to House will know that he is persistent and feisty, probably the Clerk at the Table, who will read out the title and beyond comparison in the House, in highlighting the hand the top page back to the Member, who will then phenomenon of unanswered questions or those to which put the whole petition, with its supporting signatures, tardy replies are given. He must continue to be persistent. into the bag at the back of the Chair. I know that no Health Minister—[Interruption.] Order. Members may continue to place valid petitions in the I was going to say that no Health Minister is on the bag behind the Chair in the usual way informally at any Government Front Bench, but the hon. Member for time during a sitting of the House. All petitions, whether Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) is getting ahead of presented formally or not, are printed in Hansard, forwarded himself. The Minister of State, Department of Health, to the relevant Select Committees, and sent to the the hon. Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) is on the Government Department most closely concerned. Treasury Bench, and she is always a keen listener; I Observations received from the Government are also know that she will hear the point that I am making. printed in Hansard. Ministers must reply quickly to parliamentary questions, The right to petition Parliament is one of our oldest and the replies that are provided must be substantive and most cherished parliamentary traditions. The changes rather than merely formulaic. They should not be replies that I have announced today will refresh and improve along the lines of “I hope to reply as soon as possible.” an important democratic mechanism. When the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper) has waited for a period of several days or possibly weeks—this goes for all Members—the Member is entitled to a substantive reply. I hope that it will not be necessary continually to repeat this point. The hon. Gentleman and other Members will be aware that the tracking system means that this information is becoming available for public view, and I have a hunch that he will not wish this matter to remain secret and will probably want to give it the widest possible coverage.

Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. When a Minister gives a holding answer saying that they will write to the Member concerned, how long do you expect that holding answer to last before we get the substantive answer?

Mr. Speaker: It is very difficult to be precise, because—I hope Members will accept the validity of this response—it rather depends upon the terms of the question, how much information is sought and the difficulty and possible cost of obtaining it. However, I say to the hon. Gentleman, whose point of order is helpful, that it should be a matter of only a few days and no more than that. As a 165 Points of Order 23 FEBRUARY 2010 166 matter of course, I should think it very odd, and frankly Rental Accommodation (Thermal worthy of comment and objection, if a substantive Insulation Standards) question did not receive a substantive answer within, for example, a week. We need a timely exchange. That is Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order what Members expect, and I think most Ministers No. 23) would accept that it is legitimately required of them. 3.42 pm Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York) (Con): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Further to your very Tony Lloyd (Manchester, Central) (Lab): I beg to helpful statement on petitions, which I am sure the move, House will welcome, may I ask what the position is as That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require providers of regards electronic petitions? Are they to be recorded on rental accommodation to ensure that the accommodation complies with certain minimum standards of thermal insulation; and for the Order Paper or just in the general official record? connected purposes. Mr. Speaker: That is an extraordinarily good point of Mr. Speaker, it is—[Interruption.] order, to which the answer is that a system of the kind that the hon. Lady hankers after does not yet exist; it is Mr. Speaker: Order. I should perhaps have said—I a matter of work in progress. She rightly points to the think it has now happened—that Members leaving should need for further developments, but work is taking place, do so quickly and quietly. I am sure that the House will and I hope that she will content herself today with the want to hear the hon. Gentleman’s ten-minute rule holding answer that I have provided. [Laughter.] Iam motion. very glad that the House is in such a good mood—this is all very encouraging. Tony Lloyd: I can only concur with your views, Mr. Speaker—Members want to hear this. It is a rather sad fact that in this country of ours, some 400,000 private tenancies are currently occupied by people who are defined as being fuel-poor—those who spend more than a fifth of their income on the fuel necessary to heat their home. That is largely because those homes are very poorly insulated. It is, I believe, the incontestable view of all that the need to improve the thermal insulation of domestic properties of any kind of tenure is of paramount importance, for obvious environmental reasons such as those related to global warming but also for financial reasons for those who occupy them and for social welfare reasons. It is a matter of practical fact that excess cold puts people’s health, and indeed their lives, in jeopardy. We know that more people die during the cold months of the year in this country than in comparable countries, or even in countries with much more extreme climates, because of relatively poor insulation. The thermal comfort element of the decent homes standard now extends to private housing the same consideration that has historically applied to social housing, but there is a big gap between private housing and social housing, and to an extent between private housing and those in owner-occupation. The problem in the private rented sector is that the private tenant has no capacity whatever to make improvements through investment in insulation and so on, which would allow the thermal efficiency of their property to be improved. But nor, alas, do landlords necessarily have an incentive to improve, at least not in the current circumstances. As we know, the Government have already made significant steps, which I very much welcome, to bring about a change in the private rented sector. For example, the introduction in October 2008 of energy performance certificates means that all properties will in future have something that tells us how thermally efficient they are regarding insulation. In addition, the Government introduced in 2006 the energy saving allowance, which gives landlords up to £1,500 per property to introduce insulation improvements. However, the problem with that scheme, frankly, is that landlords often do not know that it exists; and even when they do, the incentives are still too small to make a real difference. 167 Rental Accommodation (Thermal 23 FEBRUARY 2010 Rental Accommodation (Thermal 168 Insulation Standards) Insulation Standards) [Tony Lloyd] minimum thermal efficiency standard, which will say at the beginning that the very worst properties should no I strongly welcome the fact that tenants can access longer be in the private rented sector. That standard the Warm Front scheme in England and the equivalent should progressively move up through the thermal efficiency schemes in Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, ratings, so that landlords know that they have an that applies only to tenants who directly qualify for incentive—the stick—to ensure that their properties are such assistance. I also welcome the fact that local authorities improved. have power under the Housing Health and Safety Rating The Bill also seeks to make it illegal to put a property System (England) Regulations 2005 to class as a hazard on the private rented market if it can be improved at the very worst-insulated properties and to take specific reasonable cost, even if it is already above the legal action. However, that happens only in the very worst minimum as defined elsewhere in the Bill. That says to properties and not, alas, those that are bad, but not so landlords that if cavity wall insulation, for example, bad as to attract the attention of local authorities. which is relatively cheap in the scheme of things, can be The “English House Condition Survey 2007” contains used, it ought to be used. Landlords should be progressively some startling statistics. In the jargon—which I am forced to make such improvements. However, we also afraid is what this is—of the standard assessment procedure, need the Government to look at incentivising landlords, the efficiency of property insulation is measured on an as well as providing a stick. While it is not part of this index from nought to 100, with 100 being excellent. The Bill, I hope that we will see an extension of the existing 2007 survey shows that the value of the housing stock scheme to give landlords an incentive to invest in the in England increased from 42 in 1996, which was poor, insulation of their properties by way of grants. We to 50 in 2007, which is in the okay region of operation. should also consider whether it is possible to reduce That real improvement is because of Government publicity value added tax for energy-saving improvements to and the activities of social landlords and owner-occupiers. property. Social landlords do the best in the survey—spectacularly. Many hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens Their score on the index is 58, which is a good performance. live in homes that are badly heated. Most of those Alas, for both owner-occupiers and private tenants, the homes are not simply badly heated because people score is still only 48, which is below what we regard as cannot afford to heat them—although that may well be acceptable, and owner-occupiers still have a long way to a significant part of the equation—but because the go. However, there is a significant difference between insulation is grossly inadequate for the purposes of owner-occupiers and private tenants, namely that the modern living. It is in that light that the Bill is timely, private rented sector, ironically, has a far higher proportion because it will draw the attention of private landlords, of very well insulated properties. Some 10 per cent. of their tenants and other agencies to the need to bring private tenancies are in the very good category, whereas those standards up for environmental reasons, for the only 4 per cent. of owner-occupiers are. At the same financial benefit of tenants and, in the end, for reasons time, although only 10 per cent. of owner-occupiers are of social welfare and health. For those reasons, I commend in the worst categories, some 16 per cent. of private the Bill to the House. tenants are in conditions in which excess cold is threatening Question put and agreed to. to their health. Some 400,000 people are in such private Ordered, tenancies, of which 124,000 are described as vulnerable people—either the elderly or people who have sickness That Tony Lloyd, John Austin, Miss Anne Begg, or disability problems that make them especially vulnerable Mr. Ronnie Campbell, Colin Challen, Jeremy Corbyn, to extreme cold. Mr. David Drew, Mrs. Linda Riordan and Mr. Paul Truswell present the Bill. The time has come when we need legislation to move things forward and to incentivise landlords, and sometimes Tony Lloyd accordingly presented the Bill. to offer the stick as well as the carrot. The Bill therefore Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on seeks to do a number of things. It seeks to introduce a Friday 30 April and to be printed (Bill 71). 169 23 FEBRUARY 2010 Privilege 170

Privilege Phillips as chair of the organisation. I was able to attend only one evidence session, and I must say that it was more like a show trial of an individual than an 3.52 pm inquiry into the work of an organisation. Mr. Andrew Dismore (Hendon) (Lab): I beg to move, I was not surprised, therefore, to receive a note from That the Seventh Report from the Joint Committee on Human Trevor Phillips, following our telephone call, suggesting Rights (House of Commons Paper No. 371) be referred to the that if, as he feared, the report contained inaccuracies Committee on Standards and Privileges. and unfair criticism, he would be within his rights to The Joint Committee on Human Rights met on ask that the allegations be made without the cloak of 9 February to discuss a draft report on the Equality and parliamentary privilege. I think that he is right, although, Human Rights Commission. It emerged at the start of given that the final report has not been drafted, I do not the meeting that Trevor Phillips, the chair of the EHRC, know whether it will be either unfair or inaccurate, and had recently spoken to at least three members of the I will do my best, as a member of the Committee, to Committee about its consideration of the draft report ensure that neither is the case. I believe, however, that and the publication of written evidence with the report. the Standards and Privileges Committee should, as well In our view, these discussions could constitute a contempt as considering the report of the allegation of contempt of both Houses in that they may have been an attempt by Trevor Phillips, also ask to see how the Joint Committee to influence the views of certain members of the Committee on Human Rights worked and consider carefully whether shortly before it considered a draft report directly relevant it operated in a way that was proper. to Mr. Phillips in his role as chair of the commission. I know that I am not the only Member of the House We therefore recommended that the matter should be to feel that the claim of privilege by Members who have subject to investigation by the privileges Committees of behaved in an apparently criminal fashion in relation to both Houses, and so I ask the House to refer the matter their expenses is abusive— in accordance with my motion. Mr. Speaker: Order. I say gently to the hon. Lady that 3.53 pm we must not go down that route, and it would help our Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): I am a recently proceedings were she to withdraw her last sentence. She appointed member of the Committee that has referred can then get on to—or back to—the terrain where she this matter to the House for referral to the Committee and the House were very safe. on Standards and Privileges. As the subject of one of the telephone calls referred to by the Chairman of the Fiona Mactaggart: I certainly do so, Mr. Speaker. Committee and—as far as I am aware—the only Member The overuse of the concept of privilege risks undermining of this House who received such a telephone call, I felt it as an important concept providing a vital freedom for that I should make my view on this matter clear. It is Members of Parliament to say what they need without right that I tell the House that I do not believe that interference from the courts. If we are to preserve this Mr. Phillips has acted in contempt. He wanted to vital concept, we need to use it well and sparingly, as discuss whether the proposed report would be fair was advised by the 1966 Select Committee on privileges. because he believed—rightly, as it turned out—that To imply that Members of Parliament might be inhibited parts of the evidence that the Committee received would in their work by a telephone call by someone whose be redacted in the final report. I do not know how he career might be put at stake by a report that they are knew this, and I did not ask him how he knew this. considering is, in my view, a misuse of this valuable The point of privilege is to ensure that Members of concept. Parliament are free to say what they wish, and I wish to assure the House that there was nothing improper in the call or any attempt to interfere with my ability to say 3.58 pm what I wished. Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) (Con): I Trevor raised two other issues— shall not detain the House for long, but this debate raises an important issue. I do not wish to trespass on Mr. Andrew Robathan (Blaby) (Con): Trevor? the investigations to follow shortly from the Standards Fiona Mactaggart: Yes, I used his first name. That is and Privileges Committee, and I believe that the whole usual when having a conversation with someone. For House is in your debt, Sir, for giving this business example, were I talking to the right hon. Member for priority today. The issue of privilege is tremendously North-West Hampshire (Sir George Young), I would important for every Member of the House. not call him the hon. Member for something, and nor I am glad that the Leader of the House is here—her would I call him by his surname—I would call him presence is one of the reasons that I have risen to speak. George. [HON.MEMBERS: “Sir George!”] I would actually In 1997, knowing that the issue needed contemporary call him George, not Sir George. examination, the Government very wisely set up a Joint I raise this point, because I am concerned about the Committee of both Houses, presided over by a Lord. I lack of fair process in how the Committee’s inquiry was had the great good fortune to be asked to sit on the conducted. I was shocked, as a newly appointed Committee Committee, and a former Leader of the House—now member, to discover that this inquiry—the Select Baroness Taylor—also sat on it. We went into the whole Committee’s first inquiry into the work of the EHRC area of privilege in great detail, taking evidence from since its inception—had no terms of reference. Its only witnesses not only from this country but from abroad. call for evidence was a notice reporting evidence from a We deliberated long and carefully, and we produced a group of commissioners who had resigned and inviting unanimous report that was widely welcomed both inside short statements in advance of evidence from Trevor and outside the House. Again without wishing to trespass 171 Privilege23 FEBRUARY 2010 Privilege 172

[Sir Patrick Cormack] of nothing more damaging to the reputation of an individual than to have a paper laid before this House on any current issue or possible current issue, let me say with the words “Allegation of Contempt” on it. that it was important to establish whether we should I take privilege very seriously, but like many Members retain the whole idea of privilege. Our Committee was I am not sure what it is about, what its ramifications or unanimous that we should retain it, as a vital protection wider reaches are, or how it impacts on witnesses or for each and every one of us, and at any time. Having those who take part in Select Committee proceedings. I reported to the House and received a favourable response am nervous about this case, in that there is no notification from the Dispatch Box, we hoped very much that our to witnesses or participants who come forward to assist recommendation that there should be legislation on the a Committee in its deliberations that they might be at law of privilege would be accepted and that a proper risk of offending against the privilege of the House by statute would be laid before the House before too long. taking the actions that, in this case, Mr. Phillips took. That is my caveat about this case. We are talking about a Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire) (LD): Does the hon. very censorious process, if the participant or the affected Gentleman agree that the overwhelming majority of witness is unaware of what privilege amounts to in such Members use that privilege responsibly? There is a cases. vanishingly small number of occasions on which that privilege has been abused, either for personal interest, Mr. Speaker: The Question is as on the Order Paper. or on the basis of vendetta or gossip. As many as are of that opinion say Aye—[Interruption.] As many as are of that opinion say Aye, to the contrary No. Sir Patrick Cormack: I entirely agree with the hon. Question agreed to. Gentleman. Our Committee indeed felt that, on the whole, privilege had been used properly, as it should Mr. Speaker: Sorry, the reason for the hesitation was have been. Nevertheless, we thought that something that I had the distinct impression that the hon. Member going back over 300 years deserved a new statute, and for Hendon (Mr. Dismore), who has already made his we recommended this. The Government responded perfectly case, was seeking to say something further. He might favourably. The Opposition also responded favourably, have been doing so, but I am not aware that there is but since then nothing has happened. The report is on provision for such; in fact, I was fairly convinced that the shelves gathering dust. As this Parliament ebbs there was not, and I am reinforced in that conviction by towards its close, I hope that whoever is the Leader of those who know. I therefore hope that the House will the House after 6 May or whenever—that is, whoever is rest content. in the driving seat as far as Government business is concerned—will persuade the Prime Minister of the Mr. Dismore rose— day that such legislation deserves priority in the new Parliament. Mr. Speaker: The hon. Gentleman is never to be silenced. I shall leave it at that, Mr. Speaker. You have helped us today by giving us the opportunity to have this brief Mr. Dismore: On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I debate, from which I hope will flow a speedy investigation wanted to respond to the comments of my hon. Friend by the Committee to which the matter has been referred. the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart), by simply However, I also hope that the wider issue of privilege pointing out that she was a very new member of the will not be forgotten, and that we shall have a pledge in Committee and had not participated in most of the the first Queen’s Speech of the new Parliament to inquiry. Her views might therefore have been somewhat legislate on the matter. clouded by the fact that she had not heard most of the evidence at first hand, as we had. 4.2 pm Mr. Speaker: The hon. Gentleman is an experienced Mr. Richard Shepherd (Aldridge-Brownhills) (Con): I Member—to be precise, we came into the House together intervene very briefly in this debate to echo the remarks in May 1997—and he is therefore very well aware that that my hon. Friend the Member for South Staffordshire that does not constitute a point of order. However, it (Sir Patrick Cormack) has just made. There is one thing was an interesting point of debate and he has registered that worries me about the process, because I can think his views firmly on the record. 173 23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 174

Children, Schools and Families Bill This will ensure not only that the ombudsman will be able to decide not to pursue complaints that are clearly [Relevant document: The Eighth Report from the Joint not in the best interest of parties concerned—vexatious Committee on Human Rights, on Legislative Scrutiny: complaints—but also that he has a clearly stated power Children, Schools and Families Bill; Other Bills, HC 369.] to decline or discontinue investigation where complaints Consideration of Bill, as amended in the Public Bill obviously lack merit or would be disproportionately Committee costly to investigate, given the potential benefits—that is, frivolous complaints. I hope that hon. Members will New Clause 17 welcome this change. AMENDMENTS OF PROVISIONS ABOUT COMPLAINTS IN Subsection (3) of new clause 17 is a technical amendment ASCLA 2009 extending defamation privilege to head teachers. It amends ‘(1) In Part 10 of ASCLA 2009 (schools), Chapter 2 (complaints: section 216 of the ASCL Act to ensure that any statement England) is amended as follows. made by a head teacher in correspondence with, or (2) In section 207 (power of Local Commissioner to investigate subsequently published by, the ombudsman in a decision complaint), in subsection (5)(b) (power not to investigate does not lead to the ombudsman or head teacher being vexatious complaint), before “vexatious” there is inserted sued for defamation. This small but important change “frivolous or”. will enable head teachers to be entirely candid in their (3) In section 216 (law of defamation)— views, and permit their evidence to be given and considered (a) in subsection (1)(a), after “a governing body” there is more openly, which can only promote the proper inserted “or head teacher”; investigation of complaints. The amendment merely (b) in subsection (2)(a), after “the governing body” there is extends to head teachers the position that already applies inserted “or head teacher”.’.—(Mr. Coaker.) to governing bodies and local authorities under the Brought up, and read the First time. Local Government Act 1974 or the ASCL Act. 4.5 pm We have made it clear in previous debates on the The Minister for Schools and Learners (Mr. Vernon guarantees that it is not our intention to enable parents and Coaker): I beg to move, That the clause be read a pupils to pursue civil claims through the courts if a Second time. local authority, governing body, other proprietor of a school or head teacher does not meet one or more of Mr. Speaker: With this it will be convenient to discuss the guarantees. However, we listened to Members’ Government amendment 67. concerns in Committee—including points raised by the Mr. Coaker: I welcome Members across the House hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton back to our deliberations on this important Bill. I hope (Mr. Gibb)—and we agree that this could be made more that Opposition Members will recognise that elements plain. The amendment will ensure that this is clear on of the amendments are a result of our discussions in the face of the Bill. Committee, and that I have reflected on the points that The amendment refers to “liability in tort”, which were made and come back with what I hope are helpful covers, most importantly, both liability in negligence proposals. and liability for breach of statutory duty. It will put As I have said, the new clause and the amendment beyond doubt that parents and pupils will not be able to arise from the debates in Committee. We have listened pursue claims for damages through the county courts carefully to hon. Members, and are therefore proposing based on the individual guarantees in the document. It these important changes, which are designed to clarify is, of course, right to say that parents and pupils already the local government ombudsman’s role as a provider of have a number of pre-existing rights, which will be redress for the pupil and parent guarantees. New clause 17 unaffected by the changes implemented by the amendment. will amend the parental complaints system that will It will apply solely to the impact of the guarantees form part of the redress for parents and pupils alleging themselves. The amendment does not need to seek to a breach of the guarantees. prohibit a claim under contract law, as there is no way During our debate in Committee, many Members in which the guarantees can create contractual relations raised concerns that from time to time, complaints between schools and parents. We consider that any relating to a school that could serve only to absorb claim for contractual liability would be entirely unduly the time and attention of a head teacher and unsustainable. governing body, with no real potential for a beneficial I hope that those brief introductory remarks will outcome, might be made to the local government show that I have listened to the points raised by the hon. ombudsman. In Committee, I provided the assurance Members for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) and for Bognor Regis that section 207(5)(b) of the Apprenticeships, Skills, and Littlehampton, and tried to take them into account Children and Learning Act 2009—the ASCL Act—is and include them in the new clause and the amendment, already framed so that the ombudsman may decide not as I said I would. to investigate a complaint, or to discontinue it, if he believes that the complaint is vexatious. He will have Mr. Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) this discretion with any complaint, including those made (Con): I am grateful to the Minister for his courtesy and in relation to the pupil and parent guarantees. careful consideration of the deliberations in Committee, Having listened to the debate, however, I have concluded but the Government new clause is a frank admission that it would be appropriate to strengthen this discretion that the pupil and parent guarantees set out in clauses 1 to provide an even stronger safeguard for heads and to 3 are likely to lead to a proliferation of complaints. governors. So subsection (2) of new clause 17 will amend That is likely to happen, however, with or without the the ASCL Act to allow the ombudsman discretion in new clause, when we have an education system in which cases where the complaint is “frivolous or vexatious”. 9 per cent. of boys leave primary school without being 175 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 176

[Mr. Nick Gibb] That amendment was lifted almost word for word from section 111(6) of the School Standards and Framework able to obtain any grade in the key stage 2 English Act 1998, which was introduced to prevent home-school SATs. In other words, they are leaving primary school agreements from being enforceable in the courts. completely illiterate. Given that we also have an education system in which 40 per cent. leave primary school 4.15 pm without having mastered the basics of reading, writing We believe that the Bill as originally drafted would and maths combined, there is plenty of scope for complaints have left open the possibility that the pupil and parent under these guarantees, particularly under guarantee 2.2, guarantees could be enforced through court action against on page 24 of the guarantee document, which states that schools that might breach those guarantees. That also “the curriculum is tailored to…every child’s needs so concerned the teaching unions. The Association of School that…every…pupil receives the support they need to secure good and College Leaders, for instance, said: literacy, numeracy and ICT skills, learn another language and “ASCL believes that the creation of these guarantees will open about the humanities, science, technology and the arts”. the flood gates for increased litigation against schools.” The new clause amends the Apprenticeships, Skills, In his oral evidence to the Committee, ASCL’s general Children and Learning Act 2009, particularly sections 207 secretary John Dunford said: and 216, which relate to the complaint procedures that “Our main concerns about the Bill are around the guarantees are the mechanism under which the guarantees can be and potential in an increasingly litigious society for parents enforced—to the extent that they can be. As the Minister to take up an awful lot of head teachers’ time in disputing what has said, the new clause is designed to change the are rather uncertain and woolly guarantees.”––[Official Report, complaints procedure so that the local government Children, Schools and Families Public Bill Committee, 19 January ombudsman does not have to investigate complaints 2010; c. 4.] that he considers to be “frivolous”—an addition to the The National Union of Teachers said: word “vexatious”, which is already in the Act. “NUT head teachers are concerned that without adequate This follows concerns expressed by the teacher unions resources or provision for staff training these proposals may leave about the pupil and parent guarantees, particularly the schools vulnerable to litigious parents or over-eager lawyers who concerns of the Association of School and College have misinterpreted the Government’s intentions. The NUT is concerned that any breaches of the guarantees should not be Leaders, which believes that treated as akin to breaches of statutory duty in the health and “the creation of these guarantees will open the floodgates for safety sphere granting persons distinct rights to legal action and increased litigation against schools. The introduction of these monetary compensation.” guarantees has the potential to create a ‘whingers’ charter’ and In Committee, the Minister said that he agreed with bring a proliferation of frivolous complaints by a minority of litigious parents, thereby serving to increase the work load of the sentiments expressed in the amendments, and would school leaders and undermine the work that schools have done to return to the issue after examining it further. He also create more positive relationships with parents.” said, however—as he said a moment ago—that he did It is obviously right to ensure that the local government not think it necessary to include the explicit reference to ombudsman does not have to investigate frivolous or the law of contract. He said: vexatious complaints, and it is right that head teachers “The guarantee document does not create a contract between are protected from defamation suits in their communications parents or pupils and the school, because it is a public law document.”––[Official Report, Children, Schools and Families Public with the local government ombudsman on these matters. Bill Committee, 28 January 2010; c. 254.] There is absolutely no guarantee, however, that the It is clear from Government amendment 67 that the ombudsman will be able to remedy any of the complaints Government have only explicitly ruled out tort, and I about the standard of education provided. Tony Redmond, think that that is a mistake. The creation of guarantees the current local government ombudsman, said in evidence implies, or could imply, a contractual obligation. The to the Committee: only thing missing is a consideration to given rise to a “I do not think that it is the role or responsibility of local contractual obligation, but surely the consideration in government to change a school”.––[Official Report, Children, Schools this instance is taxpayers’ money. If the complainant is and Families Public Bill Committee, 19 January 2010; c. 5, Q11.] a taxpayer or council tax payer, surely that might be He went on to say that all he could do was make regarded as the consideration element of a contract, recommendations. He said that implicit in the pupil and parent guarantees in clause 1. “we are also conscious of the fact that in terms of the curriculum As for its being a public law document, surely that and teaching, some of those things might step outside the jurisdiction of the ombudsman”.––[Official Report, Children, School and Families would apply equally to a home-school agreement, but Public Bill Committee, 19 January 2010; c. 7, Q5.] the drafters of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 considered that an explicit exclusion of liabilities In other words, the whole process is a complete waste of under contract law as well as tort law was necessary. time. All it will do is add yet another layer of bureaucracy and waste to an education system already deeply mired Mr. Coaker: The hon. Gentleman is making an interesting in bureaucracy and waste. point, but does he not agree that there is a difference Government amendment 67 is, as the Minister has between this Bill and the 1998 Act? The home-school said, a concession to both Opposition parties following agreement is obviously a contract—a specific contract our amendment in Committee that sought to make it between home and school, which people must sign. It is clear that the pupil and parent guarantee did not create relevant to an individual parent, an individual pupil, an legal obligations under either the law of contract or the individual school and an individual family. That is why law of tort. Our original amendment said: the Act excluded it in terms of contract. The position in “A pupil or parent guarantee shall not be capable of creating the Bill is entirely different. It is not necessary to rule any obligation in respect of whose breach any liability arises in out contracts, because no contractual agreements arise contract or tort.” as a result of the guarantees in the Bill. 177 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 178

Mr. Gibb: That says something about the extent to The hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton which the Minister feels that the guarantees are worth cited just one of the flawed pupil guarantees. I have anything. Normally, if a private sector service provider cited in the past, and shall cite again in future, the pupil gives a guarantee for the quality of his or her work, that guarantee that specifies that every 11 to 14-year-old is regarded as a contractual guarantee, just as the home- should enjoy school agreement could constitute a guarantee. Although “relevant and challenging learning in all subjects”, the Minister may well be right, I believe—this was the and develop their thinking behind the provision in the 1998 Act—that it is safer to include this provision in the Bill to ensure that “personal, learning and thinking skills so that they have strong foundations to make their 14-19 choices.” that no action can be taken under contract law in future. There is surely no harm in including it. We are told that that will be phased in by September 2010. The Minister is a fair-minded person who must know that our criticisms are entirely right, and I put it to him that Mr. Coaker: I am not a lawyer. We have had this it will be impossible for any ombudsman service, regardless discussion before, and the hon. Gentleman has conceded of how many staff it has, to make head or tail of most that he is not a lawyer either. I am advised, however, of the pupil and parent guarantees. Indeed, if we read that there is no contractual agreement. I can see that a the small print of some of these guarantees, we discover home-school agreement, involving the signing of a specific that in the commercial sector people would get into document, constitutes an individual contract between serious trouble for seeking to present them as guarantees. the pupil—or parent—and the school, but I see no analogy between that and the guarantees in the Bill. For example, the guarantees on access to physical education and competitive sport are phrased in such a way that although they give the impression that there is Mr. Gibb: If the guarantee is a real guarantee, there is a guarantee of five hours of sport—or culture, or a high likelihood that it will give rise to contractual whatever—the truth is that all the Government are rights. If, however—as is probably the case, which is talking about is “access” to those things, which could be why I will not be calling for a vote on this issue—the delivered in a series of very unconvincing ways that guarantees are not really worth very much and this is would mean that the vast majority of young people merely political posturing, the Minister is right, and it would not get five hours of any of them, because they will not be possible to enforce these provisions in the are available in such a way that they cannot be taken for courts, regardless of whether that is explicitly ruled out granted. Meanwhile, however, a head teacher—or more in the legislation. likely a Secretary of State—would be able say, “Hurrah, The guarantees represent an expensive and bureaucratic we’ve delivered all these wonderful guarantees, and approach to trying to raise standards in our schools. young people can have access to these things.” They are, in effect, the last refuge of a Government who If the Secretary of State had come up with even a know that they have not delivered. This new clause and couple of sensible guarantees that were outcome focused amendment go some way towards mitigating the downside rather than input focused, and had linked them to of some of the implications of the pupil and parent giving freedom to schools to make their own decisions guarantees, however. For that reason, we will not oppose about how to deliver them, we might have supported them—but they will not create one single thing that will him. He was in the Treasury back in the early days when help to raise standards in our schools. all those delivery targets were set. They often focused on inputs rather than outputs, and then the Treasury Mr. David Laws (Yeovil) (LD): I start by thanking the realised that it had got it all wrong. Because he is so Minister for Schools and Learners and his team for the experienced and knows all the flaws of setting targets in generally productive approach they took in Committee, this way, he should not, as Secretary of State, have come and I also thank him for starting today’s debate with a up with such a lot of nonsense: so many guarantees that small olive branch of consensus, before we move on to are unenforceable, or focus on inputs. He must know the dissent that is likely to permeate the rest of our that he has cobbled these guarantees together on the debate. He has listened, to some extent, to the criticisms back of a fag packet. Although he has sought to do that of clauses 1 to 3, and in response he has offered some to create some dividing lines for electoral purposes, the small and rather modest gifts to the Committee and the guarantees deserve to be put in the waste paper basket House to try to dispose of a few of the problems that before the election, rather than being implemented in will arise if the guarantees are ever implemented, which such a way that they will be extremely difficult for any we must doubt. We support him in seeking to remove parent or pupil to enforce, and will give the ombudsman “frivolous” complaints, and we agree with his points service an impossible job. about not creating legal rights that could result in legal Of course the Liberal Democrats welcome this small action, with parents and pupils suing for damages. olive branch; we do not want to be churlish and we are However, our main problem with clauses 1 to 3—in grateful for all concessions. I hope that I have not struck this regard I agree with the hon. Member for Bognor a note that has implied any lack of charity or enthusiasm— Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb)—is that the [Interruption]—or, indeed, any churlishness, in response Government have drawn up the pupil and parent guarantees to these small concessions. However, they are very small in such a vague and unhelpful way. Goodness knows concessions, they sit on top of a very big problem, and what the ombudsman is going to make of trying to they do not address the flaws in clauses 1 to 3. enforce those guarantees, which the Secretary of State and his advisors cobbled together one evening a few Mr. Coaker: I sometimes wonder whether it is worth months ago. No ombudsman will be able to make a coming forward with concessions; if those are the reactions serious job of enforcing the types of obligations and that I get for doing so, I will just do full-blown opposition supposed guarantees set out in the White Paper. and get on with it. However, I welcome the limited 179 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 180

[Mr. Coaker] (2) The LSCB will commission the SCR from an author approved by a body established by the Secretary of State by welcome given to these concessions, and just wish to order made by statutory instrument. make a couple of points before allowing us to move on. (3) The LSCB will publish the SCR in full, excluding only They are important concessions and changes, and they information that may lead to the identification of living directly relate to some of the problems that the hon. parties.’.—(Tim Loughton.) Members for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) Brought up, and read the First time. and for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) set out. We have tried to respond to those so that the document becomes more Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con): workable and we do not encounter some of the problems I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. that would have arisen had we not amended the Bill. The document is being consulted on for 12 weeks—I Mr. Speaker: With this it will be convenient to discuss do not recall exactly how far through that process we the following: new clause 10—Reasonable punishment— are, but it is about seven or eight weeks—and people are ‘(1) The Children Act 2004 is amended as follows— responding to that consultation exercise. When my right (2) In section 58 (reasonable punishment), after subsection (4) hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I go to meetings, there is inserted— people talk to us about the guarantees and they do not “(4A) Only a person with parental responsibility for a child see them as being fit for the waste paper bin. People are within the meaning of section 3 of the Children Act 1989 can engaging with us about the real effort that we have justify battery of the child on the ground that it constituted made to lay out, for the first time, what the state’s offer reasonable punishment.”’. should be to parents and to pupils in terms of state New clause 21—Publication of serious case reviews— education. This was not a “back of a fag packet” effort; serious discussions took place over a considerable time ‘(1) When Local Safeguarding Children Boards commission so that we could put forward a document setting out what serious case reviews these shall be published in full within 60 days of completion, subject only to the redaction and anonymisation a parent and a pupil can expect in terms of education. which is necessary to protect the welfare and reasonable Let us go into fantasy land for a moment: if, after an expectation of privacy of those persons mentioned in the Serious election, we had a Conservative Government or a Liberal Case Review. Government—[Interruption.] It has come to something (2) The Local Safeguarding Children Boards must also ensure when I am barracked by my own side as well. I would that within 12 months of the publication of the serious case have a wager with the hon. Members for Bognor Regis reviews there is in each case an independent evaluation of the and Littlehampton and for Yeovil that if and when this extent to which the conclusions of the review have been acted becomes law, they will not abolish it. upon.’. Amendment 35, in clause 28, page 25, line 26, after Mr. Laws indicated dissent. ‘with’, insert Mr. Coaker: This is an interesting point. I do not ‘for the purposes of a serious case review’. believe that they would abolish it, because when it is set Amendment 36, page 25, line 29, leave out ‘its functions’ out with the guarantees on one-to-one tuition, on sport, and insert ‘a serious case review’. on recreation, on culture, on languages, on learning, Amendment 37, page 25, line 33, leave out ‘function’ and on parents being kept informed both online and and insert ‘serious case review’. through proper consultation—through parents evenings Amendment 38, page 26, line 8, leave out ‘its functions’ and so on—parents, teachers, pupils and the general and insert ‘a serious case review’. public will see that, far from being a useless piece of bureaucracy, it is a live document that, for the first time, Amendment 39, page 26, line 8, at end insert— sets out what the state’s offer is on the educational ‘(6A) The Board will disclose, on request, the names of the entitlement of the young people of this country. With persons and bodies from whom it has requested information those brief comments, and having taken note of the except in cases where disclosure would threaten the anonymity of overwhelming gratitude that I have received for introducing a child or his family. these provisions, I commend the measures to the House. (6B) Section 28 will apply to LSCBs when commissioning Question put and agreed to. Serious Case Reviews which, unless they can be shown to be harmful to the welfare of the subject of the Serious Case Review New clause 17 accordingly read a Second time, and or his siblings, should be published in full, subject to appropriate added to the Bill. considerations of anonymisation and redaction. (6C) The Secretary of State shall direct a body to maintain a New Clause 1 register of suitable, qualified authors of Serious Case Reviews and to monitor their quality which should be available to LSCBs PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION BY LOCAL commissioning Serious Case Reviews.’. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARDS (LSCBS) IN Amendment 40, page 26, line 11, leave out ‘its functions’ ENGLAND AND WALES and insert ‘a serious case review’. ‘(1) When a LSCB deems it necessary to conduct a Serious Amendment 88, page 26, line 11, at end insert— Case Review (SCR), the LSCB will— (a) carry out an initial management review to identify any ‘(8) Provision must be made for appeals by those persons who immediate concerns within 72 hours of deciding that consider it to be unreasonable or improper to supply the a SCR is necessary; specified information to the Local Safeguarding Children Board under this section.’. (b) commission an internal investigation if the child or his immediate family has received social care services Amendment 41, in clause 29, page 26, line 21, after from the local authority in the past two years; ‘with’, insert (c) commission a SCR. ‘for the purposes of a serious case review’. 181 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 182

Amendment 42, page 26, line 24, leave out ‘its functions’ The trouble is that few people in this country are and insert ‘a serious case review’. convinced that the lessons of the serious case reviews in Amendment 43, page 26, line 28, leave out ‘function’ Doncaster, in Haringey and in other high-profile areas and insert ‘serious case review’. of this country that have experienced similar tragedies have seriously been learned by those in a position to do Amendment 44, page 26, line 41, leave out ‘its functions’ something about the situation and to make the safeguarding and insert ‘a serious case review’. environment better for vulnerable children and families. Amendment 45, page 26, line 44, leave out ‘its functions’ Public confidence in child protection in this country has and insert ‘a serious case review’. been hugely undermined, particularly after the baby Amendment 46, in clause 30, page 27, line 4, leave out Peter case. Social workers and other professionals involved ‘may’ and insert ‘will’. in child safeguarding feel demoralised and undermined Amendment 47, page 27, line 6, at end insert up and down the country. The system simply is not working, which is why we feel that a more drastic ‘and of the effectiveness of Local Safeguarding Children Boards in England and Wales.’. overhaul and more drastic and immediate action is required than the Government are prepared to countenance. Amendment 90, page 27, line 10, leave out ‘may’ and That is why we have tabled these amendments. insert ‘shall’. Amendment 48, page 27, line 13, at end insert— The truth is that the number of children who are dying at the hands of parents and carers has not materially ‘(c) requiring the naming of partners listed under section 13(3) that are not cooperating appropriately changed since the death of Victoria Climbié, despite with the Board.’. significant investment that the Government have made— nobody is denying that—and despite huge structural Tim Loughton: This group of amendments concerns changes. However, I fear that many of those changes a very serious subject: serious case reviews. This is the have meant that attention and resources have been first opportunity that we have had since the baby Peter diverted to overhauling the system rather than dealing tragedy, more than a year ago now, to put forward our with the problem at the sharp end. That has proved proposals, which we have been making for some time, as counter-productive in many cases, and that situation part of the relevant legislation. It is particularly important remains despite the large amount of legislation that has that we can do so today because, as you might know, been introduced, much of which we supported. In too Mr. Speaker, we did not reach this part of the Bill in many cases, the outcome of that legislation has been to Committee, so we were not able to have any debate exacerbate the bureaucracy that now surrounds too much about the operation of local safeguarding children boards of our child protection system. All that has to change. or, specifically, our amendments on serious case reviews. The first steps needed to bring about such change must be to have greater transparency, greater accountability 4.30 pm and genuine learning from mistakes, and the public’s confidence that that learning is taking place must be I want to talk about four sets of amendments in this restored. It is no longer good enough for the Government group. The most important is new clause 1, which is to say, as I predict the Minister will say in reply, that complementary to amendment 39. We have tabled a series serious case reviews must remain secret. They cannot of similar and technical amendments—amendments 35 trot out the same old excuses about protecting anonymity to 38 and 40 to 45. Three further amendments—46, and then cite the various children’s charities that oppose 47 and 48—concern the inspection of the operations of change for whatever reason. local safeguarding children boards. Let me start by commenting on the operation of Back in December, the Government produced, “Working serious case reviews and the way in which they are Together to Safeguard Children”, chapter 8 of which commissioned by local safeguarding children boards. It dealt specifically with the future construction of serious is fitting that we have are having this debate now, case reviews. We welcomed many of the proposals in because on Thursday it will be the 10th anniversary of that document, but we think that it did not go far the tragic death of Victoria Climbié, whose name resonates enough. It dealt with time scales—I think everyone hugely with everyone in this country who has any agrees that we need to speed things up—and the extent remote interest in the safeguarding of vulnerable children. to which we want to gather information. We want it to I am sure that everyone will agree that much more still be as wide and as comprehensive as possible. needs to be done to safeguard our most vulnerable We now seem to talk about comprehensive executive people. summaries, which are just executive summaries, but In the past few days, we have heard about a further there is no guarantee that executive summaries will case involving violence towards a child known only as reflect the complete story, chronology and analysis of baby Y in Haringey, following on from the baby Peter what went wrong that led to a serious case review. We case in Haringey and the Victoria Climbié case, which should all be able to learn from best practice when happened in Haringey 10 years ago, as I said. Just last serious case reviews are carried out, but we do not know month, we heard the incredible details of the torture of where best practice takes place because serious case the 10 and 11-year-old boys in Edlington, Doncaster, by reviews are not published. I was amazed by one aspect two boys of a similar age who were known to children’s of the baby Peter tragedy that blew up last November, services and other agencies. Those two young boys were because I had assumed, quite wrongly, that serious case lucky to escape with their lives and they were the latest reviews were available in full to a much wider constituency tragedies in that part of the United Kingdom after a of professionals than they are. I would assume that catalogue of no fewer than seven deaths in Doncaster in directors of children’s services and other key professionals a five-year period, five of which merited serious case would automatically have access to full serious case reviews. reviews so that they could read those reports, even 183 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 184 confidentially, learn from them and see whether there In the past 18 months, I have travelled widely around were potential echoes in their own authority of what children’s services departments. I visit local authorities went wrong in another authority and do something most weeks to speak to the people in the front line and about that urgently. But, no—a very small constituency the ones who manage those departments. Some children’s of people get to see serious case reviews. organisations claim that they do not agree that serious There seems to be very little urgency in some of the case reviews should be published in full, and I am sure reviews. One case review, in Doncaster, of the death in that, as usual, the Minister will give us a litany of them October 2004 of a child who was known very robotically before long. However, despite those claims, the as baby B05, was not produced until 2008—almost five overwhelming view among the child protection social years later. We now know about the underlying structural workers at the sharp end whom I meet is that they turmoil that was going on in that authority, despite the would be in favour of the full publication of serious fact that the authority was described by Ofsted as case reviews. “adequate”. At the same time, locally commissioned Full publication of the reviews would be in their reports and other front-line reports clearly stated that interests. More importantly, it would be in the interests there were serious problems in that authority. It took of vulnerable children and families, so I was pleased to almost five years to produce a serious case review. One see the stance taken by the British Association of Social would hope that someone could learn lessons from that Workers, which was confirmed in The Times just last and make improvements, but it took too long to produce. week. The association is the professional body for social A few weeks ago, a leaked copy of the full serious workers, and it is headed—very skilfully, I might say—by case review of the Edlington case was obtained by the a former colleague of the Minister in this House. He has BBC, and the BBC “Newsnight” programme read that committed BASW to campaigning for full publication report in full. Alongside that report, which ran to just of serious case reviews. The association represents the over 150 pages, it also read the accompanying executive professionals who have to deal with these problems summary—or comprehensive executive summary—which every day of the week at the sharp end. They now see ran to just 11 pages, including the title page. The BBC the merits of exposing the weaknesses in serious case could clearly see serious anomalies between the full-blown reviews, as opposed to suppressing them and keeping serious case review and the executive summary. Indeed, them secret, as has happened for too long. they bore little resemblance to each other. The BBC In The Times of 18 February, Hilton Dawson said: made that patently clear, yet even when the executive summary of the serious case review of Edlington incident “It’s vital that these reviews are transparent and can be seen in was exposed as a sham, the Government and the authorities full, subject only to the need to preserve individual anonymity. These reviews are vital learning tools and it is imperative that they in Doncaster refused to produce, in any form, a fuller are made widely available.” version of the summary or a slimmed down version of the full serious case review. They were completely in There speaks the head of the professional body for denial, and the serious case review of a horrendous case social workers in this country. A former social worker remains suppressed, secret and available to only a few himself, he incidentally had experience for a short time individuals. as a Labour Member of Parliament in this House. It is no wonder, therefore, that confidence in the child In addition, Community Care magazine, the bible of protection system in this country is at an all-time low. social workers—[Interruption.] That name causes some To this day, I still do not understand why the Government tittering from the Secretary of State, but the magazine is were so steadfast in their refusal to produce anything used very widely by the social worker work force. The other than a discredited executive summary of what magazine has also committed itself to the publication went on in Doncaster. of serious case reviews, and has been waging a very forceful campaign to that end. Mr. Edward Timpson (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con): I quote from a recent copy of Community Care: Does my hon. Friend share my concern that, if we had “Serious case reviews are usually published only in summary. seen only the executive summary, we would not have This limits learning. Community Care recommends that reviews been aware that, on 31 separate occasions, nine agencies be published in full so that practitioners can use specific details to were involved that could have intervened, and so possibly inform their practice according to their experiences and roles. have prevented the subsequent events from taking place? There is some resistance but it is possible to publish without harming anonymity...Names can be removed and reviews could Tim Loughton: That, of course, is exactly right, and it be collated and distributed centrally, thereby disassociating them from specific local authorities, teams and known cases. It would is why we need much fuller accounts of what goes help if reviews focused on learning not recrimination.” wrong in tragedies like the Edlington and baby Peter cases than can be provided in brief serious case reviews, I fully agree with that. The purpose is not a witch hunt however comprehensive their title calls them. or a blame game. It is to find out what went wrong, to learn from it and to make sure that it is less likely to We definitely need a radical overhaul of how serious happen in the future. case reviews are commissioned, compiled and published, as well as of how they are subsequently learned from We will never abolish cruelty to children outright. and acted on. We need that to restore public confidence There are evil individuals in society who will always in child protection, and morale in the social worker seek to do evil to vulnerable people, including children— profession. We also need it to ensure that all the agencies incredibly. What we can do is to make it as difficult as involved in safeguarding children can see clearly where possible for those people to be able to perpetrate their mistakes have been made and can work to ensure that crimes, and to make sure that everybody is working they will not be repeated, on their watch and in their together to ensure that those opportunities are as limited patch, in the future. as possible for the perpetrators of such crimes. 185 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 186

4.45 pm families involved would be revealed. Clearly, many social Jim Cousins (Newcastle upon Tyne, Central) (Lab): It workers working at the sharp end do not buy that seems to me that the hon. Gentleman should be rather argument. I do not buy that argument; I never have. less surprised by the attitude of the British Association Publication is in the best interests of social workers. of Social Workers. The purpose of serious case reviews Inevitably, when there is a tragedy such as the baby is not and should not be to seek individual blame, but Peter case, the Doncaster case or others, social workers unless a fuller account is given than the one that is are always panned first. It is always assumed that if a available in executive summaries prepared by organisations, baby or child who was on a local authority’s radar dies it may be much harder to see the resource issues and the in gruesome circumstances, it must be the fault of social issues of institutional practice and culture which underpin workers. In some cases, that is true; in many cases, the so many of the meaningful conclusions that should be system is at fault, as the hon. Member for Newcastle drawn from such reviews. upon Tyne, Central (Jim Cousins) said; and in many other cases, other agencies have not done their bit. In Tim Loughton: I agree. It is not merely a case of the case of baby Peter, the paediatrician, whom we have identifying certain individuals who did not perform the heard about in the news this week, potentially had some job to the required standard. It is necessary to find out shortcomings, and the police did not come out of it very why. Were there enough staff to cover the cases? Was well, either. However, social workers are always at the the case overload too great? That has been the situation front of the queue to be panned, and they are always at in many local authorities. Were resources not available the back of the queue to be congratulated and praised when they were needed? Was all the work going on in when things go right. They usually do go right, but that the department reactive rather than preventive? Were does not make for good news on the front page of a social workers spending far too much time at their tabloid newspaper. computers, having to fill in assessment forms, as is now the case? Mr. Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con): According to Unison, up to 80 per cent. of a social The Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families worker’s time in child protection is spent filling in heard evidence that many children’s social workers are assessment forms, rather than at the sharp end with the least experienced in the work force. They are put on those children. Surely the most likely way of preventing the most complicated and difficult cases at the beginning harm to vulnerable children and families is for a of their career, and they can arrive in post having had professional, well-trained, well-resourced and well-motivated placements and training that did not include children’s social worker to knock on a door and spend quality social work. We need the full picture to ensure that, as face-to-face time with that vulnerable family and the my hon. Friend rightly says, social workers are not hung child. The social worker would then be able to make an out to dry when there is systemic failure and a lack of informed decision as to whether intervention was required support for often young and inexperienced people who and at what level, rather than trying to second-guess it are doing their best. We need to ensure that the true from a computer screen or from papers a long distance picture is seen so that people are not made scapegoats away in an office. when they are not personally at fault. Serious case reviews should consider and analyse such questions in order to draw conclusions and make Tim Loughton: My hon. Friend makes a valid point. recommendations. That cannot be properly communicated We know that part of the problem is the huge case load in the space of an 11-page executive summary, whether placed on social workers, particularly those in child or not it is called comprehensive, and that is the sort of protection, and the worryingly high vacancy rates, which thing that we need to know. on average exceed 15 per cent. across various authorities, but in others, particularly those in London, are as high John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD): Does as 40 per cent. Newly qualified social workers, with the hon. Gentleman agree that the absence of more hardly any on-the-job training in often complex and detail in serious case reviews makes it difficult to look sensitive child protection work, are thrown in at the for patterns? It is the analysis of patterns that is key in deep end with really challenging cases. However, social identifying the circumstances where intervention is necessary. work is not a science or a clear case of black and white; He is probably aware of Birmingham’s analysis, from it involves experience, intuition and sensitivity—qualities which the council found that judgment was very poor. that one cannot learn just from a book, but must learn We need to analyse patterns, and for that we need on the job, preferably alongside a mentor who has years detailed serious case reviews. of experience to pass on. Tim Loughton: The hon. Gentleman is right. It is no The morale of social workers has been so undermined, good just looking at a serious case review in isolation, partly because of those high-profile tragic cases, that though we need to do that in full. If there are clear there is a serious problem with people going into social systemic weaknesses affecting many children’s services work. We have expressed serious reservations about the departments, that is a serious job for central Government standard of training that many social workers receive; to undertake, rather than a localised issue for a local about the entry qualifications, which need to be higher, authority. One of my amendments, which I shall come for a social work degree; about the low pass mark to later, deals with analysing the work of local safeguarding required to obtain that degree; and about the lack of children boards, which refers to the hon. Gentleman’s on-the-job training for social work graduates. point. That is why back in 2007, in the report that the There have been objections to the publication of Conservative party commissioned on the role of children’s serious case reviews, along the lines that social workers social workers, we made specific recommendations about would be compromised in their work if the reviews were newly qualified social workers and raising the standard published in full, or that the identity of the children and of training. I am pleased to say that at long last 187 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 188

[Tim Loughton] In new clause 1, we suggest that following the death of a child in connection with local children’s services, Moira Gibb’s social worker task force has taken on there should be an initial review within 72 hours, and board many of those recommendations, but they should then a full-blown serious case review commissioned by have been taken on a long time before we reached this an author approved by a body established by the Secretary desperate impasse. of State under an order made by statutory instrument. There is a further question. Why would social workers It would then be incumbent on the local safeguarding not want to co-operate with a serious case review that children board to publish the serious case review in full, was going to be published in full? Why would they not excluding any information that might lead to the want to co-operate with an investigation, when their identification of living parties. profession may or may not be at fault in the tragic Subsection (2) refers to the authorship of such serious death of a vulnerable child? However anonymous and case reviews, because another issue comes up when we unpublicised serious case reviews are at the moment, look at how they are commissioned. At the moment, it that did not stop the names of key players in the baby is up to the local safeguarding children board to find an Peter case and other tragic cases being splashed all over author for a serious case review and commission him or the front pages of certain newspapers. It did not stop her to produce the report, which is then written and the identity of culprits and, indeed, of children and submitted to the board. siblings being exposed and made available in a matter of We need to ensure that the professionalism, probity seconds on the internet. and independence of serious case reviews are protected Clearly, it should be possible to publish a full serious if they are to be meaningful, credible and effective case review without compromising the identity of the documents. The trouble is that after the baby Peter case, key players involved. That is why our amendments are Ofsted produced a report revealing that, at that stage, heavily subjected to key caveats: first, that serious case no fewer than 41 per cent. of the serious case reviews reviews should be published in full only where such that were being produced on behalf of local safeguarding publication did not compromise the welfare of surviving children boards were unsatisfactory. The quality of the children or siblings, and it would have to be shown that reviews was seriously called into question. that was the case; secondly, that those serious case reviews would be duly anonymised; and thirdly, that 5pm they would be appropriately redacted where that was necessary, say, to protect the identity and sensitivities of I have spoken to a number of authors of serious case surviving children and families. reviews—professionals and academics who are regularly We have researched widely how we think that the new called on to write them. There is at least anecdotal system should be structured. After deliberations with evidence that in some cases vested interests can operate social workers, directors of children’s services, departments in the preparation of reviews. The LSCB appoints a of social work, academics and others, we think that a familiar author to produce a serious case review, in the practical and suitable way ahead is to base the model of hope that they will not condemn too heavily the local publication of serious case reviews on the practice that authority in the care of which a child has been killed. has existed for many years in mental health homicide The author of the review wants repeat business from the reviews. Mental health homicide reviews are published local authority, and so may go light on their criticism of in full, with various names of individuals anonymised—they it. I am not saying that that practice is widespread—I may refer to “Dr. A”or “Nurse B”—and they are made certainly hope not—but there is clear potential for a widely available. It is generally agreed that they are conflict of interest. Given the depths to which confidence good, thorough learning tools from which a much in the whole system has sunk, we need to do more to wider constituency of professionals can learn from the safeguard the credibility and probity of serious case mistakes that have been made and determine what reviews. changes to the system, locally or nationally, need to be That is why we suggest in our new clauses and made to try to avoid their happening in future. amendments that when a serious case review is required, The mental health homicide review into the tragic the LSCB should request an author from a centrally killing of Jonathan Zito ran to 177 pages. It was a held register of professional SCR authors. The Secretary tragic, but thorough and worthwhile report. One could of State should appoint a body to hold that register of contrast that with the 16-page executive summary on authors—a similar but rather beefed-up version of a the death of baby Peter, which was found not to be system of expert witnesses who can be called upon to worth the paper it was written on and had to be rewritten appear in court. That body would be responsible for after the whole case came to light back in November. ensuring that the authors on its register came up to Why cannot we use a model, if not based on, then scratch, that they had the necessary qualifications, and certainly much closer to, that which already exists and that they were monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure has worked perfectly well for many years for mental that the quality of their work was up to scratch. health homicides? The practice in those cases is that I do not really mind what that body is. It might be a following a murder involving a patient who has recently children’s charity such as Barnardo’s, or it might be the been treated by the local mental health service, there Local Government Association, for example. Indeed, must be an immediate investigation to identify what the various local authorities across London have already urgent action needs to be taken within 72 hours—a been using a pool system of serious case review authors succinct internal investigation that is urgently done and to call upon. If we had such a system, the reports that urgently acted on. That is followed up by a much were produced would be much more likely to be above longer—in the Zito case, 177 pages—in-depth review, reproach. We desperately need such a change to restore which is then published, subject to the various caveats confidence in the whole system. If the reports were then about protecting anonymity, and so on. put in the public domain, so that all interested parties 189 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 190 could see the full chronology of events, the full cast of question regarding the Data Protection Act 1998, which characters involved, duly anonymised, and where the specifically requires that information is collected for a lines of weakness lay and action was specifically required, specified purpose, because under the clauses, nothing we could be confident that they were objective, thorough will be specified. May we have more detail about specified and professional. purposes? On what grounds, for example, could an agency I have some sympathy with proposals that an action withhold information? Could it withhold information if plan should be included with a serious case review, it believed that there was a risk of breaking the requiring a subsequent audit of measures taken that confidentiality of a child, a pupil or a patient? The were recommended in the review. That is proposed in CRAE has further said that any sharing of information new clause 21, tabled by the Liberal Democrats, with by public bodies must be necessary, proportionate and which I have a good deal of sympathy. It is no good just in the pursuit of a legitimate aim in order to comply producing a serious case review, published or not, if it with human rights law. The question of whether the does not result in action. There is no formal checking clauses as they are structured comply with that is a mechanism at the moment, and there will not be one serious one. even if the changes that were discussed in the Government’s The final tranche of proposals in this group is made December document about having some sort of subsequent up of amendments 46, 47 and 48. Amendment 46 audit are put in place. would require the Secretary of State, by regulations, to make provisions for Ofsted to conduct reviews of LSCBs’ Annette Brooke (Mid-Dorset and North Poole) (LD): performance of their specified functions. Clause 30 Does the hon. Gentleman agree with the point made in provides that the Secretary of State new clause 21 that the assessment of compliance should “may by regulations make provision”. be independent? This is an old favourite in Committees—although we did not have the opportunity to make the argument Tim Loughton: Absolutely. That is entirely in harmony there this time—because we think that “may” should with the approach in our proposals. We need a very become “will”. Questions have been raised about the clear wall between the commissioners and the authors way in which local safeguarding children boards operate. of reports. For the same reason, we need to ensure that For example, there is confusion about the boards’ exact whoever comes in subsequently to conduct an audit has role and purpose vis-à-vis children’s trusts. After the no agenda of their own or conflict of interest. However, baby Peter affair, the Secretary of State made changes that could still mean someone whose name is held on to the composition of LSCBs which amounted to adding the register that we are proposing. Someone with the two lay members, but I am not sure how that improved professionalism, background and training to carry out their quality other than by increasing the size of the initial SCRs could also carry out the audit to find out tables around which the boards sit. I worry that any whether a review had been acted upon. The answer to decisions that LSCBs make will always be subject to the the hon. Lady is yes—her proposal is very much along lowest common denominator. the same lines as ours. I have serious qualms about Ofsted’s ability to inspect Amendments 35 to 38 and 40 to 45 have the support children’s social care departments, because there is a of a number of outside organisations, notably the General severe shortage of children’s social care experts working Medical Council, the British Medical Association and for, or on the board of, Ofsted, but the operation of the Children’s Rights Alliance for England. Clauses 28 LSCBs needs to be examined on a better defined and and 29, to which the amendments would apply, are very more regimented basis. If it is to be the inspecting body, widely drawn in that they establish a statutory obligation Ofsted should also review the effectiveness of LSCBs as to provide information to LSCBs for any or all of their a whole. Are they working properly and how do they functions. That could include the release of confidential interact with other agencies? That is the purpose of information about children, parents, siblings or, in a amendment 48. We suggest that LSCBs should be able clinical context, patients. I have a deal of sympathy with to name and shame those agencies that, for example, the GMC and the BMA, which are concerned that if have not co-operated with them in the compilation of people are statutorily obliged to provide information to serious case reviews. That is the flipside to the earlier an LSCB, when the purpose for which that information amendments that we tabled about the supply of information is required is not made clear, there is a serious risk to for serious case reviews. patient confidentiality.In addition, the CRAE has expressed The amendment also has another purpose. As matters fears about the breaching of child confidentiality, stand, Ofsted does not inspect the way in which agencies particularly regarding information given by one child work with each other in child protection. Clearly, a about another. The requirement included in clauses 28 common feature of the failings that lead to serious case and 29 is very wide ranging, and we therefore think it reviews is the weaknesses in inter-agency working. We should be modified. Our amendments would specify think that Ofsted needs to look at that area of child that such information could be required only in so far protection and the operation of LSCBs much more as it can be shown to be necessary for the compilation carefully. Joined-up working is always an important of an SCR, and on an anonymised basis. part of the process and too often it is one of the failings I have some questions for the Minister. I would be that contribute to the tragedies that we see. grateful if he could say why the clauses are so widely Those are the four sets of amendments within this drafted. Is that a further response to the Laming review, group. I have some sympathy with the new clause tabled because the measures seem to go well beyond the scope by the Liberal Democrats about serious case reviews, envisaged in his second review of last year? Will the but they have also tabled new clause 10 on the definition Minister define more closely the circumstances in which of reasonable punishment. Children’s Bills, in my experience such information will be required? There is also a in the last nine years in which I have been dealing with 191 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 192

[Tim Loughton] Some time ago, we had a briefing from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which them, would not be complete without somebody trying remains concerned about the full publication of serious to hijack them by imposing anti-smacking provisions, case reviews. However, it made several proposals that it and this Bill is no different. True to form, that is what thought would improve the process, including working new clause 10 seeks to do. I make no comment on the on the summaries, improving the quality of the serious suitability of the new clause, other than to say that I am case reviews and putting in a compliance or audit aware of the technical problem about the operation of check so that an arm’s length body can pick up on certain religious organisations that have genuine concerns recommendations and check up on subsequent action about whether corporal punishment may be used. However, 12 months after publication. I am also aware that the Secretary of State requested, in Just before we came into the Chamber today, my hon. his letter on 28 January, that Sir Roger Singleton look Friend the Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) picked up a into that matter in more detail. Given that we are letter that we had been sent. The letter is from the awaiting the outcome of his deliberations, there is even Secretary of State to the NSPCC. No doubt, in due more reason why, in this case— course we will hear on the Floor of the House exactly how the Government propose to improve serious case Mr. Laws: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? reviews. The letter says that the Government will try to Tim Loughton: I will. improve confidence in the quality of serious case reviews. Ofsted seems to have been put in charge of that, even 5.15 pm though we are not yet that confident of its operation in the realm of children’s services. Mr. Laws: I think that the hon. Gentleman is saying— although he might be hiding behind the Secretary of Compliance reports should be made publicly available, State—that the Conservative party supports looking at setting out the actions to be taken in response to serious the anomaly of Sunday schools and madrassahs. Is that case reviews, but there is no indication that anyone will what he is saying? take an independent look at compliance. The reason why I want to emphasise that point is that subsection (2) Tim Loughton: I said it quite clearly: I said that the of new clause 21, standing in my name and that of my Government have already asked Sir Roger Singleton to hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil, highlights the need look into the matter, because there are genuine concerns for independence in checking the responses to a serious that need to be looked at. However, I do not know case review. The letter to the NSPCC also refers to the whether those genuine concerns will turn out to be real NSPCC’s desire that executive summaries should be or whether they will require action and the sort of new improved. It is therefore interesting that even now the clause that has been put forward. I would like to wait Government are not going the whole way and are not for the evidence, which I think is the Government’s even responding to the NSPCC’s concerns about putting position. When we have the report, which is due by the that independence into the equation. end of March—I think that is the time scale—we can I thank the Secretary of State for allowing me to read make an informed decision about whether any action is the serious case review on the Edlington boys. I read it required. My response to the Liberal Democrat new on behalf of my hon. Friend, and I have to say that I clause, therefore, is that it is premature—to put it kindly— was genuinely surprised at how I felt after reading it. because none of us really knows at this stage whether it Members who are present are well aware that I work is required. I would prefer to wait for the evidence closely with the NSPCC and that I am really concerned before making a judgment. about child protection. However, I can put my hand on I realise that I have spoken for some time, Mr. Deputy my heart and say that I came out of the room—my Speaker. I very much commend the new clauses in the locked room—after reading the review and I thought name of my hon. Friends and myself. In particular, I that pages and pages of it should become compulsory commend the key new clause—new clause 1—which reading for anybody working in the children’s work would offer a fundamentally different approach to how force, including teachers and children’s social workers. I we produce, publish and learn from serious case reviews was surprised at my reaction. in the future. Quite frankly, after the high-profile tragedies The review was leaked, of course, to the BBC and the that we have had, nothing less will do if we are remotely press. I will quote from them, rather than from my serious about restoring confidence in the child protection recollection, so that I do not reveal anything. There system in this country. were 31 occasions on which nine different agencies Annette Brooke: I, too, shall commence my remarks failed to act on the two brothers, aged 10 and 11, who by talking about serious case reviews. The hon. Member were convicted of torturing and leaving two boys for for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) reminds dead. That is 31 occasions on which there were us that we are approaching the 10th anniversary of communication problems, and there are other examples— Victoria Climbié’s death. It is a time to reflect on how Pearl Harbour is a classic example—of where all the much has been learned. If we look at the history of signals were there but nobody put them together. In serious case reviews, we will see that Ofsted has judged order to learn something we have to go through the that the quality of a very large proportion has been communication failures. Trainee workers need to read unsatisfactory. In many cases, the summaries have been all the points that were missed. criticised for not reflecting the issues behind the cases, Of course it is easy to be clever in hindsight—I am and their timeliness has been incredibly suspect, with not making judgments about the people involved—but many occasions on which one has waited for years after the lessons were there for training the work force. I say a shocking event. There are also doubts about Ofsted that with some passion, because I am surprised that I and its inspections within the children’s services framework. now feel even more strongly that we should start from 193 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 194 the premise that we publish as much of the serious case sharing. Also, they do not take on board the fact that, if review as we can without harming members of the other functions are to be carried out properly, they will family or other individuals who might be involved. I, require the information to be shared fully. too, picked up the points about the fuller publication of serious case reviews, which the British Association of Tim Loughton: In what cases does the hon. Lady Social Workers is supporting. think it would be legitimate to place a statutory I ask the Government today to reconsider the issue. I responsibility on various agencies to provide information am not here to make political points: when I read that to an LSCB? How would she address a situation in serious case review, I was staggered by the things in it which a doctor chose not to co-operate with an LSCB— that should be revealed to people already in the work under their Hippocratic oath, or whatever—because force and those entering it. We cannot move on unless they felt that there would otherwise be a breach of we learn those lessons. We on the Liberal Democrat patient confidentiality? What penalty would she apply Benches will therefore support the Conservatives’ new in such a situation, and how on earth would she impose it? clause 1. We would have liked to combine it with our proposals, but the point will be made that if we are to Annette Brooke: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his learn the lessons, there is a strong case for making more intervention, because it takes me on to amendment 88, information public. which was tabled by the Liberal Democrats. In it, we try I understand from reading the serious case review to tackle that issue in a slightly different way. It proposes: from Edlington that it was the eighth such review that “Provision must be made for appeals by those persons who Doncaster had carried out in recent years. This leads me consider it to be unreasonable or improper to supply the specified to ask what lessons have been learned from the previous information to the Local Safeguarding Children Board under this cases, given that they have not been published. Not very section.” many, it seems. Of course I take on board the enormous That seems to cover the point that was just raised. My pressures on social workers, the lack of training and the request is for the Government to take this back and high case loads, but if we picked up all those elements have another long look at it. The Bill is drafted too with total transparency, it would lead to a bigger widely at the moment, and it is going to need quite a lot commitment from society to addressing the deficiencies of work—and, I suggest, consultation—to get this right. in the system rather than the people. We are therefore We offer one solution through an appeals process. absolutely convinced that we need to move in completely the opposite direction. We cannot improve matters by a 5.30 pm drip, drip, drip method of doing a bit more here and there. We need to start from the other end. Let us Briefly, amendment 90 is designed to strengthen the publish as much as we can without risking injury to inspectorate process by changing the “may” to “shall”. anyone and without damaging reputations, perhaps of I want to move on to new clause 10, which hon. Members members of the wider family. will not be surprised to hear that I want to discuss. I should like to touch on the Conservatives’ amendments 35 to 45. I, too, looked at the representations Tim Loughton: Before the hon. Lady does so, I wish from the British Medical Association and the General to point out that we seem to have a huge difference in Medical Council; what sensible representations they our amendments, as we have changed “may” to “will”, were. In clause 28, proposed new section 14B(2) states: while she has changed “may” to “shall”—but I suspect “The first condition is that the request is made for the purpose that we are on the same side. Will the hon. Lady of enabling or assisting the Board to perform its functions.” elaborate a little more an amendment 88, as I asked her That seems a very wide request. I looked at the Bill’s about what would happen if someone refused to co-operate, explanatory notes on the clause, but they left me none and I am not quite sure how her appeals system will the wiser—[Interruption.] IamrelievedthatIamnot work or who will police it? the only one who thought that they confused the issue, rather than clarifying it. Annette Brooke: I thought that I had answered the Although I quite understand the point that members hon. Gentleman by suggesting that there could be an of the medical profession are making—and I agree that appeal mechanism. [Interruption.] I am quite comfortable the Government need to look again at this part of the with the need to amend the Bill, and I hope the Government Bill as it makes its progress through the other place—I will take the lead on it, but we will need consultation on am concerned that the Conservative amendments would the details of how it will work. It cannot be right to narrow the options down too much. I believe that local share information only in respect of serious case reviews, safeguarding children boards will need to share information as the Conservatives suggest, because there are many on issues other than just the serious case reviews. Those other instances where it will be necessary, as I am sure reviews might well be the most important aspect of the that the Secretary of State will tell us. Equally, I cannot work, but they take place after something has gone believe that every single function of the safeguarding wrong, and LSCBs should also be involved in prevention. children board will require such sharing of information. Information should be shared, for example, in cases of I share the concerns already expressed by the Children’s child abuse and the sexual exploitation of children. A Rights Alliance about how children themselves will feel serious case review might have been undertaken on one about the sharing of information. It is always one of my member of a family, but information about another great concerns whether children and young people will member of that family—baby P’s sister, for example—might seek help from organisations if they feel that information also need to be shared. about them is going to be shared. Doctors sometimes I acknowledge what the Conservative amendments work confidentially in the best interests of the child, but are trying to do, but they have been drafted too narrowly the child might not seek help if they felt that the to achieve the necessary improvements in information information was going to be shared. 195 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 196

The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and children in the remaining voluntary settings. Professionals Families (Ed Balls): I am listening carefully to the and concerned Muslims, for example, have found it concerns raised by the hon. Lady—and, indeed, the difficult to persuade parents or children to make complaints hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim about the use of physical punishment. As long ago as Loughton)—that some practitioners, such as GPs, might 2006, the leader of the Muslim Parliament of Great not be willing to share information, because of the Britain said the Muslim community was in a state of potential breach of parent confidentiality. Does she not denial over child mistreatment in madrassahs, and that think, however, that GPs might be more reluctant to it was an unacceptable dereliction of duty not to protect share information in the compilation of a serious case those children for fear of being accused of cultural review if they thought that it was going to be made insensitivity. The issue has arisen because the concern public? Would that not make it less likely that GPs was expressed by the Muslim Parliament. Madrassahs would co-operate with the process for the very reasons are estimated to run nearly 1,600 part-time, weekend or put forward by both Opposition Front-Bench teams, evening Islamic schools, teaching as many as 200,000 which seem wholly to contradict the argument that they children overall. made about the publication of serious case reviews? Mr. William Cash (Stone) (Con): New clause 10 Annette Brooke: It is extremely important to change states: the culture when it comes to co-operation on serious “Only a person with parental responsibility for a child within case reviews. I find astounding the suggestion that the meaning of section 3 of the Children Act 1989 can justify professionals will hold back, as it is part of their job or battery of the child on the ground that it constituted reasonable their oath to their profession not to do so. As to the punishment.” confidential aspects, we are talking about redacting and I may have missed something that the hon. Lady has anonymising where appropriate. We are talking about just said, but I understood her to say that all the people two different cases here, and I question whether we whom she listed should be totally prohibited from carrying really need to share information about all the functions. out any kind of physical punishment. Surely It is for the Secretary of State to respond to that point “Only a person with parental responsibility” in due course. means that those with parental responsibility would Let me move on to new clause 10. If it had not been indeed be able to carry out such actions. I think that the tabled in the first place, we would not be where we are hon. Lady is faced with a slight dilemma, or contradiction. now. Tabling it was therefore an extremely important Perhaps she could explain her position. step. It had already been tabled when, on Second Reading, the Secretary of State said: Annette Brooke: It is true that many people think “The use of physical punishment against any child is wrong; it smacking should be banned across the board, but that is outside the law and is not fair to children. I do not think that we view has been tested in this House. More recently, should tolerate any use of physical punishment in any school or however, a gap in the current legislation has been identified. learning setting in which trusted adults are supposed to be looking after children”.—[Official Report, 11 January 2010; Vol. 503, This new clause is not an attempt to rehearse the old c. 434.] arguments; rather, it is intended to be a positive contribution That resulted in the contact with Sir Roger Singleton, to achieving the ambition of ensuring that our children who said in a letter dated 27 January 2010: are protected. Many people would like it to go further, of course, but the framework here is fairly narrow, and I “I have given this matter some urgent thought and I do think think there will be evidence that this is necessary—certainly, there are issues that warrant further exploration.” such evidence has already been provided to us. If the new clause had not been tabled, we would not have reached our present position. Mr. Cash: The hon. Lady’s new clause states that I am very pleased that the Government have asked persons Sir Roger Singleton to review the use of physical punishment “with parental responsibility for a child within the meaning in part-time education and learning settings, but I am of…the Children Act 1989 can justify battery of the child on the worried about the time frame. I accept that it will take ground that it constituted reasonable punishment.” some time to view the issue thoroughly, but, not surprisingly, Is she saying nobody should be able to give any reasonable those of us who are concerned about the issue fear that physical punishment to a child? What I want to understand if Sir Roger’s response arrives at the end of March, it is whether this is absolute or qualified. will not be possible to make much progress. Can the Secretary of State outline a projected timetable? Annette Brooke: I thought that I had made it clear We should bear in mind that teachers are an example that this new clause tackles a particular area that we of adults in loco parentis. Most teachers are prohibited think has been overlooked and has not been addressed by law from using corporal punishment, but there appears by previous amendments. This new clause builds, however, to be a gap, in that the prohibition does not apply to on a Government amendment from the last time we teachers providing less than 12.5 hours of education a debated this, which spoke about a justification in terms week. Sports coaches, Sunday school teachers, madrassah of reasonable punishment, and I am sure the hon. teachers, youth workers, private foster carers, babysitters, Gentleman will recall that there was a great deal of nannies and unmarried partners are also in loco parentis discussion about that. when they have care and control of children. We have moved the agenda forward, but there is still a We should bear in mind that physical punishment has general issue about whether physical punishment should already been banned in other voluntary provision, such be allowed. More specifically, we currently have a situation as early years centres, child-minding, private education in which one group of teachers is banned from using and part-time education of 12.5 hours or more a week. physical punishment while another group of teachers is Surely there is no justification for failing to protect not, and that should be addressed. 197 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 198

I should also point out that there may be physical contents of new clause 1. However, I acknowledge that punishment in some Christian Sunday schools. Also, of the recent changes made to the workings of serious case course, beliefs that children can be witches or be possessed reviews and local safeguarding children boards by my by evil spirits and need to be physically punished are right hon. Friend the Secretary of State are also important prevalent in certain African Christian churches in the and ought to be mentioned. I am talking about the fact UK—the Victoria Climbié case falls into that category. that the boards should have an independent chair—that In respect of part-time teachers, concerns have been is one deficiency that I can see in the matters to which I raised about children being abused by sports trainers. I wish to refer—and that two lay people should be members am sure such cases are rare exceptions, but we should of these boards. I have met people from my local board have consistency. to discuss the matters to which I wish to refer, so I am able to say that those lay people might find themselves Mr. Timpson: Will the hon. Lady give way? in a difficult position. If they are to be effective, they will require a great deal of support, back-up and extra Annette Brooke: I think that I have given way enough. bureaucratic and research capacity in order to have the We believe the most practical reform in this context is confidence to raise issues as the only lay members in a to amend section 58 of the Children Act 2004. The body that is otherwise dominated by professionals. My Government introduced that measure the last time we Front-Bench colleagues may wish to refer to that later. discussed this, and it was a compromise. We want the I have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with defence of reasonable punishment to be available only two serious case reviews into the deaths of children. to those with parental responsibility. One related to a constituency case where a baby burned Mr. Timpson: Will the hon. Lady give way? to death in a property. The baby’s mother had a history of mental illness and other difficulties. At first she said Annette Brooke: I am about to conclude, but I shall that people from the neighbourhood had come into the give way once more. house and burned it down—hon. Members will appreciate how damaging that was to the local community—but Mr. Timpson: I am very grateful to the hon. Lady for subsequently it became clear that she was responsible giving way. Where a child is in the care of a local for the death of the child, which triggered the serious authority and it shares parental responsibility with the case review. parents, who within the local authority would be categorised The executive summary of the serious case review, as the person with parental responsibility for the child which is all that we now know about the case, rehearses who can therefore justify battery? Also, a child might be the connections that this young woman had with a in the care of a local authority, and there might be court number of agencies. It also makes it clear that at the proceedings that will inevitably result in the parental birth of her baby, her attitude changed and she was a responsibility of the parents being taken away, yet there devoted and careful mother. Research carried out later, might still be some contact between child and parents. which came to my attention and was brought about by How would that anomaly be addressed? the Department for Children, Schools and Families, leads me to think that this is a classic case of what is 5.45 pm known in the research field as “start again syndrome”. I Annette Brooke: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his am grateful to the research commissioned by my right intervention and see the point that he is getting at. I can hon. Friend the Secretary of State for that discovery. clarify part of it by saying that foster carers who are The executive summary of the case review concludes: employed by the state are not allowed to administer “Despite the indications of risk to” physical punishment—there is an anomaly there in respect of private foster carers. I think that that partially answers the baby his point. Obviously there is a concern, which he has “which are evident with the benefit of hindsight, it should be justifiably raised, about situations involving a degree of acknowledged that he had been a wanted and well cared for baby. parental responsibility, and I accept that I would need His mother was selective in deciding which information she to seek further clarification on that specific point. divulged to each agency and in deciding which help she would accept…The events which led to” I tabled this new clause to keep the matter in front of the baby’s the Government’s eyes. There is an anomaly, the Government have not been able to introduce a better “death were unpredictable and, as such, could not have been form of words and the organisation that suggested the prevented.” new clause took pretty senior legal advice on the When I came to read that some months later, I was phrasing—the new clause received serious consideration deeply troubled by the idea that events that are unpredictable at that level. The point of proposing the new clause is to cannot be prevented. That is a leap of logic no one ensure that this important issue stays in the public eye, concerned with risk assessment procedures could very as we do not want it to disappear during an election easily accept. campaign. The reason why I am speaking at length When I looked further into the matter, I discovered today is because I want this Government to promise to that at the very moment that the executive summary address this serious issue. was released, the local authority issued a press release, embargoed to the time of the release of the executive Jim Cousins: I do not intend to detain the House for summary, which began in this fashion: long, and I wish to address my remarks entirely to new clause 1 and related issues. As a result of my experience “A review following the unlawful killing of baby” of serious case reviews in my city, I am extremely X sympathetic to the case made by the hon. Member for “by his mother has found that his death could not have been East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) and the prevented.” 199 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 200

[Jim Cousins] Ed Balls: The hon. Gentleman has just set out the current legal position with 100 per cent. accuracy. That is, in itself, an extraordinary interpretation of the remarks in the executive summary. The press release, in Mr. Cash: That, if I may say so, is something that we turn, was accompanied by a statement issued by the need to discuss. The Liberal Democrat proposal in new author of the serious case review, the first sentence of clause 10 would amend the Children Act 2004, and which read: presumably the Government have a view on that— “The events which led to” [Interruption.] The Liberal Democrats’ chief spokesman, the baby’s the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws), indicates that “death were unpredictable and, as such, could not have been he is not at all sure that the Government have a view on prevented.” this, but we shall see in due course whether they do. The I find the fact that the three documents were issued Government introduced the Children Act 2004, and the within the same time frame quite disturbing as an Liberal Democrats propose to amend section 58 of it, account of that set of circumstances. I was even more which deals with the question of reasonable punishment concerned when I discovered the same phrases—expressing and represents the Government’s position in law at the the idea that things that could not be predicted could moment. not be prevented—being mentioned in other serious case reviews in other parts of the country, almost as Mr. Laws: It might help the hon. Gentleman to know, though there was a culture of offering up such phraseology as he might not have been aware of the context earlier, as a justification for the events that had taken place. I that when my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Dorset am extremely concerned by that. and North Poole (Annette Brooke) was referring to the I looked further into the case and discovered that Secretary of State, it was in the context of his response both serious case reviews carried out within a year to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer), and a concerning the death of children were carried out by the question about whether the specific loophole concerning same person, who was the regional chair of a charity educational settings should be closed. that received grant aid from the local authority that was running the local safeguarding children board. I am Mr. Cash: I understand that but, as I may be able to troubled by that. Let me make it clear that the lady who explain as I move into the argument, the law on this authored the two serious case reviews did not receive subject is perhaps a little more complex than the hon. any benefit as a result of the grant aid. I make no Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole suggested. suggestion of anything like that, but none the less I am Let me go back to what I was saying. The Liberal troubled by the idea that two serious case reviews in the Democrats propose to insert a new provision in section 58 same time frame can be carried out by the same person of the Children Act 2004. For the purposes of the who is also acting in a lay and voluntary capacity and amendment, it may be described as subsection (4A). receiving a grant from the local authority that supports After subsection (4), the following words would appear: the local safeguarding children board. I do not think “Only a person with parental responsibility for a child”— that that survives any valid test of proper independence. I emphasise the phrase “parental responsibility”— I am troubled by these matters, as well as by the “within the meaning of section 3 of the Children Act 1989 can phrases that express the idea that things that were not justify battery of the child on the ground that it constituted predictable could not have been prevented—if we applied reasonable punishment.” them to other matters with which this House deals, we The Secretary of State nods his head—that is the statement would all be very troubled by them. I am concerned contained in the new clause proposed by the Liberal about these matters, which lead me to the conclusion Democrats. It clearly infers—I want to get this out of that new clause 1 points us in the right direction, and so the way—that those with parental responsibility for a I am inclined to support it. I hope that what my right child, within that meaning, could justify the battery of a hon. Friend the Secretary of State says in his speech will child on the ground that it constituted reasonable lead me to a different conclusion, but that is where punishment. The question that we must address is whether matters stand. those in the list that the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset Mr. Cash: I want to confine my remarks to new and North Poole read out—sports coaches, madrassahs, clause 10, and the issue of reasonable punishment. With nannies and certain people in loco parentis—would fall respect to the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North within that category. Poole (Annette Brooke), I have to say that I found her explanation somewhat confusing. She started out by Ed Balls indicated dissent. invoking the Secretary of State and his statements in the context of a letter from Sir Roger Singleton, which 6pm will be followed up by a review, saying that the Secretary Mr. Cash: The Secretary of State indicates that they of State—he is sitting on the Front Bench now, so he can would not fall within that category. For the purposes of correct me, and the hon. Lady, if he was misrepresented— what I understand to have been an exchange of letters said that the use of physical punishment was wrong, followed by a review by Sir Roger Singleton, the question and that there should be none in schools at all. I do not would turn on whether teachers would be prohibited know whether he wants to take the opportunity to from taking certain actions. confirm whether that is the correct analysis of what he has in mind. He is sitting there, but he is not listening— Ed Balls indicated dissent. Ed Balls rose— Mr. Cash: Perhaps the Secretary of State would be Mr. Cash: He is listening. Good. Is that what he said? kind enough to explain the situation. 201 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 202

Ed Balls: This is a rather frustrating exchange, parentis. That is our concern, and that is what the Mr. Deputy Speaker. When the hon. Gentleman has amendment seeks to address. I was nodding only because finished speaking I will explain the position. I cannot I think that we agree on the problem. Obviously, we are do that at sufficient length in an intervention, but I shall anxious to get on to discussing solutions. be happy to clarify the position for him as soon as he allows me to. Mr. Cash: That is where I am about to move to, but we needed to identify the parameters before moving to Mr. Cash: I am grateful to the Secretary of State for questions of substance and merit. It is arguable that his comments, and I shall listen to what he has to say in there are circumstances in which people in loco parentis— due course. The argument of the hon. Member for that includes not just parents, but people with parental Mid-Dorset and North Poole struck me as being somewhat responsibility, so it is a reasonably wide category—should confusing, but no doubt we will find out from the be able to take certain actions. The question is whether Secretary of State what he intends to lay down, although teachers and those in similar positions of responsibility the amendment is not his. This is where the confusion should have the right in certain circumstances to take arises: unfortunately, the Government have not made a such action as would be available to a person in loco proposal, and things seem to be being done vicariously parentis, and whether they could therefore be justified through the Liberal Democrats’amendment. [Interruption.] in taking action that would amount to what one might I can see the Secretary of State’s frustration, so I shall call, in round language, reasonable chastisement. give him another opportunity to speak. [Interruption.] I am sure that the Secretary of State knows that there He says that he does not need it—fine. are problems in schools. Evidence has recently been The legal effect of section 58 of the 2004 Act—it presented to me of teachers being subjected to extremely might be helpful for the Secretary of State to listen to difficult circumstances, including violent behaviour. We this—is to remove the defence of reasonable punishment must ask whether there should be a blanket prohibition in any charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, on certain actions, without regard to the circumstances or of wounding and causing grievous bodily harm, of the parent or other person in loco parentis. The under the Offences against the Person Act 1861, or in definition of children includes not only five, six and any charge of cruelty to a child under the Children and seven-year-olds, but older children who might be described Young Persons Act 1933. I think that we all want to as youths. That applies not only to boys; I regret to say avoid any disproportionate treatment, chastisement or that these days it might also apply to girls. In some cases punishment of a child that falls within the category of a a school, or another establishment of the kind to which charge of cruelty, wounding or grievous bodily harm. the Secretary of State and I agree that the rule might The problem arises in the context of case law and the apply, might be in such a state that the person who is interaction between that case law, the Human Rights charged with maintaining discipline might not be able Act 1998 and the European convention on human to run things. I have heard from supply teachers, fairly rights, which I shall discuss in a moment. recently, that they have found it absolutely impossible to The defence of reasonable punishment dates back to conduct any teaching in certain classrooms because of 1860, when the characteristics were spelt out by the the degree of bad behaviour and violence exhibited. judiciary because there were no relevant statutes at that Mrs. Ann Cryer (Keighley) (Lab): Is the hon. Gentleman time. In one case, Chief Justice Cockburn said: arguing for the reintroduction of corporal punishment “By the law of England, a parent...may for the purpose of in schools? Is he saying that the problems he is discussing correcting what is evil in the child, inflict moderate and reasonable would be solved if teachers could hit those kids? corporal punishment, always, however, with this condition, that it is moderate and reasonable.” Mr. Cash: I do not put it in quite such precise terms The legal position was that it was then left to the courts, as the hon. Lady would like to draw me into doing. I am or to juries, to decide what was moderate and reasonable deeply concerned about the shift, since 1998, when the in the view of an ordinary person in any particular case. new standards were introduced. I suspect, but I am not Of course, people’s views on such matters alter and absolutely certain, that it was connected with the evolve over time. introduction of the Human Rights Act 1998, which I I suspect that the Secretary of State well knows that shall discuss later. between 1860 and 2004, a parent who was charged with a crime relating to an assault on their child was able to Ed Balls: I am very sorry to disappoint the hon. raise the defence of reasonable punishment. However, Gentleman, but it was the Education Act 1996 that since the enactment of section 58 of the 2004 Act, that banned the use of corporal punishment in full-time defence cannot be used unless the defendant is charged maintained schools and full-time independent schools, only with common assault, the victim is a child, and the not any 1998 Act. It was not to do with human rights; it defendant is the parent of that child or is a person was to do with the Conservative Government of 1996 acting in loco parentis. doing the right thing—perhaps with, or perhaps without, his support. Ed Balls indicated assent. Mr. Cash: The short answer to that question is that, Mr. Cash: I am glad to see that we are now in as I said earlier, all such matters are subject to review in agreement. the light of the circumstances of the time. On the whole, one would rather not have corporal punishment in Ed Balls: The issue is whether a teacher in a Sunday schools, but teachers and those who observe these matters school or a madrassah should be able to claim the have wondered whether the prohibition against such reasonable punishment defence for the use of physical punishment is justified. That is an important question, punishment on the grounds that they are acting in loco as circumstances evolve. 203 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 204

Ed Balls: I hesitate to ask, but does the hon. Gentleman Section 58 and the amended Charging Standard mean that for recall whether he voted for or against the 1996 Act? Will any injury to a child caused by a parent or person acting in loco he take this opportunity to withdraw the charge that the parentis which amounts to more than a temporary reddening of current provision was driven by a human rights agenda—or the skin, and where the injury is more that transient and trifling, the defence of reasonable punishment is not available.” does he believe that that agenda had already gripped the Conservative Government back in 1996? In other words, reasonable punishment is permitted under the law and the prohibition against it is not Mr. Cash: The fact that the Human Rights Act was absolute. That is strange, as I had rather gathered from not passed until 1998 would not have prevented somebody the Secretary of State’s remarks that there was an from making a judgment based on the European convention absolute prohibition, yet the analysis that I have just on human rights in a case of the sort that I shall referred to makes it clear that there are circumstances in describe, because such a case could have gone to the which the law allows those in loco parentis to use Strasbourg Court. The fact that the Education Act was reasonable punishment. passed in 1996 not in 1998 does not matter that much, The question then arises: should that legal principle as the ECHR is the essence of the 1998 Act and the rule be applied in schools? That is the issue. I should be very of incompatibility means that our legislation can be interested to know whether the Secretary of State is overridden. prepared to go down that route, and whether he has any This debate goes back to a very important case in the idea of what the Singleton report will propose. Isle of Man that involved the use of the birch. I am not in favour of that by any means, as I regard the birch as Angela Watkinson (Upminster) (Con): Does my hon. completely unacceptable. What I seek is to determine is Friend acknowledge that school teachers are sometimes whether there is any kind of reasonable physical punishment in loco parentis? For example, when a pupil is violent that falls short of what we would all regard as unacceptable, towards a teacher, that teacher must defend himself or or whether there is an absolute and total bar on any herself, and restrain the pupil, without using any physical form of punishment that is physical, as opposed to one admonishment at all. That is a very difficult line to tread. that revolves around the writing of lines, exclusion and so on. Mr. Cash: That is exactly my point. I entirely agree I am asking these questions more to invite discussion that teachers are in a difficult position, and that it is than to seek a decision. The Singleton review has been easy to have a knee-jerk reaction either way. On the one referred to, and I hope that it will throw more light on hand, we can say that there must be absolutely no the matter. However, we are in Committee and we have physical punishment of any description; on the other a responsibility to consider— hand, however, we have to accept that there can be Madam Deputy Speaker (Sylvia Heal): Order. May I circumstances when it is impossible for a specific child remind the hon. Gentleman that we are not in Committee in a specific classroom to be treated in that way. but on Report? Mrs. Cryer: The hon. Gentleman is clearly very Mr. Cash: I understand that entirely, Madam Deputy knowledgeable on this subject. Has he done a great deal Speaker. However, the right hon. Gentleman is the of research? Is so, will he tell the House how often the Secretary of State with responsibility for education, defence of reasonable punishment has been used in and it is essential that we have proper discipline in court? schools. From the remarks that he has made from the Front Bench, and from the vicarious comments, it is Mr. Cash: It has been used in a great number of cases. clear that he would rule out any kind of physical As I said earlier, many of them turned on the application punishment, under any circumstances whatsoever. of the European convention on human rights through My own Front-Bench spokesmen might disagree with the European Court of Human Rights. One interesting me on this matter—if so, it would not be for the first case involved a person accused of engaging in unreasonable time—but I am inviting the Secretary of State to consider, behaviour vis-à-vis a child. The jury acquitted the person in his reply, whether there is an absolute ban on physical in question, but the case was then overridden by the punishment in schools. For example, if a school was European Court on the grounds of human rights. under siege by very violent pupils, is there absolutely no I find this a very difficult issue. A jury in a criminal question about the fact that no form of physical punishment case might conclude, on the basis of the evidence given, could be used by teachers? My question has to do not that the accused should be acquitted. However, when with the ECHR, but with what is needed in the interests the case is referred to the European Court, that Court of school discipline. can say that it does not care about a decision made It has become extremely unfashionable to suggest under English or UK law. The European Court can say, that there should be some form of physical retribution, “We have our principles and we’re going to apply them, and no one discusses whether that might be necessary. irrespective of other law.” In effect, it can override our By the sound of it, the matter is an absolute for the criminal law, and I find that very difficult to accept. Secretary of State, as it is for those who subscribe to the What has happened since—this is obviously part and ECHR. In my view, however, it is important to have a parcel of the proposed amendments to the Children proper and rational discussion of the question. Act 2004 as well—is that the Government have made an 6.15 pm assessment of the extent to which, as an absolute rule, The legal analysis to which I referred earlier also says there must be no infliction of any physical punishment that at all, whether reasonable or not. It appears that that “any injury sustained by a child which is serious enough to prohibition applies even when the punishment causes a warrant a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm mere reddening of the skin and is permissible according cannot be considered to be as the result of reasonable punishment. to the legal analysis to which I referred earlier. 205 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 206

Against that background, therefore, I am interested Mr. Cash: That was a very helpful intervention. in whether there is an absolute prohibition simply Ed Balls: I hope there is no confusion. If the hon. because it is prescribed under the arrangements for the Gentleman could clarify that there is no confusion, we European convention on human rights, which has would not be confused. effectively created a complete prohibition, overriding jury decisions in criminal trials, for example; whether it Mr. Cash: The Secretary of State is adopting the role is—to use an expression that comes up in this of Confused.com and trying to arbitrate in the matter. context—a matter of philosophical attitude, which is The question boils down to this: the European convention another thing and is discussed at some length in the on human rights and the United Nations convention on research materials that have been provided; or whether the rights of the child both contain, in effect, an evolving it is just a knee-jerk reaction, without reference to the prohibition on any kind of physical punishment at all. impact on the class, the other pupils in the school or That is the bottom line. I think I am right in saying that the teachers, and without reference to whether there is the hon. Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer) would violence against the teacher or against other children in agree with that. That is what she would want. the class. There are those who believe that in a school it is In other words, what is the principle that determines necessary sometimes, in certain circumstances, for some whether a perfectly reasonable form of punishment, degree of physical punishment to be available but not which is allowed in loco parentis, should be denied in necessarily used, and perhaps then only as a last resort—I the classroom? That is the question that needs to be would say definitely as a last resort—to enable the properly discussed. I have a feeling, although I might be balance of discipline within that school to be maintained. wrong, that the Secretary of State has taken an absolutist Certain children are so unruly and so violent in their position based on the research materials, which refer to behaviour towards the teachers and others in the classroom philosophical attitudes and so on. That may be unrealistic. that some form of physical punishment may be necessary. I appreciate that this is a very difficult subject. It will So we—I and those who think along similar lines—are be carefully observed that I am not making a categorical not anxious to permit any unreasonable punishment, statement, because I have great sympathy with those but where it is a legitimate course of action in loco who would want to keep punishment under severe parentis, I am searching for an answer to the question control, but I pose the question. I hope that when the why it is allowed in those circumstances, but not allowed Bill gets to the House of Lords, if it ever does, it will be in circumstances where there is violence in the classroom, considered against the background of the Singleton even against the teacher himself or herself. Why should letter plus the review, and in the light of the sort of teachers be denied the opportunity to carry out reasonable considerations that I have raised. punishment of the same kind as a person in loco The situation is nothing like as black and white as the parentis? That is what I think is important. Secretary of State or, if I may say so, the hon. Members New clause 10 proposes as a criterion: for Keighley and for Mid-Dorset and North Poole may “Only a person with parental responsibility for a child within have thought. There are important questions of balance the meaning of section 3 of the Children Act 1989 can justify to be resolved in the interests of the child. Some children battery of the child on the ground that it constituted reasonable need boundaries. That is part of the problem. If they punishment.” have boundaries, they know where they are. Ironically, although the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset It is interesting to note that one of the most distinguished and North Poole seemed to be arguing the contrary, the judges who has adjudicated on these questions—I think fact is that her own new clause, within the framework of it was Sir Gerald Fitzmaurice—explained with great section 58 of the Children Act 2004, admits that a candour, from his own experience in a court case, why person with parental responsibility for a child can justify he believed that it was important to strike the balance battery on the ground that it constituted reasonable properly: that there is not an absolute, that children are punishment. I invite the Secretary of State to respond. different, and that some children need different boundaries. He has his own version of events, but the Singleton Those of us who abhor the idea of inhumane or degrading review will be definitive. treatment in the common-sense understanding of that expression might also take the view that there is a balance to be struck. Mr. Richard Shepherd (Aldridge-Brownhills) (Con): I refer to the exchange between my hon. Friend and the Mrs. Cryer: Yes, boundaries have to be established Secretary of State on the 1996 Act. That was predated with children, but does not the hon. Gentleman understand by the United Nations convention on the rights of the that those boundaries must be established by parents, child, which was signed, I believe, by Lynda Chalker on not teachers? behalf of a Conservative Government. The convention Mr. Cash: The problem that the hon. Lady poses is imposes severe constraints on the punishment of children, that there are circumstances in the real world where and from that flowed the consequences that the Secretary there is a difference in the meaning of the words “in of State mentioned in the Act that followed. The concept loco parentis” in the home environment or in an of reasonable chastisement has been in our common environment outside school. For the purposes of society law and understood in our legislation for a long time, in general, and also for the conduct of the school and and the European Court of Human Rights can and the discipline within it, it is not a distinction that can does apply United Nations treaties on these matters easily be made. If the object of the exercise is to ensure when developing its own case law. That is where the that there is a proper balance of behaviour in the confusion, if there were any confusion between the interests of society as a whole, including in schools, one Secretary of State and my hon. Friend, might have cannot simply say that because it is a school, there can arisen. be no reasonable physical punishment whatever, but 207 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 208

[Mr. Cash] I want to flag up to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State the importance that I attach to the many there can be in loco parentis. I could spend some time, functions of the local safeguarding children boards, to although I shall not, on the very wide definition of “in the need to have proper resources to train the people loco parentis”. There are many people who would fall who are affected by those boards and, particularly, to into categories not very different from schools. That the need to have resources in schools to ensure that all may be the loophole to which the hon. Member for teaching staff are properly inducted. I include temporary Mid-Dorset and North Poole was referring. agency staff in that, because there is a lot of reliance in schools on such teachers, and I urge my right hon. Angela Watkinson: Further to the comments of the Friend to comment on the national talks that he is hon. Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer), is it not a sad conducting with the NASUWT. fact that the children who are most likely to exhibit There are also employment and disclosure of information extreme antisocial and unco-operative behaviour in school issues. The Independent Safeguarding Authority, with are those who have not had the benefit of good parenting its new remit, must make its decisions in close consultation at home and not been set good examples or taught how with the teaching unions, and we must ensure that to behave in a socially acceptable way? It is extremely temporary supply teachers are properly and thoroughly challenging for teachers to contain such children so that inducted into the way in which schools go about their they do not interrupt the education of others. responsibilities to implement the functions that we are discussing under this group of proposed changes. 6.30 pm Mr. Cash: I agree. I concede that this is a difficult Ed Balls: This has been a full and substantive debate, area, but it is important that we do not lock ourselves covering a wide range of issues. On the spirit of the into a situation whereby we apply an absolute principle debate, may I say that the contributions of all speakers based on the so-called philosophical attitude. There are have been thorough, measured and important? Over the moral questions that depend on the manner in which, past year there have been times when I have regretted for example, a school can and should be run in the the partisan and political tone that has crept into the interests of all the people in that school, including all issue of safeguarding, but it has not done so today, so I the children in a class and the teachers themselves. shall respond fully to all the points that have been made. There is a balance to be struck. That is what I am If this is what the Public Bill Committee was like, it arguing for, and part of the purpose of our debates in must have been most enjoyable to be a member. The the House is to try to draw attention to the fact that Schools Minister has told me many times that he would balances need to be struck. have liked to have spent more days in Committee, but, I have sympathy with and great respect for the hon. sadly, that opportunity has passed him by. Member for Keighley, but I rather get the impression I shall try to respond as quickly as I can, because we that she takes an absolute position. I do not, and I am want to discuss family courts and transparency and, in searching for, and believe that there should be, a reasonable the time that is available, we hope to address important parameter. We should bear in mind that from 1860 to issues, such as home education, too. With your permission, 2004 the situation was, subject to evolving circumstances, Madam Deputy Speaker, let me briefly address the issue much less difficult than it is now. New clause 10 would of smacking and new clause 10 before moving on to the make the situation more confusing, and I hope that the safeguarding issues that have been raised today. Secretary of State’s response will be a revelation. However, The hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham I do not think that it will avoid the existing problem (Tim Loughton) said that debates about a children’s Bill with getting the balance right between violent children are almost always hijacked. Until about 40 minutes ago, on the one hand and the need for discipline in schools we thought that we had avoided that fate, but no: there on the other. has been a hijacking by the hon. Member for Stone Violent children use very harsh physical punishment (Mr. Cash), although it felt like he was hijacking his on teachers and on other children in school, and the Front Benchers, rather than ours. I am happy to give the question remains to be resolved of whether in the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham the interests of discipline it is necessary to apply, in the last opportunity to clarify that Conservative Front Benchers resort, a degree of physical punishment in certain do not propose to repeal the Education Act 1996 and circumstances to such violent children in school. In the re-introduce corporal punishment in schools. To be interests of discipline in schools and good order in honest, I do not need to ask, because no one takes that society, I am interested in, and shall listen carefully to, position. However, in response to the hon. Member for what the Secretary of State has to say. There is nothing Stone, I shall clarify the situation and then respond to absolute about our position; I wait to see whether there the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole is anything absolute about his. (Annette Brooke) and my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer). Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent, North) (Lab): You will The position in law is that a teacher in a maintained be pleased to know, Madam Deputy Speaker, that I school can use reasonable force to protect their own shall not detain the House for long with the few comments safety or that of a child or young person in order to that I wish to make. This far-reaching debate has come separate a fight. There is no prohibition on the use of a long way from its starting point, when the hon. force in those particular and prescribed circumstances, Member for East Worthingand Shoreham (Tim Loughton) but the 1996 Act is clear that the use of force for seemed to tell us that we should substitute our discussion punishment in full-time maintained schools and full-time about the functions of the local safeguarding children independent schools is prohibited in law. Soon, part-time boards with the concern that they should concentrate independent schools will be covered, too. It is illegal to only on serious case reviews. use force for punishment, as opposed to protection. 209 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 210

Under the 2004 Act and section 58, in particular, it is Sir Roger said that we needed to think harder about allowable, as the hon. Member for Stone said it has this before we reached a conclusion. New clause 10 been for many decades, for a parent or someone in loco would mean that only a parent or guardian would be parentis to use the reasonable punishment defence for able to use a reasonable punishment defence, so it the use of force, but not for causing harm such as actual would exclude not only the Sunday school teacher or or grievous bodily harm. The provision in section 58 madrassah teacher but the step-parent, grandparent, applies only to common assault. As I said to my hon. friend or babysitter. Many of us would think that that Friend, it became clear when the issue was raised some went too far, and that is why we are worried that the weeks ago that there is a grey area within the definition definitions in the new clause are too restrictive. That of in loco parentis. Some individuals can be described was certainly Sir Roger’s concern when he wrote to me as acting in loco parentis, and they could therefore use in January. He also wanted to know how this would reasonable punishment outside of a full-time maintained operate in practice and how we would ensure that it was school—where they cannot use that defence. To us, such properly monitored. individuals might look more like teachers than parents. Sir Roger told me that he needed more time to An example would be the madrassah teacher, the Sunday produce his report. To be honest, he asked, as independent school teacher or the sports club coach, and the question experts always do, for more time than I wanted to give. I arises: can they use the reasonable punishment defence asked him whether he could come back to us by the end as a reason to strike a child legally? of March, and he said that he would. I guarantee to the House that I will respond to his report on the day that Mr. Cash: Will the right hon. Gentleman give way? he makes it. The hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole spoke of wanting things done before we go Ed Balls: I have been really indulgent. If I could just into purdah. I do not know what timetables we are set out the current position, I shall absolutely take an going to have— Lord Mandelson has not yet told me of intervention. his plans, nor of the Prime Minister’s—but when the As I understand it, there are two different forces at report comes out at the end of March, I will respond work here. The hon. Member for Stone wondered whether immediately. My expectation, and my personal view, is we should extend the in loco parentis option for using that the right thing for us is to do is to tighten up the force into full-time maintained schools, and argued that law. I would rather move more in the direction of a there may be—he did not say this absolutely—circumstances tighter definition than of a wider definition. I am when a teacher should have the right to use the reasonable sympathetic to the views of my hon. Friend the Member punishment defence to strike a child. That means that for Keighley and the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and he wants to move from the grey area by making it North Poole, but at the moment we do not know quite possible to use that defence in schools. As I understand how to define this, and that is why Sir Roger needs to my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley, new clause 10 finish his work. We will have that report, with a response tries to go in precisely the opposite direction by defining from us, in the public domain at the end of March. someone acting in loco parentis only as someone who is genuinely the parent with parental responsibilities. Mr. Cash: I am grateful to the Secretary of State for his clear exposition of where he stands. However, this In replying to earlier debates, I said that as far as I question still remains: would he prefer simply to use the was concerned, a teacher should not be striking a child term “parent/step-parent”, for example, or perhaps include whatever setting they are working in, but there is clearly “grandparent”, and leave it at that? It may be that he a grey area in law. I then wrote to our adviser, Sir Roger and I would not agree even on that, but at least it would Singleton, to set out my concerns about that grey area remove a lot of the problems relating to the expressions following discussions with the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset “in loco parentis” or “parental responsibility”, which and North Poole, and particularly my hon. Friend the the courts have extended in a whole variety of ways. Member for Keighley, and I asked Sir Roger to look From my point of view, I would want this to be less into the issue and report back to me. He wrote to me on restrictive, but would the Secretary of State— 27 January. In that letter, he said that he, too, was worried that there was the potential for people who Madam Deputy Speaker (Sylvia Heal): Order. I hope were acting in loco parentis by teaching a child at arm’s that the hon. Gentleman is going to conclude, as he length from the role of parent being able to use the knows that interventions should be brief. reasonable punishment defence. He referred to Saturday and Sunday school teachers, youth workers, music teachers 6.45 pm or home tutors, and went on to say: Ed Balls: The answer is set out in Sir Roger Singleton’s “There is another group—those carers without parental letter to me of 27 January, in which he says: responsibility to whom parents may entrust their children, such as step-parents and grandparents, or…friends and babysitters—who “We need to consider very carefully the appropriateness of may also” Government regulating arrangements that parents or carers make with others for the care and instruction of their children voluntarily be in the “in loco parentis” category. They would not be and for relatively short periods, outside of mainstream education the parent under the definition referred to in the Bill, or other settings already covered by a ban on corporal punishment. but might be seen by us as somebody who was acting in Any regulation must be proportionate and involve the minimum a parental way. If I, as a parent, sent my child to a possible interference in family life.” Sunday school, I would not expect the Sunday school He then talks about different considerations in different teacher to strike my child, but if I had entrusted them to kinds of settings and for different groups of parents, a grandparent or a step-parent, the question would be and says: whether I thought that that situation was more like that “In arriving at a way forward, whether…legislative or not, I do of the Sunday school teacher or someone acting with think it will be important to give careful consideration to the…evidence parental responsibility. and to consult…stakeholders” 211 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 212

[Ed Balls] The hon. Gentleman talked about a collapse in morale, but in the past few months more people have come forward to ensure that we get this right. My view is that there is a in response to our advertising and said that they wanted grey area—a loophole. I personally would favour a to be considered for training as social workers than at tightening-up of the position. I do not want to pre-empt any time for many years. That shows that out of a tragic Sir Roger’s work, but I think that his direction of situation and tragic circumstances, there is a fuller thinking will be towards a tighter definition of “in loco understanding of the role that social workers play. parentis”, but perhaps not one that goes as far as the I was particularly heartened when The Sun, not a particularly tight definition in new clause 10. I am not supporter of the Government these days, ran an editorial ruling out the possibility that we might end up with a in September praising the work of social workers. That similar definition to that in the new clause, but I would was one reflection of the changing mood over the past rather wait for Sir Roger to report before reaching a year. It is not right to say this is a time of only bad news view. for social work. In fact, out of a tragedy a year ago, and, I would like to think, through cross-party effort—at Annette Brooke: I thank the Secretary of State for the times it has not felt as cross-party as one might have assurances that he has given. As I said repeatedly, I thought it would be on such a sensitive issue as child wanted to keep this issue on the agenda and to stay protection, but let us put that to one side—we are in a focused about it. His responses to us today have been stronger position than we were then. That is not least very satisfactory, and we await the next responses. because of the work of the social work taskforce following Ed Balls: The hon. Lady is right. It was because Lord Laming’s excellent report published almost a year ago. people in this House, and people with expertise and Tim Loughton: I genuinely hope that we do get more direct personal experience, including my hon. Friend people coming forward to be social workers who are of the Member for Keighley, raised particular issues, that sufficient calibre and are trained to a sufficient standard the matter is on the agenda. I fear that the hon. Member to do the job that we desperately need them to. However, for Stone may want to broaden the agenda further than will the Secretary of State not admit that back in 2002, I, and probably those on both Front Benches, would when there was a recruiting exercise for more social seek to do. I am happy to consider a further amendment workers, a lot of people came forward but very few at any point, but I hope that we now have enough stayed the course and went on to be the child protection clarity to move forward. social workers of the great calibre that we need? We are Let me turn to the safeguarding issues that were in danger of the same thing happening now. raised—some hours ago, as it now seems—by the hon. Members for East Worthing and Shoreham and for Ed Balls: As the social work taskforce has stated, Mid-Dorset and North Poole, and then by my hon. initial training, training within the profession, pay and Friends the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central progression and the supervision of social workers at the (Jim Cousins) and for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Joan front line by management have all been inadequate for Walley). The hon. Member for East Worthing and years. They are now being addressed, because of the Shoreham contextualised this by looking back over the taskforce’s work, Lord Laming’s impetus and the tragedy past year. He pointed to the fact that we have just of baby Peter a year ago, in a way that is revolutionary passed the anniversary of the tragedy of the death of and quite different from anything that we have seen in baby Peter and that we have had, since then, other recent years. That is why I am cautiously confident that individual acts of cruelty and suffering that are very we will be able to look back on last year and say that distressing. He referred to our frustration and upset 2009 was the year when, for the first time, we properly that this should have happened in Haringey after the recognised, financed, resourced and supported the role death of Victoria Climbié, which was now 10 years ago, that social workers play, particularly in the difficult area pretty much to the day. of child protection. I think that the hon. Gentleman gave credit to some John Hemming: Does the Secretary of State share my of the progress that has been made in the past year, concern at the fact that the number of serious incident although probably insufficiently so. We have had today notifications to Ofsted in 2009 was substantially more the publication of Ofsted’s second inspection report, than in 2008? following the first joint area review inspection a year Ed Balls: The rise in referrals, which means that harm ago, which gives a good report on Haringey children’s is coming to the attention of the authorities, has been a services and the progress that has been made in the past real challenge for children’s social services departments year. I would like to put on record in the House my around the country.It has been the result of the heightened appreciation to the leader of the council, the director of awareness of child protection issues among not just children’s services and the chief executive for the progress social workers but other individuals and professionals that they have made, which Ofsted has recognised today, who work with children. The hon. Gentleman is right while not for a minute suggesting that we are out of the that there has been more awareness, which has led to woods. There is still more to do to ensure that children more pressure on the system. are fully and properly safe in Haringey, but there has been real progress there. There is also the work of the John Hemming: I apologise to the Secretary of State social work taskforce, which the hon. Gentleman for not having been very clear. By “serious incident mentioned, under the chairmanship of Moira Gibb. notifications” I meant the notifications to Ofsted that This has been seen, by the taskforce itself, and by the are the formal process by which most serious case wider social work world, as a real watershed moment—that reviews are kicked off following the death of a child. was the language that it used to describe the extra The increase in serious incident notifications in 2009 investment, support, challenge and training that are compared with 2008 refers to those following the death now going into the social work profession. of a child. 213 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 214

Ed Balls: As the hon. Gentleman knows, there has putting into the public domain the details of the harm been a downward trend over recent years, but if there suffered not just by those boys but by other siblings in was a greater rise in notifications last year, we will need the household. Those details could then have been seen to examine and understand it. I am aware of that by other children, young people and adults in the same matter, but I do not believe one can say that it is a part of Doncaster. That would have been the wrong consequence of the events that happened a year ago. thing to do not only for the boys who perpetrated the I turn to particular issues raised by the new clauses crime but for the victims of the crime, whose suffering is and amendments. As I have said, Lord Laming reported there for us to see in the serious case review, and for the last spring and talked about our having other siblings, who were not named in the court case but are named in the review. The harm that they suffered, “a sound framework for professionals to protect children and promote their welfare”, which is material to the case, would have been there to see. I defy the hon. Lady to say to me that the serious but stated that we needed a step change in how it was case review could be published in a redacted form applied consistently across the country, particularly to without putting those children in jeopardy. “ensure that leaders of local services accept their responsibility to I make that argument about publishing serious case translate policy, legislation and guidance into day-to-day practice reviews on the basis not of my judgment but of advice on the frontline of every service.” that I receive. I cite my usual sources—Lord Laming, He stated that that was the only way to ensure that the child protection expert; Sir Roger Singleton, our children were safe. The measures that we have debated child protection adviser; the Association of Directors of today will take forward Lord Laming’s recommendation Children’s Services; the Association of Chief Police in two areas—further strengthening the serious case Officers; and the NSPCC. They all agree that publishing review process and improving the working of local full serious case reviews would be wrong, because it safeguarding children boards. We also debated those would put children at risk and make it very difficult for matters in relation to new clauses 1 and 21. professionals to co-operate in what is not an independent The statutory guidance “Working together to safeguard inquiry into who did things wrong but a process to children”, which we have updated in recent months in ensure that lessons are learned. line with Lord Laming’s recommendations, is an important The hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham step forward. We have already strengthened the requirements said, “This will not be good enough. What we are going in that document to have thorough, comprehensive to hear is the same old excuses trotted out by children’s serious case reviews whenever a child is seriously harmed charities for whatever reasons.” I have to say that he and to ensure that immediate lessons are learned and does the NSPCC a disservice when he belittles its view implemented before the publication of the executive on the publication of full serious case reviews. summary and the completion of the full review. The NSPCC wrote to me at the beginning of I know that there is debate in the House about the February—in the public domain—after those issues publication of full serious case reviews, and it has arisen were raised in the House, to say that it does not agree again in recent weeks because of the executive summary with the publication of full SCRs. In the letter, the of the Edlington review following the tragic events in NSPCC states that it believes Doncaster last year. It is important to say that the “that the proposal does not take into account two important executive summary of that serious case review, which consequences: the possibility of further harm to surviving and Ofsted rated as a good summary, was drawn up under subsequent children of the family; and the hesitancy of children, the old, more restricted guidelines for the preparation young people and their families to cooperate with the review process.” of executive summaries. It would not be state-of-the-art today. The hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North The NSPCC is right on that point. I urge the hon. Poole made powerful points about her reaction having Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole, who is an read the serious case review, and I had the same reaction. expert in these matters, to think hard again about the I was shocked and surprised by the extent of multiple proposal to publish the full SCR in the face of all the engagement of children’s services in Doncaster with the advice of all the experts, including the NSPCC, which child in question. Under the new guidelines, that would thinks it would be the wrong thing to do in the interests be more fully set out in the executive summary than it of the safety of children. was under the one drawn up on the old basis. 7pm I say to the hon. Member for Stone that it was clear in that case that the children who had perpetrated the Annette Brooke: I absolutely agree with the Secretary crime, for whom there can be no excuse, had themselves of State that sections of the review would have needed been subjected to either witnessing the physical harming to be redacted, particularly to protect the children who and abuse of the parent in their household, or to were attacked and their families, and the family of the physical harm and abuse themselves from the adults attackers. However, I repeat to him we are proposing a there, over a number of years. It is important to say that change in the thought process, so that we start by in the context of the remarks that we heard earlier deciding what can be published. There were pages detailing about the importance or otherwise of children learning miscommunication in the review that I believe should boundaries through punishment and physical harm. be in the public view. Those boys did not learn boundaries, and they lost any Ed Balls: I completely agree with the hon. Lady that moral sense because they grew up in a family in which we need a change of thought process. The NSPCC laid there was none. That was part of the problem. down a challenge to us in its 2 February letter to begin The hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole that change. I believe that the NSPCC would agree that has read the serious case review, but it would have been we did so with Lord Laming’s report a year ago, when impossible to publish it even in redacted form without we started to change “Working Together”. All I would 215 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 216

[Ed Balls] As he knows, one reason why the first SCR into baby Peter was rejected and redone was precisely that it was say is that the NSPCC is clear that even in redacted not seen to be drawn up independently. Following Lord form, publishing the full SCR would put children at risk Laming’s report this spring, we have now changed our and stop them, young people and their families from statutory guidance to reflect the view that the SCR co-operating with the full SCR process. That is why it is must now be independently chaired. That is a requirement against publishing the full SCR. in law. We also now have a training package for SCR chairs and overview authors to ensure that they are Tim Loughton: I am grateful to the Secretary of State properly prepared for that work. Lord Laming’s work for being true to form by trooping out the usual suspects, addressed exactly the issue that my hon. Friend has including the NSPCC. I have some questions for him. raised. It is true that some SCRs were not independently First, why was the letter that he sent to the NSPCC, drawn up— which contains information that is very germane to today’s debate, released to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) at only 3.12 pm this Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. I apologise for afternoon, just before we started the debate, and why interrupting the Secretary of State, but it is difficult for Hansard was it not made available to other Members of the writers to hear him when his back is to the House? Secondly, on the NSPCC, how many times has Chair. the NSPCC been mentioned in executive summaries of SCRs? Would the NSPCC have been mentioned in the Ed Balls: I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker—I executive summary of an SCR into the Victoria Climbié was addressing my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle case, because it was certainly implicated in the full upon Tyne, Central. His points are important, and they Laming report? It is most likely that that would not have been addressed by Lord Laming’s recommendations. have come out in an executive summary. Amendments 35 to 40 are on whether we should list agencies that contribute to SCRs. We are clear that the Ed Balls: I hear the hon. Gentleman’s point, but I do executive summary needs to have a much clearer time not agree with it. I do not agree that the NSPCC is a line of what has happened in cases. I do not think that “usual suspect”, and I do not believe that it makes its that happened fully in the Doncaster-Edlington SCR, arguments for self-interested motives as a way of trying but it will under the new guidelines. to cover up its role in any cases. The NSPCC is an upstanding, highly respected, very professional organisation. Practitioners must be confident that they can disclose To talk down its contribution to the debate by suggesting relevant information in co-operating fully with SCRs. I that it is trying to cover up its complicity in past failures do not believe that any steps should be taken that would is actually wrong and completely unfair. I do not know reduce the willingness of individuals to contribute to how many times the NSPCC has been in executive SCRs. That is not the right way to go. However, it is summaries—I have not checked. important—Lord Laming highlighted this in his report—to If the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) ensure that all information can be given in the SCR had been in the Chamber before now—he has only just process. The measure clarifies that position. arrived—he might have made the point about the letter The amendments would mean that such information himself. I wrote to the NSPCC today, because I wanted is provided only to SCRs. However, there will be occasions to be able to refer to its letter in the debate. In my letter on which LSCBs have an obligation to collect information to the NSPCC, I stated that it has raised serious issues for reports that are not SCRs. For example, following regarding the monitoring of SCRs and the implementation the death of a child, the LSCB must ask professionals of its recommendations one year on. We will ensure to provide information, so that it can produce the child that when we publish our progress report one year on death review, which it must now provide after the death from the Laming review in the next few weeks, we will of every child. That can go widely to involve, for example, incorporate the NSPCC’s views following our discussions deaths from road traffic accidents or sudden infant and meetings. death syndrome, when it is important to get information It is important to ensure that the SCR and the from general or hospital practitioners. executive summary is a strong and good document. It is also important for the LSCB to know—this Independent assurance and compliance are very important, relates to the point made by my hon. Friend the Member and we will ensure that we respond on those matters in for Stoke-on-Trent, North—that adequate safeguarding the next few weeks. However, publishing SCRs and procedures training is being done in our schools for ignoring the NSPCC would be quite the wrong thing to full-time and temporary staff. Again, that is a matter for do. That is why I urge hon. Members to reject new the LSCB. To restrict the collection of information only clause 1. to SCRs would undermine child death reviews and that important staff training function. Again, I therefore Mr. Timpson: Will the Secretary of State address the urge hon. Members not to press their proposals to a proposal in new clause 1 on the appointment of the Division. author of SCRs? Is he satisfied with the current process for doing that in the light of the extremely enlightening On amendment 88, which is on requests for information examples given to us by the hon. Member for Newcastle related to an SCR, it is important to ensure that the upon Tyne, Central (Jim Cousins)? LSCB has proper information-sharing arrangements and protocols, and that they are properly kept under Ed Balls: I was coming to that issue. My hon. Friend review. We are speaking to the agencies on those matters, the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central made and we will clarify the situation and revise statutory important points. He has raised questions in the past as guidance to ensure that that is done properly. Again, we to whether the authors of SCRs are properly independent. can do that without the amendment. 217 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 218

Amendment 48 and consequent amendments are, in in Committee that we were not able to debate. The our view, unnecessarily restrictive on Ofsted’s role. It is result is that Sir Roger Singleton has been engaged to clear what the role of Ofsted is in inspecting the effectiveness look into those grey areas and report what action, if of LSCBs. We will ensure that that happens through the any, is required. So the job has been done. We now await regular area-wide reviews. We can also ensure that empirical evidence of whether changes need to be made. Ofsted looks at the compliance report that we will By the hon. Lady’s own logic, I would have thought that produce one year on after every SCR. However, in our she would not press the new clause to a Division. We judgment, we do not need to place the restrictions on need to hear the evidence, not to prejudge it. In any Ofsted that are proposed in amendments 48 and 90. case, smacking has always been an issue for a free vote In a few weeks’ time, we will publish our progress on this side of the House. report, a year on from Lord Laming’s report. We now have the national safeguarding delivery unit up and 7.15 pm running, which is a step forward. We have already The hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central revised “Working Together”, and will do so further (Jim Cousins) made some pertinent points from real following the input of the NSPCC and other organisations, experience of horrific deaths in his constituency involving to ensure that we have full, state-of-the-art executive serious case reviews that had not passed muster— summaries for serious case reviews, and that actions are contemporary serious case reviews that were not properly implemented and monitored. We think that complementary, and which raised serious questions about the restrictions in the amendments are unnecessary, and the independence of their authorship. One phrase he in particular we believe that to publish the full serious used that struck me in particular was “the culture of case review as a matter of policy—in the face of all the justification” of what had taken place. That is why we expert advice from all those people working in child need a radical change. We cannot go on producing the protection—would be a backward step for children. It same old serious case reviews with assurances that we would put their safety at risk and mean that they, their now have comprehensive executive summaries and families and other professionals would be less likely to everything has been done under the new system. We are co-operate. That would mean that we would be less still not entitled to see the evidence. We still cannot see likely to learn the lessons of terrible incidents in the the proof that what went wrong has been properly laid future. It would be a retrograde step for child protection, bare, or that what needs to go right in the future will do, and I urge the House to reject new clause 1. because the lessons have been learned. They will continue to be kept secret, and that is not acceptable. If we are to Tim Loughton: I concur with the Secretary of State restore any confidence in the system of safeguarding that we have had a good debate. It was a debate that we children, transparency and accountability have to underlie needed to have, because we missed having it in Committee. everything to do with serious case reviews and learning It has been constructive and measured, and almost the lessons. non-partisan. But it ended with the Secretary of State The hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Joan not really giving us any assurance that we have moved Walley) slightly confused the points that I made about on. He said that clauses 28 to 30 took the strengthening our amendments and the functions of LSCBs. The of serious case reviews forward. How? Serious case clauses in the Bill refer only to the supply of information. reviews are not even mentioned on the face of the Bill. The hon. Lady rightly said that LSCBs conduct a range We are only debating serious case reviews today because of other useful functions, including training. It is right of our amendments and new clauses. Everything that that they should do so, and our amendments would the Secretary of State talked about has not happened, affect none of that. The amendments refer only to the and the public do not have confidence that it will supply of information, so she need have no anxieties on happen to the extent necessary for people to feel again that score. that children and vulnerable families are being properly The executive summary of the horrific case in Edlington, safeguarded. and the disparity with the full 150-page serious case We had an interesting, if confusing, debate on new review, blew the whole scam sky high. It has been clearly clause 10; at one stage it entered a parallel universe. I shown that there was no resemblance between the full was very interested in the comments by my hon. Friend serious case review—which was to be kept secret, available the Member for Stone (Mr. Cash), and it was very only to a small select body of people—and the 11 pages useful that the Secretary of State cleared up the confusion of comprehensive executive summary. There is no excuse by saying that there is no confusion, and that we are not for officials and councillors in Doncaster, either of their confused about what we are not confused about—and own volition or under instruction from the Secretary of that what we are not confused about we do not know we State, not to publish if not the full serious case review, a are not confused about. That made everything very much bigger version of it. A system in which the public clear. I was disappointed with my hon. Friend the are denied the full story—or, as in the Doncaster case, Member for Stone because it took him 11 minutes are actually misled about what really happened—can before he gave the issue of reasonable chastisement a have no credibility. Without that information we cannot European dimension. Clearly he is slow off the mark learn the lessons, rectify the mistakes, or move on. after the half-term recess. The Edlington serious case review may not have been The hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole suitable to publish in full; I do not know. That is why (Annette Brooke) spoke to the new clause, and I concur the amendments contain serious caveats about publication with the Secretary of State that there is a grey area that not being detrimental to the welfare of surviving children may need to be addressed in legislation. The hon. Lady or their siblings, and about anonymity. The families of was right to say that the only reason why we are the people involved in the Edlington case are sure that debating this issue today is that amendments were tabled they want to know the full story. They want to see the 219 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 220 full serious case review published. Everybody in Edlington The House having divided: Ayes 172, Noes 277. knows who all the characters are—if they do not, they Division No. 82] [7.22 pm can find all the names on the internet—and there is no excuse for not publishing that serious case review. AYES The Secretary of State made play of my comments Afriyie, Adam Harper, Mr. Mark about the NSPCC. It does much good work, but it has Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Harris, Dr. Evan been changing its position on serious case reviews. Atkinson, Mr. Peter Harvey, Nick Recently, in the letter to which he replied—although he Bacon, Mr. Richard Hayes, Mr. John did not give us sight of it until 20 minutes before the Baker, Norman Heald, Mr. Oliver start of the debate this afternoon—it has come forward Baldry, Tony Heath, Mr. David with further suggestions. If we have further serious case Beith, rh Sir Alan Heathcoat-Amory, rh reviews that reveal further tragic events such as those in Bellingham, Mr. Henry Mr. David Edlington and Haringey in a year or two’s time, the Benyon, Mr. Richard Hemming, John NSPCC might be brought round to our way of thinking— Binley, Mr. Brian Hogg, rh Mr. Douglas that the only solution is a full publication of serious Blunt, Mr. Crispin Hollobone, Mr. Philip Bone, Mr. Peter Holloway, Mr. Adam case reviews. Boswell, Mr. Tim Holmes, Paul The Secretary of State did not once mention the Bottomley, Peter Horam, Mr. John British Association of Social Workers and the practitioners Brady, Mr. Graham Horwood, Martin at the sharp end, day in, day out, dealing with horrific Brake, Tom Hunter, Mark cases, including cases such as those that made the Brazier, Mr. Julian Jenkin, Mr. Bernard headlines in Doncaster, Edlington, Haringey, Birmingham Brokenshire, James Jones, Mr. David and other places. They deal with that every day of their Brooke, Annette Kawczynski, Daniel professional existence, and that organisation, which Browning, Angela Key, Robert represents the very best of many of our social workers, Bruce, rh Malcolm Kirkbride, Miss Julie Burns, Mr. Simon Knight, rh Mr. Greg agrees that the only solution is a full publication of Burrowes, Mr. David Laing, Mrs. Eleanor serious case reviews. Burt, Alistair Lait, Mrs. Jacqui I want to remind the Secretary of State of the words Burt, Lorely Lancaster, Mr. Mark of a former colleague of his—the former Member for Butterfill, Sir John Lansley, Mr. Andrew Lancaster and Wyre, a fully qualified social worker, Campbell, Mr. Gregory Laws, Mr. David who is now the head of the BASW.Hilton Dawson said: Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Leech, Mr. John Carswell, Mr. Douglas Leigh, Mr. Edward “It’s vital that these reviews are transparent and can be seen in full, subject only to the need to preserve individual anonymity…These Cash, Mr. William Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver reviews are vital learning tools and it is imperative that they are Chope, Mr. Christopher Lewis, Dr. Julian made widely available.” Clappison, Mr. James Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian Clarke, rh Mr. Kenneth Lidington, Mr. David The Secretary of State chose selectively to pray in aid Conway, Derek Lilley, rh Mr. Peter certain organisations that share his view, but chose to Cousins, Jim Loughton, Tim ignore completely the 12,000 members of the professional Crabb, Mr. Stephen Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew body of social workers in this country, who now agree Curry, rh Mr. David Main, Anne with a growing number of people that we desperately Davey, Mr. Edward Malins, Mr. Humfrey need full publication. Davies, David T.C. Maude, rh Mr. Francis We need a fundamental change in the culture of how (Monmouth) McCrea, Dr. William we approach child protection. That is what the new Davies, Philip McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick clause and the amendments are all about. Only if we Davis, rh David Miller, Mrs. Maria Djanogly, Mr. Jonathan Milton, Anne have full transparency and accountability, subject to the Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen Mitchell, Mr. Andrew caveats that I have given, will we start to bring about Dunne, Mr. Philip Moss, Mr. Malcolm that fundamental change; to restore public confidence Ellwood, Mr. Tobias Mulholland, Greg in child protection, which has suffered such enormous Evennett, Mr. David Murrison, Dr. Andrew knocks in recent years; to restore morale within the Fabricant, Michael Neill, Robert social work profession, which has taken a huge knock, Farron, Tim Newmark, Mr. Brooks particularly since the baby Peter scandal; and to ensure Field, Mr. Mark O’Brien, Mr. Stephen that all agencies involved in safeguarding can see clearly Foster, Mr. Don Ottaway, Richard where mistakes have been made and work together to Francois, Mr. Mark Paterson, Mr. Owen ensure, wherever possible, that they are not repeated on Fraser, Christopher Pelling, Mr. Andrew their watch or in their patch. That is why, I am afraid, Gale, Mr. Roger Penning, Mike no amount of praying in aid by the Secretary of State of Garnier, Mr. Edward Penrose, John the same suspects will give the assurances that the Gibb, Mr. Nick Prisk, Mr. Mark public need and are entitled to. That is why the time has Gidley, Sandra Pritchard, Mark come to have that fundamental culture change—and Gillan, Mrs. Cheryl Pugh, Dr. John that is what our amendments and new clause offer: that Goldsworthy, Julia Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm is why it is so important to put new clause 1 to the vote Goodman, Mr. Paul Robathan, Mr. Andrew tonight. Goodwill, Mr. Robert Robertson, Hugh Gove, Michael Rogerson, Dan Question put, That the clause be read a Second time. Gray, Mr. James Rosindell, Andrew The House proceeded to a Division. Grayling, Chris Rowen, Paul Green, Damian Russell, Bob Madam Deputy Speaker: I ask the Serjeant at Arms Hammond, Stephen Sanders, Mr. Adrian to investigate the delay in the No Lobby. Hancock, Mr. Mike Scott, Mr. Lee 221 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 222

Shapps, Grant Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Foster, Mr. Michael McCabe, Steve Shepherd, Mr. Richard Vara, Mr. Shailesh (Worcester) McCafferty, Chris Simmonds, Mark Viggers, Sir Peter Foster, Michael Jabez McCarthy, Kerry Simpson, David Villiers, Mrs. Theresa (Hastings and Rye) McCarthy-Fry, Sarah Smith, Chloe Walker, Mr. Charles Francis, Dr. Hywel McDonnell, John Smith, Sir Robert Wallace, Mr. Ben Gapes, Mike McFadden, rh Mr. Pat Spelman, Mrs. Caroline Watkinson, Angela Gerrard, Mr. Neil McFall, rh John Spicer, Sir Michael Webb, Steve Gilroy, Linda McGovern, Mr. Jim Spink, Bob Whittingdale, Mr. John Goodman, Helen McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne Spring, Mr. Richard Wiggin, Bill Griffith, Nia McIsaac, Shona Stanley, rh Sir John Williams, Hywel Griffiths, Nigel McKechin, Ann Steen, Mr. Anthony Williams, Stephen Grogan, Mr. John McKenna, Rosemary Streeter, Mr. Gary Willis, Mr. Phil Hall, Patrick McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Stuart, Mr. Graham Willott, Jenny Hamilton, Mr. Fabian Meale, Mr. Alan Stunell, Andrew Wilson, Mr. Rob Hanson, rh Mr. David Merron, Gillian Swayne, Mr. Desmond Winterton, Ann Harman, rh Ms Harriet Michael, rh Alun Swinson, Jo Winterton, Sir Nicholas Harris, Mr. Tom Milburn, rh Mr. Alan Syms, Mr. Robert Young, rh Sir George Healey, rh John Miliband, rh Edward Taylor, Dr. Richard Younger-Ross, Richard Henderson, Mr. Doug Miller, Andrew Timpson, Mr. Edward Tellers for the Ayes: Hendrick, Mr. Mark Mitchell, Mr. Austin Tredinnick, David James Duddridge and Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Moffat, Anne Turner, Mr. Andrew Jeremy Wright Heppell, Mr. John Moffatt, Laura Hesford, Stephen Mole, Chris Hewitt, rh Ms Patricia Moon, Mrs. Madeleine NOES Hill, rh Keith Morden, Jessica Abbott, Ms Diane Clark, Ms Katy Hillier, Meg Morgan, Julie Ainger, Nick Clark, Paul Hodge, rh Margaret Mudie, Mr. George Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Clarke, rh Mr. Charles Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Mullin, Mr. Chris Allen, Mr. Graham Clarke,rhMr.Tom Hoey, Kate Munn, Meg Anderson, Mr. David Clelland, Mr. David Hope, Phil Murphy, Mr. Denis Atkins, Charlotte Clwyd, rh Ann Hopkins, Kelvin Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Austin, Mr. Ian Coaker, Mr. Vernon Howarth, rh Mr. George Naysmith, Dr. Doug Austin, John Coffey, Ann Howells, rh Dr. Kim Norris, Dan Bailey, Mr. Adrian Cohen, Harry Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay O’Brien, rh Mr. Mike Bain, Mr. William Connarty, Michael Humble, Mrs. Joan O’Hara, Mr. Edward Baird, Vera Cook, Frank Iddon, Dr. Brian Olner, Mr. Bill Balls, rh Ed Cooper, Rosie Irranca-Davies, Huw Osborne, Sandra Banks, Gordon Cooper, rh Yvette Jackson, Glenda Owen, Albert Barlow, Ms Celia Corbyn, Jeremy James, Mrs. Siân C. Palmer, Dr. Nick Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Creagh, Mary Jenkins, Mr. Brian Pearson, Ian Battle, rh John Cryer, Mrs. Ann Johnson, Ms Diana R. Plaskitt, Mr. James Bayley, Hugh Cummings, John Jones, Mr. Kevan Pope, Mr. Greg Beckett, rh Margaret Cunningham, Mr. Jim Jones, Lynne Pound, Stephen Begg, Miss Anne Cunningham, Tony Jones, Mr. Martyn Prentice, Bridget Bell, Sir Stuart David, Mr. Wayne Jowell, rh Tessa Prentice, Mr. Gordon Benton, Mr. Joe Davidson, Mr. Ian Joyce, Mr. Eric Prescott, rh Mr. John Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Berry, Roger Davies, Mr. Dai Prosser, Gwyn Blackman, Liz Keen, Alan Davies, Mr. Quentin Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Keen, Ann Dean, Mrs. Janet Reed, Mr. Jamie Blears, rh Hazel Kelly, rh Ruth Denham, rh Mr. John Reid, rh John Blizzard, Mr. Bob Kemp, Mr. Fraser Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit Riordan, Mrs. Linda Blunkett, rh Mr. David Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Robertson, John Borrow, Mr. David S. Dismore, Mr. Andrew Kidney, Mr. David Bradshaw, rh Mr. Ben Dobson, rh Frank Knight, rh Jim Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Brennan, Kevin Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Kumar, Dr. Ashok Rooney, Mr. Terry Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Doran, Mr. Frank Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Roy, Lindsay Brown, Mr. Russell Drew, Mr. David Laxton, Mr. Bob Ruane, Chris Browne, rh Des Durkan, Mark Lepper, David Ruddock, Joan Bryant, Chris Eagle, Angela Linton, Martin Russell, Christine Buck, Ms Karen Eagle, Maria Lloyd, Tony Ryan, rh Joan Burden, Richard Efford, Clive Love, Mr. Andrew Salter, Martin Burgon, Colin Ellman, Mrs. Louise Lucas, Ian Sarwar, Mr. Mohammad Burnham, rh Andy Engel, Natascha Mackinlay, Andrew Seabeck, Alison Butler, Ms Dawn Etherington, Bill MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Sharma, Mr. Virendra Byrne, rh Mr. Liam Farrelly, Paul Mactaggart, Fiona Shaw, Jonathan Cairns, David Field, rh Mr. Frank Malik, Mr. Shahid Sheerman, Mr. Barry Campbell, Mr. Alan Fisher, Mark Mallaber, Judy Sheridan, Jim Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Fitzpatrick, Jim Mann, John Simon, Mr. Siôn Cawsey, Mr. Ian Flello, Mr. Robert Marris, Rob Simpson, Alan Challen, Colin Flint, rh Caroline Marsden, Mr. Gordon Skinner, Mr. Dennis Chapman, Ben Flynn, Paul Martlew, Mr. Eric Slaughter, Mr. Andy Clapham, Mr. Michael Follett, Barbara McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas Smith, rh Mr. Andrew 223 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 224

Smith, Ms Angela C. Twigg, Derek New clause 7—Limitations on publication of (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Ussher, Kitty information— Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Vaz, rh Keith ‘The court shall only permit publication of information Smith, Geraldine Walley, Joan relating to a case in family proceedings for the purposes of this Smith, rh Jacqui Ward, Claire Act upon the availability of the relevant judgment to that Snelgrove, Anne Wareing, Mr. Robert N. particular case and not before.’. Soulsby, Sir Peter Watson, Mr. Tom Southworth, Helen Watts, Mr. Dave New clause 8—Uncontested adoption proceedings— Spellar, rh Mr. John Whitehead, Dr. Alan ‘Part 2 of this Bill shall not apply to uncontested adoption Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Wicks, rh Malcolm proceedings under the Adoption and Children Act 2002.’. Stoate, Dr. Howard Williams, rh Mr. Alan New clause 9—Identification information— Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Williams, Mrs. Betty ‘For the purposes of this Act, an account of proceedings, or of Straw, rh Mr. Jack Wilson, Phil any part of proceedings, shall be taken to identify a person Stringer, Graham Winnick, Mr. David (“identification information”) if— Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Winterton, rh Ms Rosie (a) it contains any particulars of— Tami, Mark Woolas, Mr. Phil Taylor, Ms Dari (i) the name, title, pseudonym or alias of the person; Wright, David (ii) the address or description (physical or by value) of Thomas, Mr. Gareth Wright, Mr. Iain Thornberry, Emily any premises at which the person resides or works, Wright, Dr. Tony Tipping, Paddy or the locality in which any such premises are Wyatt, Derek Touhig, rh Mr. Don situated; Trickett, Jon Tellers for the Noes: (iii) the physical description or the style of dress of the Turner, Dr. Desmond Mr. Frank Roy and person; Turner, Mr. Neil Lyn Brown (iv) any employment or occupation engaged in, profession practised or calling pursued, by the person or any official or honorary position held by the person; Question accordingly negatived. (v) the relationship of the person to identified relatives of the person or the association of the person with New Clause 2 identified friends or identified business, official or professional acquaintances of the person; INDEPENDENT REVIEW (vi) the recreational interests, or the political, philosophical or religious beliefs or interests, of the person; or ‘(1) The Lord Chancellor may not bring into effect the (vii) any real or personal property in which the person provisions set out in Schedule 2 of this Act, unless— has an interest or with which the person is otherwise (a) the Lord Chancellor has commissioned a full associated; being particulars that are sufficient to independent review and evaluation of— identify that person to a member of the public, or (i) the operation of Part 2 of this Act, and to a member of the section of the public to which (ii) the impact of the new guidelines on reporting the accounts disseminated, as the case requires; restrictions introduced on 27 April 2009, (b) in the case of a written or televised account or an (b) the conclusions of the independent review have been account by other electronic means - it is accompanied set out in a report which has been laid before by a picture of the person; or Parliament. (c) in the case of a broadcast or televised account or an account by other electronic means - it is spoken in (2) No review for the purposes of subsection (1) may be whole or in part by the person and the person’s voice commenced before the end of the period of 18 months beginning is sufficient to identify that person to a member of the with the time section 32 comes into force and a full review has public, or to a member of the section of the public to been completed of the findings from the pilot allowing for the which the account is disseminated, as the case requires.’. publication of anonymised judgments alone.’.—(Mr. Bellingham.) Brought up, and read the First time. New clause 19—Review of family proceeding provisions— ‘(1) The Lord Chancellor must commission an independent Mr. Henry Bellingham (North-West Norfolk) (Con): review of the operation of Part 2 of this Act and set out the I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. conclusions of the review in a report to be laid before Parliament and considered by the Justice Committee of the House of Commons. Madam Deputy Speaker: With this it will be convenient (2) The review for the purposes of subsection (1) must not be to discuss the following: new clause 6—Amendment of commenced before completion of the evaluation of the family definitions— courts information pilot or the end of the period of 18 months beginning with the time section 32 comes into force, whichever is ‘(1) The Lord Chancellor may not amend— the later.’. (a) the definition of “relevant family proceedings” in section 32(5); Amendment 4, in clause 32, page 28, line 8, after ‘publisher’, insert ‘or author’. (b) the definition of “professional witness” in section 41(1); Amendment 5, page 28, line 8, at end insert— (c) Schedule 3 (list of sensitive personal information) by ‘(a) published only after the judgement is available and is’. order made by statutory instrument unless— Amendment 6, page 28, line 9, after first ‘the’, insert (i) the Lord Chancellor has commissioned an independent ‘anonymised’. review of the existing definitions, and Amendment 7, page 28, line 12, leave out ‘or’. (ii) the conclusions of the independent review have been set out in a report which has been laid before Government amendment 111. Parliament. Amendment 8, page 28, line 13, at end insert ‘or, (2) No review for the purposes of subsection (1) may be ‘(d) limited disclosure at the request of the parties involved, commenced before the end of the period of 18 months beginning or upon the Court’s own motion in circumstances not with the time section 32 comes into force and the independent covered by the Family Proceedings Rules part XI, as review has been completed.’. authorised by the powers of Court.’. 225 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 226

