Tuesday Volume 582 10 June 2014 No. 4

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Tuesday 10 June 2014

£5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2014 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 389 10 JUNE 2014 390

Mr Hunt: My hon. Friend is right to say that some House of Commons bad changes were made. What will most benefit his constituents, whether or not they are part of the initial Tuesday 10 June 2014 tranche of the Prime Minister’s challenge fund, is the reintroduction of named GPs for the over-75s. For people with complex long-term conditions, continuity The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock of care is extremely important, and every single one of his constituents aged 75 or over will now get a PRAYERS named GP.

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab): We are very pleased in Old Trafford to have secured funding for Speaker’s Statement 80 extra care beds for one of the most deprived parts of my community. We also hope to be able to bring health Mr Speaker: I must draw Members’ attention to the care services, including GP surgeries, on to the same fact that the book for entering the private Members’ Bill sites, but we are experiencing difficulty in unblocking ballot is now open for Members to sign in the No funding via the NHS area team. Will the Secretary of Lobby. It will be open until the House rises today, State meet me to discuss this issue and how we might be and while the House is sitting on Wednesday 11 June. able to move forward? The ballot will be drawn on Thursday 12 June. An announcement setting out these arrangements, and the Mr Hunt: Yes, I would be more than happy to meet dates when ten-minute rule motions can be made and the hon. Lady and see what I can do to help her to presentation Bills introduced, is published on the Order improve health care in her area. Paper. Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con): I thank my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for his recent visit to BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS Erewash. He has kindly offered to come back another time. We welcome the Prime Minister’s challenge fund SPOLIATION ADVISORY PANEL being allocated to Erewash. May I reassure my right Resolved, hon. Friend that our excellent GPs are working very That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, That hard to make sure that services and support are she will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid appropriately allocated in our community? before this House a Return of the Report from Sir Donnell Deeny, Chairman of the Spoliation Advisory Panel, dated 10 June Mr Hunt: I thank my hon. Friend for her work to 2014, in respect of three Meissen Figures, now in the possession of the Victoria and Albert Museum.—(John Penrose.) promote good health care in her area. I very much enjoyed meeting her local GPs. I was disappointed that it was only for about five minutes. I very much hope to go back and have a proper discussion. They were very Oral Answers to Questions enthusiastic about the Prime Minister’s challenge fund, and are making some very innovative changes.

HEALTH Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): May I push the Secretary of State on this matter? What my constituents want is to be able to get to see a GP when The Secretary of State was asked— they really need one; they do not want to turn up in Challenge Fund A and E just because they cannot get an appointment for a week. Is not poor management of GP surgeries—poor 1. Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con): What recent management from top to bottom—at the heart of this assessment he has made of the role of the Prime problem? Minister’s challenge fund in improving access to GP services. [904103] Mr Hunt: Actually, I agree with the hon. Gentleman. I think that we do have a problem. We have some The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt): fantastically good GP surgeries and some brilliant GPs, Mr Speaker, it is a pleasure to see you again so soon. but we have not in the past had structures in place to The Prime Minister’s challenge fund will be rolled make sure that we deal quickly with underperforming out over 1,100 of the 8,300 GP surgeries in the country. GP surgeries and, indeed, underperforming GPs. We It will improve access out of hours, at weekends and need to have much more transparency of data so that electronically, and it will benefit up to 7.5 million people. we can see where the problems are. We have introduced a rigorous new inspection regime, with a new chief Mr Walker: I am glad that this Government, unlike inspector of general practice, and I hope that that will the previous one, whose disastrous contract negotiations go some way to addressing the issues he raises. led to a decline in GP access, is making sure that out-of-hours care is as widely available as possible. Will Andy Burnham (Leigh) (Lab): People ringing their the Secretary of State assure me that he will do whatever surgery this morning only to be told that no appointments he can to ensure that places, such as Worcester, that are available for days will be listening to the Secretary have not yet been reached by the challenge fund will of State’s answers today and thinking that he is living in also see the benefits of this approach? a different world. People’s real experience is that it is 391 Oral Answers10 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 392 getting harder and harder to get a GP appointment The Minister of State, Department of Health (Norman under this Government, but for some it could get much Lamb): Everyone will be protected against catastrophic worse. I recently visited a practice in east that costs by the insurance the cap provides from April 2016, faces closure in October because of this Health Secretary’s in line with the Dilnot commission’s recommendations. changes to GP funding. NHS says that 97 other We are working through the detail of how it will operate practices are in the same position, affecting thousands in partnership with stakeholders. We will publish draft of patients. Will he today give a guarantee that no regulations and guidance for consultation towards the practice will have to close? end of the year.

Mr Hunt: Let us address this issue head on. The right Andrew Bridgen: I thank the Minister for that statement. hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that it is totally I have constituents who are very concerned about how wrong to have a system in which two neighbouring GP they will continue to fund ongoing care costs in the practices can be paid different sums of money for doing interim period, when the proceeds of an asset or house the same amount of work. We must have an equitable sale have dissipated. What reassurance can my hon. funding formula for GP practices, which is why we are Friend give my constituents? phasing out the minimum practice income guarantee. That is a sensible decision. We are also taking measures Norman Lamb: I thank my hon. Friend for that to ensure that we do not affect patient care in the question. Another reform that we are introducing is process. Of course we are looking at the individual universal access to a deferred payment agreement for cases carefully, but I am sure that he would agree that everyone who would otherwise be forced to sell their we have to fund GP practices equitably. home to pay for care—something of which we should be very proud. That will be introduced in April 2015 Polypropylene Transvaginal Mesh Implants and it will mean that no one has to sell their home during their lifetime to pay for their care. 2. Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab): If he will commission a review of the safety of polypropylene Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab/Co-op): For the transvaginal mesh implants. [904104] avoidance of doubt, will the Minister list the care costs that will not be included? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Dr Daniel Poulter): The Department of Health, NHS Norman Lamb: The amount that will count towards England and the Medicines and Healthcare Products the clock running to reach the cap will be based on what Regulatory Agency—the MHRA—have been working the local authority determines will be the cost of meeting collaboratively with the clinical community to address a person’s eligible care needs. That is exactly the model the serious concerns that have been raised about transvaginal that Andrew Dilnot recommended, and we are mesh implants. A working group, chaired by NHS implementing it as he recommended. England, has been set up to identify ways to address them. The group will also have patient representation. (Leicester East) (Lab): Last Thursday, the first ever care home diabetes audit was published. It Graeme Morrice: Last week, I attended the Scottish showed a significant lack of support for the 37,000 people Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee to hear from with diabetes who live in care homes. Will the Minister and support women who have suffered from the horrific confirm that when a person in a care home has diabetes, adverse effects of mesh implants. Women spoke from there will be no lack of funding to help them? wheelchairs or on crutches and were in constant pain. They could not possibly have been told about the risks Norman Lamb: I pay tribute to the right hon. Gentleman of TVM implants because there are simply no accurate for his tireless campaigning on diabetes. He has played data available. Will the Minister or the Secretary of an essential role in ensuring that it is brought to public State meet me and mesh campaigners from across the attention. It is critical that people who require care for country, so that they can fully understand the urgency diabetes get access to the care they need, whether they of the situation and the kind of action that is required are living in a care home or in their own home. to end this scandal once and for all? One-year Cancer Survival Rates Dr Poulter: I would be very happy to meet the hon. Gentleman. It is important to note that work is under way to collect better data on urogynaecological procedures 4. Mr John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) (Con): generally and on mesh implants, because the complications What assessment he has made of the role of the that occur post-surgery are often multifactorial. An comprehensive delivery dashboard in holding clinical NHS England-funded audit on urogynaecological commissioning groups accountable for their one-year procedures for stress urinary incontinence is currently cancer survival rates. [904106] taking place, which covers all procedures, not just mesh implants. I am sure that we can discuss that and what The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health the working group will do to review the procedures (Jane Ellison): NHS England uses a range of data, as when we meet. my hon. Friend will know, including data from the delivery dashboard, to assess the performance of CCGs. Care Costs That includes the data from the composite cancer one-year survival indicators. NHS England will take action— 3. Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con): it has quarterly assurance meetings between area What progress his Department has made in introducing teams and CCGs—if there are concerns about CCGs’ a cap on care costs. [904105] performance. 393 Oral Answers10 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 394

Mr Baron: May I suggest to the Minister that if the works closely with those charities. We want outcomes Government are to meet their target of saving an additional for cancer patients in England to be among the best in 5,000 lives a year and to promote diagnosis, we need to Europe. As I said, we know we are not there yet, but a hold underperforming CCGs to account. Why is it, great deal of effort and money is going into getting then, that the one-year survival rates, which are designed there. The NHS is treating more cancer patients than to promote earlier diagnosis, are not in the delivery ever. Since 2009, we have seen numbers rise by 15%—that dashboard, which, unlike the outcomes indicator set, is 1,000 more patients with suspected cancer referred to has teeth, particularly given that CCG chief executives a specialist every day. That is the success of some of the have said that they see no reason why the one-year early diagnosis and awareness raising activity. Of course figures could not be included in the dashboard? we want any local dips in performance to be addressed, but let us give credit where it is due to clinicians who are Jane Ellison: We will certainly look at that, but I diagnosing more cancers and catching them earlier, emphasise that all those things are important as part of because that is the key to treating cancer successfully. the conversation between area teams and CCGs. I remind the House that the CCG outcome indicators set for Accident and Emergency Units 2014-15 include a range of important indicators for cancer, including one-year survival for all cancers, one-year 5. Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP): If he survival for breast, lung and colorectal cancers combined, will meet the chair of the College of Emergency cancers diagnosed via emergency routes, and cancers Medicine to discuss A and E units. [904107] diagnosed at an early stage—something I know my hon. Friend has, quite rightly, championed consistently in this House. The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt): I met the chair of the College of Emergency Medicine four times in the last six months and I will meet him Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): Does the Minister again next week. agree that the inclusion of more innovative drugs in the NHS medicine cabinet is essential for improvements in one-year cancer survival rates? Does she also agree that Ms Ritchie: I thank the Secretary of State for his information shared between the devolved Assemblies, answer. Will he tell the House what progress has been such as the Northern Ireland Assembly, is a vital part of made by Health Education England, along with the that process of improvement? College of Emergency Medicine, to recruit trainee doctors from India in an attempt to address the serious staffing shortages in emergency medicines departments? Will he Jane Ellison: We want people in England to have the work with Ministers from other devolved regions to best cancer outcomes, and to bring those outcomes up address the serious shortage in A and E doctors, which to the best in Europe. We know we are not there yet, but is having an impact on waiting lists in hospitals the we have done a range of things to try to make that length and breadth of the UK? happen, including putting a lot of money into early diagnostics. In my area of public health there are award- winning public campaigns such as Be Clear on Cancer, Mr Hunt: The hon. Lady is right that operational and I know that the cancer drugs fund has been appreciated pressures on A and E are happening throughout the by many people. I hear what the hon. Gentleman says . We have made good progress in about the Northern Ireland example. recruiting 50 A and E doctors to help relieve pressure this year in A and E departments, but that is a short-term measure. The long-term issue is to get more doctors Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) (Con): High-quality going into A and E from training, and we are looking at data will play an essential role in improving cancer contract structures and at what we can do with training outcomes. Will the Minister confirm that NHS England schedules to make that more attractive. We will certainly has addressed the concerns raised about the care.data work with colleagues in devolved Administrations and programme, and that we are on track for a successful tell them what we have learned. roll-out? Chloe Smith (Norwich North) (Con): I welcome the Jane Ellison: I confirm that we are. fact that waiting times have halved under this Government, but the Norwich walk-in centre should stay in its city Mr Jamie Reed (Copeland) (Lab): Last month, for centre location to continue to move people away from the first time ever the NHS missed a target for beginning A and E when they do not need to go there. Will the cancer treatment within 62 days of patients being urgently Secretary of State meet me to discuss urgent and primary referred. Cancer Research UK stated: care provision in Norwich? “This isn’t just a missed target—some patients are being failed,”. We know that the key to ensuring that more people Mr Hunt: I would be delighted to meet my hon. survive cancer is to start treatment as soon as possible Friend, and she is right to say that the long-term after diagnosis. Is it not shocking that cancer charities, solution to pressures in A and E is to find alternatives in including Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research out-of-hospital care that are easy for people to find. UK now say that cancer is being overlooked in this That means improving GP access and any other alternatives, Prime Minister’s national health service? and I am sure we can find a good solution in Norwich.

Jane Ellison: We all appreciate the wonderful work Mrs Linda Riordan (Halifax) (Lab/Co-op): There is done by cancer charities such as Macmillan Cancer not one person in my constituency who does not want Support and Cancer Research UK, and the Department to see the accident and emergency unit stay open. If this 395 Oral Answers10 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 396 is made clear in any consultation, will the Secretary of wards that was endemic under the last Labour Government. State commit today to scrapping the callous closure Of course we want people to recruit full-time nurses on proposals? proper contracts, and that is happening. That is why we have 3,000 more nurses—not agency nurses, but proper Mr Hunt: As the hon. Lady knows, local service full-time nurses on proper NHS contracts—than when changes are the responsibility of the local NHS, but the hon. Lady’s Government were in power, and we will when they get referred to me, through local authorities, continue to make progress. I will never take a decision that is against the interests of patients, including her constituents. Were such a proposal Kettering General Hospital (A and E Department) to come to me, I would indeed listen to any representations that she makes. 6. Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): What David Tredinnick (Bosworth) (Con): Does my right recent assessment he has made of the performance of hon. Friend agree that a critical problem that A and E the A and E department at Kettering general hospital. units will face in the future is antibiotic resistance? Is he [904108] aware that the Science and Technology Committee, of which I am a member, has been looking at this issue, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and it also interests the Health Committee, of which I (Jane Ellison): We are aware that the trust did not meet am also a member? Can he assure me that he is talking the four-hour standard for a period, and obviously to the Prime Minister about how to stimulate new Monitor took action and worked with the trust. In the antibiotic research, and will he also remember that week ending 1 June 2014—the most recent period for nature has its own remedies, such as tea tree oil? which data are available—99.7% of patients who attended Kettering A and E were treated, admitted or discharged Mr Hunt: My hon. Friend is right about the seriousness within four hours, continuing a recent improvement in of the issue of antimicrobial resistance. Some 25,000 people performance. I am sure that the staff are justly proud of die in Europe every year as a result of the failure of that, and I know their local Member of Parliament will antibiotics—more than die in road traffic accidents. want to champion it. I raised the issue at the World Health Assembly and I have discussed it closely with the Prime Minister. Mr Hollobone: In April 2013, Kettering general hospital was one of the worst performing acute hospitals in John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness) (Lab/Co-op): England on the A and E target, admitting only 74% of The Health Secretary will be aware that the chair of patients within the four-hour A and E target time. Now, Morecambe Bay trust has stood down today, ahead of as the Minister has said, it is almost 100% and the what is expected to be another critical report from the hospital is one of the best performing trusts in the Care Quality Commission about services. What guarantees country. Will the Minister congratulate all involved at can the Health Secretary give the worried people who the hospital on that rapid turnaround, and tell the are served by the Furness general hospital that its House how the lessons learned at Kettering might be A and E department will be protected and the vital applied elsewhere? national industries that depend on its services will continue to be able to rely on them? Jane Ellison: I absolutely join my hon. Friend in Mr Hunt: First, I thank the hon. Gentleman for the congratulating everyone involved in turning that work that he does locally, in particular with people such performance around—it is really, really impressive. He as James Titcombe, who has campaigned extensively to is right to say there are lessons to be learnt everywhere improve the quality of care at Morecambe Bay. I assure from people innovating, joining up services and the the hon. Gentleman that whatever the problems are at various things that have gone on in the background. I Morecambe Bay, we will be transparent and open, and know that the local Members have been involved and we will make sure that we deal with them promptly. engaged in the process and I congratulate them on that. That is why we have had these independent inquiries. That is really valuable and I urge everyone to get We will look closely at what the report says and make involved. We should congratulate A and E staff everywhere sure that we act quickly. on dealing with the pressures they are under. We know they are considerable, but they do a great job. Liz Kendall (Leicester West) (Lab): The College of Emergency Medicine says that the use of agency doctors Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): May I has become endemic in the NHS, and that hospitals are congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering increasingly relying on more expensive agency nurses, (Mr Hollobone) on the work he has done to help with just as Labour warned when jobs and training places this amazing turnaround? The Minister is aware of the were cut. It is clear that NHS finances are going backwards plans to have a community urgent care centre at Isebrook under this Government. Will the Minister now confirm hospital in my constituency, which will mean that my Monitor’s latest figures, which show that annual spending constituents will not have to go to Kettering hospital. Is on agency staff in foundation trusts has soared to this not another way forward to improve A and E £1.4 billion, a staggering 150% higher than trusts planned results? at the beginning of the year, and will he explain how that makes any financial sense? Jane Ellison: My hon. Friend highlights that there are a lot of different approaches to reducing the pressures Mr Hunt: Let us look at why the number of agency on A and E. The great thing is that we are seeing real nurses has increased. It is because trusts have responded innovation from local clinicians, supported by local to the Francis report, published just over a year ago, Members of Parliament. That shows what can be done and are seeking to end the shocking under-staffing of when we address these problems with an innovative 397 Oral Answers10 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 398 approach, and think about how we can reduce these The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt) pressures and ensure that as many people as possible rose— are served in the right way and treated outside A and E, if that is not the place they should be. Mr Speaker: Go ahead. Cancer Drugs Fund Mr Hunt: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I like to wait until 7. Grahame M. Morris (Easington) (Lab): What you give me the word. discussions he has had with NHS England on the future of the cancer drugs fund. [904109] Mr Speaker: If the Secretary of State needs The Minister of State, Department of Health (Norman encouragement I am happy to give it to him. Lamb): We have committed to continuing the cancer drugs fund until the end of March 2016. We will consider Mr Hunt: I am most grateful for any encouragement I carefully with NHS England how, in the longer term, can get. we can support patients in accessing cancer drugs that could benefit them, at a cost that represents value to the The NHS needs to change its culture to be much NHS. more open to whistleblowers. That is why we have banned gagging orders in contracts and funded a Grahame M. Morris: I thank the Minister for that whistleblowing helpline and website, and why we are answer, but is it not true that last year the cancer drugs working with brave whistleblowers, such as Helene Donnelly fund was again underspent—funds that could be used from Mid Staffs, to reform the training of NHS clinicians to pay for advanced radio therapy? Every MP has to make it easier. received a letter from the England rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio asking for a meeting to highlight this problem. Michael Fabricant: I am grateful for that answer. Why is the Secretary of State refusing to meet Mr Dallaglio, About 10 years ago, two people, a nurse and a consultant along with top cancer clinicians in Cancer Research surgeon from the same hospital, came to my surgery UK? and showed me evidence of filth—mouse droppings—in even consulting rooms and the operating theatre. They Norman Lamb: First, if only it was underspent. More were frightened to leave the documentation with me, than 50,000 patients have now benefited from the fund, because they thought they would be sacked if it was which is fully spent. More than £1 billion will have been found that they were the whistleblowers. Will they now committed in the full period of the fund. I have confirmation have the assurance that they could give me or others from the Secretary of State that he has already met evidence without fear of retribution? Lawrence Dallaglio. I hope that will reassure the hon. Gentleman. Mr Hunt: I hope so, but I want to be honest with the Dental Care House. It takes time to change a culture, and that is the big change we have to make. Whistleblowers are now 8. Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con): What coming forward from Coventry, Cambridge, Ealing and steps his Department is taking to improve access to and all over the country. That is why I am afraid that I standards of dental care. [904110] profoundly disagree with the shadow Health Secretary, who said that the lessons of the Francis report were The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health about a local failure. This is about a systemic problem (Dr Daniel Poulter): Between May 2010 and December and we have to change it across the NHS. 2013, 1.5 million more patients were able to see an NHS dentist. We are committed to reforming the current contractual arrangements to promote improvement in Charlotte Leslie (Bristol North West) (Con): Given oral health and to increase access to dentistry services. there are so many emerging cases of whistleblowers—both current and historic—being treated with injustice, a Jason McCartney: What specific advice would the precedent will not be set for accountability until these Minister give to my constituents who are trying really injustices are actually faced. Will the Secretary of State hard to access good quality, local dental care on the set up a truth and reconciliation committee to look at NHS? historic and current cases so that accountability becomes a reality? Dr Poulter: A recent Healthwatch report highlighted this issue in west Yorkshire, where access to dental Mr Hunt: First, I commend my hon. Friend for her services has been a long-standing challenge. NHS England campaigning on this issue on the House and on the is looking at the financial arrangements in west Yorkshire Health Committee. We have not done everything we and will report back soon. I am happy to meet my hon. need to do to change the culture within the NHS, and Friend and representatives from the local NHS to take we are looking at what more needs to be done to get a this issue further forward and ensure that local patients culture change profound enough to make it easier for get the service they deserve. people to speak out. This is not just about whistleblowing. NHS Whistleblowers If it is whistleblowing, we have failed because it means that someone has had to go to the press or outside their 9. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): What steps he organisation when they were worried. We need an NHS is taking to ensure that whistleblowers in the NHS are where people within their own organisation are listened protected from (a) dismissal and (b) other punitive to when they have concerns, and we are looking at what measures by their employers. [904111] we need to do to take that forward. 399 Oral Answers10 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 400

Alcohol Consumption in Pregnancy Minimum Practice Income Guarantee

11. Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab): What 10. Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab): What assessment he has made of the potential effect on statistics his Department keeps on babies damaged by health outcomes of phasing out minimum practice alcohol consumed in pregnancy; and if he will make a income guarantee funding from GP practices in statement. [904112] England. [904114]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Jane Ellison): Hospital episode statistics include finished (Dr Daniel Poulter): The minimum practice income admission episodes where there was either a primary or guarantee payment is unfair because practices serving secondary diagnosis of a foetus or newborn affected by very similar populations are paid very different amounts maternal use of alcohol or foetal alcohol syndrome. I per patient. The payments are being phased out over a have supplied some detail on that in parliamentary seven-year period to allow practices time to adjust. The answers this week. These records cover both patients money released by doing this will be reinvested in the treated in NHS hospitals in England and by independent basic payments made to all general medical services providers whose services are commissioned by the NHS. practices, which are based on numbers of patients and key determinants of practice workload, such as the age and health needs of patients. Kelvin Hopkins: The Minister has confirmed that thousands of babies are born every year damaged by Paul Blomfield: The minimum practice income guarantee alcohol, and yet there is still no statutory requirement was introduced to meet the specific needs of specific for all alcoholic drinks containers to display specific practices. Those needs have not changed. NHS England health warnings about the dangers of drinking in pregnancy. has drawn up a list of 100 practices across the country When will the Government introduce the necessary that will be threatened by its withdrawal. Five are in legislation? Sheffield and two are in my constituency. Will the Minister give a guarantee that no practice will close as a Jane Ellison: Before I respond to the substantive result of the withdrawal of the minimum practice income point, it is worth saying that there is a spectrum of guarantee, and will he provide the funding to achieve disorders and some of the diagnoses on certain parts of that? the spectrum are quite difficult. We have statistics on foetal alcohol syndrome and there is no evidence that Dr Poulter: The point is this: the funding system set that is increasing, although we seem to be diagnosing up by the previous Government was based on historical more in younger children. Also, the women to whom funding and did not necessarily recognise the needs of this tends to happen are extremely difficult to reach patients. One practice might have been paid more for through public education campaigns as many are subject historical reasons than another practice next door that to additional, complex factors. might have been treating more patients. That was unfair; we have changed it. NHS England is working at local On bottling, through the responsibility deal, there level with practices that are, for whatever reason, in was a commitment to get 80% of alcoholic drinks on financial difficulties to make sure that it can help them the market labelled. That is being independently audited get to the right place. and is something we champion, not just with messages about drinking in pregnancy, but through guidance George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): The GP practice from the chief medical officer on drinking generally. in Watton in my constituency is struggling with the recruitment of GPs and is now two short, which is Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): Prevention is of course putting pressure on services. Today I heard of the better than cure. What is my hon. Friend’s Department proposal from NHS England to deregister 1,500 patients doing on better guidance and support for midwives and and transfer them to neighbouring practices in the other groups such as the National Childbirth Trust to constituency, raising a whole series of issues. Will the discourage expectant mothers from drinking alcohol? Minister agree to meet me to talk about what should happen, including whether NHS England could fund some sort of locum service? Jane Ellison: One of the slight challenges in this area is that quite a lot of pregnancies are unplanned and Dr Poulter: Yes, I would be delighted to meet my hon. people have sometimes been drinking alcohol before Friend. It is important to see, where possible, collaboration they know they are pregnant. However, a lot of advice between GP practices on back-office services and other is available. Along with health visitors and midwives—we savings that could be made—something the public sector are putting more resource into those areas—Public needs to do more generally so that more money can be Health England’s “start for life” campaign provides invested in patients. The Government are training more advice to pregnant women. There are National Institute GPs; in future, we will see 50% of postgraduate medical for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, including for training taking place in general practice, leading to a those women to whom I referred earlier with complex big increase in the number of GPs. social factors. A lot of information is available, and the chief medical officers are reviewing the guidance to Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab): Will the people generally. The simple message to women who are Minister look at the decision by clinical commissioning hoping to conceive or who are pregnant is that it is best groups in north-west London to move funding away— to avoid alcohol. contrary to what NHS England has proposed—from 401 Oral Answers10 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 402

GP practices and primary care in deprived areas such as The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Hammersmith to areas that have much better health (Jane Ellison): The review is being undertaken by NHS outcomes? England, which has been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, of whom my hon. Friend is one. He is a Dr Poulter: I do not believe that that is the case. In doughty champion for his city, and for these services. I looking at the changes, we need to factor in the point understand that NHS England will consult on draft that the minimum practice income guarantee, which service standards later this year, but will not do so in was a historical payment and not based on patient need July as was previously expected. All information relating or patient demand, is being phased out in order to to the review can be found on the organisation’s website, achieve a more equitable solution. As a result, we can which is updated fortnightly. I spoke to officials yesterday see that the global sum payments to GPs have risen in order to update myself, and I know they will post from £66.25 per patient in 2013-14 to £73.56 per patient another update very soon, if not today. in 2014-15. Clearly, the global sum payment to GPs per patient has increased, which is a good thing for patients Stuart Andrew: According to the mortality case section and the equitability of services. of the Secretary of State’s review of the closure of services at Leeds, many of the recommendations could Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): apply more widely to other units throughout the NHS. Historically, there used to be a payment for the distance Given that no other unit has received anything like as GPs or their patients travelled. The removal of minimum much scrutiny as Leeds, will my hon. Friend ensure that practice income guarantee funding may make certain any continuing audits take place in the other units as rural practices unviable. Will the Government address well, so that standards can be maximised? that issue, and will the Minister look particularly at rurality and sparsity in order to address what is a very Jane Ellison: That is a very good point. This Government real issue for rural GPs? and this Secretary of State have championed transparency Dr Poulter: My hon. Friend makes a very good point, more generally, because we all believe that it is essential and we know that rural practices have unique challenges. to our ability to build on the success of the health The point is that because the money from the minimum service and maximise its service to patients. practice income guarantee is going to be reinvested in a global sum payment, and because the global sum payment Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East) (Lab): per practice is increasing, one of the key determinants Am I right in understanding that the Minister has just of that payment is, in fact, rurality, so that should be of announced a further delay? The key recommendation benefit to many rural practices. to the Government on children’s heart surgery, which was made in 2001, was that fewer units should be Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): The centres of excellence, because that was in the best interests situation is far more urgent than the Minister’s complacent of patients. Now, 13 years later, none of that has answer suggests. One practice in a deprived part of actually happened. Do the Government still accept the London has said that it is weeks away from laying off premise that fewer units should be centres of excellence, staff and just months away from closure. The Royal and will the Minister tell us what accounts for the delay? College of General Practitioners says that 1,700 practices could be affected, with over 12 million patients potentially Jane Ellison: I understand the right hon. Gentleman’s facing even longer waits for appointments. Is it not the frustration, but the review is very important. NHS case that until we have a Labour Government, GP England has confirmed that it will not be able to services are going to be marginalised and patients are consult quite as early as it had wished, but it should be going to face ever-longer waits? appreciated that this review is more comprehensive than the last one. For example, NHS England has developed Dr Poulter: I am afraid that the distance between the a comprehensive set of commissioning standards which real world out there for patients and the Labour have never existed before. For the first time, the whole Government’s record is very clear. Under the Labour patient pathway will be covered, from foetal detection Government’s record on general practice, 20% of patients through childhood, into adult services and all the way were routinely unable to get a GP appointment within to palliative care—on which one of my hon. Friends led 48 hours, and a quarter of patients who wanted to book a debate relatively recently—and bereavement. an appointment more than 48 hours in advance could It is always frustrating when things do not happen not get one. That was what happened under Labour; according to schedule, but what really matters is getting that is Labour’s commitment to general practice and this right and being as transparent as possible. The level GP patients. Under this Government, we are making of engagement with stakeholders has been much more sure that there is equality of finance per patient according satisfactory than before, and we continue to make progress. to patient need, and that is how health care decisions should be made. Community Hospitals

Mr Speaker: Order. I encourage the Minister to learn 13. Sir Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (LD): If he to provide more succinct answers. They are always too will bring forward proposals to widen the range long. of services and treatments available in community Congenital Heart Disease hospitals in rural areas. [904116]

12. Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con): What the planned The Minister of State, Department of Health (Norman timetable is for his Department’s congenital heart Lamb): Responsibility for the commissioning of local disease review. [904115] NHS services lies with clinical commissioning groups. 403 Oral Answers10 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 404

Community hospitals have an important role in achieving that in my own community and I would be very happy more integrated care across health and social care services to talk further about what more can be done to strengthen in rural areas by providing better out-of-hospital care, the work they do. particularly for frail older people and those with long-term conditions. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Sir Alan Beith: A new community hospital is to be 15. Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab): What built in Berwick, which is 50 miles from major hospitals. recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of Will it be free to offer a wider range of services, along child and adolescent mental health services. [904118] the lines envisaged by the NHS chief executive in his recent comments? The Minister of State, Department of Health (Norman Lamb): We know that there is a varied picture of services Norman Lamb: I know that my right hon. Friend has across the country, where decisions on spend and allocation been campaigning for that hospital. I welcomed the of resources are made by local commissioners. NHS comments of the chief executive of NHS England, who England is preparing to publish a report based on its has argued for much a more flexible and adaptable recent analysis of tier 4 child and adolescent mental NHS, and for ensuring that GPs locally working with health services, along with a service improvement plan. community services can offer the maximum range of We expect these to be published in the coming weeks. health services to the local community as close to them as possible. Heidi Alexander: A recent survey conducted by the Royal College of Psychiatrists found that over a quarter Sir Edward Garnier (Harborough) (Con): Two and a of trainee psychiatrists have had to send a child or half years ago, my right hon. Friend the Member for young person more than 200 miles away from their Chelmsford (Mr Burns), then Minister of State, opened family in order to access an appropriate bed. What is the St Luke’s hospital day care unit in Market Harborough, the Minister going to do about this totally unacceptable which serves a large rural area in my constituency. situation? During those two and a half years it has been open for only 131 days, which is a huge waste of public money. I Norman Lamb: I agree, and that is why NHS England wrote to the Secretary of State yesterday. He will not undertook the work to analyse exactly what the position have had a chance to read my letter yet, but will my hon. is across the country. In fact it is very varied. There are Friend and his colleagues look into the matter, and some regions where it is fine, and others where it is not ensure that we do not waste public money on opening acceptable. I think we would all agree that it is completely hospitals that do not provide a service? unacceptable for children to be sent sometimes hundreds of miles away from home. When it publishes its report, Norman Lamb: My hon. and learned Friend has it—[Interruption.] If the right hon. Member for Leigh raised an extremely important point. It is essential that (Andy Burnham) would just listen, when it publishes its the maximum possible use be made of investment. I report, it will be publishing an action plan of the steps it know that the Secretary of State will look into this issue will take very soon to meet any shortfalls in provision. when he has received the letter, but we must ensure that all such facilities are properly used. Dr Phillip Lee (Bracknell) (Con): Although I supported the Health and Social Care Bill at every stage, I have Health Services (East Midlands) always harboured some concerns about the ability of GPs to commission mental health services. Mental health is a fast-growing problem and a challenge to the NHS 14. Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): What for the future. What assurances can the Minister give steps he plans to take to improve the provision of me that GPs will receive the appropriate specialist guidance, health services in the east midlands. [904117] if required?

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Norman Norman Lamb: I thank my hon. Friend for that Lamb): Decisions about local services should be made question, and it is a legitimate one. A lot of work is as close to patients as possible, by those who are best being undertaken by NHS England and the national placed to work with patients and the public to understand clinical director Geraldine Strathdee, a highly regarded their needs. Clinical commissioning groups commission individual, to strengthen the quality of commissioning the majority of health services, working with health and of mental health services. It falls short in many areas at care professionals to design services for local populations. the moment and it is essential that it is improved.

Sir Edward Leigh: In large rural areas like Lincolnshire, Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab/Co-op): the air ambulance can make the difference between life Ministers say that they are committed to parity of and death, particularly for car crashes where roads are esteem between mental and physical health, yet we have blocked. What plans does the Minister have to strengthen already learned from an NHS England report that three the services of the East Midlands air ambulance service? quarters of children with anxiety or a diagnosable depression are not receiving the treatment they need. Norman Lamb: I will be very happy to discuss the This is plainly unacceptable. It would not happen to issue with my hon. Friend, if he would like to do so. I children presenting with a broken arm or asthma, so pay tribute to the extraordinary work the air ambulance can the Minister please tell the House when he will services undertake across our country. I have witnessed translate his rhetoric into reality? 405 Oral Answers10 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 406

Norman Lamb: Absolutely, and we are doing it. One Mr Hunt: I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that of the problems we are having to confront is that when question. He is absolutely right to suggest that the the Labour Government introduced the 18-week waiting lessons of Francis need to be applied to the care home standard, unbelievably they left out mental health. When sector, to general practice and to all out-of-hospital mental health is left out from a standard of that sort, care every bit as much as they are applied to NHS that determines where the money goes, and ever since hospitals. That is why we have legislated in the Care then mental health has lost out. We are committed to Act 2014 not only for a chief inspector of general changing that. practice but for a chief inspector of adult social care, Andrea Sutcliffe, who has made an excellent start. She Topical Questions is going around all the care homes, and she is bringing back the rigorous Ofsted-style analysis that was T1. [904093] Mr John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) unfortunately taken away by the last Government. That (Con): If he will make a statement on his departmental will mean that we have proper transparency in standards. responsibilities. Going back to an earlier question from my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant), we also The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt): need to do more to help whistleblowers working in care Almost a year ago, following the Keogh report, we put homes. Because there are so many care homes, we 11 NHS trusts into special measures, the first time such cannot depend solely on the inspectors to get this right. a large number of trusts have been put into special We have also introduced the ability to prosecute offenders, measures. Yesterday I was pleased to report to the which did not exist before. House that the first trust, Basildon, has come out of special measures. I am pleased to tell the House today T3. [904095] Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): that across all the trusts in special measures, an additional The fears of the people of the Ribble valley that the old 1,202 nurses and an additional 118 doctors have been Clitheroe hospital would be closed and not replaced recruited. The programme is making good progress, were allayed when the new hospital was built. It and the whole House will want to commend the efforts recently opened with 32 in-patient beds, radiology, of all the staff in those hospitals on the tremendous diagnostics and other facilities. Will the Secretary of efforts they are making. State come to Clitheroe to have a look at this brand-spanking-new hospital, which is being welcomed Mr Baron: I join the Secretary of State in commending by the local community, and to say thank you to the the management and all the staff of Basildon hospital staff there for all they do? If he does so, I promise to for their excellent work and a great team effort. The take him for a pint of healthy real ale afterwards in the hospital is now no doubt on an upward trajectory. I Campaign for Real Ale pub of the year in Pendleton in should like to raise with him the matter of the human the Ribble valley, to celebrate the opening of the new papilloma virus vaccination programme for young women. hospital. It has been a success, and there is mounting evidence that is should be extended to young men. Will the Mr Speaker: What a generous fellow the hon. Gentleman Government now look into the feasibility of doing is! that? Mr Hunt: Well, I must say that that sounds like a Mr Hunt: My hon. Friend is right, and I am grateful pretty irresistible offer, and I will give it careful consideration. to him for mentioning how proud we are of the HPV Local community hospitals have an important role to vaccination programme for girls and women. It is one play in our NHS because of the high standard of of the best in the world, and we are getting an 86% compassionate care that they deliver, and because they take-up rate among eligible 12 to 13-year-old girls. He is are easy for relatives to get to. I am delighted to see my also right to say that we now need to look at whether hon. Friend campaigning for his local hospital, and the programme should be extended to men and boys. A delighted that it is doing so well. decision was taken at the time that it did not need to be, T2. [904094] Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) but we are now reviewing that decision. We will shortly (Lab): A Birmingham trust has recently announced be getting advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination that it will be possible to cut 1,000 beds across the city and Immunisation—which, as he will know, gives us by setting a maximum stay of seven days for most independent advice on these matters—and we will take patients. Not surprisingly, this has caused some alarm. its advice seriously. Are Ministers aware of that proposal? What guidance, if any, can they offer in regard to such proposals? Andy Burnham (Leigh) (Lab): I am sure that, like me, the Secretary of State will have been shocked to the core The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health by the serious case review into the Orchid View care (Dr Daniel Poulter): As the hon. Gentleman will be home. It spoke of institutionalised abuse and of residents aware, patients need to be treated according to clinical dying of sheer neglect. This is just the latest case need, and bed stays should not be determined by anything of appalling abuse in care homes, following that of other than that. So if what he describes is actually the Winterbourne View and the recent “Panorama”programme case, it would be very disturbing. If he would like to on Oban House. People are asking how many more raise the issue further with me, I would be happy to look times we must see abuse of this kind in our care homes into it for him. before we take decisive action to stop it. Will the Secretary of State give serious consideration to the central finding T5. [904097] Jesse Norman (Hereford and South of yesterday’s review, which was that the same principles Herefordshire) (Con): Like other rural communities, of patient safety that apply in the NHS should now be Herefordshire has long suffered from chronic applied to the care home sector? underfunding in health care. Does the Secretary of 407 Oral Answers10 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 408

State share my view that setting clinical commissioning T7. [904099] Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) group allocations should be an evidence-based process (Con): The Government can be rightly proud that there that takes into account factors including sparsity and are fewer managers and more doctors in the NHS than old age? Also, will he ignore the calls from the shadow in 2010. However, recent research by the TaxPayers Health Secretary, who was seeking to cut the previous Alliance shows that in the Greater East Midlands NHS allocations in areas such as Herefordshire? commissioning support unit more than £1 million a year is being spent on 26 administrative jobs of Mr Jeremy Hunt: I agree with my hon. Friend that it dubious value such as communications managers, has to be done on the basis of evidence. Part of that is communications officers, three communications and an important change that the Government have made, engagement leads, and two equality and diversity which the Labour party criticised a great deal. We have managers. The list goes on, Mr Speaker, but I will not. depoliticised the process by giving it to NHS England, What further steps can my right hon. Friend take to where it is decided at arm’s length from Ministers on the ensure that the NHS budget is spent on front-line basis of need. It is challenging to do it fairly. There are medical services? some historical imbalances, and we have to do what we can to address them, but we have to do it in a way that is Dr Poulter: My hon. Friend is right to highlight the fair and is not tarnished by party politics. fact that as much money as possible always needs to be put into front-line patient care. Under the previous T4. [904096] Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab): Government, spending on managers and administrators Health inequality on Teesside is a major issue, but the more than doubled from £3 billion to £7 billion, and we Government axed plans for our new hospital four years have seen the number of administrators fall by 20,000. ago. I am told that Ministers now accept that a new There is clearly work to do in his area, because as much hospital to replace the two hospitals at North Tees and money needs to go on front-line patient care as possible, Hartlepool is the right way forward. When will they and I hope that local commissioners will be looking to remove the barriers to the project and give the support share back-office services as much as possible with that is needed? other commissioning groups to reduce costs and put money into front-line patient care. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Jane Ellison): That is certainly something that we will Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/ look into. Co-op): Earlier the Secretary of State and his Minister said that the minimum practice income guarantee was T6. [904098] Sir Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed) unfair. What is unfair is that so many practices in (LD): The new specialist emergency hospital is nearly Hackney and east London are set to close, in an area 60 miles from Berwick. Given the serious delays in where there is great deprivation. What are they going ambulance attendance in recent cases in Northumbria, to do to make sure that patients still have practices to go how can we be sure that serious cases will get to? paramedic attendance and delivery to the hospital within the critical hour? Dr Poulter: We have had this discussion. A payments system that is almost 20 years out of date and is not The Minister of State, Department of Health (Norman funding patients according to clinical need or is not per Lamb): My right hon. Friend is right to raise concern. head of population will not deliver good care. The The North East ambulance service has traditionally payments system needs to be changed and NHS England been a good performer, but any deterioration that has is working with practices that are facing challenges to been identified needs to be addressed very speedily. I address those challenges and ensure that high-quality urge him to monitor this closely, and if he wants to talk patient care can still be delivered locally. about it further with me, I will be happy to do so.

T8. [904100] David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con): T10. [904102] Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith) (Lab): Last October the Secretary of State said that Following the recent speech by the new NHS England Hammersmith accident and emergency would be chief executive Simon Stevens about the important role closed when it was safe to do so. Imperial proposes to of local hospitals, can my right hon. Friend confirm close it on 10 September, when on its own admission that district general hospitals such as Macclesfield will there is insufficient capacity at St Mary’s and it is not continue to play a vital role in delivering local health safe to do so. Will he keep his promise and ensure that services in the years to come? Hammersmith A and E does not close, especially when there is not sufficient capacity in the system? Mr Jeremy Hunt: I can confirm that. What my hon. Friend said was profoundly important. There is not an Mr Jeremy Hunt: I keep my promises, but may I point automatic link between size and quality. We know that out to the hon. Gentleman that the way in which he has for certain types of treatment, there is huge benefit in campaigned on those issues has been totally irresponsible? centralising services, as has happened for stroke services He put out leaflets in the local election campaign saying in London, but other services can be delivered extremely that Charing Cross hospital would be demolished. He well at smaller units, and we will continue to support failed to mention that it was going to be rebuilt as a those. brand-new hospital with an A and E department. I hope that he will not be invited to it when it is reopened Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab): unless he apologises to his constituents for the way he The Minister has just talked rather piously about spending has presented this issue. NHS money on front-line services, but the NHS is 409 Oral Answers10 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 410 spending £300,000 on a university secondment for a and suggested that allowing medication to be dispensed staff member who has left. How does he justify that sort in instalments would be a better way of handling those of abuse? vulnerable patients. I was disappointed in the response that I got from the Department, and I urge the Minister Mr Hunt: I just point out to the hon. Lady that in the to think again on this issue. Queen’s Speech we made it clear that we are cracking down on inappropriate payments to people who leave Dr Poulter: I am very happy to meet the hon. Lady to the NHS, many of which are the result of contracts set discuss this further and see what we can do because it is up by her Government. important that the vulnerable patient groups she highlighted are looked after in the right way. T9. [904101] Ian Swales (Redcar) (LD): My constituent, Beth Charlton, recently lost her father to pancreatic Charlotte Leslie (Bristol North West) (Con): As he cancer and notes that patients have only a 3% chance of heralds an era of transparency, can the Secretary of surviving five years. That is much lower than the State update us on what steps he has taken to ensure survival rates for other cancers and has not improved in that private providers in the NHS are every bit as 40 years. Will the Minister invest more in early transparent and accountable as public ones? detection and diagnosis of this silent killer? Mr Jeremy Hunt: I think they absolutely should be, and the changes that we introduced in the Care Act 2014 Dr Poulter: Spending on health care research, including relating to the transparency of the inspection regimes cancer research, has considerably increased under this apply to private providers supplying services to the Government, and much of that funding is allocated NHS just as they do to NHS providers. Let us be independently. It is important to note that pancreatic absolutely clear: poor care is poor, whether it happens cancer is, as the hon. Gentleman says, a silent killer, in the public sector or the private sector, and we must because presentation is often very late in the disease clamp down on it wherever it happens. process. Patients can present suddenly with painless jaundice and are often only three months away from Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab): The Minister death. It is therefore important that we look at the said that he was dealing with the chronic shortage of causes of pancreatic cancer and focus on primary prevention staff who help vulnerable children and young people, and on helping people to develop a healthy attitude to who cannot get access to mental health services. Will he alcohol. tell us when there will be enough staff delivering those services to that important group? Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab): In the last hour I have heard the Secretary of State and his Ministers Norman Lamb: I mentioned that NHS England will complain about the problems with A and Es; I have very soon publish a report following its analysis of heard them talk about the problems with GPs; now we existing facilities across the country, so the hon. Gentleman hear that they have lost control of care of the elderly. will get the answer in the next few weeks. Instead of continuing to blame the last Labour Government of four years ago, why does the right hon. Gentleman Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD): When will the not admit that the NHS is not safe in his hands? Let us public health Minister publish the regulations for the have an election and get a Labour Government. plain packaging of tobacco products, on which she proposes to consult? Mr Jeremy Hunt: Because we are making the NHS safe. We are taking action to deal with the issues that Jane Ellison: As my hon. Friend knows, Parliament the hon. Gentleman’s Government swept under the has already granted us the regulation-making powers in carpet. The NHS is getting safer and more compassionate. the Children and Families Act 2014 and we have said It is delivering more care to more people than ever that we are minded to proceed with those. We are still happened under the Labour Government. We are proud committed to consult. The regulations are being drafted. of our record on the NHS, and we will not make the I had hoped to publish them before the end of April. NHS better by pretending that problems do not exist We were caught by the pre-election purdah period, but I when they do. hope to publish them soon. Several hon. Members rose— Sir Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove) (LD): Stockport Mind reports that it takes on average 12 months to Mr Speaker: Order. We are very pressed for time, but receive the first appointment for cognitive behavioural I want to accommodate a couple of remaining colleagues. therapy after diagnosis. What action can be taken to improve that standard in ? Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab): I am grateful, Mr Speaker. In Brent we have the highest incidence of Norman Lamb: I mentioned earlier that when the last TB and of type 2 diabetes in the country. We have just Labour Government introduced the 18-week waiting received a cut of £450 million in the money allocated to time standard they left out mental health. That is at the the CCG. The Secretary of State says that this is fair, heart of the problem. We are committed to changing but my constituents want to know whether it is in that and to introducing access standards in mental accordance with need. health, and we plan to start next year. Jane Ellison: The hon. Gentleman is right to draw Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): The Stitch project attention to the problem of TB in London. As a London in Bristol has contacted me with concerns about the Member myself, I know what he is talking about. I number of overdoses by people on prescription medication encourage him to participate in the current consultation 411 Oral Answers10 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 412 on Public Health England’s comprehensive TB strategy. by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory It is a very important document which marks a step Agency? Does her Department believe that e-cigarettes change in the way we confront the problem. That will could be used in smoking cessation programmes? help us to allocate resources to need and to address serious problems. Jane Ellison: When I brought the regulations before Mr Speaker: Last but not least, I call Sir Kevin Parliament, we were clear that those e-cigarettes for Barron. which a medicinal claim is made must be subjected to medicinal licensing arrangements. Once they are licensed (Rother Valley) (Lab): Will the Minister as medicine, they can be prescribed as part of NHS give us an update on the proposed licensing of e-cigarettes smoking cessation services. 413 10 JUNE 2014 414

Point of Order Debate on the Address

12.36 pm [4TH DAY] Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op): On Debate resumed (Order, 9 June). a point of order, Mr Speaker. Many will think it odd Question again proposed, that the Prime Minister’s choice for Britain’s next EU That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as Commissioner will be scrutinised by the European follows: Parliament, but that there appear to be no plans to Most Gracious Sovereign, allow the British people, through this House, to examine We, YourMajesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons their suitability.Have you had any indication that Ministers of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in might support such parliamentary scrutiny on this occasion? Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has Mr Speaker: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for addressed to both Houses of Parliament. his point of order, of which I did not have advance notice. The short answer is that I am not aware of any Home Affairs intention for arrangements to be different on this occasion from those which have applied in the past. However, the 12.39 pm point has been aired. It will have been heard at any rate The Secretary of State for the Home Department by the Government Chief Whip, who sits impassively (Mrs ): The Gracious Speech that we heard and in languid fashion on the Treasury Bench, but I feel last week included a comprehensive programme of sure that it can be the subject of a private conversation legislation on home affairs and justice. Since coming to between the hon. Gentleman and the Government Chief power, this Government have implemented far-reaching Whip if both are so minded. The latter part of that reforms of which they can be proud. We have introduced sentence is at least as important as the former. a programme of radical police reform, and crime has continued to fall—it is down more than 10% since the Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab): last election. We have reformed the immigration system, Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. and net migration from outside the EU is down by almost a third since its peak under the last Government. Mr Speaker: I do not think there is a “further”, but We are transforming the criminal justice system, improving because I am a generous soul and the hon. Gentleman’s support for victims, rehabilitating offenders and making brow is more than usually furrowed, we will give it a go. prisons more effective, while reducing the burden on the taxpayer. On counter-terrorism, the police and security Michael Connarty: As I understand it from the last agencies continue to rise to tough new challenges, working meeting of the European Scrutiny Committee, it is the tirelessly to keep us safe. Our reforms and our legislative Committee’s intention to write to the Government on changes are working. that very point and to suggest that the Committee might be given the facility to do that interview before Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab): One the appointment is made. of the major problems facing my constituents is the time spent trying to get their passports. I have heard the Mr Speaker: That is a helpful observation. Whether it right hon. Lady say that she is reforming the Passport is a point of order I do not know, but it is a helpful Office, but she has reduced the number of staff to such observation from somebody who is familiar with the an extent that those that are left are not able to perform workings of the Committee. I had better leave it there. as they should. What is the turnaround period for a There has been a kind of conversation through attempted passport application now? points of order. Where it will end I know not. Mrs May: The hon. Gentleman’s intervention gives me an opportunity to tell the House that it is not true BILL PRESENTED that the number of staff at the Passport Office has gone down; the number has gone up. In the first few months MODERN SLAVERY BILL of this year, we saw a significant increase in the number Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57) of applications for passports, both renewals and new Secretary Theresa May, supported by the Prime Minister, passports, and I am pleased to say that even given the the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Chancellor of the unprecedented levels of applications, we are still meeting Exchequer, Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary the service standards of 97% of straightforward applications Chris Grayling and Karen Bradley, presented a Bill to being returned within three weeks, and 99% being returned make provision about slavery, servitude and forced or within four weeks. We are not complacent. We continue compulsory labour; to make provision about human to consider whether further contingency measures need trafficking; to make provision for an Anti-slavery to be put to place, should the significant increase in Commissioner; and for connected purposes. applications that we saw in the first few months of this year continue. I recognise the importance of this issue Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time for the hon. Gentleman’s constituents and for mine. tomorrow; and to be printed (Bill 8) with explanatory notes (Bill 8-EN). Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ Co-op): Surely the Home Secretary will know from her own constituency experience that there has been a big increase in such problems in the last few weeks. Has she not seen that in her constituency? 415 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 416

Mrs May: All Members of the House will have had existence of servitude and abuse. forced to work inhumane comments and inquiries from constituents on this matter. hours in terrible conditions, forced to live a life of crime That is why during the last few months we have been and forced into degrading sexual exploitation. The misery increasing the resource that is available in the Passport and trauma experienced by victims are immense. Held Office to deal with applications, and increasing the against their will and with no means of escape, they resource available to deal with queries from Members of often endure rape, violence and psychological torture. Parliament on this issue. As I just said in my response to In 2013, 1,746 potential victims of trafficking were the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr Donohoe), referred to the national referral mechanism, but modern we continue to ensure that the resource available will be slavery is largely a hidden crime, so in reality this figure sufficient to deliver the service that we require, and that most likely does not represent or reflect the true number the public require when they are renewing or applying of people enduring slavery in Britain today. Slavery is a for a passport. crime that includes not only those trafficked into the UK but vulnerable British nationals who are preyed Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab): I am upon and exploited by people living here. surprised that the rising number of renewals took the Passport Office by surprise. Surely renewals at least are Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): something that could be reasonably reliably predicted. My constituents, in particular the voluntary organisations Will the right hon. Lady assure the House that as we and charities, will welcome the Modern Slavery Bill. approach the busy summer holiday season, there will be Will my right hon. Friend outline in more detail how it sufficient resources to ensure that applications can be will stop the exploitation of so many innocent people? turned round in time for families to go on their annual holidays? Mrs May: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his Mrs May: I can absolutely assure the hon. Lady that intervention. I am sure he is right that his constituents we are very aware of the major period of summer will welcome this Bill; indeed, I hope that it will be holidays coming up and the need for us to ensure that welcomed, as it has been in the Joint Scrutiny Committee, the facilities and resources are there in the Passport by Members of all parties. If he will indulge me, I will Office to deal with this matter. I do not know whether it say a little bit about what is in the Bill, which will is appropriate to give a plug for a debate that is due to explain to him how we are going to deal with this crime, take place in the House, but tonight’s Adjournment particularly by toughening up sentencing and enabling debate will be on this matter. My hon. Friend the the law enforcement agencies to be in an even better Minister for Security and Immigration will be responding, position to deal with it. and he will be able to go into some of these matters in more detail. Michael Connarty: There have been many criticisms of how the national referral mechanism works, and the Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab): Government promised six months ago that there would On a very simple point, I have many cases similar to be a review of it. Will there be detail of how this review those of my colleagues, but people are being told that has been carried out or how it will be carried out? What the target cannot be met, so if they want a passport they will we do with people when they leave the NRM? Once should pay £70 to have it express delivered. Will those they have been in it for a certain time, they are pitched people now be given their money back? If the Passport out into what would appear to be oblivion. Office has failed to meet the standard set by the Department, those people should not be charged for that service. Mrs May: The hon. Gentleman makes a point that is often made about people coming to the end of their Mrs May: I have indicated that even given the permitted period within the NRM. In fact, a lot of unprecedented levels of demand during the first few work is done with other providers to ensure that people months of this year, we have been able to meet our are able to move on to other facilities at the end of that service standards. People can pay for the premium time, but crucially that will be one of the issues that of service, but there has been good news in relation to course the review of the NRM will look at. That review passport fees: the Government were able to reduce the is ongoing. Yesterday, I saw the individual who is regular fee for passports, partly owing to changes in the undertaking it. He said that he is getting on well with it; Passport Office that resulted from our decision to scrap and of course we will bring the results of the review into the identity card proposal of the last Government. the public domain, so that we can show what issues have Overall, we see that our reforms and legislative changes been identified and what our response to them will be. are working. Now, in the fourth and final Session of I said that I would come on to exactly what is in the this Parliament, we are bringing forward legislation to Bill. If we are to stamp out this crime and expunge it ensure that more organised criminals can be brought to from this country, we must arrest, prosecute and imprison justice, and to further the significant and far-reaching the criminals and organised groups that systematically reforms of our criminal justice system. exploit people and that lie behind the majority of the The Gracious Speech included a Modern Slavery Bill modern-day slave trade. to tackle the appalling crime of modern slavery. In few other crimes are the effects of organised criminals and Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con): Yesterday gangs more pernicious than in the trade of human my hon. Friend the Member for North East Cambridgeshire beings for profit. In towns and cities across the country, (Stephen Barclay) facilitated a meeting with the Lithuanian behind closed doors and hidden from plain sight, there ambassador. Does my right hon. Friend the Secretary are men, women and children who endure a horrendous of State agree that it is extremely important that we 417 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 418 have cross-country and pan-EU working on this issue, Thirdly, it will ensure that victims receive the protection because criminals from overseas are prevalent in this and support they deserve during the judicial process particular area? and in accessing vital victim support services. Currently, modern slavery and human trafficking Mrs May: Yes, it is absolutely crucial that we both offences are spread across a number of different Acts. work across borders and countries to deal with the The Bill fixes that by consolidating and simplifying organised crime groups. There are issues with how those existing offences in one single piece of legislation, providing who are being trafficked from source countries are dealt much needed clarity and focus and making the law with, and trying to ensure that they do not become easier to apply. Punishments will now fit the crime, with victims of this particular crime. We can also look at the maximum sentence available increased to life how other countries deal with this issue and with people imprisonment. Slave-drivers and traffickers will have being returned to their countries. their illicit gains seized and, wherever possible, used to The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, make reparations to victims. A new anti-slavery my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire Moorlands commissioner will drive an improved and co-ordinated (Karen Bradley), who is the Minister with responsibility response. The Bill will also introduce a statutory defence for modern slavery and organised crime, has already for victims who are compelled to commit a crime as a visited Albania to talk to people there about how they direct consequence of their slavery, alongside other deal with this crime. I was able to appoint Anthony measures to enhance protection and support for victims. Steen, a former Member of this House, as my special The Bill has benefited considerably from pre-legislative envoy in this regard; he was the chairman of the all-party scrutiny and the detailed evidence heard during that group on this issue and has done a lot of work on process. I am enormously grateful to the right hon. human trafficking. He visited a number of countries, Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) and other members including Albania, and others such as , to see how of the Committee for their unstinting dedication and I they were dealing with these issues. That work will share with them a determination to see an end to inform the action plan that we will produce in due modern slavery. We have listened to the Committee’s course alongside the legislation, because this process is findings and, where practicable, have put forward proposals not just about a legislative response; it is about some to address its key concerns. A detailed response to its wider issues too. work has been published today. However, as I indicated earlier, stamping out modern slavery in Britain will Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): We all support action on require more than legislation alone. Law enforcement modern slavery, but unfortunately within the past two must play a robust and effective role in tracking down, months the Home Secretary has withdrawn face-to-face arresting and prosecuting offenders. That is why I have advice for asylum seekers in my constituency, which is a made tackling modern slavery a priority for the National dispersal area, so victims of modern slavery now have Crime Agency, and at our borders I have established to call a phone helpline in order to seek advice. Actions specialist teams to help identify and protect victims speak louder than words. Why has she withdrawn that being trafficked into the country. advice? Victims must be at the heart of everything we do, so I have ordered a review of the national referral mechanism, Mrs May: The hon. Gentleman is right that the as I indicated in response to the hon. Member for service provided is now under a new contract. A greater Linlithgow and East Falkirk (Michael Connarty). range of facilities is now available to individuals— for Recognising the particular needs and vulnerabilities of example, the advice phone line. child victims, I am putting in place trials for child advocates. The Bill gives those advocates a statutory Of course, one of the key issues in dealing with basis and the status they need to support and represent modern slavery is being able to identify those who have the child effectively. We are also encouraging businesses been subject to it or to human trafficking. That is why it to look at their supply chains and ensure that they are is so important to train our Border Force officials to free from trafficking and exploitation. spot people who may have been trafficked when they enter the country, and it is why the national referral (Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) mechanism review will crucially look at identification. (Lab): Will the Home Secretary clarify that point about At the moment we know, in a formal sense, who is child guardians? Will the Bill include statutory provision referred to the NRM, but we fear that there are many to bring in child guardians, or simply the permissive more victims of slavery and/or trafficking, as I said power to do so depending on the trials, the length of earlier. which we do not know? Crucially, more arrests and more prosecutions will Mrs May: The Bill will provide the enabling legislation mean more victims released from slavery, and more that we undertook to provide when the Immigration prevented from ever entering it in the first place. At the Act 2014 was going through this House, following an same time, we must improve and enhance protection for amendment made in another place. We are doing it that victims and give them the support they need to recover way because we want to see what the best model is for from their ordeal. The Modern Slavery Bill—the first of child advocates; there are differences of opinion over its kind in Europe—will substantially strengthen our which model will work best. We are therefore including powers to tackle this crime. It will do so by doing three an enabling power to ensure that we adopt the best things. First, it will ensure that measures are in place so model when that becomes clear from the trials. that law enforcement agencies and the judiciary can crack down on offenders and give them the punishments Michael Connarty: Is the Home Secretary proposing they deserve. Secondly, it will provide vital new policing a separate and more serious crime of trafficking or tools to help prevent further cases of modern slavery. exploiting children? She has not made that clear. 419 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 420

