Thursday Volume 521 20 January 2011 No. 102

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Thursday 20 January 2011

£5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2011 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 987 20 JANUARY 2011 988

such as Chester zoo, a much bigger and stronger say in House of Commons how their local destinations are promoted and marketed to tourists in the UK and abroad. Thursday 20 January 2011 Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): What assessment has the Minister made of the rise in VAT on the The House met at half-past Ten o’clock potential for the promotion of tourism? Would he explain to people who provide tourism products whether PRAYERS they should absorb the cost of that rise, thereby cutting their profits, or pass it on to their customers, thereby offering a disincentive for tourism in the UK? [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] John Penrose: Clearly the rise in VAT is principally a matter for the Treasury, but it affects all economic sectors and every business in the country will have to Oral Answers to Questions make precisely the judgment that the right hon. Gentleman describes. As a politician, I would not dream of telling individual businesses how to run their business—it must CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT rightly be a matter for them—but I am sure that, because they have skin in the game, they will make the right decision for their business in their particular sector. The Secretary of State was asked— Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Is Tourism the Minister aware of how important literary houses in the UK are to visitors from overseas and from this 1. Nicky Morgan (Loughborough) (Con): What recent country? I chair the John Clare Trust—he was one of progress his Department has made on the promotion of our greatest poets of the countryside and environment. the UK as a tourist destination. [34700] It is very difficult these days to get a brown sign or any help to put such attractions on the map. Can the Minister 3. Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con): What help us? recent progress his Department has made on the promotion of the UK as a tourist destination. [34702] John Penrose: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that our listed houses are major tourist attractions, and The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, that includes our great heritage houses and the smaller Olympics, Media and Sport (John Penrose): With private and more modest places that are listed. If he is interested sector partners, the Government are creating a major, in promoting them more effectively, and I applaud his new overseas marketing fund. We are looking to create efforts in doing so, he should speak first with his local a fund of £100 million over the next four years which tourist board, which will be refocused in the way I have aims to deliver 1 million additional international visitors explained. We are also evaluating whether there are to the UK and £2 billion in extra visitor spend. other ways to improve things such as signage, and not just brown signs, but signs at major transport interchanges, Nicky Morgan: I thank the Minister for his reply. As such as those that direct people on how to get to a he will know, the Government are rightly focused on an particular attraction once they have arrived at a train agenda of growth across our economy. Does he agree station. All those points are essential and should be that tourism, especially to the regions, such as Leicestershire, handled by the newly refocused and, I hope, revitalised and to regional attractions such as the Great Central local tourist boards. railway, is a key part of that growth strategy? Grass-roots Sport John Penrose: I absolutely agree. One of the key points about tourism is that it is an efficient and rapid 2. Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) way of driving economic growth and regeneration and (Con): What proportion of sport governing bodies that it does that in all parts of the country outside the have committed to spend 30% of their broadcast south-east. It is an excellent tool for rebalancing our income on grass-roots sports. [34701] economy. The Minister for Sport and the Olympics (Hugh Stephen Mosley: My constituency is home to Chester Robertson): As these are the first departmental questions zoo, one of our nation’s foremost visitor attractions. since the new year, I will start by putting on the record—I With more than 25 million people visiting zoos and am sure that I speak for all hon. Members—our aquariums in the UK every year, what help can the congratulations to the England cricket team for their Minister offer to promote such an important part of triumph in Australia this winter. our visitor economy? At the same time as announcing the decision on listing of sports television coverage in the summer, I John Penrose: We are engaged in a recalibration and challenged sports to take a hard look at what more they reorganisation of local tourist boards—destination could do to increase the proportion of their broadcast management organisations, to use the jargon—which income that they spend on their grass roots. I am are being refocused to become more private sector-led. delighted to say that on 22 December all six of the The express intention is to give prominent attractions, governing bodies that are part of the Sport and Recreation 989 Oral Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Oral Answers 990

Alliance’s voluntary code committed to ensure that at the flats that will be up for sale on the private market? least 30% of the net revenues from their UK broadcasting On a recent visit to the Olympic site, I was told that the rights are reinvested. In total, that means that at least anticipated asking price for a two-bedroom flat is between £250 million a year will go to grass-roots sport. £350,000 and £400,000. Does the Minister agree that that puts those properties out of reach of the vast Mr Evennett: I thank my hon. Friend for his reply, majority of ordinary people and, in particular, ordinary which is welcome news for sport, and I am sure that Londoners? we all congratulate him on what he is doing. Can he confirm that, together with reforms to the national Hugh Robertson: I shall answer the question in two lottery, that will mean that funding going to grass-roots parts. Let us remember that a considerable portion of sports will be higher at the end of this Parliament than the houses in the Olympic village has already been it was under the previous Labour Government? acquired by Triathlon Homes as affordable housing; that is very much a key part of the scheme. In terms of Hugh Robertson: That is indeed correct. Sport England what happens to the Olympic village after the games, we will experience a small dip next year, but after that the have been extremely careful with the expressions of lottery reforms kick in and its income will be up by interests that we have looked at precisely not to put 14% at the end of this comprehensive spending review housing values on it, so I do not know where the hon. period. Lady got that figure from. It might be a market guesstimate, but it is no more than that at the moment. Richard Harrington (Watford) (Con): At the end of November, the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Tessa Jowell (Dulwich and West Norwood) (Lab): I Olympics, Media and Sport, my hon. Friend the Member am sure we all agree that the economic legacy of the for Wantage (Mr Vaizey), announced that he was setting Olympic park will be in part secured by identifying a up a UK film forum to plot the progress of UK film long-term tenant for the Olympic stadium. Does the industry funding. Can the Minister for Sport and the Minister therefore agree that when we bid to host the Olympics inform the House whether the forum has met games, the bid book was clear that the stadium’s legacy and what progress has been made? would have athletics at its core, with associated multi-sport availability for the local community? Does he also recognise Mr Speaker: Order. We are talking about sport, and that the Olympic Park Legacy Company will make a I thought the hon. Gentleman was going to request a decision on the tenant on 28 January? There are two similar facility in relation to sport. contenders, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham football Richard Harrington: The point is that it is a form of clubs, but does he agree that only the joint bid from sport for me. Newham council and West Ham football club fulfils the commitments we made when we won the games? Mr Speaker: Right. A one-sentence reply from the Minister will suffice. Hugh Robertson: The right hon. Lady is of course correct. At the time of the bid, the commitment was to Hugh Robertson: It is probably safest to say that that leave a 25,000-seater mixed-use stadium, with athletics is a very helpful suggestion and I will look at it. at its core, so we have already broken a part of that, in that there is not going to be—I would guess—a 25,000-seater Mr Speaker: I am grateful to the Minister and to the stadium. I hear what she says about the future of the hon. Gentleman. Olympic stadium, as I have had my ear bent on the issue Liz Kendall. Not here. I call Heidi Alexander. by a number of hon. Members. The Olympic Park Legacy Company is going through a quasi-judicial process, Olympics (Economic Legacy) so it would be inappropriate for me to comment either way at this stage, but I hear what she says. 5. Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab): What recent discussions his Department has had with the Community Broadband Department for Communities and Local Government and the Greater London authority on the economic 6. Dr Daniel Poulter (Central Suffolk and North legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Ipswich) (Con): What recent progress he has made on games. [34705] the roll-out of community broadband; and if he will make a statement. [34706] The Minister for Sport and the Olympics (Hugh Robertson): We are working closely with the Department The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, for Communities and Local Government and the Greater Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): My London authority to ensure an economic legacy officials continue to engage with local authorities, local for London, and we are in regular contact with the six enterprise partnerships and the devolved Administrations east London host boroughs. London businesses, including regarding the next wave of funding for superfast broadband five in the borough of Lewisham, which I know will as part of the £530 million that we have secured from please the hon. Lady, have already won from the Olympic the TV licence fee settlement. The next locations for Delivery Authority contracts with a total value of more funded projects are due to be announced in May 2011. than £3 billion. Dr Poulter: As the Minister is aware, Suffolk is a Heidi Alexander: May I press the Minister on the particularly rural county that will derive significant affordability of the housing that will be available in economic benefits from the widespread deployment of the athletes village once the games are over, particularly high-speed broadband. He will be aware also of our 991 Oral Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Oral Answers 992 advanced stage of preparedness in having a public-private the separatists. Might the Government produce a report, partnership to deliver it, so will he please be a little or send me a letter, outlining exactly what benefits more specific and tell us when he is going to announce Scotland will see from the 2012 Olympics? the timeline for the next delivery phase of those broadband projects? Hugh Robertson: Yes, certainly. To some extent, I answered that question when I said that 23 businesses Mr Vaizey: I am delighted to do that. We have set have won work and 36 contracts have been achieved aside £50 million for the next wave of superfast broadband through CompeteFor. Many Scottish athletes play a key projects, and as we hope to announce the winners in part in our Olympic preparations; the hon. Gentleman May, we will shortly be tendering for them. mentioned one of many. The Scottish team is an integral part of Team GB and will, I am sure, contribute greatly Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside) (Lab): What discussions to what I hope will be a record-busting haul at the has the Minister had with BT and other suppliers who London Olympics. still produce maps showing broadband coverage, sign people up and take their money, only for them to find Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): Is that broadband does not work and probably will not it not the truth, though, that Scotland will get absolutely work for many years? zilch from the London Olympics? Written questions have revealed that out of 1,433 tier 1 contracts, Scotland Mr Vaizey: We regularly have discussions with the has secured a measly 25. Yet the Minister will still not operators on the advertised broadband speeds that they agree to apply the Barnett consequentials, which means put out. As Ofcom and the Advertising Standards that Scotland is owed some £165 million. Does not that Authority have made clear, it is very important that make an absolute joke of the claim by Conservatives broadband operators should be clear about what speeds and Labour that this is a games for the whole country, are available. However, I am happy to pursue further when it is clearly a games for England and the south-east? the point that the hon. Gentleman raises. Hugh Robertson: My definition of zilch is not Ian Swales (Redcar) (LD): Is the Minister aware that 23 businesses and 36 contracts—that is not zilch in in many parts of the country broadband access is quite anybody’s language, even Scottish. Also, Scottish athletes good in domestic premises, because the roll-out of cable will benefit from the changes made to the lottery. I TV has dealt with domestic problems, but often very would say to the hon. Gentleman that 23 businesses, poor in commercial premises in high streets and business 36 contracts and a lot of athletes is not zilch. parks?

Mr Vaizey: Yes. It is important to emphasise that Creative and Leisure Industries even in an area where, in theory, superfast broadband already exists, there will still be patches where the 8. Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood) (Lab): broadband connections are not as good. That is why we What steps his Department is taking to support jobs have set aside such a substantial sum of money to help and economic growth in the creative industries and with the roll-out of broadband. leisure sectors. [34708]

Olympics (Scotland) The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): The 7. Jim McGovern (Dundee West) (Lab): What plans creative and leisure industries have an important role in his Department has to enable Scotland to benefit from driving economic growth. We are therefore undertaking the London 2012 Olympics. [34707] a number of initiatives to support these sectors, including a digital and creative industries growth review, the The Minister for Sport and the Olympics (Hugh creation of Creative England, which will have a hub in Robertson): The UK Government have set out their Birmingham, a new overseas marketing fund for tourism, plans to make the most of the games for the UK as a and the development of a new tourism strategy that will whole. Twenty-three businesses registered in Scotland help to support the growth in tourism and leisure industries. have won work supplying the Olympic Delivery Authority and 36 contracts have been awarded to Scottish businesses Shabana Mahmood: My constituency includes some through CompeteFor, the online brokerage service. In major employers in the leisure, creative and tourism addition, I regularly meet the Scottish Government to industries, from the premiership football clubs, Aston ensure that Scotland continues to benefit from London Villa and Birmingham City, to the Symphony hall and 2012 and to support their plans for the Commonwealth Hippodrome theatre. With the regional development games in 2014. I am meeting sports Ministers from the agencies being abolished and local enterprise partnerships devolved nations next month. having no statutory role to promote tourism, what are the Government doing to support these vital jobs in my Jim McGovern: I thank the Minister for his response. constituency? Next year, it will be four years since Team GB’s fantastic showing in Beijing. I am delighted to say that one of Mr Vaizey: I understand that Visit England has a the supreme athletes of that team, Chris Hoy, said at transition team, which the hon. Lady should call. I take the time when he won his medals that he was proud to this opportunity to heap praise on Birmingham as a be Scottish but also proud to be part of the UK team, creative and cultural centre. Perhaps everyone in the and that he could not have achieved what he did had he House could welcome the new Birmingham central not been part of it. I think that that sentiment would be library, in which some £200 million is being invested—a echoed by almost all Members of this House apart from good news story for libraries. 993 Oral Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Oral Answers 994

High-speed Broadband I also welcome. There is local town TV in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe, but very 9. Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): What little in Britain. I urge the Government to resist the big recent discussions he has had with representatives of broadcasting monoliths and vested media interests, who the telecommunications industry on the delivery of will not like this proposal. Can Rotherham have an high-speed broadband. [34709] early experiment with local TV, because I do not feel that I get quite the airtime that I should on the national The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, networks? I am sure that if there were a local TV station Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): Iam in Rotherham, I would appear at least once a month. working intensively to ensure that the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015, and I Mr Vaizey: The right hon. Gentleman has given a am in constant contact with a wide range of telecoms clear signal to this House why every hon. Member companies and other stakeholders in that connection. should support the roll-out of local television—the flagship policy of this Department. Julian Smith: On 19 February, I and other North Football Governance Yorkshire MPs from across the House will host the Ripon conference to celebrate North Yorkshire’s winning one of the superfast broadband pilots. It will bring 10. Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con): What plans he has together members of all parts of the community to to bring forward proposals on football governance; and consider how superfast broadband can made a difference if he will make a statement. [34710] to every part of North Yorkshire. Will he send a message to the conference or, hopefully, attend it? The Minister for Sport and the Olympics (Hugh Robertson): In line with the commitment in the Mr Vaizey: I congratulate my hon. Friend and the Government’s coalition agreement, I am in discussion people of North Yorkshire on getting one of the pilots. with the football authorities on what further steps they I hope that I can make it to the conference. I spent new can take to bring about further governance reform and year’s eve in North Yorkshire before continuing my a greater involvement for supporters in their local clubs. holidays in Newcastle. I hope to set out the way forward in this area by May. I will take a close interest in the inquiry that the Culture, Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab): Following the Media and Sport Committee is conducting on this unfortunate conversation between the Secretary of State issue. for Business, Innovation and Skills and journalists from The Daily Telegraph, the whole of telecommunications Jessica Lee: Last year, the future of Ilkeston Town policy has been vested in the Department for Culture, football club in my constituency of Erewash was in Media and Sport. What steps will the Secretary of State doubt because of difficulties. New owners were secured, for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport take to ensure and I am sure that the Minister will join me in wishing that the Department takes full account of the interests them all the best for the future. It was the efforts of local of internet users and service providers, as well as the residents, who submitted a supporters’ bid, that really content providers that have been its historical interest? caught the imagination locally. Will he set out in more detail what efforts the Government are making to advance Mr Vaizey: As the right hon. Gentleman knows, a this interesting policy area? number of officials will move over from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills—indeed, they used Hugh Robertson: I absolutely hear what my hon. to work for him. They are very experienced in working Friend says. It was our intention to bring forward plans with internet service providers and others. in the new year, but in view of the huge interest in the matter throughout the House, which was evidenced by Mr Don Foster (Bath) (LD): About 50% of households a debate in Westminster Hall, we thought it sensible to have access to high-speed broadband, but sadly only let the Culture, Media and Sport Committee look into about 0.2% of them have bothered to sign up. Does the it first, as it had announced its intention to do so. We Minister agree that if we are to get what he wants, which will consider that report before deciding what further is the best high-speed broadband in Europe, we have to steps to take. stimulate demand for it? Does he agree that the BBC I acknowledge my hon. Friend’s point about her should use some of the money allocated to it for this football club and the role that supporters have played. area of work to stimulate demand, rather than just The problem we have historically had in this country is building infrastructure? that there are many different types of football club ownership, which makes a one-size-fits-all solution hard Mr Vaizey: It is important to make it clear that the to get to. money from the TV licence fee will be used to roll out superfast broadband, but an important part of our Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Premier league broadband strategy—what is known as demand footballers are vastly overpaid, premier league clubs are stimulation—is that more people take up superfast hugely in debt and our national football team is, in broadband. Martha Lane Fox and others are working many ways, a disgrace. Meanwhile, in the real world, to increase take-up of broadband. non-league clubs such as Kettering Town football club are struggling to provide suitable ground facilities despite Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): I welcome massive fan support. Does the Minister agree that football what the Minister is saying. This matter segues into the as it is in this country at the moment faces an unsustainable Government’s proposal for more local television, which future unless governance issues are properly sorted out? 995 Oral Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Oral Answers 996

Hugh Robertson: I absolutely agree with my hon. Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): I thank the Friend that football governance issues need attention Secretary of State, from the bottom of my heart, for and action, which I believe is precisely why the Select what he said about the disgraceful attack on the reputation Committee has responded to the anxiety throughout of Norris McWhirter, whom the BBC was delighted to the House and announced its investigation. have as one of its star celebrities for decade after If we look across all sports, it is clear that football is decade. May I tell him that I worked with Norris the worst-governed sport in this country, without a McWhirter for many years in politics, and one could shadow of a doubt. When Labour was in government, never find a more dedicated opponent of totalitarianism? it often made the point that the levels of corporate That is hardly surprising given that at the age of 17, he governance in football lagged far behind other sports, volunteered for the Royal Navy and took part in one of which are by no means beacons in that regard. Action is the most successful anti-U-boat organisations in the needed and the Government will take it, but we want to battle of the Atlantic. It was a particular disgrace that see the results of the Select Committee report first. someone—David Baddiel—who, like me, is from a Jewish background, should denounce that admirable man as a BBC Governance fascist or a Nazi sympathiser simply because he disagreed with him politically. 11. Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the governance arrangements for the BBC; and if he will Mr Speaker: On the BBC, I call the Secretary of State. make a statement. [34712] Mr Hunt: I echo what I said about the importance of The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media impartiality, and say simply to my hon. Friend that and Sport (Mr Jeremy Hunt): We have made good given his sustained interest in that, many people at the progress in improving governance at the BBC, including BBC are gutted that he did not put his name forward the announcement made in September by my right hon. for the chairmanship of the BBC Trust. Friend the Member for Bath (Mr Foster) about allowing the National Audit Office unfettered access to BBC accounts. BBC World Service

Robert Halfon: I thank my right hon. Friend for that 12. Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (LD): What answer. When considering the governance of the BBC, recent discussions he has had on future funding of the will he also examine BBC impartiality? On “The Alan BBC World Service. [34713] Davies Show” last year, BBC employees likened the Freedom Association to the British National party and its founder, the late second world war hero Norris The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media McWhirter, to one of Mosley’s brownshirts. When I and Sport (Mr Jeremy Hunt): We had a number of wrote to the BBC I received a ridiculous letter from discussions on funding for the BBC both with the BBC Mark Thompson refusing to apologise. Will my right and with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the hon. Friend demand that the BBC starts to live up to context of licence fee discussions. the obligation in its own charter? Jo Swinson: For those living in countries where free Mr Hunt: I agree that impartiality at the BBC is speech is threatened or non-existent, the BBC World paramount and that the particular comments to which Service provides a vital and powerful source of unbiased my hon. Friend refers were totally inappropriate. I can information. I welcomed the Foreign Secretary’s reassurance understand why many people found them offensive. By back in September that the Burma operation is unlikely way of reassurance, I say to him that in the selection to face closure, but will the Secretary of State reassure process for the new chairman of the BBC Trust, which the House that he is working with his Cabinet colleagues is responsible for impartiality, we have said that all and the BBC to ensure that in countries that face candidates must show commitment to improving significant political upheaval, that voice of independent governance at the BBC. I hope that these issues will free speech will be upheld? continue to be addressed. Mr Ivan Lewis (Bury South) (Lab): The Secretary of Mr Hunt: I wholeheartedly agree with my hon. Friend State and I agree about the importance of the impartiality about the outstanding beacon for freedom that the BBC of the BBC. With the withdrawal of Sir Howard Davies World Service represents, not least given the lifeline it from the shortlist for the chairmanship of the BBC offered to the people of Haiti and the 3.1 million people Trust, there is growing speculation that the favourite is who are reported to use it in Iran. She is absolutely now the former chairman of the Conservative party. In right. If it is any reassurance, closure of any language those circumstances, it is particularly important that service must have the written consent of the Foreign the appointment process is transparent. Will the Secretary Secretary. We are confident that the BBC World Service of State therefore agree that the all-party Culture, Media can sustain its current plans. and Sport Committee should scrutinise the two candidates referred to him by the appointment panel before he Access to Culture (Young People) makes a recommendation to the Prime Minister? Mr Hunt: Let me reassure the shadow Secretary of 13. Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): What State that the process is transparent and fair. If he does proportion of his Department’s expenditure for 2010-11 not like it, he and the last Labour Government should supports access to culture for young people; and if he not have set it up when they established the BBC Trust. will make a statement. [34714] 997 Oral Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Oral Answers 998