Amendment 9, page 28, line 33, at end insert— Amendment 25, page 32, line 19, at end insert— ‘(h) applications under Part II of the Matrimonial Causes ‘(ba) the information is also sensitive or personal financial Act 1973 (financial relief for parties to a marriage information relating to the proceedings, or’. and children of family); Government amendments 118 and 119. (i) applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 Amendment 26, in clause 38, page 32, line 29, leave (financial provision for children).’. out ‘reason’ and insert ‘reasonable cause’. Amendment 10, page 28, line 34, leave out subsection 6 Government amendment 120. and insert— Amendment 27, page 32, line 35, leave out ‘reason’ ‘(6) The Lord Chancellor may not amend the definition of “relevant family proceedings” in subsection (5) by order made by and insert ‘reasonable cause’. statutory instrument unless— Government amendment 121. (a) the Lord Chancellor has commissioned an Amendment 30, in page 33, line 12, leave out clause 40. independent review of the existing definition, and Government amendment 122. (b) the conclusions of the independent review have been set out in a report which has been laid before Amendment 28, in clause 40, page 33, line 19, leave Parliament. out paragraphs (a) and (b) and insert— (6A) No review for the purposes of subsection 6 may be ‘(a) the Lord Chancellor has commissioned an commenced before the end of the period of 18 months beginning independent review of the operation of Part 2 of this with the time section 32 comes into force.’. Act, and (b) the conclusions of the independent review have been Amendment 11, page 28, line 34, leave out subsections (6) set out in a report which has been laid before to (8). Parliament’. Government amendments 112 to 115. Government amendment 123. Amendment 12, in clause 33, page 29, line 12, at end Amendment 29, page 33, line 23, leave out subsection (4) insert and insert— ‘with agreement of other interested parties related to the case.’. ‘No review for the purposes of subsection (3)(a) may be Amendment 13, page 29, line 13, leave out ‘may commenced before— permit’ and insert (a) the end of the period of 18 months beginning with the time section 32 comes into force, and ‘will always make it clear that’. (b) a full review has been completed of the findings from Amendment 14, page 29, line 13, after ‘section’, insert the pilot allowing publication of anonymised ‘can be’. judgments alone.’. Amendment 15, in clause 34, page 29, line 26, after Amendment 31, in clause 41, page 33, leave out from ‘representative’, insert beginning of line 42 to end of line 2 on page 34 and ‘or other member of any news gathering or reporting insert— organisation or any freelance journalist’. ‘An account of proceedings, or of any part of proceedings, Amendment 16, page 29, line 30, after ‘representative’, shall be taken to identify a person if— insert (a) it contains any particulars of— ‘or other member of any news gathering or reporting (i) the name, title, pseudonym or alias of the person; organisation or any freelance journalist’. (ii) the address or description (physical or by value) of any premises at which the person resides or works, Government amendment 116. or the locality in which any such premises are Amendment 17, page 29, line 41, leave out ‘or’. situated; Amendment 18, page 29, line 43, at end insert ‘or (iii) the physical description or the style of dress of the person; (v) sensitive or personal financial information’. (iv) any employment or occupation engaged in, profession Amendment 19, page 30, line 10, after ‘court’, insert practised or calling pursued, by the person or any ‘and in accordance with the limitations imposed by the Act’. official or honorary position held by the person; Amendment 20, page 30, line 13, at end insert— (v) the relationship of the person to identified relatives of the person or the association of the person with ‘(6A) Condition 6 is that the information is not recorded by an identified friends or identified business, official or accredited news representative or other member of any news professional acquaintances of the person; gathering and/or reporting organisation or any freelance (vi) the recreational interests, or the political, philosophical journalist other than through hand-written or hand-typed notes, or religious beliefs or interests, of the person; or and is not recorded visually or audibly. (vii) any real or personal property in which the person (6B) Condition 7 is that the publication shall not contain has an interest or with which the person is otherwise details of any written or oral disclosure by a child or any medical associated; being particulars that are sufficient to details of a child.’. identify that person to a member of the public, or Amendment 21, in clause 35, page 30, line 25, after to a member of the section of the public to which first ‘the’, insert ‘wider’. the account is disseminated, as the case requires; (b) in the case of a written or televised account or an Amendment 22, page 30, line 26, leave out ‘a person’ account by other electronic means, it is accompanied and insert ‘any of the parties’. by a picture of the person; or Amendment 23, page 30, line 37, leave out ‘involved (c) in the case of a broadcast or televised account or an in, referred to in or otherwise’ and insert ‘directly.’. account by other electronic means, it is spoken in Government amendment 117. whole or in part by the person and the person’s voice is sufficient to identify that person to a member of the Amendment 24, in clause 37, page 32, line 19, leave public, or to a member of the section of the public to out ‘or’. which the account is disseminated, as the case requires.’. 227 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 228

[Madam Deputy Speaker] year, so they have been running for only a short time. They are being undertaken in the magistrates courts in Government amendments 124 to 132. Leeds, and in the magistrates and county courts in Amendment 32, page 34, line 49, at end insert— Cardiff. There were originally plans to have a third pilot in the magistrates and county courts in Wolverhampton. ‘(c) is a person who has provided a sworn statement to the court within the relevant proceedings.’. I hope that the Minister will be able to explain what has happened to that third pilot, as it has not yet started. Amendment 33, page 34, line 50, leave out subsection (3) and insert— The whole idea behind the pilots was for anonymised judgments and reasons to be placed in the public domain. ‘(3) The Lord Chancellor may not amend— The benefits of that would be assessed, as would the (a) the definition of “professional witness” in subsection resource implications of the measures. This was also (1); discussed in the evidence-gathering sessions of the Public (b) Schedule 3 (list of sensitive personal information) by Bill Committee, in which Sir Mark Potter, the president order made by statutory instrument unless— of the family division, pointed out that the annual costs (i) the Lord Chancellor has commissioned an would be about £2 million. We are talking about a independent review of the existing definition, and significant, although not huge, amount of money, at a (ii) the conclusions of the independent review have time when the courts’ budgets are under a lot of pressure. been set out in a report which has been laid before On the other hand, it is important that we get this right, Parliament.’. as it represents another far-reaching step. Our view is Amendment 34, page 34, line 50, leave out subsections (3) that these measures require a full, thorough evaluation. to (5). What is the point of running a pilot if it is not studied Amendment 91, in page 46, line 10, leave out schedule 2. and evaluated? We always assumed that the Government would allow Mr. Bellingham: I should declare my interest as a the new arrangements to settle in before moving on to barrister, albeit one who has not practised for quite a the next stage, which would be to amend the primary long time. legislation on reporting restrictions and look into media Part 2 of the Bill was not debated in Committee. attendance at placement and adoption proceedings. Unfortunately—indeed, scandalously—it is not going However, that is the essence of the provisions in part 2. to be debated this evening either. That is a great pity, We never dreamt that the Ministry of Justice would because it contains significant changes. In our view, amend primary legislation by tacking on various clauses those changes should have formed a separate Bill in its to another Bill, right at the fag-end of this Parliament, own right, rather than being tacked on to this important when the Government knew that there would be no Children, Schools and Families Bill. This is a shabby time to debate these important proposals properly. way in which to treat those involved in the family The Public Bill Committee took evidence on part 2 courts, from the judges through to all the other professionals, from a number of experts who work in the family courts including those who work for the Children and Family on a regular basis. The list was impressive. The president Court Advisory and Support Service and the expert of the family division, Sir Mark Potter, gave evidence, witnesses who appear in the family courts day in and day as did Judge Nicholas Crichton, a well-known judge out, as well as the families and children themselves. from the inner London family proceedings court, as The Opposition have consistently argued for more well as Barbara Esam from the National Society for the openness and transparency in the family courts. We Prevention of Cruelty to Children and a number of have also regularly emphasised the need for greater other experts. A key point is that, although they supported consistency between the courts. The press have been in principle much of what is in part 2, they all agreed allowed into the youth justice courts for the past 70 years, that it was hideously complicated and that not enough and Judge Nicholas Crichton pointed out to the Public thought had been put into it. Bill Committee that they have always been allowed into the family proceedings courts, which are of course magistrates courts. Furthermore, the press are allowed 7.45 pm into the Court of Appeal when family cases end up there If we look at what the Government and those of us on appeal. Where the problem lay was in the county who want to see more transparency in the family courts courts and the family division of the High Court. are trying to achieve, we see that three key questions are Our family courts play a vital role in our justice involved: when can the press attend; what can they system, but confidence and trust in them is eroded if report; and what documents can they see? The their work is constantly shrouded in secrecy. That is answers are, in some ways, quite simple. I entirely accept exactly what has happened in the past. That is why we that there are additional questions to be asked in relation pressed the Secretary of State hard to take action, and to the third point about documents, because affidavits we warmly welcomed his announcement in December and skeleton arguments are increasingly relevant, and 2008 of the new rules that were to come into force in we must ask whether the press should have copies of April 2009. The rules of court were then changed to them. allow media attendance in all family courts, subject to It is also worth pointing out that insufficient attention reporting restrictions and to the court having the power has been paid to ancillary relief in the debate on to exclude completely, where appropriate. That was a transparency. This raises a specific issue, because financial significant step forward. information, some of which is highly confidential, is We are, however, in the very early days of the new provided under compulsory disclosure. The Government regime. It was combined with the piloting of written should certainly look into that more carefully as the judgments. The pilots commenced in November last debate moves forward. 229 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 230

On the question of how complicated the provisions In our opinion, that is just not good enough. Our new are, I was struck by something that Sir Mark Potter said clause 2 is logical; it is in no way bureaucratic, and it in his written note. He reinforced his point in his oral contains sensible additional safeguards. I urge all hon. evidence as well, but in his written note, he stated: Members to support it. “The Bill is very complex. The technical and interlocking We have tabled other new clauses and amendments. If nature of its provisions places the judges, the parties and the we debated them all tonight in an open-ended way, I media in an unsatisfactory position likely to lead to a number of would still be speaking in two and a half hours’ time, practical difficulties concerning Judges’ decisions to impose, or which I have no intention of doing, as I want to hear refuse to lift, restrictions in individual cases. In cases of high what the Minister has to say about the Government interest, parties and the media are likely to raise substantial queries and argue individual points in relation to the reporting of amendments and many of my hon. Friends want to evidence which will necessitate the expenditure of precious judicial speak. This shows what a ridiculous situation we are in. time in resolving them rather than getting on with the case.” It would do us all a disservice if this Bill got on to the statute book without proper debate in at least one of He also went on to explain that part 2 was needlessly the Houses. I suggest that the chance of getting the complicated. Her Majesty’s Government have achieved proper debate it needs in Parliament is now very slim something that I thought was virtually impossible—namely, indeed. they have united everyone from one end of the spectrum to the other on this matter. That is certainly an achievement. New clause 7 states that the court will “only permit publication of information relating to a case in As I said, it would have been better to give these early family proceedings” reforms a chance to work and to get bedded down. after a judgment has been made. To some extent, this is Then, we could have taken a step back to see exactly the Sir Mark Potter amendment, as he felt very strongly when it would be necessary to amend the primary about the issue, as he explained to the Committee in legislation. It would have been far better to do that by some detail when he gave oral evidence on 21 January. means of a separate family proceedings Bill. Given that Let me quote what he said in response to a question the Government have already announced that they are asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe and going to carry out a major review of the family justice Nantwich (Mr. Timpson), who is an expert on the system, would it not have been better to allow that review subject and may speak later if he is able to catch your to complete its work? A new family proceedings Bill will eye, Madam Deputy Speaker. Mark Potter said that undoubtedly come out of that process, and these provisions could have formed an important part of it. “one of the judiciary’s concerns is the fact that it is the habit…of the press to drop in on the first day and see what the case is about. We did not debate part 2 in Committee, yet the In so far as they will report that case, they will do so in terms of Government have already come up with a number of what is open. Whether it is public or private law proceedings, an complicated amendments to it. They are completely applicant may open a case high, as we put it, make a number of rewriting their original part 2. Perhaps the Minister will often quite important and unpleasant allegations relating to parties in the case, or make exaggerated claims about the child. think I am churlish to say that, however, because many Those will get reported. Then time passes. Perhaps the judgment of their amendments are ones that we asked for and is given and publicised in anonymous terms two or three weeks that we support. Nevertheless, this is a chaotic situation, later. There is no obligation on the press to report that. It might and it is causing a great deal of concern. be that quite a different situation is found to have existed as a We are where we are, however, which is why we have result of what happened, but because we are in a situation of a first-day attendance, and what is news today has passed tomorrow, tabled a number of new clauses and amendments. I an unfair and difficult position is left—quite apart from the want to speak first to new clause 2. Clause 40 currently welfare of the child concerned.”––[Official Report, Children, Schools introduces phase 2 of part 2—that is, schedule 2. Schedule 2 and Families Public Bill Committee, 21 January 2010; c. 126, Q206.] contains various amendments that alter the treatment He went on to say: of sensitive personal information. Under clause 40 as it “It is indeed only by being there all the time, seeing the whole stands now, however, the Lord Chancellor cannot make shape and knowing what is at the end that you achieve anything.”– an order to commence schedule 2—or, indeed, –[Official Report, Children, Schools and Families Public Bill Committee, schedule 5—unless he or she has carried out a review of 21 January 2010; c. 130, Q210.] this part of the Bill and set out its conclusions in a Interestingly enough, that particular view was echoed report to Parliament. That cannot take place for 18 by Bob Satchwell. He is the director of the Society of months and it has to be done through an affirmative Editors, who was at completely the opposite end of the resolution on a statutory instrument. spectrum and has consistently argued for and lobbied in There are various flaws in the procedure. That is why favour of even more transparency and openness—issues we tabled our own new clause, which builds on clause 40 encapsulated in part 2. He said on the same day: by requiring the Lord Chancellor to commission a fully “However, unless you hear the whole detail of the case, and independent review of the operation of part 2 and of unless you are able to put those sides of the case, you lose the the impact of the new changes of April 2009 that point of fairness of a report. So you must have some basic information in there, which is not available at the moment.”––[Official allowed the media access to the courts. Furthermore, Report, Children, Schools and Families Public Bill Committee, there is a third safeguard, because no review can take 21 January 2010; c. 130, Q210.] place until a full and separate review and an evaluation Another who reinforced the point about getting the of the pilots has taken place. judgment of a case before there is any reporting by the New clause 2 is similar to the Lib-Dem new clause 19. media was Dr. Julia Brophy, the director of the centre In fact, original amendments 28 and 29 have been for family law and policy at Oxford university. A number migrated into new clause 2. The Government’s solution of my hon. Friends met her and were very impressed. in amendment 123 goes some of the way, but it is simply She said: not adequate because it talks only about an independent “Unless the media are simply in at the end of a case, at the final person carrying out the review and consulting the public. hearing, and can look at the case in its entirety, they will not be 231 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 232 able to present a balanced picture.”––[Official Report, Children, identification possibilities by way of pictures in the Schools and Families Public Bill Committee, 21 January 2010; media and by way of recording people’s voices. I urge c. 135, Q217.] the Minister to change the Government amendment or That is exactly what we are trying to do. at least urge the other place to have a close look at what The answer to these concerns—they are very real we would achieve by our new clause. We are almost at concerns indeed—is very simple: it is our new clause 7. one on this, but not quite, so going that extra little We feel strongly that it satisfies the point, but the distance would be a great relief to Conservative Members. Government have unfortunately completely failed to As to the other Government amendments, I accept look at and address the concerns put forward by Sir Mark that the Government have listened to a number of Potter and these other experts. I urge the Government legitimate concerns. On the other hand, as I mentioned to recognise that there is still time to address those a moment ago, they have completely rewritten this part concerns. They should accept our new clause 7. It of the Bill with no debate in Committee whatever—not deserves support because it is extremely simple and a single minute was spent debating it in Committee. straightforward; there is no reason why it would not We support most of the Government amendments. work very neatly and very well. I ask the Minister to Some cover points that we raised in correspondence accept it, because it would go a long way to satisfying with the Minister, some pick up on points put during and answering the fears expressed very eloquently by all the evidence-gathering session, while others pick up the witnesses when they gave evidence to the Public Bill points made in various written statements and documents Committee on 21 January. I think that the Minister made available to the Committee. The Minister has herself was present at the Committee; she asked some considered some of those points and come up with questions at the end of it. I am sure that she will agree various amendments. However, some of the amendments with me that these real concerns need addressing. are pretty weighty, and I find it worrying that they were Let me move on to new clause 8. It is very simple, introduced so suddenly, given that all the issues could modest and sensible and is designed to ensure that have been thought through carefully at an earlier stage. part 2 Amendment 111—the “Nelson”—deals with fairly wide- “shall not apply to uncontested adoption proceedings”. ranging contempt-of-court criteria, amendment 126 adds another defence to contempt of court, and amendment 131 I should declare an interest because my wife and I have concerns the definition of how a person is involved in an adopted child. We understand very well the sensitivities proceedings. It is ridiculous that such weighty matters involved in adoption, which were summed up very well should be put before the House at this late hour. by the president of the family division when he said: “In private adoption proceedings which are not contested and 8pm do not involve abuse, the unanimous decision of judges and absolutely everyone is that there is no legitimate reason for the I hope that the Minister will explain exactly what the press to be present. So many sensitivities are involved, largely for amendments will do. We have given our pledge that we parents, as well as the child, and it is simply not a matter the will not vote against them, because they are broadly in public deserve to know about, so far as the intimate details are line with what we have asked for, but there is extra detail concerned.”––[Official Report, Children, Schools and Families that is very substantial and complicated. I hope that she Public Bill Committee, 21 January 2010; c. 139, Q232.] will explain exactly how the amendments will improve I certainly endorse that 100 per cent. the Bill in the way that the Government have claimed Quite why the Government have not addressed those they will, and how they will make it more acceptable to points, I do not know. I am afraid that it is probably a the various groups involved. function of the Government coming to this issue with a We have pressed the Government for a long time to whole lot of amendments at a very late stage. As I have address the whole issue of transparency and openness said, they have completely rewritten part 2 and missed in the family courts. We agreed that the April 2009 out a number of points. We are here to help them. New changes were excellent, but suggested that it would have clause 8 would certainly answer this particular concern. been better had we paused at that stage. What is the If the Government are in a charitable mood tonight, point of pilots unless they really are pilots, and are they will certainly accept this simple and straightforward assessed properly? At the time, we told the Government new clause. It is perfectly harmless and it does exactly “Take a step back. Look at stage one. Look at the what those experts want to see built expressly into excellent announcements that you made about the changes the Bill. in April 2009, and assess the way in which they are working Our new clause 9 expands on the short interpretation on the ground. Talk to everyone involved in the family description contained in clause 41(1). It is also sensible courts. The pilots only started in November; evaluate and pragmatic, and the good news is that the Government them, perhaps a year later, and consider the resource have looked at our earlier amendment, which migrated implications in a professional and focused way.” into new clause 9, and have now come up with their own If the Minister had listened to us at the time, we amendment. They copied our provision almost word would not be in this muddle, but would be moving for word in their amendment 130. I would like to say a forward at a sensible, constructive and decent pace. big thank you to the Minister. She said a while ago that However, the Government have panicked for some reason. the Government were here to help and they have certainly They have tacked these clauses on to a Bill that is not been helpful in this particular case. We must not do theirs, and have managed to unite everyone against anything other than give praise where praise is due. what are, in many respects, quite reasonable proposals I must also not sound churlish when I say that our because they are so complicated. new clause is slightly better and superior to the We are trying to make the Bill much less complicated. Government’s amendment because our provision contains We are trying to make part 2 more effective and acceptable. two additional safeguards in (a) and (b), which cover There are strong arguments for dropping it completely, 233 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 234 but if the Government will not do that, I implore them opposite of the concerns expressed about serious case to accept our amendments—particularly amendment 2, reviews that we have just discussed. While the Government on which I hope the House will vote, but also amendments 7, claim to be taking the side of groups such as the 8 and 9. I hope that Members on both sides of the NSPCC on the protection of sensitive information from House will support us in the vote on new clause 2, serious case reviews, they appear to be taking the opposite which would go some way towards making this part of side on many of the arguments. the Bill more effective and acceptable. I genuinely feel that it would be extremely unwise of Members of this and another place to seek to make Mr. Laws: I agree with much of what the hon. Member such important judgments in the absurdly short time for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) said. I do not that is available to us. I will confine myself to saying intend to detain the House for long, not because the that Members of both Houses will do all we can to amendments and new clauses do not deserve extensive ensure that the proposals are not enacted, so that we debate but precisely because they do, and because today’s can consider them in the detail that they deserve. debate—which has been necessarily brief because of the time restrictions—has only confirmed a view that I The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice have held for some time. I believe that we would be (Bridget Prentice): I rise relatively early in this fairly foolish to rush consideration of what is, in fact, a highly short debate, partly to respond to the amendments complex and sensitive area with no proper scrutiny in tabled by the Opposition but partly to agree with both this place, and that we would risk drawing the wrong Opposition spokesmen that it is a matter of regret to us conclusions and making decisions of which we would all that these matters were not debated in Committee. I repent at leisure. After all, we are being expected, in a sat through every Committee sitting, including the public debate lasting only an hour, to scrutinise nearly 20 per evidence sessions, and I assure Members that it is pretty cent. of the Bill, including an entire set of clauses and frustrating to sit there and be unable to make at least two schedules—clauses 32 to 41 and schedules 2 and 3—that some comment on a part of a Bill for which one has we did not even touch on in Committee, although they some responsibility. deserved serious scrutiny. I also rise to speak at this point in the debate because We know that this is one of the most controversial in the course of the public evidence sittings and throughout parts of a Bill which itself hardly lacks controversial the period when this part of the Bill was being discussed content—including some of the other elements relating outwith this House, including by the many organisations to home education, which we may touch on if we have that have contributed to it, we listened to what people time today and to which we also failed to give adequate had to say, which is why we have tabled our amendments time in Committee. We know that a long list of in this group. I hope that my comments will lead the organisations have expressed concerns, and that, as the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) hon. Member for North-West Norfolk said, they represent to appreciate that I am doing all I can to try to be a broad spectrum, from children’s organisations at one helpful and to assuage some of the concerns people end to legal and other organisations in the middle or at have raised, even though they were not debated in the other end. Committee. We have received representations from a variety of I want to begin by considering why we have come to organisations, from the Children’s Society and the National our current situation. I acknowledge that the hon. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children to Gentleman said at the beginning of his speech that he legal groups specialising in family law, but they have and the Opposition agree that transparency in the family sent us a universal message. They believe that there is a courts is an important issue, and that they support that real risk of our legislating in haste, and that the issues and find it unacceptable that the family courts differ so are too important to be rushed through Parliament much from the rest of the Courts Service. For a number with a minimum of debate and the risk that we will end of years—in fact, since Lord Justice Munby’s Re B up with ill-thought-out provisions. They have told us judgment in 2004—we have been consulting on, and clearly that they think that the changes envisaged in slowly changing, the extent to which individuals can schedule 2 should result from a proper process of share information from the family courts, and we have consultation and dialogue, and proper scrutiny in been able to move from a system that, for example, did Parliament. Although I accept that the Minister has not even allow a man or wife to disclose to their new made an attempt today to respond to some of the partner the fact that they were involved in Children Act concerns that have been expressed over the last few proceedings for contact arrangements for their child weeks and months and that she has talked to many of from a previous relationship. They were not allowed to the organisations involved, I have no doubt that many talk to their MP about such issues either, and given that of those concerns remain. over the past year we have, for a variety of reasons, been As the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk said very concerned about the relationship between the MP earlier, the fact that the Minister has found it necessary and their constituents, that is a pretty large hole in the to bring to the House with very little notice—her letter system. is dated 19 February—a series of important amendments Those aspects of the system were clearly unhelpful to clauses 32, 33, 34, 37, 38, 40 and 41 is the clearest for the people involved, and unhealthy for democracy possible indication that the groups that have made and justice. We therefore changed the rules so that the representations to us are right, and that we should not situation is now more open and transparent, but always rush such complex and sensitive legislation in the limited with checks and balances to make sure that the publishing time that we have before a general election. That is of information, for example, is permissible only within particularly true given that many of the concerns expressed a very specific framework. Those changes have proved by groups such as the NSPCC seem to be precisely the to be relatively successful. 235 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 236

[Bridget Prentice] forward and of putting measures in place that will be better for the justice system and all those involved in it. The hon. Member for North-West Norfolk has We have considered the concerns raised, such as protecting mentioned that last year we introduced the family court privacy, while also ensuring the system can be as open information pilots, which are looking at the impact on as possible, and I hope these amendments will allay the judiciary and the court system of publishing anonymised some of those concerns. We also want to ensure the judgments online. Anonymised judgments were established integrity of the process in making a considered transition not for the benefit of the media, but, rather, to see how to a second, more open, phase. the system impacts on the judiciary. They also protect First, let me address the amendments dealing with the identity of those involved, which is a key factor in the issues of privacy and identification. Government their success. Again, checks and balances are in place. amendments 113, 114 and 115 all deal with the publication The hon. Gentleman asked about Wolverhampton. Its of information contained within court orders. Taken pilot started in January, so it has been running for only together, these amendments will make it clear that, two months so far. while the default position is that court orders in relevant In April last year, we made a very important change family proceedings will remain publishable without the to the rules of court, so that the media now have the court’s permission being required, the publisher will right to attend most family proceedings. The hon. need to remove any identification information from the Gentleman rightly pointed out that they could attend text or summary of the order before publishing. The the top and bottom ends, so to speak, of the family publication of an order complete with any identification proceedings, but not some of the more central areas, information that the order contains will require the such as the High Court. Again, we have put in place court’s permission. These amendments are offered in sufficient checks and balances to ensure that the courts response to concerns raised about the important question can choose to exclude them, where appropriate. of how best to ensure that orders in family proceedings The recent evaluation showed that the changes have may be made public without an excessive risk of presented few problems, and that the major block to identification of those involved. By placing the responsibility their achieving their objectives is that the media are not for redaction on the publisher, the Government are attending family proceedings to the extent that we had ensuring that no undue burden is placed on busy family expected, largely because they can report so little of the court judges to have to check every family court order information that they might learn from the proceedings. in order to make sure that identification information Whereas the other measures that we have introduced has been removed. have made a positive contribution to making the family courts more open and transparent, allowing the media Mr. Bellingham: May I draw attention to the extra to attend has not as yet added to that. The limits on safeguards in our new clause 9, which differentiate it what can and cannot be reported are such that the slightly from Government amendment 130? media do not, on the whole, bother to attend. Because the media are not allowed to report anything of substance, Bridget Prentice: I hope that, as I go into the detail of the public are not able to grasp how the family courts our amendment, that differentiation will become clear. work, or how the courts reach very difficult decisions However, let me say to the hon. Gentleman, as I have every day about children and families. The concept of said before, that I am happy to look at some of these open justice is all the poorer for that. issues further to see if changes need to be made in the That is why we have introduced these provisions. other place. I hope that he will forgive me if, for the Their aims are to allow the media to report on the moment, I stick to arguing my case as I have it before family courts more fully, to allow the public to be more me. Those amendments seek to assist the operation of aware of the work of these courts and the decisions they the legislation. I hope that they will satisfy some of the make, and to afford family courts the openness and calls for additional clarity, because I accept that originally transparency other parts of the judicial system have the provisions were rather opaque. had for many years. We do not and would not tolerate such restrictions in other parts of the justice system, so Amendments 131 and 132 would plug the gap in these changes are long overdue, but I seek to persuade ensuring that a person who has provided a statement to Members that while the changes we have made so far the court within the relevant proceedings would count, have been relatively successful, and while I hope those I along with witnesses actually called to give evidence, as propose in today’s amendments will also be successful, being “involved in” proceedings for the purpose of the they are all proposed with the privacy and safety of Bill. On amendment 130, I accept that, as has been children in mind, and with checks and balances to mentioned by the hon. Members for North-West Norfolk ensure that that is achieved. and for Yeovil (Mr. Laws), the addition of a list similar to that in section 121(3) of the Australian Family Law 8.15 pm Act 1975 was strongly advocated by a wide variety of Even though the details were not discussed in Committee, stakeholders. We have therefore accepted that it is I am aware that a number of concerns have been raised appropriate to include in the Bill a list of what constitutes since the original clauses were introduced. I hope Members “identification information”. Having said that, I believe will agree to the amendments tabled today or late last that the Bill, as introduced, was fit for purpose and that week—I am sorry it took so long for that to happen, but provisions on what constitutes information “likely to that was entirely outwith my control. I say to the hon. identify” are equally so. Member for North-West Norfolk that I would never I am aware of the need for as much clarity as possible dream of describing him as churlish, and I hope that, if the Bill is to work as intended, so the amendment like me, he has come to this debate in a spirit of builds on the Australian model and provides additional openness and with the aim of trying to take this matter guidance for both parties and the media as to what 237 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 238 constitutes “identification information”, highlighting know, and had no reason to suspect at the time of the sorts of information that are most likely to be publication, that the information already published was “identifying” and in respect of which particular care in breach of any of the requirements for an authorised should accordingly be taken. In addition, amendment 117 news publication. Without the amendments, there would adds a provision that mirrors section 97(2)(b) of the be a risk that someone republishing information already Children Act 1989 in prohibiting publication of information in the public domain could find themselves charged likely to identify the home address or the school of a with contempt for publishing information that they child involved in proceedings. That would remove any could not have known was in breach of reporting scope for arguments as to whether such information restrictions. Although it is right and proper that the might identify the child. courts pursue those who knowingly publish information The hon. Member for North-West Norfolk made a that is in breach of reporting restrictions governing number of points that have been raised by the judiciary family proceedings, it is also right and proper that those and, in particular, by Sir Mark Potter, and I hope that who seek only to inform the public in good faith are he will accept that although amendments 115, 118 and provided with a defence against being held in contempt 119 are technical, they address the points made by the of court. senior judiciary. Amendments 118 and 119 would remove So that the courts can continue to authorise publication the additional explanations of what amounts to in individual cases, amendment 111 responds to judicial “information relating to the proceedings”. concerns raised in the evidence of the president of the family division, Sir Mark Potter, and is intended to That term will continue to have the meaning established make it clear that courts may continue in the exercise of by the case law on the identical wording in section 12 of their inherent jurisdiction to authorise disclosure of the Administration of Justice Act 1960. information in limited circumstances not covered by Amendment 115 mirrors section 97(2) of the 1989 Act— rules of court, at the request of the parties or upon the and the Australian legislation—in referring to identification court’s own motion. by members of the public, rather than by “one or more Finally, we have considered the concerns about the persons”, which might have had the unintended effect review process that will be required prior to moving to a of preventing publication in almost every case however more open second phase. I understand that the hon. little information might be made available. Within those Member for Yeovil has particular concerns about this provisions, however, not only do we wish to ensure area, and I hope that amendments 122 and 123 will privacy where required, but we wish to make reporting allay some of them. Our amendments would require as open as it can be. We have, thus, responded to that the Lord Chancellor commissions an independent concerns in that regard too. review of part 2 of the Bill before the amendments Amendments 116, 117, 118, 121, 124 and 126 would concerning sensitive personal information in schedule 2 remove references to persons “referred to in” proceedings may be commenced. We recognise that it is in everyone’s from clauses 34, 37, 38 and 41. That would mean that interest, particularly that of children, that we get the the publication of identification information relating to review process right and ensure that the initial set of persons referred to in proceedings but with no direct changes are subject to a considered and robust link to them—I call this the David Beckham amendment, examination—it would be in nobody’s interest to do because it deals with cases where a child’s favourite anything less. footballer or pop star is mentioned—would not be prohibited, as clearly that is not what is intended. Mr. Timpson: Will the Minister explain why she does Having said that, there may occasionally be exceptional not see the pilot that is under way and an evaluation of cases where the court would need to protect a person the changes that were introduced in April 2009 as an who is “referred to” in proceedings, as opposed to more integral part of that review? Should we not be able to actively involved. Such a person might be, for example, see the outcome and evaluation of those two aspects a neighbour who has reported domestic violence to the before we look towards having an independent review police. The Government feel that the court’s discretionary of part 2 of the Bill? power to restrict publication in clause 37(2) will cover such situations. Bridget Prentice: To some extent, I would say that These amendments do not cover references to a person they will be an integral part of that review. I shall go on “referred to in” proceedings in clauses 35 and 36, because to explain in more detail about how I think that that they serve a different purpose. In clause 35, the avoiding review might work, and I would expect it to take those of an injustice to a person referred to in the proceedings, pilots into consideration. It would consider the whole or the protection of the welfare of a child or vulnerable procedure of openness and transparency in the family adult referred to in the proceedings, may well be a courts, and the pilots would be included. We will review reason for permitting the publication of information. the pilots before then anyway, as part of their timetable. The court will decide this, and in so deciding whether to There seems to me no reason why the review, when it permit that publication, it will have to take into account comes about, could not also take them into consideration. the risk that would be posed to the safety or welfare of a person “referred to”. 8.30 pm A number of concerns have been raised about the The hon. Gentleman is right to say that the benefits contempt provisions for circumstances where the reporting of an independent review are significant, not least because restrictions are breached. Amendments 119 and 120 it will be crucial for its report to be accepted as a fair deal specifically with defences to contempt of court. and accurate account of how those initial changes have The amendments provide those republishing information operated. It is also important, therefore, for the independent from another publication with a defence if they did not reviewer to consult publicly on that. If the review is to 239 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 240 have the respect that we want it to command, it needs to effect through other procedures. I appreciate what the be set up on the right footing. That is why we are also hon. Gentleman is saying, and I want to go as far as I giving a commitment that its terms of reference will be can to allay concerns about what the review can and agreed by the Justice Committee. The Chair of that cannot do. That is partly why we suggest that the Justice Committee, the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon- Committee would play such an important role in setting Tweed (Sir Alan Beith), was here during the earlier part out what the review can cover. It is important that the of the debate and I am sure that he will be looking at review should be seen by all concerned as entirely the details later. As I have said, if the Justice Committee independent and robustly conducted. If it were to conclude were to include the pilots as part of the review procedure, that the second part should not go forward in its present I see no reason why that would not be perfectly acceptable. form, that view would be taken very seriously. I hope It might give the reviewer more credibility when the that that gives the hon. Gentleman some comfort. review takes place. Government amendment 112 does not need a great Mr. Timpson: In that case, what is the Minister’s deal of explanation. It subjects the Lord Chancellor’s objection to our new clause 2? power to amend the definition of “relevant family Bridget Prentice: On one level, I have no objection to proceedings” to the affirmative resolution procedure, so it in principle. There is much to be said for some of the that the amending instrument may not be made without things in it. However, I do not think that it is appropriate the prior approval of both Houses of Parliament. I at this stage. I shall come to that point in a moment, but hope that that allays some of hon. Members’ concerns I want to finish talking about the review first. in that regard. The purpose of that power is to ensure that we can respond flexibly and promptly should there The review will not start until at least 18 months after be any subsequent legislative changes in the way that the commencement of this legislation, to give the first court proceedings are classified, so that the appropriate set of changes time to bed in. It will be something range of proceedings will continue to be covered. For between 18 and 24 months, I would envisage, before the example, “family proceedings” can be proceedings under review will take place. That will give considerable time part 5 of the Children Act 1989 dealing with child for the production of evidence for it to consider. minding and nursery care regulations. New clause 2 is unnecessary at this stage, because the amendments that we have tabled make it clear that the Let me explain why I cannot accept the amendments move to the new regime will not happen automatically. tabled by the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk. It The review is therefore not a rubber-stamping exercise. is partly because our amendments already address the concerns that have been raised—certainly those about Mr. Mike Hancock (Portsmouth, South) (LD): I am the nature of the review, the move to phase 2, the Lord grateful to the Minister for giving way. Will she explain Chancellor’s power to amend the definition of “family why, if she has no objection in principle to new clause 2, proceedings” and the clarity of identifying information. it would be inappropriate to accept it tonight? We have covered all those issues fairly comprehensively. Bridget Prentice: I am not prepared to accept it I will start by making a more negative point: I have tonight because I think that our amendments satisfy the concerns about his call for a limit on the publication of concerns that people have raised. I said to the hon. financial information, which I think is misplaced. I do Member for North-West Norfolk that after this debate I not believe that he or other Members on the Opposition would look further, if necessary, at whether other tweaks Front Bench suggest that the need to protect information might be necessary in another place. At the moment I about a parent’s finances is of greater consequence than am not absolutely convinced that they are, but I am the need to protect information about the children happy to consider the matter further later. At the moment, involved, but there are sufficient safeguards in place I think that the amendments that we have tabled instead already, as the courts can decide whether it is appropriate of new clause 2 are sufficient. to protect such information. Mr. Bellingham: I am grateful to the Minister for Amendments 30 and 91 would derail the provisions giving way; I wanted to help her a bit on the subject of that will introduce phase 2 of the Bill. I have already the pilots, following the point raised by my hon. Friend explained that the move to phase 2 is not a given, the Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mr. Timpson). because the independent review, the parliamentary scrutiny Would it not be better to put the requirement for a that will follow, including the affirmative resolution review of those pilots and an evaluation in the Bill? It procedure, are robust enough to ensure that whether would be easy to do that. Surely she can accept that phase 2 becomes a reality will be entirely dependent on point, as we move forward to make part 2 work through independent scrutiny. this process, which is phase 2 overall—well, perhaps phase 3, because phase 1 involved the changes that the Let me address the point that the hon. Gentleman Government brought in a year or so ago. The pilots made about uncontested adoption proceedings. They were part of that, and obviously they need to be properly are not covered in the Bill, but I accept the tenor of his evaluated. To have such a provision in the Bill would, I comments about such proceedings. I think that new am sure, satisfy the concerns of many of those who clause 8 would backfire, because it would remove the attended the Public Bill Committee hearing. Bill’s protection from some of the proceedings that will be protected, and would not cover some of the things Bridget Prentice: The hon. Gentleman makes a fair that he wants it to cover, but I would like to look at it point, which is why I hesitate as I reply to him. I want to again to make sure. I have some sympathy with him consider further whether the proposal should be in the regarding the necessity of media scrutiny of entirely Bill. I do not object to it in principle, but I want to think uncontested adoption proceedings. However, we do not, about whether it needs to be on the face of the Bill, or in the Bill, allow the media in to the final part of whether it would be more appropriate to leave it to take adoption proceedings. 241 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 242

The changes are important to the families who use half on the Floor of the House, and still be confident the courts, and particularly to the children who rely on that it would play out on the ground and in the courts as them. They are important to those who take the decisions we intend. As my hon. Friend the Member for North-West that will keep children safe and also to the public, who Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) said at the beginning of his have had doubts about some of the courts’ actions and speech, it is perhaps even more illuminating that we have called into question the effectiveness of the family have managed to find ourselves in an unenviable position justice system as a whole. That is why the changes are today, with even those who advocate full transparency overdue. Clearly, we all agree that the family justice for family courts saying that the legislation could end system should be more transparent and open. up doing more harm than good. I believe that the amendments that the Government I am not here to defend the family courts. I recognise have now tabled offer the best way forward. They offer a that many people who have been exposed to the system balanced approach to change and safeguards for the come away from it extremely disappointed and frustrated families involved, and give family courts a chance to by what they have had to go through. However, when shake off the allegations of secrecy. They mean that we think about opening up the family courts, we cannot justice has a chance to be done and—it may be a cliché, and must not put the interests and welfare of children but in this case it is an important principle—to be seen anywhere but at the top of the list. to be done. The Government’s hope and expectation is that the I therefore ask the House to support the Government interests and welfare of children who, through no fault amendments. I hope that the other amendments will be of their own, find themselves in the family courts system withdrawn; otherwise, I will have to ask the House to will remain at the heart of this part of the Bill. However, reject them. voices from all sides are telling the Government that there is still great concern that the involvement of the Mr. Timpson: At the outset I must declare an interest, media in their cases will make children less, rather than in that I have been a family law barrister for 12 years, more, willing to disclose problems and talk to professionals. although I have not practised for several years. The danger is that judges will have to make decisions in cases without having the full facts and evidence before It has taken me even longer than the Minister to them. I am sure that that is not what the Minister, or speak on this part of the Bill, and I suspect that my anyone else in the House, would want to happen. experience is unusual, as I have had more influence by not saying anything than would have been the case if I 8.45 pm had spoken. I appreciate and acknowledge what the Minister has done in trying to address some of our Will the Minister spend a little more time considering amendments, and we welcome the concessions that the our new clause 7? When the Government sent round the Government have made. I am glad that our amendments letter telling us what their amendments would be, they have been taken seriously and given the attention and prayed in aid the fact that many of the amendments respect that they deserve. Nevertheless, it is clear even were being introduced because members of the judiciary from this short debate that this part of the Bill is and other bodies, and particularly the president of the beginning to unravel even further from its initial family division, had expressed concerns about aspects presentation. of the Bill, and that the Minister had, rightly, listened carefully to what he had to say. I want to make it clear that Opposition Members are in exactly the same position as the Government—and I We know from his oral evidence and his written am sure other parties—when it comes to considering evidence to the Public Bill Committee that Sir Mark the family court system. The Justice Secretary said that Potter has grave concerns that unless there is a provision his objective in going through this exercise was such as we set out in new clause 7, whereby the publication of any case through the media could not take place “to build a transparent, accountable family justice system which until the judgment, a case may be reported in a local or inspires the confidence of the people it serves, while continuing to national newspaper in a way that gives a completely protect the privacy of the parties and children involved.” different version of events from what has been played I do not think that any of us could argue against that as out across the whole case from start to finish. The a starting position for thinking about how we can give media could give a skewed account that did not reflect the public more confidence in the family justice system, the facts of the case as they played out. I ask the which is so important to so many people. From that Minister to look at that aspect again. She clearly believes starting premise, the Government have made a number that the views of the president of the family division are of welcome moves over several years. worth listening to. However, I was not sure whether the Minister thought The Opposition have tried to be constructive. I am that the new rules introduced in April 2009 were a delighted that the Government have taken on board a success or not, given that, after an initial burst of number of the amendments that we tabled—for example, activity, no one from the media seems to have shown on how involvement in the relevant proceedings are much interest in the family courts. What we do know is defined in clause 41. In some instances the Government that the major reform in the Bill should be given proper could have agreed to our amendments as drafted, but and careful consideration, rather than being rushed they felt it necessary to rewrite them in almost exactly through. the same way, with the same meaning. Perhaps I should I agree with the pithy but important contribution take that as a compliment. from the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws), who Why can the Minister not accept new clause 2? In speaks for the Liberal Democrats. He said that we could the debate this evening we learned far more about the not discuss such a fundamental sea change to family Government’s position and the thinking behind the justice in such a short debate, lasting just an hour and a independent review. It appears that all the elements that 243 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 244 we included in new clause 2—the anonymised judgments The members of the other family are Dale and Lorraine and the assessment and evaluation of the new rules Coote and their daughter Megan, who are constituents introduced in April 2009—are very much in her mind as of Mr. Deputy Speaker, the hon. Member for Central well. I ask her to be brave, to listen—as she has done, to Suffolk and North Ipswich (Sir Michael Lord), and her enormous credit—to the information that we have very pleased to have his support. They have not touched been giving her about our concerns, and to think carefully the family courts, so all the documentation on and about why we should wait any longer for new clause 2 to discussion of their case can be made public; there is become part of her Bill, as well as of our Bill. absolutely no difficulty whatever. The Bill will have no effect on them, because their case has never been to the Bridget Prentice: One of the reasons why I am hesitant family courts. about the Opposition’s new clause 2 is that part of it is On the merits of the argument, Spain, according to superfluous. The pilots will have been completed long UNICEF’s report card No. 3, has one of the best before the review takes place, so that evidence will records in the world for protecting children from death already be in the public domain. I do not know whether from abuse and neglect. The authorities have been that helps the hon. Gentleman. around, seen the Cootes and said, “You’re all right. Just stay in touch with us. We do not have a problem with Mr. Timpson: In that case, what is the concern? you looking after your own child.” The authorities here Where is the guarantee in the Bill as drafted that those wanted to remove the child at birth, with a police officer pilots will be completed before the independent review in the delivery room—straight into care, feed the adoption takes place? If the Minister is giving me that guarantee, machine. I see no reason why it cannot be written into the Bill. There is a key point about the accountability in and We want the Bill to be transparent, just as we want the transparency of the process. With the Cootes’ case, all courts to be transparent, so we should practise what we the documentation is public and not constrained in any preach. way whatever. The fact that they are abroad means that, I am conscious that we are coming to the end of our to a certain extent, they can do what they want anyway, time and that other Members wish to speak, so I shall because the court order stops at the border. The Hallimond conclude by saying that the Opposition want the family case is much harder, because the press in this country courts to gain public confidence by being more transparent cannot report the documentation. The press abroad and accountable, but we need to make sure that all the can, however, so there is no difficulty there. people who work in those courts, who have to go to In care proceedings, the family courts are in essence those courts and who report those courts have confidence the quality control system for a complex judgment. In in the Bill, and that it will work. I am sad to say that in social work, decisions about when and when not to its current form, despite our best efforts to help the intervene are critical judgments, and one needs to maintain Government produce a workable Bill, it will not do an open mind and review the judgment. One can criticise what it is intended to do. Even those on the edges of the the Department for making the whole system worse, spectrum of interest in the Bill share that concern. I but, crucially, the role of the family courts is to bring in hope the Minister will continue to take those comments that quality control. on board as the Bill continues its passage through the Birmingham city council reviewed the practices of its House. own children’s services department and identified that, in about 50 per cent. of cases, the judgment was poor: John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD): The the practitioners were incapable of judging when a child hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) was and was not at risk. The quality control for that wants to speak for a minute just before 9 pm. I hope to judgment is the family courts, but the problem is that it finish in sufficient time for that. often fails. It does not always fail, because there are Sadly, the Government have gone about this whole some very good judges, but other judges basically accept process in completely the wrong way, and as such they any old rubbish that is put up by the local council, and have created a monstrous mess. It is overly complex, the judgment goes through. The Court of Appeal reverses Clayton v. Clayton, makes secret documents of subsequently says, “Oh, that’s all judicial discretion,” so court orders that are currently public and achieves very it does not correct the judgment. little. I should like to cite an example that demonstrates As a backstop for that process, we need transparency: the problems with secrecy in the system by referring to we need to be able to look at what has happened. The two babies who were born in Spain last week to families Government’s strategy has been to assume that a journalist that emigrated rapidly from Suffolk because they faced will be sitting in the family courts all the time. A the removal of their babies at birth, with the police in national newspaper reporter might go to the court in the delivery suite and social workers in attendance to London once or twice, but they will not know in advance take the children immediately into care. As everybody about a miscarriage of justice; they will know only in knows from the statistics, the vast majority of babies arrears. The process fails because it does not look at the who are taken into care at birth end up being adopted. situation from the point of view of the parties. It is the One baby was born to Sam Hallimond and his fiancée parties who know when a miscarriage of justice has Vanessa. They went through the family courts, and the occurred, so it is the parties who should be able to take press could in fact have named them because Clayton v. that issue—yes, perhaps with certain constraints—and Clayton allows them to be identified. The Bill, however, have a discussion about the merits of the case. aims to gag Sam and Vanessa: it aims to stop the press I have a constituency case in which a mother was put reporting their names. They are in Spain, the baby is all in the Appledore centre and her parenting ability assessed, right, everyone is okay, the authorities are quite happy and it was decided that because she breastfed her baby with them and there is no difficulty. on demand—she did not follow Gina Ford’s instructions, 245 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 246 in other words—she failed her parenting assessment. was almost with us on new clause 2, so can we go the One would think that such an assessment, which I have whole way? Will the Government accept it, because if in writing, would be rejected by the family court, but not, we will have to force it to a vote? sadly it was not. The problem that we have with the appeal in that case is that the judge has not issued a Bridget Prentice: I am with the hon. Gentleman—I written judgment, so the appeal will go in on the basis accept new clause 2. of no judgment being provided. Those sorts of things simply should not happen. Mr. Bellingham: I am very grateful to the Minister for that. As I am on a roll, is she prepared to accept new I should have declared right at the start—I think clause 7? [Interruption.] Perhaps I am pushing my luck everybody knows—that I co-ordinate the Justice for a bit too far, but I believe that we have put a convincing, Families campaign, which is why I am contacted by compelling case for new clause 7 as well. It supports people from all over the country, including children in what Sir Mark Potter, the president of the family division, their late teens who are forced into care unnecessarily has urged us to do. I do not want to be unkind to the by the family courts system. It is those children, too, Minister, because I am very grateful to her, but on that who are being gagged by the process. It would be a basis I intend to press new clause 7 to a vote. criminal offence for a newspaper to report the name of Question put and agreed to. a child who is 17 and is wrongly subject to a care order. That would not have been the case prior to this Bill, New clause 2 accordingly read a Second time, and because under Clayton v. Clayton the parties following added to the Bill. the judgment can be reported. 9pm There is only area where I would have some agreement Proceedings interrupted (Programme Order, 11 January). with the proposed constraints on information. Obviously, The Deputy Speaker put forthwith the Questions necessary it is at the judgment stage that information should be for the disposal of the business to be concluded at that talked about, but the Government’s big mistake is that time (Standing Order No. 83E). they are going about this in completely the wrong way. What is important about the whole process is being able to look at the experts’ reports, all the evidence and the New Clause 7 transcript of the hearing, and ask, “Is it reasonable for LIMITATIONS ON PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION the state to intervene in the way in which it is intervening in this situation?” These are very traumatic processes. ‘The court shall only permit publication of information relating to a case in family proceedings for the purposes of this The two families who are in Spain at the moment faced Act upon the availability of the relevant judgment to that the real prospect of a police officer in the delivery room particular case and not before.’.—(Mr. Bellingham.) to take the baby at birth under a police protection Brought up. order. That is massively traumatic, so it is not surprising that they, like several other families, have decided to Question put, That the clause be added to the Bill. emigrate. The House proceeded to a Division. Looking at the telegraphing that is going on between Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord): I ask the the Minister and the Conservative spokesman, it is Serjeant at Arms to investigate the delay in the No probably fair to say that they could do with a little bit Lobby. more than the minute that they asked for, so I will finish on this point. The Government have gone about this in The House having divided: Ayes 173, Noes 280. completely the wrong way. The April 2009 stuff was Division No. 83] [9 pm really quite good, although it needed to go further in certain ways, but what needs to happen now is that we AYES stop gagging the parties who are subject to miscarriages Afriyie, Adam Campbell, rh Sir Menzies of justice. Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Atkinson, Mr. Peter Carswell, Mr. Douglas Bacon, Mr. Richard Chope, Mr. Christopher Mr. Bellingham: We have had an interesting debate. Baldry, Tony Clappison, Mr. James Conservative Members are very keen to make this part Beith, rh Sir Alan Clarke, rh Mr. Kenneth of the Bill work. Our position is straightforward. We Bellingham, Mr. Henry Crabb, Mr. Stephen would rather that the Government put this part of the Benyon, Mr. Richard Curry, rh Mr. David Bill on hold and waited until after the election, when Binley, Mr. Brian Davey, Mr. Edward the Government of the day could bring in a matrimonial Blunt, Mr. Crispin Davies, David T.C. family Bill of which this could be a part, so that rather Bone, Mr. Peter (Monmouth) than its being tacked on to a Bill that is being promoted Boswell, Mr. Tim Davies, Philip by another Department, it would be a vital part of a Bottomley, Peter Davis, rh David free-standing justice Bill. I think that that is what people Brake, Tom Djanogly, Mr. Jonathan who work in the family courts—the judges, expert witnesses, Brazier, Mr. Julian Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen solicitors and lawyers who are in those courts on a Brokenshire, James Dunne, Mr. Philip day-to-day basis—would expect. Brooke, Annette Durkan, Mark Browning, Angela Ellwood, Mr. Tobias I echo what my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe Bruce, rh Malcolm Evans, Mr. Nigel and Nantwich (Mr. Timpson) said. I am afraid that Burns, Mr. Simon Evennett, Mr. David while the Government have had the right intent, this Burrowes, Mr. David Fabricant, Michael part of the Bill is falling into a state of some chaos. If Burt, Alistair Farron, Tim they insist on going ahead, it is important that we have Burt, Lorely Featherstone, Lynne new clause 2. The Minister said a moment ago that she Campbell, Mr. Gregory Field, Mr. Mark 247 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 248

Foster, Mr. Don Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Atkins, Charlotte Doran, Mr. Frank Francois, Mr. Mark Moss, Mr. Malcolm Austin, Mr. Ian Drew, Mr. David Fraser, Christopher Mulholland, Greg Austin, John Eagle, Angela Gale, Mr. Roger Murrison, Dr. Andrew Bailey, Mr. Adrian Eagle, Maria Garnier, Mr. Edward Neill, Robert Bain, Mr. William Efford, Clive George, Andrew Newmark, Mr. Brooks Baird, Vera Ellman, Mrs. Louise Gibb, Mr. Nick O’Brien, Mr. Stephen Balls, rh Ed Engel, Natascha Gidley, Sandra Öpik, Lembit Banks, Gordon Etherington, Bill Gillan, Mrs. Cheryl Ottaway, Richard Barlow, Ms Celia Farrelly, Paul Goodman, Mr. Paul Penning, Mike Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Field, rh Mr. Frank Goodwill, Mr. Robert Penrose, John Battle, rh John Fisher, Mark Gray, Mr. James Prisk, Mr. Mark Bayley, Hugh Fitzpatrick, Jim Green, Damian Pritchard, Mark Beckett, rh Margaret Flello, Mr. Robert Grieve, Mr. Dominic Pugh, Dr. John Begg, Miss Anne Flint, rh Caroline Hammond, Stephen Robathan, Mr. Andrew Benton, Mr. Joe Follett, Barbara Hancock, Mr. Mike Robertson, Hugh Berry, Roger Foster, Mr. Michael Harper, Mr. Mark Rogerson, Dan Blackman, Liz (Worcester) Harris, Dr. Evan Rosindell, Andrew Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Foster, Michael Jabez Hayes, Mr. John Rowen, Paul Blears, rh Hazel (Hastings and Rye) Heald, Mr. Oliver Russell, Bob Blizzard, Mr. Bob Francis, Dr. Hywel Heath, Mr. David Sanders, Mr. Adrian Blunkett, rh Mr. David Gapes, Mike Heathcoat-Amory, rh Scott, Mr. Lee Borrow, Mr. David S. Gerrard, Mr. Neil Mr. David Shapps, Grant Brennan, Kevin Gilroy, Linda Hemming, John Shepherd, Mr. Richard Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Goggins, rh Paul Hendry, Charles Simmonds, Mark Brown, Mr. Russell Goodman, Helen Hogg, rh Mr. Douglas Simpson, David Browne, rh Des Griffith, Nia Hollobone, Mr. Philip Smith, Chloe Bryant, Chris Griffiths, Nigel Holloway, Mr. Adam Smith, Sir Robert Buck, Ms Karen Grogan, Mr. John Holmes, Paul Spelman, Mrs. Caroline Burden, Richard Hain, rh Mr. Peter Horam, Mr. John Spicer, Sir Michael Burgon, Colin Hall, Patrick Horwood, Martin Spink, Bob Burnham, rh Andy Hamilton, Mr. David Howarth, David Spring, Mr. Richard Butler, Ms Dawn Hamilton, Mr. Fabian Howell, John Stanley, rh Sir John Byrne, rh Mr. Liam Hanson, rh Mr. David Hunter, Mark Stuart, Mr. Graham Cairns, David Harman, rh Ms Harriet Hurd, Mr. Nick Stunell, Andrew Campbell, Mr. Alan Harris, Mr. Tom Jenkin, Mr. Bernard Swayne, Mr. Desmond Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Healey, rh John Jones, Mr. David Syms, Mr. Robert Cawsey, Mr. Ian Henderson, Mr. Doug Kawczynski, Daniel Taylor, Dr. Richard Challen, Colin Hendrick, Mr. Mark Chapman, Ben Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Timpson, Mr. Edward Key, Robert Clapham, Mr. Michael Heppell, Mr. John Tredinnick, David Kirkbride, Miss Julie Clark, Ms Katy Hesford, Stephen Turner, Mr. Andrew Knight, rh Mr. Greg Clark, Paul Hill, rh Keith Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Clarke, rh Mr. Charles Hillier, Meg Vara, Mr. Shailesh Lait, Mrs. Jacqui Clarke,rhMr.Tom Hodge, rh Margaret Lamb, Norman Viggers, Sir Peter Clelland, Mr. David Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Lancaster, Mr. Mark Villiers, Mrs. Theresa Clwyd, rh Ann Hoey, Kate Lansley, Mr. Andrew Walker, Mr. Charles Coaker, Mr. Vernon Hope, Phil Laws, Mr. David Wallace, Mr. Ben Coffey, Ann Hopkins, Kelvin Leech, Mr. John Walter, Mr. Robert Cohen, Harry Howarth, rh Mr. George Leigh, Mr. Edward Waterson, Mr. Nigel Connarty, Michael Howells, rh Dr. Kim Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver Watkinson, Angela Cook, Frank Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Lewis, Dr. Julian Webb, Steve Cooper, Rosie Humble, Mrs. Joan Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian Whittingdale, Mr. John Cooper, rh Yvette Iddon, Dr. Brian Lidington, Mr. David Widdecombe, rh Miss Ann Corbyn, Jeremy Illsley, Mr. Eric Lilley, rh Mr. Peter Wiggin, Bill Cousins, Jim Irranca-Davies, Huw Loughton, Tim Williams, Stephen Crausby, Mr. David Jackson, Glenda Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew Willott, Jenny Creagh, Mary James, Mrs. Siân C. Main, Anne Wilson, Mr. Rob Cryer, Mrs. Ann Jenkins, Mr. Brian Malins, Mr. Humfrey Winterton, Ann Cummings, John Johnson, Ms Diana R. Cunningham, Mr. Jim Jones, Mr. Kevan Maude, rh Mr. Francis Winterton, Sir Nicholas May, rh Mrs. Theresa Cunningham, Tony Jones, Lynne Young, rh Sir George McCrea, Dr. William David, Mr. Wayne Jones, Mr. Martyn Younger-Ross, Richard McIntosh, Miss Anne Davidson, Mr. Ian Jowell, rh Tessa McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick Tellers for the Ayes: Davies, Mr. Dai Joyce, Mr. Eric Miller, Mrs. Maria Jeremy Wright and Davies, Mr. Quentin Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Milton, Anne James Duddridge Dean, Mrs. Janet Kelly, rh Ruth Denham, rh Mr. John Kemp, Mr. Fraser NOES Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Abbott, Ms Diane Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Dismore, Mr. Andrew Kidney, Mr. David Dobbin, Jim Kilfoyle, Mr. Peter Ainger, Nick Allen, Mr. Graham Dobson, rh Frank Knight, rh Jim Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Anderson, Mr. David Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Kumar, Dr. Ashok 249 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 250

Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Robertson, John Clause 1 Lammy, rh Mr. David Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Laxton, Mr. Bob Rooney, Mr. Terry PUPIL AND PARENT GUARANTEES Lepper, David Roy, Mr. Frank Levitt, Tom Roy, Lindsay Amendment proposed: 67, page 2, line 35, at end Linton, Martin Ruane, Chris insert— Lloyd, Tony Ruddock, Joan ‘( ) No liability in tort can arise on the basis of the inclusion of Love, Mr. Andrew Russell, Christine any matter in the pupil guarantee or the parent guarantee.’. Lucas, Ian Ryan, rh Joan Mackinlay, Andrew Salter, Martin MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Seabeck, Alison Clause 9 Mactaggart, Fiona Sharma, Mr. Virendra Malik, Mr. Shahid Shaw, Jonathan EXCEPTIONAL PROVISION OF EDUCATION IN SHORT STAY Mallaber, Judy Sheerman, Mr. Barry SCHOOLS OR ELSEWHERE Mann, John Sheridan, Jim Amendments proposed: 68, page 11, line 40, leave out Marris, Rob Simon, Mr. Siôn from ‘(3AA),’ to end of line 41 and insert Marsden, Mr. Gordon Simpson, Alan Martlew, Mr. Eric Skinner, Mr. Dennis ‘education on such part-time basis as the authority consider to be McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas Slaughter, Mr. Andy in the child’s best interests’. McCafferty, Chris Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Amendment 69, page 12, line 3, leave out ‘be McCarthy, Kerry Smith, Ms Angela C. impracticable or otherwise inappropriate’ and insert McCarthy-Fry, Sarah (Sheffield, Hillsborough) ‘not be in the child’s best interests’. McDonnell, John Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) McFadden, rh Mr. Pat Smith, Geraldine McGovern, Mr. Jim Smith, rh Jacqui Clause 11 McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne Snelgrove, Anne McIsaac, Shona Soulsby, Sir Peter PSHE IN MAINTAINED SCHOOLS McKechin, Ann Southworth, Helen McKenna, Rosemary Spellar, rh Mr. John Amendments proposed: 70, page 14, line 6, at end McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Starkey, Dr. Phyllis insert— Merron, Gillian Stewart, Ian ‘(7A) Subsections (4) to (7) are not to be read as preventing the Michael, rh Alun Stoate, Dr. Howard governing body or head teacher of a school within subsection (7B) Milburn, rh Mr. Alan Strang, rh Dr. Gavin from causing or allowing PSHE to be taught in a way that reflects Miliband, rh David Straw, rh Mr. Jack the school’s religious character. Miller, Andrew Stringer, Graham (7B) A school is within this subsection if it is designated as a Mitchell, Mr. Austin Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry school having a religious character by an order made by the Moffat, Anne Tami, Mark Secretary of State under section 69(3) of the School Standards Moffatt, Laura Taylor, Ms Dari and Framework Act 1998.’. Mole, Chris Thomas, Mr. Gareth Amendment 3, page 14, line 10, leave out from ‘State’ Moon, Mrs. Madeleine Thornberry, Emily to end of line 11. Morden, Jessica Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Morgan, Julie Tipping, Paddy Mudie, Mr. George Touhig, rh Mr. Don Clause 13 Mullin, Mr. Chris Trickett, Jon Munn, Meg Turner, Dr. Desmond SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATIONS: MANNER OF Murphy, Mr. Denis Turner, Mr. Neil PROVISION Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Twigg, Derek Amendments proposed: 93, page 14, line 39, leave Naysmith, Dr. Doug Ussher, Kitty out ‘(5)’ and insert ‘(5A)’. Walley, Joan Norris, Dan Amendment 94, page 15, line 1, after ‘education’ Watson, Mr. Tom O’Brien, rh Mr. Mike insert ‘or (in Wales) sex education’. O’Hara, Mr. Edward Watts, Mr. Dave Olner, Mr. Bill Whitehead, Dr. Alan Amendment 95, page 15, line 12, leave out subsection (4) Osborne, Sandra Wicks, rh Malcolm and insert— Owen, Albert Williams, rh Mr. Alan ‘( ) After subsection (1ZA) (inserted by subsection (3) above) Palmer, Dr. Nick Williams, Mrs. Betty there is inserted— Pearson, Ian Williams, Hywel “(1ZB) The Secretary of State must issue guidance designed to Plaskitt, Mr. James Wilson, Phil secure that where sex and relationships education is given to Pope, Mr. Greg Winnick, Mr. David registered pupils at schools in England to which this section Pound, Stephen Winterton, rh Ms Rosie applies, they learn— Prentice, Bridget Woolas, Mr. Phil (a) the nature of marriage and its importance for family Prentice, Mr. Gordon Wright, David life and the bringing up of children, Prescott, rh Mr. John Wright, Mr. Iain (b) the nature of civil partnership, and Price, Adam Wright, Dr. Tony Prosser, Gwyn (c) the importance of strong and stable relationships.” Wyatt, Derek Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick ( ) In subsection (1A)— Reed, Mr. Jamie Tellers for the Noes: (a) for “The Secretary of State” there is substituted “The Reid, rh John Lyn Brown and Welsh Ministers”; Riordan, Mrs. Linda Steve McCabe (b) after “maintained schools” there is inserted “in Wales”. ( ) In subsection (1B), for “the Secretary of State’s guidance” Question accordingly negatived. there is substituted “the guidance under subsection (1ZB) or, in the case of schools in Wales, subsection (1A)”.’. 251 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 252

Amendment 96, page 15, line 19, leave out subsection (5) Clause 34 and insert— ‘(5) In subsection (1C)— AUTHORISED NEWS PUBLICATIONS (a) for “subsection (1A)” there is substituted “subsection Amendment proposed: 116, page 29, line 39, leave out (1ZB) or (1A)”; sub-paragraph (ii). (b) for “sex education” there is substituted “sex and relationships education, or (in Wales) sex education,”. Clause 37 (5A) In subsection (1D), for “subsection (1A)” there is PROHIBITING OR RESTRICTING PUBLICATION FOR substituted “subsection (1ZB), and the Welsh Ministers may at PURPOSES OF SECTION 34 any time revise their guidance under subsection (1A)”.’ Amendments proposed: 117, page 32, line 16, leave out Amendment 97, page 15, line 21, leave out from sub-paragraph (ii). ‘interpretation),’ to ‘does’ in line 26 and insert Amendment 118, page 32, line 21, leave out ‘referred ‘in subsection (1), before the definition of “sex education” there to in’. is inserted— “sex and relationships education” includes education Clause 38 about— DEFENCES TO CONTEMPT OF COURT (a) Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Amendments proposed: 119, page 32, line 27, after ‘(2)’, (b) any other sexually transmitted disease, insert ‘, (2A)’. but’. Amendment 120, page 32, line 30, at end insert— ‘(2A) This subsection applies if the person proves that— Clause 14 (a) the person obtained the information from a previous publication, and EXEMPTION FROM SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION (b) at the time of the person’s publication the person did Amendment proposed: 98, page 15, leave out lines 29 not know and had no reason to suspect that the to 36 and insert previous publication was not an authorised news publication.’. ‘In section 405 of EA 1996 (exemption from sex education), for “If the parent of any pupil in attendance at a maintained school Amendment 121, page 32, line 37, leave out ‘or requests” there is substituted— referred to in’. “(1) If the parent of a pupil under the age of 15 in attendance at a school in England to which section 403 applies requests that Clause 40 the pupil may be wholly or partly excused from receiving sex and POWER TO ALTER TREATMENT OF SNESITIVE PERSONAL relationships education at the school, the pupil shall be so INFORMATION excused accordingly until— Amendments proposed: 122, page 33, line 19, at beginning (a) the request is withdrawn, or insert ‘an independent person appointed by’. (b) the pupil attains the age of 15. Amendment 123, page 33, line 20, after ‘Part,’, insert— (2) If the parent of any pupil in attendance at a maintained ‘( ) in carrying out the review the independent person school in Wales requests”.’. consulted the public about the operation of this Part,’. Clause 32 Clause 41

RESTRICTION ON PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION INTERPRETATION OF PART 2, ETC RELATING TO FAMILY PROCEEDINGS Amendments proposed: 124, page 33, line 42, leave out Amendments proposed: 111, page 28, line 13, at end ‘, referred to in’. insert— Amendment 125, page 33, line 44, leave out from ‘( ) Nothing in this section makes it a contempt of court to ‘information’ to ‘to’ in line 1 of page 34 and insert publish information with the permission of the court.’. ‘, including in particular information as to any of the matters set Amendment 112, page 28, line 37, leave out from out in subsection (1A), the publication of which is likely to lead ‘subsection (6)’ to ‘House’ in line 38 and insert members of the public’. ‘may not be made unless a draft of the instrument containing the Amendment 126, page 34, line 2, leave out ‘, referred order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, to in’. each’. Amendment 127, page 34, line 2, at end insert ‘, and ( ) in a case where the individual is a child, information Clause 33 the publication of which is likely to lead members of the public to identify the address or school of the AUTHORISED PUBLICATION OF COURT ORDERS AND individual as being that of an individual who is or JUDGMENTS has been involved in or otherwise connected with the Amendments proposed: 113, page 29, line 1, leave out proceedings.’. ‘the case of’ and insert ‘a case where the proceedings Amendment 128, page 34, leave out line 3. are’. Amendment 129, page 34, leave out lines 4 to 13. Amendment 114, in page 29, line 1, after second Amendment 130, page 34, line 44, at end insert— ‘proceedings’, insert ‘(1A) The matters referred to in the definition of ‘or a case where the publication of the text or summary contains “identification information” in subsection (1) are— identification information relating to an individual involved in (a) the name of the individual or any title, pseudonym or the proceedings’. alias of the individual; Amendment 115, page 29, line 4, leave out ‘the case (b) the address or locality of any place where the individual of any other proceedings’ and insert ‘any other case’. lives or works or is educated or taken care of; 253 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 254

(c) the individual’s appearance or style of dress; Berry, Roger Doran, Mr. Frank (d) any employment or other occupation of, or position Binley, Mr. Brian Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen held by, the individual; Blackman, Liz Drew, Mr. David (e) the individual’s relationship to particular relatives, or Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Duddridge, James association with particular friends or acquaintances, Blears, rh Hazel Dunne, Mr. Philip of the individual; Blizzard, Mr. Bob Durkan, Mark (f) the individual’s recreational interests; Blunt, Mr. Crispin Eagle, Angela Bone, Mr. Peter Eagle, Maria (g) the individual’s political, philosophical or religious Borrow, Mr. David S. Efford, Clive beliefs or interests; Boswell, Mr. Tim Ellman, Mrs. Louise (h) any property (whether real or personal) in which the Bottomley, Peter Ellwood, Mr. Tobias individual has an interest or with which the Brazier, Mr. Julian Engel, Natascha individual is otherwise associated.’. Brennan, Kevin Etherington, Bill Amendment 131, page 34, line 47, leave out ‘or’. Brokenshire, James Evans, Mr. Nigel Amendment 132, page 34, line 49, at end insert ‘, or Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Evennett, Mr. David ( ) is a person who has given written evidence in Brown, Mr. Russell Fabricant, Michael connection with the proceedings.’. Browne, rh Des Farrelly, Paul Browning, Angela Field, rh Mr. Frank Bryant, Chris Field, Mr. Mark Schedule 4 Buck, Ms Karen Fisher, Mark Burden, Richard Fitzpatrick, Jim MINOR AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS Burgon, Colin Flello, Mr. Robert Amendments proposed: 99, page 47, line 34, after Burnham, rh Andy Flint, rh Caroline Burns, Mr. Simon Follett, Barbara second ‘education’ insert ‘etc.’. Burrowes, Mr. David Foster, Mr. Michael Amendment 100, page 47, line 37, after ‘education’ Burt, Alistair (Worcester) insert ‘etc.’. Butler, Ms Dawn Foster, Michael Jabez Amendment 101, page 48, line 2, after ‘education’ Byrne, rh Mr. Liam (Hastings and Rye) insert ‘or (in Wales) sex education’. Cairns, David Francis, Dr. Hywel Campbell, Mr. Alan Francois, Mr. Mark Amendment 102, page 48, leave out line 9 and insert— Campbell, Mr. Gregory Fraser, Christopher ‘( ) Before the entry for “sex education” there is inserted—’. Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Gapes, Mike Amendment 103, page 48, line 10, at end insert— Carswell, Mr. Douglas Garnier, Mr. Edward Chapman, Ben Gibb, Mr. Nick ‘( ) In the entry for “sex education”, for “section 352(3)” there Chope, Mr. Christopher Gillan, Mrs. Cheryl is substituted “section 579(1)”.’. Clappison, Mr. James Gilroy, Linda Amendment 104, page 48, line 12, after ‘education’ Clark, Paul Goggins, rh Paul insert ‘etc.’. Clarke, rh Mr. Charles Goodman, Helen Amendment 105, page 48, line 13, after ‘education’ Clarke, rh Mr. Kenneth Goodman, Mr. Paul insert ‘or (in Wales) sex education’. Clarke,rhMr.Tom Goodwill, Mr. Robert Clelland, Mr. David Gray, Mr. James Amendment 106, page 49, line 19, at end insert— Clwyd, rh Ann Green, Damian ‘(b) for “section 403(1A)” there is substituted Coaker, Mr. Vernon Grieve, Mr. Dominic “section 403(1ZB)”.’. Coffey, Ann Griffith, Nia Connarty, Michael Griffiths, Nigel Cook, Frank Grogan, Mr. John Schedule 5 Cooper, Rosie Hain, rh Mr. Peter Cooper, rh Yvette Hall, Patrick REPEALS Cousins, Jim Hamilton, Mr. David Amendment proposed: 107, page 52, leave out line 20. Crabb, Mr. Stephen Hamilton, Mr. Fabian Question put (Single Question on amendments moved Crausby, Mr. David Hammond, Stephen Creagh, Mary Hanson, rh Mr. David by a Minister of the Crown), That amendments 67 to 70, Cruddas, Jon Harman, rh Ms Harriet 3, 93 to 98, 111 to 132 and 99 to 107 be made.— Cummings, John Harper, Mr. Mark (Mr. Coaker.) Cunningham, Mr. Jim Harris, Mr. Tom The House divided: Ayes 386, Noes 41. Cunningham, Tony Hayes, Mr. John Curry, rh Mr. David Heald, Mr. Oliver Division No. 84] [9.17 pm David, Mr. Wayne Healey, rh John Davidson, Mr. Ian Heathcoat-Amory, rh AYES Davies, Mr. Dai Mr. David Afriyie, Adam Bain, Mr. William Davies, David T.C. Henderson, Mr. Doug Ainger, Nick Balls, rh Ed (Monmouth) Hendrick, Mr. Mark Ainsworth, rh Mr. Bob Banks, Gordon Davies, Philip Hendry, Charles Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Barlow, Ms Celia Davies, Mr. Quentin Hepburn, Mr. Stephen Allen, Mr. Graham Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Davis, rh David Heppell, Mr. John Anderson, Mr. David Battle, rh John Dean, Mrs. Janet Hesford, Stephen Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Bayley, Hugh Denham, rh Mr. John Hill, rh Keith Atkins, Charlotte Beckett, rh Margaret Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit Hillier, Meg Atkinson, Mr. Peter Begg, Miss Anne Dismore, Mr. Andrew Hodge, rh Margaret Austin, Mr. Ian Bellingham, Mr. Henry Djanogly, Mr. Jonathan Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Bacon, Mr. Richard Benton, Mr. Joe Dobbin, Jim Hoey, Kate Bailey, Mr. Adrian Benyon, Mr. Richard Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Hollobone, Mr. Philip 255 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 256

Holloway, Mr. Adam McIsaac, Shona Sheerman, Mr. Barry Trickett, Jon Hope, Phil McKechin, Ann Shepherd, Mr. Richard Turner, Mr. Andrew Horam, Mr. John McKenna, Rosemary Sheridan, Jim Turner, Dr. Desmond Howarth, rh Mr. George McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick Simmonds, Mark Turner, Mr. Neil Howell, John McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Simon, Mr. Siôn Twigg, Derek Howells, rh Dr. Kim Merron, Gillian Simpson, David Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Michael, rh Alun Skinner, Mr. Dennis Ussher, Kitty Humble, Mrs. Joan Milburn, rh Mr. Alan Slaughter, Mr. Andy Vara, Mr. Shailesh Hurd, Mr. Nick Miliband, rh David Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Viggers, Sir Peter Iddon, Dr. Brian Miller, Andrew Smith, Ms Angela C. Villiers, Mrs. Theresa Illsley, Mr. Eric Miller, Mrs. Maria (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Walker, Mr. Charles Irranca-Davies, Huw Milton, Anne Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Wallace, Mr. Ben Jackson, Glenda Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Smith, Chloe Walley, Joan James, Mrs. Siân C. Mitchell, Mr. Austin Smith, Geraldine Walter, Mr. Robert Jenkin, Mr. Bernard Moffat, Anne Smith, rh Jacqui Waterson, Mr. Nigel Jenkins, Mr. Brian Moffatt, Laura Snelgrove, Anne Watkinson, Angela Johnson, Ms Diana R. Mole, Chris Soulsby, Sir Peter Watts, Mr. Dave Jones, Mr. David Moon, Mrs. Madeleine Southworth, Helen Whitehead, Dr. Alan Jones, Mr. Kevan Morden, Jessica Spellar, rh Mr. John Whittingdale, Mr. John Jones, Mr. Martyn Morgan, Julie Spelman, Mrs. Caroline Jowell, rh Tessa Moss, Mr. Malcolm Spicer, Sir Michael Wicks, rh Malcolm Joyce, Mr. Eric Mudie, Mr. George Spring, Mr. Richard Widdecombe, rh Miss Ann Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Mullin, Mr. Chris Stanley, rh Sir John Wiggin, Bill Kawczynski, Daniel Munn, Meg Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Williams, rh Mr. Alan Kelly, rh Ruth Murphy, Mr. Denis Stewart, Ian Williams, Mrs. Betty Kemp, Mr. Fraser Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Stoate, Dr. Howard Wilson, Phil Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Wilson, Mr. Rob Kidney, Mr. David Murrison, Dr. Andrew Straw, rh Mr. Jack Winnick, Mr. David Kilfoyle, Mr. Peter Neill, Robert Stringer, Graham Winterton, Ann Kirkbride, Miss Julie Newmark, Mr. Brooks Stuart, Mr. Graham Winterton, Sir Nicholas Knight, rh Mr. Greg Norris, Dan Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Knight, rh Jim O’Brien, rh Mr. Mike Swayne, Mr. Desmond Woolas, Mr. Phil Kumar, Dr. Ashok O’Brien, Mr. Stephen Syms, Mr. Robert Wright, David Ladyman, Dr. Stephen O’Hara, Mr. Edward Tami, Mark Wright, Mr. Iain Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Olner, Mr. Bill Taylor, Ms Dari Wright, Jeremy Lait, Mrs. Jacqui Osborne, Sandra Thomas, Mr. Gareth Wright, Dr. Tony Lammy, rh Mr. David Ottaway, Richard Thornberry, Emily Wyatt, Derek Lancaster, Mr. Mark Owen, Albert Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Young, rh Sir George Lansley, Mr. Andrew Palmer, Dr. Nick Timpson, Mr. Edward Laxton, Mr. Bob Pearson, Ian Tipping, Paddy Tellers for the Ayes: Leigh, Mr. Edward Penning, Mike Touhig, rh Mr. Don Lyn Brown and Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver Penrose, John Tredinnick, David Steve McCabe Levitt, Tom Plaskitt, Mr. James Lewis, Dr. Julian Pope, Mr. Greg NOES Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian Pound, Stephen Lidington, Mr. David Prentice, Bridget Abbott, Ms Diane Jones, Lynne Lilley, rh Mr. Peter Prentice, Mr. Gordon Beith, rh Sir Alan Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Linton, Martin Prescott, rh Mr. John Brake, Tom Lamb, Norman Lloyd, Tony Prisk, Mr. Mark Brooke, Annette Laws, Mr. David Loughton, Tim Pritchard, Mark Bruce, rh Malcolm Leech, Mr. John Lucas, Ian Prosser, Gwyn Burt, Lorely McDonnell, John Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Öpik, Lembit Mackinlay, Andrew Reed, Mr. Jamie Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Price, Adam Corbyn, Jeremy MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Reid, rh John Russell, Bob Davey, Mr. Edward Main, Anne Robathan, Mr. Andrew Sanders, Mr. Adrian Malik, Mr. Shahid Robertson, Hugh Featherstone, Lynne Simpson, Alan Malins, Mr. Humfrey Robertson, John Foster, Mr. Don Spink, Bob Mallaber, Judy Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey George, Andrew Mann, John Rooney, Mr. Terry Gidley, Sandra Stunell, Andrew Marris, Rob Rosindell, Andrew Hancock, Mr. Mike Taylor, Dr. Richard Marsden, Mr. Gordon Roy, Mr. Frank Harris, Dr. Evan Williams, Hywel Martlew, Mr. Eric Roy, Lindsay Heath, Mr. David Williams, Stephen May, rh Mrs. Theresa Ruane, Chris Hemming, John Willott, Jenny Holmes, Paul McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas Ruddock, Joan Younger-Ross, Richard Hopkins, Kelvin McCafferty, Chris Russell, Christine Horwood, Martin Tellers for the Noes: McCarthy, Kerry Ryan, rh Joan Howarth, David Sir Robert Smith and McCarthy-Fry, Sarah Salter, Martin Hunter, Mark Dan Rogerson McCrea, Dr. William Scott, Mr. Lee McFadden, rh Mr. Pat Seabeck, Alison McGovern, Mr. Jim Shapps, Grant Question accordingly agreed to. McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne Sharma, Mr. Virendra Amendments 67 to 70, 3, 93 to 98, 111 to 132 and 99 to McIntosh, Miss Anne Shaw, Jonathan 107 agreed to. 257 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 258

Third Reading Mr. Laws: Will the Minister clarify, in the light of amendment 70, which has been passed today, whether it will be possible for faith schools to teach that homosexuality 9.30 pm is wrong? Mr. Coaker: I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. Mr. Coaker: Such schools could say that that is the view of their particular religion, but what they will not I hope to leave time for other hon. Members to say a be able to do is to state that that is the only view that few words, so I shall be brief. I would like to thank exists. They will not be able to say that other religions members of the Public Bill Committee. We did not do not have different views or that people of no faith do always agree, but we had interesting and thorough not have different views. debates on a number of issues. I would particularly like to thank the hon. Members for Bognor Regis and The hon. Gentleman will know—he looks at these Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) and for East Worthing and issues in great detail—that various principles are set out Shoreham (Tim Loughton) for their constructive approach in clause 11. The first principle is that the information in Committee. They will know from some of the should be “accurate and balanced”. The second is that amendments that we took note of some of their comments. it should be I would also like to thank the hon. Members for Yeovil “appropriate to the ages of the pupils”. (Mr. Laws) and for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Annette The third is that Brooke) for all their work in Committee. I thank everyone “PSHE should be taught in a way that… endeavours to promote else, including my ministerial colleagues, for their support equality… encourages acceptance of diversity”. in helping me to reach this point. The hon. Gentleman will know that clause 11(8) The Children, Schools and Families Bill is one for the provides that future of our country. It is possible only because of the “In the exercise of their functions”, improvements made over the last 13 years and that have those responsible must been underpinned by record levels of funding in our “have regard to any guidance issued… by the Secretary of State”. schools and children’s services, as well as the reforms He will also know that one of the amendments that we passed by this House. It builds on a decade of ever- have just passed takes account of circumstances that increasing standards of pupil achievement, investment have been raised in which that guidance could be issued in buildings and the work force and the development of by people other than the Secretary of State, and provides one of the most robust children’s safeguarding systems that the Secretary of State will be the only person who in the world. can issue that guidance, which will be statutory. The Bill contains numerous reforms for the future, which I would like to highlight briefly. We make a great Mr. Laws rose— step forward with PSHE—personal, health, social and economic education—as we make it compulsory from Mr. Coaker: I will give way to the hon. Gentleman September 2011. One or two Members may wish to briefly, but for the last time, because I want some of my intervene on this issue, so let me make it very clear that hon. Friends to be able to intervene. faith schools will not be able to opt out of any elements of statutory PSHE, including sex and relationships Mr. Laws: Can the Minister tell us why the amendment education, and they will have to deliver the programme was necessary, and when it was agreed with people of study for this subject like every other school. Schools outside the House? with a religious character will still be required to cover in their teaching of PSHE the full range of the content Mr. Coaker: We always have discussions with people prescribed. Similarly, such schools will, like all others, outside the House, as do our officials. My right hon. be under a duty to deliver PSHE in a way that is Friend the Secretary of State and I had discussions with compliant with the principles set out in the Bill. a wide range of organisations before and during the introduction of the Bill. We want to deliver a Bill that will work and that will lead to radical reform. Doing Mr. Laws rose— that in government sometimes means balancing competing priorities, but we are trying to deliver, and will deliver, Mr. Coaker: I will give way to the hon. Gentleman really fundamental and radical reform. and probably to some of my hon. Friends in a few moments, but I want to finish my statement on PSHE. Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley) (Lab): Promoting the There is nothing in the Bill that diminishes these principles principles of equality, tolerance and diversity is essential or lessens their impact on faith schools. Although faith to a child’s development and the prevention of bullying. schools will, as now, be able to teach their faith’s views How can my hon. Friend reassure me about the methods on issues that arise within the teaching of PSHE, what that we use to ensure that allowing a school to promote they will not be able to do is suggest that their views are its faith will not contradict those principles, and will he the only valid ones, and they must make it clear that agree to meet me and other concerned Members to there are a wide range of divergent views. For example, discuss the Bill’s implementation after it has been passed? a Catholic school will be required to teach about contraception. In doing so, it will have to be accurate in Mr. Coaker: At present, faith schools can teach about the sense of providing the facts about contraception. It homosexuality, but they are not required to do so in an will have to be balanced in the sense of indicating that accurate and balanced way. The principles in the Bill there are different views about contraception, but it will ensure that that happens. Ofsted will be required to would also be able to reflect the views of the Catholic ensure that they are complied with, and we will look Church about the use of contraception. carefully at its reports. 259 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 260

[Mr. Coaker] Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire) (LD): On home education, which the Minister has not mentioned and Of course I will meet my hon. Friend to discuss the which was not debated on Report because of lack of Bill. As she will know, clause 11(8) refers to statutory time, will we in Wales be able to determine our viewpoint guidance, and that guidance will go out for consultation. independently of what is decided here, and does England I should welcome a meeting with her—and any other hon. have any recourse to revisit that as well? Friends—to discuss what should be included in the Mr. Coaker: When, or if, the Bill is passed shortly, guidance, and to try to deal with some of her fears and that will be the case. concerns. Joan Walley: On the provisions for health and well-being, Mr. David S. Borrow (South Ribble) (Lab): As a gay will the Minister give the House a commitment that he man representing a constituency with a large Catholic will look at the possibility of regulating to provide for population and a majority of faith schools, I recognise healthy eating and nutritious food in nurseries? That is that faith schools should be able to explain to their not included in the Bill? pupils what their faith position is on many of these issues. Will my hon. Friend reassure me, however, that Mr. Coaker: I can give that assurance. As part of the when the guidance is published, it will be framed in changes being made to school improvement partners, such a way that schools will not be able in any way to there will be a requirement to look not only at educational foster hatred, discrimination or any hostility towards achievement, but well-being. same-sex couples or gay people within that educational This is a radical, reforming Bill, and it was opposed framework? I should like an opportunity to meet my by the Opposition parties at all stages. It takes forward hon. Friend when these matters are discussed further, in our desire to make further improvements and to raise order to ensure that the framework allows us all to be the attainment of pupils across the country, and I satisfied that both parties are happy with the outcome. therefore commend it to the House. Mr. Coaker: I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. No 9.42 pm school will be allowed to foster homophobic or any other sort of hatred. If my hon. Friend wants to join me Mr. Gibb: I thank the Minister for the courteous way in developing the guidance, along with our hon. Friend in which he conducted the Committee proceedings, and the Member for Amber Valley (Judy Mallaber), I should for the three or four concessions he made to the Opposition. be happy to meet him. However, this Bill will not go down in history as one of the great education Bills of our time. It will not tackle Harry Cohen (Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab): Will my the deep-seated problems in our education system that hon. Friend assure me that no faith school teacher will have resulted in 16 per cent. of 11-year-olds leaving be allowed to spread long-term fear among children by primary school still struggling with reading, in 40 per telling them that if they subsequently have an abortion cent. leaving primary school still struggling with reading, or partake in homosexuality they will end up going to writing and arithmetic, and in 9 per cent. of boys hell? leaving primary school completely illiterate. Harriet Sergeant has encapsulated the severity of the Mr. Coaker: Of course I can give my hon. Friend that problem in her brilliant report, “Wasted”. She interviewed assurance. What we are trying to do is reassure faith hundreds of people in the most deprived parts of Britain, schools that they will be able to teach PSHE in a way and she writes: that is consistent with their religious characteristic and ethos. That is what the amendment does; that is the “White working class boys are most at risk of under-performing with 63 per cent. unable to read and write properly at 14…Black reassurance we seek to give. The amendment has to be working class boys do not do much better. Just over half of them, read alongside the other parts of the clause, which 54 per cent., can not read or write properly at 14.” describe certain principles that will also have to be So what does this Bill do to begin the enormous task of upheld. We should pay tribute to the faith schools: for remedying these serious problems? It introduces a pupil the first time they are saying that when PSHE becomes and parent guarantee, and it pushes the primary curriculum compulsory, not only will they need it to be consistent even further along the ideological path that led to these with their religious ethos, but they will accept that these problems in the first place. other principles are also important. The pupil and parent guarantees are set out in a In order to allow other Members to say a few words, 79-page document with 407 numbered paragraphs. let me conclude. Alongside PSHE, there are radical Guarantee 2.2 on page 24 states: changes to the primary school curriculum, which will “The curriculum is tailored to every child’s needs so that every make a huge difference. We also discussed the guarantees, pupil receives the support they need to secure good literacy”. which are the state’s offer on education for the future of Last year, however, more than 40 per cent. of children this country. Report cards will result in a significant qualifying for free school meals failed to achieve a change in the accountability of schools. The licence to single GCSE above grade D. That is 30,000 young practice, with a guaranteed curriculum of continuing people who have the right to take action under professional development, is also a huge step forward. I guarantee 2.2. They have the right to make a complaint might also mention special needs and the inspection of to the local government ombudsman about the quality schools by Ofsted to see how well they meet the needs of of their education. The problem is that the local government children, and the right of parents to appeal where local ombudsman, Tony Redmond, said in his evidence to the authorities do not amend a statement. There is to be Committee: alternative provision as well. For the first time, there “I do not think that it is the role or responsibility of local will be mandatory full-time provision for those who are government to change a school”.––[Official Report, Children, out of school but who have not been permanently Schools and Families Public Bill Committee, 19 January 2010; c. 5, excluded. Q11.] 261 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 262

He went on to say that all he could do was make John Dunford said the following to us: recommendations. He said that “Surely a home-school agreement sets out the ethos of the school to parents, and to which parents should sign up. It is not a “we are…conscious of the fact that in terms of curriculum and matter of negotiation between the school and the parent or the teaching, some of those things might step outside the jurisdiction school and the pupil.”––[Official Report, Children, Schools and of the ombudsman”.––[Official Report, Children, Schools and Families Public Bill Committee, 19 January 2010; c. 17, Q25.] Families Public Bill Committee, 19 January 2010; c. 7, Q5.] Policies such as this make one wonder where these ideas In other words, the whole process of the pupil and are coming from and who is advising the Government. parent guarantees is a complete waste of time. All it will One of those advisers is, of course, Graham Badman, do is add yet another layer of bureaucracy and waste to whose report has infuriated tens of thousands of parents an education system already deeply mired in bureaucracy who have made huge sacrifices to educate their children and waste. at home, because they are not happy with the quality of To compound matters, clause 10 tries to put on to the education available at the local school, because they are statute book the recommendations of the Rose review concerned about behaviour or because they have a into the primary curriculum—the highly prescriptive particular view about how their child’s education should six areas of learning, each with a multitude of objectives. be delivered that is not available in the state sector. The English programme of study alone contains Those parents are right to be furious, and my hon. 84 objectives, such as Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) “to recognise how authors of moving-image and multimodal pointed out why on Second Reading: texts use different combinations of words, images and sounds to “It is a basic right of parents to be able to educate their create effects and make meaning”. children in accordance with their own wishes, and to educate them at home if they so wish.”—[Official Report, 11 January That textual analysis approach to English in primary 2010; Vol. 503, c. 456.] schools is killing the love of reading. What we need to The provisions in schedule 1 undermine that basic right. do is to make sure that every child can decode and read. At the heart of the provisions lies a deep confusion as to We must ensure that they have acquired the basic skills the problems Badman was seeking to address—are they of reading by the age of six or seven at the latest and safeguarding issues or are they about the quality of then encourage them to read as many books as possible education? The terms of reference and the letter from just for the enjoyment of it. We must make sure that Graham Badman to the Secretary of State appear to they understand what they are reading but not kill that focus on the issue of safeguarding and whether home joy with 84 deadening objectives that have very little to education is being used by some as a cover for abuse. do with reading. But Badman himself seemed in his evidence to the The same bureaucratic approach to policy has led to Committee to be more concerned about the type of the absurd “Licence to practise” provision in clause 23. education being provided by home educators. The conflation That has received universal opposition from not only of those two matters has resulted in home educators the teacher unions, but the General Teaching Council, being subject to annual visits that appear to constitute which is the body charged in the Bill with delivering the an implicit suspicion that abuse may be occurring in the licence. The National Union of Teachers has said that it homes of the 50,000 families who educate their children at home. That is the cause of the anger. May I pay “can see no argument advanced by Government which justifies the introduction of the licence to practise for teachers.” tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness (Mr. Stuart) for the highly effective John Dunford of the Association of School and parliamentary and national campaign that he has organised College Leaders has said: on behalf of all our constituents who home educate “what value does a licence to practise add, over and above their children? performance management, CPD and capability proceedings”.–– Mr. Graham Stuart: What Badman did identify correctly [Official Report, Children, Schools and Families Public Bill Committee, 19 January 2010; c. 18, Q26.] was the need for support for home-educating families. There is no support; local authorities are not providing Keith Bartley, the chief executive of the GTC questioned, it. Ministers have moved on from the welfare issue that in his evidence to the Committee, whether the measure they started with and have tried to deny that they ever would have any value in improving teaching. He told focused on it. They then said, “This is all about support,” The Times Educational Supplement that he was concerned but there is nothing in schedule 1 about support and that it would be “unduly burdensome” for teachers. He everything about a licensing system for parents who do said: their own thing. We need to put support in place and to “We need assurances that it won’t be another layer of accountability work co-operatively and voluntarily with parents. We in the system”. can then transform support for home education, build It is difficult to find measures in this Bill that have not relationships between local authorities and not have been the recipient of deep criticism. The provisions in this draconian piece of regulation, which, I am glad to clauses 4 and 5 to create bespoke home-school agreements say, will never become law. for each child in the school have been widely ridiculed. Mr. Gibb: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The ASCL has said that antipathy that the Government have created between local authorities and home educators has worsened as a “it is unrealistic to require Home School Agreements to be personalised for each pupil.” consequence of these proposals. Chloe Watson from my constituency, who chairs the Home Educated Youth It has gone on to say: Council, has said that she has noted around the country “Such a proposal will be wholly impractical in secondary a breakdown in the relationship between local authorities schools, which may have over 1,000 pupils, and will consume a and home educators since the Badman report was great deal of school resource.” published. 263 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 264

[Mr. Gibb] Whitehall—knows best. It is typical of this Government that the only single, tiny element of the Bill that was We support some of the measures in this Bill, such as deregulatory, and which the Secretary of State championed clauses 7 and 8, which give new rights to the parents of as deregulatory on Second Reading, is the one bit of the children with special educational needs. We support the Bill that they have dumped—clause 42, which was referred new powers to intervene when youth offending teams to a moment ago. It was the only thing that would have fail, and we support the provisions to enable school reduced regulatory burdens. governing bodies to establish academies. Instead, we have got the guarantees and the poor We also supported clause 42 in the original Bill, ombudsman who is going to have to police these things. which gave automatic charitable status to academies. In We have also had the bizarre parental satisfaction surveys. the words of the Secretary of State on Second Reading: I hope that the Secretary of State has read the transcript “by making the process of establishing an academy easier, by of the debate and that he knows how ludicrous the reducing bureaucracy so that, like colleges, universities and voluntary Government’s position is on these things and how aided schools, all academies are guaranteed charitable status...this uninterested parents seem to be in the trivial consultation legislation represents a sensible piece of deregulation and a reduction that the Government are entering into. in bureaucracy.”—[Official Report, 11 January 2010; Vol. 503, c. 439.] Then we had the terrifically illiberal proposals on Now, alas, the Government—caving in to the anti-academy home education. The more we have seen of the views in their party—have withdrawn the clause, so we Government’s proposals, the more we recognise why will now have more regulation and an increase in home educators feel genuinely threatened by the proposals, bureaucracy. which will turn what is currently a right to home educate into something that citizens will have to apply for by This is not a good Bill. It is hugely bureaucratic, filling in paperwork to spell out and account for their hugely expensive and will do little to raise the standard educational philosophy. of education in this country. It is an unpopular Bill with all those whom it affects—from the teacher unions to the General Teaching Council to the tens of thousands Ed Balls indicated dissent. of parents who choose to educate their children at home. I urge the House, therefore, to put the Bill its Mr. Laws: It is no use the Secretary of State shaking misery and vote against it on Third Reading. his head, because that is what the Government are saying in the Bill. The home education proposals should 9.52 pm be chucked out of the Bill, and I hope that very little of the Bill will ultimately make it on to the statute book. I Mr. Laws: I, too, want to thank all those who have hope that in another place there will be a coalition of supported the Bill on its progress through the House so views, perhaps across parties on many issues, that a far, including the officials and the Clerk. I also want to large component of the legislation should not reach the put on record our thanks to the Front Benchers from statute book. both other parties, who have behaved in a constructive and amiable way throughout the proceedings in Committee, The Minister for Schools and Learners said in his which has made the job that we have had to do in opening comments that we have had an interesting and scrutinising this Bill more tolerable. thorough debate, but many of us would question his use I also want to thank my hon. Friend the Member for of the word “thorough”. After all, we managed to Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke), who scrutinise only 26 or 27 clauses of this 50-clause Bill in always seems to get the concessions on these occasions Committee, so 23 clauses received no scrutiny at all. and who secured a couple of concessions from the Some clauses have received only superficial scrutiny Minister for Schools and Learners earlier in the debate. today, and four out of the five schedules to the Bill have She has now even tempted the Secretary of State into a not been debated at all. One lesson that Labour pledge on new clause 10, which we hope to see delivered Governments ought to have learned in the past 13 years before Lord Mandelson announces the date of the next is that legislating in haste, sticking legislation on to the general election. It was very interesting to hear recognition statute book at the last minute and making concessions from the Secretary of State that his old friend is now that we can barely understand to Conservative Members effectively running the Government— with 30 seconds to go before the end of a one-hour debate on 10 clauses is not the way that we should be Mr. Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire) (Con): legislating. I sincerely hope, for reasons not only of His new friend. ideology but of good practical politics and administration, that many of the measures in the Bill that are ill-thought-out Mr. Laws: His new friend, yes. and that have not been debated properly, including the In spite of these small bright points in the Bill, we will controversial measures on family courts, will not go also be voting against it this evening with some relish. through. There is a tremendous amount to vote against with Finally, I am very sad about the change that the relish. The longer I sat in Committee and the more I Government have made regarding sex and relationship looked at the faces of some Labour Members who, education, which did not come out of any pressure in Ministers will be pleased to see, are not here today, the Committee. I do not believe that even the Conservative more convinced I was that this is a Bill that the House party, which has traditionally been cautious about such should reject. issues, proposed to amend the legislation in that way. The House should reject the Bill for two main reasons. Now, we have this amendment that we have not had the First, it is a typical Brown-Balls Bill, if I may say so. It is opportunity to debate today and that cuts directly across bureaucratic, centralising and based on the view that the commitment in the Bill to promote equality and the man in the Ministry—the man in Westminster and diversity. 265 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 266

Annette Brooke: Does my hon. Friend share my fear that Blackman-Woods, Dr. Roberta Gapes, Mike the amendment will trump the very good bits in the Bill Blears, rh Hazel Gerrard, Mr. Neil on personal, social, health and economic education? Blizzard, Mr. Bob Gilroy, Linda Blunkett, rh Mr. David Goggins, rh Paul Mr. Laws: Indeed, it will. In spite of what the Secretary Borrow, Mr. David S. Goodman, Helen of State and the Minister have told us, the sad risk is Brennan, Kevin Griffith, Nia Brown, rh Mr. Nicholas Griffiths, Nigel that we will have sex and relationship education that Brown, Mr. Russell Grogan, Mr. John will mean that, however objective some of the information Browne, rh Des Hain, rh Mr. Peter being delivered is, young people in some schools with Bryant, Chris Hall, Patrick some faiths will be told that they are less worthy and Buck, Ms Karen Hamilton, Mr. David less equal and that they are participating in less legitimate Burden, Richard Hamilton, Mr. Fabian forms of activity in their lives, because the Government’s Burgon, Colin Hanson, rh Mr. David good intentions in this area have been stymied by this Burnham, rh Andy Harman, rh Ms Harriet late amendment that we have not had an opportunity to Butler, Ms Dawn Harris, Mr. Tom consider. That makes me genuinely sad, because the Byrne, rh Mr. Liam Healey, rh John Government, who might be just a few weeks away from Cairns, David Henderson, Mr. Doug the end of their period in office, have had a genuinely Campbell, Mr. Alan Hendrick, Mr. Mark good record and reputation on challenging prejudice Campbell, Mr. Ronnie Hepburn, Mr. Stephen and inequality of opportunity. The Secretary of State Cawsey, Mr. Ian Heppell, Mr. John Challen, Colin Hesford, Stephen and the Minister have let themselves down by allowing Chapman, Ben Hill, rh Keith through, in the dying days of this Parliament, an Clapham, Mr. Michael Hillier, Meg amendment that will compromise what would otherwise Clark, Ms Katy Hodge, rh Margaret have been some good proposals in this section of the Clark, Paul Hodgson, Mrs. Sharon Bill. That merely gives us greater confidence that we Clarke,rhMr.Tom Hope, Phil should do all we can to get rid of the bulk of the Bill Clelland, Mr. David Hopkins, Kelvin and prevent it from reaching the statute book. Clwyd, rh Ann Howarth, rh Mr. George Coaker, Mr. Vernon Howells, rh Dr. Kim 9.59 pm Coffey, Ann Hoyle, Mr. Lindsay Cohen, Harry Humble, Mrs. Joan Mr. David Drew (Stroud) (Lab/Co-op): I shall be very Connarty, Michael Iddon, Dr. Brian brief as I hope, Mr. Speaker, that you will call the hon. Cook, Frank Illsley, Mr. Eric Member for Beverley and Holderness (Mr. Stuart). I Cooper, Rosie Irranca-Davies, Huw just want to put on record my dismay at the introduction Cooper, rh Yvette Jackson, Glenda of what I see as a steamroller to crack the nut of home Cousins, Jim Jenkins, Mr. Brian education. Crausby, Mr. David Johnson, Ms Diana R. Creagh, Mary Jones, Mr. Kevan I may have disagreements with some of the home Cruddas, Jon Jones, Lynne educators in my constituency, but I would like to feel Cryer, Mrs. Ann Jones, Mr. Martyn that they have had the opportunity to put across their Cunningham, Mr. Jim Jowell, rh Tessa points of view, not just in petitions organised by the Cunningham, Tony Joyce, Mr. Eric hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness but in a David, Mr. Wayne Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald proper debate in this place. We have not had the opportunity Davidson, Mr. Ian Kelly, rh Ruth to have that debate. That is why I voted against the Bill Davies, Mr. Quentin Kemp, Mr. Fraser on Second Reading, and why I will vote against it on Dean, Mrs. Janet Khan, rh Mr. Sadiq Third Reading. Denham, rh Mr. John Kidney, Mr. David It is a fundamental— Dhanda, Mr. Parmjit Kilfoyle, Mr. Peter Dismore, Mr. Andrew Knight, rh Jim Dobbin, Jim Kumar, Dr. Ashok 10 pm Dobson, rh Frank Ladyman, Dr. Stephen Debate interrupted (Programme Order, this day). Donohoe, Mr. Brian H. Lammy, rh Mr. David Mr. Speaker put forthwith the Question already proposed Doran, Mr. Frank Laxton, Mr. Bob from the Chair (Standing Order No. 83E), That the Bill Eagle, Angela Lepper, David be now read the Third time. Eagle, Maria Levitt, Tom Efford, Clive Linton, Martin The House divided: Ayes 268, Noes 177. Ellman, Mrs. Louise Lloyd, Tony Division No. 85] [10 pm Engel, Natascha Love, Mr. Andrew Etherington, Bill Lucas, Ian Farrelly, Paul Mackinlay, Andrew AYES Field, rh Mr. Frank MacShane, rh Mr. Denis Abbott, Ms Diane Balls, rh Ed Fisher, Mark Mactaggart, Fiona Ainger, Nick Banks, Gordon Fitzpatrick, Jim Malik, Mr. Shahid Alexander, rh Mr. Douglas Barlow, Ms Celia Flello, Mr. Robert Mallaber, Judy Allen, Mr. Graham Barron, rh Mr. Kevin Flint, rh Caroline Mann, John Anderson, Mr. David Battle, rh John Flynn, Paul Marris, Rob Atkins, Charlotte Bayley, Hugh Follett, Barbara Marsden, Mr. Gordon Austin, Mr. Ian Beckett, rh Margaret Foster, Mr. Michael Martlew, Mr. Eric Austin, John Begg, Miss Anne (Worcester) McAvoy, rh Mr. Thomas Bailey, Mr. Adrian Benton, Mr. Joe Foster, Michael Jabez McCafferty, Chris Bain, Mr. William Berry, Roger (Hastings and Rye) McCarthy, Kerry Baird, Vera Blackman, Liz Francis, Dr. Hywel McCarthy-Fry, Sarah 267 Children, Schools and Families Bill23 FEBRUARY 2010 Children, Schools and Families Bill 268

McFadden, rh Mr. Pat Sharma, Mr. Virendra Clappison, Mr. James Liddell-Grainger, Mr. Ian McFall, rh John Shaw, Jonathan Clarke, rh Mr. Kenneth Lidington, Mr. David McGovern, Mr. Jim Sheridan, Jim Crabb, Mr. Stephen Lilley, rh Mr. Peter McGuire, rh Mrs. Anne Simon, Mr. Siôn Curry, rh Mr. David Loughton, Tim McIsaac, Shona Skinner, Mr. Dennis Davey, Mr. Edward Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew McKechin, Ann Slaughter, Mr. Andy Davies, Mr. Dai Main, Anne McKenna, Rosemary Smith, rh Mr. Andrew Davies, David T.C. Malins, Mr. Humfrey McNulty, rh Mr. Tony Smith, Ms Angela C. (Monmouth) Maude, rh Mr. Francis Merron, Gillian (Sheffield, Hillsborough) Davies, Philip May, rh Mrs. Theresa Michael, rh Alun Smith, rh Angela E. (Basildon) Djanogly, Mr. Jonathan McCrea, Dr. William Milburn, rh Mr. Alan Smith, Geraldine Dorrell, rh Mr. Stephen McIntosh, Miss Anne Miliband, rh David Smith, rh Jacqui Drew, Mr. David McLoughlin, rh Mr. Patrick Miliband, rh Edward Snelgrove, Anne Dunne, Mr. Philip Miller, Mrs. Maria Miller, Andrew Soulsby, Sir Peter Durkan, Mark Milton, Anne Moffat, Anne Southworth, Helen Ellwood, Mr. Tobias Mitchell, Mr. Andrew Moffatt, Laura Spellar, rh Mr. John Evans, Mr. Nigel Moss, Mr. Malcolm Mole, Chris Starkey, Dr. Phyllis Evennett, Mr. David Mulholland, Greg Moon, Mrs. Madeleine Stewart, Ian Fabricant, Michael Murrison, Dr. Andrew Morden, Jessica Stoate, Dr. Howard Farron, Tim Neill, Robert Morgan, Julie Strang, rh Dr. Gavin Featherstone, Lynne Newmark, Mr. Brooks Mudie, Mr. George Straw, rh Mr. Jack Field, Mr. Mark O’Brien, Mr. Stephen Mullin, Mr. Chris Stringer, Graham Foster, Mr. Don Öpik, Lembit Munn, Meg Sutcliffe, Mr. Gerry Francois, Mr. Mark Ottaway, Richard Murphy, rh Mr. Jim Tami, Mark Fraser, Christopher Paterson, Mr. Owen Murphy, rh Mr. Paul Taylor, Ms Dari Gale, Mr. Roger Pelling, Mr. Andrew Naysmith, Dr. Doug Taylor, Dr. Richard Garnier, Mr. Edward Penning, Mike Norris, Dan Thomas, Mr. Gareth Gauke, Mr. David Penrose, John George, Andrew Prisk, Mr. Mark O’Brien, rh Mr. Mike Thornberry, Emily O’Hara, Mr. Edward Gibb, Mr. Nick Pritchard, Mark Timms, rh Mr. Stephen Olner, Mr. Bill Gidley, Sandra Robathan, Mr. Andrew Tipping, Paddy Osborne, Sandra Gillan, Mrs. Cheryl Robertson, Hugh Touhig, rh Mr. Don Owen, Albert Goodman, Mr. Paul Robinson, rh Mr. Peter Trickett, Jon Palmer, Dr. Nick Goodwill, Mr. Robert Rogerson, Dan Pearson, Ian Turner, Dr. Desmond Gray, Mr. James Rosindell, Andrew Plaskitt, Mr. James Turner, Mr. Neil Green, Damian Rowen, Paul Pope, Mr. Greg Ussher, Kitty Grieve, Mr. Dominic Russell, Bob Pound, Stephen Vaz, rh Keith Hammond, Stephen Sanders, Mr. Adrian Prentice, Bridget Walley, Joan Hancock, Mr. Mike Scott, Mr. Lee Prentice, Mr. Gordon Watson, Mr. Tom Harper, Mr. Mark Shapps, Grant Prescott, rh Mr. John Watts, Mr. Dave Harris, Dr. Evan Simmonds, Mark Prosser, Gwyn Whitehead, Dr. Alan Hayes, Mr. John Simpson, David Raynsford, rh Mr. Nick Wicks, rh Malcolm Heald, Mr. Oliver Smith, Chloe Reid, rh John Williams, Mrs. Betty Heath, Mr. David Smith, Sir Robert Riordan, Mrs. Linda Wilson, Phil Heathcoat-Amory, rh Spelman, Mrs. Caroline Robertson, John Winnick, Mr. David Mr. David Spicer, Sir Michael Robinson, Mr. Geoffrey Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Hemming, John Spink, Bob Rooney, Mr. Terry Woolas, Mr. Phil Hendry, Charles Spring, Mr. Richard Roy, Mr. Frank Wright, David Hollobone, Mr. Philip Stanley, rh Sir John Holloway, Mr. Adam Streeter, Mr. Gary Roy, Lindsay Wright, Mr. Iain Ruane, Chris Holmes, Paul Stuart, Mr. Graham Wright, Dr. Tony Ruddock, Joan Horam, Mr. John Stunell, Andrew Wyatt, Derek Russell, Christine Horwood, Martin Swayne, Mr. Desmond Ryan, rh Joan Tellers for the Ayes: Howarth, David Syms, Mr. Robert Salter, Martin Steve McCabe and Howell, John Timpson, Mr. Edward Seabeck, Alison Lyn Brown Hunter, Mark Tredinnick, David Hurd, Mr. Nick Turner, Mr. Andrew NOES Jenkin, Mr. Bernard Tyrie, Mr. Andrew Jones, Mr. David Vara, Mr. Shailesh Afriyie, Adam Brazier, Mr. Julian Kawczynski, Daniel Viggers, Sir Peter Arbuthnot, rh Mr. James Brokenshire, James Kennedy, rh Mr. Charles Villiers, Mrs. Theresa Atkinson, Mr. Peter Brooke, Annette Kirkbride, Miss Julie Walker, Mr. Charles Bacon, Mr. Richard Browning, Angela Knight, rh Mr. Greg Wallace, Mr. Ben Beith, rh Sir Alan Bruce, rh Malcolm Laing, Mrs. Eleanor Walter, Mr. Robert Bellingham, Mr. Henry Burns, Mr. Simon Lait, Mrs. Jacqui Waterson, Mr. Nigel Benyon, Mr. Richard Burrowes, Mr. David Lamb, Norman Watkinson, Angela Binley, Mr. Brian Burt, Alistair Lancaster, Mr. Mark Webb, Steve Blunt, Mr. Crispin Burt, Lorely Lansley, Mr. Andrew Whittingdale, Mr. John Bone, Mr. Peter Campbell, Mr. Gregory Laws, Mr. David Widdecombe, rh Miss Ann Boswell, Mr. Tim Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Leech, Mr. John Wiggin, Bill Bottomley, Peter Carmichael, Mr. Alistair Leigh, Mr. Edward Williams, Hywel Brady, Mr. Graham Carswell, Mr. Douglas Letwin, rh Mr. Oliver Williams, Mark Brake, Tom Chope, Mr. Christopher Lewis, Dr. Julian Williams, Stephen 269 Children, Schools and Families Bill 23 FEBRUARY 2010 270

Willis, Mr. Phil Young, rh Sir George PETITIONS Willott, Jenny Younger-Ross, Richard Wilson, Mr. Rob Tellers for the Noes: Islamic Burial Space Winterton, Ann James Duddridge and Winterton, Sir Nicholas Jeremy Wright 10.15 pm Question accordingly agreed to. Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): I present this petition on Islamic burial spaces organised by Bill read the Third time and passed. Mr. Tahir Begg, the Muslim Association of Croydon, and Croydon mosques. Having campaigned on this issue since 2000, I am pleased to read the petition, Business without Debate which states: The Petition of the people of Croydon and South London, Declares that there is a severe shortage of burial space for the Islamic community. DELEGATED LEGISLATION The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing urges the Government to take steps to secure such burial space. Order No. 118(6)), And the Petitioners remain, etc. [P000738] Planning (Elvaston Castle Country Park) PENSIONS That the draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Levy Ceiling) 10.16 pm Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 11 January, be approved.—(Mrs. Hodgson.) Mr. Bob Laxton (Derby, North) (Lab): I would like to present to the House of Commons this petition of the Question agreed to. Friends of Elvaston, residents of Derbyshire and others Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing against the proposed planning application to lease Elvaston Order No. 118(6)), Castle country park in Derby to private developers, in That the draft Pension Protection Fund (Pension Compensation support of a similar petition recently presented to me Cap) Order 2010, which was laid before this House on 11 January, with 5,200 signatures. be approved.—(Mrs. Hodgson.) The petition states: Question agreed to. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing urge the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Order No. 118(6)), to take steps to prevent the approval of the planning application to lease Elvaston Castle Country Park to private developers, in order to preserve the natural environment of the park and its rights of way for public use; and to protect the biodiversity and CHILD TRUST FUNDS the important geological and archaeological assets within the That the draft Child Trust Funds (Amendment) Regulations 2010, Park. which were laid before this House on 20 January, be approved.— Following is the full text of the petition: (Mrs. Hodgson.) [The Petition of Friends of Elvaston, residents of Question agreed to. Derbyshire and others, Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Declares that the Petitioners object to the proposed Order No. 118(6)), planning application to lease Elvaston Castle Country Park to private developers; Declares that the change of use to a privately run INVESTIGATORY POWERS facility will deprive some sections of the community of That the draft Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Covert the opportunity to use the Castle, which previously hosted Surveillance and Property Interference: Code of Practice) Order 2010, activities for all the community; that building a hotel which was laid before this House on 5 January, be approved.— complex and golf course on the land will reduce public (Mrs. Hodgson.) open space and lessen the designated green belt; that the Question agreed to. beautiful Major Oak Tree in the Paddock, which is around 260 years old, will be felled to make way for the Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing complex; that the golf course may deposit pollutants into Order No. 118(6)), the River Derwent and surrounding water courses, and That the draft Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Covert may create risks to the Country Park, Elvaston, Thulston, Human Intelligence Sources: Code of Practice) Order 2010, which Ambaston and surrounding areas; was laid before this House on 21 January, be approved.— (Mrs. Hodgson.) Further declares that changes to the footprint of the 17th century coach road will affect members of the public Question agreed to. who use the footpath and that traffic on the planned new Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing road would be in conflict with other Park users and would Order No. 118(6)), create air and noise pollution, as well as requiring thinning That the draft Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Extension and felling of trees, some of which are protected species; of Authorisation Provisions: Legal Consultations) Order 2010, Further declares that to access the proposed golf club which was laid before this House on 5 January, be approved.— house, a new road would be needed on or parallel to (Mrs. Hodgson.) Bedford Drive, a designated Public Right of Way, and Question agreed to. that if the new road is parallel to Bedford Drive then this 271 Business without Debate 23 FEBRUARY 2010 272

[Mr. Bob Laxton] Myalgic Encephalopathy Motion made, and Question proposed, would require felling of trees, loss of habitat and the That this House —(Mrs. Hodgson.) creation of air and noise pollution, as well as loss of land do now adjourn. for drainage, signage and lighting; that the new road 10.18 pm development would fall within the Country Park, green belt and English Heritage Grade 2 Listed Gardens; that Annette Brooke (Mid-Dorset and North Poole) (LD): increased traffic could cause dangerous road hazards, and I am pleased to have been able to secure this Adjournment that other new roads are also planned that could damage debate on behalf of my constituents. Over my years as the Country Park; an MP I have had contact with a number of people with myalgic encephalopathy—usually known as ME—from Further declares that the proposed development could all age groups, who have raised a range of issues with seriously harm the biodiversity of the designated Local me. A common point is their frustration in being unable Nature Reserve and the Nature Conservation Area within to carry on with their lives as they would wish, and not the Park; that the planned golf courses could destroy the being able to access a range of services that might be Regionally Important Geomorphological and Geological needed, including education, employment, benefits and Site containing remains of flora and fauna from the health services. My most recent encounter has been Ipswichian period of the Earth’s Development; that with a young person who, at a critical point in her archaeological remains dating from every period of history promising career, has been diagnosed with chronic fatigue back to the Middle Stone Age could be damaged or syndrome—CFS—is now unable to work, and came to destroyed by the planned golf courses; and that the planned my surgery asking for action. I am going to reflect many actions will contravene many Local and Regional Plans of her concerns during this short debate. and Planning Policies. I am also in touch with the Dorset ME support The Petitioners therefore request that the House of group, and would like first to reflect on some of its Commons urge the Secretary of State for Communities concerns. It is estimated that there are probably more and Local Government to take steps to prevent the approval than 2,000 people in Dorset with ME, and the Dorset of the planning application to lease Elvaston Castle ME support group has more than 500 members. A Country Park to private developers, in order to preserve representative made the following points to me. In spite the natural environment of the park and its rights of way of the chief medical officer’s report five years ago, there for public use; and to protect the biodiversity and the are still too many GPs and other health professionals important geological and archaeological assets within the who do not recognise ME or sympathise with those Park. with the condition. However, when they are good, they And the Petitioners remain, etc.] seem to be very good. [P000739] The representative said that the group’s members with a diagnosis still want a diagnostic test to prove it, because of the doubt and suspicion that they sense, or are faced with, in others. We hope that researchers will address the need for co-operation rather than competition, so that progress can be co-ordinated and funds allocated in the most effective way. The Government have not been seen to be supporting CFS/ME research as urgently as they could. The group’s representative says: “I don’t know if anyone has produced figures for the cost to the nation’s coffers of the hours of work lost, the benefits paid out, and the cost of treatment for those fortunate enough to be able to access it. It does not appear to be being taken seriously enough…Having to cope with dealing with the benefits system is beyond many of our members which is why we have a full time benefits officer to assist them.” My constituent points out that apart from the fatigue itself, problems with cognitive function make it hard, if not impossible, for many people to complete the complex forms required by the Department for Work and Pensions. Having to attend a medical, sometimes a considerable distance away within Dorset—for example, people from Gillingham have to travel to Salisbury—adds stress to an already stressed situation. Patients who are assessed by the DWP as fit for work, either before they start treatment or while receiving it, usually have their recovery period set back by nine months to a year, again at a cost to the NHS, never mind the cost to the individual. The Dorset ME support group says that in its experience, the high number of people with CFS/ME being found fit for work under the employment and support allowance regulations leads to a high number of appeals, presumably at considerable cost to the taxpayer. It states: “Within the Dorset ME Support Group, all our ESA Appeals so far have been successful suggesting that the assessment system 273 Myalgic Encephalopathy23 FEBRUARY 2010 Myalgic Encephalopathy 274 is not fit for purpose where people with ME is concerned. In general terms, it is suggested that up to 250,000 Disability Analysts are trained to look at the disability and not people are affected by the condition, and symptoms can the nature of the condition…Joined up government seems to be vary from poor memory and concentration to debilitating lacking.” fatigue and painful joints and muscles. It can affect all I therefore ask the Minister to liaise with her counterparts types of people and its causes are not fully understood. in the DWP. It is not a small problem. It is estimated that five times In Dorset we have a CFS/ME service for children and as many people in the UK are categorised as having young people, based in Dorset county hospital and CFS/ME as have HIV. More than 70,000 are so ill that Poole hospital, albeit with very limited funding. The they are bedbound and require round-the-clock care. Dorset ME support group secured funding from BBC The condition affects not only patients, but their families Children in Need for a part-time child support worker and friends. Schooling, higher education, employment, to enhance that service by providing liaison between and subsequently income, social life and family life may families, schools, out-of-school education providers and all be affected. the clinic, and by providing continuing support to the Yet how much do we really know about the condition child and family at home. That frees up health professionals’ and effective treatment? What is currently on offer? The time so that they can concentrate on treatment programmes Gibson report way back in 2006 made many important for the continuing flow of young patients. It has been points, including the fact that the World Health pointed out to me that with the limit on funding, access Organisation holds an internationally recognised to a doctor is limited. I seek the Minister’s advice on classification of ME as a neurological illness. The report that, because clearly the Children in Need funding will made many more points about the need for research run out with important work still to be done. The and a serious examination of the international evidence. Dorset ME support group says: It said that the necessary research must be funded “We are aware that some patients feel neglected by the NHS immediately, so why is that not happening? once they have completed their course of treatment. If all patients ‘stayed on’, the service would grind to a halt.” My young constituent has been diagnosed with CFS, One of my constituents comments that a complex disorder characterised by extreme fatigue that lasts for six months or longer. ME is a neurological “we are lucky that we have a specialist unit for ME at Wareham Hospital but more funding is required for follow up sessions”. condition as defined by the WHO. It can present with fatigue as a symptom, but that is not always the case. I now turn to the core purpose of my debate, which is The causes of ME and CFS are currently unknown, to highlight the views of a young person who has although many scientific studies have shown links to undertaken a considerable amount of personal research viruses, immune deficiencies and exposure to chemicals. and has strong views on the way forward. She is concerned about some of the issues that I have already highlighted, My constituent has written to tell me that unfortunately, and particularly about the use of the term “treatment”. CFS and ME have become lumped together in the UK, She has drawn my attention to the differences between allowing the medical profession to dismiss the neurological myalgic encephalopathy and myalgic encephalomyelitis—I problems that ME sufferers face, and to deny access to am struggling to pronounce them. The former was the tests that could allow more specific diagnoses. The title given to my debate, although I originally specified problem with seeking medical advice on the subject of just “ME” as the title. My constituent has drawn my ME stems from the fact that doctors are under-educated attention to a source that defines myalgic encephalomyelitis in this area. Many still consider it a psychological as inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, and condition—which, particularly in the light of recent myalgic encephalopathy as any non-inflammatory disorder research in other countries, is simply wrong. affecting the brain. The same source goes on to state My constituent points out that there are currently no that some doctors and certain charities claim that the treatments for patients categorised as having CFS/ME. problem with ME is that there is no brain inflammation, Cognitive behavioural therapy and graded exercise therapy which is represented by the “-itis” in encephalomyelitis. are offered as a means of managing the fatigue aspect of Certain organisations have therefore decided to keep the illness. The Medical Research Council has to date “ME” in their name, but with the “E” standing for funded research only into the psychosocial aspects of encephalopathy, which, as that definition shows, means the illness and the management of fatigue: £3 million disease or dysfunction of the brain without inflammation. was spent on a recent pacing, activity and cognitive Many distinguished scientists have questioned the behaviour therapy randomised evaluation trial, which abandonment of the “-itis” part of the word. Dr Bruce examined CBT, GET—graded exercise therapy—and Carruthers, author of Canada’s guidelines on treating other fatigue management techniques, and £8 million ME, wrote that was granted to allow specialist CFS/ME centres whose “-itis is well established in the name ME, and there is no good treatments are based on such techniques to be set up reason for changing it, since -opathy would not reduce our state around the country. of ignorance re ME but serve to further confuse everyone—perhaps Those centres and general practitioners, guided by that is one of the motives behind the suggestion.” National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Professor Malcolm Hooper from Sunderland has explained guidelines for CFS/ME, regard CBT as a treatment. the implications of changing the name of the illness, However, my constituent believes that promoting CBT stating: as a treatment is incorrect. If effectively delivered, it “Despite the claims of some psychiatrists, it is not true that might help some people to manage their fatigue, but it there is no evidence of inflammation of the brain and spinal cannot remove the cause of their illness. CBT is often chord in ME; there is, but these psychiatrists ignore or deny that used in assisting patients’ recovery from cancer and evidence”. other serious illnesses, and is based on the principle that For the avoidance of doubt, I shall use the abbreviation impairment in daily functioning is due to one’s distorted ME to stand for myalgic encephalomyelitis. thinking or cognition, but in the case of ME, impairment 275 Myalgic Encephalopathy23 FEBRUARY 2010 Myalgic Encephalopathy 276

[Annette Brooke] the interest in research, and Invest in ME is one such charity.It holds an international conference every year—this in functioning is not due to those things. If medical tests year it will be on 24 May—whose aim is to highlight the are done on people with true ME, they would show need for a national strategy for biomedical research that many abnormalities and physical reasons for impairment will lead to treatment and a cure for this devastating in functioning. However, patients diagnosed with CFS/ME illness. ME Research UK and the 25% ME Group—which rarely get access to any kind of medical testing. represents the seriously afflicted—are two charities with The Medical Research Council funding for biomedical similar mission statements. research into ME is next to nothing in comparison with My own view is that until we know more about the the funding provided for the perceived psychosocial condition, management of the symptoms is an important aspects of the illness. The extent of biomedical research process. However, it is clear to me that the way forward into ME has been questioned before. The Government is to fund biomedical research to find causes and treatments. have stated that the reason why the MRC has not I believe that that would unite everybody concerned funded any biomedical research is because there have with this debilitating condition. Until that research is not been any good or innovative applications. This is done, no one can possibly claim to understand the just not true: one scientist, who has applied for and illness fully, so treatment cannot progress. On behalf of been denied funding, says: my constituents generally, I call for a complete review of “We have applied several times to the MRC”. research into ME. This scientist has done some privately funded research To help address the unique challenges posed by a into gene expression in CFS/ME. complex and poorly defined condition such as ME, I I do not doubt that there are others who have tried would like to call for the establishment of an independent and failed to gain MRC funding, but it is very difficult scientific committee to oversee all aspects of ME research. to find out precisely which applications have been refused. I would like the Government and the Medical Research There have been freedom of information requests from Council to work with ME sufferers and biomedical patients to find out why the biomedical proposals were researchers to achieve a proper understanding of the rejected, but they have not been successful. It is possible condition, challenge unjust perceptions and consider to see how many applications have been made and how the issue of research funding. many were accepted and refused, but it is not clear The current NICE guidelines, by recommending CBT which of those were biomedical proposals. Why can the and GET, do not follow World Health Organisation MRC not be more open about this? guidelines, which categorise ME as a neurological condition. My constituent tells me that since 2008 the MRC has In failing to recognise the biomedical problems of ME set up a panel of experts to look into ME and the sufferers, the NICE guidelines also fail to recognise the research on it. One problem with the panel is the wide needs of ME suffers. My young constituent is right to range of disciplines covered by its members. It is difficult challenge the current establishment views, and I ask the to see how that panel could work for the benefit of Minister to take these issues forward. people with ME and their families if the members maintain such opposing views of the illness. As long as ME exists as a diagnosis, the range of conditions that 10.35 pm probably come under this title cannot be addressed. It The Minister of State, Department of Health (Gillian would seem to make more sense to distinguish sub-groups Merron): I congratulate the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset of ME and to acknowledge that research on those and North Poole (Annette Brooke) on securing this sub-groups is the logical way forward. Two years on, the important debate. As we all know, she has pursued a expert panel has yet to take any visible action on the close interest in the subject on behalf of her constituents issue of biomedical research. That must raise the question with the condition of myalgic encephalopathy. ME is a of how urgent it feels the issue is. potentially severe and disabling illness, and most commonly For a balanced view of ME, the Government and the affects people aged 20 to 40. I am not in the least MRC should embark on a consultation of all interested surprised, therefore, that she reflects so well the comments parties. That would obviously include the patients of her young constituents. themselves. The MRC and the Government currently get their information about patients from charities set The truth is that the causes of ME are unknown. up to help those with ME. However, my constituent However, I want first to put on the record that we believes that the two charities that the Government accept the World Health Organisation’s classification of currently consult for advice on ME give particular ME as a neurological condition of unknown cause. I emphasis to the need for care for, and support of, realise from the hon. Lady’s comments that that is an patients. She is concerned that that can only increase important acknowledgment. I was interested to hear of the misunderstandings about the illness, and in itself the work of the Dorset ME society, and I congratulate could suggest that all that patients need is support and it on its efforts. I was also interested to hear of the sympathy. She feels that that need should go without provision made by the local NHS trust and of the views saying, but that it should be acknowledged that until and experiences of her constituents. All that helped to more is known about the biomedical aspects of ME, paint a clear picture. care for patients with the condition can not possibly be I recognise how distressing ME can be to people adequate or effective. In the short term, care is clearly living with the condition, their families and those who very important, but for the benefit of future as well as care for them. I know that much of the distress is current sufferers, new research must be done. caused by the difficulties of recognition, acknowledgment The main charities talk about biomedical research, and acceptance of the condition and its impact. As with but are they taking enough action to instigate such other chronic conditions, ME can significantly affect work? There are, however, other charities that represent physical and emotional well-being, and can disrupt 277 Myalgic Encephalopathy23 FEBRUARY 2010 Myalgic Encephalopathy 278 work and social and family life. I acknowledge the The emphasis on empowering patients to become points that have been raised so clearly by the hon. Lady. genuine and informed partners in their care is also a key The case was clearly made that enhanced research, theme of the national service framework for long-term better services and a better understanding of the condition conditions, which is a means to an end, the end being would all make a huge difference to the quality of life of the improvement of services for people with neurological people with ME. conditions across the country.People with those conditions We know that care for people with ME has varied will get faster diagnosis, more rapid treatment and a widely, and in the worst cases has sadly left some people comprehensive package of care. We are now working with the condition feeling that their illness is not recognised with a range of key stakeholders—for example, the by the health system. In particular, there is a need for patient groups that represent those with neurological them to have access to health professionals with an conditions—to identify and develop practical tools and understanding of their needs, timely access to appropriate advice that can help local services and organisations to services and treatments, and more and better information, deliver the national service framework. That means that communicated in a more understanding and thorough services for people with conditions such as ME will way. It is clear to me that people with ME need and progressively improve over the 10 years of its deserve better services, and over the past few years we implementation, through to 2015. have sought to address those concerns. The hon. Lady As we know, it is important that the NHS sets its own made some important points about the provision and priorities locally, in response to local need and local availability of benefits, and I will draw those comments circumstances. We acknowledge that there have been to the attention of the Secretary of State for Work and many requests for national service frameworks or strategies Pensions. for particular clinical areas, including ME, so we have On the NICE guidance, the hon. Lady will be aware established a national quality board to advise on future that the Department of Health commissioned NICE to clinical priorities and the steps that might be taken to produce a clinical guide for the diagnosis, management promote clinical quality in the identified priority areas. and treatment of ME. The publication of those guidelines Improvement in the commissioning of local services is in 2008 was an important opportunity to change the absolutely at the heart of our health service’s capacity existing situation for the better, helping both health care to achieve better results for patients, as well as better professionals and patients by providing advice based on value for money. evidence on how to best manage the condition. As part of that, local involvement networks are critical in improving the commissioning of the right services. Having said that, I am very aware that there are They play a key role in encouraging and enabling people concerns about some of the approaches used for managing to influence the commissioning and the provision of ME outlined in the guidelines, and we have to work health and social care, and bring real accountability to with patient groups, researchers and other stakeholders the system. Part of how we improve services is by giving to establish what treatment, or combination of treatments, a stronger collective voice to patients and local groups will best help patients to get better. associated with specific conditions such as ME. They The hon. Lady referred to cognitive behavioural therapy can influence the decision makers to ensure that services and the concerns about it not being an effective treatment. are more responsive to their needs. Going by the hon. Sadly, there is no cure as yet for ME, as we know. Lady’s comments, I am sure that she is working closely Treatment seeks to help people with the condition and with the relevant groups and people to ensure that their symptoms. I am aware that there are concerns voices are heard and responded to. The correspondence about CBT, but I am also aware that it is known to be and representations that the Department of Health helpful to some patients, when applied appropriately receives from patients and patient groups show clearly and with mutually agreed goals and principles. As with the determination to influence local decisions. I would many of the management strategies currently available, encourage people to continue with that involvement. it is important that we test out the evidence base. The hon. Lady rightly referred to young people and That is why the clinical trial PACE—pacing, graded children, who have particular needs when they have activity and cognitive behaviour therapy: a randomised ME. That is why services for children have been given evaluation—will be so important in testing the effectiveness such prominence by this Government. Nearly all children of treatments, so that patients can make informed decisions who are severely affected by ME, as well as many who about their care. are moderately affected, will require the provision of It is also important to emphasise that clinical guidelines home tuition and/or distance learning. A critical element are not mandatory. The purpose of such guidelines is to of care will therefore be the assessment and provision of support clinical decision making. They are also intended educational needs. Children should have access to as to assist primary care trusts in service development and much education as their condition allows, and local redesign, but ultimately health professionals are free to authorities have an absolute responsibility to ensure use their clinical judgement and, in consultation with that they do so. An educational plan for a child or their patients, to decide on the most appropriate treatment young person with ME is not an optional extra but an options, taking into account individual clinical factors. integral part of their treatment. Educational needs should The guidelines recognise there is no one form of treatment be identified in the diagnostic process, and adequate to suit every patient, and emphasise that it is necessary provision of continuing education demands close liaison to have a collaborative relationship between clinician between GPs, community paediatric services, education and patient if success is to be realised. Although all services and, of course, the young person and their patients want to get better, none should be coerced into family. accepting any particular form of treatment. Management As the hon. Lady said, research is the key to developing should always be underpinned by an ethos of joint new treatments, transforming care and finding a cure decision making and informed choice. for this debilitating condition. Research into ME continues 279 Myalgic Encephalopathy23 FEBRUARY 2010 Myalgic Encephalopathy 280

[Gillian Merron] virus, or XMRV, is present in a large proportion of people with ME. These results have received widespread to be a strategic priority area for the Medical Research media attention. They are potentially exciting, but it is Council. The MRC is one of the main public funders of important to note that reports from two separate UK medical research, receiving its funding through grant-in-aid studies do not support the finding of a link between from the Department for Business, Innovation and XMRV and ME. It is clear that further research will be Skills. The MRC remains committed to supporting required to replicate the original findings, and to show a scientific research into all aspects of ME, including causative link between XMRV and ME. The MRC’s evaluations of treatments and studies of the biological National Institute for Medical Research has a research basis of the condition. programme on infection and the replication of retroviruses, In 2008-09, the MRC spent £728,000 supporting four including XMRV. separate projects in this particular area. Nevertheless, I thank the hon. Lady for bringing this important we recognise there is scope for an expanded research subject to the attention of the House. I commend the programme for ME. The MRC has set up an expert efforts made by her and others to raise awareness of it, group, chaired by Professor Stephen Holgate, to consider which I believe will contribute to a change for the better. how best to encourage new research into ME, and how I hope that she will agree that the Government recognise to bring researchers from associated areas into the field. the importance of the issues that she has raised, while The expert group arranged a small research workshop understanding the immense challenge of ME and taking on ME at the end of last year, and the results will be steps to address it. published on the MRC website in due course. We also Question put and agreed to. need to address the fact that not enough proposals for research are coming forward for consideration. We are aware of a recent high-profile study that 10.48 pm suggested that xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related House adjourned. 1WH 23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 2WH

Lorely Burt (Solihull) (LD): I am grateful to my hon. Westminster Hall Friend for giving way so early in her speech. Is it not the case that much of the problem is caused by a sense of pride? Many pensioners do not want to make a claim Tuesday 23 February 2010 for means-tested benefits. They see it as some sort of personal failure. Pensioners should automatically receive a citizen’s pension that takes account of all the benefits [MR.ROGER GALE in the Chair] to which they should be entitled, including pension credit, without having to go cap in hand to the state. Pensioner Poverty Jo Swinson: My hon. Friend makes a valid point Motion made, and Question proposed, That the sitting about one reason why many pensioners do not apply for be now adjourned.—(Angela Eagle.) or claim pension credit and therefore do not receive it. That is why I would like to see the basic state pension 9.30 am ultimately raised to such a level that the current system was not needed. For as long as the pension credit Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (LD): I am pleased system exists, the Government should at least ensure to have secured this debate on pensioner poverty, although that pensioners receive all the money to which they are it is depressing that such a debate should be necessary. entitled. However, Government figures show that that is It is surely a scandal that, in one of the world’s most not happening; the number of eligible pensioners not developed and prosperous nations, one in five elderly receiving their full benefits is rising. people still live below the breadline. That is a total of more than 2 million individuals. Mr. Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne) (Con): I am following I wish to discuss some of the causes of pensioner the hon. Lady’s remarks closely. May I ask her to clarify poverty and say what more can be done to help one precisely her party’s policy on the citizen’s pension? of the most vulnerable and deserving groups. Today, What level would it be fixed at, and how much would it 1.3 million pensioners rely on the state pension as their cost over and above what is spent at the moment? sole source of income, but at £97 a week it clearly is not enough to achieve a standard of living that most people Jo Swinson: The hon. Gentleman, I am sure, takes a would find acceptable. Our state pension is among the great interest in the policies of the Liberal Democrats. lowest in the developed world. Among the 27 OECD He will doubtless be interested to hear what my hon. countries, only Japan, Ireland and Mexico have a lower Friend the Member for Northavon (Steve Webb) has to state pension measured as a proportion of the national say later in the debate. average wage. It was Liberal Democrat policy at previous elections to have a full citizen’s pension at the level of the minimum Had the link with earnings not been broken in the income guarantee. That is still an aspiration, and we 1980s, the basic pension would now be £40 a week will work towards it, but everybody knows that in these higher. It is only fair that pensioners should share straitened times that may not be immediately achievable. equally in the growing prosperity of the society that It is important that we should continue to have that they helped to build. The Government recognise that aim, but the Government have not yet accepted the pensions must be re-linked to earnings but they are not principle that a citizen’s pension is the way forward. committed to doing so until 2016. Even then, we will be Frankly, that is something that the Minister ought to be left with a state pension system that Ros Altmann, the able to do today. pensions expert and former adviser to Tony Blair, described as one of the lowest and most complicated in the The latest report from the Department for Work and developed world. Pensions on the take-up of income related benefits shows that 35 per cent. of people aged over 80 do not Women are hugely over-represented among the poorest claim pension credit despite being eligible. Indeed, the pensioners. Not only are they far less likely to have Government’s latest report shows that the amount of savings, but thousands do not receive the full basic state unclaimed pension credit rose by 3 per cent. between pension. Even after the lowering of the threshold for 2006-07 and 2007-08. The fact that such enormous national insurance contributions later this year, a quarter sums are not being claimed each year indicates that the of women will still not qualify for a full basic state system is too convoluted for many people to understand. pension, mostly because of gaps in their NI contributions as a result of bringing up their children. To make Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Ind): The hon. Lady is matters worse, with life expectancy for women exceeding right to bring such an important matter to the House men by more than five years, increasing numbers of before the election. It is something that people will be women are left living alone. I hope that the Minister considering most carefully, and I congratulate her on agrees that we should be working towards a fairer bringing it to the attention of the House. system—one in which individuals who have lived in this Will the hon. Lady put some meat on the bones? One country for their entire lives should be guaranteed at in three pensioners fail to claim pension credit. They least the full basic state pension. lose an average of £1,477 each year. It is often the I draw the Minister’s attention to the outrageous poorest people who are disadvantaged, which is why the sums that are left unclaimed by some of the UK’s most matter is so important. vulnerable pensioners. One of the main reasons for the unacceptable level of pensioner poverty is the under- Jo Swinson: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that claiming of pension credit and housing and council tax intervention. He is quite right. Of course, by not claiming benefits; as much as £5 billion is unclaimed every year. pension credit, those people become ineligible for other That is £13.9 million every day. benefits, thus compounding the problem. 3WH Pensioner Poverty23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 4WH

