Thursday Volume 570 7 November 2013 No. 72

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES ()

Thursday 7 November 2013

£5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2013 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 393 7 NOVEMBER 2013 394

Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): When House of Commons will the Minister get his act together on buses? Most people in this country travel on buses. Buses are really Thursday 7 November 2013 important to our country, but the bus industry feels neglected by this Government—and why cannot I have The House met at half-past Nine o’clock a new innovative bus scheme in Huddersfield and Kirklees?

PRAYERS Mr Goodwill: I wonder if the hon. Gentleman should declare his interest in having a bus pass, which, of course, the Conservatives promised— [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Mr Sheerman: I’ve got one.

Oral Answers to Questions Mr Goodwill: Despite what we heard in the last general election campaign, the Conservatives have kept the concessionary travel scheme for pensioners, along TRANSPORT with all the other benefits for pensioners. Some 40% of money going into buses outside London is Government The Secretary of State was asked— support and we believe we are discharging our Better Bus Areas responsibilities in that regard.

1. (Central Devon) (Con): What progress his Department has made on the roll-out of better bus areas. [900943] 2. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): What procedures The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport are available to communities to seek mitigation of the (Mr Robert Goodwill): Last year we announced our effects of the High Speed 2 route with respect to visual, intention to establish a small number of new better bus aural and vibration disturbance. areas, within which bus subsidy would be devolved to [900944] the local authority to invest in bus improvement measures in partnership with local operators. The Department The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick has made good progress with five new better bus areas McLoughlin): There has already been widespread having been announced this year. These are in Sheffield, consultation on phase 1. In addition, there will be a York, the west of England—the area centred around consultation on the environmental statement following Bath and Bristol—Merseyside and Nottingham. the deposit of the hybrid Bill and the opportunity to petition the Select Committee established as part of the Mel Stride: I congratulate my hon. Friend on the hybrid Bill process. For phase 2, the route consultation speed with which this new scheme has been rolled out, is currently under way and is due to end in January but may I urge him to ensure we have fair and firm 2014. targeting, particularly on remote rural areas? I have a number of villages in my constituency that have no bus Michael Fabricant: A few months ago, I and a group service at all, and many that do have very little provision. of people from Lichfield came to see the Secretary of State to discuss the monstrous 20-metre high viaduct Mr Goodwill: Earlier this year we announced that planned for the HS2 crossing over Lichfield. He will current levels of Government support for buses will be know that this affects not only Lichfield, but the maintained until at least 2016, and we have also ring-fenced constituencies of my hon. Friends the Members for a portion of bus subsidy that will be devolved to local Tamworth () and for Stafford (Jeremy authorities from January, providing greater security to Lefroy), because of the height of the line. A plan for vital local services. In addition, in 2011-12 a total of mitigation was developed together with HS2 engineers, £20 million in funding was targeted to rural authorities and this has been completely ignored. When can we to support those very vital community transport solutions. have some hope that there will be any mitigation for us in Staffordshire? Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab): What is the Minister doing to improve bus services for young people? I recently met some young people on the national citizenship Mr McLoughlin: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. He scheme in my constituency, and they raised the particular rightly says that he never loses an opportunity to make problem that for them travelling around after 6 pm on clear his objection to this viaduct. It was part of a route unaffordable transport is almost impossible. What are realignment which was done initially to help mitigate the Government doing to help young people travel some of the effects around Lichfield, but once the Bill is around in their areas? deposited and following Second Reading there will, of course, be an opportunity for those directly affected to Mr Goodwill: We believe these better bus areas are a petition the Select Committee. more intelligent way of supporting bus services. Rather than the crude method of a straightforward fuel subsidy, (East Ham) (Lab): Does the Secretary the partnership between local authorities and bus companies of State know of any other countries which, on building will encourage things such as smart ticketing, better their second high-speed railway line, have chosen to information and bus priority schemes, which make buses connect it to the first via a single-track railway line with more reliable for young people and for everyone else. a capacity of three trains per hour? 395 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Oral Answers 396

Mr McLoughlin: The important thing is that there Mr McLoughlin: I know how very important the will be a connection between HS1 and HS2. That will high-speed service has been to my hon. Friend’s constituents. allow direct access for trips right through Europe from Although high-speed rail does not run right down to places that at present do not have those connections. Deal or Sandwich, his constituents get the benefit from That is important. We believe the three trains per hour HS1 as the Javelin train from St Pancras carries on that will be able to go directly from Birmingham, to serve them. There are ongoing negotiations about Manchester or Leeds to Paris or Brussels or other the franchise extension, which we will be doing with European destinations is a very positive move. Southeastern, and I will certainly bear his comments in mind. Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): As my right hon. Friend knows, the preferred route for HS2 phase 2 goes Railway Electrification straight through the village of Hopton in my constituency, as well as Ingestre, Yarlet and Marston and close by to 4. Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) Great Harwood. What measures can HS2 take to mitigate (Con): What plans he has to extend railway electrification. the effects on these communities, either through extra [900946] tunnelling or realignment of the route? The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick Mr McLoughlin: What I said to my hon. Friend the McLoughlin): In the rail investment strategy the Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) in my original Government are investing in more than 800 miles of answer was that the consultation for phase 2 is still electrification up to 2019. This includes lines in the ongoing and it would be wrong of me at this stage to north-west, north trans-Pennine, midland main line, pre-empt it. I know that my hon. Friend the Member electric spine, great western main line and Welsh valley for Stafford (Jeremy Lefroy) will be making strong areas. That is a substantial advance in electrification of representations through the consultation process, and I the railways in this country. will consider them in due course. Andrew Jones: I thank my right hon. Friend for that Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): Pursuant to answer. A couple of weeks ago, I launched the business the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for case for the electrification of the Harrogate to Lichfield (Michael Fabricant), I know that the Secretary Knaresborough rail line, which would bring more frequent of State takes these matters very seriously, but does he and quicker services for passengers, and a great return agree that where mitigations are small scale, such as for taxpayers from public money. Will he meet me to those proposed by my constituents in the Knox Grave discuss this opportunity? Lane community, HS2 should be able to move ahead with them quickly and not give conflicting messages to Mr McLoughlin: I will be delighted to meet my hon. the community affected? I have written to him on this Friend, who wastes no opportunity to raise this case for matter. Will he give the letter careful consideration? electrification with me. He has been a doughty campaigner for it. We have received a copy of the business case for Mr McLoughlin: Of course I will consider any points the electrification of the Leeds, Harrogate and York that my hon. Friend has written to me about. Consistency line. The case looks promising and I am more than in HS2’s responses on these lines that directly affect happy to discuss it further with him. people is very important. I am disturbed to hear that inconsistent advice has been given by HS2, and I will Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab/Co-op): want to look into it. Plans for electrification are very welcome, but when will rolling stock be available for the electrified lines in the High Speed 1 north, now that that there has been such a delay in the procurement for the Thameslink project?

3. (Dover) (Con): What assessment Mr McLoughlin: I hope that that delay, on which he has made of the potential of High Speed 1 domestic there was a Public Accounts Committee report recently, services in Kent to expand. [900945] will not lead to long-term delay. I am confident that once we have done the electrification the rolling stock The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick will be ready to fulfil the needs we all want it to fulfil. McLoughlin): I recognise the importance of domestic High Speed 1 services to the people and economies of Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD): The Kent. The Department is currently negotiating a direct Secretary of State will be aware that people in Cumbria award with Southeastern, which operates them, in which very much welcome the plans for electrification of the we will consider what improvements can be made to lakes line to Windermere and the benefits that will bring services. We are also undertaking an evaluation study of to the economy and the environment. Will he also the High Speed 1 infrastructure, which is due to report consider the electrification of the Furness line from in spring next year. Lancaster to Barrow, which goes through my constituency? That would link the industrial centres of Barrow and Charlie Elphicke: I thank the Secretary of State for the western Lake district to the main line. that answer. High-speed services are economically transformational for east Kent. Constituents of mine in Mr McLoughlin: Indeed, and when I was in my hon. Deal, and those in Sandwich, wish to have an all-day Friend’s constituency in the summer I was made very Javelin high-speed service. Will Ministers help to make much aware of the desire for that line to be electrified. that happen? One great thing that has happened in the railways is that 397 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Oral Answers 398 the constant request of any Secretary of State now is for a wide-ranging review and public consultation. It contains more services and better services. That just shows how a number of measures to give passengers a better, more important the railways are now to our national life, and modern, and more flexible deal on fares and to improve I will look at the case he makes. the current ticketing system.

Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): Mr Buckland: Swindon commuters who have no choice Will the Secretary of State tell me why under the but to travel at peak times face increasing fares and current arrangements the electrification of the route to want value for money. What plans does my hon. Friend Hull will stop at Selby, which, as I am sure he knows, is have to increase flexibility and reduce costs for rail fare several miles short of Hull? Will he do everything he payers and season ticket holders? can to support the Hull trains proposal to extend the electrification to Hull? Stephen Hammond: My hon. Friend is right. The train operating companies set the prices for season Mr McLoughlin: I could point out to the hon. Lady tickets and for fares. I recognise that Swindon is a how much of the line was electrified by the previous popular commuting town that benefits from the frequent Labour Government in 13 years: 10 miles, as opposed services on high-speed trains to London, Wales and the to the 880 miles that we are planning to electrify as part west country. Nevertheless, he is right and he will have of our commitment to the railways. She is making yet noticed the announcement from the Government restricting another case for further electrification of an important “flex”, which means that none of his commuters will line and I shall certainly look at the case again in detail. face a fare increase of more than 3% above inflation from January 2014. Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con): The Secretary of State will know that the welcome electrification of the 15. [900958] CatherineMcKinnell(NewcastleuponTyne midland main line will miss out the two stations in my North) (Lab): In the autumn, East Coast achieved constituency at Langley Mill and Alfreton. Will he the highest passenger satisfaction rates since records consider the plans to complete that little section so that began, so why are the Government wasting taxpayers’ the whole line is electrified? time and money privatising that successful service rather than getting to grips with the cost of living crisis Mr McLoughlin: I had a meeting on Monday morning and this Government’s inflation-busting rail fare price with the people operating the midland main line franchise rises? and that particular issue was pointed out to me. We plan to electrify the whole line from St Pancras up to Stephen Hammond: The hon. Lady will obviously Sheffield, but my hon. Friend is right that part of it, have read the Brown report, which suggests that franchising which goes through his constituency, is missed out. I is the best way to secure better deals and more investment have no doubt that we will want to look at that as we are for passengers. That is why we are continuing to franchise doing the rest of the line. and are putting the east coast main line out to franchise.

Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield South East) (Lab): Last Mr (Chelmsford) (Con): I remind my November, I asked the Secretary of State whether one hon. Friend that commuters who are reliant on coming of the intentions behind the electrification of the midland into London to work do not have any flexibility in their main line was to speed up journey times, in which case work times. What ideas does he have to get a better deal the line would need the new inter-city express trains and for commuters, who are a captive market and who have not the transfer of old rolling stock from the east coast regulated fares? line, which would be slower and would increase journey times. The Secretary of State could not answer me then. Stephen Hammond: I pay tribute to my right hon. Can he tell me now whether the electrified midland Friend for the excellent work that he did in contributing main line will get the new rolling stock needed to speed to the rail fares review. He will know that we have up journey times, which is what we both want to see? restricted fares to RPI plus 1%, which “flex” has also reduced, so no one will pay more than 3% above RPI. Mr McLoughlin: I travelled down on the line—in the He will also remember that the document suggests cab, as it happens—on Monday morning and I saw considering ways to provide season ticket holders with some of the work that is going on for the planned more flexible arrangements. electrification. A number of bridges are being replaced, which is necessary. That work is well under way and has Mary Creagh (Wakefield) (Lab): The Government’s started well. I will consider the questions about new fare review took 18 months and has delivered fare rises rolling stock in due course when I come to consider the of up to 6%. That 6% is twice the rate of inflation and is remaining period of the franchise. cold comfort for commuters struggling as their incomes fall in real terms. Is that really the best the Minister can Rail Passenger Fares do for commuters struggling with the Government’s cost of living crisis? 5. Mr Robert Buckland (South Swindon) (Con): What progress he has made on reviewing the structure of rail Stephen Hammond: The hon. Lady will know that the passenger fares. [900947] formula for regulated fares is RPI plus 1%. Unlike her Government, we have reduced flexibility to 2%. We The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport have made that permanent, something that the Government (Stephen Hammond): The “Rail Fares and Ticketing: of the hon. Member for Nottingham South (Lilian Next Steps” report was published on 9 October following Greenwood), who is shouting from the opposite Bench, 399 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Oral Answers 400 did not do. She may just wish to remember this, which as DRS make. We are continuing to look for every was in the franchise arrangement from 1 January 2011: opportunity to support the expansion of the freight “the amendment to the Franchise Agreement set out in this notice industry and encourage transfer to rail where it is of amendment shall be reversed.” practical, economic and environmentally sustainable. They did not scrap it; they put it in place for one year only. Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab): Will the Minister engage with his colleagues in the Mary Creagh: The Department for Transport announced Department for Business, Innovation and Skills? A in September that it would cap standard return fares at number of key companies in my constituency are losing £500. Given that no one will benefit from that £500 fare competitiveness because they cannot move their goods cap, is that not just another example of the Minister’s fast enough across the UK into mainland Europe, in smoke and mirrors on fares? particular because there are huge blockages at the top end of the M6. A little bit of joined-up thinking could Stephen Hammond: A number of things were announced radically improve Britain’s competitiveness. Will he do in that review. The fare cap was a voluntary initiative something about it? put in place by the rail industry. We have not assessed, and nor has anyone else, how many passengers will Stephen Hammond: This Government are known for benefit from that. We have also announced a reduction their joined-up thinking, so if the hon. Gentleman in the fares “basket flex”, a trial of single-leg pricing for wishes to write to me about the particular problem in off-peak returns, a trial of flexible ticketing, including his constituency, I will look at it and speak to my discounted fares in quieter periods, and a new code of colleagues in BIS. practice on ticketing information.

14. [900957] Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) (Con): Can Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): Does the Minister my hon. Friend assure me that everything is being done agree that the wise decision to invest £45 million in to reduce the cost of running the railways and the redoubling the Kemble to Swindon railway line is a inefficiencies that the previous Government left behind huge improvement, not just for passengers but for freight? so that we can move towards an era of no above- Does this not reinforce the point that this Government inflation rises? invest not only in HS2, which is right, but in the existing network? Stephen Hammond: I am delighted to confirm to my hon. Friend that the package of measures that we have Stephen Hammond: My hon. Friend is right. We have worked up will continue to bear down on the cost of consistently made the point that we are not only investing running the railways. We recognise the cost of living in High Speed 2 but that we are investing £37 billion in and the implications of fare increases. That is why the improvements across the network. He is right to pick Government are doing something to help commuters out that example, which illustrates exactly what the and anyone travelling on the railways. It is noticeable Government have been saying—that capacity is being that Passenger Focus recommended the recent package added across the network. that the Government put forward. Rail Freight Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab): The Minister will be aware that 80% of freight in Britain goes by road, both cross-channel and within Britain, and that 6. John Stevenson (Carlisle) (Con): What steps he is serious modal shift from road to rail cannot take place taking to increase the volume of freight carried by rail. until the railways are capable of taking lorry trailers on [900948] trains. Will he look seriously at schemes for investing in rail freight capacity capable of taking lorries on trains? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Stephen Hammond): The Government support the transfer of freight from road to rail. We are investing £400 million Stephen Hammond: The hon. Gentleman is aware, of in rail freight infrastructure for the investment period course, that there has been a huge increase of some 60% out to 2014. The rail freight grant is helping to remove in rail freight over the past 10 years. The capacity that is more than 800,000 lorry journeys. Ultimately, rail freight being added will add the prospect and the potential for needs more capacity on our network, which is why we extra rail freight and extra transference from road to are taking forward High Speed 2. rail. If there are serious schemes, we will look at them, but they would have to justify the economic business John Stevenson: In Carlisle we have DRS—Direct case and provide better value than the capacity that we Rail Services—a very successful rail freight company are adding, which will allow that transfer from road to that is looking to expand. Can the Minister assure me rail. that everything will be done to ensure that companies such as DRS are given every opportunity to expand not Jackie Doyle-Price (Thurrock) (Con): Today the new just their volume but their capacity? London Gateway port receives its first ship. As my hon. Friend knows, its ambition is to transport many of the Stephen Hammond: I congratulate my hon. Friend on materials that come into the new port by rail freight. highlighting the work of DRS. It is indeed a very Will he ensure that Network Rail looks carefully at the successful rail freight company. The Government are provision of level crossings across Thurrock so that our committed to the growth of the rail freight industry, road network is not disrupted by the increased volume and we recognise the contribution that companies such of freight trains using the network? 401 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Oral Answers 402

Stephen Hammond: My hon. Friend is a well known Mr Goodwill: Bus users are all too aware of reliability; and doughty campaigner for her constituency, which is they use services if they are reliable. It will be interesting why I have had the pleasure of visiting it several times in to see how the policy in Liverpool, which is getting rid the past couple of years. I will of course look seriously of bus priority schemes and bus lanes, will impact on at that and speak to Network Rail. It is essential that the reliability of services and how much they are used. that new port is a success. Road Accident Statistics Buses 8. Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con): What assessment he has made of recent trends in road 7. Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): What accident statistics. [900950] recent assessment he has made of the quality of bus services outside London. [900949] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Robert Goodwill): The Department for Transport’s The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport 2012 statistics show that the number of people killed in (Mr Robert Goodwill): Passenger Focus research shows accidents reported to the police has decreased by 7.7%, that customer satisfaction with bus journeys is high—84% from 1,901 in 2011 to 1,754 in 2012, the lowest figure on of passengers are satisfied with their service. The record, and today’s figures show further progress. Government set out their programme for further improving bus services in “Green Light for Better Buses”, which Rehman Chishti: I am grateful to the Minister for that was published in 2012. Our proposals include reforming answer. He will be aware that 16% of all road deaths in bus subsidy, improving competition and making buses Britain are caused by drink-driving, and that is after a easier to use for everyone. 17% increase between 2011 and 2012. What are the Government doing to improve road safety by dealing with repeat drink-drivers? He will know that that is the Alison McGovern: As we have heard a little this subject of my ten-minute rule Bill, which is listed for a morning, Members could probably talk for hours about Second Reading on 22 November. rail fares, but what about bus fares, especially those outside London? Will the Minister tell the House what Mr Goodwill: We have introduced measures to ensure has happened to bus fares outside London on his that anyone disqualified for drink-driving twice in 10 years Government’s watch, and what impact the removal of will be classed as a high-risk offender. High-risk offenders the bus service operators grant had? cannot get their licence back until doctors are satisfied that they are medically fit to drive again. The figures Mr Goodwill: Bus fares have been rising for several that my hon. Friend mentions are of concern, but they years above inflation, although many operators and are against a trend of ever-reducing levels of fatality on councils across the country are working together and our roads involving drink-driving. separately to provide good deals. The picture is variable and reflects local circumstances. We are working with Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse) (Lab): The the sector to see what can be achieved to make sure that biggest killers of young people in the UK are road buses are accessible to as many people as possible, given crashes. The Government have been promising a Green the social and economic importance of bus travel. Paper, not a White Paper, on graduated licensing for young drivers since the spring. When are we likely to Mike Thornton (Eastleigh) (LD): Given the major see it? changes in the rural population over the past 100 years, which has made it increasingly difficult to provide an Mr Goodwill: It is absolutely true that while young effective service based on the traditional mid-20th century people make up 8% of drivers and account for 5% of model of rural bus services that is currently used, what miles driven on our roads, they account for 18% of research has the Department done to look at alternative accidents. We will publish the Green Paper before the 21st-century methods of providing a decent bus service end of the year. in rural areas? Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington) (LD): The big increase in deaths related to drink-driving on Mr Goodwill: I have already pointed out that in 2011 the roads shows that we are not winning the battle and 2012 we provided a total of £20 million in additional against drink-driving. Is it not simply time to show our funding for rural areas. In some rural areas which are commitment to tackling drink-driving by introducing sparsely populated, there may be alternative solutions, the recommendations of the North review and reducing such as dial-a-ride, car sharing or similar schemes, the drink-driving limit? which may be more appropriate for the more remote rural areas. Mr Goodwill: Many countries in Europe have a lower drink-driving limit, but they also have lower penalties. I Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South) (Lab): While believe it would be a mistake to reduce our gold-standard the number of bus passengers falls and fares rise, this penalty of disqualification for drink-driving, which could Government have stopped the Vehicle and Operator lead some people to perceive drink-driving as being on Services Agency, which checked bus operators’ punctuality, the same level as speeding or parking offences. doing so properly. People need to know how reliable their buses are, as will the new local transport bodies Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield) (Lab): May planning their services, so why are Ministers keeping I welcome the Minister to his new post? He mentioned consumers clueless and local transport bodies toothless? the road casualty statistics published today. Is it not 403 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Oral Answers 404 also the case that there was a 4% increase in the number 13. [900956] Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): In of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured and a 12% the past fortnight, East Riding of Yorkshire council increase in the number of cyclists killed or injured on has commenced a £50,000 improvement of the subways our roads? The day after we heard of a further tragedy, at Goole station. We want Network Rail to contribute is it not time, as we approach road safety week, for the to this improvement to make it a lot better. If I provide Minister to tune into road safety himself, put the vulnerable the Minister with details, will he help me to lobby first and introduce clear targets to cut the number of Network Rail to get that additional funding? deaths and serious injuries on our roads? Stephen Hammond: My hon. Friend will be aware Mr Goodwill: I in turn welcome the hon. Gentleman that funding for almost all these schemes comes through to his post and look forward to sparring with him the new local growth fund, which is being used to across the Dispatch Box. There are certainly concerns finance transport improvements up and down the country, about motorcycle deaths—motorcycles are particularly but of course, if he cares to provide me with the details, dangerous. We have targeted motorcyclists, in particular, I am happy to meet him to discuss them. in our Think! campaign. Of course, in some cases motorcycle deaths are very much related to the weather. East Coast Main Line Ltd In North Yorkshire, certainly, when we have a nice summer there are, sadly, an awful lot more motorcycle 10. Mrs Anne McGuire (Stirling) (Lab): What recent casualties. It is of concern that we are seeing more assessment he has made of East Coast Main Line Ltd’s cycling casualties, and I have noted some of the accidents financial performance. [900953] in London involving heavy lorries and cyclists. Some of that is due to the fact that there has been a big increase The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick in the number of people cycling, but it is of concern McLoughlin): My officials regularly meet representatives and we are targeting our information campaigns on of East Coast Main Line and Directly Operated Railways motorcyclists and cyclists. to discuss the performance of the franchise. DOR’s financial accounts are published on its website annually. Railway Stations On 24 October, I announced the start of the competition for a new private sector partner for InterCity East Coast and published a prospectus for the East Coast 9. Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con): What steps he is Main Line business, which included an assessment of taking to improve existing railway stations and build its financial performance. new stations. [900952] Mrs McGuire: I thank the Secretary of State for his The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport answer. Will he confirm that while German, Dutch and (Stephen Hammond): The Government have allocated French railway companies will be allowed to tender for some £550 million to the new Stations Improvement the new franchise, a successful British company that is and Access for All programmes for the period to 2014, currently operating the franchise will not be allowed to which have led to improvements at over 500 stations. do so? For the next control period, from 2014 to 2019, a further £200 million has been allocated to improve Mr McLoughlin: I refer the right hon. Lady back to stations and station access in England and Wales. The the time when she was a supporting member of the Government have also allocated £20 million through previous Government, when the then Secretary of State the new stations fund. Four successful proposals are said: now being built and a fifth is under consideration. “I do not believe that it would be in the public interest for us to have a nationalised train operating company indefinitely…because Stuart Andrew: I am grateful to the Minister for that of our recent experience on rail franchising”.—[Official Report, answer. Will he update us on the progress being made House of Lords, 1 July 2009; Vol. 712, c. 232.] on the new and much needed Apperley Bridge and Rail franchising has led to the biggest growth in rail Kirkstall stations, which are crucial to alleviating chronic usage in this country that we have ever seen—up from congestion in my constituency? May I also lend my 750 million to 1.5 billion passenger journeys. I want support to the suggestion my hon. Friend the Member that improvement to continue, and that is why huge for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Andrew Jones) made investment is going into the east coast main line. about the electrification of the Harrogate to Knaresborough line, which would help commuters in the Horsforth 12. [900955] Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab): The area? publicly run east coast main line franchise will have returned £800 million to the taxpayer by the end of this Stephen Hammond: Apperley Bridge is part of the financial year, and all its profits are reinvested in the Leeds growth package promoted by the West Yorkshire service. Why are the coalition Government privatising passenger transport executive, and it has received this successful public operator, given that the previous programme entry funding from the major local transport two private operators failed? schemes budget. The Department is expecting to receive the PTE’s submission of a business case for final approval Mr McLoughlin: As I pointed out to the right hon. in spring 2014. I welcome my hon. Friend’s support for Member for Stirling (Mrs McGuire), I am following the the electrification of the Leeds-Horsforth-Harrogate policies that have taken the rail industry from 750 million line, although Apperley bridge is not on that line to 1.5 billion passenger journeys. I am happy to speak but on the already electrified Leeds-Bradford Forster for the passengers and for all the people who work on Square line. the railways; it seems as though Labour Members are 405 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Oral Answers 406 happy to speak just for the union barons. They can had three Mondays on which there has been significant speak for the barons; I will speak for the workers, the disruption, and a fortnight ago 30,000 passengers were consumers and the people who use our railways. stranded, some for five or six hours, while repairs were done. The east coast main line was electrified on the Topical Questions cheap—many engineers tell us that, and there has been severe disruption. Can we do something about it, T1. [900973] Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab): please? If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. Mr McLoughlin: I understand the hon. Gentleman’s The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick point. It relates to what we are doing with HS2 to McLoughlin): We have started consultations on our increase capacity in the longer term, although that is plans to reform the Highways Agency into a Government- not the short-term answer he wants. I was disturbed to owned company, backed by legislation, to achieve greater read the reports about the delays on the line, and I will efficiency as we treble our capital spending on the talk to Network Rail to see if there is anything we can strategic road network. Significant efforts have been do. made this year across road, rail and aviation to boost resilience and preparedness for the winter months. This T4. [900976] Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire) (Con): week, the Highways Agency began its “Make time for The high speed of High Speed 2 will depend of the winter” campaign, with practical advice for drivers. high technology of a new generation of civil engineers, Local highways authorities are holding robust salt stocks mechanical engineers, electrical engineers and many and will enter the winter with a healthy supply. others. May I challenge a member of the ministerial Front Bench to come upstairs with me, after Question Heidi Alexander: The Government’s policy on rail Time, to the Bloodhound supersonic car simulator to fares will offer scant consolation to my constituents, see whether they can beat the very creditable speed who not only have to travel on unbearably overcrowded of the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield trains into central London but in the past two years (Richard Burden) and learn about what the product is have been asked to pay £100 more for their annual doing to inspire a new generation of children about the season ticket. What guarantee can the Secretary of opportunities for British engineering? State give that above-inflation increases in rail fares will be matched by a comparable increase in capacity? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Mr McLoughlin: There is a problem, but we are (Mr Robert Goodwill): I am delighted to accept that investing record amounts in the rail industry. Over the invitation, particularly because on Sunday I took part next five years, Network Rail will invest some £38 billion in the oldest motoring event in the world, driving from in the railway network. Those are very significant London to Brighton in six hours. The speed of the investments that are bringing on new rolling stock and Bloodhound will be a great experience, I am sure. better capacity and efficiency to try to help people who are suffering. I do accept, particularly where there is Mr Speaker: I am sure an invitation to come upstairs overcrowding, that we need to try to do more to help beats an invitation to come outside. those consumers. T7. [900980] Steve Rotheram (Liverpool, Walton) (Lab): T2. [900974] Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): I am basically supportive of HS2 proposals, although I The electrification of the midland main line through am becoming increasingly concerned about the project Kettering is extremely welcome, but the immediate the more I read the specific detail of regional benefits. consequence for Kettering residents is the complete Will the Secretary of State assure me that Liverpool closure of the Pytchley Road bridge as it is changed to will get a spur to increase capacity and ensure greater accommodate the new overhead wires. That means that connectivity with our ports so that the whole city the main access route into Kettering from the south region can benefit? will be completely closed for three months over the Christmas period. Will the Secretary of State ensure Mr McLoughlin: I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman that Network Rail completes this job on time by the seems to be having second thoughts. The mayor of end of February 2014? Liverpool is certainly not having second thoughts and is Mr McLoughlin: I well understand the concerns raised a big supporter of the project. The truth is that once the by my hon. Friend. This is one of the problems when high-speed line goes to Manchester, it will then go on to major work is done on the railways. As he may have Liverpool. That will be very important for Liverpool, heard earlier, I travelled in the cab of one of those trains but it will also get the benefits from phase 1. Parts of on Monday to see some of the work that is already Kent that are not served by the line benefit from the ongoing in preparation for the electrification of the capacity and the trains. whole line. There will be some disruption—that is unavoidable. Nottingham station was closed for five T5. [900978] Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): I am weeks over the summer, but the whole job was done on extremely grateful to have got here, having been time and it actually came in £5 million below budget. stuck outside Clapham Junction station. May I seek assurances from the Department that it will work T3. [900975] Ian Mearns (Gateshead) (Lab): The closely with major transport infrastructure such as Secretary of State will be aware that there has been Gatwick airport and those who operate the M23 and significant disruption on the east coast main line the London to Brighton rail line to ensure that there is because of infrastructure failure. I think we have now winter preparedness? 407 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Oral Answers 408

Mr Goodwill: We continue to invest in third rail Mr McLoughlin: The development of HS2 does not heating, to ensure the reliability of our rail services. mean that the people of Bristol and the south-west will Gatwick airport has the advantage over Heathrow, in be left out. HS2 is part of a bigger boost to our that it has capacity to put snow ploughs on the runway transport system and will make up less than a quarter without disrupting flights in the same way. As I said in of the transport investment in the next Parliament. I am my evidence to the Transport Committee only a week or always interested in talking to my hon. Friends about so ago, we have good winter resilience, with more snow the schemes that they are promoting in their constituencies ploughs and more salt, and we are confident that the and I am more than happy to meet my hon. Friend to Highways Agency and local authorities can keep the discuss her scheme in greater detail. roads clear. Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): Does the Minister Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South) agree that as we approach the Christmas period, more (Lab): In Tyne and Wear, a consultation process is use should be made of the media, and television in currently under way on introducing quality contracts particular, to underline the zero-tolerance message on for local bus services. Does the Minister agree that bus drink-driving? Will he consider running such a campaign companies should be investing in local services rather in conjunction with all the regions of the United Kingdom than wasting vast sums on misleading and scaremongering of Great Britain and Northern Ireland? attacks? Mr Goodwill: We regularly publicise the issue of Mr Goodwill: We continue to keep the option of drink-driving, particularly in the run-up to Christmas, quality contracts open to local authorities. In the spirit and will continue to do so. I do not know whether the of localism, it is their decision if they want to use them. problem is worse in Northern Ireland than elsewhere, I think that the better bus contract is a better model, but but I am sure that the devolved Government will push if local authorities want to follow the model that is used the same line as us. in London, they may do so. Simon Wright (Norwich South) (LD): According to a report by the transport consultants, Atkins, enhancements T6. [900979] Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): to capacity, line speed and service quality on the great The Secretary of State has been very kind to the East eastern main line could bring an extra £3.7 billion into Riding in respect of pinch-point funding. I urge him to the economy. Will the Minister confirm that the extend his kindness to the other side of the Humber recommendations of the East Anglia rail prospectus, and support the pinch-point funding bids from North which is backed by MPs from across the region, will be Lincolnshire council, of which my hon. Friend the progressed at the earliest possible opportunity? Member for Cleethorpes (Martin Vickers) and I are very supportive, and in particular the bid that relates to The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Humberside airport. (Stephen Hammond): I congratulate those who put a considerable amount of work and effort into unifying Mr McLoughlin: I have visited my hon. Friend’s the stakeholders in East Anglia and producing that constituency to look at one of the pinch-point schemes excellent document. It contains a huge number of that has received funding and will take any representations recommendations. I will continue to engage with MPs about other schemes into account. and others to ensure that we complete the process, that their voices are heard and that we understand the Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East) (Lab): Although benefits of the recommendations. the reduction in road accident fatalities is warmly to be welcomed, what plans does the Department have to Phil Wilson (Sedgefield) (Lab): The A67, which runs make cycling safer, given the increase in cycling fatalities through my constituency between Darlington and Barnard not only in London, but beyond, which has been mentioned Castle, is a major bus route. It recently suffered from a by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield major landslip at Carlbury banks, which is severely (Richard Burden)? When will the Secretary of State disrupting bus services. Will a Minister meet my hon. encourage the creation of segregated cycle paths? Friends the Members for Bishop Auckland (Helen Goodman) and for Darlington (Jenny Chapman) and Mr McLoughlin: We all want local authority highways me to see whether any funding can be made available agencies to give greater consideration to cycling. After from the pinch-point fund? meeting British Cycling a few weeks ago, I instructed the Highways Agency that all the highways schemes Mr McLoughlin: I was in the hon. Gentleman’s that it comes forward with must be cycle-proofed. There constituency last Friday for the start of work on the are some irresponsible drivers and some irresponsible new Hitachi site, which will build new trains for the east cyclists. We all have a responsibility to get the message coast and Great Western lines. I am sorry to hear about across to everybody: “Be careful on our roads.” the problems that he is having with part of his highways network. We will be happy to talk to him in due course. T8. [900982] Charlotte Leslie (Bristol North West) (Con): How can the Secretary of State reassure the Nick de Bois (Enfield North) (Con): The Secretary of people of Bristol, who want enhanced branch lines, State will be aware that the M25, which spans my that having HS2 for London and the north will not constituency from junction 23 to junction 25, has had a mean that the south-west is left out? Will he look serious spike in fatal accidents, which included the positively at bids to reopen the Henbury loop line in tragic deaths of three people and two young girls during north Bristol? the course of one week. Will he urgently investigate the 409 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Oral Answers 410 causes of those accidents, which might include the road Mr Doran: I am sorry I did not catch the question, management measures during the road expansion works, but no decisions have been made except to appoint and let me know what he finds as soon as possible? advisers and consultants who will advise on the options. Those options will be considered in the next Parliament, Mr McLoughlin: My hon. Friend has already written and the final decision will be taken by both Houses. to me about this issue, and brought my attention to There will be an immense amount of consultation and, those appalling incidents that caused the death of those of course, interest from Members of both Houses. people, and the families who were affected, as well as incredible disruption to his area. I want a full investigation into whether the points he has raised had any bearings on those accidents. LEADER OF THE HOUSE

The Leader of the House was asked— HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION Written Parliamentary Questions

The hon. Member for Aberdeen North, representing the 2. Pat Glass (North West Durham) (Lab): What House of Commons Commission, was asked— recent assessment he has made of the performance of each Government Department in answering written Palace of Westminster parliamentary questions. [900964]

1. Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con): If the The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew Commission will establish a Members’ consultation Lansley): My office collates departmental performance group for the work on the restoration and renewal of information for ordinary and named day parliamentary the Palace of Westminster. [900963] questions, which I submit for each Session to the Procedure Committee. I provided data on the last Session to that Mr Frank Doran (Aberdeen North): I shall answer Committee in July, and those are available on the for the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and parliamentary website. Easter Ross (John Thurso). Last year the House of Commons Commission invited Pat Glass: Will the Leader of the House confirm that the right hon. Member for Saffron Walden (Sir Alan the Department for Education remains the most poorly Haselhurst) and my hon. Friend the Member for performing Department and is getting worse, and will Dunfermline and West Fife (Thomas Docherty) to join he say what is being done about it? two Members of the House of Lords as an informal consultation group for the pre-feasibility study on the Mr Lansley: The hon. Lady will be aware from restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster. information on the parliamentary website of the relative That group is not a decision-making body; its purpose position of Departments, including the Department for is to ensure that the programme team has a good Education. The Procedure Committee held evidence-taking understanding of the range of Members’ views and sessions with the Secretary of State and the permanent requirements, and that that is reflected in the final secretary, and the Chair of the Procedure Committee, formal proposals. my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mr Walker), has written to that Department. The context of that Pauline Latham: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that correspondence was that performance was poor but answer. I am not sure whether he said that there are had improved in recent weeks. I stress that over the Members of the House of Commons on that advisory past Session, more Departments have increased their body, as I could not quite hear. If there are not, would it performance in responding to written questions than be possible to include them? I have strong opinions on have deteriorated. It was possible, however, for the this issue as, I am sure, do many other Members of the Department with the largest number of such questions—the House. I would like an assurance that the House will be Department of Health—to achieve a 99% response rate. consulted and kept up to date on progress. Pre-legislative Scrutiny Mr Doran: There are already two Members of the House of Commons on the informal committee, and 3. Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab): there may be a third. There are currently three Members What his policy is on extending pre-legislative scrutiny of the House of Lords. The hon. Lady is right and it is of Bills. [900965] crucial that Members are kept advised. That will be done through the normal channels, and all relevant The Deputy Leader of the House of Commons (Tom committees will be advised. If she is interested—I know Brake): The Government are committed, wherever possible, her commitment to this issue—and would like to meet to publishing draft legislation for pre-legislative scrutiny. the project manager, that would be perfectly possible. We published 17 draft Bills or sets of draft measures in the last Session, which is more than any other Government Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): What is the in any Session. latest estimate for the cost of restoring and renewing the Palace of Westminster? If the cheapest and quickest Chi Onwurah: Following last week’s announcement option is to close the place down and do it in one go, is of a pause in proceedings on the reviled gagging Bill that a route the hon. Gentleman would be kind enough and the previous pause in the equally reviled Health to advance? and Social Care Bill, can the Leader of the House 411 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Oral Answers 412 confirm whether this form of legislative coitus interruptus position today to tell him that the Government have is becoming his preferred form of parliamentary planned responded, but I can tell him that we will respond very parenthood? shortly to the Procedure Committee’s report, and indeed it contains some sound and strong recommendations Tom Brake: Clearly it is not. As I have stated, we have that I am sure we will want to consider carefully. a very good track record with the largest number of Bills in pre-legislative scrutiny of any Government in Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): Is it not the case that if any Session. In relation to what has happened in the 100 MPs turn up for a closure motion on a Friday they Lords, they wanted more time and that is exactly what can ensure the progress of any Bill, which is not a great the Government have provided. number out of 650 if it has such widespread support? Hon. Members should not expect to turn up with some Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con): well-meaning claptrap and expect it to be nodded through Does my right hon. Friend agree that pre-legislative just because it is a Friday. scrutiny allows consultation while legislation is more easily amended, and allows politicians and stakeholders Tom Brake: Yes, my hon. Friend is right that the use to give their opinions? Will he commend the work of of a closure motion and, indeed, timetabling is possible the pre-legislative scrutiny Committee, a joint Committee for private Members’ Bills, but it is also worth pointing with the House of Lords, on the Deregulation Bill, out that the Procedure Committee has said in its report which I have the honour to serve on? that it is not its intention to facilitate the passage of Bills into law, and that it should not be easy to see a Tom Brake: I will certainly do that. Pre-legislative private Member’s Bill become law. scrutiny is a very positive opportunity for stakeholders to contribute. As I stated, the Government have been Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): Does the very positive in providing those opportunities to a large Deputy Leader of the House agree that regardless of number of stakeholders in no fewer than 17 draft Bills. the procedures used to deal with private Members’ Bills, such a Bill is extremely unlikely to reach the statute Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab): In book unless it has the express or at least tacit approval the light of the completely unconvincing answer given of the Government? to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (Chi Onwurah) by the Deputy Leader of Tom Brake: I can assure my hon. Friend that there the House, will he explain exactly how he plans to make have been examples in the past—my right hon. Friend use of this wonderful new parliamentary invention, the the Leader of the House secured a private Member’s pause stage, to respond to widespread concerns about Bill in opposition—so there are opportunities even for the lack of pre-legislative scrutiny of the provisions in Opposition Members to push private Members’ Bills the gagging Bill? through, although clearly having the support of the Government is helpful. Tom Brake: I am not quite sure what the hon. Lady means by “the gagging Bill”. If she is referring to the E-petitions transparency Bill, she will be aware that the lobbying aspect did have pre-legislative scrutiny, and she should 5. Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East) (Lab): be aware that the Government have responded, for When the Government plan to respond to the e-petition instance, to Select Committee reports on this subject created by the hon. Member for Bolton North East on and engaged with a very large number of organisations grass-roots football. [900967] that have a strong interest in this Bill. The Deputy Leader of the House of Commons (Tom Private Members’ Bills Brake): The delay in response to the hon. Gentleman’s query was unacceptable, as has been acknowledged. 4. Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): What assessment However, I can confirm that a response has now been he has made of options for the reform of Private published on the Government e-petitions site. Petitions Members’ Bill procedure. [900966] that reach the 10,000 signature threshold should receive a response from the Government within 30 days. The Deputy Leader of the House of Commons (Tom Brake): The Government are considering the Mr Crausby: I did indeed receive a response to my recommendations contained in the report published by petition just after midnight on Tuesday morning, within the Procedure Committee on 2 September and will hours of this oral question being published—two facts respond shortly. that I am sure are not remotely connected. On a serious point, given the billions of pounds Charlie Elphicke: Will the Deputy Leader of the available from football on television, will the Government House join me in congratulating the Procedure Committee put pressure on the Football Association to spend more on an excellent report and consider implementing its of that money on grass-roots football, especially for recommendations for the timetabling of private Members’ children, as opposed to even more outrageous wages for Bills so that Back Benchers voices will be properly top professional footballers? heard in this place? Tom Brake: I am not sure that that is a question for a Tom Brake: I congratulate my hon. Friend on pursuing Deputy Leader of the House, but I will ensure that the these matters as vigorously as he does in relation to Department for Culture, Media and Sport is aware of private Members’ Bills. I am afraid that I am not in a the hon. Gentleman’s concern. I would certainly echo 413 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Oral Answers 414 his suggestion, however, that we need strong investment Mr Frank Doran (Aberdeen North) (Lab): My hon. in grass-roots football. He might be aware that the Friend has been dogged in her efforts to get her local Premier League will be investing about £168 million in BBC news shown here, and I am delighted to tell her grass-roots football over the next three years, which is that work to expand and modernise the Annunciator something that hon. Members on both sides of the service is currently under way with the intention of House would want to encourage it to do. switching to a digital service, following the national digital switchover, to ensure compatibility with television services such as subtitles. The upgrade will also provide HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION the opportunity to develop the service, and it is proposed that the channels available be expanded to include all The hon. Member for Aberdeen North, representing the regional BBC 1 channels, whose broadcasts include House of Commons Commission, was asked— regional news programmes, and some key international News Services channels. 6. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): If he will Diana Johnson: At the moment, our constituents make a comparative assessment of the service provided have to pay £50 a month to get Sky Sports beamed into by (a) Nexis news service currently in use in the House their own homes, otherwise they have to go down the of Commons and (b) Factiva news service; and if he pub, so I am not sure why we have it beamed into all our will make a statement. [900968] offices on the parliamentary estate. I am pleased that we are finally dealing with the need of MPs with constituencies Mr Frank Doran (Aberdeen North): The Nexis and outside London and the south-east to have access to Factiva services, along with the online news services our regional TV news programmes, but when will this offered by the bidders, were assessed as part of the open actually happen? procurement process carried out in 2011. The position will be reassessed in 2015, when a decision will be Mr Doran: On the last point, we hope that the service required on whether to extend the current contract for a will be provided next year. On the other point, Sky further two years or retender the service Sports is provided free by Sky, so we do not actually pay Michael Fabricant: We really do need to have this for it, but all my hon. Friend’s other points will be dealt issue reconsidered. When we changed from the Factiva with. to the Nexis service, we found that some newspapers were being reported on three days late and that we were not getting any reports from, among other newspapers, LEADER OF THE HOUSE The Sun, or , whereas Factiva was comprehensive in its coverage. The House The Leader of the House was asked— of Commons and the taxpayer could save money by dumping Nexis now because it provides an inadequate Statements service for Members of Parliament. Please let us have Factiva back. At least it works. 8. Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab): What recent guidance he has given to his ministerial Mr Doran: In the current economic climate, we have colleagues on making statements in the House before to look for value for money, and when the contract was making such statements in the media. [900970] tended, the difference between the bids, which was substantial, amounted to a £500,000 saving over the life The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew of the contract. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right, Lansley): The ministerial code is clear that when Parliament however; there is a real issue with News International is in session the most important announcements of newspapers not being available on the service, although Government policy should be made first to Parliament. the Library continues to negotiate with News International. I regularly remind my colleagues of this. He will also be aware that some members of the Library have individual subscriptions, and these can be accessed. Heidi Alexander: Will the Leader of the House give Regional News Programmes me his word that the autumn statement will not be leaked to the media in advance, as happened with the 7. Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): Budget this year? If the Commission will take steps to enable hon. Members to receive in their Commons offices live Mr Lansley: The House will recall the inquiry that regional BBC and other regional television news took place into the pre-announcement or pre-leaking of programmes covering constituencies outside London material relating to the Budget and will recall equally and the south-east in place of Sky Sports channels. the assurances that the Chancellor and I gave at this [900969] Dispatch Box that that would not happen in future. 415 7 NOVEMBER 2013 416

Speaker’s Statement Business of the House 10.35 am 10.34 am Mr Speaker: I remind the House that Monday is Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab): Will the Leader of 11 November, Armistice day. Although the House is not the House please give us the business for next week? sitting in the morning, many of us will be on the estate, performing our parliamentary duties. At 11 o’clock on The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew Monday, I regard it as appropriate that we and staff Lansley): The business for next week will be: working for us should join the nation in observing the MONDAY 11 NOVEMBER—Second Reading of the Offender two-minute silence so that we might remember those Rehabilitation Bill [Lords], followed by a debate on a who gave their lives for their country to help preserve reasoned opinion relating to the regulation of new our democratic freedoms. Instructions will be issued to psychoactive substances. heads of House Departments so that those members of TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER—Opposition day [11th allotted staff who wish to observe the two minute silence may day]. There will be a full day’s debate entitled “Abolition do so. of the Bedroom Tax”. The debate will arise on an Opposition motion. The business for the week commencing 18 November will be: MONDAY 18 NOVEMBER—Remaining stages of the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, followed by a motion to approve a carry-over extension on the Energy Bill, followed by a general debate on police procedures in dealing with mental health issues. The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee. TUESDAY 19 NOVEMBER—Opposition day [12th allotted day]. There will be a debate on an Opposition motion, subject to be announced. WEDNESDAY 20 NOVEMBER—Remaining stages of the Defence Reform Bill. THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER—A debate on a motion relating to the finances of the House of Commons, followed by a debate on a motion relating to the implementation of new legislation on stalking. The subjects for both debates were determined by the Backbench Business Committee. FRIDAY 22 NOVEMBER—Private Members’ Bills. I should also like to inform the House that the business in Westminster Hall for 21 November, 5 and 12 December will be: THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER—Debate on the first report of the Committees on Arms Export Controls on the scrutiny of arms exports and arms control. THURSDAY 5DECEMBER—Debate on the second report of the Education Select Committee on the role of school governing bodies, followed by a debate on the third report of the Education Select Committee on school sport following London 2012. THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER—Debate on the first report of the International Development Select Committee on global food security, followed by a debate on the second report of the International Development Select Committee on violence against women and girls.

Ms Eagle: I thank the Leader of the House for announcing next week’s business. I am looking forward to attending the sitting of the Youth Parliament next week. May I take this opportunity to remember the sacrifice of our armed forces as we approach Remembrance Sunday? We all wear our poppies with pride. This morning, the Public Accounts Committee has published a devastating report on the Government’s flagship benefit reform, citing a shocking failure to manage it and predicting that the Department for Work 417 Business of the House7 NOVEMBER 2013 Business of the House 418 and Pensions will have to write off a substantial part of friends. They have also now lost two terror suspects: the £425 million it has already spent. It seems that the one escaped in a black cab, the other dressed as a blame game for this costly fiasco has already started. woman. And on Monday, the Communities Secretary This morning we learn of a wholly improper attempt to welcomed a report that called for sheep and cows to lean on members of an independent Select Committee replace council lawnmowers. I know that I call this of this House by the Secretary of State for Work and Government Orwellian, but I was not suggesting a Pensions and his parliamentary team to try to put the production of “Animal Farm”. blame on the Permanent Secretary. Can we have an Last week, we discovered that there had been a 50% urgent statement from the Secretary of State for Work rise in the number of special advisers, despite the coalition and Pensions about these very serious allegations? agreement promising to cut them. We also discovered While the majority face a cost of living crisis, it has that the Deputy Prime Minister had 19 special advisers, been reported in the Daily Mirror today that the Prime costing over £1 million a year. This week, despite the Minister has cut his own household bills by nearly £400 uproar, the Deputy Prime Minister decided that the best a year while refusing to support our motion yesterday thing to do was to hire another one, to do his PR. We for an energy price freeze for everyone else. That tells us have had the famous five, and we have had the magnificent everything about who he is standing up for. Will the seven. Even the Messiah only had 12! What on earth Leader of the House now confirm how much less does the Deputy Prime Minister need 20 for? Does the the Prime Minister is paying on his home as a result of Leader of the House agree that the Deputy Prime the top-rate tax cut? Minister is not the Messiah—he’s a very naughty boy? In evidence to the Health Select Committee, the chief executive of NHS England said that the NHS was Mr Lansley: I am grateful to the shadow Leader of becoming the House, and I join her in remembering the fallen, as “bogged down in a morass of competition law”, will Members right across the House, both here and in our constituencies on Sunday.Many families will remember following the Government’s botched, £3 billion top-down not only those who fell but those who have served this reorganisation. Given that the Leader of the House had country, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice. his fingerprints all over that one, does he agree with that analysis? The shadow Leader of the House made a point about . The Public Accounts Committee report The Leader of the House must also have felt a sense deals with historical matters, and my right hon. and of déjà vu as he was forced into a humiliating climb-down hon. Friends in the Department for Work and Pensions on the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning have already taken steps to secure the safe and sound and Trade Union Administration Bill in the Lords this delivery of the programme on time and on budget. She week. Perhaps he is trying to patent a new way of doing also referred to certain reports, which I have seen. I have Bills. First Reading—outcry; Second Reading—lose the talked to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for argument but stubbornly refuse to listen; go to the Work and Pensions and I can tell the House that there is Lords—hit the emergency pause button and say that he no need for a statement. I can tell her and the House will do all the things he should have done before he that there is no truth—[Interruption.] I can tell the published the Bill in the first place. This is just like what House now that there is no truth in the allegations happened on the Health and Social Care Bill. Everyone about talking to members of the Public Accounts who will be affected by the lobbying Bill opposes it. Just Committee. I talked to the Secretary of State and I can like on the health Bill, he cannot make the case for his tell the House that. proposals because there is no case for them; and just like on the health Bill, he is disguising his true intentions I spoke to my good friend, the chief executive of because he knows he has no public support. Will the NHS England, on the Committee corridor. As for Leader of the House tell us how he intends to use “a morass of competition law”, the next six weeks to “listen, pause and reflect” on the I do not think that is true. We do not share the same lobbying Bill, and will he commit now to making the view. As it happens, the Health and Social Care Act substantial changes that this sinister gagging Bill needs? 2012 did not change the structure of competition law as Better still, why does he not just scrap it and start again? it applies to the NHS, except in so far as it introduced a We all know that the Prime Minister does not seem to concurrent jurisdiction for Monitor, a health-related like answering questions from the Opposition very much body, to exercise, as opposed to competition authorities during his Wednesday outings. Yesterday, he told three doing so directly. The Health and Social Care Act has of my hon. Friends that he did not have the answers to enabled us to deliver £5.5 billion-worth of savings in hand. He did not know the total number of people in administration costs in this Parliament and to support the country on zero-hours contacts; he did not know the NHS in delivering, for example, 23,000 fewer how many of his so-called new private sector jobs administrators and 4,000 more clinicians. involved zero-hours contracts; and he decided that the On the transparency Bill, no pause is taking place— appropriate way to respond to a question about the [Interruption.] I am telling Opposition Members what rights of pregnant women not to be sacked was to have is happening. The order of consideration in the House a cheap shot at trade union general secretaries. Is it not of Lords is quite understandable, given that peers wanted time we renamed Prime Minister’s questions “I’m sorry the opportunity to consider in detail issues relating I haven’t a clue”? to part 2—part 1 and part 3 will be considered first, and This week, the Government were forced by the courts part 2 will be considered later in December. That is to keep the independent living fund up and running, perfectly sensible. We will engage fully. My noble Friend and they lost yet another vote in the other place on the signalled an amendment in the House of Lords that Energy Bill, despite stuffing the Chamber with their relates to the structure of the registration thresholds. 419 Business of the House7 NOVEMBER 2013 Business of the House 420

[Mr Lansley] along with others, I have advocated such a meeting for some considerable time, but no notice of it is given on We will look at what is being proposed—if changes are today’s Order Paper. I do not blame the Clerks, because proposed to part 2, we will look at them—but in the I am sure that there are parliamentary reasons for the context of delivering through the transparency Bill, fact that the meeting is not listed, but will it be possible what we should all agree on, and this House agreed in for notices to be posted around the building informing principle, is that when third parties seek to influence the people that it will take place at—I understand—2 pm, political system, whether it be through lobbying or and can the Leader of the House confirm that, although through campaigning at election time, or when the it has been suggested that tickets should be obtained trade unions are seeking to exert influence, it should be beforehand, there will be no restriction on Members’ subject to proper transparency and accountability.Nobody attendance? is being gagged, but the transparency must be there. We must see how third parties influence the political system. Mr Lansley: The Order Paper does not convey the I did not draw up a complete list of all the points that information because the Intelligence and Security the shadow Leader of the House raised—[Interruption.] Committee, although under statute a Select Committee The Deputy Leader of the House is quite right—I am of Parliament as designated in the Act that we passed not sure whether I should respond to jokes rather than during the last Session, is not analogous with other to questions. In that context, the only other question Select Committees of the House. There are ways in was about zero-hours contracts— which it differs from them.

Ms Eagle: What about the special advisers? Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): It is not a Select Committee! Mr Lansley: Oh, yes—the special advisers. I think it is the same answer as last week. The coalition gives rise to Mr Lansley: The statute says that it is a Select Committee particular requirements, and it is perfectly understandable of Parliament, but it is not analogous with parliamentary that when two parties are in coalition there is a need for Select Committees. I understand that, Mr Speaker, and sources of independent advice for the Deputy Prime you understand it, but the hon. Member for Rhondda Minister. That is understandable and it will continue to (Chris Bryant) does not understand it. be the case. I must confess that I am not aware of the arrangements relating to the attendance of Members of Parliament at Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con): I am sure that the meetings of the Intelligence and Security Committee. Leader of the House will have noticed the magnificent They are a matter for the House authorities, and no display in Parliament square of the flags of the British doubt you, Mr Speaker, will advise the House further if overseas territories and, indeed, of the Crown dependencies. necessary. Will he invite the to make a statement on an unusually helpful comment in and answer by the Sir Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (LD): Has my EU Commissioner, Michel Barnier, about the tax and right hon. Friend noted the reports of the Justice, financial status of Gibraltar, in which he confirmed that Home Affairs and European Scrutiny Committees on there were the European justice and home affairs opt-ins? Is he “no ‘well founded’ complaints alleging Gibraltar’s failure to aware that all three reports call for a debate to be held cooperate on tax, financial and money-laundering matters”? so that the Government’s hand can be strengthened in negotiations by the House having expressed its views? Does my right hon. Friend agree that that completely debunks the propaganda put out by the Government of Spain? Mr Lansley: Let me take this opportunity to congratulate my right hon. Friend personally on his 40 years in the House. Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend makes a good point, and I have indeed seen those flags displayed; it is good I have indeed seen those reports, and, as my right to see them. I completely agree with my hon. Friend hon. Friend will know, my right hon. Friend the Home about the character of the complaints made about Secretary has made clear our intention to enable the Gibraltar by the Spanish Government, and the House to consider what the Government have proposed Commissioner rightly made an important point about in relation to the opt-out and the measures in respect of that. Earlier this week, my right hon. Friend the Minister which we think that it may be appropriate to opt back for Europe made a written statement about Gibraltar in, and to express its view. in general. In the context of working with overseas territories, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab): The allegation written ministerial statement—a welcome one—about in The Times that the Secretary of State for Work and our taxation arrangements with the Cayman Islands. Pensions has been smearing a civil servant is a serious That is demonstration of how we are working more one. May we have a statement tomorrow—or a resignation? positively than ever before with the British overseas territories to secure an exchange of information in Mr Lansley: I have just told the House that the respect of, and action on, tax evasion and avoidance. allegations are not true.

Mr David Winnick (Walsall North) (Lab): Later today Mr Robert Syms (Poole) (Con): May we have a debate the Intelligence and Security Committee will hold its about morality in the tax system, with particular reference first public session, at which the heads of the various to section 58 of the Finance Act 2008? Her Majesty’s security agencies will speak. I welcome that, because, Revenue and Customs is trying to collect tax retrospectively 421 Business of the House7 NOVEMBER 2013 Business of the House 422 from some 2,200 people, including constituents of mine. emptying a skip? It will lead to an increase to customers Some of them will have to sell their homes. We really of £175 for hiring a skip, and it will force 1,500 small need to debate this issue and reconsider it. businesses into bankruptcy, including Mr and Mrs Tapping of Reliable Skips in my constituency. If construction Mr Lansley: If I may, I will ask Ministers in the and small businesses are to be the drivers of growth, Treasury to respond directly to my hon. Friend, although how can the skip tax be right? he will know that the subject was discussed during consideration of the Finance Act. We are careful to Mr Lansley: If I may, I will not comment in detail on ensure that the instances in which legislation has a that, but I will ask my hon. Friends at the Treasury to retrospective effect are minimised, and that when it does respond to the point that the hon. Lady makes. occur, it is subject to specific advice from the Law Officers about its appropriateness. Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con): As a Conservative member of the Public Accounts Committee, Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab): It is truly shocking if may I begin by making it clear to Opposition Members there is any truth in the allegation in today’s edition of that no pressure was exerted on any Members in respect The Times that the Secretary of State for Work and of universal credit? Pensions, or others associated with him or working for May we have a debate on technical and vocational him, tried to influence the report of an independent education in Peterborough? The number of NEETs—those Committee of the House. It is also of concern that, not in education, employment or training—is falling, when one of the Committee members was asked to the number of apprenticeships is rising and youth deny that he had been approached, he refused to comment. unemployment is dropping, but we need to drive up It really would be right and proper for the Secretary of skills. Serendipitously, this week a very strong bid for a State to come here and explain himself, so that we can university technical college in Peterborough comes before ask him questions on behalf of the House. Ministers. Will the Leader of the House nudge them in the right direction? Mr Lansley: Opposition Members seem to have arrived in the Chamber expecting to be able to make points without listening to the answers that I have given previously. Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, including I have had a conversation with the Secretary of State for for his confirmation of the point I have repeatedly made Work and Pensions, and there is no truth in the allegations. now at these questions to Labour Members, who do not appear to be able to understand when they are being told a simple fact. Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): May we have an early debate on local government finance? That would I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s reference to a enable Members to reflect on the fact that, given that UTC. We have a UTC being developed in relation to both sides of the House now accept the public spending skills to support the life sciences industry in Cambridge. limits until 2016-17, even if there is a change of Government The possibility of a UTC in Peterborough is an interesting at the next general election, there will be no more and important opportunity. The UTCs will help us money for local government and, difficult though it ensure that young people have the training to support may be, all local authorities are going to have to live economic growth in the future. In terms of the applications, within the funds allocated to them? I expect my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education to announce the successful projects in January. Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend makes a good point. When we came into government there was no money, as Lisa Nandy (Wigan) (Lab): On Tuesday, regulations a message from the then departing Chief Secretary will take effect that allow the outsourcing of provision stated. We are trying to escape from the mess we inherited for children in care to private companies, despite a from the Labour party. In part, that depends on every striking lack of evidence that it is good for children. bit of the public sector doing its bit. Local government The regulations also allow for a clear conflict of interest has undeniably had to contribute substantially to the to arise, because the same private company will be reduction in the deficit. It continues to do so, and does allowed to place a child into care and run that placement. so very well as local authorities are achieving more for This is, frankly, a disaster waiting to happen. Does the less and are delivering public satisfaction with many Leader of the House agree that the fact that there has local government services, notwithstanding the substantial been virtually no scrutiny of this measure—the Government reductions. The Government are giving support to enable tried to push it through under a legislative reform order councils to address some areas of greatest need, such as before they were stopped—is an extraordinary breach supporting them in freezing their council tax. That is of our responsibility as corporate parents to these children? relieving the pressure on hard-working families. We are Given that he is so fond of pausing legislation, will he also supporting local government directly through the pause these regulations so we can have an urgent debate work that the NHS is going to do on joint funding for in this House about this very important matter? social care; £3.8 billion in additional support was announced in the latest spending round. Full details on the local Mr Lansley: I am not sure that I heard a request for a government finance settlement will be published in due debate as such, but I will ask the relevant Minister at the course, but we have made encouraging progress. Department for Education to respond to those issues. As the hon. Lady says, the state’s responsibility as a Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden) (Lab): corporate parent to children has often not been discharged May we have a debate on the imminent reintroduction as well as it ought to have been. Clearly it is important of the skip tax by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, that we improve the quality of the placements that we which will lead to a 2,700% increase in the cost of achieve for looked-after children. The Children and 423 Business of the House7 NOVEMBER 2013 Business of the House 424

[Mr Lansley] young girl would face up to 14 years in prison, which would be a ridiculous unintended consequence of the Families Bill made good progress through this House, legislation? Will he ensure that the Bill at least involves when it was the subject of extensive scrutiny, and it provision on intent, or that it is changed in other ways, continues to be the subject of scrutiny in the other to ensure that the mother of that young girl, who is place, with more than six days in Committee, so that going through enough trauma at the moment, does not gives real opportunities for the matter to be considered. face a ridiculously long prison sentence?

Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con): Next week marks national Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend is right to refer to the export week. Many businesses in Erewash are successfully great distress and shock that people have felt as a result exporting their products and services around the globe, of those events. Many people have called for the provisions so may I ask my right hon. Friend to make time in the Bill relating to harm caused by dangerous dogs available in the House over the next few weeks in which on private premises for a long time. They have been we can support this important area of UK business? debated in this House, but the Bill continues to be considered, so I know that Members of both Houses Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that will consider the points he makes and the application of point. I think that everyone in the House will recognise the Bill in any individual circumstances. that we have made good progress on support. Indeed, when I was talking to a company in my constituency Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) (Lab): Serious just last week, it described the excellent support it has accusations were made in this morning’s edition of The received from UK Trade & Investment in China. We Times that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions have had great success in increasing our exports to tried not only to nobble a Select Committee, but to China, India and Brazil—some of the emerging economies smear a civil servant. The Leader of the House has just —but we all recognise that we need to do more. We have told the House that he has spoken to the Secretary of some great businesses, but if we were to secure an State, so will he tell us what the Secretary of State said increase in the proportion of businesses, especially small in response to the accusations? Would not the best way businesses, that export to some of our competitors, of clearing things up be for the Secretary of State to such as Germany, it would do an enormous amount to come to the House and make a statement? boost our long-term recovery. Mr Lansley: I have told the House that there is no Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): I truth in those allegations, and I am grateful to my hon. do not know whether the Leader of the House was able Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr Jackson), a to listen to today’s “Thought for the Day” by Rev. Lucy member of the Public Accounts Committee, who entirely Winkett, who spoke movingly about this week’s events endorsed the point that I made. in the campaign for a living wage. The fact is that a living wage is very important, especially to people living Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) in my constituency and in London. Those working in (Con): Although I welcome the Government’s plans to this House need a decent level of wage in order to have build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C, a reasonable life. May we have an early debate on the Babcock, which is responsible for refitting and refurbishing work of the House of Commons Commission so that our nuclear submarines at Devonport dockyard in my we can sort out that this place should be a beacon for constituency, faces a challenge in retaining skilled nuclear good employment? engineers. May we have a statement, or perhaps a debate, on how we might avoid such skill shortages? Mr Lansley: The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the view expressed by the Prime Minister at this Dispatch Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that Box, and by the Mayor of London and others, about question. When I was a member of the Select Committee the desirability of supporting a living wage. So far as I on Trade and Industry some 10 years ago, we were am aware—I did discuss this with the Clerk of the concerned about the loss of skills and expertise in this House—the staff employed in this House are all in country because of the failure to proceed with any new receipt of at least the London living wage. nuclear build. I am afraid that remedying the situation has taken until now, following the coalition Government’s Mr Sheerman: No, they are not. steps. My hon. Friend rightly makes a wider point about the availability of skills. The sector skills organisations Mr Speaker: Order. People who work in the House of and, in some locations, the local enterprise partnerships Commons are indeed paid the living wage. The right will be able to work with industry to focus on enabling hon. Gentleman, the Leader of the House, is factually— Government support to go directly to meet those needs. [Interruption.] Order. The Leader of the House is correct in what he said. That is the beginning and the Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): Even those who are end of it. not particular fans of football might have seen the horrific pictures last Sunday of the Spurs goalkeeper, Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): I am sure that the Hugo Lloris, being concussed on the pitch, but being whole House was shocked by the death of the young forced to go back on and play. May we have an urgent girl who was attacked by her dog earlier this week—our debate as soon as possible on the dangers of concussion thoughts must be with her family. Will the Leader of the in sport so that we can provide a lead? A conference in House arrange for an urgent review of the Anti-social Twickenham this afternoon is considering the subject in Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill, because if its provisions the context of rugby and The Mail on Sunday is running on dangerous dogs go through, the mother of that a big campaign. There is clear evidence that when 425 Business of the House7 NOVEMBER 2013 Business of the House 426 people are forced to play again after being concussed, Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend makes an interesting they can all too easily end up suffering from premature point that I suspect my right hon. Friend the Secretary dementia. of State for Transport will be familiar with and sympathetic to, given his constituency interest. I will draw the further Mr Lansley: I confess that I did not see that, but the point relating to transport to his attention, and he hon. Gentleman makes an important point very clearly. might like to respond to my hon. Friend. I am not sure whether I can promise Government time for a debate, but if he is in conversation with colleagues Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): across the House who, quite rightly, share his concern, May we have a statement about what is happening with they could seek an Adjournment debate or Back-Bench the Chilcot inquiry? It seems like an age since it was time, perhaps in Westminster Hall, to allow those important established and took its evidence, and we learn today issues to be raised. that there has been a further blockage in obtaining correspondence between Tony Blair and George Bush Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): My late and courageous from the Cabinet Secretary. Surely the Chilcot inquiry constituent, Private John Brackpool of the Welsh Guards, should get everything that it requires so that we can get was killed while on active duty in Afghanistan in July to the bottom of why we went into that disastrous 2009. I understand that the Australian military offers illegal war? visits to the place where loved ones fell in Afghanistan, Mr Lansley: I regret that I am not in a position to and I would be grateful for a statement from the Defence comment about that. I have read about this in the Secretary on whether the Ministry of Defence could newspapers, but that is literally all I know about whether offer a similar scheme for British families. information is being sought by the Chilcot inquiry. I will talk to my colleagues and see whether we can Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that update the House on the timetable although, as the question. The Ministry of Defence is committed to hon. Gentleman will appreciate, it is not in the hands of giving the families of service personnel all the support it the Government as such. can, especially when they tragically lose a loved one on operations. The most recent loss of a soldier from Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome) (LD): May 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment provides us with a we have a debate on geography? As I sat through painful reminder of the sacrifices our armed services Transport questions, I heard about wonderful investments personnel make. The Ministry of Defence is sensitive to in the north, the midlands and across the country, but I requests from families who wish to visit the place where did not hear one word about anything west of Swindon their sons and daughters have died while on operation or south of Bristol. There is a real fear that the Department in Afghanistan. However, its overriding responsibility is for Transport does not know where the west country is. one of safety, both for those visiting and for our service If the Secretary of State wants to assure me that he personnel. Afghanistan, as the House will know, remains does, he can announce improvements on the A303, the a dangerous environment, and the Ministry of Defence electrification of the Great Western line and the re-opening has a responsibility to ensure that those who are escorted of Langport and Somerton stations, and then I will be are not exposed to unnecessary risk, and that doing that satisfied. does not expose service personnel to additional risk. Mr Lansley: I did hear the Secretary of State respond Ian Murray (Edinburgh South) (Lab): The House’s to a question about Bristol, but not beyond Bristol. I Select Committee system has proven itself time and am entirely familiar with the geography of the south-west, again to be a cornerstone of our democracy. Given having lived in Exeter for four years. My right hon. today’s serious allegations in The Times that some of Friend the Secretary of State referred to the rail investment its impartiality and independence might have been programme, which is not just HS2—as he said, HS2 compromised, why will not the Leader of the House represents just a quarter of the investment during the allow the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to next Parliament. Many projects in the programme were come to the House and tell Members and the public never proceeded with under the previous Government, what he has told the Leader of the House, and to but will have a positive impact on many parts of the reassure us that that independence will be defended at country. If there is anything in particular that my all costs? colleagues can say to my hon. Friend the Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr Heath) about this matter, I Mr Lansley: I have informed the House of the situation, will ask them to do so. so the premise of the hon. Gentleman’s question is not Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab): It has always struck justified. I have no reason to believe that the independence me that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is of the Public Accounts Committee has been compromised an honourable man so, notwithstanding the assurances in any way. given by the Leader of the House, I would have thought that he would want to come to the House and deal with Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con): I was unable these matters directly. to be in the Chamber for Transport questions this morning but, if I had been, I would have asked for a Mr Lansley: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of debate about extending the cycle routes that the Secretary State for Work and Pensions is indeed an honourable of State has announced through the national parks and man and a man of integrity. I am happy to confirm to joining them up so that more people can use them, the House that the allegations are not true and there is especially if the routes go through a world heritage site. no reason for him to come to make a statement. We That would bring tourism into my constituency and make statements to the House to update it on something enable cyclists to commute into Derby on safe routes. that has happened, not something that has not happened. 427 Business of the House7 NOVEMBER 2013 Business of the House 428

Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Ind): On 25 October Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con): Has the Leader of the I received a parliamentary answer informing me that, House seen today’s report from WRAP—the Waste and out of 2,533 railway stations, only 452 had disabled Resources Action Programme—showing that although access to all platforms. That is clearly inadequate in the domestic food waste has been cut by 21% since 2007, 21st century, so would it be possible for a Minister to the average household still throws away the equivalent make a statement on when that inadequacy will be of six meals every week? May we have a debate to rectified, placing particular emphasis on rural areas? consider how such waste might be further reduced, and to look in particular at how the effective use of packaging Mr Lansley: There are stations in my constituency could affect that? where it is difficult for people with disabilities to access all platforms to change trains, so my hon. Friend makes Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend is right to draw attention a good point. I will ask my colleagues at the Department to the issue, and the report from WRAP is extremely for Transport to write to him as he has just missed the helpful. Clearly progress has been made, but a lot more opportunity to raise that point during Question Time. progress is possible. I am glad that Tesco, for example, recently illustrated rather powerfully the extent of food Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab): I waste. The more we can reduce food waste, the more we can remember at least two occasions since I have been can improve our situation in so many respects, including in the House when improper conduct—within and by reducing the amount of unnecessary packaging, by externally—in relation to Select Committees has been making sure that we can balance more effectively the the subject of inquiries called for by the Leader of the growing and supply of food with demand for food and, House’s party. Why is he being inconsistent now? Can hopefully, by also reducing the cost of food. he not simply accept that it undermines the credibility of Select Committees for him to act as a shield for the Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): As chair of Secretary of State for Work and Pensions? the all-party kidney group, I recently heard distressing evidence from kidney dialysis patients of their difficulties Mr Lansley: I am sorry, but Opposition Members are in living a full family life because of their inability both persisting with a complete misapprehension. There is to find and to fund DAFB—dialysis away from base? no basis for their questions; there is no need for any May we have a debate on a statutory requirement to further statement. I have made it clear that the independence make available vacancies in dialysis units so that dialysis and credibility of the Public Accounts Committee is not patients can go on holiday, attend weddings or visit compromised. their grandchildren, with the funding going with them to finance their treatment? Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): Given that, during the course of the Electoral Commission’s research into the excellent private Member’s Bill promoted by Mr Lansley: The hon. Lady might wish to seek an my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton South (James Adjournment debate or, perhaps with colleagues, time Wharton), which provides for holding a referendum on from the Backbench Business Committee to discuss the UK’s membership of the European Union, the that important issue. I imagine that kidney patients commission discovered that some people apparently do would find that very valuable. I recall that, when I was not even know that we are members of the EU, may we Secretary of State for Health, I was aware of the relative please have a debate on the effectiveness of our education lack of access to dialysis here compared with in other system? countries. The previous Government made some progress on that and we have added to that progress since. I recall Mr Lansley: There are two things that I would say to visiting dialysis units, such as in Brighton, that expressly my hon. Friend, who makes a good point. First, the set out to provide sufficient capacity for those working national curriculum review has revised programmes of away from home and those on holiday. study to ensure that teaching is directed towards a core knowledge of citizenship, including how our society is Chris White (Warwick and Leamington) (Con): Last governed. That, we hope, will help young people in the year Warwick’s High street and Jury street were closed future. Secondly, and perhaps more immediately and for 17 weeks for roadworks, causing significant disruption practically, the passage of legislation that ensures that for local businesses and residents alike. Warwickshire the people of this country have a referendum on our county council now proposes closing the roads again in membership of the European Union will educate everybody January, partly as a consequence of the failure of the about the character of our membership of the European previous roadworks. May we have a debate on how we Union—and, I might say, about its benefits. can build better communications between local authorities and businesses so that local infrastructure projects are Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East undertaken in a way that is sensitive to the needs of the Cleveland) (Lab): Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of local economy? the Work and Pensions Secretary’s departure as leader of the Tory party. To commemorate that, may we have Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend does good work to raise an urgent statement by him about the allegations repeated his constituents’ concerns. Obviously that is not a matter in The Times of pressure being applied to a parliamentary for the Government directly, but I understand that the Committee of this House, and about whether this again works proposed for January are to install a pedestrian is a resigning matter for the Secretary of State? crossing on Warwick’s High street, although no decision will be made by the council until 22 November, when Mr Lansley: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I the portfolio holder concerned is expected to make a gave some moments ago—and the one before that, the final decision on whether the works will proceed. That one before that, and the one before that. is a matter for the local highways authority, Warwickshire 429 Business of the House7 NOVEMBER 2013 Business of the House 430 county council. I know that my hon. Friend will have area. Given the withdrawal of troops next year, may we raised it with the council and will continue to do so, but have a debate on that important issue so that we can raising it here today might help its considerations. lend our support as this becomes even more urgent as the 2014 date draws nearer? Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab): The Government have been celebrating a huge increase in Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend and join sanctions against jobseeker’s allowance claimants. In him in welcoming the Amnesty International event to order to have a fuller picture and to be confident that which he refers. As it happens, my right hon. and noble there are indeed grounds for celebration, may we have a Friend Baroness Warsi, the Senior Minister of State, debate on the reasons for those sanctions, the number Foreign and Commonwealth Office, was in Afghanistan of appeals pending and the outcomes of the appeals yesterday, when she raised with Deputy Foreign Minister heard so far? Ahmadi and others the need to uphold the historic gains in women’s rights since 2001. We work in partnership Mr Lansley: The hon. Gentleman might wish to raise with the Afghan Government and others to further those issues during Work and Pensions questions on progress the rights of all Afghan citizens, including the Monday 18 November. I do not think that it is a matter equal rights of women and girls. As for a debate, it of celebrating sanctions. I think it is important for us all would clearly be helpful at some point, but it might be that we focus the state’s resources on supporting those premature in advance of the presidential and provincial in need, whether that arises from disability or relative elections in Afghanistan scheduled for April next year. vulnerability, and those genuinely seeking work. It is therefore important that those who should be seeking Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): Yesterday, the Court of work are genuinely doing so. Appeal found against the Department for Work and Pensions on the very important issue of the independent Tessa Munt (Wells) (LD): May we have a debate on living fund. Today, serious allegations have been made how a co-director of a company can possibly meet the about the Department’s conduct. Is it not correct and requirements for an application for financial support proper that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and assistance, including legal aid, when the company’s should come to this House to be held publicly accountable accounts are being withheld by her spouse, from whom to all Members on these issues and not have private she is separated? conversations with the Leader of the House that are supposed to satisfy my constituents? Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her question. I will not delve into it too far, because it seems Mr Lansley: On the hon. Gentleman’s latter point, quite an interesting and difficult point. It is a statutory the purpose of the conversation was so that I could give requirement that a company’s accounts are made available the House the assurance that I clearly have given to it. through Companies House. If I may, I will refer her On his first point, we were pleased that the Court of question to my right hon. and hon. Friends at the Appeal upheld the way in which we undertook our Ministry of Justice, because it relates to legal aid, to see consultation on the future of the independent living whether they can provide her with a further helpful fund and accepted that it had been carried out properly answer. and fairly. By contrast, we are disappointed with some aspects of the decision. We will examine the judgment Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab/Co-op): very carefully, consider its implications, and, in due May we have a debate on the international festival for course, take and announce decisions on how we intend business, which Liverpool is hosting next year on behalf to proceed. of the whole UK? A debate would enable us to hear about the excellent work taking place in Liverpool, Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): We are approaching carried out by Liverpool Vision on behalf of Liverpool the first anniversary of the elections of police and crime city council, and consider how the whole UK could commissioners. In the Humberside police area, we are benefit from the business opportunities on offer. fortunate to have Matthew Grove as our commissioner. He is doing an excellent job in contact with local Mr Lansley: I cannot promise a debate immediately, communities in improving policing in their areas. May but I think that the House would welcome such an we have a debate in Government time to mark this opportunity, which interested Members might seek through important anniversary of an excellent coalition policy? the Backbench Business Committee. I completely agree that it would be good to have an opportunity to celebrate that, not least the new business formation and the Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I regeneration and renaissance of businesses in and around have had the pleasure of meeting Matthew Grove during the north-west, and in Liverpool in particular. I know the past year and hearing from him about the excellent from my visits to the city that it has shown admirable and innovative, almost exciting, ways in which he is— progress in regeneration and in new business creation, and I hope that that can be showcased for the whole Chris Bryant: Almost exciting? country from Liverpool to the rest of the world. Mr Lansley: I never get excited. However, they were Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con): Last night, Mr Speaker, certainly innovative and effective. He and others are you kindly hosted an event to highlight the campaign demonstrating that police reforms are working and for women’s rights in Afghanistan. I was pleased to crime is falling. The police and crime commissioners meet students there from Benton Park school in my have been a mechanism by which the public can see that constituency who have done considerable work in that their priorities are being reflected directly into the priorities 431 Business of the House7 NOVEMBER 2013 Business of the House 432

[Mr Lansley] Public Accounts Committee report makes important points about the historic problems, and that is precisely of policing in their area. That is welcome not only for why the Secretary of State and my colleagues have democratic purposes but from the operational point of sought to ensure the safe and sound delivery of the view. programme by proceeding at a different pace for the roll-out. They and we remain committed to the achievement Julie Hilling (Bolton West) (Lab): Yesterday at the of universal credit on time and on budget, because the all-party group on youth affairs, the YouthSelect Committee resources we provide should be directed towards supporting launched its report, “A Curriculum for Life”, which is those who are most in need, and in the context of the result of its inquiry into the role of the education ensuring that it always pays to be in work. system in supporting young people to develop life skills. Please may we have a debate on that excellent report? Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD): May we have a debate on the Government’s policy on light rail? Mr Lansley: I cannot promise a debate immediately, The excellent “Green light for light rail”report overturned but the hon. Lady makes an important point. I hope the anti-tram policy of the previous Government but, that if she is in her place on Monday at Education unfortunately, Leeds is still being told that we cannot questions she might have a further opportunity to highlight have a tram station and that we have to have a bus-based it to Education Ministers. I recollect that at last year’s scheme, which was a decision made by the previous meeting of the United Kingdom Youth Parliament in Government. May we have a debate on why Leeds this Chamber, its members resolved to pursue the issue cannot have a modern light rail scheme? of a curriculum for life, so they are on exactly the page to which she refers. When the Youth Parliament is here Mr Lansley: I will ask my colleagues at the Department next week, it will have an opportunity to reinforce the for Transport to respond to the particular points raised point, which I hope that we as a House will then have by the hon. Gentleman, but he and his colleagues in further opportunities to take up. Leeds may wish to secure an Adjournment debate on the issue. My constituency has a guided busway scheme Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con): May we have that uses an old rail route. It has become very successful an urgent debate on motorway congestion in West and is now exceeding its anticipated passenger numbers. Yorkshire? For two years, my constituents have suffered Although there were considerable difficulties involved from the implementation of the managed motorways in establishing it, it is possible to have an effective public scheme between Huddersfield and Leeds. Now the central transport route, through a guided busway system, on an barrier is being replaced, causing yet more congestion, old rail corridor. and they cannot even use the M1 north from Wakefield to Leeds because it is now having its own managed Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): motorway scheme implemented as well. This is a really On average, for every £100 a man earns, a woman earns important issue for my constituents every morning. only £85. Today is equal pay day, the day when women in effect stop being paid due to the 14.9% gender pay Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who gap. It is 43 years since the Equal Pay Act 1970, 100 years raised these important issues about the M62 earlier. since the suffragette movement and 125 years since the There is inevitably some disruption during these works. match women’s strike, so may we please have a debate He will know that the further work relating to barriers on ensuring that all women get equal pay for work of on the M62 was not able to be funded at the time when equal value? the managed motorways scheme was being introduced. That is a pity, but the work is now due to be completed Mr Lansley: I hope and believe that there are common in December. I can assure him that the Highways Agency values on this issue throughout the House. It is something will keep three lanes open to traffic during the day, we have legislated on and we seek to pursue it in the limiting necessary lane closures to overnight where possible. public sector. The evidence today suggests that we have I hope that the smart motorway works that have been made more progress than appears generally to be the undertaken will bring extra capacity and more reliable case in the private sector. The hon. Lady will recall that journeys for his commuters in future. equal pay day in the private sector was 27 August. We have to make progress on the issue. If an opportunity Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) (Lab/Co-op): arises for a debate, not least through the Backbench The Leader of the House has sought to assure the Business Committee, I for one would welcome it. House that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions did not seek to influence an independent Select Committee. Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): May we have Given the interest in and seriousness of the allegations, a full day’s debate in Government time on Britain’s I am sure that is something the Secretary of State will rapidly increasing population? Official statistics suggest want to explain to the House himself. Can this be that Britain’s population will increase from 63.7 million arranged and can we then have a debate on who at the today to 73.3 million in 2037 and that we will have to Department for Work and Pensions should take the absorb another city the size of Greater London, which blame for the shambles of universal credit, which is will put huge pressures on our public services, social affecting the lives of so many constituents, including cohesion, jobs and wages. mine, across the country? Mr Lansley: Those are interesting figures from the Mr Lansley: I do not think that I sought to assure the Office for National Statistics, although in the nature of House—I think that I have assured the House. I have a forecast, some aspects of which we can influence and made that clear. I reiterate my earlier point that the some we cannot. For example, over roughly the past 433 Business of the House7 NOVEMBER 2013 Business of the House 434 decade, this country’s birth rate has gone up by, I think, the opportunities that are available to their business about 16%. There is a limit to what we can do. The and, in so doing, make a big difference to the national increase in population is also a result of increased economy? longevity. The combination of those two things will inevitably mean an increase in our population and we Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend once again illustrates a have to respond to that. general point with the welcome progress that is being We must therefore ensure that we manage migration made in his constituency. As I said earlier, the resources into this country better than has been done in the past. and support that the Government are giving to UK That is why we set ourselves the objective of bringing Trade & Investment are making a difference. The way in net migration down from a quarter of a million a year which the Foreign Secretary has reoriented the priorities to the tens of thousands. We have made considerable of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our progress and have reduced net migration by a third. We diplomatic posts around the world is making a difference. need to continue with that because of the simple fact The support that the Government are giving to bilateral that an increase in the total population creates pressure chambers of commerce is making a difference too. The on resources. connections that that will provide to chambers of commerce and local enterprise partnerships in local areas will Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/Co-op): enable smaller businesses to network and to access May we have a statement on the plans for a trans-Pennine export promotion and support more effectively than in transport feasibility study, which the Chief Secretary to the past. the Treasury announced in June? That will directly affect the Longdendale area of my constituency, which Graham Jones (Hyndburn) (Lab): Why does the Secretary is heavily congested. I first wrote to the Department of State for Work and Pensions not want to come to for Transport at the end of June to follow up on that this place to defend himself against the serious allegations welcome announcement and have contacted the that have been made in The Times this morning? Department three times to seek a response. I appreciate that there have been ministerial changes, but I am eager Mr Lansley: I have reported the facts to the House. for news. If the Department needs any assistance in They do not give rise to the need for a statement formulating its response, I reiterate that I am happy to because the allegations are not true. work with it, as is my Conservative neighbour, the hon. Member for High Peak (Andrew Bingham), to deliver Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con): It was announced the feasibility study. Will the Leader of the House recently that the Department for Environment, Food kindly pass that message on? and Rural Affairs offices in York will be part-privatised. That is causing concern for a number of my constituents. Mr Lansley: I will, of course, do so. It is one of my May we have a debate on the outsourcing of jobs and, responsibilities to assist Members by ensuring that my more importantly, on the fear that some of those jobs colleagues respond to them on such issues. might be outsourced abroad?

Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): I thank the Leader Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend will be aware of the of the House for his fitting tribute to the brave soldier benefits of joint working and the sharing of services from 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment, the Staffords. between Departments. I do not think that any decision Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends has been made, other than that services will continue to and fellow Mercians. be provided out of York and Alnwick. Beyond that, I do not know what the situation is. I will ask colleagues May we have a debate on the responsibility of banks at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural for the way in which their financial products are sold by Affairs to write to him about where shared services agents? My constituent, Mr Locke, was sold a product might be delivered. by an agent for Barclays in such a way that, without his knowledge, he was unable to claim the protection of Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): Between section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 when the 1997 and 2010, 50,000 hospital beds were cut, including service was not delivered in the way that had been a number in my constituency. We were told those beds promised. were no longer needed, but in recent years, hospitals in and around my constituency have had to open emergency Mr Lansley: I will talk to my right hon. and hon. beds to deal with winter pressure, due to a failure of Friends at the Treasury about securing a response on intermediate care services. In my constituency at the that matter. The work of the Financial Conduct Authority moment, the local Labour party is fighting against will enable some of those issues to be pursued. The proposals for a new 30-bed intermediate care centre. Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill is being considered May we have a debate on the urgent need for proper in another place. When it returns to this House, I hope intermediate care services across the country? that the measures will be further strengthened to protect consumers in the way that my hon. Friend describes. Mr Lansley: I cannot promise a debate immediately, although I suspect the House will recall just how strongly Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): Members have felt in the past about the availability of A survey of businesses in my constituency found that intermediate care services, often in the context of locally exporters are seeing solid growth and that they expect accessible community hospitals. The devolution of that growth to continue. Given that next week is export responsibilities to clinical commissioning groups with week, please may we have a debate about the support active GP involvement gives an opportunity for that to that is provided to new exporters so that they can grab be reconsidered, in particular by GPs who recognise the 435 Business of the House 7 NOVEMBER 2013 436

[Mr Lansley] Points of Order needs of their patients for treatment locally, accessible 11.43 am admissions and step-down care after admission to acute Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): On a point of order, services. We might see a reduction in the number of Mr Speaker. You will know that since a resolution of beds in the most acute context, but care of the kind my the House in 1688, it has been clear that Committees of hon. Friend refers to must also be available. I know that the House should proceed without let or hindrance. clinical commissioning groups will focus on that point. Page 838 of “Erskine May” states: “Any disclosure of written evidence or a Committee’s internal Nadine Dorries (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con): Will the working papers, which has not been authorised by the Committee, Leader of the House use his good offices to apply may be treated as a contempt. In particular, disclosure of a draft pressure on an issue that has come to my attention over report which has been submitted to a Committee before such a report has been agreed to by the Committee and presented to the the past 24 hours? A book for sale on Amazon, “To House may be treated as a contempt.” Train up a Child” by Michael and Debi Pearl advocates The allegations that the Leader of the House has the beating of children under the age of 12 months, tried to brush off today about what the Secretary of using a switch. The book recommends that a switch be State is said to have done go considerably further than cut from a willow tree, and be no longer than 12 inches he suggests. We do not know whether the Leader of the in length and 8 cm in diameter. It advocates the use of House has asked the Secretary of State all the relevant paddles, rulers and other means to beat children from questions. We want to ask questions in the Chamber. four months onwards. I have written to the Secretaries My point of order to you, Mr Speaker, is this: can you of State for Culture, Media and Sport and for Education, make it absolutely clear to the Leader of the House that and to the Prime Minister’s Office and Amazon. Given it is perfectly possible to have a statement tomorrow, or that this issue has come to light only in the past 24 hours, for that matter an urgent question, and that the House will the Leader of the House advise how we can bring would regard it as a courtesy to hear directly from the this issue to Parliament and apply pressure on Amazon Secretary of State, and not just second hand from the to remove this book from sale? Leader of the House? Mr Speaker: The hon. Lady is seeking a statement. Mr Speaker: It is, of course, perfectly possible for That is what she wants. there to be either an urgent question or a statement tomorrow, but I feel sure that those are facts of which Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend has raised an important the Leader of the House was already well aware. I am point, and Members of the House will be rather shocked merely courteously repeating them in order properly to by what she has described. She has raised her point in respond to the hon. Gentleman’s point of order. the House, and I will certainly talk to colleagues in the Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): Departments for Culture, Media and Sport and for On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Education. I hope there will be a proper response from said on Monday, about the latest TPIM terror suspect those responsible for Amazon’s publicity and marketing to abscond: of this book, but if that does not happen, my hon. “I do not have his passport, but the police do.”—[Official Friends from the Department for Education will be in Report, 4 November 2013; Vol. 570, c. 27.] the Chamber on Monday. That might be a further However, the Home Secretary has since asked that opportunity if those responsible for this issue have not Hansard be corrected to say: taken action. “I do not have his passport, Mohamed was not in possession of his British passport when he returned to the UK so there was Mr Speaker: I have a feeling the hon. Lady will be in no passport for the police to seize.”—[Official Report, 6 November her place on Monday. I hope that is helpful for today. 2013; Vol. 570, c. 1MC.] Can you tell me whether it is in order for a Secretary of State to try to amend Hansard because of her own error, or should she come back to Parliament and correct the record herself? Can Hansard even be changed in this way, especially as it has been printed and the facts have now changed? Mr Speaker: I am very grateful to the hon. Lady for her point of order, of which I did not have advance notice. Therefore my immediate reply is that I will look into the matter that she has very properly raised. The issue of the Intelligence and Security Committee was raised earlier and for the purpose of clarification I wish to remind the House that the Committee may sound like a Select Committee and, at its hearing today, it may look like a Select Committee, but in fact it is not a Select Committee. We will leave it there for now. 437 7 NOVEMBER 2013 438 Personal Statement Backbench Business 11.46 am Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) Tobacco Packaging (LD): A report has been published today by the Standards Committee following an investigation by the Parliamentary Mr Speaker: Under the order of the House of 29 October, Commissioner for Standards into complaints made about this debate must conclude at 3pm. I should point out me. I am grateful to the commissioner for her thorough, that we need to put a time limit of 10 minutes on courteous and professional work and her report, and to Backbench speeches in view of the level of interest and the Chair of the Committee, its members and Clerk for the constraints of time. The limit does not of course dealing with this matter in a very fair and efficient way. I apply to the person introducing the debate, but I know accept entirely their conclusions. that he will wish to tailor his remarks to take account of the number of his colleague who wish to participate. From the beginning I believed that I had not breached the lobbying rules and I am grateful and relieved that the commissioner and the Committee have rejected 11.49 am those complaints. The Committee has found that there Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): I beg to move, was no attempt to conceal any donations, which were That this House has considered standardised packaging of all reported to the Electoral Commission and in the tobacco products. public domain, but that I failed to register in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests some donations to my I welcome our first opportunity to debate this matter local party; that I failed to make declarations in debate, in the Chamber since the Government made their decision and in connection with one meeting, in relation to two in the summer, and I thank the Backbench Business of those donations; and that I registered two donations Committee for allowing it to take place. late. I have, of course, admitted my mistakes and apologised The Department of Health held an extended consultation from the outset to the commissioner and to the Committee. on standardised packaging of tobacco products, but Although the commissioner found that none of these it was greatly disappointing to people across the breaches of the rules was intentional, I accept entirely House that the Government decided not to proceed the findings of the commissioner and the Committee with standardisation. In September we had a very full that I was not as attentive to these matters or as careful Westminster Hall when we debated this subject. It was as I should have been, and therefore in those ways failed the first day back after our summer recess, so I suspected properly to observe the code of conduct, and that I did that we would not get a full audience, but in the end not sufficiently seek advice from the registrar. I will 21 Members spoke, meaning that a strict time limit had immediately register the outstanding interests as the to be imposed on speeches. It was a wide-ranging debate Committee recommends. I take full responsibility for that allowed everyone to put their point of view, and I these failures and I apologise unreservedly to the House. hope that we can do the same thing in this Chamber this afternoon. Mr Speaker: I am extremely grateful to the right hon. Since that Westminster Hall debate, we have had a Gentleman. new Minister, the Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Jane Ellison), whom I welcome to her place. She has an opportunity to set out the Government’s position on standardised packaging of tobacco products, and I hope that she will indicate some movement in favour of standardisation. When this matter was raised in Health questions recently, it was debated at length, with many Members wishing to get in. By way of context, there is also an upcoming House of Lords debate on the Children and Families Bill, which I hope will result in the Bill being amended to outlaw the smoking of tobacco products by people travelling in cars with young children. Obviously, we do not wish to divide the House today, but I say to the Government that unless we get some movement before Christmas, we will seek another debate, with a Division, so that the will of the House can be expressed.

Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con): How does my hon. Friend think that the banning of smoking by people travelling in cars with children would be enforced?

Bob Blackman: I do not wish to be diverted from our subject, which is the standardisation of tobacco packaging. I will leave it to the other place to determine that matter, but no doubt if it has the wisdom to implement that rule, it will come back here for further debate. 439 7 NOVEMBER 2013 440

Alok Sharma (Reading West) (Con): I share my hon. a misnomer? We should be calling it “stark-staring Friend’s concerns about smoking, and I agree that we truth packaging”. What it means is that we are handing should do everything possible to get people to stop someone a packet with a picture of gangrene. It is smoking and to stop young people in particular taking actually a crystal ball, and it counteracts the very powerful it up, but does he agree that policy has to be evidence-based, subliminal messages and the last legal form of tobacco that we should wait and see what emerges elsewhere marketing in this country. across the globe and that, in view of that, we should continue to educate people, particularly young people, Bob Blackman: The fact is that smoking is a lethal not to take it up in the first place? addiction. We know that. It is the one product in service in the world where, if used in the way it is intended, will Bob Blackman: I will come to that point—particularly lead directly to poor health and possibly death. Across in respect of young people—later. England, 80,000 people a year die from smoking-related I am personally committed to stopping people smoking diseases. There are more premature deaths from smoking in the first place and to helping them give up. Both my than from obesity, alcohol, illegal drug use and AIDS parents died of cancer. My mother died at 47 of lung put together. It is the biggest single killer. In the long and throat cancer, and I still remember what she went run, if we can get a fall of just one percentage point in through. It was the direct result of a long-standing smoking prevalence rates, we could save 1,800 lives per tobacco habit. year. Who would not wish to save 1,800 lives per year? There cannot be an effective public health policy unless Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): It would also be great tobacco control is at its heart. to cut the amount of each cigarette smoked. Would the hon. Gentleman like to take up the suggestion of not Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): Every one of just changing the packaging of the box, but printing us in the House will remember how, in our youth, something on the cigarette itself to encourage people to cigarettes were marketed as fashionable, trendy and stop smoking before they get to the end? stylish. With 200,000 children starting smoking every year in Britain, and 11,000 in Wales, is it not right that Bob Blackman: That sounds like a good idea. We are we send a very clear message that smoking is not trendy not talking about that today, but it could be included in or stylish; it is a killer? the evidence. We have an opportunity to debate these issues. As my Bob Blackman: The hon. Lady comes on to a particular hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Alok Sharma) issue. The vast majority of smokers begin smoking in said, we must take an evidence-based approach. The childhood. Two thirds of current smokers began under widespread consultation that the Department of Health the age of 18 and we know that 200,000 young people conducted over the summer found a welter of evidence under the age of 15 begin to smoke every year. When supporting the standardisation of packaging and its you add in the people that begin to smoke between 15 impact on the numbers of people taking up or giving and 18, it becomes 300,000 smokers per year. Once up smoking. I am secretary of the all-party group on someone is hooked, it is very difficult to give up. Most smoking and health and I regard tobacco control as a people say that after the direct sale of cigarettes to very high priority for any Government, and an issue minors was made unlawful, many young people still that cuts across party lines and creates different views. I continued to start smoking. Cancer Research stated in welcome the fact that members of the APPG from all 2011 that more than 200,000 young people under the parties are here to debate the issue. age of 16 had started to smoke. We must make sure that we reduce that number quite drastically. Lorely Burt (Solihull) (LD): I entirely agree that any standardised packaging to which we agree should be Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con): evidence-based. We have looked at the results from My hon. Friend talks about the accessibility of cigarettes Australia after nine months. The anecdotal evidence so for people who take up smoking. Gillingham has the far suggests that although people have switched to largest amount of illegal cigarettes smoked in the country, cheaper brands, the volume of cigarettes being sold has which has an effect on health, the economy and crime. not altered. What does the hon. Gentleman make of Does he agree that more needs to be done nationally to that? ensure that we stop these illegal cigarettes coming in to our country? Bob Blackman: The issue for us is that we want to remove the last aspects of advertising that are available Bob Blackman: I agree completely. That demonstrates to the tobacco industry. At the moment, there is still an the failure of the tobacco industry to stop the illicit attractive promotional aspect of tobacco, which is the trade, even under the current advertising arrangements packaging. We want all tobacco packs to be uniform, for packaging. including the colour of the pack, and to allow the promotion of strong anti-smoking and pro-health messages. Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP): The hon. Gentleman Evidence is emerging from Australia, but other parts of will know that more than 1,000 people in my constituency the globe are going ahead with standardisation of are directly employed by the tobacco industry, which packaging, including Ireland. creates huge employment opportunities for my constituents. Why will he not just be honest and say that we should Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) (Con): My hon. Friend ban smoking altogether and make it illegal? That is the is making a powerful point. Does he agree that use of direction of travel he is taking. We are hearing all this the term “standard packaging” or “plain packaging” is nonsense about different colours, subliminal messages 441 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 442 and messages written on cigarettes; let us cut the nonsense. Bob Blackman: No, I do not. It is quite right that we Why will he not be honest with the House and say that should take action to prevent manufacturers from making he wants to ban smoking altogether? their products more attractive to children and young people. Bob Blackman: I am not one of those who wants to We are left with one large loophole, through which ban particular substances. If someone wants to put a the tobacco industry is still furiously blowing smoke. cigarette in their mouth, set light to it and attempt to The packs themselves can be used to market and advertise, kill themselves, that is their choice. They have the freedom to create brand identities, and to help to present an to do so. All I say is, “Don’t breathe that smoke over me, image of smoking that might indeed seem “cool” to an don’t breathe it over children, don’t inflict it on others.” insecure teenager. Alok Sharma rose— Jake Berry: My hon. Friend is generous in giving way Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con) rose— and is making an excellent opening speech. On the covering up of cigarettes in large and small retailers— Bob Blackman: I have taken several interventions, something I support—at what point does he think that and I know that Mr Deputy Speaker wants me to make packets will be on display as advertisements for the progress. tobacco companies if they are covered up at the point Once young people start smoking, they are likely to of sale? Will it just be at the point when the cigarettes continue for the rest of their lives. Smoking causes are in someone’s hand—after they have already been much more damage to young lungs, which increases the bought? likelihood of young people dying from smoking-related diseases. The tobacco industry is desperate to retain its Bob Blackman: My hon. Friend brings me to the next market share, and to recruit new smokers every year. aspect of the issue. The cigarettes will be behind closed After all, older smokers either quit or die, and younger doors, as it were, and the only time when smokers will people also die from smoking-related diseases. Most of display their tobacco branding will be when they take the new smokers will be children. In my constituency, out their pack to smoke, which is welcome. about 550 children start smoking every year. That is a scandal, and I want to see that figure radically reduced. Jake Berry: People have already bought them. To make the control policy more effective, we must prevent children from starting to smoke in the first Bob Blackman: Indeed, but that is the only advertising place. We must adopt policies that make it more difficult that the tobacco industry can currently have. for the tobacco industry to target and recruit new smokers. Once again, however, if young people choose The trade magazine World Tobacco advises: to start smoking, that is their right. In trying to find the “If your brand can no longer shout from billboards, let alone policies to achieve that result, we could do worse than from the cinema screen or the pages of a glossy magazine…it can look at the commercial strategies adopted by the tobacco at least court smokers…from wherever it is placed by those already wedded to it.” industry itself. Over many years, the industry has designed its advertising and marketing to promote an image of That is the industry speaking. Philip Morris International, smoking that is most likely to appeal to young people. in its company response to the consultation on standardised packaging, said that as A great deal of information about this has come into the public domain, particularly after confidential industry “an integral part of the product…packaging is an important documents were made public following the US tobacco means of differentiating brands and in that sense is a means of communicating to consumers about what brands are on sale and master settlement with the industry in 1998. I shall give in particular the good will associated with our trademarks, indicating the House an example. An internal R. J. Reynolds brand value and quality. Placing trademarks on packaged goods document from 1981 states: is, thus, at the heart of commercial expression.” “Smoking is frequently used in situations when people are trying to make friends, to look more mature, to look more Alok Sharma: Will my hon. Friend give way? attractive, to look ‘cooler’, and to feel more comfortable around others. These aspects of social interaction are especially prevalent among younger adult smokers”. Bob Blackman: Just one more time. I could not have put it better myself. The fact is that the industry markets itself in that way. Alok Sharma: I thank my hon. Friend, who is making Successive Governments have made it more difficult a very passionate speech. I know he feels very strongly for the industry to reach its target teenage market. about this subject. At the end of the day, however, we Conventional tobacco advertising is banned, and I welcome have noted the importance of policy being evidence-based. that. I also welcome the banning of retail displays in I do not hold a candle for the manufacturers of cigarettes, large shops. They will soon be outlawed in smaller but I understand that KPMG published a report in shops as well. Stopping smoking in enclosed spaces has October showing that the emerging evidence from Australia significantly reduced the exposure of young people to was that the introduction of standardised packaging smoking. has seen an increase in the levels of illicit tobacco and no reduction in consumption. Would my hon. Friend Mr Nuttall: My hon. Friend said that he had no like to comment on that? objection to people taking up smoking. Does he not feel that, in a free society, we would cross a dangerous line if Bob Blackman: I will comment on it in a few moments. we were to prevent manufacturers from differentiating I shall skip over the last few sections of my speech, as I their brand from the others? know that Mr Deputy Speaker wishes me to conclude. 443 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 444

[Bob Blackman] Mr Deputy Speaker: Order. I shall now reduce the speaking time limit to eight minutes—[Interruption.] If The research done by Sterling university’s public the hon. Member for Stockton North (Alex Cunningham) health research consortium shows that standardised wants me to reduce it further, I shall be more than packaging is less attractive to potential consumers. That happy to do so, but I am sure that he would rather is good news because it means that if we have standardised speak for eight minutes than five. The danger is that packaging, smoking will be less attractive to young speeches will run on, and many Members wish to speak people and children. The reviewers looked at 17 further in the second debate. studies, so there is no lack of evidence. There is plenty of evidence, and the evidence in favour of standardised packaging is very strong. 12.19 pm Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab): I understand Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP) time constraints, Mr Deputy Speaker. rose— I, too, am grateful to the Backbench Business Committee for giving us an opportunity to debate this issue. I am Bob Blackman: I will not give way because I am pleased to be following the hon. Member for Harrow under time constraints. East (Bob Blackman), who has more than earned his The industry’s position is quite clear: it wishes to spurs through his campaign. protect the intellectual property rights of its product, On the last occasion when we tried to encourage the and it thinks that that trumps the requirements of Government to act in this regard, speakers were restricted public health. I say that public health is much more to just three minutes, and even a number of Members important than the rights and wrongs of the tobacco on the other side of the argument shared our frustration industry. Tobacco firms have spent heavily, tried to because they had so little time to put their own case. lobby Members and the Department of Health and Many Members in all parts of the House are still far sought to prevent progress on this issue. They have put from happy that the Government are delaying the decision the different aspects of the argument, but I am sure that to do the right thing and implement the proposals for colleagues will allude to the fact that there are ways of standardised packaging—a delay that will lead to countless stopping the illicit trade and ensuring that security is more young people starting to smoke. maintained on the product. We can prevent the illicit trade from growing. Pete Wishart: No doubt the hon. Gentleman is aware Let me touch on what is happening in Australia. The of the efforts that have been made in Scotland, and evidence has been very positive. One study showed that, wishes to congratulate the Scottish Government on the compared with smokers who were still using branded fact that we are going to introduce standardised packaging packs when the research was carried out, standardised as well as minimum pricing. We are going to do that pack smokers were 66% more likely to think their because we take the issue of public health very seriously, cigarettes were poorer quality than a year ago; 70% and because we do not have Lynton Crosby advising us. more likely to say they found them less satisfying; and 81% more likely to have thought about quitting at least Alex Cunningham: I will congratulate any Government once a day every week since the ban was introduced. who are making the right decision on plain packaging. I am aware that some Members fear that a fall in Simon Wright (Norwich South) (LD) rose— demand for tobacco will cost many of their constituents their jobs. I know that they will stand up and speak for Pete Wishart rose— the industry, but they will also be speaking for their constituents. I hope that the prospect of improved health, a smaller burden on the national health service Bob Blackman: I will not give way, because Mr Deputy and the protection of children will make them think Speaker wants us to make progress. again. I also hope that today’s debate will focus not on the cynical speculation that surrounds the drivers of Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. Everyone tobacco policy and the influence that the tobacco lobbyists wants to get in, but we are running out of time. I need are able to exert, but on the decidedly positive effects to remind the House that the opening speech was to be than standardised packaging could bring, and the harm 15 minutes, but we are well over that already. that is likely to result if the Government continue to insist on dragging their feet. Bob Blackman: Now that we have the evidence, I ask Reducing the prevalence of tobacco use is a key the Government to listen to the debate. We will hear a public health priority. None of us needs reminding of response from the Minister, and I trust that by the end the consequences of smoking, which remains the leading of this debate, the view of the House will be overwhelming cause of preventable mortality in the UK. Half the and the Government will seek to introduce regulation number of lifetime smokers will die from smoking-related on standardised packaging as fast as possible. We will diseases, which means that there may be 100,000 preventable not seek to divide the House today—this is a general deaths each year. One in five adults continues to smoke, debate—but if the Government do not come forward and many people continue to take up the habit, including with regulations before Christmas, we will seek another 573 children aged between 11 and 15 each and every day. debate on a motion that allows the House to divide and express its clear will. Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) (Con): Does it not strike the hon. Gentleman as strange that the Government Several hon. Members rose— claim to be delaying the introduction of standardised 445 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 446 packaging because they want to wait for more evidence, “because they were green, gorgeous and a symbol of glamour.”— but at the same time are virtually rushing into regulation [Official Report, 3 September 2013; Vol. 567, c. 23WH.] to make e-cigarettes a medicinal product, although Indeed, she made a superb case for standardised packaging there is mounting evidence that, if anything, they could as a means of preventing future uptake. I hope that cause harm reduction? that, along with evidence provided by fellow Members today, will remind the Health Secretary of the strong Alex Cunningham: I agree that we also need to look supporting evidence, and persuade him to delay no into the issues surrounding the smoking of electronic more. Perhaps he will even go so far as to do the right cigarettes. thing and give Members the right to vote on the issue, thus allowing the will of Parliament to be implemented. The Government should be acting on this matter. The evidence has already been resented to the House The United Kingdom has previously taken a leading today. It is unquestionable that we need to take action role in this regard, certainly in Europe. It has some of now, and save children and young people from an the most comprehensive tobacco control policies in the addictive habit that will devastate their lives. world, not least the tobacco control plan, which led to the introduction of smoke-free public places and the As I have said many times before, while I disagreed banning of displays on retail premises. It is clear that with the former Health Secretary, the right hon. Member the current Government have recognised, at least to for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), about a number some degree, the raft of negative consequences that can of issues, I believe that the best thing he ever said was arise from ready access to branded packaging, yet Ministers that he wanted the tobacco industry to have “no business” remain adamant that the evidence we have is not substantial in the UK. I hope that the new Under-Secretary of enough, and continue to insist that non-legislative solutions State for Health, the hon. Member for Battersea (Jane are better suited to the task in hand. Ellison), shares that goal, and will pursue it with the vigour that it deserves. I welcome her recent assertion There is already a wealth of evidence that standardised that packaging works, and new evidence is being published all the time. A systematic review of 37 peer-reviewed “Stopping children and young people smoking is a priority for us all”. studies, carried out by the university of Stirling for the Department of Health, found standard packaging to be However, actions speak louder than words. less attractive while also improving the effectiveness of Since the Government’s consultation closed 15 months health warnings, thereby reducing smoking uptake among ago, Australia has become the first country to introduce young people. The review also found that standardised standardised packaging for tobacco products. That is packs were perceived as having less “clutter” to detract already changing attitudes. Our own Government’s inaction from the all-important health warnings, with the monotony in failing to enact measures similar to those in Australia and sincerity of the packaging serving to enhance their poses a major threat to tobacco control. However, I was seriousness and believability.Since then at least 12 additional pleased to hear the new Under-Secretary of State tell studies have been published, and the growing body of the House during Health questions last month that research consistently reports that standardised packaging “new information ... not just from this country but from around would reduce the appeal of tobacco products and increase the world… is under very active consideration.” —[Official Report, the effectiveness of health warnings. 22 October 2013; Vol. 569, c. 132.] Lest there be any doubt, let me add that the evidence I should welcome her confirmation of the timetable for from Australia confirms those findings. Not only do the completion of that consideration and the making of those who smoke cigarettes from standardised packs a definitive decision. perceive their cigarettes to be of a lower quality than I have no doubt that standardised packaging for those from branded packs, but there is a demonstrated tobacco products is necessary to quell demand. Smoking tendency to perceive cigarettes as less satisfying. is an addiction that begins in childhood, and tobacco packaging is designed to be attractive, catching the eye Simon Wright: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the of young people in particular. I am aware of the damage number of calls to Quitline, Australia’s smoking cessation that this horrible habit is doing to people in my constituency, service, has increased considerably since the introduction young and old alike, many of whom live in some of the of the new law in that country? most deprived wards in the country. We need to take active steps to reduce the incidence of smoking, and to Alex Cunningham: We can all choose which part of implement measures to prevent future uptake. The decision the briefing we wish to cite. It is clear to me that to delay progress with standard packaging will needlessly standardised packaging is working in Australia, and I condemn hundreds of thousands more to a life of am sure that it will continue to do so. The hon. Member addiction because some think it “cool” to smoke. Plain for Harrow East mentioned that 81% of people were packaging fits the bill. Not only is there a real need for likely to have thought about quitting at least once a day it, but it is a solution that is wanted and workable. during the past week, and I think that that too is an It is worth noting that, during a Westminster Hall important statistic. debate in September, the former Under-Secretary of What further evidence does the Secretary of State State for Public Health, the hon. Member for Broxtowe need to see before he commits himself decisively to (), recounted her own experiences of tobacco making these life-saving changes? Pressure on smoking addiction and its horrendous consequences. Fortunately, must be continuous and relentless, because we are she was able to kick the habit. It is significant that she fighting a pervasive, lethal and powerful addiction. We recalled the “power of the packet”, and spoke openly cannot afford to waver or hesitate. Every year more of choosing a particular brand of cigarette for her than 200,000 people under the age of 16 start to smoke, first pack and that is 200,000 too many. Even if plain packaging 447 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 448

[Alex Cunningham] convenience store in Swansea, I suspect over my lifetime I have sold more cigarettes than everybody in the House just halves the number of new young smokers who are has consumed. currently attracted to the slim, colourful and glamorous packs, it will have had a major impact on hundreds of I see this as a non-partisan issue. It should be evidence- thousands of lives. based. We are talking about treating the sale of a legal commodity completely differently from the sale of any If we wait the suggested three years for evidence from other commodity, and before going down that route, we Australian legislation to emerge, little if any progress should ensure that our decisions are properly evidence- will be made. Incidentally, in the United Kingdom based. fewer people are attempting to quit with the help of the national health service for the first time in five years. I do not smoke, apart from the odd cigar—it is just The current prospect is unacceptable. The Government the odd one—but I am cognisant of the fact that there must act now to prevent further tragedy, rather than are over 12 million smokers in this country. The vast adopting the leisurely timetable that has been proposed majority of them are adults and this is all about individual by some who think that they know better, or perhaps choice and liberty. The hon. Member for North Antrim have vested interests. (Ian Paisley) made an important point when he said he Let me drive the point home. More than 250 people believes we are going in the direction of possibly banning die prematurely every year from smoking-related diseases cigarettes and tobacco completely, and we should be in my local authority area of Stockton-on-Tees. We more honest about that. If these products have the have a lung cancer rate of 67.1 per 100,000 people, consequences that were described by the hon. Member which is a staggering 40% higher than the national for Stockton North (Alex Cunningham) and my hon. average, and figures show that 610 children aged between Friend the Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman), 10 and 14 are already regular smokers. that is perhaps the direction in which we will be going. I recall young people referring to cigarettes as “cancer My hon. Friend spoke emotionally about the loss of his sticks”, but many still think it cool to smoke. I see them parents through cancer. I lost my own dad through walking to school, cigarette in hand or mouth, and it cancer as well, and it is hideous seeing loved ones dying upsets me to think that had the Government acted, in that way. many of them would not have been attracted to the My father switched brands. He used to smoke Senior habit at all. Attempts are being made in the other place Service, then Player’s, and I even think he toyed with to introduce new clauses to the Children and Families Capstan Full Strength at one stage, and as he was dying Bill which would create a requirement for standardised he switched to Silk Cut—but all far too late, of course. packaging, and it is also possible that my own proposals The fact is that anybody who has seen someone die of to render it illegal to smoke in any vehicle where children cancer knows it is hideous. are present will be reintroduced. As has been said, we need education. People must be Jake Berry: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? properly educated about the damaging effects of smoking, and the damaging effects it can have over a lifetime. Alex Cunningham: No. I think it is right that we should wait for the evidence I hope the Government will do the right thing by from Australia and any other countries that are about pre-empting the votes in the other place and announcing to embark down the route of standardised packaging. I they will introduce their own legislation and put this know there are World Trade Organisation issues and matter to bed once and for all. No company should be European Union issues and these will all be dealt with allowed to promote such a deadly product through in the right arenas. The EU is looking at standardising advertising and marketing. The glamorised packet in 65% of the packaging as far as the health warnings are the hands of a young person is the most powerful concerned and making the sale of packs of 10 illegal. marketing tool the industry now has left. Let us deny it to it without delay. There have been a number of changes to smoking The case for standard packs is strong, and the need laws in this country, including the banning of smoking for action is urgent. A few weeks ago I spoke of the two in public places. Indeed, we have the Smoking Room in sides in this debate: on the one side, the rich and utterly this Parliament where nobody is allowed to smoke, and cynical industry that is quite happy to market products I have always joked with friends when they leave the that still kill more than 100,000 people across the UK pub to have a quick cigarette outside that, given the every year—more than the next six most common causes cold winters in the United Kingdom, pneumonia will of preventable death—and on the other side, the medical become a smoking-related disease. We have brought in and health community, politicians from all parties, and these rules, however, and in many cases they are sensible. the general public. In the middle are the Government. Ministers from the Prime Minister himself down through It has always struck me that there was a very good the ranks know there is evidence that standardised argument against banning tobacco advertising. Advertising packs will work for the better. I hope they will announce is influential and therefore important, of course, and it action now and give our people a better chance at better was always the advert at the bottom of the advert that I health. found most important. The advertisers could put anything on top—“the fat lady sings” adverts, or the Marlboro ones which we had to look at very carefully to work out 12.20 pm whether they were advertising cigarettes or something Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Ind): It is a delight else—but it was the advert below, which was the health to take part in this important debate, and I declare warning saying “Smoking kills”, which was always more my interest in the register. Although I no longer own a persuasive to me than anything else displayed. 449 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 450

Mr Nuttall: Does my hon. Friend share my concern extended to other products in the future, we should that if branding is banned, tobacco companies may use make absolutely certain we have the science and evidence the money they currently spend on branding to cut the to back up the decision. price of cigarettes? 12.29 pm Mr Evans: That is exactly what is going to happen, and I think one hon. Member intervened to say that Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab): Although I disagree that is part of the evidence from Australia. A lot of with much of what we have just heard, it is a pleasure to people like brands, like Benson & Hedges or Regal, but follow the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr Evans). I others will go for the own-brand—whatever is cheaper. am grateful that we, once again, have a chance to speak If it is £1 cheaper than the more expensive brands, that about the merits of standardised packaging. I also is what they will go for. Some people, I swear, will spoke on the subject in the debate that took place smoke the dust off the floor if it is sold at £1 cheaper earlier in the year. Like many other right hon. and hon. than a branded pack. The point my hon. Friend raises Members, I spoke of the devastating effects that smoking- therefore has got to be looked at as a possibly unintended related illnesses have on families and individuals throughout consequence of bringing in standardised packaging. our country. In the 10 months after the Government I visited Clitheroe grammar school a few months ago closed the consultation on this matter, no meaningful and the issue of why the Government have delayed action was taken. During that time, 150,000 children introducing standardised packaging was mentioned. I will have started to smoke and, as we have heard, thought about it for a while and then I said to the pupil addiction results in the death of half its long-term concerned, “Right: how much cannabis and ecstasy is users. Fifteen months have now passed, so we have had consumed in the UK?” The pupil said, “Oh, quite a another five months during which we have had the lot,” to which I said, “I think you’re probably right. Do opportunity to reduce significantly the 100,000 smoking- us a favour: describe to me the packaging on cannabis related deaths that take place each year. Sadly, yet or ecstasy.” again, no action has been taken by this Government. I ask Members to think about that for a second. We cannot neglect our duty to give all children and What is the packaging of cannabis or ecstasy? There is young people the best start in all areas of life. Health, no packaging. They come in foil or see-through bags, or education, decent housing and physical and emotional in an envelope, perhaps. Clearly, people are not buying security are some of the very basics we should strive to these products because of the packaging, standardised achieve. Without them, children do not have an equal or otherwise. They buy them because they want them. chance in life. By failing to protect children from the That is a strong counter-argument to the proposal to dangers of smoking when they are too young to make a get rid of branding. truly informed choice, we are failing to provide each child with their very basic rights. The reform is simple Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley) (Lab): Surely the and the potential gains are immense. There is a reason answer to the question is that if those things were legal, why smoking-related deaths are labelled as “preventable”. health warnings would be on them, and quite right, too. The question is how long, and how many lives will it take, before the Government act. Mr Evans: Certainly there is no health warning on One thing is clear: standardised cigarette packaging cannabis and ecstasy, and we know they kill a lot of will be introduced. This country has historically taken a people. strong line on the regulation of harmful products consumed by young people: in 2005, we tightened regulations on Jake Berry: Surely if making something illegal stops the advertising of alcohol, ensuring that advertising did people consuming it, the fact that it is illegal for those not link to youth culture or irresponsible behaviour; to under 18 to buy cigarettes would already stop any prevent passive smoking, we banned smoking in public children taking up smoking. places; to prevent children from taking up smoking at a young age, we made it illegal for shops to sell cigarettes Mr Evans: We know that is not an effective law, but to under-18s; and to prevent cigarettes from being that does not mean we should not have that law. glamorised, we ended sports sponsorship and billboard I believe we ought to look at education for young advertising. people. I do not want to see young people taking up We have put legislation in place to make adult consumers cigarettes or any tobacco products at all. Doing more in fully aware of the risks associated with smoking, launching the schools is vitally important, as is doing more through nationwide health campaigns and offering tailored support public health education campaigns. Can the Minister for those who want to quit. Evidence and public support tell us what plans the Government have to roll out has helped successive Governments strive to improve health campaigns particularly aimed at young people, the health of our nation. We must continue that tradition to discourage them from starting to consume tobacco and strive to give young people every opportunity to products? live a healthy life. If we are to improve public health, cut I believe we should wait until we get the proper preventable deaths and prevent young people from taking evidence from Australia and other countries about up a habit that could cause them significant harm, the the impact of standardised packaging. Once we have course of action that is open to us is clear: standardised the evidence, it will be appropriate to decide whether or cigarette packaging, which can and would improve the not to introduce standardised packaging. As I said at health of future generations. the outset, tobacco would be the only product sold in The evidence is clear: advertising works. If it did not, the UK where the state entirely governed the packaging. tobacco companies throughout the world would not Before we go down that slippery slope, which may be spend huge amounts of money to reach out to new and 451 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 452

[Dan Jarvis] It is regrettable that I, along with many other hon. Members, must persist in relaying the facts to a Government existing consumers. Last year. Cancer Research UK who, as of yet, seek to ignore the evidence in front of released a report on the influence that marketing has on them. This country has been an international leader in young people. It stated: public health policy and we should continue to be so. “All 19 quantitative studies found standard packs less attractive We will have standardised packaging at some point in than branded equivalents, to both adults and children” the future—it is just a question of when. Fundamentally, standardised cigarette packaging is about improving and that the nation’s health and giving each child the best possible “13 qualitative studies found that standard packs consistently chance of living a healthy life. The choice is theirs when received lower ratings on projected personality attributes (such as they are an adult, but the responsibility is ours now. I ‘popular’ and ‘cool’) than branded packs”. urge the Government to act. All that reinforces the World Health Organisation’s conclusion: “Marketing of tobacco products encourages current smokers 12.38 pm to smoke more, decreases their motivation to quit and urges young people to start”. Dame Angela Watkinson (Hornchurch and Upminster) (Con): May I begin by drawing the House’s attention Over half of long-term smokers die from a smoking- to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial related disease, and that amounts to more than Interests? I speak as a lifelong non-smoker. I have never 100,000 people each year. In my constituency, 283 people smoked and I do not intend ever to smoke. That is my per 100,000 die each year from smoking-related diseases. choice, and such a choice is open to anyone, but there An estimated 1,110 young people aged between 10 and has been a huge change in the culture surrounding 14 are classified as regular smokers. Given that nationally smoking since I was a child. I do not know whether each year more than 200,000 young people under 16 are anyone in the Chamber is as ancient as me, but if they beginning to smoke, inaction amounts to nothing less are, they will remember a television advert saying, “You’re than neglect. For Barnsley alone, smoking creates a bill never alone with a Strand”. It had a picture of a amounting to £75.3 million each year; financially, and glamorous, enigmatic man with the collar of his raincoat socially, the costs of smoking are high. turned up. He was smoking, and every man wanted to The evidence is clear, and the only thing lacking be like him because he was glamorous and mystifying. clarity in this debate is the reason behind the Government’s Hollywood stars, who appeared to spend their entire failure to act. By introducing standardised packaging, lives in evening dress, had long cigarette holders and the Britain would send an important message that we are a practice was presented as glamorous, attractive and country that prioritises our children’s health and well-being. sophisticated. People of my age at that time could not By failing to act, the Government are prioritising business wait to grow up and reach 16 so that they could smoke— interest over the health of young people and future everybody did—because it was a sign that someone generations. had grown up. I suppose that it was a blessing that I was brought up poor and working class. I could not afford Alex Cunningham: My hon. Friend used the word to buy cigarettes and I should probably be grateful “neglect” and said that we could be neglecting our for that fact now, as it meant that I never took up the young people by failing to act. Does he agree that this is habit. a genuine child protection issue? A couple of hon. Members have referred to the harrowing experience of losing a parent to cancer. I Dan Jarvis: I do agree with my hon. Friend. We are in share that experience, although it was not smoking-related this place to make judgments about what is in the in my case. It is important that the education on smoking interests of our constituents, and it is my judgment, as that I never received as a child, nor for several years it is his and, I believe, that of the majority of hon. afterwards, is now available to our younger generation. Members, that it is in the short-term, medium-term and It was normal for me to see every adult around me long-term public interest of our constituents to introduce smoking, but that is not normal now. If one goes past a standardised cigarette packaging. place of work, however, there will be a group of people outside smoking, leaving a carpet of cigarette ends on I therefore strongly believe that the arguments against the ground. That is a cause for complaint for all the plain packaging—standardised packaging—and the non-smokers in that organisation, who know that smokers justification for the Government’s “wait and see”approach get smoking breaks from time to time during the day are inconsistent. First, introducing standardised packaging that they do not. is not aimed at stigmatising adults who already smoke. This is not about limiting choice for adult consumers; In a previous life, when I worked in local government, standardised packaging does not change what is inside the one recreation room for staff had to be surrendered the packet, but is a measure to protect children who are to the smokers because the council was obliged to more easily influenced by marketing. Secondly, some provide a smoking room. It had glass walls, and as one hon. Members have argued that introducing such a walked around, all one could see was a great fug of measure would limit the tobacco industry’s right to smoke. Again, people in there were spending time on advertise. Instead, we should be asking ourselves whether, breaks that non-smokers were not allowed to take. by allowing the continuation of the status quo, we are I pay tribute to the schools in Hornchurch and Upminster infringing on the right of every young person to have a for the important work they are doing to educate our healthy childhood, and increasing their chances of taking children from the youngest age. They have citizenship up a habit that could have significant health implications classes and school councils, and they take anti-smoking for them for the rest of their life. education extremely seriously. 453 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 454

The purpose of plain packaging is mainly to deter Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs estimates that young people from taking up smoking and, hopefully, in my constituency of Hornchurch and Upminster, and to deter established smokers. As has become obvious, those of other hon. Members, up to one in six cigarettes there is consensus on both sides of the House that we and 48% of hand-rolling tobacco is already illegal, should do everything we can to deter young people costing the Exchequer up to £3 billion a year. If plain from taking up smoking and to enable them to understand packaging were introduced, those figures would the health implications of which people were not aware undoubtedly rise. years ago. When I was a child, the health implications Plain packaging would also have a negative impact of smoking were never mentioned. on small convenience stores. The display ban that is The first question we need to ask ourselves is: would already in place in large stores will cover small shops in plain packaging work? Secondly, what would be the 2015. Most customers make additional purchases when effect on illicit tobacco sales and products? Finally, buying their cigarettes and that custom is essential to what would be the effect on small retailers and the the viability of small shops. I was in my local newsagent design and packaging industry? Several speakers have recently, standing behind somebody who was buying a referred to the fact that plain packaging has been introduced packet of cigarettes. There was a warning on it in big, in Australia, but that was only about a year ago. I think bold letters to the effect that smoking can kill. One that it is far too soon for us to make a credible evaluation could not possibly miss it, so that person had made a of how effective the measure has been on young new conscious choice to disregard the warning on the packet. smokers and existing smokers. Plain packaging would also have a devastating effect In 2008, the Department of Health identified the on the supply chain for the tobacco sector, particularly predictors of smoking initiation as age, gender, home as regards the design and production of branded packaging. environment, drug use and alcohol. Truancy and exclusion That would stifle innovation, development and competition. from school were also factors, but not packaging or the It would be likely that lobby groups would continue to appearance of tobacco products—and, strangely, not campaign for other product groups, such as alcohol or price. When I was young, price was the one thing that certain foods, to be subject to similar measures. That stopped me smoking. Had I been able to afford it, I would be the thin end of the wedge, and it would pose a probably would have tried it. The NHS study “Smoking, further threat to the design and packaging sectors and drinking and drug use among young people in England to the freedom of customers to make informed choices. in 2011” reported that 5% of 11 to 15-year-olds smoked The Government are already investing significantly regularly—that is, at least one cigarette a week. That in anti-smoking measures. Anyone who wants to stop sounds to me as though one child who could afford a can get smoking cessation courses free of charge. We packet of cigarettes was handing them around to their have television adverts and hoardings on the street, and friends. That was half the number reported in 2001 and there cannot be anybody in the country who does not it compared favourably with the 6% who said that they know the health risks of smoking. People make a choice had taken drugs in the past month. about whether to do it. As far as children are concerned, the principal responsibility lies with their parents, who There are better solutions to reduce the number of should know how much money their children have to young people who take up smoking. Such smoking is at spend—a packet of cigarettes is very expensive—and an all-time low of 5%, but we need to do more. We must how they spend it unsupervised. not underestimate the influence of fashion and trends on young people, and if smoking becomes the in thing again, that percentage could rise. 12.47 pm Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley) (Lab): I congratulate Jake Berry: On the question of smoking becoming the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) on fashionable again, what is my hon. Friend’s view on securing this important debate. Like him, I am an recent concerns about electronic cigarettes? Of course, officer of the all-party group on smoking and health, they are not covered by the 2007 legislation and they and I also believe that tobacco control transcends the can be smoked indoors in bars, clubs, pubs and restaurants. usual party differences. In my years in the House, that Recently, e-cigarette fluid has been marketed in champagne, has certainly been the case for anti-tobacco policy. vodka and bubblegum flavours. Is she concerned about Members will know that back in 2006 the previous that? Labour Government conceded a free vote on ending smoking in enclosed public places. The vote was won by a majority of more than 200, which showed that the Dame Angela Watkinson: I must confess that I have proposal had strong support. The Government might tried e-cigarettes. I tried an apple-flavoured one, and it want to find a similar means of getting themselves out was quite an attractive, comforting thing to do. of their awkward position, as they have been accused of I was a co-signatory to the open letter from my hon. being in bed with the tobacco industry due to blocking Friend the Member for North Antrim (Ian Paisley) that the introduction of standardised packaging. The Children highlighted the dangers posed by plain packaging to and Families Bill, which is now in Committee in the jobs, businesses, tax revenue and the legal trade due to other place, might present such an opportunity. increased smuggling and counterfeiting. Plain packaging The hon. Member for Harrow East rightly drew our would make smuggling easier and cheaper, and such attention to the fact that most smokers start their lethal products could be manufactured without regulation or addiction when they are children and that, for many quality control—I am told that some contain quite years, the tobacco industry has advertised and marketed noxious additives. That situation could only exacerbate its products to make them as attractive to young people the associated criminality and revenue loss. as possible. We all know that eight out of 10 smokers 455 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 456

[Mr Kevin Barron] Mr Barron: It is indeed. The packages themselves are there to attract young women. I have an empty packet start by the age of 19 and that more than 207,000 11 to in my office that demonstrates exactly that. The idea 15-year-olds become smokers each year. One in two of that packaging is not used to sell products or advertise them, if they remain smokers, will die a premature them effectively is a nonsense. The Silver Slide design is death. In this country, in the region of 100,000 premature intended deliberately to undercut the health warnings deaths a year are caused by the habit of smoking. that the law now requires on each packet. I am sorry that the hon. Member for Ribble Valley The hon. Member for Ribble Valley talked about (Mr Evans) is no longer in the Chamber. He made the adverts and bill posters, and said that he could only argument that the 12 million smokers in this country understand the part at the bottom. When I introduced a were all adults. Of course, most of them are adults—that private Member’s Bill in 1994 to get rid of tobacco is absolutely true—but at what age did they start smoking? advertising and promotion, it was pretty clear that most Statistics on the number of people who start smoking at of the adverts on billboards were not understood by the age of 21 are insignificant. I started smoking years some people. They were deliberately designed for the before I could legally buy cigarettes. I was smoking at inquiring mind. There would be a picture of a piece of the age of 12, and I stopped at the age of 24. The vast silk with a cut halfway down the middle. The advert did majority of people I was at secondary school with not say Silk Cut cigarettes; it did not have to. However, smoked. We were just trying to emulate other people. I who are the ones with inquiring minds? They are young also came from a poor, working-class family, and in people. Tobacco companies did that deliberately for theory there was not the money to buy cigarettes, but many years, and the G. K. Chesterton quote is to get we used to find it. I say to the hon. Member for young people to say that they can take this on, and that Hornchurch and Upminster (Dame Angela Watkinson) they are not bothered about what people say. that if we look at the incidence of smoking now, social In Australia, it has been decided that there should be classes 4 and 5 have the majority of smokers and of no branding on tobacco packaging other than the product premature deaths. name shown in a standard font, size and colour. No The importance of packaging is well understood by other trade marks, logos, colour schemes and graphics the tobacco companies. They dodge the existing health are permitted. Colours and graphics have been selling warnings and packaging requirements with great skill cigarettes in this country for decades. In Australia, and ingenuity. I draw the attention of the House to the cigarette packs should not carry attractive designs and packaging of Benson & Hedges Silver Slide. Benson & should therefore come in standard shape, size and colours, Hedges in this country is owned by Japan Tobacco and the colours should be as unattractive as possible. International, one of the big four international companies. There should be prominent health warnings front and People slide the cigarettes out of the pack, so it is not back, in pictures as well as writing, and there should be the standard packaging that was around when I was a phone number and web address on every pack to help smoking back in the 1950s and 1960s. The outside of smokers to access quit services. the Silver Slide package looks pretty normal but, unlike There are 100,000 premature deaths a year from most packs, it is opened by pressing the side opening tobacco smoking in this country. If those deaths had where it says “Push and Slide”, which exposes a tray been caused by anything else in the 30 years that I have containing the cigarettes. Printed on the tray are the been in Parliament, this House would have been sitting words: 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until we could find a “I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very way to stop it. It is no good the Government saying that best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite”, they will wait. We know what tobacco marketing has been like for decades. We have stopped most of it, and which is a quote from G. K. Chesterton. The initials we should stop this advertising at the point of use as B&H are highlighted for a little extra brand identity on well. the slide. I suggest that the design has the obvious purpose of reinforcing a key tobacco industry marketing message that has been used with success for many years, Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab): In particularly to recruit young people to smoke and to an area such as Salford, 1,000 young people—the figure discourage quitters. That message is pretty simple—smoking was 1,100 in Barnsley—will start to smoke this year. If I is cool and an act of rebellion, and it is adult and am called to make a speech, I will talk about that. Ten transgressive. The hon. Member for Harrow East rightly months, a year or 18 months of delay will cause 1,000 or pointed out that that marketing strategy is set out 1,500 young people in an area such as mine to start clearly in the internal documents that were published as smoking, and that is a tragedy. a result of the US master settlement agreement with the industry. Mr Barron: And another 207,000 nationally will start this habit a year. Alex Cunningham: Is my right hon. Friend aware of One might ask why people buy a packet of cigarettes the advertising in America for Vogue cigarettes, which when it has a warning on it, but this is an addiction. All says: sorts of addictions sadly roll over common sense, and tobacco is no different. Stopping young people from “The Vogue cigarette style was based on 1950s couture. The starting is crucial, and that is working. Smoking rates cigarettes that are preferred by women from across the world. for young children are diminishing now, as are rates for Their lengthened appearance is an attribute of their femininity”? adults, partly as a result of taxation and partly because Does he think that that is another example of the we are stopping tobacco companies from promoting industry aiming to glamorise smoking? cigarettes. 457 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 458

There are no figures to show that counterfeiting is No Government have a particularly good record of more likely with plain packaging. Earlier this year, the leadership in this area. Most Governments tend to have Japanese company came to the House and told us that to be led by this place. That is why we are having this there would be more counterfeiting, but there is no debate today, and I hope the Government will take their evidence of that. It showed us—I have one in my pocket lead from this House and the other place, because both —a counterfeit packet. It looks like any other Benson & Houses have a cross-party unity of purpose in addressing Hedges packet, so counterfeiting happens now. Standard these issues. We have seen that progress over the years. packaging could include features to protect against Over the past 15 years the combination of measures counterfeiting, and it is for the House to regulate to has made a difference. Smoking prevalence has fallen introduce them. Hon. Members should not use the among adults by a quarter and among children by as arguments that have been sold by the tobacco companies much as half. More clearly remains to be done, as the year after year. When it was found that tobacco related debate so far has demonstrated. Smoking is still a major to massive numbers of deaths, the companies were still cause of preventable disease and death. It far outweighs questioning that decades after the event—they still do the next six major causes. When it comes to public now. They use this House to do it on occasions and, I health and to children and young people, we have a have to say, it is wrong. When there are 100,000 premature special duty, over and above that which we owe to all deaths a year, we as legislators have some responsibility our fellow citizens. That duty is clear: we should act. to alleviate the problem. I know that smoking is addictive Above all, standardised packaging is about protecting and it is difficult for people to stop. children and young people, as has been said in this debate. Dame Angela Watkinson: Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that no young child can become addicted to Big tobacco must attract children. Why? Because its cigarettes unless their parents provide them with the product kills 100,000 of its customers every year in this money to buy them? country, and it needs to replace those dead customers. The evidence is clear. Smoking is a childhood addiction, Mr Barron: My father used to provide me with cigarettes; not an adult choice. We need to understand that. Some the only thing was that he did not know about it. I used 40% of smokers are addicted by the age of 16, and two to go in his packet of Woodbines and take one out, and thirds are addicted by the age of 18. Two hundred he did not count them very often. That was how I thousand children take up smoking every year and started smoking on the street at a very early age. If we about 530 of them do so in my borough, the London put the price up, of course it will reduce the consumption borough of Sutton. Very few people start smoking over of cigarettes, but we need to stop young people starting. the age of 20, as we have heard. The focus on the recruitment of children has been admitted by big tobacco. The tobacco industry knows 12.58 pm how sensitive children and young people are to brands Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam) (LD): I rise as of all sorts. Removing the brightly coloured packaging chair of the all-party parliamentary group on smoking has been shown to make a difference. It has made those and health. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member products less attractive to children. for Harrow East (Bob Blackman), a fellow officer of the all-party group, on securing this important debate, Mark Durkan (Foyle) (SDLP): The right hon. Gentleman which is an important opportunity for the House to rightly emphasises addiction, but have we not heard, continue to put pressure on the Government to move even in this debate, that this is addiction marketed as on this issue. I am a co-sponsor of the debate. It should freedom? come as no surprise that the APPG strongly supports effective action to reduce the harm that is caused by tobacco. I welcome the contributions from the hon. Paul Burstow: Absolutely, and that is the most pernicious Member for Stockton North (Alex Cunningham), my part of it. It is addiction posing as freedom of choice, hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East and the hon. whereas once they are addicted, people have lost their Member for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis), all of whom freedom of choice, and it is very hard to step back from set out compellingly the piles of evidence that show the that. effectiveness of standardised packaging as a further aid to tobacco control and reduction of the harm that Jake Berry: On the subject of free choice, I am tobacco does. That surely has to be a key goal of public interested to hear that three-quarters of smokers take health policy in this country. up smoking between the ages of 16 and 18. If people are Reducing the number of people dying from preventable not capable of exercising free choice at the age of 16, disease and of people living with chronic disease has to why does the right hon. Gentleman think it right that be a key part of what this debate is all about. How do the Lib Dems have a policy of reducing the voting age we address that? By tackling risk factors—in this case, to 16? the risky behaviour of taking up smoking in the first place. A variety of interventions can make a difference. Paul Burstow: To make sure that the record is clear, I In this country over the past few years, parliamentary said that two thirds of smokers are addicted by the age action and parliamentary pressure has persuaded of 18. It is entirely right that we have the debate on the Governments to do something. I congratulate the right voting age. The House has voted on the matter and has hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr Barron) on his supported the idea that we should allow people to initiative when he was Chair of the Health Select Committee exercise a democratic choice at the age of 16, but that is to enable the Labour Government to bring in via a free not today’s debate. Although I would hope that voting vote the ban on smoking in enclosed public places. was an addictive behaviour, it is not, and getting people 459 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 460

[Paul Burstow] part in that poll backed standardised packaging. Other nations in the United Kingdom are choosing to act. to vote at an earlier age is more likely to get the Other nations in Europe are choosing to act. The evidence participation rate up. That is why I support it and why is mounting, as is the death toll and as is the recruitment my party does as well. of children and young people to this pernicious habit. May we now see action? May we have something that Let me move on to another point about what the children and young people deserve—this Government industry has as its agenda. Imperial Tobacco’s global and this Parliament acting to protect them from the brand director, Geoff Good, has said that package harm of smoking? Standardisation of packaging is redesign has been worth the next step in effective tobacco control and I hope the “over £60 million in additional turnover and a significant profit Government will take that step soon. improvement. . . the UK had become a dark market, the pack design was the only part of the mix that was changed, and therefore we knew the cause and effect.” 1.7 pm That was in 2006. Tobacco advertising is already banned in the UK. The branding and brightly coloured packaging Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab): clearly meet the legal definition already in existence. I congratulate the hon. Member for Harrow East They are a form of commercial communication with the (Bob Blackman), my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton aim or direct or indirect effect of promoting a tobacco North (Alex Cunningham), my right hon. Friend the product. In the words of Imperial Tobacco’s global Member for Rother Valley (Mr Barron) and the right brand director, Geoff Good, hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Burstow) on securing the debate on this important subject. We “pack design was the only part of the mix that was changed”. need to keep focusing on the issue because it has a The cause and effect are clear. Package-based advertising great impact on the health of our constituents and should be banned. most of all on the children and young people in our constituencies. In earlier contributions to the debate, reference was As an MP representing Salford, I want to speak made to some types of packaging. One example was today because, as others have said about their constituencies, Vogue cigarettes. The packet looks like a lipstick container smoking, smoking-related deaths and lung cancer rates or a perfume product. It is intended to convey the are all too high in Salford. One in four of the population glamour of smoking, about which the hon. Member for in Salford smoke, which is a higher rate than the national Hornchurch and Upminster (Dame Angela Watkinson) average of one in five people in England as a whole. As spoke earlier. a consequence, we have much higher rates of smoking- I have a question for the Minister, which she might be related death in Salford and a higher incidence of lung able to address in her contribution later. It concerns the cancer, with 175 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed World Health Organisation’s framework convention on each year. The right hon. Member for Sutton and tobacco control. I understand that the UK plans to sign Cheam said that it was estimated that 530 children in the protocol on the elimination of illicit trade in tobacco his borough would start smoking this year. In Salford, products. The protocol makes it clear that arrangements sadly, the figure is nearly 1,000—almost double. for tracking and tracing tobacco products should be As we have heard in the debate, so many smokers, independent of the tobacco industry. In other words, estimated at eight out of 10, start by the age of 19 and the industry should not be allowed to self-police. Does one in two of those young people will die of smoking-related the Minister agree that the EU draft revision of the EU diseases if they become long-term smokers. We know tobacco products directive should give full effect to the and we should continue to reflect upon the fact that this World Health Organisation protocol to ensure independence habit is the biggest cause of premature death in the UK of action for our enforcement agencies in dealing with and long-term smokers have a life expectancy that is the illicit trade? 10 years shorter than non-smokers. I welcome the Minister’s remark at Health questions There has been some debate about the early evidence a week ago that she was examining the issue “very from Australia on the introduction of plain packaging. carefully”. However, having already considered the evidence, It suggests to me that branded cigarette boxes influence her predecessor made it clear in the House and elsewhere the perception of smoking among young people, and that she supports the measure, as does my hon. Friend that plain packaging can help in the fight against starting the Minister of State, Department of Health. Why do smoking. That is why the issue is important and it is we still have to wait for the Australian scheme to be largely what I shall speak about here. As the right hon. tested further? We know after the first 11 months that it Member for Sutton and Cheam said, 70% of those has been bedding in well. As we have heard already, it is interviewed in a study in Australia who smoked from having a material effect on consumer behaviour. Consumers plain packets said that they thought the cigarettes were are reporting that they think the same product tastes “less satisfying”. That is an important finding. They different. The same product is less attractive. Standardised rated quitting as a higher priority than those who packaging is affecting behaviour, which is a key element continued to smoke from a branded pack did. of this drive. A separate study found that 80% of children interviewed There is clear and sustained public support for rated plain cigarette packs as “uncool”. Members who standardised packaging. National polls show that two have spoken so far have rightly focused on how much thirds of the public want to see the Government act on packaging influences that perception of cool, because this agenda. When my local paper, the Sutton Guardian, brands are very important to young people. Those are ran a poll recently, it found that 80% of those who took powerful findings from Australia. 461 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 462

I believe that there is weight behind the argument by the Department of Health and the Public Health that cigarette packaging is the last legal form of tobacco Research Consortium showed that standardised packaging advertising and that it has an influence on young people’s was less attractive, more effective in conveying messages perception of smoking. That in itself is why we should about the health implications of smoking and more take action to introduce plain packaging. likely to reduce the mistaken belief that some brands In the excellent Westminster Hall debate on 3 September are safer than others, meaning the old idea that flavourings —we have already touched on this, but it is worth or menthol make it less damaging, which is also untrue. reflecting on—the then Health Minister, the hon. Member All the evidence suggests that plain tobacco packaging for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry), talked about the power of greatly reduces the attractiveness of cigarettes for children, packaging. She said: and Australia’s stance is supported by the World Health “I have never forgotten the first time that I bought a packet of Organisation. cigarettes.” I want briefly to congratulate stop smoking services She deliberately chose a particular brand in Salford, particularly on their programmes focused on reducing smoking in families with children under 16. If “because they were green, gorgeous and a symbol of glamour.” children do not see their parents smoking, they are less She said: likely to start smoking themselves. Many of our “I distinctly remember the power of that package. It was the programmes in Salford are targeted at those families. opening of the cellophane and the gold and the silver that was so powerfully important to many people who, as youngsters, took up All the tobacco advertising I have talked about is smoking.”—[Official Report, 3 September 2013; Vol. 567, c. 23WH.] pernicious. However it is done, whether with slim packages, colouring or making it look like perfume, it focuses on That was a very honest admission from a Health Minister, young people, and particularly young women who want but she still went on to adopt the “wait and see” to remain slim. It is almost unbelievable that tobacco approach that we are getting from the Government. companies used to use Santa Claus and doctors to The health of our young people does not have time for promote smoking and try to persuade us that it was wait and see. safe. I do not want to continue to see 1,000 young In the previous Parliament we introduced a ban on people in Salford start smoking each year. It is time we smoking in public places, and I was very pleased to be a took the next important step to close down cigarette Member of this House when we voted for that. I visited advertising by introducing plain packs. It is time to Copenhagen earlier this year and found myself in public prevent our children starting smoking. It is time the places where people were lighting up cigarettes. I was Government supported the amendment to the Children surprised, because it is easy to forget how unpleasant it and Families Bill that will take that important step. is to be in a public place where people are smoking and Above all, it is time to reduce the large numbers of to come home with clothes and hair reeking of smoke. people affected by smoking-related illness and early It is very unfamiliar to us now. Much worse, of course, death, both in Salford and across the country. are the health impacts for the people in those places who do not want to inhale smoke. 1.15 pm My hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis) outlined the steps that have already been Guto Bebb (Aberconwy) (Con): It is a pleasure to taken to make smoking less attractive. Tobacco advertising follow the hon. Member for Worsley and Eccles South has been banned from TV, billboards and sports such as (Barbara Keeley). I congratulate my hon. Friend the Formula 1. Surely the next step is to tackle the advertising Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) on securing on the packaging. the debate and the other Members who went to the Backbench Business Committee to ensure that it took In 1950 the figures were much higher: around 80% of place. However, my comments will not be particularly men and 40% of women smoked. Amazingly, cigarette supportive of my hon. Friend’s views on the issue. I advertising at the time used images of doctors and look at the matter from the perspective of a member of celebrities to promote the different brands. One brand the Public Accounts Committee, which recently produced even used images of Santa Claus smoking—imagine a significant report on the impact of tobacco smuggling that in the run-up to Christmas—to prove that it was on the loss of tax revenue in the UK. Having seen the easy on the throat. In the Westminster Hall debate my evidence, I came to the strong conclusion that the case hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris for plain packaging is certainly unproven. Ruane) told me about a cigarette pack currently being sold—we have heard today from the right hon. Member The hon. Member for Worsley and Eccles South said for Sutton and Cheam about some of the packs available— that she wanted to ensure that 1,000 children in her and described it as constituency do not take up smoking. I wonder what the evidence is to suggest that those 1,000 children will “a lovely 1950s retro pack, which opens up to show nice pink not take up smoking simply because of a change in the cigarettes inside”—[Official Report, 3 September 2013; Vol. 567, c. 18WH.] product’s packaging. The right hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr Barron) explained that he started smoking Those packs are targeted at young teenage girls, and by stealing cigarettes from his father. I wonder whether that is very cynical advertising. As I have said, the early his father’s choice of brand had any significant impact evidence suggests that the attractiveness of the brand on his decision to steal a single cigarette. When I was does have an impact, especially on young people, who growing up in Caernarfon, when people wanted to are so impressionable. We know that the colour pink is smoke they went to a local post office to buy singles. I being used because it is attractive to young teenage girls. suspect that they gave no consideration whatsoever to Early reports suggest that plain packaging can make the brand; the point was that they could buy cigarettes such a big difference by changing perceptions of smoking. very cheaply, usually one at a time. It was an important That is important for our children. A review commissioned development when that was made an illegal practice 463 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 464

[Guto Bebb] It is important to recognise the problem of illicit and smuggled products because evidence—yes, to be tested that would not be tolerated. However, it is still the case and argued about—has been presented to suggest that that the driver is the price, not the branding. That is plain packaging will actually make it easier for these what I want to talk about. products to be made available. I am fully aware that there are arguments on both sides. However, what is When the Public Accounts Committee researched the being said in this debate is, in effect, that the Government’s smuggling of tobacco products into the UK, some of decision to wait to look at the evidence from Australia the information that emerged from that work was shocking. somehow indicates that they are in league with the For example, in the top 10 recognised consumer brands tobacco companies. I find that quite distasteful. of cigarettes in this country there are often two or three that are illicit and that it is illegal to supply in this I genuinely approach this debate from the point of country—for example Jin Ling, Richman and Raquel. view that I would like the number of people who smoke Strictly speaking, those brands should not be available to be reduced—to nothing, I hope. I have never smoked, and so they would not be affected by legislation on and if any of my children smoked I would be absolutely plain packaging, yet independent consumer surveys furious. Indeed, I lost my father to lung cancer at the show that those brands, despite being illicit and illegal, young age of 63. My children never saw their grandfather are recognised by the public. simply because of his smoking. If the evidence was clear that plain packaging would be the answer, I would The question we must ask, therefore, is why and how be supportive. I find it very odd that Members are those brands are gaining a foothold in this country. saying that looking at the evidence is somehow condemning Clearly it is unacceptable that they are smuggled into people to die. That is emotional and unacceptable language. the country, and at such a rate that they are now recognised consumer brands. The key point we must When Populus recently surveyed a number of police recognise is that the driver for the sale of those products officers about whether they thought that plain packaging is not the branding or the so-called attractive packaging; would be helpful, 86% of them clearly stated that they it is the price. A packet of 20 cigarettes costs between thought it would make it easier for illicit tobacco products £7.50 and £8. My son, who is lucky enough to have a to be supplied and that those products would be targeted paper round, would have to spend half his weekly wage at young people who could afford them. Sixty-eight per if he decided to buy a packet of cigarettes legally, yet he cent. of the police officers thought that plain packaging could go out to any estate or high street in my constituency would lead to an increase in the size of the black and, if he was switched on, find a packet of illicit economy in relation to tobacco products. A full 62% tobacco for between £2 and £2.50. thought that an increase in cheap tobacco products would result in an increase in the use of tobacco products I therefore argue that the driver encouraging young by children. Those are very interesting and important people to start smoking is more likely to be the price findings from a poll of police officers. Are their views than the branding. If a young person can buy a packet correct? We need to look at the evidence and consider of 20 cigarettes for 15% or 20% of their weekly paper very carefully whether it supports them. round wage, they would be more tempted to do so than if they could buy it for 50% of their wage. By concentrating Mr Barron: In relation to illicit trade, the latest figures on plain packaging, we are ignoring an important fact: from HMRC, at a mid-point estimate, show that the price is a driver for the sale of these products. market share of illicit cigarettes has fallen from 15% in Time and again hon. Members have argued that plain 2006-07 to 9% in 2010-11. There is no evidence that this packaging is about protecting young people, yet in is not going the right way; it is enforcement that we university towns the young people often smoke roll-your- lack. owns. The figure for roll-your-own tobacco is absolutely atrocious. In my constituency, which has no higher Guto Bebb: The right hon. Gentleman should perhaps education facility, 48% of loose-leaf tobacco will be read the report by the Public Accounts Committee, smuggled and illicit. The vast majority will not be which presented evidence that there has been an uplift recognised UK brands. In any town with a university or since 2010-11. I thought that the whole point of this further education college, the percentage of illegal and Chamber was to debate on the basis of the facts, and smuggled loose-leaf tobacco will be even higher. What that we liked evidence to be up to date. If he wants to is the driver? What is persuading young people to buy quote evidence from 2010-11, that is absolutely fine, but tobacco products that are not officially marketed in the I refer him to the PAC report, which has updated United Kingdom? The answer, I argue, is price. figures. It is interesting that he would probably be very supportive of today’s PAC report on universal credit, but when the facts do not suit him he seems to ignore Barbara Keeley: The hon. Gentleman seems to be them. arguing that people who are already addicted, such as older students, will smoke anything, but that is not The key thing we need to remember is that time and surprising. We have repeatedly argued that young people again this place has legislated in haste. There is a get addicted in their early teens, and his arguments do significant question mark over both sides of the debate. not negate that. What the Government have said is very simple: let us see the evidence and consider it. If the evidence from Australia and other countries that decide to go down Guto Bebb: The hon. Lady completely misrepresents this route proves that there has been a reduction in the my view. I said clearly at the outset that the temptation use of tobacco products, a reduction in illicit tobacco for young people is much enhanced if the product is being taken into the country, a fall in the availability of affordable, and I think she fully understood my point. illicit products, and a fall in the number of smuggled 465 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 466 products, it would be worth taking the issue extremely Australian teenagers support it. If that is still not enough seriously and moving to legislate. However, the argument for the Minister, perhaps she could look at the findings advanced by some hon. Members is about their prejudice of the study by Cancer Council Victoria, which showed rather than the facts. We should congratulate the that when young people view packs stripped of colours Government on being willing to wait and legislate correctly and logos, they believe that the cigarettes are lower rather than acting in haste and possibly contributing to quality, will taste worse and are less appealing. and supporting the behaviour of people who are making In my opinion, the evidence is clear: standardised tobacco products available to young people not at £7.50 or packaging does discourage young people from taking £8 but at £2.50 or less. up smoking, and we should introduce it without delay. We should consider very carefully what is tempting However, may I suggest to the Minister that we go one young people to take up smoking. I am very clearly of step further? A lot of research was carried out to work the view that the temptation is not necessarily branding out the most unappealing colour scheme for the packaging. but more likely to be price. Labour Members might like I think we should extend this to the cigarettes themselves, to have a good feeling about doing something in this and as well as having grotty green-brown packets, we place to help young people, but they should do it on the should have grotty green-brown cigarettes. basis of facts, not their ill-informed opinions.