Mrs May: The hon. Gentleman raises a point that the interest in the issue over the years and has developed a pre-legislative scrutiny Committee looked at. It was great understanding of it, so he will know that one of keen that we should change our approach to the whole the issues raised about the national referral mechanism question of offences in the Bill by having a wider is precisely the operation of immigration officials in offence of exploitation. We have decided not to go relation to it. However, I think that the largest numbers down that route because we believe that such a broad of referrals made to the NRM still come from people and wide-ranging offence could make it more difficult within the immigration system who have spotted people for law enforcement agencies and that it could, through who might have been trafficked. This is not an either/or the law of unintended consequences, encompass behaviour issue; it is one that we have to explore very carefully, to that is otherwise entirely innocent. We have changed ensure that all those who come into contact with people some of the definitions in the offences in order to make who might have been enslaved or trafficked can spot the it absolutely clear that where they involve a child, which signs and know how to refer, so that a case can be dealt might make it harder to identify when coercion is with appropriately. Indeed, the Bill will include a clause taking place, there is specific reference to that in the about a duty on first responders to report a case when overall offences of slavery, servitude and labour exploitation. they see someone who has been the victim of slavery or Taken together, the Modern Slavery Bill and these trafficking. measures provide a comprehensive programme of action For justice to be done, we must have a criminal justice that will help to make a real difference to the lives of system that properly punishes offenders and protects some of the most vulnerable people in our society. the public. The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, carried over from the third Session, is the next stage in the Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): Has the Home Government’s significant reforms to the justice system Secretary had any discussions with the devolved Assemblies, to make sure that offenders receive suitable sentences, particularly the Scottish Parliament and the Northern to improve court processes and to reduce the financial Ireland Assembly, which have both brought in anti- burden on the taxpayer. It includes a package of sentencing trafficking legislation that relates specifically to Scotland and criminal law reforms aimed at ensuring that the and Northern Ireland respectively, as I understand that public are kept safe from serious and repeat offenders. that legislation takes care of the point about specific child exploitation and guardianship? Once this Bill gets Royal Assent, no one convicted of certain serious violent and sexual offences, such as the Mrs May: The hon. Gentleman makes an important rape of a child or a serious terrorism offence, will be point. We have had considerable discussions with the entitled to automatic release at the halfway point of Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly. their sentence, and they will get early release only if they We have also had discussions with the Welsh Assembly, no longer present a risk to the public. The Bill will because most of the Bill’s provisions cover England and ensure that when offenders are released on licence we Wales. We are still in discussions with the Scottish can properly monitor their whereabouts using modern Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. The technology. It will also crack down on those who abscond Scottish Government made it clear a few months ago after being recalled to custody by creating a new offence that they wanted to introduce their own legislation in of being unlawfully at large. In addition, it will ensure this area. As he says, there are also legislative proposals that anyone who murders a police or prison officer in in the Northern Ireland Assembly. We are talking about the course of their duty faces a whole life sentence, and how we can ensure that they all mesh together so that it will introduce tougher sentences for those who cause we have a comprehensive approach. As a result of death or serious injury by driving while disqualified. further discussions, it is possible that I might wish to While the proper punishment of offences is important, bring forward amendments relating to Scotland and so too is rehabilitation. This is particularly true of Northern Ireland, but detailed discussions are still ongoing young offenders. We are therefore putting education at on what legislative arrangements will work best. the heart of youth custody and ensuring that young Moving on from the Modern Slavery Bill— offenders are given an opportunity to turn their lives around. The Bill will provide for secure colleges to be Michael Connarty rose— created, so that we can trial a new approach to youth custody that gives young offenders the skills, support Mrs May: I have been generous to the hon. Gentleman. and qualifications that they need to turn their backs on crime and become productive, hard-working members Michael Connarty: I think that the Home Secretary of society. might have mentioned the fact that the biggest problem in Scotland—I am sure that the same is true in Northern Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab): Has the Ireland—as has been said in public by the Justice Minister, Home Secretary had any discussions with ministerial Kenny MacAskill, is the criminalisation of victims by colleagues about provision for young women and girls the UK Border Agency, which treats people as criminals in these secure training colleges? because they have broken immigration laws. Rather than being treated as victims, they are taken to court for breaching immigration laws. Will that be resolved? Will Mrs May: Over the past few years, I have had a the UK Border Agency stop victimising people by number of discussions with colleagues in the Ministry criminalising them for breaches of immigration laws? of Justice about how women are dealt with in the whole prison estate and in the criminal justice system in terms Mrs May: I have to tell the hon. Gentleman that the of custodial sentences. The Ministry of Justice is still UK Border Agency will not be doing anything, because looking at the issue, aware that there may well be I abolished it over a year ago. He has taken a great particular concerns that need to be taken into account. 421 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 422

Mr David Blunkett (Sheffield, Brightside and crime-fighting body, the National Crime Agency, has Hillsborough) (Lab): Would the Home Secretary be been launched to ensure the effective and relentless prepared to revisit the report produced by Baroness pursuit and disruption of serious and organised criminality. Jean Corston, and perhaps talk to her, about the crucial On the same day as it was launched, we published our issue of how we treat people in our communities, as well serious and organised crime strategy to drive our collective those coming into them, in relation to the conditions and relentless response. We have legislated to break they live in? down barriers to information sharing between law enforcement agencies and toughen up penalties for those Mrs May: The report by Baroness Corston was indeed trading in illegal firearms. significant in its findings on the treatment of women and girls, particularly in the criminal justice system in Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): I apologise for relation to custodial sentences. I have had a number of missing the earlier part of the Home Secretary’s speech. discussions with Baroness Corston on this matter in the I warmly welcome what the Government propose in past, especially when I held the women’s brief, when I respect of organised crime. As she knows, half a billion was considering it particularly. I have also had discussions pounds remains unpaid by the Mr Bigs and Mrs Bigs with the Prisons Minister, my hon. Friend the Member who manage to finish their sentence but then leave the for Kenilworth and Southam (Jeremy Wright). I can country without paying their fines. Will she consider the assure the right hon. Gentleman that the Ministry of strongest possible measures to ensure that they pay up Justice is aware that the matter needs to be considered. I before they leave the country? am sure that it will be looking at Baroness Corston’s report—although it was done a few years ago, of course—to Mrs May: The right hon. Gentleman makes an important see what she proposed. point. I am about to come to the provisions on asset We must ensure that modern courts run efficiently recovery. and effectively without undue costs to the taxpayer. We Organised crime evolves, and we need to keep pace. are therefore introducing criminal court charges to ensure Under this Government, approximately £746 million of that criminals contribute to the cost of their cases being criminal assets has been recovered. However, the Proceeds heard through the courts system. It is only right that of Crime Act 2002 is under sustained legal challenge criminals who give rise to those costs in the first place from criminals who are constantly seeking new ways to should carry some of the burden placed on the taxpayer. avoid its reach and frustrate asset recovery, as the right We will also introduce reforms to judicial review to hon. Gentleman said. The Serious Crime Bill referred ensure that it is used for the right reasons and not to in the Gracious Speech will close loopholes used by merely to cause unnecessary delays or to court publicity. criminals to get round confiscation orders—for example, Judicial review is vital in holding authorities and others through attempts to hide money with spouses, associates to account, but this must be balanced to avoid costly and other third parties. The Bill will ensure that assets and time-wasting applications and abuse of the system. can be frozen more quickly and earlier on in investigations The modern slavery Bill will ensure that law enforcement and reduce the time that the courts can give offenders to and the judiciary have effective powers available to put pay. It will also significantly increase the time in prison slave drivers and traffickers behind bars, where they faced by criminals who fail to pay confiscation orders, belong. to deter offenders from choosing to serve time in custody rather than paying up. Jim Shannon: Can the Secretary of State confirm that the Government will introduce a non-criminalisation Targeting and convicting those in the wider criminal and detention clause, so that children who are prosecuted group, such as corrupt and complicit professionals, can for crimes that they were compelled to carry out by prove difficult under current legislation. The Bill will their traffickers have some flexibility in the system to close this gap by creating a new offence of participation ensure that they are not penalised for that? in an organised crime group. That will allow the National Crime Agency and the police to go after those who Mrs May: We will absolutely do that. The Bill includes knowingly turn a blind eye to organised crime from a statutory defence that an individual who has been which they profit, and it will send out a strong signal coerced into committing crime will be able to rely on, that no one should be beyond the reach of the law. except for certain very serious crimes that will be excluded, Those convicted could face up to five years in prison where, however, the Crown Prosecution Service guidance and be subject to further civil measures. will still require that prosecutors consider the circumstances The Bill will also close a gap in our current legislation of the individual when the crime was committed. in relation to terrorism, which is particularly pertinent We are determined to disrupt all those who engage, in the light of the ongoing crisis in Syria. The UK faces support and profit from all forms of organised crime. the very serious threat that British nationals travelling Organised crime costs the UK at least £24 billion a year. to Syria are exposed to terrorist groups there, become The financial sector spends about £10 billion a year on radicalised, and on returning may be prepared to radicalise protecting itself from serious and organised crime, and others or carry out an attack here. The Bill will therefore the cost to the UK from organised fraud is thought to extend extra-territorial jurisdiction to offences under be around £9 billion. The impacts of organised crime the Terrorism Act 2006, so enabling the UK to prosecute reach deep into our communities, shattering lives, inflicting individuals who prepare for terrorist acts and train for violence, corroding society, damaging businesses, stealing terrorism abroad in the same way as though they had people’s money, robbing people of their security and carried out those activities in the UK. causing untold harm in the sexual exploitation of children. Those who act for the good of society and for the To deal with this threat, the Government are taking benefit of others play a valuable and often largely comprehensive, wide-ranging action. The powerful new unrecognised role in this country. Good works and 423 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 424

[Mrs May] prosecute and lock up the criminals behind the appalling crime of modern slavery; that we have a criminal justice good deeds are to be encouraged. There is some evidence, system that properly punishes offenders, while being however, that people are put off from volunteering or fair to the taxpayer; that we can better disrupt those going to help in an emergency owing to fears of being who support and benefit from all forms of organised held liable if something goes wrong. crime; and that we continue to encourage good works The social action, responsibility and heroism Bill will and good deeds. reassure the public that if they act for the benefit of On crime and on justice, this Government’s legislative society and demonstrate a generally responsible approach programme is working to ensure a safe and secure towards the safety of others during an activity or when Britain in which honest, hard-working people can prosper. assisting someone in an emergency, the courts will I commend it to the House. always consider the context of their actions in the event they are sued for negligence. 1.13 pm Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD): When I used Yvette Cooper (Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) to do voluntary work, my understanding was that, (Lab): The Home Secretary has set out the Bills and essentially, that was already the case. Could the Secretary measures announced in the Queen’s Speech, including of State explain whether the Bill will change what the measures on modern slavery and on tackling organised law means or how confident people can be in terms of crime and helping, we hope, pay back the profits of how they act, or will it change both? crime—which we have called for before—as well as action on female genital mutilation, child neglect and Mrs May: The hon. Gentleman is right that there has terrorism abroad. All of those measures will have strong always been an understanding, but the problem is that, cross-party support and I want to address some of sadly, people do not see enough clarity in legislation to them. I also want to talk about what is missing from the give them the confidence that that is the case. Indeed, Queen’s Speech, because the Home Secretary’s proposals they sometimes see reports of cases where the opposite are not sufficient to address some of the challenges that has been the case. It is, therefore, important to give Britain faces for the future. greater clarity in the law and that is what the Bill will do. I will start with the Bill that we welcome most—the Modern Slavery Bill. I pay tribute, as the Home Secretary Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): I spend a lot has done, to the members of the cross-party Joint of my time as a community first responder with the Committee, including my right hon. Friend the Member ambulance service in Yorkshire, and when I turn up at for Birkenhead (Mr Field) and my hon. Friends the emergencies, I often find that people are unwilling to Members for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) and for involve themselves because, although the law may well Linlithgow and East Falkirk (Michael Connarty), who protect them, they do not feel that it will do so. Therefore, have argued for changes and improvements to the Bill. I wholeheartedly welcome the Bill and offer the Home The Home Secretary was right to talk about the Secretary my experience as an example of why more torture, rape and persecution of those who see no way clarity is needed. out. The gangmasters, traffickers and slave drivers are not just stealing vulnerable people’s money; they are Mrs May: I am very grateful to my hon. Friend, who stealing their freedom and stealing their lives. Tougher has hit the nail on the head. The social action, responsibility laws and penalties are needed, and I also hope the Bill and heroism Bill will, I hope, send a very clear message will go further in providing more support for victims by to everyone that they should have the confidence of making sure they are not punished in the immigration knowing that they can go to help others and not fear the system or sent back to those who sold them in the first consequences for themselves. place. It also needs to make sure that there are child Although not specifically referenced in the Gracious guardians, which we have been calling for since 2010, Speech last week, the Government intend to introduce a because it is chilling that two thirds of children rescued draft Bill to modernise the way in which compensation from trafficking in Britain just disappear. They are is paid to individuals and businesses that experience betrayed by their abusers only to be betrayed for a loss or damage to property caused by riots. The Riot second time by the authorities, which fail to protect (Damages) Act 1886 has not been updated since it was them when their abusers and traffickers steal their lives introduced. Consequently, it does not properly reflect and freedom all over again. modern society—for example, it does not cover damage The Home Secretary also needs to look again at the to cars. domestic workers visa and the risks to those forced into The precise detail of the draft Bill will be determined domestic slavery, unable to escape. The charity Kalayaan following the public consultation that I launched last has found that since the Home Secretary changed the week. This will build on the findings of visas, 60% of those on the new visa were paid no salary review of the Act, which was published in November at all, compared with 14% on the original visa. That is 2013 and is part of our substantial work since the riots slavery, and the evidence suggests that the Home Secretary’s of August 2011 to ensure that compensation arrangements visa reforms have made it worse. We will also press her keep pace with modern life. It is right that we continue to support joint action on supply chains, as the Joint to protect vulnerable people and businesses from the Committee has suggested. financial impact of riots. I am glad that the Home Secretary is doing more to This Government can be proud of the reforms and recover the proceeds of crime. She will know that less legislation that we have put in place. These Bills will has been recovered in recent years. The amount collected build on that work. They will ensure that we can hunt, by the police and the volume of confiscation orders 425 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 426 have fallen, yet we know there is still £1.5 billion-worth anger and that they are no longer being made to feel of outstanding orders—ill-gotten gains that criminals welcome or respected in the community as a whole. are still stashing away. We have already called on the Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is important Home Secretary to end early release with regard to that the broader strategy engages the whole community default sentences where organised criminals refuse and respects and honours everyone’s contribution as to pay, and to stop loopholes whereby criminals transfer members of our country? assets to families. I hope those measures will be in the Bill. Yvette Cooper: My hon. Friend is right. She knows We welcome further action on organised crime and that many of the strongest advocates of fighting extremism those aiding and abetting criminals, and we certainly or preventing extremism—for example, preventing Islamist need stronger action against those who are mutilating extremism—are those in the Muslim communities the bodies of girls and young women. It is a stain on themselves, such as Muslim community leaders who our country that so many young women are at risk and have done excellent work on preventing extremism. The no one has yet been successfully prosecuted. Government should do more to support those communities More action is also needed against online child abuse. in the work that such communities are often better at We are glad that the Home Secretary is looking at new leading. offences, but what is she doing to reverse the fall in Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre arrests A lot is missing from this Queen’s Speech. There is no and the drop in the number of chid abusers being serious action to tackle domestic violence or rape, of caught? which reported cases are going up, but prosecutions and convictions are going down on the Home Secretary’s I am also glad that the Home Secretary is looking at watch. There are no national standards, and no terrorist offences overseas, but after all the noise yesterday commissioner on violence against women to make sure about the Prevent programme she needs also to recognise that such standards are enforced. I still fail to understand that there is a significant gap in her policies on preventing why the Government will not do more to prevent violent terrorism and extremism. She claimed yesterday that it relationships among young people. Where is the proposal was okay for the Home Office to narrow the work it for the compulsory sex and relationship education that does and to stop funding work by communities themselves all our children should get to ensure that they are to prevent extremism, because, she said, the Department taught zero tolerance of violence in relationships from for Communities and Local Government is doing that the start? instead—but it is not. The reality is that neither the Home Secretary nor the What about immigration? The Home Secretary’s Communities Secretary—nor even the Education approach is failing. She set a net migration target, and Secretary—are taking seriously enough the need to the Prime Minister promised—no ifs, no buts—that he work with communities on preventing young people would get immigration down to the tens of thousands. from being seduced into going to Syria. Some of the The Home Secretary said that she would meet the target strongest voices and most effective people in counteracting by the end of the Parliament. Yet net migration is now the ideology of the jihad are those within the communities, at 212,000, which is hardly less than the 222,000 at the in faith groups and friends in social media, yet not time of the last election. Despite all her rhetoric and enough work is being done with those communities or four years’ worth of legislation, the public are more to give them support. I hope the Home Secretary will worried about immigration now than when she started make sure that that happens. as Home Secretary. However, universities and businesses are concerned that they cannot attract the best international Keith Vaz: May I endorse what my right hon. Friend talent, which they need. In the past year alone, the the shadow Home Secretary has said? In my constituency, number of people saying that immigration is their biggest 52% of the people are from ethnic minority communities concern has doubled. It is the worst of all worlds, so and there are more than 27 mosques, 35 Hindu temples why does she not stop pretending about meeting her and five gurdwaras in Leicester. It is important to bring failed target and act to address some of the practical communities with us. Of course, a tough strategy is very concerns that people have about the impact of immigration important. We did not get it absolutely right under the on wages and jobs? previous Government and Prevent had to be modernised, but without those communities we cannot make change. Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): Will the right hon. Lady tell me what the Labour party Yvette Cooper: The Home Affairs Committee has is going to do? It seems to me that there are only two done some important work on this issue and my right ways to deal with UKIP’s agenda: either to accommodate hon. Friend is right that we will always have to keep and pander to it, or to challenge the very assumptions reforming the programmes and learning from things on which it is based. Labour cannot look two ways on that do not work, because preventing extremism is a this matter—will it challenge or pander? difficult area. However, experts in countering extremism and preventing terrorism have raised concerns with me that some of the work done previously with the Somali Yvette Cooper: UKIP is exploiting people’s fears and community to ensure that it got the support it needed to concerns, and it needs to be challenged every step of the prevent people from going to Somalia to fight is not way. We need to set out the practical reforms that would being replicated to prevent people from going to Syria. address people’s concerns about the impact of immigration on their wages and jobs when employers exploit immigration Kate Green: I also represent a constituency with a to undercut local wages and jobs. I do not understand highly diverse population and many families from minority why the Home Secretary will not take such measures—we communities. They tell me of a deep sense of bubbling could support them—in a new immigration Bill. 427 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 428

[Yvette Cooper] Yvette Cooper: My right hon. Friend is exactly right. I know that he and the Committee will scrutinise this Andrew Percy: The shadow Secretary of State came matter in great detail. It is deeply troubling if important to my constituency recently. She did not give me notice security measures have been dropped simply because of her visit, but she may have heard from residents in there is a crisis in the Passport Office and the Home Goole of their concerns about immigration. The visit Secretary has taken her eye off the ball. did no good: the Labour vote completely collapsed in We know that the delays are even longer for Brits the Euro elections. Will she now take this opportunity living abroad, such as the family who cannot come to apologise to residents in Goole for what happened in home from Qatar with their baby because they cannot 2007, which led massive numbers of immigrants to get him a passport to fly. With expats stuck abroad and come to our town and put huge pressure on schools, unable to come home, keeping Brits out of the country housing and our public services? seems to be the Government’s only chance of meeting the net migration target. This is a shambles. Yvette Cooper: I must tell the hon. Gentleman that, unfortunately, public concern about immigration is much There are some sensible measures in this Queen’s higher now than it was at the time of the general Speech, but too much that is not in it. Frankly, from our election. I hope that he will apologise to his constituents debates over the past week, people would not have for backing a net migration target and promising that it known even about the measures that are in it. The would be met by the time of the next general election, Home Secretary was not talking about them on the day but utterly failing to meet it. of the Queen’s Speech. In fact, no one was talking about them, and even the fainting page-boy struggled to The Government are not setting out the practical get a look in. We had the headlines, “Cabinet at war things that they could do. For example, they could stop over extremists in schools”, “Angry Cameron rebukes agencies recruiting only from abroad, close loopholes in rivals as Tory rift widens”, and “Tory bloodbath over the minimum wage, go much further on unfair zero-hours Muslim schools fiasco”. We had to pity the poor Prime contracts and make serious exploitation a crime. All Minister, who was standing on the sidelines and desperate those are things that the Government could do. to talk about pensions or fracking, and even the Deputy In response to my hon. Friends’ questions, the Home Prime Minister, who was trying to get noticed and Secretary commented about the Passport Office, but I madly waving his plastic bags. No one heard about the must say that her answers were incredibly complacent slavery Bill or the crime Bill on Queen’s Speech day, and simply do not reflect the experience of MPs right because the Home Secretary had started her own plot across the country. She claimed that all the targets are to cause a parliamentary explosion on the day the being met. From what she said, we would think that Queen came to Parliament. everything was absolutely fine. Tell that to James Bowness Yesterday, the Home Secretary told the House that from Cumbria, who nearly missed his chance to qualify she did not authorise the publication of the letter on the for the Commonwealth games because his passport did website or in the media. Presumably, she woke up on not arrive in time; pensioner Eileen Shepherd from Wednesday morning to be as shocked by the headlines Darlington, who missed her dream cruise because her as everyone else. Presumably, she was as horrified as the passport did not arrive; or the Vernon family from Prime Minister that the Gracious Speech we should Coventry, who missed their first family holiday abroad. have been talking about was overshadowed. Presumably, They all applied in time, but the Passport Office let she rushed into the Department and said, “Oh, Fiona, them down. what on earth have you done? Take it down. Quick—rush across and make nice to the Education Secretary. Get Mr Donohoe: One of the problems faced by Members me the Prime Minister on the phone, and I’ll apologise of Parliament and their staff is that when they phone for this dreadful departmental mistake on such an the ministerial hotlines, they do not get an answer for important day.” Except that she did not; there was no two or three days, and when they do it is incomprehensible contrition, no rush to limit the violence and no punishment and does not help them with the particular case. for the culprit in her Department. Yvette Cooper: My hon. Friend is right. Many of us Yesterday, the Home Secretary got terribly touchy have had the experience of trying to ensure that our about the ministerial code. She said that she had not constituents get their passports in time to go on the breached it, but let us see what it says. Under section 2.1, holiday that they have put all their savings into, or to go ministerial correspondence should be confidential. Yet on a business trip abroad. We are told that there is a she kept the letter on her website for three days. Under backlog of 500,000 cases. We all know that people are section 3.3, she has responsibility for her special adviser. now in a state of panic and, for fear of losing their Is that why she will not tell us who leaked the letter? money, are putting extra money in to pay for fast-track These are blatant breaches of the ministerial code and services or rushing across the country to Durham or she knows it. If she wants those charges against her to elsewhere to pick up their passport. be dropped, she should answer these questions. Who agreed to put the letter on the website? Who agreed to Keith Vaz: For my right hon. Friend’s information, give it to the press? Why did she write it after she had the Home Affairs Committee has called the head of the heard about the briefing from The Times, and did she Passport Office to appear before us on Tuesday. We write it knowing that it would be leaked? When did have heard that the real problem is that 80 members of she find out it was on the website, and why did she not staff have been moved off passport fraud duties to help take it down? with the backlog, meaning that they are not doing the The Home Secretary launched a sabotage attack on very important work of checking fraud that they are the Queen’s Speech, even though her own Department required to do. had some perfectly reasonable measures that she should 429 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 430 have wanted to include. The Queen’s Speech just does police paedophile unit for two years. The first of the not do enough to tackle the serious problems in the three parts involved hunting down a group of individuals country. There is not enough on crime, immigration or who, if my memory is correct, were members of a violence against women, and the Home Secretary has paedophile ring that had been abusing children in London taken her eye off the ball. She has been too busy in since 1957—not quite 50 years. One of the more active briefing wars with the Education Secretary to keep her members was a Julian Levene, who produced a manual own house in order, and too busy worrying about her on the grooming and abuse of children for the use of next job to get her day job right, and the country is the members of the ring, and any others who were being let down. interested. Many paedophiles write, either in hard copy or on a 1.29 pm computer, guidance or descriptions of their abuse activities, Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley) (Con): That was whether real or imaginary. They are, in effect, manuals, quite an extraordinary speech. It did not focus on the and can clearly be seen as guidance. The Bill looks Queen’s Speech. It did not focus on the Bills that were broad enough to catch such material. For many, the listed. Incidentally, the right hon. Member for Normanton, written word is more effective than child pornographic Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) should recognise photographs, pseudo-photographs and so on. that the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre I would like to give a simple example from CEOP. A does not arrest—it passes information to individual man from Kent recently wrote describing his wish to police forces to deal with. kidnap an early-teenage girl, strip her, sexually abuse I was impressed with the list, and the Home Secretary, her and then, in an appalling way that I will not detail, for the sake of the rest of us who want to speak, went slowly kill her. It is horrific, especially as his writings through it quickly. She did not touch on everything; inspired him to carry it out. He is now in prison, there is more there than she mentioned. I am here to say hopefully for ever, but the teenager is lost. With this a personal thank you to the Ministers— legislation, perhaps the early discovery of the writings could have helped, especially given that the police will John Robertson (Glasgow North West) (Lab): You have the power to act. are grovelling. Having pondered, with legal help, over quite how to Sir Paul Beresford: No, I do not grovel; the hon. phrase legislation to cover this problem, I congratulate Gentleman knows that. the Secretary of State and her Ministers on the ingenious approach that they have taken. It is broad, it is clever, it John Robertson: That is what it sounds like. will do the job, and lessons have been learned from the Terrorism Act 2006. I also congratulate Ministers on Sir Paul Beresford: I will meet him on the rugby field following the approach of much of the child protection and we will see. legislation. The change will be able to be used actively, I am coming to the point. After 12 or 14 years of proactively and retrospectively. I thank the Ministers working to try to bring legislative changes, with considerable again. success on, among other things, dealing with paedophiles, there is a tiny element—that last element, which has taken me 14 years—included in the Serious Crime Bill. 1.34 pm It is little. The Home Secretary did not mention it. My specific interest is in part 5, clause 63. It has not been Mr David Blunkett (Sheffield, Brightside and noticed by many. It is a change to help prosecute child Hillsborough) (Lab): I have a declared interest that sex abusers. The clause is headed simply, “Possession of relates to higher education, which might crop up in my paedophile manual”, and as I read the measure, the speech. definition is broader than the sort of straight manual I thank the hon. Member for Mole Valley (Sir Paul that one would see on car repair. That said, in the past Beresford) for his reference to the work of my late much of this kind of material has been similar to a friend, Paul Goggins, who was referred to by the Prime repair manual. Minister and the Leader of the Opposition on the day Two of my ten-minute rule Bills have effectively of the Queen’s Speech. I appreciate that reference, because been on the same subject—I was supported by Paul Paul would have been proud that his work, like that of Goggins, whose name has been mentioned several so many in this House, has borne fruit in the form of times. Such material has also been the subject of my legislation. continual pressure on Ministers of the previous Labour Before I turn to the substance of the Queen’s Speech Government—including one who is present—and of and the related issues that my right hon. Friend the this Government. The problem was first highlighted by shadow Home Secretary has deliberated on very effectively, the Home Office taskforce of which I was a member in may I reflect on the nature of last week’s events? Having 2001-02, which preceded the Sexual Offences Act 2003. been the Home Secretary at the time of the 11 September Along with a few senior Met officers—particularly retired attack and the subsequent dangers, I am mindful of the DCI Dave Marshall, who is highly respected in this need for security. However, I am becoming increasingly area—I have persistently raised the issue ever since. concerned about the way in which we operate the closures Recently, CEOP has swung heavily behind the need for in central London around the Queen’s Speech. To close legal changes. substantial portions of the area around Westminster The existence of real manuals and their effect came to from Monday to Friday is, in my view, unnecessary. We the fore when BBC 2 broadcast a three-part programme should protect the Queen—the royal personage—in any called “The Hunt for Britain’s Paedophiles” in 2002. It way we can, but there has been an extension in what involved Bob Long of the BBC following the Metropolitan happens over recent years. I mention that only because 431 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 432

[Mr David Blunkett] across the world? Ten and a half million people have been moved outside their homeland either compulsorily it is damaging to the London economy and extremely or through fear of the danger of death and torture. frustrating for the populace, and it does not necessarily People are desperately looking for a better life, and do Parliament any good. hearing about it in the way I have just described and in a Secondly, as we have seen in the debate over the past fashion that was not present years ago. Bewilderment few days and way beyond, a fixed-term, five-year Parliament and a subliminal fear come from those uncertainties, can be seen to run out of steam. If we are to continue and people are looking to someone to find answers. with fixed-term Parliaments, I think that it is time to We have the chance to debate these issues today, but re-examine whether they should last for four years, that rarely happens any more on television or radio, and rather than five. Irrespective of whether a coalition is certainly not in the print media or through the inanity still required, which I sincerely hope it is not, it is clear of many bloggers. We are not reaching, talking to or from history that Governments need to refresh themselves. having a dialogue with—never mind listing to—the That is part of our democracy and considering such a fears of people, but there is nothing new about that. change would be a positive move in responding to the changing needs of the population and the political One great advantage of being a Back Bencher is that debate. Four-year Parliaments might allow us to have one has the chance to read. I have been reading the two Queen’s Speeches: one at the beginning of a Parliament biography of Roy Jenkins that came out a few months and one two years in, which would allow time for ago. He was not a favourite politician of mine, not least substantive debate and measures that have been carefully because he was paraded as one of the most liberal and planned and thought through. I commend the idea of radical Home Secretaries in history, whereas most of returning to those issues to Front Benchers on both the legislation he took credit for was promoted by Back sides of the House. Benchers. My irritation at that has been overwhelmed by going back and reading extracts of speeches and We face a moment of rapid change that is unprecedented articles that he wrote. Fifty-five years ago, he was in our history. There is economic, social and cultural talking about the challenge of whether we should enter change, some of which we touched on yesterday afternoon what was then the European Economic Community. He during the urgent question and the statement. We face talked about a bigger issue of people living in an an explosion in communications that brings globalisation atmosphere of illusion or reality, and the unwillingness and issues on a moment-by-moment basis not just into to address Britain’s position in the world. He spoke people’s front rooms, which we used to say in relation to about a challenge of living in a sullen and incomprehensible television, but into their hands as they use mobile environment in which people looked only to the past. technology. The immediacy of such issues has changed how people see the rapid change in the world around I fear that we are in that moment once again. People them. hanker for a past that did not really exist, and they look When we were in a position of economic success, for certainties that are no longer there. They fear that with continuing growth, continuing substantial falls in politicians do not have answers to their questions, and unemployment and rises in wages, and it was possible to they lash out at anyone near them. I think we must try invest in improved public services, globalisation appeared in our own way across all three major political parties to to be benign, if not somewhat bewildering, to the provide answers that are credible. Nobody can populace. The same is not true at a time of deep underestimate the bewilderment, and no one should austerity, with the results of the global banking belittle the cry for help from our constituents, above all meltdown—and it was a global banking meltdown; the in a constituency such as mine. previous Labour Government were not responsible for People will be aware of the considerable tensions that the collapse of the sub-prime market in the United have arisen after a large influx of people from Slovakia States or the recession across Europe. It is risible that of a Roma background. They are fleeing unbelievable people still repeat that calumny over and again, particularly persecution and standards of living that are third world, members of the junior partner in the coalition, who to say the least. Incidentally, Slovakia managed a turnout were enthusiastically in favour of the public spending of only 13% in the European Union election—I do not that we were engaged in before 2010 and suddenly think that is a functioning democracy. People come to changed their mind. Indeed, so was the Conservative the UK from that background and those norms of party, because until autumn 2008 and a change of mind living, and as part of the debate about British values at the Tory party conference, the main thrust of public and a society that can address those challenges, we need expenditure was supported by the Conservative Opposition. to invest in and help people through those difficulties. I mention that because the confusion, bewilderment That applies to both the host community, which suddenly and sense of powerlessness that affects so many of our finds its way of life affected dramatically, and incomers constituents has a knock-on effect on the way they see who need to learn quickly how best to adapt to and the political environment around them, and on whether adopt the standards of behaviour and norms that we they trust or believe that traditional politics can meet take for granted. their needs—hence the rise of the UK Independence Those big issues require us not to provide simplistic party and its temporary, God willing, success in the soundbites but to address the underlying complexities. European Union elections and some local government This afternoon I appeal for us all to come together to contests. address those things that are practical and can be Old certainties have gone and people are unclear who addressed. In essence, we are dealing with the transitions they should blame for what is happening around them. of life—transitions that are brought about by economic, Is it a change in the world situation and the insecurities social and cultural change globally, and those that that drive asylum seekers and movements of people affect people in their daily lives as the language and the 433 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 434 vista and nature of the community around them changes. retailers in this country acted like political parties, We must consider how best the Government, and therefore nobody would shop at Tesco, Asda or Morrisons ever politics, can assist in that endeavour. again. Although they compete—and rightly make offers My right hon. Friend the Member for Normanton, to people, as part of the market—they do not trash the Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) mentioned idea of supermarkets. If they did, people would turn, as immigration, and the importance of getting a grip on they do with UKIP, to the corner shop. I will give way things that are possible within the current powers of the before I go too far on the analogy between corner shops Westminster Parliament. There are many pressures outside and Nigel Farage. and many changes we all want, and people can collaborate and work together at local level. There are also global Mr Field: Perhaps if I represented a Scottish constituency changes that need to be dealt with by a proper debate in I would hold the same view on immigration, given that a reformed European Union and on the transnational very few of the newcomers wish to go to Scotland—they scene. As my right hon. Friend rightly said, many things wish to settle elsewhere. Would my right hon. Friend that could be dealt with at a local as well as national accept that the ball is in the court of the vice-chancellors? level would assist. I want to touch on some of those They all have tough policies that students must pay today and suggest that in doing so, we might politically outstanding fees before they get their degrees. If the give people hope that not only will they be listened to, vice-chancellors ran a similar system—refusing to award they will be talked to realistically, be respected, and be degrees until students fulfil their promise to go home— told the truth about what we can and cannot do. perhaps the Government would have a different attitude For instance, it was never going to be feasible to get to the number of students coming here. It would not be net migration below 100,000 unless, as has been pointed a problem if they actually went home. out, we rapidly changed the passport system and encouraged our own people to leave the country. We could achieve it Mr Blunkett: There are all sorts of practical ways in that way but that is nonsense. We could never achieve which we could assist universities to ensure that people net migration of under 100,000 unless we remove from in those circumstances leave the country after graduating, the statistics those who come here to study as graduate such as the possibility of returning part of the fee. My and postgraduate students. The commonsense of doing right hon. Friend has strong and, I think, reasonable that has been pressed on the Government over the past arguments to make on this issue, but I do not agree with four years, and I think it would have got all-party him on some issues. support and told people the truth. If we do not tell people the truth, and if we pretend that we can achieve Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): The right hon. targets that are frankly unachievable, when we do not Gentleman mentioned targets and suggested that, in achieve those targets we undermine confidence in all the principle, they are not wrong, but that the Government’s other measures that have been taken. target—of reducing net migration to tens of thousands— We have a tendency at the moment to rewrite history—I was wrong. I think he mentioned a figure of 100,000. If imagine there is nothing new about that. We all like to he agrees with targets in principle, but disagrees with paint what we are doing as day zero, and that what the target set by the Government, what does he think is came before as either inadequate or totally deniable. the right target for net migration?

Pete Wishart: I am one of the people who think that Mr Blunkett: I did not actually say that I agreed with Labour got it just about right on immigration when targets, but in one perverse way I do. The points system they were in government. Will the right hon. Gentleman that I started to introduce before I left the Home Office join me in not being bullied by the Tories and UKIP at the end of 2004, and how it is used now to bring in who want Labour to apologise? Labour should stand the skills that we need from outside the European up for what it did because it did the right thing. Will it Union, are themselves targets, by the very nature of the say to the Tories and UKIP,“We got it right on immigration way in which they are set, the advice that is taken from and we will not be bullied out of our former position.”? the independent commission and the way that we respond. Part of the difficulty that we have been debating—and it gets tangled up with the issue of whether we should Mr Blunkett: The truth is that we did not get it be in or out of the European Union—is the nature of entirely right because no Government get everything free movement. entirely right. That is another part of rebuilding trust in the political system. Mark Pritchard: The Leader of the Opposition has I mentioned day zero because the tendency to suggest apologised to the British people, who want to see net that nothing that came before was satisfactory, adequate migration come down. It is not just the policy of the or even addressed the issues undermines fundamentally coalition Government: it is the British people who want people’s belief that we know what we are doing, or that to see net migration come down. Non-EU migration what happened in the past can be recorded as at least has come down. EU migration is still a challenge, and partially successful. it is one that the Government will face as the Prime Minister renegotiates power back from Europe— Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Lab): Will my right hon. Friend give way? Madam Deputy Speaker (): Order. The hon. Gentleman has been a Member for a long Mr Blunkett: I will give way but I first want to tell the time and he knows that interventions are not an opportunity House about Peter Kellner, the president of YouGov. to make a speech—he can always add his name to the Earlier this year he pointed out that if the five major list—but are supposed to be brief. 435 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 436

Mr Blunkett: I mentioned a moment ago that there jobs—the vacancies were filled by people from what are were things that we did not get right. For instance, we now the central and eastern parts of the European did not do anything like enough to work with host Union, the E8 countries. We found that when we allowed— communities to prepare them for integration. We did and I take total responsibility for this—people to register, not do enough to expand the gateway programme for work legally and pay tax and national insurance, 40% of entry into the UK under the auspices of the United them were already in the country. It is the same now for Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which would the Romanian and Bulgarian entry, which was not a have provided a sensible, planned process—as the small calamity as people in UKIP predicted. Some of the experiments we indulged in did achieve—for giving people now working openly were in the country before people the chance to escape from horrendous circumstances. January and had been to and fro from Bulgaria and I pay tribute to the Home Secretary for introducing the Romania under the existing limited scheme. anti-slavery legislation, which builds on the modest progress we made 10 years ago, including the sexual We need to tell people the truth: there are things we offences legislation. It raises, of course, the issue that can do and things we cannot do. There are targets that people face death and torture, organised criminality can be met and targets that are foolish. If we tell people and slavery, and we need to deal with that. Expanding the truth we might get their respect. The Office for the gateway programme would have reduced the fear of National Statistics needs to be very careful in the a massive influx of asylum seekers. Incidentally, the assumptions it makes—I have had correspondence with number was reduced from 110,000 in 2002 to under Andrew Dilnot on this—from very dubious source evidence. 30,000 by the time I left the Home Office, and it is much lower today. The asylum issue was paramount in people’s I am sorry to keep going back into history, but we minds 12 years ago, but now the issue is movement have to learn from history rather than live in it. In 1968, within the European Union. Anthony Crosland, who was a very radical, free-thinking moderniser at the time, made a speech at a fringe Incidentally, before that, when we were not doing so meeting at the which was then well as an economy, British workers went to other parts written up into an article. In it, he said there was a real of Europe. Those of us who are old enough—as my fear that by the year 2000 there would be a population right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) explosion of between 15 million and 20 million. Between and I are—remember the television series, “Auf the census of 1971 and 2001, the actual uplift was Wiedersehen, Pet” about British workers working in 3.2 million. Germany. There is nothing new about this—the question is the volume, the flow, the preparations made and the I do not underestimate the bigger challenge that we measures taken. Some—indeed, all—of the measures face now, but I simply say to the House—one does not outlined by my right hon. Friend the Member for get this opportunity very often, Madam Deputy Speaker; Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford are reasonable, in all the recent debates I have spoken in I have had and we could add others. between six and 10 minutes to speak, so forgive me—that we need to have a serious, open, non-partisan, non- First, we could include conditionality in relation to knockabout debate on immigration, otherwise the issue entitlement to benefits, toughening that entitlement will corrode people’s confidence in the political system. substantially, and ensuring that people cannot draw It will erode any kind of sensible debate on our future in benefits for family who live abroad, including child Europe. It will undermine people’s belief that we can do benefit. In 2007, I talked at length to the then Chancellor things sensibly on their behalf and that we are listening of the Exchequer about this, and his officials were to their cry for help; not patronising them by simply adamant that proper checks were made—but I doubt it. mouthing whatever it is that they want to hear, but We need clear, enforceable rules that give people confidence suggesting practical measures we can carry through. If that we know what we are doing. We also need points we do that, we might be able to calm the debate and deal systems and clarity about the need for particular skills; with the issues thrown up in recent weeks. What are tough benefit rules; tough conditionality requirements; British values? What do we expect from people in our action to avoid exploitation, by working with employers communities? What can we demand of people who to enforce the minimum wage; and action to ensure that come in from the rest of the European Union or the rest people return to their country of origin if they do not of the world in terms of their response to the norms of find a job, because they are not holidaymakers or our society? Getting those questions right might do all visitors. Those are all practical steps that all three major of us a favour. parties could support. What would not be practical—and I say this honestly Above all, it might restore confidence in the to some of my good friends with whom I agree on many democratic political process, which is so crucial to other issues—is to withdraw the right of free movement. getting people to vote and to take seriously the one We could go back to the time we joined the European other thing that is offered to them—hope. At the Union, or to 1958 and the treaty of Rome, and pretend moment, so many people in the most deprived parts of that everything should have been different, but we are Britain, who are facing the most severe aspects of the where we are. If we have freedom of movement, we austerity programme, lack hope. Above all, in the general should not prohibit people from working legally. If we election next year we must give people that aspiration did that, they would work in the sub-economy. They and hope for the future. If we do that, they might would be here, and they would undercut British workers, respond with a belief in becoming engaged as active their conditions and their wages. In 2004, at a time of citizens and backing their party of choice by voting, substantial economic growth and when we needed people and above all with a belief that democratic politics is to work—and the offer was on the table for young something they want to espouse and support; that people in our country to gain the skills and take up the might come to fruition. 437 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 438

2.3 pm We benefit massively from immigration. We benefit financially—there is a lot of evidence of that—and Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD): It is a pleasure culturally and socially. It is a good thing for us to do. to follow the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside There are, however, associated downsides and the right and Hillsborough (Mr Blunkett). He said a number hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough things that I agree with and made a number of points I was absolutely right to highlight them. The solution is disagree with. The idea that we should have a more to try to fix those problems. Where people coming in sensible, rational debate is one I completely support. I means that we run out of school places, the correct cannot let go the comments made by the right hon. solution is not to throw people out of the country, but Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field). The idea that we to create school places so they can be educated and to would say to students that they have to leave the country make sure there is housing. The correct solution is to before they can graduate strikes me as profoundly damaging. deal with the problems. The right hon. Gentleman is right to say—many people have pointed it out—that Mr Frank Field rose— there are problems with the violation of the national minimum wage. That is why we should ensure that Dr Huppert: If the right hon. Gentleman would like people are paid the national minimum wage and why to change what he is saying, I would be delighted to the Government have acted. We have just had the first hear him clarify his remarks. naming and shaming of people who have been failing to pay it. Immigration is a good thing and we should Mr Field: I will not change what I am saying, but I tackle the problems associated with it. will say it more slowly and clearly so that the hon. It frustrates me that so many people are following the Gentleman actually understands it. My right hon. Friend concerns raised by UKIP and trying to tack towards the Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough them. That is self-defeating. The more that Conservative (Mr Blunkett) suggested that one way to modify the and Labour politicians chase the UKIP line, the stronger immigration figures is to take students out of them. UKIP becomes, because that tells people that it is even One of the problems with doing that is that we have a stronger. large number of students coming here. They say they wish to study here, but continue to stay here and work. Mr Stewart Jackson: Does the hon. Gentleman agree—he The change I would like to see is to challenge vice- probably does not—or concede that he sounds terribly chancellors to have as many students as they want, out of touch, given that 77% of the public say that provided they undertake, on behalf of the Home Secretary, immigration is a huge problem? His arguments would to ensure that those students fulfil their promise to carry more conviction if he were prepared even to look come here, graduate and leave. The universities do— at the free movement directive. I have some sympathy with him on non-EU migration, particularly in the Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. I am not having higher education sector, but he cannot have it both interventions that are speeches. Interventions are exactly ways. People want immigration to be reduced, so he that, and I think the right hon. Gentleman has got his must look at— point across. Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. We have got the Jim Dowd (Lewisham West and Penge) (Lab): He did point. I am going to keep on saying this: interventions say he would speak slowly. are not speeches. The hon. Member for Cambridge is waiting patiently to make his speech. Madam Deputy Speaker: He spoke at a reasonable Dr Huppert: I think it unlikely that the hon. Gentleman speed; there were just too many words. and I will ever reach agreement on this issue—we certainly have not yet. There are concerns but we have to fix the Dr Huppert: I understand what the right hon. Gentleman problems it causes, not attack the fundamental basis. is saying and I continue to disagree with what he suggests. The hon. Gentleman can have a look at studies—I do One issue he raises, on whether students would have to not have the reference immediately to hand—by University leave before they graduate, concerns the process of College London, for example, that show the fiscal benefits graduation. There is also the question of post-study from EU migration. The trend is badly wrong and is work visas, which are incredibly valuable. If he talks to being followed by far too many people. the vice-chancellors of Cambridge university and Anglia Ruskin university—two universities in my constituency—he Mark Pritchard: The hon. Gentleman is an academic; will hear that there is demand. We want people to come he deals in facts. He mentions tacking to the right here; it makes sense. Once we have trained some of the because of UKIP. Is it not a fact that there was a brightest and best people here, we want them to contribute manifesto commitment by the Conservative party to to the economy. We want them to set up companies that reduce net migration to tens of thousands? That was in will employ people here locally. I have to say that what 2010 when UKIP was at 3% in the national poll. It is he suggests would be incredibly damaging to the economy now at 12%. I am afraid the facts do not bear out his in my constituency and in many other areas. I hope that comments. is not somewhere we will go. There are issues around immigration, and huge issues Dr Huppert: The hon. Gentleman is correct on that around the rhetoric used. There is far too much negative point: it is true that the Conservative party had a rhetoric that is, frankly, xenophobic. That is something commitment to reduce net migration to the tens of we have to try to avoid. It has no place in the discussions thousands. I did not think that that was a good idea at we are having. the time. It is very hard to see how it can be implemented. 439 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 440

[Dr Huppert] East (Mr McFadden) complaining that the Government have stopped people being exiled inside this country Part of the problem is that the only way to implement without having a trial. We have improved libel laws, it—the Select Committee on Home Affairs has criticised provided same-sex marriage and ended child detention this specifically —is to adjust some of the measures as a standard thing for immigration purposes, putting until we see very disproportionate changes in some that into law recently. We have ended discrimination areas. He is right that the Conservatives have been against illegitimate children who used not to be able to consistent. We saw a larger number of Conservative inherit their citizenship if they were unfortunate enough Members signing amendments to try to stop Romanians to have been born too early. We have done many things. and Bulgarians coming into the country than we saw But there is more still to do. I look forward to doing Romanians and Bulgarians flooding into the country, much of it. which seems to be the wrong way around. The right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham It is not just Conservatives. I was interested to see (Mrs Gillan), in her address on the Gracious Speech, that even the National Union of Students specifically said that the Conservatives had been held back by their passed a motion that called on the Labour party to stop coalition partners. I am very proud that we have stopped pandering to “anti-migrant politics.” That is something many things where we have disagreed. There are a I hope the Labour party will live up to. number of things that we have simply not allowed to I was not planning to spend all my time talking about happen: for-profit schools; firing at will; the removal of migration because I wanted to talk more broadly about housing benefit from the under-25s. There are a number the Queen’s Speech and where we are four years into of things that we have stopped. this Government. The Government started in a difficult However, it is not just a question of the things the position. The right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside Conservatives have been prevented from doing. There and Hillsborough was keen to say that the finances were are things we have done, and things we would like to do not the fault of the last Government. We can have that that we have been prevented from doing because of the interesting discussion, but there is no doubt that in Conservatives. These include the mansion tax, to make 2010, this country was in a difficult situation. One sure that the richer in society pay more towards our pound in every £4 the Government spent had to be finances, electoral reform and reform. borrowed. Whether we accept the right hon. Gentleman’s They also include getting more housing built, and case that everything was fantastic and it was just environmental measures have been blocked. On reviewing unfortunate, or whether we take the view that it was in surveillance post-Snowden, we have seen very little some sense the fault of the Labour Government over movement from the Home Office; indeed, we have no 13 years, it was a difficult time. I would not have chosen idea what the status is of the data retention directive the first opportunity for my party to be in government rules. We would like to go further: to strengthen the to be at a time when, as the former Chief Secretary said, Information Commissioner’s office and extend freedom there was no money left. of information. We want to have more evidence-informed Where are we now? We see a growing economy with policy so that when the expert advisers to the Government unemployment substantially reduced. In my constituency, say that something is inappropriate and disproportionate, unemployment has gone down by some 40%. I welcome we do not see the Conservative party interpreting that that; more people in employment, and in full-time to mean that it should go ahead with it or, indeed, the employment. That is a great success and there are Labour party backing it. There is much more that we successes in other areas, such as renewable energy.Relevant would like to do. to home affairs, the main subject for today, crime is But there is good stuff coming. There is very good down consistently. I welcome that. Every year that we stuff in the Queen’s Speech where we have been able to debate police funding there has been a suggestion that agree and show that coalitions can work, and that two crime is about to start shooting upwards. Every year it very different parties can find areas on which we agree. continues to go down. We have made some progress on something very dear Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab): I am to my heart: civil liberties. That was what got me sorry to interrupt the hon. Gentleman’s flow as he sets involved in politics. Before I came here, I was on the out all the things that he thinks are so good. Perhaps he national council of Liberty. We have dealt with the could say when the Government are going to do something Government’s storing of the DNA of innocent people about the fact that most people in poverty now are in on central databases. We have got rid of authoritarian work. Perhaps he will say something about people affected identity cards. It is a great pleasure to see the Minister by the bedroom tax and by having to pay council tax for for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, the right the very first time, or about the thousands and thousands hon. Member for Ashford (Damian Green), in his place. of people who as a result of his Government’s policies The first Bill from the Government passed by the House are having to rely on food banks. How proud does he got rid of identity cards, which were expensive, intrusive feel of those? and unnecessary. [Interruption.] We see that the Labour party continues to want to bring in identity cards at Dr Huppert: I do not in any sense think that the great expense. It is a shame, as the hon. Member for economy is in a perfect place. The hon. Lady did not Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) said, that the mention the fact that the last Government tried to only thing Labour has apologised for is their immigration suppress people getting help from food banks. I am very policy and not many other measures. pleased that there are food banks to help people. The We have got rid of control orders and the idea of problem is not people getting help from food banks; it is internal exile without trial. Even yesterday, however, we people who are unable to get help from food banks heard the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton South because they do not know about them or because there 441 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 442 is not a food bank available for them. The hon. Lady short of? How many are bogus apprenticeships with should have a look at why it was that under the last people doing short-term courses that are basically work Government, whom she presumably supported for 13 years, experience? inequality increased. Why did the richest pay less of the share of taxation? This Government have changed that. Dr Huppert: I am very sorry to hear the hon. Gentleman Why did unemployment go up under the last Government? attack these people. I look forward to his meeting some I have a lot of sympathy for many of the stated aims of of the apprentices he thinks are bogus. He can come to the Labour party on equality, but the problem is that see them and the programmes that they think are making they simply did not deliver it. a difference in enabling them to get training, to set up Let me return to the Queen’s Speech, which contained their own businesses and to make money, and tell them very good things. There was a shared agreement that we that he thinks what they are doing is bogus. I do not needed to do much more to help small businesses to have the exact number of how many apprenticeships are thrive, something which we can agree will make a big for three years. I am sure that he can find out, but I find difference. Small businesses make a huge difference to it depressing that he is so obsessed with attacking what our economy, and will build our prosperity. I have been the Government are doing about apprentices that he working hard on issues to do with local independent will attack the people who are making something of shops in particular, and this will be very helpful. their lives by doing apprenticeships. Unfortunately we I am particularly pleased by the announcement on saw for many years—this predates the last Government— pub reform, which will make a big difference to people that apprenticeships and vocational education were simply who have tied pubs across England and Wales. It is a not given the importance and standing they deserve. great tribute to the fantastic work by a number of That is something we absolutely have to change. people who have campaigned. The statutory code and Let me move on to some of the Home Office Bills. We the independent adjudicator will make a big difference have a Serious Crime Bill. Serious crime costs us something to keeping pubs open. My constituents have been able like £24 billion a year, so it is essential that we make to open pubs again. We have been praised by everybody more progress in dealing with it. We have huge problems from the Campaign for Real Ale to the Labour shadow with our confiscation legislation. Matrix Chambers has Minister for our work to try to save pubs. This will help said: us to do it. “The confiscation legislation of the United Kingdom is complex We are also helping people who have any sort of and difficult to construe.” income to be able to spend money in those pubs, businesses or anywhere else by increasing the personal That is absolutely right. We should be making sure that allowance to £10,500. That is 26.6 million people who we can recover more money. That has been a weak link have had their income tax cut, making them better off for a long time. and allowing those on low incomes to pay no income It is right to clarify the Children and Young Persons tax at all. The hon. Member for Nottingham South Act 1933—something for which Liberal Democrat (Lilian Greenwood) prompts me to point out that the Members including my hon. Friends the Members for last Government increased the tax on the very low- Mid Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) and for paid when they got rid of the 10p tax rate; they Ceredigion (Mr Williams) have long campaigned—to doubled the tax rate paid by some of the lowest earners. make it clear that emotional cruelty that is likely to I am proud that we have reduced it instead. That is a cause psychological harm to a child should be an offence. much fairer and more progressive system, and I am The current law on neglect is outdated and goes back to proud that somebody on £10,000 a year will not pay Victorian times. It is right to transform it. anything. I am proud that we managed to persuade the Extending FGM-related offences to acts done outside Prime Minister, who originally opposed it, to go ahead the UK by UK nationals and residents is also very with the proposal. much welcome. My hon. Friends the Under-Secretary We are also making a difference on apprenticeships, for International Development and the Minister for something my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State Crime Prevention have been working very hard on this for Business, Innovation and Skills is very proud of. We issue. We should finally take action on female genital should aim—this is a shared aspiration—for 2 million mutilation. apprentices by the end of the Parliament. In my constituency I am seeing the difference that that is making, with the We also see progress on a sensible drugs policy aimed fantastic Cambridge regional college now having something at reducing harm, which should be our aim for all of like 5,000 apprentices studying. I have gone to see many what we are trying to do through our drugs policy. We of them to see how much of a difference it makes to see decisive action on trying to deal with the cutting their lives. It is helping them to get on. agent. A huge amount of the harm caused by illegal substances is, in fact, caused by the cutting agent with Michael Connarty rose— which they are mixed. By taking action against them, we will make a difference to people’s lives and stop the Dr Huppert: If the hon. Gentleman would like to harm. I hope we can go even further. I am looking congratulate my regional college, he is very welcome to forward to the international comparative study on drugs do so. policy and on new psychoactive substances, on which my hon. Friend the Minister for Crime Prevention is Michael Connarty: I would congratulate anyone who also working hard. We should do what works, and what introduced proper apprenticeships, particularly the 5,000 will reduce the harm caused to thousands of people in his constituency. How many of those people are around the country—not do just what sounds as though doing three-year courses that will be recognised by City it is tough. We need to do things that actually make a and Guilds to make them tradesmen, which we are very difference. 443 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 444

[Dr Huppert] share indecent images in the knowledge that consent would not have been given. I hope that the House will That is also the case with modern-day slavery, on look further at this. It will need careful work to get the which I hope we will see cross-party agreement. We are details right, ensuring that we do not accidentally criminalise definitely not dealing well enough with trafficking at activities that should be allowed, but we do need to take the moment; we have to get it right. UNICEF estimates action in this area. that something like 10 children a week are being trafficked It will be an interesting year. I do not think this into the UK, which is simply unacceptable. It is right Parliament is over. If it focuses on scrutinising what is that the Government face scrutiny by the Joint Committee. happening and ensuring that we look carefully at legislation I wish all Bills could go through a proper scrutiny rather than rushing it through in an effort to pass more process because I think this House is at its best when it and more Bills, that would be helpful. Over the last four discusses things rationally, rather than there being two years, we have contributed to a more liberal and fairer sides having a row. Britain, but there is much more to do. Some of it will I was pleased that there were various things we did happen this year; some of it will happen in later years. not see in the Queen’s Speech. We did not see another immigration Bill. We have already had some discussion Several hon. Members rose— of this, but immigration, like many issues, is not always about passing more legislation; it is about getting things Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. It right. To my mind, the biggest problems surrounding would be advisable for Members to aim to deliver their immigration are not about our laws; they are about speeches in between 10 and a maximum of 15 minutes, whether the right decisions are made—by what used to including interventions; otherwise, all the Members be the Border Agency, but is now back in the Home who wish to speak will not be able to. If everyone Office—correctly and promptly. Bringing back exit checks speaks for 20 minutes or more, there will simply not be will, I think, make more difference to public certainty enough time. I am not going to impose a time limit, but and the control of our borders than any piece of legislation I hope Members will be respectful of each other and we could propose in this area. ensure that we move on comfortably to the winding-up There is much more I could say about data retention speeches. directives and cybercrime, but I would like to raise one issue about which I have been concerned. I have spoken 2.25 pm to a number of colleagues about it—my hon. Friends and also, for example, the hon. Member for Guildford Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): First, it is a pleasure (Anne Milton). I was approached by someone about the to contribute so early on to today’s debate. One of my issue of revenge porn, which is happening more and favourite events at Westminster is without doubt the more often. People take naked or indecent images of opening of Parliament and the Queen’s Speech. Many partners and then, once the relationship ends, they of my constituents tell me the same thing. There are share them online, publishing them very widely—to the some things in this world that no one can do as well as great mental torment of the people concerned. It is we British can. When I say that, I very much have in mostly but not always women who have agreed to have mind the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern an explicit photo taken, but never agreed for it to be Ireland. It reinforces what a privilege it is to be a broadcast to all and sundry on the web as a means of Member of this House. revenge. It destroys people’s lives because of the I welcome the proposals put forward by Her Majesty’s psychological effect, the shame and the great humiliation Government, and I anticipate their execution in the caused when these images can be seen by anyone. The coming year. While many positive steps have been taken problem is getting worse, as Women’s Aid, the National to improve the situation of the hard-working people of Stalking Helpline, UK Safer Internet Centre and everybody this country, I cannot help but point out where some increasingly accept. policies are conspicuously absent or lacking punch. I Talking recently to a constituent of the hon. Member will pose some questions in my contribution. for Guildford, I was shocked to discover that there is Reports from some medical analysts have shown that currently no sanction to deal with this problem. At the the health service faces a bill of an extra £1 billion every moment it is not a criminal offence to share the image year to treat immigrants and asylum seekers. Analysis because the photo was taken legitimately. Consent was by Migration Watch UK has found that the cost to the given for the photo or the film, but not for it to be NHS of treating new arrivals with AIDS alone threatens shared. Typically, the problem is not covered under the to amount to some £900 million a year. What do the harassment legislation, which requires something to Government intend to do to cut this exorbitant drain have happened more than once, but once the image has on taxpayers’ money by those who are not entitled to been published online, it is broadcast for ever more. free health care and should be paying into the system? Reputable websites will take down these images when What proposals do the Government have to put a halt asked, but the person involved has to ask each website to the increasing trend of health tourism? Perhaps the to do so, and for that to happen they normally have to Minister could outline in his reply what discussions prove that it is them in the photo, which means going have been held with his counterparts in the Department through the rather humiliating process of taking a of Health to ascertain how the outstanding bills can be photo of oneself with a sign and sending it off. That paid. makes the whole process much worse. The Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, I do not often call for new criminal sanctions—it is Dr Clare Gerada, has expressed similar concerns about not my natural style. In this case, however, I think we the Health Secretary’s initiative, saying doctors need to make a criminal sanction available when people “must not be the Border Agency”, 445 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 446 and she is right. The Border Agency must be the Border By “bogus students”, I mean immigrants who apply for Agency, and the health service must be the health UK student visas but come here to work rather than to service. The question she poses is how the policy can be study. While praising the efforts of the Home Office, enforced. Perhaps the Government will give us some which has closed 600 bogus colleges, I must ask what indication of that. What measures, for instance, do the further measures are being taken to ensure that immigrants Government have in mind not just to limit health tourism who have no intention of studying cannot abuse our but to retrieve the money spent by the NHS on immigrants visa system, and to track down further bogus colleges. not entitled to our free medical care, while not placing Students are currently departing at a third of the rate at an extra burden on our hard-working health workers? which they are arriving: for every 100 who come here, Have the Government considered stricter visa applications 66 stay and 33 return. for those with pre-existing medical conditions, or the reintroduction of embarkation checks to pick up patients I welcome the Government’s pledge to introduce a leaving with a debt to the NHS? Those are just two steps modern slavery and human trafficking Bill. A similar that could have been taken to address the problem. We Bill was introduced in Northern Ireland by Lord Morrow must not, of course, create an atmosphere detrimental of Clogher Valley, and provides a sterling example of to our openness to foreign business or hard-working how seriously the issue of human trafficking needs to be legal immigrants, but we cannot allow the abuse of the taken. I respect what the Home Secretary said earlier system to continue. about how she intends to deal with it, and we will take an honest approach to any measure that the Government Let me provide an example from Northern Ireland, introduce. I believe that if it is anything like our Bill in whose Health Minister Edwin Poots has done a fantastic Northern Ireland, which is very specific, it will go a long job in alerting the Government to the problems of way towards addressing these matters. health tourism in our Province. His findings, which have been reported on “ConservativeHome”, show that up I particularly welcome the clauses in the Bill that will to 80,000 more people could be registered to use the give better protection to child victims, but I feel that NHS in Northern Ireland than actually live in the more could be done. I think it imperative to ensure that Province. Is that possible? If those statistics are true for children are fully protected, and that the Bill should Northern Ireland—and they are—we clearly have a have referred explicitly to all the most common possible much greater problem when it comes to the whole of forms of child trafficking and exploitation. The EU the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern trafficking directive sets out the issues for us. I intervened Ireland. What steps will the Government take to address on the Secretary of State earlier to ask about the this issue? In Northern Ireland alone, this has the prohibition of child exploitation, which is often not potential to cost the NHS some £250 million. recognised by the judiciary. I think it crucial for the Bill What do the Government intend to do to prevent to make it clear that children do not need to be coerced citizens from the Republic of Ireland, for instance, or deceived, or to have violence used against them, to be travelling to the north of Ireland to use the NHS for victims of trafficking as set out in internationally agreed free? Are rules and regulations in place? Can this be definitions. There are definitions throughout Europe, stopped? Has the Home Office reconsidered the border and indeed throughout the world, which we can use as issue with the Republic, which has numerous facets—not guidelines. simply health tourism, but education and smuggling? While the provision of personal advocates for trafficked The Chairman of the Committee for Education in children is welcome, I feel that the Government could Stormont, Mr Mervyn Storey, has drawn attention to do more to protect victims by legislating for all the issue of those who take advantage of the education unaccompanied and separated migrant children to have system without making any contribution to it through access to independent legal guardians. Language and their tax or employment. He has expressed his concern cultural barriers mean that separated migrant children about how much this education and health provision to are less likely to be aware of, and know how to access, immigrants is costing Northern Ireland. their rights as children. Access to guardians could make Nor is it only in Northern Ireland that the education the position much more acceptable, and could make it system is being exploited by poorly regulated immigration. easier to help those who need help most at the time Education is one of the most important public services when they need it. provided by the Government, and it costs the UK over £88 billion a year. Not only are illegal immigrants I was pleased to note that the Government would taking advantage of our primary and secondary education, introduce a Serious Crime Bill. It is particularly pleasing but Migration Watch UK has highlighted how thousands that the Bill includes a clarification of the Children and of foreign students are not leaving once their education YoungPersons Act 1933 to make it explicit that emotional visas for university expire. In her first major speech on cruelty which is likely to cause psychological harm to a immigration, the Home Secretary committed herself to child is an offence. Our current law on neglect is shamefully restoring faith in the immigration system, but—as some outdated and inadequate. Embarrassingly, the United Members have already said, and as others will probably Kingdom is one of the only countries in the world that say later—the level of net migration remains unacceptably fails to recognise emotional neglect as the crime that it high. According to MigrationWatch UK, £5 billion was is. Do the Government intend to remedy our country’s spent on the education of immigrants in 2009. What shortcomings swiftly and satisfactorily? I hope that the plans have the Government to prevent immigrants from answer will be yes, but how will that happen? The coming to our country to avail themselves of our world- current legislation states ambiguously that cruelty to a leading education system and then leaving? child must be “wilful” to be considered a criminal An even more worrying statistic comes from the offence. Will the Government ensure that neglect is not National Audit Office, which has found that 50,000 too narrowly defined, and replace “wilful” with bogus students came to the United Kingdom in 2012. “intentional”? 447 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 448