[Jo Swinson] automatically be entitled. Is it not time that we gave the benefits to those who need them without making them Age Concern Scotland describes as complex the system claim? of calculations that a pensioner has to go through in order to work out their pension credit entitlement. The Jo Swinson: My right hon. Friend anticipates me and form to claim pension credit is 18 pages long. Once moves me seamlessly on to the issue of fuel poverty. The applicants have secured the guaranteed part of the plight of the poorest pensioners has been worsened pension credit, they become eligible for full help with recently by rising fuel prices. Pensioners are more likely housing and council tax—but to get it, they have to to be fuel poor than any other group, and, tragically, are complete another form that is 40 pages long and takes also the most vulnerable to the effects of the cold. three weeks to process. The Government’s proposals to Recent research commissioned by Age Concern and pilot the automatic payment of pension credit, set out Help the Aged in Scotland showed that in the winter of in the Welfare Reform Act 2009, could begin to address 2009 a third of people aged over 55 turned down their the problem. Those proposals are important, and I heating because of fears about their finances. Given hope that the Minister will say when secondary legislation that we have just experienced one of the coldest winters will be introduced to allow the pilots to go ahead. for many years, surely such a statistic should give us According to Age Concern and Help the Aged in great cause for concern. Indeed, turning down heating Scotland, the DWP and Her Majesty’s Revenue and can have dire consequences for the health and well-being Customs already hold the information necessary for of the elderly poor. It is estimated that fuel poverty such a scheme to be implemented nationally. We should contributed to the deaths of 36,000 people last year. aim to provide those elderly people in most need with Last year, 2.7 million pensioner households—one in simple and accessible methods of claiming. The evidence three—were living in fuel poverty. This year, with energy that I have outlined shows that the Government are prices higher than ever and the prolonged cold weather failing some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged forcing people to heat their homes for longer, the figures pensioners. The Government know that the state pension are bound to be worse. Meanwhile the Government’s is too low, and they rely on benefits to provide pensioners measures to tackle fuel poverty are condemned as “not with what the Government consider to be a minimum fit for purpose”by the Institute for Public Policy Research living income. It would be fairer to move away from this in its report, “The Long Cold Winter: Beating Fuel flawed system of benefits, and increase the pension to a Poverty”. As has been mentioned, eligibility for cold decent level that would at least meet that minimum level weather payments depends on having applied for pension of income. credit, so many payments go unclaimed. In my constituency of East Dunbartonshire, nearly 1,500 eligible pensioners have missed out on cold weather payments this winter. John Penrose (Weston-super-Mare) (Con): The hon. Energy companies have, on the whole, not reduced Lady puts her case most clearly. Does she agree that it is their tariffs in line with falling wholesale energy prices, not just a question of complexity, although that is a real allowing them to rake in record profits. The cheapest problem, but the fact that the incredibly long and energy tariffs are often only available online, to be paid complicated forms that she eloquently described are by direct debit, which many older people are unable or perceived by many pensioners, including those in my unwilling to access. Many older people do not have a constituency, as being demeaning? They feel that they bank account, but use Post Office card accounts. Extending are unnecessarily and unfairly being obliged to parade such accounts to allow direct debit payments would not their poverty, particularly given that they have paid only support our post offices but enable pensioners to contributions throughout their working lives. They believe reduce their bills. Although such a move would be a that they should not be put through that. They would welcome first step, surely the cheapest energy should be far rather go for a restoration of the earnings link at an available to pensioners with the lowest incomes in the earlier date. Does the hon. Lady agree that one of the form of social tariffs. worst outcomes of the current financial crisis is that the The most sustainable and cost-effective way to tackle Government’s projected date of 2013 is drifting backwards fuel poverty is to invest in energy efficiency measures in time, because the Government’s finances are so tight? and better insulation and heating systems in people’s homes, because that will cut fuel bills for years to come. Jo Swinson: The hon. Gentleman makes his point The warm front programme in England and the energy well. It is similar to that raised by my hon. Friend the assistance package, as it is now called in Scotland, could Member for Solihull (Lorely Burt). Many elderly people be very welcome interventions. However, many poor feel demeaned by having to go cap in hand to the pensioners are still not reached by such schemes, and Government. Having a universal system would be much there is scope for both to be radically expanded. I am better. I agree that the earnings link should be restored sure that other hon. Members also feel incredibly frustrated as a matter of priority. by such schemes. In Scotland, to be eligible for replacement central heating, a person’s existing central heating must be broken beyond repair. At that point—a person will Malcolm Bruce (Gordon) (LD): My hon. Friend made not be eligible if they apply before it is broken beyond an important point in saying that if people do not claim repair—a company will agree to send someone out some benefits they will not qualify for others. We are within a couple of weeks to carry out an assessment. experiencing the coldest winter for many years, and Then it will decide whether the person is eligible, and many pensioners are cutting their heating. In areas such then it can be weeks or months before new central as my constituency, which are particularly cold, many heating is installed. If someone’s central heating breaks do not get the cold weather payments because they have beyond repair in November, then this scheme is not not applied for benefits to which they would otherwise much good. 5WH Pensioner Poverty23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 6WH

Many pensioners on low incomes rely on the interest Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): Does the they earn from savings to keep them out of poverty, but hon. Lady acknowledge that one of the major problems with interest rates currently near zero such people have is that employers obsessively employ younger workers seen their incomes decrease drastically over the past few and do not recognise the value of older workers, particularly years. Shockingly, the Government currently take no those with previous experience? There is anti-discrimination account of lower interest rates when calculating how legislation and she should at least acknowledge that. much council tax benefit or pension credit a person receives. Income from savings is assumed to be 0.2 per Jo Swinson: I welcome the hon. Gentleman’s intervention. cent. a week, which currently bears no relation to reality Part of the problem with the current legislation is that it and means that thousands of pensioners are having does not apply to older workers. I agree that often older their incomes overestimated. workers in the workplace are undervalued. A more flexible approach to retirement could benefit older workers It is hard to express the frustration that is felt by and employers. By retaining older people in work, perhaps savers, so I want to share a few comments from some of on a part-time basis and on a sliding scale towards my constituents. Mr. C said: retirement so that they are not facing a cliff edge, “I have just retired and planned to use the interest from my employers will ensure that skills and experience are savings to live on, however with the latest cut in Bank Base Rate, I passed on to younger workers. will be struggling.” In its fifth report, the Work and Pensions Committee Mrs. B. said: was pretty damning of the default retirement age, describing “So many pensioners and others rely on small amounts of it as “discriminatory and unnecessary” and stated that interest on saving to make the difference between poverty and a the Committee looked forward to its being abolished. It reasonable existence… The Government seems to be helping is still legal to force a worker aged 65 to retire against those groups who have failed in business and many people who have made no effort to live a responsible life, and is ignoring those his or her will purely on the basis of age. It is similarly who have made every effort possible.” legal to refuse employment on the same grounds. It is That sums up the feelings of many savers in this country. outrageous that only a third of people retire voluntarily, while the rest face an often depressing end to a life of Furthermore, the compulsory annuitisation of pension valuable contributions to this country. The anger felt funds at the age of 75 is forcing struggling pensioners to over such a policy is reflected in the fact that almost accept far lower rates of annuity than they might receive nine out of 10 people over 50 think that the default if they could wait for the financial situation to improve. retirement age is unfair. One 74-year-old constituent told me that having saved I ask the Minister to consider changing the draconian all his life, he felt that he was now being penalised by and wholly unfair law on older people’s right to work. having to purchase an annuity at the worst possible The Equality Bill could be a good vehicle to do that, but time, and that his personal and private savings plan had given the current discussions, it looks like the Government been “shot to pieces” as a result. do not plan to take that step. Retirees buying an annuity today are getting pension incomes of almost half that of their counterparts back The Minister for Pensions and the Ageing Society in 1994. Alternatively secured pensions, the only alternative (Angela Eagle): Will the hon. Lady at least acknowledge to annuitisation, are highly taxed and can be withdrawn that we brought forward a review of the default retirement only at 70 per cent. of an annuity, making them not a age this year? The call for evidence on that has now financially viable option for the poorest. closed and we are considering the evidence even now. In The Economic Secretary to the Treasury acknowledged the interests of fairness, she should at least have in a letter to me that ASPs are “not suitable for everyone” acknowledged that. Clearly, there is a great deal of and advised that people seek independent financial support in general for the idea that we should end the advice before taking one, which is a luxury that many cliff edge of retirement, and we are even, as she speaks, cannot afford. I can see no good reason to continue to examining the evidence that has come in from both require people to annuitise their pension savings by the employers and employees on this important matter. age of 75. Jo Swinson: The Minister clearly puts her points on A culture of inequity in the treatment of our aged, the record, but they are not much consolation to those together with discriminatory Government policy, have individuals in the job market who are currently facing led to a troubled end to some elderly people’s working discrimination and being told to retire before they wish lives. Research by the Third Age Employment Network to do so. We hope that, as a result of the review, people before the recession showed that only 31 per cent. of turning 65 will not be discriminated against in such a over 50s made redundant succeed in getting a new job way. It is worth noting that when the Government were within three months. Only 32 per cent. of those manage taken to court last October by Age Concern and Help to keep their former level of pay, and on average they the Aged over the compatibility of this policy with had to take a pay cut of more than a quarter. In the past human rights legislation, they were allowed to uphold year, long-term unemployment among men over 50 has the law only because of their promises to review the doubled. Such an exit from the job market, coupled system. In his judgment, Mr. Justice Blake said: with the default retirement age, leaves some pensioners “I cannot presently see how 65 could remain as a default who have worked all their lives in a desperate situation. retirement age after the review.” They are being forced to retire earlier than they had I very much hope that after the review the default planned, which many cannot afford. retirement age will change. Government policy that disadvantages our elderly I know that there are many right hon. and hon. community in the workplace plays a major role in Members here who wish to speak, so I would like to exacerbating pensioner poverty. I refer here to the default conclude by saying that if we take these issues together—the retirement age of 65 for men and 60 for women. pitiful state pension rights, the fact that thousands of 7WH Pensioner Poverty23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 8WH

[Jo Swinson] The general issue is one of quality of life for the elderly. Perhaps it is the result of poor public transport—we are elderly people are missing out on money that is rightfully probably blessed with better public transport in Croydon theirs, the concerns about heating homes in the winter than people are in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, and the fact that savers are being hit by plummeting although I know that Scotland invests a great deal in interest rates—it is no wonder that many pensioners feel public transport—but it is an important concern. abandoned by Government. So I will finish with the The most significant illness affecting pensioners is words of one of my constituents, Mrs. M, who wrote to dementia, yet the research funding for dementia is less me to say: than 2 per cent. of research funding for cancer. Obviously, “Elderly people do not seem to have a voice.” I am not quarrelling with the amount that is spent on I hope that this debate today goes at least some way to research funding for cancer, but with an ever ageing providing that voice. population and with more and more NHS funds being used to care for dementia sufferers, research funding for dementia is an issue worthy of consideration. 9.50 am The hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire and her Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): It is a right hon. and hon. Friends rightly emphasised the great pleasure, Mr. Gale, to serve under your chairmanship. importance of the experience of the hardest winter for I would very much like to congratulate the hon. 30 years. It is estimated that the proportion of pensioners Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson), who who have found themselves in fuel poverty has gone up has secured a number of important debates on social from what might be described—rather sadly, perhaps—as issues in Westminster Hall and the main Chamber. I the normal 25 per cent. to 40 per cent. this year. It is bad would also like to place on record my thanks to Michael enough that many pensioners have to choose between Knight of Croydon Retired Peoples Campaign—a group heating and feeding themselves, while also giving that I will address next week at Ruskin house—and consideration to the fact that they might have to use any Malcolm Felberg, who chairs the Croydon local involvement spending money they have on care services. It is fair to network. Both of them have made a significant input say that in my local authority—and I am sure that this regarding our concerns in Croydon about the situation is true elsewhere— increases in care service prices, if for the elderly, particularly those in pensioner poverty, pensioners are not otherwise supported by the public and the approach that we must take to address those sector, are a matter of great concern. concerns. Bob Spink: While we are discussing caring and care We should place on record, however, the very good services, single women, instead of working, are often work that the Government have done in taking more carers and they do a superb job—and a very worthwhile than a million pensioners out of poverty, albeit against job for society at large—for those for whom they are a background of significant deterioration in income caring. However, does the hon. Gentleman accept that, and equality generally within society since 1997. As the when they eventually become pensioners, they suffer hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire said, the basic particularly badly, so the Government must find better state pension of £95 a week is still—horrendously—below ways to reward carers and to recognise the contribution the official poverty measure of £165 a week. That that they make to society before they become pensioners? particularly affects female pensioners, who tend to live longer than their spouses. They are especially affected if Mr. Pelling: I am very grateful for my hon. Friend’s they have operated as single parents for a good deal of comments—I know that he has raised that issue in the their working lives. House. To some extent, the Government are listening I am also interested in the experience that pensioners on this issue, but it is a very important concern. have when they encounter the NHS. The way in which ill health is treated can often have a very real effect on Angela Eagle: I hope that all right hon. and hon. pensioners’ income and wealth status. I am particularly Members here today will recognise the changes to carer exercised by the effect on people’s standard of living credits for national insurance contributions, which are when they have a fall on icy or uncleared pavements, due to be introduced in April. Weekly national insurance and was pleased by the response from Lord Adonis, the credits will be granted to those who care for other Secretary of State for Transport, to the problem. In my individuals for more than 20 hours a week. As for those local Mayday hospital, the number of fractures went up who care for others for 20 to 34 hours a week, but who by a factor of five when pavements remained uncleared. are not known to the benefits system, we are very There may well be a very good argument for moneys in anxious that they should apply for their credits, because the NHS being spent on clearing pavements, as they doing so will ensure that they can make up their own have been—I know that this is controversial—in Durham, basic state pension when they retire. We need help to because doing so has a substantial effect. identify those carers, and I hope that all right hon. and hon. Members who are here today will note that and go back and work in their own constituencies to help us to John Mason (Glasgow, East) (SNP): I had the impression find them. that, when the pavements were bad, people were almost imprisoned in their houses, which meant that they either Mr. Pelling: I am very grateful to the Minister for that had to spend more on fuel or sit in the cold. Does the intervention, and I think that that is a very good example hon. Gentleman agree that that was the case? of joined-up government. That approach, as long as we are in the happy situation of having that capacity and Mr. Pelling: The hon. Gentleman makes a very good making it known to potential recipients, is a very cost- point, because if people are imprisoned in that way, it effective, caring and compassionate way of operating has a very significant impact on their mental health. Government activity. 9WH Pensioner Poverty23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 10WH

Nevertheless, I sometimes feel a sense of frustration— 10 am perhaps on behalf of the Minister—at the way in which British politics has progressed. In many ways, the Pensions Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North) (Lab): I congratulate Minister is not responsible for many pension issues, the hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) because of the arms-length approach that has been on securing this debate. I thank her for the information adopted. I went to see one of the Minister’s predecessors that she shared and the Minister for her interventions. It to discuss my concern about how particular private shows the value of having intelligent debates in Westminster sector pensioners have suffered as a result of the demise Hall about issues such as pensioner poverty. of Allders, the company for which they worked. The It is worth recording that the state pension came response that I received then was very much, “Well, about just over 100 years ago after enormous campaigning these are not responsibilities for the Minister any longer— and pressure by Radical organisations, trade unions they are at arm’s length and they are with the regulator”. and Churches and was finally forced into being through Going through that process can be very frustrating. Lloyd George’s Budget. The pension had a mixed history for a long time. Although it was designed to alleviate I wish to declare an interest, as my father recently the most appalling poverty, it never succeeded totally in turned 75, and faced the very difficult situation of doing so, as it tended to rise and fall depending on how having to deal with an annuity, particularly at a time successful or otherwise the economy was. During the when the financial markets were in serious difficulties. deep recession of the 1930s, the pension did not go The hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire emphasised anywhere near meeting the needs of the poorest. It has the interaction of benefits and the fact that that many always been a sticking plaster rather than a solution to pensioners just turn their minds against claiming benefits, the issue of pensioner poverty, as I am sure my professor because they feel that there is a stigma involved in doing colleague the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb) so. I am concerned about constituents who have had to would agree. deal with the fact that the interaction of bereavement The great step forward in pensions came in 1975, benefits—obviously that is something that very much with the late Barbara Castle’s heroic legislation. In the affects pensioners—sometimes has an adverse impact teeth of an economic problem, massive inflation rates on other benefits to which they are entitled. and huge demands on public spending, she managed Several Select Committees have emphasised the good through force of personality to persuade the Cabinet to practice demonstrated by Service Canada, which provides pass groundbreaking pensions legislation that recognised a single point for Canadian people to gain advice, and pensioner poverty as well as discrimination against operates in a non-stigmatising way. We can take women and those not in any of the then big occupational encouragement from that example. It is extremely difficult industrial pension schemes. It introduced the state earnings- to provide such a service, but it is something to which related pension scheme to accommodate those who we should aspire. were not in any other supplementary scheme and ensured that the state pension rose year on year in line with I mentioned at the outset Croydon’s performance in inflation or earnings, whichever was larger. this area. I am very concerned that a lot of provision for The state pension as a proportion of average earnings the elderly has been cut back. For example, the Foyer, rose considerably during the next five years while that which is in north Croydon, did a lot of work with senior link was maintained, despite all the economic problems citizens, but funding for that centre has unfortunately that this country faced during that period. We should been cut. I suppose that that is a prospect that we will pause for a moment to recognise Barbara Castle’s great face generally, as public expenditure is reduced. Nevertheless, work and the heroism surrounding it. It must have been I congratulate Croydon council particularly for providing extremely difficult to get such legislation through the disabled pensioners with the AskSARA system, which Cabinet at the time. does a great deal of good internet-based work—admittedly, it is only available in that medium, and I will make a Steve Webb (Northavon) (LD): Does the hon. Gentleman point about that in a moment—that tries to offer a good share my dismay that this year’s pensions uprating adds understanding of their problems. The system is easy to 2.5 per cent. to the basic pension but freezes state use, and helps pensioners to identify the appropriate earnings-related pensions? Will he consider—I will not services and equipment that Croydon council provides ask him for a commitment now—joining us in the for the frail and disabled. Of course, the internet is not Division Lobby next Monday when we vote against the available to all pensioners, so take-up is lower than it is decision to freeze the SERPS uprating? We believe that in other groups. I was disquieted by the approach of pensioners should not bear the brunt of the cuts. Southern Railway, whose consultation on rail services is now built wholly around the internet. That is unfair to Jeremy Corbyn: I am always reluctant to vote many pensioners, who are thus excluded. independently of my Whip, but I will consider the I am mindful that other Members want to speak. I situation— appreciate that the country faces significant financial difficulties in the coming months. However, in considering Mr. Pelling: After consultation. macro-economic policy, we must remember that pensioners are likely to spend 100 per cent. of their resources—or Jeremy Corbyn After due consultation. perhaps more, making it a dissaving. Money pumped I accept the point made by the hon. Member for into the economy through pension increases is likely to Northavon about the current uprating. To return to the have a stimulating effect. We need seriously to consider link with earnings, we must place responsibility where it increasing the basic state pension, so that it at least is due. The 1980 Conservative Government broke that approaches the official poverty level, to £150 a week. link, which was a monstrous thing to do. They then 11WH Pensioner Poverty23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 12WH

[Jeremy Corbyn] Jeremy Corbyn: One of the most depressing experiences that I have had in the House was serving on the Select moved on to the Social Security Act 1986, on whose Committee on Social Security in the mid-1990s and Standing Committee I had the misfortune to sit. The investigating the Maxwell pension fund. Robert Maxwell Act put into law a continual reduction in the value of appeared to be on a permanent holiday as far as pension the state pension, abolished the state earnings-related contributions were concerned. Like all permanent holidays, pension scheme and set up the principle of a market for it disappeared, taking the funds with it. My hon. Friend private pensions in this country, which is rather at is absolutely right that inequity in the running of pension variance with the European tradition and is still playing funds is crucial. I realise that things have moved on a lot out today in the level of the state pension. Many people since then, but there are still reasons for concern. suffered grievously from the mis-selling of pensions and To quote some statistics on the current scale of pensioner corrupt private pension schemes. poverty in Britain, the number of people living in severe We are still in that bind and cannot seem to get the poverty—on less than 40 per cent. of the median population idea that in a welfare state it is the state’s responsibility income—has increased by 600,000. The incomes of the to ensure the elimination of poverty among everyone in poorest quarter of pensioner households rose by less retirement. That must be a primary responsibility. We than 1 per cent. last year, and the real incomes of the accept the welfare state in terms of universal health care poorest single pensioners dropped by 4 per cent. At and education provision; we should also ensure that we least 15 per cent. of pensioners, or more than 1.5 million accept the state’s major responsibility to ensure the people, live in persistent poverty, having lived on less elimination of all poverty in retirement. However, it than 60 per cent. of the median population income for would be ridiculous to say that there have not been huge three of the last four years. We have to recognise that changes over the past 10 years. There was a big debate there are significant pockets of pensioner poverty and before the 1997 election, particularly in the Labour deprivation. party, about whether we should re-link pensions to As a proportion of average working pay, the state earnings and make the state pension the basic motor for pension in Greece is the highest in Europe at 95.7 per the provision of income on retirement or go for what cent. and that in the UK is among the lowest at 30.8 per has turned out to be pension credits, pension top-ups or cent. Those are headline figures that do not necessarily whatever nomenclature is put to them. Essentially, that include other sources of income from state benefits, but debate was lost by those of us who wanted an immediate one can see the scale of the issue and the effectiveness restoration of the link between pension and earnings and efficiency of a non-means-tested, high-value state and therefore a much higher basic state pension. pension, compared with any other form of benefit. I Of course I welcome pension credits in that they put think everyone now recognises that means-tested benefits money into the pockets and handbags of people who tend to end up with low take-up and with a lot of would not otherwise have it. I regularly attend meetings people missing out. of the Islington Pensioners Forum, and I always say, There are two huge areas of even worse poverty. The “Claim every single thing you can.” However, I recognise, hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire rightly drew as I am sure does everyone in this Chamber, that under attention to the problem of the general low level of a means-tested system involving a complicated application pensioner income among women. As a union organiser process, no matter how nice, supportive and helpful the in the 1970s and 1980s, most of the members I represented people are on the other end of the phone line or in the were women working part time in school meal or school local office, many people simply will not claim. Either cleaning jobs. Unfortunately—I say unfortunately because they feel that they should not, or they are put off by the of the consequences—they were offered the right to pay bureaucratic procedure involved. We must recognise a lower rate of national insurance contributions. that as one big problem. Understandably, offered the choice between paying A The other—I will return to it in a moment—is that or B, where B is lower than A, most people chose to pay occupational pension schemes are disappearing quickly B without much thought for the long-term consequence as company after company tries to close final salary of smaller pensions. That was a main contributory schemes to new members and move to earned savings factor to poverty. schemes, which are not as beneficial. Such schemes, of course, become less sustainable anyway. A pension system Another major contributory factor was the lack of that relies heavily on stock market prices gives a pretty job security for many women workers. Most men at the grim outlook for an awful lot of people in work at time tended to be in occupational pension schemes, present. Although they would not thank me for saying whereas women did not. That was what the Barbara so, many among the present pensioner generation are Castle legislation tried to fix and what the Conservative better off than those further down the line are likely to Government of the 1980s tried to destroy. The median be under the current system. We must think seriously income for women on retirement is only 57 per cent. of and carefully about that. that of men. Only 30 per cent. of women who reach state pension age are entitled to a full basic state pension, Mr. David Drew (Stroud) (Lab/Co-op): My hon. Friend compared with 85 per cent. of men. One in five single will know and, I am sure, accept that that situation was women pensioners risk being in poverty in retirement. made much worse by the mania for early retirement Almost 63 per cent. of divorced and separated older during the 1980s, when people were bought off, which women have no private pension income. put pressure on the funds later. It was also made worse by pension holidays. With the benefit of hindsight, Angela Eagle: My hon. Friend’s analysis of the gender allowing and encouraging them were one of the most difference in access to pensions is spot on. I hope he disreputable acts of any Government. I am sure that he acknowledges that in April there will be an historic will agree. change in access to the basic state pension. We are 13WH Pensioner Poverty23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 14WH reducing the required number of national insurance quality of care that is provided because it is patchy. contribution years from 39 for women and 44 for men There is nothing better than a publicly employed person to 30 for everybody. At a stroke, that will mean that with a secure job whose responsibility is to look after an 75 per cent. of women qualify by their own right. By the elderly person in their home. The same person should end of the decade, that will eliminate the gap in the go everyday so that a good relationship is built up. That access to the basic state pension between men and is good support for the community. If that work is done women. by contractors and agencies with different people going in everyday, it is distressing and disturbing for the Jeremy Corbyn: I welcome that and the fact that the elderly people and we end up with a less harmonious Government recognise the huge problem, in particular and less happy society. the problem of broken careers among women, which I will conclude with the suggestions put forward by usually occur because they have children and stay at the National Pensioners Convention to the Work and home to bring them up. We must recognise that there is Pensions Committee on tackling pensioner poverty in a big improvement on the way and I welcome that. Britain. It outlined many issues concerning the level of The other area of enormous pensioner poverty is the state pension. We should recognise the great work of among ethnic minority people. The number of ethnic the National Pensioners Convention, which is an effective minority pensioners is small, but it will rise rapidly over campaigning body, in not only mobilising large numbers the next 10 or 20 years. We are all aware of that from of elderly people across the country, but bringing to the our constituency work. The proportion of ethnic minority attention of younger and middle-aged people in work elderly people who are in great poverty is much higher that it is their responsibility to campaign for decent than for any other group. They make up only 3 per cent. pension provision and to ensure the elimination of of people above state pension age, but they are often in poverty in retirement. considerable poverty because of discrimination in the I will quote two points made by the National Pensioners workplace, for example in promotions and the inability Convention: to get a permanent job, particularly, in the past, one “The National Insurance Fund remains the most secure way of that had a pension attached to it. That is another pocket funding decent pensions in retirement, but its status is being of high levels of poverty that we must recognise and do undermined by the government’s policy of using the excessive something about. balance held in the Fund for public expenditure other than that of I will be brief, Mr. Gale, because I know that other pensions and benefits for which it is intended”. hon. Members wish to speak. I just want to mention There is a serious debate to be had about that. The next other areas of support for pensioner households that point states: tend, unfortunately, to be patchy and sporadic. The “The basic state pension provides the most obvious and effective travel permit and travel pass systems are welcome if method of tackling pensioner poverty, both now and in the pensioners get free travel on all public transport. London future. It should be set above the officially recognised poverty paved the way with the Greater London council bus level and paid universally to all pensioners. This could be easily pass, which was introduced in the early 1970s. That afforded by introducing a number of changes to the national morphed into the freedom pass, which is now universally insurance and taxation systems”. available across London, and I welcome that. The Essentially, the point is that it is the responsibility of us Government have done a great deal to extend the concept all, through national insurance and taxation systems, to of supported or free bus and rail travel across the ensure that pensioners receive enough money to live on country. We must recognise that these are important decently and safely in retirement. It is simply not right things and that in this time of recession and pressure on that people go through the disfigurements of poverty, Government spending, they should not even be considered borrowing from children or just trying to scrape by. As I for a cut, but should be fully supported because they said, the welfare state should apply to pensioner income provide freedom of movement. as much as it applies to health and education.

Mr. Pelling: I will be brief because other hon. Members Mr. Roger Gale (in the Chair): I was going to call the wish to speak. It is important for politicians to defend Front Benchers at 10.30, but I am afraid we are running the freedom pass because many local London councils out of time because of the length of the speeches. I urge that are upset about changes in funding and about brevity on hon. Members. money being taken away from London and put elsewhere talk rather darkly of compromising the provision of the freedom pass. 10.19 am John Mason (Glasgow, East) (SNP): I will try to be Jeremy Corbyn: I hope that they will not compromise reasonably brief and not raise points made already. I the provision of the freedom pass. There is no threat to congratulate the hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire the freedom pass in London as long as the local authorities (Jo Swinson) on obtaining the debate and on being brief ensure it is provided. Under the Conservative Government in her opening speech. As we are the only two non-Labour of the 1980s, we saved the pass in London only through MPs in the Greater Glasgow area, I think we have a a consortium of local authorities and last minute changes certain affinity. in the legislation. The freedom pass is important. The complexity of the benefits system and people not We must also look at caring and nursing costs. The claiming has already been covered, so I shall not spend provision of care arrangements is often inadequate. time on that. However, I wish to underline that it is a The use of agency staff by local authorities for the care huge problem. I recognise—as all hon. Members who of frail elderly people in the home means that there is have spoken have—that if the system is too complex often a lack of continuity in care. We must look at the and uptake is significantly short of where it should be, 15WH Pensioner Poverty23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 16WH

[John Mason] all the risk on employers is perhaps unfair, but to switch to the other extreme of putting all the risk on employees something is wrong and we need to consider the need to is also unfair. It should be possible to come to some have a much more universal provision, whether that is a kind of compromise where risk is shared. citizen’s pension or whatever. There is also clearly an issue regarding spending Another area on which I would like to touch is the priorities. When we face tight financial times, we have to gap between the rich and poor in our society generally. choose priorities. We have to choose between nuclear Clearly that issue does not affect only pensioners, but it submarines or going around the world fighting wars as certainly includes them. When people reach pension if we were still an empire, and putting money into age, how much they have, how much they owe and what helping pensioners and other vulnerable groups. Surely their wealth is are key factors. A recent report said that the reason why Sweden, the Netherlands and such the top 10 per cent. in our society have at least £853,000 countries have a level of pensioner poverty that is a of wealth and the bottom 10 per cent. have a maximum third of that of the UK is that they are not spending so of £8,800. So the top 10 per cent. have at least 96 times much on defence and other priorities. Even if the UK as much as the bottom 10 per cent. I accept that we has those priorities, can Scotland not be allowed to have cannot all be exactly the same, but it seems that 96 times a bit more freedom to set its own priorities? I believe as much is rather too large a figure. Another comparison that most people in Scotland would want to put more on the income side is that since 2000, the ratio of FTSE money into pensions and less into nuclear weapons. If top 100 bosses’ income compared with that of an employee we could have fiscal autonomy or accept at least some has risen from 47:1 to 128:1. That has happened under of Calman’s proposals, we would be moving in the right the Government’s regime and shows that there is something direction. seriously wrong. Income during working life clearly has I wanted to intervene on the hon. Member for East a major impact on one’s income as a pensioner. Dunbartonshire to point out that she had not talked a That leads me to my next point about company lot about council tax, but I did not get the chance. I pension schemes, which has already been mentioned, believe that her party—mine certainly does—favours a particularly by the hon. Member for Croydon, Central move away from council tax towards something such as (Mr. Pelling). Almost every day, we hear about the a local income tax, which would be based on ability to closure of final salary schemes and, as he suggested, pay and, at a stroke, would help pensioners and people such a situation is surely storing up problems for the on a limited income. Such people would not have to future. It might be cheaper for people not to save in the apply for anything because that local tax would be short term—that is obviously the case for employers—but, based on their income. I congratulate the hon. Lady on in the longer term, we will be left with more of a the debate and urge the Government to take the issue problem. more seriously. Surely, this is one subject where the We read complaints in the press and from the private Government could be seriously to the left of the sector that the public sector is far too generous in its Conservatives. pension provision, but the reality is that many ordinary public sector workers get a very modest pension when 10.26 am they retire. It is very much the exception rather than the rule that there are huge pensions either in the public or Mark Williams (Ceredigion) (LD): It is a pleasure to private sector. serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Gale. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for East Dunbartonshire Angela Eagle: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that in (Jo Swinson) for raising the issue and am particularly relation to the public sector pension, the average payment grateful to the hon. Member for Glasgow, East (John is currently around £5,000? It is extremely peculiar to Mason) for the speed at which he made his remarks. describe that as a gold-plated pension, yet that is what These are critical issues. We have a higher proportion we hear from those who wish to attack public sector of pensioners in Wales than anywhere in the UK— provision. Does he agree that the public sector provision 21 per cent. compared with 19 per cent. in England and needs to be defended? Scotland. In my constituency of Ceredigion that figure rises to 24 per cent. We have heard the statistics: 22.1 million John Mason: I completely agree with the Minister on people in the UK are living in poverty and two out of that point. In a constituency such as mine, where people three pensioners rely on benefits. I want to make three are probably earning a bit less than average, they are quick points. First, the key trend is that older people possibly getting even less than that. The matter is very tend to be worse affected by inflation than the general important to those people and such a pension is certainly population because they tend to spend a higher proportion not gold-plated. We should surely bring the private of their income on things that have had particularly sector up to the public sector, rather than the other way large price increases, such as fuel, food and council tax. around. I wonder whether employers are getting off too The National Pensioners Convention has estimated that lightly and if there should be much more compulsion 40 per cent. of pensioners’ income is spent on those regarding employers contributing to employees’ pension things, which puts pensioners in an acutely vulnerable schemes. The reality is that that is often why the private position. sector can undercut the public sector when it comes to That is backed up by a 2008 report by the Institute contracts in the local authority or elsewhere. The private for Fiscal Studies, which talks about food and fuel sector has lower pension costs and is able to win contracts, inflation being at 6.7 per cent. However, for pensioner but, in the long term, such a situation is causing a couples that figure is 7.7 per cent. and for single pensioners problem. I accept that it is unlikely we can return all it is 9 per cent. Inflation might not be the most pressing employees to defined benefit schemes and that putting problem at the moment—it stands at 3.5 per cent.—but 17WH Pensioner Poverty23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 18WH it looks set to increase, so we need to monitor that matter. As we have heard, she has a track record of position very carefully and look out for those food and raising such matters, including Equitable Life, and I fuel spikes. thought that her contribution was characteristically It would be churlish not to welcome the 2.5 per cent. well researched and comprehensive. She has done the increase in the pension—the £2.40 and the £3.85—but House a service by giving us the chance to debate these when we put that in the context of the 50p a month vital issues. Various facets of pensioner poverty have charge on phone lines to finance broadband, we realise been discussed, particularly the position of women, to how minimal that increase is, not least for constituencies which I will return. such a mine where there is minimal broadband and a I also want to thank the Minister. Rather than sitting large number of my constituents cannot access it. for an hour twiddling her thumbs before reading out a I have two specific points for the Minister. The last prepared text, she has intervened on several occasions time we had a debate on the subject in this Chamber to make her points, which was entirely welcome. Therefore, was in December 2008. One of the clearest points made I will save her the trouble of reading out her prepared was that council tax benefit should be renamed the text. In such debates Ministers tell Members all the council tax rebate. The Government were receptive to things the Government have done to improve take-up, the idea and an amendment was put forward. The for example, or to address all the matters that have been amendment was removed on the basis that the Government talked about, but the point my hon. Friend the Member would bring that issue forward, but the time frame for for East Dunbartonshire and others have made is that, that is yet to be forthcoming. after all the things the Government have done, such as The Royal British Legion has particular concerns. the take-up campaigns, we still have vast pensioner The response from the Minister to the legion stated that poverty, rising fuel poverty and very poor take-up. The the Government would be consulting with local authorities question is not what the Government have done, but and other key stakeholders in due course. We are still what will they do to address the aspects of poverty that unclear about what “due course” means. Renaming are still very much with us, because pensioner poverty, council tax benefit would deal with some of the issues as the hon. Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) about pride and lack of take-up raised by other hon. said, is a blight on our society. It should be the role of Members. It is appalling that only up to 61 per cent. of the state, not necessarily to deliver, but certainly to pensioners eligible for council tax benefit claim it. We ensure that pensioner poverty is defeated. The fact that need to do something to deal with that issue, which was successive Governments have failed so lamentably on part of the legion’s return to rationing campaign. Research that is a shame on us all. for that campaign revealed that 38 per cent. of older The hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Pelling) veterans were living on an income less than that required and my hon. Friend the Member for East Dunbartonshire for healthy living. referred to the position of women. One facet of the I reiterate the concerns raised about fuel poverty. changing pensions landscape that is prejudicial to women Particularly in a rural constituency such as Ceredigion, has not had the attention it deserves. The hon. Member many people come to me with concerns about the costs for Glasgow, East (John Mason) mentioned the demise of heating their home. They are unable to do so and of final salary pension schemes. Although they tended they are unable to switch between different suppliers to reinforce the gap between men and women, because because of the monopolistic situation that exists. men tended to earn more, when we switched to money purchase schemes we found that they were biased against Finally, I wish to highlight the work of the voluntary women because women tend to live longer. Under such sector in bringing awareness of pension credits and schemes, a man and a woman could start the same job other available benefits. Age Concern Ceredigion has at adjacent desks, leave their work at the same age and reported a 10 per cent. increase in poverty-related inquiries earn precisely the same amount of money, but the man among the 32,000 over-55s with whom it works. It has will get the bigger pension. He will not live as long, so helped people access up to £1 million in benefits. It is an the total pot of money would be the same, but it is not independent charity that is combating rural isolation much consolation for someone living in poverty to be and promoting income maximisation. It has a £100,000 told, “Don’t worry. You can have a long period of shortfall in its funding for next year—because of the poverty, rather than a shorter period on a higher income.” recession, grants are drawing up—so it will have to cut Can the Government just watch the shift to defined back on some of the invaluable work it does for those contribution schemes, which are biased against women, people. That work is replicated by citizens advice bureaux, and the introduction of personal accounts, or National the Royal British Legion and volunteer consultants Employment Savings Trust pensions, which are part of such as Rif and Ann Winfield in my constituency. They a whole new system of defined contribution pensions have an important contribution to make in the short that will also be biased against women, relative to state term, before we get the full citizens pension that the provision, for example, which is unisex? Liberals Democrats would certainly support. The Government cannot stand idly by and watch My final point is this: the spectacle of a retired those things happen. I fully accept that the April 2010 couple in south Ceredigion who have to reconcile whether changes are welcome, as the Minister said, but they it is more provident to put £10 of petrol in the car to do create a cliff edge that means that women who are born their shopping or to walk cannot be right, and that is perhaps a day too early will miss out on the whole why this debate is so important. improvement. I fully accept that there has to be a day when things change, but when the change is so substantial, 10.30 am the onus is on the Government to avoid those cliff edges Steve Webb (Northavon) (LD): I congratulate my and phase things in so that those who reached pension hon. Friend the Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo age in 2008-09 could have some proportion of the Swinson) on securing the debate on this important benefit of the changes, which would be a better step. 19WH Pensioner Poverty23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 20WH

John Mason: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? Croydon, Central—or can go to a library, they will then have the five key pieces of information they need, and Steve Webb: I hope that the hon. Gentleman will the process would be far easier than it is at present. That forgive me, but I cannot take an intervention with so is an easy win for improving pensions, particularly for little time left. women, and something on which much more should be done. Members have discussed a default retirement age, and the best that the Government could say on that My hon. Friend the Member for Ceredigion (Mark after 13 years is that a review is being undertaken. That Williams) properly raised the issue of council tax benefit, is pathetic. Injustice is injustice. Being discriminated as opposed to council tax rebate, and the Royal British against because of one’s age and the idea that one’s Legion is rightly concerned about that. With the best fitness for a job depends on the date on one’s birth will in the world, we can have the best take-up campaigns certificate is nonsense. Are we really in the 21st century? and can rename benefits as rebates, which would help, Do we need a review? Should we not get on with it? I but ultimately a decent, secure, guaranteed pension joined the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson), must be the goal. I would be the first to accept that the with whom I seem repeatedly to be joined at the hip on level of pension that all of us would like to see cannot these occasions, at a pensions dinner last night, and he and never could be delivered overnight, but I believe announced to an expectant world that the Conservatives that any political party must have a vision—a direction have decided to scrap default retirement ages. I am of travel. One of the problems in pensioner poverty is delighted that they followed us in a case that we have that we have seen flip-flops and switches in emphasis, so been making for years. There is great joy in heaven when we need a clear goal and must make progress as rapidly a sinner repenteth, so I welcome him to the fold. That is is possible. That is why we think that the earnings link a good step, and hopefully, as in so many areas, the needs to be restored, not by the end of the next Parliament, Liberal Democrats lead the way, the Conservatives follow as the Conservatives have said, or by 2012 but maybe and finally the Government will implement the change. 2015, as the Government have said, but immediately. Incidentally, I could not help noticing that there were Earnings or prices, whichever is higher, must be the way more ex-Conservative Members in the Chamber this to go straight away, but that is a small first step on a morning than current Conservative Members. long journey. The issue is not just one of retirement age—annuities I will repeat the point I made to the hon. Member for have been mentioned. My hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North: at a time when we should be re-linking East Dunbartonshire made the point about compulsory the pension to earnings, to have only part of the total annuitisation, which is something we need to end, but it basic pension price protected and to freeze SERPS, is a bigger issue than that, as I am sure she would agree. graduated pensions and the state second pension is an When people reach pension age, roughly one third extraordinary thing to do when we all recognise—I choose to stay with their current provider, and do it speak at enough pension conferences to know—that without thinking about it, about one third look at the every single problem in the pensions system would be alternatives but stay with their current provider and made better by a decent state pension. Getting private about one third switch. The evidence is that many pension incentives on top is easier with a decent state people could simply get a bigger pension by shopping pension. Reducing reliance on non take-up and issues around, and the open-market option should be taken of means-testing is made better with a decent state up much more highly. It is not a particularly partisan pension. If we can do only one thing in the whole of point, but I think that Governments should do much pensions policy, it must be to have a decent state pension, more, whether through behavioural economics or other which would make all the other problems much less means, to nudge people away from the latent assumption severe. that one stays with one’s current provider. Personal accounts pensions, or NEST pensions, ought to be a good way of tackling gaps in pension provision, Angela Eagle: The open-market option is a clear way but one of my worries about the future is that we will to go. We are working with some of the insurance end up encouraging millions of people to take out companies to ensure that they release the funds more relatively small pensions, much of which they will then quickly, because there are issues about how fast the find to have been means-tested away, and that might funds can be released so that an open-market option discredit private pension saving if we do not tackle can be purchased practically, but I agree with the hon. means-testing and the adequacy of the basic state pension. Gentleman’s point. We are doing things to try to make I cannot do justice to the wide range of issues that my that easier. Then, of course, we have to persuade people hon. Friend the Member for East Dunbartonshire and to use it. other Members have raised, but the basic state pension is a critical issue. Sorting out the basic state pension is first, second and third on the list of priorities, and it Steve Webb: I do not doubt that there are small steps needs to be dealt with not in the distant future, but now. in the right direction, but, for example, we are now in a culture in which, when one gets a motor insurance 10.39 am premium, one can shop around and “compare the meerkat”, or whatever it is. There is less of a culture of doing that Mr. Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne) (Con): As always, with annuities, and one proposal is that, however many it is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for months out from the date on which someone expects to Northavon (Steve Webb). Indeed, it is becoming routine. draw an annuity, they ought to be given, in a digestible I join him in congratulating the hon. Member for East format, the information that they need to shop around. Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) on securing this debate, If they have access to the internet—I take the point which has been interesting if a bit breathless, given the made about internet access by the hon. Member for number of issues that have been raised. 21WH Pensioner Poverty23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 22WH

I was grateful for the hon. Lady’s confirmation that pensioners—a huge amount which, according to the her party has downgraded the citizen’s pension, or Institute for Fiscal Studies, could take at least 500,000 universal pension, to an aspiration. It joins the list of pensioners out of poverty at a stroke. The hon. Gentleman other policies such as free tuition and free care which was right to touch on the problem of complexity in all have also been downgraded recently. Those downgrades of this. do not yet seem to have found their way into the On the earnings link, the hon. Member for Islington, Liberals’ literature in my constituency, but I am sure North (Jeremy Corbyn) took us on an interesting trip that it is only a matter of time before they find their way down memory lane, but I am sure that he is as frustrated into mine. as he was when the Conservatives were in government Pensioner poverty has been debated any number of that, after 13 years, this Government have done absolutely times in recent years, sometimes in Opposition time as nothing to restore it. I can confirm that my party is well. I believe that it is clear to all of us that the problem committed to restoring the earnings link within the next is getting worse: at least 2.5 million pensioners are Parliament, exactly mirroring the Government’s current officially living in poverty. On the basis of work in our position, which I hope the Minister will confirm. own constituencies, as we have heard from several hon. Members, the problems faced by many of our older Jeremy Corbyn: I am always pleased to hear about constituents are perfectly plain. I am a vice-president of sinners who repent. If the Conservatives plan to restore my local Age Concern and see that very much at first the link, over what time frame will they do it, and when hand. do they think there will be similarity between the pension We are asked to believe that the Government’s slogan and average earnings? for the next election will be, “A future fair for all”. What happened to the past 13 years? That was the future Mr. Waterson: Fortunately, those questions are above once, if I can misquote somebody. The fact is that all my pay grade and a matter for the shadow Chancellor, the statistics show that the problem is getting worse. but we are committed to restoring the link within the The Government seem to be rightly focused on child Parliament. poverty to the extent that they have introduced a Bill designed to abolish it, even though it is clear that they Jeremy Corbyn: What does that mean? will fail to meet their 2020 target on child poverty. Why not a Bill on pensioner poverty? What is the distinction? Mr. Waterson: It means that when money is available Of course child poverty is important, but so is pensioner within the next Parliament, we will do it. poverty. I thought that the hon. Gentleman was The Government often say—I am sure that it is in the uncharacteristically churlish about the role of private Minister’s prepared speech—that pensioners are now and occupational pensions in delivering a good standard less likely to fall into poverty than the rest of the of living for millions of our fellow citizens. Much of population. Of course, that depends on how one looks that is due to reforms and encouragement by successive at the statistics: including or not including housing Conservative Governments. It is a measure of this costs makes a significant difference to the claim. We still Government’s failure on pensions and pensioner poverty face the grim truth that 2.5 million pensioners live in that those pension arrangements have taken such a hit poverty, and 64 per cent. of pensioner households are in the past 13 years. We know that the Government dependent on state benefits for at least one half of their stripped more than £100 billion out of pension funds, income. and my party is committed to reversing the effects of One aspect among others that the hon. Member for that in time. It was important that the hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Pelling) touched on was fuel Northavon touched on the future development of personal poverty, which is particularly important at present because accounts, or National Employment Savings Trust of the recent bad weather. The latest Government figures pensions—NEST, as we must get used to calling them. suggest that 3.5 million households are affected, but We also know, following the pre-Budget report, that Energywatch says that actually 5.4 million households, the Government are already planning to strip out or some 9 million people, live in fuel poverty. Sadly, £2.4 billion from those pension savings through delays Help the Aged has estimated that between 20,000 and in implementation. 50,000 elderly people die each winter because of their The default retirement age, which was touched on by freezing homes. several hon. Members, is important. There are already My party intends to continue the winter fuel allowance. 1.4 million people working beyond normal retirement We are committed to protecting that vital source of age, which shows that there is an appetite for doing so. help for older people, but it is clear that this issue will My party supports scrapping the default retirement age not go away, whoever is in government. We intend to in principle, but we are not oblivious to the practical bring in energy efficiency improvements of £6,500 for difficulties that that presents—unlike, possibly, the Liberal every household and to require energy companies to Democrats. We will work closely with organisations provide information on energy bills that clearly shows such as the CBI to find solutions to the complications the cheapest tariff available. We need complete transparency and problems. in the energy market if we are to give pensioners and The hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mark Williams) others the opportunity to get the best possible deal to raised a concern of the Royal British Legion. Several meet their energy requirements. hon. Members mentioned the complexity of the council There has been quite a discussion about benefits and tax benefit system and the resulting low take-up. We take-up. The hon. Member for Glasgow, East (John know that nearly one half of all pensioners are subject Mason) touched on this in his speech. We know that to means-tested benefits under this Government and some £5.4 billion a year in benefits goes unclaimed by that, of all the benefits, the one with the lowest take-up 23WH Pensioner Poverty23 FEBRUARY 2010 Pensioner Poverty 24WH

[Mr. Waterson] about the history from which our pension policy descends. He was right to recall the contribution that my political by far is council tax benefit. Hence, my right hon. heroine, Barbara Castle, made. He was also right to Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron), the point out that the link between pensions and earnings Leader of the Opposition, gave his support to the was broken by the last Conservative Government, and campaign of the Royal British Legion, which was pleased the effect that that had on the overall value of the basic that during passage of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 state pension. It is important to remember the history. there seemed to be a firm commitment that the Government The hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb) also would take action quickly. However, Ministers now mentioned some of those issues, particularly women’s seem to have retreated from that position. They gave exclusion from not only occupational pensions, often undertakings and ensured that a particular amendment due to the structure and shape of the labour market, but was withdrawn on the back of such assurances, but they the basic state pension. Other hon. Members, not least are now talking about consulting local authorities and the doughty feminist the hon. Member for East other key stakeholders. Dunbartonshire, mentioned in passing that there was a We know that only 55 per cent. or so of all pensioners gender issue with pensions. I feel strongly about that as who qualify for the benefit actually get round to making well, which is why I am proud that I will be the Minister a claim. According to polling carried out by ComRes, when the April changes come in to being. They will two thirds of people believe that the benefit is not make a huge difference to women’s access to the basic claimed because people are ashamed to claim it. state pension in their own right. The reduction in the Conservatives are committed to working with local number of years of national insurance contributions authorities to have a two-year freeze on council tax required to qualify for a full basic state pension will levels, and I am sure that that will be welcomed by many reverse the historic exclusion of women from the basic pensioners, but it seems to us—I believe that there is state pension over time until the pension is almost cross-party support for this—that the simple change of completely equalised by 2020. name from “benefit” to “rebate” would take away a great deal of the shame felt by pensioners who simply do not claim. An Ipsos MORI survey conducted on Mr. Pelling: The Minister makes a good point, but we behalf of the Royal British Legion found that 56 per should not forget those men who live longer and lack cent. of respondents believed that eligible veterans would support because they are probably less adept at family be more likely to make a claim if it were for a rebate and friend networking than females in society. rather than a benefit. May I take the opportunity provided so kindly by the Angela Eagle: That is right; women tend to be able to hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire to press the deal with their social networks away from work more Minister to tell us exactly when that simple administrative effectively, perhaps, than men, particularly older men. I change will happen. A simple change it may be, but it have spent many good times in my job, which I am could put a great deal of extra money into the pockets privileged to have, visiting older men’s groups, as well as of needy pensioners across our country who face poverty. women’s groups, where some of that social exclusion I look forward to hearing what the Minister has to say. can be tackled. I know that such groups greatly add to the quality of men’s lives. 10.50 am There are 900,000 fewer pensioners living in poverty The Minister for Pensions and the Ageing Society than there were when we came into Government. I am (Angela Eagle): First, we all need to congratulate the grateful to the hon. Member for Croydon, Central hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson) on (Mr. Pelling) for having the generosity to point that out. securing the debate. It has been useful and touched, as Often these debates, rightly, focus on those areas in many of these debates do, on a range of issues that have which we still need to make progress, but it is important a bearing on pensioner well-being and poverty. Some that we also acknowledge the progress made by the are not directly my Department’s area, but that is only policies that the Government have pursued since we right because older people do not live lives according to came to power. That is not being complacent, but departmental boundaries. Social care, carers, access to significant work by the Government has taken nearly a occupational pension schemes, the implications of what million pensioners out of poverty. In 1997, the poorest happens in the financial markets, and how the financial pensioners received income support and had to live on services sector deals with insurance policies and annuities £69 a week. Ministers were not introducing extra support, all have a bearing on the experience of those over such as pension credit, but were advising pensioners to retirement age trying to reconcile their savings with knit hats and woolly jumpers to stay warm. their expenses. If I did not realise before I got the job, I know now that, with pension policy, many echoes of the Pension credit makes a big difference to the lives of past arrive on the desk of the Pensions Minister. They the 3.3 million people who receive it each week. There were germinated and generated in the history books but are some not claiming the pension credit that they are arrive in the present and give a Minister conundrums, entitled to, which is why we are continuing our take-up problems and difficulties. campaigns. I invite all hon. Members who have participated in the debate to continue to do all that they can to My hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North assist us. (Jeremy Corbyn) was right to give a historical review of some of what has happened because the history of pension policy has an acute effect today. Those of us Jeremy Corbyn: What is the Minister’s estimate of the who wish to see a simplified system, and perhaps long amount of money not taken up by people who are for it because some parts are so complex, can think entitled to pension credit? 25WH Pensioner Poverty 23 FEBRUARY 2010 26WH

Angela Eagle: Off the top of my head, it is several British Pubs billion, which is why we are spending time on take-up campaigns, focusing particularly on those areas that we think have the lowest take-up. We have developed what 11 am is clumsily known as the automaticity pilot, which Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): It is a pleasure pilots data matching. That will enable us to pay pension to introduce this debate, Mr. Gale. I declare my interest credit, at least for a period, to people who are entitled to as vice-chairman of the all-party group on beer, and as it and then invite them to claim once they have realised a member of the Campaign for Real Ale. I am delighted how effective it is for them. to see the Minister here, but a little surprised that the Evidence shows that peer endorsement, in other words Government are not represented by the newly appointed pensioners who have successfully claimed pension credit pub supremo. It is an excellent idea to have a pub guru and endorsed it to their peers, is the most successful way in the Government, although the decision was greeted of getting the pension credit claim rate up. We make with some interesting news articles. I am sure that the 13,000 visits a week to the homes of vulnerable pensioners Minister will pass my message on to the pub supremo, to assist them to claim. There is now a claim process and I am almost certain that he will lose no time in whereby pension credit, housing benefit and council tax reading what I and other hon. Members have to say. benefit can all be claimed with one phone call, which On 18 February, Paul Charity, editor of the Morning makes the process as simple as possible. We are pressing Advertiser wrote an article entitled, “Healey starts with forward with those different methods of making benefits a pub crawl”, in which he said: available and making the process of claiming easy and “Healey’s appointment was met with the presentational gravitas user-friendly for pensioners. it deserves by being unveiled in the form of a News of the World The hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) exclusive. His trip around Wentworth’s pubs last week did little to asked about renaming the council tax benefit a rebate. dispel the scepticism of those who think the appointment of a We are anxious to get on with the process as quickly as pubs minister is a cynical attempt by the Government to win cheap publicity. we can, but I hope that he acknowledges that there are 380 local authorities administering council tax and This opportunistic grab at positive media coverage has become a defining characteristic of this Government.” housing benefit—perhaps we would all rather have seen it nationalised, rather than administered at the current He then wrote that it was “a shame” that the pubs level. Many local authorities have different IT systems; Minister was not given the job some time ago—and so we have been in touch with IT suppliers to see if we can say I, as does The Publican, whose headline, “Right ease the shift from a council tax benefit to a rebate, and idea, shame about the timing”, says it all. Both magazines are in discussions with software and IT suppliers, as are no doubt essential reading for the right hon. Member well as local authority administrators, on the practical for Wentworth (John Healey), and he will not be short issues raised by that shift. We remain committed to of ideas for what to do. doing it as quickly as possible. I hope that that reassures Miles Templeman, chairman of Shepherd Name, started him. the ball rolling on the front page of The Publican, when On fuel poverty, the hon. Member for East he said: Dunbartonshire commented, mainly I think, on the “Many of the problems that pubs face are a direct result of the Scottish system. The English system is slightly different; intrusive Government regulation and big increases in duties on if people own or rent their home, are 60 or over and drinks.” claim pension credit, they can be eligible for up to Marc Allison, the freeholder of The Artful Dodger in £3,000 help with upgrading their heating, or £6,000 if York, summed up the matter best: they use heating oil. I advise her to take up the issue of “I am sure this is about winning votes but it could potentially irretrievable breakdown with the Scottish Executive be a good thing if he does his job properly.” and the authorities there, rather than bringing the The right hon. Member for Wentworth is quoted on the issues here. front page as saying: “While we can’t stop every pub from closing it’s right that we do everything possible to back them. But they need help now so I am determined to have a deal on the table with a package of practical help in the next few weeks.” I presume that that is where he is today. The proof of the pie will be in the eating, but past performance from the right hon. Gentleman is not promising. Instead of supporting the massive tax hikes on beer, he should have provided support for an industry suffering from an onslaught of body blows. Never has “punch drunk” been a more appropriate description of an industry attacked from so many sides. It is little surprise that pub closures have been at an all-time high over the past three years, oscillating between 39 and 50 a week. I will not reiterate the importance of pubs to local communities. I have been vice-chairman of the all-party group for more years than I care to mention, and the hon. Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) and I produced a report on the importance of community pubs. It took 27WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 28WH

[Mr. Nigel Evans] chairing a meeting on a further report on the tie. We look forward to that publication, but a previous reports us more than two years to do so, and we took evidence states: from a number of sources. The right hon. Member for “There are strong indications that the existence of the tie Stalybridge and Hyde (James Purnell) who, regrettably, pushes up prices not just to lessees but to consumers…our is leaving the House, stated in the introduction: provisional view is that the tie should be severely limited to ensure “The Government recognises the cultural importance of public there is proper competition in the market.” houses in the UK, as centres of entertainment, as hubs for local communities, as a diverse and vibrant part of the hospitality The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, industry and as a unique British institution that helps make our Media and Sport (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe): Will the hon. country so attractive to overseas visitors”. Gentleman comment on what has happened to CAMRA’s complaint to the Office of Fair Trading? I am sure that Mr. Greg Knight (East Yorkshire) (Con): My hon. he will be happy with the OFT’s decision to look again Friend is making a powerful case. Does he agree that his at what CAMRA has said. arguments in favour of the British pub apply equally to non-profit-making clubs in the UK, such as Labour Mr. Evans: I am delighted, but we need action. The clubs, Conservative clubs, working men’s clubs and matter needs to be considered urgently, and I look British Legion clubs? forward to the report from the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, which I hope will be finalised Mr. Evans: Absolutely. I agree with my right hon. today. I am sure that the industry is waiting with bated Friend that such clubs are very much at the heart of breath to see what it says. One recommendation was communities. The things that make pubs attractive places that it should be referred. for people to visit are the same as the things that make people go regularly to clubs in this country. Anne Main (St. Albans) (Con): It is no secret that CAMRA has its headquarters in St. Albans. I met, as I The community pub inquiry by the all-party group am sure did many other hon. Members, the lobby made 17 recommendations, including ending the duty against the tie. Publicans are expected to squeeze out escalator on beer; differential taxation on pump-pulled more beer from a barrel than they are supposed to. beer; and an examination of the huge contrast between CAMRA’s Fair Pint campaign says that publicans are supermarket prices for beer and prices in the pub. Pub expected to make up money by selling in that way, but prices used to be twice those of supermarkets, but they publicans are very unhappy about it. are now much greater—sometimes seven times as much— with aggressive pricing by the supermarkets. Mr. Evans: The regulars with whom I drink would I have spoken to many landlords and landladies over certainly not stand for any short measures. If the head the years, and a few more when preparing for this on a pint is too big, they let it settle before it is refilled. debate. I am particularly grateful for the sage advice of They do not even have to ask for it to be refilled, Steve and Chris Dilworth of The Swan with Two Necks because landlords and landladies are very good at ensuring in Pendleton, which is a successful free house in the that people do not receive short measures. I congratulate village where I live that offers very good food and CAMRA on that campaign. excellent real ales from the region. Steve is a CAMRA member, and knows his beer and how look after it. Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this important As a case study, I went to a very different pub in the debate. Will he comment on something that the managing town of Longridge, which serves pies for locals—that director of Marston’s said yesterday—that the tie protects service is aimed at football fans—but relies very much people in the business? on wet sales. Irene Nuttall is the landlady, but prefers to be called the landlord, and she is chairman of the local Mr. Evans: The best antidote to such comments, pub watch. I sat in the pub with her last Saturday, and which is a generalisation, is that in some cases, the listened to her encapsulate the problems. She is tied to pubco or brewer may take a particular interest their Heineken UK, which used to be Scottish and Newcastle, estate, and in such cases the tie may be a good thing, but for her beers, and the premises are owned by Trust Inns. clearly it is not brilliant in the instance that I just I shall show the price differential between what she pays described. During our community pub inquiry, far too to Heineken and what she might pay if she went to a many landlords and landladies said that there is a wholesaler on the free market. An 11-gallon barrel of serious problem and that they are being crippled, because Fosters costs £127 from Heineken, but from a wholesaler they have been forced to pay so much for the beer from it would cost £92. Cask ales—nine or 10 gallons—cost their pubco or brewer. A free house down the road is £96 from Heineken, or £55 from a wholesaler. An able to compete more fairly and has more chance of 11-gallon barrel of John Smith’s costs £114 from Heineken, surviving in an economic downturn, when fewer people or £88 from a wholesaler. Cases of Pils bottles cost £31 are going to pubs and drinking beer. from Heineken, or £12.99 from a wholesaler. There is even a big differential between the prices of soft drinks. Greg Mulholland (Leeds, North-West) (LD): I The tie today has the pub industry over a barrel, and congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing the debate penalises the tied landlord. and on his excellent speech. Does he think that there is a The Select Committee on Business, Innovation and stark contrast between Wetherspoon, a large managed Skills and its predecessors have examined the matter pub chain that gets huge discounts from brewers which several times. The Chairman of the Committee, my it passes on to customers, and those big pub companies hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter that get the same discounts but take them as profit for Luff), would have been here today had he not been their shareholders and do not pass them on to the pub? 29WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 30WH

Mr. Evans: That is an issue of muscle in the purchasing the profit that a pub makes by getting people in who are of beer, and it also involves supermarkets that are able attracted by the magnet of Sky Sports is completely lost to sell beer cheaply and buy it more cheaply from as a result of the £594 charge. Something desperately brewers than those pubs that are tied to a particular needs to be done about the pricing of Sky TV. It is an estate. That issue needs to be looked at in its generality, attractive venture for pubs wishing to get people through and I hope that the OFT will look hard at the survival the door, but surely they should not be clobbered to and prosperity of the network of pubs throughout the such an extent. country. The 10th point is the building insurance of £1,500, Let me return to Irene Nuttall of The Durham Ox in which must be paid, even though Irene Nuttall does not Longridge. She lists a few points, and perhaps I can own the building. Electricity is the 11th point and costs quickly rattle through some of the problems faced by £400 a month. The gas bill is £850 a quarter, and bank landlords and landladies, which I am sure a lot of hon. charges of £90 a month are charged for paying money Members will recognise. First, aggressive supermarket in, taking money out and direct debits. It all adds up, pricing is crippling for a lot of pubs. Secondly, the tie and there are staff to pay on top of that. She finished by can be oppressive and should be opened up. Thirdly, saying, “I wonder why I’m doing it.” Considering all the dry rent is paid, but a lot of publicans also pay residential pressures on one pub, I think exactly the same thing. rent, as they are required to live on the premises, which She clearly loves the business in which she operates, can be incredibly expensive and insurance on top of otherwise she simply would not do it. that takes a huge chunk of money. Fourthly, the duty Banks have proven to be unco-operative. One landlord on pub-sold beer is too high. Irene Nuttall mentions the I spoke to wished to borrow more money due to investments sleight of hand in the VAT reduction last year from that he had made in his restaurant and pub trade. The 17.5 to 15 per cent. However, the Government waved a bank said no, then charged a huge amount for the loan magic wand, and the duty was increased on beer, so that that the landlord already has, including an interest rate its price was not reduced when the rate of VAT came insurance fee—which I had never heard of before—to down. However, when VAT went back up to 17.5 per insure against fluctuations in the interest rate. It costs cent., so did the price of beer. him a fortune to insure against those fluctuations. The bank then needed to value the property, and it charged Mr. Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth, East) (Con): My him for that. It wanted his accounts to be audited by its hon. Friend makes a powerful argument. Does he agree officials, and it charged him for that service. Woe betide that the change in VAT was unhelpful, given the length him if any cheques are returned, as there are swingeing of time for which it lasted, and the time at which it penalties to be paid. One might think that the bank was returned to 17.5 per cent? The rate went back up at working hard to give this landlord the little nudge that midnight on 31 December—a busy time of the year for he needs to go bust. A number of pubs also have publicans across the country. accountancy fees to pay, as well as a music licence if they have music. Mr. Evans: Some publicans did not even bother putting the price up. They took the hit, for the reason mentioned Mr. Greg Knight: There is another issue that my hon. by my hon. Friend. Furthermore, around this time of Friend has not yet mentioned but which has been the year, wholesalers often look at their pricing and devastating for many pubs and clubs—the smoking start to put up prices for their customers. That means ban. It is not the ban per se that is the problem, but the that a publican might have had to reproduce lists twice heavy-handed way in which it has been introduced in at a busy time of year. A lot of pubs have not yet put the United Kingdom. Does my hon. Friend agree that it up prices and are waiting to see what their suppliers is ludicrous that the only way in which a licensee can are going to do. Clearly, it was an awkward situation provide an indoor smoking room for his or her customers for them. is if they happen to operate on a boat? Fifthly, business rates are too high. Irene Nuttall is paying £4,617, and although there is a small amount of Mr. Evans: One imaginative pub thought that if it business rate relief, for her it amounts to only £182, changed itself into an embassy, it might get away with which would hardly contribute to the survival of some it. Sadly, that did not work. The way in which the small pubs. Sixthly, council tax must be paid on top of smoking ban was introduced was far stricter than in that sum for the residential part of the property. Point almost any other country. There are 12 million smokers number seven is that she has a TV in her own flat and a out there, and a lot of them used to go to pubs, but now TV downstairs, so she needs two licences for the BBC, that is clearly not the case. I know that my right hon. even though both sets are in the same building. Eighthly, Friend and hon. Members from other parties are trying the water rates cost several hundreds of pounds. to get changes in the law, not to lift the smoking ban but The ninth point concerns Sky TV.The Minister knows to amend it sensibly so that smokers will at least be that there have been problems with Sky TV—the treated like human beings when they go to pubs and Government have promised to look at that, but we have clubs, and be looked after as opposed to being treated seen nothing yet. Irene Nuttall’s pub is relatively small, like lepers. A friend of my right hon. Friend, Antony and she said, “Guess how much I pay for Sky TV?” My Worrall Thompson, stated: mind went wandering, and I said, “£120? £150? £240?” “The smoking ban has had an extraordinary detrimental effect No—it costs £594 a month to have Sky Sports in a on pubs and clubs. The legislation as it stands is excessive and I relatively small pub. That is based on rateable value. As would like to see it amended.” we know, in a lot of villages and towns, a pub’s rateable As I have noted, MPs from all parties have co-operated value could be extremely high, but the number of people with my right hon. Friend in his campaign. We are all in the pub at any one time might be relatively small. All familiar with seeing people standing outside pubs having 31WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 32WH

[Mr. Evans] hon. Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan), the chairman of the all-party beer group. I am delighted to see him in his a cigarette in sub-zero temperatures, in the rain and the usual place. snow with all the elements against them. Hypothermia Like many other MPs, I shall be in a pub on 19 March, has become a smoking-related disease under this as part of British tourism week, to show my support for Government. pubs. Every year, 13.2 million tourists visit pubs in the Mark Hastings, director of the British Beer and Pub United Kingdom. We cannot let the pub die. It is the Association, commented succinctly on the value of pubs hub, the social centre, the heart of villages and towns. It to local communities. On average, pubs inject about is where business deals are done, family occasions are £80,000 a year into the local community and pay £107,000 celebrated, and darts teams, pool teams and football in taxes. Over half a million people a year are directly teams play, celebrate their wins and drown their sorrows. employed by pubs, with 380,000 people employed in It is where every problem is discussed and where, as the associated trades. Mark Hastings states that beer taxes Minister will know, a Government in waiting drink have risen 20 per cent. since March 2008, with another regularly. It is where the general election will be discussed 2 per cent. above inflation expected in the Budget next daily and every evening. It is where we as candidates month. I hope that when the Minister speaks on behalf will banter with the regulars, and on election night it is of the Government, he will at least give us some good where we shall have a final tipple, perhaps, to steady our news about the Budget next month and say that that nerves. It is where I have celebrated every election escalator will be taken off and that there will be no duty victory since moving into my village, with locals, friends increase on beer. Research by Oxford Economics suggests and those who have helped out in the campaign. that halting the proposed Budget increase of 2 per cent. The British pub is iconic. It represents the very heart above inflation could save 7,500 jobs and the Government of Britain. We have seen so much of the fabric of our tax take would increase. way of life threatened in so many ways over the decades, from post offices to churches and from village schools to small shops and rural bus services. Now is the time to Mr. David Hamilton (Midlothian) (Lab): The make a stand, so the message for the Minister for pubs Government have the opportunity to separate draft is that we are holding him to his word about giving a beer tariffs from those of normal beer where canned helping hand now to the great British pub. Now is the beer is involved. It would need a change in the European time to deliver. I hope that at the end of the debate, this legislation, but surely all parties can agree across the Minister will do just that—stand and deliver for the board that if we change the draft beer position, that great British pub. would give an edge to all the pubs and clubs that are involved. 11.23 am

Mr. Evans: I could not agree more; I am 100 per cent. Mr. David Drew (Stroud) (Lab/Co-op): I am delighted with the hon. Gentleman. What he describes needs to to take part in the debate, albeit briefly, with so many be done. I have asked Ministers about it and every time, knowledgeable hon. Members present. I congratulate they say, “Brussels won’t allow it. There’s a problem the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on with Brussels.” Let us sort out Brussels. The pub is an obtaining the debate. I also congratulate my hon. Friend iconic British institution. If we want to support pubs the Member for Selby (Mr. Grogan), who chairs the and ensure that supermarket pricing does not give all-party group on beer with great skill and is held in supermarkets such a great advantage, the one thing that great esteem, and the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West we need to do is recognise that the product served in a (Greg Mulholland), who has led the save the pub group, pub is different from the product that people receive of which I am proud to be part. when they get 24 cans from a supermarket. Therefore, I have come to the debate with some trepidation, different taxation on draught beer—pump-pulled beer— because I am a long-time teetotaller. One reason why I needs to be put in place. We need to tell Brussels that do not visit pubs as much as I would like is that that is what we shall do. I do not see how any other part someone who drinks soft drinks feels particularly exploited of the European Union would be disadvantaged by our currently, because the price differential is so unfair for recognising that pump-pulled beer is somewhat different those who choose not to drink. One argument advanced and involves something more than just lifting up 24 cans. by the British Beer and Pub Association is that low-alcohol I am 100 per cent. behind the hon. Gentleman and I drinks are disproportionately priced, meaning that people hope that we can take that matter to Brussels and say feel adversely affected in that way. that it is something that we want to do in this country to I shall make just two points. The first comes out of support British pubs and that we will do it. bitter experience of the way in which friends of mine Since March 2008, 4,100 pubs have gone bust. Beer who have been publicans have been very badly treated sales are down 16 million pints a day compared with by pubcos. That is nothing new. When I was a councillor, 1979. Turnover on beer in the past 12 months alone is I was aware of numerous occasions on which people down £650 million. Since 1997, beer duty has gone up were encouraged into the trade by—I will name the 14 per cent. in real terms, yet spirits duty is down by company—Whitbread. Those people clearly did not 20 per cent. How about equality of treatment for a have the capability to run a pub properly but were product that is so synonymous with Britain? Like almost encouraged to invest all their savings, including their 200 Members of Parliament, I have backed the “I’m house, in a pub, and gradually over time the price of the backing the pub” campaign led by the British Beer and barrelage was raised until they were driven out and had Pub Association, and more than 100 MPs have signed nowhere else to go but the local council. That was the the early-day motion on the campaign tabled by the context to this issue when the breweries were running 33WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 34WH things. Nowadays, because of the changes made through totally committed to trying to do something to keep the the beer orders and so on, there are pubcos. I would say pub in the community. I want it made absolutely clear that the attitude of pubcos is even more mercenary. that changing the planning permission to allow something I have one case involving a close friend who was other than a pub should be the last resort. When the affected by the 2007 floods in Gloucestershire. For the pub is the last such institution in the community, throwing best part of eight months, her pub was inaccessible in the towel should be absolutely the last thing that we because the road that took people to it had collapsed. do. We have not used the planning rules to encourage One would have thought that that would be a good local authorities to make it clear that we are not prepared reason for the pubco to be fair, reasonable and to see that happen. enterprising—I use that word deliberately. Sadly, it did Let us be honest: too many pubcos have invested not seem to think that it was a particular problem for badly. They saw their property portfolio as their wealth her and was arguing all the way through, despite all the creator. Following the collapse in property prices, they pressure that I and friends were able to bring to bear to have caught more than a cold, which is sad, but that is try to get it to adjust what it was charging her. It was their problem. If it was a question of their losing only through pain and the greatest of anguish that we everything, one could feel sympathetic, but there are got the pubco to listen and at least to adjust downwards acceptable bodies of people who are willing to take what it expected her to pay, given that her trade was institutions on, so why can we not see that as a way inevitably going to fail. forward? We are all co-operators now, and as a co-operator I wish that that was a one-off tale. Sadly, from all my myself, I see co-operative outcomes in communities as experience of talking to publicans, I have to say that it is genuinely the way forward. Of course, people have to be the norm that people are being driven out. I accept that able to provide a proper business plan, and institutions the Government have a role to play in terms of how have to make money, but as we have seen with post they price beer, spirits and all the other things for which offices and village shops, there are voluntary solutions they are responsible, but I shall hold fire on them for the that can work over the long run. moment and concentrate my energies on highlighting We must make sure that the planners get the message the complete unfairness in the way in which pubcos now that they must not yield far too easily. I hear what the operate with regard to the people they should hold Minister says and I welcome the recognition of what the dearest, who are of course the people who run the pubs Minister for Housing can and should be doing. As I that are making money for them. I agree with much that said, however, we have heard the words before; let us the hon. Member for Ribble Valley said about things now see the action. such as Sky TV and the way in which all those costs accumulate and make it much more difficult for people 11.31 am to run a pub. My second point is about what happens when a pub Anne Main (St. Albans) (Con): It is nice to be under gets into difficulties. I feel strongly that we use expressions your chairmanship, Mr. Gale. I congratulate my hon. such as “The pub is the hub” and “The pub is the centre Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on of the community” glibly, but we are not prepared to do his perceptive and well-informed speech. I am sure that much about that. When a pub is closing in a village, the he speaks for many of the publicans from St. Albans community does come together and often has the who came to me because they were frustrated with the wherewithal to be able to do something about that, but tied pub, the 24-hour licensing, the smoking ban and all too often, although there is a predisposition against the other things that have been piled on them. granting planning permission for something else, we go Some people dispute this, but St. Albans apparently through the game of the pubco trying to do everything has the most pubs per square mile of any place in within its power to prove that it is an uneconomic England, and pubs are part of the historic street scene. business and it cannot remain as a pub. Despite there Anybody who has been to St. Albans will have seen the being a community effort, with people willing to put historic pubs, and there can even be two or three in one their hand in their pocket to obtain the property and short road. Those pubs traditionally supported people the means to be able to run it as a pub on a community on the many pilgrimages to St. Albans, so they go back basis, we are unable to hold the line in terms of planning. a long way. The smaller pubs are finding life hard. The bigger Mr. Sutcliffe: Perhaps this is an appropriate time to pubs, which can bring in the clubbers and people interested mention the task of my right hon. Friend the Minister in the dance scene, are not struggling so much and they for Housing in his role as the Minister with responsibility have benefited from extended licensing. However, the for community pubs. It is exactly that issue of the smaller pubs, where people go for a quiet drink and to planning requirements that need to change and of support chew the fat or to debate the issues that my hon. Friend for community pubs that he will consider, and the hope raised, have been struggling. is that he will come back with proposals in the coming weeks. CAMRA, which is based in my constituency, has a beer festival every year, and I go along to help open it, Mr. Drew: I welcome that and I welcome the appointment but I also have my ear pressed very much to the ground of my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing in so that I can hear about all the issues facing pubs. I am that role. It is good that he will be working with my hon. not a beer drinker, which is a shame, but a shandy Friend the Minister who is here. However, we have drinker, which is a heinous crime according to CAMRA. heard the words; we now have to see the actions. I can None the less, CAMRA raises some valuable points. cite cases. I will not go into detail, because many of I have been out all night with the police in St. Albans, them involve issues that in a sense have passed on by, and one sees young girls and young men going out to but there are some cases in which the community is still the pub. They will be raucous, lively and enjoying 35WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 36WH

[Anne Main] Three Hammers pub, and all the funds raised go to our local hospice. Pubs are not just drinking dens. Every themselves. They will already have consumed a significant time a VAT rise goes on to the price of a pint of beer, amount of budget-price alcohol, possibly while they the assumption is that it will be on the pint in the pub. were getting ready to go out. There has been a shift in the way we behave: some people have two, three or four Mr. David Hamilton: I just want to make an observation. glasses of wine, several pints of beer or half a bottle of We have The Woolpack in “Emmerdale”, The Rovers vodka before they go out, so they are well oiled before Return in “Coronation Street”, The Queen Vic in they ever hit the pub. “Eastenders” and The Tall Ship in “River City”, which When I am out with the police late at night, I see that is a serial in Scotland. Pubs are central to virtually every the pubs are picking up the damage from this change in serial on television, which clearly shows how the British behaviour. They get blamed for people urinating in population works. We do not want to be partisan, but gardens. I am not saying that people who do not use the to work across parties to ensure that pubs stay alive toilet before leaving the pub are blameless, but there are throughout the UK. no toilet facilities easily available to people going down Fishpool street, Pageant road or some of the other Anne Main: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. I historic streets in the city centre. If people see someone do not watch those particular soap operas, but I am who has come out of The White Hart Tap or The Goat fully aware of them. [Interruption.] I do not have the urinating in the street, they may assume that those pubs time. served them far too much alcohol, and the pubs may be It is important that we look at the unfair blame that is penalised and robustly criticised. I am not saying that often shifted on to small local pubs. In St. Albans, it is there is an issue with those particular pubs, but just difficult to finger the pub that made the last irresponsible giving an example. sale to a young person. If there is only one pub in a Part of the problem is the alcohol that is consumed village, it is easy to see where people who are causing before people go to pubs. The Waterend Barn in St. Albans trouble are coming from, but it is hard to do that is synonymous with some unfortunate incidents, and I in areas such as St. Albans, and we are not alone in have seen people sitting outside it vomiting into the that—many historic cities have the same problem. bushes late at night. I have also seen the ambulance I have touched on the problems of smoking gardens. crews picking them up. However, the prices that many Unfortunately, another part of the problem associated of our pubs have to charge mean that those people with pubs is the vomiting and urinating in front of would have to be pretty wealthy to get that drunk in people’s houses and in their gardens. The Department such a pub. for Communities and Local Government is looking into whether local authorities should provide more Mr. Evans: Does my hon. Friend agree that organisations toilets, and some pubs and big businesses have made the such as Pubwatch do a tremendous job in ensuring that useful suggestion that we should have a community somebody who is ejected from one pub will not be toilet scheme. Pubs are willing to offer their premises served in any others? My hon. Friend makes the important for charitable events and social events and, indeed, to point that one of the great things about a pub is that it embrace a community toilet scheme. The National is supervised, while people drinking at home or on the Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease, which was streets are not. The landlord and landlady can ensure launched in St. Albans—the city is its home—recognises that people drink responsibly in a good atmosphere. that many people cannot wait to use toilets, and that is Anne Main: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. By not the result of drunkenness. The association therefore and large, our pubs in St. Albans co-operate enormously welcomes the fact that pubs are prepared to embrace a with the local council and residents. The historic street community toilet scheme. Yet again, pubs are showing scene means that they sit cheek by jowl with residents, their willingness to be a part of the community and to and most pubs try their best to co-operate and to be contribute. good parts of the community. Many employ bouncers We should bear that in mind, as well as the fact that and doormen—again, at additional cost—to stop the pubs can and do offer so much more. I say that because wayward drunks and to ensure that someone who has some very large pubs and clubs have caused out-of-hours been thrown out does not come back in if the pub antisocial behaviour, and the result, unfortunately, has believes that they are drinking irresponsibly. been the demonisation of all pubs, with everyone being It is a real shame that the smoking ban, which many tarred with the same brush. people welcomed, has not only hit some smaller pubs On behalf of the smaller, well run pubs in St. Albans, disproportionately, but brought them into conflict with I welcome the possibility of a rethinking of the tied some of their neighbours. Pubs have to create smoking pub, because damage is being done to young people shelters, or people have to stand in the pub garden. As a who are prepared to take on what are in effect historic result, doors are opened, and music drifts over to houses buildings, in conservation areas. The Boot, in St. Albans, that were not previously bothered by noise. There is which is a conservation pub, had a problem with a chatter, laughter and other noise outside in the garden flood. It was closed for ages because it had to do in the winter, which one would never have expected. everything through the planning department, in line That causes conflicts with local residents. The legislation, with the requirements of the conservation officer. That which was introduced for the best possible reasons, has must have been very had financially. therefore had some unfortunate consequences. I ask that when historic places such as St. Albans are I pay tribute to pubs for the fact that they are not considered, it will be borne in mind that the pressures only the heart of the community, but put things back. I involved are not necessarily those that affect a local have regularly done the prize draw with Cilla in the supermarket. Tesco, which is also based in Hertfordshire, 37WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 38WH can afford to weather a big storm, but many local pubs Time is limited and I want to rattle through one or cannot, and they are being pushed over the edge by two suggestions for my right hon. Friend the Minister things as small as flooding in a historic conservation for Housing, but before that I want to mention managed area pub, or snow, because if the council does not grit pubs, which the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West the streets people will not go to the pub, but make their (Greg Mulholland) mentioned. The issue of tied pubs way to Tesco, which has the might to ensure that its car has been well rehearsed and we await with interest the park is user-friendly. report of the Select Committee on Business, Innovation and Skills, the Government’s response and now, again, Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield) (Con): My hon. the Office of Fair Trading report. However, let us not Friend is speaking from the heart, and we agree with forget the role played by managed pubs in this country. her. I am a lifelong supporter of CAMRA and the One company whose model is under threat is Mitchells Brewers Association. Will my hon. Friend make the and Butlers, which has been taken over in all but name. point that a pub in the community is a place that I am not sure that the takeover panel has done a encourages responsible drinking, because of the role of particularly good job on the issue. The new chairman the landlord, who is concerned about his or her reputation has said that in 60 days he will produce new proposals and the pub’s reputation? Surely the Government would for Mitchells and Butlers. An average Mitchells and want to encourage that, and rather than imposing Butlers pub—they have names such as All Bar One— regulation, costs and tax on beer they should encourage employs 20 people, and the business employs 40,000 pubs, where people can learn to drink responsibly the people. It has gone for a model of comparatively low traditional beer we all love. beer prices but high quality, and highly staffed bars and pubs. There is a danger that, perhaps during the general Anne Main: My hon. Friend makes a valid point. The election period, when the House is not sitting, Mitchells publicans in my constituency whom I talk to are fully and Butlers will come up with proposals for big cost aware about the issue not only of serving too much cutting, and the closure of pubs and bars. I urge the alcohol to someone who is inebriated, but of serving it so-called independent directors who have been appointed to someone who may take it over to that person. They to the board to speak out now, if they are truly independent. are only too aware that they must be cautious and abide Otherwise they will be seen as the patsies for the offshore by the rules. I would not encourage people to learn to interests that have taken over Mitchells and Butlers. I drink in a pub, but the people we need to be most just mention that in passing. concerned about are not those sitting sipping a drink I shall rattle through the main issues, and as I do not and chatting, perhaps playing backgammon or engaged want to repeat what has been said I shall try to pick one in another pub event. Too often we are using a stick to or two other ideas. CAMRA has suggested that rate beat the wrong person. The pub is potentially picking relief, which has been a big boon to village pubs in up the reputation of causing antisocial behaviour in the recent years, should be extended more widely, to community community, but perhaps we should be looking to the pubs in suburban areas and small market towns. That supermarkets or small corner shops that sell people needs to be considered. A proper definition of a community alcohol irresponsibly. pub is obviously needed, but I think that local authorities would be well placed to judge whether a pub is a community pub. That would be a good way forward. 11.42 am Various hon. Members have discussed putting a lower Mr. John Grogan (Selby) (Lab): The fact that my rate of duty on draught beer. I want to underline the brief speech follows those of two self-proclaimed non-beer fact that that is a current issue. The European Commission drinkers, who spoke with such passion and insight is reviewing the rules on duty now, and I hope that all about the future of the pub, underlines perhaps more three Front Benches will unite in what they say about than anything the hold that the British pub has on this and that the British Government will argue—although British people. Eighty per cent. of people visit a pub at we need allies, and potentially have them in such countries some time in the year, and very few other institutions, as Germany and the Czech Republic—that the European even the Church or the Post Office, have such a reach. Commission should allow different nation states to Perhaps only our most popular television channels have impose a lower rate of duty on draught beer. That could it in the course of a year. The hon. Member for Ribble do as much for pubs in the next Parliament as the lower Valley (Mr. Evans) has done the nation a great service rate of duty on small brewers has done for the expansion in obtaining the debate. Our common aim must be to of micro-brewers in this Parliament. make the pub a general election issue. Mr. Evans: I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s The hon. Gentleman chided my right hon. Friend the powerful speech. I read his last column in the Morning Minister for Housing as one of the few Members of the Advertiser. I hope that he carries on with it after the House who has survived to tell the tale following a general election. The important point is the differential News of the World exclusive. Obviously, as we come into on tax. Not only should the Government not fear that if a general election period, parties will seek political we made the change the general take would go down— advantage. That is only natural. However, I hope that because if we can get more people into pubs the taxation my right hon. Friend’s appointment, together with the take would increase; in addition, if a pub survives, the Liberal Democrat and Conservative proposals, will mean £80,000 that it pushes into the community, the more that there is something to debate. We have heard about than £100,000 that it pays in taxes, and all the charitable leaders’ debates, and I am sure that we shall watch them things that it does, can continue. with interest, but I hope that an organisation such as CAMRA might have a debate on the future of pubs, Mr. Grogan: The hon. Gentleman makes a very good with the various Ministers and shadow Ministers giving point, which perhaps should bring me on to saying a their views. word about tax. If we are honest, it is unlikely that any 39WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 40WH

[Mr. Grogan] 11.51 am

Government in the near future will reduce the overall Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind): It is a take from alcohol tax, given the pressure on public pleasure, Mr. Gale, to serve under your chairmanship finances. However, there is a strong and fair case to be again this morning. It is interesting to see that a cross-section made that beer and pubs have lost out in recent years. A of those who were here for the pensioner debate are rebalancing is needed with spirit tax and duty on cider. here also for the public house debate. Both debates have been attended by the highest class of Member. There is a technical issue that the Government could deal with in the Budget. Machines that have been It has been a great pleasure over the past five years to defined as skills-with-prizes machines—the low-stake attend debates secured by the hon. Member for Ribble machines that are in many pubs—are being redefined as Valley (Mr. Evans) and the various events that he has games of chance. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs sponsored. He has been a stout defender—no pun is is trying to claim three back years of amusement machine intended—of British beer and public house business. licence duty. That will be a big blow. It has already been He looks thin and fit on it. It is important that we postponed once, and I hope that the Chancellor will at debate this subject, given that the British Beer and Pub least examine that detail. Association said yesterday in its pre-Budget report that there should be a lower tax rate for beer. Mr. Sutcliffe: I am delighted that my hon. Friend has It has been my habit in previous debates to refer to given way on this issue of skills with prizes. It has come important totemic public houses in Croydon that have to me as the Minister with responsibility for gambling, been closed. Perhaps today I should refer to those that and I have taken it up with the Treasury and my right are thriving—or at least struggling with the burdens of hon. Friend the Minister for Housing. We hope to be taxation and other requirements put upon them by the able to make announcements shortly, and are well aware Government and still doing reasonably well. I took the of the issue. opportunity yesterday to speak to a number of public houses. I shall not ascribe particular comments to particular public houses, as it might compromise them, but it will Mr. Grogan: Those words give me great encouragement give an illustrative background in support of points from the only other Bradford City supporter in the made by other hon. Members. House—as far as I am aware. Those public houses are the Half and Half, the Claret The phrase “pub is the hub” has been used in the Free House in Lower Addiscombe road, The Royal debate, but it is also the name of an organisation. Standard, The Ship, The Builders Arms and The Under the guidance of John Longden, Pub is the Hub Spreadeagle. I was not able to reach those other excellent has saved many pubs, by bringing together post offices pubs, The Surprise and The Sandrock. I would not and shops in pubs. Some consistent funding, perhaps want to give the impression that I had been running from regional development agencies, is needed for it, from one public house to another yesterday evening, as because it has probably done more than any other I was busy here with the business of the House. However, organisation to help save individual pubs. it was helpful to be able to talk about some of their Sport on TV has been mentioned by a number of problems. I previously met the landlady at The Cricketers. hon. Members. Many marginal pubs rely on sport on It is hard, given business rates and Government taxation, TV. For example, many are looking forward to the to keep the public house business going in these difficult World cup later this year. There is a relationship times. One publican spoke about the impact of the between this debate and that on listed events. I hope recession. His public house depends particularly on that before Parliament rises Ministers will confirm the clients aged between 25 and 30, and he has seen reduced new list of sporting events that must be available on patronage as a result of their loss of employment. free-to-air TV, because some pubs will never be able to Public houses would very much like to see rates and afford subscription TV. taxation reduced, but the business rate is particularly I think that it was Hilaire Belloc who said that the troublesome. pub is the very heart of England. [Interruption.] Isay One interesting comment is that it is impossible to that with sympathy for my Gaelic friends and for my keep up with the supermarkets as their beer and wine is Irish background, but I am sure that Belloc’s comments sold at a cheaper price per litre than water. That brings have wider resonance throughout the United Kingdom. home some of the challenges that are faced. Another Many hon. Members mentioned the numerous activities independent provider found that duties were too expensive, that take place in pubs. Only yesterday, at the Jug Inn at which caused breweries to cut the alcohol content of Chapel Haddlesey in my constituency—in the heart of some of their drinks. As well as business rates and England and the heart of Yorkshire—Councillor Jack taxation, another burden is the cost of energy, something Davie made a great presentation for the British Heart that has not been mentioned today. Such burdens make Foundation. He has made it part of his life’s work to it difficult for independent providers to compete with visit all the pubs in the area to help that charity. big chains such as Wetherspoon; indeed, some say Through the efforts of the hon. Member for Ribble about the chain beers that they cannot buy a tin for the Valley, my good friend, and the responses that we look same price, let alone the beer itself. forward to hearing from the Front Benches, I hope that Publicans in Croydon have some interesting reflections although the pub will not be centre stage it will certainly on the impact of smoking, but expressing different play a part in the general election, and that candidates views. Some felt that it was difficult to ban smoking up and down the land will receive letters asking for their near doorways for those public houses that do not have proposals and their views on the issues that face the gardens, but others felt that the smoking ban had had British pub. no impact on the industry, given the attractions that 41WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 42WH they had to provide as public houses. The response of community, and The Rose and Crown retails to the one provider was that smokers will arrive in rain or vegetarian community. There are many communities snow. that can be catered for. Government talk about diversity and how everyone should be able to take part in a Mr. David Hamilton: May I make the point about the community, so this is a debate of very great importance. smoking ban? Most Members will be aware that it I look forward to the Minister’s response. started in Scotland long before it did in the rest of the UK. One problem for many clubs is that women often 12 noon refuse to go outside to smoke, and that has had a major effect on some of the clubs in Scotland. Greg Mulholland (Leeds, North-West) (LD): It is a pleasure to speak in this debate, and I congratulate the [MISS ANNE BEGG in the Chair] hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on securing it. The hon. Gentleman and friend is a fellow executive Mr. Pelling: That obviously has an impact; but it has member of the all-party parliamentary beer group and an impact also on those public houses used by families. a member of the all-party parliamentary save the pub The hon. Gentleman is right; if women feel that it is not group, of which I am chairman. Let me make it clear appropriate or unsafe, or that it looks wrong to be that I am speaking on behalf of both the Liberal smoking outside a public house, that too can have a Democrats and my all-party parliamentary group. Part disturbing effect. of the reason for that is to give other hon. Members a One point made in previous debates on the subject is chance to contribute to the debate. that the public house acts as the centre of the I have a little bit of news for the hon. Member for community—as a place for the family. I spoke to a Selby (Mr. Grogan). CAMRA and the save the pub publican of a pub to which I had only recently been group are hosting an event to which all three parties are introduced by Croydon citizens advice bureau. I was invited. It will either be on 9 March or 16 March, and I impressed by its friendly nature; it was very family hope that all three parties will take part and join other friendly. However, despite all our troubles, it is often people from the industry and members of CAMRA. said that even those who are redundant can always find I am pleased to be speaking in this debate, but the money for a drink. It is as if the recession has no frustrated to be still talking about the same issues. I am effect. In some ways, that may seem rather flippant, but sick of always getting warm words—I prefer my beer it tells of the importance of public houses in difficult cellar cool and not warm—and no action. I warmly times. welcome the Government’s decision to appoint the right Public houses can be a place of respite. They can be hon. Member for Wentworth (John Healey) as Minister places where people will find comfort in difficult times. responsible for pubs. I look forward to working with Some may spend too much time at home trying to find both him and the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, employment, but being able to be part of the community Media and Sport, the hon. Member for Bradford, South may not only lift their spirits—again, no pun is intended— (Mr. Sutcliffe) to get some action in the remaining few but may make them better able to find employment weeks of this Government. However, I would have through the networking that public houses can provide. preferred it if such an appointment had been made some time ago. Sir Nicholas Winterton: The hon. Gentleman is an Let me rattle through a few of the important issues. independent Member and has spoken forcibly in many We need to consider the level of beer duty and the way debates. Would he not describe the debate initiated by in which it has risen. We want the Minister to tell us that my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) the duty will now be frozen, and we want to see the as an emergency debate? The huge number of pubs now abolition of the beer duty escalator that has caused so closing will create a huge problem for many communities. much damage. I also agree that we should consider a For many, the village pub or the community pub is the lower rate for draught beer, which is something that only facility where people can meet. It is important that both all-party parliamentary groups support. I should the Government take the matter seriously, and that the like to explore the possibility of a lower duty for real Budget that we are shortly to have announces some ale. Cask-conditioned ale is more costly to produce, relief for those in pubs and the smaller breweries. store and serve, so I agree that we should take the fight to Europe. We should also consider minimum pricing, Mr. Pelling: It is a great privilege to give way to the which the hon. Member for Selby also champions. hon. Gentleman. I do not know how the House will be However, let me add a note of caution. People talk able to progress when it no longer has such independent- about putting the level at 50p, but an independent body minded Members to ensure that Parliament thrives. should assess the level so that responsible drinkers, It is important that public houses thrive. As we heard either at home or in the pub, are not penalised. Such a in the many debates in which the hon. Gentleman and scheme will help pubs to compete, especially as they others have taken part, the community can be undermined offer that uniqueness that we all know about. by the loss of the post office or of local shops. When a We need to consider live music in pubs. The Live parade of shops loses a public house, its size and Music Bill is going through the other place, but I importance mean that the rest of the shops often end up ask the Government to review their exemption level of being under threat. 100 people because it is not sufficient. The Bill stipulates There are many implications. The real conclusion to 200 people, which would do more to help pubs as well throw to the Minister is that the thriving public house as encouraging more live music. community in Croydon that I have described offers Rate relief is another area of consideration. The many different types of provision. The Bird in the community pub inquiry report stated that there was no Hand, for example, reaches out to the trans and lesbian recognition of the contribution that pubs make to the 43WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 44WH

[Greg Mulholland] Greg Mulholland: That is an interesting point. One of the problems with this debate is that that argument community, which was also mentioned by the hon. comes out. The big pub companies say, “You shouldn’t Member for St. Albans (Anne Main). Pubs make vast abolish the tie.” No one is talking about abolishing it; contributions to charity and offer a hub to the community, we are talking about reforming it to make it fair for the but that is not reflected in the rate system. tenant and the customer. The inflated beer prices are bad for pub consumers and the unfair rents are closing pubs. It is not about abolition, but having a fair and Mr. David Hamilton: The hon. Gentleman will realise transparent system, which we do not have. The excellent from my comments that I am more of a club drinker Business and Enterprise Committee report last year than a pub drinker. There are a number of clubs in my highlighted that issue and showed that even when pubs area, which I actively support. If the hon. Gentleman is had a turnover of more than £500,000, more than talking about rate relief, who will pay it? Local authorities 50 per cent. of lessees earned less than £15,000. That in my area pay 80 per cent. rate relief to all the clubs if cannot be right, and it is about time that the Government they make contributions to the local area. It costs the did something about it. That means not waiting for the local authority £500,000 a year. Who will pick up the Office of Fair Trading, which has shown that it does not tab under his proposal? understand the issue and that it is of little use in this Greg Mulholland: If we are serious about the matter, area, but referring the matter to the Competition we need to value that contribution. I have to say that I Commission. The report concluded: do not agree with the hon. Gentleman’s premise. I must “The time has now come for Government to intervene to move on now to the two main issues that must be ensure a fair and legal framework.” tackled if we are serious about saving the British pub. Will the Minister indicate that the Government will do All too often we have an air-brushed debate, which is that, because this is an issue of fairness and of exploitation deliberately manufactured by those in the industry who of workers—the kind of things that one would hope a do not want real change. I refer here to the rather Labour Government would take seriously. misleading “I’m Backing the Pub” campaign that is The British Beer and Pub Association is trying to being promoted by the British Beer and Pub Association. stall the process. I have nothing against the organisation, If we are serious about saving the pub, two things and I agree with it on many things, including on beer must happen. First, we must reform planning laws. As duty and minimum pricing, but it represents the big pub the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) said, it is all companies and breweries. It is not the voice of the very well to say that we support the pub, but until we industry as a whole. It has introduced what it calls a UK give communities the right to stop the closure of the industry framework, but it is nothing of the sort because pubs—they have none at the moment—this is all talk. it applies only to its own members. As Greene King has The Minister would have no say about the closure of his shown, all one has to do if one does not agree is to leave local pubs in Wibsey, which is in his constituency. the BBPA. In the meantime, the Independent Pub Decisions to close a pub against the wishes of the Confederation has come together with a number of community could be taken in Solihull, Burton-on-Trent organisations—CAMRA, the Association of Licensed or anywhere else. We need to have pubs in their own use Multiple Retailers, the Federation of Small Businesses, class order so that any change of use to a pub would the Guild of Master Victuallers, the Society of Independent have to go through a planning process, which should Brewers, trade unions and Justice for Licensees—to call include an independent viability study to see if that pub for, among other things, reform of the tie. is, or could be, viable. At the moment, even pubs that If we are serious about British pubs, I want to make it are making money are being deliberately closed just to clear that what we do not need is yet another debate. I suit shareholders’ interests, and that is a national scandal. am glad that we have had this opportunity for a debate We still have the absurd situation in which it is perfectly today, but we do not need another debate to say how legal to demolish a free-standing pub overnight without important pubs are. I have said that again and again planning permission or to turn it into a restaurant, a and again—and they are important. However, that shop, a café, or, ludicrously in England and Wales, importance is not being recognised in planning law. a financial services office. I have nothing against Also, we are not dealing with the fact that more than accountants, but let us face it, they are not hubs of 50,000 of our pubs are owned by pub companies that, community life. in too many cases, really do not care about the impact The second issue is the structure of the industry and of pub closures on communities. We need structural the way in which the tied tenant system operates. That is reform and reform of planning law. We also need to give an area that must be tackled. Any solutions that do not the pub back to the British people. tackle such an issue will not stop the closures from I simply ask everyone here today to look at the happening. Independent Pub Confederation’s excellent charter “Time for a Change”, and at CAMRA’s beer drinkers and pub Sir Nicholas Winterton: Will the hon. Gentleman give goers charter. Those charters are real manifestos for way? reform and reform is the only thing that we should be talking about today and in the future. Greg Mulholland: I will not, unless it is very brief, because I am running out of time. 12.10 pm Sir Nicholas Winterton: I will be very quick. Does the Mr. Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth, East) (Con): It is hon. Gentleman, whom I respect for what he is doing a pleasure to work under your leadership, Miss Begg, on the issue of pubs and beer, not believe that the tied and it is also a pleasure to participate in a very helpful system is very important for the smaller brewer? debate. 45WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 46WH

I am looking around at some of the faces in Westminster He is a supporter of the drinks industry and he not only Hall today. It was said that there are some of the “usual makes his case with humour and gusto but with relevance characters” here. It is almost like a scene out of that old and detail. I think that the whole House will appreciate sitcom “Cheers”, as we are gathered around a horseshoe- his efforts, and indeed those of other Members who are shaped table talking about these issues. Unfortunately, in Westminster Hall today, in ensuring that the drinks the similarities continue, because the very same subjects industry has a voice, and in particular the pubs. that came up in episodes of “Cheers” seem to be repeated As shadow tourism Minister, I appreciate the relevance by us here again and again and again. of the role of the pub to British tourism. The pub is one My first question to the Minister today is about the of the reasons why people come to Britain, stay in appointment, very late in the day, of the Minister for Britain and enjoy Britain. It is part of our heritage and Housing, the right hon. Member for Wentworth (John our culture. It is also unique. As much as people may Healey), as the pubs Minister. I am very sorry that he want to try and replicate a pub in Dubai or Thailand, could not be here today; this debate was an opportunity they cannot create a pub as good as those on our high for him to lay out his stall. I do not understand why the streets and in our towns and villages here in Britain. Government have seen fit to appoint a pubs Minister, or The contribution that brewing and pubs make to our pubs tsar as he might be called, so late in the day, with economy is huge—£28 billion a year. From a tourism only 90 days or so until the general election. The right perspective, our pubs receive more than 13 million visits hon. Gentleman is Minister for Housing anyway, so his by tourists every single year. Also, one in four of us here portfolio is already quite busy. He says that he has a few in Britain drinks in a pub every week. Those are very ideas in his locker; today would have been the ideal day positive statistics and the Government should certainly to open that locker and let us see what is actually going pay attention to them. Furthermore, from the perspective on. It is a little bit like someone realising that their of employment, more than 500,000 people are employed glasses are in their pocket at the very end of their in the industry directly and more than 250,000 people driving test; it is a bit late to put things into focus and it are employed in associated trades. Also, 90 per cent. of is certainly a bit late to impress anyone. all alcoholic drink in Britain is brewed domestically, Nevertheless, we have the Minister who is here today, which is another very positive statistic that was cited by the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and other Members earlier. Sport, the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Sutcliffe). The issue of the pub tie does not go away; I think that So perhaps he is able to answer some of the very it was the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West (Greg pertinent questions that have been asked in the debate. Mulholland) who made that point earlier. The pub tie My first question to the Minister is about the needs to be reviewed. It has been examined by the co-ordination of Government voices. The Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills Committee. The pub tie Housing might be able to clarify this issue, but unfortunately has been around in different forms for a number of I wonder where drinking sits within Parliament and years. It has largely worked well, by providing an who has responsibility for it within Government. Is it opportunity and support for people who want to run the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that has their own pub. However, the business model has come responsibility for drinking? Well, one could argue yes, under scrutiny during this recession and tenants of tied and one could argue no. Certainly, licensing is supposed pubs complain that the pub companies are demanding to be the responsibility of DCMS. However, I think that higher rents in order to pay back their debts. we have heard today that actually the Treasury pretty So I ask the Minister to respond to the Business, much has a grasp on what happens from the taxation Innovation and Skills Committee’s report on the drinks perspective, without having an awful lot of conversations industry and some of the changes that have been proposed with the DCMS. Regarding the issues of antisocial in that report. I am certainly glad to hear that the pub behaviour and policing, one could also argue that it is sector itself is responding positively to that report, by the Home Office that is responsible for drinking, but of trying to establish an industry-wide code of practice course local government, local authorities and so forth and by trying to ensure that would-be publicans are are also involved, which means that the Department for better informed and better qualified, and that there is Communities and Local Government is involved too. an ability for tenants to appeal in circumstances where Then, of course, there is the Department for Business, there is an unresolved dispute in a rent review. Innovation and Skills, which has produced its own I think that the mandatory code of conduct, which is report on pub ties, another issue that we have debated being introduced in the Policing and Crime Bill, has today. been referred to by a couple of Members. I myself am Actually, I think that that description illustrates half not keen on a mandatory code; I would prefer a more the problem here. Is the pub industry well represented voluntary approach. More intelligent policies are needed, in Government? I think that the answer to that question with more of a touch of localism too, because what is no. It is because of the confusion that things fall by applies, for example, to my constituency in Bournemouth the wayside, issues do not get confirmed or dealt with, is not necessarily relevant in other areas. There should and taxation goes up and down without someone standing be freedom for local authorities and the pubs to work up and saying, “Let’s actually check this out—what is it together to work out what is best for their particular doing for the British pubs?” The consequences of that area. are what we have seen; the huge numbers of pubs that Sky television was mentioned earlier. I have had have been closing week by week, month by month and meetings with Sky and I am pleased to say that it is indeed year by year. reviewing its rates system, to ensure that it is fair, However, let me roll back and congratulate my hon. because there might be only one corner of a pub with a Friend the Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on TV, in which only 15 people—not a huge audience—can his work on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. stand, and yet the pub gets rated for its entire capacity, 47WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 48WH

[Mr. Tobias Ellwood] more so than the DCMS. The Treasury will lose about £250 million in receipts by 2010 if the present rate is which might be up to 400 people because the pub has a maintained. lot of seating. My hon. Friend the Member for Ribble My final point involves what are called stakes without Valley made that valid point and Sky has responded to prizes machines, on which people in pubs can play The it positively. Weakest Link, Monopoly, Cluedo or Scrabble. They are Indeed, Sky has gone a step further, in talking about not considered gambling machines; they are considered the debates in the upcoming general election. Sky would quiz machines. Yet a joint statement on 12 December like to show those national debates between the party said that there would be a three-year retrospective tax leaders and then get the local candidates in each area payment for such machines. That is disgraceful and will inside their local pub to continue the debate after the cost the industry about £90 million a year during its national debate has been shown on Sky. I would encourage toughest moment. The Minister gave us no guarantee in all parliamentary candidates and indeed all current his earlier intervention that the tax would be removed. MPs to take up that opportunity. It is still on the cards, unless he corrects himself in his The issue of rates, including business rates, was also statement. raised. I am glad that the Conservative party came out I am afraid that the Government simply do not get it. some time ago with the idea that a Conservative They do not understand that by looking after the pub Government will give the flexibility to local authorities industry, they can make more money for the Exchequer, to reduce the local rates on pubs, or indeed on post help defend our communities and preserve the glue that offices, or any other of those community assets that holds our society together. Instead, they are trying to might be struggling through these difficult times. That turn a nation of quizzers into gamblers, which is simply is very positive. Labour Members shouted, “Where will wrong. It is time to say goodbye to this Government the money come from?” The other dimension to this unless they can come up with something far more issue is that the local authorities will be able to keep the imaginative, which I do not think will be the case. business rates for any new businesses that are created in a particular area, providing a link between business and 12.21 pm the local authority, and encouraging small and medium- The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, sized enterprises. At the moment, rates are simply collected Media and Sport (Mr. Gerry Sutcliffe): It is a great and the money is sent to the coffers up in London. pleasure to respond to this excellent debate and to serve I want to pay tribute quickly to some of the initiatives under your chairmanship, Miss Begg. I congratulate the that pubs themselves have taken on board: Pubwatch; hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans), whom I crime and disorder partnerships; Best Bar None; Purple call a friend. We have shared a number of pints in a Flag; the Campaign for Smarter Drinking, and Drinkaware. number of pubs while attending a variety of events. I I have visited a number of pubs in Bournemouth and know that he speaks with passion on the issue. It is not indeed elsewhere that are involved in some of these just something that has come up today; he has been initiatives, and I was very pleased to see that they are consistent over his many years in Parliament about the local initiatives that are not led by the Government in role of the pub, and has been a loyal member of the any way, showing that the pubs themselves have a sense all-party beer group, many members of which are here of responsibility. That point echoed around Westminster today. I congratulate the all-party group on its work. Hall today; that inside the pubs is where responsible One thing that this Government cannot be accused of drinking takes place and that is where the landlords and is not having, listening to and responding to a number landladies take care of those who are inside. Unfortunately, of debates about pubs and their future. The passion of pubs do get a bad name. We are occasionally seen as the many of the hon. Members who have contributed to drunk man of Europe, but that is not the fault of our this debate does not hide the context of the issues facing pubs—absolutely not—and that point needs to be pubs. Anybody who stood up and said that every pub in underlined. the land could be saved would be completely wrong. There are other initiatives that I would like to see The pub industry is facing great change, and many of developed in the future. Certainly the issue of preloading the issues must be seen within that context. It must also needs to be addressed; my hon. Friend the Member for be accepted that people’s drinking habits have changed St. Albans (Anne Main) made that point. It is a disgrace dramatically, which has had an impact on the number that when Labour came to power the price of beer in a of pubs that have closed. I will try to respond to the pub was twice that of beer in the supermarket but now issues raised that are Government issues, but some are the price of beer in a pub is seven times that of beer in for local government, some are for Europe and some the supermarket. Is it any wonder that people are loading are for the industry itself. up on alcohol before going to the pub, or buying I understand what the hon. Member for Leeds, North- alcohol in the supermarket and avoiding the pub? That West (Greg Mulholland) said about the tie. It is a issue needs to be addressed. We will place a cap on the competition issue. I have been closely involved with it price of loss leaders in supermarkets and I hope that not only as licensing Minister but previously, as consumer that will work. Minister and competition Minister. There are problems Time is tight, so I will conclude by saying that far too that must be addressed. I think that the route that the many pubs have shut; 4,000 pubs have shut since the Campaign for Real Ale has taken is the right one, and I Budget of 2008. There was a tax break—the VAT know that colleagues in other Departments have concerns. reduction that my hon. Friend the Member for Ribble We need to ensure that we address the issues. Valley talked about, very acutely. However, the duties It is right that the British Beer and Pub Association went up in response. That is not a way to look after our has a view on tied pubs. The BBPA was trying to say pub industry. Unfortunately, the Treasury is failing us, that that is not an issue, and it has claimed the same 49WH British Pubs23 FEBRUARY 2010 British Pubs 50WH thing in deliberations with me. We need to get to the However, I find it interesting that the hon. Gentleman core. The fact that the Office of Fair Trading is considering did not mention what an incoming Conservative what CAMRA said is a step in the right direction. Government would do about beer duty. I put that on the table for those who will be considering the issues— Greg Mulholland: Some big pub companies say that bad tenants are the only problem. I bring the Minister’s Mr. Evans rose— attention to a leaflet delivered by Enterprise Inns in Otley, in my constituency, where Enterprise Inns has Mr. Ellwood rose— been involved in a number of high-profile disputes. The leaflet says: Mr. Sutcliffe: I will give way briefly to the hon. “Have you ever sat in a pub and wondered what makes it great Member for Ribble Valley. and thought…. I could do that!”, yet Enterprise is seriously suggesting that it is not Mr. Evans: The Minister is in power. He can say deliberately trying to attract people who cannot run something about taxation. What is he going to do? pubs in the first place. That is an issue that needs to be dealt with. Mr. Sutcliffe: I will deal with that question. I just thought that it was interesting that the Opposition did Mr. Sutcliffe: I accept what the hon. Gentleman says. not deal with it when we touched on it. I know that he will continue to work with the various bodies in the House that see that as an issue, and I will work with him to ensure that we do what we can to Mr. Ellwood: I echo my hon. Friend’s point. The influence serious consideration of the issue. Minister is under scrutiny, not us. When the election is called, he will understand in more detail what our plans Lots of hon. Members have spoken of the role of my are. However, for the record, we have made it clear that right hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John we will increase taxation levels on alcopops and spirits. Healey), who was named as pubs Minister in the News Beer drinkers will undergo a net reduction, as they will of the World. He is one of a number of pubs Ministers, not be affected. We have made those announcements; as the issue has effects across government. However, he they are in the public domain. is specifically considering the issue mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), which Mr. Sutcliffe: We will look with interest at the budgets is how planning can be changed to support community and the Opposition parties’ responses to what the pubs and whether we might consider community ownership Chancellor has to say. Taxation is a matter for the in finding ways to deal with the problem. My right hon. Chancellor, but he listens to representations from Friend has been tasked to do so quickly, and I hope that the different sectors. His deliberations will be set against he will introduce proposals in the next few weeks. the public finances when the Budget is decided in the not-too-distant future. Mr. Ellwood: Will the Minister give way? I am sure that the hon. Gentleman is aware of the Mr. Sutcliffe: Very quickly, as I need to respond to great concern in the House about beer duty and the other issues. effect on pubs. I am glad that the hon. Member for St. Albans (Anne Main) mentioned irresponsible publicans Mr. Ellwood: It is an important point on the new and alcohol sales. I believe that the Licensing Act 2003 appointment. To whom does the pubs Minister answer, has helped local authorities and communities deal with when will he report and how will we scrutinise what he irresponsibility. The vast majority of publicans act is doing? responsibly. She is right that the fact that they can show that they act responsibly is one important contribution of the Licensing Act to supporting measures to address Mr. Sutcliffe: He answers to the Prime Minister, as all problem drinking. Ministers do. I think that the hon. Gentleman was at the event organised by the all-party beer group last year Pre-loading is an issue that needs to be faced. It is a or the year before last on the publication of its report. cultural thing. We need to educate people about how it Five Ministers attended that debate to discuss our roles affects youngsters and their health; it affects youngsters in supporting pubs. I am slightly confused. He says that in particular. one Department should deal with— Anne Main: It is about price. Mr. Ellwood: I did not say that. Mr. Sutcliffe: Price is an issue. We have been considering Mr. Sutcliffe: Well, I apologise if the hon. Gentleman a variety of the issues. The Department of Health is did not, but he tried to indicate that it should not be the considering minimum pricing. I understand that it is an role of many Departments to consider the issue. Alcohol issue in Scotland. is obviously of great concern in terms of health— Mr. David Hamilton (Midlothian) (Lab): It is a hot Mr. Ellwood: I said that there needs to be co-ordination. debate in Scotland at present. I realise that we have only a few minutes to go, but surely we do not want to Mr. Sutcliffe: To return to the point that this is a reinvent the wheel. I encourage the Minister to talk to general election issue, I am highly in favour of that. It is his colleagues and look at the debates taking place in right that issues close to our communities should be Scotland so that we do not need to repeat them down discussed in public, especially at general election time. here. Let us learn from what is happening up there. 51WH British Pubs 23 FEBRUARY 2010 52WH

Mr. Sutcliffe: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his Manufacturing Industries experience. We will have those discussions. I understand that the Scottish Government are having difficulties 12.30 pm introducing minimum pricing. We will wait to see what happens. Mr. Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and The British pub is important. Earlier, we discussed Selkirk) (LD): Thank you, Miss Begg. I am grateful to the definition of a community pub. From my perspective, Mr. Speaker for the opportunity to raise these important that definition includes members’ clubs, not-for-profit issues this afternoon. clubs and other clubs that affect our communities and This is the third time in the past year that I have offer sport, cultural and community activities. The smoking drawn attention to the critical issues affecting manufacturing ban has been mentioned. Do hon. Members forget that and other businesses in my constituency. I believe patterns the overwhelming majority of Members of this House can be seen across the country. Most of the issues I voted for the smoking ban? I understand that there have raised in the previous debates remain valid. As the been issues with its implementation, but we have considered Minister would expect, I will emphasise particular issues best practice to ensure that the ban has been applied so this afternoon. as to meet policy objectives, as well as to find ways of Manufacturing matters, as the Engineering Employers supporting those who want to smoke. It was the Federation campaign “We Love Manufacturing” makes Government who introduced the amendment for the clear. It has designated next week as manufacturing smoking ban to include clubs, which some hon. Members week, in anticipation of which it has asked why voted against. I lay that on the table. Sometimes memories manufacturing matters. Its answer is that it accounts for are selective. 14 per cent. of the British economy, 2.5 million jobs and 50 per cent. of British exports. As it says: Mr. Greg Knight (East Yorkshire) (Con): Some of us “Manufacturers make real things. Everything around us in voted for it. fact—like the medicines that save lives, the food on our tables, and the technology we’re going to need to tackle huge problems like Mr. Sutcliffe: Indeed, but the overwhelming majority climate change.” voted for the ban. It states that: Sky TV is important, particularly to me in my role as “Manufacturers are critical to a better balanced economy. If sports Minister. Like the hon. Member for Bournemouth, we’re going to pay our own way in the world, we need to put East, I have met Sky and been told that it will change manufacturing at the heart of a healthy economy.” how it handles rateable value. We think that that will be I agree with that, as I expect does the Minister. a step in the right direction. We are aware of the issues Before coming to the House, I spent almost 10 years relating to community pubs in particular— as a chartered accountant and had many manufacturing clients. Over the past 12 years as an MP, I have known Miss Anne Begg (in the Chair): Order. We must move many manufacturers in my constituency. That has on to the next debate. re-emphasised my commitment to the manufacturing cause. My constituency is a rural one that covers a vast, beautiful area of 1,500 square miles, but appearances can be deceptive. Agriculture and fisheries are of course important sectors from the Berwickshire coast and arable areas through to the hills of Selkirkshire, but manufacturing is hugely significant and is more important in the borders than in other parts of Scotland and the UK. The latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics estimate that there are 5,800 jobs in manufacturing in the borders, which represents 13.3 per cent. of the work force. That compares with 8.7 per cent. in Scotland and 10.2 per cent. in the UK. The borders are closely identified with textiles, which was the subject of a debate I was lucky enough to secure in the autumn. Many of the companies in that sector have been around for centuries. There is a long list including Peter Scott & Co., Hawick Cashmere, Lochcarron of Scotland, House of Cheviot, Barrie Knitwear and Shorts of Hawick. Those companies have been synonymous internationally with tartan, knitwear and hosiery for decades, if not centuries. In the same year as the founding fathers declared the independence of the United States of America, 10 mill owners came together to form what is now the Scottish Borders Manufacturers’ Corporation, which to this day plays a key part in the local economy of south-east Scotland. Our manufacturing base is much broader than the textiles sector. In electronics we have Plexus in Kelso and Tweedbank, which specialises in electronic manufacturing services; in tool making we have the 53WH Manufacturing Industries23 FEBRUARY 2010 Manufacturing Industries 54WH world-leading LS Starrett Co. in Jedburgh; in food economy, needs Government spending to be maintained. processing we have Farne Salmon and Trout in Duns I do not want to see any rush to cut spending, although and John Hogarth in Kelso; in software, Sykes still has like everybody else I recognise that a serious programme a significant presence in Galashiels; in timber frame will have to be introduced at the appropriate moment. manufacturing for house building, Oregon in Selkirk is Liquidity and bank finance remain a serious issue. A one of the country’s leading manufacturers; and in the recent report by the Public Accounts Committee indicated exciting future industry of fibre optic cable, one of the that the part-nationalised banks will fall short of the country’s leading companies is Emtelle, which is based legal requirement to lend £39 billion by the end of this in Hawick in my constituency. I am bound to be in month. As the Committee Chairman, the hon. Member trouble for missing out many important and significant for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh), said: local businesses, but I hope the Minister gets the message about the diversity of the local manufacturing economy, “The Treasury does not seem to know why the banks are not how impressive the businesses are and the fact that they lending and has few sanctions available to make them change are surviving and remaining internationally competitive. their minds”. I wish to see those businesses continue to be As the Minister will recall from responding to the internationally competitive and they have no choice but debate I secured on textiles in the autumn, that is a to be so. They are dependent on world markets for their theme I have covered before. sources of supply, whether it is Chinese cashmere fibre One of my constituents got in touch with me in or north American timber. When they have turned anticipation of this debate. He has a successful those raw materials into manufactured goods, they are manufacturing business and has had a year of growth exposed to all that the globalised markets of the 21st century and improved profitability. Despite that, when he sought can throw at them, including competition for investment. to renew his overdraft facility at the same level as People are entitled to ask why a group would make coat before, he was told by his bank that he could do so, but hangers in south-east Scotland when it has factories in that the new rate would be 7.5 points over the base rate. Morocco and Bangladesh or why Ahlstrom recently I do not know what the Minister thinks of that, but it is invested £20 million in an 18th-century paper mill to a scandal. My constituent is right when he says in his develop glue-free teabags, the main market for which is e-mail to me: Japan, when it has facilities in India, China and Thailand. All of those businesses compete with the best; internally “I ask you how any business can see any support for growth.” to ensure that they secure investment for the future and As the Minister will recall, I raised that issue last year, externally to win market share. particularly in the context of the enterprise finance There are plenty of smaller businesses, such as guarantee. I have subsequently asked a number of people Berwickshire Electronic Manufacturing Ltd in Duns, what they make of the guarantee and many simply which is one of a range of niche players that specialise dismiss it as a political stroke that seems to have in tiny markets. Many businesses come together under underpinned the banks without increasing their appetite the banner of the Scottish Borders Exporters Association, for risk. which covers everything from industrial heat exchangers On skills, I hope that we might soon get some clarity and cleaning chemicals to giftware and food. We are about how the new sector skills council will take on the proud in the borders to have some of the finest primary textile industry—I understand that it will be done through produce in the country and are beginning to add value Skillset rather than Skillfast, which is another vast to it through manufacturing. Groups such as the Scottish meaningless name that does not tell us much about the Agricultural Organisation Society and the Food and organisation itself. A fortnight ago in Hawick in my Drink Federation have many members in the borders constituency, I was at a meeting convened by my colleague, and rightly highlight the importance and great potential Jim Hume, in the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish of food manufacturing in the area. Skills Minister, Keith Brown, attended and, because of Understandably, confidence in the future is currently the mess over the demise of Skillfast, he was able to a precious commodity that is in limited supply. The blame Westminster for the fact that the Scottish recession that lasted for six successive quarters has been Government are not doing anything about training in followed by anaemic growth at best. I understand that textiles. Disappointed as I am about the demise of the figures might be revised on Friday. Unemployment Skillfast, I hope that the Minister will now remove that levels in the borders are at their highest since the Viasystems excuse and give us some assurance that Skillset will do debacle and collapse a decade ago. There has been an what it needs to. increase of 31 per cent. in claimants for jobseeker’s allowance over the past year. Many of the issues relating to infrastructure have been devolved, so I will not mention roads and trains, The UK trade deficit in manufactured goods was although the east coast main line is of major importance nearly £13 billion in the last quarter, which is part of a to my constituents. I hope that I will be able to have a sadly familiar pattern. I emphasise that we must not use meeting—one has been postponed—with Transport that deficit to signal that we are giving up on manufacturing. Ministers to discuss that. On digital, we were promised If we address the key issues and provide the right kind a rosy future and, frankly, the difference between success of support, there is much to play for. or failure may lie in the quality of the digital infrastructure. It is critical that we boost economic activity across I repeat a plea I made to the Secretary of State for the country. We have had the private sector recession, Culture, Media and Sport: let us get to that future— but we face the prospect of a public sector recession although it is still doubtful how we do so—but let us that will engulf the economy as we tackle the country’s not forget about the here and now. Mobile phone coverage enormous budget deficit. While we are in such fragile in the south of Scotland is still patchy, the 3G data circumstances, manufacturing, like other sectors of the network is a joke and broadband remains inadequate. It 55WH Manufacturing Industries23 FEBRUARY 2010 Manufacturing Industries 56WH

[Mr. Michael Moore] I was interested to hear about the range of companies in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency. Although he is is ironic that Emtelle is creating some of the finest right that the traditional view of the borders is that it is high-tech cabling products in the world, yet none of it a beautiful area—I am familiar with it, as I have relations can be used in my constituency. there—I am not surprised that there is a range of Finally, I want to raise the serious issue of competition. manufacturing activity there, because Scotland has a I hope that the Minister is on top of the issue that has proud manufacturing tradition and history. It also has been brought to the attention of the US trade representative, a profound history of innovation from the days of the Ron Kirk, by the American National Textile Association industrial revolution onwards. That is a characteristic about how the Chinese appear to be playing around of the textile industry, which I know is important in his with their export value added tax arrangements to constituency. subsidise the cashmere industry in China. In my Innovation is central to my Department’s work at the constituency, people have long memories and remember present time, and the assistance that the Government the problems of international trade battles in relation to are able to offer in the realm of innovation to businesses the banana war. That issue is very direct and important of all kinds in the UK is very important indeed. Innovation to them, and they are concerned that the actions of the does not just come from large companies; in fact, some Chinese might seriously unbalance the competitive playing of the most impressive companies I have met and dealt field and threaten their future. with since I have been in post are smaller companies We currently make a lot about sustainability, and with keen ideas that add greatly to the UK’s manufacturing rightly so. At a time when we are increasingly concerned capability and to the steps taken to maintain our about our carbon footprints, people are looking to see manufacturing industry. It is extremely important that what we are doing about our manufactured products we work to support those companies. Support for and asking if it is sustainable for so many of them to be employment in manufacturing is very important indeed. sourced in China and the far parts of Asia. In development It has clearly been a very difficult two years, and the and human rights terms, people are becoming more pressures of the international situation have impacted interested in the quality of life of the people who make heavily on business across the UK in all our constituencies. the products we buy so cheaply in the UK. It is important My Department has offered specific support for individual to ensure we have a manufacturing sector here, so that businesses through the help for business scheme, which when the tide has turned, we can respond to people’s I used before I became a Minister and have used since to concerns about sustainability. assist particular companies with difficulties they have Outside bodies recognise the need for a clear focus on had in dealing with, for example, access to finance. manufacturing and to deal with regulation, red tape and many of the traditional concerns. In the south of In my experience, there has been some success in Scotland, through the local councils and economic pursuing, for example, discussions with banks through development agencies, we are implementing the that scheme. If the hon. Gentleman has specific cases he competitiveness strategy, which focuses on many of the wishes to raise, I invite him to bring them forward. My key issues I have raised in the debate. Those officials Department stands ready to assist if it can with all and the thousands in my constituency who work in those cases by engaging with banks and providing assistance manufacturing want to see their efforts backed up robustly in securing access to finance if at all possible. I have by the UK Government. The EEF puts it neatly: done that in the past and it has been successful in “Manufacturing is the real business. Critical to the UK economy. certain cases I have encountered. I am pleased to offer Critical to our future.” that facility to the hon. Gentleman if he or his constituents wish to take it up. Manufacturing needs to be supported in a way that indicates the Government agree with that sentiment. The hon. Gentleman referred to the enterprise finance guarantee in a rather disparaging way, I am sorry to say, 12.45 pm and I would take him to task slightly on that point. The enterprise finance guarantee has offered real help to The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, businesses in Scotland, as 81 loans have been drawn for Innovation and Skills (Ian Lucas): It is a pleasure to Scottish companies worth £16 million, so assistance has serve under your chairmanship, Miss Begg, and to hear been provided in those cases. from the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Mr. Moore) about manufacturing. I can assure him that the Government have not given up on Mr. Moore: To be clear, I am not disputing that manufacturing and, as someone who represents a strong money has been lent through the EFG, but I would like manufacturing constituency, it has been my commitment to understand whether that is money that the banks since being elected to Parliament in 2001 to ensure that should have been lending anyway, which the EFG now manufacturing is central to Government policy. presents with a nice little risk cover, or whether it is I am delighted to serve in a Government who have available for genuinely new ventures that the banks put manufacturing at the core of the activity of the would not have touched with a barge pole. Where is the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. We independent analysis of the quality of that lending? fully recognise, as the Engineering Employers Federation has said, that manufacturing is a vital sector that needs Ian Lucas: We consider and assess individual applications, intensive support and co-operation from Government, and provide assistance where we believe taxpayer support employers, trade unions, regional development agencies is needed. The Government came under a great deal of and, in the devolved authorities, from bodies such as pressure as a result of the recession, and mechanisms Scottish Enterprise. That element of co-operation is were put in place to assist business and provide support vital to the future of manufacturing. at a difficult time. That is the purpose of the EFG, 57WH Manufacturing Industries23 FEBRUARY 2010 Manufacturing Industries 58WH which has provided assistance. We believe that the in the textiles sphere, and he is well aware that we assessments that have been made have supported that compete across the world successfully because of the assistance. quality of the product, particularly that which comes The Government also stepped in to provide financial from the borders. We need to concentrate on skills to support for the economy as a whole. We brought forward make that product sustainable and even more competitive £30 billion of spending from the public sector to support so that we can ensure that there will be a positive sector business, enterprise and industry in the UK. I believe in the textile industry in Scotland for a long time to that that has been absolutely crucial to securing what is come. That depends on our continuing to upskill, to still, I fully accept, a slow and difficult recovery, but it improve the product and perform in a positive way. was vital that the Government took that step. This That also means that we need to attract high-quality morning I visited a construction company, Laing O’Rourke, talent, not only to the textile manufacturing industry, and I know that the public sector has been very important but to manufacturing generally. in the construction sector. We need to change the perception of manufacturing, With regard to the hon. Gentleman’s point on so I welcome the campaign by the Engineering Employers infrastructure, I come from the north-east of England, Federation and the three-day event in Manchester next so I know that the connections through that region to week called the Big Bang, which is for young people and Scotland were in the past not the best, but the infrastructure is intended to encourage interest in science, engineering projects and the links to Scotland along the east coast, and manufacturing. The hon. Gentleman is an accountant, not only by rail, but by road, too, have improved andIamalawyer—[Interruption.] Indeed, that is a immeasurably since the Government came to power, first. I must confess that when I was looking at careers and I have personal experience of that. I am pleased to in the late 1970s and 1980s, my knowledge of manufacturing say that when I visited the north-east last week, there was extremely limited, but in my work, I have been was still substantial infrastructure work going on, providing extremely impressed by the quality of the industry as a jobs and employment in the construction sector that whole, by the intellect and intellectual challenge within would not be there if the Government had not committed the industry, by the capabilities of the management and themselves to carrying out that work by bringing forward by the great challenges the industry needs to face. the public funding. We all know that in future, we will operate in a The hon. Gentleman made a good point on broadband low-carbon world, which poses huge intellectual challenges infrastructure. It is important that we have the infrastructure to those who work in manufacturing, and it will be to create a digital Britain and improve our existing today’s young people who will have to meet those connections in both the mobile phone and internet challenges. The Big Bang event in Manchester is about sectors. We have put forward clear proposals through that challenge. It is about showing younger people how “Digital Britain” to roll out broadband across rural exciting manufacturing is, how we have a huge capability areas. They are opposed in some areas by some political already in the UK, how we operate in a globalised parties, but we believe that it is extremely important to industry, and how many of our major manufacturers provide a strong infrastructure to compete in the innovative are global players, which of course offers great incentives sphere of the digital economy, and that is why we are to individuals to work in those spheres. I am a great introducing legislation in that regard. proponent of manufacturing as a career for young We are also strongly committed to upskilling in our people. We have a proud history and tradition of economy, providing training and strong support for manufacturing in the UK, and in Scotland, and I think work force development. In an innovative sphere, it is that in recent decades, we have not shouted loudly important that individuals upskill throughout life, both enough about its importance. I strongly welcome the when they leave school and move into the work force fact that the EEF is promoting manufacturing, and and throughout their employment. It is only by doing welcome the Big Bang event in Manchester, and I so that we can contend at the highest level with competition encourage younger people to get involved in it. across the world. We recognise the importance of skills The hon. Gentleman raised a couple of points, one of and training. Skills are a devolved issue in Scotland, so which related to VAT, and I am aware of the concerns in the primary responsibility for support rests with the that regard. VAT rebates on exports are legal under Scottish Government. Although I am not surprised that World Trade Organisation rules. That is a normal part they perhaps attribute any difficulties in delivering skills of global trading, but the allegation of manipulation of in the Scottish context to the UK Government, I do not the rebates is an issue of real concern, because it can think that that is particularly fair. lead to trade distortions. I can assure him that DBIS I am of course aware that since the hon. Gentleman officials are consulting the UK textiles trade association and I last debated the matter, the decision has been and individual companies to see whether China’s export taken to disband Skillfast and replace it with Skillset. It VAT rebates are a widespread concern and to obtain is important that skills are developed in the textiles any evidence of export rebate manipulation. We are industry because of the innovative context in which it considering that issue, and any information he has that operates. We have a high-quality product from Scotland would assist further with that would be gladly received. 59WH 23 FEBRUARY 2010 Foreign-Registered Lorries 60WH

Foreign-Registered Lorries do not levy tax on them. I want the Minister to have a look at the Immingham lorry park and tell us whether 1pm those vehicles in fact go home. Do they pay road taxes and dues anywhere? They are not paying them here, yet Mr. Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby) (Lab): I am they appear to be permanently stationed here. grateful for this opportunity to raise the issue of the Foreign hauliers start out with a huge competitive increasing number of foreign lorries using our crowded, advantage over our hauliers. When the lorries first come over-used and, to some degree, crumbling road system in, they have full tanks that hold up to 1,200 litres of and taking an increasing share of business from British diesel. Despite the devaluation of sterling, diesel is still hauliers. They are grabbing an increasing share of the half the price in Europe that we pay here. Also, many cabotage—domestic business—and constituting a threat hauliers use cheaper drivers. I do not understand the to our British haulage industry. The number of British language of the drivers in the Immingham lorry park vehicles fell by 30 per cent. between 2005 and 2007, and who invite me to go forth and multiply after taking it has fallen more since then, yet foreign lorries operate photographs of them. They appear to be eastern European tax-free here while British lorries face in Europe an and have little English. I suppose that they are reliant increasing burden of tolls and charges which are driving on satellite navigation for getting around the country. them out of European business. The drivers of those foreign vehicles are certainly paid I want today to ask the Government to assert the less than British drivers. principle of British lorries for British business by creating We allow foreign lorries, with those competitive what one might call a level motorway, and by taxing the advantages, to operate here free of tax and charges. foreign lorries using our roads to ensure that they pay They make no contribution to our roads, despite the their dues. This is a plea to Ministers to end the kind of damage that they do to them. They make no contribution defensive complacency that has characterised our approach to our health costs, yet they emit large quantities of to the increasing number and proportion of foreign health-giving diesel fumes across our countryside. They lorries up to this stage. cause accidents but, unless they are fined, they make no The problem has been growing for some time, and it contribution. has been amplified by the entry of new eastern European countries to the European Union, particularly Poland, Meanwhile, our lorries are heavily taxed. The standard whence many lorries come, and, since May 2009, by rate for large articulated goods vehicles is, at its highest, access of foreign lorries to the UK domestic market. £1,850 for 12 months. British lorries are highly taxed, Increasing numbers are coming and using our roads. but their European competitors are allowed to operate The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency tells us that for free in this country. That is an unfair and unreasonable such lorries are three times more likely to have mechanical competitive advantage to them and an imposition on defects than British lorries. They are also more likely to the British industry. be involved in serious accidents. Indeed, the Department It is no wonder, in that situation, that the British lorry of Trade and Industry as was—may it rest in peace— fleet is declining in numbers. Governments of both estimated in 2008 that they were eight times more likely parties have been content for a long time to tax lorries to be involved in a serious accident. They are less likely heavily in the hope of transferring business to the to pay fines imposed by VOSA. Indeed, until last year, it railways, where it can be efficiently dealt with. Unfortunately, seems that they did not much bother to pay fines. Now the heavy pressure of taxation has succeeded in transferring fines are mandatory and are being paid, but not at the business not to the railways but to foreign lorries delivering same level as British operators. in this country. That is a total failure of the policy of Foreign lorries now have 80 per cent. of the roll-on/roll-off heavy taxation of road transport. business to Europe, whereas, 10 years ago, British firms Yet British lorries face substantial charges when they had just over one half of that business. That is an go to Europe. First, they face heavy toll charges on the indication of the increasing share of the market that motorways, certainly in France; charges are slightly foreign lorries are getting. They are also doing domestic lower in Spain and Italy. It is not that such charges are a business. Trailers are shipped to UK ports, coupled voluntary tax on those who use the motorway, because with foreign trucks which are here already and delivered the increasing use of weight restrictions forces drivers to UK destinations under that system. off the secondary roads and on to the motorways where I often go out to Immingham to get a breath of fresh they have to pay charges which we do not impose in this dock air from the North sea and to view the charming country. Those huge toll charges can increase the cost docks scenery. There we have a huge lorry park provided of delivering goods to Spain or Italy by £100 or more. by North East Lincolnshire council. It does not give The Government might say that if we had toll charges anything away to the residents of north-east Lincolnshire, here—we have a few miles on the M6, I gather, and of whom I am one, but is free to foreign lorries which there is the iniquitous Humber bridge charge, which is appear to be the main users—they are the large proportion the highest estuarial charge in the country—we could of users. On a weekend, there are usually about a dozen equal those charges. But we cannot; we do not impose Walter Koop lorries there waiting to be coupled up to such charges here. trailers coming in across the North sea for delivery in Secondly, British lorries face vignette charges. I have this country, and those Koop lorries appear to me, a a vignette here. It is a complicated little document casual driver driving past, to stay in this country. which was purchased on the ferry going over to Europe. There are also on any given weekend about 20 or It applies in Belgium and Holland. It costs ¤8 per day to more other foreign lorries: German, Dutch and Polish. operate in those countries and the charge could, I There is a large lorry population that appears to be gather, go up to ¤11. The one I have here is for ¤8. That resident in this country and allowed to use our roads is a charge on British industry that foreign lorries yet cannot be paying taxes in this country, because we coming here do not have to pay. 61WH Foreign-Registered Lorries23 FEBRUARY 2010 Foreign-Registered Lorries 62WH