1.25 pm 1.29 pm Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington) (LD): I am Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con): A lot of delighted to have a chance to speak in this Back-Bench the points I was going to make have already been made, debate, and I add my congratulations to the hon. Member but I will start by saying that I absolutely support for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) on securing it. I will anything that is proven to reduce smoking. On that make a few brief comments because many issues that I evidence-based test, I am delighted to congratulate the would have mentioned have already been covered by schools in my constituency of Rossendale and Darwen other right hon. and hon. Members. that have made fantastic progress on reducing the number of young people who take up smoking. Nationally, I absolutely support the principle of standardised there is a good-news story to tell about the fall in the packaging of tobacco. I believe that it should have been number of people who smoke and who take up smoking. introduced a long time ago and that it should have had The number is less than 20% of adults for the first time a higher priority than a ban on point-of-sale displays. since records began, and there have been continued That is because introducing standardised packaging falls in the number of young people ever taking up would have resulted in the end of displays of cigarettes, smoking. as the adverts that those displays created would no longer be created by standardised packets. Many of us have had experience of cancer. Members, including my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East The decision not to proceed with standardised packaging (Bob Blackman), whom I congratulate on securing this has rightly been criticised. Questions about whether debate, have spoken movingly about their own family advisers have unduly influenced senior Conservative experience with cancer. It is a horrendous disease and politicians are perfectly legitimate and do not seem to that is why I am growing a moustache for Movember. have been properly addressed. However, equally disturbing I think that lots of people who smoke are realistic are the interventions by the unions, with bogus claims about the risks. There cannot be many of them who do that standardised packaging will result in significant not know that smoking has a direct link to cancer and job losses in the packaging industry. I would have that it ends lives more quickly than may otherwise be hoped that Labour Members would be just as vocal in the case. Some 12 million people still exercise their free condemning those interventions as they have been in choice to smoke cigarettes, however. questioning the influence of Conservative party advisers, but sadly not. Many of the Members who are in favour of plain packaging have said that it will be a next step, but what The Government’s argument for delaying a decision they really mean is that it will be the next step on the on standardised packaging was based on a perceived road to banning smoking. Let us not beat about the lack of empirical evidence that it would discourage tobacco bush: if people want to ban smoking—a legitimate young people from taking up smoking. I would have habit of 12 million people in this country—let us have a thought the fact that the tobacco industry has spent debate about it. Some have spoken about taking incremental hundreds of thousands of pounds, and more, in trying steps towards banning smoking in cars. I was tempted to lobby against standardised packaging would be evidence to intervene on the hon. Member for Stockton North enough. Why would it spend so much money on trying (Alex Cunningham) to ask how such a ban could be to stop something happening if it was not going to have enforced, but I invite him to tell me now. an impact on levels of smoking? If that is not evidence enough, may I bring to the Alex Cunningham: Nobody wanted to wear seat belts Minister’s attention early-day motion 559, in my name, when legislation was introduced, but the vast majority which highlights research by the British Heart Foundation of people started to do so. I think that about 90% now into standardised packaging for cigarettes in Australia? do so. I believe that people would adhere to a law if we It interviewed 2,500 young people and found that more introduced it. If not, we would need just a few cases in Australian teenagers than UK teenagers had been court and I am sure it would then start to happen. discouraged from taking up smoking, owing to the standardised packaging. Fifty-nine per cent. of Australian Jake Berry: I guess that the reason why people wear teenagers said that standardised packaging deters them seat belts is that it is a criminal offence not to do so. If from smoking, and 77% of UK teenagers and 66% of the hon. Gentleman is suggesting that smoking in cars 467 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 468

[Jake Berry] sex and they can go to Afghanistan to fight in the Army, and the Opposition and the Liberal Democrats think should be made a criminal offence, that just reinforces that they should have the right to vote, but they are not my point about the desire of certain people on the other allowed to buy cigarettes. We should have much more side of the debate to ban smoking. If that is what rigorous enforcement of the existing laws against selling people want, we should have an active debate about it cigarettes to under-18s, rather than rush to introduce and give people who smoke legitimately an opportunity new laws on plain packaging and banning smoking in to have their say. cars. During this Parliament alone, the Government have increased NHS funding by £12 billion, given people Alex Cunningham: Will the hon. Gentleman give access to the cancer drug fund and protected public way? spending with regard to local authority public health budgets. That is good progress and I am proud to be Jake Berry: No, I will not. part of a Government delivering it. Limits on the The European Union has recently legislated on banning display of tobacco products have also recently been 10-cigarette packs and menthol cigarettes. I do not introduced in larger stores. Anyone who has been to a support the ban of 10-cigarette packs. People who supermarket recently will have seen the white signs that smoke often purchase a packet of 10 cigarettes as a way slide backwards and forwards to disguise tobacco products, of rationing themselves, and people who are trying to and they will be introduced in smaller retailers in 2015. cut down on smoking will also buy them. I understand I support that and think it is a good thing. that this is about increasing the price of the first packet The ban on vending machines in pubs is particularly of cigarettes that someone buys, but making people buy good. I started smoking by buying cigarettes by the 20 cigarettes at a time will increase the amount they men’s loo in a pub in Liverpool, where I was brought smoke and encourage them to smoke more. That will be up. It is the easiest way to buy cigarettes under age, so I the unintended consequence of what is probably a am delighted with and support the ban. The way in well-intended piece of EU legislation and I am disappointed which the Government have continued to increase tax that the Government supported it. on cigarettes has also been good. I think that making Legislation banning menthol cigarettes also went through them more expensive discourages people from taking the European Parliament just a few weeks ago. I do not up smoking. I support all that action, but such action understand why the hundreds of thousands—millions must be based on benefits. even—of people in this country who smoke menthol cigarettes should have them taken away from them. Mr Barron: I started on my anti-tobacco crusade People have to be able to make their own decisions. If 20 years ago this year when I promoted a private they want to smoke normal or menthol cigarettes, they Member’s Bill. In all that time, the only person I have should be free to do so. heard say that if tobacco was discovered now it would This House also needs to give much more attention be banned was the then Conservative Secretary of State to legislation with regard to electronic cigarettes. I do for Health, who now sits in the other place. As far as I not smoke normal cigarettes. Having moved on to know, it has never been part of the anti-tobacco campaign electronic cigarettes as a way of giving up, I know that in this country to say that we want to ban people from they can be a hugely positive medicinal aid if someone smoking. What we want to do is prevent them from is desperate to give up smoking. To talk about cigarettes starting and save lives. as they are today is to talk about old technology. Within the next year or 18 months, in the United States of Jake Berry: I think it is right to say that if tobacco America more fluid for electronic cigarettes is likely to was discovered toady it probably would be banned. I be sold than traditional cigarettes. It is a large, unregulated also think that if alcohol was discovered today it probably industry. We need to get a handle on it and an overview would be banned. That does not mean that we should of it and scrutinise its potential benefits or, indeed, seek to do so. dangers. We need to start considering legislation with I am very pleased with the progress the Government regard to electronic cigarettes and try to prevent young have made. The evidence shows that we have reduced to people from taking them up. a record low the number of people who smoke, but I know from experience in my local pub, the Robin there are still things left on the to-do list. First and Hood in Helmshore in my constituency, that more foremost, we need to look at the evidence from Australia. people are starting to smoke electronic cigarettes because If it demonstrates that plain packaging has reduced the they can do so while standing at the bar. Young people amount that people smoke, we should take it up and I are starting to smoke them because they can get champagne, would not oppose it. I do not accept, however, that that truffle, cherry and bubble gum flavours. We need to has yet been proven. Part of being in this House, in debate this important development in order to have government or in opposition is to have an evidence-based some sort of control and to protect young people from, debate about outcomes. I do not think that we have the to be frank, the inappropriate glamorisation of the evidence or that the outcome will be a reduction in electronic cigarette. the amount that people smoke. We also do not yet know the impact of disguising packages in supermarkets, which may have the effect we seek without increasing 1.39 pm the regulation on the tobacco industry. Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab/Co-op): We need much more rigorous enforcement against This is the first time I have had the privilege of speaking under-age sales. It is illegal to buy cigarettes under the with you in the Chair, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I age of 18. People under that age can have consensual look forward to it. 469 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 470

I thank the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob “Indulgence—change the taste to suit your mood”. Blackman) for seeking this debate, the co-sponsors Such novelty packets appeal to young people, because from all parties and the Backbench Business Committee that is exactly what they are designed to do. for making it possible. It has been a very good debate, Academics at the university of Stirling tested that by with many thoughtful and powerful contributions and, surveying more than 1,000 children for a study that was I think, a large degree of consensus. There is a clear published in the British Medical Journal a few weeks reason for that consensus. In the final analysis, this is a ago. They found that the children were overwhelmingly debate about children. Adults do not take up smoking; more attracted to the packets with such designs. children do. Despite hon. Members having referred to a drop in the take-up of smoking, more than 200,000 children still take up smoking every year. Eight out of 10 smokers Dame Angela Watkinson: The hon. Lady has spoken start by the age of 19. As my right hon. Friend the about children starting to smoke. Does she agree that Member for Rother Valley (Mr Barron) said, there are the main responsibility lies with their parents, because few new smokers over the age of 21. In my patch, there the money has to come from somewhere? If it does not are 460 regular smokers across Liverpool who have not come from their parents, where does it come from? yet turned 15. As the right hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Burstow) said, we are talking about a Luciana Berger: That point has been made by other childhood addiction, not an adult choice. hon. Members in this debate. I remember from when I We know that about half of those children—half of was a young person that children do not get their all regular smokers—will eventually be killed by their money only from their parents and that they do not addiction. Contrary to the presentation by the hon. necessarily buy the cigarettes themselves. Often, they Member for Ribble Valley (Mr Evans), who I am sorry see other people getting out their packs of cigarettes. to see is not in his place, tobacco is different from other The children in the university of Stirling study who products, because if it is used properly, as instructed, it were shown a packet of Silk Cut cigarettes were found kills one in two of its users. It is the only product for to be more than four times more likely to be susceptible which there is an international treaty, the World Health to smoking. Those were children who had never smoked. Organisation’s framework convention on tobacco control, It is the packaging that entices children. If we want to precisely because it is not like any other product and has discourage children from ever starting to smoke, we to be treated differently. need to question whether that is an acceptable way to Smoking remains by far the largest preventable cause market a product that is highly addictive, seriously of cancer. As my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley harmful and clinically proven to kill. Smokers advertise Central (Dan Jarvis) said, more than 100,000 people die tobacco brands to other people every time they take out across the UK from smoking-related diseases every their pack to smoke. The packets should not be glitzy year. In Liverpool, 346 deaths per 100,000 are attributable adverts, but should carry strong and unambiguous health to smoking, whereas the national average is 201 deaths warnings about the dangers of smoking. We should not per 100,000. The hon. Member for Rossendale and allow those warnings to be subverted by the design of Darwen (Jake Berry) spoke about NHS spending on the the rest of the packet. cancer drugs fund. I will move on to my second theme. We have heard a The question that we should be asking ourselves is few arguments against standardised packaging in this whether we are doing everything we can to discourage debate. We have also heard those arguments from the children from starting to smoke in the first place. Contrary tobacco industry. I will deal with each of the arguments to what the hon. Member for Aberconwy (Guto Bebb) in turn. Much of the discussion has centred around said, I make no apology for asking the emotive questions. evidence. Hon. Members have said that there is no Are we doing all that we can to protect our young evidence that standardised packaging will work. That is people? Have we exhausted every measure at our disposal? not true. With that in mind, I want to cover three broad themes: Last year, the systematic review by the Public Health first, why packaging matters so greatly; secondly, why Research Consortium, which was commissioned by the the arguments against standardised packaging do not Department of Health, looked at all the evidence on stand up to close scrutiny; and thirdly, why we cannot standardised packaging. The findings are clear for everyone afford to wait. to see. It found that standardised packaging is less I echo what was said by the hon. Member for Harrow attractive, especially to young people. My hon. Friend East, my hon. Friends the Members for Stockton North the Member for Worsley and Eccles South (Barbara (Alex Cunningham) and for Barnsley Central and my Keeley) rightly pointed out that it takes away the cool right hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley about factor. The review also found that standardised packaging the part that packaging plays in encouraging young makes health warnings more effective and combats the people to smoke. It is widely accepted that in the years utter falsehood that some brands are safer than others. since the last Labour Government banned tobacco Those findings have been backed up by 17 studies that advertising in 2002, the tobacco industry has developed have been published since the systematic review. far more sophisticated ways of using packaging to Government Members, including the hon. Member for entice people to smoke. Ribble Valley, have asked for evidence. We have the We have all seen what cigarette and tobacco packaging evidence. looks like in Britain today, with its bright colours, shiny A separate study that was published in the British veneers and slimmed-down packets. We have heard Medical Journal in July looked at research from Australia about the boxes shaped like perfume bottles and lipsticks, soon after the introduction of standardised packaging. with the glamorous slogans to match. One slogan that It found that smokers who used standardised packs struck me was, were 66% more likely to think that their cigarettes were 471 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 472

[Luciana Berger] and Customs, stated in oral evidence to the House of Lords European Union sub-Committee on Wednesday of a poorer quality, 70% more likely to say that they 24 July: found them less satisfying, 81% more likely to have “There are a number of potential factors that weigh on counterfeit thought about quitting at least once a day in the previous packaging”, week and much more likely to rate quitting as a higher but that if standardised packaging was introduced, it priority in their lives than smokers who used branded was packs. Not only are people less likely to take up smoking when presented with standardised packs; people who “very doubtful that it would have a material effect.” already smoke are more likely to think about quitting if the cigarettes that they buy come in standardised packaging. Jake Berry: I thank the hon. Lady for giving way to give her a chance to find her place. Does she acknowledge Barbara Keeley: My hon. Friend is being very generous that the Government’s current policy on standardised with her time. The hon. Member for Rossendale and or plain packaging is exactly the same as it was under Darwen (Jake Berry) seemed to be quite satisfied with the previous Government? the Government’s action on this issue, although that is perhaps not surprising given the views that he has put Luciana Berger: I thank the hon. Gentleman for his forward in this debate. However, it is a fact that fewer intervention but more than three years have passed people have quit smoking successfully and that fewer since that point. I am immensely proud of everything people have attempted to quit with NHS help over the the Labour Government did through their tobacco last year. That is the first time since 2008-09 that those strategy to reduce smoking. We heard from my hon. figures have fallen. I talked about quit services in Salford, Friend the Member for Barnsley Central about the but such services are now less successful and there must many measures we introduced, but we must do more be a reason for that. Does my hon. Friend take that as and go further, and in my concluding remarks I will say seriously as I do? why I am disappointed with the Government’s current approach. Luciana Berger: I thank my hon. Friend for that The third claim I want to counter is that the proposed important intervention. The figures that came out just changes to tobacco packaging are somehow a symptom the other week do show a drop in the number of people of the nanny state. People should, of course, be allowed who are quitting smoking through NHS services. I am to make their own decisions, but we should not be very concerned about that. As I said at the start of my standing by while industry sets honey traps and uses contribution, 200,000 young people still take up smoking every means at its disposal to try to make those decisions every year. That is exactly what we are seeking to for them. Nearly all new smokers are children, we are address in this debate. dealing with an addictive product that is clinically proven We have reflected a lot on the Australian experience. to kill, and smoking rates are higher among the most The former Australian Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek, vulnerable groups in our society, particularly children in reported that there was a residential care. That is why today’s debate is so important. “flood of calls…in the days after the introduction of plain I will conclude with my most important point, which packaging accusing the Government of changing the taste of is why we cannot afford to delay. The Minister has cigarettes.” previously made clear that the Government’s position is She went on to say: to wait and see. Her predecessor did the same, despite saying that she personally had been persuaded of the “Of course there was no reformulation of the product. It was just that people being confronted with the ugly packaging made case for standardised packaging a few months previously. the psychological leap to disgusting taste.” Just today, about 570 children across the country, none of them older than 15, will have their first cigarette, and That is a significant point. Far from there being no approximately 71 will have done so while we have been evidence, there is a swathe of evidence. debating this subject. If we wait and see, we will be The second claim raised during our debate is that standing idly by while hundreds of thousands of young standardised packaging would increase trade in counterfeit people become victim to this deadly addiction. cigarettes, or impact on the printing trade. Again, it is The Opposition have made their position clear. If the important to clarify that we are talking about standardised Government wish to bring forward legislation to make packaging. I have heard hon. Members use the term standardised packaging a reality, they can count on our “plain packaging”, but we are not discussing that. I full support. That was our position before the Government know I am not allowed to demonstrate this at the changed their mind about this issue in July, and it is our Dispatch Box, Madam Deputy Speaker, but standardised position now. The Children and Families Bill is making packaging is clearly printed; it is not a plain pack. its way through the other place. Labour has tabled an Current packaging is already so easy to forge that amendment to that Bill to introduce standardised packaging covert markings enable enforcement officials to identify that will be debated in the coming weeks and voted on counterfeit cigarettes, and all key security features on later this year. That simple measure would make a huge existing packets would continue on standardised packets. difference and is clearly supported by Members on Standardised packaging would make pictorial warnings all sides of the House. On behalf of those 71 children more prominent and packaging harder to forge. who have started smoking during this debate, and the We heard in an important contribution that standardised 200,000 who will start every year, I urge the Minister packaging might lead to an increase in illicit trade, but and her Government colleagues to do the right thing that is simply not true. Andrew Leggett, deputy director and support our amendment. Let us save future generations for tobacco and alcohol strategy at Her Majesty’s Revenue from the perils of smoking. 473 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 474

1.54 pm Mr Barron: If the other place legislated to introduce standardised packaging, we would be able to have a The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health vote in this Chamber. May we have a free vote, just as (Jane Ellison): It is a genuine pleasure to respond to this the current Prime Minister argued for a free vote on Backbench Business Committee debate. I was a member smoking in public places? of the Committee when my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman), who initiated the debate, made a bid for it, although at the time I did not Jane Ellison: The Government are following discussions expect to respond to it, so I am in an interesting in another place closely. Beyond that, I am not able to position. My hon. Friend made a great bid and we have comment in this debate, but we are well aware of those had a terrific debate. I am grateful for the contributions discussions and Ministers are participating in them. from all hon. Members. Australia introduced standardised packaging in It is good that we are debating this important issue December 2012, and New Zealand and the Republic of now. It has been helpful for me, as a new Minister, to Ireland have committed to do that. In addition, other hear arguments put so eloquently from across the House, academic studies are emerging about the effects of that and I will try to respond to some of the specific points policy. made and to set out the Government’s position. I recognise The UK has a long and respected tobacco control that I will disappoint some people, but I will try to give tradition internationally, although at times in this debate a flavour of the Government’s current position and it has been possible to miss that point. Under successive mention some of the important measures we are taking Governments the UK’s record has been good, and we on tobacco control. will continue to implement our existing plan to reduce As many hon. Members have said, tobacco use remains smoking rates while keeping the policy of standardised one of our most significant public health challenges. packaging under active review. The tobacco control For me as a new Minister, over the past month briefing plan for England sets out national ambitions to reduce after briefing and chart after chart have illustrated how smoking prevalence among adults, young people and important and what a significant public health challenge pregnant mothers. As the plan makes clear, to be effective, tobacco control is. There is no question in my mind that tobacco control needs comprehensive action on a range it is an essential aspect of any Government’s commitment of fronts. to reduce the number of people dying prematurely in I will talk a little more about this in the context of our country, and it is essential to promoting the health devolved powers of public health to local government, and well-being of children. A number of speakers have but there is a slight danger that by focusing only on one made the point that two thirds of smokers say they were aspect of tobacco control, we forget that there are regular smokers before they became adults. Many have other—and indeed more—things that we could do. spoken about adult choice, but we must recognise that Even if it was possible to say today that we would do by the time many people are addicted to smoking, they this tomorrow, we would still be debating how we could are already an adult and the addiction started as a child. effectively control tobacco and stop children taking up As hon. Members know, the Government have decided smoking. As various hon. Members have said, including to wait before deciding on standardised packaging, but the right hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr Barron), I do not recognise some of the time frames that people this is an ongoing battle to protect children’s health. have ascribed to our position. I said that during Health questions, and I repeat that the policy remains under Barbara Keeley: Is the Minister concerned about the active consideration. fact that between April 2012 and March 2013, there was Interesting points have been raised in the debate, an 11% decline in the number of people setting a quit including about emerging evidence from Australia and date? We are concerned about children, but if they are studies carried out elsewhere, some of which the shadow still watching their parents smoking, it is more likely Minister referred to in her contribution. Evidence and that they will start. I hope that she is disturbed by the information is emerging all the time, and we want to fact that the numbers setting out to quit are falling—it spend more time assimilating that information and is the first fall since 2008-09. The Minister should considering the likely effect that standardised packaging address that point. would have in this country. It is sensible and sound politics, particularly when dealing with a controversial area and a litigious industry, to show the stages by Jane Ellison: We are aware of that, but smoking in which we reach a decision, and I am sure that Members this country has dipped below 20% for the first time appreciate that we must be able to evidence that decision. ever. I am aware of the hon. Lady’s concerns and I shall talk a bit about some of the public health campaigns Alex Cunningham: If we are going to allow another and the new opportunities, not just for the Government half a million young people to take up smoking over the but for local government and individual Members, on next three years while the Government decide whether tobacco control policy. to introduce plain packaging, what measures will the As our plan makes clear, effective tobacco control Minister take to hit the big numbers that we know plain needs comprehensive action on many fronts. The packaging—or standardised packaging—could affect? Government are taking action nationally.We are committed to completing the implementation of legislation to end Jane Ellison: I am glad that the hon. Gentleman the display of tobacco in shops. Since 2012, supermarkets corrected himself, because it is important that we do not can no longer openly display tobacco. In 2015 all shops call it plain packaging—it is standardised. I hear his will need to take tobacco off view. Tobacco can no point and will move on to address some of the specific longer be sold from vending machines, which has stopped issues. Many people have cited such numbers. many young people under 18 accessing smoking. 475 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 476

[Jane Ellison] Jane Ellison: With respect, I am outlining these other aspects to underline the point that one policy is not I do not want to downplay the importance of this sufficient to tackle this problem. There is a slight danger policy—we are conscious that it could make an important of believing that the approach is a silver bullet. It is an contribution—but we can do many other things. The important policy that has been given serious consideration, reasons why children, in particular, take up smoking are and the case has been made for it, but we would still be very complex, and are to do with family and social debating how to stop children smoking, even if it were circumstances. One policy alone will not address that. introduced. Local authorities have a vital role to play, which is why we have given local government responsibility for public Alex Cunningham: What about a free vote? health backed by large ring-fenced budgets—more than £5.4 billion in the next two years. I encourage all hon. Members who have participated in today’s debate to ask Jane Ellison: I will move on as I have tried to respond tough questions of people locally. I hope that they are to the hon. Gentleman’s point. talking to their public health directors, health and wellbeing Our local stop smoking services are among the best boards and clinical commissioning groups about where in the world. The fact is that smokers trying to quit do tobacco control sits in the armoury of local government. better if they use them. Research has found that That is why this power has been devolved. The local “English stop smoking services have had an increasing impact insight and innovation made possible by that policy will in helping smokers to stop in their first 10 years of operation”— help us to tackle tobacco use at a local level as well as although I hear the challenge that has been made on the through policies that the Government can put in place. recent drop— “and have successfully reached disadvantaged groups.” Mr John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) (Con): I congratulate the Minister on her obvious grasp of the The latter are obviously particularly important from a subject. She is right to say that this will be a continuing public health point of view. debate beyond the issue of standardised packaging. This year, Public Health England has launched a new Does she agree, however, that an increasing welter of dedicated youth marketing programme. This marketing evidence suggests that standardised packaging would strategy aims at discouraging a range of risk behaviours, help in the fight against smoking, particularly among including tobacco use, among our young people. In this the young? Will she give an assurance that the Government financial year, that is worth more than £1.5 million. will increase the urgency of their review of the situation, and especially of the growing evidence in favour of Barbara Keeley: The Minister does not seem to be standardised packaging? saying what the Government will do about the decline in quitting—the fact that stop smoking services are not Jane Ellison: I can give my hon. Friend that commitment reaching people to the extent that they should be. Does and I am giving this my urgent consideration. It is that concern her, and is she going to do something impossible to sit through a debate such as today’s, and about it? hear the passion expressed by many hon. Members on both sides of the House, without going away, as the Jane Ellison: That is something that I will look at public health Minister, to give it one’s serious, urgent carefully, but I point out to the hon. Lady that obviously and active consideration. this issue now falls under the remit of Public Health I have laid out a little challenge to hon. Members to England. It will be on my agenda for the next meeting take this issue up at the local level. I appreciate that it is with the chief executive, and I will write to her after I right that I should be held to account on this issue, but have had that discussion, if that would be helpful. in the new world of devolved public health powers, I urge hon. Members to have those conversations with Jake Berry: Does the Minister think that there is any their health and wellbeing boards and with public health connection between a record low number of people directors. In areas of the country where smoking prevalence smoking and relatively few people contacting the quitting among children is a difficult issue—some examples have helpline? Does she think that we might be down to the been cited in the debate—our belief is that by devolving core of people who actually choose to smoke and do some of the power and, importantly, the ring-fenced not want to give up? budget to local authorities who know their communities best, they can begin to tackle the problem with great urgency and added innovation in a way that central Jane Ellison: I hope that my hon. Friend will forgive Government cannot. me, but after four weeks in this job, I do not know that. I am not prepared to speculate on such an important Public Health England has an important part to play. issue, but I am happy to come back to him with more As a new, dedicated, professional public health service, detail when we have given it further consideration. it will be available to advise on local action to promote public health and encourage behaviour change to help Through Public Health England, we will continue to people live healthier lives. It will put expert advice at the run national marketing campaigns, such as the hard-hitting disposal of local authorities. health harms “Mutation” campaign, in the new year. I am sure that no one who saw that can forget the images in the campaign, which reminded smokers about the Alex Cunningham: The Minister has outlined some physical damage caused by smoking. We have just finished good ideas, but will she say whether she would support Stoptober—we have now moved on to Movember—a a free vote on this issue on the Floor of the House? new approach launched in 2012 challenging smokers to 477 Tobacco Packaging7 NOVEMBER 2013 Tobacco Packaging 478 stop for 28 days, all at the same time. We know that that Dame Angela Watkinson: When looking at future can be a key turning point if people want to quit for policy development, will the Minister pay greater attention ever. to how parents can be encouraged to take responsibility The Government will continue to play their part. To for the behaviour of their young children and how discourage smoking, we have some of the highest priced much money they have to spend unsupervised? Such tobacco in Europe and we will carry on with our high money obviously gives children access to tobacco, but it tax policy. That is coupled with an effective strategy, led is in parents’ hands to control it. by HMRC, to reduce the illicit tobacco trade, which has been mentioned in the debate. However, we must not Jane Ellison: I thank my hon. Friend for that important forget the great progress that has been made. As I said, point. We know that many children who start smoking less than 20% of adults in England now smoke, compared are within a family who smoke and that they are sometimes with 39% in 1980. However, we want that number to given cigarettes by parents or other family members fall, and there is no room for complacency. and friends. I will of course consider her very relevant On standardised packaging and illicit tobacco, some point. 21% of the UK’s cigarette market was illicit in 2000. I reiterate that there are many things we can do, but Latest estimates from HMRC for 2012-13 suggest that we are actively considering whether standardised packaging that proportion has dropped to around 9%. Enforcement could make an important contribution to our overall is having a real impact on illicit tobacco and we want to policy on tobacco control. I have noted the strength of see the figure fall still further. The Government, working feeling on both sides of the House. This has been a with other interested parties, are trying to drive down good debate, and an informative one for me as a new the size of the illicit tobacco market through improved Minister. As I have said, I am actively considering the enforcement and reducing opportunities for fraud. I am matter, and today’s powerful contributions have spurred grateful to those hon. Members who have made the me to give further and urgent consideration to this point that if we were to adopt standardised packaging, important public health issue. it would not mean plain packaging. Approaches such as anti-smuggling devices could be built into standardised packaging, if we choose to go down that route. 2.13 pm A few hon. Members were concerned about the possible Bob Blackman: This being the first time I have spoken impact of the policy on jobs. Obviously, the Government when you have been in the Chair, Madam Deputy need to consider all aspects of the policy, including any Speaker, I congratulate you on your election to high impact on employment, alongside possible health benefits. office. Others made a point about small retailers, and some We have heard today from 11 Back Benchers, as well might have been present for a recent late-night Adjournment as the two Front Benchers, and hon. Members have put debate to which I responded that was led by the hon. their arguments strongly. Clearly, I am wholly in favour Member for Solihull (Lorely Burt), who is not in the of standardised the packaging of tobacco products, Chamber. She made some very interesting points, especially and the quicker it is done the better. Three arguments by citing evidence from a small retailer who told her have been advanced against its rapid introduction. The that tobacco constituted 14% of his profits, but 50% of first concerns the illicit trade. In reality, the illicit trade his turnover, and who was actively trying to diversify his continues now, but the evidence is that through the business into areas that yielded greater profit. security marking of packaging and cigarettes themselves, I want to place on record our position on tobacco and with greater vigilance from our customs and excise industry lobbying, which several Members mentioned. people, the illicit trade can be stamped on hard. The We are well aware that the tobacco industry opposes the tobacco industry, which is against standardised packaging, introduction of standardised packaging, as has been uses the illicit trade as an excuse. the case on many other tobacco control policies, and we Secondly, we have heard that the big tobacco companies are equally aware of our commitment to protect public would use the money they currently spend on packaging health policy on tobacco control from the commercial to cut the cost of tobacco. My answer is to increase the and other vested interests of the tobacco industry. We tax. We must ensure that tobacco is expensive so that encourage tobacco companies to respond in writing to people are discouraged from purchasing it. Thirdly, the consultations so that we can understand and take account key argument from those who oppose the measure of their views about the implications of policy options. seems to be, “Let’s delay and prevaricate. Let’s wait Members will fully appreciate why we have to take such and see what happens. Let’s wait for everyone else to steps properly to inform a robust public policy in this decide, and then take action ourselves.” As we have area. said, 300,000 under-18s start smoking every year, so the The right hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul longer we delay, the greater the number of people Burstow)—he is not in the Chamber, but I know he had taking up smoking and dying prematurely. a long-standing previous engagement—made a point about the proposed tracking and tracing scheme in the Barbara Keeley: I imagine that the hon. Gentleman EU directive that is under negotiation. We are considering was as disappointed as me to hear the Minister’s response. those details, particularly in the light of our obligations There is a tendency among Health Ministers to say that under the framework convention on tobacco control, to everything is at arm’s length. Like me, I hope that he which reference has been made. rejects the Minister’s claim that responsibility lies with I reiterate that this policy is under active consideration, Public Health England, local government and Members but I want hon. Members to reflect on what else we themselves. The action we need is action that only the can do. Government can take. Does he support that view? 479 Tobacco Packaging 7 NOVEMBER 2013 480

Bob Blackman: I thank the hon. Lady for her First World War Commemoration intervention, but the Minister did give some clear assurances about the review of evidence and research that will take 2.17 pm place. We cannot afford to delay this health measure. It The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence would stop young people being attracted to smoking. (Dr Andrew Murrison): I beg to move, The evidence overwhelmingly shows that big tobacco That this House has considered commemoration of the First targets young people to get them smoking, and we must World War. not allow it to continue prevaricating and preventing It is a great privilege to lead this Government debate progress on this agenda. I urge my hon. Friend the during our season of remembrance. I would like to Minister to go back to her office this afternoon and start by paying tribute to Warrant Officer Ian Fisher of look at the evidence, including the 17 studies, and make 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment. His passing brings it clear to her health officials that we want to do this the events we are debating a little closer, and tragically now, not to wait. If the Government refuse to act and so. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends the other place refuses to amend the Children and and colleagues of a truly remarkable man. Families Bill, we will introduce another debate on which I am pleased that so many colleagues are here in the we can divide the House and demonstrate that the Chamber today. It shows the extent of the interest in overwhelming will of hon. Members is for the immediate this subject and I hope means that Members will be introduction of standardised packaging of tobacco taking this issue to their constituencies in the years products. ahead and showing the leadership for which they are Question put and agreed to. renowned and encouraging their communities to get Resolved, involved in this commemoration. I wish to bring to the That this House has considered standardised packaging of attention of right hon. and hon. Members the “Fields tobacco products. of Battle” exhibition, which Mr Speaker was gracious enough to allow to be displayed in Westminster Hall and the opening ceremony of which many colleagues attended on Tuesday. It is an example of how Members can take the great war centenary to their constituencies and expose this at street level to as wide an audience as possible. I commend it to the House. Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con): Is there not also an opportunity for hon. Members to highlight the opportunities, apparent when we go to our remembrance services and are before these memorials that provide a living link, effectively, with those who lost their lives in our name, to support the War Memorials Trust and the “then and now” funding that aims to re-establish the link between community groups and their memorials and to teach people about the lives lost in our communities? That is important and will ensure that we can register memorials of all shapes and sizes donated by past generations. We need to continue that link in times to come. Dr Murrison: My hon. Friend raises a good point and I shall underscore the importance of focusing on the personal and parochial in this commemoration, as that is the link that people have with that period. Using war memorials as the starting point is something I would encourage. I commend all those involved in that endeavour. I would like to set out the Government’s thinking on the four-year centenary of the first world war and give a flavour of the philosophy underpinning its approach. The great war may be the keystone of our times but our understanding of it is not very good. Polling data suggests that the public know that there was a war in 1914 and have a pretty good idea of who was on what side. They know about mud, trenches and iconic things such as the Christmas truce. Thereafter, it starts to get a bit hazy. Improvement of our grasp of the causes, conduct and consequences of the first world war must be at the heart of the centenary that is about to break upon us. As the Prime Minister said a year ago when he announced the Government’s framework for the centenary, “Our first duty is to remember.” 481 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 482

But the question is, what exactly should we be remembering? perhaps to balance the “Oh! What a Lovely War”/ The remembrance that the Prime Minister was talking “Blackadder” take on history that, sadly, has been in about involves so much more than simply bringing to the ascendant for the past 50 years. In its place, we will mind experiences that few of us have had or people we have a richer, deeper and more reflective legacy. But we have never met. Remembrance is not synonymous with should acknowledge that some will interpret the centenary recollection. This Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, not in different ways, holding and contributing their own recollection Sunday. It is an opportunity to acknowledge views. Some within that patchwork may discomfort the fallen, while consciously reflecting on the nature of some of us. We may individually or corporately disagree war and resolving to avoid it. That is what we mean by with them but find expression they must. The role of remembrance. We also give thanks that, peace restored, Government in the centenary is to lead, encourage and the great majority who served in the first world war did help make it all happen, while avoiding the temptation actually return to raise their families—our families— to prescribe. It is emphatically not the place of Government although, let us not forget, that all too many returned in our 21st century liberal democracy to be handing with enduring mental or physical infirmity that changed down approved versions of history. the course of their lives and that of their families to an extent that will never be quantified. That resonates with Mr (Belfast North) (DUP): Will the contemporary conflict, provoking I hope generosity in Minister acknowledge that many soldiers from the Irish the 2013 poppy appeal. Republic, as it now is, served during the first world war? The waypoints of the war sear our national The Republic of Ireland is no longer a member of the consciousness; the Somme, Jutland, Gallipoli, Commonwealth, of course, but it is important that their Passchendaele, Loos and Amiens, the last so crucial as sacrifice is part of all this. Will he join me in welcoming the game changer in the course of the war. We must the fact that there are seemingly positive discussions remember that this war was also fought on the home with the Government of the Irish Republic to ensure front in the factory and the munitions depot, and by that, in relation to those who won the VC, the paving women whose lives would never be the same in a society stones will be laid in counties in the Irish republic? transformed. We must commemorate this centenary Certainly that good work needs to continue and we because with the passing in 2009 of Harry Patch, Bill welcome it very much. Stone and Henry Allingham, our last tangible links with the first world war are retreating into the shadows. Dr Murrison: I am absolutely delighted that the right hon. Gentleman has raised that point. As he would Alok Sharma (Reading West) (Con): My hon. Friend expect, we have spent a great deal of time in debate with is making a powerful speech. Does he share my view Dublin on this matter. As I have been going through that we should commemorate not just British soldiers this work, it has been something of a revelation to me as but soldiers from the Commonwealth countries, particularly I have understood fully the great work that Her Majesty soldiers such as Khudadad Khan, the first Indian to be the Queen did when she visited Dublin. Ever since then awarded the , who survived the war? there has been a huge appetite in both countries to improve the relationship between the two countries, Dr Murrison: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for which has been extraordinarily uplifting. Of course raising that point, which I will develop in my contribution; the Republic of Ireland is engaged in its decade of suffice to say I agree with him wholeheartedly. commemoration, within which falls the centenary of the great war. I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that I have Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Ind): The one thing I had extraordinarily positive feedback from Dublin regarding regret is that I did not ask my grandfather more about their engagement with this period of shared history and the first world war and now, of course, it is far too late. I look forward, as part of the legacy of the centenary, to In 1921, we gave a posthumous VC to the unknown moving the relationship a little bit further forward, with soldier in the United States. As we now commemorate all the sensitivities that it of course contains. However, I 100 years since the beginning of the first world war, is it see this very much as an opportunity and I am grateful not appropriate to at least consider awarding a VC to to the right hon. Gentleman for raising that point. the unknown soldier who lies in Westminster Abbey, as suggested by a constituent, Tony Ormiston, who is an Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): Many of the Irish expert on the VC? nationalist Members of this House fought in the war, which they never thought they would be doing, on Dr Murrison: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the behalf of the united Great Britain and Ireland, including, suggestion. Over the four-year period, there will be most famously perhaps, Willie Redmond. He has a plenty of opportunities to mark appropriately those shield in the House, but one Irish nationalist MP who who fell during the great war and those who served and died in active service who does not have a shield is sacrificed. On Monday there will be a delivery of sacred Captain Esmonde. Will the Minister make sure that he soil from Flanders fields to a memorial garden at the gets one? Guards chapel not far from here; a very fitting tribute and one that will bring this country and Belgium—two Dr Murrison: I suspect that that is a matter for key players—very much closer together. I hope people Mr Speaker rather than for me, but I suspect that will take note of all this, and the whole point is for them Mr Speaker will have noted the contribution of the hon. to reflect and better understand what happened 100 years Gentleman. I know that the House itself is working ago. hard to determine what it will do to mark the centenary There are those who are asking what the point of it of the great war and no doubt the hon. Gentleman will all is, but if we do not do this we risk disconnection be able to reinforce his point with the appropriate from the defining event of our time. There is an opportunity authority. 483 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 484

Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Lab): I was pleased national events to capture the moment and set the to hear the Minister say that the Government will not tone. They will have an identifiably Commonwealth dictate how we should commemorate the tragedy of the look and feel, reflecting the historical reality. We have first world war. I hope that, in the promotion of serious been working with our international partners and with discussion on the subject, he will recall the soldiers who the devolved Administrations to that end. A centrepiece died in all theatres of conflict, be they German, Russian, of the commemorations will be the reopening of the French or British. I also hope that he will recall the in London next year, following significant degree of opposition to the war on both the £35 million refurbishment of its first world war sides, in Germany and in Britain. That, too, is part of galleries. There will be an enduring educational legacy, our shared history and should be commemorated and funded by £5.3 million from the Department for Education discussed. and the Department for Communities and Local Government, to enable a programme based on, but not Dr Murrison: It is rare for me to agree with the hon. confined to, visits to the battlefields. Gentleman, but I agree with him on that point. I note The Heritage Lottery Fund will provide at least that the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has been at the £15 million, including a £6 million community project centre of all this through providing a great deal of the fund, to enable young people working in their communities underpinning finance, has recognised that and been to conserve, explore and share local heritage from the making grants accordingly.I hope that the hon. Gentleman first world war, epitomised by yellowing photos of approves of that. young men posing stiffly in uniform, possibly for the first and last time. Much of the public interest in the Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) (Lab): I concur period is personal and parochial, and this will provide a with the sentiments expressed about the Irish Government. non-threatening entry point to the wider story. There Is the Minister aware that the Commonwealth War will also be at least £10 million in the programme of Graves Commission is working closely with the Irish cultural events taking place as part of the centenary Government to erect headstones in the Republic and commemorations over the four-year period. that it has been involved in the re-siting of the wall of Work with organisations and across government will remembrance at Glasnevin cemetery? continue to generate initiatives that will find and engage people under the umbrella of the centenary partnership. Dr Murrison: Yes, I have been to Glasnevin recently. I shall name-check just a few. They include: the centenary The hon. Gentleman is right to highlight that point, poppy partnership between the Royal British Legion because it is a special place in the history of the Republic and B&Q; the commemoration of great war Victoria of Ireland. None of us should underestimate the enormity Cross recipients at their place of birth; football matches of the totemic things that are happening around this in to mark the Christmas truce; mass participation in Dublin right now. I see that as part of the improvement volunteering in the Remember 100 project; street naming in relationships that is happening independently of the for the centenary to inculcate memory in the heart of centenary. I hope that the hon. Gentleman, as a our towns and cities; a British adaptation of the excellent Commonwealth war graves commissioner, will see these Europeana digital archiving initiative, capturing previous events as part of that process. memories and artefacts that would otherwise turn to dust; and the National Apprenticeship Service centenary Mr William Cash (Stone) (Con): In the context of the challenge. All this has the common theme of bringing Irish dimension, may I point out that the Royal Irish history to life for everyone in all communities, even Rifles also fought at the Somme, with massive losses? those that might feel, right now, that this has nothing to The Minister might be interested to know that the first do with them. Victoria Cross in the first world war was awarded to someone by the name of Dease, who was at Stonyhurst— Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con): I am the same school that I had the honour of attending—and sorry that we do not have more time to debate this that its first recipient in the second world war was also important subject this afternoon. Does the Minister from Stonyhurst. Also, in relation to the second world recognise the important role that hotels played in the war, I should like to pay tribute Doug Lakey, who is in first world war? Many were converted into hospitals, the Gallery this afternoon. He was awarded the military including the Mont Dore hotel, which is now the town medal and he was with my father on the day he was hall in Bournemouth. The great estates were also used killed in July 1944. in that way, including Highclere, which is now better known as Downton Abbey. It will be taking part in the Dr Murrison: My hon. Friend will be delighted to commemorations next year when it will be converted hear that I did know that, not least because the great-nephew back into a first world war hospital for one week, of Lieutenant Dease is a constituent of mine, and he thanks to the work of Lady Carnarvon. has lost no opportunity to impress upon me the importance of his great uncle. My hon. Friend will also be delighted Dr Murrison: The project that my hon. Friend describes to hear that on 4 August, the first day of the is exactly the sort of thing that will engage people commemoration, there will be an event at St Symphorien, locally. We have to understand that different people will where Lieutenant Dease is interred. His part in the approach the events in different ways. Our overarching conflict will certainly be commemorated appropriately, aim is to improve understanding of the causes, conduct and I am delighted that my hon. Friend has brought and consequences of the war, but we really need to do him to the attention of the House. that in ways that people will find approachable and I would like to tell the House what the Government non-threatening. The initiative that he has described are planning to do over the next four and a half years. will be interesting and inspiring for many, and I certainly First and foremost, and most obviously, there will be look forward to visiting it. 485 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 486

I am afraid that some of our more shouty newspapers sons to hideous death. People should read Hansard for are salivating at the prospect of the Government attempting 3 August 1914 and touch those politicians’ agony; they a grotesque impersonation of Basil Fawlty, in which we should compare the quality of that pre-conflict debate do not mention the war for fear of upsetting Germany. to ours on Syria in August this year; and they should Disappointingly for those newspapers, the history is count off the shields around this Chamber and the untweaked by the Government and will remain so. We names of Members of this House and their sons inscribed are indebted to Sunder Katwala of British Future for in Westminster Hall. commissioning YouGov to inform us of public attitudes Few of our predecessors in the long expectant summer to the centenary. The survey found that 77% of the of 1914 foresaw the consequences or the terrible cost, public see it as an opportunity for reconciliation with but finally, after military victory, came political failure—a former enemies. We know from comments made by lesson for all of us who have the privilege and responsibility Harry Patch—the “last Tommy”—in the final years of of sitting here. his life that he would agree with that wholeheartedly. I am grateful to the many Members on both sides of The history stands, but the Government will of course the House who have contributed to our preparations seek reconciliation not only with the former central and continue to do so. I hope we have set a framework powers but with partners in Europe and the former for a fitting centenary—commemoratively, educationally empire, wherever we share a complex and nuanced and culturally—that will, with the most profound respect, history. mark the seminal moment in our modern history for the benefit of all parts of the community, and particularly Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Con): In the context for the custodians of the legacy: our young people. of Germany, will my hon. Friend pay particular attention to the large number of German prisoners of war who died as a result of their wounds while imprisoned in 2.42 pm England? Many of them were re-buried in Staffordshire Dan Jarvis (Barnsley Central) (Lab): It is a pleasure in the 1960s, but there are currently no headstones to to follow the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the commemorate them. Will he look into whether that hon. Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), could be corrected? and of course I join him in paying tribute to Warrant Officer Ian Fisher from 3rd Battalion the Mercian Dr Murrison: My hon. Friend makes an interesting Regiment, who tragically lost his life in Afghanistan. It point. Perhaps that is something that we could usefully is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that his raise with the German Government, with whom we are sacrifice is never forgotten. of course in contact on these matters, as he would expect. There are Germans interred in the churchyard It is an honour to open this debate on behalf of the of Sutton Veny in my constituency, and their resting Opposition, and it is heartening to know that there places are instantly recognisable by the nature of their is such widespread interest across the House in the markers. That is a positive suggestion, and I think that 100th anniversary commemoration of world war one. I matter could reasonably be addressed with Germany. look forward to what I know will be a good debate and to the eloquent and no doubt poignant contributions from Members of all parties. It is fitting that we will Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): Will my hon. hear from Members representing every corner of the Friend give way? United Kingdom, expressing their interest in plans for the centenary commemorations and illustrating the Dr Murrison: I am going to make some progress, huge impact that world war one had on the whole of because I am conscious that a lot of right hon. and hon. Britain. Our commemorations here will also be part of Members who would like to take part in the debate. what will be a truly global event, which will include It is worth pointing out that the centenary courts contributions from our friends in the Commonwealth controversy. None of us should be under any illusion and events that are taking place around the world. about that. Indeed, we should welcome it. Opinion is Let me take the opportunity at the outset to pay already stretched between those who hold that the war tribute to the Minister for the calm, measured and was a futile wasteful tragedy and those who believe it dedicated way in which he has prepared for the centenary was entirely necessary, notwithstanding the cost, and commemorations. We look forward to continuing to even that victory was as important in 1918 as it was work closely with him, with the Government and with in 1945. I believe that most of our countrymen going all in this House to ensure that world war one is to war in 1914 did so with a firm sense of “doing commemorated in a fitting manner. the right thing”. Anyone familiar with the doctrines of The Minister has outlined some of the Government’s St Thomas Aquinas and St Augustine would have said— plans to commemorate the centenary anniversary next and I agree—that our countrymen were marching or year. Aside from the multitude of events that will take sailing to a just war. I know my own grandfather felt place up and down the country, the Government have that way. pledged over £50 million, which will be put towards the Even as Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey was centenary anniversary commemorations. The plans include observing lamps going out across Europe that would a refurbishment of the world war one galleries at the not be re-lit in his time, the bulk of Britain’s political Imperial War Museum; a nationwide scheme that will class, under a Liberal Prime Minister, were confident allow school students from across the country to visit that resisting a militaristic aggressor in the way proposed world war one battlefields; community projects funded satisfied the moral preconditions laid out for a just war. by the Heritage Lottery Fund and designed to educate I doubt whether those who stood here in 1914 deserve young people to conserve, explore and share local heritage their reputation as the willing consigners of other men’s of world war one; and a grant from the national heritage 487 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 488

[Dan Jarvis] women changed for ever. By 1931, 50% of women remained single, and 35% never married while of memorial fund to support HMS Caroline in Belfast—the childbearing age. last surviving warship from the world war one fleet. We The other great social change that came from world support those plans and will work with the Government war one involved voting. Before the war, neither working to ensure their smooth delivery. men nor women had votes. The sacrifice of men from Additionally, a huge number of other organisations all classes, combined with the fact that women were are planning their contributions to the commemoration. taking on jobs that had previously been seen as a male There are too many to mention by name, but I would preserve and with the campaigning of the suffragists like briefly to mention, of course, the First World War and suffragettes, compelled politicians to change the Centenary Partnership, led by the Imperial War museum, position. which will present a programme of cultural events and In the light of that, Labour Members consider it activities to commemorate the centenary. Also as part essential for us to ensure that the right tone is struck of the commemorations, the BBC has commissioned when we are remembering world war one. I believe that over 1,000 programmes across various platforms, helping we are all clear about the fact that this is not a celebration, to inform and educate the public about the events and but a commemoration. War should never be celebrated; the impact of world war one. The Woodland Trust will instead, it should be remembered, and we should learn launch a project in May 2014 to commemorate British from it. Getting the tone right is therefore imperative. and Commonwealth great war heroes through the simple, We agree with the Government that there should be no yet poignant act of planting a tree. I look forward to flag-waving, that there should be an absolute right to hearing from Members about how the commemoration remember those whose opinions differed, and that there will be marked in their constituencies. should be no rigid Government narrative. It is right for As we commemorate the centenary of world war one, us to give people the facts, and then to let them conduct there will be those who say we should seek to understand their own analyses and form their own judgments. the fundamental question of why Britain went to war in However, it is important that, as a country, we do not the first instance. A recent poll for British Future asked shy away from addressing some of the war’s complications. how much people knew about the war. Its polling There is a strong public perception of what it was like, showed that 66% of people knew that world war one formed partly by war poets and reinforced by the 1960s began in 1914, that 47% knew that the war was in part production of “Oh! What a Lovely War” and television sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand programmes such as “Blackadder Goes Forth”. Those and that 9% knew that Herbert Asquith was the British cultural representations stand as powerful and eloquent Prime Minister at the start of the war. testimonies to the savagery of world war one, but if they What polling will not capture, however, is the extent are all that we know of the war, they are poor history. to which the public understand the original motivations Those who have been schooled in stories of the “lost for the war. A student of history might conclude that, generation” may be surprised to learn that the fatality aside from the strategic rationale, Britain’s motives for rate in the British forces overall was 12%. That is a entering world war one demonstrated a conscientious terrible figure—and some communities were affected effort to uphold international law and a desire to defend much worse than others—but the figure is not as high smaller, more vulnerable nations. There will be those as people tend to imagine. Nor are public impressions who will seek to have this informed debate, but there of daily life during the war always accurate. Blackadder should be no doubt about the profound impact of this lived for years in a dugout, but in reality infantry war. battalions spent an average of about one week of every Many people may know that between 1914 and 1918, month in the trenches. There were notable exceptions, 1.2 million volunteers came from around the globe to but they do not disprove the generality of soldiers’ serve alongside the allies, answering the call of “Your experiences. Empire Needs You”. Many people appreciate the scale of the loss of life that was to follow, and many Mr Kevan Jones: I am glad that my hon. Friend has people know something of the 750,000 British soldiers mentioned “Blackadder”, which, although obviously who died or the 1.5 million soldiers who returned home very amusing, constitutes something of a misrepresentation injured. They may have heard something of the of events during world war one. One example is the idea 20,000 British soldiers who were killed on the first day that senior officers were not part of the action. In fact, of the Somme or they may recall Wilfred Owen’s imagery nearly 70 generals and major-generals died in action on of choking soldiers drowning in a sea of chlorine gas. the western front and in other conflicts. They will also understand that sacrifice on this scale must always be remembered—it must always be Dan Jarvis: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that commemorated. important intervention. Let me be clear: I think that It is important to remember world war one for more “Blackadder” is an excellent programme. It is very than just the industrialisation of death that it brought funny, and Members in all parts of the House will with it. The war paved the way for numerous world remember the very moving scene at the end of the series events, including, of course, the outbreak of the second in which Blackadder and others advance into no man’s world war—events that have ultimately shaped the world land. That certainly serves as a powerful testimony to we live in today. The war had a profound impact on the savagery of world war one. However, my hon. Britain too, and many countries in the Commonwealth Friend is right to point out that it is not a strictly sought independence after it ended. Britain lost its historical account. I think that the commemorations place as the world’s largest investor, and the role of which will begin next year will give us an opportunity 489 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 490 to revisit some of the history, to look carefully at the 275 men, while the 2nd lost 270. It is in such events that detail, and, perhaps, to promote a better factual the true impact of world war one can be understood—when understanding of it. we think of the countless husbands, fathers, brothers We believe that, in order to ensure that world war one and sons who never came home, and the unassuageable is remembered and commemorated appropriately and loss suffered by those families and their communities. its complications are addressed, those involved in the centenary events should be mindful that—as the Minister Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): My hon. rightly pointed out—there will be debates about the Friend rightly comments on the fathers, husbands, brothers history. Some will say that we should go further than and sons who did not come home, but there were also the western front. Some of the bloodiest battles may women who did not come home—women who worked have been fought in western Europe, but battles fought in dressing stations in hospitals that were shelled and in other parts of the world are also important in the women who worked in armaments factories in the UK. overall context of the war, and it is therefore right for us We must recognise that a lot of women also lost their to recognise the huge contribution of British Empire lives fighting to ensure victory in the war. forces from around the globe. Some will say that we should address the gap between Dan Jarvis: I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for the “pointless futility”narrative and what soldiers actually her intervention, because she is absolutely right to believed that they were fighting for, both during and highlight the incredibly important role women played in after the war. Today our forces in Afghanistan rightly this conflict. That is precisely why we must work together take pride in the job that they do and the bonds of to seek to get the tone of these commemorations right service that they form, and the same applied to those next year—that we come together as a House to reflect who fought in world war one. During those years, and commemorate the broader social change of which soldiers fought for much. They fought because of a she speaks. belief that their country was threatened, but ultimately, In conclusion, there is no doubt that the importance when it came down to it, they fought for their regiments, of world war one cannot be counted in terms just of and for the man standing next to them in the trench. If battlefield casualties or military innovation, as my hon. we want to pay proper tribute to the war dead—as I Friend has very eloquently illustrated. By dint of its know that we do—and also to those who came through influence and its timing, and the wider social change it the war, we should seek to remember that. brought about, it is the single most significant event Some will say—and, as the Minister said, there are of the 20th century. As such, it is something we must clearly sensitivities in this respect—that we should recognise commemorate, we must learn from and we must educate that the British military, along with their allies, defeated our children about, but above all we must remember, Germany militarily in the war, with the final period because it is only through remembering that we will marking one of the most effective in the history of the truly understand the impact that world war one has had . For many decades, historians have pointed on British society and, in so doing, understand what it to military tactics developing and improving between means to be British. 1914 and 1918, which eventually enabled the allies to break out from the stalemate of the trenches. Although All Members will have heard the phrase, “Dulce et that is little consolation to those who lost ancestors in decorum est pro patria mori”, often referred to as “the the war’s early years, it does explain why there was so old lie”. Well, it is not glorious to die for your country, much public grief at Haig’s funeral in 1928 from the but it is now comforting to know that where once there veterans who had served under his command, surprising were landscapes of war, there are now landscapes of though that is to us now. It is important that we get this peace. right and we will work with the Government to ensure With the passing of Florence Green, from King’s thatwedoso. Lynn in Norfolk, who served as a mess steward at RAF Around the country, I have been privileged to meet bases in Marham and Narborough, and who died in scores of people and I have seen at first hand the February 2012, and with the passing of the world’s last coming together of people and communities. I have known combat veteran of world war one, Briton Claude seen the passion and the interest that the commemoration Choules, who died in Australia aged 110 in May 2011, has already invoked. In my constituency of Barnsley and, of course, with the passing of the final three world Central I have been struck by the amount of enthusiasm war one veterans—Bill Stone, Henry Allingham and for the commemorations, led by individuals such as Harry Patch—who all died in 2009, world war one is Aubrey Martin-Wells and Goff Griffiths from the central no longer a war of memory: it is now a war of history. branch of the Royal British Legion. I am sure other It is our solemn responsibility to ensure that we Members will echo similar sentiments from their remember and honour those men and women who have constituencies. I urge Members from across the House laid down their lives for our country, and that is what and from around the country to continue to encourage we will do. and spark debate in their own constituencies, to ensure that their communities come together to commemorate Several hon. Members rose— the war. In my constituency, it is the bravery of the Barnsley Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. Pals who formed the 13th and 14th Battalions of the Before I call hon. Members from the Back Benches, I York and Lancaster Regiment that will be remembered. have to tell the House that in order to give an opportunity Both Barnsley Pals battalions were part of the attack to the very large number of Members who wish to on Serre on the first day of the Somme campaign. On speak this afternoon I have had to impose a time limit that one day, 1 July 1916, the 1st Barnsley Pals lost of six minutes on speeches. Obviously, I will not impose 491 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 492

[Madam Deputy Speaker] We also have to recognise that Parliament did count. Of course, the Prime Minister did not have to come to that limit on the first hon. Member to speak, but I know Parliament to get a vote in support of his declaring war, that he will adhere approximately to that length of time. but he was conscious of taking the temperature. The I call Keith Simpson. legislation that Parliament passed during the first world war, some of it pre-dating the war, is still with us today. Examples of that include the setting up of the intelligence 3pm and security aspects of British government, and legislation on licensing. The debates on conscription broke the old Mr Keith Simpson (Broadland) (Con): Thank you, Liberal party, and debates took place here on whether Madam Deputy Speaker. May I first congratulate both or not we should seek a negotiated peace. Those things Front Benchers on their moving and informative speeches? are not just a walk down memory lane; if we face young We are all the sons and daughters of history. I am people today with all that, they will understand the conscious of the fact that 99 years ago today, on importance of it. That is one thing that the advisory 7 November 1914, the old British Army with the Territorials committee is hoping to get Parliament, and, in particular, was dying, literally, in the area of Ypres in Belgium. the Youth Parliament, involved with. Both my grandfathers were there—both survived—one Secondly, let me deal with the commemorative aspects. in the Royal Flying Corps and one who had volunteered The hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) made in August 1914 because he could drive, and then found the point that there was no badge here for one former himself in the Army Service Corps. As an old man, he MP who died— told me that he had not expected to be toting a rifle and bayonet with the infantry, but such was the desperation Chris Bryant: Two. of the defence that they were needed. My generation is the lucky generation. I know I do Mr Simpson: I am sorry. I will make sure that the not look it, but I am 64, and I am of the generation that officials in Parliament take note of that. missed a major war. My grandfathers fought in the first That is an important aspect, because large numbers world war, and my father and uncles fought the second of MPs and peers, and their children, were killed or world war. I lived through the cold war. However, a badly wounded in the first world war and we commemorate younger generation—my son and his friends—might them. Let us remember that both Asquith and Bonar ask why we are commemorating the first world war Law, the leaders of the two major parties, lost sons in when we should perhaps be commemorating the the first world war. It was not an academic war for revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, which had just as them. Large numbers of staff served in the first world major an impact on history. I suggest that the reason is war. One of the waiters in the House of Commons not least because of the scale of the suffering and Dining Room was killed in action in 1917. The war involvement, but also because we have an empathy came home literally to this place. towards the people involved and we can understand As for the question of learning and knowledge, it is them far more. A very literate group of men and women important that we will provide, via websites and the fought, and we have images of them. In addition, the internet, a lot of information about Parliament and war is still controversial today. the memorials in Parliament that will be available to the I have to declare an interest, as I have written books public. We will link that to the project on lives of people about the British Army and the first world war. Along in the first world war that is being established by the with the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones), Imperial War museum. who is about to resume his place, I am a parliamentary More than anything else, this all has a personal commissioner on the Commonwealth War Graves aspect. One thing that my noble Friend Lord Wallace of Commission. I am also a member of the Prime Minister’s Saltaire has done in the House of Lords, which is advisory board on commemorating the first world war, something that we will do in the House of Commons, is along with the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley to send a questionnaire to every peer and peeress asking (Mr Donaldson). What I briefly wish to talk about what their families did during the first world war. He relates to the fact that, along with Lord Wallace of has received some fascinating replies. People had relatives Saltaire, I am the joint chairman of the parliamentary who served not only in the British armed forces, as one committee looking at commemorating the first world might expect, or on the support side, but in the war. Commonwealth armed forces and the Indian army. He Why should Parliament commemorate the first world has received replies from people whose relatives fought war? It is because there is a political element, a on both sides: the father’s side of the family in the commemorative element, a learning and knowledge British Army, and the mother’s side in the Austro- element and a personal element. The political one is Hungarian or German army. I would like to think that that to engage young people today, we need to get them we would be able to get such information from colleagues to think about the fact that big political issues were in this place and from the staff, too. We would be able to being debated before and during the first world war. Let put that into the public domain to contribute to the us be under no illusion: Britain was not a peaceful, commemoration. pastoral, “Downton Abbey” kind of place in the spring We must also consider the fact that we will not stop in of 1914. We were nearly faced with a civil war in 2018 with the commemoration of 1918. The first world Ireland, there were mass industrial disputes and there war did not end there; its legacy continued. There were were major social problems of one kind or another. In big debates in this House about how we were going to some respects, the war prevented domestic violence on a honour the dead. The establishment of the Imperial large scale. War Graves Commission in 1917 was controversial. Up 493 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 494 until then, bodies had been brought home, so the decision work of my right hon. Friend the Member for Chorley to bury the dead where they had fallen was controversial. (Mr Hoyle) in building a monument to be proud of and Political upheaval followed the end of the first world a museum in Chorley. A large number of memorials war. Ex-soldiers from Irish regiments became members celebrate the sacrifices of the pals regiments in the of the IRA or, on the other side, of the auxiliary borough. division of the Royal Irish Constabulary. There was a The particular tragedy of the pals regiments is that civil war there. their members were all friends and family from the There was also the disillusionment that grew in same area, formed as a result of Lord Kitchener’s desire the 1920s and 1930s, and the legacy of pacifism and to boost morale through the creation of a voluntary appeasement that affected minorities in the Labour, army and the belief that people would be more willing Liberal and Conservative parties. It is difficult for us to sign up if they were able to fight alongside their now to think that while , whom I community. Hundreds of people from Accrington and remember meeting in 1978 as a very old but fully alert surrounding towns joined up together to defend this man, was the British Prime Minister in 1963, which is great nation. well within my lifetime, his most moving experience was serving in the first world war. He tended to judge men Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con): I am listening to and women by how they had acted and behaved in that the hon. Gentleman with interest. Is he aware of the war. magnificent memorial at the misleadingly named Sheffield I hope that what we are doing, with the help of memorial park in Serre on the Somme? The Accrington Members, to get Parliament to consider how to brick memorial pays a very good tribute to that regiment. commemorate the first world war will not only interest us, but involve the wider public and young people, which is one of our greatest aims. I suspect that all those Graham Jones: I am well aware of it, and with the men and women who were lucky enough to survive the help of Cath Holmes, one of the granddaughters of war and live on would approve of what we are trying to someone who fought in the war, I helped to get a sign in do and of the fact that we are going to consider the Serre pointing the way for relatives to the cemeteries matter in a non-prescriptive way. Instead, to use that where soldiers from Accrington and other places in the old expression, we will let a thousand flowers bloom borough are buried. We need to make more of that and have a proper debate. memorial. The pals regiments were incredibly popular and, by 3.9 pm 1914, 50 towns had them. The Accrington pals honoured by playwright Peter Whelan remind us of the devastating Graham Jones (Hyndburn) (Lab): Today I want to impact of the first world war. The great sadness is the remember the 11th Battalion East Regiment, colossal waste of human life. In their very first assault universally known as the Accrington pals. The battalion’s during the battle for Serre on the first day of the horrific losses stand as a reminder of the gratuitous Somme, 584 of 720 pals were killed, wounded or declared barbarity of the warfare, particularly trench warfare, missing. The fighting started at 7.20 am and by 8 am, during the first world war. The history of the battalion just 40 minutes later, a generation of young men from in is as known now as it was in the years of suffering that and around Accrington had laid down their life or had followed. The tragic waste of human potential during it altered for ever. What Lord Kitchener did not foresee the first world war was quite simply shocking. Young when designing a policy intended to boost morale was men died in horrific and frightening circumstances. that if the regiment suffered substantial losses, the Modern cinematic productions allow us occasionally to whole community would be devastated. glimpse that horror and, each and every time, any thought of this being a reality is frightening to me. Percy Holmes, the brother of one of the pals who fought that day, recalled: Many people in Hyndburn signed up not to the pals, but to other regiments. I was fortunate enough to find a “I remember when the news came through to Accrington that piece of information from Kew about my great grandfather’s the Pals had been wiped out. I don’t think there was a street in record. He served in the Royal Ambulance Medical Accrington and district that didn’t have their blinds drawn and the bell at Christ Church tolled all the day.” Corps. While I knew him before he died, I recall my grandfather occasionally speaking of his father’s time The reason why the pals are so important, and why they on the front line, carrying off young men who had lost must not be forgotten, is that they were identifiably part body parts and whose bodies had been mutilated by of the community. Helped by Hyndburn council, the shells, mines and bullets—some alive, some dying, many Accrington pals centenary commemoration group has a dead and many screaming out as they died. That my programme of civic, cultural, religious, musical and great-grandfather rarely spoke of those horrors, paralysed even horticultural themes across the next few years that by his fearful memories, is testament to the torturous will pay tribute to the pals, including concerts, exhibitions, experiences many of the combatants faced. I am grateful films, visits to Serre to lay wreaths, and the planting of to the Hyndburn historians Walter Holmes, who worked poppies. I hope that Members will reflect for a moment as an apprentice alongside my grandfather, and the late on those 40 minutes of madness when they are able to Bill Turner, for their lifelong dedication to the history of sample the Accrington Pals ale in Strangers bar next the regiment and the fallen soldiers, and personally for year. helping me find my great grandfather’s limited Army Recently, I have worked with a constituent, Cath record. Holmes, on getting signs put up and trying to get people There were, of course, many pals regiments. My hon. to go and see the cemeteries at Serre and the other great Friend the Member for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis) sites. It seems like only a little thing, but to have a plain has talked about the Barnsley pals. I applaud the successful sign put up in a field in France is important for the 495 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 496