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Mr Hunt: Ministerial discretion is restricted to what Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): My is reasonable and fair in the eyes of the law. The process Department invests more than £1.6 billion into our was set up in the Enterprise Act 2002 by the previous sponsored bodies and much of it is fundamentally Government. It is incredibly important that due process connected to improving children’s and young people’s is followed at every stage. We will publish exactly what access to the fantastic culture that we enjoy in this we have done and whom we have met at every stage of country. We are working closely with the Department the process when I make my decision, in order for for Education on a review of music education, and will Parliament to be able to scrutinise the process and shortly announce details of a review of cultural education, ensure that it has been totally fair and impartial. to ensure that we are taking the best approach to investment in, and the delivery of, culture for young Mr Ivan Lewis (Bury South) (Lab): I am sure that the people. Secretary of State would accept that the Government’s handling of this quasi-judicial responsibility has been Alison McGovern: Now that young people have lost nothing short of a constitutional disgrace. The Business their education maintenance allowance and their free Secretary was stripped of his responsibilities because he theatre ticket scheme, “A night less ordinary”, and that “declared war on Mr Murdoch”, we know that there is no replacement in a good education the Culture Secretary is on record as saying that he sees for access to live music and theatre and other arts, what no problem with this particular deal, and the Prime action will the Minister take in these very difficult Minister has now been found tucking into turkey in the circumstances for the cultural sector to ensure that middle of the process with the chief executive of News young people, and especially those from poorer International. What breathtaking arrogance and contempt backgrounds, are not the ones who lose out? for their constitutional responsibilities! Mr Vaizey: I absolutely agree with the hon. Lady’s Will the Secretary of State now tell the whole House sentiments. I know that she used to work for Creative whether he intends to meet any of the concerned parties Partnerships and was a trustee of the South London before making a decision on this referral? Will he also gallery. She will know full well that almost all our release the Ofcom report—he has the ability to do cultural organisations work extremely hard to ensure so—in advance of making his decision, so that the access for young people to their work. We will continue House can be reassured that his judgment is impartial? to work with them and the Department for Education to ensure that that is maintained. Mr Hunt: I remind the shadow Culture Secretary that when the right hon. Member for Edinburgh South West BSkyB (Mr Darling) made the decision on the Sky ITV purchase he published the Ofcom report when he announced his 14. Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab): When he decision, so I am doing nothing different to what he did. expects to reach a decision on whether to refer to the On the issue of impartiality, I say this: Competition Commission the News Corporation bid “Rupert Murdoch”— for BSkyB. [34715] has “been a force for good in improving the quality of broadcasting The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media for British consumers”. and Sport (Mr Jeremy Hunt): I will take as much time as Those are not my words, but those of the shadow necessary to come to a considered decision on this very Culture Secretary. I wish that he would stop sucking up important issue. to the Murdochs. Kevin Brennan: As a former Minister with responsibility Topical Questions for competition in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, I know that the Secretary of State will want seriously to consider the evidence and not to prejudge T1. [34720] Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): what should be done in this case—unlike his predecessor. If he will make a statement on his departmental However, does he agree that given his own very high-profile responsibilities. comments about Rupert Murdoch and BSkyB, it might be sensible in this case, in which justice needs to be seen The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media to be done as well as to be done, for him to hand over and Sport (Mr Jeremy Hunt): I am pleased to announce the decision to someone who will be seen to be more that we have appointed three new non-executive directors impartial, if not actually more impartial? to the Department’s board. They are David Verey, who is the chairman of the Art Fund and former chairman Mr Hunt: This is not a decision about Rupert Murdoch of the Tate; Peter Bazalgette, who is the former chairman or his business; it is a decision about whether a specific of Endemol; and Lord Coe, who is attending on an transaction will affect plurality. I am approaching that ex-officio basis as chairman of the London Organising decision with total impartiality and following strict due Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. process. Julian Smith: Many young people across north Yorkshire Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD): What purpose will be hoping to get tickets for the Olympics when they does the Secretary of State believe is served by ministerial become available next month. How can we ensure that discretion on such decisions when Parliament could travel costs do not become a limitation for young people instead empower the Competition Commission to instigate coming from the regions and hoping to take advantage such investigations on its own initiative? of this fantastic event? 999 Oral Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Oral Answers 1000

Mr Hunt: My hon. Friend is right to say that we want T5. [34725] Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) (Con): the Olympics to be something that is exciting for everyone Given the increasing reliance of businesses on the throughout the whole country. On the specific costs of internet and the Government’s commitment to travelling to London, I suggest that he talks to his rail economic growth, will the Minister assure me that he company to see whether it can help out. We wish him will favourably consider including rural Devon, which every success, and will give him every support we can, in has some of the poorest internet coverage in the that process. country, in the second phase of the broadband pilot scheme? Gloria De Piero (Ashfield) (Lab): The Labour mayor of Lewisham says that he did not seek election to close Mr Vaizey: As I said earlier, we hope to set up a down libraries, but that is the scale of the cuts. In second round of pilots for broadband roll-out, for Milton Keynes, a Liberal Democrat councillor says which we have set aside £50 million, but obviously that that the financial challenge means that money will be process is being run by Broadband Delivery UK, and it taken out of the library service. My local council in would be wrong for Ministers to favour one area above Nottinghamshire, run by the Conservatives, tells me another. that, to reduce expenditure, 28 libraries will reduce their opening hours. So councils of all colours do not want to Ian Austin (Dudley North) (Lab): We would obviously reduce library provision, but the Government are forcing like to associate ourselves with the Minister’s congratulations them to do so. What will Ministers do about it? earlier to the England cricket team. However, he also claimed that funding for grass-roots sport will be higher The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, at the end of the Parliament than it was at the beginning. Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): I remind How can that be the case, when local teams and clubs the hon. Lady that one of the reasons why councils have up and down the country are on the front line of cuts reduced funding is the economic mess that her party left and facing higher fees and charges to hire pitches, this country in; that is why they are having to make the sports halls and pools, and when local sports co-ordinators tough decisions that they are having to make. We are and county sports partnerships are sacking staff, all as a not standing by: I have contacted all local authority to result of the cuts to local government spending imposed remind them of their statutory duty and the Museums, by his Government? What assessment has he made of Libraries and Archives Council continues to work closely the impact that local government finance will have on with a number of authorities on their proposals for the grass-roots sport, and what discussions has he had with future of their library services. his colleagues at the Department for Communities and Local Government? T3. [34722] Mr Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase) (Con): A campaign group in my constituency has recently The Minister for Sport and the Olympics (Hugh submitted an expression of interest in applying for an Robertson): I gave the answer I did because, according FM licence to run the first community radio station to the figures and projections for Exchequer and lottery covering the whole area, to be called Chase FM. Can funding to Sport England, the latter received £249 million the Minister assure me that part of the community this year and will receive £284 million by the end of the radio fund will still be available for new licence Parliament. That is a 14% increase by anybody’s maths. applications such as that one, and will he join me in On local authorities, we are looking at the matter closely, wishing Chase FM all the best with its application? and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will join me in trying to convince and reassure local authorities that Mr Vaizey: We are strong supporters of community they should not be closing sport and leisure facilities. radio. We have set aside almost £500,000 this financial There is no reason for them to do that—it is a choice year for it, and that funding will continue for the rest of they have to make—and I would encourage all of them this Parliament. Ofcom is considering whether there to continue to build on the considerable investment that should be a third round of community radio licences the Government are making in sport, both through UK and I will keep my hon. Friend informed. Sport, Sport England and the London—

T2. [34721] Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) Mr Speaker: Order. I am grateful to the Minister. (Lab): I noticed earlier that the Minister never really answered the question put by my hon. Friend the Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD): I am Member for Wirral South (Alison McGovern), so I will delighted that the Government have committed to backing put it again. What assessment has the Minister made the 2013 rugby league world cup, but there remains a of the effect of the withdrawal of the education concern that with the abolition of regional development maintenance allowance on the participation by young agencies some significant funding from those sources people in the arts and the theatre? will no longer be available. Will the Minister reaffirm the Government’s commitment and perhaps update the Mr Vaizey: As I said in answer to an earlier question, House on discussions with the Rugby Football League several arts organisations provide fantastic opportunities about ensuring that this important tournament is a big for young people to access culture and education, and success? we will conduct a review of cultural education in the next few months which we hope will come up with Hugh Robertson: Absolutely. I can confirm the answer recommendations that will enhance it. that I gave on this subject during, I think, the previous May I take this opportunity to wish Chase FM the Culture, Media and Sport questions or the ones before greatest of luck in applying for a community radio that: I have made it absolutely clear that all world cups, licence? in whatever sport, should be treated on exactly the same 1001 Oral Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Oral Answers 1002 basis, and I have written to the chief executive of the The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, RFL to confirm that. I am aware that there is an issue, Olympics, Media and Sport (John Penrose): Iamaware however, because the regional development agency has of the problem; indeed, my right hon. Friend and I had withdrawn its offer of funding. Those involved are a conversation about it in the Lobby yesterday evening. trying to work through that, and I will do everything There are isolated examples of such issues in different that I can to help. parts of the country, depending on what has been happening with RDAs and their wind-down. As we T4. [34724] Gemma Doyle (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab/ discussed last night, I would urge him to speak to the Co-op): My constituency is in central Scotland, and is transition team at VisitEngland and, if necessary, its neither rural nor isolated, but it does suffer from chief executive, James Berresford. VisitEngland has a problems with broadband coverage. At the moment, it team specifically set up to help midwife the change from is falling between the cracks of action—or rather the old regime to the new, but if my right hon. Friend inaction—between what industry is doing and what the has any problems, he should let me know. Government are doing. What will the Government do to help constituencies such as mine, and will West T6. [34726] Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): Dunbartonshire be considered as one of the pilot My constituents in Wirral currently enjoy the regional programmes to be announced later this year? television that exists. Although we offer a cautious welcome to the Secretary of State’s proposals for local Mr Vaizey: I will say again that we have set aside television, there is a fear about what might happen to £530 million for broadband. We are starting with four that which we already enjoy. Can he say more about pilots in the next few months, and will be announcing how he will protect the quality of local television another four pilots—or possibly even more—in May services? 2011. We continue to engage through Broadband Delivery UK with regions across the United Kingdom, and I Mr Jeremy Hunt: Let me reassure the hon. Lady that would urge the hon. Lady to work with her local we are interested in this issue because we want local councillors and BDUK. television to be more local and better than it is. One of the problems with regional television at the moment is Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con): Areas that the footprint is so large that it is difficult to put out served by relay transmitters, such as Darwen, Whitewell, programming and news that have the impact that real Newchurch, Bacup and Whitworth, receive about local television has. I have every confidence that what 15 Freeview channels, while those served by a main we announced yesterday will make a huge difference to transmitter receive up to 40. Before switchover is complete, her constituents in the Wirral. will the Minister confirm whether he has any plans to deal with this digital deprivation? Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) (Lab): The Minister Mr Vaizey: I understand my hon. Friend’s concern on might consider the failure of north-east tourism to be behalf of his constituents, and it is good that he has able to promote itself—a failure caused by the cuts that raised it. There has never been universal television this Government have imposed—to be an isolated problem, coverage. About 90% of television viewers get the full but it is a real problem in the north-east. If he takes the range of Freeview channels, and about 98.5% get the trouble to visit the north-east, I am sure that an array of basic 15. I will be happy to have discussions with him. critics in the north-east tourism industry, including This is a commercial decision for the operators, but it is the National Trust, will make their feelings well known worth having a dialogue. to him.

Tristram Hunt (Stoke-on-Trent Central) (Lab): Among John Penrose: As I hope I have made clear, I am the great cultural gems of this country are the regional aware of the issues. I would be delighted to come to visit museums of England, such as the People’s History some of the north-east’s impressive tourism attractions, museum in Manchester, so why is this most philistine of including such places as Holy island and many others. I Governments withdrawing funding from these great would love to do that in due course, but if the hon. museums, given that they know that local authorities Gentleman has specific examples of problems in his cannot pick up the tab? area, I would repeat what I said to my right hon. Friend the Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith) Mr Vaizey: I object to the Government being described earlier, which is that there is a team specifically set up at as a philistine Government, particularly by one of the VisitEngland to cope with precisely those issues. country’s leading television historians. He and I are working extremely closely on preserving the Wedgwood Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab): The Government claim collections, and I hope he is not thinking, “Philistine, that the Olympic games would benefit the whole of the philistine” as we sit down for our discussions. Funding UK. Does the Minister agree that the 0.17% of contracts is tight because his philistine Government bankrupted awarded to firms in the north-east is absolutely disgraceful the country. and another kick in the teeth for the region?

Sir Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (LD): Is the Hugh Robertson: No, I would not, because all such Tourism Minister aware that because One North East contracts have to be competed for on a commercial did all its tourism promotion work in-house it fell foul basis, as the hon. Gentleman needs to be aware, and of the Government’s advertising ban, and that there is there are strict rules that govern that. He is perfectly currently no promotion of the fantastic attractions of well aware that we cannot simply award contracts to Northumberland? Will he work to ensure that a business-led one part of the country because it has not had enough alternative can get into place quickly? before. What firms in those parts of the country should 1003 Oral Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Oral Answers 1004 be doing is putting in competitive contracts because, as rent, as I had requested, I also paid her for my January we heard in previous answers, many of those contracts rent. This makes for one very happy landlord and one have been awarded to British firms. less happy bank manager. Does my right hon. Friend agree that better communication between IPSA and MPs is vital if the expenses system is to operate in a fair and efficient way? LEADER OF THE HOUSE Sir George Young: I am sorry that my hon. Friend has The Leader of the House was asked— had to dig into her own resources to pay her landlady twice. One of the initiatives that I and other Members IPSA (Liaison Group) are anxious to drive forward is the removal of the need for payments to go in and out of MPs’ bank accounts. If 1. Simon Hart (Carmarthen Westand South Pembrokeshire) we can move more towards direct payments by IPSA or (Con): What progress has been made on the creation the use of a credit card, the sort of misunderstanding of a liaison group between hon. Members and the that has just occurred could be avoided. Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. [34728] Helen Jones (Warrington North) (Lab): I declare an interest, as a member of the new liaison group. The The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir George House has made it clear that IPSA must reform to Young): My hon. Friend will be aware of your statement provide a simpler, cheaper and non-discriminatory expenses on this matter yesterday, Mr Speaker. I welcome the system, and the Prime Minister has told it that it must initiative, and I understand that the liaison group will “get a grip”. What assurances has the Leader of the meet soon. House had from IPSA that advice from the new liaison group will be take seriously in shaping that reform? Can Simon Hart: At present, IPSA costs the taxpayer he also tell us what tests the Government will apply in more than its predecessor and employs one member of deciding whether IPSA has reformed itself sufficiently staff for every nine Members of Parliament. Its bureaucracy or whether further action needs to be taken? is so complicated that it takes staff roughly 1,700 calls a week to unravel its complexities. Does the Leader of the Sir George Young: I welcome the fact that the hon. House consider that to be progress, and could he do the Lady will be serving on the liaison group; she will make taxpayer a great service by offering assistance in haste a really positive contribution to its proceedings. IPSA to the parliamentary standards— will take the new body seriously, because it was set up at IPSA’s suggestion. On her last point, it will not be for Mr Speaker: Order. I think we have got the gist of it, the Government to decide whether IPSA has responded but the hon. Gentleman’s question was too long. to the challenges that she has outlined; it will be a matter for the House. Sir George Young: I agree with my hon. Friend: there are opportunities to drive down the costs, and not just for IPSA, but for Members and their staff who have to operate the system. The existing regime was set up to a HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION challenging timetable, and IPSA is the first to recognise that improvements can be made. I hope that my hon. The hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Friend will respond to the review that is under way and Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, put forward suggestions for reducing the costs on both was asked— sides of the equation. Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) (Lab): Does the Savings Programme Leader of the House agree that the comments made over Christmas by a member of the IPSA board— 2. Hugh Bayley (York Central) (Lab): What assessment comments that were ill-informed and insulting to many the House of Commons Commission has made of the Members of Parliament—were not helpful in building a effects of its savings programme on the ability of positive relationship between this House and IPSA? Committees of the House to scrutinise the work of the Could he put those comments on the agenda for the Executive. [34729] liaison group’s first meeting? John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) Sir George Young: I agree with the hon. Gentleman (LD): A guiding principle of the savings programme, as that those comments were not helpful. I hope that one agreed by the Commission and the Finance and Services of the benefits of setting up the liaison group will be Committee, is that it must not damage the ability of the that we will now have a proper forum for consultation House to scrutinise the Executive. The Commission is between IPSA and the House, and that there will be no confident that the savings being made in 2011-12 will need to resort to public acrimony in the newspapers. I adhere to that principle and enable Committees of the hope that we will be able to have a sensible discussion House to continue to fulfil their vital scrutiny role, and and iron out some of the real difficulties that exist, this is a matter that we will keep a close eye on. without experiencing the kind of incidents to which the hon. Gentleman has just referred. Hugh Bayley: I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his new role. I understand why the House is making savings, Nicky Morgan (Loughborough) (Con): Earlier this but we would not find it acceptable if budget cuts week, because IPSA had failed to tell me that it had put prevented a quarter of our Members from travelling to in place a direct payment to my landlord of my London Westminster to attend debates or Committees. A few of 1005 Oral Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Oral Answers 1006 our Select Committees exist specifically to scrutinise the Jake Berry: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. impact and effectiveness of Government policies and He is, I know, aware that the rail line between Manchester expenditure abroad. Does the House of Commons and Clitheroe is in desperate need of improvement. If Commission accept that it is sometimes essential for the requisite number of signatures were collected by a those Committees to travel to other countries, and that, “clicktivism” or anything else, could it be debated in when they do so, none of their members should be this House and, if so, what impact does he think it excluded from their meetings? would have on Government policy?

John Thurso: The hon. Gentleman is a noted member Mr Heath: That is exactly the sort of issue that might of the International Development Committee. There well commend itself for a debate via the petition system. will be £800,000 for Select Committee travel in 2011-12. I commend my hon. Friend for his vigorous campaigning That is a substantial sum of money at a time of financial on the issue. Rather than wait for that to happen, he stringency, and the Commission believes that it will be might like to pursue the option of having an Adjournment sufficient for those occasions on which an overseas visit debate in order to debate the matter further. makes an essential contribution to an inquiry. The Committees that the hon. Gentleman has mentioned Richard Ottaway: Can the Minister say what a “direct will have a clear claim to be making essential inquiries, portal” is? As I understand it, petitions were made to but the way in which the budget is used is ultimately a No. 10, so I hope he is going to confirm that petitions matter for the Liaison Committee. will now go to the House of Commons and that the House of Commons will debate petitions to it, not to Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East) (Lab): I No. 10. welcome the hon. Gentleman to his post as well; he will do a good job. Is he aware that younger, and—dare I say it?—more progressive Members of the House scrutinise Mr Heath: Well, the petitions will be to the House of the Executive using social media such as Facebook and Commons, but the Government’s site will be used simply Twitter? Twitter is free. Will he give us an unequivocal because it is there. The “Directgov” site is the common commitment that Members should be able to use Twitter site for connexions via the internet to Government. I to hold the Government to account? believe that the address is www.direct.gov.uk, so the hon. Gentleman might like to look at it and see whether John Thurso: I deeply regret to inform the hon. it is a sensible portal to use—if he accepts the word Gentleman that I am a dinosaur when it comes to the “portal” at all. Twittery thing; I really have not a clue how it works. May I discuss the matter with him later to find out Henry Smith: What will be the role of the Backbench exactly what he is talking about? Business Committee in government e-petitions?