Thirdly, there is the elaborate and very expensive and our Treasury is desperate for tax contributions and system of road user charges in Germany, which are to levy taxes. If imposed, the system would produce charged per kilometre and depend on the emissions serious revenue for the Government. Why are we ignoring level of the lorry. Those charges must be paid on entry, the opportunity to do something, when industry is so a lorry drives over the border into Germany and it crying out for something to be done? The foreign lorries has to stop at the nearest available filling station to buy are making no contribution and exploiting our good tickets. I have some tickets here, which were paid by will. The proposal would raise tax revenues to deal with Grimsby vehicles going into Germany. These are some the current economic difficulties. of the charges: for a Euro 2 vehicle for 119 miles it is In conclusion, why is nothing happening? Why is £53 for a single journey to the point of delivery. That is there a complacent belief that the water around the a hefty charge on a British lorry. There would be coast is a sufficient barrier to protect our industry when another charge, payable at another filling station, coming it has been so badly hit in Europe? Will the Minister back. For a Euro 3 vehicle for 93 miles the charge is £30. meet me and Mr. Overton to discuss the issue? Will he The figures are in euros, of course, but I have converted act urgently to see that foreign lorries pay their share them. For a Euro 3 vehicle for 128 miles it is £40. and will he accept the view that I offer today? If the How is it legitimate for our vehicles to face those Conservatives win the election, and I devoutly hope heavy charges in Germany? Although the motorways that they will not, they, and the Liberals, are committed are free, the vehicles are charged for their one-way to acting, so why are the Government not acting? journey and then face another charge for the journey Surely, it is not beyond the wit and ability of officials back. There is no time to hang around in the hope of in the Department for Transport and the Treasury to collecting a return load, because a charge is payable for devise a tax structure for foreign vehicles that ensures that time as well and for driving to collect the load. It is that they pay the same kind of heavy taxes, proportionate a heavy burden on British lorries, and if they do not pay to their briefer stays in the country, that British lorries or do not have a ticket, they are stopped and dragged pay. Why should they not pay their share of the vehicle off to a cash point to raise the money with a credit duties that we impose? At a minimum, why should they card—as our former Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, would not pay the ¤11 a day vignette charges, which are have done with hooligans. The fines can be up to allowed? Why should they pay nothing? Surely, the ¤1,000. The German authorities seem very flexible and brains at the Department for Transport, if applied to sometimes commute the fines, but they are heavy. When the matter in conjunction with the supreme intelligence drivers ring the British embassy, they are advised to at the Treasury, can devise a system that works, is cough up and claim it back later—that is helpful advice. acceptable in Europe and produces revenue, which we It solves nothing if they have not got a credit card. That desperately need, to deal with the problem. is the situation. The German system is called Toll Collect and is run 1.16 pm by a central computer. There are 300 vehicles patrolling the autobahns, with 550 staff from the Federal Office of The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Freight and 300 overhead gantries monitoring the vehicles. (Paul Clark): It is a privilege to serve under your The system cost ¤700 million to install. German vehicles chairmanship, Miss Begg. I thank my hon. Friend the are required to carry an on-board unit, because they Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) for securing have to pay charges as well, although I am not sure that the debate. I recognise, as do the brains of the Department, they pay them on this scale. It would be horrendous if that the issue gives rise to a great deal of heated feeling. the charges levied on our lorries were exercised on However, he will be aware that this is not a new debate. German vehicles. The unit clocks up the charges. British It has probably raged for at least a decade, with various vehicles have to buy tickets instead. statements appearing to become fact, when that is not That scale of charges through tolls and vignettes in the case. the German system is in sad contrast to the situation In the time available, I would like to run through here, where European lorries operate for free and get a some of the issues, including all of those that the my warm welcome in our free car park in Immingham, hon. Friend raised, and set out the history. There is no which is well placed for pizza and the pub. They get a complacency on the part of Ministers in the Department good deal in this country. My question for the Minister for Transport, the Government or other officials. It is is, what are we going to do about it? The Government absolutely right that the brains of the Department and have tried; they have spent £40 million on consulting for of Ministers could come up with a scheme, but it would a system of dealing with the problem. In 2002, they have to achieve what he wants, provide value for money, proposed legislation for what was variously called a bring money in to the Exchequer and make balanced British road infrastructure tax disc or a vignette, but adjustments for UK-registered vehicles, which would they dropped that idea to look at road charging more have to be charged the levy to which he refers. Complexities generally, which they then dropped to do nothing. The arise, which is why I would like at the outset to refer to vehicles are still not being charged and the situation the history of how we charge for roads. I want to come gets worse. on to deal with cabotage, the number of accidents, the I have put forward proposals from my constituent, certificate of professional competence, and foreign driving Mr. Alan Overton, for a control system less elaborate standards. and expensive than Germany’s. People would be charged Due to the complexities of the subject, and because it on entry and the system would be monitored by 40 vehicles gives rise to strong feelings, it is important to look at the and a central computer. I put that to the Ministry, and it history of lorry charging policy development. In 2000, has shown no interest. We have an increasing problem the Government announced plans to consult on a vignette, with foreign lorries, which are making no contribution, which some hon. Members may remember as the BRIT 63WH Foreign-Registered Lorries23 FEBRUARY 2010 Foreign-Registered Lorries 64WH

[Paul Clark] foreign hauliers without their imposing the same charge on domestic hauliers. It also stops member states imposing disc. What emerged from that consultation with many a time-based charge of more than ¤11 a day. There is interested parties and stakeholders across the board more flexibility, but it only reflects the cost of the was the fact that we should look at a more sophisticated infrastructure when moving to a distance-based charge. distance-based scheme rather than a straightforward The directive also requires member states to impose one-off vignette payment. tolls and charges in ways that Between 2002 and 2005, we investigated proposals “cause as little hindrance as possible to the free flow of traffic and for a lorry road-user charge, and considered options avoid any mandatory controls or checks at the Community’s based on microwave and satellite technology to track internal borders.” goods vehicles and to impose distance-based charges, We could not stop every truck coming through Dover such as those in some of the countries to which my hon. or Immingham, and ask the drivers to pay up. However, Friend referred. However, in 2005, the then Secretary of it is true that the directive is being reviewed. State for Transport told the House that although a distance-based lorry charging scheme showed potential, Mr. Mitchell: That would mean more bother in it was more sensible on our shores to focus on a broader Immingham, where more than 6,000 foreign vehicles road-pricing strategy. My hon. Friend will be aware that come in daily, than in Dover. Is my hon. Friend saying matters have moved on, and that the current Secretary that we cannot impose on foreign vehicles for the period of State has ruled out national road pricing during the that they are in this country a proportionate share of life of the next Parliament. the heavy tax burden that is imposed on our vehicles? That process led the Government to revisit alternative Paul Clark: I am setting out the complexities of and simpler options for charging foreign lorries, and finding a scheme that would be fair, meet my hon. that work culminated in the freight data feasibility Friend’s objectives, not tie us up in litigation, and study, which considered a wide range of options between achieve what we both want without being unfair to our 2006 and 2008. It soon became clear that the most domestic hauliers. The Eurovignette directive is being promising option in terms of value for money was an reviewed, and we are strongly backing amendments that electronic vignette system. If that system had come into would allow member states to charge more for externalities, operation, UK hauliers would have paid a six or 12-month and to include, for example, issues such as congestion in vignette alongside vehicle excise duty. Meanwhile, foreign the calculation. However, I need not tell my hon. Friend hauliers would have bought a vignette for a specific that that work is not easy because, not surprisingly, vehicle for a specific time. Enforcement for UK hauliers many member states oppose it. The Spanish presidency would have been an extension of VED enforcement. has said that it does not want to take that work forward Clearly, we would have had to take steps to work with at this stage, but that does not stop us trying to do so. that scheme, but the freight data feasibility study analysis showed that even that electronic vignette system would Mr. Mitchell: Will my hon. Friend give way? not be good value for money. In his 2008 Budget statement, the Chancellor confirmed that because the Paul Clark: I will give way once more, but I want to electronic vignette would have delivered only limited make cover some other issues. safety, congestion and environmental benefits, the Mr. Mitchell: Is my hon. Friend saying that we will Government decided not to introduce it. However, I not have charging for foreign vehicles until we get emphasise that that does not mean that work cannot be general road-user charging? Is it being postponed for done inside and beyond government on charging foreign ever? vehicles. Work can continue to examine enforcement procedures, including a range of issues raised by my Paul Clark: My hon. Friend knows that a Minister hon. Friend. The work that was done has not been will never rule out anything for ever, but clearly I want wasted. to ensure that if we had such a system at some stage—as I said, work on that continues—we would want it to be Mr. Austin Mitchell: Will the Minister confirm or robust and to provide exactly the objectives that we deny that the problem with an increased charge on both want. British hauliers through the vignette system is that it I want to deal with some other issues that my hon. would have to be eased by a reduction in fuel duty, Friend raised. On cabotage, he will be aware that stringent which is very high in this country? Is it true that without changes that come into force on 14 May will limit the a reduction in fuel duty, the industry did not want the number of journeys to three in no more than seven days vignette system? subsequent to a loaded international delivery coming into this country. Previously, the vehicle coming in Paul Clark: There were a number of reasons, and might not be loaded, and there could be unlimited jobs value for money was one complexity. Another was during a 30-day period. The new limit is much tighter. managing the necessary reduction for UK-registered In addition—this is significant—the onus is on hauliers vehicles without introducing a heavy bureaucratic and to prove that they are operating within the rules, instead costly exercise that would not achieve in reality what I of the other way round when the enforcement agency believe my hon. Friend wants. had to prove that hauliers were operating outside those The Eurovignette directive, which governs the whole rules. lorry-charging policy throughout the European Union, On the safety of foreign-registered vehicles, in 2008, is complex, and it would be rather dry to read it out, so I 1,651 accidents occurred involving foreign registered am sure that you would not want me to, Miss Begg. vehicles, which was 1 per cent. of all accidents recorded However, it stops member states imposing a charge on in the UK. Of those, 53 per cent. involved good vehicles. 65WH Foreign-Registered Lorries 23 FEBRUARY 2010 66WH

However, we are not complacent, and we have given Road Traffic Accidents (Compensation and £24 million extra over three years to the Vehicle and Sentencing) Operator Services Agency to look into high-risk vehicles on international journeys. That has resulted in increased safety. The graduated fixed penalty and deposit scheme 1.30 pm is having an effect on finding those who contravene rules and regulations in this country and, when there is Mr. Rob Wilson (Reading, East) (Con): It is a pleasure no acceptable UK-registered address, allowing us to to serve under your chairmanship, Miss Begg. I am also immobilise those vehicles. We are working closely with pleased to have secured this important debate on road the UK Border Agency to agree access to its freight- traffic accident compensation and sentencing. I accept targeting system for VOSA so that we can identify and that the title is broad, but I hope to raise several highlight companies that are causing concern, not only different but interconnected issues on the subject. in the UK—we already have a traffic light system—but Specifically, I would like to take the opportunity to foreign visitors. discuss two constituency cases, those of Mr. Jim Alston and Mrs. Sandra Hudson, who are both watching the debate today. As is often the case, it is those cases that involve real people and their lives which point to the defects in our man-made and too often process-driven justice system. I believe that both these cases raise serious issues about the general state of sentencing and Government policy. I will begin with the case of Mr. Robert Hudson, and I will try to deal only with the facts as they are known. Mr. Hudson died of brain injuries after being hit by an unlicensed driver, Mandy Lewis, in December 2008. He was crossing the road close to his home, I believe to post a letter. His wife, Sandra, was nearby. Lewis was a 28-year-old single mother of two, who had come to Reading to meet a man at a local hotel after arranging it via the internet. She drove all the way from Essex to Reading for that night, and was on her way home at approximately 11 am the following morning after stopping at a petrol station. Lewis held only a provisional licence, and was therefore driving without proper insurance. She sped off knowing that she had hit Mr. Hudson, leaving him fatally injured. The judge in the case, Stephen John, said that Lewis had evaded her responsibility and prolonged the agony of the Hudson family. Mandy Lewis was eventually identified by the police via CCTV footage from the petrol station. However, despite her obvious guilt, she steadfastly refused to answer police questions. In defence of her actions, her counsel highlighted the recent death of her mother from cancer. The judge said: “This was an accident; no-one suggests that you intended it to occur, nor that your driving was poor, but once it happened you drove off and spent months trying to get away with it. You knew the pain of the recent loss of your mother but gave no thought to the pain your actions caused to another family.” What so shocked Sandra Hudson is what happened with the sentencing. Mrs. Hudson attended the court with her family only to discover that, after initially protesting her innocence, Lewis pleaded guilty. Mandy Lewis’s original sentence of 36 weeks’ imprisonment was immediately reduced by a third to just 24 weeks after she changed her plea to guilty. Along with many others in her situation, Mrs. Hudson has had to face the sad reality of the sentencing guidelines, particularly for the new offence of causing death while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured. The new offence differs from the usual bad or dangerous driving offences in that the culpability arises only from the offender driving a vehicle on a road when, by law, they are not allowed to do so. Because the offence does not require proof of any fault in the standard of driving, the emphasis is on the decision to drive taken by the offender, rather than on the standard of driving. The offence carries a lower 67WH Road Traffic Accidents 23 FEBRUARY 2010 Road Traffic Accidents 68WH (Compensation and Sentencing) (Compensation and Sentencing) [Mr. Rob Wilson] found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving in July 2009 and sentenced to a mere 18 months in prison maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment. Most with a three-year driving ban. people would find it astonishing to hear that somebody Bobby’s father, Jim Alston, is obviously extremely without a licence and proper insurance cannot be judged upset by the leniency of that sentence. After the sentencing by a court on how safely they were driving following a at Reading Crown court in September 2009, he told the hit-and-run accident. press: I fully appreciate that the courts have complete judicial “Sentencing for crimes like this is farcical, very unfair and not discretion to pass the sentence that they believe is at all just. The sentence is an insult to Bobby.” appropriate in individual cases, after taking into I fear that few would disagree with those sentiments. consideration all the circumstances of the offence and As the Minister probably knows, Jim Alston is a the offender. However, not only was the defendant card-carrying member of the Labour party, and feels driving illegally in the first place, it is my understanding that the Government have let him and his family down. that leaving the scene of an accident is an additional It is his view, as told to me, that Government policy on factor that should add to the sentencing tariff. When sentencing is out of step with the Labour party’s own both those factors are combined, is 24 weeks in custody commitment to be a fair punishment for Lewis’s actions when taking Robert Hudson’s life? Has justice really been served by passing “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime.” such an extraordinarily low sentence? Lewis even appealed As the Minister may know, Mr. Alston has been in against the 24-week sentence, but thankfully I understand correspondence with both the Prime Minister and the that that appeal was quashed. Mrs. Hudson is left with Justice Secretary on this matter. strong feelings that Mandy Lewis will not serve even We all know that there is complexity in sentencing. those 24 weeks of her sentence. Perhaps the Minister The offence of causing death by dangerous driving will confirm, either today or later in writing, whether causes difficulty for the sentencers, let alone anyone the short 24-week sentence will be served in full. else. On one hand, an offence involving a person’s death When Mrs. Hudson inquired about the sentence discount is always serious and understandably leads to calls for given to Lewis because she entered that guilty plea, the severe sentences. On the other hand, an offender convicted Ministry of Justice informed her: of that offence most likely did not deliberately cause “The justification for such ‘sentence discounts’ is that early death or serious injury. In some cases, the driver may guilty pleas are beneficial to victims and other witnesses, who no have had a momentary lapse in judgment, but in the longer need to worry about having to go to court to give evidence.” worst type of case, he or she may be very much to I think it is safe to argue that the sentence discount in blame, having driven with complete disregard for the this case was by no means beneficial to the family of safety of others. Robert Hudson, and it is perhaps disrespectful to imply In the case of Iliev, he was doing a U-turn on a otherwise. If anything, the statement from the Ministry dangerous bend. He pleaded not guilty and had to be of Justice merely highlights the impersonal, sausage- found guilty at Reading Crown court. Although Jim machine nature of the justice system, which takes little Alston has had to accept that the judge was simply or no account of individual circumstances. following the guidelines issued by the Sentencing Guidelines The current sentencing policy is certainly not proving Council, I should be grateful if the Minister took this a deterrent for hit-and-run drivers. In Reading, East we opportunity to explain, in a more general context, have seen hit-and-run offences nearly double since 1999, whether she thinks it acceptable to give such low sentences and in Berkshire they have risen by almost a third over when accidents result in loss of life. One has only to the past 10 years. At the very least, does not that suggest open a newspaper to see other families devastated by that sentencing is perhaps overly lenient? the loss of a loved one killed on the roads. Another issue in this case was the delay in the release Let me also mention the case of Ryan Batt, who was of Robert Hudson’s body; a delay that meant that his killed by Timon Douglin while walking on a pavement widow could not be allowed to make important funeral in Reading’s Shinfield road. The killer got a sentence of arrangements. I understand that the defence has the three years and three months that even the judge said right to ask for a second post-mortem examination was inadequate. Douglin denied knowing that he had when the police are investigating a fatality case, and I hit Ryan Batt, claiming that he had got out of the car also understand that that is established practice in the and picked up a damaged bumper without realising that courts. However, surely we must be more sensitive to the Mr. Batt was dying in the garden of 156 Shinfield road. impact that that has on the victim’s family.The unrepentant Of course that was an absolutely absurd defence and Ms Lewis originally left Mrs. Hudson’s husband to die was dismissed by the judge at Reading Crown court, by the roadside; one can imagine Mrs. Hudson’s heartbreak who said that there was no way that Douglin would not and despair when Lewis added further to the delay to have known that he had hit his victim. The evidence his burial. Under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, proved that Mr. Batt’s head hit the windscreen in front the Secretary of State has powers to make new regulations of the driver of the car before he was propelled into the to govern this area. I sincerely hope that he will use garden. those powers to stop this sort of abuse, which adds The judge made it clear that although the sentence considerably to the grief of the family. was inadequate, he had to follow guidelines when I would now like to turn to the case of Bobby Alston. sentencing. That suggests that even judges feel that the Bobby was tragically killed, aged just 25, in June 2008 Government sentencing guidelines are inadequate. In when his motorbike smashed into the side of a car this case, the sentence was reviewed by the Attorney- driven by a foreign national, Bozhidar Iliev. After initially General, as I understand it, due to popular outrage, but claiming that his car had suffered a burst tyre, Iliev was it was still left unchanged. 69WH Road Traffic Accidents 23 FEBRUARY 2010 Road Traffic Accidents 70WH (Compensation and Sentencing) (Compensation and Sentencing) In preparing for the debate, I have spent time RTAs to be included in criminals covering the costs of examining the sentencing guidelines, and they are a bereaved families—for example, where insurance does quagmire. At the most basic level, they assess how not. If the Minister is not prepared to commit to that valuable a life is against assessment criteria with today, we need to understand why. I hope that the aggravating and mitigating factors. It is cold, Government are on the side of the families affected, impersonal and extremely complex. I can understand rather than the criminals. why judges feel exasperated by the complexity, but it is The Government often point families affected by utterly unfathomable to the ordinary man and woman. RTAs in the direction of the charity Brake. I place on On no level can the sentences handed out to Iliev and the record my admiration and support for the important Mandy Lewis be considered fair, appropriate or just. work that that road safety charity does, but I worry that I also find it absurd that causing death while unlicensed the Government are using a charity to obscure their carries a lesser penalty, with the emphasis on the decision wider obligations to bereaved families. to drive by the offender rather than the standard of The complexity of the issues involved means in this driving. Surely one is unlicensed for a reason. Why is it case that Mr. Alston has yet to receive the closure that that because such incidents happened on the road, such he and his family deserve. After many months of reckless individuals do not pay the full price for their correspondence on the matter and a great deal of frustration misdemeanours and crimes? It is not hard to understand on Mr Alston’s part, the Secretary of State has finally why in such cases families feel so blatantly wronged by agreed to meet Mr Alston and me tomorrow. I had the criminal justice system in this country. hoped to be able to report on the outcome of that Due to my involvement in these cases, it is my meeting during today’s debate. However, we must be understanding that following a number of extremely patient and wait with anticipation for what he has to say serious cases put before the MOJ over the past year, it at tomorrow’s meeting. Needless to say, I shall be supporting has announced its intention to extend the minimum Jim Alston and repeating what I have said today, but I sentence for dangerous driving to five years when there will listen with interest to what the Secretary of State is the appropriate legislative opportunity. I sincerely has to say about increasing the sentencing tariff and hope, for the sake of all families that are living through amending the legislation on compensation. In the meantime, such tragic circumstances, that stiffer sentences come I should be grateful if the Minister responded to the sooner rather than later, although with the sentencing particular points that I have raised during the debate discounts available to the guilty, it is hard to see what today. the overall impact will eventually be. 1.48 pm Continuing my comments about the case of Bobby Alston, I shall now say a few words about the compensation The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice that families are eligible to receive following the death (Claire Ward): First, I congratulate the hon. Member of a loved one. Jim Alston works as a private hire driver for Reading, East (Mr. Wilson) on securing the debate. I in west Berkshire and part time for a security company. realise that it is a very important debate for his constituents. Time is money in those occupations—if people are not Given the presence of his constituents today, I should on the road, they cannot gain an income. With the like to extend my sincere sympathy to the Hudson unexpected tragedy of his son’s death and still grieving, family and to the Alston family for their loss. Any death Mr. Alston set about arranging a funeral and memorial or serious injury that occurs as a result of a road traffic service and attending the court proceedings. That is an accident is a tragedy, and the impact on the families of expensive business, and insurance goes only part of the victims is immeasurable. The hon. Gentleman tried way towards covering the costs. The word “compensation” hard to give some examples of the impact on his constituents in this case should mean covering costs. Jim Alston and their families. spent more than £9,000 and received insurance for just Sadly, sentencing cannot bring anyone back. However, under £5,000. That does not even begin to count his lost this is also about getting justice for the families and a income from his employment. sense of closure. Sentencing for road traffic offences I believe that Iliev should have had to cover any where a fatal accident occurs is a very difficult exercise, difference in costs, yet road traffic accidents—RTAs, as because with road traffic accidents—the hon. Gentleman they are called—are specifically excluded from the Powers referred to this—there can be a huge difference between of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, which gives the harm done and the level of blameworthiness of the a judge the authority to order that compensation, including driver. I hope that it will assist if I set out what the law funeral expenses, be paid by a convicted criminal. says about sentencing in such cases and describe what Section 130 states that a court may make an order has been done through the statutory framework. I will requiring the person convicted of an offence to also refer to the compensation issues that the hon. Gentleman raised. “make payments for funeral expenses or bereavement in respect of a death resulting from any such offence”— The hon. Gentleman referred to the specific circumstances in his constituents’ cases, but I hope that this is the key part— he and his constituents will understand that I cannot “other than a death due to an accident arising out of the presence comment on individual sentencing decisions, because of a motor vehicle on a road”. the courts are independent of the Government. It would Because the criminal courts cannot help Mr. Alston, not be appropriate, on the basis of the information that his option would be to fight a civil case, but he has been the hon. Gentleman has presented, for me to comment informed that that costs about £2,000 and it would specifically on the details of those cases. hardly be worth it to chase £4,000. I think that the Parliament’s role is to ensure that there is an appropriate Minister should take the opportunity to review this framework of offences and penalties. In recent years, we system. A simple amendment to the Act could allow have enacted a number of measures designed to deal 71WH Road Traffic Accidents 23 FEBRUARY 2010 Road Traffic Accidents 72WH (Compensation and Sentencing) (Compensation and Sentencing) [Claire Ward] Claire Ward: That depends on the court’s sentencing and on whether it has taken into account the period for more effectively with those whose driving puts others at which a guilty plea has stood and how long the discount serious risk. As the hon. Gentleman said, we have will be. The court will take such things into account introduced the new offences of causing death by careless before determining the sentence. One of the most important driving and causing death while driving unlicensed or things about the Sentencing Guidelines Council is that uninsured. Those offences carry maximum penalties of it does not operate in a vacuum or in isolation; it five years’ and two years’ imprisonment respectively. We consults the public to review the guidelines that it issues have also increased the maximum penalty for serious to the courts. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that driving offences, including causing death by dangerous the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 is also due to replace driving and causing death by careless driving while the Sentencing Guidelines Council with the Sentencing under the influence of drink or drugs, from 10 to Council, one of whose duties will be to have a much 14 years’ imprisonment. greater regard to the impact that sentences will have on However, there is always more to do. Dangerous victims and their families. driving is still too prevalent, and we should not Sentencing guidelines must, of course, provide detailed underestimate the devastating effect that bad driving guidance to courts on the level of sentencing that they can have on people’s lives. We have listened to those should consider in respect of individual offences. We who have campaigned for an increase in the maximum established the Sentencing Guidelines Council in the penalty for dangerous driving. When I first took up my Criminal Justice Act 2003 to promote consistency in post, I met the family of Cerys Edwards, a young child sentencing. All courts must have regard to the council’s who had received very serious, nearly fatal injuries as a guidelines. As I said, the most important change in the result of the actions of a dangerous driver. The family 2009 Act for many victims will be the requirement on had been campaigning hard for a change in the legislation the Sentencing Council to have regard to the impact on dangerous driving. As a result of listening to those that sentencing may have on victims. representations, we have announced that we intend to increase the maximum penalty for dangerous driving None of those points about the Sentencing Council from two years’ to five years’ imprisonment. That will, can, however, alter the fact that road traffic cases can be of course, require primary legislation, and we will look particularly difficult for the courts. That is because it is to include an appropriate provision in a suitable Bill at not always the worst transgression by a driver that has the earliest possible opportunity in the parliamentary the most tragic consequences. Sometimes the consequences timetable. of a collision may be entirely disproportionate to the culpability of the offender. A relatively minor misdemeanour by a driver may have tragic consequences, whereas Mr. Rob Wilson: One thing that concerns my constituents thoroughly reckless behaviour on the road may fortuitously is that when the Minister talks about a maximum result in little, if any, harm. The law therefore seeks to sentence, it does not mean much, because someone punish those who cause death or injury on the road in a pleading guilty automatically gets a third of the sentence way that is appropriate to the degree of blameworthiness off. Will the Minister make it clear to my constituents on the part of the driver. Ultimately, it is for the what a minimum sentence means? prosecuting authorities to decide on the appropriate charge in each individual case and for the courts to set Claire Ward: In many cases, these are minimum sentences the sentence they believe to be appropriate in all the rather than maximum sentences. The minimum sentence circumstances. essentially becomes a starting point for the court to consider. As the hon. Gentleman said, the court must The hon. Gentleman also raised the issue of then look at the aggravating circumstances and any compensation in road traffic accidents. He is right that mitigating circumstances. One factor that a court will the criminal injuries compensation scheme does not take into account in sentencing is whether the defendant compensate for bereavement caused as a result of culpable has pleaded guilty and, if they have, at what stage they road traffic accidents. That is because the scheme’s did so. There is a sliding scale of reductions. The remit was never designed to cover such cases. The Sentencing Guidelines Council has issued guidance to purpose of the CICS is to provide compensation to the courts on the level of discount to be applied. The blameless persons who have sustained criminal injury. sliding scale effectively means that the earlier the plea is Overwhelmingly, it provides support to victims of crimes changed to one of guilty, the greater the discount that of violence. The scheme states that a personal injury is the defendant should get. That is obviously to encourage not a criminal injury where the injury is attributable to defendants to come forward and enter a guilty plea, the use of a vehicle, except where the vehicle was used where it is appropriate for them to do so. That is so as deliberately to inflict, or attempt to inflict, injury intended to save victims and their families the ordeal of on any person. a trial and to reduce the cost to the justice system. It is also true that the courts do not generally have powers to make compensation orders in respect of road Mr. Wilson: Will the Minister clarify what that means traffic accidents. Compensation orders were first introduced in practical terms in relation to a two-year minimum in 1972 and have been an important sentencing option sentence? Mitigating circumstances may have to be for the courts. However, compensation in criminal cases taken into account, which could mean a reduction in is not provided primarily as a means of making good the minimum sentence. Furthermore, if someone pleads the losses of the victim, but as an element in the overall guilty, there will also be a third off. In fact, therefore, punishment of the offender and to provide a degree of the two-year minimum sentence is not a minimum financial recompense to the victim. A compensation sentence at all, is it? order is a sentence of the court, like a fine, albeit one 73WH Road Traffic Accidents 23 FEBRUARY 2010 Road Traffic Accidents 74WH (Compensation and Sentencing) (Compensation and Sentencing) that brings home to the offender the impact of their the motor insurance industry to compensate victims of offence against the victim and which provides at least motor accidents that involve uninsured and untraced some recompense. drivers. It is a required scheme under European regulations. Road traffic accidents, however, are generally excluded That statutory exclusion has existed since 1972. It by statute from the scope of compensation orders. The probably arises from a need to make it clear that third-party courts can make an order in respect of injury or loss insurance is the first port of call for any compensation following a road traffic accident only if the loss involves claim arising from a motor accident and from the fact damage to the victim’s property when it was not in their that many road traffic accidents involve complex quantum possession or if the offender was uninsured and no and liability issues, which would not necessarily have compensation is payable under any arrangements to been settled by parallel criminal proceedings. which the Secretary of State is a party. In practice, the Crown Prosecution Service will not ask for a compensation 2pm order if the Motor Insurers Bureau will meet the claim. Sitting adjourned without Question put (Standing Order The MIB is a non-profit-making organisation set up by No. 10(11)).

7WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 8WS

viii) virement of £1,100,000 from the non-voted RfRl Written Ministerial Departmental Unallocated Provision to RfR3 for increasing the number of apprenticeships by 35,000; Statements ix) virement of £11,700,000 from the non-voted RfRl Departmental Unallocated Provision to non-voted expenditure by the Learning and Skills Council for Tuesday 23 February 2010 increasing the number of apprenticeships by 35,000; x) virement of £4,000,000 from support for the Post Office to non-voted expenditure by the Learning and BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Skills Council (RfR3); xi) virement of £3,144,000 from Enterprise Fund Departmental Expenditure Limits Guarantees to non-voted expenditure by the Learning and Skills Council (RfR3); The Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr. Pat xii) virement of £10,000,000 from Enterprise Fund McFadden): Subject to parliamentary approval of the Guarantees to Student Support (RfR3); necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Department for xiii) utilisation of £16,000,000 from the non-voted Business, Innovation and Skills’ DEL will be increased Departmental Unallocated Provision for voted Student by £1,240,523,000 from £21,829,701,000 to £23,070,224,000 Maintenance Grants (RfR3); and the Administration budget will be increased by xiv) utilisation of £5,632,000 from the non-voted £1,220,000 from £357,473,000 to £358,693,000. Departmental Unallocated Provision for non-voted Within the DEL change, the impact on Resources expenditure by the Learning and Skills Council (RfR3); and Capital is as set out in the following table: xv) virement of £13,000,000 from non-voted expenditure by the Technology Strategy Board to the RfR2 Science Change New DEL Research Councils; Non- Non- Voted Voted Voted Voted Total xvi) virement of £188,000 Government Skills and £46,000 Further Education Improvement (both RfR3) to the Resource 279,431 531,819 -3,235,584 22,886,573 19,650,989 non-voted Departmental Unallocated Provision; (£000) of which: xvii) reclassification changes resulting from the implementation of International Financial Reporting Administration 1,220 358,693 358,693 budget* Standards of £800,000 in non-voted expenditure for the Near cash in -67,660 464,711 -5,004,730 22,570,097 17,565,367 Regional Development Agencies; Resource DEL** xviii) reclassification changes resulting from the Capital 277,146 152,127 -209,708 3,628,943 3,419,235 implementation of International Financial Reporting (£000) Standards of £400,000 in non-voted expenditure for the Less -1,985 -47,320 -61,433 -248,599 -310,032 Competition Commission; Depreciation*** (£000) xix) reclassification changes resulting from the Total (£000) 554,592 636,626 -3,506,725 26,266,917 22,760,192 implementation of International Financial Reporting The total of the ’Administration Budget’ and ’Near Cash in Resource DEL’ Standards of £90,000 for Acas; figures may well be greater than total Resource DEL, due to the definitions overlapping. xx) reclassification changes resulting from the **Capital DEL includes items treated as Resource in Estimates and Accounts, implementation of International Financial Reporting but which are treated as Capital DEL in Budgets. Standards of £12,427,000 for Capital for Enterprise ***Depreciation, which forms part of Resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL since Capital DEL includes Capital spending and to include depreciation Fund; of those assets would lead to double counting. xxi) reclassification changes resulting from the The change in the resource element of the DEL arises implementation of International Financial Reporting from: Standards of £912,000 for the National Measurement RfR1 Office; i) a Reserve claim of £85,000,000 of voted non-cash for xxii) reclassification changes resulting from the the Automotive Assistance Programme; implementation of International Financial Reporting ii) a Reserve claim of £48,500,000 for Enterprise Fund Standards of £2,000,000 for the Insolvency Service; Guarantees; Also within the change to resource DEL, the changes to iii) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £21,004,000 the Administration budget are (RfR1): for Automotive Assistance Programme non-cash; xxiii) transfer of £1,020,000 from the Cabinet Office in iv) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £41,500,000 for respect of the Parliamentary Counsel Office; Enterprise Fund Guarantees on-cash; v) transfer of £500,000 to United Kingdom Trade and xxiv) transfer of £25,000 from the Cabinet Office in Investment in respect of an inward investment conference; respect of the Skills Strategy; vi) transfer of £450,000 of non-voted expenditure to the xxv) reclassification changes resulting from the Office of Fair Trading in respect of the Consumer implementation of International Financial Reporting White Paper; Standards of £175,000 for UK Trade and Investment; vii) reclassification of £6,300,000 from Strategic Investment RfR2 Fund capital to resource in elation to the New Industries, i) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £45,464,000 for New Jobs agenda; non-voted expenditure by the Medical Research Council; 9WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 10WS ii) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £20,536,000 for the HE Sector, offset by an increase in the Higher non-voted expenditure by the Natural Environment Education Funding Council for England non-voted Research Council; resource DEL; iii) virement of £100,000 from RfR3 to non-voted xiv) increase in voted receipts for the UK Commission expenditure by the Research Councils in respect of the for Employment and Skills of £258,000 from the wellbeing project; Department for Children, Schools and Families, offset iv) virement of £50,000 from non-voted expenditure by by an increase in the UK Commission for Employment Research Councils to voted Research-based Initiatives; and Skills non-voted resource DEL; v) virement of £250,000 from voted Public Sector Research xv) increase in voted receipts for the UK Commission Establishments expenditure to non-voted expenditure for Employment and Skills of £200,000 from the by Research Councils; Department for Work and Pensions, offset by an increase vi) virement of £594,000 from voted Science and Society in the UK Commission for Employment and Skills expenditure to non-voted expenditure by Research Councils. non-voted resource DEL; vii) virement of £13,000,000 from the Technology Strategy xvi) transfer of £2,624,000 from the Ministry of Justice Board (RfRl) to non-voted expenditure by the Research in respect of Offender Learning; Councils; xvii) transfer of £500,000 of non-voted expenditure viii) reclassification changes resulting from the from the Department of Energy and Climate Change to implementation of International Financial Reporting the Learning and Skills Council in respect of the National Standards of £1,406,000 in non-voted expenditure for Skills Academy for Power; the Science Research Councils. xviii) transfer of £7,734,000 of non-voted expenditure RfR3 from the Department for Children, Schools and Families i) a Reserve Claim of £50,000,000 non-cash for Tuition to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills in Fee Loans; respect of the National Vocational Qualifications Levy; ii) a Reserve Claim of £83,000,000 non-cash for xix) transfer of £6,381,000 (of which £581,000 voted Maintenance Fee Loans; and £5,800,000 non-voted) from the Department for Work and Pensions in respect of graduate internships; iii) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £22,800,000 for the 6 month training offer to unemployed via non-voted xx) virement of £15,668,000 from voted Aim Higher expenditure of the Learning and Skills Council; Challenge Initiative to non-voted expenditure; iv) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £225,376,000 xxi) virement of £30,876,000 from non-voted expenditure to meet student support pressures; by the Learning and Skills Council to voted expenditure v) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £20,000,000 for for the Young Person’s Guarantee; the delivery of the Level 3 training entitlement to young xxii) virement of £14,457,000 from Aim Higher Challenge people via non-voted expenditure of the Learning and Initiative and other Higher Education resources to non- Skills Council; voted expenditure; vi) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £11,700,000 to xxiii) virement of £14,999,000 from non-voted expenditure provide 35,000 additional apprenticeships via non-voted to Maintenance Grants; expenditure of the Learning and Skills Council; xxiv) virement of £4,310,000 from Adult Guidance and vii) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £15,000,000 Leith Implementation to non-voted expenditure; for voted non-cash relating to Career Development xxv) virement of £20,636,000 from Offender Learning Loans; to non-voted expenditure; viii) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £64,000,000 xxvi) transfer of £5,371,000 from the Home Office for for non-voted non-cash relating to the Learning and Migration Impact Funding; Skills Council; xxvii) virement of £100,000 voted expenditure to non-voted ix) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £3,000,000 for expenditure by the Science Research Councils in respect expansion of the Personal Career Development Loans of the Wellbeing project; scheme via non-voted expenditure of the Learning and Skills Council; xxviii) utilisation of £5,632,000 from the non-voted Departmental Unallocated Provision (RfRl) for non-voted x) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £4,624,000 for expenditure by the Learning and Skills Council; Aim Higher Challenge Initiative; xi) utilisation of £16,000,000 from the non-voted xxix) virement of £4,000,000 from RfRl support for the Departmental Unallocated Provision for voted Student Post Office to non-voted expenditure by the Learning Maintenance Grants; and Skills Council; xii) increase in voted receipts for the Learning and Skills xxx) virement of £11,700,000 from the non-voted RfRl Council of £338,877,000 from the Department for Children, Departmental Unallocated Provision to non-voted Schools and Families for 6th Forms, apprenticeships, expenditure by the Learning and Skills Council for Entry to Employment, Education Maintenance Allowance, increasing the number of apprenticeships by 35,000; offset by an increase in the Learning and Skills Council xxxi) virement of £1,100,000 from the non-voted RfRl non-voted resource DEL; Departmental Unallocated Provision to voted expenditure xiii) increase in voted receipts for the Higher Education on increasing the number of apprenticeships by 35,000; Funding Council for England of £895,000 from the xxxii) virement of £3,144,000 from Enterprise Fund Department for Children, Schools and Families to help Guarantees RfRl to non-voted expenditure by the Learning kick start activity on Shared Services initiatives within and Skills Council; 11WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 12WS xxxiii) virement of £10,000,000 from Enterprise Fund iii) virement of £29,624,000 from RfRl Strategic Investment Guarantees RfRl to voted expenditure on Student Support; Fund to non-voted expenditure by the Learning and xxxiv) virement of £188,000 Government Skills and Skills Council. £46,000 Further Education Improvement to the non-voted Office of Fair Trading Departmental Unallocated Provision; Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary xxxv) virement of £15,000,000 from non-voted expenditure Supplementary Estimate, the Office of Fair Trading’s by the Higher Education Funding Council for England DEL will be increased by £451,000 from £65,260,000 to towards student support; £65,711,000. xxxvi) reclassification changes resulting from the Within the DEL change, the impact on Resources implementation of International Financial Reporting and Capital is as set out in the following table: Standards of £2,531,000 in non-voted expenditure for the Student Loan Company. Change New DEL The change in the capital element of the DEL arises Non- Non- from: Voted Voted Voted Voted Total RfR1 Resource -946 - 65,124 - 65,124 (£000) i) a Reserve Claim of £300,000,000 for the Automotive of which: Assistance Programme; Administration* -946 - 63,210 - 63,210 ii) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £ 10,000,000 for budget Capital for Enterprise Fund; Near cash in -946 62,516 - 62,516 Resource iii) reclassification of £6,300,000 from Strategic Investment * Fund capital to resource in relation to the New Industries, DEL Capital 1,397 - 2,728 - 2,728 New Jobs agenda; (£000)** iv) transfer of £25,573,000 from Department of Enterprise Less - - -2,141 - -2,141 Trade and Investment Northern Ireland for Launch Depreciation*** Investment; (£000) Total (£000) 451 - 65,711 - 65,711 v) virement of £29,624,000 from Strategic Investment *The total of the ’Administration Budget’ and ’Near Cash in Resource Fund to non-voted expenditure by the Learning and DEL’ figures may well be greater than Total Resource DEL, due to Skills Council under RfR3; the definitions overlapping. vi) virement of £16,103,000 from Strategic Investment **Capital DEL includes items treated as Resource in Estimates and Accounts, but which are treated as Capital DEL in Budgets. Fund to the non-voted Departmental Unallocated ***Depreciation, which forms part of Resource DEL, is excluded from Provision; the total DEL since Capital DEL includes Capital spending and to vii) virement of £3,487,000 from non-voted expenditure include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. by the Science Research Councils to the non-voted The change in the resource element of the DEL (and also non-Science Departmental Unallocated Provision; the Administration budget) arises from: viii) virement of £9,513,000 from non-voted expenditure RfR1 by the Science Research Councils RfR2 to the non-voted Technology Strategy Board; i) transfer of £450,000 from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills in respect of Consumer White RfR2 Paper funding; i) Increased voted contributions of £1,900,000 from ii) virement of £1,397,000 from resource to capital to other Government Departments to fund non-voted allow for increased capital investment in the OFT; expenditure by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences iii) token increase of £1,000 to allow increase in Research Council on the Institute for Animal Health; appropriations-in-aid to be included in the Estimate. ii) virement of £ 1,600,000 voted British Academy The change in the capital element of the DEL arises expenditure to non-voted expenditure by the Research from: Councils; RfR1 iii) virement of £3,487,000 from non-voted expenditure i) virement of £1,397,000 from resource to capital to by the Research Councils to the non-voted non-Science allow for increased capital investment in the OFT. Departmental Unallocated Provision; iv) virement of £9,513,000 from non-voted expenditure by the Research Councils to the non-voted Technology UK Trade and Investment (Departmental Expenditure Strategy Board (RfRl); Limits) RfR3 i) utilisation of End Year Flexibility of £100,000,000 for The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, renewal of the Further Education estate via an increase Innovation and Skills (Ian Lucas): My noble Friend the in the Learning and Skills Council non-voted DEL; Minister with responsibility for Trade, Investment and ii) increase of £2,900,000 in voted receipts from the Small Business, Lord Davies of Abersoch, has today Department for Children, Schools and Families for made the following statement: 14-19 activities by the Learning and Skills Council, The statement below follows the format guidance as offset by an increase in the Learning and Skills Council set out in “Supply Estimates: guidance manual”, available non-voted DEL; on the HMT website. 13WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 14WS

Subject to parliamentary approval of any necessary A decrease of £1,067,000 to allow more cover in capital due to supplementary estimate, UKTI’s total DEL (Resource IFRS. and Capital) will be increased by £3,255,000 from An increase of £81,000 to allow for depreciation cover due to £96,610,000 to £99,865,000. This reflects the net transfer IFRS. of £500,000 in voted resource from BIS’s vote to UKTI’s An increase of £500,000 as a result of the BIS transfer to vote and the relevant IFRS changes. Within the total UKTI for the inward investment conference. DEL change, the impact on resources and capital is set An increase of £486,000 as a result of the estimate exclusion out in the following table: adjustment An increase of a token £1,000 to allow the increase in £’000 appropriations-in-aid Change New DEL The change in the capital element of DEL sought in Non- Non- this supplementary estimate relate primarily to: Voted Voted Voted Voted Total An increase of £1,067,000 due to IFRS. Resource -485 - 95,877 - 95,877 An increase of £2,673,000 transferred from BIS due to IFRS DEL changes. Of which: Near-cash in -1,531 - 94,744 - 94,744 RDEL Capital DEL 3,740 - 3,988 - 3,988 * CABINET OFFICE Less -1,046 - -1,212 - -1,212 Depreciation ** Total DEL 2,209 - 98,653 - 98,653 Departmental Expenditure Limits * Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in estimates and accounts but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets. ** Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from total DEL since Capital DEL includes capital spending and to The Minister for the Cabinet Office and for the Olympics, include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. and Paymaster General (Tessa Jowell): Subject to UKTI’s vote does not include administration provision, Parliamentary approval of the spring supplementary which is included in the estimates of our parent departments, estimate 2009-10, the Cabinet Office total departmental BIS and FCO. expenditure limit (DEL) will be increased by £65,214,000 The change in the resource element of departmental from £394,149,000 to £459,363,000. expenditure limit (DEL) sought in this supplementary The impact on resources and capital is set out in the estimate relate primarily to: following table:

£’000 Winter Supplementary Estimate DEL Changes Spring Supplementary Estimate New DEL Voted Non Voted Total Voted Non Voted Total Voted Non Voted Total

Resource DEL 332,954 45,015 377,969 +1,928 +7,356 +9,284 334,882 52,371 387,253 Of which: Administration 206,397 - 206,397 -35,847 +7,600 -28,247 170,550 7,600 178,150 Budget Near cash in 288,176 45,015 333,191 +5,109 +8,175 +13,284 293,285 53,190 346,475 RDEL Capital 49,985 1,000 50,985 +50,074 +2,400 +52,474 100,059 3,400 103,459 DEL** Depreciation* -34,805 - -34,805 +3,456 - +3,456 -31,349 - -31,349 Total DEL 348,134 46,015 394,149 +55,458 +9,756 +65,214 403,592 55,771 459,363 New AME - 10 10 - -10 -10 - - - *Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. **Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in Estimates and accounts but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets.

Summary of Changes in Departmental Expenditure Limit of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) (DEL) and Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) and a £0.819 million reduction in wages and salaries to The change in the resource element of DEL, an cover the use of provision for early departures. increase of £9.284 million, comprises a £11.344 million The change in the capital element of DEL, an increase agreed claim on the reserve, £10.083 million end year of £52.474 million, comprises a £0.150 million transfer flexibility drawdown, £11.184 million budget cover transfers from resource DEL and a £52.324 million drawdown on to other Government Departments, £0.150 million transfer End Year Flexibility. to capital grant in aid to ENDPBs, a switch from to Changes in Resource DEL (RDEL) AME to DEL £0.010 million resulting from HM Treasury retracting their original advice on classification of accrued The changes which result in a net increase in resource benefits holiday pay as a result of the implementation DEL (RDEL) of £9,284,000 are as follows: 15WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 16WS

Agreed Claim on the Reserve Transfers from Voted Resource to Capital DEL A claim on the Reserve for V Matched Funding A switch from resource DEL to capital DEL to cover increases resource DEL and net cash requirement by additional expenditure for the non-voted grant in aid to £10,500,000. ENDPBs increases capital DEL by £150,000. The impact A claim on the Reserve for Invest to Save Budget in on net cash requirement is neutral because the overall the Office of the Third Sector increases resource DEL grant in aid to ENDPB non budget in the estimate and net cash requirement by £844,000. remains unchanged. End Year Flexibility A drawdown for Invest to Save budget increases UK Statistics Authority (DEL) resource DEL and net cash requirement by £83,000. A drawdown for Real Help for Communities Action Plan run by the Office of the Third Sector increases The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Angela E. resource DEL and net cash requirement by £10,000,000. Smith): Subject to parliamentary approval of any necessary Supplementary Estimate, the UK Statistics Authority’s Budget cover transfers outwards total departmental expenditure limit (DEL) will be Budgetary cover transfers to various Government increased by £630,000 from £212,246,000 to £212,876,000, Departments to cover the costs of the Office of the and the programme budget will be increased by £630,000. Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) decrease resource DEL Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and and net cash requirement by £8,003,000. capital is as set out in the following table: A budgetary cover transfer to the Security and Intelligence Agencies (SIA) to cover the non-cash charges £’000 upon transfer of SCOPE assets decreases non-cash Change New DEL resource DEL by £3,181,000. Non- Non- Transfer from Voted to non-voted within Resource DEL Voted voted Voted voted Total A switch within resource DEL from voted to non-voted Resource 6,630 -6,000 212,876 - 212,876 administration to properly record the implementation DEL of IFRS for a service concession arrangement of £7,600,000. of which: - The impact on net resource requirement and resource Administration --- - DEL is neutral. A switch is required owing to the budget* different treatment of the service concession in estimates Near- -3,370 4,000 178,876 14,000 192,876 cash in and budgets. For estimates purposes, this arrangement RDEL will be treated as a finance lease and for budget purposes Capital** -15 - 14,985 - 14,985 it will be treated as an operating lease. Less - -18,000 - -18,000 The Cabinet Office entered into a contract with Fujitsu Depreciation*** Services Limited (FSL) for the provision of information Total 6,615 -6,000 209,861 - 209,861 and communications technology (ICT) services over a *The total of ’Administration Budget’ and ’Near-cash in Resource five-year term until June 2012 and this includes certain DEL’ figures may well be greater than total resource DEL, due to the infrastructure assets for use in delivering public services definitions overlapping. ** that fall within the scope of IFRIC12 service concession Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in Estimates and accounts but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets. arrangements. ***Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from Transfers from non-Voted Resource to Capital DEL the total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. A switch from resource DEL to capital DEL to cover additional expenditure for the non-voted grant in aid to The change in the resource element of DEL arises from: ENDPBs decreases resource DEL by £150,000. The Take up of End-Year Flexibility (EYF) of £630,000 as set out impact on net cash requirement is neutral because the in the Public Outturn White Paper (CM 7606). overall grant in aid to ENDPBs in the estimate remains The take up of Departmental Unallocated Provision (DUP) of unchanged. £6,000,000 in order to finance in-year pressures and to meet Other changes new priorities. A decrease in wages and salaries to cover the use of The change in the programme budget arises from draw early departure provisions by £819,000. down of end of year flexibility (EYF) of £630,000 and the draw down of £6,000,000 of DUP. Switch from AME to DEL A switch from to AME to DEL of £10,000 resulting from HM Treasury retracting their original advice on Charity Commission (DEL) classification of accrued benefits holiday pay as a result of the IFRS implementation. Changes in Capital DEL (CDEL) The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Angela E. Smith): Plans to change the Charity Commission’s The changes which result in a net increase in capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) and administration DEL of £52,474,000 are as follows:- budget for 2009-10 are as follows. End Year Flexibility Subject to parliamentary approval of any necessary A drawdown to cover capital grants programmes run supplementary estimate, the Charity Commission DEL by the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) increases capital will be increased by £54,000 from £31,764,000 to DEL and net cash requirement by £52,324,000. £31,818,000 and the administration budget will be increased 17WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 18WS by £259,000 from £31,219,000 to £31,478,000. Within CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES the DEL change, the impact on resources is as set out in the following table: Joint Advisory Committee for Qualifications Approval

New DEL £’000 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (Mr. Iain Wright): I would inform Change Voted Non-voted Total the House that the Joint Advisory Committee for Qualifications Approval has published its Annual Summary Resource DEL 259 31,478 0 31,478 report for 2008-2009. The Committee is a non-statutory of which: 259 31,478 0 31,478 body chaired jointly by the Learning and Skills Council Administration 54 30,173 30,173 and Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency. budget* The role of the committee is to provide advice to the Near Cash in DEL Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on which qualifications should be eligible for public Capital 0 1,315 0 1,315 funding and delivery to learners aged 14-19. Copies of the Annual Summary will be placed in the Depreciation** -205 -975 0 -975 House Libraries.

Total 54 31,818 0 31,818 Departmental Expenditure Limits

* The total of ‘Administration budget’ and ‘Near cash in Resource The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and DEL’ may be greater than total resource DEL due to the definitions Families (Ed Balls): Subject to Parliamentary approval overlapping. ** Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded of any necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Department from total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to for Children, Schools and Families Departmental include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be increased by £696,511,000 from £56,415,027,000 to £57,111,538,000; the administration The change in Resource DEL reflects the utilisation cost budget will be increased by £10,520,000 from of £259,000 of the Commission’s Resource EYF. The £182,352,000 to £192,872,000. The Office for Standards funds from Resource EYF will be used to improve our in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED) website, making it more accessible in support of the which has a separate Estimate and DEL, will increase Government’s initiative to increase online interaction by £10,718,000 from £192,881,000 to £203,599,000 with with Government Departments, and to cover depreciation the administration cost budget remaining at £28,020,000. in respect of capital expenditure relating to our Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and modernisation programme. capital are as set out in the following table:

Resources Capital*** Change New DEL Of which: Non-voted Change New DEL Of which: Non-voted Voted Voted £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000

RfR1 419,284 48,012,838 46,611,659 1,401,179 130,286 7,121,474 917,782 6,203,692 RfR 2 77,541 1,524,801 1,499,951 24,850 69,400 452,425 452,425 DCSF Total 496,825 49,537,639 48,111,610 1,426,029 199,686 7,573,899 1,370,207 6,203,692 OFSTED 10,318 202,218 202,218 0 400 1,381 1,381 0 Sub-Total 507,143 49,739,857 48,313,828 1,426,029 200,086 7,575,280 1,371,588 6,203,692 **Of which 10,520 220,892 220,892 0 0000 Admin Budget Near-cash in 507,025 49,777,524 48,310,590 1,466,934 0000 RDEL Depreciation* -4,202 -16,587 -11,444 -5,143 0000 Total 502,941 49,723,270 48,302,384 1,420,886 200,086 7,575,280 1,371,588 6,203,692 *Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL, in the table above, since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. ** The total of ’Administration budget’ and ’Near-cash in resource DEL ’figures may well be greater than total resource DEL, due to the definitions overlapping. ***Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in Estimates and accounts but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets.

Department for Children, Schools and Families Voted Resource DEL

Resource DEL The £368,992,000 increase in the voted element of the resource DEL arises from: The increase in the resource element of the DEL of RFR1 £496,825,000 arises from an increase in the voted element of the resource DEL of £368,992,000 and an increase of A take up of End Year Flexibility of £8,800,000 for £127,833,000 in the non-voted element of resource DEL. Administration costs. 19WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 20WS

A take up of End Year Flexibility of £363,221,000 for A transfer of £7,734,000 to the Department for Business, Programme costs. Transfers from the Department for Innovation and Skills for the UKCES Levy. A movement Work and Pensions of £14,803,000 for Apprentices, of £50,000 from non-voted resource DEL for Sure Start Child Poverty, School Gates Project and for the Joint programmes. Birth Registration. RFR2 A transfer from the Cabinet Office of £529,000 for A movement of £500,000 from voted resource DEL for Parliamentary Counsel. the Children’s Workforce Development Council. A draw down from central funds of £819,000 for Capital DEL implementing International Financial Reporting Standards. The increase in the capital element of the DEL of A movement of £4,750,000 from RfR2 to support National £199,686,000 arises from a £2,316,354,000 decrease in Training. the voted element of capital DEL and an increase of A take up of Departmental Reserves of £64,105,000 for £2,516,040,000 in the non-voted element of capital Youth programmes. DEL. A movement of £144,667,000 to Non-voted resource Voted Capital DEL DEL to support Non-Departmental Public Bodies. The £2,316,354,000 decrease in the voted element of A transfer to the Office for Standards in Education, the capital DEL arises from: Children’s Services and Skills of £8,100,000 for Early RFR1 Years Foundation Stage inspections. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £16,108,000 for the A movement of £11,028,000 to non-voted resource purchase of the Sheffield Head Office replacement. DEL for Partnerships for Schools. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £55,185,000 for A transfer to the Scottish Office of £642,000 for the Children’s Services through Local Authorities. Family Fund Trust. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £2,900,000 for A transfer to the Welsh Assembly of £372,000 for the 14-19 year olds through the Learning and Skills Council. Family Fund Trust. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £5,981,000 for A transfer to the Northern Ireland Executive of £220,000 Devolved Grants. for the Family Fund Trust. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £25,419,000 for An increase in receipts of £47,000 for Interest on 105 Building Schools for the Future. Loans. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £20,763,000 for RFR2 Targeted Grants through Local Authorities. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £82,241,000 for A take up of £33,792,000 from Departmental Reserves Programme Costs. for Children’s programmes not through Local Authorities. A movement of £50,000 from non-voted resource DEL A take up of £15,000,000 from Departmental Reserves for Sure Start programmes. for Children’s programmes through Local Authorities. A movement of £4,750,000 to RfR 1 to support National A take up of £6,700,000 from Departmental Reserves Training. for the purchase of the Sheffield Head Office replacement. A movement of £500,000 to non-voted resource DEL A movement of £2,567,288,000 to non-voted resource for the Children’s Workforce Development Council. DEL Non-voted resource DEL A transfer of £161,000 to the Scottish Office for the The £127,833,000 increase in Non-voted resource National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. DEL arises from: A transfer of £93,000 to the Welsh Assembly for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £2,017,000 to support the British Educational Communications and A transfer of £55,000 to the Northern Ireland Executive Technology Agency. for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £21,584,000 to support the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. An increase in receipts of £5,000 for the disposal of vehicles. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £5,511,000 to support the Training and Development Agency for RFR2 Schools. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £69,400,000 for A take up of End Year Flexibility of £12,111,000 to Sure Start programmes through Local Authorities. support the Children’s Workforce Development Council. Non-voted Capital DEL A movement of £144,667,000 from voted resource DEL The £2,516,040,000 increase in the non-voted element to support Non-Departmental Public Bodies. of capital DEL arises from: A movement of £11,028,000 from voted resource DEL RFR1 for Partnerships for Schools. A take up of End Year Flexibility of £4,244,000 for the A transfer of £2,854,000 from the Home Office for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Migration Impact Fund. A transfer of £6,700,000 from Departmental Reserves A take up of £64,105,000 from Departmental Reserves to voted capital DEL for the purchase of the Sheffield for Youth programmes. An increase of £550,000 for Head Office replacement. Consolidated Fund extra Receipts collected by the A movement of £2,567,288,000 to non-voted resource Department. DEL. 21WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 22WS

A take up of £33,792,000 from Departmental Reserves from £403,000 to £425,000. Within the total DEL change to voted capital DEL for Children’s programmes not the impact on resources and capital is set out in the through Local Authorities. following table: A take up of £15,000,000 from Departmental Reserves to voted capital DEL for Children’s programmes through £’000 Local Authorities. Change New DEL Non- Non- Administration Voted voted Voted voted Total The £10,520,000 increase in the voted element of resource DEL arises from: Resource DEL 1 - 543 - 543 Of which: A take up of End Year Flexibility of £8,800,000 to cover net pressure on departmental administration costs. Administration 1 - 543 - 543 Budget* A draw down from central funds of £819,000 for Near-cash in 1 338 49 345 394 implementing International Financial Reporting Standards. RDEL* A transfer from the Cabinet Office of £529,000 for Capital DEL** - - 217 - 217 Parliamentary Counsel. Less 21 - -335 - -335 *** Transfers from the Department for Work and Pensions Depreciation of £372,000 for Child Poverty and the Joint Birth Total DEL 22 - 425 - 425 * Registration. The total of the ’Administration budget’ and ’Near-cash in Resource DEL’ figures may well be greater than total resource DEL, Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services due to the definitions overlapping. and Skills **Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in estimates and accounts but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets. Resource DEL ***Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded The increase in the resource element of the DEL of from total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to £10,318,000 arises from an increase in the voted element include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. of the resource DEL of £13,833,000 and a decrease of £3,515,000 in the non-voted element of resource DEL. The change in the resource element of DEL arises from: Voted Resource DEL An increase in salaries provision of £2,201,000 from £8,638,000 to £10,839,000. The £13,833,000 increase in the voted element of the resource DEL arises from: An increase in other non-staff expenditure of £450,000 from £3,907,000 to £4,357,000. A transfer from the Department for Children, Schools and Families of £8,100,000 for Early Years Foundation Moving to reporting under International Reporting Stage inspections. Accounting Standards (IFRS) to record an increase of £15,000 for employer liability relating to untaken annual A movement from non voted Departmental Unallocated leave. Provision of £3,515,000 to invest in change projects to deliver long term efficiency. An Increase in Appropriations in Aid provision of £2,665,000 from £12,497,000 to £15,162,000. An increase of £2,618,000 relating to IFRS treatment of a lease. An increase in Notional Audit costs of £21,000 from £35,000 to £56,000. A transfer of resource to capital of £400,000 to cover changes related to IFRS treatment of a lease. A decrease in the Depreciation provision of £21,000 from £356,000 to £335,000. Non Voted Resource DEL The £3,515,000 decrease in the non voted element of the resource DEL arises from: HM Revenue and Customs (DEL) A movement to voted resource from non voted Departmental Unallocated Provision of £3,515,000 to invest in change projects to deliver long-term efficiency. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Stephen Voted Capital DEL Timms): Subject to parliamentary approval of the The £400,000 increase in the voted element of the Supplementary Estimate, the HM Revenue and Customs capital DEL arises from: total DEL will be increased by £68,529,000 from £4,063,850,000 to £4,132,379,000. Within the total DEL A transfer of resource to capital of £400,000 to cover change, the impact on resources and capital are as set changes related to IFRS treatment of a lease. out in the following table:

£’000 Change New DEL TREASURY Non- Non- Voted voted Voted voted Total

Government Actuary’s Department (DEL) Resource DEL 25,206 46,286 3,703,057 397,623 4,100,680 Of which: Administration 24,206 46,286 3,982,092 46,286 4,028,378 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Ian Pearson): Budget* Subject to parliamentary approval of any necessary Near-cash in 22,243 46,286 3,378,640 431,771 3,810,411 Supplementary Estimate, the Government Actuary’s RDEL* Department total DEL will be increased by £22,000 Capital** - - 241,633 - 241,633 23WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 24WS

The draw down of End Year Flexibility of £1,000,000 £’000 programme near cash in accordance with the Public Change New DEL Expenditure outturn White paper (CM 7606) to fund Non- Non- Voted voted Voted voted Total expenditure on the Glover Portal. A transfer of £1,574,000 administration near cash from Less -2,963 - -209,934 - -209,934 *** the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for counsel costs Depreciation relating to pages of new legislation. Total DEL 22,243 46,286 3,734,756 397,623 4,132,379 *The total of the ’Administration budget’ and ’Near-cash in A transfer of £379,000 administration near cash from Resource DEL’ figures may well be greater than total resource DEL, the Northern Ireland Executive for work relating to the due to the definitions overlapping. aggregates levy. ** Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in estimates and The change in the administration budget arises from accounts but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets. ***Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded the specific administration items detailed in the resource from total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to element above. include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. Departmental Expenditure Limits The change in the resource element of DEL arises primarily from: The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Sarah A draw down of the Modernisation Fund of £65,741,000 McCarthy-Fry): Subject to Parliamentary approval of administration near cash to support costs for delivering the Spring Supplementary Estimate, HM Treasury’s modernisation and transformation across the Department. Resource DEL will be increased by £9,401,000 from A net increase of £2,797,000 administration non-cash £230,747,000 to £240,148,000. The Administration Budget to effect changes under International Financial Reporting will be increased by £6,431,000 from £180,145,000 to Standards (IFRS) where assets are in HMRC’s balance £186,576,000. The impact on resources, including the sheet in Estimates and Accounts administration budget is set out in the following table:

Change New DEL Voted Non-voted Voted Non-voted Total

Resource 9,401,000 - 219,304,000 20,844,000 240,148,000 of which: Administration budget* 6,431,000 - 186,576,000 - 186,576,000 Near cash in RDEL* 9,401,000 - 209,619,000 31,444,000 241,063,000 Capital** - - 154,800,000 2,142,000 156,942,000 Less: Depreciation*** - - -7,915,000 - -7,915,000 Total 9,401,000 - 366,189,000 22,986,000 389,175,000 *The total of the ’Administration budget’ and ’Near-cash in Resource DEL’ figures may well be greater than total resource DEL, due to the definitions overlapping. **Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in estimates and accounts but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets. ***Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting.

The net increase in resource DEL of £9,401,000 is the £183,749. Within DEL change, the impact on resources net effect of the take up of Administration Budget and capital are set out in the following table: (£3,200,000) and Programme (£2,500,000) EYF in RfR1 Section A to fund the costs of the increased workload Change New DEL arising from financial stability work and spending on Non- Non- the Money Guidance project and the draw down from Voted voted Voted Voted Total the Modernisation Fund of £3,700,000 administration Resource 150 - 183,749 - 183,749 costs to fund costs associated with the Fast Forward IT Del: project. Of which: - The Administration Budget is increasing by £6,431,000, Administration 150 - 183,749 - 183,749 which is the net effect of the EYF take up (£3,200,000) budget: and the draw down from the Modernisation Fund Near cash in 150 - 179,254 - 179,254 (£3,700,000) outlined above, less a transfer of £469,000 RDEL: to programme spending. Capital - - 3,176 - 3,176 Depreciation* - - -3,015 - -3,015 Total 150 - 183,910 - 183,910 National Savings and Investments (DEL) *Depreciation which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Sarah McCarthy-Fry): Subject to Parliamentary approval of The change in the resource element of DEL arises from: any necessary Supplementary Estimate, National Savings Transfer of holiday pay accrual from Annually Managed and Investments DEL will be increased by £150,000 to Expenditure (AME) to DEL. 25WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 26WS

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (iv) a net decrease in receipts of £1,549,000 comprising offsetting: decreases in provision of: Departmental Expenditure Limits (a) £10,000,000 for Central Administration following surrender of the Ashdown House lease. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local offset by increases in provision of: Government (Mr. John Denham): Subject to parliamentary (b) £3,580,000 for the Ordnance Survey Trading Fund approval of any necessary Supplementary Estimate, the as a result of changes in the targeted rate of return and Department for Communities and Local Government’s value of net assets employed; Departmental Expenditure Limits for 2009-10 will change as follows: (c) £1,800,000 for Central Administration (Other Current) for staff on loan to the Homes and Communities Agency; (1) the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Main Programmes DEL will be decreased (d) £1,768,000 for the Government Offices for work by £14,110,000 from £13,673,055,000 to £13,658,945,000 being undertaken on behalf of sponsor departments; and the administration budget will be increased by (e) £1,200,000 for the Queen Elizabeth II Conference £1,819,000 from £273,064,000 to £274,883,000. Within Centre Agency as a result of a change in the target rate the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital of return and value of net assets employed; are as set out in the following table: (f) £103,000 for Fire Control Rooms for the recovery of Change NEW DEL accommodation costs for the maintenance of the newly built Regional Control Centres from the relevant Fire Non- Non- Voted voted Voted voted Total Authorities. (v) a net transfer of £26,419,000 from non-voted to Resource 51,092 -43,919 3,942,370 609,884 4,552,254 voted provision comprising: Of which Administration 1,819 0 274,883 0 274,883 from voted to non-voted provision budget* Programme Expenditure Near-cash in -3,431 10,541 3,843,705 511,073 4,354,778 RDEL (a) £7,117,000 to the Homes and Communities Agency Capital ** -15,277 -19,723 2,128,029 7,014,741 9,142,770 from Growth Areas, New Growth Points and Eco-towns Depreciation*** 5,717 8,000 -30,333 -5,746 -36,079 in respect of: Total 41,532 -55,642 6,040,066 7,618,879 13,658,945 (i) Eco-towns, to make funding awards to the four Eco-town *The total of ’Administration budget’ and ’Near-cash in resource DEL’ figures authorities (£6,617,000); may be greater than total resource DEL due to the definitions overlapping. ** Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in Estimates and accounts but (ii) the Advisory Team on Large Applications (ATLAS) funding which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets (£500,000); ***Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL, since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation (b) £3,225,000 to Thames Gateway Thurrock Urban of those assets would lead to double counting. Development Corporation from FireLink (£1,508,000) and Fire Control Rooms (£1,717,000) for fixed assets’ The change in the resource element of the DEL arises depreciation and interest costs. from: (c) a transfer of £105,493,000 from various voted (i) draw down of End of Year Flexibility of £21,000,000, programmes to the Departmental Unallocated Provision. comprising: from non-voted to voted provision Programme Expenditure (d) a transfer of £142,254,000 from the Departmental (a) £20,000,000 for the Mortgage Rescue Scheme to Unallocated Provision comprising: help vulnerable families at risk of repossession to stay in their homes; (i) European Regional Development Fund (£111,000,000) Administration Expenditure (ii) Community Empowerment (£10,000,000) in respect of anti-social behaviour (b) £1,000,000 for Central Administration in respect of the Enhanced Local Government Accrued Reporting (iii) Community Policy (£7,500,000) in respect of Connecting Communities project. (iv) Renewing Neighbourhoods (£2,632,000) in respect of Town (ii) a reduction of £17,500,000, from the Departmental Centre funding Unallocated Provision, to partly offset increased Fire pensions costs that resulted from backdating the revised (v) Area Based Grant (£2,241,000) commutation rate. (vi) Cumbria Floods Recovery (£1,000,000) (iii) a transfer in of £3,673,000 from other government (vii) Regeneration Strategy (£441,000) departments, comprising: (viii) Migration Impact Fund (£400,000) Programme Expenditure (ix) Housing Management (£200,000) (a) £2,854,000 from the Home Office in respect of their (x) Ordnance Survey Trading Fund (£3,580,000) contribution to the Migration Impact Fund; (xi) Residential Property Tribunal Service (£3,000,000) Administration Expenditure (xii) Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre Agency (£260,000) (b) £819,000 from the Cabinet Office for the work of The change in the administration budget arises from Parliamentary Counsel. a draw down of End of YearFlexibility of £1,000,000—see Items (iv) and (v) below have a net nil effect on the above section (i) and a transfer of £891,000 from the Departmental Expenditure Limit: Cabinet Office—see above section (iii)). 27WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 28WS

The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from £’000 (vi) a reduction of £35.000,000 comprising Change NEW DEL (a) £4,000,000 (part of £44,000,000) in respect of Support Non- Non- for Mortgage Interest, as agreed in the 2009 Pre-Budget Voted voted Voted voted Total Report. The balance of this (£40,000,000) will be effected Depreciation*** 0 0 0 -1,006 -1,006 by HM Treasury reducing the Department’s End of Total 29,700 300 25,672,822 118,323 25,791,145 YearFlexibility stock in the Public Expenditure Provisional *The total ‘Administration budget’ and ‘Near-cash in resource DEL’ figures Outturn 2009-10 White Paper; and may be greater than total resource DEL due to the definitions overlapping. ** Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in Estimates and accounts (b) £31,000,000 to offset increased prudential borrowing but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets cover for the Local Authority New Build programme as ** * Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL, since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include agreed at the 2009 Budget and extended in “Building depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. Britain’s Future.” Items (vii) and (viii) below have a net nil effect on the The change in the resource element of the DEL arises Departmental Expenditure Limit: from: (i) a transfer of £300,000 from voted to non-voted comprising a (vii) an increase in receipts of £15,937,000 offsetting transfer from Improvement, Transformation and Efficiency to the increases in provision of: £10,000,000 for Capital Pooled Standards Board for England to meet restructuring costs. Housing Receipts; £5,000,000 for Support for the Voluntary (ii) a switch of £32,000,000 from Resource to Capital for the and Community Sector in respect of the Community Local Government Public Service Agreement Performance Fund Builders project and £937,000 for Central Administration to meet commitments. for the purchase of carbon reduction efficient lighting The change in the capital element of the DEL arises systems and reimbursement by reclaim to Department from: of Energy and Climate Change. (i) a draw down of End Year Flexibility of £30,000,000 to meet (viii) a net transfer of £15,277,000 from voted to non-voted commitments for the Local Government Public Service Agreement provision comprising Performance Fund. from voted to non-voted provision (ii) a switch of £32,000,000 to Capital from Resource for the Local Government Public Service Agreement Performance Fund (a) £15,500,000 from Growth Areas, New Growth Points to meet commitments. and Eco-Towns to the Homes and Communities Agency to enable it to make funding awards to the four Eco-town authorities. (b) a transfer of £25,057,000 to the Departmental CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Unallocated Provision comprising Support for Voluntary & Community Sector Sustainability (£12,784,000); Capital Departmental Expenditure Limits Pooled Housing Receipts (£10,000,000); Fire and Rescue Service Improvement Programme (£2,139,000); and Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (£134,000). The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from non-voted to voted provision (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): Subject to Parliamentary approval, (c) transfers from the Departmental Unallocated Provision the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s total of £25,280,000 comprising: Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be increased (i) Fire Control Rooms (£24,963,000). The additional funding is by £78,600,000 from £2,060,368,000 to £2,138,968,000. required due to the delay in the transfer of the Regional Control Within the DEL change the impact on resource and Centre leases for the West Midlands and East of England; capital are set out in the following table: (ii) Fire and Rescue Service Improvement Programme (£315,000) Departmental Expenditure Limits for replacement of assets lost and damaged in the fire at the Fire Service College and Change New DEL £’000 (iii) European Regional Development Fund (£2,000) for token Non- Non- subhead to reinstate central and local authority spending from Voted voted Voted voted Total the European Regional Development Fund. Resource DEL 469 16,957 103,804 1,602,459 1,706,263 (2) The Department for Communities and Local of which: Government’s Local Government DEL will be increased Administration 55,133 55,133 by £30,000,000 from £25,761,145,000 to £25,791,145,000. budget* Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and Near-cash in 469 -6,895 94,425 1,350,986 1,445,411 capital are as set out in the following table: RDEL Capital** 53,477 7,949 -730,727 1,274,053 543,326 £’000 Less - -252 -6,405 -104,216 -110,621 *** Change NEW DEL Depreciation Non- Non- Total 53,946 24,654 -633,328 2,772,296 2,138,968 Voted voted Voted voted Total *The total of’ ‘Administration budget’ and ’Near-cash in Resource DEL’ figures are greater than total resource DEL, due to the definitions overlapping. Resource -32,300 300 25,446,700 118,351 25,565,051 **Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in Estimates and accounts Of which but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets. ***Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from total Administration DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation budget* of those assets would lead to double counting. Near-cash in -32,300 300 25,446,700 117,261 25,563,961 RDEL The change in the resource element of the DEL arises Capital ** 62,000 0 226,122 978 227,100 from: 29WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 30WS

A claim on the Reserve of £23,500,000 for provisions the Foreign & Commonwealth Office being their contribution to associated with the decommissioning costs of the Olympic the Information Assurance Technical Programme; and a transfer Stadium; an addition of £352,000 non-cash, to cover of £1,832,000 from the Department for International Development costs associated with a change in accounting policy as a being their contribution to the Global Pool (RfR2); consequence on implementing International Finance a net decrease in the cash release of provisions of £17,324,000 Reporting Standards (IFRS), less a switch of funding charged to RDEL (with a corresponding increase in the provision charge scored in AME) to reflect the latest forecast of out-turn; from resource to capital of £6,426,000. a further increase in Fiscal Capital Resource of £5,000,000 to The capital element of the DEL has increased by reflect Treasury relief for lower capital receipts in Northern £61,426,000 as a result of: Ireland than originally forecasted; The drawdown of £30,000,000 End Year Flexibility a net resource increase of £13,430,000 in non-cash depreciation (EYF) to meet agreed spending plans; the drawdown of and cost of capital costs to reflect the latest forecast cost of £25,000,000 EYF to cover access to reserves by our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; Non-Departmental Public Bodies; and, an additional to reallocate the net resource impact of £35,000,000 for employee £6,426,000 arising from the resource to capital switch benefits under IFRS trigger point 3 from AME to resource DEL, detailed above. reflecting the revised control framework for this item; to reflect the revised, and reduced, resource impact assessment of disclosing three PFI contracts as finance leases under IAS 17, being a credit of £21,000,000; DEFENCE to reflect the revised resource impact of a reduced service charge relating to Annington Homes of £18,000,000; MOD Votes A Annual Estimate 2010-11 to reflect the non-cash resource impact, in the amount of £26,000,000, of implementing IFRS 17 on three PFI off balance sheet contracts now reassessed as finance leases; to reflect the IFRS reduced near cash service charge of £178,000,000 The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): impact of disclosing IFRIC 12 PFI assets on MOD’s balance The “Ministry of Defence Votes A Estimate 2010-11” sheet; will be laid before the House on 23 February 2010 as HC 304. This outlines the maximum numbers of personnel to increase non-budget grants in aid (non-voted) for the Council to be maintained for each service in the armed forces of Reserve Forces and Cadets Association of £4,199,000 in the Central TLB and £4,943,000 in Land TLB; during financial year 2010-11. £210,000 for the Marine and Sea Cadets Society by reducing resource DEL current costs and increasing non-budget grants in Departmental Expenditure Limits aid with no overall impact on resource; to increase non-budget funding by £10,991,000 from within resource DEL to reflect the latest forecast of out-turn for the The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): Navy Command, Land Forces and Central TLBs; Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary to revise sub-head provisions to reflect resource and capital supplementary estimate, the Ministry of Defence revisions in allocations between holders to match required defence departmental expenditure limits will be increased by outputs, with no overall impact on DEL; £284,565,000 (voted and non-voted) from £39,596,111,000 To request a net increase in capital DEL of £160,695,000 to to £39,880,676,000. Within the DEL change, the impact reflect the latest forecast cost of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. on resources and capital is set out in the following table: The changes to resource DEL and capital DEL will lead to an increased net cash requirement of £935,052,000. £000s Change New DEL Non- Non- Voted Voted Voted voted Total ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Resource -33,261 222,266 38,660,976 439,112 39,100,088 Of which: Departmental Expenditure Limits Administration 211 - 2,237,948 - 2,237,948 Budget Near-cash in -100,650 250,355 26,277,470 668,551 26,946,021 RDEL The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Capital 178,695 - 9,227,484 851 9,228,335 (Edward Miliband): Subject to Parliamentary approval Depreciation* -83,265 -8,438,227 -9,520 -8,447,747 of any necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Department Total 62,169 222,396 39,450,233 430,443 39,880,676 of Energy and Climate Change Departmental Expenditure * Depreciation, which forms part of Resource DEL, is excluded from the total Limit (DEL) will decrease by £2,283,000 from DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending; to include depreciation of £3,102,677,000 to £3,100,394,000 and the Administration those assets would lead to double counting. Budget will be increased by £9,047,000 from £93,512,000 The changes to the resource and capital elements of to £102,559,000. the DEL arise from: Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and an increase of £100,000,000 direct resource near-cash relief in capital is as set out in the following table: RfRl, as agreed with Treasury; resource transfers into RfRl from the Cabinet Office being £’000 Change New DEL their contribution to MOD security costs of £6,000,000, transfers Non- Non- from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of £6,695,000 and Voted Voted Voted Voted Total £1,965,000 respectively for the Counter Narcotics Ground Force, a transfer of £211,000 from the Cabinet Office being their contribution Resource DEL -31,215 145,592 -735,996 1,955,536 1,219,540 to the Parliamentary Counsel cost, a transfer of £1,002,000 from Of which: 31WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 32WS

Voted Capital DEL £’000 Change New DEL Non- Non- The £10,864,000 increase in the voted element of Voted Voted Voted Voted Total Capital DEL arises from: Administration 9,047 - 102,559 - 102,559 An increase from central funds of £50,000,000 for the Budget* 2020 European Fund for Energy, Climate Change and Near Cash in -31,215 145,592 -759,528 2,000,030 1,240,502 Infrastructure (’Marguerite’). Resource DEL* Capital DEL** 10,864 -127,524 693,065 1,194,880 1,887,945 An increase of £39,401,000 in Nuclear Decommissioning Less - - -2,987 -4,104 -7,091 Authority non-operating appropriations-in-aid formerly Depreciation*** scored as Consolidated Fund Extra Receipts. Total DEL -20,351 18,068 -45,918 3,146,312 3,100,394 A transfer from the Department for Environment, Food *The total of ’Administration Budget’ and ’Near Cash in Resource DEL’ figures may well be greater than total Resource DEL, due to the definitions and Rural Affairs of £265,000 for the Anaerobic Digestion overlapping. Demonstration Programme. **Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in Estimates and accounts but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets. Non-voted Capital DEL ***Depreciation, which forms part of Resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL in the table above, since Capital DEL includes capital spending and The £127,524,000 decrease in the non-voted element to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. of Capital DEL arises from: A transfer from Capital to Resource DEL for the Nuclear Resource DEL Decommissioning Authority of £126,823,000. The increase in the Resource element of the DEL of An increase of £40,102,000 in Consolidated Fund Extra £114,377,000 arises from a decrease in the voted element Receipts for the repayment of Offshore Wind Capital of Resource DEL of £31,215,000 and an increase of Grants. £145,592,000 in the non-voted element of Resource DEL. A decrease of £39,401,000 in Consolidated Fund Extra Receipts for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Voted Resource DEL now scored as non-operating appropriations-in-aid. The £31,215,000 decrease in the voted element of Administration budget Resource DEL arises from: The increase of £9,047,000 in the Administration Budget The take up of Departmental Unallocated Provision of arises from: £22,800,000. A transfer of £343,000 from the Cabinet Office for A transfer from Programme DEL of £7,500,000 for Parliamentary Counsel Office costs. DECC transition costs. An increase to DEL of £211,000 following the adoption A transfer from Programme DEL of £1,000,000 for of International Accounting Standard (IAS) 19 for consumer levies administration costs. accrued employee benefits. A transfer of £343,000 from the Cabinet Office for Parliamentary Counsel Office costs. An increase of £40,748,000 in Nuclear Decommissioning Authority operating appropriations-in-aid. An increase to Administration DEL of £204,000 following the adoption of IAS19 for accrued employee benefits. A transfer to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of £12,500,000 for cost pressures on Common Agricultural Policy disallowance. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS An increase of £821,000 in operating appropriations-in-aid for the Committee on Climate Change. Evidence Investment Strategy A transfer to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills of £500,000 for the National Skills Academy The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for for Power. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Norris): I Non-voted Resource DEL have arranged for copies of DEFRA’s new Evidence The £145,592,000 increase in non-voted Resource Investment Strategy (EIS) which provides an agenda to DEL arises from: prioritise and manage DEFRA’s investment in evidence from 2010 to 2013 and beyond to be placed in the A transfer from Capital to Resource DEL for the Nuclear Libraries of both Houses. It highlights the need to focus Decommissioning Authority of £126,823,000. efforts on the interlinked challenges of climate change, An increase of £40,748,000 in Nuclear Decommissioning protecting ecosystems and developing a sustainable food Authority DEL offsetting the increase in appropriations- supply. The strategy will ensure that DEFRA has access in-aid. to the best evidence when developing and implementing An increase of £821,000 in Committee on Climate policies. The strategy is available at: http://www.defra. Change DEL offsetting the increase in appropriations- gov.uk/evidence/science/how/strategy.htm in-aid. DEFRA’s Chief Scientific Adviser led a detailed review The take up in voted Resource DEL of Departmental of DEFRA’s evidence activities and worked in collaboration Unallocated Provision of £22,800,000. with teams across DEFRA and the evidence landscape (including the executive agencies, non departmental Capital DEL public bodies and key external stakeholders) to develop The decrease in the Capital element of the DEL of the strategy. The EIS will build on the progress made by £116,660,000 arises from an increase in the voted element DEFRA’s first evidence strategy, Our approach to Evidence of Capital DEL of £10,864,000 and a decrease of and Innovation for 2005-08, encouraging better use of £127,524,000 in the non-voted element of Capital DEL. evidence for policy-making. 33WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 34WS

The strategy contains a number of recommendations has materialised this year. The remainder of the transfers including the importance of working with others, both within resource DEL, between voted and non-voted, internally and through partnerships with the research primarily relate to budget transfers from the core councils and other Government Departments, and Department (voted) to the Department’s Non Departmental developing skills, expertise and capabilities which will Public Bodies (non-voted). improve DEFRA’s gathering and use of evidence. The change in the capital element of the DEL of £29,735,000 arises from: (i) a transfer of £30,000,000 from resource to capital for the Environment Agency; and (ii) a transfer of £265,000 to the Department of Departmental Expenditure Limits Energy and Climate Change for anaerobic digestion of manure and food waste demonstration projects. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for There has also been a transfer within the capital Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Norris): Subject element of the DEL of £8,040,000 from voted to non-voted to Parliamentary approval of any necessary supplementary relating to budget transfers from the core Department estimate, the Department for Environment, Food and (voted) to the Department’s Non Departmental Public Rural Affairs departmental expenditure limit (DEL) Bodies (non-voted). will be increased by £41,608,000 (1.32 per cent.) from £3,149,133,000 to £3,190,741,000. The administration budget will be increased by £200,000 (0.07 per cent.) FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE from £304,296,000 to £304,496,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital is set out in the following table: Hong Kong

£’000s The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Change New DEL Affairs (David Miliband): The latest report on the Non- Non- Voted voted Total Voted voted Total implementation of the Sino-British joint declaration on Hong Kong was published today. Copies have been Resource 404,844 -392,971 11,873 4,405,871 -1,684,991 2,720,880 placed in the Library of the House. A copy of the Of which: report is also available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Administration 200 - 200 304,496 - 304,496 Office website: www.fco.gov.uk. The report covers the Budget period from 1 July to 31 December 2009. I commend Near-cash 389,547 -377,674 11,873 4,138,436 -1,752,988 2,385,448 the report to the House. in Resource DEL Capital -8,305 38,040 29,735 262,071 432,179 694,250 Departmental Expenditure Limits Depreciation* 9,450 -9,450 - -115,820 -108,569 -224,389 Total 405,989 -364,381 41,608 4,552,122 -1,361,381 3,190,741 *Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL since capital DEL includes The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth capital spending of those assets would lead to double counting. Affairs (David Miliband): Subject to Parliamentary approval The change in the resource element of the DEL of of any necessary supplementary estimate, the Foreign £11,873,000 arises from: (i) a transfer of £30,000,000 and Commonwealth Office departmental expenditure programme from resource to capital for the Environment limit (DEL) will be increased by £94,354,000 from Agency; (ii) a £30,000,000 increase to programme following £2,246,893,000 to £2,341,247,000. The administration an agreement with HM Treasury to bring forward part budget will be increased by £29,444,000 from £426,845,000 of next year’s ring-fenced disallowance provision to to £456,289,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on cover a Rural Payments Agency (RPA) disallowance resources and capital are as set out in the following issue that has materialised this year; (iii) a transfer of table: £827,000 programme to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland for £000 transmissible spongiform encephalopathy responsibility; Change New DEL (iv) a transfer of £12,500,000 programme from the Non- Non- Department of Energy and Climate Change, returning Voted Voted Voted Voted Total funding DEFRA previously provided for the Carbon Resource 107,354 - 2,237,987 3,000 2,240,987 Capture and Storage Front-End Engineering Design Of which: (FEED) studies; and (v) a transfer of £200,000 Administration 29,444 - 456,289 - 456,289 administration from the Cabinet Office for the Office of budget * Parliamentary Counsel. Near-cash in 107,354 - 2,027,933 16,000 2,043,933 There has also been a transfer within the resource Resource DEL element of the DEL of £355,481,000 from voted to Capital** -13,000 - 203,310 - 203,310 non-voted. This relates to increases in income and Depreciation *** - - -103,050 - -103,050 expenditure for the EU funded schemes. This change is Total 94,354 - 2,338,247 3,000 2,341,247 * The total of Administration budget and Near-cash in Resource DEL figures DEL neutral, but the expenditure is classed as voted, may well be greater than total resource DEL, due to the definitions whereas the income is classed as non-voted consolidated overlapping. fund extra receipts. ** Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in Estimates and accounts but which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets. There has been a transfer of the remaining £26,000,000 *** Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from the Departmental Unallocated Provision from non-voted total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include to voted to cover in part an RPA disallowance issue that depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting 35WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 36WS

The change in the resource element of the DEL arises Sri Lanka from: Request for Resources 1 Administration The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (David Miliband): I would like to update the I. Take-up of £5,700,000 administration costs in respect House on recent developments in the political and of restructuring. humanitarian situations in Sri Lanka. II. A claim on the Reserve of £6,000,000 administration Since the end of the fighting last May between the costs in respect of modernisation of the FCO. Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of III. A transfer of £11,000 administration from the Tamil Eelam there has been a unique opportunity for Cabinet Office in respect of charging for legal services the Government to work with all communities in Sri by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. Lanka to achieve lasting peace through genuine national IV. A transfer of £1,002,000 administration to MOD in reconciliation. The UK has continued to make the case respect of the FCO’s contribution to the information that this can only come about through a fully inclusive assurance technical programme. political process to address the underlying causes of the conflict. V. A transfer of £16,000,000 capital to administration in respect of exchange rate pressures. This amount Elections includes £3,000,000 transferred from Capital EYF. Following the presidential election of 26 January the VI. A transfer of £2,735,000 other current AME to Prime Minister wrote to President Rajapakse and I have administration DEL in respect of FCO staff costs for spoken with Foreign Minister Bogollogama. Together accrued annual leave. with others, such as the Secretaries-General of the UN and the Commonwealth and the EU High Representative, Programme we have urged President Rajapakse to use his new I. A claim on the Reserve of £44,464,000 current grants mandate to make real progress on national reconciliation. in respect of the International Subscriptions cost-sharing The President has made some positive comments about agreement. the need to focus on the concerns of Tamils and to discuss the devolution of powers. Setting out his plans II. A claim on the Reserve of £25,060,000 other current for political reform would be a welcome next step. in respect of Consular Premiums. Election monitors and the Election Commissioner III. A transfer of £5,500,000 other current from DFID were united in declaring the result of the election valid. in respect of the Returns and Reintegration Fund. But they voiced concerns about aspects of the election IV. A transfer of £77,000 other current from DFID in campaign, including incidences of violence and allegations respect of the Iraqi LE staff assistance scheme. of electoral malpractice. We have been encouraging the V. A transfer of £10,000 other current from DFID in Government to address these concerns by conducting respect of the Low Carbon High Growth Strategic thorough investigations into any allegations and to Programme Fund. encourage an atmosphere of calm by reaching out to those who did not support the President. There have, VI. A transfer of £6,695,000 other current to MOD in however, been worrying reports of a clampdown on respect of counter-narcotics work in Afghanistan. those who did not support President Rajapakse. The VII. A transfer of £1,965,000 other current to MOD in arrest of his principal challenger in the election, Sarath respect of counter-narcotics work in Afghanistan. Fonseka, has done nothing to ease tensions. The VIII. A transfer of £500,000 other current to the Security Government needs to ensure that all detainees, including and Intelligence Agencies for expansion and capability. Fonseka, are treated strictly in accordance with Sri Lankan law. IX. A transfer of £2,000,000 from RfRl to RfR2 for FCO’s contribution to the Helmand uplift for Stabilisation The next opportunity for Sri Lankans to elect their and Conflict Prevention. political representatives will be the Parliamentary elections that are expected to take place on 8 April. The Prime Capital Minister has encouraged the President to ensure that I. Take up of £3,000,000 Capital EYF in respect of a measures are in place to remove the scope for allegations transfer to administration costs. of malpractice. I have underlined to Foreign Minister II. A transfer of £ 16,000,000 capital to administration Bogollogama the importance of making it possible for in respect of exchange rate pressures. all Sri Lankans to vote. While we welcomed the high national turnout in the presidential election of 70 per Request for Resources 2 cent., this dropped to less than 30 per cent. in the north Programme and east. An election in which all communities can I. A benefit to HMT Reserve of £14,000,000 in respect select their representatives of choice could advance the of Stabilisation and Conflict Prevention. prospects for genuine reconciliation. II. A transfer of £14,700,000 from DFID in respect of We will continue to engage with the Government and discretionary peacekeeping funds. other political parties in Sri Lanka to encourage a process of political reform. In recognition of the potentially III. A transfer of £11,259,000 from DFID in respect of positive contribution they could make to that process, Stabilisation and Conflict Prevention. we also continue to engage with the Tamil, Muslim and IV. A transfer of £2,000,000 from RfRl to RfR2 for Sinhalese communities based in the UK. This includes FCO’s contribution to the Helmand uplift for Stabilisation the activities of Des Browne MP, the Prime Minister’s and Conflict Prevention. special envoy for Sri Lanka. I will be addressing the 37WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 38WS forthcoming London conference of the global Tamil 29,000 vulnerable people have been housed with host Forum to encourage a forward-looking, constructive families or in institutions. It is important that vulnerable approach. people have been housed with host families or in institutions. It is important that IDPs continue to be able to return Accountability to their home areas as soon as it is safe to do so. The EU has made clear its view that a credible The Government’s announcement on 1 December process to address alleged violations of international that all IDPs still in the camps would be granted freedom humanitarian law by both sides during the conflict of movement was a positive step. However, some restrictions could also contribute to the process of reconciliation. remain in place and we will continue to encourage the The US State Department report on the conflict in Sri Government to ease those. Lanka and the statement by Philip Alston, the UN special rapporteur for extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary We will continue to work with international partners executions, underline the need for a credible and and with the Sri Lankan Government to encourage independent investigation. We continue to make this progress on reconciliation, accountability and human clear to the Sri Lankan Government, most recently rights as a basis for the lasting peace all Sri Lankans when I spoke to Foreign Minister Bogollogama earlier want and deserve. this month. We await with interest the findings of the committee set up by President Rajapakse to look into the State Department report. HEALTH Human Rights and GSP+ A third way in which the GoSL could encourage genuine reconciliation would be through greater promotion Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and protection of human rights, including media freedoms, and by tackling the culture of impunity. I have reinforced to Foreign Minister Bogollogama the importance of The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): I producing and implementing a human rights national am publishing today the “Consultation on Services for action plan, as was agreed at the UN Human Rights Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in England”. Council periodic review of Sri Lanka in 2008. On 19 October the European Commission published Since 2005 the Department, the National Health its report into Sri Lanka’s compliance with three of the Service and other key stakeholders have been working conventions linked to Sri Lanka being a beneficiary of together to identify the best ways to improve care and the GSP+ scheme. The report was clear about Sri outcomes for those people with chronic obstructive Lanka’s failings in its implementation of the International pulmonary disease and to reduce the overall prevalence Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the convention of the condition. Following this work we have developed against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading a set of recommendations for the NHS, further action treatment or punishment, and the convention on the for the Department and we are now consulting with rights of the child. The report reinforces our concerns stakeholders. This document represents the final about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and we consultation stage before we publish the final strategy. share the Commission’s assessment. We estimate that over three million people in England On 15 February the UK and other member states live with this condition. One person dies in England of supported the Commission’s formal recommendation COPD every 20 minutes—a loss of about 25,000 lives to withdraw GSP+ benefits from Sri Lanka. This will every year. COPD is also the second most common come into effect on 15 August, six months following the cause of emergency admission and the fifth largest date of the decision. We continue to urge the Government cause for readmission to hospital. It is also one of the to engage constructively with the European Commission most costly, in terms of acute hospital care. and to take all necessary steps to address the serious It has therefore become clear that we need to change concerns highlighted in the Commission’s report. our approach to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and Humanitarian Situation management of the condition. As we have developed the strategy we have had extensive engagement with The UK’s most immediate priority since the end of people with COPD and their carers the conflict has been to work for an improvement in the humanitarian situation. By the end of the fighting there The strategy offers a real opportunity to make a were over 280,000 internally displaced people in camps difference to people with COPD and their carers. Successful in the north of Sri Lanka. We have been advocating an implementation will require ongoing commitment and improvement in conditions inside the camps and for ambition and the engagement and involvement of all IDPs to be able to return to their home areas as soon as stakeholders. it is safe to do so. Since September 2008, the UK, The strategy does not define how each aspect of care through the Department for International Development, should be delivered. We think services need to be sensitively has also allocated £12.5 million to the humanitarian planned and appropriately delivered in response to the response. needs of each local community. However, the strategy is Conditions in the camps have improved and there has designed to support local service plans within the NHS, been progress in the return of IDPs. UN official figures and to complement other related national and local estimate that as of 15 January around 187,500 people initiatives. This will include the clinical guidelines developed have been released from the camps, of which 158,500 by NICE and other broader health promotion initiatives have been able to return to their home areas, while such as the national tobacco control programme. With 39WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 40WS better co-ordinated and integrated services, we can provide Departmental Expenditure Limits care that better meets the complex needs of people with COPD and meets their expectations. Because of the magnitude of the burden of asthma, The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. Mike we have given separate attention to that condition within O’Brien): Subject to the necessary Supplementary Estimates, this strategy, highlighting where there are synergies in the Department of Health’s element of the Departmental the approach to the care of these conditions and where Expenditure Limit (DEL) will increase by £214,306,000 there are differences. It also highlights some aspects of from £105,349,954,000 to £105,564,260,000 and the good asthma services. Administration Cost Limit increases by £4,426,000 from “Consultation on Services for Chronic Obstructive £213,765,000 to £218,191,000. The Food Standards Agency Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in England”has been placed DEL decreases by £1,500,000 from £134,987,000 to in the Library and copies are available for hon. Members £133,487,000. The overall DEL including the Food from the Vote Office. Standards Agency will increase by £212,806,000 from The consultation will run from 23 February to 5 April £105,484,941,000 to £105,697,747,000. The impact on 2010. resource and capital are set out in the following table:

CHANGE New DEL Voted £m Non-voted £m Voted £m Non-voted £m Total £m

Department of Health Resource DEL 377.033 -37.925 101,795.986 -1,507.778 100,288.208 of which: Administration Budget * 4.426 - 218.191 - 218.191 Near-cash in Resource DEL 256.448 -28.276 96,935.132 -208.409 96,726.723 Capital DEL 11.646 -136.448 2,650.151 2,625.901 5,276.052 Total Department of Health DEL 388.679 -174.373 104,446.137 1,118.123 105,564.260 Depreciation ** 30.042 -109.422 -902.961 -177.166 -1,080.127 Total Department of Health spending 418.721 -283.795 103,543.176 940.957 104,484.133 (after adjustment)

Food Standards Agency Resource DEL 2.000 -3.500 136.371 -3.500 132.871 of which: Administration Budget * 2.000 51.894 51.894 Near-cash in Resource DEL 137.214 137.214 Capital DEL 0.616 0.616 Total Food Standards Agency DEL 2.000 136.987 -3.500 133.487 Depreciation ** -1.908 -1.908 Total Food Standards Agency 2.000 -3.500 135.079 -3.500 131.579 spending (after adjustment) * The total of “administration budget” and “Near-cash in Resource DEL” figures may well be greater than the total resource DEL, due to definitions overlapping. ** Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL since the capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting.

The Department of Health DEL has increased by a transfer from the capital budget to the revenue budget of £214,306,000 made up of: £200,000,000 to meet existing commitments on pandemic flu. a transfer of £568,000 from the Ministry of Justice, mainly for The Department of Health’s administration cost limit prison healthcare services; has increased by £4,426,000 as detailed above. a transfer of £2,854,000 from the Home Office as the Department’s The change to the Food Standards Agency element share of a contribution to the migration impact fund; of the DEL is due to: a transfer of £280,000 to the Department for International Development for the healthy living fund; an increase in the administration budget of £2,000,000 to fund reorganisation within FSA headquarters; and a transfer from the Cabinet Office of £426,000 (administration costs) for services of the Parliamentary Counsel; and a decrease of £3,500,000 programme cost identified savings in relation to research and campaign activity. an increase of £210,738,000 for changes in accounting policies resulting from the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards. HOME DEPARTMENT In addition, the following internal transfers were Departmental Expenditure Limits made: a transfer of £4,000,000 from programme to administration costs to meet additional costs arising from the Swine Flu The Secretary of State for the Home Department programme, reform of Care and Support and the NHS Next (Alan Johnson): Subject to Parliamentary approval of Stage Review; and the necessary supplementary estimates, the Home Office’s 41WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 42WS

Departmental expenditure limits for 2009-10 will be £000’s increased by £135,354,000 from £10,242,220,000 to £10,377,574,000 and the administration budget will o/w near o/w be reduced by £276,293,000 from £675,540,000 to (a) Total cash Admin £399,247,000. Programme switched (30,000) (30,000) to capital within the Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and Departmental capital are as set out in the following table: Unallocated Provision (DUP) to meet £’000 forecast capital expenditure. See Change New DEL section (b) for the capital DUP Non- Non- drawdown. Voted voted Voted voted Total Re-classification of (262,836) admin into programme Resource 46,564 (85,434) 8,589,149 980,335 9,569,484 as a result of the DEL winter supplementary machinery of Of which: government transfer from HM Revenue and Customs. Administration (241,071) (35,222) 246,339 152,908 399,247 budget * Transfers to other (29,598) (29,247) (14,792) Government Near-cash in 41,153 (92,736) 8,418,215 930,329 9,348,544 Departments: RDEL * Admin from Central (14,792) (14,441) (14,792) Capital ** 189,300 (300) 726,561 280,520 1,007,081 Services (section G) to the Ministry of Justice Less (4,976) (9,800) (133,867) (65,124) (198,991) to fund shared central depreciation support expenditure. *** Programme from the DUP to fund Total 230,888 (95,534) 9,181,843 1,195,731 10,377,574 Migration Impact expenditure to the * The total of the “Administration Budget”’ and “Near-cash in Resource DEL” following departments: figures may well be greater than total resource DEL, due to the definitions overlapping. Department for (5,371) (5,371) **Capital DEL includes items treated as resource in Estimates and accounts but Business Innovation which are treated as Capital DEL in budgets. and Skills ***Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation of Department for (2,854) (2,854) those assets would lead to double counting. Children Schools and Families £000’s o/w near o/w Department of Health (2,854) (2,854) (a) Total cash Admin Department for (2,854) (2,854) The change in the resource (38,870) (51,583) (276,293) Communities and element of the DEL arises Local Government from: Reduction in (600) (600) Classification Changes: (37,944) (37,944) (262,836) programme in the Treatment of Office for Security and recording employee Counter Terrorism benefits in accordance (section D) with International representing a decrease Financial Reporting in the balance of Standards (IFRS) counter terrorism moves from AME to funding returned to programme DEL. The the Home Office by sections affected are: the Cabinet Office. Identity and Passport 500 500 Programme from (273) (273) Service (section F). Central Services UK Border Agency 453 453 (section G) to the (section E). Ministry of Justice for Central Services 59 59 science and technology (section G). costs. Police (section A). 28 28 Transfers from other 1,232 1,232 1,232 Office for Security and 16 16 government Counter Terrorism departments: (section D). Admin from the 856 856 856 Programme switched (9,000) (9.000) Cabinet Office to to capital within Police Central Services (section A) to meet (section G) for the forecast capital Parliamentary Counsel expenditure. Office. 43WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 44WS

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT £000’s

o/w near o/w (a) Total cash Admin EU Development Ministers Meeting (Segovia) Increase in admin in 376 376 376 Central Services (section G) following the reversal of a The Minister of State, Department for International previous transfer to Development (Mr. Gareth Thomas): The informal meeting the Ministry of Justice of EU Development Ministers, organised by the Spanish for payroll services. presidency, took place in Segovia, Spain, on 17 and End Year Flexibility: 17,051 17,051 0 18 February. I represented the UK. Programme to section 17,051 17,051 The items covered were as follows: EtomeetUKBA’s The Millennium Development Goals Review Summit strategic objective to “secure our borders This session focused on EU preparations for the and control migration MDGs summit in New York in September 2010. The for the benefit of our new Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and country”. the presidency underlined the importance of the summit Adoption of 10,389 (2,675) 103 to galvanising support for poverty reduction before the International Financial 2015 MDG target date. The UK, alongside the Reporting Standards Commission, a number of other member states and (IFRS): civil society representatives, argued that the EU should Increase in programme 10,308 (3,370) demonstrate global leadership through a comprehensive for the UK Border package that would include commitments to those goals Agency (section E) to most at risk, particularly maternal and child health, reflect the accounting food security and education. The Commission welcomed treatment of finance leases under IFRS. the clear steer from Ministers and will reflect this in its proposals planned to be put to the May and June Change in admin and 81 695 103 Foreign Affairs Councils. The overall EU position will programme for the UK then go to the June European Council for agreement by Border Agency (section E) as a result leaders. of a revised forecast of Financing for Development the cost of reporting employee benefits in I underlined the importance of honouring our EU accordance with IFRS. Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitments. While alternative financing mechanisms, including from (b) Capital Total the private sector, are likely to form an increasingly significant part of meeting the global development and The change in the capital element of the 189,000 climate challenges, ODA will remain the core contribution DEL arises from: and our pledges must be met. I shared the UK’s experience End Year Flexibility: 150,000 of increasing ODA to a position where we will meet the Capital to the Office for Security and 68,555 0.7 per cent. GNI target by 2013 and there was considerable Counter Terrorism (section D) to meet interest in our draft legislation to make this commitment strategic delivery objective “Protect the public from terrorism”. a legal obligation. Several member states highlighted Capital to the Police (section A) to 50,953 the challenge of meeting the targets in the current meet the strategic delivery objective economic environment, though all member states reaffirmed ’Lead visible, responsive and the importance of the commitment. The Commission accountable policing’. and presidency will work further on suggestions for Capital to the United Kingdom 30,492 enhancing the accountability of member states to meet Border Agency (section E) to meet their pledges including an annual review of progress by strategic delivery objective “Secure our Heads of Government and delivery plans to 0.7 per borders and control migration for the benefit of the country”. cent. for member states. Classification changes: 39,000 By special invitation, Norway presented on its work Programme switched to capital within 9,000 on combating tax evasion and tax havens. In response Police (section A) to meet forecast to the presentation and a Commission discussion paper, capital expenditure. Ministers noted the importance of mobilising domestic Drawdown of capital in the DUP to resources in developing partner countries as a key step meet the latest forecast budgeted in reducing dependency on aid and harnessing finance expenditure in the following areas: for poverty reduction. In this context, economic growth, Office for Security and Counter 4,811 support to improving partner countries’ tax systems, Terrorism (section D). tackling illegal financial flows and corruption and Office for Security and Counter 8,889 Terrorism grants (section K). addressing tax havens where noted as particularly important. UK Border Agency (section E). 10,000 The French led a call for the presidency to ensure that innovative proposals on taxation and financing were Identity and Passport Services (section 6,300 discussed by both Development and Finance Ministers F). given the shared interest. The Commission will draft a 45WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 46WS paper for Ministers at the May Foreign Affairs Council Change New DEL £’000 on enhancing work on tackling tax evasion in developing countries. Non- Non- Voted voted Voted voted Total More effective EU development assistance Near-cash in 233,047 -266,145 4,437,111 846,815 5,283,926 Alongside the quantity of aid, we discussed improving RDEL the quality of that aid. The Commission presented Capital 9,750 -9,750 1,365,750 - 1,365,750 work on the improving the complementarity and DEL** co-ordination of EU aid. Less 1,931 - -18,069 - -18,069 Transatlantic relations Depreciation*** The new Administrator of the United States’ Agency Total DEL 255,478 -286,645 5,890,542 836,065 6,726,607 for International Development (USAID), Dr. Shah, *The total of the ’Administration Budget’ and ’Near Cash in Resource DEL’ figures may well be greater than total Resource presented his priorities to the group. These were: a DEL, due to the definitions overlapping. strong focus on the MDGs, particularly how technology **Capital DEL includes items treated as Resource in Estimates and can be deployed in support of development; maternal Accounts, but which are treated as Capital DEL in Budgets. health; food security; and education. Dr. Shah emphasised ***Depreciation, which forms part of Resource DEL, is excluded his desire to build an effective and practical partnership from the total DEL since Capital DEL includes Capital spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double with the EU on development issues, something already counting. in evidence and underlined by the response to the Haiti earthquake. EU Ministers welcomed his appointment The net change in the Resource element of DEL and pledged to take forward this important relationship arises from: on a range of issues, not least the 2010 MDG summit. Additions Haiti £280,000 transferred from the Department of Health in respect of International Health Links Funding Scheme. Ministers discussed the situation in Haiti, both in terms of immediate response and ensuring better Reductions co-ordination for the reconstruction. Edmund Mullet, £77,000 transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth UN Special Representative to Haiti, Kristalina Georgieva, Office in respect of payments to locally engaged staff in the new EU Humanitarian Commissioner and Dr. Shah Iraq. provided details of their own efforts and their assessment £5,500,000 transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth of need. I joined my EU colleagues in recognising the Office in respect of the Returns and Reintegration tireless efforts of UN staff, Commission and other aid Fund. workers in Haiti £25,959,000 transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth I argued for a thorough review of the humanitarian Office in respect of the Conflict Prevention Pool. system over the last five years, learning lessons from £1,832,000 transferred to the Ministry of Defence in Haiti and other disasters and drawing up recommendations respect of the Conflict Prevention Pool. to improve future responses. This proposal gained support £10,000 transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth from a number of Ministers and this will help to build Office in respect of the Low Carbon High Growth the growing consensus behind the review. Strategic Programme Fund. I also held a series of useful bilateral meetings discussing There is no net change in the Capital element of for example reform of the humanitarian system, Haiti, DEL. the MDGs and aid financing with amongst others: Dirk Neibel, the German Development Minister, Dr. Shah of USAID and Commissioner Piebalgs. JUSTICE

Departmental Expenditure Limits Departmental Expenditure Limits

The Secretary of State for International Development The Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr. Douglas Alexander): Subject to parliamentary approval (Mr. Jack Straw): Subject to Parliamentary approval of of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Department any necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Ministry of for International Development’s departmental expenditure Justice (MoJ), Northern Ireland Court Service (NICS) limit (DEL) will be reduced by £33,098,000 from and The National Archives (TNA) Total Departmental £6,757,774,000 to £6,726,607,000. Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be increased as follows: Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and Total DEL for MoJ (RfRl,2&3)isincreased by capital are as set out in the following table: £101,298,000 from £9,828,762,000 to £9,930,060,000 and the administration budget has increased by £23,282,000 Change New DEL £’000 from £435,920,000 to £459,202,000. Non- Non- Total DEL for the NICS has increased by £17,000,000 Voted voted Voted voted Total from £147,556,000 to £164,556,000. Resource 243,797 -276,895 4.542,361 836,065 5,378,926 Total DEL for the TNA has increased by £1,000 from DEL £44,151,000 to £44,152,000. of which: Within the Total DEL change for MoJ (RfRl,2&3), Administration 3,341 -3,341 159,950 - 159,950 the impact on resource and capital is as set out in the budget* following table: 47WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 48WS

xi. A decrease in voted expenditure of £500,000 in Change New DEL relation to costs associated with Corporate Manslaughter Non- Non- Act transferred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Voted voted Voted voted Total £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 xii. A decrease in voted expenditure of £470,000 in relation to near cash transferred to Supreme Court. Resource 36,361 32,676 5,772,369 3,680,095 9,452,464 DEL: Request for Resources 2 Of which: xiii. An increase in near cash resource funding of £1,200,000 Administration 23,282 0 459,202 0 459,202 in relation to drawdown of EYF. * xiv. An increase in near cash resource funding of £28,000 Near Cash in 18,823 50,754 4,883,323 3,885,532 8,768,855 as a result of the adoption of IFRS. Resource Request for Resource 3 DEL Capital 16,706 16,373 849,570 52,043 901,613 xv. An increase in near cash resource funding of £230,000 DEL** in relation to transfer of costs relating to the Parliamentary Depreciation (1,690) 872 (414,213) (9,804) (424,017) Counsel Office from the Cabinet Office. *** xvi. An increase in near cash resource funding of £116,000 Total DEL 51,377 49,921 6,207,726 3,722,334 9,930,060 as a result of the adoption of IFRS. *The total of the ’Administration Budget’ and ’Near Cash in Resource Movements in Non-Voted Expenditure DEL’ figures may well be greater than total Resource DEL, due to the definitions overlapping. Request for Resources 1 **Capital DEL includes items treated as Resource in Estimates and i. An increase in non voted expenditure of £220,000 as Accounts, but which are treated as Capital DEL in Budgets. result of the adoption of IFRS. ***Depreciation, which forms part of Resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL since Capital DEL includes Capital spending and to ii. An increase in non voted expenditure offset by a include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. decrease in voted expenditure of £61,400,000 relating to increased spend of the Legal Services Commission. 1) The change in the Resource and Capital DEL for MoJ iii. A decrease in non voted expenditure offset by a arises from: increase in voted expenditure of £3,501,000 relating to Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit increase in the attributable income receivable by the The change in the resource element of DEL arises Legal Services Board. from: iv. A decrease in non voted expenditure offset by an Movements in Voted Expenditure increase in voted expenditure of £6,124,000 relating to Request for Resources 1 increase in the attributable income receivable by the Office of Legal Complaints. i. An increase in voted expenditure of £7,000,000 as a result of drawdown of End Year Flexibility (EYF) v. A decrease in non voted expenditure offset by an funding relating to the workforce modernisation increase in voted expenditure of £14,704,000 relating to programme. decrease in spend of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. ii. An increase in voted expenditure of £14,792,000 as a result of a budget transfer from the Home Office in vi. A decrease in non voted expenditure offset by an relation to accommodation costs. increase in voted expenditure of £4,650,000 relating to decrease in spend of the Youth Justice Board. iii. An increase in voted expenditure of £13,088,000 as a result of the adoption of International Financial Reporting vii. An increase in non voted expenditure offset by a Standards (IFRS). decrease in voted expenditure of £35,000 relating to increased spend of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. iv. An increase in voted expenditure of £34,000,000 as a Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit result of drawdown of reserve claim from HM Treasury relating to prison capacity programme. The change in the capital element of the Departmental Expenditure Limit arises from: v. An increase in voted expenditure of £1,166,000 to the transfer of funding in relation to the Parliamentary Request for Resources 1 Council Office from the Cabinet Office Movements in Voted Expenditure vi. An increase in voted expenditure of £1,000,000 in i. An increase of £33,000,000 in Capital DEL in respect relation to non cash funding from the Supreme Court. of the Prison Capacity Programme. vii. An increase in voted expenditure of £273,000 in ii. An increase of £79,000 in Capital DEL as a result of relation to mail and messenger services received from the implementation of IFRS. the Home Office. Movements in Non-Voted Expenditure viii. An increase in voted expenditure of £86,000 in i. An increase in non voted expenditure offset by a relation to funding for Estate Agents Appeals Panel and decrease in voted expenditure of £12,900,000 relating to the creation of the Consumer Credit Appeals Tribunals increased spend of the Legal Services Commission. from the Department for Business, Innovation and ii. An increase in non voted expenditure offset by a Skills (DBIS). decrease in voted expenditure of £3,450,000 relating to ix. A decrease in voted expenditure of £568,000 in increase in the attributable income receivable by the relation to healthcare services for additional prison Office of Legal Complaints. places transferred to the Department of Health (DoH). iii. An increase in non voted expenditure offset by a x. A decrease in voted expenditure of £2,624,000 in decrease in voted expenditure of £500,000 relating to relation to education services for additional prison places decrease in spend of the Criminal Injuries Compensation transferred to the DBIS. Authority. 49WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 50WS iv. An increase in non voted expenditure offset by a Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit decrease in voted expenditure of £47,000 relating to Movements in Non Voted Expenditure decrease in spend of the Parole Board. i. This arises from the take up of a DEL Reserve claim v. A decrease in non voted expenditure offset by a of £17,000,000 to reflect the increase in the Northern decrease in voted expenditure of £524,000 relating to Ireland Legal Services Commission Baseline to cover increased spend of the National Probation Service Local the projected shortfall in legal aid expenditure. Area Boards. Movements in Administration Expenditure Administration Costs i. The change in the administration budget arises from a The movement in the administration cost limit is as a £2,000,000 increase in civil court fee income. This will result of the following changes. be offset against additional related costs to dispose of Request for Resources 1 civil court business. The appropriations-in-aid are classified i. An increase in voted expenditure of £7,000,000 as a as administrative income and so the additional fee result of drawdown of EYF funding from HM Treasury income will reduce the administration cost limit by relating to the workforce modernisation funding. £2,000,000. ii. An increase in voted expenditure of £14,792,000 as a 3) The change in the Resource and Capital DEL for The result of a budget transfer from the Home Office in National Archives (TNA) arises from: relation to accommodation costs. Within the Total DEL change for The National Archives, iii. An increase in voted expenditure of £241,000 as the impact on resources and capital is as set out in the result of the adoption of IFRS. following table: Request for Resources 2 Change New DEL iv. An increase in near cash resource funding of £1,200,000 Non- Non- in relation to drawdown of EYF. Voted voted Voted voted Total £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 v. An increase in near cash resource funding of £28,000 as a result of the adoption of IFRS. Resource (2,135) 0 46,595 0 46,595 DEL: Request for Resource 3 Of which: vi. An increase in near cash resource funding of £230,000 Administration 0000 0 in relation to transfer of costs relating to the Parliamentary * Counsel Office from the Cabinet Office. Near cash in (2,135) 150 34,844 150 34,994 Resource vii. An increase in near cash resource funding of £116,000 DEL as a result of the adoption of IFRS. Capital 2,136 0 4,236 0 4,236 DEL** 2) The change in the Resource and Capital DEL for the *** Northern Ireland Court Service (NICS) arises from: Depreciation 0 0 (6,679) 0 (6,679) Within the Total DEL change for Northern Ireland Total DEL 1 0 44,152 0 44,152 Court Service, the impact on resources and capital is as *The total of the ’Administration Budget’ and ’Near Cash in Resource set out in the following table: DEL’ figures may well be greater than total Resource DEL, due to the definitions overlapping. **Capital DEL includes items treated as Resource in Estimates and Change New DEL Accounts, but which are treated as Capital DEL in Budgets. Non- Non- ***Depreciation, which forms part of Resource DEL, is excluded from Voted voted Voted voted Total the total DEL since Capital DEL includes Capital spending and to £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting.

Resource - 17,000 58,391 111,300 169,691 DEL: Movements in Voted Expenditure Of which: Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit Administration (2,000) (574) (574) * i. An Increase in near cash resource funding of £4,695,000 Near cash in - 17,000 40,451 110,800 151,251 and associated increase in A in A of £4,694,000 to Resource reflect higher than expected levels of activity and income DEL from the 1911 Census information, Digital Continuity Capital - - 6,000 - 6,000 and the Civil Pages Project. DEL** ii. A decrease of £2,136,000 in resource provision Depreciation (10,694) (441) (11,135) *** representing the additional spend on improvements to Total DEL 17,000 53,697 110,859 164,556 facilities at our Kew building including data storage facilities and air conditioning units. *The total of the ’Administration Budget’ and ’Near Cash in Resource DEL’ figures may well be greater than total Resource DEL, due to the Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit definitions overlapping. **Capital DEL includes items treated as Resource in Estimates and i. An increase in Capital funding of £2,136,000 representing Accounts, but which are treated as Capital DEL in Budgets. the additional spend on improvements to facilities at ***Depreciation, which forms part of Resource DEL, is excluded from Kew, including data storage facilities and air conditioning the total DEL since Capital DEL includes Capital spending and to this is offset by the decrease in resource funding referred include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. to above. 51WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 52WS

NORTHERN IRELAND Additions of £23,827,000 (-£49,092,000 near cash, £20,337,000 non cash and £52,582,000 capital) following Department Expenditure Limits IFRS changes; A budget reclassification of £497,200,000 (near cash) in The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Shaun respect of NHS pensions; Woodward): Subject to Parliamentary approval the Northern Ireland Office will be taking a 2009-10 spring supplementary An addition of £131,045,000 (non cash) in respect of estimate. The effect this will have is to increase the provisions for equal pay; and NIO’s total DEL by £161,881,000 from £1,205,742,000 Budget cover transfers to other Government Departments to £1,367,623,000. of £25,599,000 broken down as follows: i. Transfer of £827,000 from DEFRA for BSE-OTM; £’000 ii. Transfer of £275,000 from DCSF for the NSPCC Expansion Change New DEL Grant; Non- Non- iii. Transfers of £749,000 to the Northern Ireland Office for Voted voted Voted voted Total accommodation and other central services; Resource 66,619 123,563 359,487 1,020,157 1,379,644 iv. Transfer of £379,000 to HMRC in respect of the Aggregates Admin (2,247) - 71,679 - 71,679 Levy; and Budget v. Transfer of £25,573,000 to Department of Business, Innovation Near cash 28,217 72,962 277,153 793,141 1,070,294 and Skills in respect of industrial support. Capital 12,288 (12,288) 36,526 40,177 76,703 Depreciation (28,240) (61) (47,489) (41,235) (88,724) Total 50,667 111,214 348,524 1,019,099 1,367,623 SCOTLAND The change in Total DEL of £161,881,000 relates to the drawdown of end year flexibility (EYF) of £100,335,000 (all resource), increase in PSNI provisions of £88,000,000, Department Expenditure Limits resource budget transfers with other Government Departments totalling £847,000 and funding of £1,000,000 from HM Treasury for the impact of international The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Jim Murphy): financial reporting standards (IFRS) on property, plant Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary and equipment. This has been offset by a change in Supplementary Estimates, the Departmental Expenditure non-cash costs of £28,301,000. Limit (DEL) provision for the administration of the The EYF drawdown is required to supplement CSR07 Scotland Office will be increased by £1,200,000 and baselines in Central Administration, Political Directorate, takes account of the following routine adjustment: Public Prosecution Service, Criminal Justice Directorate, - a take-up of near cash End YearFlexibility of £1,200,000. Policing-Non Severance, Northern Ireland Prison Service, The increase will be added to the planned total of Compensation Agency and Policing and Security public expenditure spending commitments in the current Directorate. financial year. The administration budget will decrease by £2,247,000 from £73,926,000 to £71,679,000. This is due to the The Scotland DEL will be increased by £18,005,000 reclassification of £2,610,000 from administration to from £29,552,282,000 to £29,570,287,000. Within the programme for the Northern Ireland Prison Service total DEL change, the impact on resources and capital and resource budget transfers of £315,000 from the is set out in the following table: Department of Finance and Personnel, Northern Ireland for accommodation costs, £98,000 from the Cabinet £’000 Office for Parliamentary Counsel charges and £50,000 Change New DEL to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Resource DEL 17,844 25,640,423 Safety, Northern Ireland for healthcare costs. Of which: The Northern Ireland Executive DEL will increase Near Cash 838 24,572,419 by £740,207,000 from £9,283,643,000 to £10,023,850,000. Capital DEL 161 3,929,864 Within the total DEL change, the impact on resources Resource DEL + Capital 18,005 29,570,287 and capital is set out in the following table: DEL Less Depreciation & 16,932 525,069 £’000 Impairments Change New DEL Total DEL 1,073 29,045,218 Resource DEL 634,464 9,023,819 Of which: The increase in the Scotland DEL takes account of the Near Cash 483,082 8,551,148 following adjustments to the Scottish Government Capital DEL 127,009 1,210,614 provision: Resource DEL + Capital DEL 761,473 10,234,433 International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) classification Less Depreciation 21,266 210,583 changes of £17,006,000. Total DEL net of depreciation 740,207 10,023,850 The DEL increase also includes the following changes: The increase in the Northern Ireland Executive DEL a transfer of £196,000 from the Department for Work and takes account of the following changes: Pensions in respect of the School Gates Project, The take up of end year flexibility of £135,000,000 a transfer of £803,000 from the Department for Children, (£35,000,000 near cash and £100,000,000 capital); Schools and Families for the NSPCC Expansion Grant. 53WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 54WS

SOLICITOR-GENERAL focusing on the needs of victims; and working collaboratively with other Government Departments, agencies and organisations as appropriate. Departmental Expenditure Limits The take up of £4,952,000 in blockbuster funding relating to UN Oil for Food cases to enable the SFO to continue with the investigation and prosecution of outstanding cases in 2009-10. The Solicitor-General (Vera Baird): My right hon. The take up of £500,000 from EYF to deliver work early at a Friend the Attorney-General has made the following reduced cost. written ministerial statement: There is also a transfer of £249,000 from resource to capital spending to cover increased National Fraud Subject to parliamentary approval of any necessary Authority capital costs supplementary estimate, the Attorney-General’s total DEL will be increased by £9,646,000 from £744,966,000 The HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor to £754,612,000. Within the total DEL change, the element of the Attorney-General’s total DEL will be impact on resources and capital are set out in the increased by £1,081,000 from £15,699,000 to £16,780,000. following table: This increase will occur within the administration budget which will increase from £13,630,000 to £14,711,000. £’000 The change in Resource DEL arises from: Change New DEL Take up £775,000 of near-cash administration costs resource Non- Non- end-year flexibility (EYF) to meet the cost of the Attorney-General’s Voted voted Voted voted Total office and to support the transformation of the Attorney-General’s Departments Resource DEL 6,478 1,419 736,333 12,317 748,650 Other changes in near-cash DEL spending of £306,000 to meet of which: the increased charge to lease costs following the requirement to Administration 1,081 69,704 69,704 restate under IFRS accounting rules. budget * Near-cash in 6,478 1,419 723,960 13,990 737,950 RDEL * TRANSPORT Capital DEL ** 1,749 14,479 14,479 Less Depreciation 8,517 8,517 Departmental Expenditure Limits *** Total DEL 8,227 1,419 742,295 12,317 754,612 The Minister of State, Department for Transport * The total of “Administration budget” and “’Near-cash in resource (Mr. Sadiq Khan): My right hon. and noble Friend the DEL” figures may well be greater than total resource DEL, due to the definitions overlapping. Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, has ** capital DEL includes items treated as resource in Estimates and made the following ministerial statement: accounts but which are treated as capital DEL in budgets. Subject to Parliamentary approval of any necessary *** Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded supplementary estimate, the Department for Transport from total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to departmental expenditure limit (DEL) for 2009-10 will include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. be increased by £22,464,000 from £14,137,677,000 to The Crown Prosecution Service’s element of the £14,160,141,000 and the administration budget will be Attorney-General’s total DEL will be increased by increased by £4,520,000 from £275,172,000 to £279,692,000. £1,975,000 from £688,335,000 to £690,310,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and The change in Resource DEL arises from: capital, are as set out in the following table: The reclassification of contract costs of £6,419,000 from voted to non-voted DEL following the requirement to restate under £’000 International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Change NEW DEL The take up of Departmental Unallocated Provision of £5,000,000 Non- Non- from non-voted to voted DEL to increase the spending on the Voted voted Voted voted Total prosecution of criminal cases A budgetary transfer of £500,000 from the Ministry of Justice to Resource +802,705 -91,359 6,597,715 561,185 7,158,900 help fund the delivery of the Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007 Of which: A budgetary transfer of £25,000 to the Department for Business, Administration +5,020 -500 279,692 0 279,692 Innovation and Skills to contribute towards the implementation budget of the Skills Strategy for Government. Near-cash in -92,053 -277,093 5,331,272 404,136 5,735,408 RDEL The change in capital DEL arises from the take up of Capital +342,438 -42,693 7,163,175 1,100,172. 8,263,347 £1,500,000 from end-year flexibility (EYF) to meet the Depreciation -988,627 0 -1,230,332 -31,774 -1,262,106 up-front capital costs of the relocation of CPS * Headquarters. Total +156,516 -134,052 12,530,558 1,629,583 14,160,141 The Serious Fraud Office’s element of the Attorney- * Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from General’s total DEL will be increased by £6,590,000 the total DEL, since capital DEL includes capital spending and to from £40,932,000 to £47,522,000. include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. The change in Resource DEL arises from: Resource Change: Administration (total increase of The take up of £1,138,000 of modernisation funding to complete £4,520,000) the SFO’s transformation programme which is designed to help Voted: total net increase of £5,020,000 the SFO to meet its key challenges of: RfRl increasingly sophisticated frauds and instances of corruption; (i) Transfer of £520,000 near-cash from the Cabinet working more flexibly and efficiently; Office for Parliamentary Counsel costs; 55WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 56WS

(ii) HM Treasury agreed reclassification of £4,000,000 RfRl from programme near-cash to reflect the revised treatment (i) Take up of £20,000,000 end year flexibility for London of shared services expenditure; and Continental Railways Eurostar (UK) Ltd (iii) Transfer of £500,000 near-cash from non-voted recapitalisation; departmental unallocated provision for administration (ii) Increase of £279,745,000 in accordance with Treasury pressures; and guidance for the introduction of IFRS for the (iv) Transfer of £1,159,000 near-cash transferred to reclassification of Highways Agency renewals to Capital; non-voted in respect of Highways Agency increased and utilisation of provisions; offset by £1,159,000 non-cash (iii) Net transfer of £42,693,000 from non voted for: transferred from non-voted. a. London and Continental Railways Eurostar (UK) Ltd Non Voted: total net decrease of £500,000 recapitalisation (£20,000,000) from departmental unallocated (i) Transfer of £500,000 near-cash to voted provision; provision; and b. Green buses (£10,000,000) from departmental unallocated provision; (ii) Transfer of £1,159,000 non-cash to voted; offset by £1,159,000 near-cash transferred from voted. c. GLA transport grants (£13,000,000); partially offset by Resource Change: Programme (total increase of (iv) A transfer from voted railways provision to Rail £706,826,000)Voted: total net increase of £797,685,000 Heritage Committee (£307,000). (i) Increase of £989,371,000 non-cash in accordance Non-Voted: total net decrease of £42,693,000 with Treasury guidance for the introduction of International (i) A net transfer of £42,693,000 to voted provision. Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for Highways Agency depreciation; (ii) A net transfer of £186,631,000 near-cash from non-voted WALES for: i. Railways—Support for Passenger Rail Services (£228,263,000 including £200,188,000 take up of departmental unallocated provision Departmental Expenditure Limits and £28,075,000 from headroom). ii. Highways Agency for work on the strategic network transferred The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Peter Hain): from headroom arising from revised forecast utilisation of provisions The Wales Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will (£8,118,000); be increased by £456,459,000 from £14,995,229,000 to iii. Highways Agency use of Consolidated Fund Extra Receipts £15,451,688,000. Within the total DEL change, the within the departmental expenditure limit (£4,750,000); partially impact on resources and capital is set out in the following offset by table: iv. Transfer of London and Continental Railways near cash provision for domestic capacity charges to non voted (£54,500,000); £’000 Change New DEL

(iii) Decrease of £278,545,000 near cash in accordance Resource DEL 346,332 13,902,677 with Treasury guidance for the introduction of IFRS Of which: for the reclassification of Highways Agency renewals to Capital (£279,745,000); partially offset by increase for Near Cash 118,954 13,133,986 the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in respect of Capital DEL 216,955 1,.939,166 their annual leave liability (£1,200,000); Resource DEL + Capital DEL 563,287 15,841,843 Less Depreciation 106,828 390,155 (iv) A net transfer of £95,772,000 non-cash to non-voted; and Total DEL 456,459 15,451,688 (v) HM Treasury agreed reclassification of £4,000,000 The increase is a result of: from programme near cash to administration. (a) Take-up of £138,094,000 Near Cash EYF; Non-Voted: total net decrease of £90,859,000 (b) Take-up of £87,000,000 Non Cash EYF; (i) A net transfer of £186,631,000 near-cash to voted (c) Take-up of £106,200,000 Capital EYF; provision; partially offset by (d) Capital re-profiling of £90,755,000 from 2010-11 (ii) Increase of £91,121,000 non-cash, offset by £91,121,000 financial year; near-cash to reflect the capitalisation element of Highways Agency renewals in accordance with Treasury guidance (e) Switch of £20,000,000 from Near Cash to Capital; for the introduction of IFRS; and (f) A reclassification of NHS depreciation to DEL of (iii) A net transfer of £95,772,000 non-cash from voted £140,378,000 provision for: (g) A transfer of £395,000 Near-Cash from Department a. London and Continental Railways pensions liability (£80,000,000) of Work and Pensions under the School Gates Employment from Highways Agency headroom; Support Initiative; b. Highways Agency to forecast provisions offset by an increase in (h) A transfer of £372,000 Near-Cash and £93,000 forecast utilisation Capital from Department for Children, Schools and of provisions (£8,118,000); Families for the NSPCC Expansion Grant; c. To the departmental unallocated provision from voted headroom In addition, Annually Managed Expenditure increases (£7,654,000). by £6,294,000 to £688,050,000 Capital Change: (total net increase of £299,745,000) There will be an increase in non- budget spending of Voted: total net increase of £342,438,000 £14,200,000 for a housing stock transfer for Gwynedd. 57WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 58WS

DEL provision for the Wales Office increases by Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit £230,000 from £7,483,000 to £7,713,000 following a The change in the Resource Departmental Expenditure transfer of provision from the Parliamentary Counsel Limit arises from an increase in relation to the recording Office. of International Financial Reporting Standards for accrued employee benefits. The increase arises from the change WOMEN AND EQUALITY in staff numbers between 2008-9 and 2009-10 and planned increased amounts of annual leave carried over by staff Government Equalities Office (DEL) into 2010-11. There has been an increase in appropriation in aid for The Minister of State, Government Equalities Office operating activities and this is offset by increased (Maria Eagle): Subject to Parliamentary approval of expenditure. This reflects the activities of the Women’s the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Government National Commission which has been making its services Equalities Office Departmental Expenditure Limit will available to other government departments and agencies increase by £12,000 from £80,182,000 to £80,194,000 in line with the review of the Women’s National and the administration budget will increase from £9,605,000 Commission. to £9,617,000. Administration Costs Limit Within the Departmental Expenditure Limit change, This increases by £12,000 due to adoption of the impact on resource and capital is as set out in the International Financial Reporting Standards for accrued following table: employee benefits.

Change New DEL £’000s Non Non- Voted -Voted Total Voted Voted Limit

Resource 12 12 17,818 60,960 78,778 of which WORK AND PENSIONS Administration 12 12 9,617 9,617 * Near Cash 12 12 17,817 60,651 78,468 * Capital 1,980 1,980 Departmental Expenditure Limits Depreciation** -564 -564 Total 12 12 17,818 62,376 80,194 The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Yvette *The total of “Administration budget” and “Near cash in Resource Cooper): Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary DEL” figures may well be greater than total Resource DEL due to the definitions overlapping Supplementary Estimate, the Department for Work and **Depreciation, which forms part of resource Departmental Expenditure Pensions Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit Limit, is excluded from the total Departmental Expenditure Limit will increase by £318,266,000 to £9,123,522,000 and the since the capital Departmental Expenditure Limit includes capital Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit will remain spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to unchanged at £284,517,000. The Administration budget double counting. will increase by £38,170,000 to £6,242,507,000.

Change £k New Departmental Expenditure Limit £k Voted Non-voted Total Voted Non-voted Total

Resource 1,041,453 -723,187 318,266 6,922,236 2,201,286 9,123,522 of which: Administration 759,354 -721,184 38,170 5,560,083 682,424 6,242,507 Near-cash 1,041,453 -723,187 318,266 6,660,506 2,234,712 8,895,218 Capital -421 421 0 283,288 1,229 284,517 Depreciation* 0 0 0 234,194 1,105 235,299 Total DEL 1,041,032 -722,766 318,266 6,971,330 2,201,410 9,172,740 *Depreciation, which forms part of Resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL since Capital DEL includes Capital spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting.

Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit iii. A reserve claim of £86,000,000 (£12,000,000 The change in the resource element of the Departmental Administration and £74,000,000 Other Current) from Expenditure Limit arises from: the ″six month offer” funding package made available Request for Resources 1 to the department following the Employment Summit in January 2009. i. An increase in Appropriations in Aid of £9,000 not offset by an increase in expenditure. iv. A reserve claim of £6,000,000 (£1,000,000 Administration Request for Resources 2 and £5,000,000 Other Current) to support expenditure on the Pathways under 25. ii. A reserve claim of £108,050,000 from the dual-key funding package announced in the 2008 Pre Budget v. Budget transfers of £ 196,000 to the Scottish Government, Report. £395,000 to the Welsh Assembly and £431,000 to the 59WS Written Ministerial Statements23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Ministerial Statements 60WS

Department for Children, Schools and Families to assist result of accessing funds held in the Departmental with Jobcentre support in schools for unemployed parents. Unallocated Provision which relate to the Welfare Reform vi. A budget transfer of £6,381,000 to the Department White Paper. for Business, Innovation and Skills in relation to Backing xvi. An increase in voted funding of £1,305,000 offset YoungBritain. This increases the number of internships by a decrease in non-voted funding of £1,305,000 relating that are available to non-graduates. to decreased utilisation of the Financial Assistance vii. A budget transfer of £12,500,000 to the Department Scheme provision. for Children, Schools and Families in relation to the xvii. A decrease in non-voted funding of £1,143,000 white paper “Building Britain’s Recovery: Achieving offset by an increase in voted funding of £1,143,000 Full Employment”. This increases the number of relating to decreased expenditure by Working Ventures apprenticeships that are available for 16 and 17 year (UK) Limited. olds. xviii. An increase in non-voted funding of £3,988,000 viii. Budget transfers to the Department for Children, offset by a decrease in voted funding of £3,988,000 Schools and Families of £1,500,000 (Other Current) for relating to increased expenditure by the Independent the Co-ordinated Support for Separating Parents Child Living Fund. Poverty Pilot and £110,000 (Administration) for the xix. A decrease in non-voted funding of £30,000 offset Child Poverty Support Unit. by an increase in voted funding of £30,000 relating to ix. A budget transfer of £262,000 to the Department for decreased expenditure by The Pensions Advisory Service. Children Schools and Families in relation to Joint Birth xx. An increase in non-voted funding of £51,000 offset Registration work. by a decrease in voted funding of £51,000 relating to Request for Resources 3 increased expenditure by The Pensions Ombudsman. x. A reserve claim of £25,000,000 from the department’s xxi. A decrease in non-voted funding of £3,208,000 Modernisation Fund. offset by an increase in voted funding of £3,208,000 relating to decreased expenditure by the Personal Accounts Request for Resources 5 Delivery Authority. xi. A reserve claim of £115,000,000 from the department’s xxii. A decrease in non-voted funding of £356,000 Modernisation Fund. offset by an increase in voted funding of £356,000 Movements between Voted and Non-Voted Budgets relating to decreased expenditure by The Pensions xii. An increase in voted funding of £29,184,000 offset Regulator. by a decrease in non-voted funding of £29,184,000 as a Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit result of using the Departmental Unallocated Provision The net nil movement in the capital element of the to support expenditure by the Child Maintenance and Departmental Expenditure Limit arises from: Enforcement Commission. Movements between Voted and Non-Voted Budgets xiii. An increase in voted funding of £100,000,000 offset xxiii. An increase in non-voted capital funding of £517,000 by a decrease in non-voted funding of £100,000,000 as a offset by a decrease in voted capital funding of £517,000 result of accessing funds held in the Departmental relating to increased expenditure by the Personal Accounts Unallocated Provision which were provided in the 2008 Delivery Authority. Pre Budget Report package. xxiv. A decrease in non-voted capital funding of £96,000 xiv. An increase in voted funding of £571,000,000 offset by an increase in voted capital funding of £96,000 (£456,551,000 Administration and £114,449,000 Other relating to decreased expenditure by The Pensions Current) offset by a decrease in non-voted funding of Regulator. £571,000,000 (Administration) as a result of accessing Administration Costs funds held in the Departmental Unallocated Provision The movement in the Administration Cost limit arises which were announced in the 2009 Budget. from the changes to the Resource Departmental xv. An increase in voted funding of £21,000,000 offset Expenditure Limit as noted in items i, iii, viii, iv, ix, x, xi by a decrease in non-voted funding of £21,000,000 as a and xiv above.

3P Petitions23 FEBRUARY 2010 Petitions 4P

The Government do not have a policy of destitution. Petitions The asylum support policy is properly balanced. No person who has sought protection need be destitute Tuesday 23 February 2010 whilst they have a valid reason to be here. Asylum seekers who need support to avoid destitution are given it from the time they arrive in the UK until their claim is OBSERVATIONS fully determined (appeal rights exhausted). Support takes the form of accommodation or subsistence or both. HOME DEPARTMENT When an asylum seeker has been found not to need Bristol Refugee Rights protection it is the Government’s policy to discontinue providing support. It is not considered right to ask the The Petition of supporters of Bristol Refugee Rights UK taxpayer to continue to fund those who choose to and others, remain here when they have no grounds to stay and it is Declares that Britain has an international obligation open to them to return to a home country that has been to provide sanctuary to people fleeing conflict or found safe for them to live in, nor is it considered right persecution; declares that three quarters of those seeking to allow individuals to take employment under such safety here are refused protection, but that many cannot circumstances. go back to their home country; further declares that For this reason, the Government believe that support people in this situation are not allowed to work or claim for failed asylum seekers should be restricted to those in benefits, and frequently become destitute rather than go narrow categories of increased vulnerability. These back to countries where they would be in real danger; categories are families with dependent children under further declares that the Petitioners believe that such the age of 18 years who continue receiving support until people deserve to be treated fairly, humanely and with they leave the UK; children and vulnerable adults qualifying dignity. for local authority care provision; and people who are The Petitioners therefore request that the House of temporarily prevented from leaving the UK through no Commons calls on the Government to grant temporary fault of their own who are provided with accommodation protection to people who cannot return to their countries and subsistence support if they would otherwise be of origin; to end the threat and use of destitution as a destitute. tool of Government policy against refused asylum seekers; and to allow asylum seekers, including those whose While the Government welcome the enormous application has been refused, the right to work if they contribution that the skills and knowledge of refugees have not been given a decision and/or they cannot leave make to our society and economy, it is important to the UK after six months. maintain the distinction between economic migration and asylum. A change to the policy on employment And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Stephen would create a disincentive to departure for unsuccessful Williams, Official Report, 16 December 2009; Vol. 502, asylum seekers and act as a draw for those who want to c. 1071.] come to the UK for economic reasons, compromising [P000655] the integrity of the asylum system and slowing down the asylum application process for others. This is why Observations from the Secretary of State for the Home asylum seekers are generally not allowed to work while Department, received on Monday 22 February 2010: their claim for asylum is under consideration, the only The United Kingdom has a long and proud tradition exception being asylum seekers who have been waiting of providing protection to those who need it and considers 12 months for a decision where this delay cannot be all protection claims carefully, on their individual merits, attributed to them. Allowing asylum seekers to work in and in accordance with our legal obligations. All asylum these circumstances is in accordance with the EC Directive claims are considered on their individual merits in on the reception of asylum seekers. accordance with the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the European Our focus is therefore rightly on those the UK accepts Convention on Human Rights, against the background are in need of international protection, and every effort of the latest accurate, objective, sourced and up-to-date is made to help refugees integrate into society. A crucial information on asylum seekers’ countries of origin produced part of that integration is the recognition of the skills, by the UK Border Agency Country of Origin Information knowledge and diversity that refugees bring to British Service. life. The UK Border Agency document of March 2009 Asylum and human rights applicants that are found ‘Moving on Together: Government’s Recommitment to to be in need of protection are granted it. Those found Supporting Refugees’ sets out the national strategy for not to be in need of protection have a right of appeal to the integration of refugees. This includes provision of the independent appellate authorities. In this way we critical support immediately after grant of refugee status— ensure that we provide protection to those asylum seekers and in particular, identifying the skills of refugees at the who need it. Where a decision has been made that a earliest opportunity and providing the right support for person does not require international protection, and getting a job. there are no remaining rights of appeal or obstacles to The Government have introduced proposals for reform their return, unsuccessful asylum seekers are expected of asylum support under the draft Immigration Bill to return voluntarily to their country of origin. Return which was published on 12 November 2009 and public and reintegration assistance is available through the consultation on this matter is currently underway. International Organization for Migration. 5P Petitions23 FEBRUARY 2010 Petitions 6P

TRANSPORT Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport: Pedestrian Crossings Old Shoreham Road is a local road for which West The Petition of residents of Hove and Portslade and Sussex county council has responsibility. The provision others, of pedestrian facilities on this and adjoining roads is for them to consider. Declares that the petitioners have serious concerns about the safety of pedestrians using the crossroads at The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 confers on the junction between Old Shoreham Road, Neville Road local highway authorities the power to establish crossings and Sackville Road; further declares that the Petitioners for pedestrians on roads in their area. The signing, road are concerned that there are no pedestrian crossings on markings, etc that form these crossings are prescribed in the north or southbound carriageways at the junctions the Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings on Neville and Sackville roads, and believe that there is Regulations and General Directions 1997. an urgent need for a safe and effective pedestrian crossing at this site. The Department for Transport has produced guidance to highway authorities regarding the assessment method The Petitioners therefore request that the House of to be used when considering the provision and type of Commons urge Ministers in the Department for Transport pedestrian crossings. This is contained in Local Transport to take steps to ensure that a crossing is placed at this Note 1/95, “The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings”. juncture to ensure the safety of pedestrians at this The note recommends a framework method to encourage crossing. informed decisions as to whether a crossing in necessary And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Ms Celia and, if so, which type should be used. There is guidance Barlow, Official Report, 9 February 2010; Vol. 505, on assessing such factors as difficulty of crossing, local c. 884.] representations and cost (including maintenance). [P000732] 265W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 266W

John Healey: Provisional data from the Homes and Written Answers to Communities Agency show that there were 1,899 Rent to HomeBuy completions up to end September 2009. Questions Data are not held centrally on the number of purchases under Rent to HomeBuy.