[Jim Shannon] that I do not consider this to be a zombie Parliament. I think that some very important pieces of legislation are While the Serious Crime Bill recognises emotional being introduced. There are some with which I do not neglect as a criminal offence, I urge the Government to agree and for which I will not vote—such as the recall take further steps to provide earlier and more effective Bill, which undermines parliamentary sovereignty—but interventions for neglected young people, and to secure others are fantastically important, such as the Serious the prevention of neglect in general. I should also like Crime and Modern Slavery Bills. to know what steps the Government have in mind to I am inordinately proud of this Government’s ensure that adolescents who have experienced neglect achievements, in view of the very difficult financial are adequately supported, and enabled to overcome inheritance and legacy that we were left by the last their earlier experiences and become successful adults. Government. That was touched on by my hon. Friend The issue of borders between Northern Ireland and the Member for Cambridge (Dr Huppert). We are building the Republic of Ireland has highlighted a surge in the a sustainable economy, and moving 5 million people number of people who fly to the Republic, cross the from out-of-work benefits into meaningful work. In my border into Northern Ireland, and then take the boat to opinion, the fact that more than 1,000 people in my Scotland carrying cigarettes and other untaxed goods constituency were parked on incapacity benefit in 2010 that rob customs, and hence the taxpayer. Last week my constitutes is a badge of shame. We are now developing hon. Friend the Member for South Antrim (Dr McCrea) university technical colleges for technical and vocational commented on the loss to the Exchequer of as much as education, all over the country. We are opening new free £100 million as a result of that border issue. Perhaps the schools and academies, and creating new apprenticeship Minister will tell us what steps are being taken to deal programmes. with that. This is not strictly relevant to today’s debate, but I Michael Connarty: They are bogus. welcome the Government’s commitment to dealing with the issue of plastic bags. Northern Ireland has been Mr Jackson: They are not bogus, as my hon. Friend very successful in that regard. The Executive has given said. I think it unfortunate that the hon. Gentleman £6 million to the Department of the Environment for should denigrate young people who are, in good faith, various projects, and plastic bag use has declined by seeking to improve their life chances and skills by 80%. That is another example of what happens when taking worthwhile courses. If he can suggest any alternative, good proposals are implemented. let him do so, but in 13 years the Labour party did very However, I was disappointed by the lack of proposals little to tackle the issues. It was happy to leave thousands, to implement the Government’s promises of legislation if not millions, of young people innumerate and illiterate for plain packaging for cigarettes, a subject that arose when they left secondary school, and primary school, during Health questions today. There is clear evidence too. that such a move would greatly help the fight against cancer, and would reduce the number of children who We are focusing on infrastructure; we are reforming take up smoking—an issue about which I feel very welfare; and we are reducing the deficit, which is the strongly. I do not pose this question directly to the major imperative for the nation. I pay tribute to the Minister, but I should like it to be recorded in Hansard: Liberal Democrats for being far-sighted enough to join why are the Government dragging their heels? I hope us in our efforts to do what was right for our country that a fear of the tobacco industry has not got the and our constituents, rather than aiming for short-term, better of them. partisan party advantage. I should also like to know what plans the Government Listening to the shadow Home Secretary’s speech have to regulate the new e-cigarette industry. That is an was a pitiful experience. Rolling out examples of Passport issue that arises every day, and we feel some concern Office failures does not speak of a party which, in about it. The new product has not yet been subjected to 11 months’ time, will seek to govern this country. It is the rigorous tests undergone by other approved nicotine bandwagon jumping, and it is pitiful that it does not replacement therapies such as patches and gum, which have a more coherent home affairs programme to put could ensure its safety and effectiveness. An estimated before the House, not least because it is the party that 2.1 million adults in Great Britain use electronic cigarettes. told us 15,000 Polish people would come to the UK We need regulation, and we need the product to be after 2004, and it was only out by a factor of about 100. tested. It completely underestimated the numbers that were coming to this country. It is the party that is not I must observe the time limit that you suggested, believed on immigration. Some 77% of people say that Madam Deputy Speaker, so that others will have an it is a very important concern to them, and the only opportunity to speak. I am anxious for well-deserved reason the Labour party is interested in it now is because praise to be given to the Government for measures such of the election results in places like Doncaster and as the solidification of the married tax allowance, which elsewhere across the country, where its own core blue-collar, my party has supported along with the Conservative working-class vote does not believe it and does not party, but I must also emphasise that much more can believe that it has the solutions to deal, long term in a and must be accomplished during the coming year. sustainable way, with the problem that it created when in government, which was open-door, unrestricted, 2.36 pm unfettered immigration. Incidentally, we will not take Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con): The debate any lectures from a party that lost both a Minister of has been very interesting so far. In my speech, I shall State and a Home Secretary because of its cack-handed take up the theme of immigration, which I think has mismanagement of the immigration system when it was been the central issue today. Let me say first, however, last in government. 449 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 450

I am not wholly critical of the Labour party, however, had children—as a way of reducing the pull factor, and because we heard a very considered, erudite and typically we should be looking at that, too, complementing and thoughtful speech from the right hon. Member for building on the announcements we have already made Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough (Mr Blunkett). and the regulations we have laid on matters such as He touched on an important point. The issue of welfare tourism and access to social housing. immigration can be almost directly linked to a feeling of I ask the Prime Minister to look at that again and a crisis of authority and to the estrangement of ordinary perhaps to introduce further regulations that finesse people—voters who are not that interested in the minutiae and nuance the free movement directive, not because we of politics—and the lack of faith and trust that they are xenophobic—not because we do not want decent, have in the political system. That is a function of the hard-working Polish citizens, Lithuanians and people European Union and of how distant and unaccountable from the Czech Republic coming to our country, it is, but it is also a function of the fact that they do not contributing and adding to the variety and diversity of believe in the institutions of our country to get things the country—but because many of the people we represent done in a timely way that affects their lives for the are concerned about large-scale immigration and the better. The right hon. Gentleman was right to make length of time that it has been going on. that point. The Government have done a good job in very difficult Pete Wishart: I understand the hon. Gentleman’s circumstances. They were right to concentrate on reducing concern about inward migration, but does he have any the net migration figure as a policy priority. I hope they concerns about outward migration? Should there be a achieve that, and at least they are trying. Interestingly, limit on the number of UK people who go to Spain for when the shadow Home Secretary was grilled by John a happy and contented retirement? Humphrys on the “Today” programme a few weeks ago, she was big on motherhood and apple pie, saying Mr Jackson: That is a fair question, but many of we should reduce immigration, but she was not specific them are older and are very unlikely to need to go to on whether Labour would adhere to any target number. accident and emergency or their maternity unit. Many It is incumbent upon a responsible Opposition to offer of them are unlikely to be putting their grandchildren in proper alternatives, and she was somewhat remiss in primary schools, too. There is a balance to be struck that respect. between the use of public services and the resources We have clamped down on bogus colleges; we are needed. doing something about health tourism; and we are also I accept that the hon. Gentleman might have touched looking at access to benefits, English language skills on an important issue in that there are hotspots in and the income earnings threshold—all policy issues respect of such demands, however. In my constituency that could have been looked at and acted upon in the we have food processing, agriculture, horticulture, packaging previous Parliament. and logistics, and younger people will come over with I pay tribute to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead their partners and have children and there will be a big (Mr Field). He has been largely a lonely voice over a strain on schools, but I accept that might not be the case number of years in voicing these issues. Some people in the west country or the south of England. It will only came close in the past to as good as calling him and be the case in hotspots. One of the things that the others xenophobic or racist for doing so, but he has Government need to do is reboot the migration impact been proved right. It is important that we have a proper, forum, specifically to assist local authorities. One issue balanced and reasonable debate on the level—the is the number of children who come into a school but unprecedented scale—of migration. Between 2004 and are gone at the end of the academic year, for instance. 2011, 34,000 people came to my constituency and were The Government need to look at this. granted national insurance numbers. In two schools in The Government also need to ensure that everyone my constituency no children speak English as their first who comes to this country is properly exercising their language, and there are over 40 schools where the rate is treaty obligations. That is all we are asking. We need to well over 50%. That is an issue of resources and resource do some work on contributory pensions with the Germans allocation, and it is very important. It is nothing to do and other key partners. with xenophobia or racism. It is about keeping the bargain of trust and faith with our constituents. Mark Pritchard: Is it not clear today that, should That brings me on to my European Union Free there be a breakaway Scotland, it would have to endure Movement Directive 2004 (Disapplication) Bill, a ten-minute uncontrolled immigration while England, post a rule Bill that I put to the House in October 2012. I think renegotiation with Europe under the Prime Minister, that in many respects I was ahead of my time. I will put would have controlled immigration? my cards on the table: I am a member of Better off Out and I will campaign actively to leave the EU, but I will Mr Jackson: My hon. Friend makes a pertinent point, respect whatever decision the British people take when although it is a hypothetical situation, as I think the we have a referendum under a majority Conservative people of Scotland are sensible enough to vote the right Government in 2017. However, I respectfully say to the way on 18 September and reject the narrow chauvinistic Government that they need to look at what I was nationalism of the Scottish National party. They know proposing in that Bill 18 months or so ago, which was which side their bread is buttered on, and they will not to rip up the free movement directive. It is not a remain part of our great United Kingdom. tablet of stone; it is not a holy grail. It is a piece of living I strongly welcome the modern slavery Bill. We in European law. The Spanish looked at registration Peterborough and the fens have seen some very unpleasant, controls—registration when people entered the country, distressing and nasty cases of modern slavery around when they changed jobs, when they married, when they agriculture and horticulture. We have seen the ghastly 451 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 452

[Mr Stewart Jackson] The measures relating to child care costs will also be welcome, provided they do not merely translate into conditions some people have been forced to live in, the increased prices from the providers of child care, as has way they have been physically maltreated and assaulted, been the case in the past. I also welcome the further the way they have been lied to and traduced and cajoled reforms to pensions, although we should tread warily, into a terrible lifestyle—a twilight world of abuse—by given the history of mis-selling of pension products some pretty unscrupulous criminal gangs. One of the once that market had been liberalised. I also note that enduring legacies of our Government, which we will the Government intend to introduce a more collective proudly defend our record on next May, is this modern approach to pensions, along the lines of the system slavery Bill, because we believe politics is in many currently operating in the Netherlands. My understanding, respects a moral imperative, and, for us, if we rescue however, is that the Netherlands Government are even one person from this ghastly twilight world, we considering changing their scheme. We must also bear will have succeeded. in mind the fact that the contributors to that scheme I therefore think it is right that we are targeting pay substantially more than people in this country are individuals, but we need to look at the poor conditions used to contributing to their pensions. None the less, I that some of those individuals are housed in, too. We am sure that we can make progress in that regard. need to look at section 215 of the Town and Country Other measures are more contentious, even though Planning Act 1990, which some local authorities are this Queen’s Speech is very thin. The infrastructure Bill using to tidy up neighbourhoods that are affected by will contain measures on fracking, and the Government these slum houses. are engaged in a three-month consultation period on that at the moment. There are those who are opposed to I pay tribute to Anthony Steen, the former Member fossil fuels, full stop, and who would never accept the for Totnes, for the fantastic work that he has done over case for fracking, even if it were totally safe for the the years. He was leading, encouraging and proselytising environment and for residents. However, there is always on this issue eight years ago, before it became fashionable. a conflict in which the broader national interest is set He has done a great job, and I hope that the Bill will be against legitimate local concerns. Everyone will be keen a testament to him. We have made good progress in this to see the results of the Government’s consultation. area, but there is more to do. The watchwords of the legislation should be “tough but fair”. We need better Further controversy might arise over the proposed collaborative working with other European Union countries levy on plastic carrier bags, as the hon. Member for and better inter-agency working. The Bill represents an Strangford (Jim Shannon) said. I would have thought excellent start, and the Ministers involved should be that such a proposal would have registered as one of very proud of their efforts. Lynton Crosby’s barnacles, yet it still seems to be in the Queen’s Speech. We must assess the environmental impact of 7 billion bags being used each year. If the Bill’s 2.50 pm objective is achieved, I am not sure who will get the income from the levy. I suspect that it will simply save Jim Dowd (Lewisham West and Penge) (Lab): I am the supermarkets an awful lot of money and increase pleased to follow the hon. Member for Peterborough their sales of bin-liners, because that is what most (Mr Jackson), as we are both alumni of the London people use their plastic carrier bags for, but we shall Nautical School, albeit a few years apart. I leave it to have to wait and see how events unfold. Members to judge what has happened to the educational standards there since I left, but it is a pleasure to follow Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): It was a delight him. This is the first time that I, like my right hon. to hear Her Majesty say the words “plastic carrier Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside and bags”, but I am sure that that is not the reason why they Hillsborough (Mr Blunkett), have spoken in the Chamber were put into the Queen’s Speech. Money will be raised in the past couple of years in a debate without a time from the levy initially, although I believe that it will limit on Back-Bench speeches. Nevertheless, Madam deter people from using such bags in the longer term. Deputy Speaker, I am aware of your exhortation and I Does the hon. Gentleman agree that this will provide shall attempt to be as brief as I can. the supermarkets with an opportunity to direct that I am not sure whether this Queen’s Speech is the final money towards some kind of social networking or act of this Government or the epilogue. It is patently community action groups within their areas, in order to clear that it is not designed for a full Session of Parliament; support local communities? it is not a full programme at all. Given the provisions for five-year Parliaments, this Parliament will be dissolved Jim Dowd: The charitable and philanthropic activities at the end of March, so this is a programme for little of the supermarkets are of course to be welcomed more than nine months, including the times when the wherever they occur; most supermarkets have community House is in recess. schemes of some kind. There is a paradox involved, The Queen’s Speech contains some welcome measures—I however. If the aim of this tax, levy or cost—whatever cannot think of any Queen’s Speech introduced by any we care to call it—is to reduce demand, very little Government that did not contain some welcome income will be generated by it. I was as amazed as measures—although the devil will be in the detail, and everyone else to hear Her Majesty utter the words more information needs to be obtained. The Modern “plastic carrier bags”, as I am not sure how often she Slavery Bill, which the Home Secretary and others have comes across such things, but it was not clear whether mentioned, commands universal support across the the objective of the measure is to depress demand or to House, and we can only hope that it will have the raise revenue. We will discover from the details whether desired effect. it will be beneficial. I openly confess that the first job I 453 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 454 ever had was in my local supermarket. In those days, we year. The signatories to my early-day motion come had nothing so glamorous as plastic carrier bags. We from all parts of the House, and I am sure that it will had brown paper bags with handles that almost invariably generate support. came off when anyone put more than a couple of tins of beans in them. Although it does not feature in specific legislation, the economy features prominently in the Queen’s Speech The hon. Member for Peterborough mentioned the and it would be churlish not to admit that the recent proposed recall provisions—the so-called recall provisions. narrative on the economy has moved in the Government’s I think they are inadequate; they do not command a favour. It is easy to forget, however, that the Chancellor’s wide degree of public trust. I have also seen early-day original five-year plan said that by now the deficit motion 25, tabled by the hon. Member for Richmond would have disappeared and we would be paying off Park (Zac Goldsmith), and that does not make much debt. Of course we are not doing either. Debt is growing sense either, even though he is a stern critic of the at an unprecedented rate; the Government are now Government’s proposals. Far more consideration needs borrowing more money than the Labour Government to be given to this matter. We need to reach a conclusion did in the previous 13 years. The old five-year plans in that will be workable and viable, and that will command the Soviet Union were rewritten every year, and that is public support. rather what the Government have done. I am deeply disappointed by the absence of one measure from the Queen’s Speech, despite a previous Even what economic good news there is has been indication from the Prime Minister that it would be based on a couple of questionable propositions, not the included. The absence of a commitment to ban the use least of which is quantitative easing, as it is now called. of wild animals in circuses is extremely disappointing, It used to be called printing money. It has robbed savers especially as the Prime Minister pledged that action of millions of pounds, the full effect of which we will would be taken when he met a delegation from various not see for some time. These are unorthodox fiscal animal welfare charities in April this year. This measure measures. The housing bubble is not an unqualified might well be one of Lynton Crosby’s barnacles that the good either for people in London and my constituents Government have rejected, but it is undeniably extremely or people in other parts of the country. It is a huge popular with the public and I cannot understand why problem for the children of my constituents who are the Government do not just introduce this simple measure, trying to buy property in London for the first time, and given that it has such widespread public support. it is skewing the economic recovery. In the light of that, I have today tabled the following Beyond the measures that I have mentioned, the early-day motion: Queen’s Speech is thin, bordering on anorexic. That is “That this House is deeply disappointed that the Gracious because the most significant political developments in Speech did not contain measures to ban the use of wild animals in the next nine months or so will take place not just circuses, despite repeated pledges from Ministers that action outside this Chamber but outside this building. I highlight would be taken; notes that since the House of Commons voted just three. The first is the referendum in Scotland. unanimously in favour of a ban in 2011 big cats have returned to However it turns out, I am certain that there will need Britain and is concerned that the continued delay may lead to to be a major reconsideration of how the United Kingdom other wild species being forced to perform in circuses; further is organised. If the result is against the nationalist case, notes that the draft Wild Animals in Circuses Bill has already been scrutinised by the Environment and Rural Affairs Committee; we will need as a minimum to resolve the West Lothian supports Animal Defenders International and other animal welfare question in a durable and sensible fashion. I do not wish organisations in their ongoing campaign to end this outdated to intrude, but my position is rather similar to that of practice and calls on the Government to introduce legislation to David Bowie and Barack Obama, although as the President ensure a ban can be introduced during the current session.” said the other day, it is a matter for the folks up there.

Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op): I agree with my The second political development is EU reform. I am hon. Friend that it is a great shame that the Government glad that all three major party leaders in the House have have not included such a measure in the Queen’s Speech. agreed that Mr Juncker is not an appropriate appointment Will he join me in encouraging Government Members as President of the EU. My fear is that he represents a present today to take back the message that the Government strain of eurocrats—I am never sure whether the phrase should at the very least provide a hand-out Bill to a is derived from bureaucrat or aristocrat, which is certainly Member who has been successful in the ballot for how they behave—who fail to understand the feeling of private Members’ Bills? In that way, we might just get a large swathe of people right across the nations of the this into legislation. EU. They have the gravest disillusionment and doubt about the efficacy and efficiency of the organisation, and those who simply swing on as if nothing has Jim Dowd: My hon. Friend’s suggestion sounds as happened and behave as if the project has an inevitability though it has the virtues of brevity and simplicity, but and momentum entirely of its own fail to understand unfortunately, given the technicalities of such a Bill, I what we need. I hope that we will have a candidate who do not think that it would get through the private will more readily reflect those priorities. Members’ Bill procedure. I speak as one who was responsible for the Government’s private Members’business I will be candid, Madam Deputy Speaker; I am a for a number of years. If that were the only route that member of the Labour for a referendum campaign. I do could be adopted, however, such a Bill would deserve as not accept the artificial timetable that the Conservatives much support as possible and the Government should have instituted of 2017. I think there should be a reform give an undertaking to give it whatever support they process and once it has reached a decision, whenever could, perhaps along the lines of the support that they that might be, a package should be put to the British gave to the European Union (Referendum) Bill last people for their approval. After all, the only referendum 455 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 456

[Jim Dowd] We are exactly where we are, but the position is exacerbated by the Liberals promising to do one thing we have ever had on membership of what was then the before an election and doing the total reverse afterwards. European Economic Community was provided by a They cannot get away with behaving in that fashion and Labour Government. people do have memories and will exercise their judgment in the light of that. It will be hugely entertaining in the Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Atcham) (Con): next few months to see how the coalition parties defend The hon. Gentleman refers to the artificial timetable. the coalition but attack each other. They will do so When would he want to have a referendum on our more and more ferociously as next May beckons. membership of the EU? Lord Ashcroft has embarked on an expensive round of weekly polls, principally on behalf of the Conservative Jim Dowd: Once the process is complete; once progress party, although to give him his due, he makes them has been made and it has been established that there is freely available to anyone who wants to read them. The no further progress to be made. Putting down the polls have shown a number of changes just in the past finishing line before you have described the course is a week between the three parties. Perhaps we are in three ridiculous proposition and it was designed wholly and or perhaps we are in four-party politics. I think that we solely—I sat on the European Union (Referendum) Bill may be in three-party politics in so far as UKIP has Committee—to keep Conservative Back Benchers happy. supplanted the Liberal Democrats in the national political That is all it was. scene. We will wait for it all to unravel. We are in for an As everyone knows, the other facet of the coalition intriguing and exciting time, but one thing is certain—this Government is that the Prime Minister has spent more coalition will end with a whimper, not a bang. time rowing with his Back Benchers than he has ever done with the Liberal Democrats. That is the point that 3.8 pm I want to come to now—the separation of the coalition. Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con): Thank you, Madam It has already unravelled so we will just see how the Deputy Speaker, for calling me in this important debate. parting of the ways occurs. Often in this House we debate matters that self-evidently In the European and local elections of the week divide us, but I wish to focus my remarks on two aspects before last, the biggest losers by a mile were the Liberals. of Her Majesty’s Gracious Speech that are likely to I am delighted to say that in my constituency we also unite us. resisted firmly, as they did across London, the blandishments The Modern Slavery Bill represents the first of its of UKIP. There are no Liberal councillors now in the kind across Europe and it sends a strong message London borough of Lewisham or the London borough internationally that the UK is leading the way in putting of Bromley, and no Tory councillors in the London an end to modern slavery. Others in the House and borough of Lewisham for the first time in history, but outside have been far more involved than me in the that is another consideration. So we feel that we did journey to bring this important legislation before the quite well in our small corner. House. I see sitting across the House the right hon. The reason why the Liberal Democrats were almost Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) and I would also wholly obliterated in large parts of the country is that mention the former Member of Parliament Anthony people do not know what they stand for any more. They Steen. Both of them are notable individuals who have used to be the party of “a plague on all your houses”. done so much in this area. The matter goes right through UKIP has supplanted them in that, so what purpose do Government—from the Minister for modern slavery they have? The answer in most people’s estimation is who has been appointed, to the Home Secretary. The precious little. I heard a defeated Liberal councillor say, Prime Minister himself feels strongly and passionately “We need to get out and get our message across more about the importance of progressing this Bill. It is a clearly.” I think it is the other way round. I think they credit to all that we see it included in the Queen’s went out with their message and people understood it Speech. and rejected it. That is the truth of where they are. It is, of course, impossible for any of us here to There is no automaticity about recovery between now imagine how deeply traumatic the experiences must be and the election. I shall miss some of them, though. for the many victims of modern slavery and what they There was a fabulous anti-war song by Roy Orbison have endured. I have read accounts, as I am sure many back in the ’60s called “There won’t be many coming others have, of young women and children being drugged, home.” When I look at the Liberal Benches now, I think beaten and forced into prostitution and taken to a land to myself that after the next election there won’t be a long way from their home. Those stories are compelling many coming back. and deeply moving. Turning to the details of the Bill, which I warmly Jim Shannon: Don’t sing it. welcome, I think that progress has been made since it was published in December 2013. The first development Jim Dowd: No, I wouldn’t. is that slavery victims who are vulnerable witnesses will A lot of people said that the coalition would not last. automatically have access to support in giving evidence. I always thought that it would, and so it has proved, but There is a wider debate about how victims more broadly the most intriguing question was always going to be are supported when giving evidence in criminal cases, how it disengaged. The Conservatives have worked and the passage of this Bill will be very timely and themselves into a position in which they will get the enable us further to explore that important aspect. The credit for anything that, rightly or wrongly, is perceived last thing anybody wants is for a victim of slavery, who to have gone right, and the Liberals will get all the has already been through so much, to find the trauma blame, and that bodes ill for them. of giving evidence any more difficult than it needs to be. 457 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 458

The second point is about ensuring that victims get shares our disappointment, as I am sure she does, that reparations from the trafficker or from their slavemaster the number of convictions for child cruelty has fallen in for the abuse they have suffered. The justice that we all recent years? It was 720 in 2009 and only 553 in 2013. seek in the case of traffickers must, in a modern, Although, of course, the changes are to be welcomed, compassionate society, be balanced by the need to help the overall conviction rate has gone down. victims rebuild their lives. Obviously, that is not just a financial point—far from it—but we need to stand up Jessica Lee: I am grateful for that intervention. What as a country and a society and support those victims in we have before us is the means to change things and at the difficult passage they will have in rebuilding their last bring criminal law into line with civil law—a change lives and moving on. that is due and that will be effective, and I have no Thirdly, there must be connections between agencies doubt that prosecution rates will reflect that. in the work that will be required. The Bill now includes The proposed changes do two important things. First, a requirement for public authorities to notify any as I said in response to the hon. Lady, it allows the information they have about potential victims of modern criminal law to catch up, if I can put it that way, with slavery. That responsibility to share information is very civil law, where the definition of emotional harm is well appropriate and takes us further along the path towards accepted, and the test of significant harm includes improved contributions by and work across agencies. emotional abuse. Secondly, there will be consistency Finally, the creation of an anti-slavery commissioner between our civil law and criminal law as to the definition has to be right. It is an important development and will of child neglect, which is of great importance. Society’s ensure that investigations and prosecutions are as effective understanding of child development and the impact on and progressive as possible. It creates the leadership children of harm by those who care for them has come necessary to implement these changes. on leaps and bounds since the 1933 Act. By implementing With world leaders having gathered on the beaches of this change in the months ahead we can be confident we Normandy last week to commemorate the D-day landings are taking a positive step to assist vulnerable children and mark the bravery and sacrifice of so many for across our country. future generations, it is worth reflecting that the whole purpose of the landings was to ensure the future freedom 3.17 pm of this country, so it is quite poignant that, in the Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): It Queen’s Speech debate, we seek to support and bring is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Erewash freedom to those victims in our society who are held (Jessica Lee), who may have one of the most unusual- against their will and who suffer so much at the hands sounding constituencies. She must be commended for of others. The modern slavery Bill is legislation of her work on modern slavery and on children in particular. which the Home Secretary and the whole House will in I want to address what we now refer to as “the time, I am sure, be extremely proud. Scotland bit” in the Queen’s Speech. We are always I turn now to the proposed changes to the law on grateful to Her Majesty for acknowledging Scotland in child neglect. I disclose my interest as a family law her Gracious Speech; it usually comes about two thirds barrister who has spent over 12 years representing and of the way through, and again this year we were not working with vulnerable families, often at times of disappointed. In the Queen’s Speech Her Majesty confirmed crisis. It has been a sad feature of the family and civil that her Government will courts that, until now, when severe neglect and emotional “make the case for Scotland to remain a part of the United harm suffered by children is an aspect of a case there Kingdom.”—[Official Report, House of Lords, 4 June 2014; Vol. 754, has been no prospect of the perpetrators being pursued c. 4.] in the criminal courts. Once the changes come into No surprise there; that is what we would expect her to effect, that will change. Society has moved on a great say. In fact, it would have been quite remarkable had she deal since the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 said something else. Imagine if, for example, she had and the law needs to reflect that. I have no doubt that by said, “I look forward to my subjects in Scotland securing extending the criminal law to cover not only physical the normal powers of an independent nation. I look but emotional harm to children, we will not reduce the forward to them enjoying the resources that will make seriousness of the crime. It is the just and right thing their country one of the most dynamic and prosperous to do. in the world.” Of course, she did not say that. Her To clarify, this is not about children who are a bit Majesty knows, as we all know in Scotland, that the unhappy or who have fallen out with their mum and whole range of facilities available to this Government dad. Child neglect is far more serious and has to do and this House will be pitted against Scotland in the with a long-term emotional impact on children living in next few months to try to influence the vote. an environment where they have been subjected to All the donors and cronies down the corridor will be physical violence, perhaps sexual violence or suffered engaged in trying to make sure that Scotland remains in extreme neglect, such as malnutrition, inadequate living the United Kingdom. All the resources available to all conditions or a lack of medical care. Many MPs and the Opposition parties will be engaged in ensuring that charities have campaigned for the change. I note, in Scotland remains part of the United Kingdom. All of particular, the work of Action for Children, a charity Whitehall, all Government Committees and all Select with which I have worked for many years on different Committees will be engaged in trying to ensure that topics and which has led the campaign extremely effectively. Scotland remains a part of the United Kingdom. I am one of six Scottish National party Members, so I am Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Finsbury) very much aware of the range of forces pitted against (Lab): The hon. Lady is making a very thoughtful and us. Out of 650 Members of the House there are maybe interesting speech. Will she put it on the record that she 10 of us calling for Scottish independence, and thank 459 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 460

[Pete Wishart] What did he say to the Scottish people? “Vote no and we’ll give you something better. We’ll give you a better goodness for the hon. Member for Leeds East (Mr Mudie), Parliament” than was on offer in 1979. What did we who has now joined the call. If we add the 800 Members get? Eighteen years of Thatcherism, the destruction of from down the corridor, there are 1,400 Westminster our industrial base, and Tory obscenities like the poll parliamentarians who are against Scottish independence tax. We will not be fooled by that again. versus the six of us. That seems like reasonable odds to One of the funny consequences of all this—it is quite me. It is reasonably fair. What we have to do now is ironic—is that the party that so defiantly opposed the recognise, as the Queen did in the Speech, that the entire Scottish Parliament in any form of Scottish devolution resources of Westminster—the whole of the House of is now the party of more devolution. It has made a Commons and the whole House of Lords—will be more substantial offer than the party of devolution, the ranged against Scotland. Last week they even enlisted Labour party. We might be in the ridiculous situation Lego figures in their fight to stop Scotland becoming whereby in the next Parliament, Labour Members oppose independent, to much laughter and ridicule. a Conservative Government offering many more powers In the Scotland bit of her speech, Her Majesty confirmed than they ever intended to offer. Incredible, but that that the Government may be the case. “will continue to implement new financial powers for the Scottish There is only one way for the Scottish Parliament to Parliament”. get more powers. There is only one way to ensure we get These are not the new financial powers that the Prime the powers that Scotland needs, and that is to vote yes Minister apparently signed up to only last week. These in the independence referendum. If we do not, we leave are the remaining consequential issues from the Scotland it up to this House. We leave it up to the largesse of Act 2012 that need to be tidied up. predominantly English Members to give us more powers. More devolution is all the rage in Scotland. We I know lots of English Members. Some of them are very cannot walk around one of our big cities without good friends of mine. I do not detect a mood around tripping over some Unionist or UK commission looking the House that if Scotland votes no, they will rush in to into the issue. It is like the proverbial buses all turning give us more powers to reward us. I get the sense that up at once. It has got me and all the other people in they are much more interested in issues such as the Scotland wondering why they are doing it now. Is it Barnett formula. They believe their own propaganda anything to do with the prospect of a referendum on and are concerned that Scotland gets more than the rest independence? Surely not. Yet that is almost certainly of their English regions. They are more concerned the case. It is curious because our Unionist friends did about that than about giving us power over income tax everything to keep a “more powers” option off the or more powers over welfare. ballot paper for the referendum in September. They The other thing that consumes English Members is would give us anything else, such as the right to administer the West Lothian question about what Scottish Members the referendum. They even allowed us to frame the could do here. Maybe it is just me, but I do not see a question. It is we who were in charge of the franchise. groundswell of English Members of Parliament queuing The one thing they did not want was a “more powers” up to reward Scotland for turning down the prospect of option on the ballot paper. Now, we are expected to independence. They are more likely to be thinking, accept that they are sincere in delivering all these shiny “Scotland’s had its chance. It’s time for my region for a new powers, when they did so much to keep them off change.” the ballot paper. There are two words that we say about Other than the Scotland stuff, there were no other that: “Aye. Right. Fool us once and we’ll blame you. constitutional issues in the Queen’s Speech. That means Fool us twice and it’s our fault.” that we will leave this Parliament with the House of Lords commanding the same position in our democracy Michael Connarty: Might not the logic be to expose as when the great reforming Liberals took part in the fact that what has been offered by the Scottish government. What a disgrace. That unelected, crony-stuffed, National party was the lunacy of independence, as donor-inhabited affront to democracy will remain in against staying within the Union where we could negotiate the same condition as when we came into Parliament. changes, and to expose the paucity of the hon. Gentleman’s The Liberals had lots of red lines when it came to the argument that independence might be better for the constitutional debate. I am not blaming the hon. Member people of Scotland, whereas we know that it would be a for Cambridge (Dr Huppert) personally, although he is disaster for them? looking at me as though I am. They could have made much more of reforming the House of Lords. They Pete Wishart: The hon. Gentleman has his own view went for AV—the inconsequential mouse of a reform but why not offer the option on the ballot paper? There measure—when they could have done something about was accommodation with the Scottish Government about that place, so we are left with it. In his parting shot, the that. We were quite happy and relaxed about a third Liberals’ Lord Oakeshott hinted that cash for honours question being put forward. The Scottish people should is still very much a feature of securing a place next door. always get what they want. That is my view and I am It is an absurd place and I hope that the next Queen’s sure it is the hon. Gentleman’s view, so the question Speech will enable us to do something about that affront could have appeared on the ballot paper, but it was to democracy. This Government this time round have rejected. It was the one thing that the Government did done nothing. not want included. Some have described the Queen’s Speech this year as We have been here before. The hon. Gentleman will a speech for a zombie Parliament. If it is a zombie remember this. It was in my own constituency—Alec Parliament, it must be a phantom Queen’s Speech, Douglas-Home trooping up to Perth city hall in 1979. because it does not address the political dynamic that 461 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 462 exists throughout the United Kingdom, what is going to work with the UK on the matter, particularly in on and what should be debated. A few Members have areas such as extra-territorial intervention and maritime said that. I think I am the only Member to raise the policing. subject of UKIP. The party won an election a couple of Legislative consent motions will be required for some weeks ago and made significant gains. Nobody wants to of the measures in the serious crime Bill, and I know talk about UKIP here. Nobody will address the issue of that again, my colleagues in the Scottish Government what it has done. UKIP is pulling the strings of this will work closely with the Home Office to ensure a Government and they are responding in the only way co-ordinated response to serious crime. But Scottish they know how—pandering to UKIP’s agenda instead National party Members want more than that. Grateful of challenging it. as we are to Her Majesty, we want more than the I am much more interested in what Her Majesty’s Scotland bit. It is great that in every Session of Parliament loyal Opposition are going to do. I challenged the it is included, and we look forward to it, but we do not shadow Home Secretary on that today. They are at a want the insignificant wee bits here and there, the bits of defining point. They are at a critical and crucial moment. Bills that apply to Scotland. We want a legislative The Labour party has two choices in relation to the programme for Scotland in the interests of the people immigration/UKIP agenda. It can challenge the according to our agenda and our priorities. We do not assumptions that it is based on, do something about it, want to be dictated to by a Government for whom we take it on, risk not being the favourite of the right-wing did not vote. That is what we will get on 18 September. press and maybe alienating a few voters who have That is what the Scottish people will vote for. bought into this pernicious agenda; or it can pander to it and accommodate it. 3.30 pm I have seen the letters from Labour Members encouraging the party leadership to accommodate the UKIP agenda David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con): It is always and saying that it could be addressed. They must reject a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Perth and it, stand tall and do the right thing. I know it is difficult North Perthshire (Pete Wishart). I have been desperately sometimes for the Labour party to do this but it must trying to think of something that I could agree with him offer leadership. If the Opposition offer leadership on on at the start of the my remarks, but we will just have immigration and challenge UKIP on its agenda, they to let that pass. will get my support. I will help them out. But they must I support the provisions in the Queen’s Speech. There not give in to it. They are in a critical position on the is a great deal in it about modern slavery, about child immigration/UKIP question. Don’t blow it, Labour. protection, on which we heard from my hon. Friend the The nation is watching. Labour cannot face two ways Member for Erewash (Jessica Lee), and about trafficking. on this—it either takes UKIP on or accommodates it. I In particular, there is a great deal about cybercrime and very much hope Labour does the right thing. strengthening the legislation around disabling IT systems. Labour has let itself be bullied by the Tories and We need a reorientation in the criminal justice system to UKIP. It is appalling. Labour has been bullied into address that issue, which is a massive and growing apologising for its years of immigration. That is one of problem that threatens not only financial loss but the best things the Labour Government did and I organisations’ economic stability. cannot believe that the Opposition have been bullied Of the 11 Bills in the Queen’s Speech, I want principally like this. Stand up to them, for goodness sake! They to address my remarks to those on pensions tax and should not be afraid to say that they got it right on private pensions, and the Bill on infrastructure and immigration. It has been fantastic for the whole of the what it means for our energy security and for fracking. United Kingdom. It has made the city we are in one The pensions legislation was described by the Prime of the greatest cities in the world. Only about 30% Minister as the centrepiece of the Queen’s Speech, of the people who live and work in London came which in many ways it is. It is hard to think of an issue from this place; the rest are from overseas. What has that affects so many people so much as what they will immigration done for us, as Monty Python might have have to spend in retirement. We have systematic under- asked? Look at this place and see what it has achieved, provision of retirement income throughout the country. then try and argue that immigration is not good. Come There is a rule of thumb that says that pensioners are on, Labour. Get on with it. Stand up to them and do the divided into three slugs of a third each. One third right thing. broadly has some kind of public sector pension, possibly I shall deal quickly with Home Office issues, few of not enough, but nearly always more generous than the which affect Scotland. We are practically independent next third, who are broadly in some kind of private when it comes to policing and judiciary arrangements. sector scheme. Increasingly, the gold-plated private sector Thank goodness for that. When the Home Secretary schemes have been closed, but even those people are turns up to the Police Federation for their annual meeting, better off than the final third who have no provision at she is booed, jeered and shouted down. Then I see our all. The pension reforms in the Queen’s Speech, and Cabinet Secretary turning up to the Scottish Police lately in Parliament, have addressed those last two-thirds. Federation and being cheered to the rafters for what we In the comparison between public and private are doing for police officers in Scotland, compared to pensions—this is not a dig at public pension provision; what this lot are doing here. we need good and generous provision—it is worth I welcome the Modern Slavery Bill. Even though it reflecting on the fact that a pension that is inflation-proofed is for England and Wales only, I hope it is successful at around £15,000 per annum would cost £400,000 to and I pay tribute to the many Members who have purchase in the private sector. Virtually no one can do spoken in support of the measure. In Scotland we have that. The average pension pot in the private sector is our own people-trafficking Bill and we will continue about £35,000. A problem is about to hit us. 463 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 464

[David Mowat] The Infrastructure Bill, and the encouragement it gives to the exploitation of unconventional gas, either The structural issue in the UK comes of a policy coal gas or shale gas, is important in relation to the point versus the EU. We have chosen to pay relatively three tenets of our energy policy—decarbonisation, low pensions to people on the assumption that they will lower cost and security of supply. We hear a lot about be topped up by the private sector. Nearly every other whether we should frack. Is it important that we do so? country in Europe has chosen not to do down that route We talk as though it is an option, as though no one else but has higher provision. The Pensions Minister has is fracking. made some progress in addressing that. We have paid The world has changed when it comes to fracking. It £40 billion per annum tax relief into the pension system changed about five years ago when the United States to mitigate this problem, but it has not worked and it is went into the industry at great velocity. That changed not working. There is a massive distrust of the pension our entire energy supply market. It is now a net exporter system among the punters out there. I have lost count of of energy and gas, as opposed to an importer. That has the number of people who have told me that they would implications for its foreign policy—what it does in the rather bite off their right arm than invest in a pension. Gulf of Arabia and all that goes with that—but even Typically, that is because there is a view that so much more important in terms of how it relates to us is the goes in charges. There has been a market failure. For a fact that now its chemical feedstock and electricity costs pension pot, about 30% or 40% can go on charges, and are one-third of what ours are in the UK. That is a the provisions need to address that. massive competitive change; it is a game-changer. The The same is true of annuities. Until quite recently, consequence of that is not necessarily whole businesses pensioners have been buying annuities without going immediately moving from here or from Germany to on the open market. There have been inconsistent and America; it is rather that a new unit or distillation plant inappropriate products. In my constituency, about 1,200 in Teesside or the north west will now be built by global people per annum are buying an annuity, of whom companies in America to take advantage of costs that more than a half are buying the wrong product. That is are one-third—not 10%—one third cheaper than ours. just wrong. This is compounded by the auto-enrolment We have to address this situation. initiative and its success, making the need for action even stronger. Daniel Kawczynski: I do not know about my hon. The Government have introduced legislation to allow Friend’s constituents, but this week alone I have received small pots to be combined; they have provided a cap on more than 100 letters from mine who are concerned pension charges at 0.75%, half the amount the Opposition about fracking. Does he accept that the Government had in terms of stakeholder provisions; they have need to do more to convince British people of the need dramatically and structurally changed the annuity rules for fracking, and what is his constituents’ perception of so that annuities no longer need to be taken out, which fracking? has burst the whole market wide open; and they have removed many of the abusive features of pension funds, David Mowat: I thank my hon. Friend for his such as active market discounts whereby pensioners intervention. I accept that we need to do more to who remain in a pension fund having left the company convince people that we need fracking; that is one of the pay more in charges. Most interestingly, in this Queen’s reasons I am making a speech about it. It is a little bit Speech they have brought forward a collective defined about leadership—if we think something is the right contribution idea, which is a paraphrase of the Dutch answer, we go with it. solution, to try to make progress on costs. Broadly, the I do not want to say that there are no environmental assumption there is that there is a collectivisation of issues associated with fracking, and of course it is risk with pension schemes coming together with the important that we frack in the right areas; there will be idea that costs will be reduced, which I very much hope some places where we should not frack and some places happens. There is evidence that in Holland the average where we should. All that is true, but it is not a reason to pension is 20% to 25% higher than in the UK. The turn our backs on this industry. The case that I am collective schemes may be one reason for that, and putting to my hon. Friend and to other Members is that another is a much higher propensity to use passive the world is already fracking. This week, Germany gave investments. I very much welcome what is going on in the go-ahead for fracking; it had been reluctant to do that area. that, but did so under pressure from its industry. We It is worth pointing out that in Holland these collective need to decide as a country how competitive we wish to schemes, which are brought forward in the Queen’s be, but one of the vehicles of being competitive is cheap Speech, tend to be industry-specific. Pensioners share prices for energy and chemical feedstock, and fracking the risk, but there is also an element by which pensioners is one of the ways in which those cheap prices will be can be penalised, even after they have retired, something delivered. which is not currently allowed in UK law. There is There are three tenets of energy policy, the first of therefore an intergenerational issue to be fixed there, which is decarbonisation. Fracking—or gas, I should but it is an important first step, which I support. say—is an element of any decarbonisation strategy that In summary, the Government have addressed some we seriously wish to pursue. In this country, something of the issues in the pensions industry, including under- like 50% of electricity comes from coal and oil. Replacing provision in the private sector, but there will remain a that coal and oil with gas is the single quickest and most massive problem, which I have not talked about at effective way of reducing our carbon footprint. Indeed, length. The £40 billion of tax relief that we have put of all the countries in the OECD, the one that reduced into the pension system is to a large extent misdirected, its carbon by the most in the last five years is the USA. and at some point some Government will have to address It has done that because it has reduced its coal expenditure that and make progress on it. and usage, and instead used gas. 465 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 466

The UK—perhaps slightly counter-culturally—already I hope that the provisions in the Queen’s Speech to has one of the lowest amounts of carbon per and make it easier to exploit shale are proceeded with. What per unit of GDP in the EU. A strategy based on the legislation is really saying is that someone’s property replacing our coal with gas, and doing so more quickly, rights do not necessarily extend to stopping people would lead to even more progress in that regard. drilling a mile under their house or land. That seems to I have talked a little bit about cost, but it is self-evident me as logical as saying that someone’s property rights that there is a correlation between GDP and energy do not extend to preventing aeroplanes from flying over usage. We cannot rebalance our economy on differentially their land. I believe that that was an issue in the USA at high energy prices, particularly if we are rebalancing it one time, and it had to be legislated away in much the towards manufacturing, and part of the solution is same way as we are legislating here for fracking. cheaper gas prices. It has been said that our having unconventional shale 3.46 pm gas in the UK does not necessarily reduce prices, and to Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Lab): I cannot say how an extent that is true. However, it is rather like saying we pleased I am to follow the hon. Member for Warrington should not have exploited North sea gas or oil 30 years South (David Mowat). On both the topics that he ago because there is a world market for North sea oil centred on, the Government pay much attention to him. and we cannot guarantee that lower prices would— On pensions, he sketched out the areas where the Government really have to face the issues that he raised, Sammy Wilson (East Antrim) (DUP): The hon. because they are important not only to the House but to Gentleman is doing a very good job in answering the our constituents. question that his colleague, the hon. Member for I will talk on one topic, which is the Modern Slavery Shrewsbury and Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski), put about Bill. I apologise that I was not present to hear some of selling the whole idea of fracking. Does he agree that the opening comments and the kind comments that not only are there environmental benefits to fracking various Members made. I will begin by making the but that when one way to tackle fuel poverty, provide roll-call of those who should have credit for this measure. fuel security, make UK industry more competitive and The hon. Members for Erewash (Jessica Lee) and for even attract some industries that have gone overseas to Peterborough (Mr Jackson) quite rightly said that slavery come back again is to have our own supply of gas from would not be a topic in the House or in the country if the shale gas available to us? not for the work of Anthony Steen. It was Anthony Steen, through his Human Trafficking Foundation, who David Mowat: I agree with the hon. Gentleman on all first made me interested in this topic, and it was Patrick those points, and he made them succinctly and well. White in my office who said how important it was, Fracking is not something that we can turn our backs which led to my commitment to it. The hon. Lady was on, and I am very pleased that it is in the Queen’s absolutely right that without the work of Anthony Speech. The point I was making was on the relative cost Steen—first, towards the end of his period as a Member, of energy. I have heard it said in this place that just and then in the work that he has done to extraordinary because we produce shale gas, that will not necessarily effect with the HTF—we would not have had a Modern reduce our gas prices by 60% or 70%, to the level they Slavery Bill included in the Queen’s Speech. are in America. Of course, there is some truth in that; there is a worldwide market in gas, in the same way that As I say, it is slavery on which I comment, and I wish there is in oil. to continue to draw attention to those who should rightly claim credit for the Bill. The idea for a modern That said, the gas market is a little bit less mobile slavery Bill was set out in a report published a little over than the oil market. The European gas hub, which a year ago by the Centre for Social Justice, so the would be affected by gas prices, is smaller than the Government have responded extraordinarily quickly by global market for crude oil. One of the reasons that we presenting the Bill. I do not think that we would have in this country cannot benefit from US gas in the way had that report had it not been for Philippa Stroud, the US benefits from its gas is that the cost of the US who now works at the Department for Work and Pensions, sending it to us would probably double its price; it and Fiona Cunningham, who worked at the Home would still be cheaper, but it would be double the price Office. Had they not been working carefully to ensure that we would pay vis-à-vis the US. The summary of all that this moved up the Government’s agenda, I do not this is that we need to get on with it. think that it would have been on the list of topics that The final point, which was mentioned by the hon. the Home Secretary thought should command her attention Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson), is that of and, more importantly, her departmental time. The Bill security of supply. Whether we like it or not, North sea therefore has three immediate heroes: Philippa Stroud, production is coming down. There may be many things Fiona Cunningham and the Home Secretary. that we can do, either with an independent Scotland or My purpose in speaking in this debate is to draw with Scotland within the United Kingdom, to keep that attention not only to a glaring omission in the Bill, but supply going for as long as possible, but gas production to a provision in it that I do not think we would now see in particular is considerably down; it is now something had it not been for the work of the Joint Committee on like half what it was at its peak. the Draft Modern Slavery Bill and, in particular, the Although we in this country have not up till now had contribution that my hon. Friend the Member for to use Russian gas—most of our imported gas has Linlithgow and East Falkirk (Michael Connarty) made come from Norway—I think I saw a report last month to it. The glaring omission, as he knows—he piloted a saying that Gazprom and Centrica have signed their private Member’s Bill on this very topic—concerns first deal, so there is an element in all this of security of supply chains. Although the Bill will deal much more supply vis-à-vis the geopolitics of Europe as well. effectively with countering the horror of modern-day 467 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 468

[Mr Frank Field] will not increase the number of successful prosecutions unless those victims of slavery feel that they are secure slavery in this country, the plain and brutal fact is that in this country.I am immensely grateful to the Government most of the slaves on whose labour our standard of for listening to the arguments put on that front and for living is supported work in other countries, producing including a major section of the Bill that transforms the the goods and services that we buy. position of victims of slavery in this country. I commend For all the reasons that were given to the evidence them for doing so. review for the Bill, to the Joint Committee and for my For all the good measures in the Bill, it is still incomplete. hon. Friend’s private Member’s Bill, I hope that Members Victims of slavery came to give evidence to us at all our will table amendments that persuade the Government evidence sessions before and during the Joint Committee. that supply chains must be included in this measure. We It is impossible for any of us in the Chamber to describe know what the Home Secretary’s opinion is, because the horrors that people go through when they realise before she began talking about a Bill in detail, she said they have been trapped and now have a slave existence. that she wishes it to cover supply chains, so clearly there How anyone recovers from that train of events, God are other forces at work that overruled her in that only knows, but many do so, and we wish many more to respect. I think that we need to come to her aid and do so. This crime is probably one of the most heinous in ensure that she wins the argument, not some officials in the world today. We now have an opportunity to make No. 10 who are against it. I hope that all those employers, this not just a good Bill, because it is already good, but large and small, that publicly support extending the the very best in the world—a world leader. I hope that measure to supply chains will now front up and lobby that will ring in all our ears when we start the parliamentary No. 10 to ensure that the Bill is complete in that process in this place and, perhaps more importantly, in important respect. If the Government still have some the other place, where it is easier for reason to prevail on doubts about that, I hope that Members here and in the a Government than it is here. other place will ensure that the Bill is complete when it goes for Royal Assent. 3.56 pm Sammy Wilson: Does the right hon. Gentleman accept Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): It is a pleasure that businesses in the United Kingdom have a duty to to follow the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field), check that their supply chains do not use labour that is who, as ever, made a thoughtful and important speech tantamount to slave labour to produce cheap goods on an issue that generally unites the House rather than that can then be sold in this country? divides it. I apologise to the House for being away for a short Mr Field: I am immensely grateful to the hon. Gentleman time while I was attending the Health Committee, but for that intervention, but I would take his argument a of course I was here for the opening speeches and the stage further. I think that the Prime Minister has a duty first few contributions. I want to focus on a number of to protect British business men and women from areas related to home affairs, including policing in my undertaking activities that are deemed to be heinous constituency, immigration and criminals in our jails, crimes. I think that the Prime Minister needs to develop including several issues that have arisen following a visit a level playing field, so that not just the good businesses that I recently made to a prison near my constituency. ensure that their products are not tainted by slavery; As I said in my earlier intervention on the Home those that are slower in coming up to the plate must also Secretary, I welcome the social action, responsibility make their contribution. and heroism Bill. Some people might not think that it is necessary, but those who try to do good as volunteers or Emily Thornberry: My right hon. Friend was not here just as passers-by in society often feel that the law is when the shadow Home Secretary raised her concerns against them and they are not protected, as may well be about the new domestic workers visa and the fact that the case, and anything that gives a nod in that direction 60% of people on it have no salary at all. Will he is important. comment on that? I have mentioned my own experience working as a first responder with the ambulance service every weekend. Mr Field: All the Joint Committee’s recommendations One of my staff members—they are all trained as first were unanimous, and they certain were on that. However, responders as well—recently came across somebody to be honest, in listing the things that I hoped the who was in cardiac arrest, and had sadly died, but was Government would do, I did not think that they would laid out on the side of the road. He was the first one on jump to attention on that one, given that they deliberately the scene who was prepared to do anything to try to made a change in policy. We did not include it in the Bill assist that person. There is not only the fear of getting because changing it does not actually require an Act of involved, which is very difficult to get rid of, but the fear Parliament; it requires the will of the Home Secretary. in the backs of many people’s minds that if they do If this Home Secretary does not see her way to changing something they may make the situation even worse and it, I hope that a future Home Secretary will. then end up being sued for it. One of the impacts of the evidence review on the This applies not only to such experiences. Whenever Joint Committee has been for the Government to include it snows in my village, I clear the section of the path in the Bill a section on victims. It is morally right that between the old people’s home and the pub, and people the Bill will be victim-focused. However, even if we say as they are going past, “Be careful or you’ll get cannot do it for the right reasons, we ought to do it for sued.” Thankfully, I have not been; I think some of the another reason: that the Government are serious about residents of the old people’s home have enjoyed being escalating the number of successful prosecutions. We able to get to the Percy Arms. Although I have not faced 469 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 470 any legal action, a lot of people have the perception I am not criticising Humberside police, who have that, if they try to do right, they will fall foul of some done a fine job of handling the significant financial legal issue and end up being arrested or sued in the challenge that they face. Their officers are dedicated courts. I very much welcome this Bill as a nod in the and they have a good chief constable and senior officer right direction in that regard. team, but their intransigence on this issue is a cause of deep concern and regret. A lot more needs to be done I want to say a little about crime and policing locally. regarding partnership working, and the police need to I have never been a particular fan of the reductions in change some of their practices to properly embrace the police budget, which is why I always try to speak that. every time that we agree the police estimates, but I will not rehash my previous speeches on that subject. An It was interesting to hear the pro-immigration speech awful lot more needs to be done on partnership working of the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire with the police. Whenever I meet the police locally, they (Pete Wishart) and I suppose we should respect him for outline the financial savings that they have to make, and that. I expect him to be pro-immigration, given that he I am fully conscious of the difficulties involved in that. wants to make very large numbers of Scottish people However, I still get the impression—I will give a practical immigrants in England. Perhaps it is no wonder that he example in a moment—that the police have not fully is so pro-immigration. embraced proper partnership working and engaging What concerns me about the immigration debate is with other agencies such as local authorities and other that since the Euro-election results, too many people emergency services. When they talk about partnership seem to want to jump up and say that we should working, they seem to mean that they are prepared to respond by informing people that they are wrong to work with other police forces, but when it comes to think what they think about immigration. I find that working with others there is still something of a silo deeply patronising and insulting to my constituents. I mentality. More needs to be done by the leadership have seen that happen in my own area. When the nationally, to drive the issue forward and make sure that migrant support grant went, I was summoned to a some of the savings can be realised. I am concerned that meeting to discuss it. There has been significant immigration when it comes to back-office costs and senior management, from the European Union to the town of Goole since not enough is being done at the top to share work 2003. When I intervened on the shadow Home Secretary between agencies other than police forces. earlier, I asked her to apologise to the people of Goole, who have seen up to between 20% and 25% of their My constituency is represented by two local authorities: town come from eastern Europe. She chose not to the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. apologise for that or for visiting my constituency recently North Lincolnshire council has been very forward thinking without informing me. That is the context of why in playing its part not only in helping the police and people in Goole are very concerned about immigration, crime commissioner to achieve his crime plan, but in and they should be listened to. reducing crime and the fear of crime locally. The council has funded a number of CCTV projects, including in I was called to that meeting to talk about that fund by Epworth and Winterton in my constituency, for which I people, none of whom live in the Goole area, who and the ward councillors were pleased to secure the wanted to tell me how awful it is that the people in funding. Goole think the things they think. Yes, people sometimes do not use language that we might like them to use, but The council has also funded police community support I find it wrong to brush aside their concerns in a officers for rural communities. Crime mapping and the patronising way and to talk down to them, saying, “Oh, allocation of police service resources focus on crime hot Mrs Smith, you really mustn’t use language like that. spots, which tend not to be in rural areas, so in my own How dare you.” Mrs Smith is not a racist. She is area, North Lincolnshire council worked with me on a concerned about her community when her street in project to find funding for five police community support Goole—in many cases, a street of terraced houses—is officers—two on the Isle of Axholme, one in the Burton suddenly peopled by large numbers of young males and Winterton policing team, one in the Brigg team and from eastern Europe. That has changed the dynamic of another in the Barton team. They are now in post and her street, and her concerns are legitimate. are having a real impact. This is not about rounding on Mrs Smith to make her Unfortunately, the area in which we are having trouble better understand why immigration is good for this with the police force locally relates to the need to go country and why she should put up with it, but about further and expand the project with even more council- responding to her concern. She is concerned not about funded PCSOs. It is not often that one public body tries people who want to contribute coming to my constituency to throw money at another, only for the intended recipient to work, but about the uncontrolled nature of the not to want it, but that is a problem in my own area at numbers and, in some cases, the types of people. Some present. The council is not able to shovel more money at of the large number of young people behave in a way the police force to employ more PCSOs, and none of that many in our area do not understand and do not the various reasons for that are acceptable either to consider acceptable, and they want that behaviour to be myself as a local representative or to local people who challenged. It very much concerns me that, since the tell us strongly that they do not believe that policing in vote in Europe, the debate seems to be all about how our rural communities is being prioritised, because the awful it is that people think such things, as opposed to crime rates mean that resources are not being allocated trying to address their genuine concerns. to them. When the local authority steps up and says, In my constituency almost half, if not more, of the “We will buy in that extra provision to make people feel intake of some schools are children—mainly Polish and safe,” and the police say they do not want it, something Latvian—for whom English is their second language. is obviously going very badly wrong. Some of our GP lists have been closed, so there is a mad 471 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 472