Mr Heath: The Committee itself made it clear in its first special report that in determining what business LEADER OF THE HOUSE should be taken, it would consider “public petitions recently submitted to the House and petitions published on the Downing Street website—until such time as a The Leader of the House was asked— system for electronic petitions to the House is implemented”. Petitions We very much welcome the Committee’s continued interest in e-petitions as a source of debate, and we will 3. Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con): What work with it and with the Procedure Committee in recent progress he has made on the Government’s plans making sure that we have a proper procedure for linking to link petitions to debates in the House. [34730] petitions to Parliament. 5. Richard Ottaway (Croydon South) (Con): What recent progress he has made on the Government’s plans Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab): to link petitions to debates in the House. [34732] I am very surprised that the Deputy Leader of the House has not followed the Scottish Parliament system 6. Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): What recent for public petitions, given that that has been widely progress he has made on the Government’s plans to praised both by his predecessor and by hon. Members link petitions to debates in the House. [34733] on both sides of the House. Will he briefly outline why there is such a divergence between the 10-year-plus The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the Leader of Scottish Parliament system and this system? the House of Commons (Mr David Heath): As the Leader of the House has said, the Government will Mr Heath: I do not think that there is a huge divergence. move the online petition system to the Directgov portal We looked at the Scottish system and at whether it was soon—certainly before the summer. Officials are now applicable. The Procedure Committee, as the hon. working on an effective verification system to ensure Gentleman knows, has also looked at the issue. We have that petitions become a useful tool for engaging with the Directgov site in place, and we are keen for people the Government, in contrast to the gimmicky approach to be able to put petitions before the House at the of the previous Government’s No. 10 petition site. My earliest opportunity—and this provides the earliest briefing notes say that, at this point, I should use the opportunity. As I said, I hope we can get it up and pseudo-word “clicktivism”, a neologism as ugly as it is running before the summer. If the Procedure Committee unintelligible. I have no intention of associating myself has further views on how the system could be changed with it. in the future, we would certainly be open to its suggestions. 1007 Oral Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Oral Answers 1008

Pre-Adjournment Debate on other occasions in the parliamentary timetable as well. Would the Deputy Leader of the House welcome 4. Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con): What that? assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the format of the pre-Adjournment debate held on 21 December Mr Heath: I always welcome opportunities for Back 2010. [34731] Benchers to have their say on matters that concern them and their constituents, and I am always happy to make The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the Leader of myself available to respond to such debates. I am sure the House of Commons (Mr David Heath): MayIsay that my ministerial colleagues would say the same. how much I welcome the decision of the Backbench HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION Business Committee to retain the pre-recess Adjournment debate, which is a venerable institution, as indeed are The hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter the contributions of the hon. Member for Southend Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, West (Mr Amess) to it, as they always provide a tour was asked— d’horizon of his constituency? We are always very pleased to know what is going on in Southend West. Procedural Data Programme Mr Amess: I congratulate the Backbench Business 7. Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (LD): What Committee and its excellent Chairman on their innovative progress the procedural data programme has made on work and I am delighted that all those who wanted to the provision in electronic form to the Official Report speak in that Adjournment debate were called, but does of the text of answers to parliamentary questions. the Minister have any feel for whether the new arrangements have achieved the objectives on ministerial responses? [34735] John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) Mr Heath: I think that ministerial responses—I set (LD): On 16 December, the procedural data programme aside my own efforts—were better than usual, simply board agreed to the project initiation document for a because they were informed by a pre-knowledge of the pilot project on electronic delivery of answers. That topics that Members intended to raise. pilot is due to end in March 2011. The project team will Forty-five Members participated in the debate on produce a report recommending next steps, which the 21 December 2010, compared with 23 in 2009 and 25 in board will consider in May. 2008, and I believe that according to most measures that must be considered a success. Jo Swinson: I was astonished to learn of the inefficient process by which—in the 21st century—written answers Natascha Engel (North East Derbyshire) (Lab): Not are published in Hansard. They are typed in the Department only did 45 Members speak, but every Member who and delivered by hand to the House as a print-out, at wanted to speak was able to do so. The fact that six which point the Hansard reporters have to type them Ministers responded from the Dispatch Box made the again. I am glad that the Commission is considering occasion very popular with Back Benchers, and also changing the process, but may I urge it to do so quickly, ensured that they were much more able to hold the and to recognise that short-term costs such as the cost Government to account. The debate was in its usual of the necessary software will be outweighed by long-term slot, but does the Deputy Leader of the House welcome savings in staff time? the fact that the Backbench Business Committee has done some innovating of its own? John Thurso: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her approval of the steps that the Commission is taking. Mr Heath: I think it is terrific that the Backbench The process is somewhat complicated, not least because Business Committee is prepared to consider new ways no two Departments use exactly the same technology of doing things in order to establish whether we can when preparing answers, and a large amount of business improve the procedures of the House, and I can only analysis must be conducted to produce a sufficiently congratulate it on doing so. I am particularly grateful to detailed understanding of their working practices. However, the hon. Lady for ensuring that I had sufficient time in resource expenditure of £34,970 has been invested in which to address, at least briefly, the points raised in the the project, and we will work as expeditiously as possible debate. to arrive at a resolution. I know—my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Does my hon. Friend House will announce it later—that the hon. Lady’s agree that we would save a huge amount of money if Committee has decided that there is scope for a debate written answers and early-day motions were published on parliamentary reform, and I think that that too is electronically rather than being printed? extremely useful. We will work closely with the Committee in trying to do things better in future, and I hope that John Thurso: A key part of the savings programme as the hon. Lady will continue her good work. a whole is considering all the instances in which the use of electronic media would improve the service to Members Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): There is no and reduce costs, while also having the environmental reason why the end-of-term Adjournment debate need benefit of reducing the use of paper. The Commission take place only at the end of term. It could take place certainly intends to consider those matters. 1009 20 JANUARY 2011 Counter-Terrorism 1010

Counter-Terrorism we need appropriate powers to deal with that threat but that those powers must not interfere with the hard-won civil liberties of the British people. There is a difficult 11.34 am balance to be struck between protecting our security Ed Balls (Morley and Outwood) (Lab/Co-op) (Urgent and defending our civil liberties. The outcome of our Question): To ask the Home Secretary what the counter-terrorism powers review will strike that balance, Government’s policy is on 28-day pre-charge detention. and it is this Government’s sincere hope that it will form the basis of a lasting political consensus across the The Minister for Immigration (Damian Green): The House on this fundamentally important issue. Home Secretary is in Budapest at an informal meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, so I will be Ed Balls: We are in the unusual constitutional position responding on her behalf. As the Home Secretary, Prime of having the Government make an announcement in Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have made clear, response to an urgent question on a vital matter of the first duty of any Government is to protect the national security. I shall return to that issue at the end British public and we will not do anything that risks our of my comments. security. The arrests of individuals for terrorism-related First, I agree with the Minister that keeping the offences before Christmas, the cargo bomb plot in October public safe and striking the right balance between security and the bombings in Stockholm in December have all and the protection of liberties is a vital task facing demonstrated that the threat from international terrorism any Government. That is why when I became Home remains a serious one. Secretary—[Interruption.] When I became shadow Home On 13 July last year, the Home Secretary announced Secretary, I told the Home Secretary that it was our that she was renewing the current order for 28-day intention, as a responsible Opposition, to support the pre-charge detention for six months, while the powers Government on issues of national security and on were considered as part of a wider review of counter- the review of counter-terrorism powers. That was on terrorism powers. As the Home Secretary will be giving the basis that decisions were made on the basis of a full statement to the House on Wednesday on the evidence and were in the national interest, and that outcome of that review, it would be wrong of me to there was an orderly process. pre-empt her statement by giving details of the review That is still our intention, but this process has not today. been orderly—it has been a complete shambles. I am This Government are clear that the power to detain not referring only to the way in which this review has terrorist suspects for up to 28 days’ detention before been delayed and delayed—it was first promised, last they were charged or released was meant to be an July, to be completed by the end of last summer. Nor exceptional power—that was always Parliament’s intention. am I referring only to the countless and very detailed But under the last Government, it became the norm, leaks and briefings to the BBC on the outcome of the with the renewal of 28 days repeatedly brought before review. Such leaks have continued over the weekend— the House, despite the power rarely being used. Since following my point of order of eight days ago—including July 2007, no one has been held for longer than 14 days, to The Sun on the funding of surveillance. I have to say despite the many terrorists arrested since then. That is a that this is no way to make announcements on vital testament to the efforts of our prosecutors, our police issues of national security. and our intelligence agencies. There is a third reason, which is the reason for this As I said, the Home Secretary will, next Wednesday, urgent question today. When the Home Secretary announce to the House the findings from the wider announced her review in July, she extended 28 days review of counter-terrorism and security powers. She pre-charge detention for a further six months until will set out the detailed considerations of the Government 24 January and she said to the House: in determining whether the current regime of 28 days “After that, it will be up to me as Home Secretary to come back should be renewed and, if not, what should be put in its to the House to ask for a further extension, to let the limit fall to place. In the interim, I can announce that the Government 14 days, or to present new proposals that reduce the limit but will not be seeking to extend the order allowing the introduce contingency arrangements in extreme circumstances.”— maximum 28-day limit and, accordingly, the current [Official Report, 14 July 2010; Vol. 513, c. 1007.] order will lapse on 25 January and the maximum limit The Home Secretary has not come back to the House. I of pre-charge detention will, from that time, revert to said that we would support a change on the basis of the 14 days. We are clear that 14 days should be the norm evidence. There has been no evidence. There are no and that the law should reflect that. However, we will details of contingency arrangements. We are told that place draft emergency legislation in the House Library there will be a statement on Wednesday, but the policy to extend the maximum period to 28 days to prepare for on 28 days collapses by default on Monday. the very exceptional circumstances when a longer period In the absence of the Home Secretary, will the Minister may be required. If Parliament approved, the maximum tell the House what will happen on Monday if a terror period of pre-charge detention could be extended by suspect is detained? What will be the period of detention? that method. Do the police and security services agree that this power In the Government’s announcement on the wider is now not needed? Is that in the evidence in the as yet review, the Home Secretary will set out what contingency unpublished review? Do the Government really intend measures should be introduced in order to ensure that to let this happen by default, with no statement, no our ability to bring terrorists to justice is as effective as announcement and no evidence presented to the House? possible. This country continues to face a real and I must say that this is a deeply arrogant way for the serious threat from terrorism. That threat is unlikely to Government to treat this House. It is a shambolic way diminish any time soon. The Government are clear that to make policy on vital issues of national security. 1011 Counter-Terrorism20 JANUARY 2011 Counter-Terrorism 1012

Should not the Minister go away, come back this I am afraid that nothing he has said today has illustrated afternoon to make a proper statement, publish the that what he claimed to think last week is what he evidence and allow right hon. and hon. Members to ask actually thinks this week. He should go away and think the questions that should be asked, rather than allowing hard about the serious nature of his job. the Government to treat them with such contempt? Several hon. Members rose— Damian Green: I am sorry that I shot the shadow Home Secretary’s fox before he stood up with what was Mr Speaker: Order. There is understandably intense clearly a pre-written statement that did not bother with interest in this subject, but there is also pressure on time anything I actually announced—[Interruption.] The with the business statement to follow and thereafter two right hon. Gentleman asked a question; I gave a substantive important and well-subscribed debates to take place answer. He seems to object to that. I have come to the under the auspices of the Backbench Business Committee. House of Commons to give a substantive answer to a Brevity from those on the Back Bench and Front alike question. I can understand why the noisy and excited is, on this occasion, not just desirable but essential. Opposition Front Benchers are confused by this process, because under their Government there was never any Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD): Does substantive answer to an urgent question. It clearly came the Minister agree that the coalition’s approach to counter- as a huge shock to the shadow Home Secretary that he terrorism judiciously balances the country’s security actually had an answer, because it was clear from the needs with the defence of our precious civil liberties in rest of what he said that he had not listened to any of it. contrast with the Opposition’s approach, which relied The right hon. Gentleman’s substantive point was on draconian and counter-productive counter-terrorism that he wanted the counter-terrorism powers review measures that were highly damaging to fundamental earlier. I think that in his more serious moments he British rights and were ineffective from a security might recognise that, rather than rush a review of perspective? something as important as counter-terrorism powers, it is important to get it right. In this area of vital national Damian Green: My hon. Friend is exactly right. We interest and the security of our country, the Government need to strike a new and better balance, not just in the will not be driven, as his Government too often were, by interests of civil liberties but in the interests of security. the media agenda. We will take the right amount of The wider the co-operation we have with the police and time and get it right. security services, the more secure we will all be. The The right hon. Gentleman’s other point was about better balance we are now striking is a significant step process. He had the cheek to talk about process in forward in achieving that. relation to counter-terrorism powers. I shall not take any lectures on process from the party that tried to use Mr David Blunkett (Sheffield, Brightside and pre-charge detention as a political tool, that tried to Hillsborough) (Lab): I was the Home Secretary who impose 90 days detention, then 60 days, then 42 days—a increased the time from seven days to 14, not 28, and I party that, when that proposal was turned down by think there is good reason for a balanced and sensible the House of Lords, finally and grudgingly settled for approach. But why are we able to have just one 28 days. The shambles of counter-terrorism powers was announcement on one part of the review without evidence precisely illustrated by the disasters of the previous today instead of the total review being announced? Do Government. we have to wait until next Wednesday simply because The right hon. Gentleman asked about the timing of the Home Secretary happens to be at an informal when he will get the evidence. If he ever paid any meeting in Budapest as part of her duties within the attention to the proceedings of this House, he would European Union? What is the difference between today have heard my right hon. Friend the Leader of the and next Wednesday? House announce last week that the Home Secretary would make the statement that I have just talked about Damian Green: The right hon. Gentleman rather next week. I announced earlier that the statement would makes my point. I repeat that my right hon. Friend the be made on Wednesday, but there is an underlying Leader of the House said last week that the Home serious point that the House needs to address, which is Secretary would make a statement next week, and I am the importance of balancing the security of the British now able to reveal that it will be next Wednesday, so he people with the need to maintain our civil liberties. We asks the correct question: why are we doing this now? need no lectures on that from the right hon. Gentleman. We are doing it now because the right hon. Member for One of the most damaging failures of the Government Morley and Outwood (Ed Balls) asked an urgent question in which he was a leading figure was an inability to and I have shocked him by giving a substantive answer. strike that balance between security and civil liberties. I make no apology for that. At every turn, the Labour Government trampled on civil liberties, not just with their attempt to impose Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): Can my 90 days detention but with their databases on children hon. Friend explain why this welcome announcement and their ID card scheme. No amount of sanctimonious appeared prematurely in so many media outlets at the bluster from the Labour party can disguise their shocking same time? We always criticised that when we were in record on civil liberties and security. This Government opposition and I would have hoped we would take firm will repair their mistakes in that area. action against leaks now that we are in government. My final thought for the right hon. Gentleman is that he said in his blog last week: Damian Green: I have no idea where that information “I want to support the Home Secretary in reaching a new came from. I can only say that nothing to do with any of consensus about counter-terrorism policy”, this has ever come out from me or my office. 1013 Counter-Terrorism20 JANUARY 2011 Counter-Terrorism 1014

Mr David Winnick (Walsall North) (Lab): It is when the order lapses, so that Parliament can question unfortunate if the House of Commons is not told the the Home Secretary on these matters? That is a way to position before the media and I fully endorse what the resolve this rather unfortunate state of affairs. hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr Lewis) just said. Will the Minister accept that it is a welcome step that Damian Green: The right hon. Gentleman will have the 28 days is being reduced to 14 days, because 28-day heard me say several times that the statement has long detention was never meant to be permanent? As for been planned for next week, and it was announced to party polemics, the 90-day limit was defeated as a result the House that it would be made then. With regard of Labour Members. One thing I should like to know is to the deadline being Monday, it is entirely reasonable why, if we are to reduce the length to 14 days, the Home that the law should revert to what it was. It was a Secretary will have reserve powers? It should be 14 days temporary emergency arrangement for six months, which without any particular powers being given to the Home would lapse on Monday anyway. To try to equate that Secretary that would not have the authority of the with the wider counter-terrorism review is not quite House of Commons. right. As I have said repeatedly, the Home Secretary has always planned to come to the House to talk about the Damian Green: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman very important wider counter-terrorism review. Indeed, for his support and for his long and distinguished the House was given unusually long notice of when she history on the Home Affairs Committee of fighting for would appear, so it has been kept entirely in the loop civil liberties. As he knows, he and I have often agreed on this. on these matters, and I am glad to make an announcement of this sort today. He makes a perfectly reasonable Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD): I thank the point about the reserve powers. I should emphasise that Minister for his helpful statement on the end of 28-day it will be a draft Bill, only to be used in emergency detention without charge. Can he assure me that the circumstances, which the House would have to approve statement will have a focus on surveillance with an aim at the time. It is not a question of in any way leaving to prosecution, rather than punishment without trial? 28 days on the statute book. On the issue of leaks, I will certainly take lectures from the hon. Gentleman. I do Damian Green: The statement will have as its root the find it just a tad hypocritical to hear those on the security of the British people. As I have said, it would Labour Front Bench and new Labour apparatchiks— be wrong of me to pre-empt the Home Secretary’s [Interruption.] statement on Wednesday, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government, unlike the previous Mr Speaker: Order. I can deal with these matters. Government, take very seriously the civil liberties part First of all, the reply was a bit on the long side. of the balance. Secondly, the hon. Gentleman will withdraw the word “hypocritical”, please. Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): When I moved the motion for 28-day detention as the Minister with Damian Green: I of course withdraw the word responsibility for counter-terrorism in the last Parliament, “hypocritical”, and replace it with “surprising”. the Conservative party did not oppose it. After the election, it proposed a six-month period for a review, Mr Speaker: I am extremely grateful. pending evidence. In order for Ministers to be able to account to the House, when will that evidence be presented, Mr Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con): so that we can be assured that 28 days will not put at I welcome the fact that my hon. Friend has been able to risk the people of Britain? give information to the House today, perfectly properly provoked by an urgent question from the Opposition Damian Green: As I have said on many occasions, the Front-Bench spokesman. May we all reflect on the fact Home Secretary will make a statement on Wednesday. that the timing of these matters has reflected the The right hon. Gentleman can ask her questions about extraordinary complexity and difficulty of dealing with it then. these matters, and one might take the criticisms from the Opposition Front Bench a bit more seriously if they had less of a party political flavour about them? Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con): I welcome the news that we will have the results of the review on Damian Green: My hon. Friend makes a very wise Wednesday. Will it also include results of the review point. I am still not entirely clear whether those on the into extradition powers, and in particular the European Opposition Front Bench support this, because the shadow arrest warrant? Home Secretary neglected to say that. Damian Green: As my hon. Friend knows, there are Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): There may be support reviews on a number of matters. She tempts me down for the substance of what the Minister has said today, the path of pre-empting what the Home Secretary will but what concerns the House is the fact that we have say on Wednesday, but it would be sensible for me to had to wait for an urgent question to be asked before continue to resist that temptation. being given this information. It is unsatisfactory. The Minister for Security was clear to the Select Committee Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): when she appeared before us last December that Parliament Will the Minister promise me that he will take absolutely would be told first about these matters and that it would no lessons from 90-day Labour when it comes to detention; not appear in the newspapers. Is not the best course of a Labour Government who perhaps had the worst action to move the statement from Wednesday to Monday, possible record of any modern European Government 1015 Counter-Terrorism20 JANUARY 2011 Counter-Terrorism 1016 when it comes to civil liberties? I, too, welcome what he Damian Green: As I said in my statement, the first says about 28 days, but will he say a little more today duty of any Government is the security of the people, about what he means by these reserve powers? but that has to be balanced against the wider civil liberties that my hon. Friend and I both hold dear. Damian Green: The hon. Gentleman is entirely right. What we are achieving is the proper balance. What was Not only is it surprising that Labour Members are so in place before was unbalanced and, as I just said in worried about leaks; it is equally surprising that they answer to our hon. Friend the Member for Esher and can bring themselves to talk about civil liberties given Walton (Mr Raab), it was not contributing to extra their shambolic and dreadful record on that issue. That safety against terrorism, but was potentially a power in is precisely why the reserve powers that we propose will the hands of the state that could have been abused. My be in the form of a draft Bill, so that nothing can be hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough (Mr Leigh) done without the full consent of Parliament—even in will not want the state to have powers that it could the most dire emergency, which we can all imagine potentially abuse. happening—if it is thought that we need to revert to a longer period of pre-charge detention. It will be for Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East) (Lab): I have Parliament to decide, and that is absolutely the right a hunch that both sides of the House could have united way to proceed. on a position around the reduction of pre-trial detention. But given that the Minister has just said that the security Mr Dominic Raab (Esher and Walton) (Con): I welcome threat is such that the House should retain some form the statement and the fact that the trajectory of pre-charge of emergency powers, is it not reasonable to ask that the detention under this Government is going down, not Home Secretary should have come and put the evidence up, as it did under the last Government. We will have for that to the House? Can the Minister confirm that it wait and see what the legislation says and look at the was the intention of his Department to make this detail, but can my hon. Friend confirm one point in announcement by written ministerial statement on Monday, relation to evidence? A lot of evidence is already in the which would not have allowed any debate? public domain in the form of the Home Office statistical bulletins, which show that in more than four years we Damian Green: The hon. Gentleman makes a reasonable have never needed 28-day pre-charge detention. Will he point about the reserve powers. The significant change confirm that, and also that he has not seen any is that instead of having something on the statute book countervailing evidence that contradicts that? to be used without any parliamentary scrutiny, we propose that Parliament should be able to act quickly, because Damian Green: My hon. Friend, who is a considerable we can imagine circumstances in which quick action is expert on these matters, is of course right. No one has needed, while not leaving these onerous and draconian been detained for more than 14 days since July 2007, powers on the statute book. That seems to be a significant despite the many terrorist outrages that we have regrettably step forward towards proper balance and to giving seen since then. To put the House fully in the picture, to Parliament more power over the process, which I am date, 11 individuals have been held for more than 14 days sure that he would welcome. pre-charge, six of whom were held for the maximum 28 days, three of whom were charged and three were Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): Is not proper border released without charge. Again, for the those on the control an essential part of a review to deal with terrorism? Opposition Front Bench to talk about evidence when It is no good building a police state at home if we allow they tried to foist 90 days on the House without any pretty much anyone, be they friend or foe, to wander evidence at all was completely disrespectful. into the country. Will the Minister consider stronger measures? Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab): The Minister’s claims would have more credibility if it were not for the whoops and tweets coming from those Damian Green: My hon. Friend makes a good point. on the Liberal Democrat Benches. Can he not accept Clearly, having strong and secure borders is one of the that this will be seen in the country as a shabby political essential elements in our fight against international deal to make up for their failure in the Oldham by-election terrorism, and that, as he knows, is why one of the and a desperate attempt to hold the coalition together Government’s priorities is to make our borders more rather than doing what is best for national security? secure. We have been making significant progress on that over the past nine months. Damian Green: That is a new low. It will be seen in the country as a significant step forward to achieving a Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab): Perhaps the proper balance between security and civil liberties, which Minister should ask the Secretary of State for Education is the responsibility of any sensible Government. to include the history of civil liberties in his new national curriculum so that people can be reminded that it was a Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): All the Conservative Cabinet that introduced internment without pressure on this comes from the civil liberties lobby. trial for UK citizens. May I urge my hon. Friend to put the safety of the As the Minister knows, there were arrests and charges British people first? I suspect that most people in London, in Cardiff before Christmas relating to terrorist activities. if it were a choice between their daughters being blown Does he understand that my constituents would welcome up on a London tube or a terrorist who hates everything the retention, which I think he has announced, of the we stand for spending 28 days in relative comfort before possibility to extend detention to 28 days, albeit by a being charged, would choose the latter. So act on the different method? Had that been necessary for public evidence and put the safety of the people first. protection in the case to which I have referred, that 1017 Counter-Terrorism20 JANUARY 2011 Counter-Terrorism 1018

[Kevin Brennan] Damian Green: It would be inappropriate for me to comment on any individual cases on the Floor of the would have been the right thing to do. Can he confirm House. I am sure that my hon. Friend understands that that he is retaining 28-day detention as a possibility, this is not a venue where one should discuss individual albeit after a parliamentary procedure? police activity.