Monday 22 February 2010 Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for [Continued from column 264W] Communities and Local Government whether the term Homebuy is monitored as part of (a) his Department’s media monitoring and (b) media monitoring COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT undertaken by a private consultancy on behalf of his Department. [316933] Affordable Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for John Healey: Yes. Communities and Local Government how many Homebuy providers there are in each region. [316739] Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for John Healey: The following table shows the number Communities and Local Government how many of providers who have been allocated funding for Homebuy officials in his Department administer the Homebuy schemes within the 2008-11 National Affordable Housing scheme. [316968] Programme. John Healey: The homebuy scheme is administered Region Number of providers by the Homes and Communities Agency on behalf of East Midlands 39 the Department. There are nine full-time equivalent East of England 48 employees working on low cost home ownership policy, including delivery of the homebuy scheme, within the London 54 Department. North East 21 North West 37 South East 52 Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for South West 30 Communities and Local Government how many times West Midlands 34 the eligibility criteria for participation in the Homebuy Yorkshire and Humberside 36 scheme have changed since the inception of the scheme; and if he will list each such change. [316969] Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has John Healey: The homebuy scheme was introduced in been spent on the Rent to HomeBuy scheme in each 2006. Households with an income of up to £60,000 who region on the latest date for which figures are available. were unable to buy a home on the open market without [316759] assistance, were eligible to apply for assistance. The John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I basic eligibility criteria has not changed. gave him on 9 February 2010, Official Report, columns From 2006-08 priority for support was given to social 866-68W. tenants, prospective social tenants, key workers in the health, education and community safety sectors in London, Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the South East and the East of England, and those Communities and Local Government (1) what the identified by regional housing boards. Some regional average income of a Rent to HomeBuy (a) tenant and boards set lower income caps for support. From 2008 (b) purchaser was in each of the last three years; priority was given, in order, to social tenants, prospective [316760] social tenants, key workers in all regions and any other (2) how many homes were rented under the Rent to first-time buyers. HomeBuy scheme in each region in each of the last three years; [316762] Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for (3) how many active tenancies there are under the Communities and Local Government which Rent to HomeBuy scheme in each Government Office programmes are included in the Homebuy scheme; how region. [316763] much has been allocated to each such programme to John Healey: Rent to HomeBuy was launched in July date; and how many dwellings have been sold under 2008. Data on the number of homes rented, active each such programme to date. [316974] tenancies and the average income of tenants and purchasers are not held centrally. John Healey: The following products are included in the Homebuy scheme; OpenMarket HomeBuy, NewBuild Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for HomeBuy, Social HomeBuy, HomeBuy Direct, and Communities and Local Government how many Rent Rent to HomeBuy. to HomeBuy completions there have been in 2009-10; and how many households have purchased a stake in The allocations and provisional completions for each their home under that scheme in 2009-10. [316761] product are listed in the following tables. 267W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 268W

Allocations Community Development: Business £ 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Open Market 78,890,252 84,507,252 212,919,256 Communities and Local Government how much has HomeBuy been spent on (a) assistance to businesses, (b) staffing, New Build 403,234,599 373,239,643 203,239,702 (c) administration and (d) publicity under the Local HomeBuy Enterprise Growth Initiative since its inception; and Social HomeBuy 536,400 1,912,175 973,175 how many businesses have been assisted by the HomeBuy Direct 0 0 0 initiative. [317702] Rent to HomeBuy 0 0 123,526,245 482,661,251 459,659,070 540,658,378 Ms Rosie Winterton: LEGI is allocated to local authorities to support enterprise in deprived areas, thereby giving Completions them the flexibility to best determine the local needs 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 and use the funding in creative ways to support local priorities. The total programme from 2006-07 to 2010-11 Open Market 2,337 2,876 6,216 is worth £418 million. HomeBuy As a locally managed fund, central Government do New Build 3,023 10,131 8,898 HomeBuy not hold the information requested. Social HomeBuy 47 157 93 However, an independent national evaluation of LEGI HomeBuy Direct 0 0 0 is scheduled to be published later this year which will Rent to HomeBuy 0 0 1,173 help to identify and disseminate good practice. 5,407 13,164 16,380 Eco-Towns Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how much Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for funding his Department has allocated to the Homebuy Communities and Local Government (1) what factors scheme in financial year 2009-10 to date; how much his Department plans to take into account in awarding such funding it expects to allocate in financial years the (a) minimum and (b) maximum allocations to (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 each of the eco-town projects, as referred to in the and (e) 2014-15; and how much such funding it notes for editors of his Department’s press notice of expects to allocate beyond financial year 2014-15; 8 February 2010; [316946] [317007] (2) what proportion of the funding announced in his (2) how much funding his Department has allocated Department’s press notice of 8 February 2010 on to low cost income ownership programmes in financial eco-towns will come from each programme budget of year 2009-10 to date; how much such funding it expects (a) his Department and (b) the Homes and to allocate in financial years (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, Communities Agency; and what proportion of the (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15; and how funding will come from the Department for Children, much such funding it expects to allocate beyond Schools and Families. [316951] financial year 2014-15. [317008] John Healey: Details about the programme budgets John Healey: From 1 April 2009 to 30 December to support the first wave eco-towns in 200-10 will be set 2009 the Homes and Communities Agency has allocated out in the Spring Supplementaries, which are due to be £1,082 million for Homebuy and other low cost home published shortly. ownership products within their Affordable Housing The majority of the £60 million growth fund that I Programme. announced last July to support the first wave locations Allocations for the Affordable Housing Programme has been allocated to local authorities and will be paid 2008-11 are made as part of the Homes and Communities via the HCA. In addition we have provided support for continuous market engagement process. Future estimated the HCA’s delivery role. DCSF have allocated £2.5 million levels of allocations beyond 2010-11 will be dependent from their programme budget to support greener schools. upon the outcome of the next spending review. I will decide on the funding allocations to the local Buildings: Energy authorities for 2010-11, pending further assessment of development agreements with investors. We will also need to take account of a range of factors including Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for progress on delivery of projects, and we and the HCA Communities and Local Government how many will be having further discussion with authorities on properties on the (a) domestic and (b) non-domestic these matters. Energy Performance Certificate Register have received more than one inspection in the last three years; and for how many the rating (i) declined and (ii) improved Empty Property: Lancashire in the last inspection. [316815] Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for John Healey: There is no information held centrally Communities and Local Government what estimate he about the number of energy assessments that are carried has made of the number of properties in West out on individual buildings in either the domestic or Lancashire constituency which have been empty for non-domestic sectors. more than (a) two and (b) five years. [317777] 269W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 270W

Barbara Follett: This information for either domestic Homelessness: Torbay or non-domestic properties is not held centrally. Our reforms to empty property relief for non-domestic Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for are principled and right for the long-term. They provide Communities and Local Government how many (a) a strong incentive on owners to bring empty property rough sleepers and (b) homeless people there were in back into use, helping to improve access to premises for Torbay constituency in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest period businesses and so to exert a downward pressure on for which figures are available. [314612] commercial rents. However, we provided owners with real help to manage Mr. Ian Austin: Data on rough sleeping and local short-term pressures in a difficult property market by housing authorities’activities under homelessness legislation exempting all empty properties with rateable values up are collected at local authority rather than constituency to £15,000 from business rates in 2009-10. level. Torbay constituency falls within Torbay unitary We have listened to the continued concerns of owners authority. and we are extending the temporary measure for a Information on rough sleeping has been collected further 12 months—to cover the whole of 2010-11—and since 1998. In Torbay in 1998 there were 31 rough we are uprating the threshold to £18,000 in line with the sleepers. The last street count in 2007 found nine rough general movement of property values at revaluation. sleepers. Fire Services: Pensions We have reduced rough sleeping by 75 per cent. since 1998. Our national baseline was 1,850 in 1998 and the latest headline figure based on local authority rough Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for sleeper counts was 464 for 2009. Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of The numbers of households accepted as statutory 26 January 2010, Official Report, column 770W, on homeless in Torbay unitary authority in 1997-98 and local government and fire services: pensions, what the 2007-08 are 253 and 119 respectively. The number of timetable is for the review of whether to restrict the households accommodated by the Torbay unitary authority employer contributions made to the firefighters’ in temporary accommodation as at 30 March 1997 is pension scheme. [317877] 25 and as at 30 September 2009 is 163. In 2002, we put stronger legislation in place by ensuring Ms Rosie Winterton: The Firefighters Pension Committee that more vulnerable people who face homelessness are has begun to consider the application of cap and share provided with help and accommodation by extending arrangements for the firefighters’ pension schemes. Further the categories of people who have a ’priority need for meetings of the Committee have been arranged and the accommodation″under the homelessness legislation—hence next one takes place on 15 March 2010. Consultations why more people were placed in temporary accommodation. with stakeholders will follow once the arrangements We know we need to do more to help people into have been drafted. settled homes. That’s why our strategy includes the Government Offices for the Regions: Finance challenging target of halving the number of people living in temporary accommodation to 50,500 by 2010. Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for We have allocated a total of £220 million to local Communities and Local Government which authorities and voluntary organisations over the three programme budgets are administered for each years 2008-09 to 2010-11 to support their strategies for Government Department by the Government Offices tackling and preventing homelessness in their area. for the Regions. [317369] The Government continue to demonstrate a long-term commitment to affordable housing, which is why between Ms Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the June and November we approved more than £2.4 billion answer given to her by the Secretary of State on 10 February towards 41,000 new affordable homes in England. Of 2010, Official Report, column 1029W. this funding over £3 million has been allocated to schemes for Torbay. Home Information Packs This includes the largest council house-building programme for nearly two decades and funding for Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for housing associations to build more homes for affordable Communities and Local Government pursuant to the sale or rent, and thousands of first time buyers have answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of also managed to get a foothold on the property ladder 3 February 2010, Official Report, columns 359-60W, on thanks to our homebuy schemes. home information packs, if he will place in the Library a copy of the final report by the Working Group on Condition Information in the Home Buying and Homes and Communities Agency Selling Process; on what date the report was submitted to his Department; and what steps he plans to take in Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for response to that report. [316781] Communities and Local Government how much (a) the Homes and Communities Agency, (b) the Homes Mr. Ian Austin: The final report of the Working and Communities Agency Academy and (c) the Group on Condition Information was submitted to the Tenant Services Authority spent on (i) advertising and Department in late December. We are looking carefully (ii) marketing in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10 to date; at the recommendations and will set out our response in and how much has been budgeted for such expenditure due course. in 2009-10. [316431] 271W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 272W

John Healey: The following table provides information Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for on advertising and marketing spend by the Homes and Communities and Local Government how much was Communities Agency (HCA), the Homes and Communities spent by the (a) Finance and Corporate Services, (b) Agency Academy and the Tenant Services Authority Strategy, Performance and Research, (c) Investment (TSA) in 2008-09. Full details of spend for 2009-10 will and Regeneration, (d) Land and Development, (e) be available once the Annual Report and Accounts are New Ventures and Partnerships and (f) Skills and published later this year. Knowledge division of the Homes and Communities 2008-09 spend Agency in 2008-09; how much has been budgeted for each division in 2009-10; and what proportion of each £000 figure is attributable to staff costs. [316432] HCA HCA academy TSA John Healey: The Homes and Communities Agency Advertising 92 7 5 (HCA) was launched on 1 December 2008 but some time passed before its directorates were fully established, Marketing 515 62 18 and for this reason it is not possible to provide a Notes: break-down of costs by division for 2008-09. 1. All figures are subject to rounding. For 2009-10, the planned budgets for 2009-10 for 2. The 2008-09 spend relates to the costs incurred since HCA and TSA’s inception on 1 December 2008 and include the one offset up costs of both these directorates, including how much is attributable to bodies. staff costs, is set out as follows:

2009-10 Budgets £000 Finance and Investment and New Ventures and Academy (Skills and Corporate Services Strategy Renewal Partnerships Knowledge)

Total staff costs 9,715 7,463 3,543 7,876 1,771 Other costs1 1,477 1,027 770 676 157 Total 11,192 8,490 4,313 8,552 1,928 1 Includes travel and subsistence, regional training and where applicable, programme fees. Excludes agency-wide costs which cannot be disaggregated, such as accommodation costs and office facilities, IT, legal and records, national training.

Homes and Communities Agency: Loans Housing Associations: Finance Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Communities and Local Government pursuant to the housing associations have been assigned to grade (a) 3 answer of 3 February 2010, Official Report, column and (b) 4 following a Tenant Services Authority review 361W, on Homes and Communities Agency and of their financial position; and if he will make a Tenant Services Authority loans, what rate of interest statement. [316806] was applied to loans to staff; and for what reason the loans were made. [316737] John Healey: At present the Tenant Services Authority has two organisations whose judgment level (J) for John Healey: The Homes and Communities Agency viability is graded at J3. None are currently graded and Tenant Services Authority staff loans break down at J4. as follows: Housing: Finance

Number £ Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how much his HCA Department plans to spend on improving the supply Bicycle loans 2 1,000 and quality of housing in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 Season ticket loans 91 179,429.03 and (c) 2011-12 in (i) cash terms and (ii) 2008-09 Total 180,429.03 prices; [316807] (2) how much his Department spent against its TSA Objective 4 to deliver a better balance between housing Car loans 4 41,244 supply and demand (a) in cash terms and (b) in Season ticket loans 55 110,043 2009-10 prices in each of the last five years. [316810] Salary advances 8 9,640 John Healey: Information on departmental plans to Total 160,927 spend on improving the supply and quality of housing in 2009-10 and 2010-11 was published in the 2009 The season tickets, bicycle loans and salary advances departmental annual report, at: are interest free and are to be repaid within 12 months http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ of receipt. annualreport09 The interest rate for the car loans which are available including programmes delivered by the Homes and to those designated as an “essential user”varies according Communities Agency.Although given timing of publication to the five years National Loan Funds rate which is the 2009 report was not able to reflect budget changes compounded half yearly and converted into the annual made to support the £1.5 billion Housing Pledge covering percentage rate before being fixed for the term of the 2009-11 announced in Building Britain’s Future on loan. The maximum term for car loans is five years. 29 June 2009, planned spending figures resulting from 273W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 274W the Housing Pledge were subsequently specifically identified Housing: Standards in the Homes and Communities Agency’s corporate plan 2009-11 (see section on Housing Pledge in table 3 Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for on page 28) published in September 2009, at: Communities and Local Government how much was http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/publications spent by his Department on the English House Condition Survey in 2008-09. [316816] For conversion to 2008-09 prices, Government use the GDP deflator to allow for the effects of changes in John Healey: Expenditure on the English Housing prices. This can be found on HM Treasury’s website at: Survey in 2008-09 was £4,737,821 which includes the http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/data_gdp_index.htm cost of household interviews, surveyor training, property Plans on spending on the supply and quality of housing inspections and the Department’s expenditure on the for 2011-12 will be determined through the next spending Survey. review. Further information about the EHCS, including annual Figures for departmental spending on housing supply reports, can be found at: and demand for 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07, are http://www.communities.gov.uk/ehcs shown in each of the annual departmental reports Further information about the EHS can be found at: covering those years. The 2008 departmental annual http://www.communities.gov.uk/englishhousingsurvey report provided data on 2007-08 spend on public service agreement target 5 (to achieve a better balance between Land Use: Agriculture housing availability and the demand for housing) on housing supply. In line with Treasury guidance, 2008 Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for was the last report on public service agreements which Communities and Local Government what estimate his had an end date later than 2008 but were subsumed Department has made of the area of farmland of within our CSR07 public service agreements and grade (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3a, (d) 3b, (e) 4 and (f) 5 taken departmental strategic objectives. The 2008-09 departmental for development in each of the last five years. [317138] annual report showed forecast out-turn spend figures for 2008-09 against the new departmental strategic objective Mr. Ian Austin: Annual information on the estimated on improving the supply and quality of housing. area of agricultural land in hectares changing to a Expenditure can be converted to 2009-10 prices using developed use in England for the most recent five years the GDP deflator as published by HMT. This deflator is available is given in the following table: calculated from ONS data for seasonally adjusted current and constant price GDP for years up to 2008-09. The Hectares 2009-10 deflator is derived from HM Treasury forecasts for GDP deflator increases at the pre-Budget report 2003 5,990 2009. 2004 2,690 2005 4,160 2006 2,950 Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for 2007 2,760 Communities and Local Government what the average Information on how much of the above changes were Homes and Communities Agency grant per unit was from each grade of agricultural land could be provided foranew(a) affordable home and (b) home for social only at disproportionate cost. rent in each region in (i) each of the last three years and (ii) 2009-10 to date. [316812] Local Government Finance: Barnet

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, Communities and Local Government with reference to North (Mr. Austin) on 15 July 2009, Official Report, the answer of 16 October 2009, Official Report, column column 495W. 1129W, on local government: Barnet, if he will place in The following table shows the average grant per unit the Library a copy of the final report on the pilot study. for social rent and low cost home ownership for 2009-10 [317600] to end September 2009 for each region. Barbara Follett: The London borough of Barnet has £ received an evaluation of its Behaviour Change Pilot Social rent Intermediate housing Projects and is considering publishing the findings. As the pilot projects were directly commissioned by the East Midlands 39,325 24,408 London borough of Barnet, a decision on whether to Eastern 43,638 29,491 publish a report rests with the council. London 106,618 45,633 North East 44,035 19,444 Local Government: East of England North West 57,193 33,211 South East 53,203 32,017 South West 47,526 28,980 Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for West Midlands 52,133 27,243 Communities and Local Government what the cost to Yorkshire and Humberside 52,505 25,585 the public purse has been of the structural review of Source: local government in Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon. Homes and Communities Agency. [316214] 275W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 276W

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department does not hold Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for information about the costs incurred by local authorities Communities and Local Government how many of participating in the Boundary Committee’s structural households received an offer on their property under reviews in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk. In the normal the Mortgage Rescue Scheme in each local authority course of their business, local authorities respond to area in each of the last 12 months; and how many such many consultation exercises and requests for information, offers were subsequently accepted by the homeowner. and consequently, budget for this as part of their business [316821] planning. The Boundary Committee estimate of their total John Healey: We have acted rapidly to put in place a costs, to date, of the three structural reviews is over range of help and support for households struggling £1.4 million. with their mortgage at every stage, and launched a campaign to ensure households have clear information Within the Department, there are currently some about the help available. 10 full time-equivalent staff working on the structure of Mortgage rescue scheme summary monitoring statistics local government including work on unitary council are published on a quarterly basis on the Department’s restructuring—supporting those new unitaries that were website. Figures can be accessed using the following created on 1 April 2009 and taking forward the reviews link: in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk—and on improving the operation of two-tier local government. The anticipated http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ statistics/mortgagerescuestatistics expenditure in 2009-10 is some £590,000. Quarterly figures reported by local authorities from January to December 2009 are provided in a table which Members: Correspondence has been placed in the Library.

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to Communities and Local Government with reference to respond to the letter of 5 January 2010 from the hon. the Mortgage Rescue Scheme monitoring statistics Member for Billericay on his constituent Mr. M. Beiley. published by his Department on 12 November 2009, [317547] how many of the 92 offers accepted under the scheme have been completed. [316943] Barbara Follett: A reply was sent to this letter on 9 February 2010. John Healey: Ninety two. New Deal for Communities Mobile Homes Act 1983 Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has Communities and Local Government if he will begin been spent by the New Deal for Communities the proposed consultation on reforms to the Mobile programme since its inception; and what estimate he Homes Act 1983 within the next two months. [317279] has made of the number of people assisted by the programme. [317910] Mr. Ian Austin: We remain committed to introducing reforms that improve transparency in relation to the Ms Rosie Winterton: Between 2000-01 and 2007-08 Mobile Homes Act 1983. We intend to consult on initial (the last year for which audited accounts are available) proposals with key stakeholder groups in April before NDC Partnerships reported that they have spent carrying out a public consultation. £1,559 million in grant funding. The latest figures available estimate that there were 797,100 people living in NDC Mortgages: Government Assistance areas in 2007. Note: Population figures from: Sheffield Hallam University’s Centre for Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Regional and Economic and Social Research. Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on publicising the (a) Mortgage Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property Rescue Scheme and (b) Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme. [316747] Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment John Healey: No money has been spent specifically has been made of the merits of extending the current on advertising MRS and HMS. empty property rate relief scheme beyond April 2010. In September 2009, the Government launched a national [317078] campaign to help struggling homeowners take control of their finances and make the most of the support Barbara Follett: An impact assessment will be published available for them to avoid repossessions and stay in shortly alongside the statutory instrument that will their homes. Press, radio, online and billboard extend the empty property rate relief exemption threshold. advertisements point people to an advice line and a new Our reforms to empty property relief are principled website illustrating the practical steps they can take to and right for the long-term. They provide a strong resolve their mortgage repayment worries, as well as incentive on owners to bring empty property back into contacts for the wide range of support available, including use, helping to improve access to premises for businesses targeted schemes such as Mortgage Rescue and and so to exert a downward pressure on commercial Homeowners Mortgage Support. rents. 277W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 278W

However, we provided owners with real help to manage Mr. Ian Austin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer short-term pressures in a difficult property market by my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) exempting all empty properties with rateable values up gave him on 27 March 2009, Official Report, column to £15,000 from business rates in 2009-10. 789W. We have listened to the continued concerns of owners and we are extending the temporary measure for a Private Rented Housing: Homelessness further 12 months—to cover the whole of 2010-11—and we are uprating the threshold to £18,000 in line with the Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for general movement of property values at revaluation. Communities and Local Government how many private sector properties were leased by (a) local Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for authorities and (b) housing associations in order to Communities and Local Government (1) how much house homeless households in 2008-09. [315678] empty property rate relief has cost the Exchequer since Mr. Ian Austin: Use of accommodation with shared 2007; [317112] facilities has declined over recent years, largely through (2) how much empty property rate relief has cost the reduced bed and breakfast usage. Within the last 10 years, Exchequer since April 2009. [317113] bed and breakfast style accommodation use peaked during 2002, when 16 per cent. of households were in Barbara Follett: The amounts of empty property this form of temporary accommodation, compared to relief granted in 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 and the 4 per cent. at the end of March 2009. The proportion of amount forecast to be granted in 2009-10 are as follows: self-contained accommodation has increased over this Empty property relief period; in particular private sector accommodation leased £ million short-term by local authorities or registered social landlords, which rose from under 30 per cent. during 2002 to 2006-07 1,362 59 per cent. at the end of March 2009. On 30 March 2007-08 1,294 2009, there were 37,450 households in private sector 2008-09 487 temporary accommodation leased short-term by local 2009-10 570 authorities and registered social landlords, of which 25,750 households were in accommodation leased by a Data are as reported to Communities and Local local authority and 11,700 households were in Government by all billing authorities in England on the accommodation leased or managed by a registered social annual National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) returns. landlord. The figures given are the net empty property relief granted in that year irrespective of the year to which the Safer Stronger Communities Fund empty property relief related. It can also include the repayment of non-domestic rates where empty property Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for relief should have been granted in previous years but Communities and Local Government how much has was not. been spent on (a) programmes, (b) staffing, (c) In 2008-09, the rules governing empty and partly administration and (d) publicity by the Safer and occupied property relief were reformed by the Rating Stronger Communities Fund; and what estimate he has (Empty Properties) Act 2007 and further reforms were made of the number of people assisted by the fund. introduced for 2009-10. [317841] Our reforms to empty property relief are principled Ms Rosie Winterton: The Safer and Stronger and right for the long-term. They provide a strong Communities Fund is allocated to local authorities incentive on owners to bring empty property back into through area-based grant. For the current spending use, helping to improve access to premises for businesses period, £51.967 million was allocated in 2008-09 and and so to exert a downward pressure on commercial £30.909 million in 2009-10, with an indicative allocation rents. of £4.893 million in 2010-11. The SSCF is a non ring-fenced However, we provided owners with real help to manage fund and local authorities have flexibility over how it is short-term pressures in a difficult property market by spent. It is therefore not possible to break down spend exempting all empty properties with rateable values up into programmes, staffing, administration and publicity. to £15,000 from business rates in 2009-10. We have listened to the continued concerns of owners Supporting People Programme and we are extending the temporary measure for a further 12 months—to cover the whole of 2010-11—and Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for we are uprating the threshold to £18,000 in line with the Communities and Local Government how much has general movement of property values at revaluation. been spent on (a) staffing, (b) administration and (c) publicity for the Supporting People programme. Private Rented Housing [317212] Barbara Follett: Communities and Local Government Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for provide local authorities with administration grant as a Communities and Local Government what estimate his contribution towards the costs of managing the programme Department has made of the proportion of vulnerable at a local level but do not require authorities to provide people in each vulnerability group who lived in decent details of actual expenditure on staffing, administration private sector homes in each year since 2002. [316811] or publicity for the Supporting People programme. 279W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 280W

It is possible that some local authorities do not Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for record these sorts of expenditure for their Supporting Communities and Local Government how much has People grants specifically. Communities and Local been spent on the Supporting People programme; and Government would not be able to provide this information how many people have received assistance under the without a disproportionate amount of effort, and for programme since its inception. [317213] those local authorities who do not record this type of expenditure even a disproportionate amount of effort would not yield any results. Barbara Follett: The information requested is as follows:

Supporting People household unit and spend information Financial year: 2003-041 2004-052 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09

Annual spend (£) 1,814,096,410 1,804,997,200 1,681,607,275 1,642,961,644 1,627,573,423 1,640,497,680 Household unit available 1,232,889 927,774 1,038,595 1,064,178 1,068,994 1,083,406

The household unit figures provided represent a snapshot Kevin Brennan: Record numbers of people are taking of the capacity of Supporting People services (measured up and achieving an apprenticeship. Table 1 shows the in households) at a particular point in time; in this number of apprenticeship starts in Lewes parliamentary instance as at 31 March each year, to correspond with constituency, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove local the collection of spend data. It should be noted that authorities. household unit information is not representative of the Table 1: Apprenticeship starts, Lewes parliamentary constituency, East Sussex number of households who have actually received support and Brighton and Hove local authorities (2003/04 to 2008/09) during the quarter or year. 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 Working Neighbourhoods Fund Lewes 240 240 230 210 280 280 parliamentary Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for constituency Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on (a) staffing, (b) administration and (c) East Sussex 1,500 1,500 1,400 1,400 1,800 2,000 publicity for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund. local authority [317211] Brighton and 600 700 700 600 700 800 Hove local Ms Rosie Winterton: As a locally managed fund, authority central Government do not hold this information. Notes: £1.52 billion has been allocated to the Working 1. Parliamentary constituency volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. Local Neighbourhoods Fund for the period 2008-11. It is authority figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Parliamentary constituency and local authority are based upon the home allocated to local authorities with high rates of worklessness, postcode of the learner. thereby giving them the flexibility to respond to local 3. Information is not currently available on the size of the employer for circumstances when tackling worklessness and promoting apprentices. For the 2009/10 academic year, this information will become available on the ILR when a unique employer identifier will have to be enterprise. provided by all employers of apprentices. Source: Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for WBL/ER Individualised Learner Record Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on the Working Neighbourhoods Fund; We can provide an estimate of the size of employers, and how many people have received assistance from the nationally, that offer and have recruited apprentices funds. [317214] from the National Employers Skills Survey (NESS). These data are based on repeated surveys of up to Ms Rosie Winterton: £1.52 billion has been allocated 79,000 employers across all business sectors in England. to the Working Neighbourhoods Fund for the period Table 2 shows information from the published 2007 2008-11. It is allocated to local authorities with high National Employer Skills survey1 on the number of rates of worklessness, thereby giving them the flexibility organisations that had any staff undertaking an to respond to local circumstances when tackling apprenticeship in the 12 months prior to interview, by worklessness and promoting enterprise. size of employer. As a locally managed fund, central Government do Table 2: Percentage of employers that had any staff undertaking an not hold information on the number of people assisted. apprenticeship over the previous 12 months (NESS 2007) Percentage

All employers 8 BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Number of employees of employer 2-4 5 Apprentices: East Sussex 5-24 10 25-99 15 Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, 100-199 18 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how 200-499 25 many small and medium-sized businesses in (a) Lewes 500+ 33 constituency and (b) East Sussex are employing 1 http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National/nat-nessurvey2007mainreport-may08.pdf accessed on 4 February 2010. apprentices. [315760] 281W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 282W

Apprentices: Feltham statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 17 December, and re-issued on 21 January to include Alan Keen: To ask the Minister of State, Department provisional national estimates of the number of for Business, Innovation and Skills how many modern apprenticeship starts and achievements in the first quarter apprenticeships have been started in Feltham and of 2009/10: Heston constituency since 1997. [316692] http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrdec09

Kevin Brennan: Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts in Feltham and Heston parliamentary Bankruptcy: Sussex constituency from 2003/04 onwards, the earliest year for which comparable data are available. Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts for Feltham and Heston Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how parliamentary constituency, 2003/04 to 2008/09 many bankruptcies of (a) individuals in each age Academic year Number of starts group resident in and (b) businesses based in (i) Lewes 2003/04 280 constituency and (ii) East Sussex there were in each of 2004/05 260 the last five years. [317029] 2005/06 230 2006/07 370 Ian Lucas: Figures for bankrupts in East Sussex and 2007/08 350 Lewes constituency by age group for the last five years 2008/09 360 are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below. Notes: Table 1: Bankruptcies in Lewes1 1. Figures for Feltham and Heston parliamentary constituency are rounded to Age group2 the nearest 10. 2. Figures are based upon home postcode of the learner. Under 3. Figures include apprenticeship, advanced apprenticeships and higher level 25 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Unknown apprenticeships. Source: 2004 2 17 18 17 6 0 4 Individualised Learner Record. 2005 7 22 17 19 12 3 4 Information on the number of apprenticeship starts 2006 6 28 39 23 10 4 9 by parliamentary constituency, local authority, Government 2007 4 22 24 29 15 6 11 office region and for England is published in a quarterly 2008 1 13 25 16 10 3 16 statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published 1 Where bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (from 94.5 per cent. in 2004 to on 17 December, and re-issued on 21 January to include 96.9 per cent. in 2008). 2 Where bankrupt has provided a valid date of birth (from 92.3 per cent. in 2004 provisional national estimates of the number of to 93.4 per cent. in 2008). apprenticeship starts and achievements in the first quarter of 2009/10: Table 2: Bankruptcies in East Sussex1 http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrdec09 Age group- Under Apprentices: Hemsworth 25 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Unknown 2004 26 107 126 102 52 9 41 Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister of State, 2005 32 152 180 125 80 22 53 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how 2006 43 179 238 143 93 26 41 many modern apprenticeships have been started in 2007 27 151 217 141 102 34 53 Hemsworth since 1997. [316614] 2008 26 146 194 152 64 36 79 1 Where bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (from 94.5 per cent. in 2004 to 96.9 per cent. in 2008) Kevin Brennan: The following table 1 shows the number 2 Where bankrupt has provided a valid date of birth (from 92.3 per cent. in 2004 of Apprenticeship starts in Hemsworth parliamentary to 93.4 per cent. in 2008). constituency from 2003/04 onwards, the earliest year for which comparable data is available. Self-employed traders may be declared bankrupt (or enter into an individual voluntary arrangement [IVA]), Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts for Hemsworth parliamentary however, registered companies are the subject of liquidation constituency, 2003/04 to 2008/09 (compulsory liquidation or creditors voluntary liquidation Academic year Number of starts (CVL)). 2003/04 390 Table 3 shows the number of self employed traders 2004/05 390 who were declared bankrupt in each of the last five 2005/06 300 years. 2006/07 380 Table 3: Bankruptcies amongst sole traders in Lewes and East Sussex 2007/08 390 Area1 2008/09 450 Year2 Lewes East Sussex Notes: 1. Figures for Hemsworth parliamentary constituency are rounded to the 2004 22 132 nearest 10. 2. Figures are based upon home postcode of the learner. 2005 14 144 3. Figures include Apprenticeship, Advanced Apprenticeships and Higher Level 2006 33 154 Apprenticeships. Source: 2007 20 140 Individualised Learner Record 2008 28 138 Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts 1 Where bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (from 94.5 per cent. in 2004 to 96.9 per cent. in 2008). by parliamentary constituency, local authority, government 2 Figures from October 2006 are compiled on a different basis and are not office region and for England is published in a quarterly comparable to earlier figures. 283W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 284W

Regional figures for 2009 are not currently available Since 2004, Business Link Yorkshire has been the for bankruptcies, as they are compiled on an annual single contact point for all publicly funded support basis. They should be available later in 2010. available to businesses in Yorkshire and The Humber. Statistics covering corporate insolvencies, including This has made it easier for businesses to access information, liquidation, are not currently available at a sub-national advice and support on issues including business regulation, level within England and Wales. best practice, marketing, innovation, financial support and help with exporting. For example in 2009/10 to Business: Government Assistance date, Business Link Yorkshire has helped 2,578 businesses in the Wakefield area and 913 individuals thinking of starting a business. As part of the Government’s Real David Mundell: To ask the Minister of State, Help Now package we are providing more help for Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how businesses to survive during the current economic many applications (a) in total and (b) from businesses conditions. Since October 2008 this has included a free registered in Scotland for loans under the Enterprise Business Link health check which can be a useful starting Finance Guarantee scheme have been (i) made and (ii) point for identifying further business support tailored granted. [315310] to the needs of individual companies. To date Business Link Yorkshire has arranged 548 health checks for Ms Rosie Winterton: Under the Enterprise Finance small and medium sized businesses in Wakefield. In Guarantee, as of 27 January 2010, over £1.13 billion of addition, the Yorkshire Forward funded Financial Health eligible applications from over 10,000 businesses have Check, which offers a grant of £2,000 for accountants been granted, are being processed or assessed. Of these, to carry out a full review, has benefited 63 businesses in 7,792 businesses have been offered loans totalling Wakefield. £794.71 million. Small and medium sized manufacturing businesses in In Scotland, £86.92 million of eligible applications Wakefield can also benefit from the Yorkshire and from 686 businesses have been granted, are being processed Humber Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), which or assessed. Of these, 544 businesses have been offered was set up by BERR in 2002 to provide practical loans totalling £70.69 million. hands-on support to business in all aspects of Businesses may apply for a loan from any of the manufacturing. In 2009 the Yorkshire and Humber participating lenders who will assess which form of MAS carried out over 1,000 manufacturing reviews and lending, including the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, is over 340 improvement projects, creating or safeguarding most appropriate. We do not hold figures for those over 3,100 jobs, with an estimated total potential increase businesses which are instead offered a normal commercial in GVA of £30.3 million. Figures at local level are not loan, or are rejected for failing to meet the lenders’ available. normal commercial criteria. Under the European Regional Development Funded Objective 2 programme between 2000 and 2008 over Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister of State, £93 million was provided to support small and medium Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what enterprises in the Objective 2 areas in Yorkshire and the steps his Department and its predecessors have taken Humber, which included Wakefield. Figures at local to support small businesses in Hemsworth since 1997. level are not available. [316613] Details of the wide range of Government funded support for business available are on the Real Help Ms Rosie Winterton: Since 1997 the Government Now website have implemented a wide range of measures to support business, including small and medium-sized businesses. www.realhelpnow.gov.uk Statistical information on these measures is not available Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, at constituency level. Statistical information has been Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what provided at the Wakefield local authority level where the criteria are for the award of a loan to a company available. The principal measures are as follows. under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme. In 1998, the Government set up the Regional [316783] Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward, to deliver a joined-up approach to economic development in the Ms Rosie Winterton: There are three main criteria for region. In support of its objective of promoting business a business being offered an EFG loan application: efficiency, investment and competitiveness Yorkshire The business meeting the lender’s normal commercial criteria Forward has provided grants for businesses through the in relation to the viability of the business and serviceability of Selective Finance for Investment (SFI) scheme, which the loan. This judgment will vary according to the lender started in April 2004, and its successor the Grants for concerned. Business Investment (GBI) scheme, which started in The lender determining that use of EFG, rather than a normal October 2008. Yorkshire Forward has made 27 SFI and commercial loan, is necessary because of no or insufficient GBI grant offers to businesses in Wakefield totalling security available on the part of the business. £3.2 million, creating or safeguarding 355 jobs. Yorkshire The business meeting the basic EFG eligibility criteria Forward has also provided grants to support research Each lender has access to the EFG web portal through and development by small and medium sized businesses, which they administer the EFG eligibility criteria. The through the SMART scheme and its successor, the main EFG eligibility criteria, with respect to the size of Grants for Research and Development scheme. Since loan, purpose of loan, turnover size, business sector etc, 2000, Yorkshire Forward has offered 25 research and is detailed on the BIS website: development grants totalling £1.5 million to small and http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/enterprise/finance/efc/ medium sized businesses in Wakefield. page37607.html 285W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 286W

Business: Snow and Ice Kevin Brennan: Information relating to mergers is not collected at this level of detail. The Office of National Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department Statistics (ONS) is responsible for collecting information for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he involving mergers and acquisitions by UK companies has made of the cost to business in (a) Chorley, (b) abroad and in the UK, and mergers and acquisitions by Lancashire and (c) the UK of the adverse weather foreign companies in the UK. The ONS publishes a conditions of December 2009 and January 2010. quarterly statistical bulletin and a Tri-annual Mini review [314221] of mergers and acquisitions. Its latest Quarterly Bulletin (3rd Quarter 2009) can Ms Rosie Winterton: There are no official estimates at be found at the following link: this early stage of local, regional or national cost to http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/ma1209.pdf business as a result of the adverse weather but there are and its last Tri-annual Mini review published in 2008 indications that some businesses lost trade due to customers can be found at: being unable to travel or lost output due to staff being http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_commerce/ unable to attend work. We will continue to monitor the 2008-Mini-Triennial-M-A.pdf situation and estimates as these become available. Construction: Government Assistance Cerebrospinal: Multiple Sclerosis Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Minister of State, for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he construction companies in (a) Essex and (b) Castle will (a) commission and (b) evaluate research into the Point have received Government assistance in the last relationship between chronic cerebrospinal venous three years. [316727] insufficiency and multiple sclerosis. [317013] Ian Lucas [holding answer 10 February 2010]: Business Link East, which is managed by the East of England Mr. Lammy: The Medical Research Council (MRC) Development Agency, has supported (a) 2,623 construction is one of the main agencies through which the Government companies in Essex and (b) 136 construction companies support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an in Castle Point in the last three years. independent body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department The MRC spent £3.4 million on research into multiple for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to sclerosis in 2008-09, but is not currently funding any take steps to increase the level of liquidity in the research specifically into chronic cerebrospinal venous construction industry; and if he will make a statement. insufficiency (CCSVI). [316728] The MRC provides funding for research through a Ian Lucas [holding answer 10 February 2010]: The range of grants and personal awards to scientists in Government have been increasing liquidity in construction universities, medical schools and other research institutes by helping smaller and medium-sized firms, which dominate but does not normally commission research to address the industry, through Real Help for Business. This specific questions. package of measures aims to facilitate bank lending to Applications are generally submitted by the scientific smaller and medium-sized firms and will continue to do community in ‘response mode’ and the MRC always so into the financial year 2010-11. In addition, in the welcomes high quality applications for support into any December 2009 Pre-Budget Report the Government aspect of human health. The primary considerations in announced the creation of a Growth Capital Fund that funding decisions are research excellence and importance will target SMEs for which traditional bank finance is to health; however, high quality proposals in areas of either inappropriate or unavailable. particular strategic importance may be given priority in competition for funds. Departmental Information Officers The MRC provides opportunities for additional clinical Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department research training fellowships through collaborations with for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff in Royal Colleges and charity funders including the MRC/ his Department and its agencies (a) have the status of Multiple Sclerosis Society Clinical Research Training embedded communicators and (b) are members of the Fellowships. One fellowship per year is available under Government Communications Network but are not this scheme, aimed at researchers who are involved in listed in the Central Office of Information White Book. treating patients and who wish to pursue research into [315168] understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis. Details of MRC’s currently funded research can be Mr. McFadden: At the most recent assessment of found in the MRC research portfolio which is accessible those embedded, in October 2009, there were 18 embedded on the MRC website at: communicators in BIS. Embedded communicators are http://www.mrc.ac.uk/ResearchPortfolio/index.htm defined as staff employed primarily in a communications role based in policy or delivery units outside of the Companies: Birmingham central communications function. It is not possible to provide the number of embedded Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Minister of State, communicators who are members of the Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how Communications Network (GCN) but not listed in the many mergers of companies have taken place in White Book as the Department does not hold GCN Birmingham in each of the last three years. [312775] membership data. 287W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 288W

I have approached the Chief Executives of the Insolvency Departmental Video Conferencing Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office and the Intellectual Property Office and they will Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, respond to the hon. Member directly. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what Letter from Peter Mason, dated 12 February 2010: the cost was of the technical support team required to I am responding in respect of the National Measurement run the videoconferencing and telepresence facilities in Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 29 January 2010, to Kingsgate House in the last 12 months. [304483] the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, asking how many staff (a) have the status of embedded Mr. McFadden: Technical support for the communicators and (b) are members of the Government videoconferencing and telepresence facilities is currently Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office provided to the Department via a shared services agreement of Information White Book. with the Department for Children, Schools and Families a) The National Measurement Office, following a recent restructure, (DCSF). The costs for ICT and Information Management has one part time member of staff (0.6 FTE) who we believe would be regarded as an “embedded communicator” in that she is services are in fact broken down in a way that relates to employed primarily in a communications role based in the enforcement input categories, for example staff costs, licences, etc team of the Agency. This role is based outside of the central rather than products that are supported. communications team. However, for 2009-10 the shared services charges b) The National Measurement Office has no staff who are identified against videoconferencing and telepresence members of the Government Communications Network. from DCSF will be £37,700 and will cover overall Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 12 February 2010: delivery of the services and support. I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 29 January 2010, UIN 315168 to the Minister of Digital Broadcasting: Radio State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Companies House has five staff who are members of the Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Government Communication Network, and classed as Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what communicators. The two members with responsibility for dealing estimate he has made of the proportion of radio with press enquiries are listed in the Central Office of Information microphones and other programme-making and White Book, the other three are not. special events technologies which will need to be Letter from Sean Dennehey, dated 2 February 2010: replaced with new equipment as a consequence of the I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office clearance of the digital dividend spectrum; and if he to your Parliamentary Question tabled 29 January 2010, to the will make a statement. [317612] Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Mr. Timms: We have not estimated the proportion of The Intellectual Property Office does not have any staff who microphones (both channel 69 and interleaved spectrum) have the status of embedded communicators. or other PMSE equipment which will be affected by the Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 18 February 2010: clearance. The Minister of State, for the Department of Business, Innovation However, Ofcom have estimated that 95 per cent. of and Skills (BIS) has asked me to reply to your question how many staff in his Department and its agencies (a) have the status of all radio microphones tune to channel 69 and will embedded communicators and (b) are members of the Government therefore be affected by the clearance. Communications Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information White Book. Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, The Insolvency Service has 7 embedded communicators, 2 of Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when whom are not direct employees but are Agency staff. There are no he plans to announce his decision on the (a) criteria staff that are members of the Government Communications for compensation eligibility and (b) allocation of Network but are not listed in the Central Office of Information funding to be provided to those in the programme- White Book. making and special events sector who are affected by Departmental Official Hospitality the clearance of the digital dividend spectrum. [317613]

John Mason: To ask the Minister of State, Mr. Timms: Ofcom are re-evaluating their initial Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how assumptions and eligibility criteria in light of responses many receptions he has hosted for representatives of to their second consultation on this issue. When this print and broadcast media since 3 October 2008; and work is completed, Government will agree with Ofcom how many he plans to host in 2010. [316839] an appropriate funding allocation.

Mr. Timms: I have not hosted any such receptions. Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, However, since October 2008: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made a recent estimate of the number My Noble Friend, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting hosted of jobs which depend (a) directly and (b) indirectly on a digital Britain summit in April 2009 at the British Library, the use of radio microphones and other programme- drawing attendees from the print, broadcast and technology making and special events technologies. [317614] communities. The key note speech was given by the Prime Minister. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Higher Education Mr. Timms: No such estimates have been made. However, and Intellectual Property hosted a lunch with educational journalists the Department is aware of the contribution that the in November 2008. programme-making and special events (PMSE) industry There are no current plans to host any such receptions makes to the UK economy, and is carefully considering in 2010. how they will be relocated from channel 69 to channel 38. 289W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 290W

Employment Agencies: EU Law Mr. McFadden: We have addressed these issues in the Government responses to the two consultation exercises Mr. Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department on implementation of the Agency Workers Regulations for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration 2010—the relevant documents have been placed in the his Department has given to the effect on the nature of Libraries of the House and are available on the BIS ad hoc assignments of temporary workers of the website. These include a comprehensive impact assessment. Agency Worker Regulations. [316970] On bonuses, we are aware of the concerns of hirers, in particular the implications of integrating agency workers Mr. McFadden: We carefully considered representations into appraisal systems for permanent staff. The regulations from stakeholders on the issue of ad hoc assignments. do not require agency workers to be integrated into However, we concluded that it would be wrong for these systems—hirers can adopt simpler systems such agency workers to be deprived of equal treatment rights as existing feedback arrangements that many agencies just because they do not comply with ‘standard’ work already have in place. It is also by no means the case patterns, particularly since irregular agency assignments that all bonus payments will come within the scope of are prevalent in lower-paid sectors. We were also concerned equal treatment rights—they will not do so, for instance, about the risk of any special provision on the point if not directly attributable to the individual worker’s would further complicate the regulations, and could be contribution or if they would not have been payable if exploited by the unscrupulous in order to deprive workers the same worker had been recruited directly to do the of equal treatment rights. same job (if, say, there is a qualifying period before a bonus is payable). Guidance will address these issues Mr. Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department further. for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has (a) sought and (b) received We carefully considered representations from stakeholders from representatives of the agency work industry on on the issue of ad hoc assignments. However, we concluded the drafting of the guidance to the Agency Worker that it would be wrong for agency workers to be deprived Regulations. [316971] of equal treatment rights just because they do not comply with ‘standard’ work patterns, particularly since Mr. McFadden: The Agency Workers Regulations irregular agency assignments are prevalent in lower-paid 2010 were laid before Parliament on 21 January 2010, sectors. We were also concerned about the risk of any coming into force on 1 October 2011. Accompanying special provision on the point would further complicate guidance will be drawn up and published in advance of the regulations, and could be exploited by the unscrupulous the regulations coming into force. The important role in order to deprive workers of equal treatment rights. this guidance will play has been one of the subjects We considered that it would be inappropriate for the discussed with not only representatives of the agency regulations to make provision on the issue of indemnities work industry but also other stakeholders during recent since to do so would amount to an inappropriate consultations preceding the laying of the regulations. intervention in private commercial arrangements, and We will of course wish to have further discussions with the directive includes no requirements in this area. interested parties on the drafting of this guidance in due course. Exports: Morocco

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Minister of State, for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what further to consult representatives of the agency work the monetary value was of UK exports to Morocco in industry prior to the implementation of the Agency (a) 2008 and (b) 2009. [317990] Worker Regulations. [316972] Ian Lucas: UK exports of goods to Morocco were Mr. McFadden: The last year saw an intensive process worth £484 million in 2008 and £299 million in 2009 on of consultation on the Government’s proposals to an Overseas Trade Statistics basis. implement the European Agency Workers Directive. There were more than 300 responses to the original UK exports of services to Morocco were worth consultation on policy proposals and almost 100 responses £77 million in 2008 on a Balance of Payments basis. to the second on the draft regulations. In addition, Data for 2009 are due to be published at the end of July Ministers and officials held frequent meetings with a in the UK Balance of Payments Pink Book. wide variety of interested parties, including those representing the agency work industry. Exports: Saudi Arabia Accompanying guidance will be drawn up and published in advance of the regulations coming into force. We will Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Minister of State, seek the views of representatives of the agency work Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what industry and other interested parties on the drafting of the monetary value was of UK exports to Saudi Arabia this guidance in due course. in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009. [317989]

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department Ian Lucas: UK exports of goods to Saudi Arabia for Business, Innovation and Skills what impact were worth £2,191 million in 2008 and £2,334 million in assessment his Department has undertaken of the 2009 on a Balance of Payments basis. Agency Worker Regulations in relation to the (a) UK exports of services to Saudi Arabia were worth complexity of bonus arrangements, (b) cost of £2,633 million in 2008 on a Balance of Payments basis. tracking ad hoc assignments and (c) transferral of Data for 2009 are due to be published at the end of July indemnity from the end-user to the agency. [316975] in the UK Balance of Payments Pink Book. 291W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 292W

Graduates: Work Experience Visits trend Month Visits Percentage visits

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, January 0 0 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how February 0 0 many unique visitors there have been to the (a) March 0 0 Graduate Talent Pool and (b) Our future, its in our April 0 0 hands website in each month since each was created. May 3,837 5 [307769] June 7,895 10 July 13,768 18 Mr. Lammy: The Department do not have monthly August 6,727 9 figures for the number of unique visits to the Graduate September 18,068 23 Talent Pool website. But the following information is October 16,044 21 available: November 7,902 10 Total unique visitors between 19 April and 8 December to the December 3,738 5 Employer site were: 55,012 Total 77,979 100.00 Total unique visitors between 30th June and 8th December to Notes: the Graduate site were: 104,403 Time interval (hour, day, etc.) A one-year report displays monthly time increments. A one-quarter report In addition the figures for total visits to the employer displays weekly time increments. A one-month report or a one-week report and graduate sites are as follows: displays daily time increments. A daily report displays hourly time increments. An hour-long interval marked 12:00, for example, includes all activity between 12:00 and 12:59. Employer site Graduate site Visits Number of visits to your site during the specified time interval. A visit is a series 1-28 July 6109 — of actions that begins when a visitor views their first page from the server, and 29 July-l September 21291 46444 ends when the visitor leaves the site or remains idle beyond the idle-time limit. 2 September-27 September 15282 44260 The default idle-time limit is thirty minutes. This time limit can be changed by the system administrator. 28 September-3 November 10305 37982 Percentage 4 November-l December 9275 30334 Percentage of visits to your site during the specified time interval compared with all visits to our site during the report period. The “Our future. Its in our hands” website is owned and managed by the Learning and Skills Council. I have Higher Education: Finance asked the Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council to write to the hon. Member separately to Rob Marris: To ask the Minister of State, provide an answer to that part of the question. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 12 February 2010: proportion on average of the budgets of universities in The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation England was spent on (a) teaching undergraduates, and Skills, has asked me to respond to your Parliamentary (b) teaching graduates, (c) libraries, (d) student Question 627 that asked; services, (e) non-sponsored research, (f) sponsored “how many unique visitors there have been (a) to the Graduate research and (g) administration in (i) 2000-01, (ii) Talent Pool and (b) Our future, its in our hands websites in each 2004-05 and (iii) 2008-09. [315957] month since each was created.” The following table contains web traffic information for the Mr. Lammy: The information is not available in the “In Our Hands” website, from 17 May 2009 to 14 December breakdown requested. Information on higher education 2009. Unfortunately, due to the time constraints in which the income and expenditure is collected in the Higher Education response is required, further historical data cannot be obtained. Statistics Authority (HESA) Finance Record. The “In Our hands” website was established in summer 2007 to serve a range of audiences interested in increasing their skill Information is provided in the following table. The levels. The two main audiences are: information provided is the nearest match to the categories outlined above. The table refers to the expenditure of Individuals, who are targeted through marketing communications, and English higher education institutions rather than budget. Further explanations of how the table is broken down Businesses, which are encouraged to make the Skills Pledge. are in the footnotes to the table. Figures for 2008/09 are The purpose of the site was to act as a central repository for not yet available so the most recent academic year is information relevant to the target audiences listed above. The site used (2007/08.) was promoted to individuals during key times of the year, summer and early spring, which are key enrolment times for post 16 Expenditure of English HEIs, 2000/01,2004/05 and 2007/08 providers. Since the integration of the Careers Advice Service Percentage with the Learning and Skills Council in 2008, the Careers Advice Service website and telephone helpline have become the main call 2000/01 to action in promotional materials targeting individuals. Academic staff costs 25.3 As part of the Transformational Government strategy, this Academic services 7.3 website has been identified by the Cabinet Office for convergence Research grants and contracts 14.1 and closure (reference X1668). Staff and student facilities 2.0 Although the deadline for closure is March 2011, the LSC is Other Admin and central services 10.8 aiming to have completed the necessary convergence work by the Other 40.4 end of March 2010. Total 100.0 Information aimed at individuals has already been relocated in the Careers Advice Service site, which will subsequently become 2004/05 part of the Adult Advancement and Careers Service, in August 2010. Information and services for Business (i.e. Skills Pledge) Academic staff costs 25.0 will become part of the Business Link website. Academic services 7.6 293W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 294W

Expenditure of English HEIs, 2000/01,2004/05 and 2007/08 Higher Education: Salford Percentage

Research grants and contracts 13.5 Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister of State, Staff and student facilities 2.4 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how Other Admin and central services 11.3 many residents of Salford constituency have attended Other 40.2 university in each year since 1997. [317735] Total 100.0 Mr. Lammy: The latest figures from the Higher Education 2007/08 Statistics Agency are shown in the table. Figures for Academic staff costs 23.8 2009/10 academic year will be available in January 2011. Academic services 7.6 Enrolments cover students on all years of study. Research grants and contracts 13.1 Enrolments1 from Salford Parliamentary constituency2 UK higher education Staff and student facilities 2.6 institutions academic years 1997/98 to 2008/09 Other Admin and central services 11.9 Academic year Enrolments Other 41.0 Total 100.0 1997/1998 1,070 Notes: 1998/1999 1,135 1. ‘Academic staff costs’ include all departmental academic staff, so this will 1999/2000 1,115 cover research staff as well as teaching staff. 2000/2001 1,145 2 ‘Academic services’ includes money spent on libraries, but also includes costs to HEIs such as central computers, museums, galleries and observatories which 2001/2002 1,275 are not included in Academic departmental costs. 2002/2003 1,355 3. It is not possible to split research expenditure by non-sponsored and 2003/2004 1,475 sponsored research, ‘Research grants and contracts’ refers to sponsored research. 4. ‘Staff and student facilities’ is included within the main administration and 2004/2005 1,525 central services category, and covers expenditure of facilities such as careers 2005/2006 1,610 advisory services, accommodation services, health services, athletic and sporting 2006/2007 1,510 facilities (except maintenance) and crèches. 5. ‘Other admin and central services’ refers to admin and central services other 2007/2008 1,415 than staff and student facilities. 2008/2009 1,545 6. ‘Other’ refers to all expenditure not included in the table including other 1 Covers enrolments on all modes and levels of study. academic department staff costs, premises, residences and catering and other 2 The table does not include enrolments where the constituency of the student expenditure not covered by the categories in the finance record table. cannot be established due to missing or invalid postcode information. Source: Notes: HESA Resources of Higher Education Institutions, 2000/01, 2004/05, 2007/08 Figures are based on a snapshot as at 1 December to maintain consistency across the time series and have been rounded to the nearest five. Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department Source: for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). the Higher Education Funding Council for England teaching budget was allocated to (a) full-time and (b) Higher Education: Stroud part-time students in the latest year for which information is available. [317090] Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department Mr. Lammy: The Funding Council’s recurrent grant for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what proportion for teaching in 2009/10 can be split as follows: 77 per of 18 to 22 year olds exclusively resident in Stroud cent. for full-time students (including sandwich year constituency were studying at university in (a) 1997 out), 16 per cent. for part time and 7 per cent. not and (b) on the latest date for which figures are allocated according to student numbers. Grant for part-time available; [317084] students is allocated in terms of their full-time equivalence, (2) what proportion of 18 year olds in Stroud reflecting their relative level of activity, rather than on a constituency participated in higher education in headcount basis. 2008-09. [317085] Higher Education: Overseas Students Mr. Lammy: The Department does not collect data on the number of residents in a particular constituency Mr. Oaten: To ask the Minister of State, Department who are not in higher education, which would be for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he necessary to calculate a proportion. It is, therefore, not has made of the likely effects on the economy of an possible to calculate the proportion of 18 to 22 year increase in the minimum level qualification for which olds resident in Stroud constituency who were studying non-EU students may come to the UK for study. at university. The numbers of 18 to 22 year old enrolments [316973] at UK Higher Education Institutions, from Stroud Parliamentary Constituency, are provided as an alternative Kevin Brennan: In a written ministerial statement on in the table. 10 February 2010 my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced the conclusions of a joint UKBA/BIS 18 to 22 year old enrolments1 from Stroud Parliamentary Constituency2,UK review of tier 4 of the points-based system (student higher education institutions academic years 1997/98 and 2008/09 visas). This includes plans to limit the delivery of Age 1997/98 2008/09 National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 3 courses 18 275 310 to the new category of highly-trusted sponsor (HTS). 19 370 485 UKBA will develop a full impact assessment on the 20 370 520 review’s recommendations as part of the process of 21 275 320 implementation. 22 125 170 295W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 296W

18 to 22 year old enrolments1 from Stroud Parliamentary Constituency2,UK For mothers taking maternity leave in 2006: higher education institutions academic years 1997/98 and 2008/09 84 per cent. took 26 weeks or more maternity leave; Age 1997/98 2008/09 35 per cent. took exactly 26 weeks maternity leave; Total 1,415 1,805 46 per cent. of mothers took between 27 and 52 weeks and 1 Covers undergraduate and postgraduate enrolments to full-time and part-time only 3 per cent. were off for more than 52 weeks; and courses. 2 The table does not include enrolments where the constituency of the student 16 per cent. of mothers took less than the statutory minimum cannot be established due to missing or invalid postcode information. entitlement (i.e. 26 weeks in 2006). Notes: The Department does not collect data on take-up of Figures are based on snapshot as at 1 December to maintain consistency across academic years and have been rounded to the nearest five. maternity and paternity leave at constituency level. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Minimum Wage

Higher Education: Student Numbers Dr. McCrea: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what Stephen Williams: To ask the Minister of State, estimate he has made of the number of people who Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how have been paid at the national minimum wage rate in many students enrolled on their first full-time degree the last two years. [316363] course in the latest year for which figures are available. [317338] Mr. McFadden: Due to rounding in the conversion of payroll data into hourly wage rates in the Annual Survey Mr. Lammy: Of the 423,455 full-time degree entrants of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) it is likely that a to UK higher education institutions, 6,815 listed a sizeable number of employees earning the NMW are degree as their highest qualification on entry to their reported in the survey to have a wage rate just above or 2008-09 degree. This leaves 416,640 entrants who had below this level. This may mean that the estimated other qualifications listed. However, some entrants may number of employees earning exactly at the NMW rate have previously completed a degree, followed by a differs from the actual number. In addition, small sample postgraduate course. These entrants would not be picked sizes in ASHE for 16 to 17 and 18 to 21-year-olds means up as their highest qualification on entry would be the number of job-holders earning a specific wage rate listed as a postgraduate course, although they had cannot be inferred with sufficient certainty. For these previously studied a degree. reasons BIS has provided estimates for the number of employees earning a wage at or below the NMW in the Holiday Leave: Feltham UK rather than those paid exactly at the NMW. This analysis of the 2009 ASHE indicates that 788,000 Alan Keen: To ask the Minister of State, Department employees earned a wage at or below the national for Business, Innovation and Skills how many residents minimum wage (NMW) rate in April 2009. The of Feltham and Heston constituency qualify for paid corresponding figure from analysis of the 2008 ASHE leave entitlements. [316690] is 834,000 employees. The estimates include the number of jobs paid below Mr. McFadden: All workers resident in Feltham and the NMW. These cannot be taken as estimates of Heston qualify for paid annual leave entitlements. The underpayment as there are legitimate exemptions in the statutory minimum as set out in the working time legislation including some apprentices and those receiving regulations is at least 5.6 weeks. accommodation from their employer. Numbers of workers resident in Feltham and Heston Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister of State, are not available, however, there were a total of 53,400 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how employees who worked in Feltham and Heston (but did many people aged between 16 and 24 years in (a) not necessarily live there) in 2008, who would qualify Hemsworth and (b) Wakefield have been paid at the for paid annual leave entitlement. rate of the minimum wage or above since its introduction. [316711] Maternity Leave: Hemsworth Mr. McFadden: Data for earnings is not available at Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister of State, the constituency level because of small sample sizes at Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how this level in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings many and what percentage of women resident in (ASHE). Hemsworth have taken 26 weeks maternity leave since BIS analysis of the most recent ASHE indicates that 1997. [316609] a total of 291,000 employees in the Yorkshire and Humber region aged between 16 and 24 years earned a Mr. McFadden: The most recent estimates of take-up wage rate at or above the level of the National Minimum of maternity leave are based on the DWP “Maternity Wage (NMW) in April 2009. Rights and Mothers’ employment decisions in Britain; Survey of Mothers” (2007). In 2006, when mothers Minimum Wage: Feltham included in the study went on maternity leave, the statutory entitlement to ordinary maternity leave Alan Keen: To ask the Minister of State, Department (OML) was 26 weeks, while mothers who had worked for Business, Innovation and Skills how many of those for their employer for a qualifying period of 26 weeks resident in Feltham and Heston constituency have been were also entitled to additional maternity leave (AML) paid at the national minimum wage rate since its of 26 weeks. introduction. [316701] 297W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 298W

Mr. McFadden: Data for earnings are not available at Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is as the constituency level because of small sample sizes at follows: this level in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (a) One North East, the Regional Development Agency (ASHE). for the North East of England has made one payment At the regional level it is not possible to infer the to Sovereign Strategy in March 2007 for £23,500. number of employees earning exactly at the National This payment was for sponsorship of a conference Minimum Wage (NMW) with sufficient certainty.However event dated 17 November 2006 relating to the North it is possible to estimate the number who were paid at or East Economic Forum. below the NMW. As the payment was in the form of sponsorship, a At the Government office region level the most contract is not applicable. recent figure from BIS analysis of the 2009 ASHE (b) The North East Economic Forum is a separate indicates the number of jobholders who were paid at or legal entity independent of Government and therefore I below the NMW in April 2009 in the London region am unable to provide the information. was 62,000. Overseas Students: Admissions Music: Copyright Mr. Hayes: To ask the Minister of State, Department Dan Rogerson: To ask the Minister of State, for Business, Innovation and Skills how many foreign Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what students have been refused entry to the UK since 2001; assessment has been made of the likely effects of and what the reason for refusal was in each case. proposed changes to music licensing legislation on (a) [311501] churches and other religious establishments and (b) small voluntary organisations in North Cornwall. Mr. Woolas: I have been asked to reply. [316982] The requested information is only available from 2004 onwards. Mr. Lammy: The Government did not undertake any Since 2004, our records show that 577,993 student region by region assessment and therefore North Cornwall applications were refused leave to enter the UK at our was not considered on an individual basis. However, visa issuing posts worldwide. A further 8,629 foreign as part of the consultation process a final impact students were refused entry to the UK at the border assessment was commissioned from independent during the same period. consultants, Europe Economics. This assessment estimated The reason for refusal in each case could be obtained the impact on groups across the UK which would be by a detailed examination of individual records only at affected. A shortened and updated form was published a disproportionate cost so will not be provided. on 12 November 2009 with the Government response These figures have been extracted from locally collated which was placed in the Library of the House. This management information, using a live database, which contains a weblink to the full Europe Economics impact means that it is provisional and may be subject to assessment. change. The exact impact will be determined by the outcome of consultations between Phonographic Performance Post Offices Limited (PPL) and organisations concerned on licence fee levels. However, PPL has agreed to voluntarily exempt Peter Luff: To ask the Minister of State, Department music as part of divine worship and domestic/family for Business, Innovation and Skills whether all Post occasions such as weddings. As part of this process it is Office branches hold information for customers on his essential that PPL work with the third sector to agree Department’s consultation on financial and banking reasonable and appropriate tariffs. We value the contribution products available through the Post Office; and if he musical performers make to the economic and cultural will make a statement. [314580] success of our country. We have got to make sure that they are rewarded for their efforts so they can continue Mr. McFadden: Post Office Limited have informed us creating. The Government want to ensure that discussions that leaflets with details of the consultation on post between PPL and the third sector are facilitated so that office banking have been sent to all post offices. the outcome is satisfactory for all concerned. A mutually agreed solution is vital if the needs of both PPL members Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department and the third sector are to be met. I remain confident for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what that this will be possible. proportion of sub-post offices operate as (a) a stand-alone business and (b) one of (i) two, (ii) three One North East and North East Economic Forum: and (iii) four or more businesses. [315885] Public Relations Mr. McFadden: I have asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in for Business, Innovation and Skills what payments the the Libraries of the House. (a) North East Development Agency and (b) North East Economic Forum has made to Sovereign Strategy Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Minister of State, in each of the last three years; for what purposes; and if Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how he will place in the Library a copy of the contract many post offices have closed in (a) the UK and (b) under which such payments have been made. [302304] Scotland in each year since 1987. [316898] 299W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 300W

Mr. McFadden: I have asked Alan Cook, Managing Students: Finance Director of Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department the Libraries of the House. for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost of (a) fee loans, (b) maintenance loans and (c) maintenance grants for full-time higher education students and (i) Post Offices: Bank Services fee grants and (ii) maintenance grants for part-time higher education students is expected to be in (A) Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Minister of State, 2009-10 and (B) 2010-11. [317088] Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the recommendations of Mr. Lammy: The current estimated provisions for the Consumer Focus report entitled Opportunity 2009-10 and 2010-11 for England only are: Knocks published on 1 January 2010. [316540] £million Mr. McFadden: The Government welcome the Consumer Programme 2009-10 2010-11 Focus report entitled Opportunity Knocks. Together Maintenance Loans (RAB cost) 584 606 with responses to the consultation on post office banking Tuition Fee Loans (RAB cost) 722 782 which is currently under way, it will help to inform the Maintenance Grants 929 1,076 further development of banking and financial services Part-time Support 41 43 available at post offices. As fee grants and maintenance grants are not treated separately for part-time higher education students accounts Regional Development Agencies: Offices it is not possible to provide a breakdown of this figure. The Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) cost Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, figures represent the cost to the Government, not the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills with cash made available to students for their support, tuition reference to the answer to the hon. Member for fee or payments made to universities on behalf of Beckenham of 6 October 2008, Official Report, column students. RAB costs are made up of interest rate subsidy 288W, on regional development agencies: offices, what together with the costs of loans that are not repaid as a the address is of each overseas office of each regional matter of policy, for example loans that are written off development agency; how many staff are employed in after 25 years, or death. each such office; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such office in each of the last three years. Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department [314949] for Business, Innovation and Skills what the resource cost of (a) fee loans and (b) maintenance loans for Ms Rosie Winterton: I will place a copy of the details full-time higher education students in England was in requested in the Libraries of the House. the latest period for which figures are available. [317089]

Strategic Investment Fund Mr. Lammy: In financial year 2008-09, the resource cost to Government of tuition fee loans was £546 million, Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, and maintenance loans was £574 million for full-time Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how higher education students in England. These costs are much funding from the £200 million allocated to the made up of interest rate subsidy together with the costs Strategic Investment Fund in the 2009 Pre-Budget of loans that are not repaid as a matter of policy, for Report has been (a) allocated and (b) disbursed to example loans that are written off after 25 years, or each project in each (i) constituency, (ii) local authority death. area and (iii) Government Office region. [315806] Students: Grants Mr. McFadden [holding answer 9 February 2010]: In allocating the additional £200 million in the 2009 Pre-Budget Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department Report, the Chancellor specified that £50 million would for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students be spent on offshore wind investment, £30 million on received non-repayable maintenance grants from low carbon vehicles, £30 million on decarbonisation of Gloucestershire local authority in each of the last five the chemicals industry on Teesside, £40 million on other years; and what the average grant received by such low carbon projects, £5 million for new TSB prize funds students was in each of those years. [317083] in innovative technology and £5 million on enterprise support for service personnel. The money is available to Mr. Lammy: The information is as follows: spend only in the financial year 2010-11. This money 1 has not yet been legally committed or disbursed. Grants for maintenance—Gloucestershire Academic year Grant Applicants Average (£) In most cases, the location will be the subject of further competitions, for example through the TSB or 2004/05 HE Grant 960 830 the Office of Low Emission Vehicles, where funding is 2005/06 HE Grant 1,760 830 allocated on the basis of open and competitive bids 2006/07 HE Grant 1,430 850 throughout the UK which will be assessed strictly and Maintenance Grant2 1,640 1,830 solely on the basis of merit. 2007/08 HE Grant 830 870 301W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 302W

Grants for maintenance—Gloucestershire1 Mr. Timms: The UK Internet Governance Forum Academic year Grant Applicants Average (£) does not have an executive committee. The “dot.uk” Maintenance Grant2 2,940 1,940 registry, Nominet, takes the lead in organising UK IGF events and its communications with stakeholders (including 2008/09 HE Grant 270 830 a website www.ukigf.org.uk) working with other UK 2 Maintenance Grant 4,740 1,970 private sector stakeholders, BIS, my right hon. Friend 1 Approved applicants awarded a full or partial grant. Figures rounded to the Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Alun nearest 10. 2 Maintenance Grant includes Special Support Grant. Michael) as lead parliamentarian, and non-governmental Source: organisations such as NSPCC, APC, Childnet and the Student Loans Company. Children’s Coalition. Summertime Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Minister of State, the remit is of the UK Internet Governance Forum. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what [317958] recent assessment he has made of the merits of introducing British Summer Time and Double British Mr. Timms: The remit of the UK Internet Governance Summer Time. [317516] Forum is: (i) to provide a platform for UK stakeholders in the internet, Mr. McFadden: This is a subject on which people including business, civil society, parliamentarians, Government, have a range of differing views, and in relation to which academia and users, to consult and prepare for the annual global requirements vary in different parts of the country. UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF); While the Government do not propose to change current (ii) for the stakeholders who attended the previous annual arrangements, we continue to listen to representations global IGF to disseminate outputs and information to non- we receive and consider any evidence presented to us. participants; and (iii) to help increase awareness of IGF activities and of the UK Internet Governance Forum value of participation in the global, multi-stakeholder, non-decision- making IGF. Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish the financial reports of the UK Internet CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES Governance Forum for each year since its inception. Children In Care: Missing Persons [317947] Mr. Timms: The UK Internet Governance Forum Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for does not have a budget, its activities being sponsored by Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer various UK stakeholders. It does not prepare annual of Baroness Morgan of Drefelin of 7 January 2010, financial reports. Official Report, House of Lords, column 119WA, on people trafficking, whether he plans to introduce a Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, central system for the collection of information on Department for Business, Innovation and Skills who children who have gone missing from local authority decided on the membership of the UK Internet care. [313658] Governance Forum; and by what mechanisms members are nominated to that Forum. [317954] Dawn Primarolo: The Government do not collect details of individual children who have gone missing Mr. Timms: Participation in the UK Internet Governance from local authority care and we do not plan to collect Forum is voluntary. Any organisation or individual this information centrally in future. Local authorities who wishes to participate in its activities may do so. have the legal responsibility for safeguarding children in their care and holding a central register would serve no Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, real operational purpose and would not offer value for Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he money as the register would have to be maintained and will publish records of the meetings of the executive of updated on a daily basis. We do collect information the UK Internet Governance Forum. [317955] once a year about the number of children who are missing from their agreed placement for 24 hours or Mr. Timms: The UK Internet Governance Forum more, which we use to develop Government policy and does not have an executive body. guidance. Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, New ‘Statutory Guidance on Children who Runaway Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how and go Missing from Home and Care’ was issued in July many meetings the UK Internet Governance Forum 2009. This requires that local authorities collect information has had since its inception. [317956] about missing from care incidents. Local Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocols will Mr. Timms: The UK Internet Governance Forum set out the arrangements for sharing this information has had five meetings since its launch on 6 March 2008. with the police to make sure that action is taken to locate the child and minimise the likelihood of their Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, going missing in future. Local authorities must identify Department for Business, Innovation and Skills who a senior manager to take responsibility for monitoring the members are of the UK Internet Governance compliance with RMFHC protocols. This task will Forum executive committee; and if he will make a involve authorities maintaining a record of the numbers statement. [317957] children that they look after who are missing from their 303W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 304W care placements and the actions being taken to locate Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department for Children them and make sure that they are safe. Children’s Schools and Families does not collect this information. services must make regular reports to council members with responsibility for ″corporate parenting″ on patterns Children: Public Law of children going missing from care. Children: Human Trafficking Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many cases were awaiting allocation in public law on the latest date John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for for which figures are available; and how many children Children, Schools and Families what assistance his were involved in such cases; [307476] Department is providing to the London borough of Hillingdon to support the borough’s role in caring for (2) how many Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service cases were unallocated in London trafficked children. [313059] on the latest date for which figures are available. Dawn Primarolo: My ministerial colleague, the Baroness [307482] Morgan of Drefelin, met officials from the London borough of Hillingdon in March last year to discuss Dawn Primarolo: Nationally, as of 11 January 2010, work they are undertaking on child trafficking at Heathrow CAFCASS had 688 unallocated public law cases, involving airport in partnership with officers from the Paladin 1,161 children. As of the same date, CAFCASS London Team. It is for each local authority to provide services had 27 unallocated public law cases, involving 44 children. to meet the needs of their local population, including All of these cases have been reviewed, prioritised and the needs of children who may have been trafficked. To screened for risk and this is a continuous process until support local authorities the Government published substantive allocation takes place. This Department has multi-agency guidance targeted specifically at safeguarding asked CAFCASS to take urgent action to tackle the and promoting the welfare of children who may have unallocated cases and has made available additional been trafficked in December 2007. This contains a resources for London of up to £1.6 million in this comprehensive strategy to improve the identification financial year to do so. and safeguarding of child victims of trafficking. Class Sizes: Greater London Furthermore, in 2009 DCSF also published revised guidance on sexual exploitation and children missing from care and young runways guidance, which include Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for details of how services must work to protect children Children, Schools and Families what the average class from trafficking. size for (a) 5, (b) 6 and (c) 7 year-olds in primary schools was in each London borough in (i) 1990, (ii) Children: Nutrition 1992, (iii) 1997, (iv) 2001, (v) 2005 and (vi) the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, statement. [311850] Schools and Families how many food vending machines there are in (a) primary and (b) secondary Ms Diana R. Johnson: Class size information was schools in (i) England, (ii) Leicester and (iii) the East first collected in 1998. Information for 1998, 2001, 2005 Midlands. [311165] and 2009 is shown in the table.

Average class sizes1 for year groups2 1, 2 and 3 in local authority maintained primary schools3, years: 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2009, coverage: London boroughs 1998 2001 2005 2009 Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year group 1 group 2 group 3 group 1 group 2 group 3 group 1 group 2 group 3 group 1 group 2 group 3

Barking and 27.6 27.7 25.8 26.9 26.5 28.1 26.7 27.5 27.2 27.9 27.9 27.0 Dagenham Barnet 28.2 27.6 26.9 27.5 26.8 27.7 27.7 28.1 27.6 28.9 27.2 27.4 Bexley 29.3 30.2 29.8 27.8 27.1 29.0 27.7 27.3 27.6 28.1 27.6 28.3 Brent 26.9 24.6 27.0 27.6 27.6 28.4 26.6 27.2 28.6 29.2 28.1 27.9 Bromley 30.3 29.4 30.0 27.9 24.9 29.8 27.4 27.4 28.9 28.2 27.5 29.4 Camden 27.5 27.5 27.6 27.8 28.4 28.3 27.3 27.0 27.9 28.3 27.3 27.9 City of London 25.0 n/a n/a 30.0 30.0 n/a n/a 27.0 30.0 29.0 30.0 n/a Croydon 28.4 28.1 29.5 27.3 26.7 27.8 26.8 28.1 28.3 28.7 27.9 28.0 Ealing 28.0 27.5 27.9 27.0 26.6 27.9 28.1 28.2 28.1 28.8 27.1 27.6 Enfield 29.9 29.9 29.7 27.8 27.5 28.7 27.8 27.4 29.1 28.9 28.7 28.7 Greenwich 26.1 26.8 27.6 25.6 25.9 26.8 26.7 27.2 26.8 27.2 26.2 26.1 Hackney 26.0 26.3 27.1 27.0 26.9 27.0 26.3 27.1 27.8 27.8 25.8 26.2 Hammersmith 24.8 27.5 27.5 27.7 28.2 26.1 26.7 25.6 27.9 27.7 27.3 27.6 and Fulham Haringey 27.9 26.9 27.3 28.2 28.2 27.7 26.6 28.2 28.3 28.4 27.8 26.7 Harrow 28.2 29.1 28.4 26.9 27.6 27.9 27.4 26.7 27.9 29.0 27.6 26.8 Havering 28.3 28.4 28.3 27.2 26.9 26.4 27.1 26.6 27.3 28.0 27.6 27.6 Hilling don 28.6 29.1 27.8 26.6 26.2 26.9 26.9 26.2 26.9 28.0 26.9 27.4 Hounslow 28.7 27.4 26.9 27.1 27.4 26.1 27.2 25.9 26.9 28.9 26.5 27.4 Islington 28.6 26.1 28.4 26.5 27.6 27.8 26.9 26.3 26.2 26.5 25.2 26.6 305W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 306W

Average class sizes1 for year groups2 1, 2 and 3 in local authority maintained primary schools3, years: 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2009, coverage: London boroughs 1998 2001 2005 2009 Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year group 1 group 2 group 3 group 1 group 2 group 3 group 1 group 2 group 3 group 1 group 2 group 3

Kensington and 25.6 26.4 26.0 27.0 26.7 25.7 27.7 28.8 27.4 27.0 27.3 25.8 Chelsea Kingston upon 33.1 31.3 31.4 27.1 23.3 29.8 28.5 28.5 27.2 28.8 27.1 28.2 Thames Lambeth 25.8 27.2 25.6 26.5 26.5 26.6 27.2 26.2 27.0 27.5 26.9 26.1 Lewisham 28.2 28.1 27.4 28.3 26.6 26.8 25.9 26.9 27.3 28.8 26.4 26.9 Merton 30.8 28.0 28.1 26.5 24.7 28.3 26.7 26.5 26.5 27.3 26.9 27.3 Newham 29.4 29.1 29.2 28.6 28.2 28.8 27.2 27.2 28.0 27.8 27.6 27.4 Redbridge 28.8 28.5 29.6 28.7 26.8 29.1 28.7 28.4 29.2 29.4 28.7 29.0 Richmond 27.9 28.8 27.7 26.9 27.2 27.1 28.2 27.8 27.1 29.0 27.2 27.6 upon Thames Southwark 27.1 27.4 27.6 26.9 26.8 27.4 25.7 26.6 26.7 26.0 25.2 25.0 Sutton 27.2 28.6 28.0 26.1 25.8 28.3 27.5 28.0 29.3 28.1 27.8 28.4 Tower Hamlets 28.5 27.7 28.1 28.0 27.2 26.8 27.1 27.8 27.6 28.6 27.4 26.6 Waltham Forest 27.4 28.9 27.5 27.7 27.1 28.8 28.6 27.2 27.1 28.8 29.1 28.4 Wandsworth 26.0 25.5 25.7 25.5 24.9 27.2 27.6 26.1 26.5 27.3 26.0 26.0 Westminster 26.3 24.0 26.0 28.3 27.8 25.6 26.7 27.2 27.6 25.9 27.6 26.5 n/a = Not applicable—no children in this year group. 1 One teacher classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January. 2 Year groups 1, 2 and 3 refer to children aged five, six and seven respectively, with the exception of a small number of children who are placed outside of their year group. 3 Includes middle schools as deemed. Source: School Census

Departmental Billing larger businesses in the supply chain. This avoids complicating payment systems and potential competition John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for or state aid issues. Children, Schools and Families what proportion of Note: invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 DCSF moved to a new ERP system under a Shared Services days of receipt in November and December 2009. agreement with DWP in November 2009 and special payment [311203] arrangements were operated by DWP and DCSF during transition.

Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department for Children Departmental Disclosure of Information Schools and Families (DCSF) paid 99.9 per cent. (which was rounded to 100 per cent. by DWP when they David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for reported on DCSF performance) of invoices to suppliers Children, Schools and Families which non- within 10 days of receipt in November 2009 and 98 per departmental public bodies for which his Department cent. within 10 days of receipt in December 2009. is responsible sell information on a commercial basis to This is based on information supplied by the Department (a) companies or individuals in the private sector and for Work and Pensions who process invoice payments (b) other organisations. [313219] on behalf of DCSF. Note: Ms Diana R. Johnson: Government Departments, DCSF moved to a new ERP system under a Shared Services agencies and non-departmental public bodies that have agreement with DWP in November 2009 and special payment Crown status, make most of their information available arrangements were operated by DWP and DCSF during transition. for free re-use under PSI Click-Use licence. Additionally, whilst some information is sold as priced publications, Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, none of the Department for Children, Schools and Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the Families’ nine executive non-departmental public bodies average length of time taken by his Department to pay sells information on a commercial/profit making basis invoices from (a) small and medium-sized enterprises to private sector companies/individuals and other and (b) all creditors in the last 12 months. [315066] organisations.

Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department for Children Departmental Fines Schools and Families (DCSF) paid 98 per cent. of invoices to suppliers within 10 days of receipt in Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for December 2009 (This is based on information supplied Children, Schools and Families what powers (a) his by the Department for Work and Pensions who process Department and (b) each of its non-departmental invoice payments on behalf of DCSF). public bodies (NDPBs) have to impose administrative These figures are for all creditors, including payments penalties; what the statutory basis is for each such to small and medium-sized enterprises. While aiming to power; and how much (i) his Department and its pay SMEs as soon as possible, and within 10 days, predecessor and (ii) each of its NDPBs have recovered Departments and their agencies have agreed to bring in administrative penalties in each of the last 10 years forward payments to all businesses, given the role of for which figures are available. [309260] 307W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 308W

Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department (like its The Department reviews the performance of staff predecessor) has no powers to impose administrative against their set objectives throughout the year and penalties. takes immediate action to address performance or None of the Department’s NDPBs has powers to development issues. If performance does not improve impose administrative penalties. dismissal can result. The number for unsatisfactory in the above table only refers to those in grades below the Neither the Department, its predecessor, nor any of senior civil service (SCS). There is no unsatisfactory its NDPBs has therefore recovered any sum by way of mark in the SCS performance management system and administrative penalties. poor performance procedures are started immediately. Staff don’t leave automatically as a result of an Departmental Internet unsatisfactory marking as the performance improvement measures described above are put in place. Data for the Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for former Department for Education and Skills (DfES) for Children, Schools and Families which websites his the period 2005-07, is not readily available and could Department’s staff are prevented from accessing on only be obtained at disproportionate cost. departmental networked computers. [311469] Departmental Public Expenditure Ms Diana R. Johnson: The DCSF Corporate IT System accesses the internet via the Government Secure Intranet (GSI) service as provided by Cable and Wireless David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for and complies with the provisions of the GSI code of Children, Schools and Families how much his connection (as required by mandatory requirement 39 of Department and its predecessor spent on (a) new the HMG Security Policy Framework). In order to furnishings, (b) works of art and (c) new vehicles in assist with this compliance, DCSF utilises SurfControl’s each of the last two years. [312543] Web Filter to prevent access to undesirable websites. This software provides a list of categories to be blocked Ms Diana R. Johnson: Spend by the Department for and URLs of sites within the category are updated on a Children, Schools and Families and its predecessor daily basis. There are a small number of casual and Department, Department for Education and Skills, on contract staff who are not permitted any internet access. new furnishings, and new vehicles in the last two financial However, the majority of DCSF staff are allowed access years and the current financial year to date is shown as to the internet subject to the following restrictions: follows. DCSF blocks access to the following categories: Expenditure on new furnishings was higher during Adult/Sexually Explicit 2007-08 and 2008-09 owing to a total refurbishment programme at Sanctuary Buildings. Intolerance and Hate Criminal Activity The Department for Children, Schools and Families financial system does not hold information on the Violence amount of spend incurred purely for art works. Therefore Weapons the information could be provided only at disproportionate Gambling costs. Spy ware Hacking Total new furnishings (desk, chairs, carpets, In addition, a small number of individual websites blinds and curtains) (£) New vehicles have also been blocked for a variety of technical and 2007/08 1,657,739 0 policy related reasons. 2008/09 764,246 0 2009/10 125,978 0 Departmental Manpower Departmental Telephone Services Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many performance reviews were undertaken in respect of Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for staff of his Department and its predecessors in each of Children, Schools and Families how many telephone the last five years; in how many cases performance was lines with the prefix (a) 0870, (b) 0845 and (c) 0800 rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as his Department (i) operates and (ii) sponsors; how a direct result of such a rating; and what percentage of many calls were received to each number in the last 12 months; and whether alternative numbers charged at full-time equivalent staff this represented. [313831] the BT local rate are available in each case. [305204] Ms Diana R. Johnson: The information requested is set out in the following table: Ms Diana R. Johnson: The DCSF currently operates four telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0870, two Number not telephone lines with the prefix (b) 0845 and one telephone meeting line with the prefix (c) 0800. The DCSF currently Numbers required Number sponsors no telephone lines with the prefix (a) 0870, Department reviewed standard unsatisfactory four telephone lines with the prefix (b) 0845 and no 2008 DCSF 2,699 52 1— telephone lines with the prefix (c) 0800. Alternative 2009 DCSF 2,813 90 1— (geographic ‘BT local rate’) numbers are available in 1 Figures less than five have been suppressed on grounds of confidentiality each case. 309W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 310W

The DCSF cannot provide the number of calls received it is already a principal of the Children Act 1989 that by each number in the last 12 months. The information local authorities should support the upbringing of children is not readily available centrally in the Department. To by their families wherever possible, if it is in the child’s provide the information would involve an extensive best interests. The Children and YoungPersons Act 2008 information collection exercise which would exceed the strengthened this requirement. Volume 1 of the revised recommended disproportionate cost threshold. Children Act 1989 statutory guidance requires local authorities to demonstrate that they have considered Education Maintenance Allowance family members and friends as potential carers at each stage of the decision making process. Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students GCE A-level received education maintenance allowance in (a) England and (b) Milton Keynes in 2009-10. [311247] Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Iain Wright: This is a matter for the Learning and Children, Schools and Families how many white (a) Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education boys and (b) girls eligible for free school meals maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for achieved three A grades at A-level in 1997. [312062] Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Geoff Russell, the LSC’s acting chief executive, will write to my hon. Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 19 January Friend with the information requested and a copy of his 2010]: The information can not be provided as pupil reply will be placed in the House Libraries. level data relating to ethnicity and free school meals was not collected as far back as 1997. Family Learning Impact Fund GCSE: Disadvantaged Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how much has been spent on Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Family Learning Impact Fund in each of the last Children, Schools and Families how many and what three years; and if he will make a statement; [314159] proportion of white (a) boys and (b) girls eligible for (2) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness free school meals at the end of key stage 4 achieved five of the Family Learning Impact Fund; and if he will A* or A grades at GCSE, including English and make a statement. [314160] mathematics but excluding equivalents in the (i) earliest and (ii) most recent year for which figures are available. Dawn Primarolo: Funding has been provided since [309638] April 2008 for the Family Learning Impact Fund. £10 million was made available in 2008-09 and £10 Mr. Coaker [holding answer 11 January 2010]: Pupil million in 2009-10. level attainment data by free school meal eligibility and The Family Learning Impact Fund has specific strands ethnicity is only available from 2003 onwards. The to support parents and their children—early years information requested is presented in the following foundation stage, family numeracy, financial capability, table and is for maintained schools only. digital families (school information for parents using online resources), and a strand looking at improving Number of white pupils1 Percentage of white pupils data collection on the number of parents and children eligible for free school meals eligible for free school meals achievingfiveormoreA*orA achievingfiveormoreA*orA participating. grades at GCSE including grades at GCSE including The FLIF programme has exceeded its year 1 target English and Maths (excluding English and Maths (excluding equivalents) equivalents) of reaching 10,500 mothers and fathers, with 13,391 Boys Girls Boys Girls mothers and fathers and 9,700 children enrolling on the programme during 2008-09. In addition, the programme 2003 158 213 0.6 0.8 supported the training of 890 new family learning 20092 211 344 0.8 1.4 practitioners and helped develop a range of new resource 1 Figures for 2003 are based on pupils aged 15 and 2009 figures are based on materials to support delivery. The programme is on pupils at the end of key stage 4. 2 Figures for 2009 are provisional. track to meet its targets for enrolling mothers and Source: fathers (15,000) and children (10,000) on courses in National Pupil Database. year 2. Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foster Care Children, Schools and Families how many pupils eligible for free school meals attended schools at which Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils achieved five A* to C Children, Schools and Families what estimate has been grades at GCSE including English and mathematics made of the number and proportion of local but excluding equivalents in (a) 1997 and (b) the most authorities which have a policy of considering friends recent year for which figures are available. [311637] and family as a first option when seeking foster placements for looked-after children; and if he will Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 18 January make a statement. [305292] 2010]: In 2009 there were 89,580 pupils eligible1 for free school meals attending schools at which fewer than Dawn Primarolo: We do not collect data on the 30 per cent. of pupils achieved five A* to C grades at number of local authorities which have a policy of GCSE including English and mathematics but excluding considering friends and family as a first option. However, equivalents2 (includes post 16 pupils). 311W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 312W

To provide information for 1997 would incur Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 28 January disproportionate cost. 2010]: There is no requirement for schools to provide 1 Those eligible may choose not to take up their offer of a free this information, though the following data are available school meal for various reasons e.g. through preference or non from information which local authorities voluntarily attendance on the day. Pupils are counted as eligible only if they report to the National Music Participation Director in meet the eligibility criteria and make a claim. connection with their Local Authority Music Plans. 2 Includes maintained mainstream schools with more than 10 Local authorities had predicted that 22 per cent. of pupils. Qualifications include GCSEs, GCSE short courses, GCSE their Key Stage 2 pupils would participate in their double awards, vocational single and double GCSEs and AS Wider Opportunities programmes in 2008-09, and have levels. since reported that the actual figure was 24 per cent. that is 509,628 pupils. For 2009/10 the predicted figure Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for is 31 per cent. The actual numbers will be reported to Children, Schools and Families how many and what the National Music Participation Director by November proportion of students at each secondary school in (a) 2010 and the percentage then calculated using the figure the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, (b) North Tyneside for total Key Stage 2 pupil numbers. borough, (c) Gateshead borough and (d) Northumberland (i) achieved English GCSE grades A* 84 per cent. of primary schools have now signed up to C, (ii) achieved mathematics GCSE grades A* to C to ‘Sing Up’. and (iii) qualified for free school meals in 2009. [313574] National Safeguarding Delivery Unit: Standards

Mr. Coaker [holding answer 26 January 2010]: The Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for information requested has been placed in the Libraries. Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2010, Official Report, column 1123W, on Health Education: Sex the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit: standards, if he will place in the Library a copy of each of the Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for agreed monthly Milestones. [312233] Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to change the protection provided for in law against the Dawn Primarolo: The agreed milestones for the teaching of sex and relationships education not implementation of the Government’s response to Lord appropriate to the age, religious and cultural Laming’s recommendations are set out in ’The protection background of pupils. [311015] of children in England: action plan - The Government’s response to Lord Laming’, published in May last year, Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Children, Schools and available at Families Bill includes provisions that place a duty on the governing body and head teacher of a school to http://publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk/default. aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications& ensure that personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) Productld=CM+7589& education (which includes sex and relationships education) is taught in a way that is appropriate to the ages of the The National Safeguarding Delivery Unit reports pupils concerned and to their religious and cultural progress towards these milestones to a cross-Government backgrounds. programme board of senior officials which meets on a monthly basis. Home Education Independent Review The Unit also reports into the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Families, Children, and Young People through a Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, new ministerial sub-group which meets on a quarterly Schools and Families how many representatives he has basis. received on the recommendations of the Badman The National Safeguarding Delivery Unit published review of secondary education percentage of these an interim report on progress made towards these milestones supported the introduction of a regulator for home on 18 December 2009, available at education. [312752] http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction =productdetails&PageMode=publications& Productld=DCSF- Ms Diana R. Johnson: The registration and monitoring 01181-2009& of home education proposals arising from the Badman A further progress report will be published in due report were subject to a full public consultation between course. 11 June and 19 October 2009. There were 5,211 responses which were mainly from home educators, their relatives Pre-School Education: Preston and supporters and related organisations. Most of the responses were against the introduction of registration and monitoring. Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) free Music: Education nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four year-olds in Preston in each year Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, since 1997. [311236] Schools and Families what percentage of (a) Key Stage 1 and (b) Key Stage 2 pupils received specialist Dawn Primarolo: Table 1 shows the number of part-time instrumental or vocal tuition in each of the last five equivalent places filled by three and four year olds in years. [313770] Preston constituency from 2004 to 2009. 313W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 314W

The Department publishes information on the part-time New maintained nursery provision established in the Lancashire local authority equivalent number of free early education places filled area by three and four year olds in maintained, private, 2001 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 Total voluntary and independent providers. Information on the number of pre-school places is not separately available. New nursery 142112111 units added to Part-time equivalent places are derived by counting other schools children taking up 12 and a half hours per week as one place, 10 hours per week as 0.8 places, seven and a half Total 43113113 hours per week as 0.6 places, five hours per week as 1 Includes the two Preston Primary Schools 0.4 places and two and a half hours per week as 0.2 places. Data at Parliamentary constituency level are not Primary Education: Pupil Numbers available prior to 2004. Table 1: Part-time equivalent number of free early education places1, 2, 3 filled by Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for three and four year olds4, Parliamentary constituency: Preston, position in Children, Schools and Families what projections his January each year Department has made of the numbers of primary 3-year-olds 4-year-olds school children over the next 10 years; and what 2004 1,100 1,200 funding has been allocated to increase numbers of such 2005 1,100 1,100 children in (a) Test Valley borough, (b) Southampton 2006 1,100 1,100 City, (c) the Ceremonial County of Hampshire and 2007 1,200 1,100 (d) the South East. [313879] 2008 1,200 1,100 2009 1,300 1,100 Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department’s projections 1 A place is equal to 12.5 hours (five sessions) and can be filled by more than one for the number of pupils in maintained primary schools child. 2 Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. in England between 2009/10 and 2016/17 are given in 3 Prior to 2004, information on early education places was derived from returns the following table. made by local authorities as part of the Nursery Education Grant (NEG) data collection exercise. These data were collected at local authority level, therefore, Projections are not published beyond 2017 due to the data for this parliamentary constituency is not available prior to 2004. increasing levels of uncertainty over time. For example, 4 Age of all children taken at 31 December in the previous calendar year. the outturn for January 2009 differed by nearly 1.0 per Source: Early Years Census and School Census. cent. from our 2003 based projection for that year, but was less than 0.2 per cent. out from our 2008 based The latest figures on early education places for three projection. Factors which contribute to differences between and four year olds in England were published in Statistical projections and outturn data include the underlying First Release (SFR) 11/2009 “Provision for children population trends, participation among under fives and under five years of age in England: January 2009”, variations of proportions attending independent schools. available on my Department’s website at: Maintained primary schools, full-time equivalent number of pupils1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000848/ index.shtml Thousand At January in each academic year Maintained primary schools

Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Actual Children, Schools and Families how many new 2008/09 3,947 nurseries have been established in Preston since 1997. [311238] Projected 2009/10 3,967 Dawn Primarolo: The Department only holds data 2010/11 4,010 for the establishment of maintained nursery provision, 2011/12 4,081 which is recorded at local authority level. Information 2012/13 4,176 on other types of nursery provision is not held centrally. 2013/14 4,292 The following table sets out the numbers for each year 2014/15 4,376 in which new maintained nursery provision was established 2015/16 4,437 in the Lancashire local authority area, under local 2016/17 4,483 decision making arrangements which were introduced 1 Full-time equivalent numbers count each part-time pupil as 0.5. in September 1999. 2 Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pupils. 3 The data include dually registered pupils. From this local authority level data we have identified 4 Experience has shown that totals in maintained primary schools are usually that no new maintained nursery schools have been within ±0.2 per cent. for the first projected year. There is less certainty in the established in Preston since 1999. However, two primary longer term. For example, the outturn for January 2009 differed by nearly 1.0 per cent. from our 2003 based projection for that year, but was less than 0.2 per schools made prescribed alterations to add nursery cent. out from our 2008 based projection. Factors which contribute to differences units to their schools in 2001 and these are highlighted between projections and outturn data include the underlying population trends, in the local authority table. Information about decisions participation among under fives and variations of proportions attending independent schools. made under the arrangements that operated prior to 5 Projections allow for increase in take up of early years education towards September 1999 is not reliable and is, therefore, not universal provision. included. 6 Projections use the mid-2008 based Office for National Statistics (ONS) population projections. New maintained nursery provision established in the Lancashire local authority 7 The previous projections (PT278), published in Annex N of the Department’s area Annual Report of June 2009, used the mid-2006 based ONS population projections. 2001 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 Total Sources: School census (January 2009) and DCSF pupil projections (PT279, December New maintained — 1—— 1— 2 2009) nursery Schools 315W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 316W

The Department does not allocate funding on a Mr. Coaker: The requested information for 2007/08 is phase basis, so no figures for primary school funding shown in the table. Information for 2006/07 has also are available. Total Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) been included. funding figures for pupils aged three to 15 for Southampton Primary, secondary and special schools1, 2, 3: Number of times pupil enrolments LA, Portsmouth LA, Hampshire LA and south east were excluded for a fixed period4, 2006/07 and 2007/08 LAs in 2009-10 (final allocations) and 2010-11 (indicative Number of pupil enrolments4 allocations) are shown as follows. No funding allocations 2006/07 2007/08 have been made beyond 2010-11 at this time. (Allocations Number of fixed period for Test Valley borough are included within Hampshire exclusions per pupil enrolment:5 LA.) More than 15 130 150 More than 20 40 40 £ million 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. Final 2009-10 DSG Indicative 2010-11 2 Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through Local authority allocations DSG allocations academies). 3 Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general Southampton 112.153 117.063 hospital schools. Portsmouth 101.015 104.174 4 Pupils may be counted more than once if they were registered at more than one school or moved schools during the school year. Hampshire 692.510 720.147 5 Those pupils counted in the ’more than 20’ category are also included in the South East LAs 4,546.166 4,735.011 ’more than 15’ category. Note: Figures rounded to nearest 10. These figures are for DSG revenue funding only and Source: exclude any capital monies. School Census. Further details can be found at: Pupils: Epilepsy http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/schoolfunding/ schoolfunding2008to11/dsg200811/ Mr. Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for In addition to DSG, further funding to schools is Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has available through specific grants such as the School made of the number of children with epilepsy in Standards Grant, School Development Grant and mainstream schools who achieve examination results other Standards Funds. Further details for the latest lower than indicated by their assessed intellectual level. specific grant allocation in 2009-10 and 2010-11 are [312675] available at: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/schoolfunding/ Ms Diana R. Johnson: Information on the attainment schoolfunding2008to11/specificgrants200811/ of pupils with epilepsy is not collected centrally. In November 2009, the Department announced the allocation of £1,000,000 to Southampton LA to support Pupils: Greater London the provision of additional primary places by 2011. This was part of a total of £271 million that was allocated to 34 authorities which had applied for exceptional Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, funding for additional primary school places where Schools and Families what the average per pupil there was greatest need. Hampshire LA also applied for funding in (a) rural, (b) urban and (c) inner London this funding, but did not meet our criteria of high secondary schools was in each year since 1997; and if growth and need. he will make a statement. [310541] Mr. Coaker: The average per student funding of Pupil Exclusions secondary schools in rural, urban and inner-London settings is set out for the financial years 2004-05 and 2009-10 in the following table. Data are not available Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for before 2004-05 as the urban/rural classification was Children, Schools and Families how many pupils only created in 2004. To produce urban/rural data for received more than (a) 15 and (b) 20 fixed-period all years would be at disproportionate cost so a comparator exclusions in the most recent year for which figures are of inner London and rest of England has been provided available. [312791] for intervening years.

The Education (Budget Statements) (England) Regulations, total budget share (plus grants)1, 2 per pupil3 in secondary schools4 in England in inner London4 and rest of England 2004-05 to 2009-10 (with an urban/rural split in RoE: 2004-05 and 2009-10), cash terms5 figures as reported by local authorities as at 12 January 2010

Total budget share (plus grants) per pupil (£)

Urban (excluding inner Rest of England (i.e. Inner London London) Rural excluding inner London) England

2004-05 4,580 3,440 3,250 3,410 3,460

2005-06 4,970 — — 3,700 3,760

2006-07 5,380 — — 4,040 4,100

2007-08 6,020 — — 4,380 4,440

2008-09 6,260 — — 4,560 4,630 317W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 318W

The Education (Budget Statements) (England) Regulations, total budget share (plus grants)1, 2 per pupil3 in secondary schools4 in England in inner London4 and rest of England 2004-05 to 2009-10 (with an urban/rural split in RoE: 2004-05 and 2009-10), cash terms5 figures as reported by local authorities as at 12 January 2010 Total budget share (plus grants) per pupil (£) Urban (excluding inner Rest of England (i.e. Inner London London) Rural excluding inner London) England

2009-10 6,480 4,750 4,430 4,700 4,770 1 Budget share plus grants allocated to schools is the combination of the schools individual budget share plus any revenue grants allocated to the school at the start of the financial year. This does not include any capital funding allocated to schools. 2 The amount of money allocated to a school depends on the school funding policy of each local authority. There will be differences between authorities inthe amounts of funding held centrally to spend on behalf of their schools. 3 The pupil numbers used to calculate the per pupil amounts are as reported by the local authority on their Section 52 Budget Statement (Table 2), comprising the full-time equivalent number of pupils registered at the school, used for the initial determination of the school’s budget share under the local authority’s allocation formula. 4 Included are all local authority maintained primary schools which are reported by their LA as being open for the entire final year (schools that are reported as either opening or closing during the financial year have been removed). 5 Figures are rounded to nearest £10.

Pupils: Obesity Mr. Coaker: The Department has not commissioned any research about the effects of the sound amplification Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for of teachers’ voices in classrooms on pupil learning and Children, Schools and Families whether he has made behaviour. an estimate of the level of obesity amongst pupils who Schools: Playing Fields are eligible for free school meals. [310368] John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 12 January 2010]: Children, Schools and Families how much revenue has The information is not available in the form requested. accrued from the sale of school playing fields since However, the National Child Measurement programme May 1997; and what area of such fields has been sold (NCMP) provides data on the prevalence of obesity in in Leeds West constituency in that period. [306591] children aged four to five years (reception year) and 10 to 11 years (year 6). Figures 13 and 14 in the NCMP Mr. Iain Wright: Legislation was introduced on 1 October report for 2008/09 provide information on the prevalence 1998, under section 77 of the School Standards and of obese children in reception and year 6 as measured Framework Act, to stop the indiscriminate sale of school by the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007. This publication playing fields. We do not hold records of how many has been placed in the Library. The report shows there were sold before this date but we do know that there is a strong gradient for child obesity against area-based was growing public concern about the number being deprivation: the obesity prevalence rate in children in lost. Since 1 October 1998 no school playing field has the decile of highest deprivation is 22.6 per cent. compared been sold to raise revenue funding. to 13.4 per cent. of children in the decile of lowest A sale is only allowed if the playing field in question deprivation. Data from the school census 2009 shows a is genuinely surplus and all of the sale proceeds must be similar gradient for eligibility for free school meals used towards specific capital projects to improve school against area-based deprivation: 40.5 per cent. of pupils sports provision or educational facilities. aged five to 15 in the decile of highest deprivation are Investment in school buildings has risen from £683 million eligible for free school meals compared to 2.3 per cent. in 1996-97 to £21.8 billion in the three year period of pupils aged five to 15 in the decile with lowest 2008-09 to 2010-11. Schools no longer have to sell their deprivation. playing fields to pay for repairs. There have not been any approvals for the sale of Schools: Microphones school playing fields in Leeds West constituency. Schools: Preston Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for state schools in England have a facility for the sound Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment amplification of teachers’ voices fitted in the majority he has made of the effects on schools of changes to the of classrooms. [315955] level of expenditure on school sports in Preston since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [311233] Mr. Coaker: The Department does not collect information about the number of state schools with the Dawn Primarolo: In the eight years to 2011, the facility for the sound amplification of teachers’ voices. Government would have invested £2.4 billion in the national PE and sport strategy which aims to improve For schools that wish to install such facilities, guidance the quality and quantity of physical education (PE) and is given in the Department’s Building Bulletin 93 “Acoustic school sport up and down the country. At the heart of Design of Schools”. our strategy is the establishment of a national infrastructure of School Sport Partnerships, which now includes every Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for maintained school in the country.However, the boundaries Children, Schools and Families whether his and membership of School Sport Partnerships in Preston Department has commissioned any recent research on has changed over time, as the network was rolled out the effects on pupil (a) learning and (b) behaviour of across the country. This makes it difficult to show, the sound amplification of teachers’ voices in accurately, the extent of the impact of that investment classrooms. [315956] in Preston. 319W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 320W

However, our annual PE and sport survey shows that, Of the 222 schools judged to have inadequate leadership and in Lancashire as a whole, the percentage of pupils doing management, all were judged to be inadequate for overall effectiveness. at least two hours high quality PE and sport per week Of the 21,920 schools, 48 were judged to have inadequate has increased over time, as follows: behaviour. Of these, 9 were judged to be satisfactory for overall effectiveness and 39 were judged as inadequate. None was found Percentage to be outstanding or good for overall effectiveness, A copy of this reply has been sent to Vernon Coaker MP, 2004/05 56 Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and placed in the 2005/06 77 library of both Houses. 2006/07 82 2007/08 89 Teachers In 2008/09, the survey changed to measure the percentage of pupils doing three hours high quality PE and sport Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for each week. For Lancashire as a whole this figure was 52 Children, Schools and Families (1) how many qualified per cent., against a national figure of 51 per cent. teachers have stopped working as teachers since 2003; [315518] Schools: Sports (2) how many teachers who had left the maintained sector were teaching in another sector in the latest year for which figures are available. [315528] Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he has made a recent Mr. Coaker: The information requested is not collected estimate of the proportion of schools which hold an centrally. annual sports day. [316730]

Mr. Iain Wright [holding answer 10 February 2010]: Teaching: Licensing The annual PE and Sport Survey collects data from maintained schools relating to pupils’ participation in Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for PE and sport. The 2008/09 survey found that all primary Children, Schools and Families what discussions he has schools and 98 per cent. of secondary schools held a had with the General Teaching Council on sports day during the last academic year. arrangements for implementation of his Department’s proposed licence to practise; how much funding has Schools: Standards been allocated to the implementation of that scheme; and if he will make a statement. [316908]

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Coaker: We are working closely through a joint Children, Schools and Families (1) how many schools project with the General Teaching Council for England rated inadequate for (a) behaviour and (b) leadership (GTCE) to design a licensing system that is simple and by Ofsted are also rated (i) inadequate overall, (ii) workable. The clauses providing for a ‘licence to practise’ satisfactory overall, (iii) good overall and (iv) are included in the Children, Schools and Families Bill outstanding overall; [316913] which is progressing through Parliament. We have already (2) how many schools Ofsted rates (a) outstanding, published an impact assessment alongside the Bill which (b) good, (c) satisfactory and (d) inadequate. [316914] outlines our current estimates of the costs of introducing (3) how many schools Ofsted rates as outstanding for the system to support the ‘licence to practise’. We will leadership. [316915] have a clearer picture of the precise costs once the joint work with the GTCE is concluded. The impact assessment Mr. Coaker: These are matters for Ofsted. HM Chief and other related documents are available on the website Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. at: Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/childrenschoolsandfamiliesbill/ Library. Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 11 February 2010: Vocational Education Your recent parliamentary questions have been passed to me, as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, for response. Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for The latest period for which published figures about maintained Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment school section 5 inspection outcomes are available is the academic he has made of the effects on students’ careers of the year 2008/09. This answer, therefore, takes into account inspections availability of vocational courses in schools. [313299] carried out prior to 1 September 2009. At 1 December 2009 there were 22,260 schools open and Mr. Coaker: An assessment has not been made to eligible for a section 5 Ofsted inspection. Of these, 21,920 had date of the effects on careers of vocational learning in received at least one section 5 inspection. These schools, together with their latest inspection judgements, form the basis for the schools. We do know that wider research has indicated a response. positive return to earnings for those undertaking vocational learning while our own Youth Cohort study suggests Of the 21,920 schools, 3,577 (16%) were judged as outstanding for overall effectiveness at their last inspection, 11,033 (50%) were that around 22 per cent. of learners with existing vocational judged as good, 6,950 (32%) were judged as satisfactory and 360 qualifications are in higher education by the age of 19. (2%) were found to be inadequate. Vocational and applied qualifications offer valuable Of the 21,920 schools, 3,972 (18%) were judged as outstanding choice to young people and 14-19 Diplomas in particular for leadership and management at their last inspection and 222 will enable young people to achieve their ambitions (1%) were judged as inadequate. because employers and higher education designed them. 321W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 322W

Young People: Community Orders been awarded to each local authority for 16-plus skills provision in 2010-11. [314759] Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to his Mr. Iain Wright: Funding allocated to local authorities Department’s press release of 24 April 2009 on for 16-18 learning in the 2010/11 academic year will community service for young people, from which be the aggregation of all 16-18 providers they are budgets the funding for the programme will be drawn. responsible for. The amount of funding each provider [314842] will be allocated in 2010/11 is currently being agreed and will be announced by the end of March 2010. Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Community Service Funding is not allocated through local authorities for programme will be funded from DCSF programme 19+ education and training other than for those with a budgets. learning difficulty assessment. Young People: Unemployment Young People: Training Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what Children, Schools and Families what formula was used proportion of people aged between 16 and 24 years to determine the funding allocated to local authorities were not in education, employment or training in each for 16-plus skills provision in 2010-11. [314758] region in each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available. [300822] Mr. Iain Wright: The funding formula used to determine the allocation for each provider is that contained within Mr. Iain Wright: Official estimates of the number and the learner responsive model for schools and colleges proportion of young people of academic age 16 to 181 and within the employer responsive model for work-based who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) learning providers. Details of how these models work are published by the Department in a Statistical First can be found at: Release (SFR) each June and can be found on the http://www.lsc.gov.uk/publications/latestdocuments/ Department’s website: Detail.htm?id=abeca474-ace6-493e-9fc9-e83545caf9b5 http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000849/ Funding is not allocated through local authorities for index.shtml 19+ education and training other than for those with a Estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) of the learning difficulty assessment. number and proportion of people of academic age 16 to 24 who were NEET in each region in England in each Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for of the last eight quarters are shown in the following Children, Schools and Families how much funding has tables.

Q4 2007 Q1 2008 Q2 2008 Q3 2008 Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage

North East 49,000 15 52,000 16 56,000 17 65,000 20 North West 120,000 14 136,000 16 139,000 16 151,000 18 Yorkshire and Humberside 82,000 12 75,000 11 101,000 15 119,000 18 East Midlands 70,000 13 69,000 13 71,000 13 86,000 16 West Midlands 93,000 15 95,000 15 98,000 16 119,000 19 East of England 74,000 12 87,000 14 77,000 13 82,000 13 London 123,000 14 129,000 15 132,000 15 149,000 16 South East 116,000 13 104,000 12 111,000 12 131,000 14 South West 56,000 10 63,000 11 55,000 10 71,000 13 England 782,000 13 810,000 14 840,000 14 973,000 16

Q4 2008 Q1 2009 Q2 2009 Q3 2009 Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage

North East 54,000 17 57,000 18 69,000 21 74,000 23 North West 142,000 17 156,000 18 155,000 18 183,000 21 Yorkshire and Humberside 92,000 14 107,000 16 121,000 19 126,000 19 East Midlands 68,000 13 69,000 13 75,000 14 90,000 17 West Midlands 105,000 16 126,000 20 131,000 21 123,000 19 East of England 79,000 13 83,000 14 82,000 13 92,000 15 London 131,000 15 127,000 14 120,000 13 164,000 17 South East 122,000 13 130,000 14 142,000 15 144,000 16 South West 63,000 11 78,000 14 66,000 12 86,000 16 England 857,000 14 935,000 16 959,000 16 1,082,000 18

Estimates from the Labour Force Survey and will relatives, people with a disability or suffering from ill include pregnant mothers, those caring for children or health, and those waiting for a course or job to start, 323W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 324W including those on a gap year. It should also be noted Claimant count data is available via the Office for that the estimates are subject to survey error, and should National Statistics Nomis website: therefore be treated with caution. The 95 per cent. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/ confidence interval for a regional estimate of NEET The following table shows the average number of young using the Labour Force Survey is typically around plus people aged 16 to 19 claiming job seeker’s allowance or minus 2-3 percentage points. and thereby registered unemployed in the Torbay We are committed to ensuring that young people constituency in each year from 1996, the first year NEET do not become a “lost generation” and have available. Because population estimates for 16 to 19-year- taken decisive action to strengthen existing provision olds are not routinely available by parliamentary and put in place new support, training and jobs for constituency, it is not possible to express these figures as young people. Through the September Guarantee, we percentages. are offering all 16 and 17-year-olds a suitable place to Average 16-19 year old claimant count in Torbay continue in learning, and announced on 18 November Average claimant count plans to extend the Guarantee to 16 and 17-year-olds who are NEET in January. Budget 2009 announced the 1996 340 Young Person’s Guarantee of a job, training or a place 1997 265 in the Community Task Force for 18 to 24-year-olds 1998 250 who are approaching 12 months on jobseeker’s allowance. 1999 215 Already 95,000 jobs under the Future Jobs Fund have 2000 160 been approved and some young people have started 2001 170 work. 2002 160 2003 160 In July, the Government launched ‘Backing Young 2004 150 Britain’ to bring together businesses, charities and 2005 140 Government to create opportunities for young people 2006 170 giving them a better start on the career ladder. 2007 170 By offering schemes such as volunteering, work 2008 175 experience and apprenticeships we will ensure that young 2009 285 people get the start they deserve to get on the career It should be noted that 16 and 17-year-olds do not ladder. have access to job seeker’s allowance except in cases of 1 Academic age refers to the age at the start of the academic year, severe hardship. 31 August.

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for HOME DEPARTMENT Children, Schools and Families what percentage of 16 Animal Experiments: Primates to 19 year-olds in Torbay constituency were (a) in education, training or employment and (b) Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the unemployed in each year since 1992. [314617] Home Department how many primates imported into the UK for the purposes of scientific research during Mr. Iain Wright: Estimates of the number of 16 to 2008 and 2009 were reported to be sick or dead on 19-year-olds participating in education, employment or arrival. [316437] training are not available at parliamentary constituency Meg Hillier: During 2008, no non-human primates level. The Department for Children Schools and Families imported into the UK for the purposes of scientific publishes annual estimates of the proportion of 16 to research were reported to be sick or dead on arrival. 17-year-olds participating in education and training in each local authority. These estimates are available via During 2009, no non-human primates were reported this link under “additional information”: to be dead on arrival. Two showed clinical signs leading to euthanasia after arrival and two had minor injuries http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000849/ requiring treatment. index.shtml Connexions services, which have responsibility for Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the supporting young people and tracking their progress, Home Department how many overseas primate record the main activity of 16 to 18-year-olds who are suppliers are accredited by his Department to export known to them in each local authority area. These non-human primates to the UK; and in which country estimates include young people who are resident elsewhere each is based. [316439] and travel into the area to study. Furthermore, the Meg Hillier: The Home Office has no remit to accredit denominator for these estimates includes a small number overseas primate suppliers. However, the use of any of young people whose main activity is not known. non-human primate from an overseas source under the authority of a project licence issued under the Animals Proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds in education, training or employment (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires prior approval (percentage) which is given only if the conditions at the supplying centre, and at the breeding centre where the animals 20061 83.8 originate if different, are acceptable to the Home Office 20072 94.8 at the time of the supply. 20082 94.5 1 2006 estimate excludes young people in part-time employment. There are a total of 10 overseas centres currently 2 2007 and 2008 estimates include young people in part-time employment. considered accepted to provide non-human primates to 325W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 326W

UK designated user establishments. They are based in enforcing in that period; and what estimate he has Cambodia, China, Israel, Mauritius, Netherlands, Spain made of the cost to each such force of discharging such and Vietnam. responsibilities. [316105]

Antisocial Behaviour Orders Mr. Hanson: Between March 2005 and 10 December 2009 (the date at which the last written ministerial Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the statement in relation to control orders reported on), the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour Metropolitan Police Service was responsible for 25 control orders were issued in respect of people (a) under the orders. 13 other police forces were responsible for the age of 16 years, (b) aged between 17 and 18 years, (c) enforcement of 28 control orders. The total number of aged between 19 and 25 years and (d) over the age of control orders each police force has been responsible for 25 years in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009. [317699] is greater than the 45 individuals who have ever been subject to control orders because some controlled Mr. Alan Campbell: Information collected centrally individuals have moved between police force areas. I by the Ministry of Justice on the number of antisocial would also refer the hon. Member to written ministerial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued currently covers the statements in relation to control orders published on period up to 31 December 2007. 11 December 2006, 16 January 2007, 22 March 2007, During 2007, a total of 920 ASBOs were issued to 24 May 2007, 21 June 2007 (two statements), 17 September young people (defined as being aged 10 to 17 at the date 2007, 13 March 2008, 12 June 2008, 15 September 2008, of appearance in court) at all courts in England and 15 December 2008, 12 March 2009, 15 June 2009, Wales. The corresponding figure for adults (defined as 16 September 2009 and 15 December 2009 which provide being aged 18 or over at the date of appearance in the total number of controlled individuals in and outside court) is 1,362. During 2007, an additional 17 persons of the Metropolitan Police Service area. This is as much whose age was not reported to the Ministry of Justice information as we can provide about the police forces were issued with an ASBO. responsible for controlled individuals given the national security sensitivities of these cases and the need to avoid Antisocial Behaviour: Hemsworth publishing any information that could lead to the identification of an individual who is subject to an Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the anonymity order. Home Department how much his Department spent on The enforcement of control orders is managed from programmes to tackle anti-social behaviour in within each police force’s overall budget, which includes Hemsworth in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 2008-09. [316634] ring-fenced counter-terrorism funding. The Home Office does not have an estimated cost of managing control Mr. Alan Campbell: Funding data for 1997-98 are not orders for each police force. I would refer the hon. readily available. Member to the written ministerial statements on the The Home Office did not provide direct funding for allocation of counter-terrorism grants for police authorities programmes to tackle antisocial behaviour in Hemsworth for 2005-06; 2006-07; 2007-08; 2008-09; 2009-10 which or Wakefield Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership were published on, respectively, 2 December 2004; (CDRP) in 2008-09. 5 December 2005; 28 November 2006; 6 December A number of specific and individual Home Office 2007; 26 November 2008 and 26 November 2009. grants have now been combined into Area Based Grant (ABG), which is allocated to local authorities on a Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the three-year basis to maximise stability and certainty. The Home Department what expenditure was incurred on receiving authorities have flexibility to use ABG as they private security firms engaged by police forces for the see fit to deliver local, regional and national priorities in enforcement of control orders in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, their respective areas. (c) 2008 and (d) 2009. [316106] Home Office-led activities also act to tackle antisocial behaviour, for example the introduction of community Mr. Hanson: The Secretary of State is not aware that support officers. Funding for neighbourhood policing any expenditure has been incurred on private security (NP) (including police community support officers (PCSOs) firms engaged by police forces for the enforcement of has been provided to police authorities since 2002-03. control orders. For England and Wales the total funding for 2008-09 The electronic monitoring of controlled individuals was £324 million. Hemsworth is within the West Yorkshire is delivered by private security companies under contract police area. Funding for West Yorkshire for 2008-09 with the Ministry of Justice. NP/PCSOs was £13.6 million. It is for police authorities to allocate resources, and for chief constables to deploy personnel (including PCSOs) within each police force Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the area. Home Department what his Department’s total expenditure incurred in respect of the Control Order Anti-terrorism Control Orders Review Group was in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008 and (d) 2009. [316107] Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces have had Mr. Hanson: The cost of establishing the Home Office’s responsibility for the enforcement of a control order total expenditure for the Control Order Review Group upon an individual since 2005; how many control for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 could be obtained only at orders each such force has been responsible for disproportionate cost. 327W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 328W

Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the No records are held in relation to the amount paid in Home Department what estimate he has made of the relation to awards for costs in control order cases made cost to the public purse of legal action associated with in the financial year 2006-2007. control orders in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008 and (d) Informal records not subject to Home Office accounting 2009. [316108] and audit processes indicate that the Home Office has paid £1,101,100 in relation to awards for costs in control Mr. Hanson: The amount spent by the Home Office order cases made in the financial year 2007-2008. (All on legal action associated with control orders in each figures are rounded to the nearest £100.) financial year starting from April 2006 is set out in £61,000 has been paid to date in relation to awards the following table. These figures include the costs of for costs made in the financial year 2008-2009. As the Home Office’s own legal representation and advice, settlement has not yet been reached in most cases, this the costs of the special advocates and the Special Advocates represents an interim figure. Support Office and meeting the legal costs of the controlled £341,400 has been paid to date in relation to awards persons where this has been ordered by the court. The for costs made in the financial year 2009-2010. This figure for the financial year 2006-07 is based partially represents an interim figure as most claims for costs on estimates. relating to awards made in this financial year have not The figure for 2009-10 will not be fully audited until yet been received and settlement has not yet been reached the end of the financial year and may therefore be in those cases where claims have been received. subject to change. All figures are rounded to the nearest £100. Arrests Amount spent by Home Office on legal action associated with control orders Financial year £ Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made by 2006-07 1,530,900 police officers in each year since 1999; and what the 2007-08 3,766,200 average number of arrests per police officer was in each 2008-09 1,837,300 such year. [317641] 2009-10 (to end January) 1,453,300 Alan Johnson: The requested data are published annually The amount attributed by the Legal Service Commission in the Home Office Statistical Bulletins “Police Powers (LSC) to control order legal proceedings is set out in the and Procedures” and “Police Service Strength”. The following table. The LSC cannot be certain that all costs latest editions are available online and all editions are have been paid in a given case until it is closed. The available in the Library of the House. A table is, however, great majority of control order cases in which LSC provided for the Member’s convenience. funding certificates have been issued remain open. The It should be noted that data provided on arrests figures provided should therefore not be taken to reflect covers arrests for notifiable offences only, which account the full extent of the legal costs of controlled person’s for only a proportion of arrests made by police officers. open legal representation. Similarly, the LSC will only Information on all arrests is not collected centrally. usually be made aware that the Home Office has been ordered to pay all or part of the legal costs of a Number of arrests for notifiable offences and officer strength 1999-2000 to 2007-08 controlled person at the point that is the case is closed. Number of arrests Whilst an exact figure cannot be provided, the LSC Number of arrests for notifiable figures may include some costs already paid by the for notifiable Number of police offences per police Home Office that are yet to be recouped. Year1 offences2 officers3 officer Amount attributed to control order proceedings by the LSC 1999-2000 1,277,900 124,170 10.3 Financial year £ 2000-01 1,264,200 125,682 10.1 2001-02 1,271,900 129,603 9.8 2006-07 391,000 2002-03 1,313,100 133,366 9.8 2007-08 476,300 2003-04 1,330,400 139,200 9.6 2008-09 554,400 2004-05 1,353,400 141,230 9.6 2009-10 (to end December) 524,300 2005-06 1,429,800 141,381 10.1 2006-07 1,482,200 140,514 10.5 The Home Office does not hold information on the 2007-08 1,475,300 140,230 10.5 cost to Her Majesty’s Court Service, the Supreme Court 1 Arrests data are not available prior to 1999-2000. Data for arrests in 2008-09 or the House of Lords of legal action associated with will be published in April 2010. 2 The Home Office Arrests collection only covers arrests for notifiable offences control orders. only, data on arrests for non-notifiable offences are not reported to the Home Office. Data are rounded to the nearest hundred. 3 Full-time equivalent officer strength figures are provided, including officers on Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the central service secondments. In order to make like-for-like comparisons with Home Department what awards for costs were made earlier years data excludes officers on career breaks, maternity and paternity against the Government in respect of individuals leave. Strength at the end of each given financial year is provided. appealing against control orders put upon them in (a) Asylum 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008 and (d) 2009. [316109] Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Hanson: When the courts award costs against the Home Department how many applicants for leave to Secretary of State, they do not determine the amount remain have been awaiting a decision for (a) up to six that the Government must pay. This will normally be months, (b) up to one year, (c) up to two years, (d) up determined by negotiation between the parties. to three years and (e) more than three years. [309963] 329W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 330W

Mr. Woolas: The UK Border Agency works to agreed However, MPs are not able to make initial asylum service standards. The information requested, expressed applications on behalf of their constituents and, since as a percentage of cases which met the service standard, the introduction of the requirement to make further is as follows: representations on asylum claims in person in October 2009, neither are MPs able to submit further submissions 2006-07 2007-08 2008-00 on behalf of their constituents, although they can, of course, make representations. Charged applications 20 working days 69.0 70.2 40.2 Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the (target 70 per cent.) Home Department how many and what proportion of 70 working days 90.0 94.7 88.7 interviews held with asylum seekers by UK Border (target 90 per cent.) Agency staff were (a) video and (b) audio recorded in PEO in 24 hr 93.0 90.0 93.0 (target 90 per cent.) each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [316215]

Non-charged applications Mr. Woolas: Asylum interviews are not routinely 20 working days 46.0 89.9 35.0 recorded. In normal circumstances caseowners conducting (target 70 per cent.) asylum interviews take a verbatim handwritten record 70 working days 82.0 95.5 84.8 of the interview which is made available to the applicant (target 90 per cent.) and their representative. However, where an applicant PEO in 24 hr 88.0 n/a n/a or their representative asks for their interview to be (target 90 per cent.) audio recorded, it is UKBA policy to comply with that Note: These data are not provided under National Statistics protocols. They have request in addition to the provision of a hand written been derived from local management information and are therefore verbatim record. provisional and subject to change. There is no central record of the number of cases that are recorded. Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what avenues and procedures are No asylum interviews are video recorded. available to hon. Members wishing to make representations to decision-makers in the UK Border Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Agency on longstanding asylum cases. [313630] Home Department how many and what proportion of interviews held with asylum seekers by UK Border Alan Johnson: Members of Parliament may make Agency staff in Cardiff were (a) video and (b) audio representations to the UK Border Agency on the handling recorded in each of the last five years; and if he will of cases in the following ways: they may write in to the make a statement. [316334] Agency or contact the MP’s Enquiry Line or their MP Account Manager and can track the progress of their Mr. Woolas: There is no facility within the UK Border letters online. Agency’s office in Cardiff for the video recording of interviews with asylum seekers. While there is no legal Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the requirement for such interviews to be recorded by means Home Department what recent steps he has taken to of audio, where a request to do so is made either by the reduce the number of outstanding asylum applications; applicant or their legal representative it is the practice how many staff have been assigned to this task in the of the UK Border Agency to comply with the request. last three months; and if he will make a statement. This is in addition to the provision of a hand written verbatim record. [314335] Asylum: Compensation Mr. Woolas: In the last three months there have been around 1,000 members of staff working within the Case Resolution Directorate. I refer to paragraph 15 of Lin Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Homer’s letter to the Home Affairs Select Committee Home Department how much his Department paid in dated 19 October 2009 for our most recent update on compensation to the families of asylum seekers (a) in progress. Lin Homer will provide a further update to total and (b) in respect of unlawful detention in each the Committee in February 2010. of the last five years. [317367]

Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Woolas: The Home Office prepares its accounts Home Department what mechanisms are in place to in accordance with UK GAAP (Generally Accepted enable hon. Members to present information to the Accounting Principles) adapted for the public sector in UK Border Agency on behalf of an asylum applicant accordance with guidance issued by HM Treasury. in circumstances in which the applicant is unable to The information is not collated in the way requested. provide such information in person. [314407] Asylum: Detainees Alan Johnson: Members of Parliament may make representations to the UK Border Agency about the Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the handling of asylum applications on behalf of the applicant Home Department how many times on average a failed by writing to the UK Border Agency or by contacting asylum seeker was transferred between detention the UK Border Agency MPs’ Enquiry Line or their MP centres prior to removal or deportation in the latest Account Manager. period for which figures are available. [317829] 331W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 332W

Alan Johnson: The information requested could be Mr. Woolas: Information on section 4 support is obtained by undertaking a detailed examination of published annually and quarterly in the Control of individual records which would be only at disproportionate Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom bulletin which cost. is available from the Library of the House and from the However, detainees are not routinely moved between Home Office Research, Development and Statistics centres without an operational reason. This is normally Directorate website at: to ensure occupancy levels of the bed space is maximised, http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum- to re-position detainees close to airports in preparation stats.html for their removal from the UK, to attend court hearings, We do not publish quarterly statistics by region, but medical appointments or for an interview. we do hold the data for internal management use. The internal management data do not undergo the same quality assurance processes as published statistics. The Asylum: Finance following data are provisional and subject to change. Consequently the regional data when totalled is slightly Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the different to the equivalent available published data. It Home Department how many asylum seekers received should also be noted that the data relates to numbers section 4 support in each region in each quarter since that were in receipt of support as at the dates shown 1 April 2007. [313899] and not the total number that received support.

UK Border 31 6 29 28 Agency 2July 1 October December 31 March 30 June October December 5 April 29 June September region 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009 2009 2009

London and 1,546 1,453 1,249 844 527 498 467 446 418 358 South East Midlands 2,791 2,682 2,462 2,602 2,855 3,115 3,351 3,657 3,886 4,100 and East North East, 2,673 2,743 2,888 3,092 3,339 3,443 3,435 3,593 3,749 3,912 Yorkshire and the Humber North West 1,382 1,508 1,467 1,643 1,699 1,782 1,599 1,667 1,742 1,908 Scotland 372 412 435 486 520 604 599 704 830 898 and Northern Ireland Wales and 735 825 809 755 769 818 808 822 863 927 South West

The data from April 2007 to July 2007 was previously Accommodation costs 2006-09 recorded on a different system and subsequently migrated Supplier Total (£ million) over. We are therefore not satisfied that these figures are Astonbrook Housing Ass(Wales) 6.0 sufficiently robust for release and have been omitted. Astonbrook Housing Ass(WM) 15.9 Cardiff CC (Wales) 14.5 Asylum: Housing Clearsprings (EofE) 8.2 Clearsprings (LDN) 27.4 Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State Clearsprings (SE) 8.8 for the Home Department with reference to the answer Clearsprings (SW) 18.0 to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of Clearsprings (Wales) 19.2 21 October 2009, Official Report, column 1529W, on North West Consortium 36.9 asylum: housing, how much has been spent on each of West Midlands Consortium 28.7 the 30 contracts for providing housing for asylum Y and H Consortium 72.0 seekers. [311730] Glasgow City Council 51.1 Happy Homes UK Limited 37.3 Mr. Woolas: The following table details expenditure Jomast 6.0 from the onset of contracts in 2006 until 29 November Kimberly Group 14.2 2009. The total figures have been taken from internal Liverpool City Council 14.3 management information and the figures for provider NECARS 38.6 spend have not been specifically audited independently. NIHE 2.7 Figures have been rounded to one decimal point. Four Nottingham City Council 19.0 of the contracts are no longer operational. Priority Properties (EM) 10.2 Accommodation costs 2006-09 Priority Properties (NW) 20.5 Supplier Total (£ million) Priority Properties (WM) 27.9 Angel Group (NE) 14.9 Priority Properties (Y and H) 19.5 Angel Group (Scotland) 26.2 Refugee HA Ltd 10.9 Angel Group (Y and H) 46.2 Swansea City Council 3.5 Astonbrook (SW) 6.3 United Property MGMT (LDN) 19.5 333W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 334W

Accommodation costs 2006-09 2009 Semaphore/e-borders Supplier Total (£ million) Total passenger movements

United Property MGMT (NW) 26.4 January 1,970,860 United Property MGMT (WM) 41.7 February 1,930,528 United Property MGMT (Y&H) 25.8 March 3,213,046 YMCA Glasgow (Scotland) 13.8 April 2,960,390 May1 4,562,469 Additional payments of £3.6 million and £2.0 million June 6,346,031 were paid to Angel and Clearsprings respectively for the July 7,271,862 provision of Section 4 accommodation spread between August 9,770,483 their regional contracts. September 7,340,892 Borders: Personal Records October 7,029,099 November 7,348,671 December 6,504,617 Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Total 66,248948 Home Department what percentage of passenger 1 e-Borders went live on 15 May 2009. movements were tracked by the e-Borders Programme in each month of (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009. Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the [306316] Home Department when his Department plans to launch its 12-week consultation on the UK Border Alan Johnson [holding answer 14 December 2009]: Agency’s authority to carry scheme. [312911] The e-Borders programme formally commenced in May 2009 and the current figure (when annualised) shows Mr. Woolas: The Government have committed to a that we are now tracking over 100 million passenger full consultation period on the introduction of an Authority movements through the UK border. This represents To Carry (ATC) scheme. This will be in advance of 45 to 50 per cent. of all passenger movements into and introducing regulations for approval, by each House of out of the UK (pending formal verification by statisticians). Parliament, on how any scheme would operate. No Percentage figures for passenger movements were not decisions have been made as to when this might take recorded during the period in question, however the place. following tables show total numbers of passenger In 2011, as part of the wider rollout of e-Borders, the movements tracked for each month over the years 2007-09. capability to support a manual ATC process is expected These include the figures prior to May 2009, when the to be delivered. pilot project (Semaphore) was under development and testing. British Nationality: Northern Ireland 2007 Project Semaphore Total passenger movements Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the January 1,664,301 Nationality Checking Service to be available in February 1,365,681 Northern Ireland. [318063] March 1,546,419 April 1,667,886 Mr. Woolas: Nationality Checking Service is undertaken May 2,168,559 by local authorities on a voluntary basis. To date, no June 1,970,614 local authority in Northern Ireland has opted to provide July 2,134,620 the service and when they do so is a matter for them. August 2,971,664 September 2,363,670 Burglary October 3,047,213 November 2,180,352 Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the December 2,354,641 Home Department how many people have been (a) Total 25,435,620 arrested for, (b) charged with and (c) convicted of aggravated burglary in (i) the Ribble Valley, (ii) 2008 Project Semaphore Lancashire and (iii) England and Wales in each of the Total passenger movements last five years. [315457]

January 2,795,104 Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 4 February 2010]: February 2,286,904 The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers March 2,585,127 arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, April 3,276,999 broken down at a main offence group level, covering May 2,587,554 categories such as violence against the person and robbery. June 2,838,955 From these data it is not possible to separate specific July 3,875,956 offences therefore data on arrests for aggravated burglary August 3,101,125 cannot be provided. September 2,706,082 Figures provided by the Ministry of Justice, showing October 3,110,224 the number of persons prosecuted and convicted for November 2,110,082 aggravated burglary offences in Lancashire, and England December 2,822,786 and Wales 2004 to 2008 (latest available) can be viewed Total 34,096,898 in the table. 335W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 336W

Figures for Ribble Valley are not separately identifiable It is not possible to separately identify aggravated from the data on prosecutions reported to the Ministry burglary from the information on arrests reported to of Justice. the Home Office.