[Andrew Percy] people raise legitimate concerns, they are patronised and spoken down to by people who, all too often, do situation in which people whose children return to not live in these communities. Goole after having temporarily moved away now cannot register with the GP who was their family GP when they Mr Frank Field: Were any of the people who came to were growing up. To use the example of Mrs Smith, she the meeting, other than the hon. Gentleman himself, would of course look at that and think, “How is it that elected? my son or daughter, who was born and bred in this town, cannot now go to the doctor who has cared for Andrew Percy: Absolutely none of them were elected; them all through their life, while someone can suddenly the right hon. Gentleman makes a good point. appear from another country and register with that I would like to conclude on two small points. The doctor, with no controls on their ability to do so?” The second issue that I hope the Home Office will address, anger comes from such a perception, and until we start and about which it can do something practical, is foreign- to recognise that people have legitimate concerns—I registered vehicles, which feed into people’s perception have mentioned housing issues—we will get nowhere. of unfairness. I asked a couple of parliamentary questions I am sorry to say that none of the current responses in the previous Session about foreign-registered vehicles of any of the parties is acceptable or goes far enough. overstaying the six-month limit, and found that on one To try to get tough on non-EU immigration and all the occasion there had been four prosecutions in the whole rest of it in order to bring down the numbers is fine as of the United Kingdom for vehicles staying beyond the far as it goes. However, the situation in my constituency period permitted. When I asked a similar question on is not about non-EU immigration, but EU immigration. another occasion in the previous Session, I believe that We have to do something about the free movement of precisely zero vehicles had been prosecuted. labour across Europe. We are losing people and losing The issue is one of vehicles not being recorded when the country on this issue, and until we address that fact, they arrive at the United Kingdom border, or when they UKIP or other fringe parties of that nature—I would leave. People in my town see the same vehicles and not necessarily call UKIP a fringe party now—will gain report them to my office, and we report them to the traction. I hope that in the next year or two, if we get a police. They see vehicles that have been here a year, renegotiation on Europe, this issue will be addressed. possibly even two, that are still in our town and are not Uncontrolled EU immigration is no longer acceptable registered, paying tax or subject to UK insurance. The and is not working. Government must take a lead on this issue. The only way to solve it is through better control at the border. Jim Shannon: The hon. Gentleman has mentioned housing, employment opportunities and health. The Finally, I want to discuss prisons, although I am same also applies to education, in that school places perhaps stretching a debate on home affairs, given the have been lost to those living in such areas because of Ministers present. I recently visited HMP Lindholme in the level of immigration. Doncaster on the edge of my constituency. I was staggered when the governor told me about the problem there with mobile telephones and how much crime is being Andrew Percy: Absolutely. In fact, I mentioned schools directed from inside the prison. Something must be in relation to their intake. We have had the problem of done about that. We were told that for about 1,300 people living just outside the catchment area of the prisoners they had recorded 600 or 700 mobile phone school that they went to as a child, but finding, because signals coming from inside the prison. The blockers are of this massive pressure on places, that they cannot get not in place, although the technology is catching up. their child into their old school. All that feeds into a perception of unfairness and of immigration being bad, The Government could take a strong lead on something which I do not think people at the top have necessarily that the governor and her team raised with me: when understood. they identify the contracts of the phones being used inside the prison, the mobile phone operators are not Sammy Wilson: Not only have we not put in the very keen to terminate the numbers. That could be infrastructure to facilitate the huge increase in the number achieved relatively simply, so I hope that Ministers will of people, but even when concerns are legitimate, people look at that and seek to take a lead on it. It seems to me, who wish to discuss them are immediately silenced by as it would to my constituents, incomprehensible that being dismissed as racist. They are not racist and do not people can direct criminal operations from behind bars. intend to be racist at all, but they have genuine concerns Something really must be done about that. that need to be addressed. Does the hon. Gentleman Having danced around some issues that are important agree that that is half the problem? to my constituents, I will leave it there and look forward to the Minister’s response. Andrew Percy: Absolutely. Because I had criticised the uncontrolled nature of immigration into my own 4.13 pm town, when I was dragged to the meeting with various agencies, I was told that the things I had said were Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab): unacceptable. Needless to say, that meeting did not last May I just say to the hon. Member for Brigg and Goole very long or end very well when I robustly thanked the (Andrew Percy) that I am told the police are so good at people for coming from their lovely villages in the monitoring calls from mobile phones in prisons that if a richest parts of the East Riding of Yorkshire, where criminal does not have one, they will throw him one they do not have to live with large amounts of uncontrolled over the wall, because they will then know what crimes immigration. I thanked them for sharing their views, are going on. I was told by the Serious Organised Crime but the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that when Agency, before it disappeared, that it used such monitoring 473 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 474 to trace people’s criminality, their money and criminal heard the police officer—just as we often hear from the attachments outside prison when they leave. The hon. Government—come on and give statistics, stating that Gentleman should therefore not worry about mobile numbers of crimes were higher last year and that clear-up phones, as long as the police have the numbers. rates are higher in percentage terms than in the year I turn to the Queen’s Speech and issues relating to the before. However, that does not convince people that Home Office and, partly, to the Ministry of Justice. The they are safer on the streets, or convince women that we debate has focused on two main Bills, but there is a are changing society and policing it properly for them. context. I was disappointed when the hon. Member for If crime is not prevented entirely, the streets are not Peterborough (Mr Jackson) mocked those who raised safe, and if all perpetrators are not convicted, the the question of the passports fiasco. The reality is that trauma and sense of betrayal remains. that fiasco demonstrates to people that there is something The unacceptable fear of walking in the streets of a wrong with the Government’s policy on cuts if they are city cannot be endured in 2014. I know that because we affecting people’s ability to get passports in the normal are, unfortunately, a much blighted extended family. My time frame. young cousin, Agnes Cooney was murdered in 1981. It irritates my constituents greatly when they have They have never solved the crime; they have never found given plenty of time and are told that if they pay more, out who did it. One reason is that Strathclyde police lost they can still meet the deadlines. In the case of one of the evidence box or the production box, and therefore my constituents, the process started in March, and could never use the modern technology of DNA. That eventually they had to pay £70 to get their passport sent trauma has never gone away from my family. My mother to them. There is something wrong with that. The died with a photograph of Agnes on the mantelpiece, Government must accept that in that context people see and her sisters berate me regularly for the failure of the Home Office as failing in the delivery of a day-to-day Governments, the police and the authorities to deal service—it is often the day-to-day things on which with that crime. That is what the women of Glasgow people will make judgments. It is a sign of a Department feel at the moment. It is not safe to walk in the streets of that is not coping. Glasgow, and all the statistics and all the little pledges will not be accepted. The Government have to accept Another issue that, sadly, is brought up regularly in that when they are not clearing up serious violent crime my constituency is the abuse of the marital route for at that rate, something is wrong. residence in the UK by people applying for spousal visas. Then, when they eventually get through the process I have been involved with the Modern Slavery Bill for and claim to have the documents—I have documents some time—[Interruption.] I see the Minister flapping here that seem to have been bought rather than won by on the Benches, but if the Government stand up and tell endeavour; people can buy documents to say that they people that they are doing better on crime but statistics have passed the test—unfortunately, young men appear show they are not, they are clearly trying to mislead the just to abandon their spouse and child or children, and public. head for the big city. I know the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) would love them The Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims to stay in Scotland, but in reality they head for the (Damian Green): The hon. Gentleman accuses the conurbations of England. I have a case at the moment Government of misleading the public, but I gently where that is happening and someone has recently point out that, as I think he acknowledged, policing in abandoned their wife and child. It is a member of the Scotland and Glasgow is not the responsibility of the Pakistani community, so I hope they take as dim a view UK Government; it is the responsibility of the Scottish of that as I do. Government. Drawing conclusions from that that the I also think there is something wrong with a Government UK Government are misleading anyone is itself pretty who promise again and again that they will do something disingenuous. about the use of wild animals in circuses, and then abandon that in the last phase of their government. Michael Connarty: In fact I drew the conclusion from Many people have campaigned on that issue in my the statistics for England and Wales, which I quoted to constituency for a number of years, but I think that the Minister and he will read in the record. Those are those who claim to be Conservative voters will not be not statistics that the Government like to put out but doing that in the next election, given that betrayal. they are the facts. Violent crime is going up in England In reality, the context in which the Government are and Wales, and convictions are going down. There is acting is one in which they are falsifying their credentials. something wrong with policing under the Minister’s Violent crime has risen and is up from 607,000 offences watch. in England and Wales to 614,000, whereas the number I would like to thank a number of people who put in of prosecuted criminals has gone down from 141,000 so much effort on the Modern Slavery Bill. We have convictions to 134,000. That does not give the public heard about Anthony Steen, and when he becomes Sir any sense that the Government are serious about looking Anthony Steen I think he will be adequately rewarded after people’s safety. Reports of rape, domestic violence for his amazing efforts in making this an issue that we and child abuse are up, but again, convictions are not all accepted. We all know about anti-slavery day in the matching those rising reports. UK, which everyone recognises. I wish to mention something that is not specifically There are many others I wish to thank. My hon. this Government’s remit, but that of all Governments Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) including the Scottish Government. At midnight last asked me to give her apologies because she arranged a night in Glasgow there was a march of women to study visit to another country before she knew the reclaim the streets. There have been three serious rapes subject for debate today. She has done amazing work on in the public streets of Glasgow in the past week. I this issue, including tabling the first ten-minute rule Bill 475 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 476

[Michael Connarty] Secretary’s poodle—I wrote that phrase myself. We also want something done about supply chain legislation. As on the supply chain issue, and she chairs the all-party my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead said, group, which has now become much more inclusive. protection for migrant domestic workers does not need I also wish to mention Andrew Wallis, who has not so legislation, but it must be addressed. We want sentencing far been mentioned, although my right hon. Friend the strengthened. Of those measures, five are in the Bill—I Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) mentioned the Centre read a draft of the Bill while I was waiting to speak. for Social Justice. Andrew and the centre have done a The evidence in the 2014 Human Rights Watch report lot of work to pull together the issue to make people in “Hidden Away”, on what happens to people who are all parties realise that we cannot deal with slavery in a domestic servants in this country, often in very rich UK context; it must be dealt with in an international houses or with people involved in an overseas ambassadorial context. If the Wilberforce legislation had freed all the role, is unassailable. The report states: slaves in Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales, it would “Most of the migrant domestic workers…described at least have freed only a couple of hundred. It was freeing some of the elements that constitute forced labour under international slaves across the nations with which we traded—using law.” slaves as barter—that changed the face of slavery from Africa. The report makes a number of recommendations that it appears the Government want to ignore, for example, to I also wish to thank two colleagues, Jenny Marra, the MSP from Dundee, who has tabled a Bill on this issue in “Ratify the ILO Domestic Worker Convention and bring national laws and practices into compliance.” the Scottish Parliament, and Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley, who has made similar proposals in Northern and to include a provision in the Modern Slavery Bill to Ireland. I also commend my right hon. Friend the amend immigration rules to defend these workers: Member for Birkenhead, who took on the task of “Amend the visa rules to allow all migrant domestic workers, chairing the Joint Committee of both Houses and all including those working in diplomatic households, to change parties—including the Cross Benchers—that considered employer.” the draft Bill. I hope that the Bill has been improved by That is not allowed. Workers can be locked up and our proposals. treated like a dog and go back to their own country, but I am pleased that we will have legislation on human they cannot seek a better employer in this country, trafficking and modern slavery, but it must be measured which they used to be able to do under the visa against what we aspire to see after 10 weeks of evidence- arrangements we made. gathering, as set out in the Joint Committee’s report. What is missing from the Bill, and what it will be Our proposals included a reoriented definition of the judged on—we will be able to debate in detail what is in crime of slavery; a focus on children, with a specific the Bill on Second Reading—is, for example, the omission offence of enslaving and exploiting children, and the of independence for the proposed anti-slavery commissioner. introduction of guardianship for children; support for Reading the clauses, it is clear that the commissioner is victims; and decriminalisation. The latter is important likely to be the Home Secretary’s poodle. The Home in the context of Northern Ireland and Scotland. The Secretary can decide what can be reported on and how big criticism made when the draft Bill was launched in it can be reported. There is no question of independence. Scotland was that it could not deliver on its promise as Basically, the Bill will appoint a civil servant to work for long as the Border Force—it used to be called the UK the Home Secretary, who will decide what can be reported. Border Agency—criminalises people who are trafficked The reports have to go through the Home Secretary to this country and commit no offence other than before they can be published. There is no structure for breaking the laws on immigration. independent assessment of Government performance— The Committee went to meet a group of people who there is nothing at all on that in the Bill. had been trafficked and were now being looked after by the POPPY Project. One young woman had been brought There is a failure to address slavery in the supply here in a ship without knowing where she was going. chains of UK companies. Luis CdeBaca, the US She landed in Liverpool and was forced into prostitution. ambassador-at-large to monitor and combat trafficking She ended up in London, where she ran away. She went in persons, said: to a police station and told her story, but she was locked “We can’t prosecute our way out of this crime.” in a cell and accused of lying about how she came to Luis CdeBaca has prosecuted more traffickers than Britain. Eventually she ended up in Yarl’s Wood to be anyone else in the world. In his evidence to the Committee, deported. One of the people there knew someone from he told us that he saw more benefit in the California POPPY and introduced the young woman. POPPY law—statutory auditing and statutory reporting by investigated her story and found it to be true and companies in California of the whole of the supply undeniable, but the police treated her as a criminal. As chain—than in prosecution. Another supporter of that, she said, she thought she would get justice in the United and of my private Member’s Bill, was Andrew Forrest, Kingdom, of all places. People in her country, in Africa, who I understand is one of the richest men in Australia. thought of the British police as not corrupt, but they He set up Walk Free when he found trafficked children turned on her and she was traumatised by that experience. in his own quarries in Nepal. Walk Free now has more But people who work in the field say that experience has than 2 million members and campaigns on this issue been repeated thousands of times. across the world. David Arkless of ArkLight, who was We need to improve asset recovery, and we want an the former international president of the Manpower independent assessment of the performance of the company, audited to the third level millions of suppliers Government under the legislation. We want an anti-slavery to that company. He offers training to anyone who commissioner who is independent and not the Home wants to do that for their own company. 477 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 478

The Joint Committee will recommend what I think is here, press-ganged into work as gardeners looking after a very moderate clause—the Committee did not recommend cannabis or other crops, or press-ganged into prostitution everything that was in my private Member’s Bill. It is a and other crimes. These people were treated as defendants; simple recommendation that should have been accepted it is clear that they are as much the victims of the crimes and included in the Bill. Section 414C(7)(iii) of the of their gangmasters as wider society. Companies Act 2006 should be amended: That increasing realisation on my part—as somebody “Before ‘social’ insert ‘modern slavery’.” playing a small role in the criminal justice system—has The five elements of the California Act should be taken been added to by people from all parties and none and on by companies. They should: verify and evaluate by people from outside this place with great knowledge supply chains; audit suppliers to certify goods and and understanding of the experiences of those who are services purchased from suppliers; maintain accountability trafficked, culminating in us dealing not just with the with regard to distribution; and train staff. That is not issue of trafficking, but with the more general issue of too burdensome, but none of it appears in the Bill. slavery. The definition of what that means in the modern That moderate move was not supported by everyone. age is an important one. Unfortunately, the criminal My very good friend—I hope he remains my very good mind moves very quickly and as soon as existing types friend—and respected campaigner Aidan McQuade, of abuse are found and stamped out, new and ingenious the director of Anti-slavery International, argued, and ways to continue that criminality emerge. That is why, still champions the idea, that we should use the Bribery when the Bill has its Second Reading and goes into Act model, so that knowing about and allowing modern Committee, it is important that we make sure that the slavery at any point in the company’s supply chain definition of slavery does not in any way end up being a should be a criminal offence for the chief executive of victim of a lack of foresight. In other words, it has to be the company. He stands by that as the solution that he future-proofed so that the examples given within the wants. statute are non-exhaustive and allow prosecutors and the police to take action to deal with developing forms But what is interesting is the people who now supported of that criminality. That is vital. We in this place are the proposal when it came before the Joint Committee pressed for time and we do not have the resources to who did not support the Bill that I put forward. The continue to return to the criminal law. The best criminal number of supermarkets that were reluctant to come laws in my opinion are those that stand the test of time forward was amazing. In fact, the chief executive of and prove up to the task of fast-moving developments Sainsbury’s wrote to me to say that it was really a matter in criminality. for the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, and it was not for his company to audit the supply chain. Now That brings me to a more general point. It is clear Amazon, Ikea, Marks and Spencer, Primark, Sainsbury’s from my examination of Professor Jonathan Shepherd and Tesco have all written to tell us that they would of Cardiff university’s annual study of accident and support legislation if it was not unduly burdensome. emergency admissions that, while violent crime seems That is an amazing step forward from those companies. to be declining in society, crime is increasingly taking I hope that the House will commend them for doing place online. That online criminality is now entering the that and encourage them to lobby the Government to experience of thousands of our constituents—day in, get legislation that they can use. day out—and they come to us with problems that sometimes seem to be beyond the police’s ability to deal I encourage our friends on the Government Benches with. That, to me, is the greatest challenge we face in the and in the House of Lords; I assume the support of modern era. We are patting ourselves on the back about people on the Labour Benches. But if we really do want a society that seems to be becoming less violent, but at to modernise the anti-slavery principles of William the same time we ignore the online risks at our peril. Wilberforce’s legislation of 200 years ago, we should adopt the auditing and reporting of supply chains as a I know that the Government understand the problem minimum. Slavery does not just happen in the UK; it and that the police understand it, as the need for more happens for the UK in other countries. training and greater expertise of police officers in dealing with online criminality becomes ever greater as the years pass. I see a role not only for this House in 4.31 pm framing legislation to combat online criminality, but Mr Robert Buckland (South Swindon) (Con): It is a very much one for our police and crime commissioners pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Linlithgow and and all those charged with the responsibility of meeting East Falkirk (Michael Connarty), who has campaigned the needs of the people we represent. assiduously on the issue of modern-day slavery. I pay I commend the Queen’s Speech in respect of measures tribute to him for the work he has done and for the on home affairs and justice. As a humble Back Bencher, attention to detail he has shown, which is so important I am particularly encouraged to note that my pleas are when it comes to landmark legislation such as this. being listened to. I perhaps sound a little surprised My experience of modern-day slavery stemmed from when I say that, but it is encouraging to know that the my own professional contact with people who at that ideas of Members of Parliament can find their way time were still being treated as defendants, but whom through the process and result in some action. To my we now know increasingly must be treated as victims. It mind, that certainly restores some of the faith I have in first manifested itself when I started to see a number of the ability of individuals in this place of whatever party cases involving young Vietnamese people who had come to try to influence the process for the better. into this country unlawfully, having spent tens of thousands I am particularly encouraged, too, by the fact that the of pounds to get here through many different member Government recognise the challenge they face regarding states of the EU and further beyond, and who were now the recovery of confiscation assets. It is disturbing that in effect the prisoners of those who had brought them only 18% of confiscation orders worth over £1 million 479 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 480

[Mr Robert Buckland] us through these difficult years and demonstrate that, as a country, we are not only tolerant, but welcoming are, in fact, recovered. That is a huge amount of money. and accepting of people who want to come here, to play It is not only a huge resource that we are missing; it is a their part in our nation story, to make their contribution— standing affront to the justice system itself. Why pass whether through work or by other means—and to be a court orders at all if they will have no meaning in responsible part of our communities. That is what we reality? Why do we go through the rigmarole of applying want. That is what everyone with an understanding of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and its strong measures what it is to be British wants. We have heard today without clear results—not only for the taxpayer, but for about British values, and I believe that a sense of society as a whole? acceptance and a rejection of separation are very much The justice of the situation is important, but it is also part of what it is to be British. about good old-fashioned efficiency. That is why the We cannot go far wrong if we start on that basis. package in the Serious Crime Bill to increase from 10 to Then we can talk about the issues here: then we can 14 years maximum sentences for those in default on make proper distinctions between non-EU and EU orders over £1 million, together with an increase in migration, and talk in a reasoned way about what the sentencing powers for orders worth over £0.5 million, is free movement directive actually means. It is not an a wise one. The issue of automatic early release—we unqualified right for people to come here, fold their have heard it mentioned in other contexts—is particularly arms and do nothing, and it never was. It applies to relevant when it comes to those who are serving sentences people who fall into certain categories—who are workers, in default of payment. It has already been rightly established or are self-sufficient—and who have a right to remain by the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 that the liability to here. That is the reality, and it is a far cry from the pay the order is not extinguished by the service of a nightmare scenarios being painted by those who wish to term in default, but to allow an automatic early release whip up the flames of separation and to profit in some for those in default seems to me not only an affront to way from fear. The vast majority of the people whom I common sense, but hardly any incentive whatever for see coming here want to work and to make a contribution, the wrongdoer or criminal to pay the compensation and many, after they have done their work, will return made out in the confiscation order. In other words, we home to their countries of origin. need more of a stick approach when dealing with Let us not forget that while 1 million people or more offenders who are consistently in default of important are coming here from other EU countries, an equivalent court orders and think that they can just while away number of UK citizens are going to other EU countries. their time and hope that all will be forgotten. That is not Where is the mischief in that? What can possibly be good enough. wrong with a free-market system that allows such The 18% figure has to rise. I will carefully watch out movements? in the years ahead to see how it improves and how we can change the law, while improving the way in which Andrew Percy: I will tell my hon. Friend what is we undertake confiscation. I urge all prosecutors and wrong with it. It means an uncontrolled influx into those charged with this important responsibility to use towns such as Goole, in my constituency, which has not their judgment carefully and not constantly seek huge been planned or prepared for properly, and which places theoretical figures of benefit, but to look for what is a massive strain on public services. My constituents are realisable and discover what can be converted into cash very welcoming: they will even accept folk from Lancashire. or an asset that can be confiscated for the purpose of We simply want to know how many people are coming, further law enforcement. and we want the resources that will enable us to control I also want to see an end to the rather depressing the numbers properly. Unfortunately, the free movement catfights that I have sometimes observed between different directive does not allow us to control them at all. arms of law enforcement in relation to their particular roles. For example, a certain type of forfeiture has Mr Buckland: My hon. Friend has made a fair point, required money to go into one pot rather than another. but I am afraid that he is in error. The directive provides Division of that kind is unhelpful, and does not lead to a power that allows member states to have a registration a properly co-ordinated approach to the confiscation of system for people who wish to stay here for longer than criminal assets. three months. Let us not propagate the myth that the I was interested and stimulated by some of what has directive is an open door. It is not, and, with domestic been said about immigration. I think it incumbent on enforcement, it can be better managed. all of us to show leadership when it comes to such My hon. Friend makes a proper point about planning issues. We hear a great deal on the doorstep, and read a and public services, but we must also remember that great deal in the newspapers, about the myths of migration, without some migration some of the jobs that need to but we do not hear or read enough of the facts and the be done in our economy are not going to be done, and truths. Over the centuries, this land has benefited from the question we have to ask is, who will do that work? migration. We are a land of migrants. We are a rich I am a great campaigner for the rights of people with mosaic of people whose blood comes from all sorts of disabilities, and I passionately believe they have their lands, and we should rejoice in that. We should remember role to play in our growing work force. I know that is that it has made this country truly great. what they want, and that is also what they deserve, but At the same time, leadership demands that we listen getting to that ideal stage takes time. It takes time for carefully to those who have justified concerns. When employers to start to understand the benefits of employing people are scared, we should not fan the flames of fear; people who perhaps have more challenges than others. we should offer the hand of reassurance, the strong arm While I want to get there, I understand the pressure on of guidance, and the leadership that I believe will take employers who, for example, cannot collect their crop 481 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 482 or who cannot find a suitable person to fulfil a care role. prosecuting authorities and all those with responsibility Working with employers to encourage more employment for child protection did not have that extra tool in the locally—more indigenous employment, as it were—is a box when it came to dealing with emotional abuse. I am laudable aspiration and is the right thing to do, but to not saying that it might have changed the course of try artificially to close a door is bad news for our young Daniel’s life, but it could have made a difference country and our economy and is not a realistic approach to his life and it certainly will make a difference to the to a problem that has deeply complex origins and lives of hundreds of children and young people in this should not be viewed through the prism of cheap headlines country if and when we amend the law to include and political slogans. That is what happens far too emotional abuse. The criminal law is an interesting often in the debate on migration, and it is time we thing for those who have been imbued with it for the stopped that misleading and unhelpful approach. Let past 20 years, as I have. I believe that a lot of people us show leadership on that issue. would have been shocked to realise that section 1 of the Turning to issues relating to the UK passport agency, Children and Young Persons Act 1933 covered only may I thank it for having helped a constituent of mine physical harm, but it was made crystal clear in a House reach the beaches of Normandy last week? Mr Harry of Lords case back in 1981 that that section was limited Prescott is now 92 years of age. The last time he was in to the Normandy he was a 21-year-old Royal Marine in Operation “physical needs of the child and does not cover other aspects such Overlord. By an odd quirk, he was not classified as a as moral and educational”. British citizen. He was born in Canada to UK parents, That meant that the door was firmly shut on emotional and for various reasons never ended up with a British abuse. passport. He wanted to play his part in the 70th anniversary A lot of people have asked me in the past few months commemorations, however, but when the time came for how one defines emotional abuse and whether the new him to apply for a passport, he encountered a number measure will not be a problem when it comes to parenting. of blocks to his application—the sort of bureaucracy Are we in danger of criminalising the firm but fair that I know drives Members of this House quietly parent who deprives their child of an Xbox if there has round the bend and which was certainly causing him a been a misdemeanour in the household? Not a bit of it. degree of frustration. I was contacted by 47 Royal It is not about firm but fair parenting. It is not about Marine Commando Association about his predicament, people who administer reasonable chastisement on their and together we were able to prevail on the passport children. It is not about the millions of decent men and service to pull its finger out and get on with the job of women who, like many of us in this Chamber, learn issuing him with a passport. He was therefore able to every day what it is to bring up a child. It is about the join his comrades and colleagues and play his part in systematic abuse of children by people who either should commemorating the momentous events that took place know better or in some sad cases do not know better. in Normandy 70 years ago. I therefore offer my genuine thanks, via my hon. Friend the Minister, to those in the Nicola Blackwood (Oxford West and Abingdon) (Con): passport service who made that possible. My hon. Friend has touched on an important point With the help of Action for Children, one of our about this measure to protect children from neglect. leading children’s charities, and other parliamentarians, Does he agree that it will be exceptionally important I have been campaigning for a number of years now for that the guidelines for the Serious Crime Bill define a reform to the criminal law of child neglect. Paul emotional abuse carefully so that statutory agencies are Goggins has been referred to in many other contexts, able to understand what they will be enforcing and but it would be wholly wrong of me not to pay tribute parents understand the new legislation? Safeguarding to him for the work he did on this important issue. The sections on school websites will be a valuable resource Crime and Courts Act 2013 was in Bill form when Paul to help parents to understand exactly what it is intended presented an amendment in his and my name which to protect against. will, in effect, be the basis of a provision that will appear in the Serious Crime Bill. The argument is a Mr Buckland: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. Her simple one. The criminal law of child neglect was drafted point about guidance will be key to all this. While we way back in 1868—some 150 years ago. It served an may be good at passing a law, it is for the prosecuting important purpose in its time, but times move on. Just authorities and child protection agencies to enforce it, because a law is old does not mean it is a bad law—far so we would be failing in our duty if we did not explain from it—but with the knowledge and understanding we through debates in the House what we mean. now have about the full effects of all types of abuse of children and young people, I think it was remiss, to say Empirical research shows that emotional abuse may the least, that we had not before now updated the be the most damaging form of child maltreatment criminal law to keep pace not only with developments in because those who are responsible for administering it science and understanding, but with the developing almost invariably are those responsible for enabling civil and family law that already recognises varying children to fulfil their developmental milestones. What types of abuse, including emotional abuse, when considering do I mean by emotional neglect? It can include forcing a issues of family protection and whether or not a child is child to witness domestic violence, scapegoating a child, at risk or has experienced significant harm. inflicting systematic humiliation and enforcing degrading Very often, emotional abuse does not come alone. It punishments. will be accompanied, sadly, by physical and sexual The effects of emotional neglect have been shown to abuse. Daniel Pelka is one of many well-known cases in be potentially lifelong and as profound, if not more so, which the signs of emotional abuse were emerging than some of the physical effects on children. They can before the physical abuse took its toll on that poor include depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, young lad. It pains me to think that the police, the personality disorder, aggression, dissociation, mental 483 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 484

[Mr Buckland] significant harm and the criminal standard of proof is protection enough for those who say they are worried that illness and even suicide. Children who experience rejection the floodgates will be opened upon responsible heads. or neglect are less able to learn and achieve good We therefore move away from words and phrases educational outcomes than their peers, so in addition to such as “neglect”, “wilful” and “unnecessary suffering” the psychiatric evidence that we have of the harm to the term “maltreatment”, which covers the gamut of caused by emotional neglect, there is growing evidence different types of harm that are caused, sadly, to our from neuroscience that brain development is inhibited children. At a stroke it makes clear the options available as a result, which itself leads to significant harm. We to the courts. It allows sentencers the ability properly to cannot ignore the developing science; we would be reflect criminality by those responsible for the care of failing in our duty if we did. children in sentencing them appropriately. Finally, it The language of section 1 of the 1933 Act is antiquated. deals with a long-standing anomaly that I am surprised It uses words such as “wilful”, which has been defined we allowed to continue for so long. by the courts as meaning “reckless”. Well, why does the This law will not apply retrospectively. We cannot, Act not say that? It would be so much easier if we and it is right that we do not, make something criminal amended the law to make sure that people given the that was not criminal at the time it happened. I know task of interpreting it did not misunderstand “wilful” as that for those people who contacted me and other requiring specific intent or as being more intentional colleagues in recent months about the enduring effects than the law requires. Why should we put people through of the emotional abuse that they suffered that may their paces in that way by relying on archaic language? come as a bitter pill, but it would not be right to try to Similarly, terms such as “unnecessary suffering” were change a well known and well respected principle of good for the time of Dickens, but are not necessarily law, a principle that is recognised internationally. We appropriate now. The term “significant harm” is the have to look to the future, but in doing so we should not one that I strongly advocate. It replicates the term forget the victims of the past who until now have had to already used in civil law and it is the threshold test used suffer in silence and who have not had the justice that when child protection issues are dealt with. Why not they deserve. just streamline the system by bringing the language into I am proud to support a Government who listened to line with that already used? The term “significant harm” a consultation that was conducted in recent months and can be understood but still sets a high threshold, and it who listened to the calls from my hon. Friend the goes a long way towards allaying some of the concerns Member for Ceredigion (Mr Williams), who had a of those who say that this will open the floodgates to private Member’s Bill in the last Session, to my hon. prosecutions of the firm but fair parents about whom I Friend the Member for Erewash (Jessica Lee), to me was talking earlier. and to Members of the Opposition and former Members, The police and those involved in social work welcome such as the late Paul Goggins. Let this stand as one of the proposed reform. As I said, there was concern about his epitaphs. Let it stand as an acknowledgement of the the inability of the police to intervene in cases of power of politics when people come together, recognise non-physical harm, and the dislocation between criminal a wrong and seek to make it good. and civil law was leading to problems in enforcement I have said a lot about child neglect. It is something and in interpreting the role of the police. We are making that I saw in my own working life, and I found those the law clear not only for members of the public but for cases some of the most difficult to deal with. Hon. those in the law enforcement agencies who have to do Members who have been in practice well understand this difficult and sensitive work. what I say. However, I do not stand here on an emotional We should look at what is happening overseas. Action basis; I stand here on the basis of evidence, a sense of for Children commissioned research from 31 jurisdictions responsibility that we as legislators must always do across Europe, Asia, north America, Africa and Australia, what is right in terms of developments in science, and a including common law jurisdictions with which we can genuine and steadfast belief that when it comes to the draw direct parallels. In 25 of those 31 jurisdictions, the criminal law, not only must we try to keep pace with criminal law explicitly encompasses emotional abuse. developments, but—to use the phrase that I used earlier We can see from that trawl of other countries’ legislation in another context—we must do everything we can to that emotional abuse is already recognised in other future-proof it. I thank my hon. Friends on the Front parts of the world. Bench for listening and taking appropriate action. How emotional abuse is defined will obviously be I have mentioned human trafficking and slavery, but I important when it comes to presenting evidence in want to finish on a positive note. Unless every town, court, and assistance will be gained, as it is now, from city and village in this country wakes up to the reality of experts in the field who are trained in understanding the human trafficking and slavery in its midst, we are not intellectual and psychological capacity of children. There going to solve the problem. We have an increasingly is concern in the community of expert witnesses that, aware police force, which increasingly understands the with pressure on resources, their job will become more challenge and is sourcing important training and support. difficult. I understand that, and it will be important to acknowledge that during our debates and to work out Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con): Is my hon. Friend ways in which the criminal justice system can accommodate interested to know that Churches Together in west expert testimony. It must do so in a way that is fair to all Cheshire, part of Weaver Vale, held a conference attended parties while serving the interests of justice and allowing by churches from the whole of Cheshire West, as well as objective expert evidence to be relied on by juries when the police force and the local authority, to make sure discharging their duties and applying the high test of that all the villages and all the communities throughout the criminal standard of proof. The combination of Cheshire are aware of human trafficking? 485 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 486

Mr Buckland rose— feel a little aggrieved about life in general. They feel out of the loop. London and the big metropolitan centres Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. are where it is happening, and some of the dissatisfaction Before the hon. Member for South Swindon (Mr Buckland) is feeding into the mood that we are sensing on the resumes his speech, I gently point out that he has now doorstep. been speaking for 33 minutes, it took the Home Secretary There is nothing in the Queen’s Speech to ensure that only 34 minutes to launch the debate, and other Members victims of domestic violence are not left in an unsafe are waiting to speak. We are grateful for his tour de property because of the bedroom tax rules, nor to force across an area in which he has great expertise, but protect those in rental properties from landlords who not necessarily over the entire Queen’s Speech. do not provide adequate fire protection and fixed smoke alarms. On that point, I draw the attention of the Mr Buckland: I will bear your exhortation very much House to my indirect interests in those of my right hon. in mind, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am still a minute Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich behind the Home Secretary so I will take that as a target (Mr Raynsford). The draft wild animals in circuses Bill and I will do my best. has been dropped; people feel very strongly about that, I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for and I have received a vast number of e-mails. They are Weaver Vale (Graham Evans). I just wanted to make deeply disappointed and we will need an explanation the point that in Swindon we are doing exactly the for that decision. same. The 100-plus people who came to St Joseph’s Some proposed Bills are to be welcomed, including, Catholic college to see the films about child slavery and finally, one to provide some action to end the misery of trafficking shown by ECPAT UK, one of the leading human trafficking. Some hon. Members who have already charities, showed that there is a real interest, understanding spoken have played a key role in that, as did the former and concern. It is through the work of local organisations, Member Anthony Steen who represented a south-west together with our police and crime commissioners, who seat and was a constituency neighbour of mine. He will are increasingly becoming involved in encouraging the be very pleased at last to see some of his hard work over training of police, that we will start to see a rolling back many years leading to a measure on modern slavery, of the almost systematic blindness that we have had to which I think will be interesting and have cross-party the reality of trafficking in our midst. support. Before I sit down, I pay a warm tribute to the Wiltshire police and crime commissioner, Angus Macpherson, I also welcome the changes on pubcos and on plastic who is recovering in hospital in Bath after a serious bag use, although the changes on pubcos do not go heart attack last week. He has been doing an outstanding quite far enough for some of my publicans. I also job for the last several years as our PCC, and on behalf welcome the introduction of a power of recall, unlike of everyone who cares about crime and policing in my some of my colleagues. neck of the woods and generally, I wish him the speediest I was pleased to see that the Government have accepted of recoveries. the need for an ombudsman for the armed forces. The case for that was previously well made by my right hon. 5.6 pm Friend the shadow Secretary of State for Defence, and the Government listening to Opposition proposals is Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab): It is a naturally always welcome. pleasure to follow what was a tour de force from the hon. Member for South Swindon (Mr Buckland). However, the nitty-gritty of people’s lives has largely Opposition Members appreciate his comments about been ignored. When times are hard, I think we all look the late Paul Goggins, and it goes without saying that for somebody to blame, or something that explains why most Members here will recognise his contribution to we feel we are walking through treacle and getting the new Bill. I will try to limit my speech to under nowhere: it might be immigrants, who are blamed for 15 minutes, which was your original instruction— taking jobs; it might be people who are overweight, who [Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman may well gasp in are the butt of troll-like comments on social media such horror, but his speech was a tour de force and it was as, “They should go on a diet and save the NHS interesting, so I think we can live with it. money”; or it might be people claiming benefits, who This is a Government programme lite—what is not in are vilified by the media and described as “scroungers”. it is as interesting as what is. Where are the measures Deep, underlying concerns are voiced in difficult designed seriously to address the concerns that were all circumstances, but of course rationally we know that too evident in the run-up to the last set of elections— people with weight issues cannot all simply go on a diet concerns about the lack of affordable homes, especially and everything will be fine. We know from the issues in the south west where the income to mortgage ratio is thrown up by the bedroom tax that not everybody only just below that of the south east, but where the claiming a benefit is feckless and that instead the majority incomes of people living full time, not in second homes, of them are low-paid, hard-working family people or can be very low? The south west is jam-packed full of those with disabilities, who genuinely need the state’s second homes. Fewer new homes were started in the safety net. south west in 2013 than in 2012. Where are the measures Equally, immigrants are not to blame for all our ills to tackle the undercutting of wages and the need to but actually contribute significantly to our country. We ensure that people working regular hours, month after are a trading nation; we have been a trading nation for month, get a regular contract? People in Plymouth have centuries. I was recently reminded of that by a member on average £19 a day less disposable cash than a Londoner. of our armed forces—somebody who is resident in Taking into account some variations in food and prices, Plymouth. He pointed out that we have travelled from but without including mortgages and rents, those people these shores for centuries to colonise and conquer other 487 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 488

[Alison Seabeck] wages, we will go a long way towards cutting out the benefits that some employers see in harvesting people nations, all in the economic interests of Great Britain, from overseas and bringing them here to work. and that we have depended for our success as a nation My constituents are very clear that we also need an on the movement of people to and from our shores. effective mechanism to tackle a problem that we have Nowadays, we see students coming here from overseas had for centuries but not yet resolved: monitoring who but they are viewed as immigrants, despite the fact that comes into the country and who goes out. We still have they are paying for their courses, paying rent to a no reliable system for ensuring that people are properly landlord, paying for goods and services in our local chased when their visas expire. In my view, and that of shops, and paying tax on most of those purchases. They my constituents, it is important that even those coming are also supporting our higher education sector and from the EU should be properly counted in and out. We essential research needs. Recent changes in their status need exit checks, even allowing for free movement. have been damaging to the higher education sector, and Clearly that should also apply to the movement of notwithstanding the need to tackle the foreign students vehicles, as other hon. Members have said. who overstay and the bogus colleges, we need to regard It is all the unknowns—the areas where information students generally as a positive and not as a negative in is not fully available and the facts are unknown—that our cities. In Plymouth, we have two universities with a naturally fuel people’s fears and insecurities. Why should significant number of overseas students, and it is quite the people of Plymouth have to rely on vague and disheartening that those students are sometimes seen as inaccurate information about what is happening in their more of a problem for our city than a benefit to it. area? My hon. Friend the Member for Islington South Of course, we should also remember that British and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry) is right that we need people themselves have made up significant waves of practical measures of the type she described, not platitudes. immigration to other countries over generations and for We need truthfulness and reliable facts, as has been said a range of reasons. Some moved through choice; some on both sides of the House. to pursue an education in an international university; I will move on from immigration and talk about some because of persecution; and others for economic domestic violence. Women’s groups such as Women’s reasons. Indeed, I spoke today to a group of people Aid, Paladin and the Sara Charlton Charitable Foundation from Plymouth, Massachusetts, as part of the plans for have flagged up the need for legislation specifically to the Mayflower 2020 celebrations of the 400th anniversary tackle coercive control and behaviour in difficult of the Pilgrim Fathers heading out from Plymouth. relationships. The issue cuts across two pieces of legislation Why did the Pilgrim Fathers leave this country? They in the Queen’s Speech. One is the Modern Slavery Bill, chose to travel to somewhere else because they were because many of the people unfortunate enough to find being persecuted here in England. Movement of people themselves in that situation are undoubtedly subjected to and from these shores has happened historically, and to coercive behaviour. The other is the Serious Crime for a whole range of reasons. Bill. I ask the Government to look very closely at the None of the Bills being introduced addresses people’s work being done by Women’s Aid and other groups to concerns. It is particularly important to target those see whether there is any scope for bringing forward a who bring workers into the UK and undercut local measure that would make emotional cruelty a criminal workers in terms of salaries and conditions. They are offence. Such behaviour is often a precursor to violence the agents and others who are actively recruiting people, and other types of abuse, and there is a strong belief and dishonestly telling them that they have a job and that if we can tackle it in some way, we will prevent accommodation. Quite frankly, too little is known about worse behaviour further down the line and save money. where these people operate, where they are coming from I ask the Minister to look at that in due course. and where they are housing and employing some of the I did not agree with everything the hon. Member for people they ship into this country. Some of those who Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy) said, but I agreed with bring people into this country will fall under the human his comments on the social action, responsibility and trafficking Bill, but a lot of them will not. I have been heroism Bill. Having been a lifeguard for nine years, I told that in Plymouth and the south-west there is a taxi used my skills mostly when people had heart attacks in firm that employs drivers in the EU. We would think, the street or on trains. The hon. Gentleman’s assessment “Okay, that’s fine, they’re from the EU. That shouldn’t is that people find it difficult to intervene. I once stepped be a problem.” However, that firm is training those off a bus and found a lady lying on the pavement in drivers in the EU and then bringing them to the UK. It front of me. There was a group of people around her, is not clear how and where the vetting is done or what is but none of them had done anything. Some of them the source of the information, which is vital for the said, “I don’t want to be sued.” I am afraid that our very safety of passengers, particularly women. Would it be British values of not crossing the road in such circumstances considered adequate in the UK? have been subsumed beneath an Atlantic, American, Frankly, I find it extraordinary that an employer litigious attitude to everything. If, through this Bill, we would have to go overseas to find cab drivers, because can make people feel a little more confident, that could there are people here who would very willingly do the make a difference in their acting to save lives and take work. Of course, the reason is startlingly simple: they action where appropriate. can get the labour cheaper. That is the root of the The biggest failure in the Queen’s Speech is in not problem that many people see with immigration. We bringing forward measures to reward hard work, to need the measures proposed by the shadow Home ensure new homes are built, to stop privatisation of the Secretary to put a stop to this type of practice, which NHS, or to freeze energy bills. That says a lot about the convinces people that all immigrants are here to take ability of this lame-duck coalition Government to really their jobs. If we can deal with the undercutting of deliver for the people of this country. 489 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 490

5.20 pm Inevitably, the arrival in any part of this country—in any country of the world—of large numbers of incomers Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ over a relatively short period, whether migrants from Co-op): Before my main comments, I want to say a few other countries or people moving from elsewhere in the words about the crisis in the Passport Office, about same country, will have an effect on society and is likely which some hon. Friends have already spoken. I was to put pressures on social infrastructure and the employment disappointed that at the start of the debate the Home market. The way to respond to those pressures and Secretary did not seem to take this issue very seriously. concerns is not to ramp up anti-immigrant rhetoric—or It has attracted considerable media attention in the past to set unworkable targets, as this Government have few days, but I—and, I suspect, practically every other tried to do time and again—but to provide a real MP—have been grappling with it for weeks, as we have solution to real concerns and a positive response where dealt with more and more people whose holidays and possible. That can be done by recognising the need to work have faced disruption and cancellation because improve social infrastructure and taking the necessary their passport applications have been delayed and who steps to put it in place, while challenging those myths are making inquiries but unable to find out what has and rumours that are not well-founded. It is also important, been going on, with the whole process causing great as my Front-Bench colleagues have emphasised today stress and worry. I could refer to many examples, but I and elsewhere, to stop the exploitation of workers—UK will not go into them in detail given the pressures of citizens and those from elsewhere—which lies at the time. heart of many of the concerns raised by constituents. I have had more problems with the Passport Office One aspect of immigration policy—not just in the over the past three weeks, as a Member of Parliament, UK, but worldwide—needs to be considered as part of than in the previous 13 years. Bluntly, the Government the backdrop to any debate on the issue. Given that the need to take action to sort this out, or lots of holidays world population has been doubling over a relatively will be ruined and business opportunities lost. This small number of decades and that many countries are mess should have been sorted out months ago. If suffering from war and conflict, it is not surprising that management and Ministers had been on top of their people seek to come to countries that are relatively jobs, they should have realised there was a problem long wealthy, stable and secure. The UK is clearly too small ago and taken the necessary action. Let me be clear: this to have an open-door policy, which is why it is right to is not the fault of the front-line staff in the Passport have a firm immigration policy, but it is worth bearing Office, who have clearly been overwhelmed by a situation in mind the overall context, because if we do not also not of their making. They have been very courteous do as much as we can to solve some of the underlying and helpful when my staff have made inquiries. The reasons that people want to migrate, we will, bluntly, source of the problem is clearly at the very top, with, I always have pressures on migration, no matter what suspect, cutbacks being a major contributory factor. I policies we or any other Government of any other suspect that it is also the result of a Secretary of State country adopt. That is why we should be working to whose focus, to put it kindly, has been directed elsewhere. reduce conflict in the world and why we should seek to I hope that the Minister will give some indication of do what we can to support international development, taking this more seriously and ensuring that action is to try to reduce the pressures on migration to the taken to deal with the problem and the backlog. wealthier countries, of which we are one. Perhaps the starkest indication of those pressures is The main thrust of my comments is on the wider the fact that, perhaps at this moment, somewhere on the issue of immigration policy. I welcome the clear southern shore of the Mediterranean a boat is setting commitment given by my party leader and my Front off and over the next few days its occupants may well Benchers to reject anti-immigrant rhetoric and promote drown and die horribly in those waters. Thousands die policies that deal with the real issues of migration. each year on that journey, as do others on journeys Many people have concerns about immigration; I hear across the sea to more attractive parts of the world, them frequently in my constituency. Some of those such as north America and Australia. Over the past 10 concerns can be well-founded, and they must be addressed. to 15 years, 25,000 people are known to have died in the This debate should be based on facts, as many Members Mediterranean sea when seeking to travel to the shores have said. The fact is that the many people who are of Europe. That small number is probably only a proportion immigrants, or descended from immigrants, make, with of those who have died making that journey, because only few exceptions, a positive and beneficial contribution many more will have died without anyone knowing to our society and our community. They make a direct anything about it, except for their grieving relatives contribution through the taxes that they pay. They back home. often provide key workers in sectors of the public service, such as the health service, and have proved vital Of course, people should not seek to cross borders to many private sector businesses as well. They have illegally in the Mediterranean or elsewhere, but the fact made, and still make, important contributions to our that so many are in such desperate circumstances that culture and our sporting life, to the academic world and they are prepared to take the risk should demand research, and to much else besides—even, indeed, to recognition from us of the forces that lead them to our political life in this Chamber and beyond. That is make the journey and of the need to tackle some of the not surprising, because, reflecting our history, our country underlying causes of migration. The situation also requires has always been a country of migrants, whether from a humanitarian response from us as fellow human Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean or beings. many other parts of the world. That is the nature of our I understand that a European Union institution— society and our country, and it is a source of strength, probably the Justice and Home Affairs Council—will not weakness. meet in the next few weeks to discuss the future direction 491 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 492

[Mark Lazarowicz] Legislation is necessary if we are to tackle how we deal with those who use the internet to target children. I of EU policy on borders and asylum. Amnesty want to propose that Ministers listening to the debate International has made a number of proposals on the today should consider toughening still further the law approach that the UK Government should take at that in this area. We may need to use primary legislation to meeting, including: bring in mandatory custodial sentencing in certain cases “Safe routes to Europe for refugees from countries like Syria so for which at present there is no such requirement. they are not forced to take dangerous journeys, for instance, I want to share with the Minister and the House a through resettlement quotas”. recent case in my constituency in which, in my view and The Government have made some moves on that, but that of many of my constituents, what took place was they should do a lot more. Amnesty International also an absolute travesty of justice. Members may not be suggests: aware of the case of Dennis Igo from Bronington in my “Increased search and rescue capacity in the Mediterranean to constituency. So appalled was I about the outcome that identify boats in distress and save lives”, I have referred the case to the Attorney-General and and asked him to review the sentence awarded. “Human rights at the heart of migration control agreements with For seven years, Mr Igo viewed and made well over neighbouring countries”. 250,000 indecent images of children. Some of the images Those seem to be a set of reasonable policies that not were of children as young as five. Many were of children only reflect humanitarian concerns, but are practical. being abused, and some were category 5 images. One national newspaper has stated in print that he had 99 of I should like the Minister to tell the House in his the most serious level 5 images. The collection included closing comments how he and the Government will 834 films. The police were able to retrieve 255,667 respond to the calls for a European-wide policy to images, and they have been quite clear that there were tackle the crisis in the Mediterranean and off the shores many more images, but the sheer quantity made it of southern Europe. That tragedy is an issue not just for impossible to retrieve any more from the computer. the countries involved, but one that must also be addressed There were also extreme images of bestiality. in our national interest. The fact is that people who take that route to southern Europe may, in due course, also For this catalogue of the most heinous crimes, Mr Igo seek to travel to the UK. The situation requires a was sentenced on 23 May—in our country—to a grand coherent response across the European Union, and I total of 300 hours of community work, with some should like to hear what our Government are doing to specialised counselling and a two-year prison term make that coherent response possible. suspended for two years. He was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for 10 years, and he was given a 10-year sexual offences prevention order to 5.29 pm restrict his future conduct. Before sentencing, he was Susan Elan Jones (Clwyd South) (Lab): It is a great not put on remand, but was out on bail. The view was privilege to follow my hon. Friend the Member for taken that he could be managed in the community; the Edinburgh North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) and the community he lives in does not share that view, and many other speakers. In many ways, the Queen’s Speech neither, most certainly, do I. debate is the panorama of all debates, with so many The mitigating circumstances were that the accused different themes raised. Even within the framework of was depressed, his wife had been ill and he allegedly had home affairs, a huge range of issues come into play, as financial problems, although I do not know whether the they have today, such as human trafficking, immigration latter point was independently verified or whether there and much else. I totally understand why many hon. is evidence of his having sold any assets to deal with Members want to cover a range of themes in their that if it was the case. Nevertheless, I do not believe that speeches in such a debate, but I want to restrict my depression, a wife who has been ill, alleged money comments to one area that is very important for us as problems and, I suspect, a very clever lawyer, add up to legislators—the crime of online paedophilia and how mitigating circumstances for a non-custodial sentence we handle it as a society. The crime is immensely serious, in such a case. That is why I have asked the Attorney- and we should reflect that in our laws and sentencing. General to review it. It is totally right, in the words of the summary of the It is no wonder that Claudia Knights, the chief executive Serious Crime Bill in the document issued with the of the child protection charity Kidscape, said of this Queen’s Speech, that case: “we can continue to effectively and relentlessly pursue, disrupt “The sentence does not reflect the severity of the case. It must and bring to justice serious and organised criminals, guard against not be forgotten that each indecent image involves real children. the threat of terrorism and protect vulnerable women and children.” We have to ask what message such apparently lenient sentences If we cannot do that, there is precious little point in send out to both abusers and victims of such crimes.” having a Government at all. I welcome the fact that the By comparison, let us take another case, the sentencing Bill will create a new offence of possessing paedophilic for which took place in Peterborough Crown court two manuals and, critically, that it will clarify the Children days before Mr Igo was sentenced in Mold Crown court and Young Persons Act 1933 to make it explicit that for the offences that I have listed. In the Peterborough cruelty likely to cause psychological harm to a child is case, the court heard how the accused made indecent an offence. Several hon. Members have already expanded images of children available for distribution via a file-sharing on that. software programme. Officers discovered 242 indecent It is important to introduce measures to tackle child images and 495 films. In the case that I have been abuse and emotional neglect and, moving on from that, describing, Mr Igo was sentenced on 16 separate charges; to recognise the growing dangers of online paedophilia. in the Peterborough Crown court case, the accused was 493 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 494 sentenced on 10 counts. Igo and the accused in the and fair approach that this country needs. Instead we Peterborough case were put on the sex offenders register have seen the use of irresponsible “Go Home” vans and for an identical length of time: 10 years. However, in the heard a lot of tough talk, while at the same time the Peterborough Crown court case, the accused was also ill-conceived targets for net migration that the Government jailed for 16 months. After sentencing in the Peterborough set have been missed by a mile. The Prime Minister Crown court case, a detective constable said: promised to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands, “I hope this sends out a clear message that anyone who thinks but it has actually risen to 200,000. they can access and share such images will not get away with it… Indeed, it is worse than that. Not only are the We will find out and we will catch up with you.” Government failing to tackle some of the very real I recognise that there are differences in the two cases, issues affecting our communities—such as the way some but there is also clearly a massive discrepancy when employers exploit cheap migrant labour to undercut 242 indecent images and 495 films mean jail for one local pay and conditions, or the impact of cuts to our person, yet, in the same jurisdiction, more than 255,667 vital public services—but their policies on immigration indecent images and 834 films do not mean jail for are damaging the future prosperity of cities like Nottingham another. That is why I hope that, following this debate, by discouraging bright overseas students from coming Home Office Ministers will look at the need for new to study at our universities. Back in March I met the primary legislation. Do they honestly believe that online pro-vice-chancellors with responsibility for international paedophiles, especially those who have made and viewed students from Nottingham Trent university and the such a huge number of indecent images, should seriously university of Nottingham. They were extremely concerned be out on bail before sentencing? about the impact that Government changes to visa I believe that it is crucial that we look seriously at applications and post-study work entitlements are having mandatory custodial sentences. Recently, we have heard on the recruitment of international students, and about many accounts of child abuse in the 1970s and 1980s the implications of that for the economic success of our and about how a previous generation of abused children city. went through hell. Sometimes, they spoke out and no Higher education is one of the UK’s most important one believed them; many times, they did not even feel export industries. There are currently around 11,000 that they could tell anyone. Whether it is true or not, we international students in Nottingham across our two like to think that things like that belong to a past era universities, and there is monetary value to their being and that they could not happen in quite the same way there. Nottingham Trent university estimates that the today. However, as we have that debate and as we total spend of their international students—fees plus debate the Queen’s Speech, let us not forget the world of accommodation and living costs—is around £60 million. online child abuse, where images are taken, used and The corresponding figure for the university of Nottingham abused; images of real children, wherever they may is £160 million. Those universities estimate that when happen to live; images that are viewed and manufactured we take into account the multipliers—the extra value of electronically. that expenditure for the local economy—the combined The issues involved are serious for Governments and value of international students to the Nottingham economy for us as legislators. As we speak, as we have done is somewhere in the order of £374 million per year, today, about paedophilic manuals and the emotional supporting hundreds of jobs in our city and the wider and psychological abuse of children, I hope that Ministers east midlands region. will seriously review and consider the need for new primary legislation in this area. The concern for our universities, which are operating in an increasingly competitive global marketplace, is that the Government’s rhetoric and policies are putting 5.39 pm students off coming to the UK to study. Higher Education Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab): It is a Statistics Agency data show that the total number of privilege to follow my hon. Friend the Member for international students studying at higher educational Clwyd South (Susan Elan Jones), who spoke so eloquently institutions in the UK has declined for the first time and passionately on a vital issue of deep concern. since records began in 1994. The biggest drop off in Last week, my right hon. Friend the Leader of the visas is for students from the Indian subcontinent, with Opposition said that one of the tests for a Queen’s India, Pakistan and Bangladesh seeing reductions in Speech is whether it responds to the anxieties people the year to March 2013 of 38%, 62% and 30% respectively. feel in their communities. Many of us will recognise that That is particularly alarming as those are among the one such anxiety expressed by some of our constituents countries forecast by the British Council to have the biggest is about immigration. We should be able to debate increase in outbound student mobility up to the year immigration, both in Parliament and with our constituents, 2020. because it has a vital place in the history of our country. The ability to work in a country after study is one of Our success as a nation was built on being outward-facing the most significant factors that students consider when and welcoming, and over centuries, immigration has deciding where to study. A recent survey by Universities made Britain the country we are proud of and it has an UK found that 56% of respondents cited the possibility important role in our future. However, it must be controlled of obtaining post-study work experience as a factor and managed to ensure that the system is fair and works they considered when applying to the UK. According in the interests of everyone, and of course that it has to a 2011 survey by the UK Council for International public confidence and support. Student Affairs, the abolition of the post-study work Despite its importance, immigration did not get a route has had the greatest negative impact of all recent single mention in the Queen’s Speech. This Government’s visa changes on students’ decisions to study in the UK, policies over the past four years have not promoted an especially at postgraduate level. If the Government do open and honest debate, or delivered the progressive not think again—I hope the Minister will respond to 495 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 496