[Graham Jones] I am proud, too, of the contribution that was made to the war effort by the town, as it was then, of people of Accrington and the wider area, because it is a Wolverhampton. At the outbreak of war in 1914, many symbol of their past and it commemorates those who men enthusiastically flocked to the town hall to sign up, gave their lives. eager to help the national effort in a war they believed would be “over by Christmas”. As a bustling industrial town, Wolverhampton was ready to contribute to the 3.15 pm provision of resources for the front line. Villiers Engineering Paul Uppal (Wolverhampton South West) (Con): Thank Company produced ammunition, and Guy Motors became you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and belated congratulations the largest manufacturer of firing mechanisms for depth on your elevation. charges in the country. H. M. Hobson Ltd manufactured As part of the commemoration, recollection and carburettors for engines, and the Sunbeam Motor Car thinking about history that we are all going to talk Company produced staff cars and commercial vehicles about this afternoon in the Chamber, I want to speak for the military, ambulances for the Red Cross and about the Sikh contribution in the great war. I know engines for aircraft and high-speed naval craft. It is that much has been made of the contribution of all ironic that the Villiers Engineering Company and its Commonwealth forces, but the Sikh contribution is Sunbeam motor manufacturing unit, which was on sometimes overlooked. I will also refer to the contribution Upper Villiers street, is now a Sikh temple, of which I of Wolverhampton. It would be remiss of me not to do am a trustee. so. If I cannot do this as a Sikh Member of Parliament Wolverhampton showed its proud, hospitable credentials for Wolverhampton South West, I am not entirely sure in the great war by providing accommodation for displaced what my purpose is in this place. Belgian refugees. In September 1914, the local refugee At the start of the war, Sikhs made up a tiny percentage committee and Roman Catholics in the area offered to of an undivided India, yet they were contributing 22% accommodate 25 refugees, and the offer was accepted of the British Indian army. More than 138,000 Indian by the local authority. The following month, two hostels troops fought in Belgium and France and over a quarter were established in Finchfield and Pennfields, and by of these would, unfortunately, become casualties. After March 1915 a further three hostels had been set up. the bloody battle of Neuve Chapelle in 1915, the Sikh regiments had lost nearly 80% of their men, with three Wolverhampton is noted for its generosity. I am regiments standing at just 16% of their original complement. proud to represent a city that displays an outward-looking The valour and courage of Sikh soldiers was rightly and accommodating attitude to those most in need. I commended by British generals. General Sir Frank am proud not only of our city’s industrial contribution, Messery, commenting on the Sikh contribution in both but of its many war heroes. I will highlight one individual world wars, noted that the only physical protection that in particular. Douglas Morris Harris was a wireless Sikhs had was their turban—a symbol of our faith. telegrapher on board an Italian drifter, the Floandi, which was being used to blockade the port of Kotor General Sir James Wilcox, the Commander of the and prevent the Austrian navy accessing the Adriatic Indian Corps, stated that the Sikh regiments responded sea. In May 1917 the drifter was attacked by the Austrians, with only but Harris remained dutifully at his post and unfortunately “their valour, their rifles and two machine guns per battalion” lost his life at the age of just 19. For his bravery he was to the heavy German bombardment of mortars, hand awarded one of Italy’s highest honours, and his bust grenades and high explosive shells. still stands proudly in the grounds of St Peter’s church What intrigues many is what would motivate these in Wolverhampton, adjacent to the cenotaph, which I men to fight in a war thousands of miles away, for a have the pleasure of being able to see from my constituency cause that did not seem too relevant to them. For some office window. it may have been the financial reward, but for many it It was no surprise that when the war came to an end was their duty to bring honour to their clan by fighting in 1918 the people of Wolverhampton greeted the news bravely like warriors. Perhaps their motivation is best with relief, happiness and thanksgiving, as well as sorrow captured by Indar Singh, a Sikh soldier fighting on the and reflection on what, and indeed who, had been lost. Somme in September 1916, who wrote home: It was certainly a sorrowful time for the Belgian refugee “It is quite impossible that I should return alive. Don’t be Peter van Cleven, whose son had been killed on the grieved at my death, because I shall die arms in hand, wearing the battlefield just a few days before the war ended. In 1919 warrior’s clothes. This is the most happy death that anyone can the local authority established a war memorial committee die.” to create a roll of remembrance to honour over 1,700 men Those are strong words and, in the modern context, from Wolverhampton who left home to fight but never perhaps difficult to understand, but when we think of returned. that young man, thousands of miles away from home, they show something of his psyche and his values and On Sunday I will be standing at the cenotaph at beliefs. St Peter’s church, shoulder to shoulder with veterans of More than 4 million men and women from British previous conflicts, to honour the gallantry, bravery and colonies volunteered in the first and second world sacrifice of all those who have laid down their lives so wars. For many Members here, I know this is a matter that we can enjoy our freedom. I will remember poignantly of great pride, and indeed it is for me personally. My the contribution of Sikh regiments and the esteem in own maternal great-grandfather, Jawala Singh Khela, which they were held by British generals, and I will fought in the still-relevant theatre of Basra during the reflect on the heroic sacrifices of the city of Wolverhampton, great war. both on the home front and the front line. The coming 497 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 498 weekend will be a great time for reflection across our transport or mining. Morgan Jones was one of those nation. I hope that we will never neglect our duties in conscientious objectors, and he eventually came to accept remembering the fallen. membership of this voluntary scheme. Early in 1916, Morgan Jones received his call-up 3.21 pm papers. At about the same time, Gelligaer urban district council, of which he was a member, was informed— Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab): I think that we all agree that the first world war was a truly terrible conflict. Mr Kevan Jones: My hon. Friend is making a very There can be no doubting the bravery of the millions good speech that shows how we are going to look at all who fought for their country, many of whom lost their aspects of the first world war in the coming years. Is he lives—nearly 1 million soldiers from the British Army aware that some 7,000 conscientious objectors went to and over 700,000 from the British isles. But I believe the front and some were killed as a result of doing that we should also acknowledge the conscientious stretcher-bearing and ambulance work? objectors to the war. They, too, were people of courage who stood up for what they believed in and experienced Wayne David: Yes indeed. Those who became stretcher- enormous public opprobrium as a result. They also bearers were probably at the greatest risk of all those in experienced huge personal hardship and discrimination the armed forces, and the casualties among them were after the war ended. particularly high. Caerphilly has a two-fold distinction in that respect. Morgan Jones was a member of Gelligaer urban First, two of its MPs, Morgan Jones and Ness Edwards, district council. His own council, at a full meeting in were conscientious objectors. Ness was the Member of February 1916, voted by 10 votes to eight to empower Parliament from 1939 until 1968 and served as Postmaster the chairman and the clerk to convene a special meeting General in the 1951 Labour Government. He was preceded wherever necessary to take appropriate action to consider by Morgan Jones, who served as an Education Minister the cases of those who were making conscientious in the Labour Governments of 1924 and 1929. Secondly, objections. Such a meeting was convened in his case, but Morgan Jones was the first conscientious objector to be it was inquorate, and it seems very likely that the elected to the House of Commons—he was elected in a Labour members absented themselves to make it so. by-election in August 1921—and it is about him that I Nevertheless, the local tribunal was eventually convened would like to say a few words this afternoon. and Morgan Jones appeared before it to put his case. Morgan Jones was born in May 1895 in Gelligaer in Interestingly enough—I have done some research on the Rhymney valley. He came from a modest background, this matter—the minutes of Gelligaer urban district his father being a coal miner. He left the valley to council have mysteriously disappeared from the Glamorgan receive an education at Reading university but returned record office, as have the minutes of the local tribunal, to become a local councillor. He was elected as a and nobody seems to know why. However, we know socialist and a member of the Independent Labour from the local press that when the tribunal was convened, party. He was a man of principle, courage and conviction. Morgan Jones put a robust case, declaring himself a He did what he thought was right and held firmly to his socialist and someone who was principles throughout his life. “resolutely opposed to all warfare”. From the moment Britain entered the great war in He argued that the war was the result of wrongheaded August 1914, Morgan Jones was a vocal opponent of diplomacy. Predictably, however, the local tribunal the war. Like many in the ILP, he believed that the war concluded that he would not be excluded from military was unjustified and unnecessary, a nationalist conflict service. He therefore appealed to the tribunal in Cardiff, that set worker against worker. He therefore opposed but his appeal fell. At the same time, action was being the war as a socialist and as an internationalist. But he taken against the No Conscription Fellowship, and he also adopted a Christian pacifist position and declared was found guilty in that regard as well. his opposition to all forms of warfare, believing that the In essence, after all was said and done, Morgan Jones destruction of human life should not be a means of went to trial and went to prison, and, as a consequence, solving international disputes. His unequivocal views suffered a great deal of physical and mental hardship. led him quickly to join the No Conscription Fellowship, However, at the end of the war, when he was eventually and he was appointed to its national committee in 1914. released, an opportunity arose for him to stand for In the early part of the war, until 1916, the British election to this Parliament in 1921. He was successfully Army consisted entirely of volunteers, and south Wales elected and, as a result, made his true imprint on history was a particularly important recruiting ground. However, by being the first conscientious objector to be elected to it soon became clear that relying on volunteers was not this House. enough, so the Government introduced the Military Service Act 1916 and conscription. Under the Act, local 3.29 pm tribunals were established to determine cases of exemption for men who could best contribute to the war by continuing Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): I congratulate my in their civil roles. One of the effects of the Act was to hon. and gallant Friend the Minister not only on the create two kinds of conscientious objector. The absolutists measured speech that he gave today but on all the hard were those who adopted a maximalist position of being work he has done over a long period as the Prime opposed to the war but also refusing to accept any kind Minister’s special envoy to ensure that this country gets of alternative work. The other type of conscientious this right. I also congratulate the hon. and gallant objector was the alternativist. These individuals were Member for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis) on his speech. wholly opposed to the war but prepared nevertheless to They both got it right. This is not a celebration; it is a accept some form of alternative employment, mostly in commemoration. The language is therefore be very 499 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 500

[Sir Bob Russell] Others also need to be praised. The Imperial War Museum has already done a fantastic amount of research. important, and we are off to a good start. This debate is It is asking people around the country to search in the also about the relevance today of what happened 100 attic for diaries, memorabilia and artefacts that belonged years ago. It was, of course, the last time that cavalry to their granddad, great-granddad or great-granny. In went into a major battle. Those four years saw the the past week, I have been advised of a constituent who emergence of tanks and aircraft, so there was a complete has in his loft a wing mirror from an Army vehicle that change. was situated less than a mile from the front line somewhere What happened then is relevant to what followed. in France. A German sniper took out the wing mirror The Chavasse rehabilitation centre in Colchester is named and, significantly, the driver of the vehicle was a woman. after Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, VC and Bar and We need to recognise such memorabilia and stories. recipient of the , who died aged 32. He Returning to the local theme raised by the hon. was the twin son of the Bishop of Liverpool. The battle Member for Central Devon (Mel Stride), the War of Guillemont saw acts of heroism by Captain Chavasse, Memorials Trust has said: the only man to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice “As we approach Remembrance Sunday we are all aware that during the first world war. In 1916, Chavasse was hit by next year the nation will mark the centenary of the start of World shell splinters while rescuing men in no man’s land. He War I. The following five years will see ceremonies remembering performed similar heroics in the offensive at Passchendaele, significant moments of that conflict. War memorials will play a gaining his second VC to become the most highly central role. decorated British serviceman in the war. Sadly, he died Yet, apart from Remembrance Sunday, how often do we look of his wounds in 1917. The rehabilitation centre, which at our local war memorials? When was the last time you stopped opened two or three years ago at the Colchester garrison, and read those names, or went further and looked at the condition is funded by Help for Heroes and the Royal British of the memorial?” Legion. It continued: My interest in the great war—it only became known “Simple steps, taken by you and members of your community, as the first world war in 1939—started when, as a can make a significant difference in ensuring our local war 14-year-old scout on my first class hike, I was required memorials are preserved. It is vital we act to stop names and to do a task on a topic and I chose war memorials. As I inscriptions fading and disappearing, prevent deterioration due went around the villages on the Essex-Suffolk border, to a lack of maintenance and deter those who contemplate the sheer numbers of those who died between 1914 and vandalism and theft.” 1918—or was it between 1914 and 1919?—quickly dawned In my town, we have an avenue of remembrance, on me. The question of why some war memorials have where trees were planted in the 1930s that name individuals different dates has to be explained. Why is it that in from Colchester who lost their lives. In the 1st Colchester certain areas the war ended in a different year? scout headquarters, there is a stone memorial to the boy All the memorials referred to the men, never the scouts who went into the Army from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, women, of a particular village or town. I have only ever 4th, 5th and 6th Colchester troops and lost their lives. It seen one memorial mentioning women from the first is such things that localise the war. world war and that was in Hamilton, Ontario in Canada. What about the blessed or thankful villages, of which That needs to be addressed. there are 32 in England and Wales, but sadly none in Northern Ireland or Scotland, where not a single person Mel Stride (Central Devon) (Con): The hon. Gentleman lost their lives? There is just one in Essex, the village of is delivering a very interesting speech. He has mentioned Strethall. Today, it has a population of 26. It is arguably the number of young men and, indeed, women from the smallest parish in Essex, and possibly in the whole some of the villages who were struck down during the country. great war. In my constituency, Northlew is in the tragic To conclude, the Government’s project will see thousands position of having proportionately suffered the most of schoolchildren visiting the first world war battlefields casualties of any community in the country. To to ensure that the bravery and suffering of the fallen is commemorate the great war, poppies will be planted all not forgotten. Those youngsters will be the great-great- the way from Northlew to the nearest town of Okehampton, grandchildren of those who lost their lives in the great which is seven miles away. Will the hon. Gentleman join war, the first world war. me in saluting all the men and women in local communities throughout the country who will do so much to make sure that those who died in the great war are not 3.36 pm forgotten? Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): John Morris Sir Bob Russell: I endorse the hon. Gentleman’s said that all history is local. If ever we should respect words. I think he has read my mind, because I was that saying, it is during the commemoration of the great going to go on to say that, while this is a national and war. international event, it is what happens in our local Last weekend, I was asked by Andrew Hillier and communities that is important in terms of bringing it David Swidenbank to visit my local museum in Porthcawl home to today’s generation. because it is facing closure. They showed me around The BBC’s world war one centenary season will be rooms full of uniforms and artefacts that they had the biggest and most ambitious pan-BBC season ever collected in preparation for the commemoration of the undertaken. There will be four years of programming war. Sadly, the local council is facing £36 million of cuts and events spanning 2014 to 2018, more than 130 specially over the next two years. There will be cuts to school commissioned programmes and about 2,500 hours of transport and other essential services. Unfortunately, programming. the museum also faces closure. I hope that the Heritage 501 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 502

Lottery Fund will come to the rescue and that that entries for the next few days record lots of rain and tragic loss to the community of Porthcawl and the a unique experience of the first train journeys to the history of south Wales will be avoided. front: The other reason I visited the museum was that Ceri “Station platforms were all crowded with people to see us go Joseph, who was taking a history walk that weekend, by.We got chocolate and cigarettes in galore and splendid reception.” had often been in touch with me. My inbox is full of On 23 August he records: communications from Ceri, who has a passion for history “We rested for the day. The war commenced around here at that is reminiscent of an amateur detective. I have 12 o’clock, the firing was terrible to stand all day and all night. talked to her over many years about the names on the We are about 2 miles from the firing line. Saw 2 German aeroplanes Porthcawl war memorial. She has spent months and above our head.” years researching the stories and uncovering who the This was the start of the first battle of Mons, and in the people on the war memorial were. In the words of the next few days the British Army was in retreat. He Commonwealth War Graves Commission, she has brought records: them “in from the cold”. Some of them were local and “Passed through Mons at Bavay stayed at Wwaso for a rest, we some had relatives who lived locally. It is not necessarily were exposed to shell fire for 3 hours before we retired. The shells just local people who are named on war memorials, fell in the town as we were leaving it. We had to leave everything behind us, cables and communications lines as we could not pick because anybody could put a name forward. Some them up on account of the closeness of the Germans. We were people appear on several war memorials. The names of lucky to get away at all.” some local people who died do not appear at all. Then the diary jumps.

Mr Gray: What the hon. Lady is describing strikes a Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con): Most people retreated chord with the work that is being done by my constituent from the battle of Mons, but two battalions did not—the Richard Broadhead to research the lost dead of the first Norfolks and the Cheshires. They were surrounded and world war. About 60 men from Wiltshire and no doubt they fought to the last. Even the commanding officer many from south Wales died shortly after the end of the was killed. first world war of wounds and other causes associated Mrs Moon: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that with the war, but are not commemorated on war memorials moving information. or on Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstones. That is something we ought to correct. It is less well known that the soldiers who fled lived without food and water, their boots filling with blood from bloated feet. When they arrived at Monthyon, my Mrs Moon: I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman grandfather records that they has seen the information that has been sent out by the “stayed there for the night properly knocked out both horses and war heritage all-party parliamentary group this week, men. We found this place upside down with the people, their which identifies where there are war graves in our houses its terrible to see these poor people on the road in a large constituencies, but I have found it very moving and cart and they don’t know where to go for safety. It’s heartbreaking extremely helpful. I was grateful to be able to pass that to see them.” information on to my local history society. The museum We need to remember all those civilians who suffered intends to do a lot of work with schools and present horrific experiences during the first world war. exhibitions around the town, and put together a world The entry for 17 October is revealing: war one trench so that people can get some idea of what “Very fine morning, all my chums congratulated me on my local people and volunteers experienced. birthday. We got a blanket served out to us. We have had nothing Ceri also helped me personally with my family history. to cover us since we came out. Severe fighting is going all along I have lived all my life with two faded photographs of the canal.” Albert Edward Ironside, my grandfather. Apart from a On 29 October he says: small pocket diary written during active service in France “Terrific firing all day and night. The Indian troops came here and Belgium, I have his “Soldiers’ Small Book”, the two to relieve us. They look a fine lot of men—Ghurkhas, Sikhs and photographs, his will, and the King George memorial Punjabs.” penny that was sent to the families of those who served The diary covers only the first year of the war, and I and died on the front line. My grandfather was a knew little of the rest of his experience. Ceri, however, member of the Royal Engineers and responsible for helped me uncover more information, and I hope that providing signals communication. Ceri and her husband that is the sort of work that local museums and societies plan to visit all the graves of those from Porthcawl who will do for many, bringing their family members back to died, and they have generously offered also to visit my them. grandfather’s grave. I, too, have visited that grave, mainly Ceri also brought to my attention the fact that my because I wanted to take my son and so that my grandfather’s first world war medal had recently been grandfather would somehow know that his life had sold. I thank the hon. Members for Beckenham (Bob carried on with four grandchildren and, to date, eight Stewart) and for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Tim Farron) great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren— for their help in trying to get Britannia Military Antiques none of them mine so far. and Collectables to bring that medal back to the family. The first world war was declared on 4 August 1914. Sadly, despite all the efforts, including letters, e-mails My grandfather left his wife and son—my father, then and telephone calls, so far I have not been successful. aged 18 months—and went to Ireland in preparation Families need to take ownership of the family members for the war as part of the British Expeditionary Force. who died on behalf of their communities and their On Thursday 13 August he embarked on the SS Matheson, country. This is a chance for the country to honour and arrived in Le Havre on 14 August. The next diary those people and bring them back from the cold. 503 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 504

Several hon. Members rose— of their rank. The graves were located overseas, and back home there was a memorial bearing the names of Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. I those who died. It is difficult now to imagine what it regret to say that time is against us this afternoon. must have been like and the enormous grief when, some Thirteen more hon. Members wish to speak so I am few years after the great war, memorials were unveiled reducing the time limit to five minutes. I am loth to take with the names of those engraved, the memories of it lower than that, but I would ask all hon. Members to whom were still clear and sharp. give some consideration to their colleagues and try to Of course, every community had to design, commission make shorter, pithier speeches so that we can ensure and erect its own war memorial. As early as 1915, a that everybody is able to contribute. Perhaps hon. Members newly formed civic arts association was distributing could also be sparing with their interventions unless advice about appropriate ways to remember the dead. they are really helpful to the debate. In 1919, the Victoria and Albert museum put on a war memorials exhibition organised by the Royal Academy 3.46 pm of Arts with the intention of directing groups, communities and committees in the right artistic and architectural Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): The great war direction. As early as 1916, the Commonwealth War resulted in death and carnage on a previously unknown Graves Commission made the important decision that and unimagined scale. Not surprisingly, there was an no distinction was to be made in the formal nature of enormous and justified outpouring of public grief that the memorials between officers and men lying in the resulted in a major public arts programme in Britain to same cemeteries. All were equal in death. design and erect memorials to those who had died, and the Imperial—now Commonwealth—War Graves Most of us have heard of Mick Jagger, of Rolling Commission was founded in 1917. We are fortunate to Stones fame, but not so many will have heard of his have two commissioners among our Members—my hon. uncle, Charles Sargeant Jagger, who designed both the Friend the Member for Broadland (Mr Simpson) and Royal Artillery memorial in London’s Hyde park corner the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones). and the first world war memorial in Paddington station. Driving around Hyde park, one finds it all too easy to There are now roughly 36,000 memorials to the dead take the Royal Artillery memorial for granted—something of the great war in Britain which reflect that unprecedented that one sees all the time but does not always notice. I expression of public grief. What they almost all have hope that during the next four years, we will notice all in common are the inscriptions of the names of those our war memorials and ensure that by 2018 we learn as who died. Those names are essential to the act of much as we can about the lives of the men whose names remembrance— are inscribed upon them, and that every war memorial “Their name liveth for ever more”. is restored and remains kempt—memorials to those War memorials are everywhere urging remembrance. who died in the great war protecting and guaranteeing Not surprisingly many of the war memorials are in our freedoms. churches or within the curtilage of church buildings. The centenary years of the great war will hopefully stimulate considerable interest in war memorials and 3.50 pm monuments and the histories of the names of those inscribed on those monuments. Clive Aslet, the former Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): I will speak only editor of Country Life, recently wrote a book called, about MPs who died in the first world war, and the “War Memorial - the story of one village’s sacrifice couple of MPs who died in the second world war, from 1914-2003”. It took a typical village—Lydford in because sometimes in all the talk about how politicians Devon—and traced the individual history behind all are out of touch and how we are not all in it together, the names on its war memorial. Clive Aslet has commented: we forget that at many of the key moments in Britain’s history, Members of this House have been very much in “What I would really like to do for the Centenary of the First it together. World War in 2014 is to set up a project for each village to find out about its own dead. There is so much you could do and it would Within the first few months of the outbreak of the be a fantastic national and local resource. This book threw up first world war, 139 Unionist MPs and 41 Liberals had such a richness of material and it really got me up every morning signed up. At a time when it was still voluntary, that was because I became so utterly absorbed by the story of these people’s lives.” a very high percentage of those of service age. All the big political families lost somebody. William Ewart Other communities are already taking up the challenge. ’s grandson, Lieutenant William Gladstone, Michael Allbrook and Robert Forsyth have written a who was 29 and MP for Kilmarnock, died in the Royal history of “A Parish at War”—a military record of Welch Fusiliers on 15 April 1915. Captain Neil Primrose, three villages in my constituency, Deddington, Clifton the Liberal MP for Wisbech and Parliamentary Secretary and Hempton. They say in the preface to their book: to the Treasury, was only 35 and the second son of “When the ‘Deddington’ War Memorial was erected in 1922, it former Prime Minister Lord Rosebery. He was awarded was sufficient for the inscription to be simply a name and an the military cross in 1916 and led his squadron into initial. Everybody knew them. Now more information is necessary battle in the third battle of Gaza, and died. to tell us about these men of Deddington. You will see that the names include men who had emigrated to Australia Canada and Raymond Asquith was a barrister and the only son of New Zealand and still they volunteered to support the land of the Prime Minister at the beginning of the first world their birth.” war. He was killed on 15 September 1916, leading As my hon. Friend the Member for Broadland has 4 Company in an attack on Ginchy in the battle of said, it was Government policy that all those who died Flers-Courcelette. Within months, of course, his father overseas would be buried where they died, irrespective lost office. In many ways, perhaps it was easier to oust 505 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 506 him, because he was so upset by the loss of his son. 3.55 pm , the Leader of the Labour party, lost Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con): I his son, David. As the hon. Member for Broadland hope that this will be the first of a number of occasions (Mr Simpson) said, Bona Law lost not one but two on which we are able to debate the causes, conduct and sons, Charlie and James, and it is perhaps no wonder consequences of the first world war. The causes are that his other son, Dick, fought so hard against appeasement many and include: the Austro-Hungarian empire’s desire in the 1930s, given that so many of his family had to control the Balkans; the German desire to continue already gone. Bismarck’s work on expansionism; the French desire to I want to talk about two particular cases. The first gain revenge for Germany’s battle in 1871; and Russia’s concerns the Cawley family. Harold Cawley was Liberal anxiety after its defeat in Japan and its civil war problems. MP for Heywood and Parliamentary Private Secretary Compounding that were the interrelations between the to the Home Secretary. He was the second son of royal families across Europe and the agreements and another MP, Frederick Cawley, and was sent to Gallipoli ententes cordiales that existed. in May 1915 as an aide-de-camp. His younger brother, As an officer I am keen to understand the details and who was not an MP, died at Mons the day before he set the importance of the conduct of the war to learn sail. Harold Cawley hated being in a headquarters job, lessons for the future. We have not asked why the war and wrote: lasted so long. Britain was certainly not prepared for “I have always felt rather a brute skulking behind in comparative the war; the Crimea was the last main one, and then safety while my friends are being killed”. there were colonial adventures, if we can call them that. The Russo-Japanese conflict was a bad influence on us; Four of his friends from Rugby were killed on the same the impact of firepower was understood but the wrong day in Gallipoli. He got his wish and of course was examples were taken from the use of the bayonet, which killed on 23 September 1915. Ironically, because his I am afraid influenced our senior commanders. letters to his father were from one MP to another MP, It is those senior commanders who were not ready or they had parliamentary privilege, so the Government engaged in modern warfare. They were looking through could not prevent their being made public. That is one the prism of the 19th century. War was seen as noble, reason we know about the disasters of the Dardanelles structured and decisive; decision-making was very much campaign. Even more sadly, his other brother, Oswald—this controlled from the top in an hierarchical, autocratic is now the third son—who became an MP when his structure, mostly, dare I say, by cavalry officers, which I father was made a peer in 1918, was also keen to fight, am glad to say is no longer the case. It is no wonder that became a captain in the 10th King’s Shropshire Light this Army—trained as much for the sports field as the Infantry, was shot in the arm on 22 August, got his battlefield, bred from narrow regimental and Army wound dressed, went back into the fray and was later loyalties and led by a higher command that was a shot in the jaw, this time fatally. stickler for tradition and suppressive of criticism— There are three shields from the first world war that I took far too long to defeat the enemy. think are missing from the Chamber. The first is for The British commanders expected to win through Dr John Esmonde, who was the Irish nationalist MP for their offensive spirit, the mobility of attack and using North Tipperary from 1910 until his death on 17 April phrases such as “at all costs” and “regardless of loss”. 1915, when he was serving as a medical doctor in the Indeed General Smith-Dorrien, Commander of II Corps, Army medical corps. It is true that, in one sense, he was was relieved of his command for daring to ask permission not a combatant and, according to his death certificate, to retreat. We are now very familiar with the locations died from pneumonia and heart failure consequent on of these battles; Mons, Ypres, Passchendaele, Loos and the strain of overwork, but several other MP casualties so forth. The fundamental problem across all of them are commemorated in the Chamber who died as a result was that the antiquated command structure actually of accidents rather than as combatants. prevented battalion and brigade commanders from The second is Lieutenant Tom Kettle, who was an exploiting wins—unwilling to leverage any success until ardent home rule MP for East Tyrone between 1906 new orders arrived. and 1910. He was gun-running for the national volunteers Those artillery barrages that we learned so much in Belgium when the war came, but reckoning that it about and have seen in footage did not cut down the was the war of civilisation against barbarians, he spent barbed wire or destroy the enemy trenches to give the several weeks in what he called foot soldiers an advantage when charging across no man’s land. As has been said, the most vivid example of “the agony of the valiant Belgian nation”. that is the on 1 July 1916, when Then, despite poor health, he applied time and again 57,000 casualties were suffered in a single day; the for active service on the western front in one of the Irish biggest ever in the British Army. Not until new tactics regiments. He was killed. emerged—with battalion and brigade commanders given freedom in decision-making and combined warfare was The third is Charles Lyell, who died of pneumonia in developed, with greater use of the tank and the aeroplane— 1918 as assistant military attaché in Washington having was that stalemate broken in the battles of Hamel and served two periods as PPS to Asquith, the Prime Minister, Amiens. and devoting himself wholeheartedly to the war effort. I think it is a shame that these three are not commemorated We are still in fingertip touch with that war through in the Chamber. I have written to the Speaker and I the memories of our parents, grandparents and other hope that this will be taken up. relatives. My grandfather was a survivor of the battle of the Somme, from the Manchester regiment. He was With that, I echo all the comments of the many blind in one eye and throughout his life bits of shrapnel others who have spoken. came to the surface and had to be removed. 507 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 508

[Mr Tobias Ellwood] Hague in 1915. It obviously did not stop the war, but it did influence President Woodrow Wilson and the 14 points The consequences of that war are still evident today. that he later produced. Britain as a nation was broke, and its place in the world The first world war was a culmination of the rivalry changed as the map of Europe was redrawn to create between nations and empires; it was a commercial war something close to what we know today. Socially, every in many ways. It was envisaged in J. A. Hobson’s brilliant town, city and village had to come to terms with a loss work on imperialism in 1902, in which he predicted that of life on a scale that is hard to comprehend today. The there would be a war between the European nations war was entered into with enthusiasm but bitterly questioned because the tension and the arms expenditure were so in retrospect as Britain was robbed of a generation of great. There are serious lessons to be learned from that. men and had to adapt to a new world order. The map of the middle east was drawn as a result of I hope that the commemorations, 100 years on, will the first world war. The Sykes-Picot agreement, which not be an exercise in brushing up our history and dates. was revealed during the war, after the Russian revolution, I hope that we as a nation, in every city, town and showed the intention of Britain and France to carve up village, will reflect on the scale of the sacrifice, given so the middle east for themselves. The League of Nations resolutely by our own relatives only two generations was unsuccessful, but it represented an attempt at the ago, that has helped to define who we are today. end of the first world war to work out an international order that would prevent the same level of carnage from befalling another generation. In many ways, the League 4pm of Nations was doomed before it even started, because of the behaviour of the powers at the negotiations that Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Lab): This Sunday, resulted in the treaty of Versailles. Instead of bringing like many colleagues, I shall be at my borough’s annual about a peace, those powers sought to impose a victors’ presentation of wreaths at the war memorial. Our memorial justice so, for example, the people of New Guinea is a circle on Islington green. It was designed to show stopped being subjects of the German empire and how people can come together after conflict, not in a became a mandated people under the power of Australia, spirit of victory but through a desire for no more war to while the people of the middle east came to live under take place. Later that day, we will lay wreaths at the site mandated territories of Britain and France. Many of of the casualty department of the former Royal Northern the problems that the world saw later arose from the hospital. To commemorate the thousands of local people first world war. who lost their lives in world war one, there was a public collection that resulted in the building of an accident During the years of discussion about the war, let us and emergency department there, on the basis of a need try to ensure that, in memory of them, we talk about for something tangible that people could live from, those who opposed it and those who died in it. Above rather than die from. It is a very appropriate memorial. all, we should bring up our children to try to look for a world of peace—a world where we can settle grievances When we look at the war memorials—and when we and differences, rather than feeding an arms race all remember the pals regiments that colleagues have around the world that can lead only to another war, mentioned—we see dozens of names from the same such as the tragedies of the Congo, Syria, Iraq and family. We see how one generation was completely Afghanistan. Let us try to look to a world of peace and wiped out, with many brothers dying alongside each hope, not another war. other. I recall looking at a huge war memorial in Sospel in southern France. It commemorated the people of that town, and it was clear that many members of the 4.5 pm same families had died in the Franco-Prussian war, the first world war and the second world war. That series of Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Con): wars wiped out generations. It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn). For once, I agree with him, As a child growing up in a small village in Wiltshire, I given what he says about commemoration. I add my recall talking to old men who breathed with enormous congratulations to the Minister who, as the shadow difficulty. They told me that they had suffered “the gas” Minister said, has shown such dedication in getting us in the first world war. We have to remember those who to this stage. He has dealt with many sensitivities, and suffered and those who died. We remember them with we are genuinely grateful for his work. poetry and with hope. Many brilliant poems have been We are commemorating something that is, in a sense, written about the first world war, as well as brilliant still alive. As the hon. Member for Islington North pieces of music such as Ralph Vaughan Williams’s “The made clear, for the middle east, the Sykes-Picot agreement Lark Ascending”, which he dreamed up in the trenches. and the Balfour declaration are still live issues. The In the lull between the fighting, he could see the larks issues of the war became more personal for me four above the fields; their song was drowned out as the guns years ago when, along with my hon. Friend the Member started up again. Nigel Kennedy played it brilliantly at for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), I visited Bosnia the last night of the Proms earlier this year. and Herzegovina to work with Bosniac refugees. I recall In commemorating all those who died, we must being sat down in the biggest mosque in Sarajevo to remember that there were also many who opposed the meet the grand mufti, the head of the Muslim faith war, as my hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I remember him saying in (Wayne David) pointed out. There were massive anti-war really good English, “The last time this country was run meetings in Finsbury park in my constituency well into properly was under the Habsburg monarchy, and we the first world war. The international women’s conference still call this mosque the Emperor mosque because the against the war and in favour of peace took place in The Emperor Franz Joseph restored it.” We should think 509 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 510 about what has happened in Bosnia and Herzegovina 4.10 pm since that time, which suggests that there is an element of truth in that. We are officially to start our national Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley) (DUP): It is commemorations on 4 August, but we should not forget my honour to be the chair of the Northern Ireland 28 June 1914, when the Archduke was shot, and what world war one centenary committee. I also serve, along happened subsequently. We still have responsibility to with other Members, on the national advisory board. I mend those terrible events that happened in Bosnia and join others in commending the Minister for the excellent Herzegovina. work that he has done in preparing for next year’s commemorative events, and I have greatly enjoyed working As someone who was a history teacher, I was a little with him. perturbed by the Minister’s comment about how few The hon. Member for Wolverhampton South West people knew much about the first world war and who (Paul Uppal) spoke of looking out of the window of his fought it. Given that I taught for 28 years, I hope that constituency office. When I look out of the window of none of those people were in my classes. If the Minister my own constituency office in Lisburn, I can see the war has names, I would like to see them. memorial, on the front of which is the word “Thiepval”. Thiepval is, of course, synonymous with the battle of Much of the first world war is still with us, so that the Somme, and it was the 36th (Ulster) Division that must be a key aspect of understanding and education. emerged from Thiepval wood on that fateful day, 1 July As my hon. Friends the Members for Wolverhampton 1916, and charged towards the German lines. Indeed, South West (Paul Uppal) and for Reading West (Alok the Ulster division was the only division of X Corps to Sharma) pointed out, imperial troops made an unbelievable achieve its objective that morning, but it paid a terrible contribution to the war. There is a Sikh memorial in price in doing so: 5,500 soldiers were killed, wounded or Belgium. The Indian memorial at Neuve Chapelle missing in action. commemorates 4,742 Indian troops of no known grave. I saw Jewish graves at Lijssenthoek military cemetery, The war memorials in my constituency commemorate and I have seen Muslim graves organised in line with those men. There are war memorials in Lisburn, Mecca. I have seen a grave for seven people from a Hillsborough and Dromore, and there is a war memorial Chinese labour battalion who died in the first world hall in Lower Ballinderry. Northern Ireland is no different war. from other parts of the United Kingdom in that respect. However, the battle of the Somme left its mark on that Given the diversity of people who live in Britain, we small community. Captain Wilfred Spender, who was have an opportunity. As a teacher in Tottenham in an officer in the 36th (Ulster) Division, wrote these 1972, I faced the question of how to teach the first words: world war to classes of pupils from different religious “I am not an Ulsterman but yesterday, the 1st July, as I backgrounds and ethnicities. Of course, such teaching followed their amazing attack, I felt that I would rather be an could be done, because a huge number of the grandfathers Ulsterman than anything else in the world.” of such pupils would have been there. It has been We remember the valour of those men. Of the nine calculated that about 1.2 million non-white soldiers Victoria crosses given to British soldiers who fought in fought across the first world war theatre. We therefore the battle of the Somme, four were awarded to soldiers have an opportunity to use these commemorations to in the 36th (Ulster) Division, and the division won nine bring people together in a practical way, as people VCs during the course of the war. realise that their family histories of the war might not be much different from those of families who live While remembrance will be an important theme for next door. us in Northern Ireland, another will be reconciliation. As hon. Members have reminded us, during the first I pay tribute to the Commonwealth War Graves world war, the island of Ireland was united under the Commission for all the work it has done. Incredibly, Crown as part of the United Kingdom. The 10th and I was able to discover my great uncle, William Ollerenshaw 16th (Irish) Divisions fought alongside the 36th (Ulster) of the Lancashire Fusiliers, who died on 27 June 1916. I Division. We think of regiments now extinct such as the was also impressed by the commission’s recent work on old Royal Irish Regiment, the Connaught Rangers, the the “In From The Cold” project. It has sent me a chart Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Prince of Wales Leinster showing that, in Lancaster and Fleetwood alone, there Regiment, the Royal Munster Fusiliers, and the South are 161 war graves scattered across different churchyards. Irish Horse. We also think of existing regiments such as For instance, two soldiers are buried in Glasson churchyard, the Irish Guards, and of the current Royal Irish Regiment, three in Pilling churchyard, and 38 in Fleetwood cemetery, along with its antecedents, including the Royal Irish and they will be remembered. I am extremely grateful Rifles, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and the Royal for all that detailed work, of which the commission Irish Fusiliers, and of course the North Irish Horse, the should be proud. first regiment in which my brother served when he joined the Army. He now commands the Royal Yeomanry There is still a memorial village in Lancaster and here in London. Fleetwood, and Fleetwood has a memorial park, which has just received money so that it can be maintained Earlier, I quoted Captain Wilfred Spender. Let me and brought back into use. That will not be forgotten in now quote another brave soldier: Captain Willie Redmond, the constituency. who was a Member of this House. He was an Irish nationalist, the brother of the leader of the then Irish I am grateful for the debate, but I am particularly nationalist party.Willie Redmond fervently and passionately grateful for the hard work done by the Minister over a advocated that nationalists should join the British Army number of years. I hope that he is proud of where he and fight for freedom on the western front. In December has got to as a result. 1916, he wrote to his friend Arthur Conan Doyle: 511 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 512

[Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson] with no mist. The actual sun was behind clouds high in the sky so they had no glare in their glasses. Thus you will see that the “It would be a fine memorial to the men who have died so Germans were almost invisible and we were silhouetted against a splendidly if we could, over their graves, build up a bridge bright clear background so they could get good readings from between North and South.” their range finders and also mark their fall of shot.” We cannot change the history of the century that I am delighted to be able to report that Plymouth will followed the first world war, nor can we alter the be playing a very significant role in commemorating the constitutional realities today on the island of Ireland. I first world war, and we will be taking that very seriously. am a proud Ulsterman and a proud Unionist, but I will Apart from next year’s national Armed Forces day say this: the time has come to build those bridges. The taking place on Saturday 28 June, on Saturday 4 August time has come to use this shared history of the first we will be having prayers on the Hoe with speeches and world war to build bridges across the island, built on the reading of the declaration of war followed by a gun tolerance and mutual respect, in recognition of the salute from the citadel with a two-minute silence and brave men who went out and fought for this country laying of wreaths. That will be followed by the “Last and for our freedom, and who sacrificed their lives. Post”. Both of those days will provide all of us in Their memory is no less worthy of remembrance than Plymouth with a real opportunity to express our gratitude the soldiers of the 36th (Ulster) Division who died to all those brave servicemen and women, and to alongside them at the Somme and Messines, and other demonstrate our thanks for their sacrifices. battle places. That does not mean that people have to We all have some real lessons to learn from this most stop believing in what they believe—that I have to stop savage war. On election to this place three years ago, I being a Unionist, or that my fellow islanders who live in gave a commitment that I would campaign for better the Republic have to stop being nationalists—but let us treatment for our veterans. I am very grateful that the together share the history and the remembrance of Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend those who died in that fateful war. the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) has done so much in that regard. May I also pay tribute 4.15 pm to the previous Government’s decision to allow those people who were shot for desertion when they were Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) suffering from shell shock and mental health challenges (Con): I am very grateful to have been called to speak in to be pardoned. this debate on the commemoration of the first world I represent a naval garrison city so I see and hear at war. first hand the real stresses and strains that our veterans I am delighted to report that both of my grandfathers, face. Indeed, this week, I heard from an Afghan veteran having served as gunnery officers on the western front who told me that he is not looking forward to Sunday and at Jutland, survived. If they had not, I would not be because he will have to remember many of his friends here. My paternal grandfather, Kenneth Colvile, was a and his fellow servicemen who died on active military member of the Royal Garrison Artillery, while my service. That is why we must remember. maternal grandfather, Charles Neate, served on board HMS Valiant, a Queen Elizabeth class battleship, at Jutland. It is a real privilege for me to be able to pay 4.20 pm tribute to those members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines who served in the Devonport fleet, which Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) (Lab): First, may I played such a significant role in the first world war. declare an interest, in that I am a commissioner on the Five of the 14 ships lost at the battle of Jutland were Commonwealth War Graves Commission, along with Devonport-based ships. I am most fortunate that both my friend the hon. Member for Broadland (Mr Simpson)? of my grandfathers left eye-witness accounts of their I consider that to be a great privilege, as I know he does. experiences, and I would like to share a little bit of one The CWGC commemorates the 1.7 million people who of them, from my grandfather who was on the Valiant. died in the two wars. I wish to record my thanks to Alan He said: Pateman-Jones, its director general, and his staff for the work they do in more than 153 different countries. I “I went on watch at 12.30 pm for the afternoon watch over the also thank the Governments of New Zealand, India, 6″ anti-submarine guns; during the latter part of that watch signals began to fly round a good bit, steam for full speed, action Australia, Canada and South Africa for their contributions, stations and so on and then it became known to me that the all of whom will be joining in the commemorations of enemy wireless signals were growing very loud and strong and the the 1914 to 1918 war. Bridge passed down that our light cruisers had got in touch with I wish to mention a fact that not many people recognise. two enemy light cruisers and seemed likely to cut them off and We all see the iconic sites in France, but we also have destroy them. 170,000 graves in this country, as the hon. Member for Just as I was about to be relieved we closed up and got ready Lancaster and Fleetwood (Eric Ollerenshaw) mentioned. for instant action. The usual preparations such as changing into Every community will have CWGC graves in their local clean clothes, provision of fresh water and food in turrets and other places had to be left undone and we had bare time to get the churchyard or municipal cemetery, and I am pleased ship herself ready... that the CWGC, along with the all-party group on war On arrival at my lofty station we saw the Battle-Cruisers on heritage, has broken these down by constituency. One our starboard bow and at about 4.45 pm the Hun battle-cruisers thing that I have been working closely on with the appeared on the port bow and the two squadrons opened action. CWGC is raising awareness in communities of those We did not open just yet. To realise our difficulties you must graves. One initiative has been to erect Commonwealth try and visualise the light and position. The range was about war grave signs and, in some cases, information boards, 10-11 miles. Behind the enemy were blue-black clouds and a low so that local people know that the graves are there and lying mist and behind us was the sun and a sharp clear horizon are aware of why they are there. 513 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 514

Andrew Griffiths (Burton) (Con): I agree with the was a member of the Imperial War Graves Commission hon. Gentleman about the good work that the CWGC in the 1920s—fought on the western front, even though does. He will know that many graves of Victoria Cross he was an ILP member. holders across the country are neglected and that only There are opportunities for communities not only to those soldiers who died in battle have their graves remember the first world war but to do some good covered by the CWGC. May I commend to him the things about their own history and to ensure that people work of the Victoria Cross Trust, a charity, of which I remember the contribution that everyone made to the am a patron, that does such good work in restoring the war effort. When I was the veterans Minister, I had the graves of VC heroes across the country? privilege of meeting Harry Patch, Bill Stone and Henry Allingham. Sadly, I also attended their funerals. As the Mr Jones: I commend that body. The CWGC’s remit Minister said, they were the last living link to the first is defined by its charter, but the important point is that world war, which, as my hon. Friend the Member for the CWGC does look after all those graves in the UK Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis) said, has now passed into that come under its charter. We are talking about either history. This is a great opportunity to ensure that future the traditional stones that people will recognise or generations not only do not forget but know of the private memorials. I pay tribute to councillors in the important role that their local communities played in north-east of England, all of whose areas have now that important part of our great nation’s history. erected these green signs. I ask hon. Members of any party who wish to have them erected in their local Several hon. Members rose— cemeteries to contact me or the hon. Member for Broadland, as we will be only too willing to help. We Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. I have had a bit of a glitch with the Church of England—I shall have to start the wind-ups at 4.48 and there are five am sorry that the Second Church Estates Commissioner, speakers left. It is almost impossible. I am going to take the hon. Member for Banbury (Sir Tony Baldry) is not the time limit to four minutes, but I implore hon. here for this—which seemed to offer a protracted and Members to make room for their colleagues to speak, bureaucratic reason for why we could not put these too, by not necessarily using the full time, short as it is. signs up. I am glad to say that some progress has been The time limit is now four minutes, because I think that made, including in Durham, where the Archbishop of it is important that every Member gets to speak. Canterbury, the former Bishop of Durham, seemed to cut through the red tape of the Church of England. It would be nice to see those tasteful signs on all churchyards, 4.27 pm just to raise awareness, so that local people know that (Folkestone and Hythe) (Con): It was the graves are there. a pleasure to listen to the speech by the right hon. Let me now deal with the issues raised by the Minister. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr Donaldson) and I commend I congratulate him on the work he has done on them, him for the work he has done. I am sure that he would because I think he has got this right. There was a real agree that the stated desire of the Prime Minister and danger that this could go wrong. As he said, it is right the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to visit a war grave together that there will be national and international during the run-up to the centenary is an excellent way commemorations, but the real focus has to come from of marking the fact that Irishmen, both Unionist and below—I totally agree with him on that; local communities nationalist, fought together for a good cause in the first have to get involved. I pay tribute to the Heritage world war and we should not forget that. Lottery Fund, which is providing grants for local The first world war has captured the imagination of communities, a few of them in my constituency, including the public. It might have passed from living memory, Park View school, which has just received a grant for but people’s desire to find out about it, to walk in the doing a world war one project. I know that there are footsteps of the soldiers by visiting the battlefields and many others. Pelton Fell memorial park is applying for to gain an insight into what it must have been like is as a grant and a number of other villages want to hold keen now as it has probably been in living memory. events. Sacriston, for example, wants to hold a village at Perhaps that is because we want to challenge ourselves. war event. In the same circumstances, would we be as brave as I am passionate about ensuring that those who lost people were then? their lives are remembered, but another important aspect Throughout the debate, people have mentioned the is what happened in local communities. In the north-east “Blackadder” version of history and asked whether we and County Durham, for example, the role of coal are too cynical now as a nation to make the sacrifices mining in the first world war was important, as were the that people did then. Through the course of the first roles of women in munitions factories and the munitions world war centenary years we will remember the sacrifices industry in Tyneside. of those who gave their lives and of those who served, I am pleased that my hon. Friends the Members for both on the front line and to support the people on the Caerphilly (Wayne David) and for Islington North (Jeremy front line. It is a reminder of the incredible sacrifices Corbyn) mentioned conscientious objectors, because people make and the incredible endurance people have the war was divisive. In the early parts of the conflict, in extreme circumstances. People rise to that challenge members of the Independent Labour party were very generation after generation and it is right that we should much against the involvement of Britain in the war. remember the sacrifices of the first world war, which There were some notable exceptions and some people were on such an enormous scale. broke away, including Clem Attlee, who fought bravely I remember reading the remarks of my predecessor, at Gallipoli. One of my predecessors, Jack Lawson, the Philip Sassoon, who was an MP during the first world Member for Chester-le-Street—who, by coincidence, war. He felt that the battles at places such as Waterloo 515 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 516

[Damian Collins] in various battlefields and at sea, but the impact of that rail disaster, because it had such a dramatic effect on seemed Lilliputian compared with Neuve Chapelle, as it one day on people who did not even get to France, was such a totally different experience from anything where they had been expecting to fight, was both dramatic anyone had seen before. and traumatic. I want to mention the Step Short project in my The disaster is now remembered every year on its constituency, of which I am chairman. I thank the anniversary at a war memorial in a cemetery in the centre Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend of my constituency. At one of those commemorations a the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), few years ago I met a grandchild, the great-grandchildren who has been to Folkestone to visit the project and see and the great-great-grandchildren of a victim of that what we are planning: to tell a local story based on disaster who were pleased that the local community was rediscovering the role the town played during the war. now remembering their ancestor. I am glad to say that Folkestone was the major port of embarkation for the Quintinshill disaster is recognised by both the UK troops to and from the trenches of the western front. It and Scottish Governments as one of the Scottish national is estimated that 10 million servicemen came through events to be remembered in the commemorations of world the town during the war and our major project is to war one. It reminds us that the way in which the war create a memorial arch over the route that they marched impacted on individuals and communities was not just down to the ships in the harbour waiting to take them at the front and at sea but in places a long way from the to France. The arch will commemorate not just those battlefield and in ways that we do not always appreciate. who lost their lives and for whom that journey was their The bodies of those who died in that disaster were last on home soil but everyone who served in the brought back to the Drill hall in Leith. That building is war—soldiers, nurses, people in the supply chains, everyone now the Out of the Blue centre, a successful arts and who was part of the national contribution to the first cultural centre. Appropriately, in that very building a world war. I hope that people will come and experience couple of months ago, I was privileged to take part in what Folkestone has to offer and see the arch, which we the launch of one of the community projects funded by will unveil on 4 August next year as our commemoration the Heritage Lottery Fund. It was a project organised of the centenary of the outbreak of the war. by the Disability History Scotland group, which aims to I also thank the National Army museum, which will look at how the experience of disability caused directly bring an exhibition to Folkestone that will run from or indirectly by world war one had consequences for June next year for 10 months. It will help tell the story families and communities, for social policy, disability of the home front and the journey to war. Many stories groups and disability rights campaigns for generations will be rediscovered as part of the first world war until now. centenary. Another local story I will touch on is that of That is again a reminder of how the consequences of Walter Tull, whose story was rediscovered by the Dover war extend far beyond its original participants in all war memorial project. He was the first black soldier to sorts of ways and down the decades. Besides the project be commissioned in the British Army, as well as having that I mentioned, I know that others in my community been the first black professional footballer to play in an have sought, and I hope received, funding from the HLF. outfield position in the professional football leagues. I have encouraged them to do so and I hope that the Many such stories will be rediscovered. publicity about today’s debate will encourage other groups Another Folkestone story that is important to us is to come forward with projects for their community. the role that the town played in accommodating tens of Another ceremony that has recently been revived is at thousands of refugees from Belgium in the first weeks the war memorial at Newhaven village in my constituency, of the war. We gave succour and comfort to people who a fishing village in the past and a very small fishing had been dispossessed of their homes. That is an incredible community now. It takes place every year at the war story of the war, and we will discover more such stories memorial attached to the local school. It brings together as we go through. the wider community and the young people at the In his poem “Aftermath”, Siegfried Sassoon said: school to remember what their forefathers fought for in “Have you forgotten yet? the first world war. It is an opportunity to remind For the world’s events have rumbled on since those gagged young people of what happened at that time and to days.” look, as many colleagues have said, at reconciliation Next year we have a chance to demonstrate that we have and work for peace so that future generations will not not forgotten. have to go through what so many went through in the first world war. 4.31 pm 4.34 pm Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ Co-op): On the morning of 22 May 1915, 227 people Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con): Thank you, Madam were killed in what is still Britain’s worst rail disaster Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I shall when a troop train and two other passenger trains make a brief contribution. collided at Quintinshill near Gretna. Almost all those I was born on Remembrance day and I have always who died were men from the Leith Battalion of the attended Remembrance day services—those cold November Royal Scots, who were killed before even reaching mornings, the leaves falling on the ground, the sound of the battlefields of France that they were heading for on Elgar’s “Nimrod” and the stories of my grandparents. their first posting after training. The vast majority of That may explain my long-standing interest in military those who were killed were obviously from Edinburgh history. I believe that the only way we can shape a better and Leith. Of course, in the time before and after future is by understanding and honouring those who hundreds more from the community of Edinburgh died have fallen for this country. 517 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 518

I have been struck by the respect and solemnity with 4.38 pm which the public regard Remembrance day and have Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): Madam been raising money for poppies across my constituency Deputy Speaker, I am very grateful for your permission over the past few weekends, as have many hon. Members. to contribute to this debate, particularly as the first ever I ran the London marathon earlier this year, raising televised session of the Intelligence and Security Committee money for the Royal British Legion. I pay tribute to my meeting today prevented me from attending by far the constituents. We are raising money for the Todger Jones greater part of the debate. I shall just make a few very VC bronze statue. Todger Jones was a Cheshire Regiment brief remarks and hope that I am not unwittingly lad who won his Victoria Cross at Morval on the repeating things that others have already raised. Somme in 1916. We all have our different methods by which we have War is an inescapable truth and to leave any conflict been in contact with or affected by the first world war. saying that it is the last would be either naive or wilfully Mine dates back to my days as a schoolboy, when misleading, but what we can do is recognise the importance I became friendly with a veteran of the Royal Navy, of what is done, ensure that the skills and requirements Mr Leslie Horton, who served from 1915 to 1945 in just protect the armed forces as much as possible, and about every variety of royal naval ship. He served on the remember those who have made such sacrifices in our destroyer HMS Landrail in the first world war, for country’s name. That is why I am so proud to speak example, and the S-class submarine HMS Seadog in the today and take part in the commemoration service second world war. The force of character and personality across Weaver Vale this weekend. Those who have fought of all those people who have been through these vicissitudes, for Britain may be gone, but they are always in our ordeals and dangers cannot help but transmit itself to thoughts and in our memories. people of a younger generation. We pay tribute to Tommy Atkins—Tommy Atkins, In the brief time available I want to make one point like Todger Jones and my grandfather, who, being a for the Minister to consider in his reply. It will not come Manchester lad, wanted to join up in 1914 but was not as a surprise to him, because we have discussed it old enough. The recruiting sergeant knew that he was privately previously. I want to be certain that when, in not old enough so, along with his mates who were under the course of commemorating the events of the first age, he hot-footed it to Manchester Piccadilly station, world war, we focus on particular spikes in the history got on the west coast line down to London Euston and of that catastrophic conflict, we do not end up focusing joined up at the first recruiting office, which just happened solely on those events that marked terrible mistakes and to be the Middlesex Regiment. I make that same journey defeats. It is a reality that the generalship behind the every Monday morning down to this place and I never battle of the Somme was sadly lacking—some would fail to remember those brave Tommy Atkins from all say it was grossly negligent. It is a fact that the mistakes parts of the country who made the ultimate sacrifice. made at the battle of the Somme were repeated at the , but it is also a fact that by the time we got to 8 August 1918, the lessons of those 4.37 pm disastrous earlier offences had been learnt, however belatedly. The battle of Amiens, which hardly anyone Mr William Cash (Stone) (Con): On Saturday, in has heard of by comparison with the earlier battles, was common with many other Members of Parliament and a stupendous victory for which our forces gain too little millions of people throughout this country, we will credit. commemorate and remember those who died in the first Of course commemoration is about reconciliation, and the second world wars. In particular, in my constituency but we must not blind ourselves to the fact that those we commemorate the North and the South Staffordshire battles took place not on the territory of a country that Regiments with their VCs and those who did not attain did the invading, but by definition on the territory of great gallantry medals but who fought the battles, fought countries that had been invaded. It should be a matter the war, saved this country and saved our democracy. of pride for the people of this country that we fought on I pay tribute to the Royal Irish Rifles because, as has the right side in the first world war. Indeed, the failure already been mentioned, it is remarkable that despite all to draw the right lessons from what happened at the end the troubles between us and those who live in the of the war had the consequence that after the second southern part of Ireland, so many people are now world war we were determined there would have to be touched by the fact that we are coming together. We unconditional surrender—so that next time nobody commemorate people who fought—people like Vincent could argue, as they had done after 1918, that they had Cullen—because they were loyal, they were real and not really been defeated. Let us of course reach out the they were brave. They fought with our people and we hand of friendship and remember the terrible mistakes should never forget them. made, but let us remember the victories, too, and the justice of the cause for which British soldiers, sailors Finally, I should like to put it on record that Doug and airmen fought and died. Lakey, who came here this afternoon and was the only person in the Special Gallery, as far as I know, was with 4.43 pm my father on the day he was killed in the second world war. He is a constituent of the Under-Secretary of State Andrew Griffiths (Burton) (Con): Thank you, Madam for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for South Deputy Speaker, for calling me at the end of the debate; West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), and I thought he would I was in a Committee meeting and so was unable to like to know that. Doug Lakey is 93 now. He has had a contribute earlier. fantastic day and it has been a wonderful occasion for Burton can take the credit for having been home to me to be able to have him here for the first time in the the most decorated non-commissioned soldier of the House of Commons. first world war, William Coltman, who won not only 519 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 520

[Andrew Griffiths] Over the years, it has become a much more diverse affair. In fact, the people who attend nowadays represent the Victoria Cross but the distinguished conduct medal the diversity of the armed forces who took part in the and bar and the military medal. He won those amazing first world war more than they ever have in previous medals as a pacifist. He was a stretcher bearer because years. It is a real community event with everyone coming his religious beliefs prevented him from fighting, but he together. More recently, we have been happy to welcome was a brave men. He is a man that Burton is very proud a large contingent of the Gurkha community, and it is a of. pleasure to see how their presence is warmly welcomed I speak as a patron of the Victoria Cross Trust. As by the entire community. British Future’s publication has been mentioned, there are hundreds of graves of about the first world war refers to heroes across the country, including VC winners, that “the graves…of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus are not tended by the Commonwealth War Graves lying side by side, just as” Commission because those brave servicemen died after they they had been decommissioned and when they were no “had fought side by side”. longer in the Army. It is a terrible shame for our country. In my opinion it is a national disgrace that the It is often at these times in the field of human conflict graves of those men who did such great acts of bravery that humanity shows its greatest attributes. Whether it and valour on behalf of this country and democracy is the brotherhood of those diverse cultures or the are not tended. We see these crumbling gravestones and symbolic events that took place on no man’s land at overgrown memorials to such brave men, and it is time Christmas 1914, there is more in human nature that that we looked at what we can do about them. binds us than divides us. When Harry Patch sadly passed away in 2009, we lost one of the last direct The Victoria Cross Trust is a charity that was established connections with the British soldiers who fought so by a gentleman called Gary Stapleton. With no public bravely in that war. Our generation will be the last to money, he and his band of volunteers have restored have had direct contact with these soldiers. We must very many graves, up and down the country, of VC therefore reflect on how the 150th anniversary might be heroes. It is time that we looked at what we could do as remembered. a Government to try to support them. They do not ask for huge amounts of Government funding, but I am When this Chamber suffered a direct hit from a sure there must be ways we can help. This is the big German bomb during the second world war, Winston society in action—people going out in the community, Churchill instructed that some of the rubble from the raising money to restore the graves of some of the bomb damage be incorporated in the renovated Chamber bravest men of this country. We should commend them of the House of Commons to remind us not only of and do all we can to support them. the fortitude of those who fought in that war but the damage and harm that was inevitably caused by wars. So this Chamber itself, in a way, has a form of remembrance. 4.45 pm That is a reminder that we, as politicians, must exhaust Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab): This has been a very every political and diplomatic avenue before we ever fitting and moving debate. I always feel that the House consider sending our armed forces into harm’s way. War is at its best on such occasions. I cannot, in the time is a breakdown of the political process and, as such, can available, do credit to all the speeches. We heard from only be the last resort in any conflict. the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr Donaldson), It has been an honour to take part in this debate. In the hon. Member for Broadland (Mr Simpson), my particular, I pay tribute to the work of the Under-Secretary hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Graham Jones), of State for Defence, the hon. Member for South West the hon. Member for Wolverhampton South West (Paul Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), and what he has done to bring Uppal), my hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly us to this point. I also pay tribute to the Commonwealth (Wayne David), the hon. Member for Colchester (Sir Bob War Graves Commission, to the Imperial War Museum, Russell), my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend to the BBC for what it has planned over the next four (Mrs Moon), the hon. Member for Banbury (Sir Tony years, and to all the countries of the Commonwealth Baldry), my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda that will be doing so much to help us to mark this (Chris Bryant), the hon. Member for Bournemouth important event in our collective history. East (Mr Ellwood), my hon. Friend the Member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn), the hon. Members Forty-one million British people lived through the for Lancaster and Fleetwood (Eric Ollerenshaw) and first world war while what was described as the flower for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Oliver Colvile), of British youth went off to fight. Nine million soldiers my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr Jones), lost their lives and 16 million people died overall. For the hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Damian them, we must be a nation at our best when commemorating Collins), my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh these events. We must lay the foundations for future North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz), and the hon. generations to go on learning the lessons of just how Members for Weaver Vale (Graham Evans), for Stone devastating war can be. If we can achieve that, we will (Mr Cash), for New Forest East (Dr Lewis), and for have achieved something that is worthy of those whom Burton (Andrew Griffiths). All I can say is that it is an we aim to remember. honour to have taken part in this debate with them. How we should approach this commemoration is 4.50 pm symbolised by Harry Patch’s insistence that German and British veterans should carry his coffin. For the past The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, 20 years, long before I became a Member of Parliament, Media and Sport (Mrs Helen Grant): I thank all Members I have been attending the remembrance service in Eltham. who have taken part in this very important debate and 521 First World War Commemoration7 NOVEMBER 2013 First World War Commemoration 522

I am sorry that there is so little time to respond fully to It was humbling to hear about the Barnsley Pals, and all the important issues and moving stories that have about the Accrington Pals from the hon. Member for been mentioned. Hyndburn (Graham Jones), and about the valiant Todger More than anything else, the Government want Jones, William Coltman and Tommy Atkins. It was also engagement with this commemoration. Almost every moving to hear from my hon. Friend the Member for one of us has discoveries to make about the first world Wolverhampton South West (Paul Uppal) about the war and our various personal links to it. The issue is bravery of the Sikh regiments, and from my hon. Friend important to me: as the mother of a Royal Marine the Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood (Eric Commando, I understand and appreciate the courage, Ollerenshaw) about the importance of diversity. I reassure tenacity and skill of our armed forces. I also understand Members that this commemoration will help us mark the pride and anxiety that families feel when those they such contributions. It will also make future generations love go away to serve. aware of the history of the war so that we can continue Today’s speeches and interventions by Members to learn from the lessons of the past. stemmed, understandably, from their own interest in the It is clear from what has been said today that many time and their genuine concerns for how war is Members have already encouraged their constituents to commemorated. I sensed considerable consensus in the become involved, and I thank them very much for their Chamber this afternoon. efforts. If Members have not already done so, I ask As shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Barnsley them to tell those in their area about what is being Central (Dan Jarvis) and the hon. Member for Colchester planned and encourage them to find their own links to (Sir Bob Russell) and others raised the issue of the tone the first world war, a conflict that, though it took place of the commemoration. I absolutely agree with them 100 years ago, remains deeply ingrained in the fabric of that this is not a celebration; it is a commemoration. our society, our churchyards, our memorials and our There are no surviving veterans from the first world heritage buildings, and in the hearts of our families. war, but it is up to us to pay respect and to ensure that Although our Government commemoration is proudly future generations do not forget and that there will be led by the Government, the spirit is rightly owned by all no triumphalism or jingoism. of the people of this country. I hope that what we have My hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Sir Tony said this afternoon has assured Members from all parties Baldry), the hon. Members for Bridgend (Mrs Moon) that we are working hard to make sure that the UK’s and for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn), the right hon. first world war centenary commemoration will be solemnly, Member for Lagan Valley (Mr Donaldson) and my respectfully and properly remembered. hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe Question put and agreed to. (Damian Collins) spoke about the importance of war Resolved, memorials and the various plans for research, restoration That this House has considered commemoration of the First and having these important structures listed. Those are World War. exactly the sorts of projects that the Government programme is designed to support and I wish those concerned every success. PETITION On the issue raised right at the end by my hon. Friend the Member for New Forest East (Dr Lewis), when my Redevelopment of the old Royal Ordnance hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence Factory site (Puriton, Somerset) opened the debate he mentioned the battle of Amiens, which was a victory. I think my hon. Friend the Member 4.55 pm for New Forest East may have missed that reference. The role of women has been raised by several Members Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater and West Somerset) and it will certainly be commemorated. Women played (Con): I am presenting a petition of 1,298 signatures an essential role in the war. We need to recognise the from the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency. huge impact that the war had on women, their place in The petition states: society, the suffragette movement and employment. The Petition of residents of Puriton, Somerset, My hon. Friend the Member for Broadland Declares that the Petitioners believe that the proposed (Mr Simpson) and others spoke about the importance redevelopment of the old Royal Ordnance Factory site is unacceptable of how we will engage with our young people. One of on grounds of air pollution, noise, village access, visual impact our key objectives for the centenary is to engage with and the overall character of the development. them by making connections between young people The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons today and young people who fought and died a century take note of the plans in advance of consideration by the local ago. Our battlefield visit programme will connect young planning authority. people with battlefields and, I hope, offer them a special And the Petitioners remain, etc. experience that they can share with their classmates. [P001275] 523 7 NOVEMBER 2013 Group B Streptococcus (Newborn 524 Babies) Group B Streptococcus (Newborn Babies) “The most striking finding that has implications for clinical practice and policy is the low sensitivity of risk factor based Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House screening, compared with PCR or culture tests in predicting do now adjourn.—(.) maternal and neonatal GBS colonisation—”