Persons prosecuted and convicted for aggravated burglary offences 2004 to 20081, 2, 3 Prosecuted Convicted at all courts 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Lancashire Aggravated burglary in a 38 51 51 28 52 4 16 15 15 15 dwelling Aggravated burglary in a 1 3 0 4—— 1—— 2 building other than a dwelling

England and Wales Aggravated burglary in a 980 929 817 724 927 264 218 230 234 275 dwelling Aggravated burglary in a 143 89 65 67 61 20 27 18 30 17 building other than a dwelling 1 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extractedfrom large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 2 Excludes prosecutions and convictions data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. 3 The data are on principal offence basis. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Burglary: Sussex There are currently no plans to extend the availability to other areas, but through the National Retail Crime Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Steering Group (NRCSG)’s Action Plan, we are taking Home Department how many crimes of burglary were action that will help to tackle retail crime in every area. recorded in each police division in Sussex in each year The NRCSG was set up by the Home Office in since 2005. [315766] partnership with the British Retail Consortium and it provides a forum for Government, law enforcement Mr. Alan Campbell: The available information is given agencies and retailers’representatives such as the Association in the table. With effect from 2006-07, the divisions of of Convenience Stores and Federation of Small Businesses East Downs and Hastings and Rother were combined to discuss and devise action to tackle crimes of concern to form East Sussex division. to retailers. Offences of burglary recorded by police divisions in Sussex Cocaine Number of offences Police division 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information his Department Brighton and 2,850 2,207 2,269 2,273 holds on changes in the pattern of cocaine use in the Hove last 10 years. [317554] East Downs 2,716 n/a n/a n/a East Sussex n/a 4,247 3,384 3,461 Mr. Alan Campbell: The most reliable measure of the Gatwick 35 20 12 24 prevalence of use of drugs is the British Crime Survey Hastings and 2,086 n/a n/a n/a (BCS). In 2008/09, the latest full year for which data are Rother available, the proportion of respondents aged 16 to 59 North Downs 2,587 2,460 2,296 2,198 reporting the use of cocaine on at least one occasion in West Downs 3,158 3,207 3,172 2,871 the last year was 3.0 per cent. For cocaine powder, the Total 13,432 12,141 11,133 10,827 figure was 3.0 per cent. and for crack cocaine 0.1 per n/a = Not applicable. cent. Business: Essex Data from the 1998 BCS show that 1.3 per cent. of respondents reported the use of cocaine in the last year (1.2 per cent. cocaine powder; 0.1 per cent. crack cocaine). Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to Following sharp increases in cocaine use recorded extend to small businesses in Essex the fund to provide during the late 1990s, the level of use has remained grants to help small retailers combat crime affecting broadly stable since 2000, although the rate of increase their businesses; and if he will make a statement. between 2007-08 and 2008-09 is statistically significant. [316920] Crime

Mr. Alan Campbell: The £5 million Small Retailers’ Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Capital Grants fund was made available for 2009-10 to Home Department how many (a) fixed penalty provide physical crime reduction measures for small notices, (b) conditional cautions and (c) public independent shops in 50 priority areas, to help reduce disorder notices were issued in England and Wales in incidents of shoplifting and other crimes against retailers. each year since 2005. [317275] 337W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 338W

Mr. Alan Campbell: Information on the number of Alan Johnson: In the last five years the Home Office fixed penalty notices for motoring offences issued from has spent no money on national awareness campaigns 2005 to 2007 can be found in table A. Data on fixed relating to (a) gang crime, (b) gun crime and (c) penalty notices for 2008 are scheduled to be published terrorism. Spending on awareness raising campaigns on 15 April 2010. has been focused at a local and regional level. Information provided by the Ministry of Justice, on In September 2008 the Home Office produced the the number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) leaflet “You and Your Child—Advice for Parents on issued in England and Wales 2005 to 2008 can be Gangs”, this was a regional communication only although viewed in table B. was made available on the Direct.gov website. Data on conditional cautions are not available as The Home Office has funded a national awareness they are not separately identified in the data on cautions campaign around the possession of knives (as opposed reported to the Ministry of Justice. to gangs or guns) with the message ‘It doesn’t have to Table A: Number of fixed penalty notices issued for motoring offences, England happen’. Viral adverts online and on mobiles have received and Wales 2005-07 11 million views. Number of fixed penalty notices 1 In addition, billboards were displayed in 85 community issued sites across the country and reached millions of 10 to 2005 3,203,000 16-year-olds. In November, ‘It Doesn’t Have To Happen’ 2006 3,018,000 was awarded the best public sector and charity campaign 2007 2,627,000 at the prestigious Campaign 2009 Media Awards. 1 Figures rounded to the nearest thousand In addition, through the Tackling Violence Action Table B: Number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued to offenders of Plan, the Home Office has provided funding to the third ages 16 and over in England and Wales, 2005-081 sector organisation ‘Be Safe’. ‘Be Safe’ undertakes weapons Total PNDs issued2 awareness workshops with young people to raise awareness of the consequences of carrying weapons, particularly 2005 146,481 knives. 2006 201,197 2007 207,544 Crime: Feltham 2008 176,164 1 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for the from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a Home Department (1) what the level of recorded crime consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. was in Hounslow constabulary area in (a) 1997 and 2 PNDs were rolled out nationally on 1 April 2004. (b) the latest period for which figures are available; Source: [316691] Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. Ref: 071-10 (2) how many (a) recorded crimes, (b) recorded Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the violent crimes, (c) burglaries and (d) vehicle thefts Home Department what estimate he has made of the there were in Feltham and Heston in (i) 1997 and (ii) average (a) number and (b) proportion of crimes the latest year for which information is available. committed by an offender in the geographical area [316702] within 20 miles of the home address of that offender in the last 12 months. [318046] Mr. Alan Campbell: Recorded crime data is not collected specifically at constituency level and data is therefore Mr. Alan Campbell: No estimates have been made not available for Feltham and Heston. The available centrally about crimes committed in relation to addresses data covers the most appropriate Crime and Disorder of offenders. Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area which is Hounslow. Since CDRP data is only available from 1999-2000 Crime Prevention onwards, figures for 1997 cannot be provided. Data for Hounslow for 2008-09 are given in the table. Selected offences recorded by the police in Hounslow 2008-09 Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Offence Number of offences Home Department what research he has undertaken on the efficacy of crime prevention measures in respect of Total recorded crime 23,745 persons who have an acquired brain injury; and if he Violence against the person 5,550 will make a statement. [311492] Burglary 2,593 Of which:- Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 18 January 2010]: Domestic burglary 1,770 The Home Office has not commissioned any research Other burglary 823 into this topic. Vehicle thefts 2,894 Of which:- Crime Prevention: Expenditure Theft of a vehicle 812 Theft from a vehicle 2,082 Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department spent on Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for the national awareness campaigns relating to (a) gang Home Department how much his Department spent on crime, (b) gun crime and (c) terrorism in each of the programmes to tackle the misuse of drugs in Feltham last five years. [315642] and Heston in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 2008-09. [316700] 339W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 340W

Mr. Alan Campbell: In 2008-09, the Home Office The requested data for 1999-2000 to 2001-02 are provided funding of £806,158 to Hounslow Drug Action provided in table A and those for 2002-03 to 2008-09 Team through the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) are provided in table B. Main Grant. The constituency for Feltham and Heston Table A: Recorded violence against the person offences, 1999-2000 to 2001-02 comes under the London borough of Hounslow. DIP Total violence against the person also made an allocation of £6.4 million to the Metropolitan offences Police Service for drug testing in 2008-09. Some of the £6.4 million would have been used to fund drug testing 1999-2000 581,034 in the borough of Hounslow; the level of resource 2000-01 600,913 provided to Hounslow was decided centrally by the 2001-02 650,326 Metropolitan Service. Table B: Recorded violence against the person offences, 2002-03 to 2008-09 DIP is a key part of the Government’s strategy for Total violence against the person tackling drugs and reducing crime. The programme is offences delivered locally via drug action teams using integrated teams known as criminal justice integrated teams supported 2002-031, 2 845,078 by regional Government office leads and the National 2003-04 967,228 Treatment Agency. Using a case management approach 2004-05 1,048,095 they aim to offer access to treatment and support. 2005-06 1,059,583 2006-07 1,046,167 A number of specific and individual Home Office 2007-08 961,099 grants have been combined into area-based grant (ABG), 2008-093 903,442 which is allocated to local authorities on a three-year 1 The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002. basis to maximise stability and certainty. The receiving Figures before and after that date are not directly comparable. authorities have flexibility to use ABG as they see fit to 2 Includes the British Transport police from 2002-03 onwards. deliver local, regional and national priorities in their 3 As in previous years, police figures for the latest year in this table and elsewhere remain subject to change as forces continue to submit further data respective areas. (e.g. Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary is conducting a quality assurance Funding data for 1997-98 is not readily available. exercise of all forces’ recording of most serious violence offences which may prompt further revisions).

Crime: Statistics Crimes of Violence: North East Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports under each Home Department on how many occasions the category of violent crime have been made in each (a) methodology used in the compilation of national crime local authority area in Tyne and Wear and (b) police statistics has been changed or redefined since 1997; and authority in the North East since April 2005; what if he will make a statement. [317276] changes have been made to the definitions of each category in that period; and what discretion police Mr. Alan Campbell: Home Office Counting Rules forces have in respect of the categorisation of such (HOCR) underpin the standards for the recording and crimes. [317993] counting of notifiable offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales (known as ‘recorded crime’). Mr. Alan Campbell: The term ’violent crime’ is no There have been two major changes to the methodology longer used. Data are supplied for violence against the used for the compilation of crime statistics since 1997. person offences. The number of offences recorded by In April 1998 the HOCR were amended to count crimes police forces in the North East and for the local authorities on a per victim rather than per offence basis, with also of Tyne and Wear for 2005-06 to 200-09 are shown in significant extension of the coverage of offences included Tables A to H placed in the House Library. in the notifiable list. The police record offences following the guidance In April 2002 the HOCR were revised to take account provided by the Home Office Counting Rules. These of the introduction of the National Crime Recording provide a national standard for the recording and counting Standard (NCRS) which was adopted with the aim of of notifiable offences recorded by police forces in England recording crime in a more victim-focused way and and Wales and help maintain a greater consistency maintaining greater consistency between police forces between police forces in the recording of crime. In April in the recording of crime. The change meant that where 2002 the National Crime Recording Standard principles a crime is reported by a victim to the police it will be were introduced so that when a victim reported a crime recorded unless there is credible evidence to the contrary. the police had to record it unless there were credible evidence to the contrary.This removed significant discretion Crimes of Violence that had previously applied in police recording of crimes. In each police force, a Force Crime Registrar (FCR) Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the is responsible for deciding to which offence a particular Home Department how many violent crimes against crime should be recorded. These FCRs, along with the person have been recorded by police forces in representatives of the Home Office, ACPO and HMIC England and Wales in each of the last 10 years. meet regularly to discuss and review the counting rules. [317960] These rules are designed to ensure that each police force records crime in a way comparable to other forces. Mr. Alan Campbell: The National Crime Recording The counting rules, and changes to definitions can be Standard (NCRS) was introduced in April 2002 and viewed at the following link: figures before and after that date are not directly comparable. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/countrules.html 341W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 342W

There have been changes to some of the classifications Table A: Reported offences for rape1, 2004-05 to 2008-09 for violence against the person offences between 2005-06 Total number and 2008-09, which are outlined below. While these 2004-05 14,013 changes can affect the number of offences recorded 2005-06 14,443 between offence types, they do not affect the total 2006-07 13,774 figures for violence against the person offences. 2007-08 12,639 Offence classifications 5A (inflicting grievous bodily 2008-09 13,133 harm with intent), 5B (use of substance or object to 1 The Sexual Offences Act 2003 introduced in May 2004 altered the definition endanger life) and 5C (possession of items to endanger and coverage of sexual offences. A small number of offences continue to be recorded relating to offences repealed by the Act; while these may continue to be life) were introduced from 1 April 2008 and replace legitimately recorded for offences prior to May 2004 it is also possible that some classification five (more serious wounding or other act may have been recorded in these old categories in error, so recent changes based endangering life). Classification 5A was influenced by a on small numbers should be interpreted with caution. clarification in recording rules that had the effect of Table A1: Cautions issued for offences of rape, England and Wales, 2004 to 20081, 2, 3 significantly increasing levels of recording in some forces. Total number More information on this is given in Volume 2 to Crime in England and Wales 2008/09 at the following link. 2004 40 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1109vol2.pdf 2005 22 Offence classifications 8F (inflicting grievous bodily 2006 24 harm without intent), 8G (actual bodily harm and 2007 34 other injury), 8H (racially or religiously aggravated 2008 36 1 The cautions statistics in table A1 relate to persons for whom these offences inflicting GBH without intent), 8J (racially or religiously were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant aggravated ABH or other injury) and 8K (poisoning or has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal female genital mutilation) were introduced from 1 April offence is the more serious offence. 2 From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally 2008 and had previously been recorded as part of and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with classifications 8A (less serious wounding) or 8D (racially reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. or religiously aggravated less serious wounding). 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted Offence classifications 3A (conspiracy to murder) from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, and 3B (threats to kill) were introduced from 1 April care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 2008 and had previously been recorded as classification Source: 3 (threat or conspiracy to murder). Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. Offence classifications 10A (possession of firearms Table B: Reported violence against the person offences, 2004-05 to 2008-09 with intent), 10C (possession of other weapons) and Total number 10D (possession of article with blade or point) were 2004-05 1,048,095 introduced from one April 2008 and had previously 2005-06 1,059,585 been recorded as classification 8B (possession of weapons). 2006-07 1,046,168 Offence classifications 8L (harassment) and 9A (public 2007-08 961,175 fear, alarm or distress) were introduced from 1 April 2008-09 903,993 2008 and had previously been recorded as classification Table B1: Cautions issued for violence against the person offences, England and 8C (harassment/public fear, alarm or distress). Wales, 2004 to 20081, 2, 3 Offence classifications 8M (racially or religiously Total number aggravated harassment) and 9B (racially or religiously 2004 36,610 aggravated public fear, alarm or distress) were introduced 2005 51,020 from 1 April 2008 and had previously been recorded as 2006 57,273 classification 8E (racially or religiously aggravated 2007 52,334 harassment/public fear, alarm or distress). 2008 37,613 1 The cautions statistics given in table B1 relate to persons for whom these Crimes of Violence: Police Cautions offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for 2 From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally the Home Department in what proportion of incidents and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. of (a) rape and (b) violence against the person 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and reported in the last five years a caution was issued. complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted [316491] from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Mr. Alan Campbell: The requested data for the number Source: of incidents of rape and violence against the person for Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. each year from 2004-05 to 2008-09 are provided by the Ministry of Justice and shown in Tables A (rape offences) Dangerous Dogs and B (violence against the person offences). The number of offenders cautioned for offences of Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the rape and violence against the person in England and Home Department how many complaints have been Wales from 2004 to 2008 (latest available) are given in made to the police in each police authority area in Tables A1 and B1 respectively. respect of attacks by dogs in each of the last five years; Cautions and court proceedings data for 2009 are how many such complaints resulted in prosecutions; expected to be published in the autumn, 2010. and if he will make a statement. [316414] 343W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 344W

Mr. Hanson: The information requested is not collected The latest available performance information from centrally as there is no requirement for police forces to the Criminal Records Bureau for paying the invoices of report attacks by dogs to the Home Office. all creditors and SME compliant invoices within 10 days The police are required to notify the Home Office of in December 2009 is shown in the following table: offences recorded under sections 3(1) and 3(3) of the Table 2: CRB performance of paying invoices within 10 days for December 2009 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. These offences relate to an Percentage Number of Percentage owner or person in charge allowing a dog to be dangerously of total SMEs’ of SMEs’ Total number of compliant compliant out of control in a public place injuring any person or number of all invoices invoices paid invoices paid allowing a dog to enter a non-public place and injure all invoices paid within within 10 within 10 any person. However, such offences would be included Month paid 10 days days days in the offence classification ‘Actual bodily harm and January 284 39 109 89 other injury’ and cannot be separately identified from 2010 other offences recorded under that classification. Performance information from the Identity and Passport Departmental Accountancy Service is that between April 2009 and January 2010 SME compliant invoices were on average paid within Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the 12 days and the invoices of all remaining creditors were Home Department whether any written instructions on average paid within 19 days. have been provided to his Department’s Accounting Officer in accordance with paragraph 5.5 of the Departmental Drinking Water Ministerial Code since May 1997. [315317]

Mr. Woolas: The Department has not received any Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the written instructions in respect of paragraph 5.5 of the Home Department how much his Department has Ministerial Code since May 1997. spent on bottled drinking water in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [313184] Departmental Billing Mr. Alan Campbell: The requested information cannot Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the be obtained, without incurring disproportionate cost. Home Department what estimate he has made of the The Department is committed to reducing the average length of time taken by (a) his Department environmental impact of its official activities. The and (b) its agencies to pay invoices from (i) small and Department’s policy is not to supply bottled water medium-sized enterprises and (ii) all creditors in the unless it is essential for health and safety reasons. last 12 months. [315134] Departmental Employment Agencies Mr. Woolas: The Home Office implemented the Prime Minister’s commitment to pay all small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within 10 days in October 2008. Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many job vacancies in his The Home Office has invested significantly in its Department and its agencies were filled through the use people with the creation of a professional Shared Service of external recruitment companies in the latest year for Centre and Procurement Centre of Excellence which figures are available. [314769] complemented by the creation of new processes and upgraded Procure to Pay systems. The Department has Mr. Woolas: During the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March put a firm focus on paying its suppliers on time on 2009, the Home Office and its agencies (the UK Border receipt of a compliant invoice. It has worked closely Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Records Bureau) filled 461 vacancies with permanent reporting on both its legislative obligations of 30 days staff, fixed term appointments or casuals recruited through as well as the 10 day PM’s commitment for SMEs. the use of external recruitment companies. The Home Office has recently converted all of its Of these 461 vacancies, 318 were Immigration caseworker suppliers to 10-day payment terms and will be reporting jobs that arose in the UK Border Agency as a result of on this from 1 February 2010. the move to regionalise case working and move jobs The latest Home Office performance information for outside London, in line with the recommendation of paying the invoices of all creditors within 30 days and the Gershon review. paying SME compliant invoices within 10 days in January The total of 461 vacancies filled through the use of 2010 is shown in the following table: external recruitment companies in 2008-09 represents Table 1: The Home Office performance of paying total number of invoices less than 10 per cent. of the overall total number of within 30 days and SME compliant invoices within 10 days for January 2010 advertised vacancies filled with permanent staff, fixed Home Office and UKBA term appointments and casuals within the Home Office Total number of all invoices paid 4,512 and its agencies during that period. The vast majority of Percentage of total number of all 90 vacancies were, therefore, filled through internal and invoices paid within 30 days cross-Government trawls.

Number of SMEs’ compliant 1,080 Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the invoices paid within 10 days Home Department how much his Department and its Percentage of SMEs’ compliant 99 agencies spent on external recruitment companies in invoices paid with 10 days the latest year for which figures are available. [314770] 345W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 346W

Mr. Woolas: The information held centrally by Home Departmental Manpower Office on recruitment is not broken down in sufficient detail to identify expenditure on external recruitment Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State companies. The requested information could be provided for the Home Department what estimate he has made only at a disproportionate cost. of the proportion of staff of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies managed out in the last five years who Departmental Empty Property remain working in the public sector. [313853]

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Woolas: The information requested is not held Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. centrally. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough of 18 Departmental Mobile Phones January 2010, Official Report, column 29W, on departmental buildings, what the (a) book value and Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for (b) estimated annual rental value is of the vacant the Home Department how many (a) mobile residential property owned by his Department. [315967] telephones and (b) Blackberrys were provided to (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department in Mr. Woolas: Since my Department is in the process of 2009; and at what cost to the public purse. [313168] selling vacant residential property, no estimates have been made of potential rental value. I refer the hon. Mr. Woolas: Blackberrys are issued to all Ministers Member to the answer I gave on 14 December 2009, and special advisers of the Home Department. A total Official Report, column 715W on the property’s book of 11 Blackberrys were issued in 2009. value. It is not possible ascertain total expenditure without incurring disproportionate costs. Departmental Energy Departmental Pay

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated (a) amount and Home Department how many staff in his Department (b) cost was of energy used in his Department and its received bonus payments in each of the last five years agencies in each year since 1997; what proportion of for which information is available; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources the total workforce they represented; what the total in each of those years; and if he will make a statement. amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single [317204] payment was; and if he will make a statement. [300301] Mr. Woolas: Central Government Departments and Mr. Woolas: Non-consolidated performance payments their Executive agencies report performance data on the are an integral element of the staff reward package in energy consumed and amount sourced from renewable the Home Office. They have to be re-earned each year sources annually as part of the Sustainable Operations and do not add to future pay bill and pensions costs. on the Government Estate targets. The latest assessment The Home Office (including the United Kingdom of the Department’s performance against these targets Border Agency), as part of its annual pay arrangements, was published by the Sustainable Development Commission pays end-of-year non-consolidated performance-related on 18 December 2009 payments to up to 35 per cent. of its staff. There are http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/soge2009/ separate arrangements for the Department’s senior staff, The Department’s structure and its estate has changed which are set by the Prime Minister for the whole senior considerably since 1997 and it does not hold comprehensive civil service, following independent advice from the information for the last 13 years, covering (a) amount Senior Salaries Review Body. and (b) cost of the total energy consumed, and the In the financial years for which information is available proportion sourced from renewable sources for the Home the total amount paid in end-of-year payments, the Office estate and its agencies. average and the largest single payments were:

Total salary bill Number of staff Total number of Largest single Total paid (£ for year (£ Average payment Payments as % of in post staff in receipt award (£000) million) million) (£) salary bill

2005-06 22,670 4,785 15 4.28 752 894 0.56 2006-07 21,630 5,097 15 4.45 723 873 0.61 2007-08 22,380 5,647 20 4.48 710 793 0.63 2008-09 21.460 6,164 22 4.75 791 771 0.60 2009-10 21,360 6,081 15 5.69 815 935 0.69 Notes: 1. The 2008-09 figure is the figure at end September 2008. 2. The 2009-10 figure is the Home Office internal headcount at 31 July 2008. 3. The 2009-10 salary figure is the current year end estimate. Source: The staff in post figures come from ONS Headcount statistics.

It is also possible to give one-off special payments to achievements on a project or programme. In 2007, members of staff in-year to reward exceptional 3,702 staff received such a payment at a total cost of 347W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 348W

£2.56 million; in 2008, 2,863 staff received such a payment Removals and voluntary departures1, by type, nationals of Sri Lanka, May 2009 at a cost of £1.16 million. Figures for 2009-10 are not to September 2009 2 yet available. Figures for previous years cannot be provided Number of departures May June July August September Total3 except at disproportionate cost. 20093 20093 20093 20093 20093

Deportation: Offenders Removals and 50 45 55 60 40 250 voluntary departures, Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the nationals of Sri Home Department how many foreign prisoners Lanka convicted of an offence of (a) illegal gun possession Of which: and (b) drug dealing have been deported to their Enforced 15 10 20 15 10 70 country of origin in each year since 1998. [314741] removals and notified voluntary Alan Johnson: The UK Border Agency is committed departures Assisted 10 15 15 10 15 65 to ensuring that we remove those foreign nationals who voluntary returns4 pose a risk of harm to our society. We are targeting the Other voluntary 5 - 10 15 5 40 most harmful first and any non-EEA national who departures receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more is Non-asylum cases 20 20 10 20 10 75 now subject to automatic deportation proceedings. In refused entry at port and addition any non-EEA national who goes to prison for subsequently serious drug and gun offences no matter how long their removed5 sentence, will face deportation action as well as those, 1 Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 (-= 0, *= 1 or 2) and may not sum to the no matter the type of crime, who have received several totals shown because of independent rounding. 2 Removals and voluntary departures recorded on the system as at the dates on custodial sentences totalling 12 months or more. EEA which the data extracts were taken. nationals convicted of gun or drugs offences will face 3 Provisional figures. Figures will under record due to data cleansing and data deportation action if they are sentenced to 12 months matching exercises that take place after the extracts are taken. 4 Persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return programmes run by the or more in prison. International Organization for Migration. May include some on-entry cases In her letter to the Home Affairs Committee in July and some cases where enforcement action has been initiated. 5 Figures include persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had 2009 the chief executive stated that of the 5,400 foreign been initiated against them, cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls, removals criminals removed or deported in 2008, 1,600 were drug performed by Immigration Officers at ports using enforcement powers and offenders; more than 550 were convicted of the production since 2005 a small number of cases who it has been established left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. or supply of drugs, over 350 convicted of possession with intent to supply drugs and over 600 were convicted of the importation of drugs. In a letter of October 2009 Detainees: Sri Lanka she further advised that of the 2,560 foreign criminals removed in quarters 1 to 2 of 2009, 680 drug offenders removed; 316 were convicted of the production or supply Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the of drugs, over 140 convicted of possession with intent Home Department how many Sri Lankan citizens are to supply drugs, and over 200 were convicted of the being held in detention in (a) prison and (b) importation of drugs. The UK Border Agency does not immigration removal centres. [317334] routinely record the number of foreign nationals removed following a conviction for ‘illegal gun possession’. Figures Mr. Woolas: As at 18 December 2009 there were 152 for 1998 to 2007 are not available. Sri Lankans in prison establishments. This includes The chief executive is due to write to the Committee those held under the Immigration Act 1971 (including again in February. Copies of the letter will be available those in the immigration removal centres Dover, Haslar in the Library of the House. and Lindholme) as well as those held on remand or serving custodial sentences. This figure was published Deportation: Sri Lanka in the December 2009 monthly population bulletin on the HM Prison Service website: Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sri Lankan citizens have http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/resourcecentre/ publicationsdocuments/index.asp?cat=85 been deported since 1 May 2009; and if he will make a statement. [317335] As at 30 September 2009 there were 45 Sri Lankans detained in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Mr. Woolas: The following table shows the number of Act Powers. Of these, 20 were detained in Dover, Haslar nationals of Sri Lanka removed or departed voluntarily and Lindholme. These figures have been rounded to the from May 2009 to September 2009, by type of departure. nearest five consistent with the usual publication practice. Figures for the fourth quarter of 2009 will be published Information on persons detained under Immigration on 25 February 2010. Act powers is published in the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom—3rd The Home Office publishes statistics on the number Quarter 2009 publication which is available from the of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the Library of the House and from the Home Office’s UK on a quarterly and annual basis, which are available Research, Development and Statistics website at: from the Library of the House and from the Home Office’s Research, Development and Statistics website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum- at: stats.html http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum- The latest information for 31 December 2009 will be stats.html published on the 25 February 2010. 349W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 350W

DNA: Databases Subject profiles held on the NDNAD taken by police forces in England and Wales as at 31 December 2009, broken down by current age Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Current age Number of subject profiles Home Department how many criminals convicted Under 16 113,330 before the creation of the National DNA Database had Under 18 300,798 given a DNA sample to police. [313456] Under 21 761,221 Mr. Alan Campbell: The National DNA Database (NDNAD) does not contain information about criminal Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the records, as this is not necessary for its function of Home Department how many people from each ethnic matching DNA from crime scenes with DNA from minority had a profile stored on the National DNA individuals. Criminal record information is held on the Database on 1 January 2010. [317153] Police National Computer (PNC). The first conviction in a case where DNA profiling was used occurred in Mr. Alan Campbell: The National DNA Database 1988. Between this date and the establishment of the (NDNAD) does not hold self-reported ethnicity data, NDNAD in 1995, DNA profiling was applied in a however, it does hold data on the “ethnic appearance” relatively small number of cases. We do not have any of persons who have a DNA profile on the database. records of DNA operations which indicate how many The ethnic appearance data have six broad ethnic categories criminals convicted during this period had given a plus “unknown”. They are based on the judgment of DNA sample. the police officer taking the sample and are recorded for police intelligence purposes to assist in subsequent Data obtained from the PNC on 31 March 2009 identification. indicates that there were 2,312,289 persons with a record on PNC added by an English or Welsh force who had a The following table shows the number of DNA profiles conviction, caution, reprimand or final warning, but no on the NDNAD added by English and Welsh police record on NDNAD. This includes individuals who have forces, broken down by ethnic appearance, as at records relating to convictions, etc, before 1995. 31 December 2009. “Unknown” means that no ethnic appearance was recorded by the officer taking the sample. Breakdowns of the number of persons with a record of a conviction, caution, reprimand or final warning on The number of profiles held is not the same as the PNC, which show (a) that the conviction, etc, occurred number of individuals. This is because some profiles are before 1995, and (b) that the person either does or does replicates—i.e. more than one profile is held for one not have a record on the NDNAD, could only be individual. This may occur if, for example, an individual produced at disproportionate cost. gives different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests. As at 31 December 2009, it Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the was estimated that 13.9 per cent. of the subject profiles Home Department how many people under (a) 16, (b) held on the entire NDNAD were replicates. As the 18 and (c) 21 years old had their profile stored on the replication rate is calculated across the entire database, National DNA Database on 1 January 2010. [317152] it is not possible to apply it to the number of profiles of each ethnic appearance group to provide the number of Mr. Alan Campbell: The figures given in the table individuals in that group. show the number of subject profiles held on the National The data presented are based on a snapshot of the DNA Database (NDNAD) as at 31 December 2009 for NDNAD as at 31 December 2009. The data on the police forces in England and Wales. It is broken down NDNAD are constantly changing as records are added by current age for people aged under 16, under 18 and and removed, hence the figures are a snapshot of contents under 21 years old. at a single point in time. The data are management The number of subject profiles is not the same as the information and have not been formally assessed for number of individuals. A proportion of DNA profiles compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. held on the NDNAD are replicates, that is, a profile for a person has been loaded on more then one occasion Ethnic appearance Subject profiles (this may be because the person gave different names, or Unknown 278,630 different versions of their name, on separate arrests, or Asian 324,787 because of upgrading of profiles). As at 31 December Black 449,288 2009, it was estimated that 13.9 per cent. of profiles Chinese/Japanese/SE Asian 39,979 held on the NDNAD are replicates. As the replication Middle Eastern 46,987 rate is calculated across the entire database, it is not White—North European 4,388,870 possible to apply it to the number of profiles in each age White—South European 112,695 group, to provide the number of individuals in that Total profiles 5,641,236 group. Total individuals (estimated) 4,857,104 The presence of these replicate profiles on the NDNAD does not impact on the effectiveness and integrity of the Domestic Violence database. The data presented are based on a snapshot of the Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the NDNAD as at 31 December 2009. The data on the Home Department what estimate he has made of the NDNAD are constantly changing as records are added incidence of domestic violence in England and Wales and removed, hence the figures are a snapshot of contents in each of the last 30 years; if he will make it his policy at a single point in time. The data are management to record domestic violence incidents as a separate information and have not been formally assessed for crime category; and if he will make a statement. compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. [317962] 351W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 352W

Mr. Alan Campbell: There are two sources of data on Table 1: Number of offenders cautioned for possession of a controlled drug, by 1,2,3,4 domestic violence from the British Crime Survey.Estimates class, England and Wales, 1997 to 2008 of the number of incidents of domestic violence from Class A Class B Class C the face-to-face section of the survey are available from 2000 4,479 34,595 147 1981 to 2008-09 and can be found in this table: 2001 4,583 33,182 108 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1109tab201.xls 2002 4,563 38,482 149 Because of the nature of these offences, more reliable 2003 4,764 38,845 149 estimates of domestic violence come from the self- 2004 5,576 10,114 14,605 completion section of the survey, but these are only 2005 7,431 3,621 20,805 available from 2004-05 onwards. We also only report on 2006 10,139 2,746 21,367 the prevalence of domestic violence from the self-completion 2007 13,536 3,262 22,643 section, not the incidence. Trends in the prevalence of 2008 15,004 2,967 25,313 domestic violence from 2004-05 to 2008-09 can be found Table 2: Number of offenders cautioned for possession with intent to supply a in Table 3.06 here: controlled drug, by class, England and Wales, 1997 to 20081,2,3,4 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/hosb0110chap3.xls Class A Class B Class C The issue of making domestic violence a criminal 1997 79 401 19 offence was discussed during the Safety and Justice 1998 88 470 10 consultation which led to the introduction of the Domestic 1999 91 413 8 Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004. The Government 2000 139 305 7 believe that the range of existing criminal legislation, 2001 136 310 5 coupled with the definition of domestic violence, is 2002 132 336 5 sufficient to ensure the maximum discretion in selecting 2003 129 371 6 appropriate criminal charges. CPS also flag all domestic 2004 137 207 280 violence related crimes. 2005 189 83 477 2006 247 53 519 Driving Under Influence: Young People 2007 234 44 457 2008 141 32 324 Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the 1 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found Home Department how many incidents of causing guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the death by careless driving when under the influence of heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or drink or drugs by 16 to 24 years olds there were in more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. Milton Keynes in each of the last five years. [313950] 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted Mr. Alan Campbell: Statistics on the number of offences from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their recorded for ‘causing death by careless driving when inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. under the influence of drink or drugs’ are collected 3 Cannabis was reclassified in January 2004 to a class C drug. From 1997—2004 however no details are collected on the age of the the class B category includes cannabis; from 2005-08 cannabis is included in class C. offender. The offence classifications within the Police 4 Since April 2004 the police may issue an adult offender with a cannabis Recorded Crime series are defined by statute. No details warning for simple possession of cannabis. on the victim or offender are collected unless specified Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice in the wording of the offence classification. There are a number of sexual offences where this applies; ie sexual assault on a male aged 13 and over or rape of a female Entry Clearances child under 13.

Drugs: Crime Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was to (a) process a visa application and (b) despatch Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the an approved passport following approval of a visa in Home Department pursuant to the answer of the last year for which figures are available. [315360] 6 January 2010, Official Report, column 344W, on drugs: crime, what the equivalent figures are for 2008. [315008] Mr. Woolas [holding answer 5 February 2010]: The global average processing time for all visa applications Mr. Alan Campbell: Information provided by the in calendar year 2009 was 13.6 working days. We are Ministry of Justice, showing the number of cautions unable to provide an average time for despatching a given for possession of a controlled drug, by class, passport to an applicant following a decision to issue a England and Wales, 1997 to 2008 (latest available), can visa. This information is not available from our central be viewed in Table 1. The number given for possession records. with intent to supply can be viewed in Table 2. Table 1: Number of offenders cautioned for possession of a controlled drug, by Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the class, England and Wales, 1997 to 20081,2,3,4 Home Department how many people from each Class A Class B Class C country who were classified as having (a) low and (b) higher level English language skills overstayed in the 1997 3,918 48,728 249 UK following admittance under tier 4 of the points- 1998 4,130 51,515 242 based immigration system in the latest period for which 1999 4,266 42,560 164 figures are available. [316371] 353W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 354W

Alan Johnson: The UK Border Agency does not hold (i) each of the last three years and (ii) 2010 on the latest records on the level of English language skills held by date for which figures are available. [318016] those granted entry to the country under tier 4 of the points based system. It is the responsibility of the tier 4 Mr. Woolas: The number of entry clearance officers sponsor to assess the student’s ability to follow a course employed at our visa sections in Tirana, Kiev and of study; this includes checking the student’s English Chisinau since 2007 have been as follows: language ability. ECOs 2007 2008 2009 2010

Entry Clearances: Bexley Tirana 2.0 2.0 2.4 2.4 Kiev 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75 Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Chisinau 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 Home Department how many visitors’ visas were Entry Clearances: Families sponsored by residents of the London Borough of Bexley in the last three years. [317362] Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for visas for Mr. Woolas: While sponsor details are kept on individual family visitors to the UK have been (a) granted and visa application records, we are unable to accurately (b) refused in respect of applicants from each (i) identify from central records all applications that have African and (ii) Caribbean country in each of the last been sponsored by residents of any particular borough. three years. [308242] Entry Clearances: Eastern Europe Mr. Woolas: The information requested is given in the following table. It is based on nationality, not country Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the and is given for each financial year. Home Department how many visa officers were The data are based on management information. employed in (a) Tirana, (b) Kiev and (c) Chisinau in They are provisional and subject to change.

Financial Refusal rate year Group Nationality Applications Issued Refused Resolved (%)

2006 135,557 81,511 52,710 13,4875 39

African 127,435 76,616 49,398 126,627 39 Algeria 4,096 3,440 629 4103 15 Angola 595 434 152 596 26 Benin 68 52 16 68 24 Botswana 89 78 12 91 13 Burkina 27 13 12 27 44 Burundi 37 25 12 37 32 Cameroon 1,603 1,169 420 1,601 26 Cape Verde 45 36 3 44 7 Central African Republic 9 10 1 11 9 Chad 25 16 6 22 27 Comoros 3 3 0 3 0 Congo 300 231 70 304 23 Democratic republic of Congo 1,283 990 287 1,286 22 Djibouti 45 24 19 43 44 Egypt 2,683 2,481 179 2,682 7 Equatorial Guinea 17 14 4 18 22 Eritrea 286 234 64 303 21 Ethiopia 887 501 344 857 40 Gabon 47 40 7 47 15 Gambia 1,287 797 472 1,278 37 Ghana 13,333 7,576 6,083 13,740 44 Guinea 156 95 60 157 38 Guinea-Bissau 52 41 10 52 19 Ivory Coast 525 406 115 522 22 Kenya 5,180 4,527 677 5,216 13 Lesotho 12 3 9 12 75 Liberia 87 64 24 90 27 355W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 356W

Financial Refusal rate year Group Nationality Applications Issued Refused Resolved (%)

Libya 2,383 1,988 384 2,385 16 Madagascar 22 22 0 22 0 Malawi 819 572 243 819 30 Mali 37 31 6 37 16 Mauritania 12 10 2 12 17 Mauritius 54 40 16 58 28 Morocco 3,985 3,344 638 4,003 16 Mozambique 202 149 56 209 27 Namibia 11 1 8 9 89 Niger 23 15 7 22 32 Nigeria 69,030 34,437 33,000 67,603 49 Rwanda 84 70 20 90 22 Sao Tome and Principe 33 23 8 33 24 Senegal 134 113 19 133 14 Seychelles 1 1 0 1 0 Sierra Leone 2,362 1,515 795 2,320 34 Somalia 359 199 158 366 43 South Africa 536 197 313 520 60 Sudan 1,594 1,404 153 1,576 10 Swaziland 29 6 22 28 79 Tanzania 1,891 1,712 187 1,910 10 Togo 115 85 30 117 26 Tunisia 733 644 94 738 13 Uganda 1,511 1,017 526 1,551 34 Zambia 1,146 952 171 1,178 15 Zimbabwe 7,552 4,769 2,855 7,677 37

Caribbean 8,122 4,895 3,312 8,248 40 Antigua and Barbuda 1 1 0 1 0 Bahamas 1 1 0 1 0 Barbados 10 6 4 10 40 Cayman Islands 1 1 0 1 0 Cuba 277 262 12 277 4 Dominica 10 8 2 11 18 Dominican Republic 52 48 3 51 6 Grenada 4 2 3 5 60 Haiti 25 20 2 22 9 Honduras 1 0 1 1 100 Jamaica 7,699 4,510 3,280 7,827 42 St Lucia 5 4 1 5 20 St Vincent 2 1 1 2 50 Trinidad and Tobago 34 31 3 34 9

2007 111,709 73,133 40,723 11,4376 36

African 105,905 69,015 38,769 108,229 36 Algeria 4,644 3,855 501 4,390 11 Angola 697 554 128 685 19 Benin 71 46 27 74 36 Botswana 89 62 25 87 29 Burkina 18 13 5 18 28 Burundi 38 27 12 39 31 Cameroon 1,362 1,071 296 1,376 22 357W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 358W

Financial Refusal rate year Group Nationality Applications Issued Refused Resolved (%)

Cape Verde 36 25 10 35 29 Central African Republic 17 12 5 17 29 Chad 17 10 11 21 52 Comoros 5 3 2 5 40 Congo 258 176 79 257 31 Democratic republic of Congo 1,194 830 363 1,201 30 Djibouti 28 19 11 30 37 Egypt 2,872 2,622 217 2,847 8 Equatorial Guinea 11 4 6 11 55 Eritrea 288 186 96 289 33 Ethiopia 667 460 219 694 32 Gabon 32 26 6 32 19 Gambia 1,381 846 510 1,371 37 Ghana 11,627 6,344 5,194 11,575 45 Guinea 129 68 53 125 42 Guinea-Bissau 55 32 21 55 38 Ivory Coast 531 377 150 529 28 Kenya 5,006 4,404 568 4,989 11 Lesotho 12 4 7 11 64 Liberia 85 58 25 84 30 Libya 1,918 1,518 368 1,896 19 Madagascar 17 13 2 16 13 Malawi 976 690 257 959 27 Mali 31 23 7 30 23 Mauritania 6 4 2 6 33 Mauritius 24 17 6 24 25 Morocco 2,605 2,311 269 2,602 10 Mozambique 190 125 60 188 32 Namibia 10 0 10 10 100 Niger 14 10 4 14 29 Nigeria 51,355 30,786 23,396 54,267 43 Rwanda 107 66 39 105 37 Sao Tome and Principe 36 18 16 36 44 Senegal 210 149 56 205 27 Seychelles 5 2 3 5 60 Sierra Leone 1,980 1,147 802 1,973 41 Somalia 303 164 125 297 42 South Africa 382 131 251 392 64 Sudan 1,523 1,196 291 1,511 19 Swaziland 11 4 7 11 64 Tanzania 1,982 1,574 379 1,971 19 Togo 91 62 27 90 30 Tunisia 724 627 88 721 12 Uganda 1,630 1,135 485 1,629 30 Zambia 1,297 1,094 191 1,298 15 Zimbabwe 7,308 4,015 3,081 7,126 43

Caribbean 5,804 4,118 1,954 6,147 32 Bahamas 1 0 1 1 100 Barbados 2 1 0 1 0 Cuba 282 243 37 282 13 Dominica 2 1 1 2 50 Dominican Republic 89 73 13 87 15 359W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 360W

Financial Refusal rate year Group Nationality Applications Issued Refused Resolved (%)

Grenada 1 1 0 1 0 Haiti 18 15 3 18 17 Honduras 1 1 0 1 0 Jamaica 5,377 3,763 1,891 5,725 33 St Lucia 4 3 0 3 0 St Vincent 3 3 0 3 0 Trinidad and Tobago 24 14 8 23 35

2008 105,206 69,766 34,784 105,182 33 African 100,472 66,240 33,611 100,466 33 Algeria 5,813 4,679 1,298 5,996 22 Angola 831 551 264 829 32 Benin 86 52 28 84 33 Botswana 59 24 35 61 57 Burkina 27 18 7 26 27 Burundi 50 32 15 47 32 Cameroon 1,324 964 294 1,281 23 Cape Verde 50 20 28 48 58 Central African Republic 15 9 6 15 40 Chad 22 15 7 22 32 Comoros 11 4 6 10 60 Congo 232 136 88 227 39 Democratic Republic of Congo 1,058 590 455 1,047 43 Djibouti 43 24 17 41 41 Egypt 3,119 2,762 263 3,040 9 Equatorial Guinea 25 13 11 25 44 Eritrea 268 148 104 258 40 Ethiopia 765 537 225 766 29 Gabon 46 28 18 46 39 Gambia 1,601 868 720 1,599 45 Ghana 9,688 5,534 4,275 9,896 43 Guinea 144 67 72 140 51 Guinea-Bissau 63 19 42 61 69 Ivory coast 453 314 124 445 28 Kenya 5,263 4,596 628 5,255 12 Lesotho 9 4 6 10 60 Liberia 82 48 31 80 39 Libya 2,183 1,878 313 2,253 14 Madagascar 29 27 1 28 4 Malawi 756 448 301 758 40 Mali 4131114226 Mauritania 9 4 5 9 56 Mauritius 69 47 18 67 27 Morocco 2,375 1,963 320 2,307 14 Mozambique 197 127 71 199 36 Namibia 8 2 5 9 56 Niger 11 5 5 11 45 Nigeria 44,534 26,491 17,975 44,543 40 Rwanda 106 68 41 109 38 Sao Tome and Principe 49 18 28 46 61 Senegal 305 206 100 307 33 Seychelles 2 2 0 2 0 Sierra Leone 1,780 1,200 565 1,782 32 361W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 362W

Financial Refusal rate year Group Nationality Applications Issued Refused Resolved (%)

Somalia 248 105 146 252 58 South Africa 3,488 3149 225 3410 7 Sudan 1,669 1,215 396 1,618 24 Swaziland 8 2 6 8 75 Tanzania 1625 1254 322 1,597 20 Togo 93 60 35 95 37 Tunisia 667 530 112 644 17 Uganda 1,915 1,373 556 1,935 29 Zambia 1,304 1,091 201 1,315 15 Zimbabwe 5,854 2,888 2,786 5,765 48

Caribbean 4,734 3,526 1,173 4,716 25 Antigua and Barbuda 2 1 1 2 50 Bahamas 2 0 2 2 100 Barbados 4 3 1 4 25 Cuba 277 246 29 277 10 Dominica 2 1 1 2 50 Dominican Republic 138 113 17 130 13 Grenada 4 2 2 4 50 Haiti 23 20 1 21 5 Honduras 1 0 1 1 100 Jamaica 4,239 3,128 1,090 4,232 26 St Kitts and Nevis 2 1 1 2 50 St Lucia 15 2 13 15 87 St Vincent 4 2 2 4 50 Trinidad and Tobago 21 7 12 20 60

Entry Clearances: Fees and Charges Entry Clearances: Married People

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy for fees Home Department what recent assessment he has charged for visas to increase in line with inflation. made of the appropriateness of the level of fees for [317562] spouse settlement visas; and how much revenue accrued from such fees in each of the last five years. Mr. Woolas: Current policy is to set visa fees by balancing a number of complex factors, including inflation [317560] along with the cost of processing applications, the importance of attracting certain groups of migrants to Mr. Woolas: The UK Border Agency’s fees for the UK, and the value of a successful application in immigration and nationality are reviewed annually. terms of entitlements and benefits to the applicant. The following table shows revenue collected from spousal settlement visas in each of the last five years. Entry Clearances: Indian Subcontinent Income from spouse/civil partner visas from 2004-05 to 2008-09 Income (£000) Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time 2004-05 13,020 taken between the date of adjudication of an entry 2005-06 14,666 clearance case in favour of the applicant and the date 2006-07 16,569 of issue of a visa at the British High Commission in 2007-08 28,508 (a) New Delhi and (b) Islamabad was in the latest 2008-09 25,414 period for which figures are available. [315147] Source: Internal management information—International Group Mr. Woolas: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Entry Clearances: Overseas Students The UK Border Agency, however, recently issued its visa sections overseas with a target time of eight weeks Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for the to conclude the consideration of visa applications after Home Department when he expects the results of the receiving notification of an allowed appeal. The agency joint review of student visas by his Department and the will be monitoring the performance of visa sections Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to be against this target. published. [314673] 363W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 364W

Mr. Woolas: The outcome of the review of Tier 4, which is subject to public inspection, or which is accredited announced by the Prime Minister on 12 November by one of the UK Border Agency’s approved accreditation 2009, were published on Wednesday 10 February 2010. bodies. Student visitors cannot follow a course that contains Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for the a work placement, and they are prohibited from taking Home Department what assessment his Department employment in the UK. has made of the economic impact of increasing the The Secretary of State for the Home Department’s minimum level at which non-EU students may come to written statement of 10 February 2010, Official Report, the UK for study from National Qualifications column 58WS contains details of the recommendations Framework Level 3 to Level 4. [316912] stemming from the Prime Minister’s review of tier 4. Mr. Woolas: The Secretary of State for the Home Firearms Department’s written ministerial statement of 10 February 2010 provides full details of the recommendations stemming Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the from the Prime Minister’s review of tier 4, the student Home Department what recent estimate he has made route of the points based system. We will be publishing of the number of unlicensed handguns in circulation in a full impact assessment on the review in line with (a) England and (b) the North West; and if he will implementation. make a statement. [317549] We are not increasing the minimum level at which non-EU students may come to the UK for study from Mr. Alan Campbell: These data are not collected National Qualifications Framework level 3 to level 4, centrally. Handguns are prohibited under firearms law however, only education providers that qualify as Highly and can only be held with the authority of the Secretary Trusted Sponsors will be able to offer courses at level of State. Such authority is generally limited to businesses three to international students. such as arms manufacturers, and is not normally given to individuals. There are some exceptions for certain Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the historic handguns and for certain professions (for example, Home Department how many dependants of those vets and race starters) which need to use handguns, but with a (a) student visa and (b) student visa relating to they must still be held on a firearms certificate. Unlawful a course lasting less than six months entered the UK in possession of a handgun carries a maximum sentence 2008. [317155] of 10 years imprisonment and a minimum of five years. The National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) Mr. Woolas: The available statistics show that 20,300 collects intelligence pertaining to the number of known “dependants of students” (excluding EEA and Swiss and inferred illegal handguns in the UK, and when nationals) were given leave to enter the United Kingdom, necessary these data are shared with the Home Office to in 2008. inform firearms policy. As these data relate directly to It is not possible to determine, from the systems used active police operations it is not suitable for the public to produce these statistics on those given leave to enter domain. the UK, how many of those admitted as “dependants Forensic Science Service: Greater London of students” were dependants of students on a course lasting less than six months. Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the The Secretary of State for the Home Department’s Home Department what discussions he has had with written statement of 10 February 2010, Official Report, the management of the Forensic Science Service in column 58WS contains details of the recommendations London on the future of the London site after the stemming from the Prime Minister’s review of tier 4, expiry of its lease in 2013. [317842] and this statement includes further details of the restrictions we are placing on the dependants of certain students. Mr. Alan Campbell: Discussions between the Forensic Science Service, the Metropolitan Police Authority as Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the landlord, and the Home Office as guarantor of the lease Home Department what assessment he has made of of the laboratory premises at Lambeth, are continuing. the likely effects on student visitors of implementing The proposed lease, of a five year duration, has yet to the changes proposed in the recent review of Tier 4 of be signed. The current plans by the Forensic Science the points-based immigration system. [317167] Service envisage a continued occupancy of the Lambeth premises. Mr. Woolas: As a result of the changes we are implementing following the review of tier 4, the student Forensic Science Service: Location tier of the points based system, we expect there to be an increase in the number of student visitor applications, Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the as genuine students wishing to follow lower level courses Home Department whether relocation packages will be no longer permitted under tier 4 will be permitted to use available for skilled Forensic Science Service staff who the student visitor route instead. are to be made redundant at sites listed for closure; and The student visitor category is for short-term, temporary if he will make a statement. [317844] visitors to the UK who intend to complete a course of study in the UK within six months. In order to be Mr. Alan Campbell: The Forensic Science Service will eligible, all those seeking entry under this category must offer a relocation package for members of staff who have a place on a course of study offered by an education have decided that they would like to move to another provider which either has a tier 4 sponsor licence, or FSS location. 365W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 366W

Forensic Science Service: Redundancy Mr. Alan Campbell: This is a matter for, primarily, the Greater Manchester police in consultation with its forensic Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the suppliers. The FSS has received notification that Greater Home Department what his latest estimate is of the Manchester police has temporarily suspended submissions number of redundancies at each Forensic Science of fibres, gun shot residue and glass cases. Service for which closure is planned. [317845] Hizb ut-Tahrir Mr. Alan Campbell: The FSS has stated that it anticipates a maximum of 800 redundancies across the organisation. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the As part of this figure, it is anticipated that redundancies Home Department for how many years the group Hizb will be made at the Chorley, Chepstow and central ut-Tahrir has been active in the UK. [317825] Birmingham (Priory House) laboratories in accordance with the following table: Alan Johnson: It is normal Home Office policy not to comment on groups which may or may not be added to FSS location Anticipated redundancies the list of proscribed organisations. Chorley 180 Chepstow 150 Hotels Birmingham Priory 100 Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Government Car and Despatch Agency Home Department how many separate bookings for stays at hotels rated five stars or above were made Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the through the Expotel booking service by his Home Department how much his Department paid to Department in the latest year for which figures are the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of available; and at what cost those bookings were made. the last five years; how much it has spent on such [314813] payments in 2009-10; and what proportion of such payments was made in respect of the Government Car Mr. Woolas: From best available information, no Service. [316784] bookings for stays at hotels rated at five stars or above were made through the Expotel booking service on Mr. Woolas: The amount paid by the Home Department, behalf of the Home Department in 2009. inclusive of the Criminal Records Bureau and UKBA agencies, to the Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the last five financial years and to January Human Trafficking 2010 in the current financial year is as follows: Table 1 Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State Financial year GCDA expenditure (£) for the Home Department what recent steps the Government has taken to tackle human trafficking. 2005-06 2,930,328 [316983] 2006-07 2,882,441 2007-08 3,565,119 Mr. Alan Campbell: The Government’s plans to combat 2008-09 3,789,066 human trafficking are outlined in the UK Action Plan April-January 2009-10 2,897,802 on Tackling Human Trafficking. The plan is updated annually and can be found at: Costs to Departments of ministerial cars are reported www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk annually to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the The most recent update of the plan, published in Secretary of State for Transport through written ministerial October 2009 details 38 actions to tackle trafficking statement and are available in the Libraries of the across four key areas of: prevention; investigation, law House. enforcement and prosecution; providing protection and The Department currently has an agreement with the assistance to adult victims of trafficking; and child GCDA’s Green Car service for the provision of cars and victims. drivers. Available expenditure data are as follows: Table 2 Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State GCDA’s Green Cars £ for the Home Department how many cases of human trafficking were identified in the UK in 2008. [316984] FY 2007-08 1— FY 2008-09 115,000 Mr. Alan Campbell: The formal identification system April-December 2009 191,000 introduced under the national referral mechanism came 1 Available only at disproportionate cost into force from 1 April 2009. Greater Manchester Police: Forensic Science In 2008 referrals of potential victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation were referred to the Poppy Project Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the who in 2008 received a total 293 referrals. Home Department what discussions he has had with Greater Manchester Police Force on its decision to Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State hold back all volume crime work from processing by for the Home Department what steps his Department the Forensic Science Service until the next financial is taking to identify victims of human trafficking. year; and if he will make a statement. [317843] [316985] 367W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 368W

Mr. Alan Campbell: The Government’s overall approach Charged 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 to tackling human trafficking is outlined in the UK Action Plan: Warwickshire 0 0 5 0 0 www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/ West 00032 humantrafficking004.htm Mercia West 02531 As part of its implementation of the Council of Midlands Europe convention on action against trafficking in human beings the Government established in April 2009 a Convictions 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to identify and support victims. 527 men, women and children were Warwickshire 0 0 5 0 0 referred through this multi-agency framework in its first West 00012 nine months of operation. ‘First Responders’ in designated Mercia West 00320 organisations such as the police, local authorities, and Midlands the UK Border Agency (UKBA) refer potential victims of trafficking to trained specialists in ‘Competent Authorities’ within the UK Human Trafficking Centre Illegal Immigrants: Deportation and UKBA who determine whether individuals qualify as victims according to the convention. Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the The Government has rolled out online guidance on Home Department how many and what percentage of trafficking and the NRM, including providing information people caught entering the UK illegally were deported and advice for frontline practitioners. For children, a in each of the last five years. [316175] trafficking tool kit is currently being piloted in 13 English and Welsh local authorities. This aims to improve first Mr. Woolas: Between January 2005 and December responders’ use of the assessment tool kit, which has 2009, 33,176 illegal entrants were detected by Border been designed to help them identify potential child Force officers at the UK Border. victims of trafficking. Of the 33,176 illegal entrants detected, 31,968 were Our launch with Comic Relief of the NSPCC Child removed or deported. A detailed annual breakdown is Trafficking Advice and Information Line (CTAIL) in provided in the following table: November 2007 has succeeded in actively supporting practitioners on how best to identify and safeguard Illegal entrants Illegal entrants Percentage children suspected of being trafficked as well as making detected removed/deported removed/deported a positive difference to outcomes in individual case 2005 3,287 3,090 94 referrals. 2006 5,589 5,442 97 Operation Paladin is a Metropolitan police-led operation 2007 5,981 5,778 97 involving immigration officers and social workers. It is 2008 8,983 8,643 96 based at Heathrow airport and the United Kingdom 2009 9,336 9,015 97 Border Agency (UKBA) Asylum Screening Unit in Total 33,176 31,968 96 Croydon. It also has a presence at the Eurostar terminal in London. The team specialises in identifying and The information used to answer this question has safeguarding vulnerable children suspected of being been taken from a live database and is therefore subject trafficked and undertakes proactive and preventative to change. It is suitable for management information initiatives against the trafficking of children. It also purposes and has not been subject to the detailed investigates specific trafficking and migration offences. checks required to qualify as National Statistics. The UKBA has developed human trafficking training for frontline staff to raise their awareness of trafficking, Immigrants: Detainees and to help staff recognise and identify indicators. The UK Human Trafficking Centre, in conjunction with the Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the National Policing Improvement Agency, has developed Home Department what assessment is made of the training for police officers. The training covers all forms mental well-being of detainees in immigration of human trafficking and has been incorporated into detention centres. [317698] programmes for all new officers as well as specific programmes such as initial detective training and those Mr. Woolas: Immigration removal centres are operated aimed at police community support officers, domestic in accordance with the Detention Centre Rules 2001. violence, roads policing and public protection programmes. In accordance with the rules, each centre has a health Human Trafficking: West Midlands care department to deliver primary services, which include medical practitioners and nursing staff, including registered mental health nurses. Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people resident in the Each detainee is seen by a nurse within two hours of West Midlands have been (a) charged with and (b) arrival at a centre. They are then given an appointment convicted of trafficking for sexual exploitation in each to see a GP within 24 hours, unless the nurse considers year since 2004. [315958] an earlier examination is required. Where issues of mental illness are identified which Mr. Alan Campbell: Figures from the United Kingdom require secondary treatment, a referral is made to the Human Trafficking Centre for the three police forces in relevant primary care trust for assessment and treatment the West Midlands area are as follows: as necessary. 369W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 370W

Immigrants: Merseyside Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the full chronology is of Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the the processing of the hon. Member for Thurrock’s Home Department whether he has made an estimate of constituent’s case, Ref G354413; CTS Ref the number of immigrants with work permits who have No. M12456/9, since his arrival in the UK on 26 April worked in Merseyside since 1997. [316830] 1997; for what reasons there has been no determination of his and his family’s case; when the case will be determined; and if he will make a statement. [316544] Mr. Woolas [holding answer 10 February 2010]: The information requested is not centrally recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Mr. Woolas [holding answer 9 February 2010]: The UK Border Agency wrote to my hon. Friend on 5 February 2010 addressing the concerns he has raised. Immigration Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to Home Department what proportion of claims for remain in the UK were made outside the immigration indefinite leave to remain were (a) granted and (b) rules in the last 12 months. [317363] declined within (i) three months, (ii) six months, (iii) 12 months, (iv) 24 months and (v) longer in each of the Mr. Woolas: The number of non-asylum applications last five years. [315648] for leave to remain in the UK, that were made outside the immigration rules in the last 12 months, to Mr. Woolas: The following tables show the percentage the end of December 2009 was 9,2951. of grants and refusals against the annual totals for the 1 All figures quoted are internal management information only past five years. and are subject to change. This information has not been quality ILR Grant assured under National Statistics protocols. Percentage <3 <6 <12 <24 >24 Grand Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the months months months months months total Home Department how many powers relating to 2005 74 11 13 1 1 86,053 immigration have been (a) created and (b) amended 2006 83 492281,881by legislation sponsored by his Department since 1997. 2007 87 543172,296 [317666] 2008 95 211177,265 2009 90 521298,117Alan Johnson: Since 1997 there have been a number Five 866611415,612 of Acts of Parliament relating to immigration as follows: year The Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997 total The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

ILR Refusal The British Overseas Territories Act 2002 Percentage The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 <3 <6 <12 <24 >24 Grand The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) months months months months months total Act 2004

2005 82 10 3 3 2 3,965 The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 2006 67 11 13 8 1 5,756 The UK Borders Act 2007 2007 49 17 11 14 9 10,103 The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 2008 50 12 13 12 13 8,098 The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 2009 29 26 10 12 23 9,616 Five 50 18 10 11 11 37,538 These Acts have created various immigration powers year for a range of public bodies including the Secretary of total State, immigration officers and the courts. These statutes also make amendments to Acts pre-dating them, not All figures quoted are internal management information least the Immigration Act 1971. only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. Immigration: Fees and Charges Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the full chronology is of Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the the processing of the hon. Member for Thurrock’s Home Department what mechanisms are in place to constituent’s case, Ref J269056, since the granting of assist those who are unable to afford the fee required exceptional leave to remain on 22 May 2000; for what for an extension to a UK visa. [316782] reasons his acknowledged re-application submitted in 2004 has not been determined; when that application Mr. Woolas: There are no mechanisms in place to will be determined; and if he will make a statement. assist those who are unable to afford the application fee. [316543] An applicant who makes an application under a category not covered by an exemption set out in the fee Mr. Woolas [holding answer 9 February 2010]: The regulations must pay the appropriate fee for that application UK Border Agency wrote to my hon. Friend on 5 February for it to be considered. Any application made that is not 2010 addressing the concerns he has raised. accompanied by the correct fee is invalid. 371W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 372W

Immigration: Yemen sent on 22 December 2009. The council’s commitment to review these compounds as a matter of urgency was Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for reinforced at a meeting between myself and the interim the Home Department how many citizens of Yemen Chair of the Council on 2 February 2010. The council have been refused entry to the UK on grounds of links are progressing this at a meeting to be held on the to terrorism in each of the last five years. [315928] 22 February 2010, and will report to Ministers as soon as is practicable. Mr. Woolas: In the last five years, a total of two Yemeni nationals have been refused entry to the UK on Milngavie Reservoir: Security the basis that their presence in the UK would not be conducive to the public good. This category of refusal Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the includes, but is not limited to, those nationals suspected Home Department what recent (a) discussions and of having links to terrorism. (b) correspondence he has had with (i) Ministers in the Both of these refusals took place in 2009 and resulted Scottish Executive and (ii) representatives of Scottish in the individuals being removed from the UK. Water on the public security issues concerning the erection of fences around Milngavie reservoir; what Iraq Committee of Inquiry security threat the fences are intended to address; what recent assessment he has made of the requirement for Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the such security fencing; and if he will make a statement. Home Department how many (a) documents and (b) [315445] other items of information in electronic format provided by his Department to the Iraq Inquiry that Mr. Hanson [holding answer 4 February 2010]: There Inquiry has sought to publish under the procedure set have been no recent discussions or correspondence between out in the protocol on documents and other written Home Office Ministers and Scottish Ministers or and electronic information; and if he will make a representatives of Scottish Water on public security statement. [314544] issues concerning the erection of fences around Milngavie reservoir. Mr. Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Minister of In line with our long-standing policy, we do not State for the Cabinet Office on 9 February 2010, Official comment on matters of national security. Report, columns 893-894W. Offenders: Deportation Local Government Finance Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State Home Department how many time-served foreign for the Home Department with reference to the answer prisoners held in the UK border Agency’s detention to the hon. Member for Meriden of 22 October 2009, estate (a) went missing without permission and (b) Official Report, column 1645W, on local government re-offended whilst being held in each year since 1998. finance, what data sets not contained in the national [317662] indicator set local authorities are required to submit to his Department. [314951] Alan Johnson: The following table shows the number Mr. Woolas: The Home Office does not place any of time-served foreign prisoners held in the UK Border statutory obligations on local authorities to submit any Agency’s detention estate who went missing without data sets to the Department, other than the national permission between 2007 and 2009. indicator set. Time-served foreign prisoners missing without permission from a detention centre Mephedrone Number

2007 26 Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the 2008 10 Home Department what consideration he has given to 2009 1 the inclusion of a question on mephedrone use in the British Crime Survey. [317556] This data relates only to those time-served foreign prisoners being held pending deportation. Mr. Alan Campbell: A question on mephedrone use will be added to the British Crime Survey from April This data is based on management information only 2010. and has not been subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications. These figures Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the are provisional and are subject to change. Home Department what recent representations he has The information requested for the number of time-served received from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of foreign prisoners held in the UK Border Agency’s detention Drugs in respect of mephedrone use. [317558] estate who went missing without permission between 1998 and 2007 and the number of time-served foreign Mr. Alan Campbell: The Advisory Council on the prisoners held in the UK Border Agency’s detention Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) advised me of its concerns estate who re-offended while being held in each year regarding the potential harms associated with the since 1998, can only be obtained by the detailed examination cathinones, including mephedrone, in correspondence of individual record at disproportionate cost. 373W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 374W

Passports Meg Hillier: Passport fees are set in order to recover the full cost of providing the service including an element Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the for non fee bearing consular services abroad. Fee levels Home Department if he will estimate the effect on are reviewed annually with HM Treasury. expenditure as classified in the (a) common passport The passport fee review for 2010 has not yet been and identity card and (b) passport-specific section of concluded. the most recent identity cards scheme cost report of Passports: Lost Property issuing passports without fingerprint data in each year from 2010-11 to 2018-19. [310383] Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Alan Johnson [holding answer 12 January 2010]: It is Home Department how many dispatched passports intended that passports incorporating fingerprints will have been reported lost since November 2007; and be introduced from 2012 onwards and applicants for what estimate he has made of the number of such lost such passports will be enrolled on the National Identity passports that may have been stolen. [316794] Register. From that point, common business processes and technology infrastructure will be used to register Meg Hillier: During the period November 2007 to applicants on the National Identity Register and issue September 2009, the latest date for which information is them with an identity card and/or a passport. available, 1,135 passports, 0.01 per cent. of those produced, were recorded as lost during the delivery process. Passports: Fees and Charges Of these, 115 are recorded as lost as a result of theft from a courier or courier’s vehicle, and 16 as misplaced within the delivery process. Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the differences are between The remainder are recorded as lost due to misposting the fee structures for passport applications for British by couriers. citizens resident overseas and those resident in the UK. Police [316079] Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Alan Johnson: The Identity and Passport Service sets Home Department how many police officers in each the passport fee for British citizens following an annual police force in England were on each category of review with HM Treasury to ensure passport fee levels restricted duties in each reporting period from 1997 to are set to recover the costs of the service provided. 2010; and if he will make a statement. [316717] The passport fee for British citizens resident overseas is set by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Mr. Hanson: Data on officers on recuperative and restricted duties are available centrally from 2003. Force Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the level figures for each year from 2003-09, the latest Home Department whether he plans to increase the available reporting period, are shown in the following UK passport application fee in 2010. [316171] tables. Figures for 2010 will be available later this year.

Police officers on recuperative1 and restricted2 duties, 2003-093 As at 31 March each year: 2003 2004 2005 2006 Recuperative Restricted Recuperative Restricted Recuperative Restricted Recuperative Restricted

Avon and 62 133 61 166 65 171 52 205 Somerset Bedfordshire 13 12 99 161 44 111 27 41 Cambridgeshire 72 47 59 51 32 28 45 28 Cheshire 87 7 118 7 21 54 59 52 Cleveland 23 82 35 44 21 116 — — Cumbria 0 0 30 26 9 20 30 28 Derbyshire4482467965841212 Devon and — — — — 8 0 25 22 Cornwall Dorset 5334473953544953 Durham 34 23 — — 47 49 18 82 Dyfed-Powys 22 14 — — 18 37 16 31 Essex 740 371 977 588 78 54 122 95 Gloucestershire 6 6 9 24 11 26 15 45 Greater 29 181 130 101 134 280 65 435 Manchester Gwent 13 35 32 76 10 39 8 62 Hampshire — 150 25 95 — — — — Hertfordshire 21 85 43 107 7 100 62 147 Humberside 246 9 86 16 141 22 95 25 Kent 113 164 19 192 0 182 10 188 Lancashire 15 14 15 8 111 124 99 159 375W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 376W

Police officers on recuperative1 and restricted2 duties, 2003-093 As at 31 March each year: 2003 2004 2005 2006 Recuperative Restricted Recuperative Restricted Recuperative Restricted Recuperative Restricted

Leicestershire — — — — — — 8 51 Lincolnshire 18 26 6 76 6 11 7 65 London, City of 10 34 10 42 7 52 3 34 Merseyside 412 0 252 39 304 57 86 396 Metropolitan 1,161 183 1,039 208 1,246 442 1,119 766 Police Norfolk 48 28 48 48 34 65 35 41 Northamptonshire 74 10 45 29 83 33 87 30 Northumbria 84 33 98 47 104 40 30 64 North Wales 28 4 — — 166 40 112 73 North Yorkshire 44 16 32 20 50 50 43 34 Nottinghamshire 1 99 2 52 7 58 5 110 South Wales 64 23 74 40 — — 88 54 South Yorkshire 82 13 54 17 60 23 51 39 Staffordshire 282 69 315 43 167 32 149 47 Suffolk 6 64 9 62 35 70 29 75 Surrey———————— Sussex — — — — 13 — 12 0 Thames Valley 60 41 90 107 — — 129 113 Warwickshire 23 37 38 56 24 30 47 23 West Mercia 50 15 48 31 31 49 61 65 West Midlands 37 5 317 270 251 329 278 260 West Yorkshire 228 139 148 99 136 236 144 208 Wiltshire 65 11 26 1 65 3 101 2

As at 31 March each year: 2007 2008 2009 Recuperative Restricted Recuperative Restricted Recuperative Restricted

Avon and Somerset 44 252 28 177 27 149 Bedfordshire 42 41 26 38 30 41 Cambridgeshire 30 35 0 42 0 1 Cheshire 42 117 39 138 28 113 Cleveland 21 74 16 51 15 44 Cumbria 29 45 14 69 2 5 Derbyshire260500 Devon and Cornwall 178 87 56 74 55 94 Dorset414345375032 Durham 29 51 26 29 16 35 Dyfed-Powys 17 25 19 45 50 93 Essex 116 100 132 126 64 37 Gloucestershire 7 56 4 81 13 64 Greater Manchester 107 398 115 424 104 425 Gwent 11 55 20 54 17 47 Hampshire — — — 142 0 131 Hertfordshire 14 121 — — — — Humberside 98 31 93 33 80 30 Kent 23 275 26 254 816 153 Lancashire 113 137 95 145 114 184 Leicestershire 4 116 13 130 6 122 Lincolnshire 4 67 2 78 10 62 London, City of 6 32 7 35 3 35 Merseyside 64 366 89 103 70 56 Metropolitan Police 1,094 921 1,078 1,042 1,118 1,151 Norfolk 25 44 26 48 23 48 Northamptonshire 59 51 83 64 51 65 Northumbria 78 50 64 26 82 22 North Wales 49 81 34 52 117 43 NorthYorkshire74449729799 Nottinghamshire 28 75 15 71 25 75 South Wales 80 77 12 161 91 70 South Yorkshire 53 82 42 76 33 75 Staffordshire 70 133 93 143 62 149 377W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 378W

As at 31 March each year: 2007 2008 2009 Recuperative Restricted Recuperative Restricted Recuperative Restricted

Suffolk 28 85 19 106 — — Surrey ——29285625 Sussex 73 81 — — 104 88 Thames Valley —————— Warwickshire 87 39 29 51 44 56 West Mercia 82 76 71 83 94 86 West Midlands 80 203 41 228 121 311 West Yorkshire 143 285 175 302 164 341 Wiltshire 72 1 86 1 103 1 1 Total number of police officers (head count) on ‘recuperative’ duties as at 31 March. These are temporary duties or working conditions approved to assist an officer’s ultimate return to full duties after injury or illness by allowing them to return to or continue in work of a less demanding capacity. 2 Total number of police officers (head count) on ‘restricted’ duties as at 31 March. These are duties or conditions approved, other than for recuperative purposes, for fixed periods totalling more than 28 consecutive days (including rest days) for an officer who is unable for a specific reason to carry out one or more aspects of full operational duty. 3 These data are provisional. They have not undergone usual quality assurance practices (including validation with individual police forces), and are therefore supplied for information purposes only.

Police National Computer committed to aim to answer 999 calls within 10 seconds, deploying to emergencies immediately, giving an estimated Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the time of arrival and reaching the incident as safely and Home Department what guidance his Department has as quickly as possible. In urban areas, they aim to arrive issued to police forces on removing records from the within 15 minutes and in rural areas within 20 minutes. Police National Computer relating to people who have The Home Office does not collect data centrally on had their DNA profile removed from the National average response times. However in October 2009, Her DNA Database as an exceptional case; and if he will Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary published a make a statement. [317148] report on the standard of pledge delivery across all police forces. The report notes that on responding to Mr. Hanson: The Home Office has issued no such emergency calls, 17 forces were graded ‘good’, 25 were guidance to the police. ‘fair’ and one force was ‘poor’. The PNC retention guidelines issued by the Association It is for individual police forces and authorities to of Chief Police Officers include an exceptional cases ensure delivery of the policing pledge in their area. The procedure. In accordance with this, it is for individual Government will hold forces to account for progress chief police officers to use their discretion to decide through the single top-down target we have set them to whether to amend or delete information placed by their improve public confidence that crime and antisocial force on the police national computer (PNC) and the behaviour are being tackled locally, and in the light of national DNA database (NDNAD). In exercising that inspection work by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of discretion, they may make different decisions in respect Constabulary. Latest British Crime Survey (BCS) figures of information held on the different systems. released in January 2010 show an improving trend, that, nationally, 50 per cent. of the public now agree that the Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the police and local councils are dealing with the antisocial Home Department how many personal records have behaviour and crime issues that matter locally. been removed from the Police National Computer in each of the last five years; and if he will make a Police: Feltham statement. [317149] Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Hanson: The police national computer (PNC) is Home Department how many full-time police officers an operational tool and is not designed to produce the there were in Feltham and Heston (a) in 1997 and (b) information requested. To obtain the information would at the latest date for which information is available. incur a disproportionate cost. [316699]

Police: Emergency Calls Mr. Hanson: Data on numbers of police officers are not available specifically at constituency level. The Feltham Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the and Heston constituency lies within the Metropolitan Home Department what his most recent estimate is of police’s basic command unit (BCU) of Hounslow borough. the (a) average and (b) average target response time Figures at BCU level have been collected only since for police attendance at the scene of an incident 2002-03. They show that the number of full-time equivalent following a 999 call in (i) each police force area and (ii) police officers in Hounslow rose from 467 on 31 March England and Wales. [317826] 2003 to 518 on 31 March 2009, the latest published period. These figures include officers on career break or Alan Johnson: The Policing Pledge, which was introduced maternity/paternity leave. A full BCU breakdown of across all police forces in England and Wales at the end police officer numbers appears each year in supplementary of 2008, sets out the minimum standards of service that tables to the annual ‘Police Service Strength’ publication, the public can expect to receive from the police including available on the Home Office website and the Library of for response times. Through the pledge, the police have the House. 379W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 380W

Police: Football Mr. Woolas: The value of the introduction of an additional day’s public holiday in the Home Office can Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the be costed at an estimated notional value of £2.2 million, Home Department what the expenditure was of the but it would not in fact incur an additional cost to the UK Football Policing Unit in England and Wales in pay bill, as staff would merely be paid for a day on each year since 2003. [317579] which they were not working rather than one on which they were. Similarly, although there are services offered Alan Johnson: The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) by the Home Office which generate income, income was established in November 2005 following a review of would not be lost, as those services are not available the funding and delivery arrangements for policing from an alternative source and so would be obtained regulated football matches in England and Wales. UKFPU and paid for on another day. Therefore, although a is a front-line Home Office unit jointly overseen with notional cost can be attributed to the introduction of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead an additional day’s public holiday, there would be no for policing football. It undertakes a range of statutory actual cost. functions and provides an infrastructure for policing Repatriation English and Welsh football matches at home and, in particular, abroad. Information on expenditure is only Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the available for the financial year commencing April 2006—the Home Department how much has been spent on the initial period having been funded from core Home (a) Facilitated Returns Scheme and (b) Assisted Office resources. Voluntary Returns programme in each year of their operation; and how many individuals have been Expenditure of the UK Football awarded funds in each such year. [315379] Policing Unit (£) Mr. Woolas: Expenditure by the UK Border Agency April 2006 to March 2007 1,486,933 on the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS) from its inception April 2007 to March 2008 2,094,858 in October 2006 to March 2009 was approximately April 2008 to March 2009 2,191,302 £4.3 million. Of the 4,200 foreign national prisoners removed or deported in 2007 around 25 per cent. were Powers of Entry removed under the scheme. Of the 5,400 foreign national prisoners removed in 2008 and the 3,890 removed in quarters 1-3 2009, around 30 per cent. were removed Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the under FRS. Home Department how many powers of entry have been (a) created and (b) amended by legislation Assisted Voluntary Return programmes costs by full programme year 2000-07 sponsored by his Department since 1997. [311555] Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration programme Programme year Total funding (£)

Mr. Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply 2000-01 557,827 given on 28 January 2010, Official Report, columns 2001-02 992,587 1046-48W. 2002-03 956,048 2003-04 4,500,823 Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State 2004-05 7,267,560 for the Home Department with reference to the Prime 2005-06 8,640,406 Minister’s speech at the University of Westminster on 2006-07 15,390,384 25 October 2007, on liberty, for what reasons the 2007-08 11,132,486 proposed new test for powers of entry has not been Total 49,438,121 implemented. [314957] Notes: 1. Pilot programme 1999. Mr. Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer 2. Programme year 2000-05—April to July extended. 3. Programme year 2005-06 onwards—August to July. on 28 January 2010, Official Report, column 1047W. Assisted Voluntary Return for irregular migrants Powers of Entry: Public Consultation Programme year Total funding (¤) 2005-06 555,453 Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State 2006-07 1,518,112 for the Home Department when the public 2007-08 1,803,994 consultation to be undertaken as part of Lord West’s Total 3,877,559 review of powers of entry will commence. [312021] Notes: 1. Pilot 15 November 2004 to 31 March 2005 2. Programme year—April to March Mr. Hanson: Proposals on a future framework approach These costs may be subject to revision and are still for powers of entry will be published later this year. subject to audit, costs have yet to be agreed. 2008 programme final Public Holidays The following table shows how many individuals left under AVR. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the Asylum cases leaving under Non-Asylum cases leaving cost to his Department of the introduction of an AVR programmes under AVR programmes additional public holiday; and if he will make a 1999 50 — statement. [315116] 2000 550 — 381W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 382W

The number of ships searched in Northern Ireland Asylum cases leaving under Non-Asylum cases leaving AVR programmes under AVR programmes ports, by these teams in the last three years, is as follows: 2001 980 — 2002 895 — Financial year Ships searched 2003 1,755 — 2004 2,705 10 2006-07 0 2005 3,235 420 2007-08 0 2006 5,340 860 2008-09 16 20071 2,865 1,290 20081 2,700 1,595 In addition to the searches carried out by these 1 Provisional figures. specialist teams, non-specialist UK Border Agency staff, including the Cutter fleet, also challenge and board Both AVR and FRS are currently part funded by the commercial vessels arriving in UK ports. European Union. Repatriation: Offenders David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ships were searched by Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland ports Home Department how many offenders were removed in each of the last three years. [314540] from the country under the Facilitated Returns Scheme in each year from October 2006 to October 2009; what Mr. Woolas: In April 2008, specialist search teams the cost of the scheme was in each of those years; and which were previously the responsibility of HM Revenue what the average level of grant to offenders was in each and Customs, became part of the UK Border Agency. of those years. [311016] The number of ships searched in UK ports, by these Mr. Woolas: Of the 4,200 foreign national prisoners teams in the last three years, is as follows: removed or deported in 2007 around 25 per cent. were removed under the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS). Financial year Number of ships searched Of the 5,400 foreign national prisoners removed in 2008 2006-07 85 and the 3,890 removed in quarters 1 to 3 2009, around 2007-08 505 30 per cent. were removed under FRS. 2008-09 640 Management information on the average level of grant awarded to those removed under FRS and who In addition to the searches carried out by these claimed the reintegration package in 2006 or 2007 is not specialist teams, non-specialist UK Border Agency staff, considered sufficiently reliable. In both 2008 and between including the Cutter fleet, also challenge and board quarters 1 and 3 of 2009 less than three-quarters removed commercial vessels arriving in UK ports. under FRS claimed the reintegration package on return and of those that did, the average amount received was Special Advocates less than £2,500 for 2008 and £3,500 for quarters 1 to 3 of 2009. Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the The scheme continues to deliver significant number Home Department (1) whether special advocates have of removals of foreign national criminals and continues been employed in cases involving (a) control orders, to be developed to maximise savings and maintain (b) the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, (c) public safety. asset freezing, (d) the Proscribed Organisations The chief executive of the UK Border Agency will Appeal Commission, (e) the Security Vetting Appeals provide the Home Affairs Committee with information Panel, (f) the Employment Tribunal, (g) the on the cost of the FRS when she writes later this month. Employment Appeal Tribunal and (h) race Sexual Offences discrimination claims under the Race Relations Act 1976 since their introduction; [316606] Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the (2) whether special advocates have been employed in Home Department how many registered sex offenders cases involving (a) criminal prosecutions where closed in England and Wales have been found not to be material is relied upon, (b) the Information Tribunal, residing at their registered address in each year since (c) judicial review of Government decisions not to 1998. [314822] provide exculpatory material relating to Guantánamo Alan Johnson: The data requested is not collected in detainees, (d) private law compensation claims from the format requested and could be collated only at former Guantánamo detainees, (e) other judicial disproportionate cost. reviews where closed material is used, (f) decisions on the release and recall of prisoners involving the use of Smuggling: Shipping closed material under various statutory provisions in Northern Ireland and (g) the National Security David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Certificate Appeals Tribunal Northern Ireland since Home Department how many ships were searched by their introduction. [316618] HM Revenue and Customs in UK ports in each of the last three years. [314539] The Solicitor-General: I have been asked to reply. Mr. Woolas: In April 2008, specialist search teams The answers to the questions the hon. Member for which were previously the responsibility of HM Revenue Hendon has posed may most helpfully be put in the and Customs, became part of the UK Border Agency. form of a table, which appears as follows. The table 383W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 384W relates to the UK and has been prepared with the Mr. Alan Campbell: The British Crime Survey 2008-09 assistance of the Office of the Solicitor to the Advocate- shows that vehicle crime has reduced by 57 per cent. General for Scotland. since 1997. This success was achieved by Government and police working with partners in the public and Yes No private sectors to reduce crime, and to make cars harder to steal. It is now almost impossible to steal a car Question 316606 without using the keys. Some criminals now target the (a) Control Orders x — car keys, and the most prevalent method for doing so is (b) Special Immigration Appeals x— Commission by burgling homes to steal car keys, known as car key (c) Asset Freezing x — burglary. (d) Proscribed Organisations x—We have invested £15 million this year in preventing Appeal Commission and tackling burglary, including physically securing homes (e) Security Vetting Appeals Panel x — with effective locks and providing the right advice to (f) Employment Tribunal x — those most at risk of burglary. Our current publicity (g) Employment Appeal Tribunal x — campaign “Don’t Advertise Your Stuff To Thieves” (h) Race Discrimination claims —xspecifically addresses this crime through its television under Race Relations Act 1976 advert. Renewed advice on preventing burglary, including car key burglary, is also available on the Question 316618 Home Office website. We are currently working with the (a) Criminal Prosecutions—in this x—police and the Home Office Design and Technology context the advocates are known Alliance to develop further responses to the issue of car as “Special Counsel” key burglary. (b) Information Tribunal x — (c) Guantanamo Detainees— x—We have updated our advice to people on how to Judicial Review protect their homes and cars. The Home Office website (d) Former Guantanamo —xprovides advice to householders on protecting themselves Detainees—Private Law Compensation claims from burglary, including advice on keeping car keys out (e) Other Judicial Reviews x — of sight of doors and windows, closing and locking (f) Release and Recall of Prisoners x—doors and windows, and advising on appropriate security under various statutory standards to take account of when replacing windows provisions in Northern Ireland or doors. It includes “Steer Clear of Car Crime”, an (g) National Security Certificate x—updated publication which provides advice for people Appeals Tribunal Northern Ireland on protecting their car and its contents from theft, including specific advice on keeping car keys safe from thieves. Stun Guns The Home Office also funds the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS). Its aims include reducing Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the thefts of vehicles and increasing recovery of stolen Home Department what assessment his Department vehicles. It works closely with partners across police has made of the potential for use by the police of the forces, the wider public sector and the private sector to extended range electronic projectile Taser. [314784] tackle vehicle crime in all its forms, including car key burglary.AVCIS has participated in a number of successful Mr. Hanson: The Government have no current plans joint police operations targeted at reducing vehicle crime, to introduce extended range electronic projectiles for including car key burglary. use by the police. The Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) assesses and reviews a range of new technologies UK Border Agency on behalf of the police service. As part of this work, HOSDB is conducting preliminary assessments of the Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the effectiveness, level of risk and utility of a product being Home Department how many complaints UK Border developed by Taser International called the extended Agency managers have received from staff intending to Range Electronic Projectile (XREP). Any equipment become whistleblowers in each of the last five years; issued to police officers is subject to very rigorous and if he will make a statement. [317030] testing, and would also undergo full independent medical assessment. Mr. Woolas: This information is not collected The Government’s approach to developing the use centrally. of less lethal weapons is in line with articles 2 and 3 of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and The Home Office policy on whistleblowing encourages Firearms. members of staff to speak up about genuine concerns regarding wrongdoing and matters of conscience. They may raise their concerns in a number of ways: to their Theft: Motor Vehicles line manager; another manager whom they trust; one of the Department’s nominated officers; to the Civil Service Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Commissioners; or to a relevant regulatory body such the Home Department what steps his Department is as the National Audit Office or the Health and Safety taking to reduce the number of thefts of cars facilitated Executive. Matters of conscience may also be reported through the theft of car keys. [315926] to the Permanent Secretary. 385W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 386W

UK Border Agency: Complaints Mr. Woolas: The contractors awarded the 13 UK Border Agency contracts valued at over £2 million in Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the 2009 are as follows: Home Department how many complaints the UK 1. Rapiscan Systems Ltd. Border Agency (UKBA) received against its staff (a) 2. The GEO Group UK Ltd. for each given reason and (b) from each type of 3. Northern Ireland Housing Executive UKBA service user in each of the last five years; and if 4. FCO Services he will make a statement. [316329] 5. FCO Services Mr. Woolas: Data for complaints received by the UK 6. Atos Origin IT Services UK Limited Border Agency from members of the public about UK 7. Dell Corporation Border Agency staff can be provided for 2008 and 2009. 8. Specialist Computer Centres plc Serious misconduct complaints (Serious misconduct is any 9. Serco unprofessional behaviour which, if substantiated, would lead to 10. G4S disciplinary action) 11. G4S 2008 12. Jomast 127 complaints (eight of which were substantiated) 13. Interserve 2009 155 complaints (18 of which were substantiated) UK Border Agency: Crimes of Violence Minor misconduct complaints (Minor misconduct is usually to do with isolated instances of rudeness and unprofessional Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the conduct which are not serious enough to warrant a formal Home Department how many incidents of violence by investigation and if substantiated they would not lead to criminal asylum seekers against UK Border Agency staff were or disciplinary proceedings) recorded in each of the smallest geographical areas for 2008 which figures are available in each of the last five years; 293 complaints and if he will make a statement. [316331] 2009 774 complaints Mr. Woolas: Please see following table which shows the number of physical assaults recorded by location. Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Please note that UKBA do not record the identity of Home Department how many complaints about racism the individual making the assault and cannot specify involving UK Border Agency staff were received from whether he or she was an ‘asylum seeker’. The figures in asylum seekers in each of the smallest geographical the table therefore represent all assaults on staff by areas for which figures are available in each of the last members of the public and not just asylum seekers. Verbal assaults are excluded from this data. five years; and if he will make a statement. [316330]

City Total 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Mr. Woolas: Between January 2009 and January 2010, 28 complaints concerning serious misconduct that involved Birmingham 100001 allegations of racism were received by the UK Border Cardiff100010 Agency, from members of the public, one of these Castle 100100 complaints was substantiated. No geographical breakdown Donington is available nor do records indicate in how many cases Crawley110000 the complainants were asylum seekers. Croydon1000604 Felixstowe101000 Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Folkestone710402 Home Department how many complaints relating to Harlington100010 incidents of violence by UK Border Agency staff were Hounslow 400112 received from asylum seekers in each of the smallest Liverpool 600312 geographical areas for which figures are available in London 801313 each of the last five years; and if he will make a Manchester 101000 statement. [316333] Poole202000 Portsmouth 100001 Mr. Woolas: 92 allegations of assault by UKBA staff Salford101000 were received between January 2009 and January 2010. Stansted 100001 two of these were substantiated. Central data does not Not 1231710 recorded show whether or not the complainant was an asylum Total595725616 seeker in each case. UK Border Agency: Contracts UK Border Agency: Manpower

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of Home Department what the average length of service 5 February 2010, Official Report, column 587W, on at the UK Border Agency has been of (a) case-owners UK Border Agency: contracts, which contractors were and (b) casework team leaders (i) in Cardiff and (ii) awarded the 13 UK Border Agency contracts valued at nationally in each of the last five years; and if he will over £2 million in 2009. [317244] make a statement. [316217] 387W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 388W

Mr. Woolas: UK Border Agency staffing data held Termination of contract in Cardiff are collated by grade only and not by role. Therefore Number average length of service of these roles is not available. 2006-07 5 2005-06 0 Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of UK Border Agency legal staff (a) in Cardiff and (b) Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the nationally are qualified (i) solicitors, (ii) barristers and Home Department how many and what proportion of (iii) para-legal staff; and if he will make a statement. UK Border Agency case owners had their contracts [316220] terminated for each reason in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [316219] Mr. Woolas: There are no staff of the UK Border Agency based in Cardiff whose role is to provide legal Mr. Woolas: UK Border Agency staffing data is held services. General advice on procedure and current case by grade and not by role. So it is not possible to answer law is provided through teams outside the Wales and the question as put. In respect of staff across the South West of England region and are staffed by policy agency, contracts have been terminated as follows: specialists. Bespoke legal advice is commissioned from the Home Office Legal Advisers Branch, Treasury Solicitor Leaving reason 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 or independent Counsel as required. Discharge on 1—1061— 1— Home Office Presenting Officers, who appear for the inefficiency grounds Secretary of State in the vast majority of represented during a appeals before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, probationary or trial are not required to hold a legal qualification. period Dismissal for 12 16 19 25 21 No data is held on whether staff employed by UK inefficiency with Border Agency hold these qualifications. compensation Dismissal for 25 11 31 21 8 inefficiency without UK Border Agency: Standards compensation Dismissal on 1— 1— 1—71— Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the disciplinary grounds Home Department what mechanisms are in place to with compensation Dismissal on 25 26 41 36 38 ensure the consistency of immigration application disciplinary grounds decisions taken by different UK Border Agency offices; without and if he will make a statement. [316332] compensation End of Contract 1— 12 54 190 781 HO Mr. Woolas: The Department has in place a number 1— 1 1 of measures designed to ensure the consistency of asylum Gross Misconduct 11 — —0 Total 76 88 156 284 853 decisions. All applications are considered against centrally 1 produced guidance and new caseowners receive uniform Five or less. national training before they begin to deal with cases. UK Border Agency: Training Audit and quality control processes are in place and issues arising from the audits are promulgated nationally every month. Consistency is promoted through regular Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the meetings of both regional asylum managers and senior Home Department what (a) equality and (b) cultural asylum caseworkers who use a variety of networks to awareness training is (i) compulsory and (ii) made help ensure that best practice is shared and promoted voluntarily available for UK Border Agency nationwide. employees; and if he will make a statement. [316216]

UK Border Agency: Termination of Employment Mr. Woolas: A range of learning vehicles on equality and cultural awareness are available to UK Border Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Agency staff. These can be delivered by e-learning, Home Department how many and what proportion of workshops and DVDs. All permanent UKBA staff are UK Border Agency case owners based in Cardiff have required to complete diversity e-learning. had their contracts terminated for each reason in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. Vandalism [316218]

Mr. Woolas: UK Border Agency staffing data are Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the held by grade and not by role. So it is not possible to Home Department how many incidents of vandalism answer the question as asked. In respect of all staff in have been reported in (a) England, (b) Suffolk, (c) Cardiff, contracts have been terminated as follows: Bedfordshire, (d) Cambridgeshire, (e) Essex, (f) Termination of contract in Cardiff Hertfordshire and (g) Norfolk in each year since 1997. Number [314884]

2009-10 10 Mr. Alan Campbell: The available information relates 2008-09 5 to offences of criminal damage recorded by the police 2007-08 0 and is given in the following tables. 389W Written Answers22 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 390W

Table 1: Offences of criminal damage recorded in selected police force areas, Table 2: Offences of criminal damage recorded in selected police force areas, 1997 1998-99 to 2001-021, 2 Number of offences Police force area Number of offences Police force area 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 England 822,029 England 823,520 890,756 906,800 1,007,634 Suffolk 7,835 Suffolk 7,898 9,547 10,150 12,095 Bedfordshire 7,893 8,048 7,892 8,191 Bedfordshire 8,025 Cambridgeshire 11,925 12,110 13,197 13,972 Essex 18,834 21,766 24,673 26,990 Cambridgeshire 9,250 Hertfordshire 10,177 11,560 13,839 15,302 Essex 18,845 Norfolk 10,393 10,978 11,481 13,065 1 The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures Hertfordshire 9,831 from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997. 2 The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Norfolk 9,782 Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.

Table 3: Offences of criminal damage recorded in selected police force areas, 2002-03 to 2008-091 Number of offences Police force area 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09

England2 1,043,197 1,139,308 1,120,426 1,107,645 1,106,543 965,932 870,684 Suffolk 11,497 12,817 12,781 13,067 13,084 12,207 11,300 Bedfordshire 10,050 11,065 10,561 10,817 10,717 10,141 8,720 Cambridgeshire 16,153 16,534 16,227 14,680 15,597 14,001 12,980 Essex 30,337 34,253 32,406 30,564 30,010 26,379 23,554 Hertfordshire 17,988 19,887 20,762 20,986 20,713 17,374 14,999 Norfolk 16,030 17,462 17,470 17,577 17,258 14,790 12,647 1 The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. 2 Excluding British Transport police.

Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre: Hunger Strikes of them continue to purchase food made available in the shop and vending machines. John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for the The well-being of the women is being monitored Home Department what reports he has received on (a) closed by health care officials in the centre and none are an ongoing hunger strike by women at Yarl’s Wood showing any signs of concern. immigration removal centre and (b) the reasons given While each resident will have their own personal by those women for taking that action; and if he will reasons for joining the protest, they are in general make a statement. [317379] objecting to their detention. The UK Border Agency aims to keep detention to a minimum in order to Mr. Woolas: The director of detention services and enforce the removal of those with no basis of stay in the his staff have kept me fully informed about the passive UK or whose deportation is required to protect the protest by women at Yarl’s Wood and continue to do so. public from the harm they pose. It is a fact that detainees themselves often prolong their own detention by making The protest has included a number of women refusing late spurious appeals and failing to comply with the to eat meals provided in the canteen, although a number documentation and removal process.

391W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 392W

make use of documentation required under DEFRA’s Written Answers to livestock identification and movement regulations in checking the origin and identity of livestock entering Questions slaughterhouses for human consumption. Dangerous Dogs Tuesday 23 February 2010 Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have (a) been prosecuted under the Dangerous ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Dogs Act 1991 and (b) received the maximum sentence Animal Tracing Schemes for ownership of a banned dog in each year since 1998; and how many weapon dogs have been seized by police in England and Wales in each of those years. [314771] Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will hold Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of defendants proceeded discussions with the Secretary of State for Health in against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all order to merge the Food Standards Agency’s Livestock courts and those fined and given immediate custody Traceability Scheme with his Department’s animal under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, England and tracing schemes. [316825] Wales, from 1998 to 2008 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table. Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no plans to merge the livestock traceability work undertaken by DEFRA and Data for 2009 is expected to be published in the the Food Standards Agency although DEFRA and the autumn of 2010. agency continue to collaborate closely. For example, Figures for the number of dogs seized under the Food Standards Agency official veterinarians already Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 are not collected centrally.

The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, England and Wales, 1998 to 20081,2 Defendants 1998 1999 20003 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20084

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Owner or person in Proceeded 434 449 458 490 537 560 597 645 703 667 675 charge allowing dog to against be dangerously out of control in a public place injuring any person Found guilty 239 262 260 285 300 302 350 403 458 456 481

Owner or person in Proceeded 28 34 35 50 38 52 48 44 54 50 44 charge allowing dog to against enter a non-public place and injuring any person Found guilty 13 19 19 31 30 33 25 25 29 27 33

Offences in relation to Proceeded 612164153294 dogs under Section against 1(2)(a) Found guilty 5———32141174

Offences in relation to Proceeded —— 1——————— 1 dogs under Section against 1(2)(b) Found guilty —————————— 1

Offences in relation to Proceeded 7119432231716 dogs under Section against 1(2)(d) Found guilty 26622—13—515

Offences in relation to Proceeded — 2—— 1—— 1——— dogs under against Section1(2)(e) Found guilty — 1—————————

Offences in relation to Proceeded 23125461511887117 dogs under Section 1(3) against Found guilty 8522212756295 393W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 394W

The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, England and Wales, 1998 to 20081,2 Defendants 1998 1999 20003 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20084

Offences in relation to Proceeded 248 254 266 278 284 329 290 278 278 341 356 dogs under Section 3(1) against Found guilty 125 126 130 157 150 171 167 168 160 205 239

Offences in relation to Proceeded 129242018201124192220 dogs under Section 3(3) against Found guilty 8 5 13 14 7 10 5 9 11 15 10

Offences in relation to Proceeded 630233929202216121014 dogs under Dangerous against Dogs Act Section 4(8) and Protection of Badgers Act 1992 Section 13 Found guilty 6 18 16 31 23 12 18 9 4 5 11

Total Proceeded 764 802 823 886 922 988 990 1,025 1,077 1,193 1,247 against Found guilty 406 442 446 522 517 531 582 625 668 782 889 1 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extractedfrom large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Staffordshire Police Force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates’ courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table. 4 Excludes Convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit, Ministry of Justice

Fish Parrots: Animal Welfare

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what his Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what minimum estimate is of the proportion of fish procured by the standards and size of caging his Department has set for public sector which has stewardship council parrots under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. [317532] certification; [318031] Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no minimum cage sizes for (2) which public sector organisations have parrots under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Under the implemented the public sector procurement initiative Act owners must provide for the welfare needs of their guidance on procuring sustainable fish to date. [318032] animals and this includes a suitable environment.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Data from the 2007-08 financial Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection year as reported in the publication ‘Proportion of domestically produced food used by Government Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Departments and also supplied to hospitals and prisons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his under contracts negotiated by NHS Supply Chain and Department is taking to improve the (a) coverage and National Offender Management Service (previously HM (b) consistency of its long-term monitoring of the Prison Service)’ show that of the 18 Departments for marine environment. [317959] which we have information, five source 100 per cent. of fish from managed sources and a further seven source Huw Irranca-Davies: In response to the recommendations 70 per cent. or more of their fish from managed sources. from ‘Charting Progress’, the Government’s State of The average of the figures provided is 70 per cent.. A the Seas Report published in 2005, the UK Marine ‘managed source’ is defined here as managed and harvested Monitoring and Assessment Strategy (UKMMAS) in ways that do not lead to over-fishing or depletion of was created. The UKMMAS is comprised of approximately exploited populations, e.g. are covered under standards 250 stakeholders from more than 20 organisations, and schemes such as organic certification and Marine including Government Departments and devolved Stewardship Council. Administrations, and has developed a co-ordinated The Departments which reported more than 70 per approach to marine monitoring across the UK as a cent. of fish from managed sources were: DCMS, DCSF, whole. DEFRA, DFID, DCLG, BIS, DFT, DWP, HMT, MOJ, UKMMAS co-ordinates and brings together data, NHS Supply Chain, MOD. including that of long-term monitoring, from a large Data on the use of the guidance by wider public variety of sources. It is currently involved in sector are not available. producing ‘Charting Progress 2’—the second integrated 395W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 396W assessment of the state of UK seas, which is internationally HEALTH peer-reviewed. This is scheduled for publication in July 2010. Smoking Ban DEFRA also funds a number of research projects and data initiatives, some of which have helped 15. Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for continue important data series so that we can make Health whether he plans to extend the areas in which assessments of marine trends over time and monitor the smoking ban operates. [317485] progress. One such project, funded since 2002, is the Marine Environmental Change Network (MECN). The network consists of UK and Isle of Man organisations Gillian Merron: We have no plans at present to extend working together to collect long-term time series the areas required to be smoke free in accordance with information for marine waters. It also brings together the Health Act 2006. scientists working on various components of marine We gave a commitment to review the smoke free law ecosystems, enabling them to share data and carry out after three years and that review will be carried out later more robust analysis of trends. One of the project aims this year. is to be able to analyse marine environmental change over long periods and determine what is being driven by Breast Cancer Research humans (anthropogenic change) and what change is due to natural variation. 16. Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for The Government have recently published the first Health what plans he has for the future funding of UK Marine Science Strategy, produced by the Marine breast cancer research; and if he will make a statement. Science Co-ordination Committee (MSCC). The strategy recognises the key importance of sustained observations [317486] to marine science and includes a commitment by the Committee to work with others to develop a prioritisation Ann Keen: The Government (along with their research framework to ensure the provision of secure, long-term partners) invests substantially in breast cancer research. data sets. This action is being taken forward by the That investment will continue. MSCC’s Long-Term Monitoring Working Group. NHS Treatment: Waiting Times

NORTHERN IRELAND 17. Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the median waiting time was for (a) Departmental Disabled Staff in-patient and (b) out-patient NHS treatment (i) in 2005 and (ii) on the latest date for which figures are Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for available. [317487] Northern Ireland how many and what proportion of staff in (a) his Department and (b) the executive Mr. Mike O’Brien: The median waiting time for agencies for which he is responsible are disabled; and in-patient admissions was 8.5 weeks in March 2005, what the average salary in (i) his Department and (ii) and 4.9 weeks in December 2009, which is the latest the executive agencies is of (A) full-time disabled staff, date for which figures are available. The median waiting (B) full-time non-disabled staff, (C) part-time disabled time for first out-patient appointment in March 2005 staff and (D) part-time non-disabled staff. [317895] was 4.8 weeks, and 3.4 weeks in December 2009. Paul Goggins: A total of 49 staff (3.4 per cent.) in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and 36 staff (4.2 per Respite Care cent.) in its executive agencies have advised the Department that they have a disability. 18. Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for The following table gives details the average basic Health what recent assessment he has made of the salary costs for all general service staff in the NIO. Staff extent to which primary care trusts use funding are paid in line with the pay scale for each grade provided to them for respite care for carers. [317488] irrespective of whether or not they have a disability. All staff who work reduced hours receive a pro-rata amount Phil Hope: The Department of Health does not based on hours worked. determine how PCTs spend their money. It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to decide their priorities for investment Northern Ireland locally, taking into account their local circumstances Grade civil servants Home civil servants and priorities as set out in the NHS Operating Framework. £ However, the Department’s Directors of NHS SCS (Pay Band 1) 66,728 66,728 Performance and Adult Social Care Performance recently Grade A 44,741 44,568 wrote to Strategic Health Authority Directors of Grade B1 33,475 34,360 Performance asking them to identify those PCTs that Grade B2 26,729 27,013 have agreed with their local authority to prioritise carers’ Grade C 21,048 22,064 support for the current year and those that are likely to Grade Dl 15,878 16,385 prioritise it for the next year. The information will help Grade D2 13,401 14,214 ensure we have a rounded picture when considering the Industrial 14,034 n/a priority afforded carers in future planning rounds. I am placing a copy of the letter in the Library in the House. 397W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 398W

NHS Service Provision stage 3 includes ways of recognising and reducing risk, minimising harm and getting help in emergency and 19. Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for risky situations; at key stage 4 it includes how to use Health what his policy is on the balance between public basic and emergency first aid. It is for schools to retain and private sector provision of NHS services; and if he flexibility over how topics included within PSHE should will make a statement. [317489] be delivered to meet the needs of their pupils.

Mr. Mike O’Brien: There is no target for the balance Nursing Care between public or private provision of NHS services. The balance must be driven by the best interests of 24. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for patients and citizens. The NHS is the preferred provider, Health what steps he plans to take to improve but we recognise the important contribution of the standards of nursing care in hospitals. [317494] independent and third sectors where they can add capacity, drive up quality, increase patient choice and enable Ann Keen: We have developed a number of important innovation. systems to improve the standard of nursing care in hospitals including the introduction of senior clinical Alcoholic Drinks: Pricing roles like modern matrons and nurse consultants. These are having a real impact as patient surveys continue to 20. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State demonstrate. for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of the pricing of alcoholic drinks on Melanoma the level of alcohol abuse; and if he will make a statement. [317490] 25. Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in England were diagnosed Gillian Merron: In 2008, an independent review by with melanoma between 1997 and 2007. [317495] Sheffield university found a clear link between cheap alcohol, increased consumption and harm. Ann Keen: Between 1997 and 2007, there were 74,967 We are determined to take action while respecting the newly diagnosed cases of melanoma in England. rights of responsible consumers and are doing further research. Asthma: Drugs We are already banning the worst irresponsible promotions such as ‘all you can drink for £10’. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of medication prescribed could be Health Protection Agency: Product Registration used to treat asthma-related conditions in each of the last five years. [316987] 21. Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether registration of products manufactured Mr. Mike O’Brien: The table provides the number of by the Health Protection Agency at the Centre for prescription items dispensed in the community, in England, Emergency Preparedness and Response at Porton overall, together with the number for asthma drugs and Down is tied to the site of manufacture. [317491] the percentage this represents of overall drugs dispensed. Number of prescription items dispensed in the community, in England, for drugs Gillian Merron: The address of the registration holder used to treat asthma, as defined in the British National Formulary (BNF) for a medicinal product licence and the address for the Percentage of site of manufacture can be, and often are, different. total items Number of items Number of items dispensed used Either address can be changed using the formal process dispensed overall of asthma drugs to treat asthma of a variation submission to the Medicines and Healthcare Calendar year (thousand) (thousand) (percentage) products Regulatory Agency, the Department’s medicines 2004 686,138.9 37,385.6 5.4 agency. 2005 720,283.2 38,232.0 5.3 National Curriculum: First Aid Training 2006 751,954.1 38,869.5 5.2 2007 796,298.0 40,112.2 5.0 2008 842,502.2 42,366.4 5.0 22. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Source: Health what recent discussions he has had with the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Asthma drugs are defined as those listed within BNF on the introduction of first aid training as part of the sections 3.1.1 Adrenoceptor agonists, 3.1.2 Antimuscarinic national curriculum. [317492] bronchodilators, 3.1.3 Theophylline, 3.2 Corticosteroids, 3.3.1 Cromoglicate and related therapy, 3.3.2 Leukotriene Ann Keen: We have had no recent discussions with the receptor antagonists and 3.4.2 Allergen Immunotherapy. Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. Some of these medicines are also indicated for conditions The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and other than asthma. Families announced on 28 April 2009 that Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education will Autism: Health Services form part of the statutory curriculum from 2011. Under the current non-statutory provisions, at key Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Health stages 1 and 2 children learn about some basic aspects what recent representations he has received in relation of first aid; the programme of study for PSHE at key to his proposed autism strategy. [318141] 399W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 400W

Phil Hope: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of community services in Derby, following Derby City State (Andy Burnham) and I have recently and primary care trust’s decision to revise its plans for independently met Mark Lever, chief executive of the divestment of community services and therefore to National Autistic Strategy and Chair of the External withdraw its merger notification. Up-to-date details of Reference Group, and the hon. Member for Chesham the casework currently under investigation by the CCP and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) to discuss the development is available on its website at: of the autism strategy. www.ccpanel.org.uk Departmental Disabled Staff NHS: Expenditure Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of staff in (a) his Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Department and (b) the executive agencies for which what indications for planning purposes his Department he is responsible are disabled; and what the average has given to strategic health authorities in England for salary in (i) his Department and (ii) the executive NHS spending for the next (a) three and (b) five years agencies is of (A) full-time disabled staff, (B) full-time in (i) cash and (ii) real terms; and what assumptions non-disabled staff, (C) part-time disabled staff and (D) have been made for (A) inflation and (B) efficiency part-time non-disabled staff. [317892] savings. [317988]

Phil Hope: The information requested was published Mr. Mike O’Brien: The Department set out financial in the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES) planning assumptions for the national health service in statistics produced by the Office for National Statistics the NHS “Operating Framework for England 2010-11” on 20 January 2010. This can found at: published in December 2009. A copy of this has already www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/cs0110.pdf been placed in the Library. The relevant Annexes of the document have been As an interim step, the 2009 pre-Budget report announced placed in the Library. that value for money savings of around £10 billion per Because disability is voluntarily self-reported and the year will be delivered by 2012-13 through the work fact that there is a subset of civil servants whose disability under way within the NHS, and through the Public status is unknown or undeclared, care should be exercised Value Programme (PVP), Operational Efficiency when drawing conclusions based on these statistics. Programme (OEP), and other value for money initiatives. Care should also be exercised when making comparisons “NHS 2010-2015: From Good to Great” set out the of salaries between part-time and full-time disabled and approach to identifying and delivering these savings. non-disabled staff. For example, a simple comparison of median salary by disability status and working pattern The Department bases its assumptions about general does not take account of the different responsibility inflation on the forecasts which HM Treasury publish levels of the individuals concerned. for the gross domestic product (GDP) deflator on its website. The following table sets out HM Treasury Drugs: Alcoholic Drinks forecasts for GDP deflator increases at the pre-Budget report 2009 for 2010-11 to 2013-14. Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Forecast GDP deflator Health what assessment he has made of the effect on Financial year (Percentage) health of the combination of polydrug and alcohol abuse by those under the age of 18 years old. [317552] 2010-11 2¾ 2011-12 1½ Gillian Merron: The health effects of drug use, including 2012-13 2½ polydrug use, and alcohol abuse are set out in the 2008 2013-14 2¾ Drug Strategy, “Drugs: protecting families and communities” and can be found on the Home Office Strokes: Health Services website at: http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/drug-strategy/overview/ This includes greater levels of ill-health or risk-taking Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State behaviour leading to accidents, infection or pregnancy, for Health if he will make it his policy to implement the with the potential for mental health problems and psychosis, proposals of the English Stroke Strategy on developmental damage and even overdose or death. psychological support and regular reviews for everyone who has had a stroke. [317928] Health Services: Derby Ann Keen: The National Stroke Strategy, published in Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 2007, recognised the need to develop long-term what work the Co-operation and Competition Panel is psychological and emotional support for stroke survivors carrying out in relation to proposals for the with a co-ordinated approach across health and social re-organisation of community services in Derby; and if care. To accelerate improvements in stroke care, the he will make a statement. [317002] Department’s National Quality Board has established a sub-group that will focus on joint working across the Mr. Mike O’Brien: We understand that the Co-operation health and social care interface and on improving access and Competition Panel (CCP) is not undertaking any to psychological support across all long term conditions work in relation to proposals for the re-organisation of including stroke. 401W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 402W

Strokes: Mental Health Departmental Pay

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister for Women and Health what estimate he has made of the number of Equality pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2009, cases of (a) stroke, (b) dementia and (c) depression Official Report, column 57W, on departmental pay, per 1,000 of the population; and in how many such how many staff in the Department received both an cases the consumption of alcohol is estimated to be a annual performance bonus and an in-year bonus in direct causal factor. [316297] 2008-09; what proportion of the total workforce they represented; what the largest combined bonus payment Gillian Merron: No estimate has been made of the to an individual was; and who was responsible for number of cases of stroke, dementia, depression, heart awarding such bonuses. [313125] disease or cancer of the mouth, oesophagus, larynx or Michael Jabez Foster: In the financial year 2008-09, breast per 1,000 of the population. 10 GEO members of staff received both an in-year bonus and an annual performance bonus. This total represented 9.5 per cent. of the total work force. The WOMEN AND EQUALITY highest combined total awarded was £1,250. Special bonuses are agreed by GEO’s senior management team Departmental ICT through nominations made by line managers. Annual performance bonuses are agreed through the Department’s Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister for Women and end of year staff reporting process. Equality how much the (a) Government Equalities Office and (b) Equality and Human Rights Commission has spent on font licensing since its CABINET OFFICE creation. [315533] Cancer Michael Jabez Foster: Neither (a) the Government Equalities Office or (b) the Equality and Human Rights Mr. Dismore: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Commission has incurred expenditure on font licensing. Office (1) what estimate she has made of the number of people per 1,000 expected to develop cancer of the (a) Departmental Information Officers mouth, (b) oesophagus and (c) larynx; and in how many such cases the consumption of alcohol is Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for Women and expected to be a direct causal factor; [316298] Equality how many (a) press officers and (b) (2) what estimate she has made of the number of communications staff were employed by the people per 1,000 expected to develop (a) breast cancer Government Equalities Office in each year since it was and (b) heart disease; and in how many such cases the established; and what the cost of employing these staff consumption of alcohol is expected to be a direct was in each such year. [309928] causal factor. [316299]

Michael Jabez Foster: The number of staff employed Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply. and salary costs since GEO was established in October No estimate has been made of the number of cases of 2007 are set out in the table. These numbers reflect staff stroke, dementia, depression, heart disease or cancer of changes during the years, including a number of temporary the mouth, oesophagus, larynx or breast per 1,000 of press officers on short-term contracts while recruitment the population. exercises were undertaken. A more meaningful figure is the number of press officer and communications staff posts and these are shown in brackets. TREASURY

GEO Division Press officers Communications staff Alcoholic Drinks: Fraud

1 2007-08 Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Number of staff 3(2) 3(3) Exchequer what the estimated total cost is of delivering Total salary costs (£) 5,738 19,064 the alcohol fraud strategy. [316990]

2008-09 Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Estimates of expenditure on activity to tackle alcohol fraud in 2007-08 and 2008-09 Number of staff 5(3) 8(3) total approximately £22 million. The projected cost for Total salary costs (£) 151,038 187,954 2009-10, indicates an increase in HMRC and UKBA expenditure of around 12 per cent., to approximately 2009-102 £25 million. This reflects the introduction of new Number of staff 8(6) 6(4) enforcement capabilities, such as specialist teams to Total salary costs (£) 213,708 185,652 carry out civil investigations of fraud, and the establishment 1 12 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 of a dedicated inland detection force. 2 As at 31 December 2009 On its establishment in October 2007 the GEO supported Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the two Ministers. The GEO now supports four Ministers Exchequer what assessment has been made of links and the increase in the number of press and communications between alcohol fraud and serious organised crime. posts since March 2009 reflects this. [316992] 403W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 404W

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: There are no estimates available Table 1: HM Treasury full-time equivalent staff by pay range as at April 2009 for the proportion of alcohol duty losses attributable to (annualised costs) serious organised crime, compared to other forms of Staff (FTE) Cost (£ million) fraud. However, HMRC assessments of the threats to SCS 1 81.9 7.9 the alcohol regime suggest that organised criminality Range E 376.0 22.9 has become a significant element in the fraud. HMRC’s Range D 439.0 15.4 response, with other law enforcement agencies, is to Range C 162.0 4.9 target these criminals and the networks through which Table 2: Office of Government Commerce 2008-09 average full-time equivalent they operate to disrupt, dismantle, penalise and wherever staff by pay range possible prosecute those involved. Staff (FTE) Cost (£ million) Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Perm Sec, SCS3 and SCS 2 5.6 1.0 Exchequer what assessment has been made of the SCS 1 23.6 2.9 relationship between the levels of alcohol duties and Band 6 54.2 4.3 levels of alcohol fraud. [316993] Band 5 63.8 3.9 Band 4 37.4 1.7 Sarah McCarthy-Fry: No assessment has been made Band 3 28.8 1.0 of the relationship between the levels of alcohol duties Band 2 19.7 0.6 and levels of alcohol fraud. Table 3: UK Debt Management Office average full-time equivalent permanent staff 2008-09 average by management level Departmental Disabled Staff Staff (FTE) Cost (£ million)

Mr. Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Executive board <5 0.6 members how many and what proportion of staff in (a) his Team leaders 16.6 1.7 Department and (b) the executive agencies for which he is responsible are disabled; and what the average salary in (i) his Department and (ii) the executive Departmental Travel agencies is of (A) full-time disabled staff, (B) full-time non-disabled staff, (C) part-time disabled staff and (D) Mr. Watson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer part-time non-disabled staff. [317905] if he will publish the travel guidance issued to staff of each of his Department’s agencies and non- Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information requested can departmental public bodies. [314927] be found in the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES) published by the Office for National Statistics Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Copies of the travel and subsistence on 20 January 2010 and available at: guidance covering HM Treasury and the Office of http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/cs0110.pdf Government Commerce and the Debt Management Departmental Manpower Office have been deposited in the Library of the House.

Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Government Car and Despatch Agency Exchequer how many layers of management reporting from the most senior to the most junior there are in his Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Department and each of its agencies; how many Exchequer how much his Department paid to the officials are employed in each such layer; and how Government Car and Despatch Agency in each of the much was spent on salaries and associated employment last five years; how much it has spent on such payments costs of staff at each such layer in the latest year for in 2009-10; and what proportion of such payments was which information is available. [312818] made in respect of the Government Car Service. [316422] Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce operate pay ranges in line with Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Costs to Departments of civil service guidelines. Staff at all layers within each ministerial cars are reported annually to Parliament by organisation’s pay grading structure may have management my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport responsibilities, except those at the lowest grade; not all through written ministerial statements and are available staff in any pay grade will have management responsibilities. in the Libraries of the House. Where data relate to fewer than five staff, pay ranges have been combined. The UK Debt Management Office Details of spending on other GCDA services for the does not use comparable pay ranges. five years prior to 2009-10 are £5,669 (2008-09), £5,329 (2007-08), £4,804 (2006-07), £5,505 (2005-06) and £6,611 The following tables give the information requested (2004-05). Figures for spending in 2009-10 will be available for HM Treasury, the Office of Government Commerce following the publication of the audited accounts. and the UK Debt Management Office, showing the number of posts at each management grade or level. Inheritance Tax: Glasgow Table 1: HM Treasury full-time equivalent staff by pay range as at April 2009 (annualised costs) Staff (FTE) Cost (£ million) John Mason: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Treasury received from inheritance tax Perm Sec and SCS 3 7.0 1.1 from estates in Glasgow East constituency in the last SCS 2 18.9 2.4 five years. [316754] 405W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 406W

Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available Mr. Timms: Estimates of stamp duty land tax receipts at a sub-regional level. Inheritance tax data are based by UK parliamentary constituency are published at: on a UK wide sample of cases which is designed to http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp_duty/table15-5-0708.pdf produce national level figures and the size of the sample and means that we could not currently reliably estimate tax receipts reliably at constituency level. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp_duty/table15-5-0809.pdf for 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively. Inheritance Tax: Perthshire Estimates of stamp duty land tax receipts by UK local authority are published at: Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp_duty/tablel5-4-0708.pdf Exchequer how much the Exchequer received from and inheritance tax from estates in Perth and North Perthshire constituency over the last five years. [317921] http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp_duty/table15-4-0809.pdf for 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively. Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available Estimates of stamp duty land tax receipts by at a sub-regional level. Inheritance tax data are based parliamentary constituency and local authority for 2009-10 on a UK wide sample of cases which are designed to will be published in September. produce national level figures and the size of the sample Stamp duty land tax receipt estimates by postcode means that we could not currently estimate tax receipts area could be produced only at disproportionate cost. reliably at constituency level. National Insurance Contributions: Local Government Valuation office

Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Chancellor of the pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Exchequer if he will direct the Valuation Office Agency Peterborough of 27 January 2010, Official Report, to take steps to reduce the financial effects on port column 918W, on national insurance contributions: businesses of its retrospective revaluation of local government, what estimate he has made of the hereditaments in ports. [316868] likely change to revenue to the Exchequer arising from changes to national insurance contributions for local Ian Pearson: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has government employees in each of the next three years. a statutory duty to maintain the rating lists. When the [317872] VOA becomes aware a change is needed they are under an obligation to take action to alter the rating list in Mr. Timms: Information requested is available only accordance with the legislation. It would be inappropriate at disproportionate cost, due to the work required to for the Agency to be directed to not undertake its provide it. statutory obligation. The Exchequer effect of the announced changes to The Government have listened to the concerns of the national insurance system for the next three years businesses with significant and unexpected backdated can be found in the 2008 pre-Budget report in Table 1.2 bills, including some businesses within ports. It has Estimated costs for pre-Budget report policy decisions legislated to enable such bills to be repaid over an and others announced since Budget 2008 and the equivalent unprecedented eight years rather than in a single instalment, table in the 2009 pre-Budget report, available at: helping affected businesses to manage the impact on http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr08_chapter1_379.pdf their cash flows during the downturn by reducing the and amount they are required to pay now. http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr09_chapter1.pdf respectively. VAT

Non-Domestic Rates Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his most recent estimate is of the Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer revenue lost in a year through the non-payment of how many hereditaments were deleted from the value added tax and excise duty on (a) wine, (b) spirits Valuation Office Agency’s Rating List due to and (c) tobacco; [316988] demolition in each of the last five years. [317881] (2) what his latest estimate is of the proportion of wine in the UK market which is sold fraudulently Ian Pearson: The Valuation Office Agency intends to without value added tax and excise duty having been publish by the 31 May 2010, information relating to paid. [316989] movement within the 2005 rating lists, including the number of properties deleted due to demolition. Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department does not currently Stamp Duty Land Tax have an estimate for the level of fraud in wine. The most recent estimate of the revenue lost for Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the spirits and tobacco was published in ″Measuring Tax Exchequer how much the Exchequer received from Gaps—2009″ in November 2009 and is available in the stamp duty land tax in each (a) parliamentary House of Commons Library and can be found on the constituency, (b) local authority area and (c) postcode internet at: area in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009. [318003] http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps.htm 407W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 408W

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments highway authorities on their stock levels and weather forecasts from the Met Office. However, it is a matter Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the salt suppliers to decide what deliveries they how much the Adjudicator’s Office has recommended make. in relation to tax credit cases that HM Revenue and Customs (a) pay in compensation to claimants, (b) Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, forego in tax and interest and (c) write off in overpaid Department for Transport how much road (a) salt and tax credits since March 2008. [317178] (b) grit was imported in each of the last 12 years. [316889] Mr. Timms: From 1 April 2008 the Adjudicator’s Office recommended that HMRC pay £280,093 in Mr. Khan: This information is not collected centrally. compensation relating to tax credit cases and recommended £3,523,457 of overpayment to be written off. Interest is not generally chargeable on tax credit cases. The SCOTLAND Adjudicators Office has not made recommendations Disabled with regard to foregoing tax or interest in relation to tax credit cases. Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what proportion of staff in his Department are disabled; and what the average salary TRANSPORT in his Department is of (a) full-time disabled staff, (b) full-time non-disabled staff, (c) part-time disabled staff A1(M): Hatfield and (d) part-time non-disabled staff. [317896] Ann McKechin: Staff in the Scotland Office are on Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, secondment from the Scottish Executive or on assignment Department for Transport when he expects the from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) who retain any self refurbishment of the Hatfield tunnel on the A1(M) to declared and voluntary information on disability. The be completed, with all carriageways open and the Office’s annual report for 2008-09 indicates that we temporary speed restriction removed. [317522] have a small number of staff with disabilities but, for Chris Mole: The refurbishment of the Hatfield Tunnel privacy reasons, the actual numbers are considered on the A1(M) is expected to be completed, with all confidential. carriageways open and the temporary restrictions removed, Details on average salaries of staff are not available by May 2011. in the form requested.

Pilots: Licensing WALES Mr. Todd: To ask the Minister of State, Department Devolution: Wales for Transport what plans he has to maintain the quality of pilot licensing within a single European Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales qualification. [318524] (1) when he plans to reply to the First Minister’s letter Paul Clark: The European Aviation Safety Agency is to him on a referendum on National Assembly for now responsible for establishing the standards for pilot Wales powers; and if he will publish his response; licensing in the EU. EASA consulted on draft implementing [318291] rules on pilot licensing in 2008. The Department for (2) on what date he received a letter from the First Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority have responded Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government on a to this consultation. The draft implementing rules were referendum on further powers for the National largely based on existing standards and are not intended Assembly for Wales; and if he will publish the letter. to alter the quality of pilot licensing. The United Kingdom [318292] is represented on the EU committee which will agree the final rules. Mr. Hain: I received the First Minister’s notification of a resolution under section 104 of the Government of The national aviation authorities of member states Wales Act 2006 on 17 February 2010 and I responded will continue to be responsible for issuing pilot’s licences. on 22 February 2010. They will be subject to standardisation audits by EASA to ensure that implementing rules are correctly applied. I have placed both letters in the Library of the House.

Roads: Snow and Ice DEFENCE Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Air Force: Manpower Department for Transport how many local councils received extra supplies of (a) salt and (b) grit from the Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Salt Cell’s reallocation of supplies in the last two Defence how many RAF personnel there were of each months; and how much was supplied to each of them. rank in each year since 1997. [308760] [316886] Bill Rammell: The number of RAF personnel of each Mr. Khan: From 6 January the Salt Cell has provided rank in each year from 1997 to 2008 is listed as follows. advice to salt suppliers on how to prioritise deliveries. The figures include all personnel in the RAF both This advice is based upon information provided by trained and untrained as of 18 December 2009. 409W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 410W

Due to ongoing validation of the Joint Personnel fast jets than before. Similarly the air threat to deployed forces has Administration System (JPA) all RAF strengths in 2008-09 greatly reduced and the capability of our air superiority aircraft are provisional and subject to review. All figures in the and other air defence assets is continuing to improve. So we need table below the rank of Group Captain have been fewer aircraft and fewer ground-based air defence systems to meet the threat’. rounded to the nearest 10. The bulk of the RAF’s manpower reductions has As at 1 April each year been at lower level ranks (Senior Aircraftman and Corporal). These were mainly achieved through efficiency Rank 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 improvements including multi-skilling of engineering Air Chief Marshal 5443234personnel and contractorisation of posts in service trades AirMarshal 8778877where these ranks are prevalent. Air Vice-Marshal 34 32 31 32 31 31 29 Air Commodore 95 92 92 98 96 90 88 Armed Forces: Injuries Group Captain 330 340 330 330 340 340 340 Wing Commander 1,130 1,160 1,160 1,220 1,270 1,280 1,280 Squadron Leader 2,990 3,020 3,000 2,960 3,030 3,030 3,080 Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Flight Lieutenant 5,280 5,060 4,880 4,820 4,580 4,520 4,510 Defence (1) how many triple amputees are in the armed Flying Officer/Pilot 1,170 1,270 1,400 1,510 1,610 1,610 1,620 forces; [316994] Officer/Officer (2) how many amputees in the armed forces have Designate been sent to the US for medical treatment in the last Warrant Officer 1,260 1,210 1,160 1,150 1,160 1,170 1,190 three years; [316995] Flight Sergeant/Chief 4,270 4,310 4,160 4,050 4,110 3,930 3,860 Technician (3) how much his Department spent on sending Sergeant 8,040 8,120 8,120 7,930 7,860 7,790 7,620 armed forces amputees to the US for medical treatment Corporal 11,860 11,340 10,940 10,340 10,210 10,190 10,110 in each of the last three years. [316996] Junior Technician/ 18,660 17,730 17,510 17,730 16,600 16,030 15,950 Leading Mr. Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence has committed Aircraftsman/Senior aircraftsman to publishing on a quarterly basis the numbers of service Aircraftman 1,730 2,170 2,420 2,530 2,810 2,980 3,550 personnel who have suffered limb amputations as a result of injuries sustained while on operational deployment, As at 1 April each year and Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) published figures up to the end of 2009 on 12 February Rank 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010, available on its website at: Air Chief Marshal 442413 13 www.dasa.mod.uk AirMarshal 488616 19 These figures will include partial or complete limb Air Vice-Marshal 34 27 27 30 125 124 amputees. In order to protect patient confidentiality, Air Commodore 90 92 92 95 194 190 those who have suffered limb amputations above the Group Captain 360 340 320 310 1310 1330 wrist or ankle on more than one limb will be reported Wing Commander 1,290 1,320 1,270 1,240 11,220 11,200 annually as “significant multiple amputees”. Squadron Leader 3,030 2,870 2,780 2,660 12,630 12,570 Flight Lieutenant 4,510 4,650 4,630 4,420 14,160 14,050 Injured UK Service personnel who require prosthetic Flying Officer/Pilot 1,650 1,310 1,180 1,120 11,230 11,500 limbs attend the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Officer/Officer at Headley Court in Surrey, where they are supplied Designate with tailor-made prostheses with state of the art Warrant Officer 1,200 1,200 1,210 1,180 11,130 11,190 componentry which is matched to their clinical needs. Flight Sergeant/Chief 3,920 3,900 3,670 3,480 13,300 13,190 Technician The Defence Medical Services (DMS) keep in touch Sergeant 7,660 7,660 7,430 6,910 16,560 16,270 with developments in rehabilitation in other countries, Corporal 10,070 10,070 9,790 9,120 18,760 18,460 including the United States, and assess new developments Junior Technician/ 16,100 16,430 15,350 13,860 112,350 111,890 carefully to judge fully their potential benefits for our Leading Aircraftsman/ people. To date the DMS have not referred any amputees Senior aircraftsman to the United States for their medical treatment, although Aircraftman 3,480 2,000 960 930 11,630 12,800 a few individual amputees have attended private US 1 Provisional facilities of their own volition and without cost to the RAF personnel numbers have reduced over the period Department. No personnel have been forced to receive since 1997 in line with strategic reviews. The Strategic treatment in the USA, and until alternative treatments Defence Review (published 1998) sought to shift UK and rehabilitation regimes have been fully evaluated it defence forces away from a largely cold war defence would be inappropriate to deviate from current, clinically posture based on maintaining heavily equipped forces proven approaches. in Western Europe towards lighter, expeditionary forces capable of deploying across the world. It also marked a Disabled shift towards ‘joint’ defence forces and a greater use of advanced technology. Subsequent strategic reviews have Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for continued these trends. Defence how many and what proportion of staff in (a) Moreover, as the 2004 Defence White Paper “Delivering his Department and (b) its agencies are disabled; and Security in a Changing World” made clear, what the average salary of (i) full-time disabled staff, ‘the effectiveness of modern precision weapons and sensors, (ii) full-time non-disabled staff, (iii) part-time disabled which can be used in all weathers, day and night, mean that highly staff and (iv) part-time non-disabled staff is in (A) his accurate air delivered offensive effects can be achieved with fewer Department and (B) its agencies. [317888] 411W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 412W

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the Navy: Haiti table of statistics taken from the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey published by the Office for National Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Statistics on 20 January 2010 and available at the following Defence what proportion of the capacity of the Royal link: Fleet Auxiliary vessel Largs Bay’s capacity was full at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/cs0110.pdf the point at which the vessel departed Southampton for Haiti in February 2010. [316979] Ex-servicemen Bill Rammell [holding answer 22 February 2010]: Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Royal Fleet Auxiliary Largs Bay departed for Haiti on Defence what support is provided by his Department 3 February carrying 595 linear metres of relief supplies to military personnel upon discharge in respect of (a) and equipment, including the required cargo handling trauma and psychological problems, (b) alcohol abuse and beach landing capabilities. This represents and (c) drug abuse. [317793] approximately 60 per cent. of the capacity available. Residual space is required to assist with the movement Mr. Kevan Jones: Since 1948, it has been successive of supplies and equipment within the cargo hold in Governments’ policy that the NHS should be the main anticipation of changing disbursement priorities on provider of health care for veterans and for the majority arrival. of veterans their mental health needs are fully met by current NHS provisions. The Department of Health The operational considerations about supplies and and devolved Administrations with support from the equipment to take included an assessment of materials Ministry of Defence and Combat Stress have launched that could be ordered and delivered in time to ensure six mental health pilots around the United Kingdom. that the most urgently required aid would get to Haiti. The aim of the pilots is to deliver a service which The priority was items not easily transported by air but provides expert assessment and interventions and which critical to the immediate humanitarian relief effort. is acceptable to veterans. These include fork lift trucks, four-wheel drive vehicles and corrugated sheeting. Veterans who do not live near one of the regional schemes can access the Medical Assessment programme In addition to delivering relief supplies, RFA Largs (MAP) which is available to veterans who were deployed Bay has also been deployed to provide specialised on operations since 1982. The MAP offers comprehensive capabilities to assist with the wider United Nations-led physical and mental health assessments for veterans relief effort in Haiti. Delaying departure to allow supplies who feel that their ill-health may be linked to military to be delivered for loading needed to be balanced with service. the urgency of getting the ship to the vicinity of Haiti to unload and begin these wider tasks. In addition, we will be providing grant funding of £140,000, which Combat Stress are matching, to work directly with mental health trusts to ensure that the RAF services they provide are accessible to and appropriate for military veterans. Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for The Department has issued guidance to commanders Defence what changes have been made since 1994 to on substance misuse and all three services have robust the rules under which deceased Royal Air Force aircrew drug and alcohol policies in place. Service personnel can be found guilty of gross negligence; whether a identified by the chain of command as being at risk of finding of gross negligence could have been made in alcohol misuse receive counselling and welfare support. respect of the Chinook crash if the current rules had This can include attendance on preventative early applied at the time of the crash; and if he will make a intervention programmes designed to alert them to the statement. [310015] harm that alcohol can cause to themselves and others. More serious cases are treated through specialist medical Bill Rammell [holding answer 12 January 2010]: In and psychological treatment and rehabilitation, including 1997 the relevant service regulations were changed to where appropriate as in-patients. Service leavers are also remove the express attribution of blame and although given literature covering a range of issues including Boards of Inquiry were still able to find that “human details of national alcohol and drug helplines. factors” were the reason for an accident, any questions of culpability on the part of aircrew would be dealt with Military Aircraft: Training separately through the disciplinary or administrative action system, if appropriate. If these rules had been in Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for force at the time of the Chinook accident the Board of Defence for what reasons the simulation of the 1994 Inquiry could not have made a finding of gross negligence. Chinook accident by test pilot Squadron Leader With the introduction of a new system of Service Robert Burke was abandoned prior to its completion; Inquiries in October 2008 under the Armed Forces and if he will make a statement. [309997] Act 2006 which brought in procedures common across all three services and replaced the old Board of Inquiry Bill Rammell: The test with which Squadron Leader system, the rules continued the principle that Service Burke concerned himself was being undertaken by RAF Inquiries are not to explicitly attribute blame or legal technicians at the request of the Air Accident Investigation liability. If any question of culpability were to arise, it Branch, without a requirement for his assistance. The would have to be dealt with through the disciplinary work was not abandoned after Squadron Leader Burke system, although clearly this would not arise in the case was told not to take any further part. of deceased personnel. 413W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 414W

Territorial Army Mr. Kevan Jones: The information is not held in the format requested. David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Since its launch in July 2003 the Veterans Challenge Defence pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2009, Fund has provided funding to a total of 98 projects in a Official Report, column 23, on the Territorial Army, for number of areas including homelessness, prison in-reach what reason drill nights at the 38 (Irish) Brigade and research into suicide among veterans. Projects that Regional training Centre at Ballykinler, County Down have benefited from our contributions have gone to remain suspended. [316444] make a significant difference to the veterans community. The following table provides information relating to Bill Rammell [holding answer 9 February 2010]: The the number of projects undertaken for each year. Regional Training Centre at Ballykinler, County Down, is not normally used as a venue for Territorial Army Number of projects training nights. However, a phase 1 training course originally scheduled to run at the Centre over six weekends 2003-04 24 was recently cancelled. The cancellation of this particular 2004-05 13 course was at a local decision which was contrary to the 2005-06 29 directive issued by the Government following the decision 2006-07 17 taken in October 2009 to reinstate routine Territorial 2007-08 11 Army activity for the remainder of the financial year. 2008-09 4 The reasons for this are being investigated and the Total 98 training will be reinstated. This training does not affect any personnel committed to operations and the course Costs relating to a specific project may span a financial will be reinstated. year and may be complex through their reliance on a number of other funding factors reaching maturity at Veterans’ Challenge Fund the same time. In order to determine the amounts for each project would require a manual search of records Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for and incur disproportionate cost. Defence what the (a) budget, (b) expenditure on administration and (c) expenditure on grants has been of the Veterans’ Challenge Fund in each year since its HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION inception. [317637] Freedom of Information: Costs

Mr. Kevan Jones: The Veterans Challenge Fund was Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the hon. Member for established on 1 April 2003. Since then it has provided North Devon, representing the House of Commons funding to prime projects that support the three pillars Commission what the cost to the House has been of of the Veterans Programme (Transition, Support, and responding to requests made under the provisions of Recognition) that are identified in the Veterans Strategy. the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [317263] Initially a budget of £2 million was set aside to cover a three year period (2003-06). However, on 28 October Nick Harvey: No records are kept of the specific time 2005, Official Report, column 19WS, we announced the spent by staff responding to inquiries. An estimate of extension of the Veterans Challenge Fund past its initial the staff cost of handling Freedom of Information Act three year period with an annual allocation of up to requests within the Information Rights and Information £750,000. Security (IRIS) team, who co-ordinate the handling of Administration of the Veterans Challenge Fund with responses, is £165,000 per annum. the MOD is an internal departmental cost with the Nurseries duties being part of wider responsibilities. These costs are not taken from the budget for the fund. Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for The following table provides information on expenditure North Devon, representing the House of Commons relating to Veterans Challenge Fund grants for each Commission (1) what estimate the House of Commons year since 2003. Commission has made of the average daily usage of the proposed nursery by children of (a) hon. Members, Expenditure on grants1 (£) (b) staff of the House of Commons Service, (c) staff of hon. Members and (d) others in its first 12 months 2003-04 42,000 of operation; [317123] 2004-05 190,000 (2) what estimate the House of Commons 2005-06 476,000 Commission has made of the (a) running cost and (b) 2006-07 606,000 income of the proposed nursery in the first 12 months 2007-08 431,000 of its operation. [317124] 2008-09 661,000 Total 2,046,000 Nick Harvey: The nursery is being designed to provide 1 Figures have been rounded to nearest thousand. child care for up to 40 children between the ages of birth and five years. According to child care experts, Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for there will be a build up of usage over a period: the Defence which projects have been supported by the average usage for the first 12 months of a new nursery is Veterans’ Challenge Fund in each year since its likely to be around 40 per cent. No breakdown of usage inception; and how much funding has been allocated to as between the children of Members and the children of each such project in each such year. [317638] others has been estimated at present: much will depend 415W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 416W on the make-up of the next Parliament. The intention Chris Bryant: I raised this issue with the Colombian in the longer term is to recover the operating costs ambassador last week. We wholly condemn any through the charges made to users. Disclosure of expected Government that targets or imprisons individuals for operating costs at this stage could undermine the House’s their political orientation. We are aware of allegations position in the commercial competition for a nursery that Colombian individuals are being imprisoned or operator. charged with offences as a result of their political views or activities, and have pointed out to the Colombian authorities that those charged with crimes should have their legal rights fully respected, including to a fair trial. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE However, it is for the Colombian judicial system to British Nationals Abroad assess any such cases, including exercise of the right of habeas corpus. Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign of UK citizens living abroad in (a) each other EU and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the member state and (b) all non-EU countries in (i) 1980, Government has made to the government of Colombia (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) the most recent year for on the fate of (a) human rights defender Carmelo which figures are available. [317719] Agamez Berrio and (b) trade unionist Liliany Obando. [317882] David Miliband: Our network of overseas posts has in the past been asked to provide an estimate of the Chris Bryant: We have not made any representations number of British nationals resident in their consular on the case of Carmelo Agamez Berrio. area. The latest figures available are for 2006-07. Figures As for Liliany Obando, we wrote in April 2009 to the are also available for 1990 and 2000, but not 1980. The Director of the Presidential Human Rights Programme results of each of these surveys are shown in the following and to the Director of International Affairs at the table. Prosecutor General’s office requesting details about her Estimated size of the British national community case. We never received a response from the Director of Country 2006-07 2000 1990 the Presidential Human Rights Programme. On 25 June 2009, the Prosecutor General’s office informed us that Austria 7,369 7,000 5,100 Ms Obando’s case was going through the last stages of Belgium 39,867 30,200 28,500 the legal accusatory process. She has been charged with Bulgaria 1,700 325 55 Cyprus 60,000 54,000 18,000 “rebellion and the administration of resources related with Czech Republic 3,183 0 83 terrorist activities”. Denmark 13,183 12,630 10,474 My right hon. Friend the Foreign Minister raised her Estonia 220 200 — case personally with Colombian Foreign Minister Bermudez Finland 4,350 3,200 1,300 in London last month, and we subsequently received a France 381,000 156,050 43,000 letter from the Colombian ambassador updating us Germany 115,554 164,324 92,445 with the news that there have been three public hearings Greece 31,470 144,085 21,300 of her case between August and December 2009, and Hungary 2,640 3,000 275 that two more public hearings were scheduled to happen Ireland 112,548 0 50,000 this week. I am writing to the Colombian Deputy Italy 71,990 61,000 35,000 Foreign Minister to further register our continued interest Latvia 400 200 — in the case. Lithuania 250 160 — Luxembourg 4,480 5,000 2,894 Cuba: Politics and Government Malta 6,000 6,000 3,000 Netherlands 73,600 40,000 50,000 Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Poland 2,531 10,000 881 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Portugal 34,624 31,597 16,300 Department’s policy is on meeting representatives of Romania 6,000 3,000 36 the democratic opposition in Cuba. [317110] Slovakia 1,000 750 — Slovenia 157 350 — Chris Bryant: Our policy towards Cuba remains based Spain 840,989 949,550 121,500 on the EU Common Position, which was agreed in 1996 Sweden 15,000 17,500 14,000 and is reviewed annually at the June European Council. Non-EU 10,283,651 11,000,718 5,500,000 The Common Position sets out inter alia that the EU Total 12,113,756 12,700,839 6,014,143 will Note: Based on overseas posts’ estimates of the number of British nationals within “intensify the present dialogue with the Cuban authorities and their consular area. with all sectors of Cuban society in order to promote respect for Colombia: Political Prisoners human rights and real progress towards pluralist democracy”. Following the last review of the EU’s Cuba policy in Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign June 2009, all EU member states agreed Council and Commonwealth Affairs what contact his Conclusions which reaffirmed their commitment to the Department has had with staff of the Colombian Common Position and the policy of dual track engagement Embassy in relation to prisoners held for political with the Cuban Government and Cuban civil society. reasons by the Colombian authorities in the last three On the issue of meeting members of opposition groups years; and if he will make a statement. [317799] in Cuba the Conclusions state: 417W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 418W

“The Council reaffirms that its policy for EU contacts with the for a further visit. We stand ready to organise a high peaceful pro-democracy opposition remains valid. During high-level level visit as soon as this precondition is dropped. visits, human rights issues should always be addressed; when appropriate, meetings with the peaceful pro-democracy opposition Departmental Energy will be part of high level visits. In this context the Council calls upon the Cuban government to allow for unimpeded contacts with civil society in the margin of high level visits”. Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for In line with this policy, our embassy in Havana Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the maintains contacts across the full spectrum of political estimated (a) amount and (b) cost was of energy used opinion within Cuba, including the government and in his Department and its agencies in each year since members of civil society and opposition groups; we see 1997; what proportion of the energy used was it as important in support of this goal to include generated from renewable sources in each of those meetings with opposition figures in high level political years; and if he will make a statement. [317202] visits where appropriate. The last Ministerial visit to Cuba was by my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow Chris Bryant: The breakdown of amount and cost of (Bill Rammell) then Foreign Office Minister in 2005. He energy for the last five years is summarised in the met a range of Cuban Government contacts, opposition following table. To provide additional data could only figures and civil society.Since then, the Cuban Government be done at disproportionate cost. The proportion of have made official programmes conditional on Ministers energy generated from renewable sources is based on and senior officials not meeting any opposition figures “Green” tariffs. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office during visits. This has made it difficult to agree programmes has no directly renewable sources of energy.