[Lilian Greenwood] serious exploitation a crime, to prevent dodgy gangmasters exploiting migrants to undercut jobs and wages. We these issues in his closing remarks—Nottingham and would also strengthen border controls to tackle illegal other UK cities could face an immediate impact on immigration and stop abuse, but welcome overseas students their local economies, risk missing out on some of the coming to the UK and immediately remove them from brightest overseas students, and lose the wider cultural the net migration target. We would act where the benefits of hosting students from across the world. Government have not and strengthen checks on short-term There is also a longer-term impact because we know student visitor visas which are open to abuse. that young people who study here are the Government, We would also introduce a “make work pay” Bill to business and cultural leaders of the future, and therefore reward hard work, raising the national minimum wage we are also losing out on the opportunities for international to a higher proportion of average earnings and guaranteeing influence and inward investment that educational a regular contract to those on zero-hours contracts who opportunities in the UK can foster and encourage. work regular hours month after month but have no Let me turn to the issues that the Government are security for themselves or their families. simply failing to address and which concern many of Fifteen years ago I worked as a trade union officer in my constituents. The Government have said that a key Derbyshire. Many of the low-paid home care workers priority is to had a small number of contracted hours but regularly “continue to build an economy that rewards those who work worked many more hours. We reached a deal under hard.” which those hours were gradually incorporated into Unfortunately, for many people in Nottingham that their contracts. I recognise that employers and employees does not reflect their experience of the last few years. As sometimes need flexibility, but people also need financial my right hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster North security, and we are proposing a workable option that (Edward Miliband) noted last week, 5 million people in would provide that. Britain—one in five workers—are low paid, and for the Labour would encourage businesses to pay the living first time ever most of the people in poverty are in wage with “make work pay” contracts. I would like to work. Yesterday, the Nottingham Post reported that take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Labour local 16,000 people a year rely on food banks in our county, authorities that are leading the way on this, ending and charities tell us that low wages and insecure contracts poverty pay amongst their own staff and only contracting are contributing to the huge increase in that number. with those employers who pay a living wage. I also pay That is why I raised the need for financial security in tribute to organisations such as Nottingham Citizens, employment with the Prime Minister last week. which is working in our city to demonstrate the value of Unfortunately, he failed to address the concern I was a living wage to employers and holding us politicians to expressing on behalf of my constituents about the account. quality and security of the new jobs being created and The message that we heard loud and clear in the about their ability to earn a decent living wage. recent elections is that people want politicians who As we are a trading nation, a “close all the doors” listen to their concerns, talk to them and are not afraid approach to immigration cannot work, but neither can of debate. People are worried but we should not stoke a laissez-faire right-wing approach to free movement those fears. Hostility and division are not the way that allows employers to exploit cheap labour. It is bad forward. Britain needs fair and practical solutions. That for the migrant workers being exploited, it is bad for is what a Government should offer. The coalition is not local workers whose wages are undercut and it is bad for offering what people need, but a Labour Government responsible employers who want to offer fair rewards. will. Labour is the only party offering practical solutions to stop this exploitation in the workplace. Instead of remaining 5.49 pm silent, the Government should have included an immigration Bill to stop workers being undercut. Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op): One of the pledges In a Labour Queen’s Speech there would be measures I made when I was elected was to put local people first; to strengthen minimum wage enforcement by giving to listen to my constituents all year round and to take councils a new role and increasing the maximum fine to what they say seriously. I was grateful in that election £50,000. for the help of my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham South (Lilian Greenwood) and it is a pleasure to follow her. Many of the issues she will have heard when she Nicola Blackwood: In the light of the hon. Lady’s campaigned in Corby and East Northamptonshire are comments, does she welcome the fact that the Government the same as those raised by her constituents, as she have raised the minimum wage, and will legislate in the illustrated in her speech in which she made incredibly small business Bill to help enforcement of the minimum important remarks on immigration. wage and remove exclusivity from zero-hours contracts? Every Friday, I send out an e-newsletter that is read by thousands of people across Corby and East Lilian Greenwood: Of course I welcome the measures Northamptonshire. I asked recently what my constituents that the hon. Lady mentions, but they are not enough. would like to see included in the Queen’s Speech. I Banning exclusivity from zero-hours contracts does nothing received nearly 100 responses. I wish that I could put all to help people who are working regular hours week in, the contributions on the record. I assure my constituents week out but never have the security of a proper contract. that I have read and taken on board their views. I That is why we are asking the Government to go further. offered three priorities that I wanted to see in this year’s A Labour Government would ban employment agencies Queen’s Speech: an end to the abuse of zero-hours that only recruit workers from abroad and would make contracts, a guarantee of GP appointments within 48 497 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 498 hours and a freeze on energy bills. I was pleased to see of our first Bangladeshi Muslim mayor last year—and mention of zero-hours contracts in the Queen’s Speech, the recent development of the Zimbabwean community. but I agree with my hon. Friend that the Government There has also been significant migration of people will not take the action that is really needed to stop the from countries new to the European Union who, like exploitation that is so prevalent in my constituency. I migrants before them, have brought new ways of life, was disappointed that there was nothing in the Queen’s new languages and new shops on our high streets. Speech on the NHS, and that there was nothing on All of these changes can be unsettling. They can tackling the rip-off gas and energy prices that my cause anxiety and they do raise questions about the constituents face, when bills have gone up by £300 a impact on local services and the labour market. Part of year under the coalition Government. the issue is that people feel that the Government are just My constituents told me that they want action to not working for them. People in my constituency are build more houses, and action on skills training and being exploited at work, they are struggling to access better quality apprenticeships. They told me they want housing, they are facing problems accessing health services help for families, particularly action to make child care and they are finding it difficult to get a school place for more affordable. their child. The problem is partly about demand, with a growing population—people coming to Corby and us Nicola Blackwood: Will the hon. Gentleman give having the highest birth rate in the country—and people way? living longer. When the Scots arrived in the inter-war years, there Andy Sawford: I will give way. I can anticipate the was a need to ensure that the effect on existing residents hon. Lady’s remark. was managed, that tensions were overcome and that Nicola Blackwood: The hon. Gentleman is aware that new services and facilities were provided to meet the apprenticeships have more than doubled under this needs of a growing town. That challenge has been met Government. by each generation. It has been met by those determined to make our community work, not by those who want Andy Sawford: What my constituents want is real to channel people’s anxiety and concern into blaming quality apprenticeships. They want level 3 apprenticeships people who seem different—who sound or look different, and beyond. They want real pathways into employment. maybe worship a different god or speak a different They want people to have the opportunity to become language. skilled tradespeople. In my constituency, everybody comes from somewhere My constituents want more rights for fathers. They else—including me. I can trace my family on my father’s want to look at the impact of the abolition of crisis side back eight generations, but what of the ninth? On loans. They want action to support the wider my mum’s side, my nan is of Irish descent and my implementation of the living wage. I, too, welcome the granddad Scottish. People in Corby remember the leadership that has been shown by Labour local authorities discrimination. They remember the signs saying “No around the country, but I want to see a much more Blacks. No Irish. No dogs.” When the Government sent widespread take-up of the living wage, including by the around vans saying “Go Home”, I found graffiti outside private sector. They want the bedroom tax to be scrapped, the mosque in my town that said “Go Home”. I felt because they recognise it is unfair. They want action on ashamed of my Government. When I hear about the care for the elderly and more support for people with bullying of children in school because they look or dementia. They want a more progressive tax system and sound different, I wonder where those attitudes come the reversal of the tax cut for millionaires. My constituents from and why our Government have given them succour. told me they want a Bill that will allow for votes at 16. We should debate the changes in our society, including They want to end the use of unqualified teachers in the effects of immigration, in a way that actually helps classrooms. They want investment in green energy. They us positively to address the issues. I have pushed for want to close the loopholes used by large corporations practical policies to deal with people’s concerns, such as to evade tax. They want more scrutiny of the defence the way the local labour market is being undermined by cuts that are being pushed through. They want to end the exploitation of migrant workers. We need more the dogma-driven privatisation of public services. They action to enforce the minimum wage; we should double want to really get banks lending, particularly to small the maximum fine. I want councils to be given the businesses. They want to improve the condition of power to enforce the minimum wage and I am pleased roads and they want a Bill on street lights. that that commitment has been made, in the event that Some of my constituents told me that they want a there is a Labour Government next May. balanced and practical debate on immigration. Migration I want to see the scope of the Gangmasters Licensing plays a big part in the history of Corby and East Authority extended, not necessarily to regulate in ever Northamptonshire. Over the generations, people coming more sectors or to license, because those things can be from across the UK and around the world have mixed costly and may not be necessary or practical. But where with Northamptonshire people to create a distinctive, the authority recognises problems in other sectors—for incredibly strong and proud community. People coming example the car wash industry—it should be able to to the area have contributed enormously both economically take action and to follow the intelligence. We should and culturally, and they will continue to do so: Scottish strengthen the law so that recruitment agencies cannot people, people from Ireland and Wales, Serbians who discriminate against UK workers in applying for jobs. came and helped to build the pipeline under the ocean We need housing laws to stop migrant workers being that got the fuel across to the allied troops landing on exploited and crammed into beds in sheds, undercutting D-day, the Bangladeshi community that has become local workers. A Polish constituent came to see me established in the past 20 years or so—I was very proud recently to describe his experience of arriving in Corby, 499 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 500

[Andy Sawford] but I know this from police officers and, in fact, had it confirmed in a letter from the chief constable about a his passage having been facilitated by an agency. When month ago. The police now have to go out of the area he got here he found that the house he was promised when they make an arrest or to take people into custody, was appalling and the job he was promised amounted wasting valuable time and resources by going to the to a few days’ agency work. opposite end of what is a large county to travel across. We need to make sure that we give people here the When the commissioner talks about a “police presence” skills they need for the future by ensuring that large in Corby when the police station goes, I hear alarm companies offer apprenticeships for local workers when bells. A shop window is okay, but it is not a replacement they are at the same time bringing in workers from for an operational police base. The House of Commons outside the UK. We need more stringent border checks, Library figures show that Corby will be the largest town which is why I have opposed cuts to border control. On in the whole country without a police station if the these critical issues of access to services and housing, Elizabeth street station closes in a few years’ time and is when my constituents say from time to time—other not properly replaced with an operational base. hon. Members will have heard this—“Migrants are High-profile crimes in Corby, such as the recent given the housing,” I say, “Well, it is very difficult for sexual assault on Oakley road and the two violent anybody to access housing. The waiting lists are incredibly attacks in successive weeks on the land behind Stephenson long. The issue is that we simply have not been building way, have caused widespread concern. I recently attended enough housing for a long time.” The real issue is a big public meeting in town and found that people housing supply, not the recent wave of migration into were appalled to hear that the police station was being my community. downgraded and could close altogether. They want a Concerns about crime have come to the fore in my fair share of policing resources and they want street constituency recently. After a long period when crime lights turned back on, because they feel unsafe as a has been falling, it is deeply worrying to hear of an result of this short-sighted policy by the Tory county increasing number of violent crimes. I am concerned council. that there is complacency in Corby and East There are concerns, too, in the rural areas about Northamptonshire about the level of crime and the acquisitive crime and antisocial behaviour in some of challenge we face. I know that the police based locally— the small towns. Some brilliant PCSOs are doing good operating in East Northants from their base in Thrapston, work. I recently attended the JAG—joint action group— and in Corby—do their absolute best. I also know, team about crime across East Northamptonshire, but because they tell me, that they have been diverted away resources are again a challenge. to other areas. We now have in Northamptonshire the highest reported Crime has been falling over recent years. I am concerned number of rape cases, which leads to the concern in my that the police commissioner is now taking resources community about recent sexual attacks. We have issues from Corby to put them into Northampton, Kettering about referrals to the Crown Prosecution Service. We and other towns. I would ask him directly about this but have a cloud hanging over the future of Corby magistrates I have not found him open to a proper and honest court. Our probation service—one of the best in the dialogue about the impact of his policies. It is proving country—is being closed down because of another of difficult to hold him to account. This has been part of this Government’s dogmatic privatisations. We have the weakness of the police commissioner model. I have cuts to resources for dealing with domestic violence and concerns about the costs and the politicisation that we to women’s refuges as a result of cuts arising from the have seen. The first act of the Northamptonshire police reorganisation of the PCT and probation. I want to pay and crime commissioner was to appoint his campaign tribute to the campaign led by Sally Keeble in Northampton manager and three other political allies to the posts of and Corby councillor Mary Butcher to save the refuges. deputy commissioner on salaries of £65,000 a year, the They won a temporary reprieve of six months, but the equivalent of 11 constables on the streets of Corby and future still looks uncertain and I hope that the Home East Northamptonshire. Secretary shares my concern and will look into it. A special report published recently by the Northampton I hope that Ministers hear the warning alarm I am Chronicle and Echo found that the number of staff sounding about police and crime issues in employed by Northamptonshire’s police and crime Northamptonshire. I really hope that they will look commissioner has almost trebled and the wage spend further into them and will in due course make a proper nearly doubled in the 18 months since he started his job. response to the concerns I have raised. He now employs 34 staff at a cost of £1.4 million. The office of the police and crime commissioner in Northamptonshire has 10 more staff than the West 6.2 pm Midlands commissioner, who covers an area five times Chris Evans (Islwyn) (Lab/Co-op): It is indeed a as large. Will the Minister look into this spending and pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for whether it represents value for money? It does not give Corby (Andy Sawford) who speaks with such great me confidence that the police force in Northamptonshire passion about his home area of Northamptonshire. has the leadership it needs. The police commissioner intends to close Corby police Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. I station. I recognise that the Elizabeth street station is am sorry to interrupt the hon. Gentleman, who can ageing, but the answer is to improve it or to look for a start again in a moment. Let me explain the practice new operational base in Corby. The police commissioner relating to speakers. Where Members have notified the has already begun downgrading the station. The cells Chair in advance, they will obviously participate in the are now no longer used. That has not been made public debate. If Members wish to contribute once a debate is 501 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 502 a good way through, they may approach the Chair, but The National Offender Management Service manages take a lower priority. The hon. Member for Oxford 17 public prisons in England and Wales and the contracts West and Abingdon (Nicola Blackwood) was unable to of 14 private sector prisons, and is responsible for a be present earlier and has indicated that she would like prisoner population of about 86,000. However, it must to speak. I intend to call her at the end. I hope that that make cuts of £650 million in its £3.4 billion budget by is clear to Ministers. I am not being unfair to the hon. 2015. Now, with the prison population reaching almost Lady; I am following normal practice. unmanageable levels and the Government intent on making cuts in the resources available to prison staff, it Chris Evans: Thank you for your patience this afternoon, is of the utmost importance that rehabilitation be looked Madam Deputy Speaker. I have had to be in and out of at seriously. That approach needs to begin in the prisons the Chamber, trying to balance my attendance with my themselves. Just 36% of people leaving prison go into duties on the Finance Bill. some type of education, training or employment. The Queen’s Speech contains three new Bills that relate to criminal justice. For a Government who argued People often leave prison ill equipped to deal with while in opposition that the Labour party over-legislated day-to-day life. Statistics show that 43% of offenders in this area, these Bills join seven others on criminal have numeracy skills below GCSE standard, while 37% have justice since they came to power in 2010. The previous reading skills below the same measure. Moreover, no seven Bills have created in total 619 new criminal offences, one can agree on the number of offenders who have many of which carry custodial sentences. learning disabilities such as dyslexia. For many prisoners who are released, unemployment is a familiar scenario: With our prison population stretched to maximum 67% of the prison population were unemployed before levels, now is the time to question the role that prison being locked up, and many will face the same situation and criminal justice play in society. In the past year, the when they are released. prison population in England and Wales has reached record levels and stands today at 85,228 prisoners—a 90% increase since 1993. In 2012-13, the overall resource Alison Seabeck: My hon. Friend is talking very sensibly expenditure on prisons in England and Wales was just about the problems faced by people in prison and the under £3 billion. Each inmate costs the taxpayer an work done there, but will he acknowledge that some of average of £36,808 per prison place a year—money that the changes in the probation system will not help, given the general public would no doubt think better spent on that there are already signs that they are not bedding health, education, improving the roads and many other down easily? projects that hon. Members have mentioned in the debate. Chris Evans: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. With the UK having the second highest incarceration There have been many severe cases in which the probation rates in western Europe and the prison estate suffering service has been stretched to the maximum. I am thinking from overcrowding since 1994, we are facing a crisis that of one in particular, in which an extremely violent crime needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. There is had been committed. I do not want to mention it, but it no doubt that prison works for some people. For the was reported in the national press. That violent individual victim of crime and those who live in fear of it, prison was released, and the probation officer never reached gets criminals off the streets, reducing the risk they pose him because of the extent of the work load. to the rest of society because they cannot commit an offence when they are locked up. Sadly, we all know that Is it any wonder that people who leave prison only to some individuals pose such a threat to other people that be faced with the unemployment that they experienced there is no option other than keeping them under lock before should return to the way of life that sent them to and key for a very long time. However, prison is not the prison in the first place? I think that that problem is answer in all cases, and I want to concentrate on that in more acute in the case of short sentences, which many my speech. of the 600-odd new offences will attract. At present, According to the executive summary of the latest 60% of prisoners serving sentences of less than 12 months figures on releases, about 590,000 adult and juvenile are reconvicted within a year, which is a sad reflection offenders were cautioned, convicted or released from on society. Those who are in prison for less than a year custody between July 2011 and June 2012, and 25% of have no access to offender management programmes, them reoffended within a year. According to the “proven and are not subject to supervision by the probation reoffending” tables, the reoffending rate among persons service following their release. The Offender Rehabilitation released from a custodial sentence was 45.5% for adults Act 2014 seeks to address that by ensuring that all and 67.4% for juveniles. Those statistics should be offenders are supervised in the community for 12 months balanced against the fact that between 1997 and 2010, after their release. Given that the probation service is under a Labour Government, crime fell by 43%, and already strained, we must await the outcome of the Act, violent crime fell by 42%. but in the light of my experience of membership of the Justice Committee, I do not hold out much hope. Although I represent the Labour party, I will say that [Interruption.] it seems that when in government we were very good at locking people up, but did not address the inherent problem of reoffending. Now, as more criminal justice Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. Bills appear before Parliament, I see that we are still not I hesitate to interrupt the hon. Gentleman, but it would tackling that problem. If Governments have a duty to be unfair to allow him to continue when there is a noise society to protect their citizens from criminals, that going on. There is something wrong with the speakers. I means they also have a duty to ensure that those who have asked for it to be fixed, and I hope that neither the are released from prison do not drift back into a life of hon. Gentleman nor those who are listening to him will crime. be too distracted. 503 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 504

Chris Evans: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I I hope the anti-slavery commissioner will have a role in was aware of it, but I was trying to block it out—but both commissioning accurate data-gathering and raising that sort of thing happens a lot in this job. awareness of the true nature of trafficking and exploitation The lack of education available in prison to short-term in the United Kingdom. offenders makes gaining employment after prison difficult. I also welcome the measures that increase the tariffs Having a criminal record is an obvious stumbling block for trafficking and introduce trafficking prevention orders. for someone trying to get their life back on track. The They mirror the sexual risk orders that we have already Institute of Leadership and Management published an legislated for as part of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime article in April 2014 on employing ex-offenders. It states and Policing Act 2014 to tackle child sexual exploitation. that fewer than 50% of businesses would interview I have spoken to police officers up and down the country someone with a criminal record, despite 80% agreeing and they have made it clear to me that these orders will that ex-offenders should be given a second chance. be invaluable tools in disrupting the deeply destructive Those going into prison often suffer from the disadvantage activities of child sexual exploitation and trafficking of a lack of any formal qualifications. Over half of men gangs. in prison have no qualifications. Upon release, the I also ask that we look at reforming abduction warning situation is often unchanged, despite the availability of notices. At present they are split into two different prison education. Even those who serve longer sentences orders: victims in care are protected up to the age of 18, and gain well-recognised qualifications while inside are but victims who are not in care are only protected up to damaged by the perception of prison education. How the age of 16. This is discriminatory and unacceptable can we expect somebody with no previous work experience and it would be a perfectly simple reform for us to and no formal educational qualifications outside the equalise the warning notices so that all children were prison environment to turn up to work on time every protected up to the age of 18 and any breach of such an day and conduct themselves appropriately? It is my order carried a penalty. belief that a prison education system designed in conjunction with businesses and employers may help to As the relevant Minister is in his seat, I also ask him change the perception employers have of the worthiness to consider court reforms for victims in all these areas. of education inside prison, and in the process reduce We should not force victims who have been abused in the likelihood that people will reoffend. such appalling ways, even if they have managed to have the bravery to come forward and go through the trauma Of course, even talking about this issue will leave any of a police investigation, to suffer our current adversarial politician open to the charge of being soft on crime. On court system and the indignity and anxiety of its procedures. particularly slow news days there is always a journalist I particularly suggest that we consider the pre-recorded with a case up their sleeve, telling the world how criminals evidence pilot and extending the age limit up to 24, as are again living the life of Riley. However, as I said at many victims do not get to court until they are much the beginning of my speech, we are at crisis point, with older, even if they are abused as children. We should a prison population that is simply running out of control. also consider mandatory training not only of prosecutors With public finances stretched, it is obvious that the but of all judges and defence barristers in cases involving increasing prison population, together with high reoffending sexual abuse and exploitation. rates, means something has to be done urgently. Similar measures have been included in the Serious This is not an easy debate to have, especially when we Crime Bill, with gang injunctions and serious crime have a media intent on peddling the myth that criminals prevention orders. The Home Affairs Committee inquiry get away with it. In this age of austerity we now find that I have just come from is part of an inquiry into ourselves living in, we have an opportunity to talk gang and youth crime. It is disappointing that robust candidly about the future of crime and punishment, data on gangs and gang-related crime are sparse. In and I hope we will begin to do so in the coming months 2012 the Metropolitan police identified 259 violent and years. youth gangs in 19 gang-affected boroughs. The Children’s Commissioner has estimated that 12,000 children are at 6.12 pm risk of gang-related violence. The conclusion is that Nicola Blackwood (Oxford West and Abingdon) (Con): urgent work is needed to improve data gathering so that It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Islwyn we are able to assess properly where progress has been (Chris Evans), and I hope he will not spend the next few made as a result of the Government’s strategy. Despite minutes trying to block me out. I want to welcome a strong commitment from the Government, demonstrated certain measures in the Modern Slavery Bill and the by the ending gang and youth violence strategy, which Serious Crime Bill, and I apologise for being late, but I has made progress in many ways, it is difficult to assess was coming from the Select Committee on Home Affairs. progress when the database is not robust enough. As many Members have mentioned, trafficking and A recent Centre for Social Justice report on girls and exploitation is a despicable crime whereby organised gangs found that criminals prey on the most vulnerable in our community “the daily suffering of girls goes largely unnoticed. They live in a for profit. It is important to recognise that the victims parallel world where rape is used as a weapon and carrying drugs are not just those who are trafficked as migrants, but and guns is seen as normal.” also include British citizens, who are perhaps vulnerable Those giving evidence this afternoon to us were clear due to learning disabilities or poverty. It is exceptionally that more progress needed to be made in protecting the important that, as we raise awareness of trafficking and most vulnerable girls and on utilising better the expertise exploitation, we do not stereotype either the perpetrators of the voluntary organisations working in this field. To or the victims and thereby risk making certain types of that end, can I ask that, along with the reforms of stop criminal or victim effectively invisible to our criminal and search, which will help to build confidence among justice system or the wider community. For that reason, gangs and in the community, the measures in the Bill 505 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 506 should include steps to integrate the ending gang and 22 years’ experience and told us that no matter how slim youth violence strategy with the ending of violence the Queen’s Speech is, even those who find it bordering against women and girls strategy and the new action on anorexic may find something worth welcoming. plan on child sexual exploitation? If those are not However, he regretted the fact, as did many Members, properly integrated, we will fail to leverage the improvements that the Government seem to have dropped the Wild that we should be able to achieve. Animals in Circuses Bill, as it was not included in the Finally, in our Committee session we heard that such Queen’s Speech, although legislation on plastic bags was the fear and hostility to the establishment among was. many who were caught up in gang life that many who The hon. Member for Erewash (Jessica Lee) gave a suffered domestic abuse, rape and violent assault never very thoughtful speech about the Modern Slavery Bill. sought formal help. The natural consequence of this The hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete and the extreme trauma that they experienced was high Wishart) treated us to one of his best “Braveheart” levels of mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder speeches. It seems that the rest of us in Westminster are among gang members. One study conducted by Professor picking on him. The hon. Member for Warrington Coid found that 85.8% of gang members had antisocial South (David Mowat) spoke knowledgably about energy personality disorder, 25.1% had psychosis, 58.9% had policy and in favour of fracking, telling us that the rest anxiety disorder and 34.2% had attempted suicide. I of the world was doing it and that we need to do it to be hope that Ministers will consider what steps can be competitive. My right hon. Friend the Member for taken to address these truly horrifying statistics, each of Birkenhead (Mr Field) paid a worthy tribute to Anthony which represents an individual living in truly desperate Steen and the work he has put into the Modern Slavery circumstances. Bill. I know that Members of the House would want to The Serious Crime Bill and the Modern Slavery Bill thank Anthony Steen and all those who have put so together do much to offer hope to some of the most much work into the thinking behind the Bill. vulnerable victims of crime in the United Kingdom The hon. Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew today, but I hope that as they progress through the Percy) spoke about police cuts and a great deal about House they can get even better and improve the lives of immigration. My hon. Friend the Member for Linlithgow those vulnerable victims even more. and East Falkirk (Michael Connarty) talked about crime rates and how reported crime is going up but conviction 6.19 pm rates are not matching that, which has a particular Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Finsbury) impact on women. He spoke very movingly about his (Lab): We have had a very interesting debate this afternoon. relative, Agnes, who was murdered, and how the rest of I have been sitting here for most of it and have learnt a his family remain to this day victims of that crime. He great deal and been very glad of the opportunity to hear talked about the Modern Slavery Bill and his thinking the contributions. on it, listing what he had been expecting, or hoping, to find in the Bill and explaining how it fell short of The hon. Member for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford) expectations by saying what was missing. I commend to put it on record that he is not a creep, something that the Home Secretary the Hansard report of many of the Members in all parts of the House know in any event contributions about what else should be included in and which he really did not need to do. My right hon. the Bill. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough (Mr Blunkett) gave a very interesting The hon. Member for South Swindon (Mr Buckland) analysis of UKIP in which he talked about the financial made a welcome appeal for political leadership on meltdown, saying that many people felt there was no immigration, asking that we do not fan the flames of control of such major issues by traditional politics. He prejudice. He also gave the very powerful example of a felt that the public are looking for answers and that that 92-year-old constituent who had struggled to get a had a lot to do with the rise of UKIP. He put some passport to go back to the Normandy beaches that he interesting matters before us, including a discussion of had fought on as a 21-year-old. My hon. Friend the the biography of Jenkins. Member for Plymouth, Moor View (Alison Seabeck) The hon. Member for Cambridge (Dr Huppert) made talked about job insecurity, low wages and the house a bold speech on the benefits of immigration and crisis in the south-west, and asked where the measures started listing all the things that the Liberal Democrats were to address those core problems for her constituents. would like to have done if the Tories had not stopped My hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh North them. In doing so, he ran the gauntlet of the hon. and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) made an intelligent and Member for Peterborough (Mr Jackson) and his friends, thoughtful contribution to the immigration debate and but he kept going. The hon. Member for Strangford expressed concern that the Home Secretary seems not (Jim Shannon) talked about the pressure on services to be taking seriously the concerns expressed by many created by immigration and the fact that Dr Clare Members about backlogs at the Passport Office. My Gerada had said that doctors should not be a type of hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd South (Susan Elan border agency, a sentiment that he supported. He was Jones) spoke with great passion about a case which she concerned about how we can ensure access to services believes has been a travesty of justice, and showed her for the right people. real campaigning zeal on that matter. The hon. Member for Peterborough seemed to be We then heard from my hon. Friends the Members unclear about whether he believed there should be a for Nottingham South (Lilian Greenwood) and for limit on the number of Brits going to Spain, and he Corby (Andy Sawford) who made important speeches, accused the Scottish National party of narrow chauvinistic particularly on immigration issues. They had clearly attitudes. My hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham listened to the concerns that their constituents have West and Penge (Jim Dowd) gave us the benefit of his expressed over the past few weeks and months when my 507 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 508

[Emily Thornberry] are overseas, they are very difficult to get back. We need to foster better relations to ensure that overseas jurisdictions hon. Friends have been knocking on doors and standing will co-operate with us. on doorsteps listening. They had given the issues thoughtful It is extraordinary that since 2008, £200 million-worth consideration, particularly in relation to what we should of assets have been frozen by the UK courts in response do about gangmasters, problems with housing and to overseas requests for legal assistance, but not a single undercutting of wages. They proposed solutions and penny of that money has been repatriated to the countries again drew the comparison between the ideas that are that asked us to seize and freeze those assets. If we do bubbling under among Labour Members and the lack not co-operate with overseas jurisdictions, how can we of any solutions in the Queen’s Speech. expect them to co-operate with us? This is not something My hon. Friend the Member for Islwyn (Chris Evans) that requires legislation, but it needs clear policy drivers made a passionate speech about prison overcrowding and it needs to be led on. and penal policy. He showed himself to be a consummate On professional organised crime, we will be watching professional, and despite being heckled by rattling speakers, carefully to see whether the measures announced with kept going and silenced them. Finally, we heard from such trump will be a rehashing of the Proceeds of the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Nicola Crime Act 2002. We are concerned that David Thomas, Blackwood), who talked about data gathering and about the former head of the Home Office financial intelligence gang and violent crime. She said that the daily suffering unit, recently told journalists that too often the Government of girls who were on the edges of crime seemed to go dragged their feet in responding to foreign freezing unmentioned and ignored. It is important that she requests, if they responded to them at all, because they raised the issue in the House, and that girls who are the consider them too much of a headache. We really need victims of crime and are on the edges of these gangs are to be serious about reciprocity if we want to seize not ignored. We need to address the relevant policy criminal assets. issues. As for the child abuse provisions, the extension of the definition of child cruelty is welcome, but it must be The Queen’s Speech contains a number of Bills relating seen against the background of child cruelty conviction to home affairs which are linked by themes. My concern rates having fallen. In 2009, the rate was 720, and in is that although they sound marvellous and can be 2013 it fell to 553. It is important to extend the offence, talked up beautifully in the press, the Bills often disappoint but it is also important to use the current law and when we look at the nitty-gritty. For example, on the ensure that there are proper prosecutions and convictions. confiscation of criminal profits, the National Audit With regard to the law on female genital mutilation, we Office report was a call to arms as it showed that only ask the Government to consider the call from the Director 26p of every £100 of profits a criminal makes is confiscated. of Public Prosecutions for anonymity of victims. We do Some £1.5 billion has eluded the authorities because the not believe that that is in the current legislation, but it assets have been hidden, siphoned away overseas or needs to be considered. eroded by third-party claims. The Bill that has perhaps been praised the most is the The report focused our minds as never before on Modern Slavery Bill. It is generally to be welcomed, what we should do. Labour has pledged to introduce a but, again, we must look at the enforcement record. We raft of measures which would strengthen the confiscation know that the law on human trafficking has a bad regime. Although on the whole we welcome the Serious enforcement record. In 2013, there were just 28 prosecutions Crime Bill, we wonder whether it will deliver everything for trafficking for sexual exploitation, and only that is promised. Will it live up to its rhetoric or will it 11 convictions. In relation to child protection, 300 children ultimately be disappointing? We will look carefully at who had been trafficked were rescued from their traffickers whether there are serious measures in relation to the and placed in care but then went missing. We have been disclosure of third-party claims. We particularly believe calling since 2010 for legal guardians, and we are impatient that they should be at the restraint order stage and not that the legislation contains only enabling powers and too late. We are quite happy to share our ideas if that we must await the results of trials. We welcome Ministers will listen to, for example, our proposals that statutory defence of victims of trafficking to ensure costs should be recoverable by defendants in freezing that they are not prosecuted for crimes that they are order applications, and that when defendants ask for forced into, and we welcome the fact that there will be their costs in freezing order applications, the amount statutory guidance on victim ID and victim services, they get back should be only at legal aid rates. We are but we are concerned that the national referral mechanism happy to share our ideas on how to put pressure on is not working properly and needs review. Again, I defendants to bring their assets back to the discovered recently in a freedom of information request United Kingdom. from the Crown Prosecution Service that it usually does not go to the national referral mechanism until after The Home Secretary was so busy fighting with the someone has been prosecuted and sentenced. In those Secretary of State for Education that she may not have circumstances, the data base is hardly doing the job it is noticed all the details that I put into my speech at the supposed to be doing. Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association annual general meeting. If she has not seen the speech, I would be Nicola Blackwood: As I understand it, the NRM has happy to send it to her. It went into some detail about been under review since April, and it is well known that what we believe should be done so that criminal assets that was a necessary process. Does the hon. Lady not can be confiscated properly. We wish to give the Home welcome the prevention orders that are proposed in the Secretary some advice. One of the most important ways Modern Slavery Bill, which will be a key tool for police of seizing the profits of crime is to foster better relations in disrupting the very trafficking networks that she is with overseas jurisdictions, because once those assets talking about? 509 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 510

Emily Thornberry: There are measures in the proposed There is a good deal of important legislation in this legislation that will work, but it does not go far enough. area, covering both the Home Office and the Ministry We are quite happy to work with the Government to of Justice. The Modern Slavery Bill, which is the first of ensure that it does. For example, on supply chains, we its kind in Europe, will substantially strengthen our do not want products in our country that are the result powers to tackle this appalling crime, by ensuring that of slavery. We are concerned that the Bill will not perpetrators can receive suitably severe punishments, address that specific issue. There may be some creating an anti-slavery commissioner and enhancing disruption, but it will not happen to the extent that is protection and support for victims. necessary, so we need to work together on this. We give The Serious Crime Bill will disrupt all those who a partial welcome to the legislation, but we cannot engage in, support and profit from all forms of organised welcome it wholeheartedly because it does not go far crime, guard against the threat of terrorism and protect enough. We are also concerned that the domestic workers vulnerable women and children. visa means that 60% of those on the new visa have no The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which is carried salary at all. over from the previous Session, is the next stage in this The worst piece of legislation, however—the one that Government’s significant reforms of the justice system, seems to promise so much but really we do not know to ensure that serious and repeat offenders receive suitable what on earth it means—is the social action, responsibility sentences, to improve court processes and to reduce the and heroism Bill. According to the Lord Chancellor, it financial burden on the taxpayer. will protect The social action, responsibility and heroism Bill will “the responsible employer who puts in place proper training for reassure the public that if they act for the benefit of staff, who has sensible safety procedures, and tries to do the right society, demonstrate a generally responsible approach thing.” towards the safety of others, or assist someone in an When emergency, the courts will always consider the context “someone injures themselves doing something stupid or something of their actions in the event that they are sued for that no reasonable person would ever have expected to be a risk”, negligence. that employer is sued. I have some news for the Lord In the first four years of this Parliament, the Government Chancellor. Under the present law the employer would have made great strides to transform and strengthen the not be sued. A person would be sued only if there had country’s justice system, improve support for victims, been negligence. Our concern is that the Bill may be rehabilitate offenders and make prisons more effective only a piece of fatuous and confused legislation, which while reducing the cost to the taxpayer. will waste parliamentary time. If that is all it is, fine, but I should pause on the point about prisons to address our concern is, to coin a phrase, that it may be a Trojan what I thought was an interesting and thoughtful speech horse. And it may be a Trojan horse that will in fact be by the hon. Member for Islwyn (Chris Evans), and yet another attempt to limit access to justice. This assure him that the Offender Rehabilitation Bill, which Government have form on that. It may be a piece of was introduced in a previous Session, is precisely designed legislation that claims to do one thing, but in fact it will to transform the system and address the point that he mean that people injured at work through no fault of rightly identified about reoffending and particularly their own end up being unable to take their case to those reoffending who had only short sentences in court, and yet again it will be another piece of assistance prison. For the first time, they will now have rehabilitative to the insurance industry. We are concerned that it will help both while they are in prison and when they come be sold on one basis while the nitty-gritty of the legislation through the prison gate. He was absolutely right to have will show something else. identified that weakness in the previous system, and the In the end, the part of the Queen’s Speech on home Bill will address precisely that weakness. affairs will be about what we all believe—that is, it will At the same time as making those reforms, we have be about the difference between Labour and the strengthened the immigration system, making it fairer Government in terms of what are British values and for British citizens and legitimate migrants but tougher what are not British values. We believe that we should on those who abuse it. do more than simply try to legislate by way of headlines. In this country, there is still a great deal of unfairness Crime has continued to fall. We continue to implement and injustice. We have legislation that needs to be our programme of bold police reform, and we have set passed urgently, but it needs to have real substance and up the National Crime Agency to tackle the evils of it should be more than simply spin. organised crime and further protect our country. Let me turn to the substance of the debate and the details of the legislation that we intend to introduce this 6.36 pm Session. I am glad that the Modern Slavery Bill was The Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims broadly welcomed, not least by the right hon. Member (Damian Green): I, too, thank all those whom the for Birkenhead (Mr Field) and the hon. Member for shadow Attorney-General, the hon. Member for Islington Lewisham West and Penge (Jim Dowd). We all agree on South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry), thanked for both sides of the House that modern slavery is an participating in this debate. Even by the standards of appalling crime. It is completely unacceptable that traffickers debates on the Queen’s Speech, it has been wide-ranging and slave masters are able to operate in this country, and instructive in a number of fields. We have covered coercing and deceiving individuals into a life of abuse, fracking, pensions, parliamentary recall and—at some servitude and inhumane treatment. length—plastic bags. However, I hope that the House This Government are determined to take action against will be happy if I seek to respond within the limits and modern slavery. The Modern Slavery Bill will give law scope of the debate on home affairs and justice matters. enforcement agencies the tools that they need to tackle 511 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 512

[Damian Green] Several hon. Members, including the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) and my hon. Friends the modern slavery. It will ensure that perpetrators can be Members for Erewash (Jessica Lee) and for South Swindon severely punished for these awful crimes, and it will (Mr Buckland), both of whom have great records of improve support and protection for victims. Clearly, we campaigning in this area, talked about the child cruelty will need to address a number of detailed points, some clauses. I am sure that the whole House recognises that of which are very important, as the Bill passes through child cruelty is an abhorrent crime that needs to be the House and the other place. punished. Every child should be able to grow up in a The right hon. Member for Birkenhead and others, safe environment. The changes that we will take forward including the shadow Attorney-General, talked about in the Serious Crime Bill make it absolutely clear that the importance of transparency in supply chains. Of cruelty likely to cause psychological suffering or injury course we are committed to tackling exploitation in is covered under section 1 of the Children and Young private sector supply chains, and we support businesses Persons Act 1933. We are modernising the language to tackle the issue. Indeed, my right hon. Friend the used in that section to help the courts to implement it Home Secretary is meeting business leaders tomorrow more effectively. as part of the Government’s commitment to work with A number of other matters have been raised, including business to develop the most effective approach, because the fact that the Serious Crime Bill will create a new it is clear that businesses that take no action risk both offence targeting people who possess any items containing their reputation and, in the long run, their profits. I do advice or guidance that could be useful to someone not think that that should divide us in this House. We committing or preparing to commit a sexual offence would prefer to persuade businesses that it is in their against a child—so-called paedophile manuals. I am interests to take action, rather than placing additional grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Mole Valley legal and regulatory burdens on them. Clearly, that will (Sir Paul Beresford) not just for his kind remarks about be a matter for continuing debate. ministerial action on this, but for the long-running and extremely effective campaign that he has carried out in Michael Connarty: I just wonder whether anyone in this field, of which, as he said, this is one small step the Home Office has read the evidence that was put forward. I am delighted to have his support in this before the Joint Committee. Everyone, including the matter. people running the California rules, said quite clearly The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, which is a that it is not enough to have a voluntary code and that carry-over Bill, delivers the vital next stage in this statutory obligations are needed, because otherwise it Government’s mission to deliver a more credible justice will not work. system. Much has been achieved to date. Prisons are now places of hard work and discipline; we have Damian Green: The hon. Gentleman, who follows implemented fundamental reforms to transform these matters closely, will be aware that changes to UK rehabilitation by bringing together the best of the public, company reporting arrangements that require disclosure private and voluntary sectors; and all community sentences on human rights issues came into force last October. It now contain an element of punishment. The Bill builds is sensible to look at the effect of that change before on those achievements, by ensuring that criminals are coming to a firm conclusion. It is also sensible to let properly punished, young offenders turn their lives around such reforms bed down before reaching a firm conclusion, through education and modern courts run efficiently which he seems to have reached already. and effectively. The shadow Home Secretary and several other hon. Mr Blunkett: Will the Minister acknowledge that the Members talked about domestic workers and visa abuse. probation service faces a very serious position with the The Government are taking action to help stop practices changes from 1 June? Will he, with the Home Secretary, that exploit vulnerable workers and undercut local make representations to the Justice Secretary to take a businesses that play by the rules. Various provisions in look at exactly what is happening on the ground? the Modern Slavery Bill will help to end that kind of exploitation, which frankly runs into slavery. Damian Green: As the right hon. Gentleman would expect, the Justice Secretary and the Prisons Minister, Mr Frank Field: The Minister might suggest to the my hon. Friend the Member for Kenilworth and Southam Home Secretary, who is sitting next to him, that when (Jeremy Wright), take a close interest in what is happening she meets business leaders tomorrow she brings the on the ground. I hope the right hon. Gentleman would article that she wrote in The Sunday Times in which she acknowledge that the purpose of the changes in probation, stated that she wished supply chains to be included in as I explained to the hon. Member for Islwyn (Chris the Bill. A large number of people in both Houses of Evans), is to make rehabilitation more effective than in Parliament will support her wish. the past. Reoffending rates have not fallen despite the great efforts made by the National Offender Management Damian Green: I do not feel the need to transmit that Service and those who work in the probation service. message to my right hon. Friend, who has no doubt We need change to get those reoffending rates down. heard it. I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. The vast majority of crime is committed by a very small I am grateful that there is broad support for many of number of people, so if we can get the reoffending rates the provisions in the Serious Crime Bill. It will make a down, we can continue to get overall crime down. That significant contribution to the Government’s continuing is the most effective thing we can do. fight against serious and organised crime, of which the As I said, this is a carry-over Bill. I am grateful for the National Crime Agency is perhaps the most visible work the House has done to progress this important manifestation. piece of legislation. There has been very thorough and 513 Debate on the Address10 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 514 lively scrutiny of the Bill during its Commons stages, debate, but I disagree with Members from both sides of and I am sure that the quality of debate will continue as the House who say that we need a Bill in this Session, it completes its second day on Report. I should inform because, first, we had a Bill in the previous Session. the House that we have today tabled an amendment to The Leader of the Opposition has apologised for the introduce an offence of police corruption, because it is immigration problems under the previous Administration, untenable that we should be relying on an 18th-century so we now appear to be in the slightly perverse position common law offence of misconduct in public office to where the only party still defending Labour’s immigration deal with serious issues of compliance in modern policing. policy is the Scottish National party. The hon. Member We tabled the amendment to establish a statutory offence for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) is of police corruption to supplement the common law hanging on grimly to the previous immigration policy, offence and to focus on those who hold police powers. even though at least part of the Labour party, including A number of references have been made to the social its leader, is seeking to move beyond it. The second action, responsibility and heroism Bill. I am particularly reason why we do not need another Bill is that if there is grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and one lesson we can all draw from the previous Goole (Andrew Percy) for his speech, not least because Administration’s problems—whichever position we occupy he was reporting from the front line as a first responder on immigration—it is that legislation is not always the and, as he told us, a regular snow clearer in his constituency. solution. He knows what these situations are like, and he said The previous Government passed eight immigration precisely why this Bill is necessary. [Interruption.] The Bills in 13 years. If legislation were the solution to shadow Attorney-General is expressing some cynicism—or, immigration problems, we would have had the most to be fair, scepticism—about the Bill. My hon. Friend secure borders and the most controlled immigration in knows that legislation is necessary, because people are the world by 2010, but everyone—even the Leader of worried about doing something that their conscience the Opposition—admits that, palpably, we did not. wants them to do. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr Slaughter) is chuntering from a Jim Dowd: I accept that legislation is not always the sedentary position. answer and that this is about the way the system operates. Obviously, as the representative of an inner-London Emily Thornberry: He’s yelling! constituency, I have a large volume of immigration cases and see many replies to people who clearly have Damian Green: The hon. Gentleman is yelling rather no grounds to remain in this country. The reply from than chuntering—I shall take the shadow Attorney- the Department or the agency says, “You have no General’s word for it. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman grounds to remain and should make arrangements to should talk to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg leave. However, you can also make arrangements to and Goole, who knows what he is talking about, whereas regularise your stay in this country.” That is an open the hon. Gentleman does not, as is, regrettably, so often invitation to those who have no grounds to stay simply the case. to go through the whole cycle again. Will the Minister look at the situation, ask why we are doing that and Mr Donohoe: Will the Minister give way? arrange for a system whereby we say to people, “You have no right to be in this country. Please leave.”? Damian Green: I am sure the hon. Gentleman knows what he is talking about, so of course I will give way to Damian Green: I would hope that that is precisely the him. message—in fact, I am pretty sure it is from my own experience—a ministerial letter would send. My hon. Mr Donohoe: I am grateful to the Minister for giving Friend the Immigration Minister does not write letters way. My intervention has nothing to do with what he saying, “Please make efforts to regularise your stay.” He has just said. He is more than halfway through his writes letters saying that people should leave, and we speech, but he has not said anything about the enormous have beefed up enforcement. Indeed, our reforms have dissent across the country about the problems in the cut non-EU net migration to close to its lowest level Passport Office. Just this afternoon, I was told of another since 1998. There are now 77,000 fewer people arriving problem, so will he give a commitment that he will beef annually from outside the EU than when we came to up that department so that Members of Parliament can power. at least get answers for their constituents? Many Members on both sides of the House have mentioned employment and jobs. It was certainly the Damian Green: I will say two things. First, the department case a few years ago that the majority of growth in has been beefed up, as the hon. Gentleman puts it: there employment was taken up by foreign nationals, but over are now more people working there than ever before. the past year 76% of the growth in employment has Secondly, if he can contain himself for less than 10 minutes, been accounted for by British citizens. he will be able to listen to and contribute to the Another point that is worth making in this debate is Adjournment debate, which is on that very subject and that work is the most common reason for immigration will be responded to by my hon. Friend the Minister for to the UK. The main reason used to be study, but the Security and Immigration. fact that it is now work, as well as the fact that the vast A number of points have been made about immigration, majority—three quarters—of jobs are taken up by British which is worth addressing even though it is not in the citizens, suggests that the balance is much better than it legislative programme. The right hon. Member for Sheffield, was. Brightside and Hillsborough (Mr Blunkett) made a The other very serious issue that needs to be addressed very thoughtful contribution about the need for a sensible is EU free movement. I can only repeat the point made debate about immigration. I agree that we need a rational by my hon. Friend the Member for South Swindon that 515 Debate on the Address 10 JUNE 2014 516

[Damian Green] My hon. Friend the Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Nicola Blackwood) mentioned vulnerable freedom of movement is an important principle, but witnesses in court. She will know about the pre-recorded not an unqualified right. Freedom of movement is not evidence pilot that we are conducting in three courts. It and cannot be a freedom to claim benefits; it must be has been running for the last couple of months, and I grounded in the freedom to take up work in another am happy to assure her that it is running very well, with member state, to contribute to our economy and to witnesses being protected in a way that they have not integrate into our society. That applies across the board been protected before. to people who come here as students or to work. This Government clearly have many challenges ahead Let me deal with some of the many individual issues during the final Session of this Parliament, and we will that came up. My hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge address all of them with the same vigour and determination (Dr Huppert)—he has sent his apologies, because he that we have shown since we were elected. That is why cannot be in the Chamber for the winding-up speeches— crime is 10% lower, non-EU net migration is down by a raised revenge pornography. Such behaviour is despicable third, victims’ services are better than ever, rehabilitation and unacceptable. I make the point that something of offenders is being transformed and human traffickers illegal offline is also illegal online. Legislation is in place are now being confronted as never before. We will build to tackle harassment and malicious conduct of this on that record in the months and, I hope, years ahead. I kind. The Director of Public Prosecutions has published commend this programme to the House. guidelines for prosecutors considering cases that involve Ordered, That the debate be now adjourned.— social media networks. We continuously review the use (Mr Gyimah.) and effect of legislation to ensure that it is fit for Debate to be resumed tomorrow. purpose. I assure my hon. Friend that legislation is in place, and that we look very carefully at its effectiveness. Business without Debate The hon. Member for Strangford mentioned health tourism, which is indeed important. I assure him that a system of NHS overseas visitor charges for secondary EUROPEAN UNION DOCUMENTS care already applies to short-term visitors and illegal Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing migrants. The Department of Health is taking forward Order No. 119(11)), a programme to reform and strengthen the arrangements, including the recovery of costs related to European THE EU AND GEORGIA:THE EU AND MOLDOVA health insurance card reciprocal charging for European That this House takes note of European Union Documents visitors and students. In parallel, we are implementing a No. 7941/14 and Addenda 1 to 13, a draft Council Decision on provision in the Immigration Act 2014 to introduce the the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional immigration health surcharge, which will ensure that application of the Association Agreement between the European temporary migrants make a financial contribution to Union, European Atomic Energy Community and its Member the NHS commensurate to their immigration status. States and Georgia, No. 7942/14 and Addenda 1 to 13, a draft Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European The hon. Member for Clwyd South (Susan Elan Union, and provisional application of the Association Agreement Jones) raised the very important issue of online child between the European Union, European Atomic Energy Community abuse. We already have robust legislation to deal with and its Member States and Moldova, No. 7943/14 and Addenda 1 the creation and dissemination of illegal images. With to 14, a draft Council Decision on the conclusion of the Association the US Attorney General, I jointly chair a taskforce Agreement between the European Union, European Atomic Energy that is already galvanising the industry to develop technical Community and its Member States and Georgia, and No. 7944/14 and Addenda 1 to 14, a draft Council Decision on the conclusion solutions for it to apply in relation to child online sexual of the Association Agreement between the European Union, exploitation. Early signs from the work done by the European Atomic Energy Community and its Member States and industry are very encouraging. I absolutely share the Moldova; and supports the Government’s aim of using the Association hon. Lady’s concern about the issue, which is a very Agreements between the EU, its Member States and Georgia and high priority. Moldova to embed sustainable reform, security, and prosperity in Georgia and Moldova and the eastern neighbourhood.— The hon. Member for Plymouth, Moor View (Alison (Mr Gyimah.) Seabeck) asked about having an offence of domestic Question agreed to. abuse. In its review of the police’s response to domestic abuse, Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary did not highlight any problems with the current legal JUSTICE framework, but it made it clear that delivery against the Ordered, recommendations will be critical in driving the sort of That Gareth Johnson be discharged from the Justice Committee sustainable and systemic culture change in the police’s and Mr Robert Buckland be added.—(Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, response that is the best long-term solution. on behalf of the Committee of Selection.) 517 10 JUNE 2014 Passport Office (Delays) 518

Passport Office (Delays) As we all know, in the early summer months, people take advantage of cheap flights and hotels, and need a Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House passport to make their bookings. do now adjourn.—(Mr Gyimah.) Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/ Co-op): I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this 7pm debate. Has he, like me, encountered cases involving Mr Geoffrey Robinson (Coventry North West) (Lab): expatriate British citizens who are having trouble coming I would like to speak on behalf of the hundreds of back for the summer holidays to visit family and friends? people in my constituency who are suffering as a result There are cases in my constituency of newborn children of the Government’s incompetence in the issuing of not being able to see their family because they are not passports and, indeed, on behalf of all Back Benchers able to get passports in time. for whom this debate is a useful opportunity to voice discontent about a major public service for which the Mr Robinson: Indeed I have. I am grateful for that Home Office is responsible. I am therefore pleased to intervention. Seldom have I known a problem that is so welcome the Minister for Security and Immigration, multifaceted. There is a problem with expats. I have a who will respond to the debate. We know that the Home slightly different case that involves a gentleman who is a Secretary currently has many things on her mind and is naturalised British subject, but who has not had occasion doing many things other than running the Passport to travel abroad before. He is a professor at a prestigious Office. Nevertheless, it is regrettable that ministerial local university who wants to travel abroad. He is going neglect has led to the dire situation that has given rise to to get married in Berlin and has an important lecture to this Adjournment debate. give in Japan. He has been waiting for two months for a British passport and now thinks that he will have to I would like to provide some context. The passport get— delays now number 500,000. We can call them delayed, or “in process”—whatever the Minister wants. I see him Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. shaking his head already, but he leaves the whole House I trust that the hon. Gentleman will turn around and incredulous with his simple, naive belief in the numbers address the House. presented to him. Why are we having this debate? Why have so many Members lobbied me to intervene? It is simply because people in their constituencies are not Mr Robinson: I will—I meant no disrespect, Madam getting passports anything like on time. Deputy Speaker. I am trying to get round the number of interested Back Benchers who have key constituent complaints to register. The Minister might not have Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): I congratulate the time to reply to them all, but at least he can take on the hon. Gentleman on bringing this issue before the House, extent and depth of the problems he is dealing with, because not one Member present is not bothered by it. about which I think he is in some state of denial. In the Belfast passport office, 30,000 people are waiting for their passports to be processed. That is an astronomical Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab): My number bearing in mind that Northern Ireland’s population hon. Friend will know of my interventions earlier in the is 1.8 million. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that day. Is it time for the Government to address one contingency money should be made available to recruit important matter for Members of Parliament? Our extra staff to clear the backlog and get the problem ministerial hotline is not working and needs to be sorted out? beefed up. I asked earlier whether there is any real commitment on that, but I have not received an answer. Mr Robinson: I will come to that point in a minute. If Does my hon. Friend agree that that line needs to be the situation could be sorted out in that way, I would beefed up? wholly agree with the hon. Gentleman. I am not sure that it can be because one of the problems, which I will Mr Robinson: I agree with my hon. Friend, but sadly deal with later, is that the Government have left it so late it is not just that line that needs to be beefed up; the to react to this burgeoning problem that there is probably whole Passport Office needs to be brought under control. no time left to deal with it in the relatively short period This is crisis management and management by panic before the holidays. That is one of the tragedies of the only, and at the moment—I will come on to some situation. illustrations—things are totally out of control. The nub of the problem lies in the cuts that the Government have made. They have cut 700 personnel Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab): When who are directly concerned with processing and examining the service is up and running it is pretty good, but the passports before they are issued. Those are not back-office problem is that the depth of the cuts has taken its toll. jobs, but people who are directly involved in the process. Although people are getting in for a temporary period, There has been a 20% cut, with no plans to retrain, we need to resolve the problem with a longer-term reskill or build up alternative resources for the key solution because this is unfair on families. periods. We all know that businesses have to plan for such key periods. Mr Robinson: Exactly. My hon. Friend has similar problems in Coventry South to those in Coventry North West, although they appear to be more acute in my Several hon. Members rose— area. I will refer the Minister to an acute problem regarding the Durham office and child passports being Mr Robinson: I will give way in a moment. issued for the first time. 519 Passport Office (Delays)10 JUNE 2014 Passport Office (Delays) 520

Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab) rose— Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab): The Home Secretary earlier stood by her figures and maintained Mr Robinson: I will give way to my right hon. Friend that the targets were being met, but I have had nine in a moment. cases in the last fortnight. If we multiply that by all the hon. Members in the Chamber, we realise that those Keith Vaz: I am most grateful. figures, which represent only the tip of the iceberg, cannot be right. Mr Robinson: I will give way in a moment. If I turn round to give my right hon. Friend any further indication, Mr Robinson: We understand that the Home Secretary I will be called to order by Madam Deputy Speaker. has other things on her mind, but people want to go on holiday. They have pre-booked and when they have to A family of five in my constituency, the Vernons, and cancel—there is no offer of compensation. Mr Pugh mother Amy, saved up and the whole family chipped in said that the economy is picking up and lots of people for their first ever holiday as a family together. Because are booking holidays. He forgets to mention the catch—they one passport out of the five was not available—if I am cannot get a passport. correct, it was the first issue of a child’s passport—they drove 200 miles to Durham, leaving at 4 o’clock in the The problem has not arisen just this year: it has been morning. They got nothing but hassle when they got building up over four years of successive cuts—amounting there and further delay. They got the passport, but after to 20%, as I said, and 700 key staff—and the effects are driving all the way back to Coventry to fly out from a now apparent in the delays that people face. We are told local airport, they missed their flight by 15 minutes. If that all is well and under control at the Passport Office, that does not ring a bell with the Minister about the but staff are working seven days a week, from 7 am to state of chaos in the Passport Office, I do not know midnight—a 17-hour day. Staff on administrative grades what will. 6 and 7 are being paid up to £60 and £70 an hour overtime for the high-level job of sticking on labels with Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ names and addresses. If that is not evidence of a crisis Co-op): The Minister said earlier that measures have of mismanagement, I do not know what is. If the been taken to deal with this problem. I raised the issue Minister remains deaf to the many complaints from my in the previous debate, went out of the Chamber, and right hon. and hon. Friends this evening, he is not fit to within two minutes I received an e-mail about yet hold office. another passport problem. We get them all the time. The Government make much of the £70 million The Government are not taking action or making a profit that the Passport Office has made in the last year, difference yet. but what is the purpose of that? The purpose of that public service should be to ensure, in a timely manner Mr Robinson: I am willing to take even more interventions and at reasonable cost, that every citizen of this country as I think they are nearly as effective as this couple of enjoys their inalienable right to a passport. We hold our photographs—I will not display them, Madam Deputy passports dear, but unfortunately people have been Speaker, but I will draw Members’ attention to them. caught up in this mess, which is not of their making. They show interview rooms being used not for interview The Government appear to be ignorant of or plain purposes but to store unprocessed files of passport indifferent to the problems. applications in the course of being processed. They say that a good picture tells 1,000 words, so I refer the Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South) (Lab): My hon. Minister to those photographs, which I am sure will Friend has secured a very timely Adjournment debate soon be in circulation. and he has hit the nail on the head. The Minister will doubtless claim that the problems are the result of Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Lab/ unusual demand, but they are not. They are the result of Co-op): On that point, my hon. Friend will be aware the changes the Government have made to the Passport that the Scottish school holidays start about a month Service and the cuts and structural changes made in the earlier than in England, and therefore within a couple last three years. The Minister needs to explain how they of weeks. I am sure he shares my concern that when will now get a grip. people make applications for passport renewals, they do Mr Robinson: I agree with my hon. Friend that we so on the basis of advice on the forms and website that need to hear what the Minister proposes to do. The it will take three to four weeks. Given that passports are problem has been building up since the Government not being processed in that time, should advice at least made the cuts. They failed to do any retraining or to be given for people to allow more time while the chaos provide for what was coming with a moderate level of is dealt with? overtime. Any service should be able to meet peak demands—that is what management is about. Mr Robinson: I take my hon. Friend’s point, but it is not good enough—this is quoting the ineffable Mr Paul Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): Does my hon. Friend Pugh, who has already been referred to—to say that agree that asking someone who is in China—such as people should not book their holidays until they have one of my constituents—to ring up every 72 hours is their passports. At the present rate of progress, some very poor management, not only of his time but of staff might not get their passports for a year, and could not time? book their holidays. Anyway, how could people book now when all the best package deals are gone and the Mr Robinson: It is bad for business all round. We hear best hotels booked? It shows how out of touch the complaint after complaint, but the Minister sits there as Passport Office, the Government and Ministers are if he is happy for the chaos to carry on all around him. with the real world of our constituents. It is amazing how late Ministers have reacted to this 521 Passport Office (Delays)10 JUNE 2014 Passport Office (Delays) 522 issue. The chaos has been mounting, as my hon. Friend fault but theirs. It is clearly the fault of the Department. the Member for Leicester South (Jonathan Ashworth) We would not expect the Home Secretary to be here to so perceptively pointed out, but Ministers did not intervene reply to the debate, but we know that she has not being with panic measures—which should not have been paying any attention to the Passport Office in recent necessary—until the backlog had reached 350,000. Will weeks. What I think Mr Pugh should do is clear a small the Minister confirm that he would normally seek to corner in one of the interview rooms where the whole intervene when it reached 150,000? floor is covered with unattended files. One has to smile because it is so comical. He should ask himself, “What The Minister for Security and Immigration (James am I doing here?” He should then make as graceful an Brokenshire) indicated dissent. exit as he can, because it is clear that this job is well beyond him. Mr Robinson: That is what I was told. Ministers I have not mentioned those who have suffered in intervened when the backlog reached 350,000, which Coventry, in my own constituency. Many of them do was clearly too late to do anything about it in the not want to be mentioned, because they feel that they narrow window before the holiday period. might come off even worse if they are. However, I would like to draw the attention of the Minister to the Keith Vaz: May I join other hon. Members in Vernon family. They drove 200 miles to the Durham congratulating my hon. Friend on securing the debate? passport office. There were further delays there and One real problem is that staff deployed to look at they missed their flight. It was their first opportunity to passport fraud have been moved to try to process passports, have a holiday abroad as a family of five. The other case meaning that important work to protect against fraud is I want to mention is Professor Cooter, who has been not now being done. That is a real problem with this waiting for a passport for two months. He will miss his situation. lecture tour in Japan and his marriage in Berlin unless the Government pull their finger out. I could mention Mr Robinson: The new UK Visas and Immigration many other examples, but I do not want to as it will take department is feeling the pinch as much as everybody up unnecessary time. All the cases are with the hotline, else. Staff are being moved from there, as my right hon. which was mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member Friend points out—but not just from there. They are for Central Ayrshire (Mr Donohoe). The hotline needs being moved from other departments, too. It is all to up its act, and the Minister has to up his. One basic hands to the pump, but it is too late. They have let it question has been posed to the Minister by each successive build up. It is a crisis and there has to be some accountability. intervention: does he accept there is a big mess? Does he The interview rooms are filling up with the backlog accept there is a problem? What is he going to do about of passport applications. Mr Pugh, chief executive of it? the Passport Office, has, I think been unconfirmed in his job for some 12 months now. He said: 7.19 pm “During this busy period we have processed more than 97% of The Minister for Security and Immigration (James straightforward passport renewal and child applications within Brokenshire): I congratulate the hon. Member for Coventry the three week target turnaround time.” North West (Mr Robinson) on securing the debate. At I just do not believe it. I think the figures are plain the outset, may I say to him that there is no indifference wrong. I do not want to get into statistics, but I ask the on the part of Ministers? I recognise how important Minister to look at them again. They just do not correspond passports are, as is securing people’s renewals. As he with reality as we all know it. We are here tonight at the highlights, behind the statistics lie a multitude of personal end of a long day because we are concerned about the stories. Passports are not just dry official documents. situation affecting our constituents. They are the key to once-in-a-lifetime trips, eagerly anticipated holidays and visits to loved ones. That is Graham Jones (Hyndburn) (Lab): I am very grateful why it is important that applications and renewals are to my hon. Friend and I congratulate him on securing processed in an efficient manner, particularly at this this timely debate. If 20 passport offices are closed and time of the year when hard-working families are making hundreds of staff are shed, is it not inevitable that there plans for their summer holidays. Therefore, I recognise will be a problem that has to be managed? This has built the importance and significance of the points that he up over time. Is it not incompetence on behalf of the makes. Minister and the Government? This has not just appeared It is important to understand the context of passport in the past two weeks; it has been building up over a renewals and the work of the Passport Office. I will go long period. on to address each of the specific points he has raised with me in terms of overall numbers and the steps that Mr Robinson: Again, I could not agree more. My have been taken, and will be taken, to ensure that the hon. Friend’s intervention is apposite. That is exactly Passport Office functions efficiently and delivers for his what it is about: the incompetence of the Government constituents and those of other Members in the Chamber machine, compounded by the indifference of Ministers, this evening. has let this situation come about. They owe an apology Each year around 5.7 million of us apply to have our to the hundreds upon hundreds—tens of thousands, I passports renewed or replaced, or make an application think—who have had their whole summers ruined, life for the very first time. The demand for passports is savings wasted and children bitterly disappointed. spread out across the year, but the highest volumes of What can we say to Mr Pugh? I do not know who is demand by far come in the summer months. Since going to be called to account for this mess, but knowing January this year, Her Majesty’s Passport Office has this Government it will be nobody. It will be everybody’s seen a significant surge in demand for passports. Between 523 Passport Office (Delays)10 JUNE 2014 Passport Office (Delays) 524

[James Brokenshire] Before I give way, I would like to reassure the House on some points that have been inaccurately represented. 1 January and 31 May 2014, HMPO received 3.3 million First, on allegations of backlogs in passports applications, applications—350,000 more than the same period last it is important to state to the hon. Member for Coventry year, and the highest volume of applications received North West, who raised the issue of what counts as a for this period over the last 12 years. Indeed, in both normal throughput, that at peak periods the Passport March and May this year, HMPO recorded the highest Office will issue over 150,000 passports a week. During level of applications received in any month over the last peak season, it would be expected to see several hundred 12 years. thousand applications within the system. Although demand Of course, it is recognised that there is always a surge is greater than in recent years, HMPO has deployed in demand for new or renewed passports as people look more staff to deal with it. forward to their summer holidays. But this year the Secondly, the overwhelming number of straightforward surge began— applications are dealt with within the three-week service standard, and HMPO is working tirelessly to Graham Jones: Will the Minister give way? improve performance still further. As I have explained, even in the busy months of January to April this year, James Brokenshire: I will not give way for now. I 97% of straightforward applications were processed would like to make some progress and put some points within the three-week service standard, and 99% within on the record. I will then be happy to give way to hon. four weeks. Members. Thirdly, the hon. Gentleman mentioned cuts in HMPO This year the surge began much earlier and was staff, but the numbers have gone up in recent years. On sustained more than normal; an indication that, as the 31 March this year, HMPO had 3,444 full-time equivalent economy is improving, more people are understandably staff—up from 3,260 in 2013 and from 3,104 in 2012. planning to travel abroad. I can assure the House that Clearly, then, there have been increases in staff— this high demand was identified by HMPO early this year. As a result, it has put in place a system of measures Several hon. Members rose— to deal with it and to see that people receive their passports in good time. A number of steps have been James Brokenshire: The hon. Member for Coventry taken, including existing passport examination and North West is catching my eye, and I would like to give customer service staff working seven days a week to way to him first, as this is his debate. process the higher number of applications. Non-operational Mr Robinson: If I heard the initial figures correctly, in staff have been re-deployed to support examination and comparison with last year—the recent increase in manpower customer service functions, whilst ensuring that the relates to the same period—we are up about 10%. If necessary security checks are still properly undertaken. there are broadly 10% more staff, as the Minister says I recognise the issues raised about fraud and counter-fraud there is, to deal with increasing numbers of applications, and I can assure the House that those security checks surely the problems come down to mismanagement and are still being undertaken. incompetence. He is condemning himself for the Additional staff have been deployed to work on malfunctioning of his Department. HMPO’s parliamentary and diplomatic helpline for Members who wish to raise cases on behalf of their James Brokenshire: It will not surprise the hon. constituents. I heard the point raised by the hon. Member Gentleman to hear that I do not accept that characterisation. for Central Ayrshire (Mr Donohoe) about the response We have seen 350,000 additional applications in the he received. I shall take that away and investigate further early season—a time when that level of increase would as it is important that Members receive timely responses not normally be expected. That is why HMPO has for their constituents. deployed additional resources and is deploying further resources as we speak. Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): Will the Minister give way? Mr Donohoe rose—

Graham Jones: Will the Minister give way? Graham Jones rose—

James Brokenshire: I will, but I would like to deal Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab) rose— with these points and then I will happily give way. James Brokenshire: I give way first to the hon. Member HMPO has introduced process changes to speed up for Central Ayrshire. the handling of applications made in the UK and overseas. As we enter the traditional peak season of Mr Donohoe: Will the Minister guarantee that when demand, further steps are being taken to strengthen my staff phone up tomorrow, asking for some response front-line resources further. By the end of June, HMPO to the problems of my constituents, they will get an will have deployed 250 additional passport examination answer? Will he give that commitment to giving them staff and a further 65 staff to support customer contact. that kind of service? Teleperformance, which runs the passport helpline, has over 1,000 staff to deal with customer enquiries, a James Brokenshire: As I have said to the hon. Gentleman, significant increase on its normal complement of 350. I am happy to investigate the issue of the response he is While the number of applications is up significantly, receiving. I will speak to him afterwards about whether HMPO has increased the number of staff dealing with he is contacting HMPO directly or whether he is referring applications. to the MP hotline. I want Members to receive timely 525 Passport Office (Delays)10 JUNE 2014 Passport Office (Delays) 526 responses to their constituents’ inquiries, particularly at Hon. Members will be aware that delays can occur this time of year when people are seeking to make for a whole range of different reasons, so it is important bookings and need their passports. to underline the check and send facility. Hon. Members will also know that the responsibility for processing Sheila Gilmore: One issue raised by my constituents is overseas applications was recently transferred to HMPO that nothing appeared to have been flagged up to suggest from the Foreign Office. This move was made to improve there was any problem. If the Department was aware our response to security and fraud challenges and to that the increase was coming in the early part of the provide a more consistent service for customers that can year, it would have been helpful to make MPs and be reflected in the fees they are charged. Indeed, as relevant websites aware of that. Will the Minister explain Members will know, the cost of an adult overseas why there has been such a problem with first passports passport was cut by £45 in April this year. While the for children—in a way there has never been before? volume of overseas applications is smaller than that of domestic applications, specific issues are associated with James Brokenshire: The Passport Office has obviously them. indicated its performance. It has clearly stated that 97% The Passport Office has faced an unusually high level of straightforward applications—and child applications of demand above forecast demand, but since January it fit within that—were dealt with within the three-week has taken steps to deal with the situation by raising its period, and that 99% were dealt with within four weeks. level of output to meet that demand, while maintaining I say to the hon. Lady that HMPO is prioritising those its focus on public protection. We have not compromised who have waited longest, and has policies in place to on our checks, and will not do so. I hope Members will deal with urgent and compassionate cases. A passport agree that maintaining the security of our passports is can be issued at very short notice, but such discretion is paramount, along with ensuring that we process applications reserved for emergencies such as ill health or death, and as swiftly and as safely as possible. The British passport is not a stand-by provision for someone who has perhaps has a gold standard reputation, both domestically and forgotten to renew until the last minute, or for similar internationally, and I am determined that that will circumstances. This sort of compassionate approach is continue. My focus on the performance of the Passport reserved for certain cases. Office will certainly be my main priority. Question put and agreed to. Several hon. Members rose—

James Brokenshire: I am conscious that I have only a 7.31 pm minute left and I want to make a few more points. House adjourned.