4.56 pm Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): I warmly commend my hon. Friend on bringing the issue Nadine Dorries (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con): I am delighted before the House. I have a constituent who lost a child and honoured to have secured this debate on group B as a result of it, so it is something that I take seriously. streptococcus, which is also known as group B strep or Is my hon. Friend pleased, as I am, to see that Public GBS. GBS is the most common cause of serious infection Health England is now adopting gold standard enriched in newborn babies. In the UK, it is the most common culture testing in its eight regional laboratories? Does cause of meningitis in babies in their first weeks of life. she welcome that as a small advance in this important With prompt and aggressive treatment, most sick babies area? will recover from GBS infection, but even with the best medical care, about 10% of them will die, and some of Nadine Dorries: I welcome my hon. Friend’s intervention, the survivors will suffer lifelong problems, including and I will go on to talk about the gold standard culture 50% of those who recover from GBS meningitis. medium. The subject was last raised in the House 10 years ago The researchers continued that the sensitivity of such by my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney screening was (Mr Cameron), who is now Prime Minister. There has “below that which we considered to be a minimally acceptable been some progress but, given his current position, it sensitivity for our study—which calls into question the validity of would be encouraging if we could see more. I shall the current UK policy. Moreover, consistent with previous evidence quote his words at the end of my speech. of practice variation, the risk factor-based screening policy was The rate of confirmed cases of group B strep infection poorly adhered to, with one-third of women with indications for in newborn babies increased by almost 50% between IAP not treated.” 1991 and 2010. The true rate of infection, which includes Despite those authors and numerous others recommending cases that are not confirmed through the identification routine screening as cost-effective in the UK, the UK of the bacteria, but in which GBS is strongly suspected national screening committee continues to recommend by clinicians, is likely to be several times higher. The the risk-based approach. issue is therefore not only serious, but one that is Most countries that have national strategies against becoming more serious. GBS infection offer routine antenatal testing for GBS. We have known for a long time that the key risk Those countries have seen the incidence of early onset factor for a newborn baby in developing GBS is the disease fall dramatically, such as by more than 80% in mother carrying GBS at delivery. The UK guidelines the US and Spain. That compares favourably with the state that if GBS has been detected during the current result of the risk-based approach in the UK under pregnancy from a swab or culture from a pregnant which, as I have said, the number of infections has woman, she should be offered intravenous antibiotics in increased. If we know that the risk-based strategy we labour to minimise the risk of GBS developing in her are adopting is not working because infections are newborn baby. beginning to increase, yet countries such as Spain are seeing an 80% reduction, should we not consider the The UK’s risk-based strategy to reduce GBS infection cost-effectiveness of moving to a system that we know in newborn babies was introduced by the Royal College will reduce the number of poorly babies in our intensive of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2003, but there care units that have GBS-induced meningitis and other is no evidence that it has appreciably reduced the incidence complications? of this devastating infection. In 2003, there were 229 reported cases of GBS infection in babies aged Studies show that testing for GBS in late pregnancy, nought to six days; in 2011, there were 281 cases. On as well as offering tests to women found to carry GBS that evidence alone, I suggest to the Minister that the or who have other recognised risk factors, is more risk-based strategy has failed demonstrably and that we cost-effective than the current risk-based strategy. A need to consider new alternatives. risk-based strategy is poor at predicting women who One UK case study found that 21% of women carried will be carrying GBS in labour, and therefore women GBS, and that 22% had risk factors for GBS infection for whom antibiotics in labour would potentially prevent developing in their newborn baby and would therefore devastating infections in their newborn babies. be offered intravenous antibiotics in labour. However, Recently published research shows that although women only 29% of women with risk factors actually carried want to be informed about GBS and offered testing for GBS. Using risk factors alone means that a high proportion it during pregnancy, that is not happening. At less than of women not carrying GBS will be offered intrapartum £12, the tests are not that expensive, and the antibiotic antibiotics, while many actually carrying it will not. recommended during labour if a woman is found to carry GBS in pregnancy is cheap and cost-effective. It is penicillin, which is shown to be exceptionally safe, as 5pm well as being a narrow-spectrum drug that is unlikely to Motion lapsed (Standing Order No. 9(3)). cause greater resistance later. Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House Most NHS pathology services currently use culture do now adjourn.—(Claire Perry.) media that are general purpose and identify GBS in only about 60% of carriers. At the request of the chief Nadine Dorries: Researchers stated: medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, the enriched culture 525 Group B Streptococcus (Newborn 7 NOVEMBER 2013 Group B Streptococcus (Newborn 526 Babies) Babies) medium test that my hon. Friend mentioned will be He said to the then Minister: made available throughout England from 1 January “I hope that the Minister will show great urgency over the 2014. That will identify about 90% of carriers, and it is issue”.—[Official Report, Date; Vol. 408, c. 267WH.] the gold standard for that purpose, under Public Health My right hon. Friend supported the introduction of England’s regional laboratory standard operating procedure. routine testing: I echo his sentiments exactly. The results of the GBS test are about 85% predictive of carriage status for up to five weeks. 5.8 pm It should be used to identify GBS carriage wherever The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health there is an indication. These sensitive tests have not (Dr Daniel Poulter): I congratulate my hon. Friend the previously been widely available within the NHS when Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Nadine Dorries) on requested by the health professionals and pregnant securing this debate and raising this very important women. issue. The death of a baby is devastating for parents and I have some key questions for the Minister. Will he their families. It is important that we do all we can to use this debate as an opportunity to make a statement minimise the risk of such deaths. My hon. Friend has welcoming the gold standard enriched culture medium presented a strong case, but, as I shall set out later, it is test for group B strep carriage, which is being made equally important that we are guided in our decisions available from January 2014, which can be used to by professional, evidence-based advice to ensure that assess carrier state if there is an indication? From this any action taken does not lead to potentially greater point on, how does the Minister plan to reduce the adverse outcomes or unintended consequences. incidence of GBS infection in newborn babies when the Group B streptococcus is one of many bacteria that current risk-based strategy, introduced in 2003, has can be present in the human body. It is estimated that been shown not to be effective? Is there a target rate for about one pregnant woman in five in the UK carries GBS infection in newborn babies? I have always derided GBS. Around the time of labour and birth, many babies targets, but in this case setting a target for the reduction come into contact with GBS and are colonised by the of GBS infections may be a way to introduce routine bacteria. Most are unaffected, but a small number can testing. become infected. If a baby develops group B strep fewer than seven Will the Minister confirm that the audit of practice days after birth, it is known as early-onset group B suggested by the UK national screening committee to strep. Most babies who become infected develop symptoms establish how well the new guidance is being implemented within 12 hours of birth, and it is estimated that about at a national level will study the actual practice taking one in 2,000 babies born in the UK develop early-onset place in maternity units, rather than simply being an group B strep, or about 404 babies a year—my hon. audit of policies without any check of whether they are Friend made these points earlier. Most babies who being applied in practice, because we know that these become infected can be treated successfully and will policies are not being put into practice in maternity make a full recovery, but even with the best medical units? What is the time scale for the feedback and care, one in 10 babies diagnosed with early-onset group B advice to trusts about how they can further improve strep will unfortunately die. their adherence to the RCOG and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on the prevention The infection can also cause life-threatening of neonatal GBS disease? What provision is being made complications, such as septicaemia, pneumonia and for telling pregnant women about the risk of GBS meningitis. One in five babies who survive the infection infection in their babies? What provision is being made will be affected permanently. Early-onset group B strep to educate relevant health professionals about the prevention can cause problems such as cerebral palsy, deafness, of GBS in newborn babies and the forthcoming availability blindness and serious learning difficulties, and rarely of the gold standard ECM test? Do midwives and can cause infection in the mother—for example, an practitioners in maternity units even know that this infection in the womb or urinary tract, or more seriously gold standard test is being introduced in 2014? an infection that spreads through the blood, causing symptoms to develop throughout the whole body. UK guidelines recommend that when GBS carriage is It is worth reflecting on how the UK compares found by chance during a pregnancy, it should trigger internationally on rates of group B strep. The reported the offer of antibiotic prophylaxis in labour. Why should rate per 1,000 births is 0.38 in the UK; in the USA, a woman with unknown GBS carriage status be denied where there is testing, it is 0.41; in Spain, 0.39; in the opportunity to find out if her baby is at risk? France, 0.75; in Portugal, 0.44; and in Norway, 0.46. Even in comparison with countries where there is routine I would like to pay tribute to the tireless work of group B strep screening at 35 to 37 weeks, therefore, the Group B Strep Support, the charity and campaign UK has relatively low levels of group B strep. group that has been working to raise awareness of this issue and reduce the death toll. I also have a constituent It is also worth setting out some of the general who has sadly lost a baby to GBS. The group has been a improvements in maternity care that are helping to great help to me in preparing for this debate following reduce group B strep and improve the quality of care a meeting with my constituent. Ten years ago, my right available to women. We all agree that women should hon. Friend said in his Adjournment debate: receive high-quality and safe maternity services that deliver the best outcomes for them and their baby. “Group B Strep Support’s aim, which I support, is for the Maternity services feature prominently in the key objectives routine test to be offered to all pregnant women, with those who set out in the first mandate between the Government are found to have GBS at the 35 to 37-week stage being automatically and NHS England. As set out in the mandate, we want offered intravenous antibiotics.” all women to have a named midwife responsible for 527 Group B Streptococcus (Newborn 7 NOVEMBER 2013 Group B Streptococcus (Newborn 528 Babies) Babies) [Dr Daniel Poulter] across the UK, which will undertake a review to see how units have revised and updated their local protocols ensuring she has personalised, one-to-one care. To help since 2006, using well-designed case studies to gather deliver that, there has been significant investment in the specific information about maternity unit policies by maternity work force. Since May 2010, the number of asking clinicians whether they would screen for group B full-time equivalent midwives has increased by 6.5%—just strep and/or other intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis under 1,500—and in addition there are currently in in the circumstances described. It will also assess the excess of 5,000 midwifery students in training. There extent to which current maternity information systems has, therefore, been considerable investment in maternity are able to provide data on whether women have had an services to ensure much more personalised care and, antenatal culture for group B strep, whether women consequently, much safer care for women and their have been given intrapartum antibiotics and, if so, the babies. antibiotics prescribed, the dose and duration and whether the women had particular risk factors such as intrapartum Nadine Dorries: For the reasons I highlighted, we fever. The audit aims to provide feedback and advice to know that the risk-based strategy is not working effectively. all participating trusts about how they could further Does the Minister not agree that in countries that have improve their adherence to the RCOG guidelines on the routine testing the chances are greatly improved? He prevention of neonatal group B strep disease. drew comparisons with the US, France and other countries, Clinical audit is a tool that is incredibly valuable in but we do not know what their figures would be if they improving the quality of patient care. It is something were using our risk-based strategy. The fact is that they that trusts do very often on an ad hoc basis. The fact are routinely testing, so does he not agree that only if we that we now have a national audit focused on group B were also routinely testing could we make a like-for-like strep disease will help to standardise practice across all comparison with other countries? Also, why specifically maternity settings and improve the quality of care that does the UK, a sophisticated country with sophisticated is available, so that we can look at which women are maternity services, not routinely test? more vulnerable and susceptible to developing group B strep and, therefore, reduce infection rates. Dr Poulter: I will come to those points a little later, but I will try to reassure my hon. Friend. Given that the majority of babies who die from group B strep are born Nadine Dorries: That is encouraging news but again prematurely, testing at 35 to 37 weeks would not benefit the focus is on women who are at risk of group B strep. them. Tragically, they would have died in any case, so I am advocating that all women should be tested for the screening test to prevent them from dying would not group B strep. I recommend that every pregnant woman have been effective. I will say a little more about that I meet now buys a kit to test for group B strep. It is later, if she will allow me to make some progress. encouraging and positive to hear what my hon. Friend the Minister is saying but it is still focusing on the I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for raising this issue, at-risk women, which is what the risk strategy does now. because the first challenge is to raise general awareness We need to move from that and away from the at-risk of group B strep among the health care work force and women. We need to move from 35 to 37 weeks and women more generally. The Department of Health is forward to full-term and routine testing of all women working with the NHS, the Royal College of Obstetricians for group B strep. and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research health technology Dr Poulter: I am hopeful that the audit by the RCOG assessment team and the pharmaceutical industry to nationally—something I discussed with the group B raise awareness of group B strep and reduce the impact strep groups and the chief medical officer at a meeting of this terrible infection. The Royal College of Obstetricians this time last year to progress the work at a greater and Gynaecologists has produced an information leaflet pace—will put us in a better position to understand in for women who are expecting a baby or planning to particular which women are at high risk, whether birth become pregnant, and this sets out information about units are picking up on those women in a timely manner group B strep infection in babies in the first week after and how we can improve the situation throughout the birth and the current UK recommendations for preventing country. In the past there has been quite a lot of group B strep in newborn babies. In addition, information variation in practice, broadly based on the RCOG is also available on the NHS Choices website. guidelines, but it is important—knowing the devastating As hon. Friends will agree, the focus must be on effects of this illness—that we put together a comprehensive preventing early onset group B strep infection from audit tool that gathers data at a national level so we can occurring in the first place. The Royal College of spread good practice and good guidance throughout. If Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published updated my hon. Friend will be patient I hope to address some guidelines on prevention of early onset group B strep of the broader issues about screening later. infection in neonates in July 2012, which takes into account the latest evidence. It is important that services Andrew Selous: Earlier, my hon. Friend said that undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use some countries that screen have higher rates of group B of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis as recommended strep than we do. Does he have any data—he could by the guidance. Following the publication of the revised perhaps write to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid guidance, the UK national screening committee suggested Bedfordshire (Nadine Dorries) and myself—to show a formal audit of practice to establish how well the new what the progression has been since testing was introduced guidance is being implemented at a national level. in those countries? I think my hon. Friend the Member The RCOG, in partnership, with the London School for Mid Bedfordshire said that it was falling in Spain of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has now appointed but it would be interesting to see how it is moving a clinical research fellow to carry out a one-year audit following the introduction of widespread testing. 529 Group B Streptococcus (Newborn 7 NOVEMBER 2013 Group B Streptococcus (Newborn 530 Babies) Babies) Dr Poulter: I would be delighted to do so. It is my hon. Friend is proposing could lead to many tens of important to consider the confounding factors that thousands of women being given antibiotics inappropriately arise in any research. For example, there is some evidence at the time of delivery, because they were not carrying of different rates of carriage of group B strep among group B strep at the time, and that that could result different population groups. Also, the clinical treatment in resistance developing. We already know about the of the disease in hospitals—which is separate from the devastating consequences of group B strep infection, screening process—can vary from country to country. and the development of further resistant strains could We have to set the data alongside other practices that be an unintended consequence of such screening that take place at local level in order to interpret them in the none of us would want to see. We need to be mindful of right way. I would be delighted to write to my hon. that possibility, as I believe the national screening committee Friends, and to any other hon. Members who are interested, was when it made its recommendations. with that broader general information. The majority of babies who die from early-onset I shall turn now to the question of routine screening group B strep are premature and are, sadly, born too for group B strep. The UK national screening committee early to be helped by screening at 35 to 37 weeks. Data advises Ministers and the national health service in all from 2001 show that, in that year, there were 39 deaths four countries on all aspects of screening policy, and due to group B strep, of which 25 occurred prematurely— supports implementation. At its meeting on 13 November that is, before the 35th week of pregnancy, when any 2012, the screening committee recommended that antenatal screening would have been carried out. Those deaths screening for group B strep carriage at 35 to 37 weeks would therefore not have been prevented by a screening should not be offered, as my hon. Friend the Member programme. for Mid Bedfordshire has pointed out. That is the reason for the debate. The reasons given included the It has been estimated that up to 49,000 women carrying fact that the currently available screening tests cannot GBS at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy may no longer be distinguish between women whose babies would be carriers when receiving treatment during labour. Studies affected and those that would not. As a result, about of the test suggest that between 13% and 40% of screen- 140,000 low-risk pregnant women would be offered positive women will no longer be carriers at the point of antibiotics in labour following a positive screening test delivery. There is also a potentially detrimental impact result. The overwhelming majority of those women on maternity services, increasing the medicalisation of would have a healthy baby without screening and treatment. labour, with the increase in hospital births and increases In other words, a woman who had screened positive for in the birth rate that we are seeing. We know that once group B strep at one point in her pregnancy might not there is one intervention in labour, it can lead to other necessarily be carrying it at the time of delivery, and up interventions and a high rate of Caesarian section when to 140,000 women a year could be given antibiotics it might not have been necessary in the first place. I am during labour even though they did not need them. not saying that that would always be the case and absolutely not with GBS—far from it—but we know On the back of the evidence, concern was also expressed, that when a woman enters a medicalised pathway in a understandably, about resistance to some of the antibiotics maternity unit, it can often lead to interventions that used to prevent early-onset group B strep, about the might otherwise have been unnecessary and that are long-term effects on the newborn and about the potential sometimes quite distressing for the woman during labour. for anaphylactic reactions in labour. Many of us will This is particularly the case when many of the women recall the chief medical officer for England’s report, in potentially put on prophylaxis would no longer be which she expressed particular concern about the risks carriers of GBS. posed by antibiotic resistance due to overuse. The use of antibiotics on that size of population could create a risk The advice from the UK national screening committee of resistance developing, which would have adverse is consistent with that of the Royal College of Obstetricians consequences. and Gynaecologists and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. I believe we have talked through a number of the issues about why that recommendation Nadine Dorries: I am interested in what the Minister was made. has just said. As I mentioned in my speech, we are talking about a penicillin, a narrow-spectrum antibiotic. In the brief time remaining, it would be worth mentioning I know the Minister’s background, and he will know some of the research that is going on. It is estimated that GPs would prescribe it for a throat infection. This that a vaccine for GBS is approximately five years away is a widely and commonly used antibiotic. Does he not from development. First-stage trials have now been think that these expressions of concern are over-egging undertaken, and wider population- based studies for the pudding slightly? safety and efficacy are in place in high-prevalence areas like South Africa. I am sure we would all agree that a vaccine would be a very effective solution to GBS, and I Dr Poulter: In the report that the chief medical officer shall certainly do all I can to push and nudge to make published earlier this year, she made the point graphically sure that such a vaccine is brought forward in as safe that the overuse of antibiotics among people who do and appropriate and as timely a manner as possible. not need them can lead to resistance developing in bacteria. We know from hospital super-bugs such as MRSA and VRSA that many other resistant strains of Nadine Dorries: Is the Minister informing us that that bacteria are developing. Part of the challenge is to see vaccine would be widely available? Let me ask him once responsible prescribing adopted more broadly across more—after everything he has said today, for which I the NHS, to ensure that antibiotics are being targeted at am incredibly grateful—why does he think countries the people who will benefit directly from them. The like Spain, the United States and others have introduced chief medical officer’s concern is that the screening that routine testing when we still seem to be opposed to it? 531 Group B Streptococcus (Newborn 7 NOVEMBER 2013 Group B Streptococcus (Newborn 532 Babies) Babies) Dr Poulter: It is sometimes difficult to explain variations is looking at women with GBS sepsis, which will help us in clinical practice and the care of women during maternity understand the physical impact that GBS has on women’s services between different states or within regions of health. A second study looks at providing information countries like Spain and to understand why they are at a national level on the numbers of women and babies different from what we have in this country. Here we affected by anaphylaxis due to antibiotic use in labour have robust guidelines in place for trying to identify for GBS or presumed GBS infection. As I mentioned, at-risk women and we are trying to tighten them through one concern about a blanket prophylaxis would be the audit while we have low rates. I am not sure whether the potential anaphylactic reaction that we know can occur same can always be said elsewhere in the world. That is when someone is allergic to penicillin or other antibiotics. why other countries might have wanted to introduce a I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Mid cruder tool through a screening test to help them reduce Bedfordshire once again for raising this important issue. their rates. As I have said, I will look further into this I hope I have been able to clarify some of the reasoning matter and write to my hon. Friends in order better to behind the national screening committee’s decisions. I inform them. will write to and engage further with my hon. Friend Research and clinical audit are important. We want and others to reassure them again that the Government to make sure that we have a proper national audit take this issue very seriously. Together, I know we will programme to carry out and develop good and better get to a better place so that fewer families are affected practice guidelines for GBS. Looking forward to a by this tragic illness. vaccine, we hope that that will be a long-term answer to Question put and agreed to. this devastating disease, not just for the UK but throughout the world. Prioritising other research studies is also important. At the moment, a study is being carried out 5.29 pm by the maternal health and care policy research unit. It House adjourned. 149WH 7 NOVEMBER 2013 Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty 150WH

and highlighted that poor communication by energy Westminster Hall companies “has resulted in deep mistrust from their customers.” Thursday 7 November 2013 At a time of rising prices, it is crucial that consumer trust is restored if we are to get the investment that we need. Just last week, the Committee held a session with [NADINE DORRIES in the Chair] energy companies to find out what was driving the recent price increases. Following that session, we asked Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty the energy companies to set out information about their [Relevant documents: Energy prices, profits and poverty, profits in a standard format. We published that information Fifth Report from the Energy and Climate Change on our website today, although it still does not provide a Committee, HC 108, and the Government and Ofgem complete picture. Bringing forward the information is responses, HC 717, and the oral evidence taken before the an ongoing process, and the Committee will continue Energy and Climate Change Committee on 29 October 2013, to consider how to improve the transparency and on energy prices, HC773.] comparability of energy company prices and profits. Motion made, and Question proposed, That the sitting be now adjourned.—(Mr Evennett.) Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the difficulties in working out what prices ought to be, based on the wholesale cost, is 1.30 pm that whereas Ofgem looks at past prices in projecting Nadine Dorries (in the Chair): I inform Members that what it thinks costs ought to be, energy companies this debate was listed on the Order Paper earlier in the project forward to see what prices might be? That is one week as finishing at 3.30 pm, but that was removed reason why there is a mismatch. from the Order Paper yesterday. The transport debate will start at 3 pm, when this debate finishes. Sir Robert Smith: That is certainly one factor. Obviously, the energy companies’ hedging ahead could be to Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) consumers’ benefit in smoothing out future peaks and (LD): It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, troughs in energy prices, but an additional problem is Ms Dorries. I remind the House of my entries in the trying to get transparency on what wholesale prices the Register of Members’ Financial Interests involving the companies are facing. To give confidence to the consumer oil and gas industry, particularly a shareholding in that the margin is right, we need greater improvements Shell. In addition, I have a non-financial interest as the in clarity. In particular, the companies’ trading operations honorary vice-president of Energy Action Scotland—a need to be examined more specifically, and more analysis fuel poverty charity. is needed on the impact of their trading arms. The Select Committee on Energy and Climate Change The Committee recommended that the Department is pleased to have been granted this debate on our of Energy and Climate Change should lead a full and report. It is timely, given the issue’s high profile and in frank conversation about the contribution that consumers the context of the price rises recently announced by are being expected to make towards ensuring that we most of the six largest energy companies. The subject have safe, secure and affordable energy supplies. It is has come to the fore again just as the winter weather has crucial that the public are made aware of the challenge started to set in and people face the challenge of keeping that we face in meeting our energy needs. In its response, their houses warm. The Prime Minister has made a DECC said that it had been up front about the fact that number of interventions to try to reduce energy bills, by energy prices will continue to rise and told the Committee suggesting that environmental levies will be rolled back that the combined impact of decarbonisation and energy and, more recently, that transmission costs can be reduced. efficiency policies led it to estimate that household However, the Energy and Climate Change Committee energy bills will be 11% lower on average by 2020 than considered the subject in detail, including profits and they would be in the absence of Government policies. poverty, well before the recent spate of interest. Our inquiry was launched on the Floor of the House in The Prime Minister has said that how the policies will December last year, and we reported at the start of this be funded is subject to review. We urgently need to summer. know what that means in practice. Is the review about the outcomes of the funding wished for or the desirability Our report’s opening conclusion was that energy bills of the measures being funded? Our report highlighted are rising and are likely to continue to rise. The wholesale that general taxation may be a fairer funding mechanism price of fuel, driven by rising global gas prices, has been than the use of levies, but it also emphasised how the largest contributory factor. Several other factors crucial it is to tackling fuel poverty that we have an also contribute, including the need to invest in and effective insulation programme. Fuel poverty is exacerbated finance the UK’s electricity and gas network and energy by rising prices and income, but it is crucial to our and climate change policies. The extent to which energy long-term work on tackling fuel poverty that we improve supply companies are actively working to reduce their our housing stock and ensuring effective insulation. operating costs remains unclear. The Committee had hoped to uncover the real story behind energy company In our report, we highlighted factors contributing profits, but alas, that is significantly more difficult than to price rises. DECC set them out in its response to us. it should be. At the time of the report, the Committee The percentage breakdown for a typical dual fuel bill is stated its disappointment that 50% for wholesale energy costs, 20% for transmission “energy supply companies have not gone to greater lengths to and distribution charges, 19% for explain to their customers the reasons behind energy price rises” “other supplier costs and margins” 151WH Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty7 NOVEMBER 2013 Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty 152WH

[Sir Robert Smith] We made a number of specific recommendations about how energy companies could improve the way that and 5% for VAT. The remaining 6% is presumably they report their profits, based on BDO’s recommendations, related to Government policies. DECC itself stated in including reporting trading activities, which, as I mentioned its reply to the Committee that, in 2013, Government earlier, is a crucial part of trying to establish the boundaries policies to achieve energy savings, provide support to between wholesale and retail and whether the consumer vulnerable consumers through the warm home scheme is getting a fair deal; having consolidated segmental and incentivise the shift from fossil fuels were estimated statements independently audited, to provide confidence to account for 9% of household energy bills. The figures that they are a true and fair reflection of the allocation do not quite add up. Perhaps that has to do with where of costs; and requiring companies to align their financial the carbon price is allocated in the breakdown of those reporting periods. percentages; it could have been included in the wholesale The Committee was not convinced by Ofgem’s assertion cost of energy. that the implementation of those recommendations and I highlight the Committee’s conclusion: others that were suggested by BDO would place an “The extent to which energy supply companies are actively unnecessary burden on the energy companies. The working to reduce their operating costs remains unclear.” Committee requested that the cost-benefit analysis The Government’s answer to the Committee on that underpinning that assertion be published, but we still point was: have not seen it. Ofgem needs to recognise that, given the breakdown of confidence, the benefit of restoring “Competition between energy suppliers will put downward pressure on their costs and Government and Ofgem are taking confidence and providing clarity makes the costs a steps to increase competition in the market.” worthwhile incentive to produce a better understanding The crucial simplification of tariffs to improve of the companies’ profits. However, Ofgem remains competition and people’s ability to switch is certainly a unpersuaded that there is a case for full implementation helpful step in putting pressure on companies to compete of BDO’s recommendations. effectively to reduce their margins and operating costs, Ofgem has launched a new consultation on transparency, but it seems that the Prime Minister is not completely but is it really necessary to have another consultation to confident that the steps to increase competition are find out whether a full independent audit of energy working, or working quickly enough. Otherwise, he companies’ statements would help to provide reassurance would not have announced a review of the competitiveness that those statements are robust? I think that the evidence of the market. to the Committee spoke for itself. It is a pity that Ofgem rejected our recommendation Regarding the transparency of bills, it is disappointing that it publish targets for improvements in the market as that the Government and Ofgem have not taken up the a result of its retail market review measures, which were Committee’s recommendation that energy companies designed to reform the market to deliver greater competition. should be compelled to identify the various components It would have been good if Ofgem had set out criteria that make up their energy bills, including profits, on the for judging the effectiveness of its measures, but Ofgem bills themselves. The Government and Ofgem have rejected does not think it appropriate to set specific quantitative this proposal for fear of confusing customers, and targets for success. The Prime Minister’s new competition because the information is available elsewhere. It is a review appears to be in addition to the new state of the shame that the Government and the regulator do not market reports that Ofgem has agreed to produce in credit the British public with the ability to digest this direct response to the Committee’s recommendations. information if it is clearly set out on bills, and to say that We expect Ofgem to publish the first of the reports in it is available elsewhere suggests that they have some spring next year. confidence that the public can understand it. It would Ofgem said in its response to the Committee that it seem to make sense that in one item of correspondence—when doubted whether using metrics such as “profit margin” the bill comes through—people receive the breakdown and “rate of return on capital” would help it to determine of how that bill was established. whether the market is competitive. However, measuring Do the Government not recognise that consumers profits and the rate of return on capital, and their can understand complex information if it is presented movement, would show whether the market was bearing effectively? Is there not something to be gained through down on costs or allowing them to rise. I repeat the the discipline of making energy companies state the Committee’s assertion that excessive profit margins are breakdown of bills, including profits, on the bills themselves? a symptom of poorly functioning markets, which underlines That would certainly contribute to the honest conversation the need for complete transparency in what the profit about energy prices that the Committee has been calling margins are. for, not only in this report but in our previous report, That brings us to the fact that we need greater “Consumer Engagement with Energy Markets”. transparency regarding energy companies’ finances. The When the Minister responds to the debate, it would Committee discovered that, although segmental statements be helpful if he said what the Government are doing to had gone some way to improving the transparency of promote this necessary conversation with the public about profit making in the big six’s retail and generation rising energy prices and the need for investment. Why businesses, there was still a lot of information missing. will the Government not support the full implementation That was acknowledged by the accounting firm BDO, of BDO’s recommendations on consolidated segmental which led a review of the statements commissioned by statements to help to deliver the transparency that is so Ofgem. BDO made a number of suggestions for badly needed? Also, it would be extremely helpful if the improvements. Surprisingly, Ofgem took none of them Minister said what form the Prime Minister’s competition forward in their original form, arguing that their costs review will take and what the consequences will be if it outweighed their benefits. discovers that competition in the energy industry is not 153WH Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty7 NOVEMBER 2013 Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty 154WH effective? Finally, can he outline the time scale and of electricity and wholesale trading arrangements, and process for conducting the levy review and say whether the purchasing of clips to balance supply and demand it is on the outcomes or on the funding mechanism? at a time of gate closure. How that all works along the When can we expect to see that review, and how can line is opaque. people make an input into it? The Committee tried to look at how the accounts put Our energy supply needs investment that is paid for forward by companies are presented. The difficulty is by profits—that is an inevitable reality of life—but that the accounts are presented in different ways and effective competition and transparency are crucial if have different internal arrangements. In some instances, consumers are to have confidence that they are paying a they are presented by companies that are not based fair price for that vital investment. wholly or partly in the UK and therefore refer, at least I commend the Committee’s report to the House. in part, to subsidiaries in the UK, which may or may not have a relationship with parent companies outside 1.45 pm the UK. It is difficult to say to what extent it is possible to produce the sort of transparency that one might Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test) (Lab): I expect and hope for in ensuring genuine accountability begin with an apology to the House: I am on a Bill with regard to electricity companies. Committee that, to some extent, requires my presence, so I may not be present for the entire debate, but I was Ofgem is not the least of those preoccupied with anxious to make a contribution to it. I particularly such issues. As the Chair has mentioned, Ofgem had apologise to the Minister, because I may not be present commissioned a consulting company, BDO, to investigate to hear his response; I had been very much looking what sort of changes might be made to accounting forward to hearing it. practices and trading arrangements to ensure greater transparency. As he recorded, the Committee felt As our present Select Committee Chairman, the hon. disappointed that BDO’s recommendations—to align Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine statements in the same year-end, to require the reporting (Sir Robert Smith), said in his opening remarks, the of trading function results, to produce further work to report represents the best attempt yet at seriously shining assess current transfer pricing policy, and so on—were a light on one of the central issues in the widening simply not taken up by Ofgem and have not informed discussion about what is happening with energy bills, Ofgem’s subsequent consultations on wholesale power what might be done about them and what might be market liquidity. We feel that it would be a good idea to done on levies relating to bills. It attempts, as far as it revisit, even at this stage, what BDO said to Ofgem can, to get to the bottom of what exactly goes on as far about those arrangements and to take the recommendations as energy companies’ profits are concerned. Clearly, if it forward more concretely. is concluded without possible contradiction that energy companies are making what one might term excess I refer to Ofgem’s more recent wholesale power market profits, the conclusion may be drawn that the bills that liquidity document, which came out at about the same stem from those companies’ activities do not bear the time as the Select Committee’s report. That document appropriate relationship to those companies’ activities, received considerable mention in yesterday’s debate on and action may then follow, either through regulation, energy on the Floor of the House as a document that through the companies themselves, or through further could substantially deal with the question of transparency light being shone on the relationship between those two in markets and trading. things. Trading appears to be one of the most opaque areas We have seen—most recently in debate in the House that we considered. One of BDO’s recommendations is yesterday—a considerable difference of opinion about to require what might best be done about bills, and indeed what “the reporting of trading function results, including disclosure of might be done on a wider basis, and how the market the risk each trading function assumes”. could be reset if it is considered that the market is Ofgem had a go at looking at that, but from what I have dysfunctional, given the way that companies that are observed about the process, it has fallen rather short of vertically integrated—that is certainly the case for the producing proposals that can get to grips with the issue big six—undertake their generation, trading and retail of trading, which seems fairly central in trying to find activities. out exactly what is happening. A vertically integrated I imagine that the starting point for a number of company will inevitably have a trading arm, which may those questions is in the table in the report that sets out purchase for its retail operation, and may conduct trade the aggregate profit margin for the big six companies’ with regard to its wholesale operation. By and large, it generation and supply. The bald figures are that in will trade on a bilateral basis with itself. 2011, the aggregate margin for profit in generation was One of the practices we heard about, which appears 24.4%, and the aggregate margin in supply was 3.1%—a to be wholly without transparency, is netting off. A very substantial difference in aggregate profit margin. number of activities, particularly those further down Bearing in mind that the aggregate profit margin from the curve—further out than what might look like trading generation is related to the aggregate profit margin in —do not appear as trading at all and are netted off in distribution—one eventually, by one means or another, the company’s accounts. We heard recently that varying sells to the other, and there is a retail outcome—we percentages of the big six energy companies’ activities should certainly ask why the two are so different. appear to be based on netting off. That appears to be Part of what I think the Committee was trying to do outside the purview of what Ofgem had to say about in its deliberations and in the report was answer at least wholesale power market liquidity. some of those questions—questions that I think everyone There are other arrangements that struck me that remain who took part in the inquiry will agree were extraordinarily outside the mechanisms that may enhance transparency difficult, regarding what happens between the generation in trading. There is the practice whereby one side of an 155WH Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty7 NOVEMBER 2013 Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty 156WH

[Dr Alan Whitehead] The Committee concluded, somewhat presciently in light of the recent debate, that organisation realises, near to gate closure, that it is “the increasing use of levies on bills to fund energy and climate unbalanced in terms of its previous purchases. It will change policies is problematic since it is likely to hit hardest those effectively phone itself up to balance itself on the other least able to pay. We note that public funding is less regressive side by creating trade—that is, creating generation that than levies in this respect.” would not otherwise have taken place. That may appear Woulda review of those particular levies—we concentrated, as a trade, but it is not; it is a pre-order to prevent the among other things, on the energy companies obligation— company from going out of balance and incurring costs consider moving some of the obligations into general that it might not like to at the point of gate closure. taxation? Or is the purpose to reduce the overall impact There are also mid-stream trading arrangements, which of the energy companies obligation on bills? I understand a number of the big six operate; they bring under their that, in recent days, No. 10 has issued a target to the wing small independents, which act as if they were Department of Energy and Climate Change on the trading on behalf of the larger company. The trades expected outcome of the energy levy review. I am interested made by the larger company are offered to the smaller, to hear whether that target exists, what it looks like and independent company. It is a little like some south in what form it will be met. American countries using the dollar as their currency The Committee also concluded that as it stands, the while technically being independent. That may bring ECO is not sufficient to fulfil the targets of energy considerable benefits to those smaller companies, but it efficiency, demand reduction and combating poverty means that a number of the trades that take place do that the various programmes within it were set up to do. not look quite what they are. Indeed, the Committee concluded that the ECO falls far short of that ambition. Removing a substantial part We seem to need to go a lot further to establish how of the ECO because of a levy review when it is already the various flows within vertically integrated companies established that the obligation falls far short of its take place, and how the outcomes of those flows either ambitions would be a retrograde step. I am anxious to benefit or disbenefit customers. Certainly, there is the hear more about the relationship between those levies argument that some of the issues, such as netting off and fuel poverty. Are the Committee’s points on fuel and gate closure balancing policies, may benefit customers, poverty and the levies well made? How will the Government inasmuch as they save money, even though they appear address that in the context of the levy review? to be anti-competitive in terms of the way in which trades are arranged. Getting full disclosure right may I conclude by commending the report, as far as it have the consequence that some costs go up rather than goes, which was produced under difficult circumstances. down. Indeed, one needs to be clear and careful about I freely accept, as I am sure everyone does, that it is what those effects look like, and how they pan out, in extremely difficult to shine a light on the subject accurately terms of the relationships between companies. and unwaveringly without all sorts of considerations being raised that may or may not be germane to the I endorse the report’s recommendations on the direction of that light. If we can shed better light on all necessary clarification of trading and company reporting the arrangements, our debates will proceed much more arrangements. I would go a little further: I believe that objectively. If the Select Committee continues its work, the Committee has the appetite to continue investigating I hope we will do a service to the debate. how to overthrow the trading arrangements that appear to take place within those vertically integrated companies, 2.6 pm albeit in the context of ensuring that above-the-table arrangements are increasingly transparent. Dan Byles (North Warwickshire) (Con): According to DECC, average gas and electricity prices have risen The Committee also considered the relationship between by 41% and 20% respectively in real terms since 2007. prices and poverty.Interestingly, the Committee considered There has been a lot discussion in the past couple of the role that levies might play; that was rather prescient, weeks on the most recent price rises—on average, 10% per in the context of the levy review that has been announced. company price rises, which we all saw in a very short I am now clear on what is and is not in that levy review. space of time—and a lot of the debate focused on how What are essentially regarded as green levies are not in much the energy companies could or could not blame the green levy review, and what are essentially not the preceding year’s rise in wholesale prices. regarded as green levies are in the green levy review. The levies that one can determine to be true green levies on The Committee had a discussion with the companies, bills, such as the renewables obligation, feed-in tariffs and there was some disagreement on exactly what had and the upcoming contract for difference, are not going happened to wholesale prices over the previous year. to be reviewed. Levies such as the warm home discount, The figures from 2007 show that we should not consider the energy companies obligation and the earlier levy on the problems of one year in isolation. We should not smart meters, however, remain to be reviewed. They are consider in isolation an individual set of price rises put not green levies, and neither is the carbon floor price, in place by the companies because the problem has been which looks like a green levy but does not actually save ongoing for many years. There are continuing upward any carbon and goes entirely to the Treasury. When pressures on prices. those levies are reviewed, exactly what will the review In some ways, perhaps the Committee has once again consist of, and what will be its objectives? If the review demonstrated its prescience by pre-empting this debate simply asks to what extent we can remove those levies, a by conducting our inquiry before the most recent—perhaps number of the issues raised by the Committee—how “hysteria” is not the right word—strong interest in the levies continue to be important in combating fuel energy prices, which is a result of the most recent price poverty, undertaking energy efficiency and insulating rises. The price rises are important because they have homes of the fuel-poor—will be overthrown. crystallised the debate. Energy prices are now a rapidly 157WH Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty7 NOVEMBER 2013 Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty 158WH increasing concern, and energy policy is dominating the they said—but, clearly, a lack of transparency and news for reasons that those of us who want a coherent, competition have allowed us to get into the situation in long-term energy policy probably wish it was not. which the big six have such highly complicated structures All sorts of odd things have been thrown into the that they appear to be overcharging themselves. To a debate in the past few weeks, from a potential Government- degree, the high profits at the generation end and the imposed price freeze to a potential windfall tax and, low profits at the distribution end smack of the big six most recently, potential changes to the management of overcharging themselves and each other somewhere green and social levies. To a large degree, I am concerned along the line. I urge the Government to reconsider that many of those solutions are reactive and potentially asking Ofgem to implement the BDO recommendations, temporary. The nub of the problem with energy policy as the Committee suggested. is that, for multiple reasons, we face ongoing upward For politicians in the House to point at the big six pressure on prices. For too long, politicians of all and say, “It’s all their fault,” is dishonest and simplistic, shades have not been willing to have an honest debate however, because the situation is much more complicated on why that is and what the implications are. than that. As a matter of policy, we are in fact switching In particular, through our collective rhetoric, politicians off the cheapest ways of generating power and replacing have persistently fuelled the myth that Governments them with more expensive ways of doing so. We are can control the cost of energy to a much larger degree doing that deliberately, with a large degree of consensus, than they can. We are all guilty of that. It is tempting to and for sound reasons if we believe that climate change have a pop at the Opposition for what I believe is an is a real problem that needs to be addressed. I do believe incoherent price freeze policy, but politicians of all that, and most people in this place—though not all— parties have tended to point to the other lot and say, probably agree. “When you were in power, prices did x.” That fuels the In a sense, however, we have not even started on that expectation that Governments can pull a lever, push a process. Right now, we are still sweating old coal assets button and control such things. as if there were no tomorrow—burning cheap coal in In some ways, it is hardly surprising that the natural old coal-fired power stations, for which the capital costs conclusion of all that rhetoric is—I will say it—the have long since been paid. When those power stations incoherent policy of the Labour party, suggesting that start to come off line over the next few years and are it can pull a lever and freeze prices. Neither a price replaced with newer generating assets, we really will see freeze nor a windfall tax would do anything to address the structural cost of energy starting to rise as a result the root causes of energy price rises. Both would be of many of our policies. The levy control framework, short-term sticking plasters to address the symptoms. for example, will have risen to almost £6.5 billion by 2018-19, whereas all big six energy companies made a Prices have risen for many reasons. In spite of the total of £3.7 billion in earnings before interest and tax argument over the past few weeks about what has last year. happened to wholesale prices during the past year, it is There is a growing problem with the cost of what we true that increasing international wholesale prices are a are doing. I am not necessarily making a plea not to do key medium-to-long-term driver of why consumer prices those things—I will come on to that—but I am making are rising. It is hard to see therefore how the wholesale a plea for a honest debate about the impact and the price over the past year can justify the large price implications. I have said it before and I say it again: I increases that we have seen in the past few weeks. The regularly find myself sitting around a table with Government UK is now a net importer of gas, so we are a price taker; officials, scientists, academics, politicians and the industry we have to pay the going rate for the marginal cost of to discuss energy policy, but the person who is usually gas—whether for liquefied natural gas or shipped or missing from the table and the discussion is Mrs Jones pipeline gas, whichever is setting the marginal price at of Acacia avenue, who ultimately has to pay for everything the time. that we are doing. Prices are also increasing owing to significantly rising The Government and politicians cannot simply wave network and transmission costs. Those costs are getting a legislative magic wand and wish into existence the off scot free, to a certain extent, because we do not talk ideal energy mix that we might want to see in 2030 or about the transmission costs as much as we should—up 2050. We need a credible and investable road map for 10% this year. We do not see them discussed in the how to get from where we are now to where we are media or in the House to the same degree as we discuss going. That would include a sensible energy mix, including gas prices and wholesale prices. new nuclear—I strongly welcome the recent decision on Furthermore, some of the price rises are clearly the Hinkley Point—and we must not be frightened of moving result of Government levies, which are there for different from coal to gas. The Government’s gas strategy has, in reasons; DECC, however, has estimated that energy and fact, demonstrated that they recognise that. climate change policies will add 33% to average electricity We need to explore shale gas; we have a potentially prices by 2020. It is true therefore that an artificial price enormous resource on our doorstep. It must be done rise has been put on bills by politicians. The Government safely and with the consent of local communities, but are absolutely right to review the impact of such levies we must not allow fears that are in many cases built on and whether the different policies can be managed in myths to prevent us from exploring and exploiting that different ways. domestic resource. We must also have a much stronger I do not want to sound as though I am excusing the focus on carbon capture and storage, because gas will big six and saying that they are not to blame, because be part of the mix for a long time and we need to they have a lot to answer for. In our inquiry, we struggled mitigate that by moving much further forward on CCS. to pin on them so many of the legitimate questions that The argument for moving some of the levies, which we had to ask—Members who spoke earlier have gone are social as well as green, from energy bills into general through some in great detail, and I will not repeat what taxation is a sound and interesting one. I welcome the 159WH Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty7 NOVEMBER 2013 Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty 160WH

[Dan Byles] for the generators at three times the current market rate for energy, as is the case with offshore wind farms. As review, because I want to see more analysis of the figures has been said, the reason is fear of climate change and and numbers for what that might mean for the average induced global warming because of the increased energy bill, for the average income tax bill and at the production of carbon dioxide. We could have a long different bands. We can do a lot of what we are doing debate about that, but I do not intend to go into it now. much more progressively; the regressive nature of how What is rarely said is that the current policies are we do things—through energy bills—has been a problem. having a perverse impact. How many times do we hear We also need much greater focus on energy efficiency, Government spokespeople say that the carbon footprint which is always called the elephant in the room. Interestingly, of the United Kingdom and Europe is increasing as when I go into a room to talk about energy policy, emissions go down? The reason is simple. We have someone will say, “The elephant in the room is energy exported our production to China, India and elsewhere, efficiency.” I am sorry, but it is no longer an elephant, where production processes are less efficient and we because we all know it is there and we all talk about it. have to pay the carbon price of bringing goods here. Nadine Dorries (in the Chair): Order. I am sorry, The cost of electricity production from offshore wind Mr Byles, but I have been working out the timings. For farms is three times the market price for an intermittent everyone to have a reasonable amount of time to speak— supply, and at the same time we are increasing our seven minutes—is it possible for you to wind up in the carbon footprint. That is not sensible, and the policy is next few minutes? That will allow for the Front-Bench not working. It will work only if everyone signs up to an speakers as well. international agreement on carbon, and it is highly unlikely that the United States, India and China—the Dan Byles: No problem at all—I will wind up in less major carbon producers—will do that. than a few minutes, Ms Dorries. Thank you. The fact that our carbon footprint is increasing is not We have an enormous challenge in keeping our energy often mentioned, and some Ministers do not seem to costs down, in decarbonising and in attracting the huge understand anything about the issue. When the Minister, amount of investment that we need. The fourth part of the right hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory the trilemma—the right word should be “quadlemma”—is Barker), was asked to define climate change, he gave the the investment needed. We must come up with a way of useless definition that climate change was climate change. keeping energy costs down and decarbonising without He repeated that twice. When a Minister of State has frightening away the investors we need to put hundreds that level of understanding, it is not surprising that we of billions of pounds into our energy infrastructure in do not have useful policies. future to keep the lights on. The other basis of the policy is that the people in the My plea to politicians on all sides of the debate is Department of Energy and Climate Change know that that, although we can discuss and hold each other to the price of fossil fuels will rise over the next 10 or account, we should not allow energy to become a political 15 years. If they could predict the market, I suspect they football or a party political issue—I see a smile on the would not be working in the Department because they face of the Opposition Front-Bench spokesman, so he would all be rich. The fact is that there is a super-abundance will not be making energy a political football, I hope— of fossil fuels in the world; there are trillions of cubic because it is far too important for that. metres of shale gas in this country and sufficient coal to supply the world for hundreds of years. That is not the 2.17 pm problem, although there are constraints on supply at particular times. Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) (Lab): The BBC news on Radio 4 at 1 o’clock today said—I The price of oil and gas now is about the same as in did not hear the whole story, because I had to be in the 1974, when exactly the same predictions—that the price Chamber—that there was one wind turbine in Wales of gas and oil would continue to rise—were being made. that had cost £48,000 to put up, but was producing It may, or it may not. It cannot be predicted, and we £5 of electricity a month. That is beautifully symbolic must focus on reducing the price of energy production of some of the things that are wrong with the existing instead of increasing it, as we are doing at present. We energy policy. need huge investment in research to find more efficient forms of energy, probably renewables. I was not a member of the Committee when the report was written, but I have read it and it is a good After our previous debate, I sent the Minister, the one. It calls for greater transparency and more competition right hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle, an analysis of and its conclusions rely on the presumption that fossil the market showing that the extra cost—not the cost—of fuel prices will carry on rising, therefore making renewables replacing our power production facilities was about worth using and more financially efficient. The next £226 billion, and that was for renewables: wind farms report by the Committee, as the hon. Member for and other forms of alternative energy. If 20% of that North Warwickshire (Dan Byles) said, should look at went into research into fusion processes, incremental some of the fundamentals. The reason why electricity improvements in the current technologies and improvements prices are going up is simple: the cost of production and in batteries and storage instead of wind farms, that would the levels of demand. Looking at that, as the hon. probably affect prices more, whatever the international Gentleman indicated in parts of his speech, is worth price of fossil fuels. That would be better than putting doing. all our eggs in one basket, as we seem to be doing. The example I gave at the beginning of my speech is The other side of the equation is demand. There are an extreme one, but it is a strange policy that decides to some complicated schemes. The green deal is not working invest in energy sources that provide guaranteed income and has a very low take-up among people who are not 161WH Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty7 NOVEMBER 2013 Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty 162WH well off and want a better energy deal to insulate their Cocker from E.ON made the point that E.ON has homes. I referred to the extra £226 billion needed to invested more than £7 billion in that infrastructure over replace energy kit in this country. If my arithmetic is the past five years. If we are to invest something like correct, if we gave £1,000 to households—it could be £110 billion over 10 years in infrastructure, we can work done on a needs basis and would not necessarily involve out that E.ON is spending about 10% of that cost. every household—that would cost £30 billion, which is Extrapolate that over the other energy companies in the about 15% of the extra cost. That would dramatically big six, and we are talking about £60 billion’s or £70 billion’s improve the position of people living in fuel poverty worth of investment from the total of £110 billion and it would reduce demand, although probably not on that is required to build our new power stations, put a one-to-one basis because when demand is reduced in our pipelines and build pylons to keep our lights people tend to use the money to buy extra electrical switched on. goods and so on. However, it would have a significant We have to be careful in our energy proposals that we impact on what is going on. do not spook the markets or frighten off the private I am glad that the Labour party decided to introduce sector investment that we need in our generating capacity a freeze on prices after the next general election. That and downstream piping—otherwise, the poor old taxpayer will not be a solution to the problem of energy prices in will have to foot the bill. I simply make this plea, which the long term, but it will give us a chance to take a much echoes what my hon. Friend the Member for North closer look, as the hon. Member for North Warwickshire Warwickshire said: we want to keep prices low, but let said, at what we are doing about energy. us not do anything that ends up costing the taxpayer Many people with good motives have said that the and consumer more in taxpayer-funded infrastructure world is going to fry and that we had better build investment as a result of the private sector’s being windmills. Most of that policy is not working. It is frightened off by Government policy or pronouncements expensive and it is putting people into fuel poverty. I am by would-be Governments. not on the side of people who want to destroy the I have made my plea, and with that, Madam—I was planet—quite the reverse: I am on the side of people going to say “Madam Deputy Speaker”. With that, I who cannot afford to pay their fuel bills. We must take a commend you, Ms Dorries, for so admirably calling me serious, long-term look at how we can produce energy to speak when I did not think I was going to be called. I at lower cost and provide a secure supply, which we do hope that Mr Speaker and the Deputy Speakers start to not have at present. do the same.

2.27 pm 2.31 pm Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): I am grateful, Albert Owen (Ynys Môn) (Lab): It is a pleasure to Ms Dorries, to have the Floor. I was not planning to follow colleagues who work together very diligently on speak— the Energy and Climate Change Committee. I begin by paying tribute to the Clerks and staff of the Committee Nadine Dorries (in the Chair): You are on the list of for their work in putting such good reports together, so speakers. concisely. This debate is very important, and as other Members have said, a number of issues that are now in Christopher Pincher: As I am on the list, I will take the mainstream of politics were initially raised by the the opportunity to speak briefly about the report, which Committee and put into the report. I commend. I also commend my hon. Friend the Member I want to take one issue up with the hon. Member for for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Sir Robert North Warwickshire (Dan Byles), with regards to what Smith), Chairman pro tem of the Select Committee, for he said about incoherent policies; I shall get my own bringing its report to the Chamber. back and then move on in a more consensual way. I The issue is not so much a quadrilemma, whatever think there is incoherence in the policy at the moment—not band that may be—my hon. Friend the Member for in the Labour party’s policy, but in the Government’s North Warwickshire (Dan Byles) referred to it—but a policy—of bringing in additional tariffs in January this dilemma. It is how to keep bills low for our constituents year, then bringing in additional carbon prices in April while ensuring that investment flows into our energy this year, and then saying in November, “We are going infrastructure, which is in dire need of replacement. to have a review”. The Government need to stop and That is not an argument between political parties; it is think whether to hold back on bringing in such levies or a fact. whether to think the issue through in the long term. Our discussions over the past few weeks have been They cannot have it both ways. fuelled by this report and the decision of the big six I want to concentrate on two areas that were in the energy companies to raise prices. They have been about report briefly, but have been missing from the debate. fixing prices, and the Labour party’s proposed price We have discussed extensively wholesale prices and freeze. That would take us down a path that is dangerous levies—and quite rightly, because they make up large for energy infrastructure investment. I made that components of the bill when put together. However, point yesterday during the Opposition debate on energy another section of the bill is transmission, which, again, prices. the hon. Gentleman touched on. During that debate, my fellow member of the Select If we look at the table in the report, when we break Committee, the hon. Member for Southampton, Test down the bill, the cost of transmission and distribution (Dr Whitehead), who is not in his place, said that the of energies to our homes contributes between 19% and big six energy companies invest significantly in energy 25% for the companies. There is a variant of some 6% infrastructure. The fact of the matter is that at our and some regions are paying that extra cost. Given that Select Committee sitting of a week or so ago, Tony we have a national grid, I do not see why that should be 163WH Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty7 NOVEMBER 2013 Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty 164WH

[Albert Owen] Malcolm Wicks when the previous Labour Government were in power. I totally disagree with the energy companies the case. One such area is mine, which generates a lot of when they ask for the Competition Commission and energy through nuclear and renewables. We need to the Office of Fair Trading to look at the issue. That will look at that point. take a long time, and when they have looked at the I am not sure which Government Front-Bench Member self-regulated off-grid market—they have reviewed it will wind up, but I hope that we will get some answers many times—they say, “Competition is there.” on whether the energy review will look at transmission In theory, competition is indeed there, and in practice costs, because they make up a huge amount. We did not it is there on some occasions, but it is still pushing prices get them yesterday, because the Secretary of State was up, and many families and households in this country not around for long, but we need those answers rather cannot afford to heat their homes. It is very important than having the question knocked about. that we look at those issues rationally and that we stand I have a suggestion, and if the right hon. Member for up for our constituents. Hitchin and Harpenden (Mr Lilley) catches your eye, Finally, the hon. Member for North Warwickshire Ms Dorries, I know that he will endorse what I am asked why we are having the debate now and said that saying from a different perspective: we need to look at fuel prices have been going up since 2007. In the past the grid infrastructure and see whether we need another three to four years, people have had pay freezes and model of delivery for transmission and distribution in their household incomes have flatlined. Inflation is only our country. 2.7%, but food inflation and energy inflation is far more In Wales, the water industry has a not-for-profit than the basic rate of inflation, so people are suffering. organisation running pipes to homes and it invests all Their incomes are going down in real terms and they its profit back in infrastructure. That reduces costs to are struggling to pay their bills. the customer at times, but the company is honest and That is why I am proud of this report. We have open when it needs to do big maintenance and additional highlighted some very good issues that are now in the work on the infrastructure. Exactly what that company mainstream of political debate. We should move forward is doing is clear and transparent, because it produces its to a conclusion, where we are helping to ease the burden reports, and it has members on the relevant committee on our constituents and get the right investment for the who are not from the industry. future, without the excessive profits. We all need utilities. Before anybody suggests that such an approach would We all need heating and electricity in our homes. We in some way inhibit competition, within that model, want to get a coherent policy for the future, and this companies go out to tender to get the work, so there report will help shape that. is competition within that non-profit organisation. We could consider such a way forward for our national 2.38 pm grid; at the moment, I do not believe that National Grid Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden) (Con): is acting in the national interest—I think it is acting in Rising energy bills are hurting our constituents; we all the interests of shareholders, first and foremost, because know that. The public suspect that those increases in of the nature of the company. That is wrong for such an energy bills are driven by rising profits. Politicians and important issue as utilities and transmitting electricity, environmental campaigners have a vested interest in heat and fuel to our homes. We need a different model. fanning that suspicion to divert attention from the I understand the time constraints, so I shall conclude increases in the cost of energy that the political elite are on the very important topic, which was in our report, of planning in the move to increasingly costly renewables, fuel poverty—rural fuel poverty, in particular. I make with the added costs that they impose on the transmission no apology for having this debate now. My right hon. network. Friend the Member for Doncaster North (Edward The Select Committee’s duty is to investigate the Miliband) said that this is not only about a price freeze; public’s concerns and, if we establish that there are it is deeper than that. It is about regulation and looking excess profits as a result of monopoly power, suggest at the whole market. ways of bringing the big six energy companies to heel The issue has been clouded by the energy price freeze, by strengthening competition and through stronger but that would allow a pause, and the Government are regulation. In the report before the House, the best very good at pauses. They paused on the Health and figure that we could establish for the aggregate level of Social Care Bill, and they are now pausing on the profit for the energy companies—generating profits, gagging Bill—the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party wholesale profits and those downstream—was something Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill. We like 7.6% of the household energy bill. That is not itself need a pause with regards to price rises in the energy sector, an obviously excessive figure, and it certainly cannot so that we can have a proper review of the regulator. explain the very large price rises. The main factor clearly I have argued for some time in the House that we has been rising fuel costs in the past. need to be fair to the off-grid—those many residents in However, before the Committee held our hearings the UK who are not on the gas mains and who are last week, we shared the public’s suspicion, at least as paying more for their fuel than those who have dual fuel far as the current round of tariff increases was concerned, and are able to get discounts from the energy companies. because we could not see how they could be explained Many of my constituents are in that position and pay a by rising fuel costs; they certainly had not risen by 8% lot more—some 30%, 40%, and 50% more—for their or 10%. We therefore planned to ask the companies heating than those who are on the gas mains. forensic questions: if they had raised their tariffs by 8%, I know that the Minister, who is not in his place how much had their costs gone up by over the same now, is moving in the right direction and looking at the period? When they fudged and prevaricated, we would issue, but so was his predecessor but one, and so was come back with searing criticisms and indictments. To 165WH Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty7 NOVEMBER 2013 Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty 166WH our surprise, they did not fudge. They gave concrete personally keen to achieve that, and to make good the figures on how much their costs had gone up, company unnecessary 18-month moratorium that by company, and element by element of their costs. The imposed on this country; I think that was a greater main factor was not rising fuel and wholesale prices. It crime than his speeding issues. was two other factors: rising transmission costs, because We should recognise that the transmission costs are the regulator had allowed a 10% increase in transmission going up in large measure because of the need to link up tariffs; and, in many cases, policy costs—the costs of the transmission network to distant places. Huge subsea social and environmental subsidies as a result of our transmission cables are being built. Some £24 billion is switch to renewables. to be spent on renewing and extending the transmission Naturally, the factual conclusions that we established network. That is equivalent to £120 per household went largely unreported, because they did not play into every year between now and the end of the decade. the prevailing narrative. Of course, the fact that we We should go for shale and have a pause—a moratorium established what we did does not mean that the profits —on the switch to renewables; there are still enough at the beginning were not excessive and did not contain costs coming through from that to make life very painful an element of monopoly profit. Conservative Members for our constituents. The German Government are thinking are all in favour of profits, as long as they are earned of doing that. The Spanish Government have done through increased efficiency and increased investment. something like it. We should not be ahead of the field in We are strongly against monopoly profits and if, in our penalising our constituents and our industry by imposing inquiries with Ofgem and the inquiry that my right hon. unnecessary and excessive costs on them. I urge Ministers Friend the Prime Minister has established, we find that and the Opposition to think again about a commitment there is a monopoly element, we will be the first to that, whatever they pretend, will be the ultimate cause support returning that excess profit to the consumer, of problems for our constituents and businesses in the and we will certainly welcome any steps that can increase future. competition and reduce unnecessary costs. As the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Albert Owen) said, that should 2.46 pm not exclude our looking at other models for the downstream element—he says that that applies in Wales; it certainly Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/Co-op): applies in places such as New York—if that could As ever, it is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, reduce the costs to the consumer. Ms Dorries, and it is a particular pleasure to be here today to discuss the Select Committee on Energy and However, the big factor driving energy costs in the Climate Change’s report entitled “Energy Prices, Profits past has been rising fuel costs and, essentially, rising gas and Poverty”, and the responses to it. costs, which drive up both the cost of electricity and, directly, the cost of gas bills; and the big factor in the I commend the Select Committee on producing such future will be the switch to renewables. The hon. Member a thorough and authoritative report. On behalf of the for Blackley and Broughton (Graham Stringer) is a Opposition, I welcome the tone and tenor of the conclusions distinguished addition to our Committee, and his and recommendations. They mirror our criticisms of contributions to our debates will be of great importance. the energy market and reflect our desire to see that As he mentioned, onshore wind will double the cost of market improved for the benefit of British consumers electricity; offshore wind trebles it. The figures for other and British businesses. The conclusions were ably set renewables are of a similar order of magnitude. There is out by the Chair of the Committee, the hon. Member no way switching from fossil fuels to renewables will do for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Sir Robert anything other than increase the cost of energy to both Smith), in his opening speech. The Committee is fortunate households and industry. We should remember that to have on it a number of hon. Members who possess only one third of the cost of renewables goes on to real expertise on, and insight into, energy policy in the household energy bills. Two thirds go on to industry, UK, and who command widespread respect in the but ultimately those costs, too, are borne by households. House. We have heard from many of them today, but The pain that people are feeling from their energy bills unfortunately I do not think that I will be able to go is only one third of the total cost that will be imposed through each of their speeches, because of the short on them. time that we have to wind up the debate. What shall we do about this? Knowing that the main As is well known, the Labour party is not satisfied cost driver in the past has been the rising cost of gas, we with how the energy market is functioning. We have should be going hell for leather in drilling for and therefore laid out plans for ambitious reform of that exploiting shale. Over little more than six or seven years market, involving separating the generation and supply in the United States, the shale gas and shale oil revolutions sides of the big six energy companies, establishing a new have brought down prices by two thirds. If we do the regulator and, crucially, freezing prices for 20 months same in this country and overcome the obstacles that while we get that job done. The evidence for the need for the environmental non-governmental organisations such that reform package is visible to all of us in our as Friends of the Earth and so on are trying to put in constituencies, day in, day out, but this report has the way, and the obstacles inadvertently imposed by added to that list of evidence. I would like, in the European law, we can enjoy similar success. Either we remainder of the debate, to draw the House’s attention will bring down gas costs in this country or, if they to some of the conclusions that I feel are particularly remain high because we are linked to the European gas relevant. grid, the profit on that gas will generate huge tax One thing that comes across very starkly from the revenues, which will enable us to relieve other burdens report’s conclusions is the dissatisfaction with the regulator, on households. Either way, we should be doing that, Ofgem. Several recommendations demand more activity and I urge the Government to tackle that with renewed from Ofgem, but conclusion 16 on page 73 seems vigour. I know that my right hon. Friend the Minister is particularly frank. In it, the Committee states that it is 167WH Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty7 NOVEMBER 2013 Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty 168WH

[Jonathan Reynolds] that in some detail. I know there will be widespread agreement among Members that fuel poverty, whatever “astonished” at how long it has taken Ofgem to act on measure the Government use, is far too high in this improving wholesale market competitiveness to ensure country. The news that, in the whole of Europe, only that customers are paying a fair price for their energy. In Estonia has a higher proportion of households in fuel the rarefied language of parliamentary reports, that poverty than the UK should set all our alarm bells stands out as particularly hard-hitting, and it is our ringing. belief that Ofgem needs to be replaced with a much From our exchange at the Dispatch Box yesterday, more effective regulator that has powers to force energy it seems that the Minister of State, Department of companies to reduce their prices when the wholesale Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member cost of energy falls. for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker), and I have Yesterday, in the Opposition day debate, the Secretary substantially different views on the performance of the of State attacked the Labour party over its plans to Government’s flagship ECO scheme. I simply do not reform Ofgem before claiming, in a somewhat contradictory believe that the ECO is ambitious or effective enough fashion, that he himself was seeking to reform Ofgem. to meet the fuel poverty challenge in this country. In Some people would say, “That’s the Liberal Democrats answer to the right hon. Member for Hitchin and for you,” but I would never think of being so cruel. Harpenden (Mr Lilley), the chances are that the ECO’s Much of the Government’s response to the problems cost will rise out of proportion to the success of the of the energy market has been to encourage people to measures being delivered. switch their supplier. Of course people should ensure The Government’s objective is to try to lift one in 10 that they are getting the best deal that they can, and of —or, in the worst-case scenario, one in 20—of the course we should ensure that switching supplier is as simple households in fuel poverty out of it. That is not a as possible. However, from the consumers’ perspective, sufficient response to the scale of the crisis. To that end, there is little point in making the effort to switch supplier I especially welcome the Committee’s recommendation 24 when they are just switching from one company that is —the recommendation that ECO expenditure be focused overcharging to another that is overcharging. more heavily on fuel-poor households. As is noted in conclusions 8, the low-level of switching I will not have time to go into the detail I had hoped between suppliers is a symptom, not a cause, of a lack to. In relation to the green deal, it is clear that only of competition. It is difficult to see how any policy to Government Ministers believe that the scheme is still make switching easy could have a significant effect if working. If we were to focus the ECO more heavily on underlying problems in the market are not addressed. the fuel-poor, as the report requests, the green deal The Government seem to be deliberately ignoring the would need to work far more effectively to tackle carbon fact that switching has actually halved in two years, reductions, which could be paid for by people who with only 340,000 people switching in June this year; would be willing to pay if there was an attractive that is down from almost 800,000 in summer 2011. The enough package. Government have to accept that fundamental flaws in In conclusion, the Select Committee should be the market have caused that lack of competition. Structural commended for producing a report of this quality. All reform to break the stranglehold of the big six and of us who want to see the energy market reformed and a introduce transparency into the market is the only way better deal secured for consumers and businesses need to fix those problems. to engage with its recommendations. We believe that the On the subject of green levies, I agree with report endorses our case for serious structural reform, a recommendation 4 that there needs to be tougher regulator, the reform of the green deal and the “a full and frank conversation about the contribution that consumers replacement of the ECO. I thank the Committee members are being expected to make”, for their diligence and insight, which is a credit to their constituents, to the House and to the public debate on and many speakers today echoed that point. these issues. There was a moment in the Opposition day debate yesterday when an MP on the Government Benches—I do not wish to embarrass them by name—gave a speech 2.54 pm praising the Government’s subsidies for nuclear power The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate and low-carbon generation, which they said had an Change (): I repeat to the House the effect on power stations in their constituency. They also apology that I gave privately to the Chairman of the praised the ECO scheme and the Government’s efficiency Committee and the shadow Minister for having had to measures. However, they then said, very directly, that leave in the middle of this debate. I, too, congratulate green levies must be rolled back. If MPs do not have a the Committee on its inquiry. This has been a useful sound understanding of what these green levies are, it debate, and I welcome the opportunity to add to the does not make things easier for the public. conclusions that we have already published, and to comment on the recommendations. Mr Lilley: Will the shadow Minister explain how We agree with one of the central points of the report: rising green levies would be coped with, were he ever to that transparency around the price that consumers pay get the opportunity to freeze tariffs? is crucial—a point made by the Chairman of the Committee, the hon. Member for West Aberdeenshire Jonathan Reynolds: I am about to discuss a part of and Kincardine (Sir Robert Smith). We have already those green levies in which I am very interested: the been taking action to help people and businesses who ECO, particularly as it relates to fuel poverty. I was are struggling with their energy bills, and we are taking pleased to see that the Committee’s report focused on steps to make the retail market simpler for consumers. 169WH Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty7 NOVEMBER 2013 Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty 170WH

Albert Owen: I think that was the first time that for the suppliers to ensure that—again, as the Committee business was mentioned; I omitted to do so, too. Would would wish—prices are properly transparent at the the Minister consider in the energy review looking at point at which they are delivered, in a way that matches switching for businesses, so that they can break their the transparency at the point at which they were ordered. contracts more easily, or have a comparison website More than 230,000 low-income households will be warmer where they can look for bargains in the marketplace? this winter, thanks to energy efficiency measures that have been installed through the energy companies Michael Fallon: That is an important point, and I obligation. would like to reassure the hon. Gentleman that work is Let me turn briefly to retail market reform. Competition going on to make it easier for small businesses to escape is the key tool in exerting downward pressure on prices. some of the higher tariffs under the contracts they are Companies that do not compete effectively will lose placed on, and to encourage more collective purchasing customers. We are using the Energy Bill to ensure that among small businesses. There is an organisation called Labour’s big six companies now place consumers on the Lumina that covers small businesses in my county of cheapest tariff that meets their preferences, and give Kent, and I think there are others. That is a very those consumers clear information to help them shop important point. around. Consumers will get the best deals only when suppliers I was also asked about the review of levies that is face tough competition, and that is what the Government going on. We are looking hard at how we can get and Ofgem are working to achieve. We are committed people’s energy bills as low as possible, to help hard-pressed to tackling the problem of fuel poverty; I note what the families, just as we have done with the fuel duty and the Committee has said about that. I was pleased to see council tax. I was asked specifically when we would see what it had to say about the new definition of fuel the result of that work. I hope that will be around the poverty that we are bringing in through the Energy time of the autumn statement in a few weeks. That work Bill. We are committed to helping people, especially includes some of the network costs. Ofgem has yet to low-income vulnerable households, to heat their homes establish the distribution costs for the next period. more affordably. There is plenty of work to be done there to ensure that We have already introduced some immediate help: we bear down on those costs that form a considerable 2 million vulnerable households will get £135 off their amount of the bill. energy bills this winter, thanks to the warm home I would like to give the Chairman of the Select discount. Around 12.5 million pensioners will get the Committee a few seconds to reply. In closing, I thank winter fuel payment: £200 for the under-80s and £300 the Committee for its work and the inquiry it has led. for those over 80. There are cold-weather payments that We are acting to help those most in need to keep warm are available if needed, and last year, they delivered this winter. We are also acting to ensure that everybody £146 million to help cut bills for the most vulnerable. will get a better deal from the energy companies. This year, we have added to those policies with more direct action. The Big Energy Saving Network is training 500 volunteers to go out into communities to help 2.59 pm people get better deals from their energy suppliers and Sir Robert Smith: Perhaps the Minister could write to reduce their energy bills. us with more detailed answers to substantive questions. Energy efficiency remains a central part of our strategy, I would like to echo the thanks to the staff of the to help the fuel-poor and to deliver permanent energy Committee for the excellent support they have given us savings. I am well aware of the serious concern among in producing this report. It is a matter that we will have colleagues in the House for those consumers who are to keep at, in order to get transparency and effective off-grid. I have chaired two meetings of our round table scrutiny to ensure that people do not pay more than on that, in conjunction with the all-party group on this they have to for their bills at such a difficult time. issue, and we have now established a code of conduct 171WH 7 NOVEMBER 2013 Motor Insurance (Whiplash) 172WH