Percentage of Electricity Total energy KCS green total energy Cost of all (kWh) Gas (kWh) Oil (kWh) Heat (kWh) (kWh) tariff (kWh) that is green energy (£)

2008-09 28,747,774 1,227,509 4,816,849 6,697,510 41,489,641 6,004,650 14 3,777,830 2007-08 23,524,791 1,153,023 4,280,027 5,677,120 34,634,961 6,481,320 19 2,609,700 2006-07 22,578,615 1,341,891 3,291,842 5,290,430 32,502,778 7,069,812 22 2,820,321 2005-06 20,756,930 1,679,115 4,732,676 7,146,240 34,314,961 7,860,950 23 2,404,570 2004-05 19,457,515 1,616,136 3,878,744 6,636,479 31,588,874 8,117,108 26 1,809,318 Total 115,065,625 7,017,674 21,000,138 31,447,779 174,531,215 35,533,840 13,421,739 Note: All data are for financial year—April to March

Departmental Travel Mr, Alan Hunt CMG—FCO nominee Mr. Philip Grice LVO—Trade union nominee Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. John Kelly CMG LVO MBE—Trade union nominee Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish The two independent members are: the travel guidelines issued to staff of each of his Department’s agencies and non-departmental public Mrs. Janet Rubin bodies. [315145] Ms Susan Jenkins

Chris Bryant: The British Council publishes its own Embassies: Fees and Charges travel guidelines which are available at: http://www.britishcouncil.org/new/freedom-of-information/ Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for information-guide/policies/staff-policies/travel-and-expenses/ Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider The other agencies and non-departmental public bodies the merits of removing charges for the use of the sponsored by the Department have not published their premises of overseas posts by UK entrepreneurs own travel guidelines. However, the guidelines they use holding receptions to promote products and services are based on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s offered by their companies. [317991] own travel guidelines. I have placed a summary of these guidelines in the Library of the House. Chris Bryant: Making the most of the Foreign and Diplomatic Service Appeal Board Commonwealth Office’s assets, including the effective use of our overseas estate, is kept under close review. Diplomatic staff routinely host entertainment in their Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for official residences and other premises overseas to further Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the the Government’s strategic priorities, of which support membership is of the Diplomatic Service Appeal for the UK economy and British businesses is key. In Board. [317797] addition to this normal use of our estate, Heads of Post may offer, subject to a number of considerations including Chris Bryant: The six former Foreign and security, the use of their official residences for particular Commonwealth Office (FCO) employee members of events requested by organisations who are willing to the Diplomatic Service Appeal Board are as follows: pay for the privilege, on the basis that the revenue Ms Philippa Drew CB—Chair earned is re-invested in furthering our strategic objectives. Professor Colin Jennings—Vice Chair We believe this remains a sensible approach and continues Sir James Hodge KCVO CMG—FCO nominee to give value to the British taxpayer. 419W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 420W

Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for to publish a statement of the Government’s approval to Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Review conference to be assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the held in May 2010. [317849] Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission’s scholarship programme. [317758] Mr. Ivan Lewis: UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/61/70 of 6 December 2006 authorised the 2010 Chris Bryant [holding answer 22 February 2010]: We Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation are content that the Marshall Scholarship programme of Nuclear Weapons. The vote was 175 (for); 0 (abstentions); is being run effectively. 3 (against). All 175 States party to the Treaty present, including the United Kingdom, voted for the resolution. The three non-States party to the Treaty (India, Israel Middle East: Armed Conflict and Pakistan) voted against. A copy of the Resolution, which was published on 3 January 2007 is available at: Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/498/63/ Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions PDF/N0649863.pdf?OpenElement he has had with his Israeli counterpart on allegations of human rights abuses committed during Operation Palestinians Cast Lead. [315913] Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Ivan Lewis: From the outset we have called for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the very serious allegations around the Gaza conflict to official visits to Gaza made by (a) Ministers, (b) be properly and independently investigated by both Embassy officials based in Tel Aviv, (c) consular sides, including individual incidents and wider operational officials based in Jerusalem and (d) Embassy officials choices. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made based in Cairo in each of the last three years. [318021] this clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu ahead of the UN Human Rights Council Special Session on Gaza. Mr. Ivan Lewis: We do not hold records of every visit Most recently, I raised it in my meeting, on 9 February made by officials to Gaza. However, our officials based 2010, with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon. in Jerusalem and, to a lesser extent, Tel Aviv, have visited Gaza on more than 20 occasions since January Nuclear Weapons 2009. Our consulate general in Jerusalem also has two members of local staff permanently based in Gaza. There have been no visits made, in the last three Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for years, by our officials based in Cairo. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made an assessment of the merits of entering the The Secretary of State for Development visited Gaza Trident system into multilateral nuclear disarmament in March 2009. negotiations prior to the start of the nuclear non proliferation treaty review conference in May 2010. Security [317577] Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK firmly believes that sustainable Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which UK global nuclear disarmament can only be achieved through private security companies representatives of the UK a multilateral process, and stands ready to engage in a Trade and Investment Defence and Security future broader multilateral process when the conditions Organisation have met in each of the last five years; are right. The UK is actively working to create these and in which countries these meetings took place. conditions and is playing a leading role globally in the [316724] nuclear disarmament debate. These conditions include watertight measures to prevent further proliferation, Ian Lucas: I have been asked to reply. further cuts to the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals, UK Trade and Investment, Defence and Security and solutions to the technical, political and institutional Organisation (UKTI DSO) was formed on 1 April challenges posed by nuclear disarmament. 2008, when responsibility for defence export promotion We look forward to an agreement between the US was transferred from the Ministry of Defence. and Russia to achieve significant cuts in their nuclear There is no accepted definition of private security or arsenals by agreeing a successor to the strategic arms private military companies, and no clear line between reduction treaty. This will be a major contribution to the two categories. Since forming, UKTI DSO has had our shared endeavour towards a world without nuclear meetings with a number of companies who are members weapons, and will help to build trust and pave the way of either the British Association of Private Security in due course for greater reductions. The Nuclear Non- Companies or the Private Security Company Association Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May 2010 of Iraq, including: Armour Group, Control Risks Group, will be an important opportunity to agree actions for Edinburgh Risk, Janusian Security Risk Management, the future on non-proliferation, peaceful uses of nuclear Aegis Defence Services Ltd, Group 4 Security Risk energy as well as on nuclear disarmament, but setting Management, Maritime Asset and Security Training, target dates for a multilateral disarmament process at Olive Group, Britam Defence Ltd, Team Savant Ltd, this stage would not make headway given current political Salamanca Risk Management, Pilgrims Group Ltd, realities. Peters and May Global Logistics and Prometheus Medical. 421W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 422W

These meetings have taken place in Algeria, Kuwait, Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what USA and in the UK. representations he has made to the Algerian government on the case of Mr. Sghair, a Sahrawi Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for refugee, detained by the Polisario for three months for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are attempting to cross into Morocco; and if he will make used by the UK Trade and Investment Defence and a statement. [317282] Security Organisation to decide whether to assist UK private military and security companies to obtain Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth business abroad. [316725] Office (FCO) has not made any representations to the Algerian authorities about the case of Mr. Sghair, who Ian Lucas: I have been asked to reply. was allegedly detained by the Polisario in 2008. The Companies operating in the private military and security FCO has also not received any prior representations sector are entitled to the same support as other UK about this case. companies, in so far as their activities are legitimate and do not conflict with HMG’s foreign policy goals. Eligibility Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for for UKTI support is defined by the overall eligibility Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions guidelines for UKTI trade services. Companies are not he has had with his Algerian counterpart on allowing eligible for UKTI support if they are offering a product entire families overland visits from the refugee camps or service which it is illegal to produce or sell in the UK in Tindouf; and if he will make a statement. [317283] or in the target market, or which will breach export controls, or if the company’s business record or business practices or products are likely to cause offence in the Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign overseas market and/or embarrass the UK Government Secretary has not discussed overland visits from the (for example, on corporate social responsibility grounds). refugee camps with his Algerian counterpart. My hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Bill Rammell), then A copy of the Government ‘Guidance on Contacts Minister responsible for North Africa, did discuss UN with Private Military and Security Companies’ is in the led efforts to resolve the dispute over Western Sahara Libraries of the House and in The National Archives, with Abdelqader Mesahel, Algerian Minister responsible and is accessible using the following URL: for Maghreb Affairs, during the annual UK-Algeria http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20080205132101/ political dialogue in December 2008. The Western Sahara www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front%3Fpagename=OpenMarket/ dispute is again on the agenda for the next round of the Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1171453877033 UK-Algeria political dialogue, which I will host on Western Sahara: Asylum 2 March.

Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Algerian counterpart on he has had with (a) his Algerian counterpart and (b) responsibility for the treatment of Sahrawi refugees on the Polisario on a census to count and register the Algeria’s territory; and if he will make a statement. Sahrawi refugee population in the Tindouf camps; and [317280] if he will make a statement. [317284]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: While Foreign and Commonwealth Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Office Ministers and officials do discuss the Western Secretary has not had discussions with either his Algerian Sahara dispute with their Algerian counterparts on a counterpart or the Polisario about a census to record regular basis, these discussions always take place within the population of the Tindouf camps. Foreign and the context of supporting the UN Secretary General Commonwealth Office Officials in Algiers and London and his Personal Envoy, Ambassador Christopher Ross, have discussed this topic with the Polisario as part of in their efforts to resolve the dispute. their regular dialogue with all parties to the Western Sahara dispute. Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions My hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Bill Rammell), he has had with his Algerian counterpart on allowing then Minister responsible for North Africa, did discuss exit visas for Sahrawi refugees in the Tindouf camps; UN led efforts to resolve the dispute over Western and if he will make a statement. [317281] Sahara with Abdelqader Mesahel, Algerian Minister responsible for Maghreb Affairs, during the annual Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign UK-Algeria political dialogue in December 2008. The Secretary has not discussed Sahrawi exit visas with his Western Sahara dispute is again on the agenda for the Algerian counterpart. My hon. Friend the Member for next round of the UK-Algeria political dialogue, scheduled Harlow (Bill Rammell), then Minister responsible for for 2 March. North Africa, did discuss UN led efforts to resolve the dispute over Western Sahara with Abdelqader Mesahel, Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Algerian Minister responsible for Maghreb Affairs, during Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the annual UK-Algeria political dialogue in December he has had with his Algerian counterpart on Algeria’s 2008. The Western Sahara dispute is again on the obligations under the 1951 Convention on the Status of agenda for the next round of the UK-Algeria political Refugees in relation to the Sahrawi refugee camps; and dialogue, which I will host on 2 March. if he will make a statement. [317285] 423W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 424W

Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed the 1951 Convention on the Secretary has not discussed the United States Committee Status of Refugees with his Algerian counterpart. My on Refugees and Immigrants report with the US hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Bill Rammell) ambassador. Our officials in Algiers have discussed the then Minister responsible for North Africa, did discuss report with the US embassy in Algiers and the head of UN led efforts to resolve the dispute over Western the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Sahara with Abdelqader Mesahel, Algerian Minister also in Algiers. responsible for Maghreb Affairs, during the annual UK-Algeria political dialogue in December 2008. The Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Western Sahara dispute is again on the agenda for the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions next round of the UK-Algeria political dialogue, scheduled he has had with his Algerian counterpart on for 2 March. permission for entire families to leave the Sahrawi refugee camps to travel to Mauritania; and if he will Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for make a statement. [317289] Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) his Algerian counterpart and (b) Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign the Polisario on the United Nations High Commission Secretary has not discussed families travelling between on Refugees’ confidence-building measures programme Tindouf and Mauritania with his Algerian counterpart. for the Sahrawi refugee population in the Tindouf My hon. Friend Bill Rammell, then Minister responsible camps; and if he will make a statement. [317286] for North Africa, did discuss UN led efforts to resolve the dispute over Western Sahara with Abdelqader Mesahel, Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Algerian Minister responsible for Maghreb Affairs, during Secretary has not had discussions with either his Algerian the annual UK-Algeria political dialogue in December counterpart or the Polisario on the UN High Commissioner 2008. The Western Sahara dispute is again on the for Refugees (UNHCR) confidence building measures agenda for the next round of the UK-Algeria political programme. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Officials dialogue, scheduled for 2 March 2010. in Algiers and London have discussed confidence building measures with the Polisario as part of their regular Western Sahara: Politics and Government dialogue with all parties to the Western Sahara dispute. The most recent discussions took place in February Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for between the Polisario and Foreign and Commonwealth Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide Officials in London. assistance to Morocco to seek to ensure that it receives My hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Bill Rammell), UN recognition of its sovereignty over the Western then Minister responsible for North Africa, did discuss Sahara. [317588] UN led efforts to resolve the dispute over Western Sahara with Abdelqader Mesahel, Algerian Minister Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK Government regard the responsible for Maghreb Affairs, during the annual status of the disputed non-self-governing territory of UK-Algeria political dialogue in December 2008. The Western Sahara as undetermined, pending UN efforts Western Sahara dispute is again on the agenda for the to find a solution that provides for the self-determination next round of the UK-Algeria political dialogue, scheduled of the people of Western Sahara. The UK Government for 2 March. fully support the efforts of Christopher Ross, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to Western Sahara. Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Ambassador of Algeria on conditions imposed by the Algerian Government and CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT the Polisario on refugee camps in Tindouf; and if he will make a statement. [317287] Departmental Advertising

Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Secretary has not discussed the conditions in the Tindouf Media and Sport which projects undertaken by his refugee camps with the Algerian Ambassador. My hon. Department have incurred expenditure of more than Friend Bill Rammell, then Minister responsible for £1,000 on advertising in the last 12 months; and what North Africa, did discuss UN led efforts to resolve the the respective spend is in each such case. [317566] dispute over Western Sahara with Abdelqader Mesahel, Algerian Minister responsible for Maghreb Affairs, during Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 22 February 2010]: In the annual UK-Algeria political dialogue in December 2009, my Department spent more than £1,000 on 2008. The Western Sahara dispute is again on the advertising the public appointments listed: agenda for the next round of the UK-Algeria political dialogue, scheduled for 2 March 2010. Public body and role £ (VAT inclusive)

Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Arts Council England, National 6,700 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Members he has had with the US Ambassador on the report of BBC Trust, Member 16,562 the United States Committee on Refugees and British Library, Chair 15,372 Commission for Architecture and 10,043 Immigrants on conditions imposed by Algeria and the the Built Environment, Chair Polisario on refugee camps in Tindouf; and if he will English Heritage, Chair 6,351 make a statement. [317288] 425W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 426W

Public body and role £ (VAT inclusive) 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-051

Horserace Betting Levy Board, 13,314 Unsatisfactory 1370— Chair or below National Museum of Science and 16,432 Total reports 435 427 459 443 — Industry, Chair undertaken Olympic Lottery Distributor, 2,000 1 No information available. Member Note: S4C, Member 11,403 No staff members have left as a direct result of the rating received from their performance review, in the period for which the figures are available. United Kingdom Anti Doping, 17,980 Chair and Members United Kingdom Film Council, 7,521 Departmental Responsibilities Chair Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Further to this, the Government Olympic Executive Culture, Media and Sport how many meetings spent £5,551.96 in March 2009 advertising for a speech Ministers and officials in his Department have had writer and £4,830.08 in September 2009 for a with members of the public in the last three years. communications officer. [317077] In October 2009, £4,242.61 was spent on advertising Mr. Sutcliffe: Ministers and officials hold many meetings three human resources positions and £8,906.15 on two with members of the public as part of the process of finance positions. policy development. To collate the number of meetings held by members Departmental Internet of this Department over the past three years would incur disproportionate costs. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Departmental Training Culture, Media and Sport what the cost to his Department was of maintaining its media and social Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for networking sites in the latest period for which figures Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department are available. [315157] spent on coaching in each of the last three years; and through which bodies such coaching was delivered. Mr. Sutcliffe: In the current financial year, my [316342] Department has spent £1808.95 maintaining media and social networking sites which represents software Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 8 February 2010]: The maintenance costs for the complete year. We have no amount of funding provided by my Department for staff dedicated to maintaining media and social networking coaching through UK Sport and Sport England in each sites. Any content is provided by staff as part of their of the last three financial years is listed in the table. normal work. £ C&binet, a not-for-profit conference for the global UK Sport Sport England creative industries created by DCMS had its own website, to generate interest for the conference and to provide a 2007-08 4,068,002 3,226,000 high quality interactive online experience for virtual 2008-09 3,585,950 6,305,000 delegates not attending the conference. 2009-10 2,823,766 6,883,688 Between November 2008 and October 2009, £20,000 The UK Sport funding provides support for coaching was spent on producing blog content (191 articles in through these organisations and schemes: total). This included (but was not restricted to) researching Sports Coach UK. and identifying themes related to the c&binet agenda UK Sport’s Elite coach programme. and tweeting (around 15 tweets per week). Also monitoring c&binet content pick up through Google and on other The annual UK Sport World Class Coaching Conference. blogs. The UK Sport Winning Coaches programme. Coaching support for National Governing Bodies (NGBs). Between November 2008 and October 2009 £3,000 The Sport England funding provides support for was spent on hosting the entire c&binet website, of coaching through these organisations and schemes: which the c&binet blog was one element. Sports Coach UK. County Sports Partnerships (CSP) for the Community Sports Departmental Manpower Coach Scheme, which concluded in June 2009. The Coaching System Support Network. Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State Recruit into Coaching, jointly delivered by Sport England and for Culture, Media and Sport how many performance Youth Sport Trust. reviews were undertaken in respect of staff of (a) his Coach Education Funding for NGBs. Department and (b) its agency in each of the last five In addition, Sport England regional offices have made years; in how many cases performance was rated as awards to support local coaching projects over the last unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a direct three years. This has been funded through lottery investment result of such a rating; and what percentage of as part of the Community Investment Fund. full-time equivalent staff this represented. [313833] Furthermore, Sport England will invest £480 million to support NGB plans from 2009-13, at least £100 million Mr. Sutcliffe: The information is given in the table. of which will be invested in coaching over this period. 427W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 428W

Departmental Travel 48 per cent. of buildings on the original 1999 Buildings at Risk Register having their future secured. Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for 90 per cent. of all pupils taking part in at least two hours of Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was of travel high quality PE or sport per week in 2008 from an estimated by his Department’s staff between England and 25 per cent. in 2003-04—exceeding our target. Scotland in each of the last five years. [317074] Olympic Games: Canada Mr. Sutcliffe: The cost of travel between England and Scotland in each of the last five years was as Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, follows: Media and Sport what funding he is providing to Team GB (Ltd) and the British Ski and Snowboard £ Federation to support participation in the Vancouver Winter Olympics. [317373] 2008-09 6,255 2007-08 1,246 Mr. Sutcliffe: UK Sport has advised that they have 2006-07 7,296 invested nearly £6.5 million of public funding in Winter 2005-06 6,367 Olympic and Paralympic sports in the run-up to Vancouver. 2004-05 6,363 The British Ski and Snowboard Federation and their 2009-10 (to date) 8,252 athletes on UK Sport’s World Class Performance programme received £620,000 of Olympic funding and There is only partial data for 2007-08 due to the £205,000 of Paralympic funding. This investment has Department changing it’s travel booking service provider been supported by Talented Athlete Scholarship scheme during that year. (TASS) funding for Winter Sports, totaling £4 million Hackney in the last four years, of which over £700,000 has been invested in promising Skiers and Snowboarders. Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, The Winter Olympic team has also received support Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical from the English Institute of Sport and UK Sport’s evidence relating as closely as possible to Hackney world leading Research and Innovation and Talent North and Stoke Newington constituency, the effects Identification programmes. on that constituency of his Department’s policies since As part of the contingency arrangements, UK Sport 1997. [318376] has agreed to provide approximately £21,500 of additional funds to the British Olympic Association. This amount Mr. Sutcliffe: My Department’s aim is to improve the has been ring-fenced for the support of two additional quality of life for everyone through cultural and sporting elite athletes and their immediate technical and coaching activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to teams, to participate in the Vancouver Winter Olympics. champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. The impact of bodies and policies of my Department on the Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency since 1997 include: INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT £230,217 given from Arts Council England to organisations Departmental Carbon Emissions based in Hackney North and Stoke Newington in 2008-09 through the Grants for the Arts programme. Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for £222,000 of English Heritage grant offers to the Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency in 2008-09. International Development what estimate he has made of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from his Digital Switchover is due to take place in Hackney North and Stoke Newington in 2012. By the time switchover is complete Department’s buildings in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009. at the end of 2012, 98.5 per cent. of households nationwide [317246] will be able to receive digital TV—the same number that can currently receive analogue. Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International £60,000 of Exchequer investment to the Hackney North and Development (DFID) records and reports its environmental Stoke Newington constituency provided through Sport England performance on a financial year basis. Data on energy since 2004. use on the UK estate, and the corresponding carbon Over £31 million of national lottery grants made to applications emissions, are reported in accordance with the ‘Sustainable from the Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency Operations on the Government Estate’ targets and are since 1995. available on the websites of the Office of Government The Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency Commerce (OGC) and the Sustainable Development has also benefited from other policies and spending Commission (SDC). whose impact cannot be broken down by constituency. The carbon dioxide emissions from our UK estate These include: were 4,387 tonnes in 2007-08 and 3,945 tonnes in 2008-09. £4 billion of Exchequer funding spent on culture. More than £5.5 billion invested in sport by the Government Departmental Disabled Staff and the national lottery since 1997. Almost 750,000 free swims taken in London in the first eight Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for months of the Free Swimming programme. International Development how many and what A 68 per cent. increase in national museum visits from 1998-99 proportion of staff in his Department are disabled; and to 2008-09—10 per cent. of which were by adults from lower what the average salary in his Department is of (a) socioeconomic groups. full-time disabled staff, (b) full-time non-disabled staff, £416.6 million in grants allocated by English Heritage since (c) part-time disabled staff and (d) part-time non- 1997. disabled staff. [317893] 429W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 430W

Mr. Michael Foster: Information on the numbers, Type of aid £000 proportion and average (median) salary of Home civil service staff employed by the Department for International Humanitarian assistance 18 288 Development (DFID) who have declared a disability Bilateral aid delivered through a 9 376 are set out in the Annual Civil Service Employment multilateral organisation Survey (ACSES) statistics published by the Office of Bilateral aid delivered through an NGO 5 579 National Statistics on 20 January 2010, which is available Technical co-operation 227 at: Non-budget support financial aid 9 http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/cs0110.pdf HOME DEPARTMENT Somalia: Overseas Aid Alcoholic Drinks: Public Places Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much bilateral aid his Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Department provided to Somalia in the latest year for Home Department how many people were (a) which information is available; and in what form that prosecuted and (b) convicted for an offence of not aid was provided. [317523] obeying an instruction to stop drinking in a designated public place in each year since 1998. [314999]

Mr. Thomas: Details of the Department for International Alan Johnson: The number of prosecutions, convictions Development’s (DFID’s) expenditure in developing and penalty notices for disorder for not obeying an countries are published in ‘Statistics on International instruction to stop drinking in a designated public place Development’, which is available in the House Library in each year from 2002-08 (latest available) can be and online at viewed in the following table. Data prior to 2002 are not www.dfid.gov.uk available as the offence of alcohol consumption in a DFID’s bilateral assistance to Somalia in 2008-09 was public place came into force on 1 September 2001. £33.48 million. This assistance is broken down by aid Court proceedings data for 2009 are planned to be type in the following table. published in autumn 2010.

Number of defendants issued a penalty notice of disorder, proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for not obeying an instruction to stop drinking in a designated public place, 2002-08, England and Wales1, 2, 3, 4 Offence description 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Failure to obey an instruction to Penalty notice of — — 485 712 1,061 1,544 1,761 stop alcohol consumption in disorder designated public place (Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, Sec 12) Proceeded against 37 108 122 101 101 113 5153 Found guilty 34 94 96 76 73 98 5123 1 The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extractedfrom large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 The number of defendants found guilty in a particular year may exceed those proceeded against, as it may be the case that the proceedings in the magistrates court took place in the preceding year and they were found guilty at the Crown court in the following year, or the defendants was found guilty for a different offence to the original offence proceeded against. 4 The offence of alcohol consumption in designated public place (section 12 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001) came into force on 1 September 2001. 5 Excludes prosecutions and convictions data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services: Ministry of Justice.

Anti-Semitism Alan Johnson: The Annual Data Requirement (ADR) has not yet been extended to cover crime data disaggregated by the five hate crime strands. The situation is being Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the resolved in order that this data can be collected as part Home Department (1) pursuant to the answer of of the ADR from April 2011. This is the next occasion 29 January 2010, Official Report, column 1127W, on in the annual data cycle that this will be possible. The anti-Semitism, whether figures on occurrences of extension to the ADR will not enable us to disaggregate anti-Semitism have been added to the annual data the data on racist offences in order that we can identify requirements for police community safety figures; specific data on anti-Semitic crimes. [317145] The ACPO National Community Tension Team (NCTT) (2) with reference to the answer of 18 March 2009, has been collating data on anti-Semitic crimes since Official Report, column 1154W, on anti-Semitism, April 2008. The data are collated as an intelligence whether the five data requirements of hate crime have document and has not been published previously. We been added to the annual police community safety are seeking publication of this data at the earliest figures; and what data has been collected on anti- opportunity in order that indicative figures on anti-Semitic Semitic incidents. [317103] hate crime for the year 2009-10 can be made available. 431W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 432W

Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Crime Home Department with reference to the answer of 18 March 2009, Official Report, column 1154W, on Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the anti-Semitism, what meetings the cross-government Home Department how many incidents of (a) arson, champion on reducing incitement on the internet has (b) violence against the person, (c) sexual offences, attended in that role; and what the outcomes were of (d) robbery and (e) burglary have been recorded as these meetings. [317104] having taken place on the grounds of (i) educational establishments and (ii) hospitals or medical centres in Alan Johnson: In his role as cross-Government internet each year since 1998. [317578] hate crime champion, Home Office Minister Mr. Alan Campbell has met with the Internet Watch Foundation Alan Johnson: Information on the location in which and the Trades Union Congress. The topics for discussion violent offences are committed is not collected centrally. were the blocking of internet service providers and Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the tackling the Redwatch website respectively. Home Department in which constituencies the rate of Since becoming the cross-Government champion, the (a) violent crime, (b) sexual offences and (c) robbery Minister has overseen the progress of the Internet Hate increased between 2002-03 and 2008-09. [317885] Crime Action Plan. This is part of the wider Cross Governmental Hate Crime Action Plan. Work on this Alan Johnson [holding answer 22 February 2010]: plan has included the creation of an online reporting Information is not available in the form requested as mechanism for hate crime on the internet. police recorded crime data is not specifically collected at constituency level. Arrests Crimes of Violence: Females

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the Home Department how much was spent by his number of citizens arrests made by the public in each Department on the Together we can end violence of the last five years. [317668] against women and girls consultation (a) in total, (b) on production and distribution of the consultation Alan Johnson: Information on citizens’ arrests is not document, (c) on opinion polling, (d) on mobile collected centrally. roadshows and (e) on production and distribution of the final strategy document. [316957] Arrests: Football Mr. Alan Campbell: Between March and May 2009 the Government undertook the largest ever cross- Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the government consultation on Violence Against Women Home Department how many arrests on average were and Girls with the public and with frontline experts and made at football matches in (a) each police force area staff. and (b) England and Wales in each year since 2003. The following funding was provided by the Government [317837] towards the Violence Against Women and Girls Consultation: Alan Johnson: Data on arrests in connection with (a) The total amount spent on the consultation process was football matches are collated and reported annually on approximately £425,000. the basis of club supported and type of offence, rather (b) Production and distribution of the consultation document than geographical location of offence. The data for part came to £10,000. (a), therefore, is not collated centrally and could be (c) The MORI poll conducted cost £14,000. obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Home Office (d) The amount spent on the mobile roadshows during the annually publishes statistics for football-related arrests 12 week consultation, including staffing, was in the region of and football banning orders in England and Wales. £380,000. This includes the following: These statistics for the football seasons 2003-04 to Nine regional stakeholder events attended by nearly 800 2008-09 can be accessed on the Home Office website: professionals; http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/ On-line consultation questions—more than 5,000 surveys were football-disorder/index.html completed and 2,930 consultation documents were downloaded. Information in answer to part (b) is presented in the We received approximately 1,000 e-mails to the following table. consultation inbox. Average number of arrests per regulated football match in England and Wales 25 focus groups facilitated by The Women’s National Commission Football related- Regulated with over 300 particularly marginalised and disadvantaged women, arrests in football matches Average arrests including asylum seekers and refugees, women involved in prostitution Football England and in England and per regulated and victims of domestic and sexual violence. season Wales Wales football match The roadshow bus which visited 40 towns across England. 2003-04 3,826 2,433 1.573 Approximately 20,000 leaflets were distributed and 2,400 surveys 2004-05 3,548 2,950 1.203 were returned. 2005-06 3,274 2,974 1.101 In total 10,000 people responded to the consultation in person 2006-07 3,716 3,088 1.203 or online. 2007-08 3,812 3,132 1.217 (e) The current production, distribution and launch costs of 2008-09 3,734 3,121 1.196 the final strategy document are £20,000. It is possible that due to high demand, further copies will need to be produced. 433W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 434W

Cybercrime The figures quoted are for net media costs and do not include production costs or fees, except for the IPS spend which includes production costs for below the Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the line advertising. Home Department how many powers relating to cybercrime have been (a) created and (b) amended by Recruitment advertising has not been included as it is legislation sponsored by his Department since 1997. not done centrally but carried out across the Department [317665] and hence spend could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Alan Johnson: The Government have amended the Departmental Visits Abroad UK legislation relating to cybercrime, the Computer Misuse Act 1990, to ensure that the Act continues to be Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home relevant as technology changes. Department what the cost to his Department of its In the Police & Justice Act 2006 international travel has been since May 2007. [317655] We broadened the definition of the Section 3 offence to clarify that all means of interference with a computer system are Mr. Woolas: The expenditure incurred on overseas criminalised—in particular ensuring that adequate provision is travel between May 2007 and January 2010 is set out in made to criminalise all forms of denial of service (DoS) attacks. the table: We increased the maximum penalty for the Section 1 offence of unauthorised access to computer material to two years to better £000 reflect the seriousness of these offences as more and more sensitive Home Office, including UKBA 9,480 systems and information have external connections and also ensure that the offence is extraditable. Identity and Passport Service 250 Criminal Records Bureau 19 We added the Section 3A offence, which created a new offence of making, adapting or supplying articles for use in computer Total 9,749 misuse offences to discourage the market in the production and distribution of hacking tools. The above numbers include both official and ministerial travel. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the In the Serious Crime Act 2007 Part 2 we created a civil service management code and the ministerial code. new general offence of encouraging and assisting crime. This offence covers both online and offline offending Detection Rates: Greater Manchester and replaced the offence of enabling unauthorised access to computer material created in the Police and Justice Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Act. Home Department what the crime detection rate was in Both of these Acts also contained a number of minor (a) Bolton and (b) Greater Manchester in each of the and consequential amendments to other parts of the last five years. [316014] Computer Misuse Act 1990. Mr. Alan Campbell: From l April 2007 the rules Additionally, changes were made to territorial extent governing recording of non-sanction detections were and the relevance of external law sections of the Computer revised to reduce the scope within which they can be Misuse Act, through the Criminal Justice (Terrorism & claimed to a very small limited set of circumstances. For Conspiracy) Act 1998. this reason the preferred method of presenting detections data is to use sanction detections. The sanction detection rates for all offences detected in Bolton and Greater Departmental Advertising Manchester from 2004-05 onwards are given in the table. Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Detection rates are a ratio of crimes detected in a Department how much was spent on advertising by (a) period to crimes recorded in a period. They are not his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental based on tracking whether individual crimes recorded public body and (ii) executive agency for which his in a period have eventually been detected. Department is responsible in 2009. [317653] Sanction detection rates for all offences detected in the Bolton Metropolitan borough division and the Greater Manchester police force area Mr. Woolas: The following table summarises the Home Percentage detected Bolton Metropolitan Greater Manchester Office, the UK Border Agency (UKBA), Identity and borough division police force area Passport Service (IPS) and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) forecast spend on advertising for the financial 2004-05 20 20 year 2009-10. 2005-06 27 24 2006-07 27 24 £ 2007-08 26 25 2008-09 22 25 Home Office 8,578,052 UKBA 11,577,290 Driving Offences IPS 1,326,478 CRB 12,216 1 UKBA spend includes an estimated £50,000 on advertising campaigns abroad. Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in (a) Milton The activity that has been scheduled may still be Keynes and (b) England were convicted of (i) a subject to alteration and the total for each media may motoring offence that resulted in a fatality and (ii) change. careless driving in each of the last five years. [313949] 435W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 436W

Mr. Alan Campbell: The number of defendants found Court proceedings data are not available at town or guilty at all courts of offences of causing death by local authority area level. Therefore data are included dangerous driving and offences of careless driving in in the table for the Thames Valley police force area. the Thames Valley police force area and England, from Data for 2009 are planned for publication in the 2004 to 2008 (latest available) is given in the table. autumn, 2010.

Number of persons found guilty at all courts in the Thames Valley police force area and England of causing death by dangerous driving1 and various careless driving offences2,in England from 2004-083 Year Area/offence 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Thames Valley Death by dangerous driving 12 12 19 24 16 Careless driving 673 754 798 884 2,975 England Death by dangerous driving 303 324 279 302 259 Careless driving 19,706 19,323 18,204 27,106 55,904 1 Includes the offences of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving when drunk, causing death by carelessor inconsiderate driving, causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured and aggravated vehicle taking where the driving of the vehicle causes an accident resulting in the death of any person. 2 Includes the offences of driving without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for other road users, failure to comply with an order to stopamoving vehicle, use of hand held mobile phone while driving, causing or permitting the use of a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle, Using a mobile phone while supervising the holder of a provisional driving licence to drive a motor vehicle on the road, breach of requirements as to control of vehicle, position which does not give proper control or full view of road and traffic ahead etc. and other careless driving offences and racing. 3 Excludes convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Note: 1. The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. [Ref. IOS 47-10, PQC 313949].

Driving Offences: M4 Driving Under Influence

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers have received a Home Department how many breathalyser tests were fixed penalty notice for using the bus lane on the M4 in conducted by the police on drivers in each police force each of the last five years. [317194] area in each year since 1998; and how many people (a) passed, (b) failed and (c) refused to take that test in Mr. Alan Campbell: The information requested is not each such area in each such year. [317949] available. Data on fixed penalty notices for traffic offences Alan Johnson: The figures requested are shown in the reported to the Home Office are broken down by police following tables. The latest published year is 2007. Figures force area only, and do not specify the specific location for tests failed and refusals are combined as they are not where offences took place. reported separately to the Home Office.

Number of breath tests carried out, by police force area, 1998 to 2007 Police force area 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Avon and 19,695 19,247 15,805 15372 15,140 24,492 27,297 21,928 15,779 15,655 Somerset Bedfordshire 5,295 2,886 3,262 4,212 6,150 6,633 7,764 6,704 3,093 2,578 Cambridgeshire 17,800 13,600 12,800 12,700 13,000 12,300 12,300 12,500 12,500 12,000 Cheshire 23,315 20,505 15,800 13,586 12,224 11,854 20,155 22,005 35,747 32,210 Cleveland 34,181 28,601 18,818 14,054 10,995 8,716 8,056 10,826 11,308 10,140 Cumbria 9,361 7,083 6,076 5,089 4,694 5,513 8,430 13,577 13,804 16,217 Derbyshire 35,684 49,237 52,001 42,147 37,931 32,570 31,023 17,685 16,019 15,873 Devon and 15,695 14,731 12,977 13,478 12,618 10,914 10,690 10,423 13,562 16,687 Cornwall Dorset 10,056 9,203 12,298 10,424 10,431 8,464 6,938 7,917 8,706 8,038 Durham 7,350 12,668 15,306 16,322 9,535 7,558 6,080 7,734 6,945 8,160 Dyfed-Powys 9,232 9,922 7,381 7,008 7,344 5,982 6,686 6,917 7,291 9,429 Essex 28,358 24,077 27,179 18,851 16,139 15,481 25,337 34,249 28,436 25,946 Gloucestershire 9,335 8,330 8,202 9,646 9,339 8,647 7,144 9,122 10,090 8,262 Greater 31,175 21,479 27,300 23,939 23,200 20,900 19,900 18,900 18,100 18,025 Manchester Gwent 11,211 10,639 10,133 6,428 3,784 2,794 1,632 1,957 1,702 2,374 Hampshire 27,348 31,552 35,243 35,189 35,219 37,529 38,399 38,323 34,772 26,208 437W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 438W

Number of breath tests carried out, by police force area, 1998 to 2007 Police force area 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Hertfordshire 8,147 6,959 5,963 5,460 4,289 4,011 7,289 11,900 12,693 12,030 Humberside 8,284 8,057 9,371 7,477 8,714 6,545 5,619 5,717 10,009 11,885 Kent 27,528 32,706 32,189 32,229 34,165 24,553 32,019 31,187 31,684 28,629 Lancashire 20,283 19,075 15,542 10,016 10,562 7,981 10,204 12,990 16,359 19,158 Leicestershire 20,161 21,127 18,751 14,891 14,526 12,007 15,799 14,419 9,980 6,644 Lincolnshire 25,917 20,998 12,101 13,593 9,013 12,076 11,310 11,431 10,581 14,722 London, City of 3,309 1,746 1,056 1,085 1,413 1,237 683 1,117 1,553 1,375 Merseyside 18,671 18,619 12,787 7,169 6,952 7,722 5,019 8,003 10,642 12,829 Metropolitan 111,448 99,832 93,807 65,084 57,206 55,993 61,535 67,461 65,025 66,919 Police Norfolk 12,419 11,641 9,074 9,096 5,304 4,030 4,805 10,367 7,844 6,366 North Wales 15,236 15,862 14,960 15,141 19,597 17,337 24,177 21,812 19,597 23,034 North Yorkshire 9,911 8,090 6,731 7,431 7,284 8,254 8,589 9,339 10,129 10,526 Northamptonshire 4,664 5,333 5,799 4,539 3,343 3,126 3,200 5,196 4,259 4,076 Northumbria 12,183 12,496 12,727 12,368 11,796 11,123 9,776 9,301 7,992 7,392 Nottinghamshire 8,880 8,361 8,382 7,682 5,799 7,146 8,241 7,923 7,172 7,250 South Wales 24,886 20,674 17,772 19,329 17,496 16,863 16,733 16,269 17,087 19,013 South Yorkshire 12,614 16,094 19,243 18,017 14,414 12,117 6,494 13,689 10,267 11,390 Staffordshire 15,428 10,148 7,706 4,706 5,261 5,073 13,666 14,322 12,723 12,369 Suffolk 15,636 15,134 9,159 8,588 8,868 11,566 10,569 8,854 9,059 10,435 Surrey 11,364 11,696 12,393 13,311 7,504 8,858 9,484 9,605 8,278 6,915 Sussex 17,395 17,885 20,845 21,805 17,297 17,150 15,210 17,983 18,742 16,805 Thames Valley 34,151 30,273 30,824 26,158 25,308 16,049 15,363 14,629 13,538 14,850 Warwickshire 8,661 8,604 7,057 5,828 5,068 5,848 5,496 4,820 4,458 4,877 West Mercia 19,090 12,340 8,930 9,070 8,215 6,289 7,991 8,833 11,267 10,438 West Midlands 24,099 21,324 16,221 12,203 10,510 10,960 6,579 6,900 6,229 5,611 West Yorkshire 22,894 18,807 18,278 17,219 16,739 14,157 16,921 15,367 18,011 18,724 Wiltshire 7,118 6,841 6,501 5,941 5,850 5,867 7,398 7,167 8,708 7,688 England and 815,468 764,482 714,750 623,881 570,236 534,285 578,000 607,368 601,740 599,752 Wales Note: Figures do not always match those in each year’s breath test statistics publication, due to subsequent amendments being incorporated.

Number of breath tests passed1, by police force area, 1998 to 2007 Police force area 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Avon and 16,646 16,032 12,761 12,502 12,096 21,195 24,269 18,746 13,044 13,210 Somerset Bedfordshire 4,451 2,116 2,543 3,500 5,269 5,517 6,621 5,762 2,162 1,518 Cambridgeshire 16,527 12,458 11,707 11,591 11,714 11,041 11,045 11,187 11,037 10,595 Cheshire 21,733 18,856 13,330 11,017 9,802 9,459 17,725 20,048 33,548 30,164 Cleveland 33,262 27,754 18,020 13,209 10,215 7,626 7,382 10,094 10,484 9,517 Cumbria 8,571 6,522 5,477 4,350 4,157 4,865 7,747 12,758 13,011 15,406 Derbyshire 33,891 47,382 50,324 40,562 36,262 30,893 28,894 16,360 14,892 14,877 Devon and 13,466 12,046 10,369 10,697 9,677 7,955 7,887 7,851 10,945 14,443 Cornwall Dorset 8,545 7,926 10,914 8,852 8,853 6,756 5,255 6,109 6,823 6,210 Durham 6,137 11,731 14,290 15,237 8,429 6,423 4,869 6,661 5,890 7,191 Dyfed-Powys 8,131 8,904 6,538 6,071 6,311 4,894 5,625 5,922 6,309 8,542 Essex 25,659 21,349 24,751 16,242 13,452 12,727 22,354 31,536 25,648 23,437 Gloucestershire 8,005 7,036 6,827 8,209 7,811 7,215 5,863 7,804 8,565 6,908 Greater 24,749 16,680 18,767 16,179 15,800 13,800 13,600 13,500 12,790 12,800 Manchester Gwent 10,112 9,594 9,120 5,179 2,667 1,530 377 753 422 1,291 Hampshire 23,647 27,795 31,578 31,293 31,226 33,532 34,597 34,046 31,051 21,695 Hertfordshire 6,172 5,076 3,973 3,376 2,254 1,936 5,261 10,032 10,827 10,146 Humberside 6,756 6,848 8,125 6,363 7,535 5,003 4,912 4,979 8,448 10,833 Kent 24,448 29,234 29,190 29,078 31,178 21,570 28,841 29,012 29,447 26,876 Lancashire 18,373 17,221 13,942 7,548 9,102 5,099 7,308 10,129 13,410 16,471 Leicestershire 17,883 19,128 16,709 12,733 12,144 9,727 13,577 12,465 8,121 4,746 Lincolnshire 24,991 20,137 11,318 12,903 8,158 11,011 10,372 10,436 9,420 13,621 London, City of 2,840 1,448 814 802 1,126 998 547 933 1,303 1,166 Merseyside 16,179 16,382 10,587 5,038 4,649 5,423 2,738 5,913 8,676 10,898 Metropolitan 96,642 88,476 84,035 53,003 43,458 39,944 45,816 50,784 46,578 49,646 Police Norfolk 11,525 10,805 8,316 7,931 4,366 2,822 3,816 9,321 6,455 5,163 North Wales 13,719 14,319 13,388 13,746 18,107 15,974 22,743 20,442 18,455 21,313 439W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 440W

Number of breath tests passed1, by police force area, 1998 to 2007 Police force area 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

North Yorkshire 8,431 6,766 5,589 6,294 6,109 7,085 7,095 7,917 8,846 9,246 Northamptonshire 3,462 4,082 4,360 3,132 2,027 1,861 1,985 4,063 2,931 2,755 Northumbria 8,950 8,974 9,294 9,013 8,787 8,543 7,592 6,669 5,355 5,001 Nottinghamshire 6,503 5,917 6,025 5,370 3,674 4,690 5,733 5,478 4,852 4,992 South Wales 21,685 17,980 15,097 16,275 14,591 13,860 13,713 13,284 14,305 16,538 South Yorkshire 10,944 14,102 17,045 16,073 12,396 10,324 4,075 9,977 7,413 8,768 Staffordshire 13,328 8,330 6,492 3,080 3,450 3,224 11,774 12,452 10,917 10,688 Suffolk 14,458 14,019 8,352 7,632 7,833 10,234 9,372 7,837 8,054 9,645 Surrey 10,096 10,102 10,826 11,792 6,386 7,917 8,417 8,562 7,408 6,214 Sussex 15,431 15,938 19,050 19,665 15,486 15,158 13,017 15,752 16,519 15,010 Thames Valley 29,194 25,363 25,508 21,464 17,618 9,746 11,398 8,756 9,717 11,362 Warwickshire 7,785 7,591 6,119 4,890 4,137 4,983 4,758 4,035 3,869 4,456 West Mercia 17,565 10,791 6,717 6,820 5,966 3,870 5,561 6,137 8,762 8,261 West Midlands 17,999 16,111 12,268 7,548 5,470 6,195 1,749 1,981 1,645 1,388 West Yorkshire 18,202 14,947 14,158 13,255 12,247 10,594 12,633 10,681 12,083 12,297 Wiltshire 6,036 5,830 5,514 4,819 4,765 4,717 6,067 5,920 7,573 6,858 England and 713,129 670,098 620,127 524,333 466,760 427,936 474,980 503,084 498,010 502,162 Wales 1 Figures derived by subtracting numbers of positive/refused from total tests conducted. Note: Figures do not always match those in each year’s breath test statistics publication, due to subsequent amendments being incorporated.

Number of breath tests positive or refused1, by police force area, 1998 to 2007 Police force area 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Avon and 3,049 3,215 3,044 2,870 3,044 3,297 3,028 3,182 2,735 2,445 Somerset Bedfordshire 844 770 719 712 881 1,116 1,143 942 931 1,060 Cambridgeshire 1,273 1,142 1,093 1,109 1,286 1,259 1,255 1,313 1,463 1,405 Cheshire 1,582 1,649 2,470 2,569 2,422 2,395 2,430 1,957 2,199 2,046 Cleveland 919 847 798 845 780 1,090 674 732 824 623 Cumbria 790 561 599 739 537 648 683 819 793 811 Derbyshire 1,793 1,855 1,677 1,585 1,669 1,677 2,129 1,325 1,127 996 Devon and 2,229 2,685 2,608 2,781 2,941 2,959 2,803 2,572 2,617 2,244 Cornwall Dorset 1,511 1,277 1,384 1,572 1,578 1,708 1,683 1,808 1,883 1,828 Durham 1,213 937 1,016 1,085 1,106 1,135 1,211 1,073 1,055 969 Dyfed-Powys 1,101 1,018 843 937 1,033 1,088 1,061 995 982 887 Essex 2,699 2,728 2,428 2,609 2,687 2,754 2,983 2,713 2,788 2,509 Gloucestershire 1,330 1,294 1,375 1,437 1,528 1,432 1,281 1,318 1,525 1,354 Greater 6,426 4,799 8,533 7,760 7,400 7,100 6,300 5,400 5,310 5,225 Manchester Gwent 1,099 1,045 1,013 1,249 1,117 1,264 1,255 1,204 1,280 1,083 Hampshire 3,701 3,757 3,665 3,896 3,993 3,997 3,802 4,277 3,721 4,513 Hertfordshire 1,975 1,883 1,990 2,084 2,035 2,075 2,028 1,868 1,866 1,884 Humberside 1,528 1,209 1,246 1,114 1,179 1,542 707 738 1,561 1,052 Kent 3,080 3,472 2,999 3,151 2,987 2,983 3,178 2,175 2,237 1,753 Lancashire 1,910 1,854 1,600 2,468 1,460 2,882 2,896 2,861 2,949 2,687 Leicestershire 2,278 1,999 2,042 2,158 2,382 2,280 2,222 1,954 1,859 1,898 Lincolnshire 926 861 783 690 855 1,065 938 995 1,161 1,101 London, City of 469 298 242 283 287 239 136 184 250 209 Merseyside 2,492 2,237 2,200 2,131 2,303 2,299 2,281 2,090 1,966 1,931 Metropolitan 14,806 11,356 9,772 12,081 13,748 16,049 15,719 16,677 18,447 17,273 Police Norfolk 894 836 758 1,165 938 1,208 989 1,046 1,389 1,203 North Wales 1,517 1,543 1,572 1,395 1,490 1,363 1,434 1,370 1,142 1,721 North Yorkshire 1,480 1,324 1,142 1,137 1,175 1,169 1,494 1,422 1,283 1,280 Northamptonshire 1,202 1,251 1,439 1,407 1,316 1,265 1,215 1,133 1,328 1,321 Northumbria 3,233 3,522 3,433 3,355 3,009 2,580 2,184 2,632 2,637 2,391 Nottinghamshire 2,377 2,444 2,357 2,312 2,125 2,456 2,508 2,445 2,320 2,258 South Wales 3,201 2,694 2,675 3,054 2,905 3,003 3,020 2,985 2,782 2,475 South Yorkshire 1,670 1,992 2,198 1,944 2,018 1,793 2,419 3,712 2,854 2,622 Staffordshire 2,100 1,818 1,214 1,626 1,811 1,849 1,892 1,870 1,806 1,681 Suffolk 1,178 1,115 807 956 1,035 1,332 1,197 1,017 1,005 790 Surrey 1,268 1,594 1,567 1,519 1,118 941 1,067 1,043 870 701 Sussex 1,964 1,947 1,795 2,140 1,811 1,992 2,193 2,231 2,223 1,795 441W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 442W

Number of breath tests positive or refused1, by police force area, 1998 to 2007 Police force area 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Thames Valley 4,957 4,910 5,316 4,694 7,690 6,303 3,965 5,873 3,821 3,488 Warwickshire 876 1,013 938 938 931 865 738 785 589 421 West Mercia 1,525 1,549 2,213 2,250 2,249 2,419 2,430 2,696 2,505 2,177 West Midlands 6,100 5,213 3,953 4,655 5,040 4,765 4,830 4,919 4,584 4,223 West Yorkshire 4,692 3,860 4,120 3,964 4,492 3,563 4,288 4,686 5,928 6,427 Wiltshire 1,082 1,011 987 1,122 1,085 1,150 1,331 1,247 1,135 830 England and 102,339 94,384 94,623 99,548 103,476 106,349 103,020 104,284 103,730 97,590 Wales 1 Separate figures for positive (failed) and refused not collected. Note: Figures do not always match those in each year’s breath test statistics publication, due to subsequent amendments being incorporated.

Entry Clearances: Eastern Europe Post Year Received Allowed Dismissed

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Chisinau 2007 104 25 20 Home Department how many visas his Department 2008 95 40 36 issued in (a) Tirana, (b) Kiev and (c) Chisinau (i) in 2009 70 29 13 each of the last three years and (ii) in 2010 on the latest Total 346 130 98 date for which figures are available. [317798]

Mr. Woolas: The number of visas issued at our visa Kiev 2007 369 95 146 sections in Chisinau, Kiev and Tirana in the calendar 2008 409 80 126 years 2007-09 are shown in the table. The number of 2009 327 88 115 applications received and refused are also shown. Total 1,440 354 523 The data for 2009 is for the period January to September. Visa statistics for the final quarter of 2009 are not due Tirana 2007 487 80 234 to be published until 27 February. 2008 1,265 307 285 2009 569 415 379 Post Applications Issued Refused Total 2,757 917 1,191 2007 Chisinau 2,781 2,221 553 Note: Kiev 36,510 33,051 3,126 The data is based on management information. It is provisional and subject to change. Tirana 9,735 6,951 2,695 Total 49,026 42,223 6,374 Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals there were of 2008 Chisinau 1,817 1,113 547 visa decisions relating to applications received in (a) Kiev 33,120 29,067 3,918 Tirana, (b) Kiev and (c) Chisinau in (i) each of the Tirana 8,713 4,653 3,574 last three years and (ii) in 2010 on the latest date for Total 43,650 34,833 8,039 which figures are available. [317914]

Mr. Woolas: The number of appeals against decisions 2009 Chisinau 1,157 800 393 taken at our visa sections in Chisinau, Kiev and Tirana Kiev 23,866 20,678 2,994 that were received in the calendar years 2007-09, are Tirana 4,234 2,986 1,371 shown in the following table. The number of appeals Total 29,257 24,464 4,758 that were (i) allowed and (ii) dismissed in those years is also shown. The data is based on management information. It is The data for 2009 is for the period January to September. provisional and subject to change. Visa statistics for the final quarter of 2009 are not due to be published until 27 February. Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals of visa decisions Post Year Received Allowed Dismissed taken in (a) Tirana, (b) Kiev and (c) Chisinau were (i) upheld and (ii) dismissed in (A) each of the last Chisinau 2007 104 25 20 three years and (B) on the latest date for which figures 2008 95 40 36 are available. [317912] 2009 70 29 13 Total 346 130 98 Mr. Woolas: The number of appeals against decisions taken at our visa sections in Chisinau, Kiev and Tirana that were (i) received; (ii) allowed and (iii) dismissed, in Kiev 2007 369 95 146 the calendar years 2007-09, are shown in the following 2008 409 80 126 table. 2009 327 88 115 The data for 2009 is for the period January to September. Total 1,440 354 523 Visa statistics for the final quarter of 2009 are not due to be published until 27 February. Tirana 2007 487 80 234 443W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 444W

Average time to despatch Explanatory Statements—2009 Post Year Received Allowed Dismissed Weeks 2008 1,265 307 285 Tirana 10 2009 569 415 379 Kiev 8 Total 2,757 917 1,191 Chisinau 10 Note: The data is based on management information. It is provisional and subject to change. Entry Clearances: Married People

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visa applications were Home Department what percentage of applications for refused in (a) Tirana, (b) Kiev and (c) Chisinau in (i) spouse settlement visas was rejected in each of the last each of the last three years and (ii) on the latest date for five years; how much revenue accrued in fees in respect which figures are available. [317915] of reapplications; and what the percentage increase in fee charges was in each of the last five years. [317561] Mr. Woolas: The number of visa applications refused at our visa sections in Chisinau, Kiev and Tirana in the calendar years 2007-09 are shown in the table. The Mr. Woolas [holding answer 22 February 2010]: The number of applications received and visas issued are following table shows the percentage of applications for also shown. spouse/civil partner settlement visas that were refused in each of the last five financial years: The data for 2009 is for the period January to September. Visa statistics for the final quarter of 2009 are not due FY Percentage refused to be published until 27 February. 2004-05 15 Post Applications Issued Refused 2005-06 16 2006-07 16 2007 Chisinau 2,781 2,221 553 2007-08 19 Kiev 36,510 33,051 3,126 2008-09 21 Tirana 9,735 6,951 2,695 Source: Total 49,026 42,223 6,374 Internal management information—International Group Revenue accrued in respect of re-submissions cannot 2008 Chisinau 1,817 1,113 547 be provided as it is not possible to extract this information Kiev 33,120 29,067 3,918 from the recording system. Tirana 8,713 4,653 3,574 The following table shows the percentage increase for fee charges for spouse settlement visas in each of the Total 43,650 34,833 8,039 last five financial years.

2009 Chisinau 1,157 800 393 Percentage fee increase Fee (£) Kiev 23,866 20,678 2,994 2004-05 0 260 Tirana 4,234 2,986 1,371 2005-06 0 260 Total 29,257 24,464 4,758 2006-07 0 260 2007-08 92 500 The data is based on management information. It is 2008-09 3 515 provisional and subject to change. Source: Published Fee Rates Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Entry Clearances: Overseas Students Home Department when the Minister with responsibility for entry clearance last visited (a) Tirana, (b) Kiev and (c) Chisinau. [317917] Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier 4 student Mr. Woolas: To date I have not visited the visa applications are pending in each consulate in the sections in Tirana, Kiev and Chisinau. Indian sub-continent as a result of the suspension of processing; how many dependants are included in such Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the applications; whether such applications will be Home Department on average how long it took for an considered against the criteria in force at the time of explanatory statement relating to a visa decision to be their application or under the new criteria; and whether sent to London from (a) Tirana, (b) Kiev and (c) applicants enrolled in education institutions which have Chisinau in the latest period for which figures are subsequently had their licence to sponsor suspended or available. [317918] revoked will be refused a visa. [317851]

Mr. Woolas: During 2009, the average length of time Mr. Woolas: The suspension of tier 4 student visa that it took for an Entry Clearance Officer’s explanatory applications in North India, Bangladesh and Nepal on statement to be sent to the Asylum and Immigration 1 February means that we are not accepting any new Tribunal from our visa sections in (a) Tirana, (b) Kiev applications in this category. No applications, including and (c) Chisinau following receipt of an appeal, was as those from dependents, are therefore pending as a result follows: of the suspension. 445W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 446W

Applications submitted before 1 February are being Table B :Explosive certificates granted for acquisition and keeping and acquisition only, new and renewal applications: England and Wales, 1998 to processed as normal against the criteria in force at the 2005-06 time of their application. Acquisition and keeping Acquisition only The suspension will be lifted in North India from New Renewal New Renewal 1 March for tier 4 students intending to undertake applications applications applications applications higher education courses (foundation degree, undergraduate, 1998 1,644 1,843 761 1,366 postgraduate) 1999 713 1,340 627 1,452 Applicants intending to study at educational institutions 2000 1,016 2,069 703 1,597 which have had their sponsor licence subsequently revoked 2001 699 2,292 622 1,733 will not meet the requirements for entry and will be 2002 694 1,678 714 1,736 refused a visa. In cases where the sponsor licence has 2002-03 647 1,571 662 1,600 been suspended, a decision on the visa application will 2003-041 552 1,997 664 1,444 be deferred until a decision is made on whether to 2004-05 501 2,223 698 1,603 revoke or re-instate the licence. 2005-062 456 1,776 695 1,491 1 Excludes data from Metropolitan, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire police forces. 2 Excludes data from Hertfordshire police. Firearms and Explosives: Licensing Football Banning Orders Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates were issued Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the for (a) firearms and (b) explosives in each year since Home Department how many football banning orders 1998. [317759] were (a) issued and (b) breached in each year since 2003. [317835] Alan Johnson: Available data on firearm and shotgun certificates granted in England and Wales relating to Alan Johnson: The data requested are gathered and new and renewal applications are given on Table A. reported in accordance with the period of a football These are taken from the most recent Home Office season rather than calendar year. The following table Statistical Bulletin on firearm certificates, which is available provides the number of football banning orders imposed at: during each football season since 2003-04 and the number http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0509.pdf of arrests for breach of an order. The data provide no distinction between low level technical breaches or a Due to the transition from in-force data collection substantive breach involving attempted attendance at a systems to the National Firearms Licensing Management regulated football match at home or abroad. System (NFLMS) in 2006, firearm certificates data for 2006-07 are not available centrally. Data for 2008-09 are Number of football banning orders (a) issued and (b) breached in each football scheduled for publication on 25 March 2010. season since 2003-04 Football banning orders Arrests for breach of Available information on explosive certificates granted Football season issued football banning order by police forces in England and Wales for acquisition 2003-04 1,263 63 and keeping and acquisition only relates to the period 2004-05 970 60 1998 to 2005-06 and are given in Table B. Data from 2005-06 995 39 2006-07 to 2008-09 cannot be provided due to 2006-07 644 56 disproportionate cost. The Home Office ceased collection 2007-08 1,048 80 of explosive certificates data in 2009-10. 2008-09 956 84 Table A: Firearm and shotgun certificates granted, new and renewal applications: England and Wales, 1998 to 2007-08 Number (rounded) Forced Marriage Firearms Shotguns New Renewal New Renewal Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the applications applications applications applications Home Department (1) what steps his Department is 1998 5,900 11,600 16,900 16,600 taking to reduce the incidence of vulnerable people 1999 5,000 1250 15,600 12,500 being forced to marry against their will as a result of a 2000 5,900 26,200 18,200 141,300 financial agreement between family members and a 2001 7,100 31,300 22,700 162,400 foreign national; [317260] 2002 8,600 28,800 25,600 152,700 (2) what estimate he has made of the number of 2002-03 8,600 25,100 26,100 125,200 vulnerable people who have been forced to marry 2003-04 7,700 14,100 22,500 113,500 against their will as a result of a financial agreement 2004-05 9,100 18,300 23,400 146,600 between their family members and a foreign national 2005-06 8,600 29,100 25,200 141,100 seeking UK citizenship. [317261] 2006-072 n/a n/a n/a n/a 2007-08 11,600 30,200 32,400 123,800 Mr. Alan Campbell: The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) n/a denotes figures not available provides confidential information and assistance to potential 1 The extension of the period of the certificates from three years to five years in 1995 meant that no renewals were due in 1998 and 1999. Those shown are victims of forced marriage, those who have already been delayed applications from 1997. Figures for 2003-04 and 2004-05 also reflect the forced to marry and concerned professionals. The FMU renewal cycle change. also works with partners both in the UK and overseas, 2 Figures are not available due to the transition from in-force data collection systems to the National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) in to ensure that appropriate action is taken to prevent 2006. forced marriage taking place. 447W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 448W

In the last two years over 1,600 incidences of suspected (b) by children there have been in each of the last forced marriage were reported in each year to the FMU. 30 years; and what assessment he has made of trends in Forced marriage is, by its nature, an underground practice the levels of such homicides. [317967] and therefore detailed statistics on the scale of the problem and patterns of abuse are not fully known. While the FMU are aware of some of the key motivators for forcing a person to marry and have seen cases where Mr. Alan Campbell [holding answer 22 February 2010]: both these issues appear to be a factor among those Available information is from the Homicide Index as at with learning and physical disabilities we do not collect 24 November 2009 and relates to the number of currently specific data on the motivators as it is not always recorded homicides in England and Wales: (a) where possible to clearly identify one particular cause. the victim was aged under 16; and (b) where the principal suspect was aged under 16. Data are shown according However, data on the number of suspected incidences to the year in which offences were initially recorded as of forced marriage that involved a person with learning homicide; this is not necessarily the year in which the and or physical difficulties have been collected since offence took place or the year in which any court August 2009. From August 2009 to the end of January 2010 decision was made. at least 18 cases involving people with learning difficulties and seven cases involving people with physical difficulties The number of homicides involving victims aged were reported to the FMU. under 16 in England and Wales fluctuated quite In July last year the FMU published revised Multi-agency substantially between 1979 and 2008-09, peaking at 101 Practice Guidelines which provide step by step guidance offences in 1985 and dipping to 48 offences in 2005-06. for frontline professionals on how to deal with cases of However, due to the relatively small numbers, considerable forced marriage including cases that may involve children year-on-year variation is to be expected. On average, and adults with support needs. there have been 75 such homicides per year over the The FMU are also funding research to look at the 30-year period. The lower numbers recorded in the last prevalence of forced marriage among those with learning few years are in keeping with the lower number of disabilities. One of the objectives of the research will be overall homicides. to examine the motivations for forcing people with Homicides where the principal suspect was aged under learning difficulties into marriage. 16 are rare, accounting for between one and four per Homicide: Children cent of all currently recorded homicides each year between 1979 and 2008-09. As with homicide victims aged under Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the 16, the number has fluctuated during this period, and Home Department how many homicides (a) of and slight year-on-year variations are to be expected.

Currently recorded homicides1: England and Wales, 1979 to 2008-092 Number of recorded crime Year2 Victim aged under 16 years Principal suspect aged under 16 years

1979 90 9 1980 74 22 1981 81 7 1982 90 13 1983 74 9 1984 82 7 1985 101 12 1986 60 8 1987 77 7 1988 96 4 1989 62 7 1990 67 10 1991 93 7 1992 68 9 1993 70 7 1994 76 10 1995 80 12 1996 80 9 1997 82 12 1997-98 71 9 1998-99 78 7 1999-2000 65 11 2000-01 95 11 2001-02 62 12 2002-03 91 9 2003-04 70 8 2004-05 60 9 2005-06 48 18 2006-07 64 12 449W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 450W

Currently recorded homicides1: England and Wales, 1979 to 2008-092 Number of recorded crime Year2 Victim aged under 16 years Principal suspect aged under 16 years

2007-08 63 15 2008-09 50 10 1 As at 24 November 2009; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. 2 Data are shown according to the year in which offences were initially recorded as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the offence took place, or the year in which any court decision was made.

Homicide: Reoffenders Offenders: Deportation Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people convicted of Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the homicide had a previous conviction for homicide at the Home Department what the average period of time time of their sentencing in each of the last five years. taken to deport time-served foreign prisoners held in the UK Border Agency’s detention estate was in each [317667] year since 1998. [317663] Alan Johnson: Available information is from the Homicide Index and was included in table 1.11 of Home Office Alan Johnson: For those foreign national prisoners Statistical Bulletin 01/10, available at: removed in 2007, 2008 and the first three quarters of http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/hosb0110.pdf 2009, the average length of time taken to remove once Data throughout the homicide chapter reflect the position they have completed their sentence is approximately as at 24 November 2009 and are shown according to the 27 weeks. This figure includes those who had been year in which offences were initially recorded as homicide; detained for a longer period while legal, country specific this is not necessarily the year in which the offence took or documentation issues were addressed. Accurate figures place or the year in which any court decision was made. relating before 2007 are not available and could only be obtained by investigating individual case-files. This would Suspects convicted of homicide with previous homicide conviction1: England and Wales, 2004-05 to 2008-09 incur a disproportionate cost. Year offence initially recorded as This information is from internal management homicide2 Number information systems and should therefore be treated as 2004-05 4 provisional and subject to change. 2005-06 38 2006-07 32 Offensive Weapons 2007-08 31 2008-09 — Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the 1 As at 24 November 2009; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with Home Department how many (a) new and (b) by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. 2 Data are shown according to the year in which offences were initially recorded amended powers relating to the possession of a as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the offence took place, or concealed weapon have been created by legislation the year in which any court decision was made. sponsored by his Department since 1997. [317608] 3 In addition, one suspect who committed suicide had previously been convicted of homicide. Immigration: Fraud Alan Johnson: The law relating to the criminal use of both offensive weapons and firearms has been strengthened Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for in a number of areas since 1997. The changes to the law the Home Department how many foreign-born do not make a distinction between concealed and non- nationals have been permitted to retain (a) their UK concealed weapons. citizenship and (b) indefinite leave to remain subsequent to their documentation being found to be Passports: Older People fraudulent in each year since 2005. [317731] Mr. Woolas: The information requested as to how Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the many were permitted to retain citizenship since 2005 Home Department if he will introduce free passports could be obtained by the detailed examination of individual for people aged 75 years or more. [317111] records only at disproportionate cost. Although no one has been deprived of British citizenship, on the basis Meg Hillier: A free passport scheme was introduced that that status was acquired on the basis of fraud, since as a special concession to second world war veterans 2005, the UK Border Agency has recently implemented who were attending 60th anniversary commemorative a new deprivation policy and are pursuing deprivation events in 2004. This was extended to cover all those who action in a number of cases. may have made a contribution to the overall war effort, As regards indefinite leave to remain, a person who whether or not they had served in the armed forces. It obtains (or seeks to obtain) leave to remain by deception therefore applies to those who were born on or before is liable to removal under section 10 of the Immigration 2 September 1929 and so would have been aged 16 or and Asylum Act 1999. We do not however have records over at the end of the war. for those that have been identified as using deception The present free passport scheme is not an age-based but have none the less been allowed to retain their concession and there are no plans to introduce free indefinite leave to remain, as these could be obtained by passports for people aged 75 or over. This would be the detailed examination of individual records only at considerably more expensive and could require an increase disproportionate cost. in passport fees for other applicants. 451W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 452W

Police Community Support Officers: Assaults on Police For 2004-05 assaults data are not available separately for PCSOs. Data for the numbers of assaults on police officers, PCSOs and other operational support staff Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the combined for 2004-05 can be seen in the HMIC Annual Home Department how many assaults upon police Report, available in the Library of the House and from: community support officers have been recorded in each http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc0506/hc08/ of the last five years. [317664] 0842/0842.pdf The increase in assaults should be considered in the Alan Johnson: Data for the numbers of assaults on light of the 144 per cent. increase in the number of police community support officers for 2005-06 to 2008-09 police community support officers in post from 6,769 in are provided in the following table. 2005-06 to 16,507 in 2008-09.

Assaults1 on Police Community Support Officers 2005-06 to 2008-092 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Minor Minor Minor Fatal Serious or no Fatal Serious or no Fatal Serious or no Fatal Serious Minor or Force injury injury injury injury injury injury injury injury injury injury injury no injury

Avon and 00000100100 5 Somerset Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 Cambridgeshire4 ——————————— — Cheshire3, 4 0010040012——— Cleveland4 ———00300300 1 Cumbria4 ——————————— — Derbyshire5 00100100900 2 Devon and 00100500140014 Cornwall5 Dorset 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 Durham 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 8 Essex 0 0 3 0 1 16 0 1 12 0 0 13 Gloucestershire 0 1 5 0 0 5 0 0 4 0 1 5 Greater 0 1 14 0 1 21 0 1 44 0 4 32 Manchester Hampshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 Hertfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 11 0 0 0 Humberside 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 15 0 0 17 Kent 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 1 Lancashire 0 0 4 0 0 13 0 0 10 0 1 17 Leicestershire 0 0 5 0 0 6 0 0 13 0 0 4 Lincolnshire 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 5 0 0 1 London, City of 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Merseyside 0 0 2 0 1 3 0 0 11 0 0 11 Metropolitan 0 2 72 0 10 70 0 23 155 0 7 136 Police Norfolk0 0 10 012011100 6 Northamptonshire 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Northumbria 0 0 4 0 0 3 0 1 10 0 0 24 North ——————————— — Yorkshire4 Nottinghamshire 0 0 8 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 9 South Yorkshire 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 0 3 Staffordshire 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 Suffolk 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Surrey 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 Sussex 0 0 4 0 2 4 0 0 5 0 0 13 Thames Valley 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 6 0 0 14 Warwickshire3 00600200100 3 West Mercia 0 0 6 0 0 4 0 0 4 0 0 5 West Midlands 0 0 8 0 0 22 0 0 32 0 0 25 West Yorkshire 0 0 39 0 1 42 0 0 45 0 0 49 Wiltshire 0 0 5 0 0 2 0 1 6 0 0 1 Dyfed-Powys6 00100100200 1 Gwent 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 4 North Wales 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 8 453W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 454W

Assaults1 on Police Community Support Officers 2005-06 to 2008-092 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 Minor Minor Minor Fatal Serious or no Fatal Serious or no Fatal Serious or no Fatal Serious Minor or Force injury injury injury injury injury injury injury injury injury injury injury no injury

South Wales4 —————————00 8 1 Provisional data collated on behalf of HMIC. Serious assaults are those for which the charge would be under Sections 18 and 20 of the offences Against the Person Act 1861. Other assaults include those with minor or no injury. Recording practices may vary over time and between forces. 2 Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive. 3 Cheshire and Warwickshire were not able to provide data from the HR recording system, data are therefore taken from the crime system and are not comparable with that from other forces. 4 Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cumbria, North Yorkshire and South Wales were not able to provide data for one or more years. 5 Derbyshire in all years and Devon and Cornwall in 2005-06 only were not able to separately identify the degree of assault. All assaults figures for affected years are given in the minor or no injury category. 6 Dyfed-Powys were not able to provide consistent figures for the reporting period, and data for each year are therefore not comparable.

Police: Finance 2008-09 data Budget requirement (£ Resident population Police authority million) (million) Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of Warwickshire 85.41 0.53 5 February 2008, Official Report, columns 997-1004W, West Mercia 190.68 1.19 on police: finance, what the equivalent data are for Wiltshire 99.28 0.65 2008-09. [317606] Greater Manchester 544.93 2.57 Merseyside 317.10 1.35 Alan Johnson: The information requested is set out in Northumbria 277.82 1.39 the following table. South Yorkshire 246.61 1.29 Budget requirement is set before the start of the year. West Midlands 543.44 2.60 West Yorkshire 410.97 2.17 The Government do not distribute grant to police Metropolitan 2,595.00 7.59 authorities purely on the basis of population. The police City of London 64.12 0.01 funding formula uses a range of data relating to Dyfed-Powys 86.96 0.51 demographic and social characteristics to reflect the Gwent 114.30 0.57 relative needs of each police authority. Police grant North Wales 129.42 0.68 allocations by the Department for Communities and South Wales 240.30 1.23 Local Government and the Welsh Assembly Government England and Wales total 10,833.99 54.21 also take into account the relative tax base of each Sources: Budget Requirement—BR Forms. DCLG—English police authorities. police authority. Grant allocations are stabilised by WAG—Welsh police authorities. Population—ONS The projected populations damping to limit year-on-year variations. for 2008 in the table were used in the 2008-09 police grant settlement. 2008-09 data Police: Schools Budget requirement (£ Resident population Police authority million) (million) Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Avon and Somerset 259.47 1.58 Home Department on how many occasions police Bedfordshire 96.06 0.60 officers have been called out to educational Cambridgeshire 120.65 0.77 establishments in (a) each police force area and (b) Cheshire 168.06 1.01 England and Wales in each year since 1998. [317589] Cleveland 124.62 0.56 Cumbria 97.40 0.50 Alan Johnson: The figures requested are not collected Derbyshire 157.22 1.00 centrally. Devon and Cornwall 268.08 1.68 Dorset 111.79 0.71 Police: South Yorkshire Durham 116.12 0.60 Essex 251.08 1.69 Gloucestershire 99.14 0.58 Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Hampshire 294.19 1.84 Home Department how many (a) police officers there Hertfordshire 178.22 1.07 were in (i) 1997, (ii) 2001, (iii) 2005 and (iv) 2009 and Humberside 169.70 0.92 (b) police community support officers there were in (i) Kent 266.88 1.66 2005 and (ii) 2009 in South Yorkshire. [317108] Lancashire 262.07 1.47 Leicestershire 164.70 0.96 Mr. Alan Campbell: The figures requested are shown Lincolnshire 100.64 0.71 in the following table. Norfolk 138.29 0.85 Number of full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers and police community Northamptonshire 114.80 0.68 support officers (PCSOs) in post in South Yorkshire North Yorkshire 132.21 0.80 As at 31 March each year Officers1 PCSOs Nottinghamshire 184.69 1.06 Staffordshire 176.13 1.07 1997 3,159 — Suffolk 106.86 0.71 2001 3,197 — Surrey 191.50 1.09 2005 3,265 125 Sussex 245.08 1.55 2009 3,017 328 Thames Valley 356.10 2.17 1 Number of FTE police officers less staff on career breaks and maternity leave. 455W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 456W

Prosecutions WORK AND PENSIONS Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Surveillance Home Department how many prosecutions there have been in respect of attempts to assist people to enter the UK illegally in each of the last five years. [317259] Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what surveillance powers Mr. Woolas: Statistics on persons proceeded against under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for offences under the Immigration Acts 1971 to 2006 in the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission England and Wales by offence description are provided has applied; and whether it has applied for powers of by the Ministry of Justice and are published annually. entry. [314947] Information for 2004 to 2008 has been published in Table 3.4 of the Control of Immigration: Statistics, Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and United Kingdom—2008 publication which are available Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child from the Library of the House and from the Home maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Office’s Research, Development and Statistics website Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the at: information requested and I have seen the response. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum- Letter from Stephen Geraghty: stats.html In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary Prosecutions: West Lancashire of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the what surveillance powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Home Department how many prosecutions have been Powers Act 2000 the Child Maintenance and Enforcement sought as a direct result of evidence gained using Commission has applied; and whether it has applied for powers of CCTV cameras in West Lancashire constituency in entry. [314947] each of the last six years. [317796] The Commission is seeking authority under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to undertake directed surveillance Mr. Alan Campbell: The information my hon. Friend (the surveillance of individuals in a public place for the purposes requests is not held centrally. of a specific investigation) and access to communications data relating to the “subscriber” of a communications provider. This The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) could include personal information, such as bank account details, and Cheshire constabulary are conducting a qualitative when investigating alleged criminal offences. analysis of recorded crime data and case files in Cheshire. The Commission is not seeking powers of entry. This is in order to determine the value of CCTV to investigations carried out in that particular police force I hope that you find this answer helpful. area. This work will be used to assist in further consideration Departmental Billing of the criteria that should be applied in other areas of England and Wales by police, local authorities and John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Work others in assessing the contribution of CCTV to crime and Pensions what proportion of invoices from detection, crime reduction and public confidence. suppliers her Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009. [311265] Sexual Offences Jim Knight: The Department for Work and Pensions Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the paid 97 per cent. of all valid invoices within 10 days of Home Department how many registered sex offenders receipt in December 2009. were found not to be living at their registered address in the last five years. [317771] Departmental Food

Alan Johnson: These data are not collected in the Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work format requested and could be collated only at and Pensions what estimate she has made of the disproportionate cost. quantity of food waste generated by her Department in each year for which figures are available. [310814] UK Border Agency: Manpower Jonathan Shaw: The quantity of food waste generated Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the by the Department in each year for which figures are Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff available is: there were at Civil Service grade (a) 5, (b) 6 and (c) 7 on 1 January 2010. [317151] Financial year Food waste (kgs) 2008-09 39,755 Mr. Woolas: The Civil Service Grade 5 has been 2009-10 51,489 incorporated into the Senior Civil Service and no longer exists. The numbers of UK Border Agency staff, including The figures cover waste from the preparation of food, temporary cover arrangements, on 1 January 2010 at waste from service counters and customer plate waste. (a) SCS are 79, (b) grade 6 are 187 and (c) grade 7 are There has been an increase in counter sales for 2009-10 605. These numbers are full time equivalents rounded to of 6 per cent. for the same period in 2008-09. This may the nearest whole number. account for the food waste increase in 2009-10. 457W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 458W

Departmental Legislation Disability living allowance—cases recorded with a higher rate care component paid on the grounds of terminal illness by Government Office Region in the 4 quarters to May 2009 Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Government August November February and Pensions what criminal offences have been (a) Office Region 2008 2008 2009 May 2009 created and (b) abolished by secondary legislation West 3,900 3,400 3,500 3,400 sponsored by her Department since 1 May 2008. Midlands [307791] East of 3,400 3,200 3,200 3,100 England Jim Knight: Since 1 May 2008, the following criminal London 4,400 3,900 3,500 3,600 offences have been created by secondary legislation South East 4,100 4,100 4,100 4,200 sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions: South West 3,100 2,500 2,500 2,800 Wales 2,500 2,200 2,400 2,300 Regulation 9 of the Child Support Information Scotland 3,900 3,300 3,500 3,600 Regulations 2008 exercises the power in section 14A(3A) Notes: of the Child Support Act 1991 (inserted by section 36 of 1. The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100 per cent. data the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008) sources. However, the 5 per cent. sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100 per cent. data sources, in particular, more complete imposing a duty on persons liable to make payments of information on the disabling condition of disability living allowance child support maintenance to notify a change of address. claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5 per cent. sample data, or disabling condition for disability living allowance is Any failure to comply with that duty is an offence under required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the 100 per cent. total section 14A(3A) of the 1991 Act. for the benefit. 2. Figures have been rated to agree with Work and Pensions Longitudinal Regulation 25AC of the Child Support (Collection Study totals and are rounded to the nearest hundred. and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 designates certain 3. Figures show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude regulations. Those regulations, inserted by the Child people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. Support Collection and Enforcement (Deduction Orders) Source: Amendment Regulations 2009, contain duties upon DWP Information Directorate 5 per cent sample. certain persons and a failure to comply with those duties is an offence. The duties are: Electronic Government: Advertising (i) notifications required to be given to the Child Maintenance Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Enforcement Commission (“the Commission”) by deposit-takers and Pensions what the budget is for the Direct.gov on which a regular deduction order has been served (regulation 25 E (1) to (5)); television advertising campaign launched on 4 January 2010; and which celebrities were employed to feature in (ii) compliance with a regular deduction order which has been [315699] varied and served on a deposit-taker (regulation 25 I (4)); the campaign. (iii) a requirement on deposit-takers on which a lump sum Jim Knight: Directgov has the potential to enable deduction order has been served to provide information (regulation Government to make substantial savings in shifting 25 O (1) to (5)); from traditional to digital channels. For those savings (iv) a duty to comply with a lump sum deduction order as to be realised, it is vital that the public are aware of and varied (regulation 25 R (3)); trust Directgov as the Government’s official website. (v) a requirement on a deposit-taker on which a deduction The aim of the campaign is to increase awareness so order is directed to pay amounts deducted under the order to the that Directgov is the first site people think of for Commission (regulation 25 AA (1)). Government information, and one which they both Since 1 May 2008, no criminal offences have been trust and recommend to others. Early results have shown abolished by secondary legislation sponsored by the the campaign has been a success with a record number Department for Work and Pensions. of 614,000 visits on the first day of the campaign which was then followed by another 663,000 the next Monday. Disability Living Allowance During the period of the campaign to date, year on year visits to the Directgov homepage have risen by 104 per cent. Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each of the smallest The cost of production and airtime purchased to date geographical units for which figures are available combined is £2.05 million. claimed the higher rate care component of disability The artists featured in the Directgov advertisement living allowance on the ground of terminal illness in are Nick Moran, Honor Blackman, Janet Street Porter, 2008-09. [310725] Christopher Biggins, Kelly Brook and Graham McPherson (popularly known as ‘Suggs’). Helen Mirren provided Jonathan Shaw: The information is in the table. the voiceover. Negotiations on the involvement of these artists in Disability living allowance—cases recorded with a higher rate care component paid on the grounds of terminal illness by Government Office Region in the 4 the project were conducted by the COI and all of the quarters to May 2009 above agreed to participate in the advert for a fraction Government August November February of their normal commercial time. Office Region 2008 2008 2009 May 2009 Electronic Government: Publicity North East 2,700 2,600 2,400 2,400 North West 6,700 6,600 6,100 6,400 Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Yorkshire 3,700 3,500 3,700 4,000 and Pensions how much her Department paid to each and the Humber (a) actor, (b) musician and (c) other performer used East 3,000 2,900 2,900 3,300 to support the directgov advertisement, Go DirectGov. Midlands [310351] 459W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 460W

Jim Knight: We are unable to provide information for Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 3 February 2010]: individual actors, musicians or other performers. This The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the information is market-sensitive and revealing it would chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have weaken the potential for future earnings of those who asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information appeared in the adverts. requested. Negotiations on the involvement of these artists in Letter from Darra Singh: the project were conducted by the COI and all of the The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question above agreed to participate in the advert for a fraction asking what administrative processes are in place to inform of their normal commercial rate. claimants of Employment and Support Allowance of the outcome Directgov has the potential to enable government to of their benefit claims; and what processes are in place to ensure make substantial savings in shifting from traditional to that claimants are informed of an unsuccessful claim before existing benefit payments are (a) stopped and (b) reduced. This is digital channels. For those savings to be realised, it is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as vital that the public are aware of and trust Directgov as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. the government’s official website. The aim of the If a customer claims Employment and Support Allowance and advertisements is to increase awareness so that Directgov is entitled to this benefit, an award notice is issued to the customer is the first site people think of for Government information, by post. If a customer is not entitled to Employment and Support and one which they both trust and recommend to Allowance a decision notice is issued to the customer. The notice others. includes reasons for the disallowance and details of their right to a reconsideration of the decision and, where appropriate, to an Employers’ Liability appeal. Where a customer is receiving Employment and Support Allowance and their entitlement ends or reduces, for example on Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work a change of circumstances, the customer is notified of the decision and Pensions what recent discussions her Department and any appeal rights which may apply. Customers are normally has had with the Association of British Insurers on the notified in advance of any reduction in benefit entitlement but employers’ liability insurance tracing scheme. [316772] this is not always possible, particularly if the change takes effect from a past date. Jonathan Shaw: The Government want to see more In most cases the process is automated with the vast majority done to ensure that individuals who are unable to trace of notifications generated by IT systems and delivered by post. insurers are given support. To this end the Government However, where we know the customer has a mental health have had some very helpful discussions with a range of condition, arrangements are in place to visit them before any stakeholders, including the Association of British Insurers, decision on their case is made. on the possibility of setting up a database of employers’ I hope this information is helpful. liability insurance. Employment Schemes: Graduates We have today published a consultation document ‘AccessingCompensation—Supporting people who need Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for to trace Employers’ Liability Insurance’. The consultation Work and Pensions what forecast she has made of the covers the best way of setting up and administering an take-up by graduates of the Graduate Guarantee in the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office, including a compulsory next 12 months; and how many (a) internships and electronic database for keeping records of future employers’ (b) training places she expects to be made available liability policies that can be searched by claimants and under the scheme in the next 12 months. [315670] their representatives. We are also consulting on establishing an Employers’ Liability Insurance Bureau, a fund of Jim Knight: In November 2009 the Prime Minister last resort for those unable to trace an insurance policy. announced that the Government will guarantee access We will seek to work with the Association of British to an internship, training or help to become self employed Insurers and others to drive forward the establishment to all new graduates reaching six months of unemployment. of the tracing office. We envisage such a system would eventually provide a complete record of all employers’ The Graduate Guarantee is based on: liability policies issued and should be easily accessible The 20,000 graduate internships available through the Graduate to those who need to trace such policies. Talent Pool (open to all graduates, from now); The training options available through the Six Month Offer Employment and Support Allowance and Young Person’s Guarantee; Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Help to become self employed through Higher Education Funding Council for England’s Economic Challenge Investment and Pensions whether she has set any targets for the Fund and Flying Start; and assessment of individuals for the employment support The business start-up support offered through the self employment allowance. [312482] option of the Six Month Offer. Jonathan Shaw: There are no targets for the number We have not made forecasts of the take-up of each of of individuals assessed as eligible for employment and these offers by graduates but we have guaranteed a support allowance. place for every graduate who wants one. Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Jobcentre Plus: Ethnic Groups and Pensions what administrative processes are in place to inform claimants of employment and support Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work allowance of the outcome of their benefit claims; and and Pensions when her Department commissioned the what processes are in place to ensure that claimants are Institute for Fiscal Studies to undertake its review of informed of an unsuccessful claim before existing ethnic parity in Jobcentre Plus; when she expects that benefit payments are (a) stopped and (b) reduced. review to be published; and how much funding her [316097] Department has allocated to that review. [316779] 461W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 462W

Jim Knight: [holding answer 10 February 2010]: The Helen Goodman: The available information is in the Institute for Fiscal Studies have completed the review tables. and the report was published as “Estimating ethnic In January 2009, the National Identity Fraud Unit parity in Jobcentre Plus programmes: A quantitative was reorganised from one centralised unit in Newcastle analysis using the Work and Pensions Longitudinal into three separate units located in London, the Isle of Study (WPLS)”. It was published as part of the Wight and Glasgow. Staffing data provided from April Department’s research series in 2008. 2006 to March 2009 have been obtained from locally The contract with the Institute for Fiscal Studies was held work force management information. From April for £99,702. 2009 the National Identity Fraud Unit’s staffing activities A copy of this has been placed in the Library. were recorded on our Activity Based Modelling System and the data provided from April 2009 to December Jobcentre Plus: ICT 2009 have been sourced from this system. Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work There are no available data prior to April 2006. and Pensions what user acceptance testing has been Staffing—National Identity Fraud Unit—Newcastle (April-October) performed on the job search portals located in 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 Jobcentre Plus offices; what existing bugs have been identified in the Jobsearch IT system in the last 12 April 18.00 19.42 18.19 May 18.00 19.42 18.19 months; and if she will make a statement. [316100] June 16.10 19.42 14.19 Jonathan Shaw: When DWP IT Systems such as job July 16.10 20.42 14.19 search portals are developed and implemented they are August 15.60 20.42 14.19 subject to a rigorous testing regime including user September 13.60 19.42 14.19 acceptance testing. In the last 12 months there have October 13.60 18.42 14.19 been eight reported defects all of which have been Staffing—National Identity Fraud Unit—Newcastle (November-March) rectified. 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower November 13.60 18.42 14.19 December 12.30 17.42 16.68 Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work January 1.00 18.42 16.68 and Pensions how many and what proportion of February — 18.00 18.42 Jobcentre Plus staff have been employed (a) up to one March — 18.00 19.56 year, (b) between one and two years, (c) between two and three years, (d) between three and five years and Yearly average 13.79 18.93 16.07 [314937] (e) for five years or more. Note: Figures are not whole numbers as they reflect part-time staff working patterns. Jim Knight [holding answer 2 February 20010]: The Source: administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Locally held Workforce Management Information Chief Executive, Darra Singh, have asked him to provide Staffing—National Identity Fraud Unit—2008-09 the hon. Member with the information requested. London Isle of Wight Glasgow Letter from Darra Singh: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question April — — — asking how many and what proportion of Jobcentre Plus staff May——— have been employed (a) up to one year; (b) between one and two June — — — years, (c) between two and three years; (d) between three and July——— five years; and (e) for five years or more. This is something that August — — — falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive September — — — of Jobcentre Plus. October — — — The following table provides the details you requested. The November — — — information relates to September 2009. December — — — January 7.00 5.10 5.86 Duration Headcount Percentage February 7.00 5.10 5.86 Up to 1 year 16,739 19 March 7.00 5.10 5.86 Between 1 and 2 years 4,289 5 Between 2 and 3 years 2,356 3 Yearly average 7.00 5.10 5.86 Between 3 and 5 years 3,714 4 Note: 5 years and more 63,219 69 Figures are not whole numbers as they reflect part-time staff working patterns. Source: The high proportion of staffing in the ‘up to 1 year’ category Locally held Workforce Management Information reflects recruitment levels into Jobcentre Plus over recent months to deal with rising workloads as a result of the economic downturn. Staffing—National Identity Fraud Unit—2009-10 The majority of these people were recruited on either Fixed Term London Isle of Wight Glasgow or Temporary contracts. April 7.00 5.1 5.86 National Identity Fraud Unit: Manpower May 7.00 5.1 5.86 June 7.00 5.1 5.86 Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work July 7.00 5.1 5.86 and Pensions how many staff were assigned to the August 6.00 5.1 5.86 National Identity Fraud Unit in each location in each September 6.00 5.1 5.86 of the last five years. [313256] October 6.00 6.9 5.86 463W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 464W

Staffing—National Identity Fraud Unit—2009-10 Pensions London Isle of Wight Glasgow

November 6.00 6.9 7.86 Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work December 6.00 6.9 8.86 and Pensions how many (a) public and (b) private January — — — sector employees were contracted out into defined February — — — benefit pension schemes that offered benefits better March — — — than the minimum requirements for guaranteed minimum pensions in 1996-97. [317191] Yearly average 6.44 5.70 6.42 Angela Eagle: The legislation in place between 1978 Note: and 1997 required a contracted out defined benefit Figures are not whole numbers as they reflect part-time staff working patterns. Source: scheme to provide a guaranteed minimum pension (GMP). Locally held Workforce Management Information It was a matter for the trustees and/or sponsoring employer of each scheme to decide what if any benefits New Deal Schemes to provide in addition to the GMP, and information is not available centrally on the number of public or Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work private sector employees in schemes which offered such and Pensions (1) how many people have been referred benefits. to the flexible New Deal scheme since 6 October 2009; Personal Savings [304398] (2) how many people unemployed for 12 months or Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for more since April 2009 have not been referred to a Work and Pensions what guidelines her Department flexible New Deal provider in phase one areas. [304399] issues on the classification of assets as savings. [310773] Jim Knight: Chapter 29 of the Decision Maker’s Jim Knight: The Flexible New Deal started on 5 October Guide (DMG) gives guidance on what particular assets and data is only starting to feed through. The Department count as capital when assessing entitlement to income is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority support and jobseeker’s allowance. A copy of chapter to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high 29 of the DMG has been placed in the Library. The quality standards at the earliest opportunity. We intend DMG is available online at: to publish headline Official Statistics from early 2010. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/ decision-makers-guide/ Pathways to Work Similar guidance is available for the other income related benefits. Chapter 52 of the DMG gives guidance Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for on employment and support allowance and chapter 84 Work and Pensions if she will integrate Access to Work gives guidance on state pension credit. assessments more closely with Pathways to Work Remploy: Public Relations providers. [315716] Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Jonathan Shaw: [holding answer 4 February 20010]: and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 10 December Access to Work is a form of ’in work’ support. As such 2009, Official Report, column 524W, on Remploy: there are no plans to integrate it more closely with public relations, if she will place in the Library a copy Pathways providers. In those situations where the right of the documents produced by Portland PR for type of support cannot be easily established Access to Remploy on factory closures communications. [315700] Work will use the services of contracted external assessors. Access to Work is available to disabled people moving Jonathan Shaw: Remploy commissioned Portland PR into paid work, including people who have been taking to provide a range of services to help the company part in Pathways to Work and other employment improve strategic communications. programmes, as well as people already in work. Access Portland PR provided support for senior management to Work can provide practical advice and support to the on the overall communications strategy, and this advice disabled person and their employer to help them overcome informed a wide range of internal and external work related obstacles resulting from disability, for example communication documents, materials and other by funding specialist equipment, a support worker or communication channels across the whole company, communication support at a job interview. including the factories. The White Paper Building Britain’s Recovery: Achieving It is therefore not possible to identify documents on Full Employment set out a range of improvements to factory closure communications produced separately Access to Work. As published, we are currently discussing by Portland PR. these proposed improvements with stakeholders, for a Social Security Benefits: Bexley staged implementation starting in April 2010. The proposed improvements include better targeting Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work at customers further from the labour market, including and Pensions how many residents of (a) Bexleyheath people with learning disabilities and mental health and Crayford constituency and (b) the London conditions. The proposals also include targeting people Borough of Bexley were in receipt of (i) housing working for smaller employers, who are currently under- benefit, (ii) council tax benefit, (iii) disability living represented on the programme, and to offer a ’certificate allowance, (iv) incapacity benefit, (v) income support of eligibility’ so that a person can indicate their eligibility and (vi) employment and support allowance at the for Access to Work assistance to a prospective employer. latest date for which information is available. [317264] 465W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 466W

Jonathan Shaw: The most recent available information Mr. Kidney: Power stations of over 50 MW in England is given in the tables. and Wales are subject to consent by the Secretary of Housing benefit and council tax benefit figures are State under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. not available by parliamentary constituency. Biomass capacity of up to 849 MWe has been approved Housing benefit/council tax benefit recipients in London borough of Bexley: under the Section 36 consenting regime since 2007, October 2009 which is expected to use up to 6.77 million tonnes of Number biomass per year when all plants are operational. There is also 1,289 MWe biomass capacity currently under Housing benefit 12,990 consideration by the Secretary of State, which if consented Council tax benefit 16,690 would use up to a further 10.56 million tonnes of Notes: 1. Figures are as at 8 October 2009. biomass per annum. Therefore, the combined total of 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. consented and in planning biomass applications for 3. Claimants receiving both housing benefit and council tax benefit will be England and Wales, of plants over 50MW,is 2,138 MWe counted twice in this table 4. On 1 April 2009 structural changes to the local authorities in England took potentially using up to 17.33 million tonnes of biomass effect. Changes are reflected from May 2009. per annum. This capacity includes both dedicated biomass Source: power plants and combined biomass and energy-from-waste Single Housing Benefit Extract power plants. Benefit recipients in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and London Power stations of 50MW and under, in England and borough of Bexley: May 2009 Wales, are considered by the local planning authority in Bexleyheath and London Borough Benefit Crayford constituency of Bexley the normal planning regime. According to the UK RESTATS database, which has Disability living 3,550 8,980 allowance—cases in collected renewable energy data since 1989, dedicated payment biomass power capacity of up to 349.6 MWe has been Incapacity benefit/severe 2,300 6,100 consented by local planning authorities in England and disablement allowance Wales. This consented capacity, assuming a typical 25MW claimants plant will use up to 0.2 million tonnes per annum, Income support claimants 2,260 6,390 would use up to 2.80 million tonnes of biomass per year Employment and support 310 800 allowance claimants when all plants are operational. There is also a further Notes: 90.1 MWe dedicated biomass capacity under consideration, 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Some additional disclosure has been which is expected to use up to 0.72 million tonnes of applied. biomass per annum. Therefore, the combined total of 2. Claimants receiving more than one of these benefits will be counted under each benefit consented and in planning dedicated biomass applications 3. Disability living allowance figures show the number of people in receipt of for England and Wales, of plants 50MW and under, is an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example, if they are in hospital. 439.7 MWe using up to 3.52 million tonnes of biomass 4. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income per annum. support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. The figures relating to employment and support allowance have been It is not possible to separately identify the wood-burning thoroughly quality assured to National Statistics standard. However, it should capacity as most plants will have the flexibility to use a be noted that this is a new benefit using a new data source which may not have range of biomass fuels according to cost, availability reached steady state in terms of operational processing and retrospection. Hence the most recent data shown are provisional. and other considerations. Source: Robust biomass supply chains are only now becoming DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. established across the UK and biomass fuels are increasingly Unemployment Benefits: Cancer traded as a global commodity. Therefore, we expect, in the short term at least, that these plants will use a significant volume of imported biomass, together with Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for wood fuel sourced from managed UK forests and Work and Pensions how many (a) people undergoing woodlands and from other sources such as the by-products or recovering from radiotherapy and (b) in-patients (i) of our timber industry, home grown perennial energy in total and (ii) normally resident in Scotland have been crops such as miscanthus grass and short rotation refused employment support allowance since coppice (SRC) willow, and a range of biomass fuels 27 October 2008. [317753] derived from waste as defined under the renewables obligation. Jonathan Shaw: The information requested is not available. Departmental Energy

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the estimated (a) ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE amount and (b) cost was of energy used in his Department in each year since it was established; what Biofuels proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if he will Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for make a statement. [317228] Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the amount of biomass needed to fuel proposed new Joan Ruddock: For the last full year that information wood-burning power stations; and what proportion of is currently available, January to December 2009, the it he expects will be from UK sources. [317107] Department has used approximately 2,209,980 Kwh of 467W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 468W electricity and 1,184,478 Kwh of gas. The cost of this Joan Ruddock: The information is as follows. was £176,216 for the electricity and £43,043 for the gas. (1) Funding for The Energy and Resources Institute The electricity was procured through the green tariff (TERI) from the OGC catalyst framework contract. The Department of Energy and Climate Change Departmental Public Expenditure (DECC) has not funded TERI directly over this period. In 2009 DECC funded Phase 2 of a UK-India collaborative David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for study on the barriers to technology transfer. This work Energy and Climate Change how much his was led by the Science and Technology Policy Research Department has spent on (a) new furnishings and (b) Unit at Sussex university (SPRU), which received £167,000 new vehicles in each year since its inception. [312541] in funding. SPRU partnered with TERI on this study. Joan Ruddock: Since its inception on October 3 2008 The following has been provided to TERI by other The Department for Energy and Climate Change has Government Departments: Foreign and Commonwealth spent (a) £699,503 on new furnishing and (b) nothing Office Funding on new vehicles. £441,000 from FCO for seven projects through the Departmental Surveys strategic programme fund and global opportunities fund, 2004 to 2010, as follows: Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place in the Project £ Library a copy of the results of his Department’s most i Incorporating micro complexities in 50,000 recent staff survey; which organisation carried out the programmes and policies for energy survey; and what the cost of the survey was. [311506] security in rural India ii Developing an Energy Security Policy 120,000 Joan Ruddock: The Department will be publishing its for India October 2009 staff survey results on the DECC website iii Commercialisation of energy efficiency 60,000 on 1 March 2010. Following publication we will place a and renewable energy technologies in copy of the results in the Library. India The supplier for the Department’s staff survey in iv Information Sharing System to 55,000 enhance coping capacities of farming October 2009 was ORC International who were procured communities in dealing with climate by the Cabinet Office to deliver the first cross-Civil variability and climate change Service People Survey. The People Survey replaced all v Exploring opportunities for technology 70,000 existing staff surveys in the Civil Service with a single transfer to developing countries for questionnaire. mitigation of climate change The cost of the 2009-10 People Survey for the vi Design of renewable energy credit 76,000 Department was £18,300. By procuring a single supplier system for India for staff surveys in 2009-10 the civil service has saved vii Scoping Study-Climate Change 10,000 Induced Migration and its Security 35 per cent. on the total cost of staff surveys in 2008-09. Implications in India’s Departmental Travel Neighbourhood. Total 441,000 Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much was spent on travel between England and Scotland by staff of his DEFRA funding Department in each year since its inception. [316792] In 2007 Defra funded Phase 1 of a UK-India collaborative study on the barriers to technology transfer. Joan Ruddock: The Department of Energy and Climate This work was led by the Science and Technology Policy Change was created in October 2008. The amount spent Research Unit (SPRU) at Sussex university, which received on travel between England and Scotland in the Financial £73,000 in funding. SPRU partnered with TERI on this Year 2008-09 was £157,274. study. Energy Supply Defra funded the International Conference on Community Rights, Forests and Climate Change, 17-18 Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy August, 2009, New Delhi (jointly organised by TERI and Climate Change when the Government plans to and the Rights and Resources Initiative)—£46,000. In publish a response to the report Energy Security: a 2006 Defra also funded the Delhi Sustainable Development national challenge in a changing world. [317099] summit (£12,000) and work on sustainable development governance (£6,000). In 2007 Defra funded the Delhi Mr. Kidney: Mr. Wicks raised a number of important Sustainable Development summit (£70,000). issues which we have studied carefully. We will publish a response shortly. DFID Funding Energy: Finance DFID India have provided £132,000 to TERI over this period, including £40,000 for Delhi Sustainable Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Development summit 2009 and £31,000 for Delhi Energy and Climate Change how much Government Sustainable Development summit 2008. In addition funding from all sources has been provided to (a) the TERI has received £137,000 from DFID UK as part of Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), (b) TERI wider research consortia. Europe, (c) the Asian Energy Institute and (d) the DFID have also announced plans to provide TERI Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership with up to £10 million over the next five years. This in each of the last five years. [311809] funding will help to bring electricity and clean energy to 469W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 470W millions of the world’s poorest people by supporting of choices open to them by varying degrees. The information renewable energy projects in India. As is routine, DFID provided also contains tariffs for Economy 7 and Economy is undertaking a full institutional assessment of TERI 10) customers, many of whom will be limited to only as part of their due diligence process before releasing these types of tariffs to switch to or sign up to. funds. Government recognises that there are many tariffs for Research Council Funding consumers to choose from. We recognise that some TERI’s Decentralised Energy Solutions Division is customers may value this range of choice in the market; one of the participating institutes in a £4 million research however, we note that this may make it difficult for initiative ‘Off-grid energy for international development’ others to find the best deal. In some cases, two tariffs run by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences will have the same price and payment method—but Research Council. there could be small differences such as club card points, (2) Funding for the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency vouchers or donations to different charities turning a Partnership: single price and payment plan into multiple options. We are talking to Consumer Focus who are working with Funding (£ million) switching sites to try and resolve this problem. From this year suppliers will be obligated to provide 2009-10 2.5 DECC each customer with additional information to help them 2008-09 2.5 Defra understand and compare their energy tariff to other 2007-08 2.5 Defra offers in the market. 2006-07 2.5 Defra 1 FCO Suppliers are also obligated under their supply licence to improve the conduct of their face to face sales and 2005-06 2.5 Defra marketing activities by providing consumers with l FCO information that is clear and not misleading. (3) We are not aware of any Government funding for Additionally, Ofgem’s new over-arching Standards of TERI Europe or the Asian Energy Institute Conduct state that energy suppliers must not sell a customer a product or service that he or she does not Energy: Prices fully understand, or that is inappropriate for their needs and circumstances, or offer products that are unnecessarily Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy complex or confusing. and Climate Change how many tariffs each energy Ofgem will be monitoring the effectiveness of these provider has for its domestic customers in each region; remedies. As part of this process they will review whether and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the these changes have proved sufficient to help consumers number of tariff ranges. [313744] understand and benefit from the range of tariffs available to them, and consider what further steps may be needed. Mr. Kidney: Table 1 as follows indicates the number My officials are discussing the issue of number of of tariffs available to a new domestic gas, electricity and tariffs and its impact with consumer groups. dual fuel customer based on a snapshot of 23 January 2010, with figures provided by Ofgem1. The table excludes: social tariffs; any tariffs that were closed to a new Warm Front Scheme customer as at 23 January 2010; and tariffs for companies other than the main six energy suppliers. The majority of tariffs are available in each region, however there are Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for regional price variations due in part to regional variations Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate his in network costs for both gas and electricity. Department has made of the average waiting time for 1 The tariff data was provided by Energy Services Online Ltd the installation of (a) heating and (b) insulation [TheEnergyShop.com]. measures under the Warm Front scheme in (i) Mid Bedfordshire constituency, (ii) Bedfordshire, (iii) the Table 1: Average number of tariffs available to a new customer in a region, across main six energy suppliers East of England and (iv) England, Wales and Northern Electricity Gas Dual fuel Ireland in each year since the scheme’s inception. [317703] Direct debit 126 21 133 Standard credit 82 14 86 Mr. Kidney: The following tables show the average Prepayment 17 6 20 meter waiting time (in working days) for the installation of (a) heating and (b) insulation measures under the Around half of UK gas and electricity customers pay Warm Front scheme in (i) Mid Bedfordshire constituency, for their energy via direct debit. Table 2 indicates the (ii) Bedfordshire, (iii) the East of England in the current number of direct debit tariffs available to new customers scheme year, and (iv) England in each year since the in each region by each of the main six domestic energy scheme’s inception. suppliers. Generally a customer choosing to pay for Average timescales quoted for years 2005-09 run from their energy via any other method will have fewer tariffs the completion of the technical survey to the completion open to them. of works. Timescales for the current scheme year run Any customer looking for a tariff at any one time from the allocation of work to a registered installer to may be constrained by what region they are in, their the completion of work following a change in recording meter type, their access to the gas grid, and to some processes under the revised contract for the scheme’s extent by payment method. This will limit the number delivery. 471W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 472W

the inception of that scheme; and what the monetary Heating Mid East of timelines Bedfordshire Bedfordshire England England value of such sales was in each area on the latest date for which figures are available. [318014] 2005-06 n/a n/a n/a 68 2006-07 n/a n/a n/a 74 John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I 2007-08 n/a n/a n/a 64 gave to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant 2008-09 n/a n/a n/a 57 Shapps) on 22 February 2010 to PQ 316761. 2009-101 43 50 45 45 n/a = not available. Affordable Housing: Salford 1 Data run to 31 January 2010.

Insulation Mid East of Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for timelines Bedfordshire Bedfordshire England England Communities and Local Government how much has 2005-06 n/a n/a n/a 31 been spent on increasing the standard of social housing 2006-07 n/a n/a n/a 29 in Salford since 1997. [317391] 2007-08 n/a n/a n/a 33 2008-09 n/a n/a n/a 23 Mr. Ian Austin: The following table shows Salford 2009-101 11 14 17 17 city council and their arms length management organisation, n/a = not available. Salix Homes, capital investment in council housing in 1 Data run to 31 January 2010. the city. Neither the Department nor eaga, the scheme manager, have previously grouped data by constituency or county, Expenditure £000 as such, the regional data for 2005 to 2009 are not 1998 13,929 available. However, I refer the hon. Member to answer 1999 16,115 given to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew 2000 14,335 Stunell) on 1 December 2009, Official Report column 2001 21,410 717W, which presents the average timelines for heating 2002 20,949 and insulation work by each local authority area between 2003 24,839 May 2008 and November 2009. 2004 18,135 Fuel poverty is a devolved issue and the Warm Front 2005 21,697 scheme operates in England alone, as such, it is not 2006 19,964 possible to provide data for Wales and Northern Ireland. 2007 18,656 2008 21,102 2009 13,910 Source: COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Annual returns to Communities and Local Government The TSA cannot provide the data requested for housing Affordable Housing associations in the City.

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Affordable Housing: Standards Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were constructed in 2008-09. [315663] Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) by what Mr. Ian Austin: Information on additional new build mechanisms the Homes and Communities Agency affordable homes can be found in Table 1009 on the measures its progress in meeting its statutory duty to CLG website: improve the quality of housing; [316940] http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/ (2) what recent steps the Homes and Communities 1406088.xls Agency has taken in respect of its statutory duty to (a) Not all affordable housing is provided by new build improve the quality of housing and (b) contribute to completions, some can be provided through acquisitions. the achievement of good design. [316941]

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for John Healey: Two of the HCA’s four statutory objects Communities and Local Government pursuant to the are to (i) improve the supply and quality of housing in answer of 9 February 2010, Official Report, columns England and (ii) contribute to the achievement of 866-8W, on affordable housing, what expenditure his sustainable development and good design in England. Department has incurred on (a) HomeBuy Direct, (b) The HCA inherited standards for certain of its programmes, New Build HomeBuy, (c) Open Market HomeBuy, setting minimum criteria which must be achieved before (d) First Time Buyer’s Initiative, (e) Social HomeBuy funding is provided. Regular checks and audits are and (f) Rent to HomeBuy in 2009-10. [317535] undertaken to ensure these requirements are delivered. The HCA have established advisory Boards to assist John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I with these issues, and plan to issue a design and quality gave him on 9 February 2010, Official Report, columns strategy later this year. Details of these panels, including 867-68W. membership, can be found on the HCA’s website: www.homesandcommunities.co.uk Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for homes have been bought under the Rent to Homebuy Communities and Local Government what criteria the scheme in each (a) local authority and (b) region since Homes and Communities Agency used to assess the 473W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 474W design quality and viability of housing schemes for the Community Development: Finance purposes of awarding funding under Round 1 of the Kickstart programme; and what account was taken of Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the assessments made by the Commission for Communities and Local Government how much Architecture and the Built Environment in its capacity funding his Department has allocated to the (a) as adviser on that programme. [316942] Supporting People programme, (b) New Communities fund, (c) New Deal for Communities fund, (d) Safer John Healey: The criteria used by the HCA to assess and Stronger Communities fund, (e) Local Enterprise the design quality and viability of housing schemes Growth Initiative and (f) Working Neighbourhoods under Round 1 of the Kickstart programme can be fund in each financial year from 2009-10 to 2014-15. found in the Round 1 ‘Kickstart Housing Delivery: [317361] Unlocking Stalled Sites’ guidance located on HCA’s website. Design quality was part of the overall value for Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is as money assessment of Kickstart bids, alongside deliverability follows: and the capacity to create jobs. CABE assessments were (a) Supporting People used to highlight schemes where more attention was needed and were the basis for further assessment by The funding allocations to the Supporting People HCA regional teams. The HCA regional teams were programme for: able to augment the CABE assessment with additional 2009-10: £1,665 million relevant local information to inform final decisions on 2010-11: £l,636 million award of funding. No allocations have been yet agreed for future years and beyond 2011. Audit Commission: Procurement (b) New Communities Fund Ministers decided in 2009 to reallocate resources Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for from the New Communities Fund to other ministerial Communities and Local Government pursuant to the priorities. This was to reflect ministerial reprioritisation answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 16 of funding across the Department to ensure available December 2009, Official Report, column 1261W, on the funding supports the highest priorities in the current Audit Commission: procurement, how much the Audit fiscal circumstances. Commission spent in respect of each organisation that supplied goods or services to it in 2008-09. [317572] (c) New Deal for Communities fund In April 2009 the Department announced NDC Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for partnership allocations of £186.2 million in 2009-10 the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive and an indicative allocation of £70.4million in 2010-11, of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member the final year of the programme. direct. The table referred to has been placed in the (d) Safer and Stronger Communities Library of the House. For the Safer and Stronger Communities fund, £30.909 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 23 February 2010: million was allocated in 2009-10 and there is an indicative Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply. allocation of £4.893 million in 2010-11. No allocations The payments made to organisations that supplied goods or have been agreed for years beyond 2010-11. services to the Audit Commission in 2008-09 are outlined in the (e) Local Enterprise Growth Initiative attached table. £98.885 million has been allocated for the Local A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard. Enterprise Growth Initiative for 2009-10 (£23.912 million Capital and £74.972 million Revenue) and there is an Business Improvement Districts indicative allocation of £93.950 million for 2010-11 (£18.648 million Capital and £75.301 million Revenue). Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for No decisions have yet been made on arrangements Communities and Local Government in how many for LEGI beyond the current three year spending period. business improvement districts in England more than (f) Working Neighbourhoods Fund one retail area is working in partnership; and if he will make a statement. [317722] £547.8 million has been allocated for the Working Neighbourhoods Fund for 2009-10, this includes the Barbara Follett: The Department does not hold this £40m top-up announced in November 2009, and there information. is an indicative allocation of £507.9 million for 2010-11. No decisions have yet been made on arrangements Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for for WNF beyond the current three year spending period. Communities and Local Government what guidance he has issued to (a) local authorities and (b) businesses Consolidated Communications on establishing a business improvement district which includes more than one retail centre; and if he will Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for make a statement. [317723] Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of Barbara Follett: Communities and Local Government 20 January 2010, Official Report, column 377W, on the has not issued guidance on establishing a business Audit Commission: public opinion, what the purpose improvement district from being in more than one retail was of the public affairs consultancy work undertaken centre. by Consolidated Communications for his Department; 475W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 476W and what (a) documents and (b) other deliverables the £ million Audit Commission received from Consolidated 1997-98 at Communications under that contract. [317524] 1997-98 cash 2008-09 prices 2008-09 cash

Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for North East 449 614 902 the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive North West 1,310 1,794 2,570 Yorkshire and the 866 1,186 1,835 of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member Humber direct. East Midlands 773 1,058 1,738 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 23 February 2010: West Midlands 940 1,288 1,996 Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply. East of England 1,051 1,439 2,613 The Audit Commission contracted Consolidated Communications, London 1,386 1,898 3,171 a communications company, during a period of substantial South East 1,716 2,350 4,098 reorganisation of its communications directorate. Consolidated South West 995 1,363 2,395 offered advice and support, replacing functions in the external Total England 9,488 12,990 21,319 communications team that, temporarily, were not available in house. The data are taken from the Quarterly Return of The work and deliverables carried out under the contract were: Council Tax and non-domestic rates returns completed the monitoring of Parliament; annually by all billing authorities in England and the the monitoring of policy announcements; and real terms data are given at 2008-09 prices using the briefings on legislative issues. Retail Price Index. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard. Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much and Council Housing: Newcastle Upon Tyne what proportion of gross revenue to local authorities from council tax was funded by council tax benefit in Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for 2008-09. [317800] Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from Your Homes Barbara Follett: In 2008-09 the gross revenue to local Newcastle on the funding for asbestos removal under authorities from council tax was £24.9 billion with the decent homes programme; and if he will place in £3.5 billion of this figure being from council tax benefit the Library a copy of those representations. [318004] paid to the collection fund. Therefore 14 per cent. of the gross revenue to local authorities from council tax was Mr. Ian Austin: Communities and Local Government funded by council tax benefit. Department has received no recent representations from Your Homes Newcastle on the funding for asbestos Council Tax: Discounts removal under the Decent Homes programme. However, their parent local authority, Newcastle City Council, as Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for part of their ALMO bidding application in 2003 made Communities and Local Government pursuant to the a contingency allowance in their Building Cost Model answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of for asbestos removal. 20 January 2010, Official Report, column 378W, on council tax, what types of council tax discount are Council Tax made available by each individual local authority; and what the monetary value was of such discounts in the Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for latest period for which figures are available. [317937] Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column Barbara Follett: Details of the types of local council 214W, on council tax, whether local authorities may tax discounts awarded as at October 5 2009, and the levy a surcharge on council tax bills paid by credit card. authority awarding the discount, are shown as follows. [317571] Pensioners: Bury, Hillingdon, Kirklees, Lincoln, Southampton, Wirral Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the Properties affected by flooding and other external environmental answer I gave to him on 5 January 2010, Official Report, factors: Doncaster, East Lindsey, Forest of Dean, Gloucester, column 214W. Herefordshire UA, Hillingdon, Malvern Hills, North Lincolnshire, Northumberland, Rotherham, Wakefield, Wychavon Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Those to whom, because they have been affected by the change in regulations since a discount was originally awarded, a discount Communities and Local Government how much gross has been awarded so as to not disadvantage them: Adur, council tax revenue in (a) cash and (b) real terms at Exeter, Horsham, North Norfolk, Waveney 2010 prices was raised in each region in (i) 1997-98 and The following types of local council tax discounts (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available. were also awarded as at 5 October 2009. [317868] A hard to sell property Barbara Follett: The amount of gross council tax A new unfinished property revenue in (a) cash and (b) real terms at 2008-09 prices Difficult to let properties raised in each region in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 2008-09, the Hardship most recent year for which figures are available, are Occupied and unoccupied furnished properties that do not shown in the following table. have the benefit of mains services including beach chalets. 477W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 478W

Properties that are no one person’s sole or main residence Barbara Follett: Officials are currently working with where access is restricted taxpayers who can comply with the the United Kingdom Statistics Authority (UKSA) on council’s Mooring Policy. the assessment of council tax levels set by local authorities Various classes of empty properties. in England. When the assessment has been completed, These discounts were awarded by the following details will be available on the UKSA website at the authorities. It is not possible to identify which authority following link: awarded which discount as this may allow identification http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/assessment- of individual properties or persons. reports/index.html Bradford Departmental Advertising Brighton and Hove Cambridge Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Canterbury Communities and Local Government how much was Copeland spent on advertising by (a) his Department and (b) Daventry each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) East Riding of Yorkshire UA Executive agency for which his Department is South Ham responsible in 2009. [318069] South Lakeland Barbara Follett: The Department’s expenditure on West Somerset communications, including advertising, is set out in its Details of the monetary value of these discounts are annual reports, which include details of the initiatives not collected centrally. communicated. Departmental annual reports are available on the Department’s website at: Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for www.communities.gov.uk Communities and Local Government which local Additional detail on the most recent year (2008-09) is authorities have used their powers to reduce the council available at: tax discount on (a) empty and (b) second homes; what revised discount rate was set in each case; and http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/ 1298507.pdf what estimate has been made of the total additional council revenue raised as a result of such revisions in Information on advertising by the Department’s non- each year since 1993. [318062] departmental public bodies and Executive agencies is not held centrally and could be supplied only at Barbara Follett: Since 1 April 2004, local billing disproportionate cost. authorities have been given the discretion to reduce the Departmental Computers council tax discount offered on long-term empty homes and second homes. Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for I have placed in the Library of the House tables Communities and Local Government how much on which show which authorities have, since 2004-05, used average his Department paid for a typical (a) laptop their power to reduce discounts for council tax on and (b) desktop computer (i) including and (ii) empty and second homes in their area as well as the excluding value added tax in the latest period for which revised rate applied. figures are available. [317870] The estimated total additional council revenue raised as a result of the reduction to discounts for long-term Barbara Follett: The average price paid by the empty and second homes for each year since 2006-07 is Department for Communities and Local Government shown in the following table: in the financial year 2009-10 for a desktop computer is approximately £787 excluding VAT and £1,862 excluding £ million VAT for laptops. The costs of individual desktop and Long-term empty laptop computers can vary considerably depending on homes Second homes the model required and whether it is purchased for 2006-07 79 98 network or standalone use. If it is to be networked the 2007-08 88 101 cost will include the price of ongoing support from our 2008-09 104 113 IT supplier and of providing security features to meet 2009-10 108 124 the relevant cross government requirements set by the Cabinet Office and Communications-Electronics Security Estimates have not been provided for the years prior Group (CESG). to 2006-07 due to the disproportionate cost in producing Departmental Disabled Staff them. Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Council Tax: Statistics Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of staff in (a) his Department and Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for (b) the executive agencies for which he is responsible Communities and Local Government with reference to are disabled; and what the average salary in (i) his the answer of 16 June 2009, Official Report, column Department and (ii) the executive agencies is of (A) 368W, on council tax: statistics, what decision was full-time disabled staff, (B) full-time non-disabled staff, taken on the designation of council tax statistics. (C) part-time disabled staff and (D) part-time non- [317815] disabled staff. [317908] 479W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 480W

Barbara Follett: The information is as follows: Mandatory cross-Government targets require (a) The number and the average salaries of the Departments and their agencies to reduce carbon emissions disabled and non-disabled staff employed by the from offices by 12.5 per cent. by 2010-11 against 1999-2000 Department for Communities and Local Government levels and to source at least 10 per cent. of electricity who have made their disability status known, is shown from renewables by 31 March 2008. Performance is in the following table: reported annually as part of the Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) process. Full-time equivalent The latest assessment of Government’s performance Average salaries (£) Staff number against these targets was published by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) on the 18 December Disabled—Full- 35,411 90 time 2009, and is available on the OGC website Disabled—Part- 41,023 5.7 http://www.ogc.gov.uk/sustainability_programme_ progress.asp time Information on reporting years prior to 2008/09 was Non-disabled— 40,722 1,296 Full-time collated and published by the Sustainable Development Non-disabled— 40,569 133.4 Commission (SDC) and can be found on the SDC Part-time website http://www.sd-commission.org.uk (b) Information on the average salaries of disabled and non-disabled staff in the Department’s agencies is not held centrally. Departmental Manpower

Departmental Energy Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for employees in (a) his Department and (b) each of its Communities and Local Government what the agencies are in transition prior to being managed out; estimated (a) amount and (b) cost was of energy used how long on average the transition window between in his Department and its agencies in each year since notification and exit has been in (i) his Department and 1997; what proportion of the energy used was its predecessors and (ii) each of its agencies in each of generated from renewable sources in each of those the last five years; what estimate he has made of the years; and if he will make a statement. [317226] salary costs of staff in transition in each such year; and what proportion of employees in transition were Barbara Follett: The amount and cost of energy used classed as being so for more than six months in each by Communities and Local Government and its executive year. [313247] agencies in each year since 2004-05 is detailed in the following table. To provide data prior to 2004-05 would Barbara Follett: The phrases ‘in transition’ and ‘managed represent disproportionate costs to the Department. out’ are not used in the civil service. However, we have CLG central taken the former to mean staff officially declared to be Electricity Renewable Gas surplus, and the latter to mean surplus staff leaving the (kWh) (%) Cost (£) (kWh) Cost (£) organisation, either through redeployment or compulsory

2004-05 10,744,962 99 392,578 9,289,748 161,962 redundancy. 2005-06 12,642,144 99 740,661 9,339,992 212,924 In Communities and Local Government surplus staff 2006-07 13,018,289 92 1,185,468 8,769,886 280,322 are not necessarily managed out. The Department’s 2007-08 10,850,743 91 743,455 7,033,682 172,769 redeployment pool, known as the Career Transition 2008-09 7,350,508 98 1— 4,763,012 1— Centre, includes staff returning from loans, secondments, and career breaks, as well as those currently without Executive agencies permanent posts. Most of these staff are redeployed Electricity Renewable Gas within the civil service. (kWh) (%) Cost (£) (kWh) Cost (£) The following table shows the length of the transition 2004-05 15,311,717 46 621,065 20,434,155 270,500 window, with associated salary costs, and the proportion 2005-06 12,700,819 52 743,699 20,740,911 363,795 of staff who were surplus for more than six months. 2006-07 12,889,192 51 979,996 21,168,731 427,325 The cost of surplus staff has only been centrally accounted 2007-08 11,751,470 53 962,422 18,084,384 308,092 for in Communities and Local Government since April 2008-09 12,161,536 51 1,046,516 17,682,433 419,928 2008 so no data on this are available prior to this date. 1 Full energy costs for CLG Central are not known for 2008-09 due to estate Similarly, the Department did not track staff redeployment rationalisation and subsequent incomplete pro-rated costs from our landlord. before April 2008.

Number of surplus staff exiting Salary cost for transition Average length of transition Percentage in transition for the organisation period (£) period in months more than six months

Central Communities and Local Government 2010 1— 1— 1—63 2009 21 483,776.47 6.65 26 2008 1— 1— 1—6 2007 n/a n/a n/a n/a 2006 n/a n/a n/a n/a 481W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 482W

Number of surplus staff exiting Salary cost for transition Average length of transition Percentage in transition for the organisation period (£) period in months more than six months

2005 n/a n/a n/a n/a Total n/a n/a n/a n/a

Government Offices 2010 1— 1— 1—67 2009 15 124,878.00 5.33 27 2008 11 n/a n/a n/a 2007 27 n/a n/a n/a 2006 31 n/a n/a n/a 2005 1— n/a n/a n/a Total 88 n/a n/a n/a

QEII Centre 2010 0 0 0 0 2009 0 0 0 0 2008 0 0 0 0 2007 0 0 0 0 2006 0 0 0 0 2005 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0

Planning Inspectorate 2010 0 0 0 0 2009 0 0 0 0 2008 0 0 0 0 2007 0 0 0 0 2006 0 0 0 0 2005 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0

Fire Service college 2010 0 0 0 0 2009 6 96,514.00 6.00 3 2008 6 93,284.00 7.00 2 2007 0 0 0 0 2006 16 249,720.00 6.00 6 2005 0 0 0 0 Total 28 439,518.00 3.17 11

Total n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 This shows where less than five employees exited in a particular year. Publication of further details could breach our rules of confidentiality and are thus, not provided.

Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the for Communities and Local Government what estimate answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Member he has made of the proportion of staff of (a) his for Tooting (Mr. Khan) on 17 December 2008, Official Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies Report, column 787W. managed out in the last five years who remain working in the public sector. [313841] Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many receptions he has hosted for representatives of print Barbara Follett: No data are collected on the future and broadcast media since 3 October 2008. [317346] employment of staff who leave the Department or its agencies. Barbara Follett: Since his appointment as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in June 2009, my right hon. Friend has hosted two receptions Departmental Official Hospitality for representatives of print and broadcast media. Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Communities and Local Government how much his receptions he has hosted for representatives of print Department spent on ministerial hospitality in (a) and broadcast media since October 2008; how much 2004-05, (b) 2005-06, (c) 2006-07 and (d) 2007-08 each reception cost; and how many attended each. expressed in current prices. [317345] [317999] 483W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 484W

Barbara Follett: Communities and Local Government Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal published an annual list of receptions hosted by Ministers for 2008-09 in a written ministerial statement on 21 July Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for 2009, Official Report, column 118WS. Communities and Local Government how much area-based grant was allocated to (a) waste disposal The next return will be published in July 2010. and (b) waste collection authorities in 2008-09; and how much such grant he plans to allocate to each type of authority in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [317969] Departmental Recruitment Ms Rosie Winterton: In two tier areas, waste collection Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for is generally carried out by district councils and waste Communities and Local Government how much his disposal by county councils. In single tier areas, such as Department and its agencies spent on external unitary authorities and metropolitan borough councils, recruitment consultants in the last 12 months for which collection and disposal is generally combined, although in some Metropolitan areas waste disposal is carried figures are available. [315285] out on behalf of local authorities by statutory joint waste disposal authorities. Barbara Follett: The Department does not hold this information centrally and could provide it only at The allocation of area based grant (ABG) for each disproportionate cost. district council, county council, unitary authority and metropolitan borough council for 2008-09 to 2010-11 is The Planning Inspectorate does not hold this information available at: centrally and could provide it only at disproportionate http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/ cost. localgovernmentfinance/areabasedgrant/ Fire Service college have made no payments to external ABG is unhypothecated and decisions on the use of the recruitment consultants in FY 2008-09. grant are for individual local authorities. Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre have made no payments to external recruitment consultants in FY Employment Tribunals Service 2008-09. Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for employment disputes involving staff of his Department Communities and Local Government how many have been taken to an employment tribunal since 2003; vacancies in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies what the outcome was in each case which has been were filled using external recruitment consultants in the concluded; and what the grounds for dispute were in last 12 months. [315290] each case. [317865]

Barbara Follett: The Department does not hold this Barbara Follett: Less than five employment disputes information centrally and it could be provided only at involving Communities and Local Government staff disproportionate cost. have been taken to an employment tribunal since the Department was established in 2006. Consequently, The Planning Inspectorate filled two vacancies in the publication of details relating to these cases could breach last 12 months. our rules of confidentiality and so cannot be provided. Fire Service college have not filled any vacancies in the last 12 months. Empty Dwelling Management Orders Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre have not filled Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for any vacancies in the last 12 months. Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 19 October 2009, Official Report, column 1299W, on Departmental Surveys empty dwelling management orders, how many empty dwelling management orders have been issued by each Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for local authority since the date of that answer; how many Communities and Local Government with reference to resulted in the re-occupation of empty dwellings; and if the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of he will make a statement. [314844] 16 October 2009, Official Report, column 1117W, on Mr. Ian Austin: 27 interim empty dwelling management FlexSpace, if he will place in the Library a copy of the orders had been issued by 19 October 2009. Since that staff survey carried out in January 2009. [317602] date the Department is aware of one further interim empty dwelling management order issued by South Barbara Follett: The Department for Communities Gloucestershire council that has been authorised by a and Local Government is making arrangements for a residential property tribunal. This has not yet resulted copy of the SpaceFlex staff survey, along with the in the reoccupation of the property. results of the project’s post occupation evaluation survey, Empty dwelling management orders are a last resort, to be placed in the Library once the project has been where all other measures of investigation and negotiation completed and evaluated. have been exhausted and the local authority has been The project is due to complete in July 2010. The post unable to persuade the owner to bring the property occupancy evaluation will then be undertaken and the back into use. In many cases the threat of an empty Department anticipates the results to be available in dwelling management order is sufficient to make owners October 2010. take action. 485W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 486W

Energy Performance Certificates £ Regional Government Running (admin) costs Aggregate programme Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Office expenditure 2008-09 expenditure 2008-09 Communities and Local Government how many GO South East 10,561,400 209,777,489 properties there were on the Domestic Energy GO South West 10,467,500 545,083,981 Performance Certificate Register in (a) November GO London 11,811,500 100,367,713 2009, (b) December 2009 and (c) January 2010. [317540] The aggregate programme expenditure figure is made Mr. Ian Austin: The number of domestic Energy up of the programme budgets delegated by 12 Sponsor Performance Certificates (EPCs) on the Domestic EPC Departments directly to each regional Government Office Register was 3,904,360 on 30 November 2009, 4,008,217 and includes European expenditure. on 31 December 2009 and 4,144,284 on 31 January The existing Sponsor Departments are CLG, BIS, 2010. DfT, DCFS, DWP, DEFRA, Home Office, MoJ, DECC, DCMS, Cabinet Office and DoH. Gardens: Planning Permission Green Belt Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for oral answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of Communities and Local Government what steps his 26 January 2010, Official Report, column 660, on Department is taking to protect the green belt in (a) planning, which part of the 1992 planning guidance England, (b) East of England, (c) Bedfordshire and defined gardens as brownfield land for planning (d) Mid Bedfordshire constituency. [317530] purposes. [317814] Mr. Ian Austin: We are committed to the protection of green belt throughout England. Only in exceptional Mr. Ian Austin: The classification of land introduced circumstances may its boundaries be amended, where in 1985 in the first report on Land Use Change in the tests in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2, ‘Green England included a “Residential” category that covered Belts’, are met. Disregarding the reclassification of 47,300 “Houses, flats and adjoining garages, gardens, estate hectares as National Park in 2005, green belt nationally roads and pathways, sheltered accommodation where has grown by around 34,000 hectares since 1997. residences have separate front entrances.” In the East of England Plan 2008, Policy SS7 states This classification thus established the principle that that the broad extent of green belts in the region is gardens should not be separated from the curtilage appropriate and should be maintained. However, it when establishing for statistical purposes whether residential identifies the need for strategic review of green belt land has been redeveloped for other purposes. boundaries at Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Harlow The 1992 Planning Policy Guidance note (Housing) and Welwyn/Hatfield. These are designated key centres drew on the 1985 based classification. It states that for development and change where significant growth “recent information on land use changes in England shows allocations have been made. that nearly half of the land developed for housing was either In Bedfordshire the Milton Keynes/South Midlands previously developed or was vacant land in built up areas”. Sub Regional Strategy 2005 required a strategic green What counted as “previously developed” in this context belt review at Luton/Dunstable/Houghton Regis and at was plainly based on the classifications which had been Leighton Linslade. This was required to provide room in use since 1985. for growth around the conurbation to 2031, and is being undertaken as part of the core strategy for Luton/southern Government Offices for the Regions: Finance central Bedfordshire which is currently in preparation. It is not yet clear whether or not the hon. Member’s Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for constituency is likely to be directly affected. The area of Communities and Local Government what the (a) individual green belts is for local planning authorities to running cost and (b) aggregate programme decide. expenditure was of each Government Office of the Regions in 2008-09. [317985] Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment Ms Rosie Winterton: The running (admin) cost and he has made of the effects on the protection of the aggregate programme expenditure for each of the regional green belt of the introduction of National Policy Government Offices for 2008-09 was as follows: Statements. [317858]

£ John Healey: The Government have no proposals to Regional Government Running (admin) costs Aggregate programme change policy for the protection of green belts. National Office expenditure 2008-09 expenditure 2008-09 Policy Statements incorporate green belt policy.

GO North East 10,178,900 63,201,887 Housing Associations: Finance GO North West 12,191,200 587,300,000 GO Yorkshire and 8,922,600 1,441,209,521 Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Humber Communities and Local Government what recent GO West Midlands 10,837,400 100,156,000 assessment he has made of the level of borrowing by GO East Midlands 8,932,000 51,181,868 housing associations to finance the building of new GO East 9,109,600 65,257,342 homes. [316819] 487W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 488W

Mr. Ian Austin: The housing association sector has For information on affordable homes and homes for successfully raised £58 billion of private finance, enabling social rent I refer the hon. Member to the answer given it to develop new affordable housing, invest in its existing by my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) stock and deliver quality services to its tenants. This on 6 May 2009, Official Report, column 243W. includes £13.4 billion of committed loan facilities that Not all affordable housing is provided through new are available to meet the sector’s forecast funding build completions, supply can also come from the requirements. For 2009-14 associations are currently acquisition and refurbishment of private sector homes. forecasting that they will undertake new development In 2008-09, a total of 55,770 additional affordable with a net cost (after grant and sales receipts) of £9.44 billion homes, of which 31,090 were for social rent homes, were which will be funded by private finance. provided. Housing: Construction Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion Communities and Local Government how many of all new (a) dwellings, (b) affordable homes and (c) homes for social rent were built (a) by local homes for social rent in England were (i) flats and (ii) authorities, (b) by housing associations and (c) houses in each year since 1997. [317012] privately in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10 to date. [316817] Mr. Ian Austin: The information requested on all new Mr. Ian Austin: The following table shows new build dwellings can be found on the Department’s website in homes for social rent completed in 2008-09 by type of Live Table 254: provider. http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/ New-build homes for social rent by sector: England 2008-09 housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding/livetables/ Number For information on affordable homes and homes for social rent I refer the hon. Member to the answer given Total social rented provision 27,790 by my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Wright) on 6 May 2009, Official Report, column 243W. Of which: Local authorities 570 Housing: Prices Registered social landlords 22,670 Private sector 4,550 Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Sources: Communities and Local Government what recent Homes and Communities Agency, P2 returns to CLG, Housing Strategy estimate he has made of the average cost, including Statistical Appendix. Data are reported by the tenure of the dwelling rather value added tax, to a certificate holder of a domestic than by the organisation carrying out the construction energy performance certificate for an average family as most dwellings are built by private builders even if home in London. [317880] the final tenure is in the social stock. Mr. Ian Austin: The cost of Energy Performance Not all housing for social rent is provided by new Certificates (EPCs) is determined by the market. No build completions, as some supply can come from information is therefore held centrally upon which to acquisitions. In 2008-09, a total of 31,090 homes for base an estimate of the average cost to building owners social rent were supplied. or landlords of having an EPC prepared on any property Complete estimates for 2009-10 are not available. that they may own. House building statistics for the first six months of 2009-10 show that 160 new build units for social rent Infrastructure Planning Commission: Finance were completed by local authorities in this period. The Homes and Communities Agency have published official Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for statistics on the number of affordable homes delivered Communities and Local Government what his latest under the National Affordable Housing programme estimate is of the (a) capital and (b) running costs of (NAHP) for April to September 2009. These show that the Infrastructure Planning Commission in (a) 2009-10 a total of 10,671 units were completed for social rent in and (b) 2010-11. [317861] this period under the NAHP, of which 9,809 were new build completions. However, these figures do not provide John Healey: The Infrastructure Planning Commission a complete picture of new build homes for social rent (IPC) was established on 1 October 2009 providing delivered by RSLs. Estimates for the private sector are advice and guidance to promoters. not available for 2009-10. The estimated costs for the IPC for six months from Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for October to March of 2009-10 are tabled as follows: Communities and Local Government what proportion of all new (a) dwellings, (b) affordable homes and (c) £ million homes for social rent in England were flats with (i) one bedroom, (ii) two bedrooms, (iii) three or more (a) Capital 1.24 (b) Running costs 2.68 bedrooms in each year since 1997. [317011] Mr. Ian Austin: The information requested on all new The capital costs include the development of an IT dwellings can be found on the Department’s website in case management system and running costs include Live Table 254: staff and Commissioner recruitment and training. http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/ From 1 March 2010 the IPC will be ready to receive housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding/livetables/ applications for development consent and the estimated 489W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 490W running costs for 2010-11 are set out in the Impact Local Government Finance Assessment published in November 2007 and the Annex published in January 2009 which are available on the Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State Communities and Local Government website. No major for Communities and Local Government with additional capital costs for 2010-11 are anticipated to reference to the answer to the hon. Member for those incurred in 2009-10. Meriden of 22 October 2009, Official Report, column 1645W, on local government finance, how many Infrastructure Planning Commission: Pay separate data attributes or indicators are collected as part of each of the datasets listed in the answer. [317114] Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to Barbara Follett: The information collected on each of the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and the local government finance data sets can be found Ongar of 16 June 2009, Official Report, column 204W, from the forms which can be accessed on the Department’s on the Infrastructure Planning Commission, what the website at: monetary value is of the remuneration paid to the http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/ chairman of the Commission is including (a) salary, localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistics/ (b) employee pension contribution, (c) travel expenses usefulinformation/formstimetable/ and (d) benefits in kind; whether any form of bonus or incentive payment is included in the package; and what Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for (i) minimum length of contract and (ii) notice period Communities and Local Government what estimate the applies. [317816] Audit Commission has made of the cost to local authorities of central government inspection, audit and John Healey: The annual financial monetary value of compliance in 2008-09. [317859] the remuneration paid to the Chair of the Commission is as follows: Ms Rosie Winterton: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC): Chair remuneration of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member £/Hours direct. Basic salary £184,000 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 23 February 2010: Bonus structure None Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply. Employer’s pension Not pensionable The Audit Commission has made no estimate of the cost to contribution local authorities of central government inspection, audit and Benefits in kind/Incentives None compliance in 2008-09. Contracted hours 4 days/week The total fees charged to local authorities in 2008-09 for Travel expenses (October to £3,538.85 external audit by auditors appointed by the Audit Commission December 2009) and for Audit Commission inspections are set out in the Commission’s Note: The IPC will publish the detail of expenses on their website on annual report and accounts for that year. a quarterly basis. The inspectorates of local public services have jointly commissioned In line with Schedule 1, Part 3 (1) of the Planning independent research into the costs to local authorities of compliance Act 2008, which stipulates; the chair, must be appointed with Comprehensive Performance Assessment in 2008-09 and how this changed with the introduction of the new Comprehensive for a fixed period which must not be less than five years Area Assessment in 2009-10. This research is expected to be or more than eight years, the chair has been appointed concluded in March 2010 and will be published as soon as it is for the minimum five years, which can be extended for a available. further three years subject to satisfactory performance. A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard. The appointment can be terminated early by either party, by giving three months notice, in writing. Local Government Finance Funding Changes Independent Inquiry Land: Databases Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for page 79 of the final report of the Lyons Inquiry into Communities and Local Government with reference to local government, if he will place in the Library a copy the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 16 of the written submission to that Inquiry made by the October 2009, Official Report, column 1124W, on land: National Audit Office. [317567] databases, what (a) type of information and (b) level of detail provided by infra-red aerial photography as Barbara Follett: I have placed a copy of the National part of the Pan-Government Agreement on Audit Office’s submission to the Lyons Inquiry in the geographical information. [317601] Library of the House.