29WS Written Statements10 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 30WS

Written Statements EU Reg Al-Qaeda (EC) regime TAFA 2010 2580/2001 UNSCR1989 Tuesday 10 June 2014 (vi) Groups 8 (0 in UK) 26 (1 in 61 UK) Individuals by 7 n/a n/a nationality 14 TREASURY (i) UK Nationals5 (ii) Non UK Nationals Counter-Terrorist Asset Freezing Regime Renewal of 14 n/a n/a designation (during Q1 2014) The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Nicky Morgan): General Licences (i) 0 My noble Friend the Commercial Secretary to the (i) Issued in Q4 (ii) 0 Treasury, Lord Deighton, has today made the following (ii) Amended (iii) 0 written ministerial statement: (iii) Revoked Specific Licences: Under the Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010 (“TAFA 2010”, the Treasury is required to report to Parliament, quarterly, (i) Issued in Q1 7 0 2 on its operation of the UK’s asset-freezing regime mandated by (ii) Amended 0 0 0 UN Security Council Resolution 1373. (iii) Revoked/ 14 0 0 Expired This is the 13th report under the Act and it covers the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 March 2014. This report also covers 1This does not duplicate funds frozen under TAFA. the UK implementation of the UN al-Qaeda asset-freezing regime 2This figure reflects the most up-to-date account balances available and the operation of the EU asset-freezing regime in the UK and includes approximately $64,000 of funds frozen in the UK. This under EU regulation (EC) 2580/2001 which implements UNSCR has been converted using exchange rates as of 31/03/2014. 1373 against external terrorist threats to the EU. Under the UN 3One unfrozen credit card in credit of £10.65. al-Qaeda asset-freezing regime, the UN has responsibility for 4This figure is based on ex-designations where the UK freeze forms designations and the Treasury has responsibility for licensing and the prior competent authority decision for the EU freeze. compliance with the regime in the UK under the Al-Qaeda 5Based on information held by the Treasury, some of these (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011. Under EU regulation 2580/2001, individuals hold dual nationality. the EU has responsibility for designations and the Treasury has responsibility for licensing and compliance with the regime in the Legal Proceedings UK under part 1 of TAFA 2010. Annexes A and B to this statement provide a breakdown, by 1. An appeal against designations made under the Terrorism name, of all those designated by the UK and the EU in pursuance (United Nations Measures) Order 2009 and TAFA 2010 was of UN Security Council Resolution 1373. ongoing in the quarter covered by this report, brought by Zana Abdul Rahim. The following table sets out the key asset-freezing activity in the UK during the quarter ending 31 March 2014: 2. Two civil claims for damages relating to formerly designated persons are ongoing, one brought by Gulam Mastafa against a number of Government Departments including the Treasury, and EU Reg Al-Qaeda (EC) regime another brought by an individual, “M”, against the Treasury. TAFA 2010 2580/2001 UNSCR1989 3. In the quarter to 31 March 2014, no criminal proceedings were initiated in respect of breaches of asset-freezes made under Assets frozen (as £100,000 £11,0001 £58,0002 TAFA 2010 or under the Al-Qaeda (Asset-Freezing) Regulations at 31/03/2014) 2011, though we have worked closely with the police and CPS on Number of 40 10 25 a number of investigations that may result in prosecution. accounts frozen in UK (at 31/03/14) Annex A—Designated persons under TAFA 2010 by 6 New accounts 19 0 0 name frozen (during Q1 Individuals 2014) 1. Hamed Abdollahi Accounts 35 0 13 unfrozen (during 2. Bilal Talal Abdullah Q1 2014) 3. Imad Khalil Al-Alami Number of 29 374 279 designations (at 4. Abdelkarim Hussein Al-Nasser 31/03/14) 5. Ibrahim Salih Al-Yacoub (i) New 30 06. Manssor Arbabsiar designations (during Q1 2014) 7. Moazzam Begg (ii) Delistings 12 1 5 8. Usama Hamdan (during Q1 2014) 9. Nabeel Hussain (iii) Individuals in 40 0 custody in UK (at 10. Hasan Izz-al-Din 31/03/2014) 11. Mohammed Khaled (iv) Individuals in 10 312. Parviz Khan UK, not in custody (at 31/03/ 13. Musa Abu Marzouk 2014) 14. Khalid Mishaal (v) Individuals 13 11 213 15. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed overseas (at 31/03/ 2014) 16. Sultan Muhammad 31WS Written Statements10 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 32WS

17. Abdul Reza Shahlai 21. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) 18. Ali Gholam Shakuri 22. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)— 19. Qasem Soleimani General Command (PFLP-GC)* 20. Gerrie Tahari 23. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine—(PFLP)* 21. Mouloud Tahari 23. Sendero Luminoso (SL) (Shining Path)* Entities 24. Stichting Al Aqsa 1. BASQUE FATHERLAND AND LIBERTY (ETA) 25. Teyrbazen Azadiya Kurdistan (TAK) 2. EJERCITO DE LIBERACION NACIONAL (ELN) 7For full listing details please refer to: www.gov.uk. 3. FUERZAS ARMADAS REVOLUCIONARIAS DE * COLOMBIA (FARC) EU listing rests on UK designation under TAFA 2010. 4. HIZBALLAH MILITARY WING, INCLUDING EXTERNAL SECURITY ORGANISATION 5. HOLY LAND FOUNDATION FOR RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (Schedule 7) 6. POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE—GENERAL COMMAND (PFLP-GC) 7. POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Andrea PALESTINE (PFLP) Leadsom): My noble friend the Commercial Secretary 8. SENDERO LUMINOSO (SL) to the Treasury, Lord Deighton, has today made the 6For full listing details please refer to: https://www.gov.uk/ following written ministerial statement. government/publications/current-list-of-designated-persons- Paragraph 38 of schedule 7 to the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 terrorism-and-terrorist-financing. requires the Treasury to report to Parliament after each calendar Annex B—Persons designated by the EU under Council year in which a direction under the schedule is at any time in Regulation (EC)2580/20017 force. This report provides details of the Treasury’s exercise of its Persons functions under schedule 7 during the calendar year 2013. 1. Hamed Abdollahi* The schedule 7 powers 2. Abdelkarim Hussein Al-Nasser* Schedule 7 provides HM Treasury with powers to implement a 3. Ibrahim Salih Al Yacoub* graduated range of financial restrictions in response to certain risks to the UK’s national interests. The risks it addresses are 4. Manssor Arbabsiar* those posed by money laundering, terrorist financing and the 5. Mohammed Bouyeri proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear 6. Sofiane Yacine Fahas weapons. * 7. Hasan Izz-Al-Din Direction given under the powers in schedule 7 8. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed* The Financial Restrictions (Iran) Order 2012 (“the 2012 order”) * 9. Abdul Reza Shahlai was made and came into force on 21 November 2012, immediately 10. Ali Gholam Shakuri* on expiry of the 2011 order. The 2012 order contained a direction 11. Qasem Soleimani* by the Treasury in the same terms as in the 2011 order. The decision to give the direction in the 2012 order, in effect maintaining Groups and Entities the restrictions in the 2011 order, was made because of the 1. Abu Nidal Organisation (ANO) continued risk to the national interests of the UK caused by the 2. Al-Aqsa e.V. activity of Iranian banks in facilitating the development or production 2. Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade of nuclear weapons. The direction mitigates the risk to the financial sector of being involved in proliferation financing. 4. Al-Takfir and Al-Hijra Licensing 5. Babbar Khalsa 6. Communist Party of the Philippines, including New People’s Under paragraph 17 of schedule 7, the Treasury can exempt Army (NPA), Philippines acts specified in a licence from the requirements of a direction requiring the cessation or limiting of transactions or business 7. Devrimci Halk Kurtulu Partisi-Cephesi—DHKP/C relationships between UK and Iranian banks. (Revolutionary People’s Liberation Army/Front/Party) Six general licences were issued by the Treasury exempting 8. Ejército de Liberación Nacional (National Liberation * certain activities from the requirements of the 2011 order. All six Army) licences have since been revoked and on 22 December 2012, HM 9. Fuerzas armadas revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC)* Treasury issued a new General Licence 1 under article 30(2)(c) of 10. Gama’a al-lslamiyya (a.k.a. Al-Gama’a al-lslamiyya) Council regulation (EU) No. 257/2012 (“the EU regulation”). (Islamic Group—IG) This licence permitted actions authorised under the Financial 11. Hamas, including Hamas-Izz al-Din al-Qassem Restrictive Order 2012 to remain valid. 12.Hizballah Military Wing, including external security Specific licenses organisation In January 2013, three specific licences were issued, one specific 13. Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) licence revoked and one specific licence amended. 14. Hofstadgroep Two of these newly issued licenses were issued in connection 15. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development* with payments due by an agreement or contract concluded 16. International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) before the prohibitions; 17.Islami Büyük Dogu Akincilar Cephesi (IBDA-C) (Great One newly issued licence related to humanitarian action; Islamic Eastern Warriors Front) One revoked licence concerned the repayment of a loan; and 18. Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) One amended licence allowed a UK bank to receive funds 19. Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) (a.k.a. KONGRA-GEL) from a UK designated bank, amended to add the ultimate 20. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) beneficiary into the licence. 33WS Written Statements10 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 34WS

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS local authorities and other public bodies to work together constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis when they are planning for strategic cross-boundary matters Government Chemist Review in their local plans. We have safeguarded national green belt protection The Minister for Universities and Science (Mr David and other important environmental designations, and Willetts): The 17th annual review of the Government given councils new powers to protect assets of community chemist has been received. The review will be placed in value, prevent unwanted garden grabbing and safeguard the Libraries of both Houses plus those of the devolved valuable green open spaces. The level of green belt Administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland. The development (land changing to residential use in the review will also be laid before the Scottish Parliament. green belt) is at its lowest rate since modern records began in 1989. Neighbourhood planning was introduced through the Localism Act, devolving down planning power to COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT local people and helping them play a much stronger role in shaping their areas. Neighbourhood planning is proving Housing and Planning very popular and over 1,000 communities have now applied for a neighbourhood area to be designated and 17 neighbourhood plans have passed referendum (with The Secretary of State for Communities and Local an average turn out of 32%) and an average “yes” vote Government (Mr Eric Pickles): I would like to update of 87%). Eleven of these plans are now fully in force, hon. Members on the actions that the coalition Government forming part of the statutory local plan, and giving have put in place on housing and planning, as part of communities real power to shape planning decisions. our long-term economic plan. We have implemented a The coalition Government introduced the new homes range of measures to get Britain building again, to fix bonus, which rewards housing growth through grants the broken housing market and to help hard-working based on the council tax raised from additional homes people get the home they want. and long-term empty homes brought into use. To date, Key achievements over £2.2 billion of new homes bonus has been given to local councils. This has ensured that growing areas have Under the Labour Government, house building fell had resources to meet the needs of new and existing to its lowest peacetime levels since the 1920s. They communities. Local neighbourhoods with a neighbourhood pledged an “end to boom and bust”, but presided over a plan will also benefit directly from the community housing crash and a great recession. However, now: infrastructure levy. Planning permission was granted for 216,000 new homes in England in 2013-14 (source: DCLG analysis of Glenigan The local plan making process was overhauled through data); the Localism Act. These reforms simplified plan-making, New orders in residential have risen to their giving local authorities more choice in how they developed highest level since 2007 (source: Office for National Statistics); their local plans, and ensured that plan-making is more Housing starts in England are at their highest since 2007 and transparent. They also made it clear that a planning we have already delivered over 445,000 new homes since inspector may only propose modifications to a local April 2010 (source: DCLG); plan where requested to do so by the local authority, The number of first-time buyers is at its highest since 2007 underscoring this Government’s commitment to localism (source: Halifax); in practice. Repossessions are at their lowest since 2007 (source: Council Some 77%) of local planning authorities have now for Mortgage Lenders) the number of new mortgage arrears published a draft local plan compared to only 32% of is at the lowest since the Bank of England’s data series began in 2007. authorities in May 2010. New home registrations rose by 30% in 2013 in England, the Streamlining the planning system and removing unnecessary highest since 2007; and are up 60% in London, the highest burdens for over two decades ; this is in contrast to Wales which has a The national planning policy framework replaced Labour Administration, where new home registrations are falling (source: NHBC). over a thousand pages of national policy to around 50, written simply and clearly. The planning guidance review More council housing was started in London last year than in the 13 years combined of the last Labour Government streamlined planning guidance and reduced it from (source: DCLG); and over 7,000 pages to a simple accessible online guide. The number of empty homes in England have fallen to a This has made the planning system more accessible to 10-year low, and the number of long-term vacant properties local residents, local firms and local councillors, rather has fallen by around a third since 2009 (source: DCLG); than it being the preserve of lawyers, non-governmental A locally-led planning system organisations (NGOs) and town hall officials. The coalition Government have reformed planning To help deliver the new homes that families want, we so it can deliver the homes and infrastructure people have abolished Whitehall minimum density requirements want and need, by working with, not against, local and maximum parking standards, and stopped gardens communities. Our planning reforms and the locally-led being classified as brownfield land. This will ensure that planning process are delivering real results and speeding the market can build more homes with the gardens and up the system. parking spaces that people want to buy. We have abolished the Labour Government’s unpopular The Localism Act abolished the Infrastructure Planning and ineffective regional strategies. Instead, the duty to Commission and returned decision making for the biggest co-operate introduced by the Localism Act requires developments back to accountable Ministers. At the 35WS Written Statements10 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 36WS same time, we expanded the scope of the nationally The right to buy scheme, allowing eligible social significant infrastructure regime to allow the developers tenants to buy their homes at a discount, has achieved of certain business and commercial projects to take almost 27,000 sales since April 2010. Since the discounts advantage of a fixed timetable and obtain many of the were increased in April 2012, right to buy sales have necessary non-planning consents at the same time. risen from 2,638 in 2011-12 to 11,238 in 2013-14. We have reduced the number of applications that The reinvigorated right to buy ensures, for the first must be accompanied by a design and access statement time, that the receipts from the additional sales, that is and simplified their content. Changes to the civil procedure those over what was forecast prior to the change, are rules have reduced the time period for submission of reinvested in helping to fund new homes for affordable judicial review applications against planning decisions rent. This has generated £420 million in receipts for new to six weeks. A new planning court is speeding up the additional housing. handling of such cases. A new generation of council housing The Growth and Infrastructure Act introduced legislation In 2012, the coalition Government reformed the council to designate poor performing local planning authorities. house finance system, introducing self-financing for This power has intentionally been rarely used: two those local authorities that still own and manage their councils have now been designated in this way and one own housing. This system of self-financing has given application has now been made directly to the planning local authorities greater freedoms and flexibilities to inspectorate. This has significantly improved performance manage their housing and many are now starting to use with latest figures showing that 74% of applications for those freedoms to build new council housing. major development were processed on time. To further increase the supply of housing locally, we In this Session of Parliament, we will augment these have also made available £300 million of additional successful reforms to look at practical ways of removing housing revenue account borrowing as part of the local excessive red tape, while ensuring environmental safeguards growth fund to help those authorities that need additional and continuing our locally-led approach. borrowing and want to deliver new affordable homes The Infrastructure Bill will speed up the way that quickly. We are looking to local authorities, who need planning conditions are handled, so homes granted additional borrowing, to bid for that increase by 16 planning permission can start on site more quickly. We June 2014 and for schemes that would help to deliver will seek to improve the engagement and performance 10,000 new affordable homes. of statutory consultees; and we will tackle the gold-plating We have also commissioned an independent review to of EU directives. examine the scope for further reforms and changes to Building more affordable housing help promote local house building. Supporting home ownership Over 170,000 affordable homes have been delivered in England since April 2010. Our affordable homes programme The Help to Buy programmes have been actively will deliver 170,000 homes over the current spending supporting home ownership and new house building review period (2011-15), levering in £19.5 billion of across all parts of the country, especially outside London. public and private funding. Since April 2013, the Help to Buy: equity loan scheme has We have announced a new “Affordable Rent to Buy” offered buyers a 20% equity loan that can be used towards the cost of buying a new build home, allowing people to buy scheme which will deliver affordable homes through a with a 5% deposit. There were over 33,000 reservations and recoverable fund. The new affordable homes programme 20,548 completed sales across England by the end of April for the next spending period will lever in up to £23 billion 2014, with funding for up to 74,000 sales by March 2016. To in public and private funding to deliver 165,000 homes assist hon. Members, I have today published on my Department’s from 2015 to 2018. This will be the fastest rate of website and placed in the Library a breakdown of Help to affordable house building for 20 years. Buy: equity loan sales by postcode. The affordable housing guarantee scheme is worth up Alongside this, the Help to Buy: NewBuy scheme, launched in March 2012 has also supported a further 5,173 households to £3.5 billion (with further lending capacity held in to purchase new build homes by the end of March 2014. The reserve according to demand) and supported by up to Help to Buy: equity loan scheme was extended through the £450 million grant funding in England. Up to 30,000 2014 Budget announcement to 2020 to help 120,000 more additional affordable homes will be under way by December households purchase a new build home. 2017. The FirstBuy scheme was announced in the Budget 2011 to The first eight housing associations to be approved to help support 10,000 first-time buyers on the property ladder. The scheme was replaced in April 2013 with Help to Buy. borrow through the scheme were announced in January There were 11,590 FirstBuy sales to the end of March 2014; 2014, with a further eight announced on 30 May, which moving forward, this is now effectively part of Help to Buy. together will raise over £630 million of debt to facilitate the delivery of over 5,900 new affordable homes. Since the end of last year, the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme is providing up to £12 billion of Government We also announced a European Investment Bank guarantees to support people to buy with a 5% deposit. Over loan facility worth £500 million. On 30 May 2014, the 7,300 homes have (by the end of March 2014) been bought first bond of the affordable housing guarantees scheme through this route. The three Help to Buy schemes complement was issued by our delivery partner. Affordable housing each other, and their success can be taken together. finance, backed by a full faith guarantee from DCLG. To help reduce costs for buying a home, the coalition The bond is worth £208 million and has achieved the Government scrapped the Labour Government’s home lowest priced for debt in the affordable housing sector’s information packs which duplicated costs and were not history. trusted by buyers. 37WS Written Statements10 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 38WS

Building more homes to rent The Growing Places fund is providing £770 million to The £1 billion Build to Rent fund provides development deliver the infrastructure needed to unlock stalled schemes phase finance to large-scale private rented sector that will promoted economic growth, create jobs and developments. The fund is supporting new high-quality build homes. The fund has been fully allocated to local development purpose built for private rent and is on enterprise partnerships and the devolved Administrations track to create up to 10,000 new homes. to fund local projects. Progress updates in June 2013 The fund received £1.4 billion of bids under round reported that £652 million of capital funding had been 1—this bidding round is currently expected to support allocated to 305 projects across England. local enterprise up to 15 developments, providing around 2,550 homes partnerships expect these projects to create 4,900 businesses, across England in locations that include Durham, Liverpool, 94,000 jobs and 27,000 houses. A further update will be Manchester and London. published in due course. Five projects to the combined value of over £74.5 million The Growth and Infrastructure Act also introduced are already in contract, delivering over 1,000 new homes legislation unblocking stalled sites for development and for private rent; and construction has already started in reconsideration of unrealistic section 106 agreements: Southampton (Centenary Quay) and Manchester (Three such unviable requirements mean no housing, no Towers). More contracts will follow. regeneration and no community benefits. Bidding for round 2 of the Build to Rent fund was The £474 million Local Infrastructure fund is helping significantly oversubscribed receiving 126 bids to the to unlock large-scale housing developments. To date we value of around £3 billion. Thirty-five projects on the have helped find bespoke solutions bringing forward shortlist from round 2 are now undergoing a competitive around 80,000 new homes. We are currently working to due diligence process, with successful bids receiving unlock further stalled schemes capable of delivering up funding to deliver thousands of new homes. A list of all to another 35,000 new homes. In addition to the capital shortlisted bids has been placed in the Library. investment, we have made available £13 million of capacity Sixteen projects, with a combined value of circa funding to support local authorities in fulfilling their £625 million, are already in detailed due diligence. Due local housing ambitions. diligence is a competitive process and the Homes and We have also published: Communities Agency will continue to negotiate with “Builders Finance Fund prospectus”—This £525 million projects until exchange of contracts in order to ensure fund will provide development finance for smaller sites to value for money for the taxpayers. support the construction of up to 15,000 new homes; the In addition to direct funding, the coalition Government’s prospectus has also recently been published. private rented sector task force is continuing to build “Large sites infrastructure programme prospectus”—This the private rented sector as an investment market and £1 billion fund provides a programme of support over a has helped to generate aspirations to invest over £10 billion six-year period designed to address these barriers and help of domestic and foreign investment in the private rented accelerate and unlock housing developments of at least sector. 1,500 housing units that have slowed down or stalled completely. The private rented sector housing debt guarantee “Local Growth Fund (Housing Infrastructure) prospectus”— scheme will provide a Government guarantee for up to This sets out the detail on how to access the £50 million part £3.5 billion debt (plus an additional amount held in of the local growth fund in 2015-16. It is designed to help reserve) for borrowers investing in new build private speed up and restart housing developments between 250 and rented sector homes across the UK. Specifically, the 1,499 units that have slowed down or stalled. guarantees use the UK Government’s hard earned fiscal “Locally-led garden cities prospectus”—This invites local credibility to reduce the cost of borrowing and incentivise authorities to put forward their ideas for how they wish to investment in the sector. My Department is open for develop garden cities, how they wish to make use of the existing central Government funding and support, and what business to issue direct private rented sector housing other freedoms, flexibilities and support they need to make debt guarantees and continues to progress discussions ambitious new garden cities a reality. with a number of borrowers looking to invest in large-scale developments. We are creating an Urban Development Corporation Following extensive pre-market engagement, on for the Ebbsfleet area to accelerate the construction of a 18 March 2014 the Department also launched a garden-city style development which will unlock up to procurement exercise for a delivery partner for the 15,000 homes—with up to £200 million capital being private rented sector housing debt guarantees scheme, made available. We have scrapped Labour’s failed, top-down with the aim of increasing access for smaller borrowers eco-towns programme which built nothing but resentment. and maximising take up of the guarantees. My Department A new estate regeneration fund of £150 million of is currently evaluating bids to perform the role and recoverable investment will help kick-start and accelerate expect the delivery partner to be in place in autumn the regeneration of some of our most deprived estates. 2014, approving its first borrowers in early 2015. We are also working with the Greater London authority We are taking a range of action to tackle the small to support the regeneration of Brent Cross and unlock minority of rogue practices in the private rented sector, 11,000 homes at Barking Riverside. while avoiding the disproportionate regulation that would Promoting self-build and custom-build increase rents, reduce choice and supply for tenants, and choke off the increase in institutional investment. In contrast to the Labour Government, we are actively Providing infrastructure and development finance supporting the self-build and custom-build sectors, helping people design and build their own home. The £500 million Get Britain Building investment fund is providing finance to unlock smaller stalled sites. We have also exempted self-build from the community So far, it has helped kick-start nearly 12,000 new homes infrastructure levy and we have recently consulted on a on stalled sites. similar policy change for section 106 tariffs. The £30 million 39WS Written Statements10 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 40WS investment fund for custom-build homes has so far Changing offices to homes to bring underused offices back approved or is currently considering loan funding of into effective use and provide new homes; £20 million. Change of use from existing agricultural buildings to a range of new business uses giving rural communities more opportunity At the 2014 Budget, we announced that we will and incentive to diversify their operations and contribute consult on a new “Right to Build” to give self-builders a towards rural prosperity; right to a plot from councils and we will shortly be Change of use to a state-funded school or registered nursery identifying a small number of councils to act as vanguards from a range of premises. A new temporary change of use to test how the Right to Build model will work in also allows buildings in any use class to be used as a practice. We also announced a new £150 million investment state-funded school for one academic year to ensure that the fund to help provide up to 10,000 serviced building opening of new schools is not delayed by the planning plots, and announced will we look to extend help to buy system; equity loan to self-builders. Change of use from shops to banks and building societies making best use of existing premises, promoting a diverse Getting empty and redundant land and property back into and vibrant high street; use Change of use from shops or financial and professional services to homes and limited associated building works to We have introduced a range measures to help get make best use of existing premises, provide new homes and empty and surplus land and property back into productive revitalise the high street; use. We have abolished the Labour Government’s Change of use from agricultural buildings to up to three controversial pathfinder programme which sought to homes and limited associated building works giving rural demolish homes and instead we have focused on communities opportunity to bring forward new homes and refurbishment. make best use of existing buildings; We are investing £160 million specifically to bring Larger extensions to homes, offices and shops allowing homeowners and businesses to invest in their homes and empty homes back into use. The new homes bonus premises to adapt to changing circumstances without having rewards long-term empty homes being brought back to move. These larger home extensions are subject to a into use and we have given councils the flexibility to light-touch neighbours’ consultation scheme to protect the remove tax subsidies given to empty homes, and use the amenity of neighbours. money to keep the overall rate of council tax down. To assist extensions and home improvements, we The Public Sector Land programme has identified have also exempted them from community infrastructure land with capacity for over 100,000 homes which we levy, stopped plans for a so-called “conservatory tax”, aim to release to the private sector by March 2015. At stopped any council tax revaluation which would have the end of December 2013, we had released land capable taxed home improvements, and introduced a new national of delivering 76,000 homes to be built. council tax discount for family annexes. We will consult in the summer on a package of Through the Strategic Land and Property review we proposals including: have identified scope to generate £5 billion of receipts from Government land and property between 2015 and Change of use from warehouse to residential, from light industrial to residential, and from some sui generis uses to 2020. This will put land and property into the hands of residential; those who can exploit them for commercial purposes, A wider retail use class—excluding betting shops; supporting deficit reduction and creating opportunities Relaxations for change of use from retail use to restaurant for housing and economic growth. use and assembly and leisure uses, and larger mezzanines in The national planning policy framework makes it retail premises where it would support the town centre; clear that planning should encourage the effective use Greater flexibilities to erect ancillary structures in car parks of land by reusing brownfield land provided that it is and reconfiguration of loading bays within existing car park not of high environmental value, and that local councils boundaries, to help local shops; and can set locally appropriate targets for using brownfield Consolidating the general permitted development orders land. We have also amended planning guidance to stress into a single new order. the importance of bringing brownfield land into use. We will announce further proposals to help regenerate brownfield land shortly. The new Right to Contest builds on our existing community right to reclaim land, which lets communities Conclusion ask that underused or unused land owned by public There is more to do, but I hope this illustrates how bodies is brought back into beneficial use. This new this Government’s long-term economic plan is building right applies to sites currently in use, but which are not more houses, giving more power to local communities, vital for operations. It gives businesses and members of helping people move on and up the housing ladder. the public an opportunity to challenge Government on the best use of its estate. EDUCATION Changes to community infrastructure levy rules now provide an increased incentive for brownfield development, through exempting empty buildings being brought back School Teachers’ Review Body (24th Report) into use. We have also published proposals to lift section 106 burdens on vacant buildings being returned to use. The Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove): We have reformed permitted development rights to The 24th report of the School Teachers’ Review Body free up the planning system and encourage the conversion (STRB) is being published today, responding to the of existing buildings. The changes help support town remit I issued in October 2013. The report contains centres, the rural economy and provide much-needed recommendations on how to apply the pay award for homes. These include: teachers that is due to be implemented from September 41WS Written Statements10 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 42WS

2014. Subject to the views of consultees, I intend to b) The affordability of any recommendations within the accept the STRB’s recommendations in full. existing budgets of individual schools; The STRB has recommended a 1% uplift of the c) The need to ensure that any proposals are not difficult or onerous for schools to implement; national framework for teachers’ pay from September d) Evidence of the national state of teacher and school 2014. The uplift will be applied to the minima and leader supply, including rates of recruitment and retention, maxima of all the pay ranges and allowances in the vacancy rates and the quality of candidates applying for national pay framework, including the: qualified teacher status (QTS); unqualified teachers’ pay range; e) Evidence of the wider state of the labour market in main pay range; England and Wales; f) Forecast changes in the pupil population and consequent upper pay range; changes in the level of demand for teachers; leading practitioner pay range; g) The Government’s commitment to increasing autonomy leadership pay range; for all head teachers and governing bodies to establish pay head teacher groups; arrangements that are suited to the individual circumstances of their schools. teaching and learning responsibility (TLR) allowance pay ranges; 3—In its 24th report, the STRB has recommended: A 1 % uplift to be applied to the minima and maxima of all special educational needs (SEN) allowance pay range. the pay ranges and allowances in the national pay framework— The STRB has also recommended that those teachers unqualified teachers’ range, main pay range, upper pay and school leaders who currently sit on the maxima of range, leading practitioner pay range and the leadership pay the pay ranges should receive a 1% uplift. For all range, including the minima and maxima of the eight head teachers who are paid other than on the minima and teacher pay bands, the three levels of teaching and learning responsibility (TLR) allowances and the special educational maxima the STRB has recommended that schools should needs (SEN) allowance. determine locally how to take account of the uplift. That, for those on individual pay ranges1 schools determine In addition to the uplift, the STRB has made a locally how to take account of the uplift to the national number of recommendations about advice that my framework in making individual pay progression decisions Department should issue, including that the discretionary and consider how individual pay ranges should be uplifted. reference points in departmental advice should be uplifted The pay2 of teachers on the minima and maxima of their by 1%. A full list of the recommendations is attached as range and of head teachers on the minima and maxima of their pay band be uplifted to the new minima and maxima in an annex. September 2014. My officials will write to all of the statutory consultees DfE makes clear that, in revising its pay policies for 2014-15, of the STRB to invite them to contribute to a consultation schools should consider, and set out, how any pay decisions on my acceptance of these recommendations, and on for those on the maxima of pay ranges in September 2015 the text of the 2014 school teachers’ pay and conditions will take account of performance in applying any uplift to document. The consultation will last for six weeks. the national framework. DfE uprates by 1% the reference points in its advice to I am grateful for the careful consideration which the schools. For the purpose of guiding September 2014 pay STRB has given to this important matter. Copies of the decisions. STRB’s 24th report are available in the Vote Office, the That schools who have not adopted the reference points set Printed Paper Office and the Libraries of both Houses, out in DfE advice consider how to apply the 1% uplift to the and online at www.gov.uk national framework to their local policy. That reference points should be removed from DfE advice ANNEX TO WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENT following the September 2014 pay decisions. School Teachers’ Review Body’s (STRB’s) remit and That DfE makes clear that all schools should revise their pay recommendations policies for 2014-15, and set locally determined arrangements 1—In October 2013, I referred to the STRB the for performance-related progression as a basis for decisions following matters for recommendation: on pay in September 2015. That DfE makes clear in advice to schools the scope for the a) What adjustments should be made to the salary and most able teachers to progress rapidly through the main and allowance ranges and scales for classroom teachers, unqualified upper pay ranges, where justified by consistently excellent teachers and school leaders to reflect the 1% pay award for performance, to the leading practitioner and leadership pay public sector workers; ranges. b) What adjustments should be made to salaries and allowances 1. Leading practitioners and teachers in leadership posts in payment; 2. Base pay excluding any allowances. The treatment of c) How to provide a simplified and flexible framework for allowances is covered by separate recommendations. ensuring school leaders’ pay is appropriate to the challenge of the post and their contribution to their school or schools; ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS d) How the current detailed provisions for allowances, other pay flexibilities and safeguarding could be reformed to allow Common Agricultural Policy in England a simpler and more flexible STPCD; and e) How the framework for teachers’ non-pay conditions of service could be reformed to raise the status of the profession The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and and support the recruitment and retention of high-quality Rural Affairs (Mr Owen Paterson): Growing the rural teachers, and raise standards of education for all children. economy and improving the environment remain two of 2—In making its recommendations, the STRB was my absolute priorities. On 19 December, Official Report, asked to consider: column 125WS, I announced an initial range of decisions a) The need to ensure that the proposals reflect the Government’s about how we will distribute £15 billion of funds in policy that public sector pay awards average 1% for the two England over the next CAP period from 2015. Today, I years following the pay freeze; am announcing some further decisions about how we 43WS Written Statements10 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 44WS will implement two key aspects of last year’s CAP operate. I have also decided that within the nitrogen reforms: greening and cross-compliance. fixing crops option in EFA we will allow the broadest One of the three components of the new greening range of qualifying crops and will not impose any measure under the CAP requires farmers with more additional restrictions on the cultivation of these crops. than 15 hectares of arable land to maintain 5% of that We have been mindful of the assurances given at the arable land as “ecological focus area” (EFA). start of the CAP reform negotiations that those farmers The European regulations provide a range of options in existing agri-environment agreements should not be which member states can choose to offer their farmers disadvantaged by greening. I can also announce that for the purpose of meeting the 5% EFA requirement. only a small proportion of ELS agreements—including The more EFA options we offer, the more complex and uplands and organic variants—which started on or difficult it will be to deliver and control those options in after 1 January 2012 will have to have their payments accordance with the EU rules. reduced to account for double funding with greening. While I would like to give our farmers the widest Affected agreement holders will have the choice to choice of EFA options, I have assessed that the complexity make good the shortfall through an amendment or exit of introducing all the necessary controls to manage the scheme without penalty. them in accordance with the EU regulations would I am also announcing my intentions for how we will place a high risk on the Rural Payments Agency to the implement the cross-compliance requirements of the extent that it would jeopardise our ability to make all new CAP from 2015. Last year’s reform package resulted CAP basic payments to farmers on time. in limited changes to existing EU regulation on cross- I am therefore announcing today that the options compliance, so our flexibility to move from our current that we will make available for farmers to choose from approach is constrained. However, I am determined to in order to meet their EFA obligations in 2015 will be as ease the burden of regulation on farm business while follows: maintaining environmental protection and we will be streamlining the implementation of cross-compliance. land lying fallow buffer strips Overall, the number of requirements placed on farmers to keep their land in good agricultural and environmental catch and cover crops condition (GAECs) will reduce by a third from 17 to 11. nitrogen fixing crops I am also ensuring that our new rules reflect existing hedges legal requirements so that we avoid adding complexity I fully acknowledge that some farmers may be for farmers by implementing new or alternative rules. disappointed that we are not able to offer a wider list of The deletion of some statutory management requirement EFA options. This is not a decision I have taken lightly. rules will lead to a reduction in burden on farmers The EFA rules are the most complex single aspect of compared to the current situation. the new CAP given the associated verification, control I am removing the requirement for farmers to keep a and mapping requirements. soil protection review and to focus inspections on outcomes We must learn from the lessons from the past. We rather than paperwork. This is a key ask of farming know from previous experience about the difficulties organisations and was a recommendation in the which can arise from introducing new CAP measures MacDonald farming regulation task force. and systems, particularly those reliant upon mapping. I I am retaining and rationalising existing GAECs on do not want to jeopardise the successful delivery of the water, boundaries, public rights of way, trees, sites of basic payment scheme for all our farmers. special scientific interest (SSSIs) and scheduled monuments. I am pressing the European Commission hard to I am extending the hedge trimming ban by one clarify what flexibility exists for adding additional EFA month—to end August—in order to provide protection options to this list in future years. If the Commission throughout the bird breeding and rearing season as can confirm that such phasing-in is possible, then we required by the EU legislation. There will also be extra will look to add further options to our EFA offer once protection for earth and stone banks. they have been mapped and digitised on our new system. So I am urging the Commission to look closely at the I have also asked my officials to review the greening rules to ensure they operate as pragmatically implementation of the penalty system for cross-compliance and flexibly as possible in a way that suits our needs in with a view to making it more proportionate. England. Today, I can also announce that we will now be Allowing hedges to count towards the EFA requirement submitting our draft new rural development programme will have implications for those claimants who wish to to the European Commission for approval. Under our take up this option. This may include work by people plans, we will be investing at least £3.5 billion in rural having to map their hedges. Farmers taking this option development schemes from 2014 to 2020. This money will be encouraged to submit claims earlier and may will improve the environment, grow the rural economy expect payments towards the end of the payment window. and create jobs. I have decided that we will make maximum use of the Throughout the EU negotiations on CAP reform, the weightings and coefficients provided for in the EU UK has argued for simplicity and flexibility. It is clear regulation for the EFA options we are offering in England. that some aspects of CAP implementation will be difficult This will make it easier for our farmers to comply with and complex to deliver. The announcements I am making the regulatory requirements. I have decided that we will today build upon those already made and will deliver not take up the option within the regulations to make better value for taxpayers, fairness to English farmers, additional designations of environmentally sensitive and support the Government’s continued commitment grasslands in England where a no-plough rule would to improving our natural environment. 45WS Written Statements10 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 46WS

JUSTICE While we undertake this work I am also suspending Access to Work’s 30-hour guidance for new claimants. This operational guidance stated that if a support worker Mental Capacity Act 2005 is required full time, for example 30 hours or more a week, Access to Work will normally provide funding on the basis of an annual salary rather than a freelance The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Simon rate. Having listened to concerns about its practical Hughes): Following the Committee’s enquiry into the effect, notably on the ability of some deaf customers to Mental Capacity Act, the House of Lords Select Committee source appropriate British sign language support, this published its report on 13 March 2014. We welcome the guidance will not be applied to new cases pending the report, which contains 39 recommendations. completion of this work. The Mental Capacity Act is an important piece of legislation, but we recognise more needs to be done to raise awareness and make sure it is more widely understood. I am pleased to announce that the joint response of the Work Capability Assessment Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health will be published today. The response contains our plans to realise the full The Minister of State, Department for Work and potential of the Act. We want to make sure that we Pensions (Mike Penning): Today the Government will achieve our ambition of valuing every voice and respecting publish a call for evidence as part of the fifth independent every right when caring for and supporting individuals review of the work capability assessment (WCA), carried who may lack capacity either now or at any time in the out by Dr Paul Litchfield. future. The first three independent reviews were carried out by Professor Malcolm Harrington, and published in November 2010, November 2011 and November 2012. WORK AND PENSIONS The fourth independent review was published in December 2013. This was the first independent review of the WCA carried out by Dr Litchfield. In the fourth review Access to Work Dr Litchfield confirmed that the Government had made good progress in implementing Professor Harrington’s recommendations, and also made a number of The Minister of State, Department for Work and recommendations of his own. The Department has Pensions (Mike Penning): Access to Work helps over accepted, or accepted with caveats, all but one of the 30,000 disabled people to take up and remain in employment recommendations, demonstrating our commitment to each year, providing support such as specialist aids and improve the WCA even further. equipment, travel to work and support workers. This call for evidence will be one of several methods This Government have expanded and strengthened used to gather information during the review. Evidence this important programme by increasing the budget and submitted will be used to inform Dr Litchfield’s report implementing a wide range of improvements. As a to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which result, volumes and expenditure on Access to Work will be laid before Parliament before the end of 2014. have increased over recent years, meaning more disabled people are now being supported to fulfil their potential This is the fifth and final statutory independent review. in the workplace. This progress has been shaped by This year’s call for evidence focuses on the impact of important reviews undertaken by Liz Sayce and an previous reviews, seeks new evidence about the employment expert panel chaired by Mike Adams. and support allowance work-related activity group and support group, and individuals’ experience of the WCA I want to continue to build on this success so that process. There is also a focus on people who have Access to Work can support more claimants per year. mental health conditions or learning difficulties. That is why I have asked that over a three-month period, we now look into Access to Work, focusing on The call for evidence runs until 15 August 2014. how we can support more disabled people and further I will place a copy of the call for evidence in the improve customer service. I will set out further details Libraries of both Houses. It will also be available on the on next steps shortly. Government’s website: www.gov.uk/DWP later today.

65W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 66W

Nicky Morgan: The following table is based on finalised Written Answers to tax credits administrative data for each financial year.

Average tax credit award for households Questions who are classified as ’in work’ Average tax Tuesday 10 June 2014 credit award Households for Households Households who are households who are who are classified as who are classified classified both ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE classified as as self as employed and ’out of work’ employed employed self employed Climate Change: International Cooperation (£) only (£) only (£) (£) 2008-09 4,700 6,500 3,300 3,700 Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for 2009-10 5,000 6,800 3,700 4,000 Energy and Climate Change whether (a) he and (b) 2010-11 5,200 6,900 3,900 4,100 other Ministers in his Department will be attending the 2011-12 5,600 7,200 4,500 4,800 high-level Ministerial Dialogue on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action on 6 June 2014 in Bonn, 2012-13 6,000 7,600 6,300 6,400 Note: Germany; what the Government’s aims are in such These figures have been rounded to the nearest £100. talks; and if he will make a statement. [198587] The increase in average tax credit awards in 2012-13 Gregory Barker: The UK is represented at senior can largely be explained by the removal of the ‘Second official levels at Bonn. It is a mid-year meeting paving Income Threshold’ in April 2012. This policy removed a the way for the Lima Conference of Parties (COP) in number of higher income households from the tax December and Ministers do not usually attend the credit population. As higher income households generally Bonn meetings. have lower tax credits awards, the effect of removing these households increases the average award. Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the TREASURY Exchequer what proportion of tax credit claimants were (a) out of work, (b) self-employed and (c) Apprentices employed in each of the last five years. [198957] Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Nicky Morgan: The following table is based on finalised Exchequer with reference to the contribution by the tax credits administrative data for each financial year. Deputy Leader of the House, Official Report, columns 841-2, on New clause 1 of the Deregulation Bill, how Tax Proportion of households in receipt of tax the information-sharing gateway will operate. [199417] year credits who are classified as ‘in work’ Households Mr Gauke: HMRC requires specific legal authority Proportion of Households Households who are households in who are who are classified as or a ‘gateway’ in order to be able to disclose information receipt of tax classified as classified both it holds in connection with its functions. Once this is in credits who are self as employed and place, HMRC requires any disclosure of information to classified as ’out of employed employed self employed work’ (%) only (%) only (%) (%) a public sector body to be governed by a robust memorandum of understanding. This will set out: 2008-09 23 6 63 8 The legal basis for sharing the information; 2009-10 24 7 62 8 The agreed administrative arrangements, including timescales, 2010-11 23 7 62 8 persons involved, security arrangements and frequency of disclosure; 2011-12 25 8 58 8 The circumstances (if any) under which the data may be 2012-13 32 10 51 7 disclosed and the sanctions that protect against unlawful disclosure of the information; and The increase in the proportion of out of work and The mechanism for maintaining an audit trail or record for self employed households in 2012-13 (and the decrease HMRC of all external disclosures of data. in the proportion of employed households) can largely HMRC has a duty to ensure that any information be explained by the removal of the ‘Second Income transfers to a public sector body are legal and secure. Threshold’ of tax credits in April 2012. This policy HMRC also seeks an ongoing assurance that the transferred change removed a large number of higher income information will be treated in accordance with agreed households from the population. As self employed and standards and protocols. In addition, even where a legal out of work households generally have lower incomes, gateway exists, any information disclosures must be they were less affected by this change and so their compliant with both the Data Protection Act and the proportion in the population has increased. Human Rights Act.

Welfare Tax Credits CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Academic Year Exchequer what the value was of the average claim for tax credit made by people who were (a) out of work, Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for (b) self-employed and (c) employed in each of the last Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment his five years. [198956] Department has made of the economic effects of 67W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 68W deregulating school holidays on (a) tourism-related Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media jobs in seaside and coastal areas and (b) seaside and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for economies in general; [199378] Bromsgrove (Sajid Javid), has received a formal request (2) what assessment he has made of the potential for a meeting, which he has accepted. This will be held effect of the Government’s proposed Deregulation Bill in due course. on tourism employment in England. [199379]

Mr Vaizey: At present, local authorities set term and JUSTICE holiday dates for about 30% of secondary schools and Courts: Telephone Services 70% of primary schools (around half of all registered pupils). The Deregulation Bill gives more schools the Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for flexibility to make changes should they wish to, although Justice how many calls were made on higher-rate the experience of the academies programme and voluntary telephone numbers to (a) magistrates’ courts, (b) aided (church) schools, suggests that only a small percentage county courts and county court money claims centres of schools are likely to vary their term dates. in England in 2012-13 and 2013-14; and what the The Department for Education has produced an average duration was of calls to such numbers. [198816] assessment of the impact of the changes. While there will be greater flexibility, we expect that sensible Mr Vara: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given conversations between the local authority and schools to him on 12 May 2014, Official Report, columns 413-14W on co-ordination will take place. Variations to term (for volume and average duration of calls), and on 10 dates could also help businesses and employers, for April 2014, Official Report, columns 396-97W (for a example, in areas of high-seasonal employment where note on money claims centres). employees may welcome the chance to holiday outside Legal Aid Scheme of peak tourist periods. For example, Bishop Bronescombe school in St Austell has a two-week half term in May/June Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for to accommodate parents’ seasonal employment patterns. Justice (1) how much has been spent on (a) civil and A separate assessment of the specific impact on tourism- (b) criminal legal aid in (i) cash and (ii) real terms in related jobs in seaside towns or seaside economies has (A) England and (B) York in each year since 1995; not been carried out. [198527] (2) how many and what proportion of people with Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for cases before (a) civil and (b) criminal courts received Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his legal aid in (i) England and (ii) York in each year since Ministers or officials in his Department have had with 1995. [198528] colleagues in the Department for Education on the effect of deregulating school holidays on the tourism Mr Vara: The amount spent on (a) civil and (b) industry. [199380] criminal legal aid in (i) cash (ie net of operating receipts) and (ii) real terms in each of the last 20 years was Mr Vaizey: DCMS officials meet with their Department provided by way of a written response on 18 June 2013 for Education counterparts regularly and discuss a range to the hon. Member’s parliamentary question 160682. of issues. The Legal Aid Agency does not record the number of people who receive legal aid. Instead it records the Libraries number of ’acts of assistance’. One individual may receive a number of separate acts of assistance, and one Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for act of assistance can help more than one person. As the Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer categorisation of legal aid has changed over the last of 1 May 2014, Official Report, columns 809-10W, on 20 years, acts of assistance relating to representation in Arts Council England, how much Arts Council court cannot be accurately compared over time. The England spending on libraries was obtained from (a) total acts of assistance relating to civil and criminal grant-in-aid and lottery funding in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) cases from 1995 onwards were provided by way of a 2013-14. [199319] written response on 18 June 2013 to the hon. Member’s parliamentary question 160683. Mr Vaizey: Arts Council England spending on libraries With regard to the breakdowns requested for England for the years requested is shown in the following table: and York, to extract the information requested from the Legal Aid Agency’s IT Systems would incur £ disproportionate cost. 2012-13 2013-14

Grant in aid 687,000 622,287 Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State Lottery 1,001,200 2,418,224 for Justice for what reasons legal aid funding in relation to the case of the constituent of the hon. Member for Libraries are funded by local authorities, who have a Workington, Gary Tomlinson, Claim Number statutory duty to maintain local library services. OWH0080, Cert number JBIRQK61BB77/A/E/1, was withdrawn. [199025] Press Mr Vara: The receipt of legal aid is considered to be Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for personal data and the Department has obligations under Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to meet the Data Protection Act 1998 which would prevent it victims of press abuse and their representatives. [199346] from disclosing this type of information. Furthermore, 69W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 70W the Legal Aid Agency is further prohibited by statute TRANSPORT from disclosing information relating to the provision of Consultants legal aid in individual cases (under section 34 of the LASPO Act 2012, section 20 of the Access to Justice Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Act 1999, and before this under section 38 of the Legal Transport if he will publish a breakdown by firm of Aid Act 1988). expenditure by his Department on (a) consultants and (b) consultancy firms in each of the last four years. Mortgages: Repossession Orders [199392]

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Stephen Hammond: Information requested will be how many mortgage possession claims were approved deposited in the Library and provides the spend details by the courts in each (a) region of England and (b) per financial year for the period 2010 to 2014. London borough in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) Driving Offences: Insurance 2013-14; and if he will make a statement. [199139] Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Mr Vara: The Ministry of Justice collects data on how many cases of uninsured drivers have been mortgage possession claims and these are published at: reported, by region, in each of the last five years. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mortgage-and- [199253] landlord-possession-statistics The tables provided give figures on the number of Mr Goodwill: It is not possible to calculate the number mortgage claims in the County courts from 2011-12 to of uninsured drivers. However, the number of uninsured 2013-14. vehicles in Great Britain has fallen to 1 million from 1.4 million in 2010 due to a combination of police Surveillance: Aircraft enforcement activity and the continuous insurance enforcement scheme. We do not have a breakdown by region. Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what role the Information Commissioner’s Office has East Coast Railway Line in (a) the trial of the Aeroyn Skyranger drone around Gatwick airport and (b) any other use of other Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for surveillance aircraft operated by Government Transport what assessment he has made of rail freight Departments, agents or public bodies in the UK. access and path allocation over the Welwyn Viaduct [199439] beyond January 2018; and what discussions he held with rail freight (a) operators and (b) industry groups Simon Hughes: The Information Commissioner’s Office regarding future freight access over the Welwyn has no specific role in the trial of the Aeryon Skyranger Viaduct before he approved the InterCity East Coast drone around Gatwick airport. Members of the invitation to tender. [199251] Information Commissioner’s staff sit on the Cross- Stephen Hammond: The East Coast Main Line franchise Government Working Group on Remotely Piloted Aircraft was the subject of a full consultation prior to the issue Systems. They advise on any data protection compliance of the Invitation to Tender. The Freight Operating issues that arise. Companies and the Rail Freight Group were included In addition the ICO is currently consulting on its in this consultation and at least two of the Freight revised CCTV code of practice which includes a section Operating Companies responded. on remotely operated vehicles, or drones: The primary responsibility for the allocation of paths http://ico.org.uk/about_us/consultations/our_consultations on the rail network rests with Network Rail. However, Network Rail needs to take account not only of the Verne Prison Department’s requirements in its franchise specifications but also of existing track access rights held by other Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for train operators, passenger and freight, subject to the Justice what assessment he has made of the ability for ORR’s responsibilities as independent regulator. individuals detained for immigration purposes at HM The Department is represented on the cross-industry Prison The Verne to access (a) legal and (b) health planning (the IPG) group that has been established to services. [199170] review future capacity requirements of all operators on the route. Jeremy Wright: HM Prison The Verne started taking immigration detainees from 24 March 2014 as scheduled. Greenfield Station The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for will retain The Verne as a prison in the short term. Transport how many passengers used Greenfield While The Verne retains its designation as a prison it station in Greater Manchester in each year since 2010. will be governed by Prison Rules rather than Detention [199383] Centre Rules. Detainees held at The Verne are treated in the same way as other detainees held within the prison Stephen Hammond: Estimates of the number of estate. As such they have access to appropriate heath passengers using each station on the rail network are care and legal advice. Independent immigration advice published on the Office of Rail Regulation’s website at is provided on site by Migrant Help. In addition, detainees the following link: are able to telephone Detention Action, and BID (Bail http://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/station-usage- for Immigration detainees). estimates 71W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 72W

The methodology for this data set has changed over there are clear actions set out in the franchise agreement time as improvements have been made, so the estimates should performance drop below what is expected. This from different years may not have been produced on a regular monitoring includes monthly meetings with their consistent basis. Details of the methodology changes senior management where performance figures are made each year can be found in the accompanying scrutinised and challenged. reports. Short-forming (last minute reductions in train High Speed 2 Railway Line configurations) is included in this monitoring, and therefore in the monthly meetings. It is the train operator that decides on whether a service is to be short-formed, and Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for if contractual benchmark figures are breached, the Transport what the costs to date has been of the Department does take enforcement action. preparation work for the connection of High Speed 2 to High Speed 1. [199307] Some services in Greater Manchester are sponsored and specified by Transport for Greater Manchester, Mr Goodwill: In response to the HS2 Plus report by who also monitor the performance of the operators Sir David Higgins, the Secretary of State for Transport, concerned. my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), has decided to remove the HS1-HS2 Secondment link from the Phase One Hybrid Bill. The proposed link required too many compromises in terms of impacts on freight, passengers and the community in Camden. Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people working in (a) HS2 Ltd We believe there is a good strategic case for links to and (b) his Department are (i) on secondment, (ii) on the continent but we need to select the right long term loan and (iii) paid for by another company; and in each answer. The Secretary of State has therefore asked HS2 case what the parent company or organisation of such Ltd and Network Rail to consider how to improve people was. [199305] connections from HS2 and the existing rail network to the Continent. We are currently developing the scope of the proposed study, which will explore options that will Mr Goodwill: The number of people seconded and stand the test of time. As a result, at this stage no loaned to my whole Department and HS2 Ltd are set significant costs have been incurred in relation to the out in the following tables. study. HS2 Ltd Parent company/ Number of Roads: Safety organisation secondees Unpaid1

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for AECOM 3 0 Transport what progress has been made by his Cabinet Office 1 0 Department’s Justice for Vulnerable Road Users Carter Jonas 1 0 Working Group. [198917] DCLG 1 0 DECC 1 0 Mr Goodwill: The Justice for Vulnerable Road Users DEFRA 1 0 group is a sub-group of the Cycling Stakeholder Forum. DELOITTES 1 0 It includes representatives from the Home Office, Ministry DFT 24 0 of Justice, Metropolitan Police, Crown Prosecution Service, Ernst and Young 20 Sentencing Council, CTC, British Cycling and RoadPeace. LLP The next meeting is scheduled for later this month. Gardiner and 40 Theobald The remit of the group is set out in a terms of Network Rail 17 0 reference agreed by the membership. The group has 4 0 recently looked into whether it would be possible to link ETM 1 0 data to see how many fatal road traffic accidents have resulted into convictions and this will most likely be PwC 3 0 Westbourne 20 discussed at the forthcoming meeting. Many of the Communications other concerns of the Group should be covered in the Total 66 0 forthcoming Ministry of Justice Review of Motoring Offences. Loans 0 0 1 Payments are invoiced to HS2 Ltd. Rolling Stock: Greater Manchester DFT Total

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Loans Paid 25 Transport what recent discussions he has had with Unpaid 19 train operating companies in Greater Manchester on Loan total 44 last minute reductions in train configurations. [199384]

Stephen Hammond: The franchise agreement between Secondment Paid 4 the Government and each individual train operator Unpaid 20 includes benchmarks in key performance areas. The Secondment total 24 Department monitors each train operator’s overall Total 68 performance against these areas every four weeks and 73W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 74W

The Department does not hold information centrally (2) if he will commission a review of the 50 per cent on the parent company or organisation where they have rule whereby a GCSE grade may only be awarded for come from. course assessment in the event of a student being severely incapacitated through illness; and if he will make a statement; [199134] EDUCATION (3) what recent representations he has received on Free School Meals the 50 per cent rule whereby a GCSE grade may only John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for be awarded for course assessment in the event of a Education what steps his Department is taking to student being severely incapacitated through illness; ensure that all schools can provide free school meals for and if he will make a statement. [199135] infant children by September 2014. [198708] Elizabeth Truss: The Secretary of State for Education Mr Laws: The Government is providing substantial recently received a letter from the hon. Member on this funding to enable schools to offer free meals to all issue, raising the case of a student in her constituency, infant pupils from September 2014, including over £1 to which he has responded. From time to time Ministers billion additional revenue funding over the two years receive representations from members of the public, 2014 to 2016 and £150 million capital funding in 2014-15. and from hon. Members on their behalf, on the same The revenue funding includes transitional funding to matter. small schools, worth a minimum of £3,000, which qualifying Neither the Department nor the Office of Qualifications schools will be able to use to help them overcome and Examinations Regulation holds information on the delivery challenges. number of pupils who have applied to be assessed for a We are also funding a national support service, run GCSE grade on the basis of coursework. This information by school food experts, which is providing advice and may be held by individual awarding bodies. guidance to schools that need assistance in implementing The rules governing the circumstances in which a universal infant free school meals. The support includes GCSE grade may be awarded to a student who has not a telephone helpline, the sharing of good practice, and completed all the elements of the assessment are a an intensive face-to-face support service for schools matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations facing significant challenges. Regulation. I have therefore asked its Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey, to write directly to the hon. Member. A John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Commons Education what estimate he has made of the number of Library. schools which will be unable to provide universal free school meals for infant children from September 2014. Health [198709] Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Laws: From September, all state-funded schools Education what use his Department has made of the in England will be under a statutory duty to offer a free National Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for school lunch to all infant pupils. Based on the feedback National Statistics in formulating policy since the we are receiving, the vast majority of schools are already introduction of that Index in 2011; and what policies on track to deliver this policy and we are supporting the his Department has introduced to improve national other schools to do so. wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010. [198866] GCSE Elizabeth Truss: The Secretary of State for Education, Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath Education in how many schools no pupils were entered (Michael Gove), is responsible for a wide range of for GCSEs in (a) history and (b) biology, chemistry issues which relate to a number of the key determinants and physics in the latest period for which figures are of children’s well-being as captured in the ONS’ Children’s available. [198647] well-being measures in the Measuring National Well-being Mr Laws: Of the 3,0241 state-funded mainstream Programme. These include policies designed to raise schools: educational attainment, promote take-up of early years (a) 19 schools entered no pupils for GCSE history or ancient education, tackle bullying in schools and reduce child history in 2012/13. poverty. (b) 299 schools entered no pupils for biology, chemistry and Members: Correspondence physics in 2012/13. This information can be downloaded from the 2 Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Performance Tables website . Education when he plans to respond to the letter from 1 State-funded mainstream schools included in Performance Tables the hon. Member for Walsall North dated 30 April only. This includes academies, free schools and city technology colleges but excludes independent schools, special schools, alternative 2014, ref 2014/0036207, on behalf of a constituent. provisions and pupil referral units. [198878] 2 http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/download _data.html Mr Timpson: The hon. Member wrote to Peter Lauener, chief executive of the Education Funding Agency, on Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for 30 April 2014 about admissions arrangements at Walsall Education (1) how many pupils have applied to be academy. He copied his letter to the Secretary of State assessed for a GCSE grade on the basis of coursework for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for under the 50 per cent rule in each of the last five years; Surrey Heath (Michael Gove). Mr Lauener replied to [199136] the hon. Member on 14 May. 75W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 76W

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Laws: We published advice on the admission of Education when he will respond to the letter from the summer-born children in July 2013. We are now monitoring hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central received by the impact of this advice and have committed to review his office on 29 May 2014, relating to the recent it one year after its publication. situation in Birmingham. [199163] Officials are investigating cases referred to them to ensure admission authorities are complying with the Mr Timpson: I refer the hon. Member to the statement provisions in the Code. made by the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Pupils: North East Gove), to the House on 9 June 2014, Official Report, columns 264-66, which addressed the questions raised Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for in his letter. Education how much in pupil premium has been paid to (a) first, (b) middle and (c) upper schools in (i) Park View Educational Trust Hexham, (ii) Northumberland and (iii) the North East to date. [198548] Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what reports on the management, Mr Laws: Figures showing the pupil premium allocations financial conduct and teaching standards at the Park to schools in the Hexham constituency area, View Education Trust he has requested since the school Northumberland local authority, and the North East in the financial years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 are became an academy; [198914] given in the following tables. These include allocations (2) when (a) he and (b) officials in his Department to academies in each area in each year. The figures for first heard about allegations of misconduct at the Park secondary schools include middle schools and all-through View Educational Trust. [198888] schools. Mr Timpson: The allegations made in relation to Park View Educational Trust in Birmingham are very £ 2011-12 2012-13 serious and are being investigated. The Secretary of 2011-12 Service 2011-12 2012-13 Service State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member Deprivation Child LAC Deprivation Child for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), made a statement to Premium Premium Premium Premium Premium the House on 9 June 2014 on the allegations. Hexham constituency Pre-school Education Primary 149,000 n/a n/a 283,000 n/a Secondary and 176,000 n/a n/a 475,000 n/a Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for middle schools Education how many free early years education places Total 325,000 13,000 n/a 758,000 18,000 were provided in (a) , (b) and (c) England and Wales in each of the last five Northumberland years. [198568] Primary 1,314,000 n/a n/a 2,266,000 n/a Secondary and 1,586,000 n/a n/a 3,477,000 n/a Elizabeth Truss: Information on the take up of free middle schools early years places in Suffolk and England is shown in Total 2,900,000 79,000 94,000 5,743,000 122,000 the following table.