Motor Insurance (Whiplash) Another area of concern that we identified, which is within the Minister’s remit, relates to the activities of claims management companies and, in particular, cold calling. We are told that cold calling is illegal, but the [JOHN ROBERTSON in the Chair] problem seems to be growing. We have all received [Relevant documents: Cost of motor insurance: whiplash, phone calls or text messages urging us to make a claim Fourth Report from the Transport Committee, HC 117, because of an assumed or real recent accident. What and the Government response, Cm 8738.] action is being taken to clamp down on cold callers? Have any firms been prosecuted? 3pm In our most recent report, we looked at another Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab/Co-op): factor that explains the rise in the cost of motor insurance: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, claims for whiplash injuries. A whiplash injury is a soft Mr Robertson. I am pleased to have the opportunity to tissue injury to the neck caused by a sudden, forceful debate the Transport Committee’s recent report on jerk, such as can be caused by a road accident. Symptoms whiplash claims. It is the third report that we have can last for a few weeks or months. In a minority of produced on the cost of motor insurance since the 2010 cases, symptoms can last for longer, especially if exacerbated election. Our work in the area started because of complaints by a pre-existing condition. There is no generally accepted about rising motor insurance premiums. In April 2012, test for a whiplash injury. They do not show up on the average quoted premium reached more than £1,100 X-rays or MRI scans. However, the medical evidence and the premiums paid by young men and women were that we received confirmed that the injuries are real and particularly high, at more than £2,000 for men aged can have debilitating consequences for those who suffer between 17 and 24 years old. Although premiums have from them. There are about 500,000 motor insurance fallen recently in cost, they remain high, particularly for claims for compensation arising from whiplash injuries young drivers. each year, although the number is coming down. Many people need to use a car to get to work, to The official figures on road safety show a welcome college, to hospital appointments or to visit family and reduction in the number of people killed or seriously friends. Public transport is not always available for such injured. In 2012, there were a total of 195,723 casualties journeys, particularly outside towns and cities. The high in all the road accidents reported to the police, which cost of motor insurance can prevent people from owning was 4% lower than in 2011. Some 1,754 people were a car, seriously affecting their work lives, education or killed—an 8% decrease from 2011—and 23,039 were social activities. It can also encourage people to drive seriously injured, down 0.4% from the previous year. without insurance or to commit other forms of fraud. Those reductions are welcome, but every individual The high cost of motor insurance is also a factor in the serious accident is a tragedy for the individual and the cost of living squeeze, which affects households across family concerned. It is not clear, however, exactly how the land. Our reports have shown that there are a the number of claims relates to the number of accidents, number of factors that influence the cost of motor as the statistics on road traffic accidents are not insurance, including the high accident rates for young comprehensive. There is widespread agreement that a drivers, organised fraud, the merry-go-round of referral significant proportion of the claims are fraudulent or fees, uninsured driving, cold calling and the growth in exaggerated, but there is no authoritative data, perhaps whiplash claims. We have pursued all those issues, and because of the very nature of the issue. The Government most of them are being addressed. are right to be looking seriously at the problem. We have repeatedly asked the Government to do more to improve the safety of young drivers—in particular, Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) (Lab): by making the driving test more rigorous or by introducing Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the reasons why graduated licensing. It is appalling that 27% of 17 to the cost of motor insurance has gone up is that insurance 19-year-old males are involved in collisions within a companies have irresponsibly paid out claims without year of passing their test. In 2011, 148 young drivers any evidence that the person is suffering from whiplash? died. I look forward to the Government’s Green Paper on the issue, which is due soon. Mrs Ellman: I fully agree with my hon. Friend. Indeed, I will shortly refer to that issue. The Competition Commission is examining possible anti-competitive practices by insurers on the cost of car The Government proposed whiplash claims of up to hire and car repair, and I will be interested to see its £5,000, which would cover most of them, should be recommendations and the Government’s response in dealt with in court by using the small claims track. That due course. approach was strongly backed by insurers, but rejected by most solicitors. The Transport Committee opposed Sir Greg Knight (East Yorkshire) (Con): Does the that change, because many people who use the small hon. Lady agree that more could be done in schools? claims track would have to represent themselves, and we Teaching “The Highway Code” is not a compulsory thought that that would impair access to justice, especially part of the curriculum and what is taught from school as insurers would, of course, be legally represented. It to school is patchy. We could do more to educate young was also not clear how expert evidence would be people about the dangers on public highways. accommodated in the system. I am pleased that the Government accepted those arguments and rejected Mrs Ellman: I agree with the right hon. Gentleman. making that change at present. Young people’s attitudes before they are behind the We recommended the accreditation of independent wheel should be addressed as well. That might be done medical practitioners to provide medical reports on in schools or in after-school clubs. whiplash claims. There have been claims that reports 173WH Motor Insurance (Whiplash)7 NOVEMBER 2013 Motor Insurance (Whiplash) 174WH are of variable quality and that the doctors who issue It is important for recommendations such as those them are not up to date with current requirements or from the Transport Committee to be based on evidence are sometimes biased towards the claimant. I am pleased from all the interested parties. It was a mistake for the that the Government have accepted the recommendation Government to listen only to the insurers at the summit in principle, although they have stated that they will that they held in February 2012, which excluded the enter into further discussion on implementing it. views of those who represent the genuinely injured; We did, however, ask a number of other questions indeed, as we pursue the issue of fraudulent claims, we that have not yet been answered. For example, is there a must never forget the rights of genuinely injured people role for existing regulatory bodies, such as the General to compensation. The decision not to pursue the small Medical Council, in auditing or peer reviewing reports claims track proposal shows that the Government’s or dealing with complaints? Should practitioners who summit, with its concentration solely on the insurers, prepare reports be provided with information about the was in fact a misjudgment. accident and the claimant’s medical record? We have Now that the Government have acted on whiplash, written to the Ministry of Justice about those issues, but will the insurance companies be held to their promise I welcome answers today if the Minister can give them. to reduce motor insurance premiums? How will that We were disturbed to find that insurers frequently be monitored? That promise was made at the summit offer to settle claims before any medical evidence is the Government held at No. 10. When the Transport submitted. My hon. Friend the Member for Blackley Committee asked the insurers who appeared before it and Broughton (Graham Stringer) made that point. It about that promise, they said it had, indeed, been made. would be hard to imagine a clearer incentive to making Will it be honoured? How will it be monitored? a fraudulent claim. The Government have said that they We will continue to pay close attention to the cost of will consider prohibiting the practice. Can the Minister motor insurance, and we intend to report again early tell us what work is being done on that and whether it next year on the action that the Government are taking. requires legislation? Fraud and exaggeration should be minimised, but access We also recommended that the Government look at to justice for the genuine claimant should not be impeded. ways to make whiplash claimants provide additional Motorists want better-value car insurance and confidence information at the time of their claim, such as proof that the system treats them fairly, as well as fair that they saw a medical practitioner shortly after their compensation if they are genuinely injured. We want to accident. Will the Minister give us his view on that? Will help that become a reality. he also comment on the debate arising from the Summers case about whether the courts can strike out claims 3.13 pm where exaggeration is proven, but where there has also Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab): I had not been a genuine injury? anticipated being on this early—I see faces falling around Those complex issues have been created by the the room—but it means that I have sufficient time to dysfunctional motor insurance market. It cannot be develop my argument. It is a shame that more Members good practice for insurers to settle whiplash claims are not taking part in the debate, because this is an without medical evidence. It is unacceptable that ways important issue. The report that my hon. Friend the are still found for insurers, solicitors, doctors, garages, Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs Ellman) has just car hire firms and others in this merry-go-round to spoken to is important and authoritative, and it has had make money out of claims, often by inflating the work a significant impact for the good on Government policy. necessary to address them. For years, insurers have As I will explain, there was a danger that the found ways to increase the costs paid by their rivals, and Government’s consultation on whiplash would be another the result has been higher premiums for the ordinary stitch-up on behalf of the insurance industry, but what motorist. has emerged in their response is far less damaging and, Sir Greg Knight: The hon. Lady’s Committee has in some ways, positive. I do not know whether the new produced an excellent report. Will she say something Minister had a hand in developing it—I would like to about the limitation period? At the moment, someone think he did—but he brings a breath of fresh air with who suffers personal injury has three years within which him. Having dealt with his two predecessors over the to bring proceedings to a court. Does the hon. Lady past three years, I have, sadly, become used to there agree that there is a strong argument for reducing that being a lack of evidence to support the Government’s limitation period? conclusions and to a disconnect between their policy and their soundbites, particularly on this issue. Mrs Ellman: I agree. Indeed, the Committee recommended I may be being over-optimistic as far as the Secretary a reduced period, but it appears that the Government of State, although not the Minister, is concerned. I say response to the consultation and our report rejected that because the Government response to the Select that. That is an important point, and I would be interested Committee report and the consultation was announced to hear any comments the Minister can make about it. in a peculiar way—it was certainly new to me. The I thank the Government for responding to our various evening before it was announced, there was an embargoed reports and for accepting many of our recommendations, press release, which then featured in the morning papers, but there is more to be done. That includes effective before the report itself had been considered. Therefore, working between a number of different bodies, including the report—rather like this debate—did not get the the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Transport, attention it perhaps deserved. the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the It is fairly clear why that happened. Suddenly, when Department of Health, as was agreed in the debate that he took up his post, the Secretary of State for Transport we held in November 2011. Will the Minister explain started talking about MOT prices and motorway fuel what cross-departmental arrangements currently exist? prices. The reason for that is that the centrepiece of the 175WH Motor Insurance (Whiplash)7 NOVEMBER 2013 Motor Insurance (Whiplash) 176WH

[Mr Andy Slaughter] a significant number of claims, and it should cause us all to pause to think and worry, but let us not forget Government’s consultation, which they intended to adopt the 93% of claims that are genuine instances of people —the increase in the small claims limit from £1,000 to in pain and suffering, perhaps unable to work or with £5,000 for personal injury—had been jettisoned, primarily additional needs and costs. They are entitled to due to the evidence in the Select Committee’s report, compensation. and the Government were left with not very much to say on personal injury and whiplash. Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse) (Lab): I In fact, the only thing the Government were left with apologise to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, to talk about were the medical panels. The medical Riverside (Mrs Ellman) for missing the beginning of panels are interesting, and I will come on to them a bit her speech. later, but they are hardly revolutionary—they are hardly Has the shadow Minister, my hon. Friend the Member going to make the major changes to personal injury law for Hammersmith (Mr Slaughter), had a chance to or the processing of claims that the Government, with make his own assessment of the accuracy of claims? the usual bombast that surrounds the Secretary of State, led us to believe they would. We had a bit of clever pre-spinning on this issue, but the substance, which we Mr Slaughter: It is difficult. There is a lot of rhetoric will talk about this afternoon, is that the Government out there, and I have said what I want to say: that we simply backed off from a very unwise proposal. should be concerned about fraud per se, and, in the As I said, I have had three years of having to deal context of personal injury actions, about soft tissue with rhetoric that simply is not supported by the facts. injuries, because it is easier to make fraudulent claims “Compensation culture” is one of the buzz phrases the on them. The issue is how we deal with that. Government have used to mount a wholesale attack on I am delighted that the Committee’s report highlighted personal injury law, despite the phrase being disowned two issues. One of those is third-party capture, which is by their own experts and reviews. It has been a cover for an open invitation to fraud. We know why insurance cherry-picking the Jackson reforms and implementing companies use it. They think they can settle a claim only those parts the insurance industry thought favourable. quickly and cheaply by offering a sum of money that is It has also been used as a cover for extending the portal probably a fraction of what a genuine injury is worth. scheme, which is not a bad scheme in itself, to cover Usually because the victim does not know what it is higher amounts and to include public liability and worth, or needs money in a hurry, or perhaps because employer liability to a high level. That was before we they do not want to have the case tested in court, they had really seen whether the scheme was working in will settle for the sum—perhaps a few hundred pounds relation to road traffic. All those factors have tipped the or £1,000—offered in an unsolicited phone call from the balance very much in favour of defendant insurers and insurers. That must be wrong. Lawyers and medical away from claimant victims. experts have been saying that for a long time. Whiplash is another catch phrase that has been used I am glad that the issue has been highlighted, and substantively to tarnish the reputation of all personal even more pleased that the Government appear to have injury claimants, and particularly road traffic personal accepted it. I hope that the Minister will say a bit more injury claimants. It was something of a cloak for the about what action will be taken. I have tabled parliamentary belated attempt—now abandoned—to raise the small questions, and the Minister has answered some of them, claims threshold to £5,000. That would have taken at but I do not think that he dealt with that issue, and it least 90% of personal injury claims on to the small would be useful if he would. claims track, so they would not have been subject to The other issue that I was pleased to see highlighted cost regimes or representation. Many victims, some of in the report was how often fraud is pleaded by insurers whom will have quite substantive injuries—a £5,000 defending claims. The answer is rarely. I cannot give a general damages claim in a personal injury case represents percentage, but from talking to practitioners—I do not quite a severe injury—would therefore be on their own, think that this is denied—I understand it is rare to raise as litigants in person or as prey to insurers or claims the issue of fraud in defence. If that is not being done, management companies, in trying to settle a claim. it is difficult for insurers to claim that they are aware The evidence shows that those who are represented in of fraud. such claims tend to get awards of about three times what they would have got if they had been unrepresented. Fraudulent claims can and should be challenged, and The average whiplash claim that is paid out is about not only for the sake of the individual cases; if that £3,000 for represented claimants and about £1,000 for happened more commonly it would, one might think, unrepresented claimants. That is a significant difference. discourage fraud. What the insurance industry has been It is clear that there are problems with whiplash. Soft looking for, which the Government were going along tissue injuries will by definition be more subject to with until recently, is a quick and dirty solution, which fraud than injuries where damage can be clearly seen might deal with the problem but would throw out the and assessed. That fact, with insurance sector spin, baby with the bathwater. It would also prevent victims becomes the view that all whiplash claims, or a very from getting fair compensation and encourage bad large number of them, are fraudulent, or even, effectively, practice. It would encourage third-party capture and that soft tissue injuries do not exist at all. That must be would also be likely to encourage the intervention of wrong. claims management companies. I think I saw a figure in the report that estimates of Right hon. and hon. Members present will probably the proportion of claims that were fraudulent ranged all be clear about the noxious effect that the claims from less than 1% to 60%. The insurance industry’s management industry has had in its expansion in many own assessment is that about 7% are fraudulent. That is areas of public life in the past few years. Having been 177WH Motor Insurance (Whiplash)7 NOVEMBER 2013 Motor Insurance (Whiplash) 178WH restricted in some areas, it is looking for others to opportunity to go further. This was the prize that insurers expand into, and it has its eye on the one that we are really wanted, because they thought that it would almost considering. If the small claims limit had been raised, entirely destroy the personal injury lawyers, save for with the result that claimants could no longer get catastrophic and major injuries. representation, they would have been easy prey for If one looks at other countries to learn lessons, with claims management firms, who would say, “Let us Australia being the obvious example, one can see that handle it for you. We will take 30% or 50%,” and would such changes lead to wholesale restrictions on the rights purport to negotiate with the insurers on the claimant’s of claimants. In Australia, there is something called behalf. I hope that resisting the temptation to raise the whole-person impairment that has quite a high threshold limit will deal with that. below which no personal claims can be made. In other I have no particular problem with independent medical words, a person has to be substantially injured before panels, if they work. However, I do not think that they they can bring a claim. There is also no-fault compensation, will make a dramatic difference, and I am not sure that under which the onus is effectively passed to the state they are the simplest or right solution. Neither am I rather than being on insurers. sure what evidence the Government have about fraudulent There is a proposal in Australia, not due to come in and dishonest practice by medical practitioners at the for another five or six years, simply to ban the common moment. The Minister might want to explain that. law right to sue for personal injury. I find it perverse When the panels have been used in other countries— that a Conservative Government might start to walk Australia is the obvious example—they have rather down that track. The losers would be not only the become the captives of the insurance industry. I hope victims, but the state, which will end up picking up the that that will not happen here and that they will be tab through the increased costs of the NHS and benefits, genuinely independent. Also, they seem like a bit of a and in other ways. The proposal would effectively nationalise sledgehammer to crack a nut. They will be a great new the liability for personal injury. piece of bureaucracy and I am not sure that we could The winners here are clearly the insurers, whose not have achieved the same objective of being sure we shareholders and profits are the major driving force. were getting reliable, robust and testing medical reports Are motorists winners? So far, there is no evidence that simply through registers of medical practitioners who they are. Although the Minister’s predecessors said—it were accredited as independent. That would have been will be interesting to hear whether he repeats this—that cheaper, probably as effective or more effective, and insurance premiums will come down as a consequence more independent. We shall see where the approach of the measures, the insurance industry never says that. leads. It says that it hopes that insurance premiums will come There has been a progressive erosion of claimants’ down. They have come down, I think, by 12%. rights in personal injury. I do not believe that personal injury claims, on the whole, can be brought by litigants The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice in person. If 90% of claimants had been unable to get (Mr Shailesh Vara): I respectfully suggest that the hon. representation, it is likely that their claims would have Gentleman look at what the AA has said—that average been settled disadvantageously to them. insurance premiums for comprehensive cover have gone That is not just my opinion—that was the Government’s down. opinion last year, three months, I think, after they decided not to proceed with any change to the small Mr Slaughter: I think that there is a misunderstanding. claims limit for personal injury claims. They started a No one denies that insurance premiums have been new consultation in April. I think it was in February going down. They have been going down for some time, that the previous report found against going ahead. The and were doing so before any of the Government’s Government decided to go ahead and raise the limit to changes were implemented in April. I refer the Minister £10,000 for non-personal-injury cases, and that is probably to an answer he gave. I asked, right. We can argue about the exact figure, but it was “with reference to his…announcement of 23 October 2013, how somewhat overdue. much of the 12 per cent reduction in motor insurance premiums over the last year is attributable to the reforms to civil litigation I do not think that, if the Government had decided, funding and costs brought in April 2013.” to allow for inflation, to raise the personal injury limit to £1,500 or £2,000, anyone would have had much of a I am afraid that the answer was that it is quarrel. It is somewhat perverse that, having wanted to “too early to assess the full impact of the reforms”, raise the limit to £5,000, they have now decided not but that AA Insurance has ascribed the reduction to increase it at all; after they dismissed the matter in “to anticipated savings to the Government’s reforms.”—[Official February there cannot really be any explanation for Report, 6 November 2013; Vol. 570, c. 255W-256W.] their proposing consultation in April, other than that But we are asking for evidence, which was my starting they wanted to go ahead and have now been dissuaded. point. However, it was not just that report: every report in the past 15 years, under the Labour Government as well Mr Vara: With respect, the shadow Minister has as the present Government, that has considered small slightly moved the argument. The first comment to claims limits, as well as independent judicial reviews of which I replied was simply that insurance companies do the matter, found that it would not be sensible to not say that insurance premiums have gone down, and I increase the limit as the Government proposed. I think gave him a simple response—that the AA has specifically that, having got everything it wanted through the insurance said that insurance premiums have gone down by an summit at and so forth, the insurance average of about £80 for comprehensive cover. That was industry decided it was on a roll. Having got the Jackson all I was addressing, but he has moved on to a slightly concessions and similar things, it was looking for an different point. 179WH Motor Insurance (Whiplash)7 NOVEMBER 2013 Motor Insurance (Whiplash) 180WH

Mr Slaughter: With respect to the Minister, my point victims—and to motorists and insurers—but to how the was whether insurance companies say, whenever changes system works. Many hard-working practitioners are are implemented, that insurance premiums will go down. now scratching their heads about how things will change. If he has evidence of an insurance company saying, I asked the Minister what further proposals he was “We expect insurance premiums to fall by 10% in the considering to reduce fraudulent or exaggerated whiplash next year as a consequence of proposals introduced by claims, which was alluded to in the announcement. The the Government in response to the whiplash consultation”, answer was that the I will be sceptical, but impressed, and I will monitor “primary focus is on…implementation of the measures outlined in that to see whether it is true. the 23 October announcement”.—[Official Report, 6 November 2013; I asked the Minister a series of questions about where Vol. 570, c. 259W.] the Government were going on the announcement, I think that that means there are none at the moment. specifically in relation to medical panels and fraudulent I also asked the Minister what steps he was taking to claims. I am grateful to him for today’s answers, but I ensure that insurers shared more of their data on suspected am not sure that they take us much further. I asked fraudulent or exaggerated whiplash claims. Again, I when he proposes to implement the new independent take it that the answer is that he is looking at the matter medical panel scheme for whiplash claimants, and he and will come back with further proposals. Finally, I replied that there was “no set time frame”. asked him for how long he has deferred any increase in I asked the Minister whether the scheme would apply the small claims threshold for personal injury claims. I to all personal injury claims, to which his reply was that take from his other answers that there are no plans to it do that, at least until there has been a full review of the “will apply to similar road traffic accident soft tissue injury Jackson proposals, to which he has linked the issue, and claims”.—[Official Report, 6 November 2013; Vol. 570, c. 259W.] that will some three to five years hence. With respect, that is a bit vague. I take from that that it I do not want to put the Minister completely on the will not apply to all personal injury claims, but to those spot, because I appreciate that such things are not an for whiplash and similar claims. The Government need exact science, but some certainty is needed. As I said, to be more precise and to define exactly what the there has been a huge amount of rhetoric in this area, medical panel will deal with. It would be helpful if the with puff stories in the Sunday papers for many years—the Minister did that today, but if not, I am sure that he will Government are entitled to do that—but the serious write to me about the issue. business of litigating and settling injury claims must be I asked what steps the Minister was taking to ensure dealt with. that insurers did not make offers to settle whiplash If the Government say, as they clearly now are saying, claims without medical evidence. I made that point that they will not increase the limit, but might do so in earlier, and he may have misunderstood me, but I do not future, they should state at least a minimum time that think that he has replied to it, specifically in relation to will have to pass before that can happen. I take it from third-party capture and how that can be prevented. the answers that until there has been a full review of the There could simply be a ban—for example, on unsolicited current changes—Jackson, the portal and so on—we will approaches by insurers, without the benefit of medical not return to that subject again. The fact that the Minister evidence. That issue was not covered in the answers answered those questions has shortened my contribution, I received today, so I would be grateful for that reply. but I would be grateful for any further clarification. I asked the Minister how the new independent medical In conclusion, the Government need to be more panel scheme for whiplash claimants will be funded. even-handed in relation to this matter. If they are, they I am afraid that his answer was: will get a better response from all sides. The insurers feel “We are keen to talk to stakeholders about funding opportunities that they have been on a roll so far. We must have no which would meet the costs of setting up and running the new more summits with the Prime Minister or anybody else system”.—[Official Report, 6 November 2013; Vol. 570, c. 259W.] to which only one side is invited. I think we can all agree I take that as, “I don’t know at the moment,” but if I am that that was a serious error of judgment; only listening wrong, will he let me know? to one side is never a good idea if we are to make sensible policy. The Conservative party needs to place Mr Vara: I hear what the hon. Gentleman is saying, less reliance financially on the insurance industry, which but I hope that he agrees that it is very important to get is a very substantial donor, because that is not a helpful this measure right and, in doing so, to consult all the waytogo. relevant stakeholders. That is what we propose to do, All of us want motor insurance premiums to continue rather than shoot from the hip. I gave a frank and to decline. I think the figure of £90 in the average honest reply, in the expectation that we will come up premium is given in relation to whiplash and soft tissue with the right answer for the public, for whom this is an injuries. That is a substantial sum, but it is far smaller important matter. than the amount spent on repair costs, car hire costs and many other areas that are open to abuse. I hope the Mr Slaughter: This early in the Minister’s tenure, I Government will turn their attention to that matter and am perfectly happy to accept his answer as it stands. not be put off by the fact that the insurers are often However, we need to know at least the timetable for complicit in those areas. Credit hire and inflated repair where this is going. To me, the response has the smell of costs are a scandal. They cost far more than personal a climbdown. I am sure that the Minister is absolutely injury costs in relation to insurance premiums, and that sincere in wanting to tackle fraud in this area, but is something that should be tackled. having gone along with how it was presented by the One reason why there are a lot of soft tissue claims is Secretary of State, we now need to know, factually, that car safety has improved immeasurably over the where we are going. The issue is important not just to past 20 or 30 years. I am talking about the structure of 181WH Motor Insurance (Whiplash)7 NOVEMBER 2013 Motor Insurance (Whiplash) 182WH vehicles, the compulsory use of seat belts and other It is worth noting that the proportion of road traffic matters of that kind. People are suffering moderate soft accident claims that relate to whiplash has dropped to tissue injuries where previously they would have suffered 58% recently. However, further study of Department catastrophic injuries. That improvement is to be welcomed, for Work and Pensions statistics suggests that that is so let us not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Let misleading and that a change in claims labelling may be us bear down on fraud, whether it is in the area of responsible. Many claims are now labelled as soft tissue whiplash or credit hire, and on excessive profit taking, neck injuries when notified to the DWP. When those whether that is done by claims management companies, claims are considered with those labelled “whiplash”, insurers or lawyers. the figure increases to around 87% of claims. Even We must also ensure that victims’ voices are heard. I though the number of accidents is falling, there has am sure that the Minister, in many other areas of his been a large increase in the number of personal injury brief, would be the first to say that that should be the claims, which is real evidence of a system crying out case. We must not prevent the victims of road traffic for reform. accidents or of other personal injuries from being able to mount a claim and get representation, proper redress Sir Greg Knight: As the effects of whiplash are normally and fair compensation. The Government have been felt within seven days of the accident and usually do not singing from one side of the hymn sheet, and it is about last more than a year, will the Minister address the time they took into account both sides. point raised by the Transport Committee, which suggested that the period of limitation in such cases be reduced 3.43 pm from three years to one year? If he cannot cover that matter today, will he write to me on that specific subject? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice There is a case for reducing the limitation period for (Mr Shailesh Vara): It is a pleasure, Mr Robertson, to these claims. speak in a debate that is chaired by your good self. I congratulate the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs Ellman) on securing this timely debate. Indeed, Mr Vara: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his this is my second debate as a Justice Minister and the comments. The Government did indeed consider that second debate that I am replying to that has been secured recommendation, but we do not intend to take any by the hon. Lady. action on it. The limitation period is of long standing and applies to wider personal injuries than just those in On 29 October, the hon. Lady asked a number of road accidents. It is important to bear that in mind. questions in a letter to my right hon. Friend the Secretary This debate is specific to whiplash claims. of State for Justice. I will try to address some of those issues in my remarks today. If there is any shortfall, The Government accept that many claims may be I will expect her to have a reply very soon. genuine, but many speculative, exaggerated or even I was a little disappointed that the hon. Member for outright fraudulent claims are clearly being made. It is Hammersmith (Mr Slaughter) was so critical of everything not right that people who cheat the system should get that the Government seek to do, particularly as this away with it and force up the price of insurance for is something that will actually benefit the public. He honest, hard-working motorists. I make no apology for asked me who the winner will be. Let me assure him targeting the exaggerated claims of whiplash fraudsters that, at the end of the day, it will be the public. I hope to drive down premiums. that when I have finished my comments, he will be People seemingly now claim for whiplash injuries slightly persuaded that this is actually a good news sustained in the most minor of incidents, and Government story, rather than a negative one. data show that more than 1,900 claims a day are made. There have been some real challenges for the Government According to the Association of British Insurers, the in seeking to put right some of the imbalances in the cost to the industry from whiplash claims is £2 billion, criminal justice system. Such imbalances have led to resulting in £90 being added to the average motor a disproportionate growth in personal injury claims, insurance premium. That is why the Government were especially whiplash claims, and in the considerable costs committed to reducing the number and cost of whiplash of dealing with them. Too many claims are being brought claims at the Prime Minister’s insurance summit last inappropriately. We know that reported road traffic year. We need to take action to tackle speculative, accidents have fallen from 190,000 in 2006, to 150,000 fraudulent and exaggerated whiplash claims, but we in 2012—a reduction of more than 20%. Yet at the same must not lose sight of the needs and legitimate expectations time, the number of personal injury claims resulting of those who have suffered a genuine injury. A reduction from road traffic accidents has risen from 520,000 to in the number of such claims will lower the costs for 820,000—an increase of almost 60%. That is a clear insurers, which will in turn allow them to continue to indication that there is a problem. reduce motor premiums for consumers. Motor insurance premiums are beginning to fall. Mr Slaughter: I will not interrupt the Minister every Figures published by the AA’s British insurance premium five minutes, but does he accept that whiplash claims index in October, as I said earlier, show that quotes for fell by about 60,000 in the last year that figures were annual comprehensive car insurance have fallen by 12% available, which is, I think, 2012-13? They are now over the past year. Incidentally, regarding some remarks down to the sort of levels of 2008-09. made earlier by the hon. Member for Hammersmith, I refer him to what the Association of British Insurers Mr Vara: If the hon. Gentleman would give me the said in oral evidence to the Transport Committee. The opportunity to speak, he will find that I address a little ABI said that it expects savings from the Government bit later the disparity of numbers and what is a genuine reforms that have been implemented to result in a whiplash claim now compared with what it was before. decrease in insurance premiums. 183WH Motor Insurance (Whiplash)7 NOVEMBER 2013 Motor Insurance (Whiplash) 184WH

[Mr Vara] at pace with stakeholders on those and other issues, and we intend to start implementing improvements That is a good start, but the Government fully expect to the system next year. I assure the hon. Member for insurers to continue to meet their commitment to pass Hammersmith that we are actively considering a timetable on the savings from the Government reforms that are for implementation. driving down the costs of civil litigation. In December In addition to the work on the new medical reporting last year, the Ministry of Justice launched a consultation scheme, the Government will also work with stakeholders seeking stakeholder views on the creation of independent to improve the provision of data relating to whiplash. medical panels to support better diagnosis of whiplash As the Committee indicated in its report, accurate data and options for increasing the small claims threshold and statistics are needed to have a baseline to work for personal injury claims to £5,000. from. Ministry of Justice officials will be working with The consultation closed on 8 March. I thank all the colleagues in other Departments and with representatives individuals and organisations who took the time and from the insurance and legal sectors, including Claims trouble to contribute. A healthy 292 responses were Portal Ltd, to identify and compile baseline data. That received from a wide range of stakeholders, providing will ensure that future work in this area can be underpinned the Government with a strong evidence base to inform by a robust evidence base. our decisions for reform. The Government published our response to the Mr Slaughter: I appreciate all that, but in considering consultation and to the Transport Committee report, the cost of insurance premiums, will the Minister also “Cost of motor insurance: whiplash”, on 23 October. consider insurance company profits? Admiral has just Our response detailed the Government’s direction of said that it is delivering £80 per policyholder to its travel on whiplash reform and announced a number of shareholders—a sum equivalent to whiplash costs—and reforms to the medical evidence and reporting system Direct Line has just announced that its overall operating for whiplash claims. Exaggerated and speculative profit has risen 73% in the past nine months. compensation claims have helped force up insurance premiums, and such unnecessary and costly claims will Mr Vara: I assure the hon. Gentleman that we want be targeted by the Government’s new and robust medical to get this right, and we are speaking actively with all evidence scheme. stakeholders: insurance companies, lawyers, claimants, The new system will ensure that only evidence from defendants and the judiciary where applicable. I hope fully accredited medical professionals qualified to carry that there will be consensus, and that we will get it right. out thorough medical examinations can be considered If he wishes to have any input other than this debate, I when pursuing a claim, so people who aim to cheat the will certainly welcome it. He is welcome to write to me, system will be deterred, while victims with genuine as indeed he has done with all the questions that I have injuries can still get the help that they need. Improvements helpfully answered in this debate. to the system to support medical experts will include an The Government are also keen for the insurance approved accreditation scheme, new best practice guidance, sector to work with the claimant lawyer groups to share better accident information and access to medical records, available data on fraudulent claims. Doing so would where appropriate, and an improved medical report enable many such claims to be stopped at source. Ministry form to speed up settlements. of Justice officials will work with stakeholders to assess The Government are particularly pleased that the work undertaken so far, consider the issues on both representatives from the insurance, legal and medical sides that are slowing agreement and identify solutions sectors have put aside their differences and submitted a to enable both sides to reach agreement on this vital consensus approach to improving medical evidence and issue. reports. Such a consensus can only be positive for all The sharing of data on fraudsters will be of immeasurable involved and provides the Government with a clear help to claimant lawyers when considering whether to mandate for our reforms. We look forward to working take on a case and will be a considerable step forward closely with stakeholders to build an effective and rigorous in the fight against fraudulent claims. However, the new system on that solid base of agreement. Ministers Government consultation document contained a further plan to meet representatives from key stakeholder groups proposal on whether the small claims threshold for to outline the way forward and identify experts to work personal injury claims should be raised from £1,000 to with officials on the detail of the new system. It is both £5,000. Right hon. and hon. Members already know important and sensible to involve industry experts when that, following a thorough assessment of the evidence designing the detailed changes. Such input will be invaluable submitted to the Government from both consultation as we work up an appropriate and effective accreditation responses and from other sources, we decided to defer process, methods to control the use of pre-medical the raising of the small claims threshold for now. For offers, robust examination techniques and best practice the moment, more work is needed to support litigants guidance and an improved medical reporting process in person, consider how best to regulate the personal and report form. injury claims sector, mitigate any impact on the online Details of the most appropriate funding method for portal used to process road traffic accident claims where the new scheme are still to be developed, but the liability is admitted and assess the impact on the market Government believe that there are areas of common of other Government reforms. ground with the industry. We will talk to stakeholders As Members will also be aware, the Government have about funding opportunities for meeting the costs of undertaken a major programme of reform to civil litigation setting up and running the new system and for ensuring and costs with significant impacts on the personal injury that the Government achieve our intention that such litigation sector. The implementation of part 2 of the costs should not fall on the taxpayer. We aim to work Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders 185WH Motor Insurance (Whiplash)7 NOVEMBER 2013 Motor Insurance (Whiplash) 186WH

Act 2012 on 1 April introduced major changes to no and evidence gathering and on whether to raise the win, no fee conditional fee arrangements, the provision small claims threshold for personal injury claims, so I of after-the-event insurance and a ban on the payment will not go into them again now. I should point out that and receipt of referral fees in personal injury cases. the Committee’s report addressed areas where the Those reforms, and the subsequent changes to the Government felt, on balance, that change was either not road traffic accident pre-action protocol and associated required or not appropriate. fixed recoverable costs, have already begun to have an Whiplash is a complex issue and all options, including impact on the personal injury market. However, the whether it would be proportionate and appropriate to Government believe that time is needed for the changes make changes to primary legislation, were looked at to bed in completely and for the savings that they will before final decisions on the way forward were made. create to be fully realised before further reform to the For example, the Government considered the Committee’s sector is undertaken. I ought to make it clear that recommendation on whether to amend the limitation the Government have not ruled out further reform to period for whiplash claims, and I have already dealt the personal injury market. The consultation document with that issue. As I said, the limitation period is long- and the Transport Committee inquiry both highlighted standing and applies to all personal injury actions arising areas where further reform would be possible, and the from negligence or breach of duty. However, the Government may wish to consider such proposals in Government decided that the available evidence did not due course. However, our primary focus for now is on at present support such a change. the effective implementation of the measures outlined As I said in my opening remarks, we have received the in the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Lord letter of 29 October from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Chancellor on 23 October. Riverside, and we hope to reply to her more substantively It is also our desire to identify and eradicate dysfunctional very shortly. behaviour by those who operate in this sector, and we I conclude by noting that the Transport Committee would like all stakeholders to work together with us to issued a further call for evidence on Tuesday relating to address this issue. In addition, we await with interest the the publication of the Government’s response document. Competition Commission’s forthcoming report and The Government will, of course, provide an appropriate recommendations on the personal motor insurance market. contribution, and I look forward to the Committee’s There is an opportunity now for insurers, claimant further report. lawyers and others to build on the recent spirit of co-operation that was shown in agreeing a sensible 4.2 pm consensus position on medical evidence. I call on all Mrs Ellman: I thank the Minister for his reply. It was interested parties in this market to come together to indeed very helpful of the Government to decide to give build a personal injury process that deters speculative a joint answer to the general consultation and the and fraudulent claims, while providing the genuinely Transport Committee’s report, and some of the decisions injured with the help and support that they need to that the Government made reflect the wealth of evidence recover from an accident. that we were able to provide in our report. However, a I thank the Transport Committee for its valuable number of issues remain outstanding. inquiry and report on the cost of whiplash claims on I was encouraged to hear the Minister say that he motor insurance premiums. The report was well-balanced would consult further with all stakeholders. I hope that and thought provoking, and it provided much useful does indeed mean all stakeholders, and not singling out evidence that helped to inform the Government’s final insurance companies as having some special preference. decisions on whiplash reform. When debating this issue, it is important to remember As Members are no doubt aware, Ministers helpfully that although we wish to root out fraud, we also want to agreed to defer the publication of the consultation protect the genuine claimant, and where insurance response to allow the Committee’s recommendations companies have promised to reduce their premiums, we to be considered in full. The Committee published must make sure that they do so without jeopardising its recommendations on 31 July, and my predecessor the rights of those who are genuinely injured. I look wrote to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside on forward to the Committee continuing its work on the 25 September to propose that a combined response to subject. We will still seek answers to the specific questions the consultation and the Committee should be published. that I put during the debate, but I thank the Government I understand that the Committee was content with this for their response to our report. approach, and the response was published on 23 October. Question put and agreed to. As I have already mentioned, the Government agreed with a number of the Committee’s conclusions, such as 4.4 pm those on improvements to medical reporting, data sharing Sitting adjourned.

19WS Written Statements7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Statements 20WS

As is right and proper, these allegations were scrutinised Written Statements by the independent regulators for the affected sectors. Ofgem has the lead responsibility for the physical energy Thursday 7 November 2013 markets, with the FCA leading on financial markets. The reviews entailed detailed analysis of relevant information in order to understand the market conditions and the trading positions of relevant market participants, ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE including contracts priced by reference to price reporting agencies closing prices. Both reviews have now concluded. Both regulators concluded that they could find no Electricity Market Reform (Contingencies Fund) evidence in this instance of market manipulation, and Ofgem considers that the interests of energy consumers were therefore not harmed. They consider that the The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change explanations provided by the sellers for the relevant (Mr Edward Davey): The Department of Energy and trades are credible, and they have not found evidence Climate Change requires a cash advance of £4,069,000 from which disputes the explanations provided. In light of the Contingencies Fund to support urgent preparatory this, they conclude that no further action is required in work to fund external advisers in relation to transitional connection with these allegations. arrangements for early investors and to fund an interim Regardless of the outcome of these particular allegations panel of technical experts before parliamentary approval I am fully committed to ensuring we have a transparent of both the specific enabling legislation and the necessary energy market where the risk of abuse is reduced. If any estimate. abuse does take place, it must be identified and robustly Contracts for difference (CfDs) are designed to ensure dealt with. The Government have a strong record of sufficient investment comes forward in time to replace providing regulators with the powers they need to tackle old generating plant due to close from 2016 onwards market abuse, and we will continue to take further with new low-carbon plant, thus ensuring continued action where necessary. security of supply for the UK and contributing significantly We took a leading role in developing the EU regulation towards achievement of our legally binding EU renewable on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency— energy target. known as REMIT. REMIT prohibits insider trading The Energy Bill will, subject to Royal Assent, make and market manipulation in wholesale energy markets provision for transitional arrangements to enable developers across the EU and has been in force since 28 December to take investment decisions, where required, ahead of 2011. The UK was one of the first countries to implement full implementation of electricity market reform. The REMIT in full, when we put in place civil powers to Department needs to engage external advisers before allow the regulator to tackle manipulation of the energy the Bill receives Royal Assent to support the negotiation markets, in June 2013. In view of the importance of the of any such arrangements to ensure they represent energy markets set out in the annual energy statement I value for money for consumers. Accordingly, parliamentary now plan to consult on the introduction of criminal approval for additional resources of £4,069,000 for this sanctions for energy market manipulation activities. new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate Ofgem continues to monitor wholesale energy markets, for the Department of Energy and Climate Change. and has an established whistleblower policy to encourage Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at people to bring any examples of market abuse to its £4,069,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from attention. REMIT already requires those organising the Contingencies Fund. transactions in wholesale markets to report suspicious trades to Ofgem. Ofgem is also working with European colleagues to further develop our cross-border REMIT Gas Market Update market monitoring systems. The allegations in this case were that prices used by price reporting agencies were manipulated. We need The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change confidence that there is a rigorous price assessment (Mr Edward Davey): Almost a year ago I informed process, providing a fair assessment of the market. Parliament that my Department and the Treasury had Ofgem therefore ran a call for evidence on benchmarks just been notified about allegations of manipulation of in gas and electricity sectors on: potential risks; whether the UK gas market. As I said at that time, I take these the current processes are fit for purpose; and whether allegations extremely seriously. Market abuse is always further action is necessary. Ofgem is currently analysing wrong, and where it exists it must be identified and the the responses received. It will be for Ofgem to set out its full force of the law applied. approach, but if action is warranted its responses could The specific allegations were that there had been range from facilitating effective self-regulation by PRAs, manipulation of the gas market in Great Britain on to more significant regulatory interventions. Whatever 28 September 2012. These allegations concerned trading approach is adopted must take account of international on that day in the period leading up to 4.30 pm, when initiatives in this area. PRAs are already implementing price reporting agencies produce a benchmark price for principles for oil benchmarks developed by the International the day. Such benchmark prices are often used in a Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) at range of other contracts. It was alleged that gas was the G20’s request. We are working within the EU to sold at a lower price than necessary, in order to manipulate ensure that any new regulation of PRAs under their downwards the benchmark price produced by price proposed benchmarks regulation enhances the robustness reporting agencies. of energy benchmarks 21WS Written Statements7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Statements 22WS

Transparency in the energy market is another important Copies of this Government consultation will be available element of our overall approach to deterring market in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office. abuse. That is why I have asked Ofgem to carry out a An online version of the consultation will be available detailed assessment of energy suppliers’ financial reporting at: www.gov.uk/moj. practices and set out the necessary steps to improve transparency. This assessment will be delivered by spring 2014. In addition, the Prime Minister has announced WORK AND PENSIONS that Ofgem, OFT and the new Competition Markets Workplace Pensions Authority will lead a new annual review into the state of the competition of the market. Ofgem and FCA work independently of Government The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that regulations are not being breached. In (Steve Webb): Today I am publishing the Command this case, they have concluded that they could find no Paper “Reshaping Workplace Pensions for Future evidence of manipulation and Ofgem considers the Generations”. This sets out proposals to enable new interests of consumers have therefore not been harmed. forms of risk sharing in pension schemes. It builds on But it is right and proper that they continue to be our strategy “Reinvigorating workplace pensions”, vigilant and we will continue to support them by ensuring published in November 2012. the right regulatory framework is in place and that there The current defined benefit and defined contribution are appropriate deterrents. pension arrangements place risk at polar extremes. In defined benefit schemes the risks are home by the employer who sponsors the scheme, whereas in defined JUSTICE contribution schemes the risks lie with the individual scheme member. The shift away from traditional defined benefit is a Transforming Management of Young Adults in Custody long-term trend which, given the very different social and economic environment we are now in, is not going to change, unless we act now. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice Automatic enrolment and the single-tier state pension (): I am today announcing the publication will provide a firm foundation for saving for retirement. of the Government’s consultation “Transforming But if the current forms of defined contribution pension Management of Young Adults in Custody”. saving become the default alternative to traditional This Government feel that current provision for young defined benefit pensions, scheme members will face adults in custody, who are 18 to 20, does not adequately uncertainty over the level of income they can expect in meet their needs and does not make the best use of retirement. available resources for this age group. Over the last year we have worked closely with employers With that in mind, this consultation document outlines and with representatives from across the pension industry the Government’s proposed fresh approach to managing to explore options for creating a new defined ambition young adults in custody, which moves the focus from pension category where risks (including inflation, investment age-specific institutions to looking at how we can better and longevity) can be shared between a number of parties. meet their rehabilitation and resettlement needs. The consultation sets out our proposals for defined We have already taken substantial steps towards ambition pensions. These include: reforming how we manage adults in custody, particularly Creating a new pensions regulatory framework that would in terms of ensuring that prisoners are better aligned allow for greater risk-sharing between parties, which could towards release into their home communities. We want include employers, members, and insurers and investment to ensure that young adults can fully benefit from our managers. proposals around transforming rehabilitation, including Deregulating to allow a new flexible form of defined benefit resettlement prisons and through the gate provision. We pensions, that will enable employers to continue to offer want to make sure that young adults who are on longer-term pensions to members with a high level of certainty, but with sentences are allocated to the most suitable institutions much greater flexibility over the nature of benefits provided. to meet their rehabilitation needs. Enabling the development of new forms of defined contribution schemes that could provide more certainty for members The Government accept that some young adults have without adding to employer liabilities. complex needs, and we want to target our resources Enabling new models of collective defined contribution schemes more effectively to meet these. We strongly welcome the that could provide for risk sharing between members. views of those with an interest in young adult offenders, The Command Paper will also be available on the which will inform this work as it moves forward. gov.uk website and the consultation closes on 19 December The consultation period will last for six weeks during 2013. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, we which time the MOJ will actively engage with stakeholders. aim to consult on draft legislation in the new year. 13P Petitions7 NOVEMBER 2013 Petitions 14P

Declares that the Petitioners believe that the Local Petition Government Finance Settlement is unfair to rural communities; notes that the Rural Penalty sees urban Thursday 7 November 2013 areas receive 50% more support per head than rural areas despite higher costs in rural service delivery; and opposes the planned freezing of this inequity in the PRESENTED PETITION 2013–14 settlement for six years until 2020. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Petition presented to the House but not read on the Floor Commons urges the Government to reduce the Rural Penalty in staged steps by at least 10% by 2020. Rural Fair Share Campaign And the Petitioners remain, etc. The Petition of residents of the UK, [P001286]

265W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 266W

Written Answers to 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Proceeds of 1,968 2,236 2,128 2,361 2,193 Crime Act Questions 2002 S.327 Proceeds of 518 624 631 536 613 Crime Act Thursday 7 November 2013 2002 S.328 Proceeds of 3,174 2,900 3,375 3,076 2,924 Crime Act 2002 S.329 Total 5,660 5,760 6,134 5,973 5,730 HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION offences charged

House of Commons Employees To ascertain the number of money laundering cases that involved a suspicious activity report (SAR) or that 9. Mr Sheerman: To ask the hon. Member for Aberdeen arose from independent law enforcement investigations North, representing the House of Commons Commission, would require a manual search of files which would what steps are being taken to ensure the fair treatment incur a disproportionate cost. of all House of Commons employees. [900971] Money laundering often features in Serious Fraud Office cases but may be an alternative count on the Mr Doran: The Commission is committed to ensuring indictment or otherwise reflected within the prosecution that House staff are treated fairly and in accordance case for a particular criminal offence. Between April with the law. The Management Board seeks to engage and December 2012, there were two convictions relating with staff at all levels on the Commission’s behalf, and to money laundering counts in SFO cases. staff are encouraged to join a trade union to represent their interests. I am pleased that, in the staff survey in Before this time, records are less reliable. However, the summer, 88% of staff said they were proud to work the records available show that six SFO cases involving for the House Service. money laundering counts were dealt with between January 2008 and April 2012. Of these, two were in 2010, two in School Parties 2011, and two in 2012 before April. Four individuals were successfully prosecuted in three of those cases. 10. Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the hon. Member for Given the small number of cases involved it would Aberdeen North, representing the House of Commons not be appropriate to provide more information about Commission, what steps are being taken to increase the source of any referrals. support to school parties which wish to visit the Houses of Parliament. [900972] Sovereignty: Scotland

Mr Doran: Since 2009, a transport subsidy has been Pamela Nash: To ask the Attorney-General what available to support state-funded schools from outside discussions (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues London and the South East with the costs of their have had with their counterparts in the Scottish journey to Parliament. Government regarding the Scottish Government’s The House has submitted a planning application to White Paper on independence. [174384] Westminster city council to seek permission to establish a dedicated Education Centre on the north end of The Solicitor-General: Neither the Attorney-General Victoria Tower Gardens. This would increase the number nor the Solicitor-General have held discussions with the of young people able to visit Parliament each year from Scottish Government regarding its White Paper on 45,000 to 100,000. independence.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL TRANSPORT

Money Laundering: Prosecutions Road User Pricing

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General 11. Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for how many anti-money-laundering cases, originating Transport what his policy is on road user pricing. from suspicious activity reports or from independent [900954] law enforcement investigations, were prosecuted in each year from 2008 to 2012. [171632] Mr Goodwill: The Government has been clear that it The Solicitor-General: Money laundering involves dealing does not support national road pricing and has made a with the proceeds of crime and the principal money clear commitment not to toll existing road capacity. laundering offences are found in sections 327, 328 and We are committed to a system of charging for trucks 329 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The number of that ensures UK hauliers get a fairer deal and all users offences charged by the CPS under these sections is contribute to the cost of maintaining our roads. This is detailed in the following table: currently on track to be introduced in April 2014. 267W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 268W

Great Eastern Main Line Mr Goodwill: The Department’s aim is that all towns or cities will retain broadly comparable or better services 17. Simon Wright To ask the Secretary of State for once HS2 is completed. It is not appropriate to specify Transport what steps he is taking to improve rail services the exact timetable for train services that are planned to on the great eastern main line between Norwich and operate in 2026 when HS2 Phase 1 services begin. The London Liverpool Street. [900961] detailed timetable development will take place nearer the time and will consider operational considerations as Stephen Hammond: The Department is engaged in well as the forecast passenger demand for services. negotiations to secure a direct award contract with Transport Abellio for them to continue running services on the Greater Anglia routes from July 2014 through to October 2016. As this stage it is not possible to say what : To ask the Secretary of State for improvements will be included in that contract. Transport what steps he is taking to tackle pinch points in the transport network. [900959] A47 Mr Goodwill: To date the Government has provided funding of over £486 million for 208 schemes covering 18. Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of both the strategic and local road networks. State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve safety on the A47 in (a) Cambridgeshire and (b) other counties. [900962] LEADER OF THE HOUSE Mr Goodwill: The Highways Agency takes road safety on the strategic road network very seriously and they Times of Sittings continue to monitor the safety of the A47 trunk road as with all other routes on the strategic road network. Mr Hollobone: To ask the Leader of the House if he The Agency is delivering six safety improvement schemes will publish any plans to change the sitting times of the on the A47 this financial year and this programme will last sitting day before any recess. [174479] continue with over £1.2 million earmarked for next year on safety schemes, as well as over £700,000 on a pinch Mr Lansley: The Government brings forward any point scheme. proposals to change sitting hours on the last day before a recess in the light of the particular circumstances and the day of the week in question, and after appropriate High Speed 2 Railway Line consultation. The final decision is for the House itself. The Government has no plans to bring forward proposals Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for to change these arrangements. Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of proposed High Speed 2 route on (a) waterways and (b) waterways managed by the Canal and River Trust. [173424] PRIME MINISTER

Mr Goodwill: An environmental statement will be CasteWatchUK published alongside the hybrid Bill later this year. That document will set out likely significant impacts of the Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what scheme, along with potential mitigation measures, including response he has given to CasteWatchUK to their petition in relation to any waterways. The Minister of State for delivered to Downing Street on 19 October 2013. Transport, the noble Lady Baroness Kramer, will meet [174112] with the Canal and River Trust shortly. The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend the Minister for Ministerial Policy Advisers Women and Equalities, the Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Mrs Grant) replied to CasteWatchUK on 25 October. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State Library of the House. for Transport how many officials at what grades are employed to provide direct support to special advisers Environment Protection: Taxation in his Department. [174061] Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant Stephen Hammond: One private secretary provides to his oral answer to the right hon. Member for Doncaster direct support to special advisers at the Department for North on 23 October 2013, Official Report, columns Transport. 293-94, which green levies are being reviewed; which Department is reviewing those levies; and when a decision Railways: Kettering on this matter will be announced. [174266]

Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the Transport what preliminary estimates have been made answer given by the Minister of State, Department of of the frequency of train services (a) to and (b) from Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Kettering after High Speed 2 has become operational. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker) on [174478] 5 November 2013, Official Report, column 150W. 269W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 270W

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Mr Watson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for the answer of 14 October 2013, Official Report, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has column 426W, on unmanned aerial vehicles, for what received any substantive evidence of Iran slowing down reasons the Minister for Armed Forces has lead its nuclear programme since the discussions on Iran’s responsibility for the regulation and operation of drones nuclear future in Geneva in October 2013. [174158] in civil airspace. [R] [174452] Hugh Robertson: The International Atomic Energy The Prime Minister: There is no such thing as civil Agency report covering the period since August 2013 is airspace, only national airspace, in which both civil and due to be released later this month. However, there is military aviation activities are conducted. Ministerial nothing to suggest that Iran has slowed down its programme responsibilities reflect the different use of remotely piloted since the October discussions in Geneva. Iran continues aircraft systems (RPAS) in the UK. to enrich uranium and develop its programme. Ministerial responsibility for regulation of military RPAS lies with the Secretary of State for Defence and Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign the Minister for the Armed Forces overseeing military and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions operational responsibilities. Ministerial responsibility he has had with the EU High Representative on for non-military RPAS lies with the Secretary of State External Affairs on negotiations with Iran on nuclear for Transport and the Minister for Aviation. development. [174178] Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and other STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE E3+3 Foreign Ministers discussed the Iranian nuclear programme with the EU High Representative in the Conflict of Interests margins of UN General Assembly on 26 September 2013. Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif attended part of Steve Baker: To ask the hon. Member for this meeting. On 21 October at the Foreign Affairs Broxbourne, representing the Speaker’s Committee for Council, Baroness Ashton discussed with EU Foreign the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Ministers the nuclear talks with Iran. what ultimate recourse is available to hon. Members who find themselves in an infrastructure dispute with Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign IPSA. [173856] and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of any changes in Iran’s position on nuclear Mr Charles Walker: The Parliamentary Standards development since the election of President Rouhani. Act 2009 provides for Members in dispute with IPSA to [174179] appeal to the compliance officer and to the first tier tribunal as appropriate. Hugh Robertson: Since President Rouhani’s election, Iran has engaged positively and seriously in nuclear Steve Baker: To ask the hon. Member for talks with the E3+3. But as the International Atomic Broxbourne, representing the Speaker’s Committee for Energy Agency Director General’s report of 28 August the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority if noted, Iran’s nuclear programme has continued to develop. he will make an assessment of any potential for conflict Iran now needs to translate its constructive approach of interest between IPSA’s dual roles of regulator and into concrete steps to address the international community’s provider of professional services to hon. Members. concerns. [173857] Kenya Mr Charles Walker: No. IPSA’s roles were agreed to by Parliament during the passage of legislation that Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for became the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 and Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Kenyans Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. have initiated legal proceedings against the Government in connection with alleged abuses committed during the Kenya Emergency. [174356] FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Mark Simmonds: The Government reached an out-of- European Union court settlement agreement with 5,228 Kenyans involved in the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya. They were represented Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State by Leigh Day, and supported by the Kenyan Human for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what submissions Rights Commission and the Mau Mau War Veterans to the Balance of Competences review he has received Association. In that case, five claimants initiated proceedings from EU member states and institutions. [174279] against the Government, although two of these did not proceed. The remaining 5,225 did not issue a claim and Mr Lidington: During the first semester, we received their claims were dealt with outside of court. A further formal submissions from Bulgaria, Italy, the European set of proceedings have been issued in respect of Commission, the European Investment Bank and the 20 claimants represented by Tandem Law. An application European External Action Service. This evidence was has been made to the High Court to make these claims published alongside the final reports on www.gov.uk. the subject of a Group Litigation Order. 271W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 272W

Ministerial Policy Advisers We are encouraging the rest of the international community to follow suit in terms of increasing assistance Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State to Lebanon. We have therefore strongly encouraged the for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many establishment of an International Support Group for officials at what grades are employed to provide direct Lebanon and took part in its inaugural meeting in New York on 25 September. support to special advisers in his Department. [174055]

Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has two full-time positions which support the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my WORK AND PENSIONS right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague)’s three special advisers: one band A member Cold Weather Payments of staff (administrative officer equivalent) and one band B member (executive officer equivalent). Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work These civil servants provide administrative support and Pensions (1) how much has been spent on cold of a non-political nature, in accordance with the provisions weather payments in each year since the introduction of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. of such payments; [174515] (2) how much has been spent on winter fuel Palestinians allowance in each year since the introduction of the allowance. [174516]

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Steve Webb: The requested information for Great and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has Britain is published at the following URL: made of recent economic progress being made in the West Bank; and what steps the Government is taking to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit-expenditure- support and encourage further progress in this area. tables [174182] To access the data, click on the link to the latest version of ″Benefit and Expenditure Caseload Tables″ and then click on the link to ″Medium-term forecast for Hugh Robertson: Economic growth in the West Bank ″ and Gaza declined from an average of 11% in 2010-11 all DWP benefits . to 6% in 2012 and has fallen further in 2013 (3% in Expenditure information, both nominal and real terms, Quarter 1). Unemployment remains persistently high, for Cold Weather Payments can be found in the Benefit especially youth unemployment which hovers around Expenditure tables in the tab labelled Social Fund. one-third in the West Bank. Expenditure information, both nominal and real terms, Through the Department for International Development for Winter Fuel Payments can be found in the Benefit (DFID) the UK provides direct budget support to the Expenditure tables in the tab labelled 1A (Nominal Palestinian Authority, increasing the UK’s existing Terms) and in the tab labelled 1B (Cash Terms, 2013-14 £122 million bilateral commitment by a further £7.5 prices). million this autumn. The UK is also supporting the Spending in Northern Ireland is a matter for the private sector through DFID’s new £15.3 million Palestinian Northern Ireland Office. Market Development programme. Crisis Loans Syria Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his holds on the number of local authorities which have Department is taking to ensure that conflict in Syria contracted out the provision of crisis loans to the does not destabilise Lebanon and its political system. private sector. [174242] [174157] Steve Webb: Crisis Loans are not administered by Hugh Robertson: The UK is fully committed to local authorities. From 1 April 2013, Crisis Loans were supporting Lebanon’s stability in the face of the challenges abolished, and funding transferred to English local posed by the Syrian conflict. I reiterated our support authorities and the Scottish and Welsh governments, to when I met the caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister, deliver new local welfare provision. The new provision Najib Mikati, on 16 October. We are encouraging the allows local authorities to deliver tailored, flexible support Lebanese parties to engage in dialogue and agree urgently to those in greatest need based on detailed knowledge a new consensual government. of the issues they are facing in their communities. This funding is now therefore better targeted than the previous, The UK has more than tripled both our humanitarian more remote, centralised system. and security assistance to Lebanon this year. We are now providing £69 million to support refugees and host While the locally based support will continue to communities in Lebanon, in addition to our contribution provide those in need with help when it is most needed, through the EU and international organisations. We are it will be for the local authority to decide on how that also providing £14 million in assistance to the Lebanese support is delivered to best meet an individual’s needs. armed forces, including to protect the country’s border We do not hold information about how many local with Syria. authorities have contracted out their services. 273W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 274W

Disability: Employment Schemes entitled to, and are already in receipt of, when they are placed on the Work Programme. Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to publish Food Banks: Voucher Schemes performance data from the Work Choice programme. [174369] Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 13 Esther McVey: Official Statistics on Work Choice are September 2013, Official Report, column 921W, on published on a quarterly basis, and have been since May food banks: voucher schemes, which organisations his 2012. These can be found at the following link: Department consulted in designing the New Food https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/work-choice- Bank Signposting Slip issued by Jobcentre Plus staff to statistics-number-of-starts-and-referrals--2 clients; and when each was consulted. [170508] This latest publication contains information on referrals, starts and job outcomes up to 30 June 2013 and can be Esther McVey: The change made to our Signposting found at the following link: Slip was of a minor nature and therefore it was not deemed necessary to consult. The operation of food https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ banks is not the responsibility of this Department. attachment_data/file/229350/work-choice-statistics-august- 2013.pdf Low Pay Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have started on Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work the Work Choice programme since its inception; and and Pensions how many people were classified as how many were referred by (a) his Department’s specialist working poor in each of the last three years. [174434] disability advisers, (b) other jobcentre advisers, (c) advisers in the NHS and (d) advisers in a local authority. Esther McVey: Estimates of the number of people in [174370] relative low income by economic status of the household are published in the Households Below Average Income Esther McVey: Since the start of the programme (and (HBAI) series. up to 30 June 2013), 54,000 people have started on the The table shows the number of people in relative low Work Choice programme. income (income below 60% of contemporary median Information on the source of the Work Choice referral income Before Housing Costs (BHC)) from 2009-10 to is not available. 2011-12, which is the latest year for which data are available. Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work It should be highlighted that the increase in the and Pensions how many disabled people have been number of people in poverty living in households with placed on the Work Programme without any remuneration some work seen in the table is largely explained by a to date. [174425] growing employed population. The total number of individuals in households with some work has increased Esther McVey: As with all other claimant groups from 44.9 million to 46.1 million from 2009-10 to disabled people continue to receive the benefit they are 2011-12.

Table 1: Number of people in relative low income (BHC), by household economic status, UK, 2009-10 to 2011-12 Million

All adults in At least one adult in Workless work work, but not all households In work Out of work Total

Individuals 2009-10 1.8 3.0 5.5 4.9 5.5 10.3

2010-11 1.9 2.8 5.1 4.7 5.1 9.8

2011-12 2.0 3.2 4.7 5.1 4.7 9.8

Children 2009-10 0.5 1.0 1.1 1.5 1.1 2.6

2010-11 0.5 0.9 0.9 1.4 0.9 2.3

2011-12 0.6 1.0 0.7 1.5 0.7 2.3

Working Age Adults 2009-10 1.2 2.0 2.5 3.2 2.5 5.7

2010-11 1.3 1.8 2.4 3.1 2.4 5.5

2011-12 1.3 2.1 2.2 3.4 2.2 5.6

Pensioners 2009-10 0.1 0.1 1.9 0.2 1.9 2.1

2010-11 0.1 0.1 1.9 0.2 1.9 2.0 275W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 276W

Table 1: Number of people in relative low income (BHC), by household economic status, UK, 2009-10 to 2011-12 Million All adults in At least one adult in Workless work work, but not all households In work Out of work Total

2011-12 0.1 0.1 1.7 0.2 1.7 1.9 Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. Relative low income sets the threshold as a proportion of the median income, and moves each year as median income moves. It is used to measure the number and proportion of individuals who have incomes a certain proportion below the median. Someone is considered to be in relative low-income if they live in a household whose income is below 60% of median income for all households. 3. BHC refers to income before housing costs have been deducted: Housing costs include; rent (gross of housing benefit); water rates, community water charges and council water charges; mortgage interest payments; structural insurance premiums (for owner occupiers); ground rent and service charges. 4. A household is defined as a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal together or share the living accommodation. A household will consist of one or more benefit units. 5. Adults are defined as all those individuals who are aged 16 and over, unless defined as a dependent child. 6. A dependent child is defined as an individual aged under 16. A person will also be defined as a child if they are 16 to 19 years old and they are not married nor in a Civil Partnership nor living with a partner; and living with parents; and in full-time non-advanced education or in unwaged Government training. 7. The State Pension age is currently 65 for men. For women born on or before 5 April 1950, State Pension age is 60. From 6 April 2010, the State Pension age for women born on or after 6 April 1950 is increasing gradually. A pensioner is defined as a person of State Pension age or above. 8. Workless households are those where no-one aged 16 or over is in employment. 9. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences, particularly at the bottom of the income distribution, should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 10. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. 11. Population estimates are rounded to the nearest 100,000. Source: HBAI 2009-10 to 2011-12

Social Security Benefits However, the number of jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) and employment and support allowance (ESA) sanctions Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for up to June 2013 is available at: Work and Pensions of those households affected by the https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/jobseekers- benefit cap where someone has moved into work, how allowance-sanctions many include individuals who are working (a) fewer Data for income support lone parents (ISLP) sanctions than 16 hours, (b) between 16 hours and 30 hours and up to June 2013 will be available from 13 November (c) over 30 hours a week. [174366] 2013 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/income-support- Esther McVey: Official Statistics on the number of lone-parent-regime-figures-on-sanctions-and-work-focused- households affected by the benefit cap where someone interviews--2 has moved into work are not available. Information on homeless benefit recipients is not readily available and could be provided only at Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for disproportionate cost. Work and Pensions how many households (a) in and (b) outside London were affected by the benefit cap up UK Membership of EU to 31 October 2013; and how many of those households were living in (i) temporary accommodation, (ii) the Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work private rented sector and (iii) social housing. [174367] and Pensions if he will make an assessment of the potential effects on UK employment of a decision for Esther McVey: Official Statistics on the number of the UK to leave the EU; and if he will make a statement. households affected by the benefit cap up to September [174269] 2013 are published on 7 November 2013 and are available from 9.30 am. These statistics are available at regional Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my and GB level and are found at: right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit-cap- provided the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North statistics East (Emma Reynolds), on 29 January 2013, Official Information on the number of households to whom Report, column 709W. the benefit cap has been applied split by temporary accommodation, private sector and social housing is not available. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) all benefit Acid Rain claimants, (b) homeless recipients of jobseeker’s allowance and (c) homeless recipients of employment Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for and support allowance were sanctioned between May Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the levels and July 2013. [174368] of acid rain were in each year for which data is available. [173935] Esther McVey: The information needed to provide the proportion of benefit claimants sanctioned between Dan Rogerson: Monitored levels of acid rain are May and July 2013 has not yet been released as National available on the Government’s air quality data website: Statistics. http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/ 277W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 278W

I have also placed in the House Library a copy of the Drinking Water results for all currently operating acid deposition monitoring sites and, where site moves have been necessary for Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for operational reasons, the predecessor site. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the purity of bottled water sold in the Air Pollution UK. [173962] Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he intends George Eustice: All bottled drinking water produced to publish his Department’s response to the Local Air in compliance with regulatory requirements in the UK, Quality Management delivery in England consultation. is safe to drink. [174673] Waters marketed as ’natural mineral water’ or ’spring water’ must originate from a natural, protected and Dan Rogerson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer specific underground source, be bottled at source, be I gave on 1 November 2013, Official Report, column free from pathogenic bacteria and microbiologically 644W. safe to drink from source to exploitation, during bottling and throughout marketing, without the need for any Coastal Areas treatment. Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Any assessment of the purity of all types of bottled Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if the Government water sold in the UK is the responsibility of Enforcement will make a commitment to funding the England Coast Authority Officials. Path project; [174118] The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and (2) what the completion date is for the England Rural Affairs has responsibility for the assessment of Coast Path project. [174119] any application made in England for the ’recognition’ (chemical and microbiological assessment against catchment Dan Rogerson: The Government is continuing the area) of a natural mineral water source located in a programme to deliver coastal access around the English non-EEA country under Directive 2009/54 EC: coast but we have not set a timetable for completion of http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/ the coastal path. We will be implementing coastal access LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:164:0045:0058:EN:PDF step-by-step by tailoring the amount of activity to the and may also be called upon to review decisions made resources available and will be applying the lessons that by the Enforcement Authority Officials in relation to we have learnt to make sure it offers value for money. any withdrawal of authorised treatments for natural mineral waters. Dangerous Dogs The Food Standards Agency has a similar role for Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for assessment of any application made in Wales, Scotland Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many or Northern Ireland for recognition of a natural mineral people were subject to proceedings in a magistrate’s water source located in a non-EEA country under Directive court for offences under the Dogs Act 1871 in 2012; 2009/54 EC. and if he will make a statement. [174043] There have not been any product recalls caused by safety concerns for bottled water reported to the Food George Eustice: The following table provides details Standards Agency since 2004. of prosecutions and convictions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 for 2012. The 1989 Act is the legislation Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for under which people are proceeded against for breaching Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment an order made under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871. he has made of the potential improvements to water Defendants proceeded against at magistrates court and offenders found guilty at quality from water filtering within households. [173967] all courts under S.1(3) Dangerous Dogs Act 19891, England and Wales, 20122,3 Proceeded Found Dan Rogerson: It is a legal requirement in the UK for Statute Offence description against Guilty water at the tap to be wholesome, clean and suitable for Dangerous Failure to comply with control order 109 41 domestic purposes (drinking, cooking and washing). Dogs Act made under Dogs Act 1871 S.2 The results of monitoring published by the independent 1989 S.1(3) drinking water regulators for England, Northern Ireland, 1 Also includes the following offences: Dangerous Dogs Act 1989,1(3) Failing to comply with destruction order made Scotland and Wales show that tap water quality in the under Dangerous Dogs Act 1989 s1(1)(a) UK is equivalent to the best in Europe. As the quality of Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, 1(6) Having custody of dog in breach of drinking water in the UK is already at a very high disqualification order Dogs Act 1871, S2 Owning dangerous dog not kept under control standard it is not necessary for consumers to install 2 The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for water treatment devices within their homes; any decision 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 to do so is considered a matter of consumer choice. 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. Drinking Water: Contamination 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 from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those of drinking water supplies being contaminated occurred data are used. Source: in each year for which data are available; and what the Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice location of each such incident was. [173968] 279W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 280W

Dan Rogerson: Whenever a water supply event occurs Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency has not in the UK that might lead to contaminated drinking carried out any prosecutions for illegal export of farm water being supplied to consumers, it is a legal duty of waste plastics. the water company to notify the independent drinking Farms: Waste Disposal water quality regulator. All events are investigated and action taken immediately to safeguard consumers. Details of the number, nature and location of all significant Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for drinking water quality events are published each year in Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is the annual drinking water quality reports of the Drinking taking to ensure that (a) the Environment Agency and Water Inspectorate (England and Wales), the Drinking (b) other Government bodies investigate and bring Water Quality Regulator (Scotland) and the Drinking charges against illegal exporters of farm waste. [174117] Water Inspectorate (Northern Ireland). Dan Rogerson: The UK competent authorities (the The record of all prosecutions of water companies Environment Agency for England, the Scottish since 1990 for the offence of supplying water unfit for Environment Protection Agency, Natural Resources Wales human consumption (s70 of the Water Industry Act and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency) carry 1991) in England and Wales can be found on the out joint intelligence-led inspections and investigations, Drinking Water Inspectorate’s website. enabling cross-border multi-agency sharing of intelligence, techniques and skills. The agencies also work to improve EU Institutions business awareness of the controls that apply to the export of waste. Their work has led to them stopping a Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for number of illegal shipments and taking enforcement Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many visits action against offenders. Ministers from his Department made to either the European Commission or the European Parliament in Fisheries: British Overseas Territories (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [173762] Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make Dan Rogerson: DEFRA Ministers have made frequent an assessment of the potential costs and benefits for the visits to the European Commission and European fishing industry in (a) the and (b) Parliament since 2010, and continue to do so. The other overseas territories of a decision for the UK to details of these visits are not held centrally; it would be leave the EU; and if he will make a statement. [174268] of disproportionate cost to provide this information. George Eustice: I refer the hon. Member to the reply Exhaust Emissions: Motor Vehicles given on 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 709W, to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for East (Emma Reynolds). The Department has not made Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment any plans for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. he has made of the level of pollutants from motor Fracking vehicles over the past 30 years. [173954] Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Dan Rogerson: I have placed a table containing the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provisions emissions from motor vehicles of those pollutants that are in place to cover financial liabilities arising from are quantified in the House Library. The data covers the environmental damage and civil claims associated with 30 year period from 1981 to 2011 (the most recent year shale gas exploration should a shale gas operator be for which data is available). Emissions from motor declared bankrupt. [172980] vehicles refer to road vehicles, and exclude trains, shipping and aircraft. Data on emissions of some pollutants are Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply on behalf only available from 1990. of the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Farms: Plastics In the case of installations, covered by the Industrial Emissions Directive and waste and mining waste operations, financial competence checks are made at the permitting Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for stage and the Environment Agency will only issue a Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tons permit if it believes the operator is capable of meeting of identifiable farm waste plastics were exported from the obligations of the permit. Financial competence is England in the latest period for which figures are available. considered at the compliance assessment stage for [174114] installations, waste operations, mining waste operations; as well as for water discharge and groundwater activities. Dan Rogerson: Specific information on the volumes Financial guarantees are also required for certain types of farm waste plastics that have been exported from of facilities, such as a hazardous waste facility, under England is not measured, therefore we do not hold the Mining Waste Directive. these figures. Genetically Modified Organisms Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many exporters Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for of identifiable farm waste plastics have been prosecuted Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions in the latest period for which figures are available. his Department has had with (a) the Health and [174115] Safety Executive and (b) the devolved Administrations 281W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 282W on the introduction of a single regulatory framework usage surveys. Published reports of 2012 surveys of covering laboratory safety for genetically modified arable crops, orchards and soft fruit showed a total organisms. [174014] pesticide usage on these crops of 15,853.91 tonnes in the UK (information on weight is collected, and hence Dan Rogerson: DEFRA is in regular contact with the expressed, in kilograms (kg)). GB survey reports and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on matters concerning data (and from 2010 consolidated data for the UK) are the regulatory regime for the contained use of genetically published on the Food and Environment Research Agency’s modified organisms (GMOs). As the lead authority the website. HSE is responsible for liaison with the devolved Administrations. The current focus in this area is a plan Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for to consolidate the Genetically Modified Organisms Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 and the three sets of Department is taking to monitor the levels of pesticides amending regulations. A single regulatory framework in (a) food grown and consumed in the UK and (b) for the contained use of GMOs and human and animal imported food. [173960] pathogens remains a longer term objective. Dan Rogerson: As part of the EU regulatory framework Ground Water: Pollution for pesticides, statutory Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) are set on an EU wide basis under EC Regulation Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for 396/2005. They apply to all foods that are placed on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents EU market, irrespective of whether they have been of ground water pollution his Department recorded in produced inside or outside the EU. The MRLs reflect each year for which data is available. [173961] the highest amount of pesticide residue expected in food when pesticides are applied correctly in accordance Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency receives with authorised conditions of use. It is important to reports of over 23,000 incidents of pollution to land, air note that MRLs are not safety limits, and are always set and water each year. These are recorded on the National below, often far below, the safety limit. Incident Recording System. Farmers and growers, importers, distributors and The Environment Agency is unable to provide the retailers are responsible for ensuring marketed food number of pollution incidents that involve groundwater complies with all statutory MRLs set, and there is a only due to disproportionate cost. However, details of substantial Government programme of testing for residues reported pollution incidents for water are: in food and drink to check this. The UK programme is overseen by the independent Expert Scientific Committee Number of water pollution on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF). All the results incidents from the residues monitoring programme together with 2010 9,661 supporting material, and annual reports of the Committee, 2011 9,577 can be found on the Committee’s website at: 2012 9,238 http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/ 2013 (January to end March) 2,369 advisory-groups/PRiF 2013 (April to date (England only)) 4,523 This monitoring also contributes to specific EU monitoring Note: surveys, and the EU results are published annually by Figures are provided for England and Wales except where specified. the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Source: National Incident Recording System In addition, imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin, from certain non-EU countries, that Ministerial Policy Advisors are considered to be ‘high-risk’ can only enter the UK through specific ports and airports approved as designated Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State points of entry (DPEs) where official controls will be for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many carried out by local authority enforcement officers. A officials at what grades are employed to provide direct list of the ‘high-risk’ products, country of origin and support to special advisers in his Department. [174054] the frequency of checks can be found at Annex I of Commission Regulation (EC) 669/2009, as amended by Dan Rogerson: Two officials provide support to special Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 925/2013 advisers in DEFRA. As has been the practice under of 25 September 2013. successive Administrations, and as set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, Departments may Pesticides: Poisoning provide civil servants to support special advisers, in order to enable special advisers to work effectively. Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Pesticides Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of people being poisoned by pesticides his Department Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for recorded in each year for which data is available. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many pounds [173958] of pesticides have been used in the UK in each year for which data is available. [173959] Dan Rogerson: Information on human health effects of pesticides is gathered on an annual basis from three Dan Rogerson: Information on the use of plant protection main sources: the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) products in agriculture and horticulture in the UK is Pesticide Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP), the UK collected through a rolling programme of pesticide National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) and the 283W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 284W

Human Health Enquiry and Incident Survey (HHEIS). NPIS provides an inquiry service for health professionals Overall annual figures for the number of cases of poisoning and data on inquiries for pesticides is reported. To do not exist and could be created only at disproportionate preserve patient confidentiality, these data are not published cost. in detail. NPIS grades all exposures using the poisoning PIAP reports on incidents and complaints involving severity score (PSS). The scores applied are None pesticides investigated by HSE. Data from PIAP reports (no symptoms or signs); Minor (mild, transient and can be found on HSE’s website. spontaneously resolving symptoms or signs); Moderate (pronounced or prolonged symptoms or signs); Severe HHEIS reports on the requirement for authorisation (severe or life threatening symptoms or signs); and holders for products to provide details of all human Fatal. Most fatalities are associated with self-harm, and health related reports or enquiries involving their products. none resulted from authorised use of the pesticide. The results are also published on HSE’s website.