Damian Green: As I have explained, a draft Bill will Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Although I be available so that Parliament can act if it needs to in a support the reduction to 14 days, Her Majesty’s Government particular emergency. With regard to the arrests made are not treating Parliament properly on this issue. The before Christmas, it is important to look at what has Home Secretary will be in the House on Monday to happened. Since July 2007, no one has had to be held take Home Office questions, so presumably it would be for more than 14 days, despite the many terrorist actions perfectly possible for her to make a statement then. The and the planned actions that, happily, have been stopped Order Paper does not list any statement on the issue for by the good actions of the police and security forces. I Wednesday. hope that the hon. Gentleman, as someone who considers these matters carefully, will welcome the change we are making today and that the shadow Home Secretary can Damian Green: The Order Paper for Wednesday is yet do likewise at some stage. to be produced, so I am not entirely sure about the force of my hon. Friend’s statement. As he says, those who are eager to question the Home Secretary will have the Mr Robert Buckland (South Swindon) (Con): Will chance to do so on Monday anyway, so I am sure that the outcome of the review ensure that we go back to we can return to the issue. first principles: namely, that the task of security and intelligence should not be confused with the role of the criminal justice system, and that to conflate the two and Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): Recently, the Leader warp the principles of criminal justice would be to fall of the Opposition defended many of the decisions into the sort of error that the previous Government fell made by the previous Government, of which he was a into? member, and now we hear from the shadow Home Secretary that he questions the decision about 28-day Damian Green: My hon. Friend makes an extremely detention. Does the Minister agree that there are some good point. It is precisely because we live in dangerous worrying splits in Her Majesty’s official Opposition on times and need to consider carefully what powers we the vital issues of civil liberties and national security? have to fight terrorism that we should be all the more careful not to erode the principles of criminal justice Damian Green: That may well be true, but I genuinely and civil liberties for which this House has always hope that the Opposition can bring themselves to a stood. position in which they can balance security and civil liberties appropriately. The Leader of the Opposition Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): I strongly support and the shadow Home Secretary have admitted that the reduction of detention without charge from 28 days Labour got the balance between security and civil liberties to 14 days. Would the Minister confirm that there is no wrong. I look forward to the day when they can turn one currently in custody who will have to be released by those fine words into some sort of concrete action and Wednesday because their detention period has gone support the Government when we take measured and beyond 14 days? sensible steps, such as those we are taking today. 1019 20 JANUARY 2011 Business of the House 1020

Business of the House strange. If all the upheaval really is about a better deal for patients, why can the Prime Minister not make that simple promise? Is not the truth that he just knows he 12.5 pm cannot do so, because the Health Secretary took his Hilary Benn (Leeds Central) (Lab): Will the Leader colleagues by surprise with his plans, and the Minister of the House give us the business for next week? of State, Cabinet Office, the right hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr Letwin), has to be brought in because The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir George No. 10 got the jitters. It is the same old story: the Tories Young): The business for next week is as follows: in charge of the NHS spells trouble. Is that why the Education Secretary yesterday told people from the MONDAY 24 JANUARY—Continuation of Consideration in Committee of the European Union Bill (Day 2). Dispatch Box to vote Liberal Democrat? TUESDAY 25 JANUARY— Continuation of Consideration Moving on to another broken promise—namely, that in Committee of the European Union Bill (Day 3). those with the broadest shoulders would bear the greatest burden—may we have a debate on the plan to take the WEDNESDAY 26 JANUARY—Continuation of Consideration mobility component of disability living allowance away in Committee of the European Union Bill (Day 4). from people living in care homes? When the Prime THURSDAY 27 JANUARY—Second Reading of the Scotland Minister was asked about this last week, he said that Bill. “there should be a similar approach for people who are in The provisional business for the week commencing hospital and for people who are in residential care homes.”—[Official 31 January will include: Report, 12 January 2011; Vol. 521, c. 282.] MONDAY 31 JANUARY—Second Reading of the Health That reply shows exactly why the Prime Minister does and Social Care Bill. not get it. The right comparison for people in care TUESDAY 1FEBRUARY—Conclusion of Consideration homes is not with those who are in hospital, who do not in Committee of the European Union Bill (Day 5). plan to live there, but with those living in their own WEDNESDAY 2FEBRUARY—Opposition Day [10th Allotted homes, and they will continue to get help with their Day]. There will be a debate on an Opposition motion. mobility. The Government will have to change their Subject to be announced, followed by motion to approve mind on that issue, just as they had to on school sport European documents relating to Her Majesty’s Treasury. and are in the process of doing on prisoners voting. It is wrong, it is unfair and it hits those whose shoulders THURSDAY 3FEBRUARY—Motion relating to consumer cannot be described as the broadest, and, when those credit regulation and debt management, followed by a people find out that their current support, which enables general debate on reform of Legal Aid. The subjects for them to go to the shops, to church, or to see friends and both debates were nominated by the Backbench Business family, is being taken by the Prime Minister, there will Committee. be outrage. FRIDAY 4FEBRUARY—Private Members’ Bills. Talking of which, may we also have a debate on the I should also like to inform the House that the plans to sell off the nation’s much loved woodlands and business in Westminster Hall for 3 February will be a forests? The last time the Tories were in office, that is debate on parliamentary reform. exactly what they did, and they are at it again—only this time with Liberal Democrat support. Now, that is Hilary Benn: I thank the Leader of the House for that very strange, too, because visitors to the Scottish Lib statement. Given what we have just heard from the Dem website can find a page opposing the sale of Minister for Immigration, will the Leader of the House forests. There is a photo on it of the Chief Secretary to please consider bringing forward the Home Secretary’s the Treasury, looking very stern and holding a placard statement to Monday, as has been suggested on both that says “Save our Forests”. sides of the House. In case Members are somewhat puzzled, it seems that The Second Reading of the Health and Social Care the Chief Secretary is passionately opposed to selling Bill really cannot come soon enough, because it has off forests in Scotland but wholly in favour of the sale not been a very good week for the Government’s NHS of forests in England. If there is one thing that is even reforms, has it? On Monday, the Prime Minister was worse than breaking one’s promise, it is saying one completely unable to explain why spending billions of thing in one place and the exact opposite in another—but pounds on turning everything upside down will actually as all of us know, the Lib Dems are world-class at that. I help patients, especially when, as John Humphrys helpfully know that the Leader of the House will agree to my pointed out, we have seen big improvements over the request for a debate, because he supports the procedure past 13 years. On Tuesday, the Health Committee called whereby petitions with more than 100,000 signatures the changes “disruptive”, stating that they were creating trigger a debate in Parliament. So if I tell him that the “widespread uncertainty” and had taken the NHS by petition opposing the sale of our forests has 160,000 names surprise. Could that be because the Prime Minister on it, and it does, can he tell us on what date that debate assured people before the election, when he was going will take place? around the country making promises as opposed to breaking them, that there would be no top-down Topical questions have been very effective in helping reorganisation? to hold Ministers to account. Does the Leader of the Yesterday, the Prime Minister could not answer a House agree that we should extend them to those very simple question from the Leader of the Opposition. Departments that still do not have them? Three times he was asked to confirm that waiting times Finally, on 8 March we will celebrate the centenary of for NHS patients would not rise as a result of what he is international women’s day. As the Leader of the House doing, and three times he failed to do so. This is very will be aware, for a number of years there has been a 1021 Business of the House20 JANUARY 2011 Business of the House 1022

[Hilary Benn] hon. Member for North East Derbyshire and her Backbench Business Committee. He is perfectly entitled debate in the House on that day, so will he join me in to go along at 4 pm or whenever it is to make a pitch for encouraging the Backbench Business Committee to mark a debate on women’s day. It will certainly have my that special occasion? support.

Sir George Young: I am grateful to the right hon. Several hon. Members rose— Gentleman for the points that he makes. He asks for a debate on the Health and Social Care Bill, and he is Mr Speaker: Order. A very large number of right getting one, as I have just announced, so all the issues hon. and hon. Members are seeking to catch my eye. that he has just raised can be dealt with then. We made Ordinarily, as the House knows, I seek to accommodate a commitment, which his party did not, to spend more everybody at business questions, but that might not on the NHS, and we are reforming it to put more prove possible today, with heavy pressure on time and resources into front-line services. Against that background, very well subscribed Backbench Business Committee-led the prospects for those on waiting lists or those concerned debates, so I emphasise that there is a premium on about waiting times are better under this Administration single, short supplementary questions without preamble, than they would have been had his party been elected. and on the Leader of the House’s characteristically brief replies. The right hon. Gentleman asks for a debate on disability living allowance, and I recognise the concerns Mr Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster) about that. He can have a debate about DLA: again, I (Con): Following the Leader of the House’s written announced that there would be a debate on an Opposition statement this morning, might I respectfully suggest to motion the week after next, so he can choose to debate him that, just for once on MPs’ pay and conditions, he DLA. I recognise the concern, but I hope he accepts tries to be wise before the event? Regaining the trust of that there are complicated issues. There are contractual the general public after the calamitous expenses scandal obligations on certain care homes to make provision for requires that this House abides in full by the independent some elements of mobility; some local authorities have reviews, come rain or shine. requirements as part of their contracts with care homes to make provision for mobility; and people in residential Sir George Young: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. It homes are by and large sponsored by social services, but will be for the House to decide whether to go ahead some are sponsored by the NHS, so different conditions with the 1% pay increase that has come about through apply. On the broader issue, we are consulting to see the machinery that was set up in 2008. The coalition how the specific provisions on DLA will be introduced, Government have made their position on public sector and primary legislation will be necessary to make any pay very clear: we think that there should be a two-year changes to its mobility component. pay freeze; that unless one earns less than £21,000 a Under the previous regime the Forestry Commission freeze is a freeze; and that for those who earn under sold many thousands of acres without any requirements £21,000 the increase should amount to £250. Members at all, but if the current proposals go through there will earn substantially more than £21,000, and I believe that be specific requirements on those who acquire assets the House will want to reflect very carefully before it from the national forest to continue to make provision takes a 1% pay increase against the background of the for access and other concerns—requirements that do restraint that many other people, earning much less not apply at the moment. So making transfers from the than we do, have to face over the next two years. So I Forestry Commission to other owners will not have the hope the House will come to a collective view when the adverse consequences that the right hon. Gentleman motion is laid and agree that it is right for Members to suggests. exercise restraint for the time being. We had an exchange on petitions that achieve a certain number of signatures, which my hon. Friend the Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North) (Lab): Given that Deputy Leader of the House answered. If the trigger is the NHS reforms will boost the earnings of private reached and a petition hits the 100,000 mark, it becomes sector health companies, and given that those same eligible for a debate, and its future is then decided by the health companies are pouring funds into the Conservative hon. Member for North East Derbyshire (Natascha party, may we have a debate on the conflict of interest Engel), who is in her place. between Ministers and those firms? I have a lot of sympathy with the right hon. Gentleman’s Sir George Young: I do not believe there is that point about a topical slot for those Departments conflict of interest. The people who will benefit from with 30-minute Question Times: the Department for the private sector’s greater involvement in the NHS are International Development and, I think, those for Scotland the patients, because they will have access to services at and Wales. a competitive price, and we will get better value for money from the NHS. The hon. Gentleman will know Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab): that under the previous Administration intermediate And Northern Ireland. treatment centres were parachuted into the NHS without its being able to compete on a level playing field, so I Sir George Young: And Northern Ireland. I take that strongly rebut his allegation. point seriously, so I shall have discussions through the usual channels to see whether we can make some progress. Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD): May we have a The women’s day debate is important. If the right statement on the 50 written ministerial statements made hon. Gentleman looks at the Wright Committee’s so far in 2011? During that time, I believe there have recommendations, he will see that the issue falls to the been only two oral statements, fewer in fact than the 1023 Business of the House20 JANUARY 2011 Business of the House 1024 number of urgent questions you have afforded, Mr Speaker. has issued its report on the referendum issues under the In that statement, will the Leader of the House endorse European Union Bill? The ministerial statement issued my suggestion at the recent Procedure Committee inquiry today by the Minister for Europe covers ground relating that MPs should be able to force timely further scrutiny to these issues in the Bill, and it would have been far of written ministerial statements either here on in better to have made an oral statement and not to set a Westminster Hall? pattern for future ministerial statements that are bound to lead to a whole series of urgent questions as and Sir George Young: This Administration are making when these matters are raised. roughly 50% more ministerial statements than the preceding Administration. Indeed, we were criticised for bringing Sir George Young: My hon. Friend may have seen on forward a ministerial statement yesterday, so it is difficult the Order Paper that the Government have allocated an to strike the right balance. The hon. Gentleman refers extra day to debate the Bill, in which he is taking a very to work by the Procedure Committee, which is looking close interest. He may have an opportunity during its at ministerial statements. This Administration are always passage to raise the specific issues that he mentions. On anxious to come to the House to make statements, but his request for more oral statements, I repeat that the we have to take into account the business that follows, Government have to balance the need for the House to as Mr Speaker has just mentioned, and get the right know what Ministers are up to with the need for the balance between time for statements and time for debates House to make progress on the business that has been about Opposition motions, Back-Bench motions or other set out for the day. legislative proposals. Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) (Lab): Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP): Will the Last week I raised with the Leader of the House the Leader of the House consider a debate on the removal inaccuracy in the answering of questions by the Department of the aggregates levy by the European Commission at for Transport on important issues of shipping safety. As a time when the Treasury is working with the Northern yet, I have heard nothing from the Department. Has he Ireland Executive to rebalance the Northern Ireland heard anything, or is the Bermuda triangle getting economy? bigger and bigger?

Sir George Young: I understand the concern in Northern Sir George Young: I well remember the exchange that Ireland about that proposal. I cannot promise time for a I had with the hon. Gentleman last week, when I think I debate, but might I suggest that the hon. Lady puts in a apologised for any discourtesy. I will make urgent inquiries bid for an Adjournment debate or a debate in Westminster today and ensure that he is put in the picture. I am sorry Hall, so that she can give the issue the attention that it if he has not heard anything between last week and deserves? today. Nick de Bois (Enfield North) (Con): Will the Leader of the House arrange for a statement by the Treasury Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): Will my right on the future of the business mileage car fuel allowance, hon. Friend make time for a debate on the Public Accounts which has remained unchanged for many years despite Committee report when it is published, particularly the massive increase in fuel prices? It results in many following the evidence given yesterday by Sir Nicholas people who are remunerated only on the statutory scale Macpherson that under the previous Government spending being out of pocket for just doing their job. across a range of Departments was out of control? That would give the House the opportunity to hear how the Government are going to fix the problem and give the Sir George Young: My hon. Friend raises an important Opposition an opportunity to apologise for the mess issue. Without promising a debate, I can say to him that they made. I will raise the matter with my ministerial colleagues who have this responsibility, ask them if they are satisfied that we have the balance right, and then write to him. Sir George Young: I am sure that many hon. Members share the concern expressed by my hon. Friend. Yesterday Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Lab): When will the PAC was told: the Ministry of Defence make a statement on Trident “There was a point in the last decade when the Ministry of initial gate? Will the Leader of the House ensure that Defence lost control of public spending…We put Defence on the statement is made to the House and is followed by a special measures.” full substantive debate in Government time? I think that that loss of control explains why we are facing such a huge financial deficit. I welcome the publication Sir George Young: There will be an opportunity to of the PAC’s report on this important matter, and I cross-examine my right hon. Friend the Secretary of hope that it will be possible to find time to debate it. State for Defence on 31 January, when he will be answering questions, but I have no plans at this stage for a specific Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab): On 10 January, I debate. As the hon. Gentleman knows, there were asked the Secretary of State for Health a question historically a number of set days for debates on defence about who took the decision to stop the flu advertising matters, but whether that continues is a matter for the campaign, and when, and I received no response. I also Backbench Business Committee. asked him a written question that was due for response on 17 January, but I still have not received a response. Mr William Cash (Stone) (Con): On written ministerial Could the Leader of the House help a lowly Back statements, will the Leader of the House take note of Bencher to find out how to get an answer to a simple the fact that today the European Scrutiny Committee question? 1025 Business of the House20 JANUARY 2011 Business of the House 1026

Sir George Young: Again, I am sorry if there has been its local police service from the Government, whereas any discourtesy to the hon. Lady. My understanding is Surrey gets only 50%, which means that Government that the Secretary of State has throughout acted on cuts hit Merseyside much harder than Surrey. How can professional advice on all the issues relating to the that be fair? advertising campaign. If there is an overdue parliamentary question, of course it will be pursued with vigour. Sir George Young: I believe I am right in saying that proportionate to its population Merseyside has more Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): This Government officers than almost any other part of the country. continue to put Parliament first, with the election of There will be an opportunity to debate this, because Select Committee Chairmen, the Backbench Business some time next month the House will have to debate Committee, free votes in Committee and the relaxation and approve the police grant and the revenue support of programme motions. May we have a statement grant. That will give the hon. Gentleman an opportunity from the Leader of the House next week on whether to raise the matter at greater length. that could be extended slightly so that the Back-Bench business debate on votes for prisoners could be a free Mr Don Foster (Bath) (LD): Huge problems are vote? created for our police, health service and local communities by binge drinking fuelled by pocket money-priced alcohol Sir George Young: I welcome what my hon. Friend in supermarkets. Given that there was huge disappointment says about the progress being made by the coalition on both sides of the House about the written statement Government in strengthening Parliament and giving on minimum pricing, will the Leader of the House back some of the powers that it lost to the Executive. agree to an oral statement so that we can share our The forthcoming debate on parliamentary reform, which disappointment with Ministers and persuade them to he chose, will be an opportunity to debate that issue. Of go further? course, we are having a debate on votes for prisoners only because this Government did something that the Sir George Young: I understand my hon. Friend’s previous Government refused to do—we set up the concern. The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Backbench Business Committee and gave it the power Bill is going through the House at the moment, and I to do this. The advice that Members from the coalition ask rhetorically whether it contains measures relating to parties are given on how to dispose themselves when alcohol which it would be relevant to discuss when it something comes to a vote is beyond my pay grade, but comes back to the House. In the meantime, I will pass I am sure that the Chief Whip will be watching this on on his request for an oral statement and encourage him television as we speak. to find some other opportunity to have a debate on this very serious matter. Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab): The Prime Minister made a high-profile commitment to increasing the number Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab): of midwives by 3,000. Will we get a statement in this You will recall, Mr Speaker, that last week, further to a House to spell out how the Government are going to do point raised by the hon. Member for Chippenham this, or will it be another broken promise? (Duncan Hames), I asked the Leader of the House about the failure of the Department for Environment, Sir George Young: I understand the hon. Gentleman’s Food and Rural Affairs to notify the House about concern. Health questions takes place next Tuesday, H1N1 outbreaks, but I am yet to receive a response. I and if he does not catch the eye of Mr Speaker then, am sure that it is on his desk, so could he send it over to there may be an opportunity to raise the issue in the me as soon as possible? debate on the Second Reading of the Health and Social Care Bill on the following Monday. Sir George Young: I do recall our exchange last week, and my office did indeed contact DEFRA. I understand Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): Following that DEFRA Ministers have responded to two of the the Deputy Prime Minister’s announcement on extending hon. Gentleman’s questions on the issue this week. I am paternity leave to up to 10 months, may we have a also informed that because the strain of H1N1 that was debate on the impact of this policy proposal on very detected was of a low pathogenicity, it was not a notifiable small businesses across the country? disease, so there was no written statement. However, DEFRA Ministers are writing to him, and I hope he Sir George Young: I understand the concern of small will receive the letter today or tomorrow. businesses that find it difficult to manage if they are not quite sure how a relatively small number of staff might Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): An unsung success take their leave. There would be an opportunity to of the British economy is the £47 billion trade surplus debate this in an Adjournment debate or to raise it at in financial and business services. May we have a debate Business, Innovation and Skills questions. In any event, on how we can improve those services so that we can I will pass on my hon. Friend’s concern to the Secretary create more jobs in the UK economy, particularly in the of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and ask west midlands? what measures are in place to ensure that undue burdens are not placed on small businesses. Sir George Young: My hon. Friend does well to remind us of the benefits of those services. There will be Stephen Twigg (Liverpool, West Derby) (Lab/Co-op): an opportunity to debate that matter in the Budget Will the Leader of the House find time for a debate on debate. In the meantime, he can raise it at Treasury the differential impact of Government cuts on police questions, or apply for an Adjournment debate or a spending? Merseyside acquires 80% of its funding for debate in Westminster Hall. 1027 Business of the House20 JANUARY 2011 Business of the House 1028

Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): May we have a debate Although I welcome the announcement by Siemens this on the NHS? In my constituency, our hospital has been morning about potential jobs in Hull, it comes against decimated and all but closed over the past decade. A the backdrop of huge job losses in the public and new hospital has now been announced by a new private sectors in Hull and the Humber. I also note the Government, with the beds provided by GP commissioning. announcement this week that the employment rate in It is important that the House explore that issue and the my constituency is 7.1%, against a national average of ring-fencing of the NHS budget compared with the cuts 3.6%. May we therefore have a debate on the regional proposed by the previous Government. nature and the gender nature of the job losses that we are seeing across the country? Sir George Young: I welcome my hon. Friend’s remarks. I hope that he will speak on Second Reading of the Sir George Young: There will be an opportunity if the Health and Social Care Bill to make the point, which hon. Lady’s Front-Bench colleagues choose to debate he just touched on briefly, that GP commissioning is the general issue of unemployment on the Opposition the way forward, is popular in his constituency, and is day that I announced a few minutes ago. We have, I the right way to go as we reform the NHS. hope, assisted the situation by abolishing the tax on jobs proposed by her party, which would not have Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab): One way of assisted employment in Hull. We have doubled the stopping the complaints about announcements appearing enterprise allowance and have taken other measures to in the press beforehand—this is a helpful suggestion—would promote employment. She will have seen that there has be for the Leader of the House to announce the been a rise in job vacancies and a fall in the number of Government media grid at the same time as he announces people applying for jobseeker’s allowance. I hope that the future business of the House on Thursdays. Just we will have an opportunity to debate the Government’s what is it on the Government media grid on Monday economic policy; we will in the Budget debate, if not that means that the Home Secretary is refusing to grace before then in Back-Bench time or on an Opposition us with her presence until next Wednesday? motion. Sir George Young: When the hon. Gentleman’s party Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): After a was in government, I am not sure that it put in the six-year campaign and a year-long public inquiry, the public domain the media grid devised by Alastair Campbell. nightmare prospect of a container port on the edge of The Home Secretary will be at this Dispatch Box on the New Forest was blocked. May we have a statement Monday, ready to answer questions on whatever matters soon from a Defence Minister on the proposal to sell colleagues raise. the freehold of land near Marchwood military port on Southampton Water, because my constituents are concerned that if Associated British Ports was the buyer of the Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Following his remarks freehold, that nightmare prospect of a container port to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield North (Nick would be revived? de Bois), has the Leader of the House seen my early-day motion 1312? Sir George Young: I well remember my hon. Friend’s [That this House expresses concern that NHS employees vigorous campaign in earlier Parliaments on precisely often cover a significant amount of the costs involved in this issue. As he said, it was announced in the strategic travelling to carry out their daily duties, due to huge local defence and security review that the Ministry of Defence variations in the expenses regime inherited from the intended to sell Marchwood sea mounting centre. Since previous Government; notes that employees in mental then, no formal dialogue or negotiations have been health services are particularly vulnerable due to a high entered into with any interested parties, including ABP. level of travel in their profession; further notes that rising Work is at an early stage and the Government will fuel costs have increased the burden on all staff who engage relevant stakeholders, including, I am sure, my regularly travel; and urges the Government to review the hon. Friend and the local residents whom he represents. current rates of reimbursement and to support the exemplary service NHS staff provide nationally.] Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab): May we have a Will the Leader of the House find time for a debate debate on Government procurement practice? I am sure specifically on fuel costs for NHS workers? Last week, I that the Leader of the House will be as surprised as I visited the Derwent centre in Harlow, where medical was to find that it is now policy to allow contractors to workers told me of the huge fuel costs that they pay. specify the terms of the contract. That, of course, is the Sometimes they receive as little as 12p per mile for work nature of the NHS reforms, with the GP contractor. travel. Is there something that the Government can do to alleviate their situation? Sir George Young: There will be an opportunity to discuss that issue in consideration of the Health and Sir George Young: I understand my hon. Friend’s Social Care Bill. I am not sure that the practice is wholly concern on behalf of those who are inadequately unprecedented. I remember smart procurement in the remunerated for their motoring costs. The NHS terms MOD, which moved away from an adversarial process and conditions handbook contains provisions for the towards one of a more joint nature. The hon. Gentleman reimbursement of the cost of using a car for business will have an opportunity, during proceedings on the purposes. If the staff in his constituency are not on Health and Social Care Bill, to consider the responsibilities national terms and conditions, the arrangements would of GPs under the proposed GP commissioning and to have to be reviewed locally. I will bring his point to the raise the concern he has just touched on. attention of my colleagues at the Department of Health. 1029 Business of the House20 JANUARY 2011 Business of the House 1030

Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): May we Scotland. Why is there that discrepancy? Is it the case have a debate on Tunisia, where a revolution is taking that Liberals and Conservatives are interested in minimum place that may be as hopeful as that of Polish Solidarity pricing only if it makes no difference to health and 30 years ago, or as disastrous as the one in Iran? I hope crime? that the Leader of the House will not just refer me to Foreign Office questions, because we need time for Sir George Young: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman more considered debate in this House. Foreign affairs for reinforcing the bid that has just been made. It is are being squeezed gently out of the House of Commons open to him to go to the Backbench Business Committee review and debate remit. It is a bit of a problem if we to ask for a specific debate on the minimum price of are to become a House that discusses only what happens alcohol. He can then draw the comparisons between in the UK. what happens in Scotland and the rest of the UK, and debate the proposals. In the light of the interest in this Sir George Young: The right hon. Gentleman will subject, the Backbench Business Committee might well know that the Foreign Secretary made a statement on find it a popular one. Tunisia earlier this week, so it is not the case that the Government do not take that matter seriously.I understand Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Will the Leader that the vast majority of British nationals have now left of the House consider giving Westminster Hall a boost Tunisia in line with the advice. The Foreign Secretary by trying to persuade his Cabinet colleagues to attend has called for a rapid return to law and order in that and respond to occasional debates in that Chamber? country.We welcome the efforts of the Tunisian authorities Will he lead by example by being there for the important to hold elections as soon as possible, and we hope that parliamentary reform debate on Thursday 3 February? those elections are free and fair. I do not share the right hon. Gentleman’s view that this House does not place Sir George Young: I have attended debates in Westminster adequate importance on foreign affairs, but it is of Hall and listened to my colleagues holding forth. I had course open to the Backbench Business Committee, planned to ask the Deputy Leader of the House, who is and indeed to him, to make a bid for specific subjects the world’s greatest expert on parliamentary reform, to that it is thought deserve greater attention. respond to the debate, but I will see if I can come along to listen to part of the proceedings. Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con): Will the Leader of the House ensure that the debate on Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East) (Lab): The parliamentary reform in Westminster Hall is broad balance between security and liberty was incorrectly enough to cover the outrageous filibustering tactics of struck, so we need to reduce pre-charge detention powers Labour Lords this week in the other place, which does from 28 to 14 days—so said the Minister for Immigration. not benefit from the tender ministrations of our Speaker? He also said that the security threat is such that we need emergency powers in reserve for pre-charge detention at 28 days. That is a contradiction. Will the Leader of the Sir George Young: As I understand it, the debate is on House commit to put the request to the Home Secretary, parliamentary reform—it does not come much broader made by Members on both sides of the House, that she than that. I share my hon. Friend’s concern about what make the statement on Monday before the emergency is happening down the other end. When I came into this powers lapse, so that we can test the theory? House some time ago, all the rough trade was down here, and down the other end there were non-partisan, Sir George Young: My hon. Friend the Minister for short, focused debates in a revising Chamber. The rough Immigration made it clear that the powers would lapse trade now seems to have gone down the other end. The on Monday, which was a clear statement of Government other place runs the risk of losing the moral high tone if policy. He also said that we would put in the Library its Members continue to proceed as they are. draft emergency legislation that would reach the statute book only if the House so approved. It seems to me that Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): I there is nothing inconsistent or contradictory about follow the call of the right hon. Member for Bath that at all. It is a sensible and balanced response to the (Mr Foster) for a debate on the minimum price of alcohol twin imperatives to which the hon. Member for West that was set by the Government this week. It was roundly Bromwich East (Mr Watson) referred. condemned by health professionals as doing absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, the Liberals and Conservatives Mr Speaker: I thank the Leader of the House and gang up with the Labour party in the Scottish Parliament colleagues for their exemplary succinctness, which enabled to block the setting of meaningful minimum prices for us to get through everyone in a timely fashion. 1031 20 JANUARY 2011 Points of Order 1032

Points of Order Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Yesterday the Education Secretary told the House, Official Report, column 888, 12.40 pm that people in Hull should vote Liberal Democrat as the Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South) (Lab): On a council provided a full travel grant for 16 to 18-year-olds point of order, Mr Speaker. Further to the question in receipt of education maintenance allowance. He did that my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich not mention that the current grant of £100 a year is East (Mr Watson) asked about the urgent question this only about £3 a week and does not cover the full travel morning, I point out that I have been in the House for costs, or that it is available only to those travelling more 16 years and have never seen a situation in which the than 3 miles. The scheme is discretionary and is threatened Opposition have had to raise a question in order for the by the £67 million of cuts that the coalition Government Government to make a statement and an announcement. are imposing on Hull. Under a Labour council, Hull previously provided a totally free student travel pass. The Minister for Immigration said that he would put Is there an opportunity for the correct facts to be put the details in the Library. I have checked with the before the House? Library, and those details are not there. The predicament for the House is that the legislation will lapse on Monday, Mr Speaker: In the assessment of the hon. Lady, that when we have Home Office questions. Can we not urge version has just been put on the record, and I am sure the Home Secretary to make her statement on Monday? the House is indebted to her.

Mr Speaker: What I can say is twofold. First, no Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab): On a point of doubt material promised for the Library will get there order, Mr Speaker. You graciously invited the Speaker as soon as possible. Secondly, although I am extremely of the Indian Parliament to be with us this week, and sympathetic with the general cause of revealing material she has had a very successful visit. You may be aware, first to the House and there being an opportunity for however, that she was subject to significant embarrassment scrutiny of Government policy, it is surely as much as I yesterday when attending a meeting at the Commonwealth can say to the hon. Gentleman that today the House has Parliamentary Association, chaired by the hon. Member had the opportunities provided by the urgent question. for Orpington (Joseph Johnson). A map of India was We shall have to await the development of events. displayed incorrectly showing Kashmir as entirely separate from India, causing real debate and distress to some Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): On a point members of her delegation. Could an investigation be of order, Mr Speaker. While I was congratulating the made into why such a map was in the CPA rooms and Government earlier, I made the mistake of not why that embarrassment was caused to that distinguished congratulating you on the speed with which the House delegation? is getting through questions and how Parliament is improving because of that. Mr Speaker: I note what the hon. Gentleman has said, and the CPA will doubtless have a view about it. I echo entirely what he said about Speaker Kumar, whom Mr Speaker: I do not look for congratulations, but it was my great privilege to meet, welcome and entertain, the hon. Gentleman’s generosity of spirit is already but I hope he will understand if I refrain from saying legendary, and as a result of what he has just said it has anything further today on the Floor of the House. I become more so. note his observations. 1033 20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1034

Money comes in from people who spend a day at the Backbench Business races, from media rights and from the levy contributions of those who make a bet. That, in turn, feeds into prize [16TH ALLOTTED DAY] money, which goes partly to jockeys and stable staff—we should always remember that they, too, benefit when Horse Racing Levy their horse crosses the line first—but mostly to owners. It is that hope and aspiration, the golden bauble of the 12.44 pm pot of money at the finish post, that attracts owners into the industry and lures them to race. Say it quietly, Matthew Hancock (West Suffolk) (Con): I beg to but the amount of money injected by owners actually move, outweighs the amount that they win back in prize That this House notes that the horseracing industry supports money by a ratio of about 3:1. If my father-in-law is employment of 100,000 people in Britain and that the racing watching, I hope he takes note of that. Owners, in turn, industry contributes £3.5 billion to the UK economy each year; celebrates the contribution the industry makes to the cultural and use their money, some of which they have won back in sporting landscape of Britain; recognises Newmarket’s role as the prize money, to pay horsemen to train and breed global headquarters of racing; but further notes that the horseracing bloodstock. betting levy yield has been falling in recent years; further recognises There are many reasons to own a racehorse, as some the changing nature of the gambling industry; is concerned that Members know. betting operators are increasingly based offshore and so do not fully contribute to the levy; and considers that the Government should bring forward proposals to improve the system of funding Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): Stupidity, in my case. for racing and the relationship between racing and bookmakers before the end of 2011. Matthew Hancock: Well, it is not only the triumph of I am delighted that we have three hours to debate this hope over expectation but the glamour of the winners’ important topic, because the future of horse racing in enclosure and the thrill of the race. Without the chance Britain is at stake. This golden sport, which brings for owners to win prize money, racing’s finances are together man and beast, flat cap and top hat, the rural on tenterhooks. Prize money is at the core of racing’s charm of Bangor-on-Dee and the pomp and ceremony economy—it is the chlorophyll in the ecosystem, or some of Ascot—this jewel in the crown of British sporting have called it the lubricant of the wheels of racing. It culture—faces an uncertain future and immediate and attracts people in and brings in far more money than is urgent woes. provided for it. What has happened to prize money? Over the past All is not lost. As anybody who has seen today’s two years alone, the annual amount that the levy has Racing Post knows, attendances are up—racing is the paid has fallen from more than £100 million to £65 million. second most attended sport after football. Britain’s Prize money from the levy has fallen, too, from £65 million bloodstock has rarely been of a higher quality, and two years ago to £34 million, a drop of almost half. At A. P. McCoy won the BBC sports personality of the Worcester, prize money from the levy has fallen by more year award. However, racing’s finances are at risk, and it than two thirds. Even before that precipitous decline, falls within the power of the House to support today’s Britain ranked 38th in the world in prize money, miles motion, which calls on the Government to act to secure behind Dubai and Hong Kong but also behind America, for our nation the future of the sport that is the cause of Italy, South Africa, Sweden, Australia, Ireland, Germany such pride. and Turkey. For centuries, since King Charles II took his court to The comparison with our nearest neighbour, France, Newmarket twice yearly for a month of relaxation and is stark. Maiden race prize money in 2009 at Longchamp raucousness, Britain has led the world in horse racing. averaged £20,000, whereas at Newmarket it was £8,000. In the past, racing provided the impetus for the training At Deauville, average prize money was £20,000, compared and breeding of cavalry horses during times of peace, with £11,000 at Ascot. We find a similar contrast at the and now it supports more than 100,000 jobs across more provincial racecourses. At St Malo, average prize the country and, in all, £3.5 billion of our economy. It money was £12,000, but at Catterick it was £4,000—for contributes to our culture, and even to our language. comparable races, prize money in this country is still In Newmarket alone, 5,000 jobs are related to that lower. At Le Lion D’Angers, prize money was £12,000, town’s place as the global headquarters of the sport—not but £5,000 at Yarmouth. only owners, trainers and champion jockeys but modestly paid stable staff, grooms, farriers and those performing Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): I all the ancillary services. That complex economy, like an congratulate my hon. Friend. I am closely following what ecosystem, is in delicate balance, and that balance is he is saying. What impact has the additional number of under threat. race meetings through the year had on prize money? The levy system set up 50 years ago is broken, and the funding that underpins racing is seeping through the Matthew Hancock: That is an extremely important holes in that outdated system. I shall briefly set out point. The amount in the prize pot is falling, but the what has happened, why, and what should be done number of races is expanding, and it is doing so at the about it. To explain what has happened, I shall delve behest of the gambling industry, which understandably into the ecosystem that I described. Money comes into wants continuous racing throughout the year. Those racing from punters who like to punt and owners who two dynamics make the consequences for the racing like to own. The Tote, which was set up by racing, not industry even worse, because the amount of prize money by the Government, adds to the pot, and I look forward that owners get for coming second or third in a race is to its future being secured with the appropriate recognition small, which leads to an even greater problem for people of racing. who run their horses. That is an important point. 1035 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1036

British trainers are being diverted from running and Philip Davies: I commend my hon. Friend for his owning in Britain to France and further, which threatens initiative in introducing this debate. Before he describes not only those moving their horses, but the breeding the holes in the levy, will he acknowledge that the industry in this country, which is undoubtedly the best amount given by bookmakers to racing averaged out, in the world. Without that first-rate racing, the industry between 2006 and 2010, according to the independent will not survive here for long—it will decline—but it has members of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, at taken decades to build up Britain’s reputation as the £164 million a year—in TV money and levy combined—and best place for training and breeding bloodstock. that this year it will be £160 million, which is a drop of only 2.5%? Will he also acknowledge that, at the same Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): I, time, Arena Leisure’s profits increased by 52%? When too, congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this he is looking at prize money, will he focus less on the important debate. I am glad that he mentions transport betting industry, which still gives lots of money despite and travel. Friends of Scottish Racing is concerned the fact that horse racing is a smaller and smaller part about the distances involved in getting infrastructure to of its business, and look at racecourses, which are not race courses such as Perth and the additional costs that passing on their increased income in prize money? must be met by owners and trainers. Has he considered that in the context of the future of the levy and horse Matthew Hancock: My hon. Friend makes an important racing throughout the UK? What would he say about point, but his phraseology lets slip the error in the some of those difficulties with travelling distances? argument. The betting industry gives no money to racing; it pays money to racing. I want a system in which that is sustainable. Of course, people who watch Matthew Hancock: That is an extremely important a sport should pay towards it. How much of the money point. I was speaking to a successful and wise trainer made from media rights gets to the front line of racing yesterday, who told me that trainers will often not send is an important question, and I hope that those rights horses to race in Scotland unless another horse goes on will be negotiated very tightly by racing in future. The the lorry. Of course, that takes out runners, which does amount of levy has fallen from more than £100 million not help the gambling industry—it is a circular process. to £65 million, but the levy reflects the fact that when I received a phone call yesterday from a Mr Staddon, people make bets, part of their stake is a contribution to who owns five horses. He took one to Hereford last the cost of putting on that race. It is appropriate for week. It jumped all 19 fences and came third. Hon. racing to charge bookmakers for using its output and Members might think that that is pretty good, but his product. That is the nub of the argument. prize money was £205, and it cost him £650 to race and The first hole in the levy is offshore betting. UK travel. He came third, but did not get even a third of his consumers are reported to spend about £2.5 billion on costs back. He is seriously considering giving up. If he internet and phone gambling, but operators licensed by takes his five horses out of training, the trainer will have the Gambling Commission represent less than a quarter to cut staff, farriers and all the services that go with of that—the rest is spent offshore. Three quarters of stables. He fears job losses in racing on a mass scale. online betting, therefore, does not contribute to the levy The task is urgent. We know where the money that is or other taxes, and consumers are not protected under made in racing lies. In Britain, there is a 1% return to UK rules. Ireland’s recent budget began to tackle that, racing from betting turnover, compared with 5% in and I hope that the Minister will follow suit. I am sure Japan or 8% in the US and France. The gambling that such a measure would have the support of the industry’s gross win on racing is more than £1 billion a gambling industry.I spoke to the big gambling organisations year. Yesterday, we were all delighted that William Hill in the run-up to this debate. Each firm told me that it reported a sharp increase in profits. considered going offshore only because all the others are doing so. Let us bring all those firms onshore and Mr George Howarth (Knowsley) (Lab): I congratulate subject bets to the levy and the appropriate tax here in the hon. Gentleman both on the topic that he chosen Britain. and the way in which he is presenting his argument. He Betting exchanges are the second hole in the levy. accurately describes some of the difficulties, but does he Currently, exchanges pay 10% of the levy on profits that not accept that they exist under the levy, and that it derive from commission from winning bets on each might well be better for everybody concerned if racing market. However, that produces very little for the levy—less and the bookmaking industry came to a commercial than 0.5%—compared with the return from the same agreement rather than fall back on the Government? activity with traditional bookmakers. According to Betfair, some users of betting exchanges place around 1,000 bets per hour, but pay no levy or tax because they close their Matthew Hancock: The right hon. Gentleman is an bets before the race is concluded. I am delighted that astute Member of the House, as I have learned in my Betfair paid around £6 million to the levy last year, and short time here, and he nicely anticipates what I am by its widespread sponsorship, but the loss to the levy about to say. from the fact that exchanges are treated inappropriately Before I address that point, the second question is: is roughly £25 million, and I urge the Government why has that decline in the levy happened? There are to act. four holes in the levy through which contributions are leaking: offshore operators, betting exchanges, thresholds Claire Perry (Devizes) (Con): I congratulate my hon. and overseas racing. They are set out in the racing Friend on securing a debate that is hugely important in united charter, which I urge all hon. Members to sign—they my constituency, where we have a lovely combination of would be joining not only me, but A.P.McCoy and even free-draining soil, chalk and turf that does not freeze a member of Abba. very easily, hence our important training and racing 1037 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1038