Number of three and four-year-olds benefiting from funded early education North East places1 Suffolk England Primary 21,322,000 n/a n/a 37,142,000 n/a Secondary and 14,090,000 n/a n/a 28,633,000 n/a 2009 14,960 1,158,760 middle schools 2010 15,140 1,186,370 Total 35,412,000 268,000 1,198,000 65,775,000 445,000 2011 15,450 1,224,470 2012 16,100 1,264,420 £ 2013 16,200 1,283,500 2013-14 Total, 1 Count of children aged three and four at 31 December in the previous 2012-13 2013-14 Service 2013-14 2011-12 calendar year. Number of three and four-year-olds in schools may include some LAC Deprivation Child LAC to two-year-olds. Any child attending more than one provider will have only been Premium Premium Premium Premium 2013-14 counted once. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Notes: Hexham 1. The data is not available at parliamentary constituency level and could be constituency obtained only at disproportionate cost. Primary n/a 448,000 n/a n/a 880,000 2. The response covers the information requested for England only. Secondary and n/a 754,000 n/a n/a 1,405,000 Source: middle schools Early Years Census (EYC), School Census (SC) and School Level Annual School Census (SLASC). Total n/a 1,202,000 24,000 n/a 2,339,000 Primary Education: Admissions Northumberland Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Primary n/a 3,700,000 n/a n/a 7,279,000 Education with reference to his Department’s School Secondary and n/a 5,301,000 n/a n/a 10,363,000 Admissions Code, published in February 2012, what middle schools steps his Department is taking to ensure the consistent Total 122,000 9,000,000 156,000 175,000 18,390,000 and effectual application of sections 2.16 and 2.17 of that code to primary education admissions for North East summer-born children. [198714] Primary n/a 59,233,000 n/a n/a 117,697,000 77W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 78W

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for £ Education when he was first informed about concerns 2013-14 Total, 2012-13 2013-14 Service 2013-14 2011-12 relating to extremism in schools. [198883] LAC Deprivation Child LAC to Premium Premium Premium Premium 2013-14 Mr Timpson: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath Secondary and n/a 42,591,000 n/a n/a 85,314,000 middle schools (Michael Gove), established a dedicated due diligence Total 1,622,000 101,824,000 650,000 2,469,000 209,663,000 and counter extremism division within the Department Notes: for Education in October 2010 in order to tackle the 1. There is no published service child premium data at a school level for data threat of extremism in schools. The Government’s revised protection reasons. 2. The looked-after children (LAC) premium is allocated at a local authority “Prevent” strategy, published in June 2011, set out a level, so no school or constituency level information is available. general assessment of the threat. The Government has 3. The deprivation premium figures relate to mainstream primary, secondary, always been very clear that there is no place for extremist middle and all-through schools. However the local authority totals for the service child and LAC premiums also include local authority maintained views in any school. special schools, special academies, pupil referral units, alternative provision academies, non-maintained special schools, hospital schools, and pupils aged 4 and above with an AP type of not in school. HOME DEPARTMENT Schools: Curriculum Animal Experiments

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Education if he will introduce the teaching of the Home Department for what scientific purposes she has dangers of pornography into the school syllabus. licensed procedures on animals that were likely to cause [199200] severe suffering since 2010; and what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of animals Elizabeth Truss: Teaching about sex and relationship experiencing severe suffering in scientific procedures. education (SRE) is already compulsory in maintained [198600] secondary schools, and academies are expected to provide SRE as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. Norman Baker: The information asked for is not held When teaching SRE, all schools must have regard to centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate the Secretary of State’s statutory guidance, which sets cost. out that SRE should be age-appropriate. Schools should The Government only authorises procedures on animals ensure SRE supports young people to develop positive after rigorous checks. Under the Animals (Scientific values and a moral framework that will guide their Procedures) Act 1986 there is a statutory requirement decisions, judgments and behaviour. Schools are encouraged for scrutiny by, in the first instance, the Animal Welfare to develop their SRE practice with the support of Ethical Review Body at the Establishment where the specialist organisations and expert professionals who work will be performed, and then an assessment is are best placed to provide schools with up-to-date materials made by the Home Office Inspectorate. In addition, and advice on changing technologies. projects are referred to the Animals in Science Committee Schools will welcome the new supplementary advice, for scrutiny where they propose the use of non-human ’Sex and relationships education (SRE) for the 21st primates in severe protocols and other projects that century’, published recently by the PSHE Association, ministers consider require further consideration. the Sex Education Forum and Brook. This addresses One of the key factors in the assessment of licence changes in technology and legislation since 2000, and applications is the harm-benefit analysis, which has will equip teachers to help protect children and young been part of our assessment process since 1986. The people from inappropriate online content, including the parameters considered in this analysis are described in dangers of pornography, and from online bullying, Appendix I of the Operational Guidance to the 1986 Act. harassment and exploitation. A harm-benefit analysis determines whether the proposed harms to the animals are justified by the likely benefits Schools: Radicalism to be delivered from the project. Inspectors give advice on minimising harms during their assessment of project Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for licence applications. Licensees have a legal responsibility Education if he will publish his correspondence with to ensure that work is undertaken on animals in the the Secretary of State for the Home Department least severe manner possible whilst delivering their scientific relating to extremism in schools. [198881] objectives. This year we are undertaking a review of the harm-benefit analysis process, with advice from the Mr Timpson: In line with long-standing precedent, Animals in Science Committee, to determine if there the Government does not normally publish internal are further refinements we can make to the process. correspondence between Departments. I am committed to working to reduce the number of Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for animals used in scientific procedures. The Coalition Education on what dates he has met the Secretary of Commitment delivery plan ″Working to reduce the use State for the Home Department to discuss extremism of animals in research″ was published in February in schools since May 2010. [198882] 2014. In particular, the Home Office Inspectorate is working with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Mr Timpson: The Secretary of State for Education, Cruelty to Animals on methods of refinement of the my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath most severe models to avoid or reduce animal suffering. (Michael Gove), has regular discussions with ministerial This has included careful consideration of models of colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects. experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, seizures, 79W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 80W rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis. Inspectors are actively Croydon, Kent, and Hillingdon local authorities have promulgating the recommendations from each of these been granted additional funding which in the past was reports. part of the “Gateway” arrangements, that has been In addition, the Home Office has published advisory superseded by enhanced rates. This is due to the larger notes on recording and reporting actual severity, as than normal volumes of care leavers received in those required by the transposed European Directive from local authorities, in comparison to other local authorities. 2013. From data collected we will provide clarity on the Solihull local authority were not part of the “Gateway” burden of harm and, over time, should give an indication arrangements but have since been granted additional of the effectiveness of refinement methods, particularly enhanced payments for the same reasons. for the most severe procedures. It is important to note that procedures classified as severe represent only a Asylum: Housing small percentage of total procedures. Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were Home Department when she will measure changes in accommodated in (a) hotels and (b) bed and the number of animals used in scientific procedures in breakfasts, hostels and other establishments that the UK following publication of Working to reduce the provide lodging paid on a short-term basis in (i) use of animals in scientific research in July 2011. Barnsley, (ii) Yorkshire and Humberside and (iii) the [198633] UK in each year since May 2010. [199171]

Norman Baker: The Annual Statistics of Scientific James Brokenshire: The department does not collect Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain for 2013 specific data on asylum applicants accommodated in will be published on 10 July 2014. I will be publishing a contingency accommodation. COMPASS providers have progress report on the Coalition Commitment “Working a responsibility to provide suitable accommodation to to reduce the use of animals in research” in early 2015. asylum applicants. The COMPASS contracts allow providers to use alternative or temporary initial Animal Experiments: EU Law accommodation (IA) as contingency in exceptional circumstances, for example when the existing nominated Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the IA is full. This may include the use of hotels for a short Home Department how many (a) cats, (b) dogs and term period until such time as the asylum seeker is (c) horses were retired and rehomed under European accommodated in the IA or provided with dispersal Union Directive 2010/63/EU in 2013. [198950] accommodation.

Norman Baker: The Home Office does not hold the Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the information requested. Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, oversight and scrutiny of private contractors authority may be given to re-home animals where those responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers. animals were bred or held for supply for use in regulated [199173] procedures, or were intended for use in regulated procedures, or have been used in regulated procedures. This may James Brokenshire: The providers are contractually also apply to animals which are being kept under the required to provide safe, habitable, fit for purpose and care of the Named Veterinary Surgeon after completing correctly equipped accommodation to comply with the procedures and is always contingent on our acceptance Housing Act 2004 and the Decent Homes Standard. of certain reassurances relating to Section 17A of the The COMPASS contracts contain high standards and Act. Records of each animal re-homed would be kept requirements to be met by providers in the services they locally at the licensed establishment so that they can be provide to asylum applicants. The contracts also contain available to Home Office Inspectors on request. robust monitoring mechanism including regular meetings European Directive 2010/63/EU, which was implemented and inspection of services. Where standards are not in the UK and other Member States on 1 January 2013, met, providers reimburse the department in the form of does not provide legal grounds on which the UK can service credits. impose a mandatory obligation of re-homing under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Nevertheless, Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the we have provided guidance on re-homing animals in our Home Department what steps she has taken to ensure Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific proper support and welfare is available to asylum Procedures) Act 1983, section 5.21. seekers accommodated in hotels and other establishments that provide lodging paid on a short- Asylum: Children term basis. [199174]

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the James Brokenshire: The Home Office has a rigorous Home Department with reference to the answer of contract compliance regime in place including monthly 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 66W, on asylum: meetings with providers, quarterly and biannual strategic children, which local authorities have been granted meetings. These aim to ensure the required performance extra funding because of their special circumstances. standards expected of all providers as defined in the [198606] contracts is met. In addition, the COMPASS contracts contain minimum standards of welfare that the provider James Brokenshire: The following local authorities must ensure is provided to asylum applicants, this includes receive additional funding due to special circumstances: briefing applicants on services to which they are entitled. 81W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 82W

For example giving details of how to use facilities in the Number of new and renewal applications for firearm certificates in accommodation, access to essential services in the local England and Wales, 2010-11 to 2012-131 area and contact details for the provider and department New applications Renewal applications so any concerns can be addressed. Granted Refused Granted Refused British Nationality 2010-11 11,286 129 34,132 34 2011-12 11,502 119 35,723 50 Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the 2012-13 10,077 138 28,696 54 Home Department how many applications for 1 Source: citizenship were made in each year since 2009 from These statistics are obtained from the National Firearms Licensing males recruited into the armed forces from Belize; and Management System. if she will make a statement. [198550] Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the James Brokenshire: Information on whether individuals Home Department what recent discussions she has had from Belize have been recruited into the armed forces with the EU on firearms’ control and the European and applied for British citizenship was not aggregated Firearms’ Pass. [198750] in national reporting systems prior to November 2012. This information could be obtained only by a Norman Baker: Home Office Ministers and officials disproportionately expensive manual case by case search have meetings with a wide variety of international to collate the data. partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the There are no such applications recorded since November public and private sectors, as part of the process of 2012. policy development and delivery. Details of these meetings Crime Prevention: Northern Ireland are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Gov.uk website: Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the http://data.gov.uk/dataset/ministerial-data-home-office Home Department what steps officials in her Department have taken with their Northern Ireland Health counterparts to ensure that best practice on the prevention of hate crime is shared across all Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the administrations of the United Kingdom. [199387] Home Department what use in formulating policy her Department has made of the National Wellbeing Index Norman Baker: Policing and criminal justice issues in introduced by the Office for National Statistics since Northern Ireland and Scotland are devolved matters. the introduction of that index in 2011; and what However, the Home Office works closely with Departments policies her Department has introduced to improve and the police across all devolved Administrations, to national wellbeing as defined in that index since 2010. ensure that best practice, including criminal legislation, [198870] guidance for police officers and reporting facilities for victims, is shared to help prevent and tackle hate crime. Karen Bradley: The Office for National Statistics Drugs: Misuse (ONS) is measuring National Wellbeing, not as an index but through a framework of 41 indicators which Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the capture social progress around important aspects of life Home Department how many people were arrested and for individuals, communities and the nation. The statistics charged with possession of class (a) A, (b) B and (c) are experimental and as such we should not expect to C drugs in (i) Bury St Edmunds, (ii) Suffolk and (iii) have examples of major policies that have been heavily England and Wales in each of the last five years. influenced by the well-being data at this stage. However, [198565] there is much work going on across government which is detailed in the evidence provided to the Environmental Norman Baker: The information requested is not Audit Committee for its inquiry into well-being. This available centrally. Data on arrests for drug offences can be found at: reported to the Home Office cannot be separated to http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a- identify arrests for possession of specific drugs. z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/inquiries/ Data on resultant charges are not collected centrally. parliament-2010/well-being/ Firearms: Licensing Immigration Controls Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Fire Arms Certificate Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the (a) applications and (b) renewals were made in (i) Home Department what guidance her Department 2011, (ii) 2012 and (iii) 2013. [198723] gives on appropriate action to be taken by border staff dealing with a parent with a British passport entering Norman Baker: Available data relate to the financial the UK with their child who has a different surname. years 2010/11 to 2012/13 and were published in Table 1 [198583] of ‘Firearm and Shotgun Certificates in England and Wales 2012/13’, available online at: James Brokenshire: Checks are conducted on passengers https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/firearm-and- arriving in the UK in accordance with the Border Force shotgun-certificates-in-england-and-wales-2012-to-2013 Operating Mandate, regardless of nationality. Border For easy reference, data are also provided in the table Force staff also undergo mandatory training to ensure below. Data relating to 2013/14 will be published on 7 they are aware of their statutory duty to safeguard the August 2014. welfare of children. Where a child is encountered at the 83W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 84W border, and it is not immediately apparent that the will total £7.9 million for North Yorkshire in 2014-15 accompanying adult is their parent or guardian, officers and is excluded from the table to assist comparison with will ask questions to satisfy themselves of the child’s previous years. welfare and to discharge their statutory duty. This will In addition, the police in England also receive central be done as quickly and as sensitively as possible to Government grant from other sources including the avoid unnecessary delay to the passengers’ journey. DCLG. They also receive funding from the police precept component of council tax and a small amount of income Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the from charging for additional services. Home Department on how many occasions British Total HO funding passport holders were questioned on return to the UK Real (2012-13 in regard to problems with their child’s name on Cash1 prices)2 documentation in the last three years. [198584] 1995-96 33.1 48.4 James Brokenshire: Border Force does not record the 1996-97 35.0 49.7 occasions when British parents have been questioned 1997-98 35.8 50.0 about their child’s name on their return to the United 1998-99 38.8 53.1 Kingdom. 1999-2000 38.9 52.3 2000-01 41.3 55.1 Members: Correspondence 2001-02 45.1 58.7 2002-03 46.2 58.6 Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for 2003-04 50.1 62.4 the Home Department when she intends to reply to the 2004-05 51.6 62.5 letter to her dated 7 April 2014 from the right hon. 2005-06 53.9 64.1 Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to the 2006-07 48.8 56.5 Energy and Climate Change Select Committee. [198700] 2007-08 50.6 57.1 2008-09 52.0 57.1 Karen Bradley: The Home Department has no record 2009-10 53.4 57.1 of receiving the correspondence referred to in this 2010-11 53.8 56.0 parliamentary question. 2011-12 50.3 51.2 2012-13 47.3 47.3 North Yorkshire Police 2013-143 76.5 75.0 2014-153 72.8 69.9 1 Figures include specific grants that have since been rolled into Police Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Main Grant (including Rule 2 Grant, the Neighbourhood Policing Home Department how much revenue funding her Fund and, from 2013-14, the Community Safety Fund) in order to Department has allocated to the North Yorkshire provide consistency over the time period. Police Authority in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each 2 Real figures are calculated using the latest GDP deflators. These are year since 1995-96. [198504] updated and published regularly by Her Majesty’s Treasury and therefore can change the way that the real figures in the table are represented. Damian Green: Table 1 shows the amount of core 3 From 2013-14 formula grant funding which in previous years had Government revenue funding provided by the Home been paid by the Department for Communities and Local Government Office to the North Yorkshire police authority (from was transferred to the Home Office to pay to PCCs. This amounted to November 2012 the Police and Crime Commissioner £29.6 million in 2013-14 and £28.2 million in 2014-15. for North Yorkshire) since 1995-96. Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the The figures in the table represent the amount of Home Department (1) how many full-time equivalent revenue funding provided by the Home Office to North police officers of each rank and grade were employed Yorkshire. However, due to changes in police revenue by North Yorkshire police on (a) 31 March and (b) funding over this time period (which include a move 30 September in each year since 2004; [198505] away from regional crime squads and a change in the (2) how many full-time equivalent (a) police officers, way pensions are funded), it is difficult to compare (b) police community support officers and (c) police spending power between years. civilian staff were employed by North Yorkshire police on (i) 31 March and (ii) 30 September in each year From 2014-15, the Home Office is also paying out since 2004. [198506] council tax freeze grant funding relating to the 2011-12 and 2013-14 schemes and local council tax support Damian Green: The following table contains the requested funding to Police and Crime Commissioners in England. data and covers the period up until 30 September 2013. This amount was previously paid by the Department Figures as at 31 March 2014 are due to be published for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). This 17 July 2014.

Number of full-time equivalent1 police officers by rank2, police community support officers and police staff3 employed by North Yorkshire police on 31 March and 30 September in each year from 2004-13 Police officer Police Community Chief Chief Support Police ACPO Superintendent Superintendent Inspector Inspector Sergeant Constable Total Officer staff

31 March 2004 4 8 15 15 76 241 1,175 1,534 52 864 85W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 86W

Number of full-time equivalent1 police officers by rank2, police community support officers and police staff3 employed by North Yorkshire police on 31 March and 30 September in each year from 2004-13 Police officer Police Community Chief Chief Support Police ACPO Superintendent Superintendent Inspector Inspector Sergeant Constable Total Officer staff

30 September 4 6 14 14 71 264 1,174 1,547 47 892 2004 31 March 2005 4 7 14 17 77 246 1,195 1,561 75 928 30 September 4 7 15 17 77 260 1,196 1,576 70 946 2005 31 March 2006 4 7 15 22 88 271 1,246 1,653 71 1,039 30 September 4 9 13 18 91 292 1,227 1,654 85 1,090 2006 31 March 2007 3 6 16 15 87 283 1,260 1,671 147 1,128 30 September 4 5 17 11 99 307 1,180 1,623 186 1,131 2007 31 March 2008 4 6 12 12 85 284 1,178 1,581 180 1,079 30 September 3 6 11 14 85 278 1,118 1,515 178 1,070 2008 31 March 2009 4 6 10 16 83 269 1,072 1,460 173 1,095 30 September 3 6 12 18 85 262 1,083 1,468 185 1,138 2009 31 March 2010 4 5 10 16 83 250 1,118 1,486 198 1,158 30 September 4 4 10 16 85 207 1,126 1,452 187 1,153 2010 31 March 2011 3 6 10 18 76 241 1,104 1,458 182 1,048 30 September 3 6 10 17 72 236 1,089 1,432 179 918 2011 31 March 2012 3 4 14 17 73 230 1,061 1,402 186 919 30 September 3 4 10 18 73 238 1,049 1,394 179 913 2012 31 March 2013 3 4 10 19 71 226 1,037 1,370 173 939 30 September 5 3 11 19 69 239 1,028 1,374 174 945 2013 1 This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. 2 Figures for police officers by rank as at 30 September are not regularly published; they have not been verified by police forces and should be treated as provisional. 3 This excludes designated officers and traffic wardens. Source: Home Office

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Detection rates for offences recorded by the police in North Yorkshire Home Department what the crime detection rate was (excluding fraud) for North Yorkshire police force in each year since Overall detection rate (%) 2004-05. [198507] 2006-07 32.3 Norman Baker: The information requested is shown 2007-08 32.9 in the following table. 2008-09 30.4 Most of this information was also published by the 2009-10 31.1 Home Office in its “Crimes Detected in England and 2010-11 30.8 Wales, 2012/13” bulletin. Overall detection rates are 2011-12 32.1 available in table 3 for all police forces from the year 2012-13 30.2 2005/06 onwards. Notes: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ 1. The detection rates shown are calculated by dividing the total number of detections in each year by the total number of crimes in attachment_data/file/224022/hosb0213-pfatabs.ods that year. However, the detections will not all refer to crimes committed Detections have now been replaced by a new outcomes in the year in question. framework, which includes a broader range of “outcomes” 2. From 1 April 2007, new rules governing non-sanction detections for crimes dealt with by the police, and therefore provides significantly limited the occasions for which such administrative greater transparency on how crimes are resolved. The disposals can be applied. 3. Fraud offences are excluded because of the transition from police former detections framework only covered a subset of forces recording fraud to Action Fraud doing so. This transition took the new outcomes and therefore of the ways crimes are place during 2012/13, and so to allow a fair comparison over time, “resolved”. Statistics for the year 2013/14 onwards will fraud offences and detections have been excluded for all years. focus on the new outcomes framework, rather than Passports detections. Detection rates for offences recorded by the police in North Yorkshire (excluding fraud) Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Overall detection rate (%) the Home Department what additional support she is providing to the Passport Office to ensure it continues 2004-05 34.3 to meet the deadlines for applications to be processed 2005-06 34.9 and returned during the holiday period. [198792] 87W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 88W

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Passport Office FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE looks to ensure that adequate resources are in place to meet demand while ensuring that resources are Armed Conflict: Children proportionate to that demand. Contingencies are in place to coincide with peak periods of demand e.g. school breaks and summer holidays. Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his This primarily involves staff working overtime but Department is giving to the UN Special Representative also includes, as required, the redeployment of resources for Children and Armed Conflict for the campaign to to support passport application examination staff and eradicate the recruitment of children by government to assist in the handling of customer contact. armed forces by 2016. [198848]

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Mark Simmonds: The Foreign and Commonwealth Home Department (1) how many passport renewals Office provides funding of £150,000 over three years have been completed within the advertised three week (January 2013-December 2015) to the Office of the UN turnaround time from receipt in the last period for Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) which figures are available; [198797] for Children and Armed Conflict. These funds strengthen (2) what performance indicators for the renewal of the UN SRSG’s capacity to monitor violations committed existing passports have been met by each passport against children in situations of concern, in line with UNSC Resolutions 1612, 1882, 1998 on children and office administrative centre. [198798] armed conflict and including countries covered by the UN SRSG’s campaign, such as Burma and South Sudan. James Brokenshire: Straightforward passport applications Children and Armed Conflict is an important personal from applicants in the UK have a published expected priority.I am leading a campaign to prevent the recruitment turnaround of three weeks. For the financial year 2013-14, of child soldiers and to protect children from becoming 99.58% of customers received their passports within victims of sexual violence in five priority countries: that period. Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Achievement of turnaround times is a national objective Chad and Burma. I have raised the issue with a number and specific targets are not focused on individual offices. of leaders, including most recently with the Somali This approach allows HM Passport Office to channel President during a visit in April. resources and distribute applications to meet capacity. The UN SRSG will take part in the End Sexual Violence in Conflict Summit, from 10-13 June in London, where she will join a Ministerial roundtable that I am Police hosting on Children and Armed Conflict.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Ascension Island Home Department with reference to the answer of 7 May 2014, Official Report, column 222W, on Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for teachers: guidance, if she will place in the Library a Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment copy of the guidance her Department provides to his Department has made of living conditions and police services as to whether or not to notify arrests to labour standards on commercial vessels long-lining in regulators. [198603] the waters of Ascension Island from 2010 to 2013. [198678] Damian Green: The guidance to police services on the Notifiable Occupations Scheme is contained in “Home Mark Simmonds: The Ascension Island Government Office circular 6/2006 The notifiable occupations scheme: is legally responsible for administering the marine fishery revised guidance for police forces”. This guidance is in the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Fishing Zone centred available on the Government website gov.uk. on the island. The scheme is currently under review. No assessment of living conditions and labour standards on commercial vessels carrying out licensed long-line fishing, or otherwise, in the waters of Ascension Island Stop and Search from 2010 to 2013 has been carried out. The primary responsibility for the setting and enforcement of such standards lies with the flag state of each vessel. Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for the The Ascension Island Government paused the issuing Home Department with reference to her statement of of licences for commercial long-line fishing from 1 January 30 April 2014, Official Report, column 831, on 2014 in order to undertake a full review of the management Stop-and-Search, which police forces have signed up to of its fisheries with a view to a new structure to be put the revised code on stop-and-search to date. [198635] in place by 2015. Revised conditions for licences will form part of that outcome. Damian Green: The Home Office is currently in discussion with all police forces on the Best Use of Stop and Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Search Scheme. The scheme already has the backing of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he the Metropolitan police—the biggest user of stop and took to ensure that the foreign commercial vessels search in the country—and the intention is to launch fishing in the waters of Ascension Island from 2010 to the scheme in the summer. 2013 did not use slave labour. [198679] 89W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 90W

Mark Simmonds: The Ascension Island Government to give consular assistance during the World Cup. I also is legally responsible for administering the marine fishery met the deputy mayor of Sao Paulo to discuss the local in the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Fishing Zone centred preparations for the tournament. on the Island. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also There is no condition placed in the licences issued by been working with the Football Association, UK Football the Ascension Island Government from 2010 to 2013 Policing Unit, Brazilian local authorities and other relating to slave labour. The primary responsibility for stakeholders on contingency and crisis planning. the setting and enforcement of standards on such matters lies with the flag state of each vessel. Central African Republic The Ascension Island Government paused the issuing of licences for commercial long-line fishing from 1 Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for January 2014 in order to undertake a full review of the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment management of its fisheries with a view to a new he has made of the conflict in Central African structure to be put in place by 2015. Revised conditions Republic as described in UN OCHA Central African for licences will form a part of that outcome. Republic Situation Report No. 2. [199119]

Brazil Mark Simmonds: Reports from the Central African Republic (CAR), including those of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for show that the country remains beset by violence and Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent instability. We welcome the vital ongoing work of African discussions he has had with the government of Brazil Union, French and EU security forces, without whom on the issue of the recent increase in the number of the situation would likely be far worse. The UK will disappeared persons in that country. [198747] continue to work with the UN to ensure the effective deployment of the UN Peacekeeping Operation Mr Swire: We have regular discussions on human (MINUSCA), and with the AU to support MISCA’s rights with the Brazilian Government. Most recently, efforts ahead of the transition to MINUSCA. I last the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth discussed the situation in CAR with interim President Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Catherine Samba-Panza on 23 May. (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised this during his second visit to Brazil in February for the Strategic Dialogue. The Diego Garcia UK also holds regular discussions of Human Rights and public security through the EU namely, initiatives, Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State the Brazil-EU Human Rights Dialogue, the last of for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his which was held on 25 April in Brasilia. Department is taking to ensure that reparations will be paid to HM Treasury as a result of damage caused by Mr McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for discharges in the Diego Garcia lagoon in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra Indian Overseas Territory by US vessels and those consular assistance his Department will provide for responsible for causing that damage are prosecuted. British citizens in Brazil attending the World Cup. [199021] [198806] Mark Simmonds: It is not clear what if any damage Mark Simmonds: During the World Cup, the Foreign has been caused by the discharges by US vessels in the and Commonwealth Office will have a comprehensive Diego Garcia lagoon, and the Government looks forward consular plan in place to assist any British nationals to the conclusions of a joint UK-US study of the that require our assistance. This includes a consular lagoon water and its coral which will conclude this operations centre in Rio de Janeiro on the day preceding, summer. The US have already committed to spending the day of and the day following all England games, a several million dollars over 2014-16 to ensure that they dedicated consular telephone number (which has been comply with our no-discharge policy. advertised on our travel advice and in the Football Supporters Federation’s tournament and match day Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State programmes), a team of consular officers at every England for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress game and consular officers from around the region and his Department is making on ensuring that a British- Portugal on stand-by to assist the Brazil network with led team of experts carries out a scientific assessment any consular surges. We will also have a rapid deployment of discharges by US vessels in the Diego Garcia lagoon team from the Americas region on stand-by should they in the British Indian Overseas Territory. [199022] be required. In the build up to the World Cup, we have run a Mark Simmonds: The joint UK-US study of the comprehensive travel advice campaign called “Be on lagoon water and its coral, which began in January the Ball”that has featured Twitter Q&A sessions, attendance 2014, is well under way and due to conclude this summer, at fans forums in London, media interviews in printed as planned. and video forms. We have also run a number of exercises across the Brazil network so that consular officials are Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for prepared should we need to assist British nationals in Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the case of major incidents. the findings from the US Senate Intelligence I visited Sao Paulo on 4 June to view preparations Committee, what information his Department holds on which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is making the number of detainees held in Diego Garcia. [199176] 91W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 92W

Hugh Robertson: There are no detainees on Diego Mark Simmonds: The Secretary of State for Foreign Garcia and the British Government is aware of no and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the evidence that US detainees have been held on Diego Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed Garcia since September 2001. The findings of the Senate the abduction of the schoolgirls with FM Wali on Intelligence Committee remain classified and we have 18 April, and attended a Summit in Paris on 17 May not seen them. with the Nigerian President, which was specially convened Eritrea to discuss this issue. I discussed the abduction with President Jonathan and Defence Minister Gusau during Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for my visit to Nigeria on 14 May. During that visit we Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the agreed the package of support the British Government release of political prisoners in Eritrea with his would offer to help find the girls, as well as to help Eritrean counterpart. [198578] tackle Boko Haram’s wider activities. Foreign Minister Wali and I have been in contact since then on the Mark Simmonds: We remain deeply concerned at the subject of Boko Haram. I look forward to further continued arbitrary detention of political prisoners in detailed conversations with him and representatives Eritrea, including some detained without trial since from Nigeria’s neighbours, the US, Canada, France, September 2001. Our ambassador in Asmara and EU EU, UN and AU at this week’s ministerial meeting on counterparts regularly raise this with the Eritrean security in northern Nigeria. Government, calling for their release. I have raised human rights issues with the Foreign Minister and, Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for most recently, FCO officials raised the issue with the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has Eritrean ambassador in March 2014. We will continue been made by UK forces in the search for the to do so at every opportunity. schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Nigeria. [199123] Middle East Mark Simmonds: The UK is working with the US, Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign France, Nigeria, its neighbours and international partners and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has to provide advice and assistance to the Nigerian made of the implications for the Middle East peace Government to help them secure the safe release of the process of recent reports that Hamas leader Khaled schoolgirls and defeat Boko Haram. Our Sentinel aircraft, Mashaal said his organisation will not renounce as part of a number of allied surveillance assets, continues violence or recognise Israel. [198658] to conduct over-flights of Nigeria and a team of UK experts is working alongside US and French counterparts Hugh Robertson: Reuniting Gaza and the West Bank in Nigeria in the Intelligence Fusion Cell to assist the under a Palestinian Authority committed to peace with Nigerians in locating the abducted students. I look Israel is a necessary step towards resolving the Israeli- forward to taking further stock of this activity, and Palestinian conflict and a key element of a viable negotiated wider work to tackle Boko Haram, with Foreign Minister solution. We welcome the formation on 2 June of a new Wali and representatives from Nigeria’s neighbours, the interim technocratic government for the Occupied US, France, Canada, UN, AU and EU at this week’s Palestinian Territories. We have made clear that our ministerial meeting on security in northern Nigeria. continued support to the new Palestinian government will rest on its commitment to the principle of non-violence, Palestinians a negotiated two state solution, and an acceptance of all previous agreements and obligations, including Israel’s Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign legitimate right to exist. We now look to the new and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he government to demonstrate these commitments through has made to his Israeli counterpart on the killing of its actions as well as its words. two Palestinian teenagers at Ofer on 15 May 2014; and Morocco if he will make a statement. [198596] Hugh Robertson: Officials from our embassy in Tel Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Aviv raised the use of lethal force in this case with both and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has the Israel Defence Force and the Israeli Border Police made of whether the new protocol to the EU-Morocco on 16 May. Fisheries Partnership Agreement will benefit the On 21 May, the local EU missions in Jerusalem and Saharawi population or Moroccan settlers. [199435] Ramallah issued a local statement expressing deep concern Hugh Robertson: The protocol requires Morocco to about the deaths of two Palestinian youths on 15 May provide regular and detailed reports on the geographical in the West Bank and emphasising the importance of distribution of European funds for structural support such incidents being investigated thoroughly.They reiterated and infrastructure as well as the impact on jobs and the need for security forces, whether Israeli or Palestinian, investments. Since the protocol has not yet entered into to refrain from the use of lethal force, except in cases force this reporting has not yet begun. where there is a real and imminent threat to life. Nigeria Thailand

Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what co-operation discussions he has had with his Nigerian counterpart programmes between the UK and Thailand there are; on the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Nigeria. and what steps he has taken to review that [198588] co-operation. [199121] 93W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 94W

Mr Swire: The UK and Thailand have strong bilateral Mr Swire: Our position on Tibet is clear and unchanged. ties which are exemplified by a range of activities and As the Prime Minister outlined in Parliament on 8 May programmes across the political, commercial, and cultural 2013, we regard Tibet as part of the People’s Republic spectrum, for example, strong trading and tourism links. of China. We believe that long-term stability in Tibet We want our bilateral relationship to prosper, but in will best be achieved through respect for universal human view of the rapid and serious deterioration of the rights and genuine autonomy for Tibet within the democratic environment, we are reviewing the scope of framework of the Chinese constitution. our co-operation with Thailand. We are particularly concerned by restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, United Arab Emirates association and expression, and by the large number of arbitrary detentions we have seen since the coup was Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for announced. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his counterparts in the United Arab Tibet Emirates on the alleged torture of UK citizens in UAE prisons. [198716] Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart Office takes allegations of mistreatment of any British on human rights abuses in Tibet. [198551] national overseas extremely seriously. With the permission of an individual, we will always formally raise these Mr Swire: Our concerns are highlighted in the Foreign with the host Government. We have raised our concerns and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human on a number of specific cases in the UAE and will Rights and Democracy: continue to use the Ministerial Taskforce and other www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk opportunities to raise consular issues when necessary, the latest edition of which was published on 10 April. including those relating to British Nationals in detention. We last raised Tibet at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue on 20 May, where we covered concerns about Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for ethnic minority rights, as well as the criminalisation of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make self-immolation. representations to the government of the United Arab Emirates to ensure that Ahmad Zeidan is given his full Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for legal rights and protections whilst in the custody of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent that government. [198717] representations he has received from (a) the Tibetan Government in exile and (b) human rights charities on Hugh Robertson: It would not be appropriate for the human rights abuses in that country. [198552] Foreign and Commonwealth Office to discuss the details of an individual case. However, consular officials have Mr Swire: Officials regularly meet with human rights provided full consular assistance to Mr Zeidan since we non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to discuss the were informed of his detention and will continue to do situation in Tibet. They last did so in May, following the so. In any case where we have concerns about the UK-China Human Rights dialogue. I will be meeting welfare or human rights of a British National, with with representatives from a number of Tibet NGOs their permission, we will raise these. later this month. We also receive occasional updates from the Central Western Sahara Tibetan Administration, also known as the Tibetan Government in exile. We believe that meaningful dialogue Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for is the best way to address and resolve the underlying Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he grievances of the Tibetan communities and we continue has received on how the ongoing conflict in Western to urge all sides to restart talks. Sahara affects the ability of terrorist and criminal gangs to recruit disaffected youth in the refugee camps Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for or the occupied territory. [199262] Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to reduce human rights abuses in Tibet and to Hugh Robertson: We monitor the security situation in offer support for victims of such abuses. [198554] the region from a number of sources. We are aware of frustration in both Western Sahara and the Tindouf Mr Swire: We remain concerned about the situation refugee camps at the lack of progress in the political in Tibet. process and at the socio-economic conditions in the We regularly discuss our concerns on Tibet with the camps. However, we are not aware of any evidence to Chinese authorities, most recently through the UK-China suggest increased radicalisation of Sahrawi youth by Human Rights Dialogue on 19-20 May 2014 where we terrorist or criminal gangs. covered concerns about ethnic minority rights, as well as the criminalisation of self immolation. Our concerns Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for are also highlighted in the Foreign and Commonwealth Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy, answer of 18 March 2014, Official Report, column the latest edition of which was published on 10 April. 515W, on Western Sahara, if the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa will also meet Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for representatives of POLISARIO, the UN-recognised Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is body, to discuss issues relating to Western Sahara. on Tibetan independence. [198590] [199433] 95W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 96W

Hugh Robertson: British Ministers do not have direct to the general practitioner (GP) contract to help ensure contact with the POLISARIO Front. Foreign and that patients aged over 75 and those with the most Commonwealth Office (FCO) Officials in London regularly complex needs receive more personalised and proactive meet POLISARIO representatives to discuss Western care. Sahara. FCO Officials also undertake visits to the region, We have also appointed a new Chief Inspector of and to the refugee camps at Tindouf. General Practice, and the Care Quality Commission is inspecting standards in GP practices and taking strong Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign action wherever they find poor care. and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of how the ongoing conflict in Western Sahara Health Allocation Formula affects the ability of al-Qaeda to recruit disaffected youth in Western Sahara. [199436] 18. David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had on Hugh Robertson: We monitor the security situation in improving the fairness of the health allocation formula. the region from a number of sources. We are aware of frustration in both Western Sahara and the Tindouf [904121] refugee camps at the lack of progress in the political process and at the socio-economic conditions in the Dr Poulter: NHS England now has responsibility for camps. However, we are not aware of any evidence to clinical commissioning group (CCG) allocations. These suggest increased radicalisation of Sahrawi youth by decisions have been taken independently of Government. terrorist or criminal gangs. Between 2013-14 and 2015-16, Warrington CCG will receive a 7% increase in funding which is a £16.1 million Zimbabwe uplift. The national average in this period is a 4.7% increase, which if it had been applied to Warrington would have : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign given them £10.8 million, meaning they are £5.3 million and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts and better off than average. discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with the African National Drug Dispensing Regulations Congress regarding a possible successor to President Mugabe of Zimbabwe. [199309] 19. Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect Mark Simmonds: We have regular dialogue with South on patient safety of prescription drug dispensing Africa on a range of issues, including regional interests, regulations. [904122] at both ministerial and official level. The issue of political transition and that of successors to President Mugabe Dr Poulter: There are robust arrangements in place to is a matter for the Zimbabwean people in line with the maintain patient safety in the dispensing of prescription constitution of Zimbabwe. The UK remains keen to see medicines through medicines legislation, national health a Zimbabwean Government that delivers for its people service pharmaceutical services regulations and professional and we will continue to do all we can to support a more regulation. These arrangements are kept under review democratic, stable and prosperous Zimbabwe. and changes made as necessary. Failing Hospitals HEALTH 20. Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for A and E Visits Health what progress his Department has made in turning around failing hospitals. [904123] 16. Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the Mr Jeremy Hunt: Through the use of special measures, number of patients visiting A and E departments after the Care Quality Commission, Monitor and the NHS having been unable to make an appointment with their Trust Development Authority are making considerable GP. [904119] progress at turning around failing hospitals. Across the trusts now in the regime, there are over Jane Ellison: There are over 300 million consultations 1,200 new nurses and nursing assistants, as well as 118 in general practice each year. The latest general practitioner more doctors. (GP) patient survey results show that less than 2% of patients attended a walk-in centre or accident and I am delighted that Basildon yesterday became the emergency department because they were unable to get first trust to exit special measures. This is clear proof a convenient appointment with their GP at their practice. that our tough action to turn these hospitals around is working. Primary Care Healthier Together Review: Greater Manchester 17. Mr Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to 21. Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State improve access to and standards of primary care. for Health what assessment he has made of the [904120] conclusions of the Healthier Together review of health and care in Greater Manchester. [904124] Mr Jeremy Hunt: The Government recently outlined its ambitions in ‘Transforming Primary Care’. We have Jane Ellison: The reconfiguration of local health invested £50 million to improve access and made changes services is a matter for the local national health service. 97W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 98W

The Greater Manchester health economy is working Academic Health Science Networks to design services to improve quality and sustainability, and ensure improved outcomes for patients. Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Where major service change is proposed, we expect Health what the running costs for each of the academic this to be subject to full public consultation. health science networks are. [199345]

Norman Lamb: The information requested is not Maternity and Early-years Care available. NHS England advises us that individual funding 22. Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for levels and programme costs vary between Academic Health what progress his Department has made in Health Science Networks (AHSNs). NHS England budget improving maternity and early-years care. [904125] allocations are not their sole source of income and AHSNs are seeking to supplement this funding through Dr Poulter: We have made improving maternity services participation in strategic investment programmes and a key objective in our Mandate to NHS England. Over match-funding initiatives. Core running costs are for the past two years we have also invested £35 million of AHSNs to determine independently and may also be capital funding to improve the physical environment of subject to change through the year. over 140 maternity units. Further information on AHSN work programmes We have increased the numbers of midwives and and business plans can be found on their websites: health visitors. There are 1,700 more midwives and over 2,000 more health visitors than in 2010. In addition, AHSN Website there are more than 6,000 midwifery students in training. East Midlands www.emahsn.ac.uk And we are committed to having an extra 4,200 health Eastern www.eahsn.org.uk visitors by 2015. Imperial College Health Partners www.imperialcollegehealthpartners.com We are expanding the Family Nurse Partnership Greater Manchester www.gmahsn.org programme-which provides dedicated one to one support Kent, Surrey and Sussex www.kssahsn.net to young, at risk first time mothers-to 16,000 places by North East and North Cumbria www.ahsn-nenc.org.uk 2015. North West Coast www.nwcahsn.nhs.uk We launched the NHS Start4life Information Service Oxford www.oxfordahsn.org for Parents, a digital service for parent-to-be and new South London www.kingshealthpartners.org/info/ parents in May 2012. Take up has already exceeded the southlondonahsn sign-up target of 300,000 parents by 2015-as of 1 June South West Peninsula www.swahsn.com over 339,000 parents had signed up to the service. UCL Partners www.uclpartners.com Wessex www.wessexahsn.org www.wmahsn.org West of England www.weahsn.net Small Rural Hospitals Yorkshire and Humber www.yhahsn.org.uk

23. Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department provides to small Ambulance Services rural hospitals in England to ensure that health services are available as close to the public as possible. Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health [904126] what steps he is taking to improve ambulance services. [904113] Norman Lamb: Responsibility for the commissioning of local NHS services lies with clinical commissioning Jane Ellison: NHS England is working with Monitor groups (CCGs). Small rural and community hospitals and the NHS Trust Development Authority to improve have a key role in contributing to more integrated care performance in 2014-15, this includes a workstream through better out-of-hospital care at local level for looking at best practice. frail older people and people with long-term conditions. However, this Government also wants to tackle the root causes of the increasing demand on urgent and emergency care services. Mental Health Care: Greater Manchester That is why the Urgent and Emergency Care review, led by Sir Bruce Keogh, is currently considering whole 24. Sir Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State system change to the delivery of urgent and emergency for Health what estimate he has made of the average care, including new models of delivery of care for length of time between diagnosis of a mental health ambulance services, such as: condition and the commencement of talking therapies general practitioner and other clinical support/advice in control in the Greater Manchester area. [904127] rooms and to crews on the ground and how it can reduce conveyance rates (particularly for frail and elderly, mental health, Norman Lamb: By March 2015, we expect measurable and children) and; progress towards achieving true parity of esteem, where prevention work available to the Ambulance Service: early everyone who needs it has timely access to evidence diagnosis and risk management. based services. This includes extending access to the In addition, as part of the review, NHS England is Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme working closely with stakeholders (including the Association to children and young people and those out of work. of Ambulance Chief Executives) to ensure that ambulance 99W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 100W services can be further developed and commissioned as The voluntary MHRA Phase 1 Accreditation Scheme a treatment as well as a transport service. requires that a Principal Investigator (PI) for a First in As part of this work, an Ambulance Task Group has Human study has relevant experience and a post graduate been set up and is working with Health Education qualification in pharmaceutical medicine (such as a England to reform the training and careers framework Diploma in Pharmaceutical medicine, Diploma in Human for paramedics-to involve developing a skilled set of Pharmacology, MSc in Clinical Pharmacology or advanced practitioners in the Ambulance Service to equivalent). An exemption to this requirement has been deliver care closer to home using hear & treat and see & issued for PI’s that do not have a post graduate qualification treat models. but are able to demonstrate that they have a significant amount of experience in this field (and are often involved The first phase of the review was published last in teaching the post-graduate courses). An application November. We expect NHS England to be publishing for an exemption is assessed independently by the Faculty further reports later this year. of Medicine. Back Pain Health Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with NHS Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health England on the potential for exercise to reduce the what use his Department has made of the National need for patients to have back surgery. [198749] Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for National Statistics in formulating policy since the introduction Norman Lamb: There is evidence that physical activity of that Index in 2011; and what policies his can alleviate lower back pain and can benefit Department has introduced to improve national musculoskeletal health. However, there have been no wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010. [198869] specific discussions between Department of Health Ministers and NHS England on the potential for exercise Norman Lamb: The Department has worked closely to reduce the need for patients to have back surgery. with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on the development of the Measuring National Wellbeing The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Framework. Given the experimental nature of the data recommends that a structured exercise programme, tailored it is too early to use it specifically to formulate policy. to the person, be offered as a treatment option for early However, some examples of relevant work taken forward management of persistent, non-specific back pain. by the Department include: Public Health England is working with partners, working in partnership with ONS to include a measure of including the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance, mental wellbeing into the Measuring National Wellbeing Framework; Arthritis Research UK and the business sector to encourage including wellbeing questions on a range of health surveys, for better prevention and management of back pain, example the Health Survey for England, Health Behaviours of particularly through the promotion of physical activity. School-aged Children, the trial of a local level survey of 15-year-olds, and the current wave of the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey; Clinical Trials including wellbeing as a key indicator in the Public Health Outcomes Framework; Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for publishing a narrative and a series of factsheets on why wellbeing Health what steps are taken to verify the competence of matters to health policy; (a) doctors and nurses and (b) staff of publishing a report on the predictors of wellbeing across the pharmaceutical companies involved in the conduct of lifecourse; clinical trials. [198571] conducting two wellbeing workshops with policy makers to allow them to consider their policies from a wellbeing perspective; Dr Poulter: The Medicines and Healthcare products and Regulatory Agency (MHRA) expect everyone involved co-founding a collaborative studentship with the University of in a clinical trial to be qualified and trained to perform Warwick on positive genetics using twin data to explore how their tasks (as per Schedule 1, part 2 (2) of the Medicines genetics are related to wellbeing. for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations(SI 2004/1031). Wellbeing will also be considered in the forthcoming Staff of pharmaceutical companies are not “conducting” chief medical officer’s annual report. a trial as defined in the clinical trial regulation (SI 2004/1031 Reg 2 “interpretation”). However, the same Good Clinical Health Services: Complaints Practice principles apply to those involved in clinical trial activities; i.e. they should be qualified and trained Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for to perform their tasks. At sponsor site inspection, inspectors Health (1) what steps he is taking to raise awareness will verify the training records, CV, and job description among service users of how to navigate the complaints of selected employees to confirm adequate training has systems in health and social care; [198694] been given. (2) what steps he has taken to implement Sponsors are expected to carry out checks in audits improvements in health and social are services arising or monitoring to ensure that on completion of training, from complaints and feedback made by service users. staff are indeed carrying out their duties according to [198696] requirements and/or procedures (these checks should be documented in monitoring/audit reports). Inspectors Dr Poulter: The Department is working with partners check the monitoring visit reports to determine non- across the health and care system to make improvements compliances are adequately followed up and re-training to complaints handling. This includes Healthwatch England is given to site personnel when necessary. working to improve the information and advice that 101W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 102W people receive when they need support to raise a concern Norman Lamb: NHS England currently collects and or make a complaint. It also includes working with the publishes information about mental health spending Care Quality Commission as they develop their inspection via its Programme Budgeting Datasetand published methodology across health and social care so it places expenditure data for 2012-13 on 21 February 2014. This greater emphasis on listening to, and learning from, is available on its website at: complaints as well as other sources of patient feedback. www.england.nhs.uk/resources/resources-for-ccgs/prog- A single legislative framework exists for complaints budgeting/ handling to ensure consistency across the health and We are working with NHS England to support its social care system. plans to develop this dataset for 2013-14 to provide a more meaningful analysis of expenditure. Health Services: Ombudsman Mental Illness Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make an assessment of the Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health potential merits of aligning health services in with reference to the answer of 21 November 2012, regulatory bodies and ombudsman services; [198697] Official Report, columns 511-2W, on death, what the prevalence of adults living in private households in (2) what steps he is taking to simplify ombudsman England having at least one psychiatric condition was services in health and social care; [198693] in the most recent period for which figures are (3) if he will make an assessment on the potential available. [198856] merits of merging health and social care ombudsman services in England. [198695] Norman Lamb: The answer of 21 November 2012, Official Report, columns 511-12W, contains the latest Dr Poulter: The Government is considering reports data. The following table shows the estimated prevalence of the Public Administration Select Committee into of adults living in private households in England having how complaints about public services are handled. As at least one psychiatric condition1. part of this inquiry, the Cabinet Office is undertaking work to further investigate how public services can Adults meeting the criteria for, or screening positive for, one or more make best use of complaints and also to take a wider 1, 2 look at the role and powers of the public sector Age range psychiatric condition Ombudsmen. The Government will respond to these 16-24 32.3 reports in due course. 25-34 30.0 35-44 22.9 Hospitals: Television 45-54 25.0 55-64 18.7 Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for 65-74 12.7 Health what recent meetings he has had with NHS 75+ 10.5 England on the contracting of provision of television Percentage all 23.0 services in hospitals. [198561] 1 ’Psychiatric conditions’ include the most common mental disorders (namely anxiety and depressive disorders) as well as: psychotic disorder; antisocial and Dr Poulter: The Secretary of State for Health, my borderline personality disorders; eating disorder; posttraumatic stress disorder; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; alcohol and drug dependency; and right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey problem behaviours such as problem gambling and suicide attempts. These are (Mr Hunt), has not had any recent meetings with NHS defined according to different classification criteria and refer to a variety of England on the contracting of the provision of television different, reference periods, as detailed in the background information provided. Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder was defined following the exclusion of services in hospitals. other common mental disorders. 2 Figures above were calculated by subtracting the prevalence of adults with no Human Papillomavirus psychiatric condition from 100. Note: This table is an excerpt from Table 12.1 in Chapter 12 (Co-morbidity) of the Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for APMS 2007 report: Health what estimate he has made of the potential cost www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/psychiatricmorbidity07 Source: of extending the human papilloma virus vaccination Adult Psychiatric Morbidity (APMS) Survey 2007. programme to include all boys aged 12 and 13 years. The Department has commissioned the National Centre [199382] for Social Research and the University of Leicester to undertake the 2014 Adult Psychological Morbidity Survey. Jane Ellison: We have not made any estimate of extending the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination Motor Neurone Disease programme to include boys aged 12 and 13 years, as the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for not yet completed its consideration of whether HPV Health (1) how many people diagnosed with motor vaccine should be offered to males. neurone disease there have been in the UK in each of the last five years; [199099] Mental Health Services (2) how many people with motor neurone disease have been treated by the NHS with iGaze technology in Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for each of the last five years. [199100] Health with reference to the oral answer of 1 April 2014, Official Report, column 714, on physical and Norman Lamb: Data on the number of people diagnosed mental health (parity of esteem), in what ways he plans with motor neurone disease (MND) is not collected. to achieve complete transparency in the availability of However, it is estimated that there are about 5,000 data on mental health spending. [198646] people living with MND in the United Kingdom. 103W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 104W

Information regarding the number of people with NHS England routinely commissions systemic treatments MND who are using ’eye gaze’ technology, a type of for prostate cancer, including hormone therapy and specialised augmentative and assistive communication chemotherapy. aid, is not held centrally. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (NICE) has published technology appraisal guidance which recommends docetaxel (Taxotere) for hormone- Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for refractory prostate cancer and abiraterone (Zytiga), in Health what estimate his Department has made of the combination with prednisolone or prednisone, for number of people in the UK with a diagnosis of castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer previously obsessive compulsive disorder in each of the last five treated with one docetaxel-containing regimen. NICE years. [198744] is also currently developing technology appraisal guidance Norman Lamb: The Department does not hold data on a number of other drugs for prostate cancer. on an annual basis of the numbers of people with a National health service commissioners are legally diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder. The Department required by regulations to fund those treatments has commissioned the National Centre for Social Research recommended by NICE in its technology appraisal and the University of Leicester to undertake the 2014 guidance. Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Five-year survival rates improved from around 42% in The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in 2007 the late 1980s to 79.7% in 2007 (currently 80.2% according found that 1.3% of people aged 16-64 living in England to data for 2006-10 published in October 2012) due in reported that they had obsessive compulsive disorder. part to the effects of increased Prostate Specific Antigen Pregnant Women: Alcoholic Drinks testing and earlier detection. However, survival rates in England are still lagging behind comparable countries Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for in Europe. Health what the Government’s assessment is of the Cancer Research UK has estimated that men with effectiveness of warning labels on alcoholic beverages advanced, incurable prostate cancer treated in trials or regarding drinking during pregnancy; and what under drug access schemes at the Royal Marsden hospital assessment he has made of the potential benefits of survived on average 41 months, compared to between making such labels mandatory. [199389] 13 and 16 months, 10 years ago. Jane Ellison: Research in the evidence around the The Government’s Mandate to NHS England sets effectiveness of alcohol harm reduction communications out an ambition to make England one of the most and related campaigns suggests that labelling and point successful countries in Europe at preventing premature of sale information can have an impact on consumption, deaths from all cancers, including prostate cancer. Cancer in conjunction with broader campaigns to raise consumer indicators in the NHS outcomes framework and the awareness and education on the health risks linked to public health outcomes framework will help NHS England alcohol consumption. to assess progress in improving cancer survival and As part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, mortality for men with prostate cancer. alcohol retailers and producers have committed to putting an agreed warning or a pregnancy warning logo on 80% Social Services of labels on bottles and cans by the end of 2013. An independent market survey is underway to measure compliance. This level of coverage should allow the Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for majority of consumers to see the pregnancy warning Health (1) what the annual cost to the public purse is of and logo. processing applications for free social care in England; Prostate Cancer [198598] (2) how many applications for free social care were Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for (a) approved and (b) rejected in England in (i) 2012 Health (1) what assessment he has made of the changes and (ii) 2013; [198599] in the level of access to prostate cancer treatments since (3) what recent estimate his Department has made of 2010; [199302] the cost of administering the social care means test in (2) what treatments for prostate cancer are routinely England. [198597] funded by NHS England; [199303] (3) what assessment his Department has made of Norman Lamb: Access to State financial support for outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer. adult social care in England is means-tested and is not [199304] generally provided free of charge. In this way, individuals Jane Ellison: The NHS England Specialised are expected to pay towards the cost of their care and Commissioning team introduced nationally developed support based on what they can afford. service specifications for a range of areas, including Adults with less than £23,250 in capital can seek help prostate cancer, during 2013-14. Prior to 2013, prostate with the cost of social care from their local authority. cancer was routinely commissioned by primary care Local authorities carry out a financial assessment to trusts, and as such, an assessment of the changes in the decide what an individual can afford to pay. Local level of access to prostate cancer treatments since 2010 authorities must take account of an individual’s capital is not technically feasible. assets and income, including income from benefits and Routinely commissioned treatments for prostate cancer the state pension. are: (i) radical prostatectomy; (ii) radical external beam Information on the cost to local authorities of carrying radiotherapy; and (iii) radical brachytherapy. In addition, out financial assessments is not collected centrally. 105W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 106W