NPIS severity grades during 2010-13 for acute unintentional pesticide exposures in adults 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 NPIS severity grade (PSS) Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage

None 143 30.3 151 29.4 127 32.6 Minor 276 58.5 293 57.1 224 57.4 Moderate 41 8.7 49 9.6 23 5.9 Severe 2 0.4 1 0.2 2 0.5 Fatal 10.210.200 Uncertain 9 1.9 18 3.5 14 3.6 Total 472 — 513 1 390 — Source: HSE NPIS severity grades during 2010-13 for acute unintentional pesticide exposures in children 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 NPIS severity grade (PSS) Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage

None 513 86.8 424 84.0 466 85.7 Minor 65 10.9 71 14.1 61 11.2 Moderate 2 0.3 5 1.0 4 0.7 Severe 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 0.2 Fatal 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 Uncertain 11 1.9 5 1.0 12 2.2 Total 591 — 505 — 544 — Source: HSE

Plastics: Exports The FSA is not aware that any assessment has been made of food safety concerns about date sugar. Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Imported foodstuffs records are held by the Department Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in has made of the amount of commercial plastic that is England. DEFRA has confirmed that it is not possible being illegally exported. [174116] to provide import statistics specifically for date sugar because it is not separately reported under the trade Dan Rogerson: Neither DEFRA nor the Environment statistics system. Agency has made any such estimate. The very nature of illegal waste exports means that those involved in this activity seek to avoid detection, and this makes it difficult Sunningdale Park to provide an accurate assessment of the volume illegally exported from the UK. Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how often his Sugar Department has used Sunningdale Park for Civil Service events since May 2010; what the nature of each Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for such event was; and what the cost of each such event Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment was. [174400] he has made of the safety of date sugar as a substitute for sugar cane for use in the production of food and Dan Rogerson: Following a review of learning and drinks products; and what quantity of date sugar has development across Government the National School been imported in each year since 2003. [173998] of Government, which delivered training on the Sunningdale Park site, closed in March 2012. Jane Ellison: I have been asked to reply on behalf of Any data we would have on attendance at such events the Department of Health. for previous years are not held in a way that would The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is not aware of enable us to answer this question other than at any food safety concerns raised about date sugar. disproportionate cost. 285W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 286W

Wells Developing Countries: Nutrition

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences International Development what will trigger the release for water wells the Environment Agency granted in of the matched funds pledged by the UK on 8 June each year for which data is available. [173956] 2013 at the Nutrition for Growth meeting; and whether release of UK funds is contingent on pledges from Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency has granted other countries or institutions, through a particular 88 licences to abstract water from wells in England and mechanism or by a certain date. [174360] Wales since 1996, as shown in the table. 55 of these licences are still in force. Lynne Featherstone: DFID’s matched funds pledged for nutrition will be released if matched by new financial Number of licences issued commitments, which meet certain conditions, made by other organisations. The new financial commitments 1996 9 must be for nutrition specific programmes, additional 1997 8 to existing spend, over and above any commitments 1998 12 made at the Nutrition for Growth event and spent 1999 12 before 2020. Funds will be matched at ratio of one 2000 9 DFID pound to two new pounds. New commitments 2001 9 could be made by existing donors, non-traditional donors 2002 9 or philanthropists, civil society organisations or businesses. 2003 8 Languages 2004 12 2005 9 Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for 2006 14 International Development how many staff of her 2007 4 Department speak a second language other than English; 2008 24 what those languages are; and to what standard they 2009 2 speak them. [174275] 2010 17 2011 3 : DFID does not assess the language 2012 3 skills of its staff. 2013 (to date) 8 Security Source: Environment Agency’s National Abstraction Licence Database Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department’s role was in (a) the Strategic Defence and Security Review INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2010 and (b) the National Security Strategy 2010. [174276] Brazil Justine Greening: I am a member of the National Security Council and the Cabinet, in which the strategic Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for defence and security review and the national security International Development what discussions her strategy are decided. Department has had with multilateral funding agencies on support for anti-corruption and good governance Senior Civil Servants programmes in Brazil. [174480] Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Lynne Featherstone: As part of our regular discussions International Development what proportion of staff in and exchange of information with multi-lateral partners her Department are in the senior civil service grades; in Brazil, we know of a number of programmes being and how that proportion compares with other implemented in the areas of good governance and Departments. [174104] anti-corruption. However as DFID does not have a bi-lateral programme in Brazil we do not directly support Justine Greening: As of 30 September the percentage these initiatives. of senior civil servants within the home civil servant population of DFID was 5%. British Overseas Territories Details for other ministerial Departments can be found in the public domain at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference- Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-319802 International Development if she will make an assessment of the potential costs and benefits for British overseas Syria territories in the areas for which she has responsibility of a decision for the UK to leave the EU; and if she will Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for make a statement. [174267] International Development what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) doctors and (b) other humanitarian Mr Duncan: DFID has not made any such plans for aid workers are not prevented from carrying out their the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. work in Syria. [R] [173985] 287W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 288W

Justine Greening: Government restrictions, bureaucratic Justine Greening: In Jordan 70% of refugees from hurdles and the security situation have left many parts, Syria are estimated to live outside refugee camps. In of Syria cut off from medical assistance and medical Lebanon, there are no refugee camps; all refugees are professionals are unable to fulfil their duty to provide living with host communities or in informal settlements. medical care to those who need it. At the UN General In both countries this is causing a severe strain on Assembly, the UK called for action to implement the local and national services. UN’s proposals for unfettered humanitarian access inside Syria. This resulted in a Presidential Statement on the Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International humanitarian situation in Syria which called for unhindered Development what assessment he has made of the effect humanitarian access, lifting bureaucratic obstacles, granting of the short-term demands of the Syrian crisis on the visas/permits, assisting cross-border delivery and long-term obligations to support from the UNWRA demilitarising schools and medical centres. We are working and other refugee organisations operating in the region. hard with our partners to achieve this. [174180]

Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for Justine Greening: DFID is providing £106.5 million International Development what steps she is taking to between 2011-15 to support UNRWA’s long-term help prevent further spread of polio in Syria. [R] obligations. DFID has also separately supported UNRWA’s [173986] appeal for the Syria crisis with over £20 million.

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International International Development following the reports of a Development what assessment he has made of the effect polio outbreak in Syria, what steps her Department has of the situation in Syria on the agriculture industry in taken to ensure that as many children as possible in Jordan. [174185] that country are vaccinated. [173909] Justine Greening: Agriculture is estimated to account Justine Greening: We are working with our partners for around 3% of Jordan’s GDP and 2.7% of employment. including the World Health Organisation (WHO), which We continue to engage with the Jordanian Government is supporting a targeted immunisation campaign against and other partners to assess the impact on the country Polio in the priority zones in Syria, with a multi-phase as a whole and discuss how the UK can best support campaign under preparation. Access is key and the UK responding to the refugee situation. has been leading the call for full unhindered humanitarian access and will continue to push for this and for specific Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for measures to be taken to allow rapid scale-up. International Development what recent discussions she has had with the World Health Organisation on Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for providing full-scale and nationwide response to polio International Development what assessment she has in Syria. [174252] made of the humanitarian implications of the recent outbreak of polio in Syria. [R] [173987] Justine Greening: We are working with our partners including the World Health Organisation (WHO), which Justine Greening: The World Health Organisation is supporting a targeted immunisation campaign against (WHO) has so far confirmed 10 cases of Wild Polio Polio in the priority zones in Syria, with a multi-phase Virus and there are a further 12 suspected cases. The campaign under preparation. Access is key and the UK UK Government is in discussion with the WHO-led has been leading the call for full unhindered humanitarian ‘Emergency Response Team’ established specifically for access and will continue to push for this and for specific this purpose on how to do this. measures to be taken to allow rapid scale-up. Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to Termination of Employment encourage a humanitarian ceasefire in Syria. [R] [173988] Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff have left Justine Greening: At the UN General Assembly, the her Department since 2010; for which units they UK called for action to implement the UN’s proposals worked; and what effect their departure has had on the for unfettered humanitarian access inside Syria. This Department’s capacity to deliver. [174273] resulted in a Presidential Statement on the humanitarian situation in Syria which called for a humanitarian ceasefire Justine Greening: The following table shows the number as well as unhindered humanitarian access, lifting of staff from each director general command that have bureaucratic obstacles, granting visas/permits, assisting left the Department since 2010. cross-border delivery and demilitarising schools and medical centres. This must now be implemented and a Director general command Staff UN High Level Group led by Baroness Amos is being Country programmes 436 established to oversee this. Policy and global programmes 458 Finance and corporate 189 Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for performance International Development if he will assess the effect of Top management group 33 events in Syria on the capacity for development of the Total 1,116 Governments of Jordan and Lebanon. [174175] 289W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 290W

DFID continually monitors staff turnover and has Corporation Tax recruitment strategies in place to ensure that the Department is always in a position to deliver aid effectively. Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate HM Revenue and Customs made of the number of companies liable for corporation tax in NORTHERN IRELAND (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; [174020] Richard Haass (2) how many companies were sent a corporation tax David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for return for an accounting period ending in (a) 2009-10, Northern Ireland how many meetings she has had with (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; [174021] Dr Richard Haass to discuss (a) ongoing parade disputes, (3) to how many companies HM Revenue and (b) legacy of the past and (c) flags and emblems to Customs made the decision not to send a request for a date. [174047] corporation tax return in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13. [174022] Mrs Villiers: I have met Dr Haass and his team on three occasions and have also spoken to him by telephone. Additionally, my officials have met Dr Haass and members Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs sends a notice of his team on a number of occasions. The Prime to file a company tax return to every company which it Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister also met Dr believes is within the charge to Corporation Tax. Haass on 17 October 2013. Notices were sent to the following number of companies in respect of accounting periods ending in the years UK Membership of EU shown:

Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State Number of companies (thousand) for Northern Ireland what assessment the Balances of Competences review has made of the effect of EU 2009-10 1,931 membership on Northern Ireland. [174280] 2010-11 1,887 2011-12 1,880 Mrs Villiers: This review is an objective analysis of 2012-13 1,916 evidence, looking at how the balance of competences with the EU impacts on the UK as a whole. The three This represents HMRC’s estimate of the number of devolved Administrations have been invited to contribute companies that might be within the charge to Corporation evidence, and have done so, as have stakeholders from Tax. across the UK. Where there are regional variations in the impact of EU competence, they make note of these with relevant evidence published alongside. Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the companies sent a request Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State to submit a corporation tax return in (a) 2009-10, (b) for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13 submitted the the effect on Northern Ireland of a referendum on EU return (i) within the required time limit and (ii) late. membership. [174281] [174023] Mrs Villiers: The Government has not made an assessment of the effect on Northern Ireland of a Mr Gauke: The position as at end of September 2013 referendum on EU membership. was:

Thousand Number of companies TREASURY Year of accounting Return filed within the period end date time limit Return filed late Children: Day Care 2009-10 1,374 110 Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 2010-11 1,441 96 what assessment he has made of the number of families 2011-12 1,537 72 in each region who will benefit from the tax-free 2012-13 1,103 15 childcare policy. [174107] Some companies requested to file a return for accounting Mr Gauke: The information requested is not available. periods ending in these years had not reached the filing deadline by the end of September 2013. This affected Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer over 700,000 companies in 2012-13 and about 1,000 what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) companies for earlier years. proportion of families using childcare vouchers whose income is (i) £0-9,999, (ii) £10,000-19,999, (iii) £20,000- 29,999, (iv) £30,000-39,999, (v) £40,000-49,999, (vi) Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer £50,000-59,999, (vii) £60,000-69,999, (viii) £70,000- how many companies were sent form CT41G by HM 79,999, (ix) £80,000-89,999, (x) £90,000-99,999 and (xi) Revenue and Customs in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) £100,000-149,999. [174108] 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; how many such forms were returned in each such year; and if he will make a Mr Gauke: The information requested is not available. statement. [174027] 291W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 292W

Mr Gauke: The number of companies sent form Number of companies CT41G by HM Revenue and Customs in the relevant years was: 2010-11 262,885 2011-12 241,954 Number 2012-13 215,355 2009-10 353,097 Companies have been counted a maximum of once in 2010-11 447,530 each year, regardless of the number of penalty notices 2011-12 474,335 issued to the company in one year. 2012-13 509,533 Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer HMRC does not count the number of CT41Gs returned. what the value of penalty notices issued in respect of Companies supply the required information in a variety the failure by companies to submit their corporation of ways, not always using the form. There is now an tax returns on time was in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, online registration service that companies can use. (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13. [174032]

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Mr Gauke: The value of the penalty notices issued in Exchequer what steps HM Revenue and Customs takes respect of the failure by companies to submit their to make sure that companies that were not sent a Company Tax Returns on time in the relevant years request for a corporation tax return and which were was: not recorded as dormant do not owe corporation tax; and if he will make a statement. [174029] Value of penalty notices issued (£)

Mr Gauke: HMRC does not require dormant companies, 2009-10 250,720,294 or companies that are otherwise outside the charge to 2010-11 376,799,018 tax (for example, charities), to file a company tax return 2011-12 164,105,964 because this would give rise to wasteful costs for companies 2012-13 154,402,450 and HMRC. The Department does, however, deploy an increasingly sophisticated range of risk assessment tools, The value includes all late filing penalties recorded by including IT systems such as Connect, with real time HMRC in each year, with no adjustment made for those information from banks and credit card companies, to which were later amended, cancelled or remitted. Both manage the risk that a company is active and has failed flat rate and tax related penalties have been included. to notify chargeability. The tax status of all companies that have not been asked to file a company tax return is Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer reviewed at least every five years. HMRC may issue a what value of penalties due by companies for failing to notice to file a company tax return to any company at submit a corporation tax return was outstanding at the any time if it judges there is a risk that they may have end of (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) failed to notify that they are within the charge to tax. 2012-13. [174033]

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Gauke: The cumulative amounts of penalties how many investigations HM Revenue and Customs imposed but not paid were: has undertaken of companies to whom requests for Total penalties outstanding at the year corporation tax returns were not made in (a) 2009-10, end (£) (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; what sums were raised as a result of those investigations in each 2009-10 141,483,787 such year; and if he will make a statement. [174030] 2010-11 127,718,683 2011-12 136,962,755 Mr Gauke: HMRC does not separately identify these 2012-13 140,334,218 figures. These figures are cumulative. Penalties outstanding If HMRC believes a company may have tax to pay, or in one year which are still outstanding in later years are transactions relevant for tax purposes, it requests a included in the figure for each year. return. HMRC’s power of investigation relates to company tax returns. Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of penalty notices issued for the Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer non-submission of corporation tax returns written off how many companies were issued with penalty notices as irrecoverable in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 as a result of failure to submit a corporation tax return and (d) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. on time in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and [174034] (d) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [174031] Mr Gauke: The value of late filing penalties remitted Mr Gauke: The number of companies issued with as irrecoverable in each of the relevant years was: penalty notices as a result of their failure to submit a company tax return on time in the relevant years was: Total penalties remitted (£)

Number of companies 2009-10 90,797,705 2010-11 99,782,885 2009-10 371,590 2011-12 58,826,526 293W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 294W

Members: Correspondence Total penalties remitted (£)

2012-13 53,412,825 Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to reply to the letter dated The value of late filing penalties remitted as irrecoverable 16 August 2013 from the right hon. Member for in a year relates to penalties issued in the year and in Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Robin Right, earlier years. transferred by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 29 August 2013. [174243] Economic Growth: Greater London Mr Gauke: I have replied to the right hon. Member. Graham Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the proportion of Ministerial Policy Advisers GDP which is generated through economic activity in Greater London. [173890] Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials at what grades are : The Office for National Statistics employed to provide direct support to special advisers publishes annual estimates for regional and sub-regional in his Department. [174062] gross value added (GVA); on 12 December 2012 they published provisional estimates for 2011. Between 1997 Mr Gauke: Fewer than five officials provide direct and 2009 the proportion of UK GVA attributable to support to special advisers in the Department. London rose to 21.4% from 18.5%. In 2010 and 2011 the proportion declined by 0.2 and 0.1 percentage points respectively, to reach 21.1% respectively. Taxation

Economic Situation Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what value of the VAT owing by companies was Graham Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer written-off as a bad debt by HM Revenue and Customs what assessment he has made of the geographical balance in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) of the UK economy; and if he will make a statement. 2012-13; and if he will make a statement; [174018] [173888] (2) how many companies made PAYE contributions Mr Gauke: Returning the UK economy to sustainable in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) economic growth that is more balanced across the UK 2012-13; how many companies’ total payment was less and sectors is a key priority. Every locality must be able than (i) £10,000, (ii) £20,000, (iii) £30,000, (iv) £40,000 to fulfil its potential by taking responsibility for decisions and (v) £50,000 in each such year; what the total monetary and resources that affect their local economies. The value was of payments in each such band in each such Government has already taken action, including: year; and if he will make a statement; [174036] Promoting the establishment of Local Enterprise Partnerships (3) what value of PAYE owing by companies was (LEPs)—39 strategic partnerships between local business leaders, written off as bad debt by HM Revenue and Customs in local authority leaders and other partners; (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; Allowing the local retention of business rates—incentivising and if he will make a statement. [174038] local areas to prioritise growth and keep 50% of the proceeds; Creating the Growing Places Fund and the Regional Growth Mr Gauke: This information is not available centrally, Fund—providing support to businesses, LEPs and local authorities and could be researched only at disproportionate cost. for local projects and programmes; Introducing City Deals—negotiating bespoke deals with cities However, Table 7.2 on page 168 of HM Revenue and and their LEPs to give them the powers and tools they need to Customs’ (HMRC) 2012-13 Annual Accounts sets out drive local economic growth; the overall amounts of revenue that HMRC remitted Establishing Enterprise Zones—areas around the country that and wrote off in 2011-12 and 2012-13. The HMRC support both new and expanding businesses by offering incentives, Annual Accounts are available at: creating local jobs and growth; and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report- Removing £7 billion of ring-fences from local government at and-accounts-2012-13--3 spending review 2010. Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Financial Conduct Authority (1) what estimate is included in his tax gap calculations for (a) corporation tax, (b) PAYE and (c) VAT in each Graham Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer year from 2007-08 to 2011-12 in respect of companies whether the Financial Conduct Authority is responsible struck from the Register of Companies without filing for regulating the activities of an unregulated income corporation tax returns, PAYE returns, VAT returns or fund. [173991] accounts due to HM Revenue and Customs in each : Unregulated collective investment schemes such year; and if he will make a statement; [174019] (UCIS) are not regulated by the Financial Conduct (2) what estimate HM Revenue and Customs has Authority and are not subject to the same restrictions as made of the value of the revenue foregone in relation to a regulated collective investment scheme (CIS). Although (a) corporation tax, (b) income tax, (c) national insurance the schemes themselves are not regulated, persons carrying contributions, (d) VAT and (e) other taxes as a result on regulated activities in the UK in relation to a UCIS, of companies being struck from the Register of Companies including establishing, operating and managing UCIS, in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and (iv) 2012-13; are subject to FCA regulation. and if he will make a statement; [174024] 295W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 296W

(3) how many notices of intention to strike a company VAT: Sixth Form Colleges from the Register of Companies HM Revenue and Customs received in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) John Woodcock: To ask the Chancellor of the 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; to how many such notices Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of VAT paid they objected in each such year; and if he will make a by sixth form colleges in each of the last three years. statement; [174025] [173975] (4) how much revenue was subsequently raised from Mr Gauke: No estimate has been made of the VAT companies where objections to striking-off had been paid by sixth form colleges in each of the last three issued by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2009-10, years. The Government is carefully considering the (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; and if he position of sixth form colleges in relation to VAT. will make a statement. [174026]

Mr Gauke: HMRC is notified directly by Companies ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE House where there is the intention to strike a company Biofuels off the register. HMRC objects to strike-off where there is tax outstanding or in dispute. Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for The number of notices of intention to strike a company Energy and Climate Change whether his Department from the Register of Companies received by HM Revenue will publish data from 2012-13 on the use of UK and Customs in the relevant years was: biomass for electricity and combined heat and power; and if he will make a statement. [174278] Number of notices Gregory Barker: The Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2009-10 314,445 (DUKES), which the Department publishes each year, 2010-11 343,727 sets out the amount of UK biomass used to generate 2011-12 382,849 electricity (table 6.6) and in combined heat and power 2012-13 403,700 plants each year (table 7.2). Current data covers the calendar year 2012. The data for 2013 will be published The number of notices of intention to strike a company in July 2014. from the Register of Companies to which HMRC raised Ofgem also publishes each year the data provided to an objection in the relevant years was: it under sustainability reporting requirements for the renewables obligation (RO). Recent changes to the RO Number require information to be provided on the country of origin. The raw data for the year 2012-13 is expected to 2009-10 1— be published by 31 March 2014. 2010-112 33,541 2011-12 111,136 Electricity: Floods 2012-13 121,711 Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for 1 Information not available pre 13 August 2010. Energy and Climate Change how many electricity 2 Information available from 13 August 2010. transmission and distribution faults occurred as a result The loss of tax from companies struck off the register of flooding in (a) each year since 2008 and (b) 2013 to is largely due to company insolvency. The tax gap date; what the length of each disruption was; what type estimates for non-payment includes tax lost due to of equipment was affected; how many customers were insolvency. affected; and what the total customer minutes lost was. HMRC do not separately estimate the tax gap due to [173898] companies being struck off, However, the HMRC Trust Michael Fallon: The transmission system’s overall Statement contains figures for tax remitted each year. reliability is 99.999% and hence flooding does not cause Around 90% of the amounts remitted relate to insolvencies. significant issues on the transmission networks. Similarly for Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) VAT the loss of supply due to flooding is very small. Less than 0.1% of annual interruptions on the DNO networks Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer are caused by flooding. Specific figures are set out as how many companies were VAT-registered in (a) 2009-10, follows: (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; how much net VAT was paid by those companies in each such year Total annual data Per interruption data by the most detailed HM Revenue and Customs reporting Total band available; and if he will make a statement. [174037] minutes Total lost from number of these Mr Gauke: Information on VAT-registered traders, Number of customers faults Average Average broken down by their trader status (e.g. company, sole interruptions affected (across number of length of caused by by these all customers interruptions proprietor, partnership etc), is published annually in flooding faults customers) impacted (minutes) tables 2.8 and 2.9 of the VAT Statistical Factsheet on the UK Trade Statistics website: 2008-09 66 9,422 2,046,784 143 217 https://uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/ 2009-10 168 12,785 2,485,180 76 194 TaxAndDutybulletins.aspx 2010-11 156 10,747 2,551,441 69 237 2011-12 83 4,664 870,987 56 187 No further breakdowns by reporting bands are available 2012-13 249 30,890 6,492,869 124 210 on the amount of net VAT declared by companies. 297W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 298W

Electricity: Weather Michael Fallon: No. Suppliers must be transparent with consumers about any costs that will be incurred Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for when changing energy supplier. Ofgem has recently Energy and Climate Change how many electricity completed a thorough review of the retail energy market transmission and distribution faults occurred as a result and introduced reforms so that consumers face simpler of weather in (a) each year since 2008 and (b) 2013 to tariff choices, receive clearer information and are treated date; what the length of each disruption was; what type fairly. Under Ofgem’s new rules suppliers will have to of equipment was affected; how many customers were include key information about tariffs in a tariff information affected; and what the total customer minutes lost was. label, which will include any termination fee that suppliers charge on fixed term contracts. The tariff information [173897] label will appear on customers’ bills and annual statements and marketing material about the tariff. Clearer information Michael Fallon: The specific number of transmission on termination fees will allow consumers to take them faults occurring as a result of weather is not recorded. into account when they are considering switching. These would be very small; the overall reliability of supply for the National Electricity Transmission System Energy: Competition for the last three years is set out in the following table: Overall reliability of supply for the National Electricity Transmission System Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Percentage and Climate Change what steps his Department is 2010-11 99.99969 taking to promote competition in the energy market to 2011-12 99.99954 ensure that consumers receive the tariff best suited to 2012-13 99.99975 them. [174258] Source: http://www2.nationalgrid.com/UK/Industry-information/Electricity- Michael Fallon: Consumers will get the best deals transmission-operational-data/Report-explorer/Performance-Reports/ when suppliers face tough competition and that is what Information on faults on the Distribution Network both the Government and Ofgem are working to achieve. Operators’ (DNO) networks due to weather is set out in The Government is using the Energy Bill to give the following table: statutory backing to Ofgem’s Retail Market Review measures which will ensure that energy companies place Total annual data Per interruption data consumers on the cheapest tariff that meets their preferences Total Total and gives consumers clearer information so that they number minutes Number of lost from can more easily shop around. of customers these Average Average interruptions affected faults number of length of Energy: Northern Ireland caused by by these (across all customers interruptions weather faults customers) impacted (minutes) Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy 2008-09 5,267 1,384,877 150,203,737 263 108 and Climate Change what discussions his Department 2009-10 7,973 1,576,238 188,535,603 198 120 has had with the Northern Ireland Executive about the 2010-11 6,226 919,577 114,076,673 148 124 cost of energy in Northern Ireland. [173969] 2011-12 11,588 2,021,632 316,845,764 174 157 2012-13 9,571 1,594,435 255,329,007 167 160 Michael Fallon: Energy policy, including the cost of Note: The interruptions included in the above include those reported as due to energy, is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. lightning, rain, snow and ice, fog and frost, wind and gale, solar heat. DECC Ministers and officials have had a number of discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive about Energy a range of energy issues.

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy: Prices Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has changed energy suppliers for any of its buildings in Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy the last 12 months. [174552] and Climate Change what the average increase in prices of (a) gas, (b) electricity and (c) home heating oil was Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and in each year since 2007. [173966] Climate Change has not changed energy suppliers for any of its buildings in the last 12 months. Michael Fallon: The following table shows the average year-on-year increase in fuel prices within the UK, for DECC buys its energy through a central energy contract years since 2007: negotiated by the Government Procurement Service (GPS). This uses a risk based approach to energy purchasing Year-on-year price increases to bring about overall savings for Government. Percentage Current terms Real terms1 Domestic Domestic Energy Supply heating heating Gas Electricity oil Gas Electricity oil

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy 2007-08 19 16 49 16 12 44 and Climate Change if he will bring forward legislative 2008-09 13 5 -30 11 2 -31 proposals to ensure that no consumer incurs charges 2009-10 -6 -3 30 -8 -5 26 when they change energy supplier. [174352] 2010-11 11 7 27 8 5 24 299W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 300W

Year-on-year price increases Energy efficiency is also of vital importance in tackling Percentage heating costs. The Green Deal provides a means for Current terms Real terms1 consumers to finance energy saving measures in their Domestic Domestic home, reducing the amount of fuel they need to buy. heating heating Gas Electricity oil Gas Electricity oil The energy company obligation (ECO) works alongside the Green Deal and is designed to encourage energy 2011-12 10 6 3 9 4 1 suppliers to install measures in the least energy efficient 1 Price increases in real terms remove the effect of inflation. properties, many of which are off the gas network. These figures are based on the fuel components of Renewable heating systems can also help reduce heating the consumer prices index, produced by the Office for costs. The Government is offering one-off grants towards National Statistics. Domestic heating oil is comprised the cost of these technologies under the renewable meat of kerosene only. premium payments (RHPP) scheme. The RHPP is due The figures are sourced from the DECC publication to be replaced in spring 2014 by the domestic version of Quarterly Energy Prices, in tables 2.1.1 and 2.2.2: the renewable heat incentive, which is aimed at off-gas https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/monthly- grid properties. domestic-energy-price-stastics Green Deal Scheme

EU Energy Policy Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the uptake on energy efficiency Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy measures is by those households which have had a and Climate Change if he will publish his Green Deal assessment. [174290] Department’s analysis of the European Union energy market; and if he will make a statement. [173798] Gregory Barker: In response to your question about take-up of the Green Deal, up to the end of September Michael Fallon: The UK Government strongly supports there had been 85,177 Green Deal assessments lodged. a well-functioning and competitive internal EU energy DECC research published in September found that 56% market. This will be important in maintaining secure of households that had an assessment between the start supplies and competitive prices, supporting growth and of April and end of June had at least one recommended jobs and in achieving our climate change targets in the measure installed, with a further 6% in the process and most cost-effective way. Considerable progress has been 19% saying they probably or definitely would install made as a result of the implementation of the Third something. Package of internal energy market legislation, but more Heating needs to be done. A range of initiatives are under way, including the development of EU-wide technical and Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy market rules, the identification and facilitation of strategic and Climate Change what proportion of homes in energy infrastructure projects, and work to explore the England are mainly heated by (a) gas, (b) electricity feasibility of cross border renewables trading. and (c) home heating oil. [173965]

Fuel Oil Michael Fallon: It is estimated that in 2011, 83% of homes in the UK were mainly heated by gas, 8% by Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy electricity and 4% by home heating oil. and Climate Change if he will take steps to support Estimates for the proportion of homes in the United people who rely mainly on home heating oil to heat Kingdom mainly heated by gas, electricity and home their homes. [173963] heating oil are based on ‘Table 3.16: Installed central heating by type in UK 1970-2011’ of ‘Energy Consumption Michael Fallon: Energy efficiency, fuel poverty and in the UK (2013)’, which can be accessed here: heat policy in Northern Ireland are generally devolved www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-consumption- matters for the Northern Ireland Executive. in-the-uk Since 2010, this Government has worked with the The most recent data available is for 2011. Country wider industry and consumer representatives to help level figures are not available. them co-ordinate their Buy Oil Early campaign messages, Hinkley Point C Power Station and to provide guidance on setting up or joining consumer buying groups. A code of practice and customer charter has been circulated by the Federation of Petroleum Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Suppliers. Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2013, Official Report, column 273W, on The Fuel Poverty Advisory Group is developing Hinkley Point C Power Station, if he will make it his recommendations on information sharing on vulnerable policy under the operational cost review arrangements consumers. An Ofgem review will also consider connecting that the strike price may not under any circumstances electricity and gas priority service registers to other be subject to any further non-inflationary increases at markets, including heating oil. any stage during the term of the contract. [173251] In addition, the Government provides assistance to the most vulnerable consumers in society to help with Michael Fallon: The key commercial terms agreed their heating bills throughout the coldest months by the with EDF in relation to the proposed investment contract warm home discount, winter fuel payment and cold for Hinkley Point C includes provisions whereby the weather payment. strike price could be adjusted, up or down, in relation to 301W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 302W operational and certain other costs. The Government Oil: Exploration believes this is the best way to provide a good deal for consumers, and meet its requirement for value for money, Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for while providing a reasonable rate of return to the operator. Energy and Climate Change what records his Department Natural Gas: Storage holds on surveys on oil explorations in the Firth of Clyde in the 1980s. [174305] Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations his Michael Fallon: The only information which DECC Department received on its decision not to intervene in holds regarding surveys on oil explorations in the Firth the gas storage market. [174161] of Clyde has already been published by DECC in response to a Freedom of Information request. The Michael Fallon: The Department received representations information can be found on the Government website from a wide range of interested parties, including: via the following link: consumers; gas storage developers; gas storage operators; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oil-gas- gas suppliers; gas producers; gas shippers; Ofgem and exploration-in-the-firth-of-clyde-foi-130568 National Grid, as part of our review of potential interventions in the market. Plutonium Natural Gas: Weather David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the costs of securing Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for civilian stocks of plutonium have been in each of the Energy and Climate Change how many gas distribution last five years; and what estimate she has made of such faults occurred as a result of weather in (a) each year costs in each of the next 10 years. [173670] since 2008 and (b) 2013 to date; what the length of each disruption was; what type of equipment was affected; Michael Fallon: The costs of storing plutonium, both how many customers were affected; and what the total historically and for the future, have not been disclosed customer days lost was. [173899] as they relate in part to commercial contracts with third parties. The Sellafield Plan contains a section entitled Michael Fallon: As the majority of the pipeline assets “Safe Storage of Pu” which provides information on are underground, gas distribution customers are not this topic: affected directly by the weather. http://www.sellafieldsites.com/publications/sellafieldplan/ Sellafield_Plan.pdf Nuclear Fuels Recruitment Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy ensure the long-term future of nuclear fuel manufacturing and Climate Change how many new staff his Department in the UK. [173795] has employed under (a) fixed-term contracts and (b) short-term contracts since May 2010. [174458] Michael Fallon: The UK’s fuel manufacturing capability has been developed and maintained since the earliest Gregory Barker: In the period May 2010 to October days of nuclear power, resulting in a level of fuel cycle 2013 the Department of Energy and Climate Change expertise that few other countries can claim. The has employed (a) 136 new staff on fixed term contracts, Fuels production facilities, near Preston, produce the and (b) 63 new staff on short-term contracts. unique design of fuel required by all the UK AGR reactors and will continue to do so well into the next decade. DEFENCE The Nuclear Industrial Strategy, and its supporting documents, set out both Government and Industry’s Afghanistan aims to further develop the UK’s fuel manufacturing capability up to 2050. This included working to establish Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for a Nuclear Fuel Centre for Excellence as one of a Defence how many members of the regular armed number of complementary research facilities supporting forces killed during operations in Afghanistan who the UK’s nuclear sector. enlisted between 1999-2000 and 2008-09 were aged (a) Ofgem 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 years old or above at the time they enlisted. [172712] Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons Ofgem Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence holds relevant has not yet published its Annual Sustainability Report information for the period from 1 April 2007 to 31 2012-13; when Ofgem intends to publish that Report; December 2012. Enlistment data prior to April 2007 is held on legacy systems and could be provided only at and if he will make a statement. [174277] disproportionate cost. Michael Fallon: Ofgem published this at the beginning UK regular armed forces deaths on operations in of July 2013. The link to the report is as follows: Afghanistan among personnel who enlisted in calendar https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/ years 1999-2000 and in calendar years 2008-09, by age ofgem%E2%80%99s-annual-report-and-accounts-2012- on enlistment, 1 April 2007 to 30 December 2012, are 13?docid=25&refer=About%20us/annlrprt shown in the following table: 303W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 304W

Age on Rate per 1,000 Rate per 1,000 person enlistment Enlisted 1999-2000 Enlisted 2008-09 Age on enlistment personnel deployed years at risk

16 10 4 17 2 3 17 3 7 18 and over 8 13 18 and above 12 54 Notes: 1. UK regular forces comprise trained and untrained personnel and exclude The 1,000 person years at risk data is the amount of Gurkhas, full-time reserve service personnel and mobilised reservists. time each individual spent on operations (where each 2. Enlistment data may not accurately reflect in all cases an individual’s initial calendar day recorded as being in theatre is recorded as enlistment to regular service. Entry data may, for example, include transfers from another Service or transfers from other ranks to officers. a day at risk) and this is totalled across all personnel to provide the total number of days at risk in that time Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for period. The total days at risk in a given time period is Defence what the fatality rate in Afghanistan has been divided by the number of days in the year and the of soldiers, excluding Gurkhas, officers and reservists, calculated rate is then multiplied by a thousand. who completed phase one and two training between 1999-2000 and enlisted aged (a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for years old or above. [172714] Defence which Army corps, including infantry, has had the highest fatality rate in Afghanistan; and what Mr Francois: The fatality rate in Afghanistan for proportion of new recruits who enlisted aged (a) under regular soldiers who completed phase one and two 18 and (b) 18 years old or above joined that corps. training between 1999-2000, by age on enlistment, is [172715] given in the following table. The fatality rate is for the period 1 April 2007-30 June 2013. Enlistment data prior to April 2007 is held on legacy systems and it could be Mr Francois: The infantry has had the highest fatality provided only at disproportionate cost. rate in Afghanistan. The following tables show the proportion of recruits aged under 18 and 18 and over Rate per 1,000 Rate per 1,000 person entering the infantry between 1 April 2007 and 30 June Age on enlistment personnel deployed years at risk 2013. Enlistment data prior to April 2007 is held on legacy systems and it could be provided only at 16 6 10 disproportionate cost.

Other ranks Financial years Percentage of totals in each age category joining the infantry 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Percentage aged under 18 untrained soldiers 37.0 37.7 37.0 46.2 44.6 40.5 entering the infantry Percentage aged 18 and over untrained 35.0 38.7 37.3 41.2 44.8 40.6 soldiers entering the infantry

Officers Financial years Percentage of totals in each age category joining the Infantry 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Percentage commissioned officers entering the 29.3 44.4 — — — — infantry who joined the Army aged under 18 Percentage commissioned officers entering the 29.9 34.0 31.0 26.6 25.5 18.2 infantry who joined the Army aged 18 and over Notes: 1. The fatality rate covers both officers and soldiers. Infantry officers account for less than 10 fatalities in each financial year. 2. Officer figures refer to direct entry officers only. Officers are only assigned an arm or service during their training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) or at the point of commission (completion of RMAS). 3. Percentages where either the numerator or denominator is five or less are replaced by “—” to limit personnel disclosure and ensure confidentiality.

Apache AH-64 Helicopter who committed suicide were under 18 years old at the time they enlisted in the last 20 years. [172713] Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Capability Sustainment Programme for the Apache helicopter will be complete. [174203] Mr Dunne: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) holds Mr Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I relevant information on untrained and trained regular gave on 17 December 2012, Official Report, column 618W, armed forces personnel in the period from 1 April 2007 to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford North (Mr to 31 December 2012. Date of entry to the armed forces Scott). prior to April 2007 is held on legacy systems and could Armed Forces: Suicide be provided only at disproportionate cost. The MOD does not hold information on the number of suicide Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for and open verdict deaths among all veterans, but does Defence what proportion of armed forces (a) recruits, hold data for personnel who deployed to the 1991 Gulf (b) personnel who committed suicide and (c) veterans Conflict (Gulf 1) and an era comparison group. 305W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 306W

In the period 1 April 2007 to 31 December 2012, two less than £5 million; this would indicate that the recorded contract untrained regular armed forces personnel committed value is incorrect. For this reason we have also included such suicide. Of these, neither was aged under 18 at the time contracts in the analysis. they joined the armed forces. In the same period, 58 The data underpinning this analysis has been extracted from trained regular armed forces personnel committed suicide. the Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts database. This information Of these 34% were aged under 18 at the time they joined is initially input by MOD commercial staff when most contracts are established. The contracts database covers the majority of the armed forces. such payments and reflects transactions made by the MOD’S In the 20 year period 1 January 1993 to 31 December Defence Business Services in Liverpool, which handles about 95% 2012 there were 276 post-service suicides and open of all payments made by the MOD and Defence Agencies. verdict deaths among Gulf 1 veterans and the comparison Payments not included are those which may have been made (a) group. Of these, 48% were aged under 18 at the time on behalf of other government departments, (b) by the MOD’S Trading Funds and Executive Non Departmental Public Bodies they joined the armed forces. (which lie outside the MOD’s accounting boundary), (c) locally by the Department, (d) through third parties such as prime Defence Exports Support Group contractors or other government departments and (e) in relation to collaborative projects where the payments are made through Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for international procurement agencies or overseas governments. Defence what the membership is of the Defence Exports Government Procurement Card payments are also not included as they are not procurement contracts. Also excluded from our Support Group; on which dates it has met; and what it analysis are contracts with Government organisations where the has discussed at those meetings since the inception of MOD did not have the opportunity to influence placement of the group. [174111] contracts with SMEs.

Mr Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Defence whether there is a minimum voluntary offset Worcestershire (Peter Luff), gave on 23 April 2012 threshold under the new Defence and Security Industrial Official Report, column 718W. Engagement Policy. [174202] The Defence Exports Support Group (DESG) first met in December 2010 and again in June 2011. The Mr Dunne: There is no voluntary offset threshold, DESG has not met recently, but Ministers and officials minimum or otherwise, under the new Defence and regularly engage on important export issues including Security Industrial Engagement Policy. through the National Security Council (NSC) as part of This policy, introduced following the publication of wider defence engagement and NSC co-ordinated sub- the Government’s White Paper “National Security through groups. The discussions have included specific defence Technology”in February 2012, encourages overseas-based and security export campaigns, such as Typhoon and companies to work with the UK defence and security Hawk, and related issues such as training. sectors on a voluntary basis in order to attract inward investment and improve capability to support the front Defence: Procurement line.

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Military Bases: Lancashire Defence what proportion of expenditure on defence procurement contracts valued in excess of £5 million was placed with UK-based small and medium-sized Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for enterprises in each of the last three years. [172619] Defence what plans he has to visit the Weeton Barracks in Lancashire. [173651] Mr Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has published details of expenditure with small and medium-sized Mr Philip Hammond: I do not currently have any enterprises over the last three years, this is available at plans to visit Weeton Barracks but hope for an opportunity the following link: to do so in due course. http://www.dasa.mod.uk/index.php/publications/finance-and- economics/MOD-contracting-with-small-and-medium-sized- Ministerial Policy Advisers enterprises/financial-year-2012-13 Information specifically related to contracts with a value over £5 million is, however, not separately identified. Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State This information will take additional time to collate for Defence how many officials at what grades are and I will write to the hon. Member. employed to provide direct support to special advisers in his Department. [174051] Substantive answer from Philip Dunne to John Woodcock: I undertook to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Anna Soubry: One official is employed to provide Question on 28th October 2013, (Official Report, column 351W), direct support to the special advisers at the Ministry of to your recent question about defence procurement contracts with Small and medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), I am now Defence at band D/executive officer level. writing to provide the additional information you requested on contracts over £5 million. Patrol Craft The proportion of expenditure with SMEs on contracts valued at over £5 million was 3% in each of the financial years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. The analysis includes open contracts within Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for these financial years, which have a value in excess of £5 million Defence what recent progress he has made on plans to and which have incurred some expenditure. Some contracts have build new offshore patrol vessels; and if he will make a expenditure exceeding £5 million but a recorded contract value of statement. [173903] 307W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 308W

Mr Dunne: As the Secretary of State for Defence, my Costs for utilities are reported in the right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Annual Report and Accounts: Weybridge (Mr Hammond), announced on 6 November http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc09/ 2013, Official Report, columns 251-54, three new, more 0999/0999.pdf capable, Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) are to be built http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc00/ for the Royal Navy. Subject to approval, it is anticipated 0056/0056.pdf that these ships will be built by BAE Systems on the As was the case under the previous Administration, Clyde. The First of Class of these new OPVs is expected Ministers occupying ministerial residences are assessed to enter service in 2017. under section 315 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Red Arrows Pensions) Act 2003.

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children: Death Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 November 2013, Official Report, column 654W, on the Red Arrows, Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet when a decision needs to be made about a potential Office (1) how many deaths of children aged under 18 replacement for Hawk TMk1 for the Red Arrows aerobatic there have been in each NHS commissioning board area team. [174357] from (a) epilepsy, (b) diabetes and (c) asthma in each of the last five years; [174371] Mr Dunne: The out of service date for the Hawk TMk1 is currently 2020. We continue to evaluate options (2) how many children aged under 18 have died in to maintain this capability. Programme decision points each of the last five years, by cause of death. [174372] have yet to be agreed. Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the Unmanned Air Vehicles responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2013: Defence how many remotely piloted aircraft weapons discharge reports have been referred to the ISAF Joint As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions to the Minister Incident Assessment Team. [R] [172867] for the Cabinet Office and the Secretary of State for Health asking respectively a) how many children aged under 18 have Mr Francois: My response relates to strikes involving died in each of the last five years, by cause of death and b) how UK Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) many deaths of children aged under 18 have there been in each only. NHS commissioning board area from i) epilepsy, ii) diabetes and iii) asthma in each of the last five years. [174372, 174371]. There has been one Joint Incident Assessment Team convened to discuss reports of civilian casualties resulting Table 1 provides the number of deaths of children under the from a UK Reaper RPAS strike. age of 18 (excluding neonatal deaths) which occurred in England and Wales, by broad underlying cause of death group, in each year from 2007 to 2011 (the latest year available). Figures for 2012 will be available in the first quarter of 2014. CABINET OFFICE Table 2 provides the number of neonatal deaths which occurred in England and Wales, by ONS neonatal cause of death 10 and : Energy group, in each year from 2007 to 2011 (the latest year available). Figures for 2012 will be available in the first quarter of 2014. Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Table 3 provides the number of deaths of children under the age of 18 (excluding neonatal deaths) which occurred in England Office what the total energy costs for the flats in (a) 10 and Wales, by NHS area team, where the underlying cause was i) and (b) 11 Downing Street were in the last two financial epilepsy, ii) diabetes and iii) asthma in each year from 2007 to years; what proportion of these costs were met by the 2011 (the latest year available). Figures for 2012 will be available public purse; if he will list the (i) energy provider and in the first quarter of 2014. (ii) tariff for those apartments; and if he will make a A copy of the tables has been placed in the Library of statement. [174230] the House. Figures for perinatal, infant and childhood mortality in John Woodcock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet England and Wales are published annually on the ONS website: Office whether the supplier of energy for No. 10 Downing http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/child-mortality- Street has been changed at any point in the last 12 statistics--childhood--infant-and-perinatal/2011/index.html months. [174555]

Mr Maude: The Government Procurement Service Cot Deaths procures utilities for all central Government Departments, including the Cabinet Office estate. Under my Department’s Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet transparency programme contracts over £10,000 are Office what assessment he has made of the case for listed on Contracts Finder, available at: publishing annual figures on how many babies die of https://online.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk SIDS each year. [174192] and spend of over £25,000 is published on gov.uk, available at: Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office- responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have spend-data asked the authority to reply. 309W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 310W

Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2013: received from the Office of National Statistics on the future As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I collection of (a) social, (b) health and (c) poverty indicators. have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what (174265) assessment he has made of the case for publishing annual figures The ONS has recently closed its public consultation on a on how many babies die of SIDS each year. [174188]. number of ONS outputs including outputs on social, health and ONS ran a public consultation from 2 September to 31 October poverty indicators to assess the impact on our users if some of 2013 to inform necessary reductions to our statistical outputs. these outputs are stopped or reduced. A full list of outputs ONS The statistical bulletin that presents figures for unexplained deaths has consulted on is attached. The consultation ran from 2 September in infancy (including figures for deaths from sudden infant death 2013 till 31 October 2013. syndrome, or SIDS) was included in this consultation. We are currently reviewing the 650 responses we have received In common with much of the public sector, ONS is facing and will be publishing the results of the consultation in early significant funding pressures and we need to make annual 2014. We will be meeting with the Department of Health and savings of around £9 million this year and next. Most of these other public bodies as part of our review process. savings will come from streamlining our business operations, but The results of our consultation will be published on our some cuts to statistical outputs will also be necessary. website. As around 80% of our outputs are required under EU or UK List of outputs in ONS outputs consultation law, this consultation focused on those not required by law. Product While we will have to reduce some outputs, we are not proposing to cut all of those included in the consultation. The 1 General Lifestyle Reports (Smoking and Drinking: General aim of the consultation was to obtain feedback on the need for, Health; Households, Families and People; and Marriage and and use of, these outputs so ONS could determine which cuts Cohabitation) and associated data would have the least impact on our users. We have not yet had the 2 Integrated Household Survey core questions in the Living opportunity to analyse all of the responses or to make decisions Costs and Food Survey about which outputs will be cut. 3 Labour Disputes survey Figures for unexplained deaths in infancy in England and 4 Quarterly output on individuals’ internet use Wales are published annually on the ONS website: 5 UK Business output http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/child-health/unexplained- 6 Bi-annual local enterprise partnership profiles deaths-in-infancy--england-and-wales/index.html 7 Bi-annual Local Profiles 8 Small area income and poverty measures Ministerial Policy Advisers 9 Annual statistical bulletin on Cancer Survival in England 10 Weekly figures on Deaths Registered in England and Wales Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the 11 Monthly figures on Deaths Registered by Area of Usual Cabinet Office how many officials at what grades are Residence, England and Wales (Provisional) employed to provide direct support to special advisers 12 Annual statistical bulletin on Childhood, Infant and Perinatal in (a) his Department, (b) the Office of the Deputy Mortality in England and Wales Prime Minister and (c) the Office of the Prime Minister. 13 Unexplained Deaths in Infancy in England and Wales [174039] 14 Stop production of statistics on Gestation-specific Births and Infant Deaths in England and Wales Mr Maude: As set out in the Code of Conduct for 15 Annual statistical bulletin on Suicides in the United Kingdom Special Advisers, Departments may provide support for 16 Statistics on Excess Winter Mortality in England and Wales (Provisional and Final) special advisers in order to enable them to work effectively. 17 Deaths involving MRSA in England and Wales This has been the practice of successive Administrations. 18 Deaths involving Clostridium difficile in England and Wales Private offices in my Department include a mixture 19 Annual statistical bulletin on Avoidable Mortality in England of special advisers and other civil servants working and Wales together to serve their Minister. I refer the hon. Member 20 Annual statistical bulletin on Injury and Poisoning Mortality to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley in England and Wales East (Michael Dugher), on 8 October 2013, Official 21 Deaths Related to Drug Poisoning in England and Wales Report, columns 168-69W, which includes details on the 22 Annual statistical bulletin on Alcohol-related deaths in the structure of private offices and to our departmental United Kingdom organogram, available at: 23 ONS adoption statistics http://data.gov.uk/organogram/cabinet-office 24 Quarterly births and deaths statistics (currently published as quarterly tables in Vital Statistics: Population and Health Reference Tables) Statistics 25 Quarterly conception statistics (currently published as quarterly tables in Vital Statistics: Population and Health Reference Graham Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Tables) Office what proposals have been received from the 26 Reduce scope of the sub-national life expectancy statistics Office of National Statistics on the future collection of bulletin (a) social, (b) health and (c) poverty indicators. 27 Annual statistical bulletin on cancer incidence and mortality in the UK [174265] 28 Outputs on Health Expectancies at birth and at age 65 for the United Kingdom and Constituent Countries, update to years Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the 2009-11 responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have 29 Sub-national estimates of Disability-free life expectancy at asked the authority to reply. birth and at age 65 for Upper Tier Local Authorities. 2006-08 Letter from Peter Fullerton: to 2009-11 30 Outputs on Inequality in Disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I at birth and at age 65 for National Index of Multiple Deprivation have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking 2010 deprivation deciles of small areas, 2006-08 to 2009-11 the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proposals have been 311W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 312W

List of outputs in ONS outputs consultation Table 1. Age-specific suicide rates per 100,000 population (with 95% confidence 1,2,3,4,5 Product intervals), England and Wales, deaths registered between 2007 and 2012 Rate per 100,000 population 31 Validation of all Disability-free Life expectancy estimates 15-25 Over 25 based on Annual Population Survey using Census 2011 data Confidence interval Confidence interval for Upper Tier and Lower Tier LAs and area deprivation Lower Upper Lower Upper deciles and exploration of Clinical Commissioning Group Rate limit limit Rate limit limit estimates 32 Outputs on social inequality in health expectancy by NS-SEC 2012 6.4 5.9 7.0 11.3 11.0 11.7 and area deprivation 2010-12, England 1 Suicide is defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth 33 Small area analysis of Health Expectancy by MSOA 2009-2013. Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 (Intentional self-harm) and Y10-Y34 (Events England (started this financial year but not completed until of undetermined intent), excluding Y33.9 where the coroner’s verdict was 2015) pending for the year 2004-06. From 2007 onwards, deaths which were previously coded to Y33.9 are coded to U50.9 and automatically excluded from the suicide 34 Trends in intercensal mortality by NS-SEC, sex, English definition. regions and Wales update to 2009-11 2 Deaths of non-residents are included in figures for England and Wales. 3 35 Trends in social inequality in life expectancy at birth and at Rates are calculated using 2011 Census based mid year population estimates for the years 2007 to 2012. age 65, update to period 2007-11, England and Wales 4 Confidence intervals are a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate 36 Decennial analysis of social inequality in all-cause and cause and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. Calculations specific mortality by NS-SEC and sex, 2010-12 England and based on small numbers of events are often subject to random fluctuations. As a Wales general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a 37 Decennial analysis of social inequality in alcohol-related chance difference between the two figures. causes of death by NS-SEC and sex 5 Figures are for suicides registered, rather than suicides occurring between 2007 38 Stop the Decennial Analysis of social inequality in preventable and 2012. Due to the length of time it takes to hold an inquest, it can take causes of mortality by NS-SEC and sex months for a suicide to be registered in England and Wales. Further information is available on the ONS website: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/suicides-in-the-united-kingdom/ index.html Suicide Unpaid Work Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the suicide rate was for (a) young people Office how many people were working unpaid in each aged 15 to 25 and (b) people aged over 25 years in each of the last six years. [174510] of the last six years. [174427] Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. asked the authority to reply. Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2013: Letter from Glen Watson, dated November 2013: As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the asking how many people were working unpaid in each of the last suicide rate was for (a) young people aged 15 to 25 and (b) people six years. (174510). aged over 25 years in each of the last six years. [174427] Unfortunately, using ONS data sources, it is not possible to Table 1 provides the age-specific suicide rate per 100,000 comprehensively estimate the number of people working unpaid. population, for (a) people aged 15 to 25 and (b) people aged over 25 years, in England and Wales, for deaths registered between 2007 and 2012 (the latest year available). The Office for National Statistics routinely report suicide statistics based on when a death was registered, rather than when HEALTH it occurred. As suicides are certified by a coroner following an inquest, there can be a considerable delay between when a death is Artificial Sweeteners registered and when it occurred. Figures for suicides in the United Kingdom, England, Wales and regions of England are published annually on the ONS Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health website and are available from 1981 onwards. The latest statistical what assessment he has made of the safety of xylitol as bulletin also includes analysis of the impact of registration delays a substitute for sugar cane for use in the production of on UK suicide statistics: food and drinks products; and what quantity of xylitol www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/suicides-in-the- has been imported in each year since 2003. [173996] united-kingdom/index.html Table 1. Age-specific suicide rates per 100,000 population (with 95% confidence Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency advises intervals), England and Wales, deaths registered between 2007 and 20121,2,3,4,5 that xylitol and other bulk sweeteners, which are to be Rate per 100,000 population used as alternatives to sugar in food and drink, are 15-25 Over 25 considered to be food additives for which there is a Confidence interval Confidence interval European harmonised authorisation regime. Safety in Lower Upper Lower Upper use is one of the criteria which must be met in order for Rate limit limit Rate limit limit a substance to be authorised. Xylitol is authorised for 2007 5.7 5.2 6.2 10.5 10.1 10.8 use in the EU based on the opinion of the European 2008 6.6 6.0 7.2 10.9 10.6 11.3 Scientific Committee for Food on its acceptability. 2009 6.3 5.8 6.9 11.1 10.8 11.5 It is not possible to provide import statistics specifically 2010 6.1 5.6 6.7 10.6 10.3 11.0 for xylitol because it is not separately reported under 2011 6.7 6.2 7.3 11.3 11.0 11.7 the trade statistics system. 313W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 314W

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Dr Poulter: The usual practice of the Department’s which sugar substitutes have been (a) approved and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is not (b) rejected for use in the production of food and to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: drinks products since 2005. [174001] research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency advises research into any aspect of human health, including that sugar substitutes such as bulk and intense sweeteners autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These applications are considered to be food additives and require European are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, Union authorisation. Steviol glycosides were approved with awards being made on the basis of the importance in 2011 for use as a sugar substitute across the EU. of the topic to patients and the national health service, value for money and scientific quality. An application, to extend the use of the approved bulk sweetener erythritol, was rejected. A revised application The NIHR-funded Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation for that extension, and an application for the new Programme has launched a call for research proposals intense sweetener advantame, are currently under discussion in ASD. Proposals are sought for studies of clinical between the European Commission and EU member efficacy of interventions used in the diagnosis or treatment states. of ASD and related diagnoses, and should have the potential to contribute work of significant benefit to the day-to-day lives of patients and their carers. Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the safety of coconut The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental sugar as a substitute for sugar cane for use in the Health at the South London and Maudsley NHS production of food and drinks products; and what Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s quantity of coconut sugar has been imported in each College London is carrying out research on ASD and is seeking to address the need for diagnostic tests and year since 2003. [174003] treatments throughout the life course.

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State not aware of any food safety concerns raised about for Health whether the statutory review of the Adult coconut sugar. Autism Strategy is considering what progress has been The FSA is not aware that any assessment has been made on providing support for older adults with made of food safety concerns about coconut sugar. autism. [174350] Imported foodstuffs records are held by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in Norman Lamb: The review of the 2010 Adult Autism England. DEFRA has confirmed that it is not possible Strategy is considering older adults with autism and to provide import statistics specifically for coconut sugar this issue has featured in the self evaluation exercise on because it is not separately reported under the trade progress undertaken by local authorities and their partners, statistics system. and has been raised in focus groups arranged to hear views from people with autism, their families and carers, and in on-going discussions with the National Autistic Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Society following their recent report on autism and what assessment he has made of the safety of stevia as ageing. a substitute for sugar cane in the production of food and drinks products; and what quantity of stevia has Blood: Contamination been imported to the UK in each year since 2003. [174041] David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to bring legal proceedings Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency advises against those who dispensed contaminated blood. that stevia leaves are considered to be a novel food [174004] within the European Union and an application for authorisation under the EU harmonised regime is currently Jane Ellison: The blood-borne viral infections that being considered. Commercial use in the production of tragically resulted from this occurred before an effective food and drinks products is not permitted prior to method of viral inactivation was introduced in 1985 for authorisation. clotting factor production, and before effective blood Extracts from stevia leaves known as steviol glycosides/ screening tests were implemented. The Government is and intended to be used as a substitute for sugar cane in not bringing any legal proceedings against those who the production of food and drinks, are considered to be dispensed contaminated blood. food additives for which there is a harmonised EU Blood: Donors regime. Steviol glycosides have been assessed for safety by the European Food Safety Authority and were authorised for use across the EU in 2011. Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will lift the lifetime ban in Northern Ireland on gay and bisexual men donating blood; and if he will make a statement. [174483] Autism Jane Ellison: In Northern Ireland, all men who have Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State had sex with another man (MSM), regardless of their for Health what plans he has to fund new research on sexual orientation, are currently permanently deferred the effects of ageing on people with autism. [174349] from donating blood. The High Court of Justice of 315W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 316W

Northern Ireland has recently given judgment in a service for assessment if clinically appropriate. Those judicial review that the Secretary of State rather than women at the highest risk will be enrolled into the NHS the Northern Ireland Health Minister is responsible for Breast Screening Programme for earlier and more regular determining the blood donor deferral period for MSM. screening. There is local provision for those women The Secretary of State is currently considering the with a moderately raised risk. implications of this judgment. Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Breast Cancer when he expects NHS England to commission a breast cancer services audit. [174009] Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he had with (a) Public Health Jane Ellison: Breast cancer was added to the National England and (b) NHS Choices about work they are Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme undertaking to raise awareness of breast cancer risk (NCAPOP) along with 10 other audit topics in October factors; [174007] 2011, following recommendations made to the Department (2) what estimate he has made of the number of by the National Advisory Group for Clinical Audit and cases of breast cancer that could be prevented by Inquiries. The audit topics were planned for addition to lifestyle changes. [174010] NCAPOP programme between 2011 and 2014 and specification for the breast cancer audit is due for Jane Ellison: In December 2011, Cancer Research development in 2014. UK published ‘The Fraction of Cancer Attributable to NCAPOP audits are now commissioned and managed Lifestyle and Environmental factors in the UK in 2010’ on behalf of NHS England by the Healthcare Quality (Parkin et al, British Journal of Cancer 105, Suppl2, Improvement Partnership. S77-S81). This report estimated that 26.8% of breast cancers in women were attributable to risk factor exposure, broken down as follows: Cancer Percentage of breast cancers attributable to risk factor David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for exposure Health what assessment his Department has made of Alcohol 6.4 progress in the earlier diagnosis of cancer; and what Overweight and obesity 8.7 estimate it has made of the number of lives saved as a Physical exercise 3.4 result, in the period following the announcement of an allocation of £450 million funding for that purpose. Post-menopausal hormones 3.2 [173906] Radiation—ionising 0.9 Occupation 4.6 Reproduction (not breastfeeding) 3.1 Jane Ellison: From February 2014 we will be publishing All of the above 26.8 data for the Public Health Outcomes indicator about the proportion of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2, We are taking wide-ranging action to tackle risk and so that will enable us to assess progress with tackling factors for the prevention of disease including tobacco late diagnosis. We have a range of other data available use, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and about progress with our earlier diagnosis of cancer harmful consumption of alcohol. This work aims to programme, for example, in relation to the impact of reduce the many premature deaths and illnesses which the Be Clear on Cancer campaigns. could be avoided by improving lifestyles. There is inevitably a time lag because of the nature of Key elements of the work programme involve action cancer as a disease before we can assess the impact of at the national level including working with industry the earlier diagnosis work on cancer survival (and therefore through the Public Health Responsibility Deal, alongside on additional lives saved), and there is a range of strengthening local action, promoting healthy choices, factors that will make it difficult to assess this rapidly—in and giving appropriate information to support healthier particular how far improvements are as a result of lives through social marketing campaigns such as earlier diagnosis and how far as a result of better access Change4Life. to treatment. We are currently considering the best way The NHS Choices website provides information on to assess progress, in advance of the data being available familial, lifestyle and environmental risk factors of breast on changes in survival, in terms of the ambition set out cancer. The site also includes information on how to in January 2011 to save an additional 5,000 lives per reduce the risks of breast cancer where possible. year by 2014-15. Provision for the management of women at high risk of breast cancer through the NHS Breast Screening Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State Programme is contained in the service specification for for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the breast screening in the agreement between the Department effects of the transition from Cancer Networks to of Health and NHS England on the public health Strategic Clinical Networks on cancer expertise in the functions to be exercised by the NHS (the Section 7a NHS; [174346] agreement). The specification was developed by Public (2) what guidance and support he has provided to Health England. strategic clinical networks on maintaining breast Women who think they are at a raised risk of breast cancer site specific groups; [174347] cancer should seek advice from their general practitioner, (3) what discussions he has had with NHS England who will be able to refer them to the local genetics about the future of site specific groups. [174348] 317W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 318W

Jane Ellison: No formal assessment has been made of £ the effects of the transition from Cancer Networks to Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) on cancer expertise Gas Electricity in the national health service. 2012-13 168 122,732 No discussions have been had with NHS England 2013-141 52,119 230,585 about the future of site specific groups; however, the 1 To date. requirement for the provision of site specific groups, such as those for breast cancer, is written into national The gas figure in 2013 (October 2012 to March 2013) cancer peer review requirements and remains unchanged. is a single invoice from North West strategic health authority—unpaid. There are no other charges showing In consultation with SCNs, NHS England has developed as the Department does not itemise gas charges to NHS an SCN framework. The framework reiterates the role England. and importance of clinical networking groups as support for the commissioning process, but allows for local Electricity is higher in 2013-14 (April 2013 to March agreement to how those groups are supported. 2014) as staff numbers increased from around 200 to in excess of 5,000 from 1 April 2013. Therefore NHS England occupied more space in Maple Street and Disability Aids: Children Quarry House and were charged a bigger share of electricity costs. Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for NHS England does not own any property and therefore Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce has no direct relationship with electricity and gas suppliers. the time between assessments and delivery of mobility Instead gas and electricity is part of the leasing charges equipment and wheelchairs to disabled children and paid to the landlords of which the main suppliers are young people. [173565] Department of Health and NHS Property Services. NHS Property Services are the largest provider of Norman Lamb: Since April 2013, work to improve accommodation across NHS England to clinical services for people needing a wheelchair has been led by commissioning groups (CCGs) and no breakdown is NHS England discharging its responsibilities through provided on their invoices and therefore the full value of the Operating Model for Specialised Services and through the invoice is charged to rent. Therefore, NHS England clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), which it will is unable to provide a total cost for gas and electricity hold to account. One of NHS England’s Mandate because it is part of the rent charge. objectives is for improvement in supporting children and young people with special educational needs or Expenditure figures for Monitor are as follows: disabilities. We want to see CCGs—and the NHS Commissioning Board in relation to the more specialised £ wheelchairs—supported to be proactive in commissioning Gas Electricity wheelchair services, drawing on the best clinical expertise 2009-10 4,838 28,557 and listening to patients. 2010-11 6,863 30,595 The Whizz Kidz ’Child in a Chair in a Day’ programme 2011-12 12,698 55,923 has been showcased as best in class in Sir David Nicholson’s 2012-13 20,463 88,828 2011 ‘Innovation Health and Wealth’report and referred 2013-141 12,963 57,753 to as a priority for 2013 in the subsequent ‘Creating 1 To date. Change: Innovation, Health and Wealth One Year On’ report published in 2012. A copy of each report has Expenditure figures for the Care Quality Commission already been placed in the Library. are as follows:

£ Energy Gas Electricity

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for 2009-10 8,768 381,672 Health how much his Department and each of its 2010-11 11,546 380,972 non-departmental bodies spent on (a) gas and (b) 2011-12 5,628 337,708 electricity in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12, (iv) 2012-13 7,552 299,479 2012-13 and (v) 2013 to date. [174200] 2013-141 3,054 161,965 1 To date. Dr Poulter: The Department’s gas and electricity Expenditure figures for National Institute for Health expenditure for the years 2009 to date is as follows: and Care Excellence (formerly National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) are as follows: £ Gas Electricity £ 2009-10 160,572 1,253,708 Gas Electricity 2010-11 117,690 862,052 2009-10 0 132,000 2011-12 139,343 1,145,671 2010-11 0 124,000 2012-13 135,449 862,223 2011-12 0 124,000 1 2013-14 49,105 844,153 2012-13 0 131,000 1 To date. 2013-141 0 55,000 Expenditure figures for NHS England are as follows: 1 To date. 319W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 320W

Expenditure figures for Health and Social Care Expenditure figures for the Human Tissue Authority Information Centre are as follows: are as follows:

£ £ Gas1 Electricity1 Gas Electricity

2009-10 5,971 133,080 2009-10 1— 2— 2010-11 6,181 137,349 2010-11 1— 11,389 2011-12 5,093 146,709 2011-12 1— 17,358 2012-13 5,624 147,817 2012-13 1— 18,806 2013-142 1,440 76,957 2013-1431— 10,006 1 Including VAT. 1 No charges. 2 To date. 2 Unavailable. 3 To date. Expenditure figures for Human Fertilisation and Food Embryology Authority are as follows: Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health £ what recent assessment he has made of changes in Gas Electricity calorie intake for (a) men, (b) women, (c) boys and 2009-10 0 n/a (d) girls in the last 30 years. [173879] 2010-11 0 n/a 2011-12 0 110,115 Jane Ellison: Data on energy (calorie) intakes are 2012-13 0 15,173 collected in the National Diet and Nutrition Surveys 2013-142 0 37,269 (NDISIS). The earliest data available are from The 1(E) 8 months. Dietary and Nutrition Survey of British Adults, carried 2 To date. out in 1986-87. Average daily total energy intakes from 3 (E) 6 months. this and later surveys are shown in the following tables.