Mr. Ian Austin: The information requested is as Local Government: Bank Services follows: (a) The Pan-Government Agreement colour infra-red aerial Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for photography provides a representation of the real world that Communities and Local Government which local highlights actual landcover on the ground. It is commonly used in authorities’ requests for permission to capitalise environmental applications as it is effective at discriminating potential losses on investments held in Icelandic banks variations in vegetation. have been (a) granted and (b) rejected; and on what (b) The data are provided at 50cm resolution. grounds such bids have been rejected. [317749] 491W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 492W

Barbara Follett: As capitalisation allows local authorities Local Government: Debt Collection to use capital resources to meet revenue pressures applications are considered against strict and readily Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for available criteria. All Icelandic capitalisation applications Communities and Local Government if he will make were assessed against the exceptional financial difficulties an assessment of the effectiveness of Rossendale criteria. borough council’s supervision of private bailiffs acting The list of authorities who applied for capitalisation on that authority’s behalf. [317174] under exceptional financial difficulties is available on Barbara Follett: No. Any request for an assessment of the Department’s public website at: Rossendale borough council’s commercial contract with http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/ a private bailiff company should be raised with the xls/1451009.xls council itself or the Audit Commission. All bids were carefully considered, and the grounds for acceptance or rejection were the criteria for exceptional Local Government: Equality financial difficulties which are contained within the guidance to authorities. This is available on the Department’s Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for public website at: Communities and Local Government how much http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/ funding his Department has provided to local pdf/1197739.pdf authorities (a) under the formula grant system and (b) Local Government: Cost Effectiveness through specific grants to fund new burdens arising from new equality and diversity duties in each year Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for since 2005-06. [317809] Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of Barbara Follett: The formula grant settlement in all 19 January 2010, Official Report, column 290W, on these years took account of the spending pressures on local government: cost effectiveness, for what reason all authorities’ responsibilities, including equality and the £250 million cost to local authorities of the diversity duties, as well as the scope for efficiencies. No Personal Care at Home Bill is not being classified as a specific grants have been allocated relating to these new burden under his Department’s new burdens issues. principle; over what period and in which financial years local authorities will be required to make the personal Local Government: Pay care efficiency savings; and whether local authorities will be required to increase council tax or cut services if Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the personal care efficiency savings are not made. Communities and Local Government what estimate he [317810] has made of the cost to local authorities of the planned increase in employers’ National Insurance Barbara Follett: The provisions under the Personal Contributions in each of the next three years. [317862] Care at Home Bill will be funded through a combination of additional grant and redirected local authority efficiency Barbara Follett: There are no proposed or planned savings. The cost of providing free Personal Care has increases in employer’s national insurance contributions been calculated to be £335 million in the first half year in 2010-11. However, in 2011-12 employer’s contributions from October 2010; £210 million of this will be funded are set to increase by 1 per cent. to 13.8 per cent. and the by the Department of Health and £125 million from additional pressure this will put on the wage bills of local government efficiencies. The full-year costs have local authorities will be considered, with all others been calculated to be £670 million. Of this, £250 million during the next spending review. This will also take into would be met by local authority efficiencies and £420 million account other factors, like the scope for continued would come from the Department of Health. Decisions efficiency gains. about the funding of frontline services from 2011-12, including adult social care, will be taken as part of the Local Government: Pensions normal spending review process, which will take into account both pressures and the scope for further efficiency Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for gains. Communities and Local Government what the average The Government believe that it is right to expect employer contribution rate to each fund of the Local councils to play their part to help deliver this new Government Pension Scheme is. [317806] commitment. We have provided record investment in Ms Rosie Winterton: This information is not held local government, with local authorities receiving £8.6 billion centrally. A summary of the 2007 triennial valuation more over the current spending review. We have also exercises, prepared by the Society of County Treasurers, confirmed in ‘Putting the Frontline First: Smarter can be found at: Government’ that we will free-up local resources through http://www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/pensions/download/ reducing burdens, targets and the level of ring-fencing. 2007_LGPS_Valuation_Survey_Results.pdf On top of this, low inflation and affordable pay settlements Individual scheme administering authorities can provide should mean that councils have room to redirect efficiency details of contribution levels of all fund employers and savings to deliver this priority. fund average contribution data. The Government have made clear that it expects the average Band D council tax increase in England to fall Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for to a 16 year low in 2010-11 and will not hesitate to cap Communities and Local Government pursuant to the any excessive council tax increases set by individual answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of authorities. 26 January 2010, Official Report, column 770W, on 493W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 494W local government and fire services: pensions, what the Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for level is at which employer pension contributions to the Communities and Local Government how many local government pension scheme will be (a) capped homeowners in Perth and North Perthshire and (b) shared. [317876] constituency are in receipt of help under the Homeowner Mortgage Protection Scheme. [317922] Ms Rosie Winterton: Discussions are continuing with stakeholders about the final terms for cap and share to John Healey: I refer the hon. Members to the answer apply within the Local Government Pension Scheme I gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) having regard to the outcome of the 2010 actuarial on 16 December 2009, Official Report, column 1297W. valuation exercise. This information is not collected at constituency level. Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans Non-Domestic Rates to change the employee contribution rate for the Local Government Pension Scheme. [317986] Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he Ms Rosie Winterton: There are no current plans to has made of the proportion of eligible small firms amend the Local Government Pension Scheme employee which do not claim small business rate relief. [317807] contribution tariff. Mortgages: Government Assistance Barbara Follett: New work by CLG analysts, published on 9 December 2009, shows that take-up of small business rate relief (SBRR) is much better than some Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for have previously claimed. The report “Small business Communities and Local Government how many rate relief—improving evidence on eligibility and take-up: homeowners are in receipt of assistance under the Methodology” is available at: Homeowner Mortgage Protection Scheme. [317344] http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/ John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I localgovernment/smallbusinessmethod gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) and estimates that, of the around 1.2 million business on 16 December 2009, Official Report, column 1297W. properties in England below the current rateable value (RV)thresholds for SBRR, around 575,000 are occupied Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for by eligible small businesses; and around 68 per cent. of Communities and Local Government how many those eligible were actually claiming the relief at 31 households have been refused assistance under the December 2006, the latest date for which we have Mortgage Rescue Scheme because the value of the information on the number of claimants. property exceeded the eligibility criteria. [317863] This estimate of the number of properties claiming John Healey: Regional property price caps for the the relief will be updated for 2008-09 following the issue Mortgage Rescue Scheme have been in place since of the statistical release “Number of hereditaments the scheme was launched in January 2009. They reflect benefiting from Small Business Rate Relief and the the aim of the scheme to provide targeted support for number of empty hereditaments: experimental statistics” vulnerable households at risk of homelessness. that will be published on the Communities and Local Government website at the end of February. The level of the caps was increased on 1 May and is now at least 150 per cent. of lower quartile property This means that an estimated 32 per cent. of properties prices in each region. In addition, housing associations occupied by eligible small businesses were not claiming have flexibility to consider applications which exceed the relief as at December 31 2006. The total amount of the cap if appropriate depending on household’s individual relief granted to small businesses has increased by 34 per circumstances. cent. in real terms since we introduced the scheme— During 2009 fewer than 5 per cent. of applications rising from £202 million in 2005-06 to £298 million in were deemed ineligible for support because their property 2008-09. The new analysis estimates that in 2008-09, of exceeded the regional price cap. the £325 million total relief that would be granted if all 575,000 eligible properties had claimed, 92 per cent. was Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for actually paid out. Communities and Local Government (1) how many We have taken action to make it as easy as possible applications were made to the Homeowner Mortgage for eligible small businesses to access the relief and so Protection Scheme from homeowners in Moray improve take-up. In 2007 we removed the requirement constituency in 2009; and how many of these met the for claimants to re-apply each year, so that a small eligibility criteria; [317971] business only had to apply once in each revaluation (2) how many homeowners are in receipt of help period. And on December 9 2009 we laid before Parliament under the Homeowner Mortgage Protection Scheme in an Order to remove the requirement to re-apply for Moray constituency. [318002] SBRR at revaluation in 2010, a move which has been welcomed by the Federation of Small Businesses. Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for applications were made to the Homeowner Mortgage Communities and Local Government what the levy Support Scheme by homeowners in Angus charged on the business rate multiplier to offset constituency in 2009; and how many of these met the estimated losses in revenue due to rating appeals was in eligibility criteria. [318068] each year since 2005-06. [317984] 495W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 496W

Barbara Follett: There is no additional levy added to Parish Councils: Council Tax the business rate multiplier to take account of estimated losses for appeal for each individual year. The business Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for rate multiplier is calculated in a revaluation year according Communities and Local Government which parish to the formula at schedule 7 of the Local Government councils levy a precept on council tax. [317854] Finance Act 1988. The formula allows for the total rateable value of the Barbara Follett: This information is not held centrally. ratings lists to be adjusted to take account of estimated losses in appeals. The subsequent multiplier for each year of the 2005 ratings list following the 2005-06 Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for revaluation year was adjusted just by the RPI inflation. Communities and Local Government what the gross revenue raised from parish precepts was on council tax The calculation of the 2005-06 multiplier including in England in each year since 1997-98; and what the an adjustment for estimated losses in appeals is set out average parish precept on a Band D bill was in each in the Business Rates Information letter that I have put such year. [317857] in the House Library. The five-yearly business rates revaluations make sure Barbara Follett: Details of the gross revenue raised each business pays its fair contribution and no more by from parish precepts on council tax and the average ensuring that the share of the national rates bill paid by parish precept on a band D bill in England since any one business reflects changes over time in the value 2000-01 are published in table A3c of “Local Government of its property relative to others. The 2010 revaluation Financial Statistics England No. 19 2009” that was will not raise a single extra penny for Government. published in May 2009. Over a million properties will see their business rate A copy of this publication is available in the Library liabilities come down as a result of revaluation. The of the House and a copy is also available on the Government have put in place a £2 billion relief scheme Communities and Local Government website at: to limit the impact on the minority with bill increases, which in 2010-11 will ensure no business property sees http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ its rates bill increase by more than 11 per cent. as a statistics/financialstatistics192009 result of the revaluation, with maximum increases capped at just 3.5 per cent. for small properties. That is on top Private Rented Housing of the wider support available to help ease business pressures including discounted rate bills for small businesses Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for and deferring tax payments. Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate he has made of the (a) start-up and (b) ongoing costs of his Department’s telephone helpline for tenants in Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property the private rented sector; [317543] (2) how much his Department plans to allocate to its Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for new telephone helpline for tenants in the private rented Communities and Local Government with reference to sector. [317544] the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 16 October 2009, Official Report, column 1132W, on Mr. Ian Austin: Our policy statement on the private non-domestic rates: empty properties, if he will place in rented sector published on 3 February included, as part the Library a copy of the data on empty properties of a package of measures designed to help tenants, provided by each local authority as part of the most landlords and letting agents, a commitment to set up a recent national non-domestic rates return. [317599] dedicated telephone helpline for private sector tenants by the summer of this year. Barbara Follett: Valid data at individual local authority level will be available following the issue of the statistical As the statement makes clear, we are discussing the release “Number of hereditaments benefiting from Small details of how this proposal will be implemented with Business Rate Relief and the number of empty stakeholders in the voluntary sector. hereditaments: experimental statistics”that will be published on the Communities and Local Government website at Private Rented Housing: Planning Permission the end of February. Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Non-Domestic Rates: Ports answer to the written ministerial statement of 27 January 2010, Official Report, columns 54-6WS, on Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for planning, what estimate has been made of the increase Communities and Local Government if he will place in in the number of planning applications likely to result the Library a copy of the correspondence received from the proposed changes. [317875] from GEFCO UK in relation to the new business rate regime affecting port businesses. [317801] Mr. Ian Austin: An estimate of the increase in the number of planning applications as a result of the Barbara Follett: As explained to the hon. Member on proposed changes will be set out in the final impact 20 July 2009, it would be inappropriate for Ministers to assessment which is being produced in association with release correspondence they receive without authority. the implementing legislation. 497W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 498W

Regional Planning and Development (d) political and key stakeholder outreach plan provided to the Tenant Services Authority under its Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for contract with APCO Worldwide. [317869] Communities and Local Government how many core strategies have been approved by the relevant local John Healey: No such documentation exists. A copy planning authority to date; and how many Local of the contract briefs is available in the Library of the Development Frameworks include a full set of House. documentation as required under the Local Unitary Councils: Finance Development Scheme. [317855] Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr. Ian Austin: Development Plan Documents are Communities and Local Government what the approved by local planning authorities at different stages: projected (a) minimum and (b) maximum cost savings at publication; at submission of the strategy to the estimated for each unitary authority established since Secretary of State for an independent Examination in 2007 were prior to the authority’s inception; what cost Public; and at adoption. The following table sets out the saving targets were set when each was established; and latest position for core strategies. what savings each has achieved to date. [318038] Local Development Schemes are a forward look setting Ms Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the out the timetables for the Development Plan Documents answer given to the hon. Member for Peterborough that local authorities intend to prepare or review. These (Mr. Jackson) on 9 February 2010, Official Report, are subject to ongoing change as new circumstances column 882W. and requirements arise. The LDS should therefore rarely if ever be completed. Youth Services: Finance

Submitted to SoS Published but not Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Adopted but not yet adopted yet submitted Communities and Local Government how much Core 61 25 31 funding his Department allocated to local authorities strategies for youth services in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 through (i) formula funding, (ii) specific Social Rented Housing grants, (iii) special grants and (iv) area-based grants; and how much such funding of each type was earmarked for (A) revenue support and (B) capital Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for expenditure in each such year. [317856] Communities and Local Government how many registered social landlords there were in 2009; and how Barbara Follett: Neither formula grant nor Area Based many properties were owned by them. [316809] Grant are hypothecated to any particular purpose. The Department has paid no specific or special grants to Mr. Ian Austin: On 31 March 2009 there were 1,830 authorities for youth services in the years in question. landlords registered with the Tenant Services Authority and they owned a total of 2,379,728 units of housing. A unit of housing is a single family home; a bedsit, JUSTICE flat, family house or a bedspace1 in a hostel. Approved Premises 1 Individuals placed in a hostel will occupy a bedspace in either a private room or a shared dormitory. John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average annual cost of housing a Communities and Local Government what research his person in a probation hostel or approved premises was Department has conducted into the income of in the latest period for which figures are available. households in the social rented sector. [316818] [317096] Maria Eagle: The current grant for approved premises Mr. Ian Austin: The Survey of English Housing (SEH) (formerly known as probation or bail hostels) equates has been the Department’s main source of information to an average £26,600 per bed space for the current on income by housing tenure up to 2007-08. From financial year, unchanged from the previous year. More 2008-09 estimates will be mainly derived from the new than one resident will occupy a single bed space in English Housing Survey (EHS). An additional source is approved premises over the course of a year, with an DWP’s Family Resources Survey (FRS). average stay of 74.7 days per resident. The most recently published annual report, Housing in England 2007-08, contains tables derived from both Feltham the SEH and the FRS. The report can be accessed at: Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/ he will set out, with statistical evidence relating as 1346249.pdf closely as possible to Feltham and Heston constituency, the effects on that constituency of Tenant Services Authority changes to his Department’s policies since 1997. [316673] Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice’s work spans the Library a copy of the (a) communications audit, criminal, civil and family justice, democracy, rights and (b) campaign book, (c) communications plan and the constitution. Every year around nine million people 499W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 500W use our services in 900 locations across the United Offenders: Deportation Kingdom, including 650 courts and tribunals and 139 prisons in England and Wales. Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice The range of the Department’s policies and actions is how many foreign national prisoners serving sentences wide and the statistical information relating to it is not of less than 12 months have a court recommendation normally collected on a constituency basis. Consequently, for deportation. [317127] some of the information requested in the question Mr. Straw: At the end of June 2009, there were 990 cannot be provided in the form requested except at a foreign national prisoners (FNPs) in England and Wales, disproportionate cost. serving a sentence of less than 12 months. Although data on sentencing for the period is not available for Data on how many of these FNPs also received court the constituency of Feltham and Heston, it is available for London. This shows the total number of offenders sentenced annually was recommendation for deportation is not held centrally 202,478 in 1997 and 242,429 in 2008, the latest period for which and could not be provided without manual checking of such information is available. records at disproportionate cost. The number of offences brought to justice for London increased This figure has been drawn from administrative IT from 119,531 for the 12 months ending 31 March 2001 (the systems which, as with any large scale recording system, earliest period since which such data have been compiled) to is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. 230,202 (provisional figures) for the 12 months ending 31 March 2009. Prison Accommodation With regard to prosecutions, data are not available for the Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for constituency of Feltham and Heston. However, the total number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts by the Justice with reference to the answer to the hon. Metropolitan Police was 260,328 in 1997 compared to 279,581 in Member for Harborough of 8 June 2009, Official 2008. Report, columns 774-75W, on prison accommodation, The latest data, which covers reoffending in the period 1 July how many cells were not in use in each (a) prison for 2008 to 30 June 2009, showed that the three month reoffending adult males, (b) prison for adult females, (c) young rate for offenders on the probation caseload in Hounslow was offender institution for males and (d) young offender 8.15 per cent. After controlling for changes in the characteristics institution for females on 1 January 2010 or the latest of offenders on the probation caseload, there was a reduction in date for which figures are available. [318056] reoffending of 6.06 per cent. compared to the 2007-08 baseline. Data are not available prior to 2007 on this basis. Mr. Straw: As at 29 January 2010 there were 1,598 The number of persons commencing court order supervision places recorded as out of use from the total certified by the Probation Service in London was 17,214 in 1997 and normal accommodation (CNA) of the prison estate. 23,787 in 2008. This represents 2.1 per cent. of the total CNA. 163,570 civil non-family proceedings were started in the county The data available do not allow for a breakdown of courts of London Civil and Family HM Courts Service (HMCS) whether these places are for young offenders or adults. area and Staines in 2008, compared to 275,769 in 1998, the first year for which these figures are available. In respect of family law, Comprehensive information on why these places are there were also 15,680 private law applications and 870 public law out of use is not held centrally, however the majority of applications made in the county or High Courts of this HMCS out of use accommodation will be due to maintenance area and Staines in 2008-09, compared to 11,931 and 1,095 or refurbishment work taking place. respectively in 2003-04, the first annual period for which these There is a planned programme of refurbishment of figures are available. accommodation which requires the temporary closure In addition, at a national level: of prison places. This allows the critical maintenance of Local communities are being better engaged in criminal justice—by the estate to be undertaken whilst having no significant giving them a say in the types of Community Payback projects change on the number of net places in use. offenders carry out and allowing them to see justice being done, The following table shows the total number of places for example through the use of high visibility jackets. Offenders that were recorded as out of use by male and female have now worked more than 14 million hours, with an estimated establishments. value to the taxpayer of over £80 million. HMP Ashwell has 415 places out of use following an Major constitutional reforms have been delivered, including devolution, the Human Rights Act, Freedom of Information, incident in April 2009. HMP Wealstun has 300 places Lords Reform, and a new Supreme Court for the UK. out of use while part of the establishment is re-rolled to closed conditions. National Offender Management Service: Manpower Number of places out Establishment name of use Percentage of CNA

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Male establishments Justice how many people are employed at the (a) Ashfield 7 1.7 national and (b) regional level in the National Ashwell 415 69.3 Offender Management Service. [317093] Aylesbury 12 2.6 Bedford 1 0.9 Maria Eagle: On 31 December 2009 the National Channings Wood 2 0.3 Offender Management Service (NOMS) Headquarters Cookham Wood 25 17.2 employed 2,260 at national headquarters and 1,094 at Dartmoor 62 9.8 regional offices and in regionally organised technical Dorchester 8 5.5 support teams. A further 1,021 staff are employed by Edmunds Hill 10 2.6 the NOMS Shared Service Centre in Newport, South Elmley (Sheppey Cluster) 18 2.4 Wales. Featherstone 29 4.3 501W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 502W

Number of places out 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total Establishment name of use Percentage of CNA Disciplinary 156 160 185 122 151 774 Full Sutton 8 1.3 cases1 Grendon 23 9.1 Dismissals2 172 167 200 185 170 894 Haslar 22 13.8 1 Data on disciplinary cases is derived from the HR Discipline Database and the Hindley 66 13.0 Shared Service Personnel Management Database. As with any large-scale administrative systems these are liable to a certain level of inaccuracy. It 1 Isle of Wight 10.1includes all centrally recorded disciplinary cases excluding those resulting in Lincoln 12 2.7 dismissal from service. 2 Liverpool 10 0.8 Data includes dismissals for inefficiency, conduct and performance reasons and is derived from the Oracle HR system and the former Personnel Corporate Long Lartin 13 2 Database. As with any large-scale administrative systems these are liable to a Manchester 16 1.7 certain level of inaccuracy. Moorland 13 1.8 Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Pentonville 5 0.5 Justice what the average duration of standard initial Portland 72 11.9 training for prison officers is in (a) privately and (b) Ranby 1 0.1 publicly managed prisons. [318061] Rochester 32 4.2 Spring Hill 1 0.3 Maria Eagle: In privately managed prisons the duration Stoke Heath 58 9.1 of initial training for prison custody officers (equivalent Swaleside 127 13.6 to prison officers in the public sector) is nine weeks. The Swansea 18 7.3 training is mainly classroom based but includes job Wakefield 1 0.1 shadowing in the prison. Wealstun 300 37 All newly recruited prison officers in public sector Whatton 45 0.4 prisons are required to complete a one year foundation Whitemoor 28 5.7 training programme, leading to a level 3 National Vocational Woodhill 5 0.8 Qualification in Custodial Care (CCNVQ). Training Wormwood Scrubs 23 2 begins with an eight week prison officer entry level training course, which is mainly college-based. This Female establishments provides staff with all the underpinning knowledge and Askham Grange 24 16.0 understanding in core skills required to successfully Holloway 29 5.5 complete their CCNVQ within 12 months of joining the Low Newton 45 14.3 National Offender Management Service. New Hall 9 2.3 Styal 2 0.4 Prison: Offences 1 The sites at Albany, Camphill and Parkhurst constitute HMP Isle of Wight. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisons were free from (a) illegal Prison Officers drug use and (b) mobile telephone smuggling in each year since 1997. [317762] Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Maria Eagle: Prisons have achieved considerable success Justice how many prison officers were (a) disciplined in reducing the level of drug misuse against a background or (b) dismissed from (i) privately and (ii) publicly of continuing high demand for drugs. Drug misuse as managed prisons in each of the last five years for which measured by random mandatory drug testing has fallen figures are available. [318059] 68 per cent. since 1996-97. The following table gives the number of prisons that Maria Eagle: In the National Offender Management reported no drug misuse, as measured by random Service (NOMS) information is only held centrally in mandatory drug testing (MDT), in each year since respect of staff disciplined or dismissed from publicly 1996-97. Many prisons also report very low levels of managed prisons. There is no requirement for privately drug misuse. The varying nature of individual prison managed prisons to notify NOMS headquarters of any populations can result in fluctuating month to month disciplinary action taken against their employees. In MDT positive rates. Many prisons achieve periods of order to provide the information required in respect of zero positive rates but are not drug free over an entire the privately managed prisons, we would have to contact 12 month period. each of the prisons concerned and ask them to submit Number of prisons reporting no drug their records for the last five years to NOMS so that it misuse, as measured by random MDT could be collated. This would incur disproportionate cost. 1996-97 1 1997-98 0 The following table provides a breakdown of the 1998-99 0 number of prison officers in the public sector Prison 1999-2000 1 Service who have been disciplined or dismissed in each 2000-01 2 of the last five calendar years. Staff can be dismissed 2001-02 2 from the public sector Prison Service if their attendance, 2002-03 2 conduct or performance falls below the required standards. 2003-04 0 The data given for dismissals includes all prison officers 2004-05 1 from publicly managed prisons who have left the service 2005-06 1 for inefficiency, conduct and performance reasons. 503W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 504W

More details on the projections may be found in the Number of prisons reporting no drug misuse, as measured by random MDT latest published bulletin, “Prison Population Projections 2009-2015”Ministry of Justice Statistics Bulletin, 28 August 2006-07 1 2009. This is available at the following webpage: 2007-08 2 http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonpopulation.htm 2008-09 1 These figures have been drawn from administrative Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice data systems. Although care is taken when processing what representations he has received on projections for and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject prison (a) population and (b) capacity over the next to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording two years. [317135] system. The data are not subject to audit. Mr. Straw: The latest projections for the prison Due to the covert nature of mobile phone use in population were published on the 28 August 2009, in prisons, the National Offender Management Service the Ministry of Justice publication “Prison Population (NOMS) is not able to identify definitively prisons Projections 2009-15” available at: where there is a complete absence of mobile phone http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics.htm smuggling. NOMS is acutely aware of the threat posed They cover the period August 2009—June 2015 and by mobile phone use in prisons and has introduced investigate three future scenarios. measures to assist prisons in minimising the number of These projections were produced using a version of mobile phones entering prison, finding mobile phones the long term prison population projections model that within prisons and disrupting the use of mobile phones was developed in the 1990’s and has worked well. However, that cannot be found. NOMS is working to implement in line with good practice, further development of the systems to improve the reporting by prisons of mobile long-term modelling of the prison projections is being phone seizures which will assist in understanding the undertaken in 2009 and 2010, to ensure the model scale of the issue. continues to perform and is using the most up to date Prisoners techniques and data. A new, more flexible framework Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice will be developed. what (a) high, (b) medium and (c) low projections he This development process has provided the opportunity has made for the prison population in each of the next for stakeholders to influence the way in which the five years. [317134] model is developed and they have been asked to comment, Mr. Straw: The Ministry of Justice produces annual or ask for further details, via the MoJ website. At the projections of the prison population in England and current time no comments or other representations Wales, most recently in August 2009. have been received. These project the prison population under three different With regards to prison capacity the Ministry of Justice scenarios, based on different assumptions about future has received different forms of representation on future sentencing trends: the Medium scenario assumes no prison capacity from a variety of sources, among them increases or decreases in custody rates or determinate Members of Parliament, non-governmental organisations sentence lengths. The High/Low scenarios reflecta1per and members of the public. Details of all these cent. per annum increase/decrease in custody rates and representations are not all held centrally and could only a 0.5 per cent. increase/decrease in the average (determinate) be obtained at disproportionate cost. custodial sentence lengths. Other impacts included in the projections, such as Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice those of legislation and processes, are applied equally to (1) what his most recent estimate is of the average all scenarios. These cover the anticipated impacts of annual cost to his Department of holding in prison (a) policy and process initiatives that have agreed an adult and (b) a person aged under 21 years; implementation timetables. These assumptions and [317277] anticipated impacts have remained unchanged since last (2) what criteria are used to determine the average year projections. cost of a prison place in England and Wales; and The requested information is shown in the following whether this includes the cost of the National Offender table: Management Service national and regional structures. Projected prison population (end June figures) [317278] High Medium Low Maria Eagle: For 2008-09, the average cost per prisoner 2010 85,700 84,900 83,900 in an adult prison was £39,600 and in a young offender 2011 88,600 86,900 84,900 institution was £53,400. 2012 90,200 87,700 84,900 2013 91,100 87,600 84,000 These average costs comprise the expenditure on 2014 92,400 88,000 83,500 public and private prisons (as recorded in the National Notes: Offender Management Service (NOMS) Agency 1. All numbers rounded to the nearest hundred. Annual Report and Accounts), increased by an 2. The prison population is influenced by diverse factors that can mean that the apportionment of relevant costs borne centrally and in actual future prison population may not be the same as that projected: changes in sentencer behaviour, policy decisions and the criminal justice process, the regions by NOMS. This involves some estimation. which can respond to a multitude of environmental factors such as high profile In addition, expenditure met centrally by the Youth criminal cases and public debate; Justice Board (YJB) is included. The figures do not implementation of new policies and processes without a timetable, or for which a quantitative assessment of the impact is currently not possible; include the cost of prisoners held in police or court cells unknown future policy, process and political changes. under Operation Safeguard, nor expenditure met by 505W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 506W other Government Departments (e.g. Health and Monthly values of projected prison population for High, Medium and Education). The prisoner escort service costs are included. Low scenarios Where the costs of young people are recharged by High Medium Low NOMS to the YJB, expenditure is shown gross and not December 2011 87,400 85,200 82,800 reduced by income from the YJB. Notes: 1. Data are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Data are given for the last day of each month. Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for 3. The prison population is influenced by diverse factors that can Justice what his Department’s (a) high, (b) medium mean that the actual future prison population may not be the same as and (c) low projections of the prison population are that projected: for each month to December 2011. [318057] changes in sentencer behaviour, policy decisions and the criminal justice process, which can respond to a multitude of environmental factors such as high profile criminal cases and public debate; Mr. Straw: The Ministry of Justice produces annual implementation of new policies and processes without a timetable, or projections of the prison population in England and for which a quantitative assessment of the impact is currently not possible; Wales, most recently in August 2009. unknown future policy, process and political changes. These project the prison population under three different 4. The July 2009 prison population figure is a provisional figure published on the 31 scenarios, based on different assumptions about future July 2009 by HM Prison Service: sentencing trends: the Medium scenario assumes no www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/assets/documents/ increases or decreases in custody rates or determinate 1000481131072009_web_report.doc sentence lengths. The High/Low scenarios reflecta1per More details on the projections may be found in the cent. per annum increase/decrease in custody rates and latest published bulletin, “Prison Population Projections a 0.5 per cent. increase/decrease in the average (determinate) 2009-2015”Ministry of Justice Statistics Bulletin, 28 August custodial sentence lengths. 2009. This is available at the following webpage: Other impacts included in the projections, such as http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonpopulation.htm those of legislation and processes, are applied equally to all scenarios. These cover the anticipated impacts of Prisoners Release policy and process initiatives that have agreed implementation timetables. These assumptions and Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for anticipated impacts have remained unchanged since last Justice what estimate he has made of the number and year projections. proportion of offenders who (a) on release from The requested information is shown in the following custodial sentences and (b) on commencement of a table: community sentence, are moved to a different Monthly values of projected prison population for High, Medium and geographical area from their home address for (i) Low scenarios reasons of rehabilitation, (ii) reasons of victim safety High Medium Low and (iii) other reasons. [318045] July 2009 83,962 83,962 83,962 Maria Eagle: The information requested is not collated August 2009 83,400 83,300 83,200 centrally. Offenders are transferred between probation September 2009 83,700 83,600 83,400 areas for a variety of reasons, including rehabilitation October 2009 84,100 83,900 83,600 and victim safety. However, there is no mechanism is November 2009 84,200 83,900 83,500 place to record centrally the reasons behind these transfers. December 2009 82,300 82,000 81,500 To answer the question, each probation area would January 2010 83,300 82,900 82,400 need to review their case load to establish the number of February 2010 83,600 83,100 82,500 offenders who have been transferred between probation March 2010 84,800 84,200 83,500 areas, and then to examine those cases to determine the April 2010 85,000 84,400 83,600 reasons behind each move. This could be achieved only May 2010 85,000 84,300 83,400 by incurring disproportionate cost. June 2010 85,700 84,900 83,900 July 2010 86,600 85,700 84,700 Prisoners Transfers August 2010 86,400 85,500 84,400 September 2010 86,700 85,700 84,400 Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice October 2010 86,800 85,700 84,400 what the cost to the public purse was of transferring November 2010 87,300 86,100 84,800 prisoners to Crown Dependencies in each of the last December 2010 85,600 84,400 82,900 five years. [317133] January 2011 86,500 85,200 83,600 February 2011 86,800 85,400 83,700 Mr. Straw: The cost of the transferring prisoners March 2011 87,800 86,400 84,600 from England and Wales to the three Crown Dependencies April 2011 87,700 86,100 84,300 (Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man) was as follows: May 2011 88,000 86,300 84,400 June 2011 88,600 86,900 84,900 £ July 2011 89,200 87,400 85,300 2006 7,431.78 August 2011 89,200 87,300 85,200 2007 4,463.40 September 2011 89,300 87,400 85,200 2008 4,591.52 October 2011 89,400 87,400 85,200 2009 7,386.84 November 2011 89,600 87,500 85,200 507W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 508W

The costs shown cover the cost of the flights for the Table 2 shows Ministry of Justice/Home Office additional prisoner and escorting staff. The cost of transferring funding allocations for the delivery of drug interventions the prisoner from a prison to the airport is covered by in prisons over the last five years. The figures include the inter prison transfer contract and is not separately funding for accredited drug treatment programmes, recorded. The cost of transfer before 2006 was met Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare from the contract in place at the time. Costs incurred services (CARATs), the YoungPeople’s Substance Misuse under that contract were not separately recorded. Service (for 15 to 18-year-olds only) and Compact Based Drug Testing. Prisoners: Education and Drugs In addition to this the Ministry of Justice has permanently transferred £11.3 million a year to primary Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice care trusts for the delivery of clinical drug treatment in how much his Department and its predecessors spent prisons. on (a) prisoner education and (b) drug treatment Table 2 programmes for prisoners in each of the last five years. £ million [317245] 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

CARATs 26.8 30.3 32.1 33 34.2 Maria Eagle: Table 1 following shows the amount Young People’s 4.3 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 spent on prisoner education and training in each of the Substance Misuse last five years in public sector prisons in England, Service Accredited Drug 21.1 21.7 21.7 21.8 22.4 funded by the Department for Business Innovation and Treatment Programmes Skills and its predecessors: Compact Based Drug 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 Table 1 Testing (CBDT)1 £ million Total MoJ funding for 60.5 65 66.8 67.8 69.6 prison drug 2005-06 151 interventions 1 CBDT includes voluntary drug testing and incentive based drug testing. 2006-07 156 2007-08 175 2008-09 178 Prisoners: Foreigners 2009-10 178

The current budget has increased threefold since 2001. Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has made an estimate of the number of In 2003 a ministerial decision was taken that the foreign nationals likely to serve custodial sentences in Learning and Skills Council (LSC) took responsibility England and Wales in each year to 2014. [317130] for planning, funding and, with the then Regional Offender Managers (ROMS), commissioning of a new Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) in public sector Mr. Straw: The Ministry of Justice does not undertake prisons and for offenders under supervision in community separate population projections for the foreign national in England. OLASS came into effect across England population. with effect from 31 July 2006. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) also spent a Prisoners: Gender Identity Disorder further £30 million in European Social Funds. This was used for a number of regionally commissioned projects around vocational training and employer engagement Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in both prisons and the community for the two calendar pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2010, Official years 2006 and 2007. They also established a £13.9 million Report, columns 865-6W, on prisoners: gender identity budget from EQUAL funding for the period December disorder, in what form the advice and information 2006 to March 2008 to meet additional provision for contained within the draft guidance is made available offenders both in custody and in the community. to prisoners who do not request it. [316791] The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) gained co-financing organisation status in January 2009 Maria Eagle: The guidance or advice is normally and successfully bid for a total of £50 million of European given when requested by prison staff who have been Social Funding to enhance the skills and employment approached by prisoners seeking this information, or services to offenders in prison and the community. where they identify a prisoner on reception who is NOMS has been granted the funding over 27 months to undergoing gender re-assignment treatment. There are increase offenders’ employability and improve their access also occasions when prisoners have written direct to to mainstream support provision. Planning is already officials in the National Offender Management Service under way to extend the funding into a second phase up for advice or information. to 2013. The information or advice will normally be given to In addition, training for prisoners is undertaken, prison staff in the form of a detailed email with relevant mainly by Prison Service staff, while prisoners work or attachments (a copy of the draft document). In the are engaged in various areas such as prison industries, case of prisoners; they receive a detailed written reply catering, physical education, land based activities, industrial which would also encourage them to speak to their cleaning and laundries. The central costs of the training personal officer or a member of the health care team. A elements of these, mainly production functions, are not copy of the draft document would not be supplied to kept centrally. prisoners. 509W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 510W

Prisoners: Mothers Average time in current establishment of private sector staff1 Average length of service (years) in current establishment As at 31 December Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for each year Prison custody officers Governors2 Justice what estimate he has made of the number of women in prison who (a) have children, (b) have 2009 4.1 6.0 children and no husband or long-term partner and (c) 2008 4.2 5.0 have no registered address. [318058] 2007 3.9 4.8 2006 3.8 5.6 Maria Eagle: The information requested is not routinely 2005 3.9 4.6 collected. However, a recent Ministry of Justice study 1 Information relates to Altcourse, Bronzefield, Dovegate (since 2007 only), Forest Bank and Peterborough. suggested that 55 per cent. of women in prison are 2 The definition of governor differs across contractors from all managers to mothers. Work has begun with the Department for only the in-charge manager. Children, Schools and Families to implement the recently 1 published Framework for Supporting Offenders’ Families. Proportion of all staff with more than two years service Proportion of staff with more than Within four days of entering custody, prisoners should two years service in establishment have an assessment of their accommodation needs and (Percentage) if necessary, prison staff will provide advice and guidance to help them find settled accommodation prior to release. 2009 76.9 2008 63.0 Prisons : Manpower 2007 65.2 2006 65.1 20052 n/a Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for 1 Information relates to all staff at Ashfield, Doncaster and Lowdham Grange. Justice what the average length of continuous 2 Information not available for 2005. employment in the same prison was of (a) prison officers and (b) prison governors in (i) privately and Prisons: Dogs (ii) publicly managed prisons in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [318060] Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) passive and (b) active dogs there Maria Eagle: The information requested is set out as are in each prison in England and Wales; and on what follows: basis they are distributed. [317400] Public Sector Establishments Information on the length of continuous service in Maria Eagle: Allocation of drug detection dogs around the same public sector Prison Service establishment for the estate is decided on a regional basis, according to both prison officers and operational managers is contained need. The profile is not static. In some regions there is a in the following table. The information relates to the regional pool of dogs and handlers, moving from prison average length of time that the officers or managers, to prison as required. In other regions dogs and handlers who were in post on 31 December each year, had are allocated to and permanently based in individual previously spent at their then current establishment. prisons as required. Average time in current establishment of public sector staff As of October 2009 the Prison Service had 216 active Average length of service (years) in current establishment drug dogs and 204 passive drug dogs in prisons, allocated As at 31 December as follows: each year Prison officers1 Operational managers2 Number 2009 8.9 5.8 Prison Active drug dogs Passive drug dogs 2008 8.4 5.5 2007 8.2 5.3 Acklington 2 1 2006 8.1 5.3 Ashfield 0 1 2005 8.0 5.1 Ashwell 1 1 1 Prison officers only, does not include senior or principal officers. Aylesbury 1 0 2 Includes all grades of operational managers, not only the in-charge governor. Bedford 2 2 Manager G to senior manager A. Belmarsh 4 2 Birmingham 4 2 Private Sector Establishments1 Blantyre House 0 0 Information about private sector establishments has Blundeston 2 2 been provided by individual contractors where available. Brinsford 2 2 Limitations in the data available mean that not all Bristol 2 2 private sector establishments have information available Brixton 2 2 in a format that is compatible with the question. Information Bronzefield 1 1 for these establishments is presented in a separate table. Bullingdon 2 2 The private sector establishments have been in operation Bullwood Hall 0 0 for a relatively short time and consequently the average Canterbury 0 0 length of service is inevitably lower than in public sector Cardiff 1 1 establishments where some individual officers have been Castington 2 2 in post for up to 40 years. Channings Wood 2 2 1 Information on average length of service was not available from Chelmsford 3 2 the HR systems of Wolds and Parc without undertaking a large-scale Coldingley 2 2 manual data collection exercise. Cookham Wood 0 0 511W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 512W

Number Number Prison Active drug dogs Passive drug dogs Prison Active drug dogs Passive drug dogs

Dartmoor 2 2 Springhill 0 0 Deerbolt 2 2 Stafford 2 2 Dorchester 2 2 Standford Hill 1 0 Dovegate 1 3 Stocken 4 4 Downview 1 1 Stoke Heath 2 2 Drake Hall 0 1 Sudbury 2 2 Durham 4 4 Swaleside 2 2 East Sutton Park 0 0 Swansea 1 1 Swinfen Hall 1 1 Eastwood Park 2 2 The Mount 3 3 Edmunds Hill 2 2 The Verne 1 1 Elmley 0 0 Usk/Prescoed 0 0 Erlestoke 2 1 Wakefield 3 4 Exeter 2 2 Wandsworth 3 3 Featherstone 1 1 Warren Hill 1 1 Feltham 1 1 Wayland 3 4 Ford 1 1 Wellingborough 2 2 Foston Hall 1 1 Werrington 0 0 Frankland 3 3 Wharton 1 1 Full Sutton 3 4 Whitemoor 4 4 Gartree 2 2 Winchester 1 2 Glen Parva 2 2 Woodhill 4 3 Gloucester 2 2 Wormwood Scrubs 2 2 Grendon 2 2 Yorkshire and Humber 11 10 2 Guys Marsh 0 0 Area Search Team Total 216 204 Hewell 6 6 1 The North West Area Search Team covers the following prisons: Altcourse, Highdown 2 2 Buckley Hall, Forest Bank, Garth, Haverigg, Hindley, Kennet, Kirkham, Highpoint 4 4 Lancaster Castle/Farms, Liverpool, Preston, Risley, Styal, Thorn Cross and Hollesley Bay 1 1 Wymott. 2 The Yorkshire and Humber Area Search Team covers the following prisons: Holloway 2 2 Askham Grange, Doncaster, Everthorpe, Hull, Leeds, Lindholme, Moorlands, Holme House 2 2 New Hall, Northallerton, Wealstun, Wetherby and Wolds. Huntercombe 0 0 Isle of Wight 6 5 Prisons: Drugs Kingston 2 2 Latchmere House 0 0 Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Leicester 2 2 Justice whether a positive mandatory drug test Lewes 2 1 automatically results in the search of a prison cell. Leyhill 4 2 [317398] Lincoln 1 1 Littlehay 2 2 Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management Long Lartin 5 5 Service’s National Security Framework (NSF) does not Low Newton 1 1 prescribe that a cell search should follow a positive Lowdham Grange 1 1 mandatory drug test. Current NSF policy requires that Maidstone 1 1 cells must be searched using authorised national procedures Manchester 4 3 set out in the document. The frequency of routine cell Morton Hall 1 1 searching is a matter for local discretion and should be North Sea Camp 1 1 determined as part of local searching strategies to meet North West Area Search 14 13 local security, control and resource needs of the Team1 establishment. Norwich 3 3 In addition, cell searches may also be conducted on Nottingham 2 2 an intelligence-led basis or on reasonable suspicion that Onley 1 1 an item of contraband is secreted within a cell. Parc 1 1 Pentonville 3 3 Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Peterborough 2 2 Justice what guidance has been issued on the procedure Portland 2 1 to be followed by prison service staff when a sniffer dog Ranby 2 2 makes a positive indication of the presence of illicit Reading 1 1 drugs on (a) a visitor, (b) a contractor, (c) a prisoner Rochester 2 2 and (d) a prison officer. [317399] Rye Hill 2 1 Send 1 1 Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management Shepton Mallet 1 1 Service (NOMS) Passive Drug Dog Guidelines, issued Shrewsbury 2 1 to all prisons, recommends that: 513W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 514W

(a) and (b) when a passive drug dog indicates against a social the length of the offender’s sentence; visitor or contractor a repeat screen with the dog should be the offender’s gender; considered. Security staff should then question the visitor/contractor and investigate whether any further intelligence or evidence exists. the grade of staff working with the offender; and If no further information exists, the visit can proceed but in the time taken by staff to deliver the supervision requirement, closed conditions or the visitor can leave the prison. The prison’s which includes meetings with the offender, liaison with providers police intelligence officer should also be informed. If no further of specialist advice and feeding back to the offender manager. information exists on a contractor, they can be permitted entry to The level of engagement is primarily dependent on the tier of the prison. If further evidence and/or intelligence exists, depending the offender. on its nature, the visitor/contractor may be full (strip) searched Costs estimated using this bottom up process are not and/or the police may be called; the full costs since they do not include overheads. Full (c) when a passive drug dog indicates against a prisoner the costs of the supervision requirement will be collected prisoner should be full (strip) searched. If no substance is found and published in order to benchmark the whole of the the prisoner should be required to undergo a suspicion mandatory probation system by the end of 2011. drug test. The prisoner’s cell should also be searched. If drugs are found the prisoner should be referred to the prison adjudication system. If drug finds are substantial, indicating intent to supply, the police may be called. Other evidence and intelligence will also Probation: Sex Offender Treatment Programme be considered following which further administrative action may be taken; John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for (d) when a passive drug dog indicates against a member of Justice what the average cost of probation supervision prison staff the member of staff should be given a rub down search and asked to complete a questionnaire inquiring whether of an individual with a sex offender programme there is any reason why they may have come into contact with attachment was in the latest year for which information drugs. The member of staff should only proceed once all the is available. [317095] information is verified. If drugs are found the police should be called. Maria Eagle: The funding for the supervision of offenders and the delivery of sex offender programmes Prisons: Mobile Phones in the community is part of the general grant given to probation areas or trusts. The costs will vary and depend Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for on a number of factors including the risk presented by Justice (1) what progress he has made in (a) trialling the individual, the level of supervision required, the and (b) evaluating disruption technologies for mobile programme the individual attends, and the arrangements telephones in prisons; [318054] for delivery in the particular area. It is not possible to (2) in which prisons mobile telephone signal blockers accurately disaggregate the cost of this work. are in operation. [318055] Full costs of probation services will be collected and published to benchmark the whole of the probation Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management system by the end of 2011. Service is trialling a variety of technologies in a number of establishments in support of our strategy to minimise the number of mobile phones entering prisons; find Public Opinion mobile phones that are smuggled into prisons; and disrupt mobile phones that we cannot find. For security Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice reasons, it is not appropriate to disclose the location of how much his Department spent on (a) focus groups these trials. and (b) other deliberative forms of public opinion This is a challenging area of work where we are research in each month of the last two years. [317157] working closely with mobile network operators and Ofcom where appropriate to ensure full evaluation of Mr. Straw: Monthly data on the amount spent on the pilots. focus groups and other forms of deliberative public opinion research could currently be provided only at Probation: Per Capita Costs disproportionate cost as the information requested on expenditure is not held centrally. However, a search of John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for local records has identified a number of projects undertaken Justice (1) what factors are taken into account in in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years where focus calculating the cost of individual probation groups were used, the expenditure on which is provided supervision; [317092] as follows. (2) what factors are taken into account in calculating Table 1: Focus Groups: Ministry of Justice the estimated cost of probation supervision of an £ individual (a) with a condition and (b) without a 2008-09 435,218 condition. [317098] 2009-10 53,039 Maria Eagle: The supervision requirement is one of 12 requirements of a community order. The factors Figures in the table above are estimates including taken into account when costing the supervision VAT and are based on a collation of local returns as no requirement are: central records are available. They exclude any focus groups run by NDPBs. offender tier (there are four tiers in the National Offender Management Model describing different case management With regard to deliberative research, between October approaches and map against different resource levels and 2009 and February 2010, the Ministry of Justice held a offender manager competences); series of deliberative events on Identity, Values and a 515W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 516W possible Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. It is not Maria Eagle: The following table shows the number possible to finalise the actual costs at this stage, however, of young people in each youth offending team area have it is anticipated that this will come to less than £1 million been remanded in custody in each of the six months in total. July-December 2009. Separate figures are given for Rehabilitation Centres: Young People young people remanded pending and during trial, those committed for sentencing and young people remanded Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for to the care of a local authority with a secure requirement. Justice how many intensive fostering places are The data, which will be placed in the Library, have available under the Youth Rehabilitation Order in each been supplied by the YouthJustice Board and have been youth offending team area; what the average cost per drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with place is; and whether he plans to increase the number any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible of places available under that Order. [317548] errors with data entry and processing and may be subject to change over time. Differences in counting Maria Eagle: Intensive fostering is being piloted by rules may mean that figures from other databases are the Youth Justice Board and 25 places are currently not directly comparable. available in the youth offending teams (YOTs) that are taking part in the pilot. There are 10 places in Wessex, six in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, three in Trafford and six across London. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS The cost of a placement currently ranges between £2,220 to £2,385 a week. A further six places will be provided in 2010-11, four in Cambridgeshire and Apprentices: Salford Peterborough YOTs and two in Derby City YOT.Extension of intensive fostering more widely will be subject to Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister of State, future spending reviews. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many modern apprenticeships were started in Salford Unpaid Work in (a) 1997 and (b) 2008-09. [317383] John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost of supervising a person Kevin Brennan: Table 1 shows the number of on unpaid work for (a) 160 hours and (b) 240 hours apprenticeship starts in Salford parliamentary was in the latest period for which figures are available. constituency, Eccles parliamentary constituency, [317097] Worsley parliamentary constituency and Salford local authority from academic year 2003/04 onwards, the Maria Eagle: The funding for the supervision of earliest year for which comparable data are available. offenders sentenced to unpaid work is part of the Salford is made up of Salford and Eccles parliamentary general grant provided to probation areas. The actual constituencies and part of Worsley parliamentary costs will vary between areas and according to the type constituency. of work placement. Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts for Salford parliamentary The National Offender Management Service constituency and Salford local authority, 2003/04 to 2008/09 Specification Benchmarking and Costing Programme, 2003/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 2008/ has produced a service specification for unpaid work/ 04 05 06 07 08 09 Community Payback based on an assumed operating Salford 330 340 310 340 310 340 model. This will enable more accurate calculations of parliamentary costs and is currently being employed by probation constituency areas and directors of Offender Management to assess Eccles 530 570 530 520 540 580 parliamentary Community Payback as part of a best value exercise. constituency The service specification for unpaid work/Community Worsley 530 450 450 420 510 450 Payback calculates the cost of commencement, including parliamentary risk assessment and offender induction during the first constituency Salford local 1,100 1,200 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,200 two hours of the sentence at £82.40. For an offender authority attending a weekday work group in an urban area, the Notes: ongoing cost is calculated to be £8.83 an hour. The cost 1. Figures by parliamentary constituency are rounded to the nearest 10. of a 160 hour sentence is therefore £1,477.54 and the Figures for Salford local authority are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Figures are based upon home postcode of the learner. cost of a 240 hour sentence is £2,183.94. These calculations 3. Figures include Apprenticeships, Advanced Apprenticeships and Higher do not include indirect costs such as premises, which Level Apprenticeships. will vary between probation areas. The hourly cost of 4. Salford is made up of Salford and Eccles parliamentary constituencies and part of Worsley parliamentary constituency. Community Payback work at agency placements, where Source: supervision is undertaken by the organisation benefiting Individualised Learner Record from the work is less costly, while operating work groups Information on the number of apprenticeship starts at weekends and in remote locations is proportionally by parliamentary constituency, local authority, more costly. Government office region and for England is published Young Offenders in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 17 December, and reissued on Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for 21 January to include provisional national estimates of Justice how many young offenders in each youth the number of apprenticeship starts and achievements offending team area have been remanded in custody in in the first quarter of 2009/10: each of the last six months. [317533] http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/sfrdec09 517W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 518W

Departmental Energy Electricity is supplied via a National Physical Laboratory (NPL) contract. Sub-metering to allow an accurate recharge of electricity costs was introduced in February 2006. The low Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister of State, expenditure figure in 2006-07 reflects the application of ‘credits’ Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what resulting from settlement of a dispute over electricity charges in the estimated (a) amount and (b) cost was of energy earlier years. used in his Department and its agencies in each year Gas was supplied and invoiced directly to NWML and that since it was established; what proportion of the energy continues to be the case with NMO. used was generated from renewable sources in each of The above costs are inclusive of VAT, any standing charges those years; and if he will make a statement. [317238] and climate change levy applied to the invoices. Under the NPL electricity contract 5 per cent. of the energy is Mr. McFadden: Since the establishment of this generated from renewable sources. Department in June 2009 and up to the end of December 2009, energy usage and costs on our core estate were as follows: Letter from Gareth Jones: I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 9 February 2010, UIN 317238, to Amount used (KWh) Costs (£000) the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Electricity 6,835,697 824.9 From June to December 2009, the last month for which Gas 2,055,014 58.2 figures are available, Companies House has consumed the Note: following amounts of energy: Costs are inclusive of VAT which is not reclaimable. During this period, 76.9 per cent. of our energy was Amount (kwh) Cost (£) generated from renewable sources. Electricity 4,055,664 481,563 I have approached the chief executives of the Gas 845,403 28,708 Insolvency Service, Companies House, National Measurement Office and the Intellectual Property Companies House procures green electricity which supports electricity generated from renewable sources under the Office and they will respond directly to the hon. Government’s climate change levy exemption scheme. Member. Letter from Peter Mason, dated 22 February 2010: Letter from John Alty, dated 16 February 2010: I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 9 February I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, to your Parliamentary Question tabled 09 February 2010, to the Innovation and Skills asking about the estimated amount and Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and cost of energy used in the Department and its agencies in each Skills. year since it was established and the proportion of the energy Energy usage by the Intellectual Property Office is as follows: used which was generated from renewable sources in each of a) 2,800,817 kwh, at a cost of b) £234,000. those years. This usage was between 1st June 2009 (date of establishment Our records on both the amount and cost of energy usage are of BIS was 5th June 2009) and 31st December 2009. None of the based on Financial Years. The National Measurement Office was energy used during this period was from renewable sources. created on 1st April 2009 when the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) merged with the unit in the then These figures are a total of the electricity and gas used at the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills which was IPO’s Concept House and Nine Mile Point sites in South Wales. responsible for the National Measurement System and that unit They exclude the IPO’s Bloomsbury Street offices in London relocated to the NWML building in Teddington. Therefore we where the IPO is billed as part of a maintenance charge. have information only with respect to the NWML building prior Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 17 February 2010: to the merger. The Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has Over the five years to April 2009, the amount of energy used asked me to reply to you directly in respect of your question by NWML at Teddington, expressed as KWh, was: (2009/1312) asking what was the estimated amount and cost of energy used, and what proportion of that energy was generated Electricity Gas from renewable sources, for each year since The Insolvency Service was established. 2004-05 1— 799.277 Following guidance issued to Departments about this 2 2005-06 113,809 763.356 question, the table below gives information for the last five years. 2006-07 674,357 692,751 We are unable to provide data before that time. 2007-08 630,412 710.582 2008-09 619,181 744.977 Renewable Electricity Electricity Gas cost 1 No reliable figures available. (Kwh) (Kwh) cost (£) Gas Kwh (£) 2 Part year. Over the last five years our records indicate that the cost of 2004-05 — 2,722,806 228,935 610,187 15,886 energy to NWML at Teddington was: 2005-06 — 2,777,875 330,981 565,826 18,952 2006-07 — 2,770,868 435,769 389,574 29,172 £ 2007-08 — 2,892,755 453,676 471,518 43,314 Electricity Gas 2008-09 1-6,172 2,336,081 611,936 659,159 12,591 1 The figure for renewable energy derives from a photovoltaic roof at our 2004-05 55,779.38 17,551.23 largest building. 2005-06 66,796.09 26,730.70 Prior to the current year, The Insolvency Service was tied to 2006-07 10,156.98 23,993.23 contracts that did not include the supply of energy from 2007-08 40,963.17 23,579.51 renewable sources. We have now entered into a contract for our 2008-09 41,396.33 29,409.96 largest office which will include 10 per cent. renewable energy for the first year of the contract, with incremental increases 519W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 520W thereafter. It is our intention to add further offices to this Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded contract when other existing leases come to an end. It should from within existing pay bill controls, and have to be also be noted that the data supplied in the table above applies to re-earned each year against pre-determined targets those buildings (approximately 25 per cent. of the estate) where and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs. we are billed for energy directly. Those offices where utilities are met through the landlord’s service charge are not included. Performance awards for the SCS are part of the pay system across the whole senior civil service, and are used to reward high performance sustained throughout Departmental Pay the year, based on judgments of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. The performance related pay scheme is designed to help drive high Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, performance and support better public service delivery. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how Performance awards are non-consolidated and non- many (a) year-end and (b) in-year bonuses were paid pensionable. The percentage of the pay bill set aside for to officials in his Department and its predecessor in performance-related awards for the SCS is based on each of the last three years; and how much was paid in recommendations from the independent Senior such bonuses in each such year. [307098] Salaries Review Body. BIS was formed through a machinery of government Mr. McFadden: An element of the BIS overall pay change that occurred in June 2009. The Department award for staff below the SCS is allocated to was created by merging The Department for Business non-consolidated variable pay related to performance. Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and The These payments are used to drive high performance Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and form part of the pay award. There are two types of (DIUS). DIUS and BERR were themselves created as award: in-year bonuses, which consist of special part of a machinery of government change in June individual performance awards and non-pay rewards 2007. This means that BIS in its current format did not that recognise strong performance in particularly exist to award performance awards in any of the demanding tasks for situations. Staff in receipt of a previous three years. special bonus may also receive an annual performance The information in the following table has been award. Annual performance awards are paid to drawn from various data sources and provides details members of staff who receive a highly successful for both of the former Departments that were merged performance rating. to create BIS.

Number of staff Total value of end Number of staff awarded end of of year who received ″in Total value of ″in year performance performance awards Total value of Department Financial year year awards″ year rewards″ (£) awards (£) awards (£)

BERR 2006-07 919 491,669 1,286 2,532,180 3,023,849 2007-08 1,238 693,386 1,065 2,265,502 2,958,888 2008-09 1,218 586,631 971 2,240,592 2,827,223

DIUS 2006-071 ————— 2007-08 273 21,125 24 185,916 207,041 2008-09 201 13,855 213 459,171 473,026 1 DIUS was not created until 2007 Notes: 1. DIUS was created by a MOG change that occurred in June 2007 and did not exist before this date. The majority of annual performance awards paid to staff in 2007-08 were issued by the Departments that staff had transferred from. 2. In all three years the total value of the performance awards paid was approximately 1.5 per cent. of the total Department’s pay bill.

Departmental Travel Exports: Saudi Arabia

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Minister of State, John Penrose: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how recent steps he has taken to recruit staff with direct much each of his Department’s (a) non-departmental experience of commercial exports to UK Trade and public bodies and (b) research councils spent on (i) Investment to work on the promotion of exports to first-class air travel, (ii) first class rail travel, (iii) taxis, Saudi Arabia. [317992] (iv) hotel accommodation and (v) other travel and overnight subsistence expenses in each of the last three Ian Lucas: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is not years. [313293] an employer in its own right. For the majority of its human resource requirements, it draws on the staff employed by one or other of its two parent Mr. McFadden: The Department does not hold departments, the Department for Business Innovation information on its NDPBs’ (which includes the and Skills (mainly in the UK) and the Foreign and Research Councils) travel and subsistence expenses Commonwealth Office (mainly overseas). centrally and such information could be obtained only UKTI staff in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, at disproportionate cost. together with those promoting business with Saudi 521W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 522W

Arabia in London, are BIS or FCO employees. In Unemployment: Bedfordshire addition, locally engaged staff are employed by UKTI in Saudi Arabia, many of whom come from a Nadine Dorries: To ask the Minister of State, commercial background, to assist UK firms access the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how opportunities available in the market. UKTI has also many people under 25 years old were not in appointed two specialists from the private sector to employment, education or training in Mid help British companies to win business stemming from Bedfordshire constituency in (a) 1997, (b) 2007 and the Saudi Arabian Government’s fiscal stimulus (c) 2008-09. [318039] programme. Kevin Brennan: Due to small sample sizes, we are London Metropolitan University unable to provide estimates of the number of young people not in employment, education or training for Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Minister of State, parliamentary constituency areas. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what The Annual Population survey can provide estimates recent assessment he has made of the financial for local education authorities. The latest Annual situation of London Metropolitan University; and Population Survey data available are for 2008. what his estimate is of likely (a) student and (b) staff Estimates of people not in employment, education or numbers in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12. training are not available prior to 2000 due to data in [318018] earlier years being incomplete. The number of young people not in employment, Mr. Lammy: Assessments of the financial situation education or training in England is published by DCSF of individual institutions are a matter for the Higher every quarter. The latest information can be found Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) here: and the individual institutions. http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000890/ Final student and staff numbers for 2009-10 will not NEETQtrBriefQ32009.pdf be available until these are collected at the end of the academic year by the Higher Education Statistics Unemployment: Salford Agency. HEFCE is discussing with the university, as it does with all institutions, its future plans for student and staff numbers as part of its arrangements for Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister of State, monitoring the financial position of the university. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people aged between 18 and 24 years old and not in employment, education or training there were in Maternity Leave Salford constituency in (a) 1997 and (b) 2009. [317736] Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what Kevin Brennan: Due to small sample sizes, we are the average length of maternity leave taken by women unable to provide estimates of the number of people was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a not in employment, education or training for statement. [317190] parliamentary constituency areas. The Annual Population survey can provide estimates Mr. McFadden: From April 2007 all employed for local education authorities, but not for age groups mothers are entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave, of narrower than 16-24. The latest Annual Population which 39 may be paid. Employers are not required to Survey data available are for 2008. Estimates of people record or report the uptake of maternity leave to the not in employment, education or training are not Government. available prior to 2000 due to data in earlier years being The most recent estimates of take-up of maternity incomplete. leave are based on the DWP ‘Maternity Rights and The number of young people not in employment, Mothers’ employment decisions in Britain: Survey of education or training in England is published by DCSF Mothers’ (2007). In 2006, when the mothers included in every quarter. The latest information can be found at: the study went on maternity leave, the statutory http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000890/ entitlement to ordinary maternity leave (OML) was NEETQtrBriefQ32009.pdf 26 weeks, while mothers who had worked for their employer for a qualifying period of 26 weeks were also entitled to additional maternity leave (AML) of Vocational Training: Tax Allowances 26 weeks. For mothers taking maternity leave in 2006: Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will discuss 84 per cent. took 26 weeks or more maternity leave; with the Chancellor of the Exchequer the provision of 35 per cent. took exactly 26 weeks maternity leave; tax (a) discounts or (b) credits for those required to 46 per cent. of mothers took between 27 and 52 weeks and pay for their own training. [316639] 3 per cent. were off for more than 52 weeks; 16 per cent. of mothers took less than the statutory minimum Kevin Brennan: It is important that we target entitlement (i.e. 26 weeks in 2006). investment in education and training as efficiently and The next Maternity Rights survey will be based on effectively as possible. Targeting through the tax system mothers who took maternity leave starting in summer may result in supporting learning that would have 2008. It is due to report later in 2010. taken place in any event. 523W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 524W

We believe providing entitlements for every adult to Estimates of the proportion of young people NEET receive training towards a first full level 2 qualification are not available at parliamentary constituency level. and for young people (up to age 25) to receive training The smallest geographical area for which estimates are for a first full level 3 qualification is a more efficient available is local authority. These local estimates are way of supporting individuals that otherwise would derived from data collected by Connexions services and not have engaged in training. Evidence shows that this are published on the DCSF 14-19 website and are only training is often more effective when delivered in the available for 16-18 year olds: work place. This is why we have developed our flagship http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/index.cfm?go=site.home&sid= Train to Gain programme, which, since its inception in 42&pid=343&lid=337&ctype=Text&ptype=Single 2006 has helped people to start 1.54 million Connexions local estimates are not directly qualifications. comparable with the national estimates in the SFR. It is also why we are expanding the apprenticeship Figures for West Sussex since 2006, the earliest system to build a new technician class for the higher available, are shown in the following table. level jobs of the future, almost doubling the number of advanced and higher apprenticeships places for 19 to Percentage of 16-18 year olds 30-year-olds. NEET in West Sussex Working Hours: Salford 2006 4.5 2007 4.4 Hazel Blears: To ask the Minister of State, 2008 5.4 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many of those resident in Salford constituency have There are no comparable or robust estimates of the received a reduction in their working hours since the proportion of 19-24 year olds NEET available for local introduction of a maximum length of working week of authorities. 48 hours. [317734] Mr. McFadden: The Working Time Regulations CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES provide workers with the right to refuse to work more Academies than 48 hours on average, if they do not want to. It is Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for not possible to estimate how many residents have Children, Schools and Families what recent received a reduction in their working hours as a result representations he has received from the Charity of the introduction of a maximum length of the Commission on the method of achieving charitable working week to 48 hours either at the national level or status for educational academies and colleges; and in Salford constituency. what steps he plans to take in response to those Young People: Unemployment representations. [310572] Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Mr. Coaker: The Department held discussions with Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the Charity Commission on the way in which academies proportion of people in (a) Lewes constituency and are registered as charities. As a result of those discussions, (b) England aged (i) between 16 and 18 and (ii) I tabled an amendment at Committee stage to remove a between 19 and 24 years old were not in education, clause in the Children, Schools and Families Bill, which employment or training in each year since 1997. would have made changes to those arrangements. A [315767] copy of a letter from the chief executive of the Charity Commission and the Permanent Secretary’s advice to Mr. Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply. the Secretary of State has been placed in the Library. Estimates of the number and proportion of young Blaydon people aged 16-18 who were not in education, employment or training (NEET) are published annually in the statistical Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State first release (SFR) “Participation in Education, Training for Children, Schools and Families if he will set out, and Employment by 16-18 year olds in England”. This with statistical information related as directly as publication contains the Department’s best estimate of possible to Blaydon constituency, the effects on the NEET rate and is the official measure used to Blaydon of the policies and actions of his Department measure progress against out target to reduce the proportion and its predecessors since 2000. [315305] of young people NEET by 2 percentage points by the Mr. Coaker: Since 2000 the Government have end of 2010. The most recent SFR can be accessed via transformed education and child care with improved the Department’s website here: outcomes for children and young people. Figures showing http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000849/ the performance at key stage 2 and at GCSE and index.shtml equivalents in Blaydon are given in the following tables. A time series going back to 1985 is available under “Additional Information”. Key stage 2 results of 11-year-old pupils attending schools1 in Blaydon constituency A comparable measure of NEET for 19-24 year olds Percentage of Percentage point is not available. However, the Department publishes pupils gaining level improvement “NEET Statistics—Quarterly Brief” which contains an 4 and above 2000 20092 2000-09 alternative measure of NEET covering 16-24 year olds. Blaydon—English 82 86 4 The next issue is due for publication on 25 February, Blaydon—maths 79 87 8 2010 and will be available via this link: Blaydon—science 90 93 3 http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000913/ England— 75 80 5 index.shtml English3 525W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 526W

Key stage 2 results of 11-year-old pupils attending schools1 in Blaydon equivalent places are derived by counting children taking constituency up 12 and a half hours per week as one place, 10 hours Percentage of Percentage point pupils gaining level improvement per week as 0.8 places, seven and a half hours per week 4 and above 2000 20092 2000-09 as 0.6 places, five hours per week as 0.4 places and two and a half hours per week as 0.2 places. Data at 3 England—maths 72 79 7 parliamentary constituency level are not available prior England— 85 88 3 science3 to 2004. 1 Local averages include pupils attending all maintained schools (including Part-time equivalent number of free early education places1, 2, 3 filled by three and academies and city technology colleges). four-year-olds4: Parliamentary constituency Feltham and Heston, position in 2 Revised data. January each year 3 England averages include pupils attending all maintained schools (including Three-year-olds Four-year-olds academies and city technology colleges). 2004 970 1,400 GCSE and equivalents1 results for pupils2 attending schools3 in Blaydon constituency 2005 990 1,300 Percentage point 2006 1,100 1,400 Percentage of improvement 2007 1,100 1,400 4 pupils gaining 2000 2009 2000-09 2008 1,200 1,400

Blaydon—5+ A*-C 55.8 86.0 30.2 2009 1,300 1,600 1 Blaydon—5+ A*-G 92.1 96.5 4.4 A place is equal to 12.5 hours (five sessions) and can be filled by more than one child. England—5+ 49.2 70.0 20.8 2 Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 and to the nearest 5 A*-C 10 otherwise. England—5+ 88.9 92.3 3.4 3 Prior to 2004, information on early education places was derived from returns A*-G5 made by local authorities as part of the Nursery Education Grant (NEG) data 1 From 2004 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a range of other qualifications collection exercise. These data were collected at local authority level, therefore, data for this parliamentary constituency are not available prior to 2004. approved pre-16. Prior to 2004, results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only. 4 2 From 2006 figures are for pupils at the end of key stage 4. Prior to 2006, results Age of all children taken at 31 December in the previous calendar year. Source: are based on pupils aged 15. 3 Local averages include pupils attending all maintained schools (including Early Years Census and School Census academies and city technology colleges) and from 2000 do not include pupils The latest figures on early education places for three recently arrived from overseas. and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical 4 Revised data. 5 England averages also include independent schools as well as hospital schools First Release (SFR) 11/2009 “Provision for children and PRUs. under five years of age in England: January 2009”, Further information by constituency is provided within available on my Department’s website the Department’s ‘In Your Area’ website available at: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000848/ http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea index.shtml Information available at constituency level includes the Children: Social Services number of specialist schools, number of operational academies, number of teaching assistants and other Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, support staff, number of teachers and pupil: teacher Schools and Families whether he has had recent ratios. Where information is not available at constituency discussions with Gloucestershire county council on its level it has been provided at local authority level including provision of children’s services and children’s centres. the number of free early education places taken up by three and four-year-olds, number of full-time and part-time [316054] entrants to higher education institutions aged 18 to 20, Dawn Primarolo: As part of its role to both provide average A-level point score per candidate and per entry challenge and support the Government Office for the together with percentage of people of working age South West meets the local authority regularly to discuss qualified to at least level 2 and percentage of people of children’s services. working age qualified to level 4 and above. The Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Additional information could be provided only at delivery partner supporting the development of Sure disproportionate cost. Start Children’s Centres, Together for Children, regularly liaises with the local authority regarding its children’s Children: Day Care centres programme. The Secretary of State wrote to Gloucestershire local Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for authority on 19 November 2009 regarding the local Children, Schools and Families how many (a) free authority’s National Challenge Progress Review. nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four year olds in Feltham and Heston Children’s Centres: Feltham constituency in each year since 1997. [316683] Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the number Children, Schools and Families how many children in of part-time equivalent places filled by three and four Feltham and Heston constituency attend Sure Start year olds in Feltham and Heston constituency from centres. [316668] 2004 to 2009. The Department publishes information on the part-time Dawn Primarolo: The eight designated Sure Start equivalent number of free early education places filled Children’s Centres in Feltham and Heston constituency by three and four-year-olds in maintained, private, voluntary have a combined reach area of over 6,000 children and independent providers. Information on the number under five and their families. Reach area defines those of pre-school places is not separately available. Part-time children and families with the opportunity to access 527W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 528W children’s centres. Figures for the number of children Mr. Iain Wright: This is a matter for the Learning and under five and their families actually attending and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education using children’s centres are not collected centrally. maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Geoff Russell Classroom Assistants: Lewes the LSC’s acting chief executive, will write to my hon. Friend from Hemsworth with the information requested Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Children, Schools and Families how many full-time Library. equivalent teaching assistants there were in schools in Families: Government Assistance Lewes constituency (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [315769] Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which departments he Mr. Coaker: In January 1997 there were 60 full-time expects to contribute funds to the Think Family grant equivalent teaching assistants in service in local authority in 2010-11; and how much each department will maintained schools, city technology colleges and academies contribute. [315727] in Lewes constituency and 210 in January 2009. The data source is the School Census and the figures are Mr. Coaker [holding answer 5 February 2010]: The rounded to the nearest 10. Think Family Grant for is made up of contributions from DCSF, HO, DH and DCLG. The contributions Departmental Internet from individual Departments and associated activity costs in 2010-11 are as follows: Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of £ million 10 November 2009, Official Report, column 311W, on Department of Health 2.85 Google Adword online advertising keywords, for which Communities and Local 2.5 Google Adword online advertising keywords his Government Department has paid in the last 12 months; and at Home Office 10 what cost. [315279] Department for Children, Schools 79.8 and Families Ms Diana R. Johnson: The requested information Contributions are also made at the local level as cannot be supplied without incurring disproportionate match funding or in-kind services. Information on this cost. is not held centrally. Departmental Recruitment Feltham

Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Schools and Families how many job vacancies in his Children, Schools and Families (1) if he will set out, Department and its agencies were filled through with statistical evidence relating as closely as possible external recruitment in the last year for which figures to Feltham and Heston constituency, the effects on that are available. [315288] constituency of changes to his Department’s policies since 1997; [316679] Ms Diana R. Johnson: In the last financial year (2) how many 14 year olds in schools in Feltham and (2008-09), there were 88 people recruited externally into Heston constituency obtained level 5 or above in key the DCSF. stage 3 results in (a) 1997 and (b) 2009; [316680] The Department has no agencies. (3) how many 11 year olds in schools in Feltham and Heston constituency obtained level 4 or above in key Departmental Sick Leave stage 2 results in (a) 1997 and (b) 2009; [316681] (4) how many pupils in schools in Feltham and David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Heston constituency gained five A* to C GCSEs or Children, Schools and Families how many staff in his equivalent in (a) 1997 and (b) 2009. [316687] Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days since its inception. Mr. Coaker: Since 1997 the Government have [316469] transformed education and child care with improved outcomes for children and young people. Figures showing Ms Diana R. Johnson: Since the inception of the the performance at key stage 2, key stage 3 and at Department for Children, Schools and Families on GCSE and equivalents in Feltham and Heston are 28 June 2007, 176 staff have had five or more periods of given in the following tables: sickness absence of less than five days. This applies Key stage 2 results of 11 year old pupils attending schools in the Feltham and from the date of establishment of the Department to Heston constituency 31 January 2010 (the latest information available). Percentage of pupils Percentage point gaining level 4 and improvement 1997 to 1 2 Education Maintenance Allowance: Hemsworth above 1997 2009 2009 Feltham and Heston— 53 77 24 Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for English Feltham and Heston— 47 76 29 Children, Schools and Families how many people have maths received the educational maintenance allowance in Feltham and Heston— 59 87 28 Hemsworth constituency since its introduction. [316713] science 529W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 530W

Key stage 2 results of 11 year old pupils attending schools in the Feltham and together with percentage of people of working age Heston constituency qualified to at least level 2 and percentage of people of Percentage of pupils Percentage point gaining level 4 and improvement 1997 to working age qualified to level 4 and above. above1 1997 20092 2009 Additional information could only be provided at England—English 63 80 17 disproportionate cost. England—maths 62 79 17 England—science 68 88 20 GCSE 1 Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including Academies and City Technology Colleges). 2 Revised data. Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Source: School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils in (a) comprehensive and (b) maintained Key stage 3 results of 14 year old pupils attending schools in the Feltham and schools who achieved at least five grades A* to C at Heston constituency GCSE achieved (i) one or more, (ii) more than one, (iii) Percentage of pupils Percentage point gaining level 5 and improvement 1997 to more than two, (iv) more than three of those grades in above1 1997 20082 2008 the subjects of business studies, music technology, child development, hairdressing, construction, health and Feltham and Heston— 39 63 24 English social care, sociology, media, travel and tourism, Feltham and Heston— 40 67 27 performing arts, and hospitality and catering, in each maths year since 1997; [314463] Feltham and Heston— 38 57 19 (2) what percentage of pupils from current National science Challenge schools who achieved at least five grades A* England—English 57 74 17 to C at GCSE achieved (a) one or more, (b) more England—maths 60 77 17 than one, (c) more than two, (d) more than three of England—science 60 72 12 those grades in the subject of business studies, music 1 Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including Academies and City Technology Colleges). technology, child development, hairdressing, 2 Key stage 3 tests were discontinued after 2008. construction, health and social care, sociology, media, Source: travel and tourism, performing arts, and hospitality School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables and National Pupil Database and catering, in each of the last five years. [314464]

GCSE and equivalents1 results for pupils2 attending schools3 in the Feltham and Heston constituency Mr. Coaker: The information can be provided only at Percentage point disproportionate cost. Percentage of pupils improvement 1997 to gaining 1997 20095 2009 Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Feltham and 27.1 72.7 45.6 Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in Heston—5+ A*-C (a) comprehensive and (b) independent schools were Feltham and 77.6 93.7 16.1 Heston—5+ A*-G entered for GCSEs in (i) English literature, (ii) physics, England—5+ 45.1 70.0 24.9 (iii) chemistry, (iv) biology, (v) history and (vi) a foreign A*-C4 language in 2009. [315622] England—5+ 86.4 92.3 5.9 A*-G4 Mr. Coaker: The information required is given in the 1 From 2004 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and following table: GNVQs only. Number of pupils entered for GCSEs in selected subjects in comprehensive and 2 From 2006 figures are for pupils at the end of key stage 4. Prior to 2006 independent schools in 2009 results are based on pupils aged 15. 3 Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including Academies and Selected subject Comprehensive school Independent school City Technology Colleges) and from 2000 does not include pupils recently arrived from overseas. English Literature 405,303 36,839 4 England figures also include independent schools as well as hospital schools Physics 53,532 15,028 and PRUs. 5 Revised data. Chemistry 53,654 15,671 Source: Biological Sciences 56,884 16,435 School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables History 155,610 23,248 A Modern Foreign 211,689 39,225 Further information by constituency is available on Language the Department’s “In Your Area” website: Source: Achievement and Attainment Tables. http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea The data relates to pupils at the end of key stage 4. The information available at constituency level includes the number of specialist schools, number of operational Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Academies, number of teaching assistants and other Children, Schools and Families how many students support staff, number of teachers and pupil:teacher resident in (a) Knowsley, (b) Sandwell, (c) Lambeth ratios. Where information is not available at constituency and (d) England achieved (i) five GCSEs at grades A* level it has been provided at local authority level including to C including English and mathematics, excluding the number of free early education places taken up by equivalents, (ii) at least one grade C at GCSE, three and four year olds, number full-time and part-time excluding equivalents and (iii) three A grades at A-level entrants to higher education institutions aged 18 to 20, (A) in 1997 and (B) in the most recent year for which average A level point score per candidate and per entry figures are available. [316867] 531W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 532W

Mr. Coaker: The information requested for the academic Previous years’ data can be provided only at years 2004/05 and 2008/09 for GCSEs and for the disproportionate cost. academic years 2005/06 and 2008/09 for A Levels is in the following tables.

GCSE achievements of students1 resident in Knowsley, Sandwell and Lambeth local authorities2 and England3 at the end of key stage 44, 2004/05 and 2008/09 Percentage who achieved five or more Percentage who achieved at GCSEs including English and least one GCSE pass at grade mathematics at grade A*-C excluding C or above excluding Total number of students equivalents equivalents

2004/05 Knowsley 2,314 28.3 66.9 Sandwell 3,915 29.3 64.9 Lambeth 2,257 33.6 74.0 England3 583,930 41.7 75.3

2008/09 Knowsley 2,066 35.9 70.9 Sandwell 3,901 34.7 71.8 Lambeth 2,217 45.8 83.7 England3 578,629 47.8 80.1 1 Students attending maintained schools only including City Technology colleges and academies. 2 Excludes students whose area of residency is unknown due to missing or invalid postcode information. 3 England figure includes students known to be resident in England or with a missing or invalid postcode. 4 Based on students at the end of key stage 4 in the relevant academic year. Source: National Pupil Database (2004/05 final data, 2008/09 amended data)

A Level achievements of students1, 2 resident in Knowsley, Sandwell and Lambeth Of all pupils at the end of KS4 in maintained schools 3 4 local authorities and England , 2005/06 and 2008/09 in Salford, 73.4 per cent. achieved five or more GCSE Total number of Percentage who achieved students three A grades at A Level5 or equivalents at grades A*-C in 2009.

2005/06 Knowsley 259 5.0 Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Sandwell 547 4.4 Children, Schools and Families what percentage of Lambeth 396 8.3 pupils in Salford obtained five A* to C grades at GCSE including English and mathematics in (a) 1997 and England4 140,742 8.9 (b) 2009. [317386]

2008/09 Knowsley 272 5.5 Mr. Coaker: Of all 15-year-old pupils in maintained Sandwell 707 4.8 schools in Salford, 20.1 per cent. of pupils achieved five Lambeth 438 7.8 or more GCSE/GNVQ at grades A*-C including English and mathematics in 1997. England4 146,150 10.5 Of all pupils at the end of KS4 in maintained schools 1 16-18 year old candidates entered for GCE/Applied GCE A Levels and Double Awards in 2008/09 and GCE/VCE A Level and VCE Double Awards in in Salford, 45.8 per cent. of pupils achieved five or more 2005/06. GCSE or equivalents at grades A* -C including English 2 Students attending maintained schools only including City Technology colleges and mathematics in 2009. and academies. 3 Excludes students whose area of residency is unknown due to missing or Hemsworth invalid postcode information. 4 England figure includes students known to be resident in England or with a missing or invalid postcode. Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for 5 Includes GCE/Applied GCE A Level and Double Awards in 2008/09 and Children, Schools and Families if he will set out, with GCEA/CE A Level and VCE Double Awards in 2005/06. Source: statistical information related as directly as possible to National Pupil Database (2005/06 final data, 2008/09 amended data) Hemsworth constituency, the effects on Hemsworth of his Department’s policies and actions since 2000. [316308] GCSE: Salford Mr. Coaker: Since 2000 the Government have transformed education and child care with improved Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for outcomes for children and young people. Figures showing Children, Schools and Families (1) what percentage of the performance at Key Stage 2 and at GCSE and children in Salford schools obtained five GCSEs at equivalents in Hemsworth are given in the following grades A* to C in (a) 1997 and (b) 2009; [311671] tables: (2) what percentage of pupils in Salford obtained five Key Stage 2 results of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Hemsworth A* to C grades at GCSE in (a) 1997 and (b) 2009. constituency Percentage of pupils Percentage point [317387] gaining Level 4 and improvement above1 2000 20092 2000-09 Mr. Coaker: Of all 15-year-old pupils in maintained Hemsworth schools in Salford, 30.7 per cent. achieved five or more English 57 74 17 GCSE/GNVQs at grades A*-C in 1997. Maths 63 75 12 533W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 534W

Key Stage 2 results of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Hemsworth Census in 2004. Of the 12 types of need identified four constituency specifically mention learning difficulties and are listed Percentage of pupils Percentage point gaining Level 4 and improvement in the following table. 1 2 above 2000 2009 2000-09 Number of resident pupils1,2 with learning difficulties Science 60 73 13 Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

England Moderate 1,230 1,290 1,160 1,250 1,500 1,600 Learning English 75 80 5 Difficulty Maths 72 79 7 Profound and 10 10 10 20 40 40 Science 85 88 3 Multiple Learning 1 Includes pupils attending all maintained schools including Academies and Difficulty City Technology Colleges. Severe Learning 150 150 150 140 120 130 2 Revised data. Difficulty Source: Specific Learning 170 170 190 190 160 160 School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables. Difficulty GCSE and equivalents1 results for pupils2 attending schools3 in the Hemsworth Total 1,550 1,620 1,510 1,600 1,820 1,920 constituency 1 Information on primary need is only collected for pupils at School Action Percentage point Plus and those with a statement of SEN. Percentage of improvement 2 Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. pupils gaining 2000 20094 2000-09 Source: School Census Hemsworth 5+ A*-C 46.3 74.6 28.3 Milton Keynes 5+ A*-G 93.4 93.0 -0.4 Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for England Children, Schools and Families if he will set out, with statistical information related as directly as possible to 5+ A*-C5 49.2 70.0 20.8 Milton Keynes, the effects on Milton Keynes of the 5+ A*-G5 88.9 92.3 3.4 policies and actions of his Department and its 1 From 2004 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only. predecessors since 1997. [316043] 2 From 2006 figures are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Prior to 2006 results are based on pupils aged 15. 3 Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including academies and city Mr. Coaker: Since 1997 the Government have technology colleges) and from 2000 does not include pupils recently arrived transformed education and child care with improved from overseas. outcomes for children and young people. Figures showing 4 Revised data. 5 England figures also include independent schools as well as hospital schools the performance at key stage 2 and at GCSE and and PRUs. equivalents in North-East Milton Keynes are given in Source: the following tables: School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables Key stage 2 results of 11 year old pupils attending schools in the North-East Further information by constituency is provided within Milton Keynes constituency the Department’s ‘In Your Area’ website available at: Percentage of pupils Percentage point gaining level 4 and improvement 1997 to http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea above1 1997 20092 2009 Information available at constituency level includes the North-East Milton number of specialist schools, number of operational Keynes academies, number of teaching assistants and other English 65 80 15 support staff, number of teachers and pupil:teacher Maths 60 78 18 ratios. Where information is not available at constituency Science 71 88 17 level it has been provided at local authority level including the number of free early education places taken up by three and four-year-olds, number full-time and part-time England entrants to higher education institutions aged 18 to 20, English 63 80 17 average A-level point score per candidate and per entry Maths 62 79 17 together with percentage of people of working age Science 68 88 20 qualified to at least Level 2 and percentage of people of 1 Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including Academies and City Technology Colleges). working age qualified to Level 4 and above. 2 Revised data. Additional information could be provided only at Source: School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables disproportionate cost. GCSE and equivalents1 results for pupils2 attending schools3 in the North-East Milton Keynes constituency Learning Disability: Birmingham Percentage point Percentage of pupils improvement 5 Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for gaining: 1997 2009 1997 to 2009 Children, Schools and Families how many children North-East Milton resident in the Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Keynes Heath constituency have been diagnosed with a 5+ A*-C 48.2 69.5 21.3 learning disability in each year since 2003. [312200] 5+ A*-G 93.6 96.5 2.9

Mr. Coaker: Information about pupils’ type of Special England Educational Need was first collected in the School 5+ A*-C4 45.1 70.0 24.9 535W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 536W

GCSE and equivalents1 results for pupils2 attending schools3 in the North-East Grant in aid to non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) Milton Keynes constituency £000 Percentage point 2008-09 2007-08 Percentage of pupils improvement 5 gaining: 1997 2009 1997 to 2009 Partnerships for Schools (PfS) 9,292 6,931 5+ A*-G4 86.4 92.3 5.9 Qualifications and Curriculum 143,890 157,369 Authority (QCA) 1 From 2004 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and School Food Trust (SFT) 10,666 7,738 GNVQs only. Training and Development Agency for 738,222 777,313 2 From 2006 figures are for pupils at the end of key stage 4. Prior to 2006 Schools (TDA) results are based on pupils aged 15. 3 Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including Academies and City Technology Colleges) and from 2000 does not include pupils recently Payment to DIUS for DCSF 7,384,652 7,052,258 arrived from overseas. programmes delivered by the LSC2 4 England figures also include independent schools as well as hospital schools and PRUs. 5 Revised data. Grant in aid 8,644,362 8,231,199 Source: 1 The Children’s Workforce Development Council became an NDPB from 1 School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables April 2008. 2 The Department for Innovation and Skills (DIUS) has now become the Further information by constituency is provided within Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The Learning and the Department’s ‘In Your Area’ website available at: Skills Council (LSC) is an NDPB funded jointly by BIS and DCSF. http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education Information available at constituency level includes the number of specialist schools, number of operational Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Academies, number of teaching assistants and other Children, Schools and Families if he will make it a support staff, number of teachers and pupil: teacher requirement that emergency life support skills are ratios. Where information is not available at constituency included in the compulsory Personal, Health, Social level it has been provided at local authority level including and Economic curriculum; and if he will make a the number of free early education places taken up by statement. [315702] three and four-year-olds, number full-time and part-time entrants to higher education institutions aged 18 to 20, Ms Diana R. Johnson: Children and young people average A level point score per candidate and per entry already learn about emergency life support skills as part together with percentage of people of working age of Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education. qualified to at least Level 2 and percentage of people of They learn about where and how to obtain health working age qualified to Level 4 and above. information, how to recognise and follow health and Additional information could be provided only at safety procedures, ways of reducing risk and minimising disproportionate cost. harm in risky situations, how to find sources of emergency help and how to use basic and emergency first aid. Basic and emergency aid will continue to be part of Non-Departmental Public Bodies: Finance statutory PSHE when it is introduced in schools in September 2011. Mrs. Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Pupil Exclusions: Suffolk Children, Schools and Families which non- departmental public bodies have received funding from his Department in each year since its inception; and Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for how much was paid to each in each such year. [316554] Children, Schools and Families how many children have been permanently excluded from (a) primary, (b) middle, (c) upper and (d) secondary schools in Suffolk Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 9 February in each year since 1997. [314870] 2010]: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) was created on 28 June 2007. The following Mr. Coaker: The available information requested is table shows the amounts paid to the Department’s shown in the table. non-departmental public bodies as grant in aid for financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09. This information From 2002, the Department has carried out a checking is drawn from the Department’s published resource exercise to confirm the overall number of permanent accounts. Information for 2009-10 will not be available exclusions. However, this only confirms the number of until the resource accounts are published in July. exclusions in each local authority area and not at school level. Therefore information for middle and upper schools Grant in aid to non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are not separately identifiable. £000 1 2 2008-09 2007-08 Maintained primary and secondary schools : Number of pupil enrolments with permanent exclusions, 1996/97 to 2007/08, Suffolk local authority British Educational Communications 61,285 37,172 Primary1 State-funded secondary and Technology Agency(BECTA) schools1, 3 Children and Family Court Advisory 113,874 106,450 Number of Percentage Number of Percentage and Support Service (CAFCASS) permanent of the school permanent of the school 4 4 Children’s Workforce Development 71,931 — exclusions population exclusions population Council (CWDC)1 1996/97 10 0.03 100 0.20 National College for School Leadership 107,643 83,305 (NCSL) 1998/99 10 0.03 100 0.21 Office of the Children’s Commissioner 2,907 2,663 1997/98 20 0.04 110 0.21 (OCC) (also known as 11 Million) 1999/2000 20 0.05 80 0.15 537W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 538W

Maintained primary and secondary schools1: Number of pupil enrolments2 with Sandwell permanent exclusions, 1996/97 to 2007/08, Suffolk local authority Primary1 State-funded secondary schools1, 3 Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Number of Percentage Number of Percentage Children, Schools and Families if he will set out, with permanent of the school permanent of the school statistical evidence relating as closely as possible to the exclusions population4 exclusions population4 borough of Sandwell, the effects on that borough of 2000/01 10 0.03 130 0.25 changes to the policies of his Department and its 2001/02 30 0.05 140 0.25 predecessors since 1997. [316473] 2002/035 20 0.05 130 0.23 2003/045 30 0.07 160 0.30 Mr. Coaker: Since 1997 the Government have 2004/055 20 0.04 130 0.23 transformed education and child care with improved 2005/065 10 0.02 80 0.14 outcomes for children and young people. Figures showing 2006/075 10 0.01 60 0.11 the performance at Key Stage 2 and at GCSE and 2007/085 10 0.01 80 0.15 equivalents in Sandwell local authority are given in the 1 Includes middle schools as deemed (upper schools are included in state-funded following tables: secondary schools). 2 Pupils may be counted more than once if they were registered at more than Key Stage 2 results of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Sandwell local one school or moved schools during the school year. authority 3 State-funded secondary schools include maintained secondary schools, city Percentage of Percentage point technology colleges and academies. Suffolk local authority has no city technology pupils gaining improvement 1997 to colleges or academies. level 4 and above1 1997 20092 2009 4 The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of all pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) in January each Sandwell LA year for the relevant school type. 5 Estimates based on local authority figures following a checking exercise to English 52 76 24 confirm the overall number of permanent exclusions in each local authority. Maths 46 75 29 Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Science 51 85 34 Source: Termly Exclusions Survey and School Census. England English 63 80 17 Pupils: Per Capita Costs Maths 62 79 17 Science 68 88 20 Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for 1 Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including Academies and City Technology Colleges). Children, Schools and Families how much his 2 Revised data. Department spent per child on (a) primary and (b) Source: secondary schools in (i) Greater London and (ii) School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables Romford in the latest period for which figures are GCSE and equivalents1 results for pupils2 attending schools3 in the Sandwell available. [315936] local authority Percentage point Percentage of improvement 1997 to Mr. Coaker: The Department allocates education pupils gaining 1997 20094 2009 funding to local authorities so the requested information for Greater London and Romford constituency is not Sandwell LA available. The available information on how much was 5+ A*-C 26.9 66.1 39.2 spent per child in primary and secondary schools in 5+ A*-G 80.2 90.7 10.5 Havering and Greater London is shown in the following table: England 5+ A*-C5 45.1 70.0 24.9 2008-09 5+ A*-G5 86.4 92.3 5.9 Primary education Secondary education 1 From 2004 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a range of other qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only. England 3,780 4,890 2 From 2006 figures are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Prior to 2006 Greater London 4,470 5,820 results are based on pupils aged 15. Havering 3,645 5,144 3 Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including Academies and City Technology Colleges) and from 2000 does not include pupils recently Notes: arrived from overseas. 1. School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the 4 Revised data. schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, 5 England figures also include independent schools as well as hospital schools school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and and PRUs. services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from Source: sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. Other relevant statistical evidence relating to Sandwell 2. The calculation for 2002-03 onwards is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 2001-02 and earlier years includes all premature local authority includes: retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments “Infant Class sizes”—the number of children at Key Stage 1 and other indirect employee expenses. In 2001-02 this accounted for approximately (including reception) in primary schools, taught by one teacher in £70 per pupil. From 2002-03 onwards only the schools element of these categories is included and this accounted for approximately £50 per pupil of the classes over 30 has fallen from 4,423 in 1997 to 62 in 2009. 2002-03 total. Also, for some LAs, expenditure that had previously been “School workforce”—an extra 750 teaching assistants and attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LA part of the form 1,430 more support staff than in 1997. from 2002-03, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources. 3. Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending maintained establishments “Early education places”—the number of free part-time early within each sector and are drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census education places taken up by three and four-year-olds in maintained, adjusted to be on a financial year basis. private, voluntary and independent providers has risen from 4. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 and are in Cash Terms. 7,025 in 1997 to 7,465 in 2009. 539W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 540W

Further information about Sandwell local authority £ million is available on the Department’s In Your Area website available at: 2003-04 38.7 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea 2004-05 11.9 and also on the Department’s research and statistics 2005-06 10.7 website at: 2006-07 12.0 2007-08 14.6 http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/ 2008-09 16.9 Additional information could be provided only at 2009-10 30.3 disproportionate cost. 2010-11 22.3 Notes: Schools: Feltham 1. The allocations in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 includes £2.5 million, £3.5 million and £8.5 million respectively, which form part of the £20 million re-development of Heston School. Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for 2. The allocations in 2009-10 and 2010-11 include £3.5 million and £8.5 million respectively for the new Primary Capital programme. Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent repairing schools in Feltham and Heston Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for constituency in each year since 1997. [316695] Children, Schools and Families how much per pupil has been spent on schools in Feltham and Heston Mr. Coaker: Figures are not available for the constituency in each year since 1997. [316697] parliamentary constituency of Feltham and Heston as data are collected at a local authority level. Mr. Coaker: Figures are not available for the Repairs to capital assets which bring them back to parliamentary constituency of Feltham and Heston as their original state are classified as a revenue cost, for data is collected at a local authority level. The available which capital allocations cannot be used. Expenditure information on how much has been spent per pupil in on capital assets which improves them further, including Hounslow local authority is shown in the following additions, is classified as a capital cost for which capital table: or revenue allocations can be used. School based expenditure per pupil from 1997-98 to 2008-09 The available information on how much has been England Hounslow spent repairing schools in Hounslow local authority is shown in the following table: 1997-98 Pre-Primary and 1,740 2,060 Primary Education School based expenditure on repair and maintenance of buildings in Hounslow local authority from 1999-2000 to 2008-09 Secondary Education 2,360 2,670 £ Special Schools 9,830 11,920 Hounslow England Total (including 2,080 2,430 Pre-primary) 1999-2000 2,706,000 631,994,000 1998-99 Pre-Primary and 1,870 2,240 2000-01 2,934,000 670,942,000 Primary Education 2001-02 3,695,000 729,882,000 Secondary Education 2,450 2,750 2002-03 4,129,000 503,199,000 Special Schools 10,110 11,740 2003-04 3,138,000 501,233,000 Total (including 2,190 2,560 2004-05 3,198,000 550,301,000 Pre-primary) 2005-06 3,921,000 608,386,000 1999-2000 Primary Education 2,010 2,340 2006-07 3,959,000 645,680,000 Pre-Primary and 2,050 2,380 2007-08 5,115,000 731,938,000 Primary Education 2008-09 5,067,000 738,599,000 Secondary Education 2,610 2,770 Notes: Special Schools 10,900 11,610 1. Financial information used in this answer are taken from the DCSF section 52 collection. Total (including 2,390 2,670 2. All expenditure on non-capital building works, including repairs and maintenance Pre-primary) of buildings, and non-capital expenditure on fixed plant and grounds. Total (excluding 2,370 2,640 3. Building maintenance and improvement, including: Charges by contractors Pre-primary) for internal and external repair, maintenance and improvement to buildings and 2000-01 Primary Education 2,210 2,470 fixed plant including costs of labour and materials; Related professional and technical services, including labour costs where supplied as part of the contract/service; Pre-Primary and 2,280 2,530 Costs of materials and equipment used by directly employed staff for internal Primary Education and external repair, maintenance and improvement to buildings and fixed plant; Secondary Education 2,830 3,070 Fixtures and fittings e.g. carpet, curtains, etc. 4. Figures rounded to nearest £1,000. Cash terms figures as reported by local Special Schools 11,860 12,890 authorities as at 8 February 2010. Total (including 2,620 2,900 Capital allocations to Hounslow local authority for Pre-primary) each year since 1997-98, which includes Feltham and Total (excluding 2,590 2,870 Heston, are set out in the following table: Pre-primary) 2001-02 Primary Education 2,480 2,820 £ million Pre-Primary and 2,570 2,880 Primary Education 1997-98 3.8 Secondary Education 3,150 3,410 1998-99 4.6 Special Schools 13,030 14,380 1999-2000 4.0 Total (including 2,940 3,260 2000-01 7.1 Pre-primary) 2001-02 6.2 Total (excluding 2,900 3,220 2002-03 9.7 Pre-primary) 541W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 542W

School based expenditure per pupil from 1997-98 to 2008-09 from using mobiles phones for non-essential calls since England Hounslow they are more likely than adults to be vulnerable to any 2002-03 Primary Education 2,530 2,840 unrecognised health risks. Secondary Education 3,230 3,740 Special Schools 12,820 14,760 Schools: Hemsworth Total (excluding 2,950 3,400 Pre-primary) Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for 2003-04 Primary Education 2,750 3,060 Children, Schools and Families how much has been Secondary Education 3,550 4,040 spent on repairs to schools in Hemsworth in each year Special Schools 14,050 15,670 since 1997. [316611] Total (excluding 3,230 3,680 Pre-primary) Mr. Coaker: Repairs which bring schools back to 2004-05 Primary Education 2,910 3,160 their original state constitute a revenue expense, and are Secondary Education 3,800 4,380 paid out of revenue funding. Repairs which amount to Special Schools 15,110 16,790 capital improvement, such as a better insulation are Total (excluding 3,450 3,890 payable from capital allocations. Pre-primary) School-based expenditure on repairs and maintenance 2005-06 Primary Education 3,150 3,440 of buildings in Wakefield local authority, as reported by Secondary Education 4,070 4,700 the local authority, is set out in the following table. Special Schools 16,430 17,810 Information is not collected in respect of Hemsworth. Total (excluding 3,720 4,200 Pre-primary) £ million 2006-07 Primary Education 3,360 3,630 Secondary Education 4,320 4,880 1999-2000 7.1 2000-01 8.8 Special Schools 17,480 18,940 2001-02 3.9 Total (excluding 3,950 4,400 2002-03 3.9 Pre-primary) 2003-04 4.1 2007-08 Primary Education 3,580 3,910 2004-05 4.6 Secondary Education 4,620 5,190 2005-06 4.7 Special Schools 18,650 20,470 2006-07 5.3 Total (excluding 4,210 4,700 2007-08 6.5 Pre-primary) 2008-09 5.8 2008-09 Primary Education 3,780 4,150 Secondary Education 4,890 5,490 School capital allocations are not made directly to Special Schools 19,790 20,990 Hemsworth, but to Wakefield local authority. Allocations Total (excluding 4,460 4,970 by the Department to Wakefield during the period of Pre-primary) 1997-98 to 2009-11 are £222.6 million. Notes: 1. The financial information used in the answer is taken from CLG’s RO1 £ million collection (1997-98 to 1998-99) and from the DCSF S52 collection (1999-2000 onwards). 2. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of 1997-98 5.2 Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the 1998-99 7.9 outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the dotted line. From 2002-03 1999-2000 7.4 school based expenditure is taken from Section 52 Outturn Table A. 3. Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending maintained establishments 2000-01 13.4 within each sector and are drawn from the DCSF Annual Schools Census 2001-02 13.7 adjusted to be on a financial year basis. 2002-03 17.3 4. The 1999-2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance. Consequently Las where there entire pupil provision were educated 2003-04 20.6 in GM schools will show a unit cost of zero prior to 1999-2000. 2004-05 19.4 5. Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary 2005-06 21.2 sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 1999-2000. 6. School based expenditure in LA maintained nursery schools was not recorded 2006-07 16.7 in 2002-03 and comparable figures are not available for 2003-04 onwards. 2007-08 15.7 7. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10. Cash terms figures as reported by 2008-09 15.0 local authorities as at 8 February 2010. 2009-10 25.8 Schools: Health Hazards 2010-11 23.3

Schools: Sports Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department provides to schools on the effects on Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State children’s health of mobile telephones. [316542] for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to increase provision of sport in Ms Diana R. Johnson: We have made available for schools in Coventry. [315940] schools the precautionary advice of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones together with clarifications Mr. Iain Wright: The Department funds a national obtained by the Chief Medical Officer. These confirm network of 450 School Sport Partnerships to increase that children less than 16 years of age should be discouraged the quality and quantity of PE and Sport in schools. 543W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 544W

The following table sets out the amount of funding serious case reviews, ‘Learning Lessons from Serious that schools in Coventry have received over the last five Case Reviews: Year 2’, published in October 2009, years to undertake this work. noted that “Serious case reviews are generally being carried out more speedily” but that “56 reviews took £ between one year and two years”. The report went on to note that the time taken did not automatically determine 2005/06 618,620 the quality of the review and in some instances delays 2006/07 867,792 led to improvements in quality, for example as a result 2007/08 803,751 of the effective scrutiny of overview panels returning 2008/09 914,060 inadequate individual management reviews. It went on 2009/10 925,602 to state that longer timescales raised questions about Total 4,129,825 the effectiveness of the reviews in identifying lessons to Social Services be learnt quickly enough and thus making a difference in practice. Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Chapter 8 of the statutory guidance, ‘Working Together Children, Schools and Families how many serious case To Safeguard Children’ is clear that where lessons are reviews have been outstanding for more than one year. able to be identified they should be acted upon as [316073] quickly as possible. Social Services: Doncaster Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 5 February 2010]: The Department does not collate this information centrally. Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Chapter 8 of the statutory guidance, ‘Working Together Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer to Safeguard Children’, published in December 2009, of 2 February 2010, Official Report, column 302W, on states that serious case reviews should be completed social services: Doncaster, with whom meetings were within six months from the date of the decision to held on each visit listed; and what topics were discussed proceed. at each such meeting. [316435] Ofsted has responsibility for evaluating all serious case reviews and considers the timeliness of their completion Ms Diana R. Johnson: The information is shown in as part of that process. The second Ofsted report on the following table.

Name Date(s) of visit Place(s) of visit/ meetings held Topic discussed/purpose of visit

Charles Clarke 5 May 2004 Doncaster College Not recorded 9 November 2004 Youth Offenders Unit Not recorded

Stephen Twigg 22 September 2004 Barnby Dun and Hexthorpe Primary Schools Not recorded

Lord Filkin 28 January 2005 Prison Officers Association Learning Centre To open the new Learning Centre

Lord Adonis 15 July 2005 Thorne Grammar School Not recorded 25 April 2007 Mayor Martin Winter Not recorded

Ed Balls 13 July 2007 Scawthorpe Castle Hills Primary School and Scawsby Flood recovery discussions Rosedale Primary School 12 September 2008 Relate HQ To learn more about Relate’s work.

Jim Knight 4 June 2008 Serlby Park School Topromote The Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment. Toll Bar Primary School The involvement and support of 2012 Olympics and Impact of flooding on the school Campsmount Technology College To learn more about the work done in fostering greater parental engagement

With reference to the answer of 2 February 2010, serious case review into the Karen Matthews case in Official Report, column 302W we incorrectly stated that Kirklees. [316198] Ruth Kelly visited Doncaster on 5 May and 9 November 2004. This was in fact Charles Clarke. Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 8 February 2010]: Preparation of serious case reviews and publication of Social Services: Kirklees related executive summaries are matters for Local Safeguarding Children Boards, acting in accordance with statutory guidance. I understand that the Kirklees Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Safeguarding Children Board has undertaken a serious Children, Schools and Families when he expects to (a) case review into the case mentioned and will publish the receive and (b) publish the executive summary of the executive summary as soon as it is able. 545W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 546W

Special Educational Needs: Suffolk Mid Sussex constituency, the effects on Mid Sussex of the policies and actions of his Department and its Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for predecessors since 2000. [314780] Children, Schools and Families how many children with special educational needs in Suffolk have been Mr. Coaker: Since 2000 the Government have educated outside that county in each year since 1997; transformed education and child care with improved and what the cost was to the local education authority outcomes for children and young people. Figures showing of that provision. [314872] the performance at Key Stage 2 and at GCSE and equivalents in Mid Sussex are given in the following Ms Diana R. Johnson: It is not possible to provide tables: all of the information requested on pupil numbers Key Stage 2 results of 11-year-old pupils attending schools in the Mid Sussex and costs as it would involve disproportionate costs. constituency Table 1 provides information on the amount spent Percentage of pupils Percentage point by Suffolk local authority on fees for pupils at gaining level 4 and improvement independent special schools and abroad in the financial above 2000 20091 2000-09 years 2000-01 to 2009-10. Information for earlier years Mid-Sussex is not available. Table 2 provides the number of pupils 2 from Suffolk local authority educated in non-maintained English 83 85 2 2 special schools for the years 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Maths 82 85 3 2 Residency information for pupils attending independent Science 94 92 -2 schools is not collected. Information for years prior to 2003 is not available on a comparable basis. England English3 75 80 5 Table 1: S52 Budget 2001-02 to 2009-10, Table 1 data as reported by local authorities, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad1, Suffolk Maths3 72 79 7 Number Science3 85 88 3 1 Revised data. 2000-01 3,794,410 2 Pupils attending schools in Mid Sussex constituency. 2001-02 3,993,310 3 The average for all schools in England. Source: 2002-03 4,387,950 School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables 2003-04 5,711,070 2004-05 6,077,850 GCSE and equivalents1 results for pupils2 attending schools in the Mid Sussex 2005-06 6,160,690 constituency 2006-07 6,390,000 Percentage point Percentage of improvement 2007-08 6,551,210 pupils gaining: 2000 20093 2000-09 2008-09 6,902,410 4 2009-10 7,037,780 Mid Sussex 1 Funding for schools outside of authority control. Therefore, this may be 5+ A*-C 65.6 71.9 6.3 outside the geography of the LA or within the geographical boundary in the 5+ A*-G 93.7 95.8 2.1 independent sector. Note: Figures are rounded to nearest £10.

Table 2: Number of pupils from Suffolk local authority educated in non- National Average maintained special schools for the years 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2009 5+ A*-C 49.2 70.0 20.8 Number of pupils with a statement of SEN educated outside the resident local authority 5+ A*-G 88.9 92.3 3.4 1 Resident local From 2004 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a range of other qualifications authority 2003 2007 2008 2009 approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only. 2 From 2006 figures are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Prior to 2006 935 Suffolk 82 72 69 72 results are based on pupils aged 15. 3 Revised data. 4 Parliamentary constituency figures are based on all maintained schools Stress (including City Technology Colleges and, from 2003, Academies). Source: Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for School and College Achievement and Attainment Tables Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Further information by constituency is provided within Library a copy of the advice issued to staff of his the Department’s ‘In Your Area’ website available at: Department on stress recognition and management. http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea [314519] Information available at constituency level includes the number of specialist schools, number of operational Ms Diana R. Johnson: The Department for Children, Academies, number of teaching assistants and other Schools and Families is committed to creating a healthy support staff, number of teachers and pupil:teacher and safe working environment for all its employees. ratios. Where information is not available at constituency Effective stress recognition, prevention and management, level it has been provided at local authority level including in line with the Health and Safety Management Standards, the number of free early education places taken up by are important elements of this commitment. The three and four-year-olds, number full time and part Department will place a copy of the advice and guidance time entrants to Higher Education Institutions aged 18 issued to staff in the Libraries. to 20, average A level point score per candidate and per Sussex entry together with Percentage of People of Working Age Qualified to at least Level 2 and Percentage of Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for People of Working Age Qualified to Level 4 and above. Children, Schools and Families if he will set out, with Additional information could be provided only at statistical information related as directly as possible to disproportionate cost. 547W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 548W

Truancy: Disadvantaged for free school meals were classified as persistent absentees in 2006-07. [314326] Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what Mr. Coaker [holding answer 29 January 2010]: The proportion of (a) boys and (b) girls who were eligible requested information is shown in the table.

Maintained primary, state-funded secondary and special schools1,2,3: Number and proportion of persistent absentees4 by free school meal eligibility 2006-07 in England Proportion of pupil Proportion of pupil Pupil enrolments who enrolments who are Pupil enrolments who enrolments who are are eligible for free eligible for free school are not eligible for eligible for free school Proportion of pupil school meals meals classified as free school meals meals classified as All pupil enrolments enrolments classified classified as persistent persistent absentees classified as persistent persistent absentees classified as persistent as absentees absentees (percentage)6 absentees (percentage)6 absentees7 (percentage)6

Boys5 49,210 9.3 86,100 3.1 138,250 4.1 Girls5 46,560 9.2 85,910 3.3 134,710 4.2 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). 3 Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. 4 Persistent absentees are defined as having 64 or more sessions of absence (authorised and unauthorised) during the year, typically over 20 per cent. overall absence rate. 5 Number of pupil enrolments in schools from start of the school year up until 25 May 2007. Includes pupils on the roll for at least one session who are aged between five and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once. 6 The number of persistent absentee enrolments expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments with the same characteristics. 7 Includes pupils for whom characteristic data were missing or unclassified. Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Ms Diana R. Johnson [holding answer 29 January Children, Schools and Families how many and what 2010]: The requested information is shown in the table. proportion of white British (a) boys and (b) girls who were eligible for free school meals were classified as persistent absentees in 2006-07. [314327]

Maintained primary, state-funded secondary and special schools1, 2, 3: Number and proportion of persistent absentees4 by free school meal eligibility 2006/07, in England White British5 Proportion of pupil Proportion of pupil Pupil enrolments enrolments who are Pupil enrolments enrolments who are who are eligible for eligible for free who are not eligible not eligible for free free school meals school meals for free school meals school meals All pupil enrolments Proportion of pupil classified as classified as classified as classified as classified as enrolments classified persistent absentees persistent absentees6 persistent absentees persistent absentees6 persistent absentees as absentees6

Boys 37,970 11.0 69,250 3.1 107,210 4.2 Girls 36,240 11.0 70,420 3.3 106,660 4.3 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). 3 Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. 4 Persistent absentees are defined as having 64 or more sessions of absence (authorised and unauthorised) during the year, typically over 20 per cent. overall absence rate. 5 Number of pupil enrolments in schools from start of the school year up until 25 May 2007. Includes pupils on the roll for at least one session who are aged between five and 15, excluding boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once. 6 The number of persistent absentee enrolments expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments with the same characteristics. Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census

Truancy: Leeds Primary, secondary and special schools1,2,3: percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence 1996/97 to 2007/084— Leeds local authority Percentage5 Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the unauthorised 1999/2000 1.17 absence rate was for pupils in Leeds local authority 2003/04 1.14 area in each year since 1997. [316341] 2006/07 1.59 2007/08 1.48 Mr. Coaker [holding answer 8 February 2010]: The 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. available information is shown in the table. To provide 2 Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). information for further years would incur disproportionate 3 Includes maintained and non maintained special schools. Excludes general cost. hospital schools. 4 Figures prior to 2006/07 have been sourced from the Absence in Schools Primary, secondary and special schools1,2,3: percentage of half days missed due 4 Survey. Other figures are derived from the School Census. to unauthorised absence 1996/97 to 2007/08 — Leeds local authority 5 The number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence expressed as a Percentage5 percentage of the total number of possible sessions. Source: 1996/97 1.22 Absence in Schools Survey and School Census4 549W Written Answers23 FEBRUARY 2010 Written Answers 550W

Truancy: West Sussex GCSE and equivalents1 results for pupils2 attending schools3 in the Mid Sussex constituency Percentage point Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Percentage of pupils improvement 1997 to Children, Schools and Families what the unauthorised gaining 1997 20094 2009 absence rate was for pupils in (a) Mid Sussex Mid Sussex—5+ A*-C 60.9 71.9 11 constituency and (b) West Sussex in each year since Mid Sussex—5+ A*-G 93.6 95.8 2.2 1997. [314792] England—5+ A*-C5 45.1 70.0 24.9 England—5+ A*-G5 86.4 92.3 5.9 Mr. Coaker [holding answer 2 February 2010]: The 1 From 2004 results incorporate GCSEs, GNVQs and a range of other available information is shown in the table. qualifications approved pre-16. Prior to 2004 results are based on GCSEs and GNVQs only. To provide information for further years would incur 2 From 2006 figures are for pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. Prior to 2006 disproportionate cost. results are based on pupils aged 15. 3 Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including Academies and 1, 2, 3 Primary, secondary and special schools percentage of half days missed due City Technology Colleges), figures from 2000 do not include pupils recently 4 to unauthorised absence 1996/97 to 2007/08 arrived from overseas. Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised 4 Revised data. absence5 5 England figures also include independent schools as well as hospital schools Mid Sussex and PRUs. constituency West Sussex Source: School and College Achievement and Attainment tables. 1996/97 0.18 0.35 Further information by constituency is available on 1999/2000 0.30 0.44 the Department’s ’In Your Area’ website: 2003/04 0.33 0.44 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/inyourarea

2007/08 0.50 0.64 The information available at constituency level includes 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. the number of specialist schools, number of operational 2 Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies Academies, number of teaching assistants and other (including all-through academies). 3 Includes maintained and non maintained special schools. Excludes general support staff, number of teachers and pupil: teacher hospital schools. ratios. Where information is not available at 4 Figures prior to 2007/08 have been sourced from the Absence in Schools constituency level it has been provided at local authority Survey. Other figures are derived from the School Census. 5 The number of sessions missed due to unauthorised absence expressed as a level including the number of free early education places percentage of the total number of possible sessions. taken up by three and four year olds, number of full-time Source: and part-time entrants to higher education institutions Absence in Schools Survey and School Census (see foot note 4) aged 18 to 20, average A level point score per candidate West Sussex and per entry together with Percentage of People of Working Age Qualified to at least Level 2 and Percentage Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for of People of Working Age Qualified to Level 4 and Children, Schools and Families if he will set out, with above. statistical information as closely related to Mid Sussex Additional information could be provided only at constituency as possible, the effect on that constituency disproportionate cost. of the policies of his Department and its predecessors since 1997. [317325] Young People: Refuges Mr. Coaker: Since 1997 the Government have transformed education and child care with improved outcomes for children and young people. Figures showing Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the performance at Key Stage 2 and at GCSE and Children, Schools and Families what recent equivalents in Mid Sussex are given in the following representations he has received on the future of the tables: London Refuge; and if he will make a statement. Key Stage 2 results of 11 year old pupils attending schools in the Mid Sussex [315802] constituency Percentage of pupils Percentage point gaining level 4 and improvement 1997 to Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 5 February 2010]: above1 1997 20092 2009 The Department received a copy of a letter from the chief executive of St. Christopher’s Fellowship to directors Mid Sussex—English 72 85 13 of Children’s Services in London, explaining the financial Mid Sussex—maths 73 85 12 situation regarding the Refuge, on 19 June. Since then, Mid Sussex—science 82 92 10 no direct representations from St. Christopher’s have England—English 63 80 17 been made. The future of the Refuge was also raised in England—maths 62 79 17 business questions on 10 December. England—science 68 88 20 1 Includes pupils attending all maintained schools (including Academies and Officials are conducting a review of services for runaways City Technology Colleges) in London and the Government have offered financial 2 Revised data Source: support if it is needed to help start the process of School and College Achievement and Attainment tables. strengthening these services. 5MC Ministerial Corrections23 FEBRUARY 2010 Ministerial Corrections 6MC

Ministerial Correction Number of cautions issued 2007-08 2 Tuesday 23 February 2010 2008-09 4 The Home Office collates statistics on the number of terrorism arrests, charges and convictions and these are HOME DEPARTMENT included in a Bulletin which was published for the first time on 13 May 2009 (Statistics on Terrorism Arrests Terrorism and Outcomes Great Britain 11 September 2001 to 31 March 2008). The data contained in the Bulletin Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the relates to Great Britain and not specific areas. The first Home Department how many people have been questioned edition of the Bulletin is available at: and been (a) cautioned and (b) subsequently prosecuted http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0409.pdf in relation to terrorism offences in (i) Ribble Valley The number of cautions as detailed above are contained constituency, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) the UK in each of in the second issue of the Bulletin which was published the last five years. [314349] on 26 November 2009 and is available via the following [Official Report, 29 January 2010, Vol. 504, c. 1130-131W.] link: Letter of correction from Mr. David Hanson: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1809.pdf The correct answer should have been: An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) Mr. Hanson: The Home Office does not hold statistics on 29 January 2010. The Minister wrote to Mr. Evans on the number of individuals questioned in relation to and the Editor of the Official Report on 15 February terrorism offences. Current guidelines from the Crown 2010, but we are aware that the correction lacked clarity, Prosecution Service make clear that individuals suspected and this submission seeks to resolve the situation. of terrorism offences are not eligible for cautions following The full answer given was as follows: arrest. The Home Office collates statistics on the number of Mr. Hanson: The Home Office does not hold statistics terrorism arrests, charges and convictions and these are on the number of individuals questioned in relation to included in a Bulletin which was published for the first terrorism offences. In the last five years the police have time on 13 May 2009 (Statistics on Terrorism Arrests issued the following number of cautions for terrorism and Outcomes Great Britain 11 September 2001 to offences: 31 March 2008). The data contained in the Bulletin relate to Great Britain and not specific areas. The first Number of cautions issued edition of the Bulletin is available at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0409.pdf 2004-05 4 The second edition of the Bulletin, published on 2005-06 1 26 November 2009, is available at: 2006-07 0 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1809.pdf

ORAL ANSWERS

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Col. No. Col. No. HEALTH ...... 141 HEALTH—continued Cancer Operations ...... 155 NHS Hospital Trusts (Deficits)...... 148 Complementary Medicine...... 145 NHS London (2012 Olympics) ...... 143 Health Care Costs...... 153 Overseas Patients (Costs) ...... 152 Information Services (Sight Impairment)...... 154 Reciprocal Health Care Agreement...... 142 Intermediate Care ...... 144 Swine Influenza Vaccines...... 149 Maternity Services ...... 153 Topical Questions ...... 156 Midwives...... 141 Upper Gastro-Intestinal Services ...... 149 National Autism Strategy ...... 146 WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS...... 7WS HOME DEPARTMENT ...... 40WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 7WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 40WS UK Trade and Investment (Departmental Expenditure Limits)...... 12WS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ...... 44WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 45WS CABINET OFFICE ...... 14WS EU Development Ministers Meeting (Segovia)...... 44WS Charity Commission (DEL)...... 16WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 14WS UK Statistics Authority (DEL)...... 16WS JUSTICE ...... 46WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 46WS CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES...... 18WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 18WS NORTHERN IRELAND...... 51WS Joint Advisory Committee for Qualifications Approval ... 18WS Department Expenditure Limits ...... 51WS

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ...... 25WS SCOTLAND...... 52WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 25WS Department Expenditure Limits ...... 52WS

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT...... 28WS SOLICITOR-GENERAL ...... 53WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 28WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 53WS DEFENCE ...... 29WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 29WS TRANSPORT...... 54WS MOD Votes A Annual Estimate 2010-11 ...... 29WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 54WS

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE...... 30WS TREASURY...... 21WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 30WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 24WS Government Actuary’s Department (DEL) ...... 21WS ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS...... 32WS HM Revenue and Customs (DEL)...... 22WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 33WS National Savings and Investments (DEL) ...... 23WS Evidence Investment Strategy ...... 32WS WALES...... 56WS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ...... 34WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 56WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 34WS Hong Kong...... 34WS Sri Lanka...... 36WS WOMEN AND EQUALITY...... 57WS Government Equalities Office (DEL)...... 57WS HEALTH ...... 38WS Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ...... 38WS WORK AND PENSIONS...... 58WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 40WS Departmental Expenditure Limits ...... 58WS PETITIONS

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Col. No. Col. No. HOME DEPARTMENT...... 3P TRANSPORT...... 5P Bristol Refugee Rights ...... 3P Pedestrian Crossings ...... 5P WRITTEN ANSWERS

Monday 22 February 2010—[Continued.]

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS...... 279W CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES—continued Apprentices: East Sussex...... 279W Teachers...... 320W Apprentices: Feltham...... 281W Teaching: Licensing ...... 320W Apprentices: Hemsworth...... 281W Vocational Education...... 320W Bankruptcy: Sussex...... 282W Young People: Community Orders ...... 321W Business: Government Assistance ...... 283W Young People: Training...... 321W Business: Snow and Ice ...... 285W Young People: Unemployment...... 322W Cerebrospinal: Multiple Sclerosis...... 285W Companies: Birmingham ...... 285W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT...... 265W Construction: Government Assistance...... 286W Affordable Housing ...... 265W Departmental Information Officers ...... 286W Buildings: Energy...... 267W Departmental Official Hospitality ...... 287W Community Development: Business ...... 268W Departmental Video Conferencing ...... 288W Eco-Towns ...... 268W Digital Broadcasting: Radio ...... 288W Empty Property: Lancashire ...... 268W Employment Agencies: EU Law ...... 289W Fire Services: Pensions...... 269W Exports: Morocco...... 290W Government Offices for the Regions: Finance...... 269W Exports: Saudi Arabia ...... 290W Home Information Packs...... 269W Graduates: Work Experience ...... 291W Homelessness: Torbay...... 270W Higher Education: Finance...... 292W Homes and Communities Agency...... 270W Higher Education: Overseas Students ...... 293W Homes and Communities Agency: Loans ...... 271W Higher Education: Salford ...... 294W Housing Associations: Finance...... 272W Higher Education: Stroud...... 294W Housing: Finance...... 272W Higher Education: Student Numbers...... 295W Housing: Standards ...... 274W Holiday Leave: Feltham...... 295W Land Use: Agriculture ...... 274W Maternity Leave: Hemsworth...... 295W Local Government: East of England ...... 274W Minimum Wage ...... 296W Local Government Finance: Barnet...... 274W Minimum Wage: Feltham ...... 296W Members: Correspondence ...... 275W Music: Copyright...... 297W Mobile Homes Act 1983 ...... 275W One North East and North East Economic Forum: Mortgages: Government Assistance...... 275W Public Relations ...... 297W New Deal for Communities ...... 276W Overseas Students: Admissions...... 298W Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property ...... 276W Post Offices ...... 298W Private Rented Housing ...... 277W Post Offices: Bank Services ...... 299W Private Rented Housing: Homelessness...... 278W Regional Development Agencies: Offices...... 299W Safer Stronger Communities Fund ...... 278W Strategic Investment Fund ...... 299W Supporting People Programme ...... 278W Students: Finance ...... 300W Working Neighbourhoods Fund...... 279W Students: Grants ...... 300W Summertime ...... 301W UK Internet Governance Forum ...... 301W HOME DEPARTMENT ...... 324W Animal Experiments: Primates...... 324W Antisocial Behaviour: Hemsworth ...... 325W CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES...... 302W Antisocial Behaviour Orders...... 325W Children: Human Trafficking...... 303W Anti-terrorism Control Orders...... 325W Children In Care: Missing Persons...... 302W Arrests ...... 328W Children: Nutrition...... 303W Asylum ...... 328W Children: Public Law ...... 304W Asylum: Compensation...... 330W Class Sizes: Greater London ...... 304W Asylum: Detainees ...... 330W Departmental Billing ...... 305W Asylum: Finance...... 331W Departmental Disclosure of Information ...... 306W Asylum: Housing ...... 331W Departmental Fines ...... 306W Borders: Personal Records ...... 333W Departmental Internet ...... 307W British Nationality: Northern Ireland ...... 334W Departmental Manpower...... 307W Burglary...... 334W Departmental Public Expenditure...... 308W Burglary: Sussex ...... 335W Departmental Telephone Services...... 308W Business: Essex ...... 335W Education Maintenance Allowance ...... 309W Cocaine...... 336W Family Learning Impact Fund...... 309W Crime...... 336W Foster Care ...... 309W Crime: Feltham...... 338W GCE A-level ...... 310W Crime Prevention...... 337W GCSE: Disadvantaged ...... 310W Crime Prevention: Expenditure...... 337W Health Education: Sex ...... 311W Crime: Statistics...... 339W Home Education Independent Review...... 311W Crimes of Violence ...... 339W Music: Education...... 311W Crimes of Violence: North East...... 340W National Safeguarding Delivery Unit: Standards...... 312W Crimes of Violence: Police Cautions ...... 341W Pre-School Education: Preston ...... 312W Dangerous Dogs ...... 342W Primary Education: Pupil Numbers...... 314W Departmental Accountancy...... 343W Pupil Exclusions ...... 315W Departmental Billing ...... 343W Pupils: Epilepsy ...... 316W Departmental Drinking Water...... 344W Pupils: Greater London ...... 316W Departmental Employment Agencies...... 344W Pupils: Obesity...... 317W Departmental Empty Property ...... 345W Schools: Microphones...... 317W Departmental Energy...... 345W Schools: Playing Fields ...... 318W Departmental Manpower...... 346W Schools: Preston ...... 318W Departmental Mobile Phones ...... 346W Schools: Sports ...... 319W Departmental Pay...... 346W Schools: Standards...... 319W Deportation: Offenders...... 347W Col. No. Col. No. HOME DEPARTMENT—continued HOME DEPARTMENT—continued Deportation: Sri Lanka...... 347W Mephedrone...... 371W Detainees: Sri Lanka...... 348W Milngavie Reservoir: Security ...... 372W DNA: Databases...... 349W Offenders: Deportation...... 372W Domestic Violence ...... 350W Passports...... 373W Driving Under Influence: Young People ...... 351W Passports: Fees and Charges ...... 373W Drugs: Crime ...... 351W Passports: Lost Property...... 374W Entry Clearances...... 352W Police ...... 374W Entry Clearances: Bexley ...... 353W Police: Emergency Calls ...... 377W Entry Clearances: Eastern Europe ...... 353W Police: Feltham ...... 378W Entry Clearances: Families ...... 354W Police: Football...... 379W Entry Clearances: Fees and Charges ...... 361W Police National Computer ...... 377W Entry Clearances: Indian Subcontinent ...... 361W Powers of Entry ...... 379W Entry Clearances: Married People ...... 362W Powers of Entry: Public Consultation...... 379W Entry Clearances: Overseas Students ...... 362W Public Holidays...... 379W Firearms ...... 364W Repatriation...... 380W Forensic Science Service: Greater London ...... 364W Repatriation: Offenders...... 381W Forensic Science Service: Location...... 364W Sexual Offences...... 381W Forensic Science Service: Redundancy ...... 365W Smuggling: Shipping...... 381W Government Car and Despatch Agency...... 365W Special Advocates ...... 382W Greater Manchester Police: Forensic Science ...... 365W Stun Guns...... 383W Hizb ut-Tahrir...... 366W Theft: Motor Vehicles ...... 383W Hotels ...... 366W UK Border Agency...... 384W Human Trafficking ...... 366W UK Border Agency: Complaints...... 385W Human Trafficking: West Midlands...... 367W UK Border Agency: Contracts ...... 385W Illegal Immigrants: Deportation ...... 368W UK Border Agency: Crimes of Violence...... 386W Immigrants: Detainees...... 368W UK Border Agency: Manpower...... 386W Immigrants: Merseyside...... 369W UK Border Agency: Standards ...... 387W Immigration...... 369W UK Border Agency: Termination of Employment...... 387W Immigration: Fees and Charges ...... 370W UK Border Agency: Training...... 388W Immigration: Yemen ...... 371W Vandalism...... 388W Iraq Committee of Inquiry ...... 371W Yarl’s Wood Detention Centre: Hunger Strikes ...... 389W Local Government Finance ...... 371W WRITTEN ANSWERS

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 516W CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES—continued Apprentices: Salford ...... 516W Pupil Exclusions: Suffolk ...... 536W Departmental Energy ...... 517W Pupils: Per Capita Costs...... 537W Departmental Pay...... 519W Sandwell...... 538W Departmental Travel...... 519W Schools: Feltham ...... 539W Exports: Saudi Arabia ...... 520W Schools: Health Hazards...... 541W London Metropolitan University ...... 521W Schools: Hemsworth ...... 542W Maternity Leave...... 521W Schools: Sports ...... 542W Unemployment: Bedfordshire...... 522W Social Services ...... 543W Unemployment: Salford...... 522W Social Services: Doncaster ...... 544W Vocational Training: Tax Allowances ...... 522W Social Services: Kirklees ...... 543W Working Hours: Salford ...... 523W Special Educational Needs: Suffolk ...... 545W Young People: Unemployment ...... 523W Stress ...... 545W Sussex ...... 545W Truancy: Disadvantaged ...... 547W CABINET OFFICE ...... 402W Truancy: Leeds...... 547W Cancer ...... 402W Truancy: West Sussex...... 549W West Sussex...... 549W CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES...... 524W Young People: Refuges...... 550W Academies ...... 524W Blaydon ...... 524W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ...... 471W Children: Day Care...... 525W Affordable Housing ...... 471W Children: Social Services...... 526W Affordable Housing: Salford ...... 472W Children’s Centres: Feltham...... 526W Affordable Housing: Standards...... 472W Classroom Assistants: Lewes ...... 527W Audit Commission: Procurement...... 473W Departmental Internet ...... 527W Business Improvement Districts...... 473W Departmental Recruitment ...... 527W Community Development: Finance ...... 474W Departmental Sick Leave...... 527W Consolidated Communications...... 474W Education Maintenance Allowance: Hemsworth ...... 527W Council Housing: Newcastle Upon Tyne ...... 475W Families: Government Assistance ...... 528W Council Tax ...... 475W Feltham ...... 528W Council Tax: Discounts...... 476W GCSE ...... 530W Council Tax: Statistics ...... 477W GCSE: Salford ...... 531W Departmental Advertising ...... 478W Hemsworth ...... 532W Departmental Computers ...... 478W Learning Disability: Birmingham ...... 533W Departmental Disabled Staff ...... 478W Milton Keynes ...... 534W Departmental Energy...... 479W Non-Departmental Public Bodies: Finance ...... 535W Departmental Manpower...... 480W Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education ...... 536W Departmental Official Hospitality ...... 481W Col. No. Col. No. COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT— FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ...... 415W continued British Nationals Abroad...... 415W Departmental Recruitment ...... 483W Colombia: Political Prisoners...... 415W Departmental Surveys ...... 483W Cuba: Politics and Government ...... 416W Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal ...... 484W Departmental Energy...... 418W Employment Tribunals Service ...... 484W Departmental Travel ...... 417W Empty Dwelling Management Orders...... 484W Diplomatic Service Appeal Board...... 417W Energy Performance Certificates...... 485W Embassies: Fees and Charges...... 418W Gardens: Planning Permission ...... 485W Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission ...... 419W Government Offices for the Regions: Finance...... 485W Middle East: Armed Conflict...... 419W Green Belt...... 486W Nuclear Weapons...... 419W Housing Associations: Finance...... 486W Palestinians...... 420W Housing: Construction ...... 487W Security...... 420W Housing: Prices...... 488W Western Sahara: Asylum...... 421W Infrastructure Planning Commission: Finance...... 488W Western Sahara: Politics and Government ...... 424W Infrastructure Planning Commission: Pay ...... 489W Land: Databases ...... 489W HEALTH ...... 396W Local Government: Bank Services ...... 490W Alcoholic Drinks: Pricing ...... 397W Local Government: Cost Effectiveness...... 491W Asthma: Drugs ...... 398W Local Government: Debt Collection...... 492W Autism: Health Services...... 398W Local Government: Equality...... 492W Breast Cancer Research ...... 396W Local Government Finance ...... 490W Departmental Disabled Staff ...... 399W Local Government Finance Funding Changes Drugs: Alcoholic Drinks...... 399W Independent Inquiry ...... 490W Health Protection Agency: Product Registration ...... 397W Local Government: Pay ...... 492W Health Services: Derby ...... 399W Local Government: Pensions ...... 492W Melanoma ...... 398W Mortgages: Government Assistance...... 493W National Curriculum: First Aid Training...... 397W Non-Domestic Rates...... 494W NHS: Expenditure ...... 400W Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property ...... 495W NHS Service Provision...... 397W Non-Domestic Rates: Ports ...... 495W NHS Treatment: Waiting Times...... 396W Parish Councils: Council Tax...... 496W Nursing Care ...... 398W Private Rented Housing ...... 496W Respite Care...... 396W Private Rented Housing: Planning Permission ...... 496W Smoking Ban ...... 396W Regional Planning and Development...... 497W Strokes: Health Services...... 400W Social Rented Housing...... 497W Strokes: Mental Health...... 401W Tenant Services Authority...... 497W Unitary Councils: Finance...... 498W HOME DEPARTMENT...... 430W Youth Services: Finance...... 498W Alcoholic Drinks: Public Places ...... 430W Anti-Semitism...... 429W Arrests ...... 431W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT...... 424W Arrests: Football...... 431W Departmental Advertising ...... 424W Crime...... 432W Departmental Internet ...... 425W Crimes of Violence: Females...... 432W Departmental Manpower...... 425W Cybercrime ...... 433W Departmental Responsibilities ...... 426W Departmental Advertising ...... 433W Departmental Training ...... 426W Departmental Visits Abroad ...... 434W Departmental Travel ...... 427W Detection Rates: Greater Manchester ...... 434W Hackney ...... 427W Driving Offences...... 434W Olympic Games: Canada ...... 428W Driving Offences: M4...... 435W Driving Under Influence...... 436W DEFENCE ...... 408W Entry Clearances: Eastern Europe ...... 441W Air Force: Manpower ...... 408W Entry Clearances: Married People ...... 444W Armed Forces: Injuries ...... 410W Entry Clearances: Overseas Students ...... 444W Disabled...... 410W Firearms and Explosives: Licensing...... 445W Ex-servicemen...... 411W Football Banning Orders ...... 446W Military Aircraft: Training...... 411W Forced Marriage ...... 446W Navy: Haiti ...... 412W Homicide: Children ...... 447W RAF ...... 412W Homicide: Reoffenders ...... 449W Territorial Army ...... 413W Immigration: Fraud ...... 449W Veterans’ Challenge Fund ...... 413W Offenders: Deportation...... 450W Offensive Weapons...... 450W Passports: Older People ...... 450W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE...... 465W Police Community Support Officers: Assaults on Police .. 451W Biofuels...... 465W Police: Finance...... 453W Departmental Energy...... 466W Police: Schools ...... 454W Departmental Public Expenditure...... 467W Police: South Yorkshire...... 454W Departmental Surveys ...... 467W Prosecutions...... 455W Departmental Travel ...... 467W Prosecutions: West Lancashire...... 455W Energy: Finance...... 467W Sexual Offences...... 455W Energy: Prices ...... 469W UK Border Agency: Manpower...... 455W Energy Supply...... 467W Warm Front Scheme ...... 470W HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION...... 414W Freedom of Information: Costs ...... 414W ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS...... 391W Nurseries...... 414W Animal Tracing Schemes...... 391W Dangerous Dogs ...... 392W INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ...... 428W Fish...... 393W Departmental Carbon Emissions...... 428W Parrots: Animal Welfare...... 394W Departmental Disabled Staff ...... 428W Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection...... 394W Somalia: Overseas Aid ...... 429W Col. No. Col. No. JUSTICE ...... 498W TREASURY—continued Approved Premises ...... 498W Government Car and Despatch Agency...... 404W Feltham ...... 498W Inheritance Tax: Glasgow ...... 404W National Offender Management Service: Manpower ...... 499W Inheritance Tax: Perthshire ...... 405W Offenders: Deportation...... 500W National Insurance Contributions: Local Government.... 405W Prison Accommodation ...... 500W Non-Domestic Rates...... 405W Prison: Offences...... 502W Stamp Duty Land Tax ...... 405W Prison Officers ...... 501W Valuation office...... 406W Prisoners...... 503W VAT ...... 406W Prisoners: Education and Drugs ...... 507W Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments...... 407W Prisoners: Foreigners ...... 508W Prisoners: Gender Identity Disorder ...... 508W WALES...... 408W Prisoners: Mothers...... 509W Devolution: Wales...... 408W Prisoners Release ...... 506W Prisoners Transfers ...... 506W WOMEN AND EQUALITY...... 401W Prisons : Manpower...... 509W Departmental ICT ...... 401W Prisons: Dogs...... 510W Departmental Information Officers ...... 401W Prisons: Drugs ...... 512W Departmental Pay...... 402W Prisons: Mobile Phones ...... 513W Probation: Per Capita Costs...... 513W WORK AND PENSIONS...... 456W Probation: Sex Offender Treatment Programme...... 514W Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Public Opinion...... 514W Surveillance...... 456W Rehabilitation Centres: Young People...... 515W Departmental Billing ...... 456W Unpaid Work...... 515W Departmental Food ...... 456W Young Offenders...... 515W Departmental Legislation ...... 457W Disability Living Allowance...... 457W NORTHERN IRELAND...... 395W Electronic Government: Advertising...... 458W Departmental Disabled Staff ...... 395W Electronic Government: Publicity ...... 458W Employers’ Liability...... 459W SCOTLAND...... 408W Employment and Support Allowance ...... 459W Disabled...... 408W Employment Schemes: Graduates...... 460W Jobcentre Plus: Ethnic Groups...... 460W TRANSPORT...... 407W Jobcentre Plus: ICT ...... 461W A1(M): Hatfield...... 407W Jobcentre Plus: Manpower...... 461W Pilots: Licensing...... 407W National Identity Fraud Unit: Manpower ...... 461W Roads: Snow and Ice...... 407W New Deal Schemes...... 463W Pathways to Work...... 463W TREASURY...... 402W Pensions...... 464W Alcoholic Drinks: Fraud...... 402W Personal Savings ...... 464W Departmental Disabled Staff ...... 403W Remploy: Public Relations ...... 464W Departmental Manpower...... 403W Social Security Benefits: Bexley ...... 464W Departmental Travel ...... 404W Unemployment Benefits: Cancer ...... 465W MINISTERIAL CORRECTION

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Col. No. HOME DEPARTMENT...... 5MC Terrorism ...... 5MC Members who wish to have the Daily Report of the Debates forwarded to them should give notice at the Vote Office. The Bound Volumes will also be sent to Members who similarly express their desire to have them. No proofs of the Daily Reports can be supplied, nor can corrections be made in the Weekly Edition. Corrections which Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked in the Daily Report, but not telephoned, and the copy containing the Corrections must be received at the Editor’s Room, House of Commons,

not later than Tuesday 2 March 2010

STRICT ADHERENCE TO THIS ARRANGEMENT GREATLY FACILITATES THE PROMPT PUBLICATION OF THE VOLUMES

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

PRICES AND SUBSCRIPTION RATES DAILY PARTS Single copies: Commons, £5; Lords, £3·50. Annual subscriptions: Commons, £865; Lords, £525. WEEKLY HANSARD Single copies: Commons, £12; Lords, £6. Annual subscriptions: Commons, £440. Lords, £225. Index: Annual subscriptions: Commons, £125; Lords, £65. LORDS VOLUME INDEX obtainable on standing order only. Details available on request. BOUND VOLUMES OF DEBATES are issued periodically during the session. Single copies: Commons, £105; Lords, £40. Standing orders will be accepted. THE INDEX to each Bound Volumeof House of Commons Debates is published separately at £9·00 and can be supplied to standing order. WEEKLY INFORMATION BULLETIN compiled by the House of Commons, giving details of past and forthcoming business, the work of Committees and general information on legislation, etc. The Annual Subscription includes also automatic despatch of the Sessional Information Digest. Single copies: £1·50. Annual subscriptions: £53·50. All prices are inclusive of postage Volume 506 Tuesday No. 43 23 February 2010

CONTENTS

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 141] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Health

Speaker’s Statement [Col. 163]

Rental Accommodation (Thermal Insulation Standards) [Col. 166] Motion for leave to introduce Bill—(Tony Lloyd)—agreed to Bill presented, and read the First time

Children, Schools and Families Bill [Col. 173] As amended, considered; read the Third time and passed

Petitions [Col. 270]

Myalgic Encephalopathy [Col. 272] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Westminster Hall Pensioner Poverty [Col. 1WH] British Pubs [Col. 26WH] Manufacturing Industries [Col. 52WH] Foreign-Registered Lorries [Col. 59WH] Road Traffic Accidents (Compensation and Sentencing) [Col. 66WH] Debates on motion for Adjournment

Written Ministerial Statements [Col. 7WS]

Petitions [Col. 3P] Observations

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 265W]

Ministerial Correction [Col. 5MC]