[Claire Perry] wastes time and money and prevents a proper commercial relationship between racing and betting. Anyone who industry. Exchange transactions are frequently concerned has witnessed the ugly and inaccurate adverts in past with how many goals will be scored in a football match weeks can see the waste of money. or whether a player will show up, and other things that We need a system that leaves racing and betting to do not have a cost associated with them and have their commercial future and ensures that racing’s product almost no benefit to the rural economies we are so is appropriately financed and protected. Some say that proud to represent. Does he agree that part of the the levy should be abolished and nothing put in its reason for securing a change to the levy is so that the place. They are saying that gambling should get something industries that employ thousands of people and have a for nothing. Racing is clearly an input into betting, so material benefit in our rural communities—they are of course betting should contribute to the costs of hugely important—can be adequately supported? putting on a race. Everyone would like something for nothing, but no one would say that it is the basis for a Matthew Hancock: My hon. Friend makes her case commercial relationship, which is what the bookies say with the passion to which we have become accustomed. they are looking for. So let us have that commercial The third hole in the levy is that outdated threshold relationship. Let us formalise what it is that racing sells. rules exempt approximately two thirds of betting shops If someone invented a new cancer drug, would someone from paying the full rate. Thresholds were brought in to else be allowed to replicate it without paying them for protect small independent bookmakers, but because the the research that went into developing the drug? We threshold applies to the shop and not to the company, have all seen the scary warnings at the start of rented we have a proliferation of corporate betting shops up films saying that piracy is a crime. If hon. Members and down our high street—in Newmarket, we are about made a film, would they let someone else print off to get our 12th. This allows betting shops to profit from copies of it without contributing to the cost? Of course fixed odds betting terminals while avoiding some of the not. levy. Independent members of the levy board say that this threshold error costs racing some £10 million. They Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): We do not have any think that it should be abolished, and I hope that the racecourses in my constituency, but I have many constituents Minister will listen. who like to gamble. If they were listening to my hon. Friend’s powerful argument, they would be deeply distressed Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con): As the that the betting industry does not pay its fair share and vice-chair of the all-party group on small shops, I have agree that it should do so. real concerns about the point that my hon. Friend has just made about the threshold. Yes, many such shops Matthew Hancock: My hon. Friend is a very wise are part of the big national companies, but a lot of man. them are independents. Even those bigger companies Racing is no different from other intellectual property. could close down many of their smaller shops, leading We need a new, fair structure that keeps British racing to job losses and further pressure on the high street and the best in the world and ensures that those who profit village shopping centres—it would decimate them. from racing help to pay for racing, so I support a racing right. Matthew Hancock: Job losses in the racing industry, if it does not have a secure future, would far outweigh Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab): I congratulate the hon. job losses that my hon. Friend mentions. What is more, Gentleman on bringing this topic to the Floor of the House. large corporate betting shops are often split up to have The motion requests that proposals are made on the two shops below the levy. It was introduced to protect funding of racing, including the levy and commercialisation. independent bookies, and we would all welcome it if Does he agree that, if we have a wholesale review of the they were to be protected under a future scheme. But funding of racing, greyhound racing should be included, protecting small shops that are owned by large corporates so that a statutory levy could be introduced to fund was not the intention. that sport? The charter proposes payments for customers in Britain who place bets on overseas racing. That hole costs some Matthew Hancock: The hon. Gentleman makes an £13 million, and the independent members of the levy important point, and the relationship with greyhound board say that that should be closed—I hope that the racing—in which racing has again lost out in recent Minister agrees. years—is an important consideration. What should we do? In the short term, the Government can keep the ecosystem of racing alive by plugging the Simon Hart (Carmarthen Westand South Pembrokeshire) holes in the levy, by finding this year in favour of racing (Con): Another form of racing that has not had a in the determination of the levy, and by fulfilling their mention yet, but which is important in this context, is promise to resolve the future of the Tote in a way that the amateur version—point-to-point. Some 4,000 horses recognises its support for racing. But all sides agree that are in training and it has a huge social and economic the levy is broken and needs radical reform. The bookies relevance to this debate. Will my hon. Friend comment think that the levy is broken, racing thinks it is broken, on its relevancy? the Secretary of State thinks that it is broken, and Members on both sides of the House seem to think that Matthew Hancock: Most betting on point-to-point it is broken. No one wants the annual spectacle of racing happens on course, and bookies who go on ministerial decision about the funding of racing, not course pay for the privilege, so there is a transfer from least because it unnecessarily antagonises relationships, betting to racing there. I adore point-to-point as a good 1039 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1040 day out and I hope that it is properly financed in future. Minister responsible for sport and gambling and, as It needs to be part of the mix, but we should recognise such, the levy and the relationship between racing and that most of the betting in point-to-point is on course. betting are issues close to my heart, and I have sympathy with the Minister and the Department because the issue Steve Rotheram (Liverpool, Walton) (Lab): I congratulate is back on their desk for them to deal with. the hon. Gentleman on securing this debate. I am not I agree with the hon. Member for West Suffolk that an expert in this area, although I have been contacted the levy is broken. It has become very divisive, with by representatives of Aintree race course, home of the both sides putting their cases as strongly as they can world famous Grand National, which backs on to my and perhaps taking their eye off the ball in relation to back garden—[HON.MEMBERS: “Oh!”] Not all of it—my what is going on in the two sectors. The two sectors are garden is not that big. The racecourse primarily sits in linked—there is no point in saying otherwise—even the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for though the bookmaking and betting industry would say Sefton Central (Bill Esterson). As people will know, that revenue from horse racing constitutes a lower Aintree has world class facilities and race meetings. percentage of its turnover than from other sports. However, Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the levy is important the two go together. He might remember the on-course even to racecourses at the top end so that they can bookmaker pitch problems, which fortunately were resolved continue to improve the racing that they offer, which through common sense; that common sense has to will then attract tourism to cities such as Liverpool and apply again. contribute wider economic benefits to the sub-region? The industry cannot afford to lose the money from Matthew Hancock: Aintree is undoubtedly my favourite the levy, which, as the hon. Gentleman said, has fallen jump course, and I spent much of my youth on Grand over recent years. The sector cannot rely, and has not National days as a fence judge, catching horses with been relying, on the levy: it tried the racing for change fallen riders, and occasionally putting the riders back project, and the various partners that make up racing on board—the especially brave ones. So I have a particular have been looking to the future. Everybody agrees that love of Aintree, and I agree that this issue is important the sport is part of the cultural life of our country. for every racecourse in the country, especially those at Anybody from anywhere can enjoy it at whatever level the top. they want—and they should be able to continue to do so—but the two sides have to come together and, in my A racing right, which protects the property of a view, the solution has to be a commercial one. racecourse that puts on an event, would benefit the racing industry. It would benefit the bookies who survive What should the Government’s role be? They should on a strong racing industry with year-round fixtures. try to get out of the levy, if they can, and ensure that Some say go further. I have been contacted by the something is there to take its place. It has been tried Football Association and the England and Wales Cricket before: in 2006, Lord Donoughue attempted to come Board, which support a betting right for all sports—and up with a solution to meet the requirements. The hon. I understand that the International Olympic Committee Gentleman is right to say that time is running out, also supports it. I can see the merit and logic in that however, and that we need to sort this out. The betting argument. France does it, Australia does it and the industry is changing. We have the offshore problem, for Californians are looking at it. But my focus—and the example, and I would be interested to hear what the focus of this debate—is unambiguously on racing. Minister has to say about the review that I commissioned In horse racing, Britain—and my constituency—is into that and about what might flow from it. Is he able the home of one of the greatest sports on the planet. to update the House? The sleek beauty of the thoroughbred as he crosses the The relationship has to be a commercial one. The line, the tough determination of the national hunt, the nature of betting shops has changed as well, with fixed dedication of the horsemen and the great amphitheatres odds betting terminals now representing more than of the crowd all have their future in our hands. I 40% of their income. The Government should consider passionately believe in the future of racing in Britain. I what can be done about the FOBTs. The right hon. ask this: years from now, will we look back in wonderment Member for Bath (Mr Foster) knows that I was looking at this sport of beauty and skill and speed that fell into into that matter—although without great success, I have ruin? Or will we say that, in the nick of time, we gave to say. There needs to be a change in outlook on that. this great sport we love the future hat it deserves? Miss McIntosh: May I place on the record my admiration Several hon. Members rose— for what the hon. Gentleman achieved as a Minister in the previous Administration? Does he think that a Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. I proposal to replace the levy with a “pound-per-shop-per- remind hon. Members that Mr. Speaker has placed an race” fee would be feasible? It would raise £90 million a eight-minute limit on Back-Bench speeches in this debate, year, but would not address the overseas problem. Does which the Backbench Business Committee assumes will he think that it could work in this country? end by 3 o’clock, including the responses from Front Benchers. I hope that Members will bear that in mind. Mr Sutcliffe: I thank the hon. Lady for raising that issue. Everything has to be considered. As a Minister, I 1.9 pm tried to bring the sectors together to hammer out a Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South) (Lab): It is a possible solution. There was a lot of good will on all great pleasure to take part in this debate, and I congratulate sides among the bodies represented, but we could not the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Matthew Hancock) decide on the best way forward, so we had to rely on the on securing it. As he will know, I was the previous levy. That cannot and should not continue, and I would 1041 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1042

[Mr Sutcliffe] Mr Sutcliffe: I do not think it had a detrimental effect. The hon. Gentleman will know the history. We be supportive if the Government decided that this is the were trying to relieve ourselves of the Tote while ensuring last time they should have to determine the outcome of that 50% of the profits went to racing. The issue then the levy. was about the definition of racing and whom it should I am moving towards the idea of a sports betting go to. However, we held active discussions with the right. That is now the way forward. The European racing sector on how that could happen, and I hope that Union now has competency for sport, and at the meeting it is still on the table and that the Minister will tell us of Sports Ministers I attended last year, the idea of a what the relationship will be and what further discussions sports betting right started to develop. If a sport offers he has had. its services—with all the costs that go with it—it is only We need a fair return for racing, for the reasons that fair that a sports right should be considered in legislation. hon. Members have given, including its impact on society I think that Ministers will move towards a sports betting through full-time jobs in the racing and gambling sectors. right, and I would support that campaign. I ask the Minister to consider the impact of the FOBTs and what can be done about it. I also ask him to Philip Davies: May I say to the hon. Gentleman, for consider what can be done about the offshore problem whom I have a lot of time, that this is a novel concept and the review we commissioned, and about ensuring for a Labour politician? Most sports betting is on that 50% of the proceeds from the Tote sale goes to premiership football, so presumably the money raised racing. Then, we should get the sector together and would go there. It is novel that a Labour politician make it realise that Governments of all shades are no would want to take money out of poor punters’ pockets longer interested in being the referee—it is now about in betting shops in order to add it to the wages of John the sector coming up with the solution. I hope that that Terry and Carlos Tevez in the premier league. Does that will happen. This should be an excellent debate. not seem a bizarre redistribution of wealth? 1.18 pm Mr Sutcliffe: The hon. Gentleman knows that I am Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) (Con): I not going to get involved in John Terry’s wages anymore— congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for West they are not my problem. However, there are issues Suffolk (Matthew Hancock) on securing this debate about where money from sports rights should go, and and on how he introduced it. He made some extremely about the grass roots and how we fund grass-roots good points. I would like to declare two non-declarable sports. However, the money would go not just to the interests as it were: first, I am joint chairman of the premier league, but to grass-roots sport as well. all-party group on racing and bloodstock industries, which is one of the most active and influential—we like Mr Sam Gyimah (East Surrey) (Con): First, I thank to think—groups in Parliament. Secondly, I have the my hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Matthew honour of representing Cheltenham race course, and so Hancock) for securing this debate. A racing right would I take slight issue with his assertion that Newmarket is ensure that gambling contributes to the upkeep of racing, the centre of world racing. I readily acknowledge that it which—I say this in response to the point raised by my is a fantastic establishment and the home of flat racing, hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies)—is but I would suggest that Cheltenham is the home of essential if we are to keep racing and to keep Britain national hunt racing. ahead, as my hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the said. dangerous situation with regard to prize money. It is not a matter of rich owners becoming richer; it is a Mr Sutcliffe: The hon. Gentleman makes his point, matter of enabling all owners to continue to own race but the gambling industry would say that it already horses and to race them at the right standard and at the makes a contribution. My Member of Parliament, the right level. He also pointed out that the important part hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies), is an advocate of the debate is the knock-on effects on stable staff, of what the gambling industry has said about the jockeys and trainers—all the people who are not well rights it pays already—television rights, sponsorship paid but who should be able to continue to carry out and so on. their essential work. Take them out and the whole sport There has to be an adult relationship and a commercial collapses. That is why prize money is so important, and coming-together. The Tote can help with the way forward. my hon. Friend is absolutely correct to point out that in The previous Government made the decision to sell the many races owners would lose out even if they won. If a Tote, and gave a manifesto commitment to give 50% of horse is at the lower levels of racing—the lower levels the money raised from its sale back to racing. I know are extremely important—they would have to win possibly that defining racing makes that difficult, but it could be eight or nine races a season just to break even, and that a starting point. would be in a good year. However, no horse is going to do that, so he is absolutely right to point out the Andrew Griffiths (Burton) (Con): The Tote was enacted problem. by a piece of legislation introduced by Winston Churchill. The current situation is paradoxical, because as my It is true that in their 2001 manifesto the Labour hon. Friend also pointed out, we have the most tremendous Government made a commitment to giving racing racing in this country—indeed, probably the best in the 50% of the proceeds from the sale of the Tote. Does the world. In just a few weeks’ time, we will have the great hon. Gentleman think that waiting nine years and Cheltenham festival, which is surely the greatest racing failing to do that had a detrimental effect on the racing festival in the world. We can also boast the grand industry? national shortly after, and then Royal Ascot, and the 1043 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1044

York week in August—absolutely tremendous racing discussions on the then British Horseracing Board’s that is not bettered anywhere in the world—and yet we ability to sell its data rights to bookmakers in order to also have this financial problem. If seems that the two get money for racing. situations should not go together, but they do. Racing That option was seen as a possible way forward. has continued to exist because of the generosity—or, as However, at that time, the European Union, being the my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) wonderful organisation that it is, decided that this could said earlier from a sedentary position, the stupidity—of not happen. It is now time to revisit that opinion, as some owners, who have continued to lose money. It expressed by the European Union—and, for the benefit would be rather complacent of racing to accept that this of those reading this in Hansard, I was being sarcastic situation will continue indefinitely, because I do not when I described it as a “wonderful organisation”. That think that it will. decision has to be revisited, because I see a need to replace the levy. I have thought long and hard about Mr Gyimah: Does my hon. Friend agree that one of this, and I think that the Minister probably ought to the problems with not having a stable funding base for announce that the statutory levy will end in, let us say, racing is the underbelly of racing? A lot of people are three years’ time. That would give racing the opportunity attracted to racing out of their passion for it, but there to forge new relationships and develop new income is so little funding available that many live on low streams, in the knowledge that the levy will no longer be incomes, with a lot of suicides among people who want there after a certain point. Setting a date will concentrate to become jockeys but do not make it. Racing is not just people’s minds, so that they have to come up with other for the wealthy: there is an underbelly of racing, and to funding mechanisms. resolve that we need a stable funding base for racing as a whole. Martin Horwood (Cheltenham) (LD): I warmly welcome the hon. Gentleman’s support for the motion, which is Mr Robertson: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It very welcome indeed. I welcome even more warmly his is not just winning the Cheltenham gold cup that is comments about Cheltenham race course, which is the important. Horses do not start off running in the gold world centre of jump racing—if it is not the favourite cup; they start off running in point-to-point races, jump racing course of the hon. Member for West Suffolk before building up to races where the prize money is (Matthew Hancock), but I am sure that, between us, we perhaps less than £2,000. My hon. Friend is also absolutely can secure him an invitation to the gold cup that will right about all the people involved in that. We cannot persuade him. However, does the hon. Member for lose those feeder tracks or what I would describe as Tewkesbury (Mr Robertson) think that structural changes feeder racing. in the betting industry, the media and even the technology We therefore have a problem, and I have reluctantly involved in betting have contributed to the levy’s becoming come to the view that the levy is an outdated system outdated, and that both whatever replaces it and the that has to be replaced. We have the problems of falling governance structures that will come afterwards need to prize money, and owners running horses and not getting be sufficiently flexible to cope with future changes, so back a third of what they put in even when they are that we do not get locked into something that again placed. All those problems exist under the present system, becomes outdated as both industries move on? so the present system cannot be right. I have long felt that the existence of the levy does at least two things. Mr Robertson: The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. First, it divides the people of racing. When I say “the I think that I am right in saying that when betting shops people of racing”, I include the bookmakers, because were licensed in 1963, about 100% of their income came many bookmakers, whether they are chief executives or from bets on horse racing or greyhounds. Now, if we work for Ladbrokes or Hill’s, are also racing people. put fixed odds betting terminals into the equation, the However, each and every year, the levy negotiations figure is as low as 35% in many cases. We have also had serve to divide those people. We end up with this the internet and betting exchanges coming forward. gratuitous violence, from one side to the other, which None of that was seen or even thought of in 1963, so he does racing no good. We saw what can be achieved is right. The world has moved on. Racing cannot go when the whole of racing got together—for once—to back to 1963 and say that it wants the same funding promote Tony McCoy, who became BBC sports personality mechanism. I also entirely agree that when we decide on of the year, a much-deserved award. That is racing a replacement for the levy, we have to be flexible. That is getting together—it is racing at its best—but the levy why I would prefer more commercial arrangements, because has served to divide it, each and every year. they are, by necessity and by their very nature, flexible. The second thing that the existence of the levy has Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) (Con): There done is to allow racing not to address the need to find is just one question that I would raise, and that is about alternative funding as urgently as it might have done. the speed of change. We have seen some scandals in There are alternative funding mechanisms and routes betting, notably in cricket, but in horse racing there for money to come in; for instance, media rights is one have been remarkably few. It has been very honest, way, while sponsorship is another. Racecourses take which may be because of the close relationship between money from the public, and from sponsorship and the betting industry and the horse racing fraternity, hospitality. My hon. Friend the Member for Shipley brought together by the levy. It would be worrying if was absolutely right to say that there might be a better that was broken and if something was not put in its income stream for racing from those sources in future. place that would keep the system honest. In 2004, when this House passed legislation to abolish the levy, it was not enacted—I understand that it is still Mr Robertson: I understand my hon. Friend’s point, on the statute book and can be enacted by a statutory but I think that the levy drives people apart. I do not instrument. At that time, there were negotiations and think that it brings them together. However, the British 1045 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1046

[Mr Laurence Robertson] and acting as a social, commercial and community hub all year long. The racecourse hosts 30 race meetings Horseracing Authority has done a good job of keeping throughout the year, and employs 26 full-time permanent the sport clean, which I accept is essential. staff and as many as 250 casual or part-time staff on I want to move on quickly, because I have only a race days. All those people are from the local area and minute left. The Minister should give some consideration rely on that full-time or additional income to support to announcing the end of the statutory level, perhaps in themselves and their families. three years. I emphasise the word “statutory”, because As right hon. and hon. Members might be aware, I racing can always come to an arrangement with am a passionate supporter of apprenticeships, which is bookmakers whereby they still get paid for bets or why I have introduced my ten-minute rule Bill, the picture rights, or whatever else. Apprenticeships and Skills (Public Procurement Contracts) I want just to touch on the importance of the Tote. Bill, which is due to have its Second Reading on 11 February. The future of the Tote has to be secured. I very much I am delighted that Newcastle racecourse has recently hope that the Minister will allow the Tote’s own bid to agreed to take on its own apprentice, through the Essential continue to run the organisation, at least through to the Partners organisation, which works with local colleges next round. Last year the Tote contributed £19 million to deliver funded apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds to racing, one way or another. If that were lost, racing in customer service roles. would suffer a very severe blow indeed. I am not sure Newcastle racecourse, with its regional conference that a straight commercial sale of the Tote would provide and exhibition facilities, makes a vital contribution to security for racing, nor would it benefit racing in the the city’s impressive leisure and cultural offering. This is way that the Government have promised it would. Let incredibly important, as the growth of the tourism us not forget that the taxpayer has never put a single industry and visitor economy in the past decade or so penny into the Tote, and therefore, in my view, does not has been one of the real success stories for Tyneside and deserve any money out of any transfer of its assets. I am the wider north-east region. I hope that Ministers at the always on the side of the taxpayer, but in this case the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be aware interests of racing should come first. that the increase in visitor numbers to north-east England has been outstripped only by London in recent years, 1.30 pm and that the industry in the Newcastle-Gateshead area Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) is worth £1.23 billion and supports around 19,000 jobs. (Lab): Before I talk about the horse racing levy and the Let me take this opportunity to invite the Department’s impact of its decline on Newcastle racecourse, which is Ministers to visit Newcastle and the north-east—which in my constituency, I should declare a non-declarable I believe they have yet to do—where they can sample for interest in the matter. The racecourse has a proud place themselves the excellent attractions and facilities that in the history of Newcastle and the wider region, but it Newcastle has to offer the discerning visitor. Newcastle also has a prominent place in my life. In addition to my racecourse is one of the highlights of the area. own, less frequent, visits to it, it is arguably where my But I digress, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am sure that father spends his happiest times—other than time spent hon. Members are aware of the purpose of the horse in the bosom of his family, of course. His Christmas racing levy. The hon. Member for West Suffolk (Matthew present for many years has been a family club-together Hancock) set out eloquently the arguments for the levy to buy him an annual pass for the races, and his father’s and for ensuring that there is a fair return, and I will not day gift a subscription to Racing Ahead. We recently repeat them. I appreciate that the betting industry takes celebrated his 60th birthday there in style, enjoying the a very different stance from that of racing united and hospitality offered at the race course. I must therefore the British Horseracing Authority on this issue, but the declare a strong personal interest for the sake of my facts of the matter are clear. The mechanism through father and many like him, who I am sure have a deep which British horse racing has been supported since the fondness for, and interest in, the safeguarding of Newcastle 1960s, given the significant profits that it affords the racecourse’s future. betting industry, is producing rapidly diminishing returns. There has been horse racing of one kind or another It is argued that the levy system developed 50 years ago on Tyneside for the past 350 years. Newcastle’s town simply does not properly account for modern-day methods moor hosted the first recorded Northumberland plate of betting on horse racing. I agree with the concern of in 1833 and continued to do so until 1881, when the the hon. Member for West Suffolk that the situation is race moved to the now-famous High Gosforth park. putting prize money at risk, which in turn could make The 812-acre High Gosforth park estate had been bought horse racing less viable, as the levy funds half of all the for £60,000 from Newcastle’s prominent Brandling family prize money awarded by the British Horseracing Authority. to be operated by a “body of speculators actuated with the desire to promote sport in Matthew Hancock: Is the hon. Lady aware that, over a proper fashion and get a fair return for their trouble and the past year, the contribution from the levy to prize outlay.” money at Newcastle race course, which she so loves, fell I believe that that summarises the subject of our debate by 41%? today quite adequately. The Northumberland plate was first run at High Gosforth park in 1882. It is now an Catherine McKinnell: That concern has indeed been annual event anticipated and enjoyed by many people in raised with me by Newcastle racecourse, but the situation Newcastle and across the region. applies across the board. As the hon. Gentleman has Like the 59 other racecourses around the country, pointed out, Britain is, on average, 37th in the world in Newcastle racecourse continues to play an important terms of prize money awarded. That is a matter of great role in the local economy, providing significant employment concern. The declining level of the horse racing levy 1047 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1048 also threatens to jeopardise the safeguarding of the 1.39 pm sport’s integrity and standards, veterinary science and education, training programmes and, indeed, the very Mr Don Foster (Bath) (LD): I congratulate the hon. future of our racecourses. Member for West Suffolk (Matthew Hancock) on securing this really important debate. As we have heard, there are The impact of the declining horse racing levy and the 60 racecourses in the United Kingdom. They provide continued uncertainty about its future were summed up 20,000 direct jobs and a further 80,000 indirect jobs. very well by the general manager of Newcastle racecourse They provide about £330 million in tax income to the in a recent conversation with me. He told me: Exchequer. Racecourses provide a wonderful range of “The levy money we receive is hugely important as it underpins opportunities for events to be held, they are a significant our desire to employ more staff, invest in the business and grow boost to tourism and, of course, provide a product that the race course in the community. The reduction in the levy means is critically important to the gambling industry. that this is not currently possible and jeopardises our vision for the future. The levy reduction is already affecting our staffing For some 50 years, there has been an interdependence plans for race days in January and February.” between racing on the one hand and the gambling industry on the other. We know that the racing industry Nigel Adams (Selby and Ainsty) (Con): Over the past provides its share of the bargain by having a rule book, three years, the reduction in the levy’s contribution to which is largely determined by the gambling industry. the industry has been £50 million, which represents a There are some 1,500 racing events every year and significant sum of money coming out of the industry. about 80% of them are dictated by the gambling industry. Does the hon. Lady agree that we need to act on this If that were not the case, who in their right mind would matter quickly? My hon. Friend the Member for think of holding a race meeting on a cold, wet, winter’s Tewkesbury (Mr Robertson) suggested delaying a decision evening if they were reliant only on attendance money for three years, but I am not sure that the industry can to cover the costs? That is its side of the bargain. As we wait that long. have already heard, to ensure that bets are fair and clean, a huge amount of money is spent on integrity Catherine McKinnell: I would leave to the Minister’s and other such issues. discretion the question of whether this should involve a On the other side, as part of the independence deal, gradual process or a more immediate emergency response, the gambling industry makes a contribution not only but I want to make a plea today for an immediate through the levy, but by sponsorship and other forms of response on the percentage of the horse racing levy that support, although it is predominantly through the levy is going to be contributed this year. and through the increased money paid for television coverage. The levy provides funds to be used for prize Mr Laurence Robertson: Just to clarify the matter, I money, which is critical—not least, as we have heard, was not suggesting that a decision should be delayed for for far-away courses in Scotland and elsewhere—but it three years. I just think that there should be an end date also provides money for developments in veterinary to the statutory levy in order to speed up the examination science, for jockey training, education and much more. of other opportunities for funding to horse racing. Andrew Griffiths: I am lucky to have Uttoxeter racecourse Catherine McKinnell: I thank the hon. Gentleman for in my constituency—a magnificent historical racecourse that clarification; that was my understanding of the that is home to the west midlands grand national. My point he was making in his speech. hon. Friend will know that when it comes to prize money and fees, we have seen a drop of some 38% across the I find the words of the general manager of Newcastle industry. My own racecourse, however, has seen it drop racecourse deeply worrying, not only because of the by 61%, which is having an impact on owners and their economic implications at a time when Newcastle and ability to take part in the industry. Does he agree that, the north-east face difficult times as a result of the ultimately, that will lead to the racecourse’s demise Government’s cuts but because of the potential knock-on unless we do something about it? effect on commercial activity and the tourism industry in the region. I would hope, given this Government’s apparent commitment to supporting regions such as the Mr Foster: I entirely agree, and it is borne out by north-east to grow their private sector in order to replace evidence from the wonderful racecourse in my own the thousands of lost public sector jobs, that the Secretary constituency of Bath, as it doubtless is by Wincanton, of State and the Minister will be equally troubled by which I was asked to mention by my right hon. Friend what Mr Lane had to say. It is disappointing that we the Deputy Leader of the House, and indeed by the have reached a stage at which the Secretary of State has wonderful course in the constituency of my hon. Friend had to intervene on this issue, but I would urge him to the Member for Cheltenham (Martin Horwood). That reach a fair and equitable decision on the levy for is true because, as we have already heard, since 2003, 2011-12 as a matter of urgency. when the levy brought £110 million into racing, it has fallen to about £65 million. Such a reduction has inevitably For all the reasons that I outlined earlier, it is also had an impact. vital that British racing is placed on a secure financial footing for the long term, thereby allowing racecourses such as Newcastle that want to continue to thrive, Jacob Rees-Mogg: I just want to claim a share of further invest in their business and staff, and provide Bath racecourse, which I believe is in North East Somerset. entertainment and pleasure to people such as my dad, to do so for many years to come. I look forward to Mr Foster: Given the boundary changes, I have to hearing the Minister explain how he intends to secure concede that to my hon. Friend. I share the same passion that outcome. he does for the course’s continued success. 1049 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1050