Average daily total energy intake (kcal/day); Males Date Age 2008-09 to 2010-111 2000-012 19972 1994-952 1986-873

4-10 years 1,586 — 1,684 — — 11-18 years 1,965 — 2,131 — — 19-64 years 2,151 2,308 — — 42,450 65+ years 1,934 — — 1,907 —

Average daily total energy intake (kcal/day); Females Date Age 2008-09 to 2010-111 2000-012 19972 1994-952 1986-873

4-10 years 1,522 — 1,509 — — 11-18 years 1,607 — 1,663 — — 19-64 years 1,614 1,635 — — 41,680 65+ years 1,501 — — 1,420 — 1 Bates B, Lennox A, Prentice A, Bates C, Swan G (2012) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Headline results from Years 1, 2 and 3 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008-09 to 2010-11) 2 Published in Bates B, Lennox A, Bates C, Swan G (2011) National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Headline results from Years 1 and 2 (combined) of the Rolling Programme (2008-09 to 2009-10) 3 Gregory 3, Foster K, Tyler H, Wiseman M; The Dietary and Nutrition Survey of British Adults (HMSO, 1990) 4 This survey sampled adults aged 16-64 years.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health http://collections.europarchive.Org/tna/20100907111047/ what information his Department holds on changes in http://food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2008/jun/portionsize meal portion size in (a) households and (b) No data are held at household or restaurant level. restaurants in the last 30 years. [173880]

Jane Ellison: In 2002, the Government published Food: Labelling studies of typical portion weights for a range of foods consumed by adults and children, based on analysis of data collected in earlier dietary surveys. Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent representations he has received about The report on children is available at: the effect on businesses and practitioners in the natural www.foodbase.org.uk/results.php?f_report_id=223 health sector of the implementation of the EU Regulation The report on adults in available at: on Nutrition and Health Claims; [173970] www.foodbase.org.uk/results.php?f_report_id=82 (2) what assessment he has made of the financial In 2008, the Government commissioned a review of effect on British business of the implementation of the portion size trends and hosted a workshop to assess the EU Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims; evidence. Details of both are available at: [173971] 321W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 322W

(3) how many nutrition and health claims have so far Hospitals: Waiting Lists been received by the Food Standards Agency in relation to the EU Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for passing to the European Commission; what information what the average waiting time for a hospital appointment his Department holds about the number of such claims was in (a) Greater Manchester, (b) the North West and which have now been received by the Commission from (c) the UK in each of the last five years. [173681] all EU member states; what information his Department holds about the number of potential claims that have Jane Ellison: The average (median) waiting time for a been submitted by the Commission to the European first out-patient appointment in Greater Manchester, Food Safety Authority for assessment; and how many North West strategic health authority and England in specific claims have now been (a) approved, (b) refused each of the last four years is shown in the following and (c) otherwise not determined following the receipt table. Waiting times for hospital appointments in Scotland, by the Commission of advice from that Authority; Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved [173972] Administrations. (4) what information his Department hold on which Activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in claims have now been approved for glucosamine by the the independent sector EU following assessment under the provisions of the Median wait time (days) EU Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims. Greater Manchester1 [173973] 2007-08 24 2008-09 21 Jane Ellison: Members of the natural health sector 2009-10 21 have made representations to Health Ministers about 2010-11 21 the impact of the European Union Regulation on Nutrition 2011-12 19 and Health Claims on businesses and on the information that can be provided to consumers to promote products. North West2 A Regulatory Impact Assessment was published in 2007-08 22 July 2007. 2008-09 21 The EU Regulation requires the European Commission 2009-10 21 to submit a report on the application of the Regulation, 2010-11 21 in particular on the evolution of the market in foods for 2011-12 20 which nutrition or health claims are made. This will look at the impact of the implementation of the Regulation ( c) England across the EU, including in the United Kingdom. 2007-08 24 The Food Standards Agency, as the UK Competent 2008-09 21 Authority in relation to the Nutrition and Health Claims 2009-10 22 Regulation in 2007, sent 2,907 general function health 2010-11 21 claim applications to the European Commission in 2011-12 20 1This is the area covered by the following primary care trusts: 2008. In total, the European Commission received over Ashton, Leigh And Wigan PCT 44,000 such applications from all EU member states. Bolton PCT These were aggregated into 4,637 health claim applications Bury PCT Heywood, Middleton And Rochdale PCT submitted to the European Food Safety Authority for Manchester PCT assessment. The EU Register of claims lists 229 general Oldham PCT function health claims as authorised and 1,875 as non- Salford PCT Stockport PCT authorised. The European Commission’s website lists Tameside And Glossop PCT 2,095 such applications on which decisions are still to Trafford PCT. be made; 2,078 of these are health claims for plant 2 This is the area covered by North West strategic health authority. based “botanical” substances which have been placed ‘on hold’ pending further reflection by the Commission. In Vitro Fertilisation No health claims have been authorised for glucosamine. Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) his Department and (b) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority have received General Practitioners legal advice regarding a potential liability for damage claims if any mitochondrial replacement technique David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for were to be approved for clinical use in the UK on the Health what guidelines his Department issues to GPs basis of insufficient preclinical data regarding safety. on the maximum number of patients they can have on [174231] their register. [173907] Jane Ellison: Neither the Government nor the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority have received Dr Poulter: The Department is not prescriptive on legal advice on this issue. The Government has received the number of patients on a practice list. It is for each expert advice that there is nothing to suggest that the general practitioner practice to ensure they are able to techniques proposed are unsafe, and we intend to assess provide services to all their patients as set out in their the situation further following consultation on the draft contract with NHS England. regulations. 323W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 324W

Mental Health Services Fareham health centre; Portchester health centre; and Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Sharland House, High Street, Fareham. (1) whether he plans to extend the street triage The company also holds a lease for the site of the initiative; [173937] electricity sub-station, at Fareham community hospital. (2) when results of the street triage pilot will be NHS: Drugs published; [173938] (3) what assessment he has made of the potential Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health benefits of the street triage pilot. [173939] what recent assessment he has made of the role of functional medicines in developing individualised Norman Lamb: The Department is funding mental programmes for NHS patients; and if he will make a health street triage pilots to be carried by nine police statement. [173881] force areas. The forces involved are the Metropolitan Police Service, , West Yorkshire Jane Ellison: No assessment has been made. police, West Midlands police, Thames Valley police, North Yorkshire police, Sussex police, Derbyshire The Department does not maintain a position on any Constabulary, and Devon and Cornwall police. Each particular complementary and alternative medicine. force is working in partnership with local health Although the Department provides strategic leadership commissioners and providers. to the national health service and social care organisations in England, it is for local NHS organisations to plan, The pilots will run for one calendar year. A national develop and improve services for local people, this evaluation will report in early 2015. includes complementary therapies. Police forces in Leicestershire and Cleveland have similar schemes in operation and are reporting improved NHS: Redundancy Payments outcomes for people in mental health crisis who come to the attention of police officers. We expect that the : To ask the Secretary of State for pilots funded by the Department will show similar Health with reference to the National Audit Office’s benefits. report of July 2013, Managing the transition to the Although there are no plans to extend the initiative reformed health system, what the names of the 44 through central funding, the project will support individuals referred to in paragraph 4.16 are; which participating forces and their partners to mainstream NHS body each such individual was employed by; and the benefits of the schemes, and encourage other areas how much the redundancy payment made to each such to adopt similar approaches. individual was. [174354]

NHS Property Services Dr Poulter: The list of 44 individuals included primary care trust (PCT) chief executives and strategic health Mr Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health authority (SHA) chief executives and directors at risk what the policy of NHS Property Services is on the sale of redundancy and contained estimates of the costs. of properties it owns to other NHS institutions where The table sets out the payments made to 23 individuals those properties are used to provide healthcare. on the list that have appeared in organisational remuneration [174373] reports published on 31 October 2013. The remaining 21 have either not agreed to the disclosure or have not Dr Poulter: NHS Property Services will only dispose received a redundancy payment. of a property once it has been declared by commissioners We intend to write to those of the 23 individuals, who to be surplus to operational requirements for the delivery have secured a payment to seek their agreement to of NHS services. disclosure. Any property to be disposed of is first listed on the Government’s Electronic Property Information Mapping Redundancy payments/ Capitalised costs of early Service (ePIMS) website, which allows other public Organisation Name retirement (£000) sector bodies to purchase it. Properties are listed on this website for 40 working days and if no other public NHS London Hannah Farrar 110-115 sector organisation expresses an interest, they will be SHA marketed externally. Trish Morris-Thompson 130-135 Teresa Moss 130-135 NHS Property Services: Fareham Simon Tanner 50-55

Mr Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health NHS Midlands Neil McKay 415-420 how many properties in Fareham are owned by NHS and East SHA Property Services. [174374] NHS Midlands Sushil Jathanna 60-65 Dr Poulter: The freehold owned properties in Fareham and East PCT borough council’s area that NHS Property Services owns are: NHS South of Ian Carruthers 445-450 land and buildings at the former Coldeast hospital site; England SHA Sue Webb 285-290 land at the former Coldeast hospital site previously occupied by the Sylvan clinic; 325W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 326W

(2) what was the cost to the NHS of issuing ostomy Redundancy payments/ Capitalised costs of early bags and accessories in England in each of the last five Organisation Name retirement (£000) years; [173950] NHS South of Charles Waddicor 70-75 (3) what proportion of patients in England has been England PCT trained in techniques of colostomy irrigation; [173951] Deborah Evans 285-290 Ian Tipney 300-305 (4) what assessment he has made of the rate of use of colostomy irrigation among patients in England as against patients in the other nations of the UK and NHS North SHA Stephen Singleton 360-365 other member states of EU. [173982] Tim Gilpin 280-285

NHS North PCT Derek Campbell 295-300 Norman Lamb: In terms of the cost of prescribing in Sue Page 325-330 primary care, it is not possible to distinguish ostomy bags and accessories from other stoma appliances. Net Kathy Doran 70-75 ingredient cost (NIC) is provided for all products within Mike Potts 140-145 British National Formulary (BNF) Chapter 23 Stoma Alan Whittrick 225-230 Appliances. Jayne Brown 410-415 The NIC of prescription items written in the United Kingdom and K Straughair 605-610 dispensed in the community in England, as classified by BNF Chapter 23 Stoma Appliances1,2 Yasmin Chaudhry 330-335 NIC (£) Chris Reed 345-350 Chris Willis 300-305 2008-09 176,972,637 2009-10 190,642,133 Notes: 1. The costs disclosed in the remuneration reports as set out above should 2010-11 200,741,795 include the redundancy cash sum and/or the cost to the employer of paying 2011-12 216,894,473 the early retirement costs to enable the redundant employee to access their full pension early. It appears that in some cases the cost of early retirement has not 2012-13 231,028,255 been included. 1 Stoma appliances are also used in secondary care, information on 2. We would define a redundancy payment as either a cash lump sum or the which is not included. cost to the employer of paying the early retirement costs to enable the 2 Stoma appliances delivered to patients in their homes through redundant employ to access their full pension early. homecare providers are not captured within the data. Notes: Obesity 1. No information is collected on the number of patients in England who are treated by way of colostomy irrigation rather than making Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health use of ostomy bags and accessories, nor as a comparison to other what the rate of (a) adult and (b) child obesity was in members of the European Union. 2. No information is collected on proportion of patients trained in (i) 1993, (ii) 2003 and (iii) the latest year for which techniques of colostomy irrigation. figures are available; and what assessment he has made Source: of the likely level in 2023. [173955] Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system. Jane Ellison: The national data for adult and child obesity prevalence published by the Health Survey for Palliative Care England is as follows: Adults (age 16 and over) obesity prevalence in 1993 was 14.9%, 2003 it was 22.6%, and in the latest year available (2011) 24.8%. Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health The earliest year for data on child obesity prevalence (1) when he plans to publish details of an alternative, was 1995 in the Health Survey for England: individual approach to end of life care; [173940] Children (age 2-15 years) obesity prevalence in 1995 was (2) if he will make an assessment of study 11.7%, 2003 it was 16.9%, and in the latest year available (2011) NCT01081899 on www.clinicaltrials.gov as reported in 16.3%. The Lancet, which looked into the effectiveness of the No assessment has been carried out on the likely level Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) for hospitalised cancer of adult and child obesity in 2023. However, predictions patients with regards to (a) the effect of pursuing the for 2025 were modelled in the Government’s Foresight LCP on patients’ survival time and (b) a patient’s report: “Tackling Obesities: Future Choices” (2007). experience of care in respect of dignity and kindness. This modelling suggested that by 2025 47% males and [173941] 36% of females will be obese. For children, by 2025 for boys aged 6-10 years and 11-15 years, 21% and 11% respectively were predicted to be obese. For girls 6-10 Norman Lamb: The Government has no plans to years and 11-15 years, 14% and 22% respectively are make an assessment of study NCT01081899, looking at predicted to be obese. the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP). As I announced on 15 July, our intention is for the Liverpool Care Pathway Ostomy to be phased out over the next six to 12 months in favour of an individual approach to end of life care for Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for each patient, with a personalised care plan backed up Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of by a named senior clinician responsible for its patients in England who are treated by way of implementation and condition specific guidance. I also colostomy irrigation rather than making use of ostomy announced a full system-wide response to the review’s bags and accessories; [173949] recommendations by the end of the year. 327W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 328W

This work is being undertaken by the Leadership NHSBT has been actively involved in both initiating and Alliance for the Care of Dying People (LACDP), which supporting organ donation and transplantation research and was announced on the 30 August this year. The LACDP development, within the resources available, to identify best practice, is working with partner organisations, stakeholders and and support new research initiatives, that are in line with NHSBT’s organ donation strategy ‘Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020’. charities across the health and care sectors to inform this response. NHSBT has actively supported research through project funding and clinical trials, and has funded clinical research fellows, and Stress supported honorary fellows to work on projects that are directly aligned with NHSBT’s organ donation strategy. Furthermore, in the last two years, NHSBT has funded QUOD (Quality in Organ Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Donation, a bio resource and basic laboratory support, based in what assessment he has made of the effect of stress on the University of ) which will provide a unique resource to (a) cancer and (b) heart disease. [173933] support translational research focusing on quality in organ donation. NHSBT has also funded a Clinical Trials Resource that will provide Jane Ellison: We are aware of the impact that stress advice and practical support for clinical trials which looks at increasing the availability, quality and outcomes of donated can have on illnesses such as cancer and heart disease organs. and that access to psychological services from the point of diagnosis can support patients in their recovery, by With regard to bone marrow transplantation, NHSBT meeting their emotional as well as physical needs. does not lead on developing clinical research networks for bone marrow. NHSBT works in collaboration with The Cardiovascular Outcomes Strategy, published in other United Kingdom bone marrow registries and the March 2013, sets out good practice for the management Oversight Committee of the UK Stem Cell Strategic of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) for health care Forum (SCSF) to provide support for research and practitioners and highlights the importance of access to assessment into improving the quality and number of psychological support for people diagnosed with heart stem cells available for UK patients. In addition, NHSBT disease. will feed into the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum reviews Building on good practice regarding CVD services on scientific developments that have an impact on the aims and more generally, NHS Improving Quality, working of the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum recommendations, with the Strategic Clinical Networks, will develop, evaluate published in 2010. and disseminate approaches to assessment and care planning for CVD patients. These will include an assessment of needs generally, including access to psychological support. CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT With regard to cancer, in March 2013, the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative published ‘Living with Broadband and beyond cancer; Taking Action to Improve Outcomes’. This document supports commissioners, providers and others to take the actions necessary to improve survivorship Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for outcomes and highlights the significance of having an Culture, Media and Sport what expenditure she expects integrated package of interventions, including holistic to make on the super connected cities programme in needs assessment and care planning, which would include (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16. [165859] access to psychological support. Further, we published ‘Improving Outcomes; A Strategy Mr Vaizey: The Government approved revised plans for Cancer’ in 2011, which describes improvements in for the 22 Super Connected Cities at the end of June, outcomes that are relevant to people living with and with outline allocations across the cities amounting up beyond cancer. These improvements include reducing to the full programme budget of £150 million. A more the proportion of people who report unmet psychological detailed profile will be agreed with HM Treasury and support needs following cancer treatment. the cities shortly. Transplant Surgery Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she will be replacing Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the super connected cities programme with a voucher Health what discussions his Department has had with scheme. [165861] NHS England on establishing a clinical trials network for new transplant research. [174177] Mr Vaizey: The connections vouchers scheme is a key Dr Poulter: The Department has had no specific part of the offer to cities from the Super Connected discussions with NHS England on establishing a clinical Cities programme which also includes city-centre wireless trials network for new transplant research. plans, Wi-Fi hotspots in public buildings, and innovative technology projects which contribute to economic growth The Department’s National Institute for Health Research through high speed broadband. (NIHR) funds research infrastructure for clinical trials and other well-designed studies, including trials and studies relating to transplantation. This infrastructure Castes includes the NIHR Clinical Research Network, biomedical research centres and units, clinical research facilities, Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for and experimental cancer medicine centres. Culture, Media and Sport when she will conclude NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has provided consultation on the amendment to the Equality Act to the following information. prevent discrimination by caste and descent. [174113] 329W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 330W

Mrs Grant: The caste legislation timetable, which Other bodies, such as English Heritage, provide advice relates to the duty contained in the Equality Act 2010 and support to encourage engagement with culture, has been published here: including the historic environment. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/caste- My Department’s Taking Part Survey shows that: discrimination-legislation-timetable there have been significant increases in engagement with heritage since 2005-06 among those who lived in Copyright the North East (5.7% to 74.8%) and Yorkshire and the Number (6.5% to 74.8%); since 2005-06, the proportion of people visiting museums or galleries increased Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for significantly in all regions of England; and since 2005-06 Culture, Media and Sport what outcomes were agreed there have been significant increases in the number of at the meeting between the Minister for Culture, adults engaging with the arts in the North East (from Communications and Creative Industries and Ministers 70.2% to 74.6%) and the North West (from 71.5% to in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 76.5%). on 31 October 2013 on (a) Government proposals for a private copying exception and (b) the introduction of a Football levying scheme on copying devices to compensate UK artists. [174353] Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress she has made Mr Vaizey: It is the Government’s intention to introduce in implementing the recommendations of the Culture, an exception for private copying, limited to personal Media and Sport Committee’s Fourth Report of use. Ministers in the Departments for Business, Innovation 2012-13, Football Governance Follow-up, HC509. and Skills and Culture, Media and Sport are aware of [174358] the strong views expressed on various sides about this. However, the exception will not harm creators, and will Mrs Grant: DCMS continues to press the football only let people copy for their own personal use what authorities to respond positively to the Committee’s they have paid for or legitimately acquired. This is fair recommendations. We commend the recent steps to to all parties, and underpins the continuing importance reform the FA board, improve financial management of consumers who support artists and creators by obtaining with the introduction of the Financial Fair Play rules, content legally. and improve engagement with fans, including by introducing Supporter Liaison Officers in clubs. We are also considering Culture proposals from Supporters Direct on supporter ownership. Ministerial Policy Advisors Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will conduct a review of the cultural sector in the northern cities of England. Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials at [174287] what grades are employed to provide direct support to special advisers in her Department. [174050] Mr Vaizey: My Department has no immediate plans to conduct a review of the cultural sector in the northern Mr Vaizey: The Department has one grade D employed cities of England. Arm’s length bodies of my Department, to provide direct support to the special advisers. including Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, are implementing strategies to ensure that all Music: Festivals and Special Occasions areas of the country have access to their funding, both directly and through outreach work done by London Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for institutions. Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate she has In the case of Arts Council England, this includes a made of the contribution of music festivals to the UK £45 million ’Strategic touring programme’ giving more economy. [166037] people across England experiences of the arts; a £243.6 million Capital investment programme supporting Mr Vaizey: While we produce economic estimates on organisations all around the country to develop resilience the value of the creative industries, including the music by giving them the right buildings and equipment to industry, to the UK economy, we do not do so for the deliver their work; and a £37 million fund focusing on music festival industry. parts of the country where people’s involvement in the arts is significantly below the national average. Olympic Games 2012 The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) works with local authorities and other cultural organisations to promote David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for access to HLF funding. Projects such as the new Museum Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate she has of Liverpool (grant £11.4 million), Tyneside Cinema made of the revenue to the Exchequer generated by the (grant £2.7 million), the Whitworth Art Gallery (grant London 2012 Olympic Games. [173365] £8.5 million) and Experience Barnsley (grant £2.6 million) have made a significant contribution to opening up Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply on behalf of access to important cultural assets and broadening the Treasury. audiences. The HLF is also working with Priority The Treasury has not made any estimates of the Development Areas (including in Manchester, Liverpool Exchequer revenue generated by the London 2012 Olympic and Sunderland) to encourage more applications. Games. Modelling undertaken for the Department for 331W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 332W

Culture Media and Sport as part of the Meta-Evaluation JUSTICE of the Impacts and Legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games estimates that the impacts of the London 2012 Air Navigation Order 2009 Olympic Games would in total generate for the UK economy some £28 billion to £41 billion in Gross Value Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Added over the period 2004 to 2020. Justice how many people have been prosecuted under the Air Navigation Order 2009 for using a laser pen in the last five years. [173893] Olympic Games 2012: Wales Mr Goodwill: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Transport. Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for The Civil Aviation Authority has made no prosecutions Culture, Media and Sport how much projects in Wales under the Air Navigation Order in relation to this have received in Olympic legacy funding. [173974] offence. However, laser pen offences are usually dealt with by the police and prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Mrs Grant: Individual Government Departments have Service. The Department does not hold any data on the allocated funding for legacy projects which further their number of prosecutions there have been. own departmental objectives. Many of these relate to devolved functions and therefore the UK Government’s Prison Service remit does not cover Wales. But Wales has benefited from a number of UK Government initiatives, including Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State UKTI’s work to promote UK business on the back of for Justice how many full-time equivalent staff are the games, UK Sport’s funding for elite athletes and provided at each prison establishment through the use Join In’s work to promote volunteering, especially sport- of the Payment Plus system; and under what criteria related. prison governors are permitted to use Payment Plus; The independent meta-evaluation of legacy benefits and if he will make a statement. [173358] from the games carried out for my Department by a consortium led by Grant Thornton included an assessment Jeremy Wright: Payment Plus payments may be available of economic benefits. They estimated the total economic for additional hours worked, over and above an individual’s impact of the games for Wales, in terms of gross value scheduled shift, in the following circumstances: staff on added between 2004 and 2020, at between £570 million a bedwatch; or constant observation; staff on a category and £950 million, with total job years created over the A escort over and above the profiled staffing level; staff same time period at between 20,300 and 31,400. In working in newly built accommodation while the addition Wales benefited from the games in a number of recruitment of staff takes place; and to temporarily ways, including: cover vacancies against the target staffing figure in an establishment, where the governor and deputy director having a games venue (football at the Millennium stadium); of custody agree this can not be met through ordinary 10 pre-games training camps with 23 teams; staffing arrangements. 69% of Welsh schools signed up for Get Set, the educational There is no discretion for additional hours working programme managed by LOCOG (and now managed by the to be paid other than in the specific circumstances listed British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association), which provides educational materials based on the Olympic and above. Paralympic values; and Allocation of Payment Plus hours must be on a fair 103 projects in Wales were awarded the Inspire Mark, the and equitable basis to all eligible staff. Governors are brand managed by LOCOG which was given to high-quality responsible for ensuring that each establishment’s detailing non-commercial projects inspired by the games. systems and processes are subject to a full equality As announced on 22 December 2011, working together impact assessment before any Payment Plus system is through the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC), the implemented and must take appropriate action on the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern findings of that assessment. The impact assessment Ireland Executive reached agreement on an inter- should then be reviewed after six months. Where Payment Administration dispute concerning the application of Plus additional hours are available, governors must the Barnett formula to funds set aside for regeneration ensure that flexible systems are put in place to allow and transport within the budget for the Olympics games staff to choose when they wish to work, subject to in 2012. Following consideration, the Administrations sufficient volunteers being forthcoming. agreed that the Scottish Government, the Welsh The table contains information on the level of Payment Government and the Northern Ireland Executive would Plus worked at each public sector Prison Service receive a one-off sum equivalent to the Barnett formula establishment in terms of the equivalent full-time staff consequentials of relevant changes to Olympics funding contributed during June 2013. since the present UK Government took office in May Equivalent full-time staff contributed by Payment Plus—June 2013 2010. These sums amounted to £30.2 million, of which Payment Plus equivalent full-time equivalent1 the Welsh Government received £8.9 million. Covering short- Constant The Spirit of 2012 Trust has recently been established Establishment term vacancies Bedwatch watch Total to allocate up to £40 million from the sale of the Askham Grange 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.6 Olympic Village to initiatives across the UK which Aylesbury 0.4 0.3 9.7 10.4 promote the games’ legacy. In advance of that the Big Bedford 5.4 3.7 0.0 9.1 Lottery Fund has awarded over £13 million for projects Belmarsh 40.0 21.6 5.1 66.7 promoting legacy across the UK. Blantyre House 0.1 0.7 0.2 1.0 333W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 334W

Equivalent full-time staff contributed by Payment Plus—June 2013 Equivalent full-time staff contributed by Payment Plus—June 2013 Payment Plus equivalent full-time equivalent1 Payment Plus equivalent full-time equivalent1 Covering short- Constant Covering short- Constant Establishment term vacancies Bedwatch watch Total Establishment term vacancies Bedwatch watch Total

Blundeston 5.3 0.3 0.1 5.7 Low Newton 11.8 0.1 0.1 12.0 Brinsford 1.1 1.7 0.2 3.0 Maidstone 0.6 8.3 0.3 9.1 Bristol 0.8 5.0 1.1 6.9 Manchester 44.2 6.6 1.1 51.8 Brixton 13.2 1.5 0.0 14.7 Moorland 12.9 3.4 1.5 17.8 Buckley Hall 7.7 1.2 0.3 9.3 Morton Hall 10.2 0.2 0.4 10.7 Bullingdon 8.8 8.1 0.3 17.1 New Hall 8.7 4.6 2.2 15.4 Bure 1.1 5.2 0.0 6.3 North Sea Camp 0.0 2.8 0.6 3.4 Cardiff 18.9 11.0 0.3 30.2 Northallerton 3.1 0.3 0.0 3.4 Channings Wood 0.2 1.8 0.0 2.0 Northumberland 27.3 8.7 0.0 36.0 Chelmsford 0.3 3.0 0.3 3.5 Norwich 8.7 0.9 0.0 9.6 Coldingley 6.2 0.4 0.0 6.6 Nottingham 14.7 5.5 0.7 20.9 Cookham Wood 1.4 0.8 0.0 2.2 Onley 5.0 5.6 0.8 11.4 Dartmoor 0.2 5.7 0.0 5.9 Pentonville 18.9 11.8 0.1 30.8 Deerbolt 11.0 1.0 0.2 12.2 Portland 6.6 4.8 1.9 13.2 Dorchester 1.3 3.4 0.2 5.0 Preston 15.8 3.3 2.4 21.5 Dover 1.9 2.0 7.1 11.0 Ranby 0.5 8.3 0.3 9.1 Downview 5.6 0.3 0.0 5.9 Reading 5.9 0.0 0.0 5.9 Drake Hall 3.8 2.8 0.3 6.9 Risley 12.3 9.8 3.7 25.8 Durham 0.2 17.9 3.0 21.0 Rochester 1.1 1.4 5.4 7.9 Eastwood Park 0.3 0.7 0.0 1.0 Send 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.5 Elmley 3.5 5.8 0.0 9.3 Sheppey 1.9 1.4 0.0 3.3 Erlestoke and 0.1 3.4 0.0 3.5 Clustered Shepton Mallet Services Everthorpe 9.0 0.0 0.1 9.1 Stafford 3.3 5.5 3.4 12.2 Exeter 5.9 0.5 0.1 6.5 Standford Hill 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.5 Featherstone 1.6 5.3 0.9 7.8 Stocken 6.0 6.3 1.7 14.0 Feltham 29.2 6.8 1.1 37.2 Stoke Heath 1.0 3.9 2.8 7.7 Ford 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 Styal 8.8 8.9 0.0 17.7 Foston Hall 2.5 1.1 1.1 4.7 Sudbury 1.8 4.6 0.0 6.4 Frankland 38.3 5.5 3.9 47.8 Swaleside 2.0 7.0 0.1 9.2 Full Sutton 33.0 10.3 0.0 43.4 Swansea 2.5 0.5 3.4 6.4 Garth 0.0 1.3 0.3 1.6 Swinfen Hall 12.8 0.5 2.7 16.0 Gartree 3.3 4.7 3.3 11.3 The Mount 4.7 9.2 0.1 13.9 Glen Parva 6.6 2.1 0.8 9.5 The Verne 6.7 5.8 0.0 12.5 Grendon 8.2 0.5 0.0 8.6 Thorn Cross 0.0 0.0 0.2 0,2 Guys Marsh 3.7 9.7 0.0 13.3 Usk/Prescoed 1.1 6.3 0.2 7.6 Haslar 0.7 1.3 0.0 1.9 Wakefield 41.7 4.5 2.3 48.6 Haverigg 13.1 0.1 0.0 13.2 Wandsworth 13.1 12.3 2.1 27.5 Hewell 2.2 8.5 2.1 12.8 Warren Hill 7.7 0.1 0.1 8.0 High Down 13.3 8.6 0.0 21.9 Wayland 0.1 7.2 1,0 8.3 Highpoint 5.6 5.2 4.1 14.9 Wealstun 18.7 0.8 0.2 19.6 Hindley 0.6 2.2 0.6 3.4 Werrington 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.7 Hollesley Bay 1.9 0.0 0.0 1.9 Wetherby 7.0 0.1 5.2 12.3 Whatton 4.5 15.4 0.0 19.9 Holloway 0.2 2.6 0.0 2.8 Whitemoor 5.2 6.5 0.8 12.5 Holme House 4.0 3.5 2.7 10.1 Winchester 7.4 1.9 0.0 9.4 Hull 1.9 3.3 0.0 5.3 Woodhill 4.6 4.5 3.5 12.6 Huntercombe 2.6 2.1 0.4 5.0 Wormwood 25.2 4.1 0.1 29.4 Isis 6.7 0.1 0.0 6.8 Scrubs Isle of Wight 10.5 9.0 4.5 24.0 Wymott 0.1 19.5 0.7 20.3 Kennet 1.3 3.7 2.4 7.3 Grand total 836.2 501.7 128.1 1,466.0 Kirkham 0.0 1.2 1.3 2.5 1 Equivalent full-time staff is calculated from total hours claimed. Kirklevington 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 Grange Lancaster Farms 1.3 0.2 0.1 1.6 Leeds 6.5 13.5 11.6 31.6 EDUCATION Leicester 9.3 7.1 0.9 17.4 Lewes 13.1 0.3 0.0 13.4 Academies Leyhill 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.9 Lincoln 2.3 1.6 2.2 6.1 Mr Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Lindholme 13.6 2.4 1.2 17.1 Education what changes would need to be made to the Littlehey 14.3 8.7 0.0 23.0 status of academies to enable the Office for National Liverpool 22.1 6.2 1.9 30.1 Statistics to treat them as non-profit institutions Long Lartin 11.6 28.3 0.2 40.1 serving households. [174375] 335W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 336W

Mr Timpson: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for makes independent decisions on whether bodies should Education (1) whether he has been made aware that any be classified to the public or to the private sector in line free school other than the Al-Madinah Free School (a) with the European System of Accounts 95 accounting has appointed staff who do not have appropriate standards. qualifications and experience, (b) have operated at any The Government currently has no plans to make time without a designated Principal, (c) is not meeting changes to the status of academies. safeguarding requirements, (d) has not identified which of its pupils have special educational needs, (e) is Guidance on some of the factors ONS takes into delivering an unacceptable poor standard of education account in considering how to classify a body can be and (f) has unacceptable levels of teaching quality; found online: [174228] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/226420/PU1547_final.pdf (2) whether officials in his Department have been made aware that any free school other than the Al-Madinah Education: Assessments Free School (a) has appointed staff who do not have appropriate qualifications and experience, (b) has operated : To ask the Secretary of State for at any time without a designated principal, (c) is not Education what regional segmentation of data is available meeting safeguarding requirements, (d) has not identified of British results in (a) the Programme for International which of its pupils had special educational needs, (e) is Student Assessment and (b) other comparative delivering an unacceptably poor standard of education international studies. [174193] and (f) has unacceptable levels of teaching quality. [174209] Mr Laws: Disaggregated data for the United Kingdom at the national level from the Organisation for Economic Mr Timpson: As with all new schools, Ofsted inspects Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Programme free schools prior to opening to ensure that a school is for International Student Assessment (PISA) are available in a position to open and will meet the relevant school for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland standards. New schools can only open if registration is and can be found in the national reports for each recommended by Ofsted and any conditions set by country. Ofsted are met. Data for England and Northern Ireland are also All free schools receive a visit from an education available for the International Association for the Evaluation adviser in their first term to assess progress since opening. of Educational Achievement’s (IEA) Progress in The education advisers report back any issues to the International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2011; Department. the IEA’s Trends in International Mathematics and Where education advisers have identified any problems, Science Study (TIMSS) 2011; and the OECD’s Adult these have been raised with the relevant school’s trust. Skills Survey1. Follow-up visits are then conducted to give assurance Further segmentation at a regional level is not possible that these have been resolved. for any of these studies because sample sizes are too Ofsted conducts a full inspection of all free schools in small. their second year of operation. Inspections can be 1 Available at: brought forward if the Department has any concerns, http://www.nfer.ac.uk/pisa as happened with Al Madinah free school. So far, Al http://www.nfer.ac.uk/pirls Madinah is the only free school where this has happened. http://www.nfer.ac.uk/timss Ofsted has found that two schools, Al Madinah free http://www.nfer.ac.uk/research/projects/international-survey- school and Discovery New school, are inadequate. The adult-skills/ Department is taking the necessary action with both schools. Three-quarters of the free schools which opened Free Schools in 2011 were rated good or outstanding by Ofsted.

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for GCSE Education whether free schools are bound by any code of conduct relating to conflicts of interest caused by Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for patrons, donors, governors or staff of a free school Education how many and what proportion of year 11 being involved in a company which benefits commercially pupils did not achieve grades (a) DtoGand(b) A* to from contracts placed by that free school. [173853] C at GCSE in mathematics and English in each of the last five years; and how many had achieved those Mr Timpson: Free schools are run by academy trusts, grades by the age of 18 years. [174167] which are charitable companies. A trust can only conduct its affairs in line with its Articles of Association and its Mr Laws: The following tables show the number and funding agreement, which in turn requires them to have proportion of academic age 15-year-olds who did not regard to the Academies Financial Handbook. Both achieve (a) grades D to G and (b) grades A* to C in the articles and the handbook describe the expected GCSE English, mathematics, and both English and conduct of academy trusts regarding conflicts of interest. mathematics, for the 2004/05 to 2008/09 academic years The handbook makes it clear that academy trusts are and tracks them through to academic age 18. Academic required to openly procure any externally-sourced services age relates to age at the start of the academic year, so and that if a business controlled by, or belonging to, a academic age 15-year-olds are usually in year 11. The trustee of an academy trust wishes to bid to deliver a tables also show the number and proportion of these service to that academy they must do so at cost. young people who had achieved at least D to G and A* 337W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 338W to C grades by academic age 18. The data shown data to academic age 18 is available, and is based on represents the last five cohorts for whom attainment young people in the state sector at academic age 15.

English GCSE Cohort (academic Did not achieve D-G by end of Of whom achieved at least D-G Did not achieve A*-C by end of Of whom achieved A*-C by end ages) academic age 15 by end academic age 181 academic age 15 academic age 18 Number % Number % Number % Number %

15 in 2004/05; 18 46,577 7.9 3,271 7.0 260,614 44.5 19,554 7.5 in 2007/08 15 in 2005/06; 18 43,975 7.4 3,588 8.2 258,957 43.4 20,746 8.0 in 2008/09 15 in 2006/07; 18 42,848 7.1 3,686 8.6 255,535 42.4 21,504 8.4 in 2009/10 15 in 2007/08; 18 39,818 6.6 3,819 9.6 243,926 40.6 22,694 9.3 in 2010/11 15 in 2008/09; 18 33,594 5.8 3,291 9.8 223,435 38.5 22,576 10.1 in 2011/12

Mathematics GCSE Cohort (academic Did not achieve D-G by end of Of whom achieved at least D-G by Did not achieve A*-C by end of Of whom achieved A*-C by ages) academic age 15 end academic age 181 academic age 15 end academic age 18 Number % Number % Number % Number %

15 in 2004/05; 18 in 47,977 8.2 3,603 7.5 295,378 50.4 18,228 6.2 2007/08 15 in 2005/06; 18 in 46,103 7.7 4,181 9.1 290,085 48.7 19,161 6.6 2008/09 15 in 2006/07; 18 in 45,493 7.5 4,408 9.7 281,244 46.7 18,818 6.7 2009/10 15 in 2007/08; 18 in 38,776 6.5 4,025 10.4 266,252 44.4 20,665 7.8 2010/11 15 in 2008/09; 18 in 32,537 5.6 3,113 9:6 242,032 41.7 20,714 8.6 2011/12

English and mathematics GCSE Cohort (academic Did not achieve D-G by end of Of whom achieved at least Did not achieve A*-C by end of Of whom achieved A*-C by end ages) academic age 15 D-G by end academic age181 academic age 15 academic age 18 Number % Number % Number % Number %

15 in 2004/05; 18 58,839 10.0 3,767 64 332,012 56.7 23,946 7.2 in 2007/08 15 in 2005/06; 18 56,757 9.5 4,329 7.6 328,719 55.1 25,387 7.7 in 2008/09 15 in 2006/07; 18 55,448 9.2 4,441 8.0 322,754 53.5 25,878 8.0 in 2009/10 15 in 2007/08; 18 48,512 8.1 4,113 8.5 309,342 51.5 28,178 9.1 in 2010/11 15 in 2008/09; 18 41,180 7.1 3,366 8.2 284,802 49.1 28,748 10.1 in 2011/12 1 Includes those that achieved A*-C by end academic age 18.

Home Education Mr Laws: We respect the right of parents to educate their children at home. If a child is of compulsory Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for school age, home education has to be suitable for his or Education what estimate he has made of the number of her age, ability and aptitude. The Department does not (a) girls and (b) boys registered as being home- currently have any evidence that there is a general schooled who are not receiving an adequate education. problem in the provision of education at home for girls [174137] as opposed to boys.

Mr Laws: The Department does not collect data on the number of children registered by local authorities as receiving home education and not all local authorities Kings Science Academy operate registration schemes. Local authorities have a duty to intervene if it appears to them that a child of compulsory school age is not receiving a suitable education, Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for and handle this matter on a case-by-case basis when Education (1) when his Department was informed by such children come to their attention. The Department Action Fraud that the police had decided to take no does not collect data on the numbers of these cases. further action into allegations of fraud at the Kings Science Academy in Bradford; [174376] Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that girls (2) for what reasons his Department’s report of May and boys who are home-schooled receive an equal 2013 on the Kings Science Academy in Bradford was education. [174138] not published before 25 October 2013. [174481] 339W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 340W

Mr Timpson: The Department contacted Action Fraud Ofsted is an independent, non-ministerial Government on 5 September and, in response, Action Fraud stated Department so it would not be appropriate for the that the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau had assessed Department for Education to intervene in training for the case but determined that there was not enough inspectors. information to progress the case further. Action Fraud subsequently notified the Department Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for on 1 November that the information provided had been Education what steps he is taking to ensure that Ofsted wrongly classified as an information report rather than gives increased consideration to the quality of careers a crime report. This error has been rectified by Action advice and the monitoring of pupil’s destinations when Fraud and West Yorkshire police have confirmed they judging the effectiveness of a school’s management and are now investigating. Action Fraud has apologised to leadership. [174476] the Department for this error. The Education Funding Agency (EFA) published all Matthew Hancock: Ofsted’s commitment to give greater investigation reports, but there is no set timeframe for priority to the inspection of careers advice was set out publication. In this case, the EFA was awaiting the in ’Going in the right direction? Careers guidance in outcome not only of the police enquiries, but also of schools from September 2012’, a thematic review report any disciplinary process before publishing the report. published on 10 September. This has been reflected in Members: Correspondence the supplementary guidance for inspectors which asks them to look at: Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for “The extent to which timely information, advice and guidance Education pursuant to his statement of 17 October provide pupils with a good understanding of the full range of options available to assist them to make informed decisions about 2013, Official Report, column 887, on Al-Madinah their next steps in education, training or employment; the availability Free School, if he will reply to the letter from the hon. and quality of advice and guidance on learning and career Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central of 15 October pathways; and whether staff have the necessary qualifications, 2013. [174223] experience and skills to provide information, advice and guidance.” Ofsted’s inspectors have been briefed on how to implement Mr Laws: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State this in practice and what to look for, in light of the for Schools, Lord Nash, wrote to the hon. Member on thematic review findings. 7 November 2013. The Department for Education publishes Destination Private Education: Admissions Measures for each school and these will feed into judgments by Ofsted, as well as helping schools to be held to Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education account locally. We are continuing to strengthen the (1) if he will run a pilot programme of the Open Access Measures to provide an increasingly effective way of scheme promoted by the Sutton Trust in independent assessing whether schools and colleges are raising the day schools in the West Midlands; [174253] aspirations of their students and supporting them effectively into education, training or employment. (2) what assessment he has made of the Open Access scheme promoted by the Sutton Trust; [174254] (3) what steps he is taking to implement the Open Schools: Transport Access scheme promoted by the Sutton Trust. [174255]

Mr Timpson: The Government applauds the many Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education initiatives in the independent schools sector, supported if he will make it his policy to allow local authorities to by schools through bursaries and scholarships, and by delegate school transport funding to individual schools many charities, to support children who would not so that they may design their own arrangements for otherwise be able to receive an independent school their pupils. [174140] education. However, we have no plans to introduce an Open Access scheme. Mr Laws: Currently, the responsibility for school Our priority is to transform the state education system transport, as well as the funding, rests with local authorities so that all children are able to access a good quality and there are no plans to alter legislation to delegate education, regardless of their background. Independent this responsibility formally, or the funding, to individual schools have a key role to play in this; for example, they schools. can work collaboratively with their state school neighbours, or become academy sponsors of underperforming schools. We expect local authorities to work in partnership with schools, local transport providers and neighbouring Schools: Inspections authorities to identify needs and to source the most appropriate provision and secure value for money. In Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education planning and commissioning area-wide transport provision if he will make mindfulness training available to Ofsted to meet the needs of the whole community, they are best placed to enter into contractual arrangements on behalf inspectors. [173882] of schools and other services. Mr Laws: It is a key responsibility of Her Majesty’s If, however, an individual school wanted to manage Chief Inspector to determine the training, skills and its own provision, then it is open to the school to discuss experience that are necessary to carry out inspections with the local authority how the transport funding and on his behalf. responsibility could be devolved. 341W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 342W

Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment Mr Timpson: The Department for Education has not made an assessment of the effectiveness of specialist Sir Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for services for deaf children in local authorities not covered Education what discussions (a) he and (b) ministers in in the Ofsted report entitled “Communication is the his Department have had with Her Majesty’s Chief Key”. Inspectorate of Education, Children’s Services and Nationally, the Department for Education assesses Skills on inspecting specialist support services for deaf the progress of deaf children through the school attainment children. [174558] data. We know from our most recent figures that attainment for deaf children has improved dramatically over the Mr Timpson: The Secretary of State for Education, last five years. In 2011/12, 71% of deaf children achieved my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath five or more A* to C grades in GCSE compared to 43% (), and I have held discussions with Her in 2007/08. The Department publishes this data annually Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s in “Children with special educational needs: an analysis”. Services and Skills, Sir Michael Wilshaw, and Ofsted Ofsted does not routinely inspect local authority about inspecting local authorities’ implementation of specialist services. All deaf children in publicly funded the reforms to support children with special educational education have their school inspected by Ofsted through needs including deaf children. the existing framework. This includes both mainstream The Department for Education has asked Ofsted to and special schools. Where schools have a specialist carry out a study to identify best practice in preparing resource for deaf children as part of their school this is for the reforms and whether there is a need for an specifically covered by the Ofsted inspection. inspection framework to drive improvements. Ofsted will consider links with the Care Quality Commission The school inspection framework places a clear emphasis (CQC) in developing this work. We will reflect on the on meeting the needs of disabled pupils and pupils with implications of the study when it is completed. special educational needs, such as deaf pupils. Inspectors must consider the quality of teaching and the progress We have no plans for Ofsted routinely to inspect local made by these pupils. Any deaf child in a mainstream authority specialist services. To do so would impose or specialist school would have their education inspected significant new burdens on Ofsted and would impact on as part of the Ofsted section 5 framework. its ability to fulfil its current inspection commitments. It also risks giving schools the wrong impression that they are not responsible for deaf pupils or that those pupils are someone else’s responsibility. Teachers: Training Sir Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information is available to parents of pre-school deaf children on the effectiveness of support Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for from specialist support services for deaf children. Education where a school with School Direct trainees [174559] fails its Ofsted inspection, what rights School Direct trainees have to transfer to a new school and who will Mr Timpson: Local authorities are responsible for have responsibility for (a) amending any contractual providing information to parents about specialist support arrangements into which the school may have entered services available in their area. with School Direct trainees and (b) making any other consequential arrangements. [173989] The Children and Families Bill places a new requirement on local authorities to set out a “local offer” of the support that is normally available. This will include Mr Laws: The responsibility for the quality of initial special educational provision for children in early years teacher training under School Direct falls on the accredited settings. provider. Therefore, if a school were to fail its Ofsted Clause 32 of the Bill also requires local authorities to inspection, the relevant training provider would need to provide parents of children and young people with ensure that any trainees based in that school continued advice and information about matters relating to special to receive a high quality training experience, whether at educational needs, which will include parents of pre-school the original school or elsewhere. Where the trainee is deaf children. also employed by a school on the School Direct (salaried) scheme, any change to the contract between the trainee In addition, Ofsted inspects all registered early years and the school would need to be agreed by the school, providers to judge the quality and standards of the care trainee and accredited provider. and the learning and development of children. These are inspected against the standards set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, and Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for this includes clear elements on special educational needs. Education what account is taken in Ofsted school inspections of the performance of schools in respect of Sir Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for School Direct trainees. [173995] Education with reference to the report entitled Communication is the Key by Ofsted, what assessment (a) he and (b) Ofsted has made of the effectiveness of Mr Laws: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM specialist support services for deaf children across England Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written to in local authorities that were not included in that report. the hon. Member, and a copy of his response has been [174560] placed in the House Library. 343W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 344W

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Average total energy bill £ Bed and Breakfast Accommodation: Coastal Areas Annual Monthly Public Electricity Supply region 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people North East 1,063 1,152 1,257 89 96 105 were recorded as living in bed and breakfast North Scotland 1,088 1,176 1,290 91 98 107 accommodation in the principal seaside towns in each North West 1,059 1,170 1,273 88 97 106 of the last 30 years. [168893] South East 1,068 1,162 1,272 89 97 106 South Scotland 1,082 1,176 1,273 90 98 106 Kris Hopkins: This information is not centrally held South Wales 1,102 1,192 1,310 92 99 109 in the form requested, although figures are available for South West 1,088 1,186 1,300 91 99 108 individual local authority areas. Southern 1,081 1,168 1,277 90 97 106 West Midlands 1,071 1,174 1,282 89 98 107 Electrical Safety Yorkshire 1,053 1,155 1,258 88 96 105

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for All figures assume fixed consumption levels of 18,000 Communities and Local Government what recent kWh for gas and 3,300 kWh for electricity, and are discussions have taken place between officials of his averaged across all methods of payment. DECC does Department and manufacturers and suppliers of moulded not publish data on gas bills in Northern Ireland. Data plastic fuse boards on returning to the use of metal or for monthly bills are calculated by dividing the annual rigid plastics for the purpose of improving fire protection. bills by 12. [173877] The datasets are made available in the DECC statistics publication Quarterly Energy Prices, in tables 2.2.2 and : No discussions have taken place between 2.3.2 (for England and Wales) and tables 2.2.3 and 2.3.3 officials in my Department and the manufacturers and (for each PES region of Great Britain). suppliers of moulded plastic fuse boards. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/annual- The Institution of Engineering and Technology has domestic-energy-price-statistics recently established a Project Team to look into this issue and advise the British Standards Institute on the adequacy of current standards. Manufacturers and suppliers Fire Services: Industrial Disputes of consumer units are members of the Project Team and officials from my Department will be attending John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for future meetings. Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse was of providing cover for the strike Energy: Prices by firefighters on 25 September 2013. [174044]

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Brandon Lewis: Individual fire and rescue authorities Communities and Local Government what the estimated are responsible for their own contingency plans. We do average (a) monthly and (b) annual fuel bills were for not hold information centrally on the relevant costs or families in England and Wales (i) in total and (ii) in savings. each region in each of the last three years. [173912]

Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply on behalf Housing of the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The following table shows the average fuel bills for Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for households in England and Wales for each of the last Communities and Local Government (1) if he will take three years, with a further table showing bills by regions. steps to ensure that his plans to transfer £400 million of local authorities’ New Homes Bonus funds into a national Average total energy bill in England and Wales fund for local economic partnerships (LEP) does not £ result in low-income councils funding high-income LEP Annual Monthly areas; [174263] 2010 1,074 90 (2) what assessment he has made of whether his plans 2011 1,170 97 to transfer £400 million from local authorities’ New 2012 1,277 106 Homes Bonus funds into a national pot for local economic partnerships (LEP) will result in lower-income local Average total energy bill authorities funding higher-income LEP areas. [174264] £ Annual Monthly Kris Hopkins: There are no plans to transfer £400 Public Electricity Supply region 2010 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 million of New Homes Bonus funds into a national fund for local enterprise partnerships. We consulted East Midlands 1,056 1,156 1,258 88 96 105 over the summer on how £400 million of New Homes Eastern 1,060 1,159 1,264 88 97 105 Bonus funds could form part of the Local Growth London 1,094 1,187 1,293 91 99 108 Fund in 2015-16 to help them collaborate with local Merseyside and 1,091 1,192 1,298 91 99 108 authorities to deliver local growth priorities. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation. 345W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 346W

Housing: Construction schemes had fallen by a third from 2008 to 2011, and the number of private, unstarted units had fallen from Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for 206,000 in March 2008 to 127,000 in December 2011. Communities and Local Government pursuant to the The latest analysis answer of 9 July 2013, Official Report, column 189W, The Local Government Association published a further on housing: construction, what his latest estimate is of press release on 22 August, repeating that canard, citing the number of residential units under construction or Glenigan but declining to publish any detailed evidence progressing towards a start; and what assessment he base. In the spirit of helpfulness, given my Department has made of the recent Local Government Association also subscribes to Glenigan’s commercial data, I have report on that topic. [169958] asked my officials to undertake some more detailed analysis. Nick Boles: The information is as follows. I can inform the House that, as of October 2013, Previous claims there were an estimated 507,000 units with planning In my answer of 9 July 2013, Official Report, column permission. Of these: 189W, I noted that there were claims being made by 249,800 (49%) had started on site. politicians that there were 400,000 homes with planning 257,200 (51%) had yet to start. ″ permission which were not being built because of land Of the 257,200 units yet to start: banking″. I explained how these claims were inaccurate and misleading, and not actually backed up by the 184,600 (72%) were progressing towards a start. evidence. 13,500 (5%) were being sold or information was not available. The original 400,000 figure stems from a report Just 59,100 (23%) were classed as on hold or shelved. commissioned by the Local Government Association The LGA’s 400,000 figure excludes some types of undertaken by Glenigan on units with ’unimplemented’ residential development (e.g. elderly people’s homes, planning permissions using data sourced in December student accommodation, hostels, mixed use development), 2011. Yet, of that 400,000 top-line figure cited in the and does not include planning permissions older than press release, 191,000 was private housing already under three years. This explains the methodological difference construction. A further 83,000 units were unimplemented with the 500,000 figure. My figures above are the most provisions for social housing (and therefore, in no sense comprehensive and recent in the public domain. private sector developers ″hoarding land″). The underlying This table shows our progress towards getting unstarted report also noted that the amount of unimplemented units moving:

Unstarted units Percentage of units on hold Percentage of units progressing towards start

December 2011 38 58 March 2012 36 60 June 2012 33 62 October 2012 29 68 January 2013 25 70 June 2013 23 73 October 2013 23 72

A pipeline of planning permissions is vital to feed They add: through to higher starts and completions. This involves “Help to Buy will aid the rate of delivery of land in marginal house builders having a suitable selection of sites at locations. An emerging build to rent sector offers the opportunity various stages, including some which have not yet been to increase delivery while creating a reliable income stream” developed. Indeed, our national planning policy actively (Savills, ‘Market in Minutes: UK Residential Development Land’, requires councils to identify a five year land supply. August 2013) Third party observations Getting stalled sites started In my previous answer I cited research from the This Government has introduced a wide ranging Office of Fair Trading which stated that: package to support stalled house building. These include making £570 million available through the Get Britain “We have not found any evidence to support the view that, at the national level, homebuilders are hoarding a large amount of Building investment fund aiming to unlock new homes land with implementable planning permission on which they have on stalled sites, and a £474 million investment fund in not started construction.” (OFT, ‘Homebuilding in the UK; A local infrastructure for stalled locally-supported, large market study’, September 2008, para 5.89) scale housing sites and commercial development. Our Such claims were also dismissed in Kate Barker’s report investments to date are helping to bring forward new in 2004. homes, boosting the construction industry and stimulating economic growth. In August, market reports from Savills noted: The Growth and Infrastructure Act enables developers “The demand for land is increasing as developers are working with any Section 106 agreement, irrespective of the date through their land banks more quickly than at any time since 2007-08. . . Some commentators have claimed development land of signature, to apply for a review of the affordable is being hoarded unnecessarily as landowners wait for values to housing component to ensure development is not being increase. Our analysis of the permissioned landbanks of the top made unviable by unrealistic requirements. Such unrealistic eight listed housebuilders would suggest otherwise.” Section 106 agreements result in no development, no 347W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 348W regeneration and no community benefits: a sensible house builders to promote their developments locally, review can result in more housing and more affordable however we are supporting them with a series of national housing. campaigns to raise awareness of both the Help to Buy: Since September 2013, we have let lapse the temporary equity loan scheme and the mortgage guarantee scheme measure (introduced by the last Administration) which launched by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in October. allowed developers to roll forward their planning permissions; this ending of the measure will increase the incentive for developers to start on site before Public Buildings: Disability permission expires. We are also now seeking to tackle the inappropriate use of planning conditions and speed up the process of gaining non-planning consents. Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he In addition, we have a comprehensive programme to has made of the total cost of ensuring that all public sell surplus and redundant public sector land and property, buildings have changing facilities for disabled adults. freeing up taxpayers’ money and providing land for new [172217] homes. Conclusion Mrs Grant: I have been asked to reply on behalf of The assertion of widespread “land banking” by certain the Government Equalities Office. politicians is not backed up by the evidence. Indeed, the policy solutions recently advocated by HM Opposition The Department for Communities and Local may actually have an adverse effect in reducing house Government does not hold any information about the building. If developers fear new development taxes or current level of provision of such facilities nor has it state confiscation of land, they will be less willing to made any assessment of the cost of providing these. undertake complex land assembly projects; they will let their existing planning permissions lapse; or they will Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for simply be more cautious in applying for planning permission Communities and Local Government what assessment in the first place. The result would be a slower planning he has made of the availability of public changing system and fewer homes. facilities for disabled adults in (a) Sunderland, (b) the The housing crash under the Labour Government North East and (c)England. [172218] certainly led to an increase in unimplemented planning permissions, as house builders unsurprisingly stopped Mrs Grant: I have been asked to reply on behalf of building due to lack of finance, reduced demand and the Government Equalities Office. due to a decreased tolerance for risk. But under this Government, the housing market has turned the corner, The Department for Communities and Local and our housing support schemes and action to tackle Government does not hold any information about the stalled sites is helping getting Britain building once current level of provision of such facilities. again. Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Local Government: ICT Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the provision of changing facilities for disabled Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for adults in (a) public buildings and (b) other premises Communities and Local Government what guidance open to the public. [172219] he has issued to local authorities on the End User Devices Security Guidance: Enterprise Considerations Mrs Grant: I have been asked to reply on behalf of published by CESG. [174282] the Government Equalities Office. Brandon Lewis: My Department has not issued any In providing changing facilities for disabled adults in guidance on the guidance. public buildings and other areas open to the public, those providing a service, or carrying out a public The Communications-Electronics Security Group function are required to act in accordance with the (CESG), a branch of GCHQ, has published security disability discrimination provisions in the Equality Act guidelines for public sector organisations on how best 2010, and in particular the duty to make reasonable to configure devices such as smartphones, laptops and adjustments in Section 20 of that Act. tablets and maintain information security.

Mortgages: North West Written Questions: Government Responses

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for taking to promote the Help to Buy scheme in the Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer parliamentary question 169282, tabled on North West. [173650] 11 September 2013. [173992] Kris Hopkins: The Help to Buy: equity loan scheme has got off to a great start with over 15,000 reservations Brandon Lewis: Parliamentary question 169282 was by the end of September, a good proportion of which answered on 1 November 2013, Official Report, have been in the North of England. It is for individual columns 621-22W. 349W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 350W

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Alongside this, consumers can rely on code schemes in order to find a trader they can trust. The TrustMark Alcoholic Drinks: Prices scheme operates under BIS’s licence and aims to marginalise unscrupulous traders and provide confidence to consumers in their selection of firms by identifying those firms Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for who have been independently assessed for both trade Business, Innovation and Skills what involvement Mr competence and good trading practice. Although my David Frost has had with alcohol pricing policy in the Department does not hold information on a geographic last 12 months. [174359] basis, TrustMark (2005) Ltd has estimated that nationally their members carry out 2 million jobs per annum and Jo Swinson: Home Office Ministers have the lead complaints run to a little under one in 10,000 jobs responsibility on Minimum Unit Pricing and the undertaken. TrustMark (2005) Ltd operates a complaints Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has procedure with most disputes being resolved between only been peripherally involved. Mr Frost had some the contractor and the consumer without requirement very limited involvement in official-level discussions of any further escalation. between Departments in autumn 2012 about the policy Since April 2012 all consumers who are in a dispute from an EU and trade policy perspective. with their builder have been able to call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06 or contact Construction: Complaints them online at www.adviceguide.org.uk Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for While they cannot intervene, they can give advice and Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many builders refer matters to trading standards, who can take action were prosecuted after being reported to their trade on local matters. association in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK in each of the last five Education: Prisons years; [174493] (2) how many builders faced no further action after Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for being reported to their trade association in (a) Ribble Business, Innovation and Skills (1) which organisations Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK in provide education services in each prison in England each of the last five years; [174543] and Wales; [174361] (3) how many builders were required to pay (2) when contracts were signed with each of the compensation or received an equivalent punishment providers delivering education services in prisons in after being reported to their trade association in (a) England and Wales; [174362] Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK in each of the last five years; [174544] (3) when the contracts with each of the providers delivering education services in prisons in England and (4) what estimate his Department has made of the Wales come to an end; [174363] number of rogue builders and building companies operating in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (4) how much was spent on each contract to deliver (c) the UK; [174545] education services in prisons in England and Wales in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; [174364] (5) how many builders in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK were reported to their (5) how much is budgeted to be spent on each of the contracts to deliver education services in prisons in trade association in each of the last five years. [174551] England and Wales in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15. [174365] Jo Swinson: Local authorities are responsible for delivering and monitoring local trading standards activity, Matthew Hancock: I am replying as Minister responsible including the number of prosecutions. The information for prison education in England. requested is not collected by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. I have asked the interim chief executive of Skills Funding to write to the hon. Member with details of The National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) prison education contractors, contracts and spend in co-ordinates and funds the delivery of the Scambuster England, and I will place a copy of that letter in the Teams in England, which provide enforcement protection Libraries of the House. across local authority boundaries. In Wales, education in the public sector prisons is In addition, BIS has set up the Consumer Protection delivered through funding from the Welsh Government. Partnership (CPP) where the government-funded consumer bodies to take a joint approach to identify areas where there is greatest threat to consumers. On 4 November Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate they published a priorities report which used consumer complaint data to identify areas where consumers faced Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, the most harm (mobile phone and mobile technology Innovation and Skills (1) what the budget allocation for contracts, used cars, home improvement, scams and the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EASI) doorstep crime). A working group will now identify the was in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) best approach to tackling those rogue traders in the 2012-13; how much was spent by EASI in each of these building sector. The report can be found at: years; and what the planned budget allocation is for https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consumer- 2013-14 and any future years for which an amount has protection-partnership-priorities-2013-to-2014 been planned; [174283] 351W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 352W

(2) what the budget allocation for the enforcement of Mike Penning: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the national minimum wage by HMRC was in (a) the Department for Work and Pensions. 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; In 2012, 16 pesticides that are banned or severely how much was spent on this work in each of these restricted for use in the UK were notified to HSE for years; what the planned budget allocation is for the export from the UK under European Regulation (EC) enforcement of the national minimum wage by HMRC 689/2008 on the Export and Import of Dangerous for 2013-14 and any future years for which an amount Substances. These included five exported solely for industrial has been planned; and whether any budget allocation rather than pesticidal use in the importing country. In previously made to the Employment Agency Standards addition to export notification many of them needed Inspectorate has been transferred to HMRC. [174284] the explicit consent of the importing country before the export could proceed. Jo Swinson: The information sought by the hon. These chemicals may either have been manufactured Member is being researched and will be placed in the in the UK or imported and then exported to countries Libraries of the House as soon as possible. outside the European Union. We do not hold information on which were manufactured in the UK. Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff of the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate were (a) seconded to Post Offices the National Minimum Wage Compliance section at HMRC in November 2013 and (b) in his Department Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, by (i) total number, (ii) full-time equivalent and (iii) Innovation and Skills (1) how many expressions of grade; and how many such staff are front line staff who interest there have been in taking on the franchise of meet employers. [174285] Rhyl Crown Post Office; [168509] (2) what definition his Department adopted of Jo Swinson: On 4 November 2013, nine staff transferred expression of interest in reference to taking on the on loan from the Employment Agency Standards franchise of Crown post offices; [168510] Inspectorate to HM Revenue and Custom’s National (3) what the (a) names and (b) constituencies are of Minimum Wage Compliance team. Crown post offices which are planned to be closed or Two full-time front line inspectors, one Higher Executive relocated; [168522] Officer and one Executive Officer, remain in the Department (4) when the criteria for Crown post offices to be for Business, Innovation and Skills to enforce the closed were (a) finalised and (b) circulated; [168523] recruitment sector legislation. They are supported by one Administrative Officer. (5) if he will place in the Library a copy of the criteria for the closure and relocation of Crown post Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, offices. [168455] Innovation and Skills how many staff were employed by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate in Jo Swinson: Post Office Ltd is responsible for commercial (a) May 2010, (b) October 2012 and (c) October 2013. and operational matters concerning the Post Office [174286] network, which includes the information requested. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Chief Executive, Jo Swinson: The number of staff employed by the to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS) was her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House. as follows: Regional Growth Fund May 2010—29 staff October 2012—12 staff Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for October 2013—11 staff Business, Innovation and Skills what future targets he The following shows activity undertaken by EAS has set for the total amount of investment made in between 2010 and 2013: England under the Regional Growth Fund. [174550]

Investigations 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Michael Fallon: To date £2.6 billion has been awarded Complaints 1,714 958 643 828 to over 400 projects and programmes in rounds 1 to 4 of received the regional growth fund (RGF). These schemes have Complaints 1,932 1,101 784 916 committed to delivering £14.7 billion of private sector cleared investment over their lifetimes. The combined total of Casework still in 371 202 225 147 progress RGF plus private sector investment is £17.3 billion between 2011 and the mid-2020s. During this time EAS adopted a more risk based In addition a further £600 million will be made approach to assessing and handling the complaints and available in rounds 5 and 6 of the RGF and in making this resulted in more targeted enforcement. this money available to bidders we expect levels of private sector investment in line with previous rounds. Pesticides: Exports Royal Mail Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any pesticides Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for banned for use in the UK are manufactured in the UK Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects and exported. [173957] a decision on whether to pay the discretionary element 353W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 354W of fees to underwriters in relation to the sale of Royal Number of full-time students to higher education who were paid Mail; and what targets, milestones and deadlines have maintenance loans in Barrow-in-Furness parliamentary constituency1, academic years: 2006/07 to 2011/122, English domiciled been set for this to take place. [174546] Academic year Number of students3

Michael Fallon: The Department will make a decision 2011/12 1,145 on the discretionary element of the underwriters’ fees 1 Based on the student’s address at the time of the application. shortly. 2The data position as at 31 August 2012. 3 All students either new or continuing. Figures are rounded to the Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for nearest 5. Source: Business, Innovation and Skills which factors he has Student Loans Company (SLC). considered as part of the Government’s decision on the discretionary element of the fees to underwriters in relation to the sale of Royal Mail; and what framework UK Membership of EU or guidance applies to this decision. [174547]

Michael Fallon: The decision on the discretionary Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, element of the underwriters’ fees will take into consideration Innovation and Skills if he will make an assessment of a number of factors set out in the agreement with the the costs and benefits of a decision for the UK to leave underwriters. These include the relevant underwriters’ the EU for UK trade with (a) China, (b) the US and contribution to the efficient preparation of the IPO and (c) Canada; and if he will make a statement. [174270] its overall success. We will also look at their success in generating demand for the IPO alongside the quality Michael Fallon: I refer the hon. Member to the reply and success of roadshow meetings and resulting investor given to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North feedback. In addition, we will consider the final price East (Emma Reynolds), on 29 January 2013, Official achieved and the aftermarket performance of the shares. Report, column 709W. The Department has not made any plans for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Students: Barrow in Furness

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many entrants to higher education who are resident in Barrow and WOMEN AND EQUALITIES Furness constituency were in receipt of maintenance loans in each year since the coming into effect of the Higher Education Act 2004. [174556] Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund

Mr Willetts: Statistics on student support awards and Alison McGovern: To ask the Minister for Women payments are published annually by the Student Loans and Equalities pursuant to the answer of 31 October Company in the Statistical First Release ″Student support 2013, Official Report, column 552W,on Access to Elected for Higher Education in England″. The latest figures Office for Disabled People Fund (1) how many people available refer to the 2012/13 academic year for student have applied to that fund to date; how many such support awards and 2011/12 for actual payments, and applications have been successful; and how many recipients are available at the following link: of grants have stood for office for each political party http://www.slc.co.uk/statistics/national-statistics/ [174271] newnationalstatistics1.aspx (2) what assessment she has made of the effects of Statistics covering student support awards in the 2013/14 grant payments being processed in arrears on the ability academic year and payments in 2012/13 will be published of potential candidates to stand for office. [174272] on 28 November 2013. Figures at parliamentary constituency level are not Mrs Grant: The Access to Elected Office for Disabled published in this Statistical First Release. For the table, People Fund helps disabled people with any additional the parliamentary constituency of the student has been disability-related cost they incur as a result of either derived by the Student Loans Company using the postcode participating in a selection process or standing for election, of the student’s residence at the time of their application including standing as an independent candidate. for support, where this postcode is reported. The figures To date, 53 people have applied to the fund, of which for Barrow-in-Furness reflect all students rather than 21 applications have been fully approved. A further 14 entrants as the system for recording payments data, applications have been approved in principle by the unlike the system used for applications, does not distinguish fund administrator, subject to receipt of supporting between new and continuing students. evidence and documentation. The remaining 18 applications Number of full-time students to higher education who were paid are pending a decision. maintenance loans in Barrow-in-Furness parliamentary constituency1, Nine applications have been from candidates representing academic years: 2006/07 to 2011/122, English domiciled 3 the Conservative Party, 21 from the Labour Party, seven Academic year Number of students from the Liberal Democrat Party, seven from other 2006/07 1,135 parties and nine from independent candidates. 2007/08 1,165 Payments are generally processed in arrears but applicants 2008/09 1,125 are able to request that the fund pays the supplier 2009/10 1,105 directly. The ability of potential disabled candidates to 2010/11 1,105 stand for office should not therefore be affected. 355W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2013 Written Answers 356W

Equality: Impact Assessments Jo Swinson: All Departments must consider equality in policy development as a matter of course. Equality Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for Women and impact assessments (EqIAs) can be a useful tool, but Equalities what her policy is on the future use of are not always necessary for the proper consideration of equality impact assessments. [174442] equality. ORAL ANSWERS

Thursday 7 November 2013

Col. No. Col. No. HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION...... 413 TRANSPORT ...... 393 News Services ...... 413 Better Bus Areas ...... 393 Regional News Programmes ...... 413 Buses...... 401 Palace of Westminster...... 409 East Coast Main Line Ltd ...... 404 High Speed 1...... 395 High Speed 2...... 394 LEADER OF THE HOUSE ...... 414 Rail Freight...... 399 Statements ...... 414 Rail Passenger Fares ...... 397 E-petitions ...... 412 Railway Electrification...... 396 Pre-legislative Scrutiny ...... 410 Railway Stations ...... 403 Private Members’ Bills ...... 411 Road Accident Statistics ...... 402 Written Parliamentary Questions...... 410 Topical Questions ...... 405 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Thursday 7 November 2013

Col. No. Col. No. ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 19WS WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 22WS Electricity Market Reform (Contingencies Fund) .. 19WS Workplace Pensions ...... 22WS Gas Market Update ...... 19WS JUSTICE...... 21WS Transforming Management of Young Adults in Custody ...... 21WS PETITION

Thursday 7 November 2013

Col. No. Col. No. PRESENTED PETITION ...... 13P Rural Fair Share Campaign...... 13P WRITTEN ANSWERS

Thursday 7 November 2013

Col. No. Col. No. ATTORNEY-GENERAL ...... 265W CABINET OFFICE—continued Money Laundering: Prosecutions ...... 265W Unpaid Work ...... 312W Sovereignty: Scotland...... 266W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 343W BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 349W Bed and Breakfast Accommodation: Coastal Alcoholic Drinks: Prices ...... 349W Areas ...... 343W Construction: Complaints...... 349W Electrical Safety ...... 343W Education: Prisons...... 350W Energy: Prices ...... 343W Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate...... 350W Fire Services: Industrial Disputes...... 344W Pesticides: Exports ...... 351W Housing ...... 344W Post Offices ...... 352W Housing: Construction...... 345W Regional Growth Fund ...... 352W Local Government: ICT...... 347W Royal Mail ...... 352W Mortgages: North West...... 347W Students: Barrow in Furness ...... 353W Public Buildings: Disability...... 348W UK Membership of EU...... 354W Written Questions: Government Responses ...... 348W

CABINET OFFICE...... 307W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 328W 10 and 11 Downing Street: Energy ...... 307W Broadband ...... 328W Children: Death ...... 308W Castes ...... 328W Cot Deaths...... 308W Copyright...... 329W Ministerial Policy Advisers ...... 309W Culture...... 329W Statistics...... 309W Football ...... 330W Suicide ...... 311W Ministerial Policy Advisors ...... 330W Col. No. Col. No. CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT—continued ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS— Music: Festivals and Special Occasions...... 330W continued Olympic Games 2012 ...... 330W Pesticides: Poisoning ...... 282W Olympic Games 2012: Wales...... 331W Plastics: Exports...... 283W Sugar ...... 283W DEFENCE...... 302W Sunningdale Park...... 284W Afghanistan ...... 302W Wells ...... 285W Apache AH-64 Helicopter ...... 303W Armed Forces: Suicide ...... 303W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 269W Defence Exports Support Group ...... 305W European Union ...... 269W Defence: Procurement...... 305W Iran...... 270W Military Bases: Lancashire...... 306W Kenya...... 270W Ministerial Policy Advisers...... 306W Ministerial Policy Advisers...... 271W Patrol Craft...... 306W Palestinians ...... 271W Red Arrows...... 307W Syria...... 271W Unmanned Air Vehicles ...... 307W HEALTH...... 312W EDUCATION...... 334W Artificial Sweeteners ...... 312W Academies...... 334W Autism ...... 313W Education: Assessments ...... 335W Blood: Contamination ...... 314W Free Schools...... 335W Blood: Donors ...... 314W GCSE ...... 336W Breast Cancer...... 315W Home Education...... 337W Cancer ...... 316W Kings Science Academy ...... 338W Disability Aids: Children ...... 317W Members: Correspondence ...... 339W Energy...... 317W Private Education: Admissions ...... 339W Food ...... 320W Schools: Inspections...... 339W Food: Labelling...... 320W Schools: Transport ...... 340W General Practitioners ...... 321W Special Educational Needs: Hearing Impairment .. 341W Hospitals: Waiting Lists...... 322W Teachers: Training...... 342W In Vitro Fertilisation ...... 322W Mental Health Services ...... 323W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 296W NHS: Drugs...... 324W Biofuels...... 296W NHS Property Services ...... 323W Electricity: Floods...... 296W NHS Property Services: Fareham ...... 323W Electricity: Weather...... 297W NHS: Redundancy Payments...... 324W Energy...... 297W Obesity...... 325W Energy: Competition...... 298W Ostomy ...... 325W Energy: Northern Ireland...... 298W Palliative Care...... 326W Energy: Prices ...... 298W Stress...... 327W Energy Supply...... 297W Transplant Surgery...... 327W EU Energy Policy...... 299W Fuel Oil...... 299W HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION...... 265W Green Deal Scheme...... 300W House of Commons Employees...... 265W Heating ...... 300W School Parties ...... 265W Hinkley Point C Power Station ...... 300W Natural Gas: Storage ...... 301W Natural Gas: Weather ...... 301W INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY Nuclear Fuels...... 301W STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE...... 269W Ofgem ...... 301W Conflict of Interests ...... 269W Oil: Exploration ...... 302W Plutonium ...... 302W INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 285W Recruitment ...... 302W Brazil ...... 285W British Overseas Territories...... 285W ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Developing Countries: Nutrition ...... 286W AFFAIRS...... 276W Languages...... 286W Acid Rain...... 276W Security...... 286W Air Pollution ...... 277W Senior Civil Servants...... 286W Coastal Areas...... 277W Syria...... 286W Dangerous Dogs ...... 277W Termination of Employment...... 288W Drinking Water...... 278W Drinking Water: Contamination ...... 278W JUSTICE...... 332W EU Institutions ...... 279W Air Navigation Order 2009...... 332W Exhaust Emissions: Motor Vehicles ...... 279W Prison Service ...... 332W Farms: Plastics...... 279W Farms: Waste Disposal...... 280W Fisheries: British Overseas Territories...... 280W LEADER OF THE HOUSE ...... 268W Fracking...... 280W Times of Sittings...... 268W Genetically Modified Organisms...... 280W Ground Water: Pollution...... 281W NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 289W Ministerial Policy Advisors ...... 281W Richard Haass ...... 289W Pesticides...... 281W UK Membership of EU...... 289W Col. No. Col. No. PRIME MINISTER ...... 268W TREASURY—continued CasteWatchUK...... 268W Members: Correspondence ...... 294W Environment Protection: Taxation ...... 268W Ministerial Policy Advisers...... 294W Unmanned Aerial Vehicles...... 269W Taxation...... 294W VAT ...... 295W TRANSPORT ...... 266W VAT: Sixth Form Colleges...... 296W A47 ...... 267W Great Eastern Main Line ...... 267W WOMEN AND EQUALITIES...... 354W High Speed 2 Railway Line ...... 267W Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Ministerial Policy Advisers...... 267W Fund ...... 354W Railways: Kettering...... 267W Equality: Impact Assessments...... 355W Road User Pricing...... 266W Transport ...... 268W WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 272W Cold Weather Payments ...... 272W TREASURY ...... 289W Crisis Loans ...... 272W Children: Day Care ...... 289W Disability: Employment Schemes...... 273W Corporation Tax ...... 290W Food Banks: Voucher Schemes ...... 274W Economic Growth: Greater London ...... 293W Low Pay...... 274W Economic Situation...... 293W Social Security Benefits...... 275W Financial Conduct Authority...... 293W UK Membership of EU...... 276W Members who wish to have the Daily Report of the Debates forwarded to them should give notice at the Vote Office. The Bound Volumes will also be sent to Members who similarly express their desire to have them. No proofs of the Daily Reports can be supplied. Corrections which Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked in the Daily Report, but not telephoned, and the copy containing the Corrections must be received at the Editor’s Room, House of Commons,

not later than Thursday 14 November 2013

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CONTENTS

Thursday 7 November 2013

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 393] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Transport Leader of the House House of Commons Commission

Speaker’s Statement [Col. 415]

Business of the House [Col. 416] Statement—(Mr Lansley)

Personal Statement [Col. 437]

Backbench Business Tobacco Packaging [Col. 438] Motion—(Bob Blackman)—agreed to

First World War Commemoration [Col. 480] Motion—(Dr Murrison)—agreed to

Petition [Col. 522]

Group B Streptococcus (Newborn Babies) [Col. 523] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Westminster Hall Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty [Col. 149WH] Motor Insurance (Whiplash) [Col. 171WH] Debates on motion for Adjournment

Written Statements [Col. 19WS]

Petition [Col. 13P] Presented Petition

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 265W] [see index inside back page]