In its 2011 report, the independent Palliative Care Elections: Tower Hamlets Funding Review recommended the provision of free social care at the end of life. A series of palliative care Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister funding pilots were established to test the review’s what assessment he has made of the Electoral recommendations, and these completed their work in Commission’s efforts to improve the conduct of March 2014. NHS England is currently analysing the elections in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. financial data collected from the pilots. Once this analysis [199175] has been completed, a decision will be made on the issue of free social care at the end of life, taking into Greg Clark: The integrity of our elections is central account this analysis and wider policy and financial to our democracy. considerations. I am aware that the Electoral Commission is investigating allegations of electoral misconduct in Tower Hamlets at Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health the recent local elections and the Metropolitan police (1) how many appeals were made by applicants for are conducting a number of criminal investigations. I social care at the end of their life in the last two years; have written to the chair of the Electoral Commission, how many such appeals were successful; and what stressing the importance of ensuring public confidence proportion of total appeals against decisions about in the electoral process. social care such appeals represent; [198962] Given the gravity of the allegations it is important (2) how many people in England in receipt of free that the Electoral Commission provides a robust assessment social care are terminally ill. [199001] of what went on in Tower Hamlets and includes firm recommendations of how to ensure the integrity of Norman Lamb: Local authorities have a duty to future elections. assess the needs of any person for whom the authority may arrange social care and who may be in need of such Electoral Register care. They have a further duty to decide, having regard to the results of the assessment, what, if any, care and Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what support they should provide to meet the individual’s recent discussions he has had with (a) church and needs. Where a local authority decides to arrange care community leaders from black and minority ethnic and support it will carry out a financial assessment to communities and (b) Operation Black Vote on decide what an individual can afford to contribute increasing registration levels for voters in those towards the cost. Appeals against decisions by local communities. [198964] authorities are considered locally. Information about Greg Clark: I met recently with Operation Black Vote appeals is not collected centrally. to discuss the importance of electoral registration. In its 2011 report, the independent Palliative Care The Government is keen to work with groups and Funding Review recommended the provision of free organisations to support and raise the profile of the social care at the end of life. A series of palliative care importance of voter registration among all communities. funding pilots were established to test the review’s recommendations, and these completed their work in Northern Ireland Government March 2014. NHS England is currently analysing the financial data collected from the pilots. Once this analysis Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister has been completed, a decision will be made on the what meetings he has had with (a) the First Minister, issue of free social care at the end of life, taking into (b) the Deputy First Minister and (c) both the First account this analysis and wider policy and financial and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland in the considerations. last 12 months. [199366] Sunbeds The Deputy Prime Minister: There are many meetings involving the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Executive which I attend, including meetings of the Health whether the Government plans to respond to Joint Ministerial Committee and the British-Irish Council. the recommendations set out in the report of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin on sunbed regulation published in 2014. [199381] ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE Jane Ellison: The Government has noted the report Electoral Register and is currently considering how to respond to the recommendations. Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 19W, on DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER electoral register, with which civic society organisations British Irish Council the Electoral Commission is proactively seeking partnership for the purpose of increasing electoral Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister registration. [198724] when he last attended a meeting of the British-Irish Council summit. [199386] Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it is seeking to establish new partnerships and ways The Deputy Prime Minister: I attended the British-Irish of working with a wide range of organisations to help Council summit held in Derry/Londonderry on 21 June ensure voters are aware of what they need to do under 2013. the new system of individual electoral registration. 107W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 108W

In addition to the partnerships it is currently finalising, Green Amber Red the Commission will continue seeking to establish new Ward matches matches matches partnerships up to, and beyond, the next UK parliamentary general election in 2015 to achieve this. As partnerships Standish with Langtree 8,594 131 1,166 are finalised, they will be highlighted on the Commission’s Tyldesley 8,901 114 1,548 website and we will make Members aware of where they Central 7,776 180 1,563 can find this information when the first batch of information Wigan West 8,599 146 1,488 is published online. Winstanley 8,003 66 922 Worsley Mesnes 8,006 104 1,087 Electoral Register: North West European Parliament Elections Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South the Electoral Commission, what the electoral West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on registration figures were in each ward in the recent the Electoral Commission, what (a) number and (b) conformation dry run conducted in the (a) Makerfield proportion of voters voted (i) at a polling station and constituency and (b) Borough of Wigan. [199308] (ii) by postal ballot in each European parliamentary constituency in each such election since 1984. [198859] Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that the confirmation dry run involved matching all Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission was formed entries on the electoral registers against the Department in 2000 and as a result it only holds information from for Work and Pensions (DWP) Customer Information the 2004 European parliamentary elections onwards. It System database. Entries would be marked as green if has placed the data it holds in the Library. they matched with DWP, amber if they were a partial match or red if there was no match. The full datasets for the 2014 European parliamentary elections will be available at the end of August. Results for all wards are available on the Commission’s website here: Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/ excel_doc/0003/163146/Confirmation-dry-run-2013-Results- Wards.xls Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South The ward results for Makerfield were as follows: West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what (a) number and (b) Ward Green matches Amber matches Red matches proportion of voters voted (i) at a polling station and (ii) by postal ballot in each police authority area in the Abram 9,207 174 1,688 2012 Police and Crime Commissioner elections. Ashton 7,982 106 1,131 [198860] Bryn 8,197 92 1,035 Hindley 8,674 124 1,358 Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission has placed Hindley Green 7,593 109 1,046 the answer to the hon. Member’s question in the Library. Orrell 8,208 129 1,194 Winstanley 8,003 66 922 Worsley Mesnes 8,006 104 1,087 Written Questions

The ward results for borough of Wigan were as Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South follows: West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Green Amber Red Ward matches matches matches Commission follows in determining whether statistics in answers to parliamentary questions are (a) provided Abram 9,207 174 1,688 in full, (b) provided via a link to a website and (c) Ashton 7,982 106 1,131 placed in the Library. [199268] Aspull New Springs Whelley 8,870 172 1,352 Astley Mosley Common 8,168 146 1,253 Mr Streeter: Wherever possible, when responding to Atherleigh 7,257 141 1,421 parliamentary questions for statistical data, the Electoral Atherton 9,641 144 1,647 Commission aims to provide information that has not Bryn 8,197 92 1,035 been previously published in full and in line with the Douglas 8,241 130 1,652 Official Report’s rules on the presentation of answers. Golborne and Lowton West 7,788 109 1,305 Hindley 8,674 124 1,358 Where information has previously been published, Hindley Green 7,593 109 1,046 such as in response to a previous parliamentary question Ince 7,755 127 1,487 or within one of the commission’s reports, it takes a Leigh East 7,867 199 1,471 view on whether it republishes the information or provides Leigh South 9,116 142 1,484 a link to where it is already published, on a case by case Leigh West 9,200 171 1,851 basis taking into account whether, for example, it would Lowton East 8,630 97 1,182 be helpful for it to be seen in its full context. Consideration Orrell 8,208 129 1,194 of whether information is deposited in the Library Pemberton 8,515 167 1,460 includes whether the answer is longer than four pages Shevington with Lower Ground 8,217 100 1,081 and does not already exist in a consolidated format on a website. 109W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 110W

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) permanent and (b) Animal Experiments non-permanent staff were employed in her Department on 1 January 2014. [199419] Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) cats, (b) Mrs Villiers: As of 1 January 2014, my Department dogs and (c) horses were rehomed after their release employed 158 permanent members of staff made up of from laboratories following research in 2012. [198952] Home civil servants and Northern Ireland civil servants seconded to the NIO. Norman Baker: I have been asked to reply on behalf One member of staff was employed on a temporary of the Home Department. basis and in addition three part-time members of staff The Home Office does not hold the information engaged on an annual contract. requested. Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, authority may be given to re-home animals where those DEFENCE animals were bred or held for supply for use in regulated procedures, or were intended for use in regulated procedures, BAE Systems or have been used in regulated procedures. This may also apply to animals which are being kept under the Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for care of the Named Veterinary Surgeon after completing Defence what estimate he has made of the disposal cost procedures, and is always contingent on our acceptance for BAE System’s Woodford site. [199144] of certain reassurances relating to Section 17A of the Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence has made no Act. Records of each animal re-homed would be kept estimate for the disposal cost for the Woodford site; it is locally at the licensed establishment so that they can be a matter for BAE Systems. available to Home Office Inspectors on request. European Directive 2010/63/EU, which was implemented ICT in the UK and other member states on 1 January 2013, does not provide legal grounds on which the UK can Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for impose a mandatory obligation of re-homing under the Defence which companies have registered an interest in Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Nevertheless, the contract for the JAMES requirement. [198985] we have provided guidance on re-homing animals in our Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Mr Dunne: The current contract for the Joint Asset Procedures) Act 1983, section 5.21. Management Engineering Solution (JAMES) was let on 1 July 2004. A restricted competition is currently Special Educational Needs underway to provide JAMES capability from expiry on 31 December 2015. Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for I am withholding information on those companies Business, Innovation and Skills what specialist one-to- which have registered an interest as its disclosure would one study skills support will be available for students prejudice commercial interests. with specific learning difficulties following the review of the disabled students allowance; and who will Military Aircraft provide that support. [199301] Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Willetts: Discussions are under way with stakeholders, Defence how many times aircraft have been intercepted including those who specialise in supporting students by Quick Reaction Alert flights by (a) intercepted with specific learning difficulties. This will help determine aircraft type and (b) location in each of the last three how specialist one-to-one support will be delivered in years. [199113] the future and where the responsibility for funding such support will fall. Mr Francois: The number of days on which Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft have launched to intercept I will not make a final decision on this matter until I aircraft in each of the last three years is contained in the have considered the necessary Equality Analysis, which following table. Not every launch resulted in an interception is in preparation, and will take account of any relevant as some incidents were resolved prior to interception. evidence provided by stakeholders. Number of days QRA was launched

NORTHERN IRELAND 2011 20 2012 21 Staff 2013 17 Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for I am withholding full details of the number of Northern Ireland what proportion of (a) staff and (b) interceptions, aircraft type and locations as deterrence senior staff in her Department are female. [199397] is a principal function of QRA and QRA is in turn an integral part of the air defence of the UK. The disclosure Mrs Villiers: As of April 2014, 51% of staff in my of information that might compromise the QRA deterrent Department, and 12.5% of the senior civil servants in capability would, or would be likely to, prejudice the my Department, are female. capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. 111W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 112W

Nuclear Weapons Mr Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answers previously given to him on 22 November 2013, Official Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence Report, column 1046W and 27 March 2012 Official what analysis has been carried out by the Atomic Report, column 1054W. Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston into the effects Between 4 November 2013 and 5 June 2014 there on (a) human beings, (b) other animals and (c) the have been five occasions where an Irish helicopter was wider environment of the use of a nuclear warhead in requested by the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination the UK nuclear arsenal. [198935] Centre to provide search and rescue assistance over UK territorial waters. Four of these were in Northern Ireland. Mr Dunne: The effects of the use of a UK nuclear These were in response to obligations under Annex 12 warhead are underpinned by modelling and analysis. of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Details The effects are dependent on a wide range of variable of the five incidents are shown as follows: factors including: Date Aircraft Aircraft role Location the yield and design of the weapon; the accuracy of the delivery system; 15 Irish Coastguard Ditched Aircraft Enniskillen, November Helicopter Northern Ireland the nature and construction of the target; 2013 the geographical characteristics of the surrounding terrain; 12 February Irish Coastguard Topcover for Mull of Kintyre, 2014 Helicopter lifeboat Scotland geological conditions in the target area; 16 February Irish Coastguard Individual with Binnian, Northern the height of weapon burst; and 2014 Helicopter knee injury Ireland the weather conditions at the target. 21 March Irish Coastguard Individual with Rathlin island, 2014 Helicopter hip injury Northern Ireland 16 May Irish Coastguard Capsized Enniskillen, 2014 Helicopter individual Northern Ireland Radioactive Waste: Fife Detailed statistics on UK military SAR activity can be Mr : To ask the Secretary of State for found on the Government website at the following link: Defence (1) if he will visit Dalgety Bay to discuss the http://www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/release-calendar/ time taken to clean up radiation contamination there; index.html?newquery=*&uday=0&umonth=0&uyear= [198994] 0&title=Military+Search+and+Rescue+Monthly+Statistic& (2) when he was first made aware of health risks at pagetype=calendar-entry&lday=&lmonth=&lyear= Dalgety Bay; [198702] Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for (3) if he will publish the advice received by his Defence how many times his Department has provided Department on health risks of the radiation top-cover fixed-wing search and rescue assets for a contamination at Dalgety Bay. [198703] search and rescue mission in each of the last two years; and what aircraft were used in each case. [199129] Mr Francois: In 2006 the then Health Protection Agency (HPA) Radiological Protection Authority advised Mr Francois: Information on the occasions when that radioactive contamination on Dalgety Bay presented Ministry of Defence (MOD) aircraft have provided a low risk to the public. A more recent scoping risk top-cover fixed wing search and rescue (SAR) assets for assessment undertaken in 2011 by the HPA Centre for a SAR mission is provided in the following table: Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards at the bequest of the Scottish Government concluded that Number of SAR the risk to health was very low. Aircraft type missions The view of the Centre for Radiation, Chemical and 2012 E3-D Sentry 1 Environmental Hazards (now part of Public Health 2013 None 0 England) remains unchanged. However, the Ministry of 20141 C130 1 Defence (MOD) is completing a detailed quantitative 1 To 5 June 2014. risk assessment to inform the longer term management Aircraft provided by the Maritime and Coastguard strategy which will be available in due course. Agency or overseas governments may also be tasked by Copies of the advice received by MOD together with MOD to participate in rescue missions. a copy of the more detailed risk assessment, when Sovereignty: Scotland published, will be placed in the Library of the House. Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the UK armed forces would Rescue Services lose their jobs as a result of Scottish independence. [198711] Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions a foreign-requested Mr Francois: The UK Government is not planning aircraft has provided search and rescue assistance over for Scottish independence and neither is the Ministry of UK territorial waters in each of the last three years; Defence. Existing members of the UK armed forces what role each such aircraft played; what the location would still be part of the UK armed forces and, as far of each incident was; and whether each occurrence was as the UK Government is concerned, would be able to in response to obligations under Annex 12 of the continue to serve in them, subject to the usual requirements Convention on International Civil Aviation. [199114] of service. 113W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 114W

Surveillance: Aircraft for birds and other wildlife. The Government also supports the Campaign for the Farmed Environment to provide Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for better habitats for farmland birds. Defence how many surveillance aircraft with capacity The Government has provided £7.5 million to establish to intercept telephone or other electronic 12 Nature Improvement Areas. These are intended to telecommunications his Department operates. [199427] benefit birds by improving existing habitat, creating new habitat and improving connectivity between habitats. Mr Francois: I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice Bovine Tuberculosis the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 25 November 2013, Official Report, LEADER OF THE HOUSE column 20W, on Bovine Tuberculosis, and to answer 3 of his Department’s response to Freedom of Written Questions: Government Responses Information request RFI 6487, Investigations into Alison Seabeck: To ask the Leader of the House how culling as an option, published on 7 May 2014, for many questions to each Department did not receive a what reasons the answer to the hon. Member for substantive answer by the time of prorogation; and Brighton, Pavilion did not give information on the how long each question had been waiting for an trials into using gas as a potential method for culling badgers which began in Summer 2013; on what date answer. [199244] those trials commenced; and if he will make a Mr Lansley: This information is not held centrally statement. [198791] and would be a matter for the individual Departments concerned. George Eustice: In August 2013, we commissioned My office collates wider departmental performance new research into alternative methods of culling badgers. information for ordinary and named day parliamentary The first step involved reviewing and updating the questions, which I submit in relation to each Session to ‘Review of effectiveness, environmental impact, humaneness the Procedure Committee. Each Department is required and feasibility of lethal methods for badger control’ to set out in its evidence to the Procedure Committee, published in 2005. The review was completed in September any factors which have caused delays in answering 2013. written questions. In October and November 2013 we carried out initial Statistics relating to departmental performance for trials of nitrogen-filled foam to analyse its dispersal in the 2012-13, 2010-12 and 2009-10 parliamentary Sessions an artificial sett-like environment. These trials did not were previously provided to the Committee and are involve the use of active setts or tests on live animals. available on the Parliament website. I expect to provide Further research is now planned into the use of data for the last parliamentary Session shortly. carbon monoxide as a potential sett-based means of humane culling.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Floods

Animal Welfare: Circuses Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Support for Fishermen Fund to replace lost and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to damaged fishing gear has been received by fishermen bring forward legislative proposals on the use of wild and businesses to date. [198650] animals in circuses. [198953] George Eustice: To date, one claim for support to George Eustice: We will introduce a Bill to end the replace lost and damaged fishing gear has been made use of wild animals in circuses when parliamentary time with a grant value of £2,320, with final validation allows. checks currently being carried out against another three Birds claims worth £14,257. So far, 110 applications have been received with a grant value of £349,218. Of these, Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for 33 projects have been approved so far with a grant value Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his of £74,047. Department is taking to increase the number of song birds in the UK. [198742] Glyphosate

George Eustice: The UK has designated 615 sites as Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance and 270 sites as Special Protection Areas under the he has issued on the use of glyphosate to (a) national Birds Directive to provide protection to our most vulnerable park authorities and (b) managers of public parks in and threatened wild birds. urban areas; and if he will make a statement. [198627] Agri-environment schemes are the principal means of improving habitat for farmland songbirds, assisting farmers Dan Rogerson: Detailed guidance on use is provided to provide additional habitat and food on their farms by conditions of use on individual product labels. This 115W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 116W is supplemented by “The Code of Practice for Using Horses Plant Protection Products”, which provides guidance to all users on the safe and effective use of pesticides, Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for including glyphosate. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he or officials of his Department have had Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for on the effects of digestion of sycamore tree seeds on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to horses; and what estimate he has made of the number the answer given in the House of Lords of 28 October of horses that have died as a result of ingesting such 2013, Official Report, column 208W, on Agriculture: seeds. [198739] Pesticides, if he will place in the Library a list of the (a) published research being considered by the current George Eustice: Digestion of sycamore seeds can review of the EU approval of glyphosate and (b) cause equine atypical myopathy. However, like many ongoing or completed research relating to potential other equine illnesses, such as strangles and equine links between glyphosate and chronic diseases and influenza, this is not a notifiable disease so there has conditions in humans. [198628] been no need for active Government intervention. DEFRA works closely with the Animal Health Trust Dan Rogerson: Lists of the studies found by a search (AHT) and the British Equine Veterinary Association of published literature and of those determined to be (BEVA) in identifying cases of this emerging condition relevant by the German regulatory authorities, who are in the British equine population. This includes monitoring assessing the data on behalf of the EU, can be found in scientific developments and inclusion of data in the Volume 3 of the Renewal Assessment Report. This was joint DEFRA/AHT/BEVA Equine Quarterly Disease published on 12 March 2014 on the European Food Surveillance Report published on the AHT’s website. Safety Authority’s website at: This type of surveillance and communication enables http://dar.efsa.europa.eu/dar-web/provision private veterinarians to advise horse keepers to avoid pasture containing sycamore trees during high risk periods The Government do not plan to publish a separate and to provide additional forage on fields where grazing list of ongoing or completed research. is poor. This should be sufficient to mitigate against this illness. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep in touch with the equine veterinary profession to Health be aware of developments.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Merlins Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what use his Department has made of the National Wellbeing Index Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for introduced by the Office for National Statistics in Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent formulating policy since the introduction of that Index estimate he has made of the number of merlins in the in 2011; and what policies his Department has UK; and what steps his Department is taking to introduced to improve national wellbeing as defined in maintain their numbers and habitat. [198748] that Index since 2010. [198868] George Eustice: The merlin is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to Dan Rogerson: There is no National Wellbeing Index, take, kill or injure any wild bird; take or damage their but the Office for National Statistics has developed a nests while in use; and take or destroy an egg. This dashboard of measures to monitor wellbeing, both robust legal framework protects the merlin from persecution, subjective and objective, and in a number of domains. with penalties including imprisonment. The most DEFRA relevant measures are: The Department has not made an assessment of Where we live domain merlin population levels. A study by Ewing et al reported 5.3 Accessed natural environment at least once a week in the last that in 2008 there were approximately 1,100 breeding 12 months. pairs of merlins in the UK. Environment Domain Several measures are in place to protect habitats. The UK has designated 615 sites as Special Areas of 10.2 Protected areas in the UK. Conservation under the Habitats Directive, and 270 10.4 Household waste that is recycled. sites as Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive It is too early to be able to show a large number of to provide protection to our most vulnerable and threatened policies which have been influenced by the data, particularly wild birds. when the statistics are experimental, but there is still a The Government has also provided £7.5 million to lot of ongoing work. In terms of my Department’s establish twelve Nature Improvement Areas. These are policy work on wellbeing and the general approach, intended to benefit birds by improving existing habitat, DEFRA officials provided written evidence for the creating new habitat and improving connectivity between Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) Inquiry on habitats. Wellbeing initiated last year. This evidence was co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office and submitted on behalf of Poultry Government. The evidence document can be found here: David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/ Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/environmental- Government’s policy is on beak trimming of chickens; audit-committee/wellbeing/written/1069.pdf and if he will make a statement. [199160] 117W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 118W

George Eustice: The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) The Cabinet Office publishes Quarterly Progress Reports (England) Regulations 2010 restricts the method used against the Government Digital Strategy, which covers for the routine beak trimming of laying hens to infra-red digital capability. This can be found at: technology only. The Government is also working with https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government- the Beak Trimming Action Group, which includes digital-strategy-reports-and-research representatives from industry, welfare groups and scientists, to find ways to manage flocks of birds without the need Crime: York to beak trim. DEFRA is currently funding a peer reviewed research study to assess the effectiveness of management strategies in reducing injurious pecking in Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet non-beak trimmed laying hens. The results of this pilot Office (1) how many offences of (a) crime related to study and all other available evidence will feed into a vehicles, (b) burglary of a dwelling, (c) other burglary, review in 2015. (d) criminal damage, (e) theft, (f) violence and (g) other crimes were committed in York in each year since CABINET OFFICE 2004-05; [198508] (2) how many crimes were reported to the police in Civil Servants York in each year since 2004-05. [198509] Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress his Department has made on (a) Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the the Cabinet Office capabilities plan published in April responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have 2013 and (b) the key area specified in that plan on asked the authority to reply. redesigning services and delivering them digitally. Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2014: [199432] As Director General for the Office for National Statistics Mr Maude: The 2013 Civil Service-wide Capabilities (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question Plan identified four priorities for capability building, asking the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of total crime, crime related to vehicles, burglary of one of which is digital capability. The report and the a dwelling, other burglary, criminal damage, theft, violence, and Government’s Civil Service Reform plan noted that other crimes were committed in York in each year since 2004/05 there was a long-standing weakness in digital capability. [198508 and 198509] If action had begun under a previous Administration to Police recorded crime figures are provided for the last nine address this the digital capability of the civil service financial years (April to March) for York Local Authority. These would have been far better at the time of the last general figures are the published figures which are crimes recorded by the election. police.

York—Police recorded crime 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2009-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Theft1 6,062 5,931 5,467 5,291 5,167 4,705 5,145 4,567 4,046 Vehicle offences 3,224 3,841 3,556 2,498 2,392 1,276 1,254 1,172 951 Domestic burglary 1,117 1,081 1,065 975 1,113 691 753 671 571 Non-domestic burglary 1,596 1,702 1,577 1,343 1,272 1,115 1,327 1,236 875 Criminal damage and arson 4,579 4,339 4,143 3,637 3,633 2,784 2,473 2,073 1,854 Robbery 171 123 155 132 122 83 103 82 54 Violence 3,024 2,911 2,537 2,237 2,174 1,969 2,035 2,005 1,939 Sexual offences 166 170 172 175 169 188 175 166 194 Other crimes2 3,141 2,686 2,263 2,613 1,844 1,669 1,934 1,604 1,444

Total 23,080 22,784 20,935 18,901 17,886 14,480 15,199 13,576 11,928 1 Theft includes: ‘bicycle theft’, ‘shoplifting’, ‘theft from the person’ and ‘all other theft offences’. 2 Other crimes includes: ‘drug offences’, ‘fraud offences’, ‘miscellaneous crimes against society’, ‘possession of weapons offences’ and ‘public order offences’. Note: Data on police recorded crime are designated as Official Statistics following the UK Statistics Authority’s decision to withdraw the National Statistics badge from the police recorded crime data series. The full assessment report can be found on the UK Statistics Authority website.

These data have been published by the ONS and have been Police recorded crime data covering the year to December can extracted from the data tables within the file entitled ‘Recorded be found in the ‘Recorded crime data at Community Safety crime data at Community Safety Partnership/Local Authority Partnership/Local Authority level from 2002/03’ file, available here: level from 2002/03’. This file is available here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference- http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference- tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-328141 tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-322086 Drugs: Misuse Consistent with published ONS crime trends data, the table above show figures for financial year periods, with the last data Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet point covering the year ending March 2013. ONS have published Office how many deaths there were from (a) drug data covering a more recent time period, year ending December 2013. The total number of crimes in the year ending December poisoning and (b) drug misuse in (i) York local 2013 recorded by the police in York was 11,291. This figure has an authority area, (ii) North Yorkshire and York Primary overlap of three months (January 2013 to March 2013) with the Care Trust, (iii) Vale of York Clinical Commissioning 2012/13 financial year. The year ending December data are only Group area and (iv) England in each year since 2009. available back to 2007, not 2004/05 as requested. [198535] 119W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 120W

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the Table 2. Number of deaths related to drug misuse, selected areas in England, 1, 2, 3, 4 responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have deaths registered 2009 to 2012 asked the authority to reply. Deaths (persons) Area 2009 2010 2011 2012 Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2014: As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I England 1,729 1,625 1,461 1,356 have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many deaths there were from Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where the underlying cause was due to drug poisoning and where a drug controlled (a) drug poisoning and (b) drug misuse in (i) York local authority under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was mentioned on the death certificate. area, (ii) North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust, (iii) Vale More details on the definition of a death related to drug misuse can be found of York Clinical Commissioning Group area and (iv) England in in the background notes of the ‘Deaths related to drug poisoning in England each year since 2009. (198535) and Wales’ statistical bulletin: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health3/deaths-related-to-drug-poisoning/ The tables provide the number of deaths where the underlying index.html cause was related to drug poisoning (Table 1) or drug misuse 2 Figures for drug misuse shown in Table 2 are included in the figures for all (Table 2) for (i) York unitary authority, (ii) North Yorkshire and drug poisonings in Table 1. York primary care trust (iii) NHS Vale of York clinical commissioning 3 Figures are based on boundaries as at Feb 2014 and exclude deaths of non- residents. group and (iv) England, for deaths registered between 2009 and 4 Figures are based on deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring between 2012 (the latest year available). 2009 and 2012. Due to the length of time it takes to hold an inquest, it can The number of drug-related deaths registered in England and take months for a drug-related death to be registered. This registration delay Wales from 1993 to 2012 are available on the ONS website at: also varies considerably between local areas. Additional information on registration delays for drug-related deaths can be found in the annual www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health3/deaths-related- statistical bulletin: to-drug-poisoning/index.html www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health3/deaths-related-to-drug-poisoning/ index.html In addition, the numbers of deaths and mortality rates from drug misuse in each local authority in England, for deaths registered Box 1. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes between 2004 and 2012 are available on the ONS website at: used to define deaths related to drug poisoning Description www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/business-transparency/ ICD 10 Codes freedom-of-information/what-can-i-request/published-ad-hoc- Mental and behavioural disorders F11–F16, F18–F19 data/health/august-2013/drug-misuse-deaths-by-local- due to drug use (excluding alcohol authority.xls and tobacco) Table 1. Number of deaths where the underlying cause was related to drug Accidental poisoning by drugs, X40–X44 poisoning, selected areas in England, deaths registered 2009 to 20121, 2, 3 medicaments and biological Deaths (persons) substances Area 2009 2010 2011 2012 Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, X60–X64 medicaments and biological substances Yo rk 811157 unitary Assault by drugs, medicaments and X85 authority biological substances North 34 34 34 29 Poisoning by drugs, medicaments Y10–Y14 Yorkshire and biological substances, and York undetermined intent primary care trust Vale of 10 14 18 15 Employment: York Yo rk clinical commissioning Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet group Office what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has England 2,675 2,509 2,425 2,367 made of the number of (a) men and (b) women who 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes shown in Box 1 as follows. were employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time in York 2 Figures are based on boundaries as at Feb 2014 and exclude deaths of non- Central constituency for the 12-month Annual residents. Population Survey periods ending in September in each 3 Figures are based on deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring between 2009 and 2012. Due to the length of time it takes to hold an inquest, it can year since the inception of the survey. [198531] take months for a drug-related death to be registered. This registration delay also varies considerably between local areas. Additional information on registration delays for drug-related deaths can be found in the annual Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the statistical bulletin: responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health3/deaths-related-to-drug-poisoning/ asked the authority to reply. index.html Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2014: Table 2. Number of deaths related to drug misuse, selected areas in England, deaths registered 2009 to 20121, 2, 3, 4 As Director General for the Office for National Statistics Deaths (persons) (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary question Area 2009 2010 2011 2012 asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for the number of (a) men and (b) women who were employed (i) full-time and (ii) Yo rk 510136part-time in York Central constituency for the 12 month Annual unitary Population Survey periods ending in September in each year since authority the inception of the survey.(198531) North 23 25 26 18 Yorkshire The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles estimates of and York the number people in employment from the Annual Population primary Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) care trust definitions. Vale of 7111510The table shows the number of men and women resident in Yo rk clinical York Central constituency in full-time and part-time employment commissioning according to survey responses from the APS for the 12 month group periods ending in September from 2005 to 2013. 121W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 122W

As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the to a certain level of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have estimates of the levels is included on the tables. asked the authority to reply. National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant Letter from Caron Walker, dated June 2014: count are available on the NOMIS website at: On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National http://www.nomisweb.co.uk Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Health how many men Table 1: Number of people in full-time and part-time employment resident in have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in each of the last five York Central constituency years [199035]. Thousand The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer Male Female (incidence) are for the year 2011. Table 1 provides the number of 12 months newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer in England, for each ending September: Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time year from 2007 to 2011. Please note that these numbers may not be the same as the 2005 24 3 13 11 number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer, because a man 2006 22 3 12 12 may be diagnosed with more than one primary prostate cancer 2007 23 2 12 12 over time, although this is rare. 2008 24 3 12 11 The latest published figures on cancer incidence in England are 2009 25 4 15 10 available on the National Statistics website at: 2010 24 3 17 10 http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/cancer-statistics- 2011 24 4 14 13 registrations--england--series-mb1-/index.html 2012 23 4 12 15 Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer,1 England, 20131 **25 ***4 ***13 ***13 2007-112, 3 1 Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an Incidence of prostrate cancer indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality. Guide to Quality: 2007 32,159 The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the 2008 32,452 smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we 2009 35,677 would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. 2010 35,702 Key: * 0 = CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise 2011 35,567 **5=CV<10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably 1 Cancer of the prostate is coded as C61 according to the International precise Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10). *** 10 = CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable 2 Cancer incidence figures are based on newly diagnosed cases registered in each **** CV = 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable calendar year. for practical purposes 3 Based on geographic boundaries as of May 2014. CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS). Annual Population Survey ICT Oliver Colvile: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people died from prostate cancer in (a) Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport constituency Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet and (b) England in each of the last five years. [199306] Office how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are working on G Cloud. [199418] Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have Mr Hurd: A full-time team of 25 supports the existing asked the authority to reply. G-Cloud and Digital Services frameworks and the new Digital Marketplace, working with and giving advice to Letter from Caron Walker, dated June 2014: Departments to help them get the best from the frameworks. On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Museums and Galleries Question asking how many people in (a) Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport constituency and (b) England died from prostate cancer in each of the last five years. (199306) Helen Goodman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Table 1 provides the number of deaths where prostate cancer Office with reference to the answer of 23 January 2014, was the underlying cause of death, in (a) Plymouth, Sutton and Official Report, column 316W, on museums and Devonport parliamentary constituency and (b) England, for deaths galleries, what the financial contribution required from registered between 2008 and 2012 (the latest year available). each institution in the museums and galleries sector is The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each from the transfer in employers’ contributions following year by sex, age and underlying cause, are published annually on the Cabinet Office review of the Civil Service Pension the ONS website at: Scheme. [199321] www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all- releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-27475 Mr Maude: Such details would be finalised before Table 1: Number of deaths where the underlying cause was prostate cancer in any potential transfer of liabilities. Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport parliamentary constituency and England, deaths registered between 2008 and 20121, 2, 3 Prostate Cancer Deaths (males) Area of usual residence 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Mr Sheerman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Plymouth, 13 15 19 20 18 Office how many men have been diagnosed with Sutton and prostate cancer in each of the last five years. [199035] Devonport 123W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 124W

Table 1: Number of deaths where the underlying cause was prostate cancer in Skills, asking what estimate he has made of the number and Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport parliamentary constituency and England, proportion of people on (a) temporary and (b) fixed-term contracts 1, 2, 3 deaths registered between 2008 and 2012 in each of the last four years. (198617) Deaths (males) Estimates of the number of temporary employees by type of Area of usual job are available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and are residence 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 published quarterly in a supplementary table associated with the England 8,593 8,843 9,085 9,123 9,133 regular Labour Market Statistical Bulletin. Annual averages consistent 1 Underlying cause of death was defined using the International Classification with the quarterly estimates in the published table are provided of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C61 (Malignant neoplasm of for this answer along with the requested proportions. The prostate). categorisation used in the table is based on how the survey 2 Figures are based on boundaries correct as at May 2014 and exclude non- respondents describe the kind of temporary job they are in and residents. may be subject to a degree of reporting error. It is therefore 3 Figures are based on deaths registered rather than deaths occurring in a calendar year. Further information on registration delays for a range of causes recommended that the data be viewed in the context of all the including prostate cancer can be found on the ONS website at: available categories. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/ On the LFS, information about fixed term contracts is only impact-of-registration-delays-on-mortality-statistics/index.html collected for those people who report that their job is temporary. Public Sector: Mutual Societies There may be some people on fixed-term contracts who regard their position as permanent. However, no estimates for this are available. Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet A link to the latest release of the published table is provided as Office if he will list the mutuals which provide public follows: services. [198921] http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/ may-2014/table-emp07.xls Mr Hurd: Information on known operational public As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject service mutuals in England is publically available on the to a margin of uncertainty. These are indicated by the guide to Mutuals Information Service at: quality in the table. http://www.mutuals.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/interactive-map- Temporary employees by type of contract, UK, annual averages public-service-mutuals Temporary employees1 Fixed Public Sector: Procurement period Agency Casual Seasonal Total All2 contract temping work work Other employees

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Levels Office how many full-time equivalent staff (a) were (thousands): employed by, (b) left and (c) joined the Government 2010 1,536 699 249 306 89 187 24,836 Procurement Services Commissioning Academy in 2011 1,558 686 282 300 94 193 24,940 each quarter since its introduction; how many students 2012 1,607 702 299 336 91 178 25,074 passed through the Commissioning Academy in each 2013 *1,594 *701 **287 **334 ***76 **195 *25,407 quarter; and what the average length was of courses As a percentage taken by those students. [199431] of total employees: Mr Hurd: A core Cabinet Office team of 3.5 FTE 2010 6.2 2.8 1.0 1.2 0.4 0.8 100 staff supports the Commissioning Academy. 2011 6.2 2.8 1.1 1.2 0.4 0.8 100 In total, 231 participants have so far benefited from 2012 6.4 2.8 1.2 1.3 0.4 0.7 100 the programme, comprising: 2013 6.3 2.8 1.1 1.3 0.3 0.8 100 1 21 in the first pilot course (June to December 2012); Temporary employees are those who say that their main job is non- permanent in one of the ways described in the column headings. 26 in the second pilot course (November 2012 to April 2013); 2 Includes a small number of people who did not state their type of temporary work. 67 in wave 1 (June to December 2013); Guide to Quality: 87 in wave 2 (commencing January 2014 and due to finish in The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the July 2014). smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% In addition, there are: we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220 30 participants in the Norfolk Local Commissioning Academy Key: * 0 = CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise (commencing November 2013 and due to finish in June 2014). **5=CV<10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise Temporary Employment *** 10 = CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV = 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation what estimate he has made of the number and Source: proportion of people on (a) temporary and (b) Labour Force Survey, ONS fixed-term contracts in each of the last four years. [198617] WORK AND PENSIONS Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the Disadvantaged: EU Grants and Loans responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply. Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated June 2014: Work and Pensions if he will make an assessment of On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National the potential effect of a Fund for European Aid to the Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Most Deprived on deprived communities in the UK. Question to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and [199263] 125W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 126W

Esther McVey: The Government is currently considering Guidance for users is available at: the best use of the money. It is therefore too early to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation- assess what impact it might have. tool-guidance Housing Benefit Personal Independence payment Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on housing benefit in (a) Bury St Edmunds, (b) Suffolk and (c) England Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Wales in each of the last five years. [198592] and Pensions what discussions have been held with HM Treasury about changes in costs of administering the Steve Webb: The information is shown in the following personal independence payment assessment process; table. Housing benefit expenditure by parliamentary what the outcomes of those discussions have been; and constituency is not available prior to 2011-12. how they affect the current Spending Review benefits Housing benefit spending between 2008-09 and 2012-13 savings target and the proposed cap on benefit £ million, nominal expenditure. [199317] 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Mike Penning: The costs of administering the PIP Bury St n/a n/a n/a 23.5 25.5 assessment process were published in the NAO report in Edmunds constituency February 2014 and quote the current PIP business case Suffolk 145.5 169.1 183.3 192.9 204.0 (2013-14): England and 15,711.7 18,433.4 19,766.4 21,092.5 22,104.2 http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Personal- Wales independence-payment-early-progress.pdf Note: The figure for England and Wales in 2012-13 is slightly different from that Forecast expenditure on PIP will be updated at autumn previously published due to inclusion of updated information from some local statement. The most recent forecasts were published by authorities. the Office for Budget Responsibility following Budget Source: Mid-year statistical data and local authority subsidy returns. 2014: ICT http://cdn.budgetresponsibility.org.uk/37839-OBR-Cm-8820- accessible-web-v2.pdf Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for The Department meets regularly with HM Treasury Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of to discuss progress on all programmes. the useful life of IT assets listed in his Department’s annual report and accounts; and whether these will be amortised over a five year period. [199310] Personal Independence Payment

Mike Penning: The following link shows the DWP Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work annual reports and accounts for the financial year 2012-13, and Pensions whether the review of personal which is the latest published information available. independence payment operational systems and www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ problems recommended by the National Audit Office attachment_data/file/264555/dwp-annual-report-accounts- in February 2014 was undertaken; what the outcome of 2012-2013.pdf the review was; and when it will be published. [199316] Jobseeker’s Allowance Mike Penning: We are committed to driving up PIP Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Work performance and we are taking action to improve this and Pensions (1) how many claimants who received a by working with providers and reviewing DWP internal benefits sanction are eligible for the 80 per cent processes. hardship payment of their jobseeker’s allowance We continuously review the initiatives that link to the personal entitlement allowance; [198688] NAO actions. (2) how many claimants who had their benefits sanctioned and received 80 per cent of their jobseeker’s Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work allowance personal entitlement allowance (a) appealed and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of and (b) did not appeal against the decision. [198689] current performance towards achieving the target of assessing all current disability living allowance Esther McVey: The information requested is not available. claimants for personal independence payment by 2018; Pension Credit: Bolton and if he will estimate the potential additional costs in (a) the amount of benefit claimed and (b) the cost of processing claims if the current rate of assessments Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work were to be maintained. [199318] and Pensions how many people resident in (a) Bolton North East constituency and (b) Bolton have received pension credit since 2010. [199150] Mike Penning: We continue to monitor performance in the current phase of reassessment and along with our Steve Webb: Statistics on pension credit are available performance on new claims, this will inform further from 100% data and are published on the Department’s roll-out plans for natural reassessment. website at: Our plan is to complete reassessment within our http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/pc/tabtool_pc.html original time scales and budget. 127W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 128W

Separated People: Finance At the start of each financial year, costs are calculated on the basis of latest work load forecasts and the most Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for recent audited unit costs. The amount to be recovered is Work and Pensions what funding has been paid from then agreed with HMRC. the Help and Support for Separated Families (HSSF) Costs recovered from the National Insurance Fund Innovation Fund to each of the HSSF projects which in relation to administration costs for the national signed contracts for delivery in April 2013. [199449] insurance pension scheme were as follows:

Steve Webb: All Innovation Fund projects deliver £ million different services and have different timescales. Their agreed payment schedules are considered commercially 2007-08 504.5 sensitive and cannot be shared at this time. 2008-09 391.9 2009-10 390.3 2010-11 348.6 Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for 2011-12 221.6 Work and Pensions how many organisations hold the 2012-13 252.6 Help and Support for Separated Families Mark; and 2013-14 246.9 what the total cost to his Department has been of 2014-15 209.9 developing, awarding and promoting the mark. [199451] Prior to 2007, the charge was not calculated on a benefit by benefit basis and therefore we do not hold Steve Webb: 35 organisations currently hold the Help any details of costs recovered from the National Insurance and Support for Separated Families Mark. The total Fund relating specifically to the national insurance cost for developing, awarding and promoting the Help pension scheme. and Support for Separated Families mark is £136,500. Unemployed People: Travel

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the cost to his Department Work and Pensions if he will review his Department’s has been of implementing and evaluating the Help and policy on issuing travel warrants to rural residents for Support for Separated Families Co-ordinated (a) fortnightly signing-on and (b) other interviews Telephone Network to date; and what estimate he has and advisory meetings to take account of the need for made of the future costs of that initiative; [199452] such residents to travel further than average to (2) when the Help and Support for Separated jobcentres. [198988] Families Co-ordinated Telephone Network started full operation; and which organisations are taking part. Esther McVey: Jobcentre Plus has flexibility to meet [199450] the particular needs of claimants living in rural areas. For example postal signing can be offered and claimants Steve Webb: The Help and Support for Separated attending interviews on days outside their normal day Families telephone network began full operation in of attendance can have their travelling expenses reimbursed. March 2014 and the participating organisations are: Work Coaches are also able to use the Flexible Support Family Lives; Fund and issue Travel Discount Cards to help claimants Relate; with travel expenses. Wikivorce; and Universal Credit The National Youth Advocacy Service. Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for £344,000 of awards have been made for the co-ordinated Work and Pensions what the value of universal credit telephony network. £344,000 is the maximum amount assets is; and what changes there were to this value. payable under the terms of the grant for the period to 31 May 2014. This covers both actual invoices paid to [199313] date and amounts not yet billed by suppliers. The Esther McVey: The value of the universal credit evaluation of the telephony network will be carried out assets is set out in the Department for Work and Pensions in-house. annual report and accounts 2012-13. Ref HC20, published in December 2013. State Retirement Pensions Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Work and Pensions how many couple claims have been and Pensions what the (a) net and (b) gross made for universal credit. [199315] administration charges for the national insurance pension scheme were in each of the last 10 years. Esther McVey: New claims for universal credit will be [199014] made available for couples for the first time, from this summer. Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions Universal Credit: Warrington administers the national insurance pension scheme (state retirement pension) and fully recovers its administrative Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work costs from the National Insurance Fund operated by and Pensions how many people in Warrington North Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The net constituency received universal credit at any time since cost to the Department of administering the national the start of the Warrington pilot; and how many were insurance pension scheme is therefore zero. in receipt of it on 1 April 2014. [199162] 129W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 130W

Esther McVey: The Department published the latest Sixteenth Summit—London—20 June 2011 set of experimental Official Statistics on UC on the Deputy Prime Minister— Nick Clegg 14 May 2014 which can be found at: MP https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland—The Right Honourable statistics Owen Paterson MP Statistics covering the periods to the end of March Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change—Mr Charles and April 2014 will be published on the 11 June and Hendry MP 16 July 2014 respectively. Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury—Mr David Gauke MP Seventeenth Summit—Dublin—13 January 2012 Work Programme Deputy Prime Minister—The Right Honourable Nick Clegg Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for MP Work and Pensions how many people gaining work Secretary of State for Northern Ireland—The Right Honourable through the Work programme have entered self- Owen Paterson MP employment since the inception of that programme. Eighteenth Summit—Scotland—22 June 2012 [199396] Secretary of State fro Scotland—The Right Honourable Michael Moore MP Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change—The Right available and could be provided only at disproportionate Honourable Edward Davey MP cost. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland—The Right Honourable Owen Paterson MP Nineteenth Summit—Cardiff—26 November 2012 WOMEN AND EQUALITIES Secretary of State for Wales—The Right Honourable David Jones MP Business: Females Secretary of State for Northern Ireland—The Right Honourable Theresa Villiers MP Helen Goodman: To ask the Ministers for Women Twentieth Summit—Derry-Londonderry—21 June 2013 and Equalities pursuant to the Government Equalities Office press release of 13 May 2014 entitled £1 million Deputy Prime Minister—The Right Honourable Nick Clegg MP to help women start or grow their own business, whether that sum will be drawn from the budget of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland—The Right Honourable Theresa Villiers MP Super Connected Cities programme. [199322] Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Energy Mr Vaizey: The £1 million Woman and Broadband and Climate Change—Baroness Sandip Verma Challenge Fund is additional to the Super Connected Twenty First Summit—Jersey—15 November 2013 Cities programme. It will support local activity to help Secretary of State for Northern Ireland—The Right Honourable women take advantage of the Government’s investment Theresa Villiers MP in superfast broadband to set-up or grow their business. Minister of Justice—The Right Honourable Lord McNally The 40 broadband projects in England already delivering the Superfast Broadband programme are invited to submit bids to the fund. ATTORNEY-GENERAL Offences Against Children PRIME MINISTER Gareth Johnson: To ask the Attorney-General how British Irish Council many reported cases of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged 13 to 16 under section 6 of the Sexual Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister when he Offences Act 1956 were not prosecuted because of the last attended a British-Irish Council summit; and how 12 month statute of limitations for that offence in the many such summits he has attended since becoming last (a) year, (b) five years and (c) 10 years. [199041] Prime Minister. [199388] The Prime Minister: A list of attendees at all British-Irish The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service Council Summits is available on the British-Irish Council (CPS) does not hold records of the number of cases website. I have placed a list of UK Government delegates reported to the police or of the number the police since May 2010 in the Library of the House. decide not to proceed with. A record is held of the UK Government Delegates at British–Irish Council Summits number of cases where the CPS has been asked to make since May 2010: a charging decision and the decision made; either to Fourteenth Summit–Guernsey–25 June 2010 charge or take no further action. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland–The Right Honourable However, no central records of the alleged offence(s) Owen Paterson MP considered at the pre-charge decision are held by the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change–Mr Charles CPS. To obtain details of the number of allegations of Hendry MP unlawful sexual intercourse offences considered and Fifteenth Summit–Isle of Man—13 December 2010 those which do not proceed, either by way of decision Deputy Prime Minister—The Right Honourable Nick Clegg to take no further action or discontinuance following MP charge, due to the 12-month Statute of Limitations Secretary of State for Northern Ireland—The Right Honourable would require a manual exercise of reviewing individual Owen Paterson MP case files to be undertaken at a disproportionate cost. 131W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 132W

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT adaptable standards. The Government also plans to set out within Part M an optional standard which will set Accommodation Agencies out criteria related to the specific needs of wheelchair adaptable and accessible housing. : To ask the Secretary of State for Furthermore, the National Planning Policy Framework Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate already sets out that Local Plans should take into he has made of the costs to local authorities of account the current and future needs of range of households proposals to extend fines on letting agents who fail to including older and disabled people. publish their fees tariff in full; [199070] This combination of Building Regulations and national (2) what representations he has received from local planning policy sets a robust framework to promote authorities about the extension of fines to letting adaptable and accessible housing. agents who fail to publish their fees tariff in full; [199071] Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (3) what consultation he has had with local houses built in each of the last five years are (a) authorities about the extension of fines to letting wheelchair accessible and (b) built to lifetime homes agents who fail to publish their fees tariff in full. standards. [199276] [199072] Stephen Williams: DCLG does not collect information Kris Hopkins: Requiring letting agents to be transparent on the number of wheelchair-accessible or lifetime homes about their fees will prevent the small minority of rogue standard properties built each year. agents from imposing unreasonable, hidden charges. This common sense approach avoids excessive state Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for regulation which would just push up rents for tenants. Communities and Local Government what recent This and mandatory membership of redress schemes estimate he has made of the demand for (a) homes will give local authorities the tools they need to weed built to lifetime home standards and (b) wheelchair out the cowboys that give agents a bad name; and drive accessible homes. [199278] up standards. Stephen Williams: The Department for Communities We have not received particular representations from and Local Government, does not hold information on local authorities on this issue. We will undertake a New the overall demand for lifetime homes or wheelchair- Burdens assessment in due course in the usual way. accessible properties in the UK. Housing: Construction While the Department’s English Housing Survey does ask respondents whether their current accommodation requires adaptations given their disability or long standing John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for illness, these questions do not ask specifically about Communities and Local Government what account he wheelchair accessibility. It is therefore not possible to takes of local referendums on the desirability of estimate demand for wheelchair accessible properties in specific sites being allocated to new housing. [198539] England using this data source. Estimates using the English Housing Survey show Nick Boles: This coalition Government have given there to be around 1.1 million wheelchair-accessible communities radical new rights to plan for their areas, homes in England, equating to 5% of the dwelling deliver the development they want and control their stock. Data reported by social landlords, in England, future. Over 1,000 communities have applied for a shows that around 1% (2,700 of 240,000 general needs neighbourhood planning area to be designated, and lettings) of tenants taking up a social letting in 2011-12 neighbourhood plans are receiving overwhelming support identified their household as needing wheelchair accessible through local referendums. So far, we have had 17 successful housing (source: The Continuous Recording of Lettings referendums on neighbourhood plans. and Sales of Social Housing in England). A neighbourhood plan (including any specific sites within it) which has been supported by the majority of Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for those voting in a referendum can form the basis for Communities and Local Government what plans his decisions on development in the local area. Department has to ensure accessible housing, meeting A neighbourhood development order, if endorsed by internationally recognised visitability standards, for a local referendum, can also grant permission for specified people who become disabled in 2014-15; and if he will developments in a neighbourhood area. make a statement. [199287] Stephen Williams: The Approved Document to Part M Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for (Access to and use of buildings) of the Building Regulations Communities and Local Government if his already includes key criteria for visitability including Department will provide incentives to developers to requiring reasonable provision for level or gently sloping ensure that new homes planned for construction in entrances, level thresholds, minimum entrance door 2014-15 will be (a) wheelchair accessible and (b) built widths and circulation in the entrance storey, and provision to lifetime homes standards. [199265] of an entrance level WC. Stephen Williams: Part M of the Building Regulations Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for set minimum access standards for new homes. The Communities and Local Government how many Government plans to introduce an optional level of houses not compliant with Part M building regulations accessibility above these minimum access standards which were built (a) in the last two years and (b) since 2010. will set out criteria for age friendly, accessible and [199291] 133W Written Answers10 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 134W

Stephen Williams: My Department does not hold the achievable with a realistic prospect that housing will be information requested. delivered on the site within five years and in particular Building control bodies (local authorities or private that development of the site is viable. Further guidance sector approved inspectors) assess new dwellings for on viability is available at: compliance with the requirements of the Building http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/ Regulations, including Part M, at both plans stage and guidance/viability-guidance/ throughout the course of building work on site. If at Housing: Warrington any stage the building control body considers that a new dwelling would not be compliant on completion it will Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for give the person carrying out the work advice and guidance Communities and Local Government what the average on what is needed to make the dwelling compliant and a rent is for (a) privately rented homes and (b) new warning that a failure to comply might result in formal homes built under the Affordable Homes Programme enforcement action. In almost all cases this is sufficient in (i) Warrington and (ii) Warrington North to achieve compliance. At the completion of work, if constituency. [199161] the work complies, the building control body will give a compliance certificate. Kris Hopkins: The information is not held centrally. Housing: Prices Tenancy Deposit Schemes

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average Communities and Local Government how much (a) (b) house price was in Liverpool, the North West funding each tenancy deposit protection scheme has (c) [198912] and England in each year since 1994. received from the Government in each of the last 10 years. [199073] Kris Hopkins: Statistics on average house price in Liverpool and England are published in the Department’s Kris Hopkins: The tenancy deposit protection schemes live tables 581 (mean, quarterly), 582 (median, quarterly), are operated by private companies under service concession 585 (mean, annually) and 586 (median, annually) which agreements with my Department. All the schemes are are available at the following link: designed to be self-financing. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live- tables-on-housing-market-and-house-prices The service concession agreement that was agreed by the previous Administration with the custodial tenancy As outlined in the written ministerial statement of deposit protection scheme contained a guarantee that 18 September 2012, Official Report, column 32WS, my the Government would meet any shortfall arising if Department no longer publishes statistics by government approved fees were not covered by the interest on deposits office region. held. Housing: Sales As a result of the low interest rates that emerged due to the financial turmoil in 2008 and 2009, this agreement John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for left the Government—i.e. taxpayers—liable for a shortfall Communities and Local Government what criteria his under that guarantee which was estimated to reach over Department uses to assess the saleability of new houses £30 million by the end of the contract in 2012. when determining the potential for five-year housing In May 2010, the coalition Government inherited supply. [198538] this unacceptable situation and looming liabilities. As outlined by my right hon. Friend the Member for Nick Boles: The National Planning Policy Framework Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps), on 19 July 2011, requires local authorities to identify and update annually Official Report, column 828W, following extensive a supply of specific, deliverable sites sufficient to provide negotiations in summer 2010, the guarantee and all five years worth of housing against their housing associated liabilities were removed as part of a revised requirements with an additional buffer of 5% (moved agreement which also incorporated a payment of forward from later in the plan period) to ensure choice £12.7 million and a four-year extension of the original and competition in the market for land. agreement. Footnote 11 of the framework sets out that, to be This is the only payment which has been made by considered deliverable, sites should be available now, Government to any of the tenancy deposit protection offer a suitable location for development now, and be schemes.

ORAL ANSWERS

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Col. No. Col. No. HEALTH...... 389 HEALTH—continued Accident and Emergency Units...... 394 Health Services (East Midlands) ...... 403 Alcohol Consumption in Pregnancy ...... 399 Kettering General Hospital (A and E Cancer Drugs Fund ...... 397 Department) ...... 396 Care Costs ...... 391 Minimum Practice Income Guarantee ...... 400 Challenge Fund...... 389 NHS Whistleblowers...... 397 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services ...... 404 One-year Cancer Survival Rates...... 392 Community Hospitals...... 402 Polypropylene Transvaginal Mesh Implants...... 391 Congenital Heart Disease ...... 401 Topical Questions ...... 405 Dental Care ...... 397 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 33WS JUSTICE...... 45WS Government Chemist Review...... 33WS Mental Capacity Act 2005 ...... 45WS

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 33WS Housing and Planning ...... 33WS TREASURY ...... 29WS Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (Schedule 7)...... 32WS EDUCATION...... 40WS Counter-Terrorist Asset Freezing Regime ...... 29WS School Teachers’ Review Body (24th Report)...... 40WS

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 45WS AFFAIRS...... 42WS Access to Work ...... 45WS Common Agricultural Policy in England ...... 42WS Work Capability Assessment...... 46WS WRITTEN ANSWERS

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Col. No. Col. No. ATTORNEY-GENERAL ...... 130W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT—continued Offences Against Children ...... 130W Press...... 67W

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 109W DEFENCE...... 110W Animal Experiments ...... 109W BAE Systems ...... 110W Special Educational Needs...... 109W ICT ...... 110W Military Aircraft ...... 110W CABINET OFFICE...... 117W Nuclear Weapons...... 111W Civil Servants...... 117W Radioactive Waste: Fife ...... 111W Crime: York ...... 118W Rescue Services ...... 111W Drugs: Misuse...... 118W Sovereignty: Scotland...... 112W Employment: York...... 120W Surveillance: Aircraft ...... 113W ICT ...... 121W Museums and Galleries...... 121W DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ...... 105W Prostate Cancer...... 121W British Irish Council...... 105W Public Sector: Mutual Societies...... 123W Elections: Tower Hamlets...... 106W Public Sector: Procurement...... 123W Electoral Register...... 106W Temporary Employment ...... 123W Northern Ireland Government...... 106W

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 131W EDUCATION...... 73W Accommodation Agencies ...... 131W Free School Meals...... 73W Housing: Construction...... 131W GCSE ...... 73W Housing: Prices ...... 133W Health...... 74W Housing: Sales ...... 133W Members: Correspondence ...... 74W Housing: Warrington ...... 134W Park View Educational Trust ...... 75W Tenancy Deposit Schemes...... 134W Pre-school Education...... 75W Primary Education: Admissions...... 75W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 66W Pupils: North East ...... 76W Academic Year...... 66W Schools: Curriculum ...... 77W Libraries ...... 67W Schools: Radicalism ...... 77W Col. No. Col. No. ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE ...... 106W HOME DEPARTMENT...... 78W Electoral Register...... 106W Animal Experiments ...... 78W Electoral Register: North West...... 107W Animal Experiments: EU Law ...... 79W European Parliament Elections...... 108W Asylum: Children...... 79W Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections ...... 108W Asylum: Housing ...... 80W Written Questions ...... 108W British Nationality ...... 81W Crime Prevention: Northern Ireland ...... 81W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE...... 65W Drugs: Misuse...... 81W Climate Change: International Cooperation...... 65W Firearms: Licensing ...... 81W Health...... 82W ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Immigration Controls ...... 82W AFFAIRS...... 113W Members: Correspondence ...... 83W Animal Welfare: Circuses...... 113W North Yorkshire Police...... 83W Birds ...... 113W Passports...... 86W Bovine Tuberculosis ...... 114W Police ...... 87W Floods...... 114W Stop and Search ...... 87W Glyphosate...... 114W Health...... 115W JUSTICE...... 68W Horses...... 116W Courts: Telephone Services ...... 68W Merlins...... 116W Legal Aid Scheme ...... 68W Poultry ...... 116W Mortgages: Repossession Orders...... 69W Surveillance: Aircraft ...... 69W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 88W Verne Prison...... 69W Armed Conflict: Children ...... 88W Ascension Island...... 88W LEADER OF THE HOUSE ...... 113W Brazil ...... 89W Written Questions: Government Responses ...... 113W Central African Republic ...... 90W Diego Garcia ...... 90W Eritrea...... 91W NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 109W Middle East ...... 91W Staff ...... 109W Morocco ...... 91W Nigeria...... 91W PRIME MINISTER ...... 129W Palestinians ...... 92W British Irish Council...... 129W Thailand ...... 92W Tibet ...... 93W TRANSPORT ...... 70W United Arab Emirates ...... 94W Consultants...... 70W Western Sahara ...... 94W Driving Offences: Insurance...... 70W Zimbabwe ...... 95W East Coast Railway Line ...... 70W Greenfield Station...... 70W HEALTH...... 95W High Speed 2 Railway Line ...... 71W A and E Visits ...... 95W Roads: Safety ...... 71W Academic Health Science Networks...... 98W Rolling Stock: Greater Manchester...... 71W Ambulance Services ...... 98W Secondment ...... 72W Back Pain...... 99W Clinical Trials...... 99W TREASURY ...... 65W Drug Dispensing Regulations ...... 96W Apprentices...... 65W Failing Hospitals...... 96W Welfare Tax Credits...... 65W Health...... 100W Health Allocation Formula...... 96W Health Services: Complaints ...... 100W WOMEN AND EQUALITIES...... 129W Health Services: Ombudsman ...... 101W Business: Females ...... 129W Healthier Together Review: Greater Manchester.... 96W Hospitals: Television ...... 101W WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 124W Human Papillomavirus ...... 101W Disadvantaged: EU Grants and Loans ...... 124W Maternity and Early-years Care...... 97W Housing Benefit ...... 125W Mental Health Care: Greater Manchester...... 97W ICT ...... 125W Mental Health Services ...... 101W Jobseeker’s Allowance ...... 125W Mental Illness ...... 102W Pension Credit: Bolton...... 125W Motor Neurone Disease...... 102W Personal Independence payment ...... 126W Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ...... 103W Personal Independence Payment...... 126W Pregnant Women: Alcoholic Drinks...... 103W Separated People: Finance ...... 127W Primary Care ...... 95W State Retirement Pensions...... 127W Prostate Cancer...... 103W Unemployed People: Travel...... 128W Small Rural Hospitals ...... 97W Universal Credit...... 128W Social Services...... 104W Universal Credit: Warrington...... 128W Sunbeds ...... 105W Work Programme...... 129W Members who wish to have the Daily Report of the Debates forwarded to them should give notice at the Vote Office. No proofs of the Daily Reports can be supplied. Corrections which Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked in the Daily Report, but not telephoned, and the copy containing the Corrections must be received at the Editor’s Room, House of Commons,

not later than Tuesday 17 June 2014

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CONTENTS

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Speaker’s Statement [Col. 389]

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 389] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Health

Modern Slavery [Col. 413] Bill presented, and read the First time

Debate on the Address [Col. 414] Debate Adjourned

Passport Office (Delays) [Col. 517] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Written Statements [Col. 29WS]

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 65W] [see index inside back page]