[Mr Foster] the levy as it was already in existence way before the establishment of those rules. There would not be a I was explaining that the mutual interdependence has problem. existed for 50 years, but it has become increasingly difficult. It is now critical to find a sustainable future for Matthew Hancock: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? the link between the racing community and the gambling Mr Foster: I will, but I want to finish. community.In so doing, we have to remove the involvement of politicians. I entirely agree with the Secretary of Matthew Hancock: My hon. Friend the Member for State when he said at the end of last year: Shipley (Philip Davies) mentioned the European “Frankly, the government should never be the last resort in an Commission’s view of the French system, but would it essentially commercial negotiation”. not be better to look at the view of the British system? A sustainable way forward should not involve politicians, The levy board does not define the levy as state aid but politicians will have to help find that way forward, precisely because it is a transfer between two industries. which must be based on a number of fundamental Moreover, a racing right would establish a property principles. right on which our whole constitution is based. The first principle is to be absolutely clear about what Mr Foster: Since we are getting into this topic, I shall the levy is about. Many hon. Members will have come go into a little more detail and omit some other parts of across a leaflet put out by William Hill, which says my speech. Having looked at the issue, it is clear to me under the heading “Real People, Real Jobs”: that levy grants and loans are not paid by the state; by “For every additional £1 million that the bookmakers are definition, therefore, they are not state aid and they are forced to pay in horseracing levy, 100 industry jobs may be lost not provided through state resources. They do not for people like this”. impose a selective advantage; they do not distort or It goes on to provide examples of such people. That is a threaten to distort competition; and they do not affect bit rich from an organisation that has recently moved its trade between EU member states. On all criteria, this internet betting operation—and is soon to move its does not amount to state aid. telephone operation—offshore, losing many hundreds I hope that we can sort out three things when we of jobs and about £12 million of tax revenue for the come to finding a sustainable future. The first is the Exchequer. My key point, however, can be seen on the offshore issue. I have long argued that we have to do other side of the leaflet, which says: something about that and I was delighted that the hon. “Whilst racing can depend on a 1960s state subsidy it will never Member for Bradford South (Mr Sutcliffe), when he have the incentive to modernise.” was the excellent Minister with that responsibility, instituted My clear understanding of the levy is that it is not a consultation on the issue. I want to see a situation where state subsidy; it is a relationship between two organisations. any firms or organisations regulated offshore—whether It cannot—as some have sought to portray it—be defined they be in the European economic area or are white as state aid. We must be clear that this is a relationship listed—that want to advertise within the UK must have between two organisations that get mutual benefit from a secondary licence, which would require them in turn each other. That is crucial to understanding what we are to contribute to the levy and to research, education and talking about. treatment for gambling addiction. I hope that we can resolve that issue. Philip Davies: Will the hon. Gentleman give way on Secondly, we need to resolve the issue of betting that point? exchanges. They cannot be allowed to get away with having no involvement in the levy. As other hon. Members Mr Foster: I will, but only briefly. have said, however, I welcome it when some of those organisations make voluntary contributions. Thirdly—a totally separate issue that is also important—I Philip Davies: The hon. Gentleman says that this believe that we need to support our bookmaking industry, should not be considered as state aid, yet his beloved particularly the small independent firms that are losing European Union—I, of course, want to be out of the out. I believe that the current charging regime of the wretched thing—takes precisely the opposite view. In Gambling Commission penalises them unfairly. I am looking at the French proposals for a horse racing levy, worried that the current threshold, which was designed the Commission said: to help them, does not in fact do so, because each “At this stage, the Commission considers that the aid measure individual shop within a large chain reaps the benefit, contains all the features constituting the concept of State aid. rather than the small independent bookmakers. The After exploring several means by which the notified measure could be regarded as compatible with the rules in force, the levy board has proposed that we should remove the Commission has not found any clear means of regarding it as threshold, but I hope that we will not remove it, but compatible.” reform it to provide more benefit to the small independent bookmakers. I am afraid that that is what the hon. Gentleman’s beloved European Union said. We need to move forward rapidly, but the deal must be done between the two mutually related independent bodies—the racing industry and the gambling industry. Mr Foster: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for reminding me of why I raised the point. There has to be clarification. Personally, having studied the various issues 1.50 pm in some detail, I do not accept the definition that we Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP): I just heard from him. Incidentally, even if he is right, congratulate the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Matthew which I do not believe he is, it would not threaten Hancock) on securing the debate. I also join other 1051 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1052

Members in registering a non-declarable interest: and they were very pleased that we would be debating Downpatrick racecourse is in my constituency. The the issue in the House, because they wanted an opportunity course, which recently celebrated its 275th anniversary, to ensure that their views were articulated here. has contributed much to the horse-racing industry on I hope that we on the island of Ireland will be able to the island of Ireland, and the area has exported not undertake further exports such as that of A. P. McCoy, only thoroughbreds but many jockeys and trainers to whom I congratulate as a person from County Antrim the industry here in Britain. who has done exceedingly well as a jockey, has made an Speaking as the representative of a constituency with enormous contribution, and has been an excellent a substantial horse-racing industry, which contributes ambassador to the horse-racing industry. However, I to the local economy and to tourism, I want to see more agree with other Members that the industry needs a regulation of the betting industry. That would protect sustainable future. both that industry and the horse-racing industry. I am I ask the Minister to consider all the points I have aware that horse racing in Northern Ireland is a devolved made. I also ask him to make appropriate representations matter, but the local betting industry is being undermined to, and hold appropriate discussions with, his opposite by offshore betting, and my constituents and I would number in the Irish Cabinet as soon as possible to deeply appreciate any discussions that could take place ensure that the industry on both islands has that sustainable with the Irish horse racing board and the Irish Government. future, because it makes a marked contribution to the The funding of racing in both the United Kingdom local economy and also to tourism. and the Republic of Ireland depends on returns from the betting industry. In both jurisdictions, research has 1.56 pm demonstrated that it has decreased significantly owing Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): As to the amount of business that is directed offshore. As this is the first debate in which I have participated in my the hon. Member for West Suffolk pointed out, the capacity as the newly elected Member for Thirsk and offshore betting industry, which includes both betting Malton, it would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to exchanges and some of the larger bookmaking chains, my predecessor in the Ryedale and Filey part of the is taking advantage of loopholes in the system to avoid constituency. John Greenway was a stalwart of the making a fair contribution. For example, online businesses racing industry, and the immediate predecessor of my allow firms to locate a server offshore in places such as hon. Friend the Member for Tewkesbury (Mr Robertson) the Isle of Man, Malta and Gibraltar, and route the as one of the co-chairmen of the all-party parliamentary bets by means of “phone to server”. A bet then becomes racing and bloodstock industries group. that country’s bet for tax purposes, as a result of the William Hill judgment in the European Court of Justice. The new constituency resulting from the marriage between Thirsk and Malton and Filey contains 31 trainers Those problems need to be addressed, because they with nearly 1,000 horses. Given that each trainer will are having an impact on our local industry. They have probably employ one member of staff per 3.5 horses, implications for jobs, and for all involved in the horse-racing about 270 people are directly employed by trainers. industry. Many of us hold that industry very dear, Obviously that excludes those in ancillary professions, because we represent rural constituencies of which horse such as vets, and many businesses. racing is a central part. Although the subject of the debate—which I am delighted that my hon. Friend the Member for West Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD): I agree with the Suffolk (Matthew Hancock) has managed to secure—is hon. Lady’s critique of levy avoidance, but does she the future of the horse racing levy, I hope that it will be agree with me—and with my right hon. Friend the inextricably linked with the issue of a vibrant future for Member for Bath (Mr Foster) and the hon. Member for the horse racing industry per se. As a number of Members North Swindon (Justin Tomlinson)—that any measures have pointed out, the industry is struggling. Trainers in to tackle it should not fall disproportionately on small particular feel that they are in severe financial straits. I betting shops or, indeed, small groups of bookmakers? referred earlier, in an intervention, to the reduction in prize money, and a Member representing a Scottish seat Ms Ritchie: I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman. mentioned rising fuel costs. The cost of diesel is at a I am about to deal with that very point. record high in north Yorkshire, and, as we have already The larger bookmaking chains argue that they have heard, it is pushing up the costs of transporting horses, moved offshore in a bid to compete with the betting jockeys and stable lads and lasses to race meetings. exchanges. Betting exchanges allow unlicensed individuals to lay bets and to incur no gross profits tax or associated Philip Davies: My horses are trained in my hon. Friend’s costs on their winnings. Like the hon. Member for constituency. I think that this is the first time that Chippenham (Duncan Hames), I fear that the smaller Mr Michael Easterby, who has the pleasure of training bookmakers and gambling establishments in rural towns them, has been described as being in dire financial throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland are deeply straits. However, I am sure that he would agree with my affected by that, because the current legislation and, hon. Friend, even if no one else would. perhaps, the regulations governing it are out of date Nearly 50% of betting shops make a profit of less and do not take on board offshore and online betting. than £17,000 a year. Does my hon. Friend have some I understand that in the UK, Betfair, one of the online regard to their dire financial straits as well? systems, pays duty on the commission that it charges, and that the commission ranges from 2% to 5% of Miss McIntosh: My hon. Friend’s horses are obviously winnings depending on individual turnover. Last week I in the right place. I can imagine no better place than met representatives of the bookmaking industry on the north Yorkshire in which to train them, and I hope that island of Ireland. They expressed those very concerns, that is reflected in their success. 1053 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1054

[Miss McIntosh] the proposed changes to the levy are state aid or would distort trade between member states. I take some comfort I do not know whether time will permit me to deal from the fact that all of us who take an interest in the with betting shops. Small independent betting shops industry can reach out to the industry in other member and chains of betting shops obviously exist in market states, using our good offices to make these points to towns such as Thirsk, Malton, Filey and Easingwold in the Commission. an average constituency such as mine, but they have My second plea to the Minister, which other hon. alternative means of making a living. They increasingly Members have also made, is to keep the Tote within provide one-armed bandits and other forms of betting, racing. I pay tribute to the previous Government’s not least on the outcomes of political elections. acknowledgement of the vital importance of racing, which is undermined by the arguments about state aid. I Justin Tomlinson: I met an independent bookmaker have addressed that matter and I hope that we can take who is responsible for 11 bookmakers, including some it forward. in my constituency. The changes to the threshold rules The third point I wish to make to the Minister relates might mean an increase of 78% in their levy contributions. to a proposal to close all the loopholes being exploited A lot of extra alternative sources of income would have by bookmakers and the betting exchanges in order to to be found to allow that business to remain viable. raise £60 million a year via a percentage deduction transaction fee on all bets on the exchanges. As I said, I Miss McIntosh: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for represent a host of betting shops and I take some making that point, and perhaps I should say that trainers comfort from the fact that the manager of one of them are struggling financially, rather than that they are in has written to me in the context of this debate. He said: severe financial straits. This is also about the ability of “The current issues facing the Horserace Betting Levy are less trainers, on an ongoing basis, to sell their wares and to do with the total amount generated by the levy and more to do persuade the horse owners to stay with the industry, with how it, and other income streams, are distributed within which obviously they love, rather than investing in other Racing.” areas. Nobody has yet focused on feeding costs, which That issue has to be addressed. He continued by saying: are putting up the cost of training the horses. The “I…support the ‘minimum tariffs’ initiative recently announced reduction in prize money has been mentioned and I by the Horsemen’s Group”. hope that the Minister will address it. I also add that I wish to place on the record my tribute to the work of trainers are major employers in rural areas and their that organisation and its pan-industry view, and I hope businesses support countless other businesses in rural that its voice will be heard on this matter. communities, as the hon. Member for South Down I do not believe that a positive way to bring the (Ms Ritchie) mentioned, so it is vital that they are seen industry together is by thinking that the trainers, racehorse to have a fair return on that. owners and all those employed in the industry are on I welcome the fact that this debate has touched on one side, and the betting shops and gamblers are on the the importance of racing to the fabric of rural life—to other. The danger to the system—this is the challenge the economic, social and cultural way of life in the the Minister will face—is the offshore aspect, to which countryside—which is particularly true in North Yorkshire. my hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk referred. Yorkshire boasts some of the finest racecourses in the Addressing that situation is the purpose of today’s debate. country, not least those at Thirsk and neighbouring I conclude by saying that all hon. Members who have Wetherby and York. Like all the other 60 racecourses, racecourses and the racing industry represented as strongly the one at Thirsk plays a vital role in the local economy, in their constituency as I do in mine benefit from such a providing employment not only for its staff, but for committed industry. I wish to pay tribute to the fact trainers, jockeys, stable lads and lasses, farriers, vets and that racecourses attract enormous amounts of tourism; breeders. Malton is an internationally renowned racehorse small racecourses such as Thirsk’s are very attractive. training centre and, along with Thirsk, is home to some Obviously it meets mostly in the summer months—we of the country’s top racehorse trainers. As I have mentioned, avoid the winter months—when the evening meetings more than 30 trainers are based in just one constituency. are particularly well subscribed, as are the weekend The hon. Member for Bradford South (Mr Sutcliffe) meetings. I also wish to lend my support to point-to- used to be the Minister responsible for this subject, but pointing, which has an enormous attraction in rural I put this question to the current Minister: is it possible communities and allows amateur jockeys to benefit. I to replace the levy by a £1 per shop race fee to raise invite the Minister to recognise the all-pervasive nature, £90 million per year? The right hon. Member for Bath in a very positive sense, of the racing industry.I understand (Mr Foster) made a serious point. I was an intern, as we the particularly difficult position that he is in, but I now call such people—they were rather glamorously hope that, through him, we can avail ourselves of the called “stagiaires” when I was one—in the Directorate good offices of the Secretary of State to make the case General for Competition for some six months. I understand in the strongest way to the European Commission and that for a levy to count as state aid it would have to be to ensure that all aspects of the racing and gambling shown that there was a direct subsidy to an industry in industry have a vibrant long-term future. one member state and thus a disadvantaging of industries in other member states. The right hon. Gentleman and Several hon. Members rose— others told us that levies were being sought in other countries as well, so I hope our case will be put, including Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. May I remind hon. by some of our powerful colleagues on both sides of the Members that seven Members wish to speak and I will other House who will be able to advise us in this regard. be calling the Front Benchers to make the wind-ups at I do not have much sympathy with the argument that 2.40 pm? There may be an eight-minute time limit, but 1055 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1056 if every Member is considerate of their colleagues and Suffolk and others have spoken at more length and with makes much shorter speeches, and perhaps if those more expertise than I on the nature of the broken itching to make interventions decide not to do so, we financing system. I want merely to point out three will be able to get everybody in. things. In France, the return from betting to the industry is, I believe, in the order of ¤700 million a year, whereas in Britain it is in the order of £30 million to £35 million. 2.7 pm The levy contribution to racing is falling from £100 million George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): I shall be as to £60 million—a huge drop. The return from betting to quick as I can. I congratulate my hon. Friend the racing, expressed as a ratio percentage, is about 1%. In Member for West Suffolk (Matthew Hancock) on securing Japan it is 5%, and in America 8%. That is an unsustainable this important debate and remind us all that thousands platform for the industry that we have a duty to tackle. of people in the racing industry are watching us closely The crucial and central point is that those who depend in the hope that we will be able to contribute to a on racing have a duty—and an interest in that duty—to settlement. ensure that it is sustainable. Too many people have been Mid Norfolk is not a racing constituency, but I wish taking too much out and not putting enough in. To to major on two key points, the first of which is the stretch a metaphor, rather than force-feeding the goose importance of racing at its grass roots in the rural that lays the golden egg, we are neglecting her. The economy. My constituency is adjacent to Fakenham truth is that one cannot push, as the betting industry racecourse, which is a magnificent centre of racing in has, for more meetings—that is totally understandable, Norfolk. A large number of my constituents follow as they want more product—and lower prize money. racing closely and there is a strong link with the farming The industry cannot sustain that. That is symptomatic community. Through the magnificent West Norfolk of the situation across a number of fields of modern life Foxhounds and the local point-to-point facilities, racing and in other sports. We concentrate too much on the at its grass roots is embedded in the rural economy and top of the pyramid and neglect the grassroots. We does not exist in isolation. neglect the smaller meetings, smaller tracks and smaller My second interest is a personal one, and I hope that trainers and owners that prop up the more celebrated, the House will indulge me. I grew up in and around well known and better off ones at the top. We do so at Newmarket in a racing family. As some of the more our peril. senior Members of the House who follow the sport may I have spoken to a number of trainers and those know, my father stormed to victory in the 1958 grand involved in racing in the past few days and weeks. A national on a brave Irish gelding called Mr What. My number of them made the same point as my hon. Friend uncle served for many years as chairman of the then the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Miss McIntosh): British Bloodstock Agency and my brother trains in with the cost of living and fuel prices rising as fast as north America, along with a large number of people they are, a number of smaller owners and trainers who want to get into this industry, some of whom do cannot even afford to get to the races; it simply does not not find it that easy. I have spent some time on the back make sense when prize money is as low as it is. Of stretch in America and Canada and have seen how course, one group of people who suffer from that different industries around the world are structured. underinvestment at the top when horses are winning My hon. Friend referred to the heritage of racing. races, which by definition most do not, are those at the The fact that racing is not just an industry is an important bottom—the often lowly paid stable lads and others point. Racing sits at the heart of what it means to be who prop up the industry. We cannot properly improve British: people who do not follow racing have surely the quality of their lives and incomes without improving heard of Red Rum and Desert Orchid; Bob Champion the prize money at the top. It says something about the and the story of Aldaniti is a national legend; and state of the industry when a legend as highly regarded Frankie Dettori is a national figure. I defy those who and skilled as Pat Eddery decides that the game is not have not been to a point-to-point meeting, to Cheltenham worth the candle. or the Guineas meeting to say different; people are Accelerating my speech, I want to support the comments aware of racing and its part in our national heritage of my hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk about and history. the importance of some new settlement for the industry. This afternoon, we are principally discussing racing I urge the Minister to take those comments very seriously. as an industry—as a business. I want to make the point I have worked in biomedical research, where intellectual that it is an important national business. At a time when property rights sit at the heart of the industry, protecting the Government are rightly putting a lot of emphasis the interests of those at the bottom. That concept works on rebalancing the economy and doing everything they well and I commend it to the House. It could give us a can to promote business and growth beyond the City of chance to create a new settlement for this great industry London, this giant industry is struggling and we would and ensure that it is sustainable for the generations that be well advised to help it. It generates more than 100,000 follow. jobs and a turnover of more than £3.5 billion, as well as a huge local underpinning of that through the trickle-down 2.14 pm to farriers, vets and those who sell clothing and Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): I congratulate my equipment—all the secondary industries that feed racing. fellow Suffolk MP, my hon. Friend the Member for So what is the problem? The racing industry as we West Suffolk (Matthew Hancock), on securing this debate. have grown to know and love it is unsustainable. Its It provides me with an opportunity to participate in a financing model is broken. It is incumbent on all of us debate on the future of a sport in which I have had a who care about it as an industry and about our economy lifelong interest. At the outset I should mention some to tackle that. My hon. Friend the Member for West non-declarable interests. 1057 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1058

[Peter Aldous] one should have regard to the plight of the smaller independent shops, which, like so many high street Although I am not a horse breeder, I am a member of traders, are struggling. They should receive some assistance the Thoroughbred Breeders Association so that I can to help them compete against their larger rivals. Finally, receive its useful publications, and for many years I have British racing wants to reinstate payments for customers been an annual member at Newmarket. in Britain placing bets on overseas racing. I want to I have gone racing in other countries and although receive more information on that argument as my immediate days at Santa Anita, Saratoga and Longchamp are reaction is that overseas racing is not the industry’s never to be forgotten, nothing quite matches what is on product to sell. offer in Britain, whether it is at Aintree or Epsom, the Although racing has a strong case to receive a higher homes of our two most famous races, under the trees price for its product, it needs to look at the package that of the pre-paddock at Newmarket or at the very it provides, not only to meet the requirements of its special atmosphere at the Cheltenham Festival, which buyer, the betting industry, but to look after the interests commentators such as Hugh McIlvanney have observed of its various component parts, whether that is racecourses, has no equal in the sporting world. owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys or—not to be forgotten What has always intrigued me is that British racing —the stable staff who keep the whole show on the road has continued to lead the world despite the very low in often trying circumstances and very poor weather. levels of prize money on offer. In national hunt racing, I To be fair, racing has not done a bad job in recent think that that is because the love and passion for both years. As reported in today’s Racing Post, just under the spectacle and the horse is ingrained in so many 5.8 million people went racing in 2010, a rise of 0.9% on people, while in flat racing the prestige associated with 2009 despite the bad weather that wiped out most winning the major races means that there is a clear racing in December. The various racing festivals that incentive for the major international players to continue take place throughout the year remain extremely popular to race here. At this stage, I should mention the Maktoum and are well marketed. There are also those courses that family and Khalid Abdullah, as well as other owners show imagination and flair and put on other attractions, who have made such an enormous contribution to and such as music, that help them to attract large crowds to investment in British racing over the past 30 years. their meetings. Newmarket “nights” are a must on the Without them, racing would have faced its day of reckoning East Anglian social calendar. much earlier. More needs to be done to enhance racing’s attraction Some might say that that day of reckoning has not and to look after the interests of those working in the arrived and that racing has cried wolf before and has industry. The following areas could be considered. First, always survived and carried on. It is wrong to say that the fixture list needs to be reviewed. Too much racing is now. Prize money has fallen to such a low level that being put on to please the bookmakers at present, urgent action is required. Without decent prize money which has led to an increase in racing’s cost without a at all levels, owners will leave the sport, trainers will give commensurate increase in income. The cost of policing up and grooms who work in the yards will be laid off or has risen from £16.2 million in 2002-03, to £25 million will have to work harder for a wage that certainly in 2009-10. In the same period, owners paid an additional cannot be described as “living”. It is prize money that £6.5 million in increased transport costs. Having wall-to-wall oils racing’s wheels and keeps the whole show on the racing in the afternoon, at dusk and at night, seven days road. a week, places unreasonable pressure on those who Although I was born in 1961 and do not have a full work in the industry. Racing needs to have regard to knowledge of the negotiations that took place then, in sustainability. We need a fixture list with a good spread my view the levy was flawed from the outset. I accept, of meetings across the country each day. On opening however, that I say that with the benefit of hindsight. In the paper in the morning, one often finds meetings at most other racing countries, there is a monopoly whereby Lingfield, Ascot, Warwick and Wolverhampton. Racing all revenue derived from pool betting goes back into needs to go across the country on a daily basis and an racing. As a result, in those countries, the majority of all-weather course in the north should be considered, as racing’s revenue comes from betting. should a day off once a month, perhaps on a Monday. The yield from the levy has fallen dramatically from One of the main attractions of British racing is the £115 million in 2007-08 to £65 million in 2010-11. The large number of diverse courses—60 in total, all of British Horseracing Authority says that action is needed which are unique in their own way—but racing must in four key areas to ensure that racing gets a fair return look at ways of rewarding those courses that show on its product. I shall consider each in turn. First, the ingenuity and imagination in putting on attractive meetings. betting exchanges that have grown up in recent years It should also look at ways of rewarding courses that should pay a proper commercial return to British racing. look after themselves through promotion and sponsorship, To me, that argument is compelling. Secondly, bookmakers invest in their facilities and do not just rely on the levy. who have moved their operations offshore should be The days of the levy junkie should come to an end. included in the levy. Again, that sounds logical to me: if There is also a need to look at ways of making racing they are using a British racing product they should pay more appealing to the public. Perhaps bullet races over for it. However, I note from today’s Racing Post that two to three furlongs could be considered as racing’s such a move might be open to legal challenge. Thirdly, version of 20/20. horse racing wants to abolish the threshold rule that That brings me to the way forward, the future and my currently exempts 60% of betting shops from paying the conclusions. There is no one simple solution to the host full rate of the levy. If the major bookmakers are of problems that need to be addressed. First, the levy exploiting that loophole to avoid paying their full dues, should be abolished and replaced with a fair funding it is right that the anomaly should be addressed. However, mechanism that collects from as broad a base as possible. 1059 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1060

Secondly, the Government should work with racing and my local racecourse has pointed out that before we sell the betting industries to establish which methods of the Tote we should ask ourselves who owns it. The payment are permissible from a legal viewpoint, and Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and they should negotiate with the EU as necessary. In the Sport has previously stated his desire to forthcoming sale of the Tote, the Government must do “ensure that funding for racing is fair, and collected from as broad all they can to look after the best interests of racing. I a base as possible.”—[Official Report, 8 November 2010; would like to see the Tote run by racing for racing. Vol. 518, c. 41W.] Unless the levy is reformed, we cannot claim that either 2.22 pm of those criteria is being met. Ian Swales (Redcar) (LD): Each of our sixty racecourses It is worth considering what might happen if we do plays a vital role in the local economy, providing not address the dramatic decline in the levy. In many employment and a social hub. My local course at Redcar ways a chain would be set up, many aspects of which attracts people from far and wide and is particularly would be irreversible. There might be racecourse closures attractive to trainers who like our flat, straight mile. The with owners walking away. Some owners, including course is right in the middle of the town, so any threat leading international owners on the flat, might transfer to it would not just cause an economic problem but their horses to other countries, especially France, and might become an environmental issue. other owners, especially at the lower end, would leave Racing and betting are inextricably linked. The sport’s the industry. Some breeders might choose to go out of fixture list, scheduling, volume and even rules are largely business or produce fewer foals, all of which would lead dictated by bookmakers. Last year, I tabled an early-day to a smaller industry with direct job losses to jockeys, motion with wording very similar to that in the motion. trainers and stable staff, as well as indirect job losses in It was given the number 999, strangely enough, which dependent businesses, including bookmakers. Local was very appropriate because this is an urgent problem. racecourses are often at the centre of their communities. I shall not repeat statistics others have given, but I shall While methods of betting have advanced and become mention one that has not been given: some 5.8 million more modern, the levy has remained stagnant and people a year attend race meetings, so it is a huge become outdated. It needs to be urgently revised if we spectator sport. It is imperative that the mechanism to are to maintain this country’s fine racing reputation and transfer value between betting and racing is brought up heritage. I understand the Secretary of State’s stated to date and gives sufficient protection to local racecourses. wish to remove his Department from this issue, but the As we have heard, the levy contribution to prize money Government’s historical involvement in the Tote and is falling dramatically this year, down to £65 million. levy system means that they cannot just walk away. It is Redcar’s prize money is being cut by 50%, which is a imperative that they leave an effective and sustainable massive problem for the management at the racecourse. system that will protect the diversity of racing in this As we have heard, smaller racecourses face cuts of up to country for the long term. two thirds and are therefore clearly under threat. Another important area that has not been mentioned 2.27 pm but could be seriously affected is the number and pattern Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con): I congratulate of fixtures, particularly at smaller courses. There has my hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Matthew been a reduction from £6.9 million in 2009 to £2.1 million Hancock) on securing the debate and I support the in 2011 in the fixture incentive scheme, which is paid to many excellent points that he and other hon. Members racecourses to incentivise them to hold fixtures on days made. I thank him particularly for mentioning Worcester. when gate receipts are low. They do that so that bookmakers I am fortunate to have in my constituency one of and the levy have a continuous horse race betting product. England’s best-loved racecourses and to represent one Some racecourses might abandon those important of the few cities to have a racecourse right at its heart. bookmaker and levy-friendly fixtures and move fixtures Members of a literary bent will be interested to know to Saturday afternoons, for example, when gate receipts that it recently featured heavily in Jilly Cooper’s blockbuster, would be higher. However, that would starve other “Jump!” parts of the week and bookmakers might have a problem with that. The Pitchcroft racecourse in Worcester has seen racing for more than 200 years and provides vital green space If things do not change, there will certainly be a at the centre of the city. It is one of the many wonderful reduction in the annual fixture list of perhaps 400 fixtures things about Worcester that the city is rich in green next year, as they would not be financially viable for spaces—not just formal parks but woodland, playing racecourses. That would further reduce the levy to the fields, the prettiest cricket ground in England and one Horserace Betting Levy Board, clearly risking a vicious of its finest racecourses. As the Member of Parliament circle. The loopholes we have heard about cost racing for Worcester, I have vowed to protect those green millions of pounds a year. It is especially important that spaces, and ensuring our racecourse remains viable is an the threshold from which more than 60% of betting important part of that. shops benefit should be reviewed rather than scrapped—I agree with that point. The vast majority of those shops Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con): are, indeed, owned by major operations. It is equally My hon. Friend’s inspirational words about green spaces important to address the offshore betting issue. take me to the Beverley Westwood, which has been The Tote should continue to operate as a pooled protected by the pasture masters of Beverley for hundreds betting system. We see such systems in pretty much of years and prevented from being developed, and in it every other racing country in the world, and it is worth sits the famous Beverley racecourse. So, like him, I wish remembering that in some countries that have successful to see the racing industry and our racecourses maintained racing industries, a Tote-style system is sometimes the for the benefit of the environment and the economy of only legitimate form of betting. The chief executive of the areas in which we live. 1061 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1062

Mr Walker: My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. almost halve since 2004, and Worcester suffer even Like other Members, I feel I should declare a non- more. Clearly there is a challenge for racecourse owners declarable interest at this point, because although I have and managers to make up revenue in other ways as no personal connection with either the racing or the well—commercialising pictures and using the opportunities betting industry, my sister worked for many years as a presented by the internet to grow their own revenues—but groom and horse exerciser for a race yard in Shropshire. it is reasonable that the betting industry should pay its Being horse mad, a competitive spirit and one of life’s fair share. I urge the Minister, as he looks into these natural risk-takers, she relished the opportunity to work matters, to ensure that there is a system in place to make with difficult horses and became a specialist in retraining all bookmakers pay their fair share for the benefits that some of the most challenging, not to say dangerous, racing brings them. I note the cross-party interest that horses in racing. Like many people in the industry, she we have heard during this debate in the idea of a racing worked for very low wages to pursue a passion. That right. Any solution should take into account the need to passion is shared by many of my constituents who enjoy maintain a diversity of courses in different locations a day at the races at Pitchcroft and make the most of the around the country, to support those courses, such as public amenity provided by the racecourse. Worcester, where racing has taken place for generations, and which support a wide network of racing stables, Meetings at Worcester regularly attract up to 3,000 and to rebuild a healthier relationship between the race-goers and are popular with local residents as well gambling and the racing industries. as visitors from miles around. On Derby day, Pitchcroft can attract crowds of up to 7,000. That brings business I share with the Secretary of State the disappointment to the city, with people shopping and dining out after that he has expressed that these two industries were their day’s racing, and can be a major economic boost unable to agree a mutually beneficial settlement this for Worcester. The course provides not only racing, but year, and I applaud his belief in free markets and his an important venue for meetings, conferences, Worcester’s intention to remove Government intervention from the annual Campaign for Real Ale beer festival, and many process. However, I would urge both the Secretary of charitable events. However, all this is under threat for State and the Minister, who will be looking at a new two reasons. The first, which is beyond ministerial system of funding, to come up with solutions that take control, is the power and might of the River Severn. account of both the challenges and the opportunities of The second is the decline in the levy. an online world, and make racing viable, not just for this year, but for hundreds of years to come. Confident as I am in the Minister’s powers, I would not ask him, Canute-like, to turn back the waters of the River Severn. However, I would ask him to take note of 2.33 pm the special circumstances in which it places Worcester’s Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con): I must declare an racecourse. The very fact that it is on the flood plain is interest at the outset as a jockey. I hold a category B perhaps what has protected this green space in the heart amateur rider’s licence. As hon. Members will see as I of the city from development, but it also brings its strain to do up my jacket, I have a bit of problem. I challenges. Most years, there is some flooding of the blame Gordon Brown and the last election for many course, and that can lead to cancelled races and days things, but in particular it put a stone on my weight, lost. However, in the summer of 2007, when Worcester such that the winners I rode in 2009 I could not necessarily was struck by its worst floods in decades, the racecourse ride today. I have ridden out for and helped a variety of was submerged under feet of water for many weeks. trainers, including Stan Mellor, Brendan Powell, Bob Major flooding of this sort has made plans to upgrade Turnell and Tim Reed. I probably would not have got facilities and a one-time plan to invest in a course-side through my school days had I not been able to run a hotel unviable, and has posed a major financial headache small bookmakers at my school, aged 12, where the for the course’s management. As a result, Worcester is Friday ration of unlicensed booty was other children’s probably more dependent than many other racecourses sweets, which seemed miraculously to find their way on the money it receives via the levy to make racing into my pocket. I represent the wonderful constituency sustainable and to attract trainers with prize money. of Hexham. It is over 1,000 square miles and an especially It is tragic, therefore, that this course of all courses wild and wonderful place, with, I venture to suggest, a should have suffered the biggest single cut in levy funding better racecourse than those of Cheltenham and Liverpool, of any course in the country. The £300,000 reduction and all the others that proclaim that they are great. this year in Worcester’s levy funding for prize money This is a pivotal time. Racing is one of the most represents not merely the average 38% cut, nor the important, successful and world-renowned sports, and 61% cut that one of my hon. Friends mentioned, but a that can be said of few sports today. One would be unable massive 68% cut in the funding from the levy board, to list more than five sports in which we are at the top of and poses a significant risk to the long-term financial the tree, which we definitely are in racing. The levy has viability of the course and the many trainers, stables assisted in that, but if we fail to support it at this crucial and jobs that it supports. In a period where racing time we will, without a shadow of a doubt, become far attendances have been higher, and where the overall less successful and will regret the day we made that betting on British horse racing has remained strong, it decision. We are 38th in the league tables—leagues seems extraordinary that we should see such cuts, and tables are very popular these days—but that is a very for a racecourse as popular and well attended as Worcester, poor place to be. The 1% return on investment compares for all its challenges, it seems deeply unfair. with 5% in Japan and 8% in the USA. Horse Racing UK has set out a four-step programme Everyone accepts that it is an outdated model, and that it believes could replace over £100 million of revenue businesses exploit it. One could talk at length about the lost by the levy board. My ambition is more simple: to great merits of Betfair and others. I was certainly interested stem the sharp decline that has seen the levy yield to receive a letter recently from a gentleman called 1063 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1064

Mr Hawkswood, who represents the Remote Gambling rich people throughout the world is beyond me. The Association, a particularly august organisation that bookmakers give as much money now to the racing represents more than 30 internationally recognised remote industry as they have done in recent years, because of operators. To us, that means that they are offshore and TV rights, yet they take less and less money on the sport. do not pay any of the wages or individual contributions I shall briefly touch on Betfair and betting exchanges, that we would like to see, and that is to the detriment of because the other side of the argument has to be put. racing. I particularly like the following point that he People cannot operate as traditional bookmakers on made. He said that if we change the law that Betfair. A bookmaker—I should know; I was one—takes “would be in breach of EU law and open to challenge in the bets on any horse in the race at the prices fed through courts.” from the racecourse, but on Betfair they would go out He was also quoted extensively in this morning’s Racing of business in two seconds if they tried that approach, Post. If that is the case, bring it on, because we need to because there is no margin. They can lay only individual stand up for racing. A failure to do so would lead to a horses, or two horses in a race at the most. If someone much lesser thing. bets against a horse, however, it is just the same as Every one of us could identify important race courses. betting for a horse: they act as a punter, not as a I have ridden at Hexham, Cheltenham, Kempton and bookmaker; and it would be absolutely outrageous if many others. There has been a 58% fall in individual punters on Betfair began to be treated as bookmakers. receipts at Hexham, and a 60% fall at Towcester—I will The arguments of the racing industry and independent never forget the scary down-hill fence there. The reality members of the levy board do not hold water. They is that those courses are really struggling and need our have first decided how much money racing should get, support. I believe that the offshore situation is key. and then tried to find some way of raising it, but that is Either we address this, get organised and make the like saying, “I’ve decided how much money I’m spending point, or we will really struggle. We must also look at next year, and I need a 25% pay rise.” The world does betting exchanges. These issues are of prime importance. not work like that. We should decide on a fair mechanism Simply doing nothing on an ongoing basis is a non-starter. by which bookmakers can pay the money, and racing, My hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Matthew like everybody else in this age of austerity, should cut its Hancock) and I started making that case in the cloth accordingly. Adjournment debate before Christmas, and he has done 2.41 pm very well. He made the point that there is a real need for a racing right. Whether one calls it a sports betting right Ian Austin (Dudley North) (Lab): This has been an or a racing right, the bottom line is that the ability to absolutely fascinating debate. Today we have seen the run this on an ongoing basis is absolutely key. If we do House doing exactly what it should do: examining a not get supportive of this, with a cross-sport application complex and detailed issue from all sides of the argument. of the individual things it involves, we will struggle. It is Members from both sides have demonstrated real, detailed of prime importance that we do that. The present expertise. Let us look at the previous two speeches: one system might be broken and facing great difficulty in from someone who has run a bookmakers; and the the way ahead, but we must address that on an ongoing other from someone who participated in the sport as a basis. To fail to do so would be to fail the greatest thing, jockey. How many other debates enable hon. Members in terms of sport, that we have ever produced. from both sides to bring personal and detailed knowledge of a complex issue to the House? It has been absolutely brilliant. 2.38 pm We have heard people speak up on behalf of residents Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): I appreciate that time and businesses in their constituencies, whether racing is short and so will be brief, although I will probably be fans or trainers, operators of betting shops or racecourses, the only Member to argue on the other side of what we owners or others who make such a huge contribution to have heard today. I should declare an interest as a the economy. So, let me congratulate the hon. Member former bookmaker, although I have no interest in for West Suffolk (Matthew Hancock) on securing this bookmaking any more. I do, however, have an interest debate. It is fair to say that we have heard him stand up as an owner and breeder of horses and as someone who for the interests of his constituency, and for the jobs and contributes to bookmakers’ profits. prosperity that racing brings to Newmarket. Considering that background, one might assume that We have heard fascinating contributions from all I would want the maximum amount of income to be parts of the House, and it is no surprise that so many given to the racing industry from bookmakers, but I Members have taken part, when we consider the hugely take exactly the opposite view. One reason why is that, important role that horse racing plays in Britain’s sporting as an owner, on the rare occasions when my horse and cultural life. With about 60 racecourses throughout manages to win a race, I know that the last thing I am the country and annual attendances of well over 5 million, interested in is how much prize money it has won. That it contributes about £3.5 billion directly to the economy, is not even a factor in my hobby: it is a hobby, and I do providing 100,000 direct and indirect jobs and generating not expect other people to subsidise it; I expect to pay £325 million in taxes. for it myself. Horse racing plays a major role in the tourism industry, The reason I am not interested in prize money levels attracting visitors from around the world to major is that in the 2009 flat racing season, one fifth of the events such as the grand national, the Derby, Royal £71 million prize money pot was concentrated in the Ascot and the Cheltenham festival, as well as of course hands of just 10 owners, many of them not just millionaires to Hexham, Worcester and so on, as we have heard. but billionaires. My hon. Friends failed to mention that, What is more, it is a truly global sport, but one in which and why on earth we should want poor people in Britain plays a leading role, with world-class courses, betting shops to subsidise the hobby and sport of immensely training, breeding, bloodstocks and sales. 1065 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1066

[Ian Austin] Matthew Hancock: Do Labour Front Benchers support a racing right? The intrinsic link between racing and betting means that, in every country where the two take place, there is Ian Austin: I shall come to our views shortly. Our role a mechanism to allow funding to go from the betting at this point, four and a half years away from an industry to support the racing industry. Here in the election, is to listen to all sides of the argument, as in UK, the levy was established in 196l, and today it funds this debate, and to interested parties outside, and that is prize money for participants, the governance of the what I want to do. Then, at some point, we will arrive at sport, the maintenance of its standards, veterinary science, a view. The Government are going to make this decision training programmes, racecourses and other matters in the next few months. [HON.MEMBERS: “What do you concerned with horse breeds and standards of care. think?”] I think it is my job to listen to all sides of the argument, to ask the Government questions about their The levy is based on the betting industry contributing intentions, and at some point—not now, with four and 10% of its gross profits to British horse racing. It is set a half years to go until an election—to arrive at a view by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, which has not so on this and on all sorts of other issues. far been able to arrive at an agreement for next year, What consideration has the Minister given to ensuring meaning that the Government are due to take the that betting exchanges and the professional bookmakers decision imminently, although the Secretary of State who use them, but do not pay full tax and levy, make an has said, like others before him to be fair, that this is the adequate contribution to British racing, or the same last time he wants the Government to make the decision. contribution to British racing as the rest of the onshore In 2003-04, the levy contributed £110 million to betting industry? racing, but that declined over the next three years to Several right hon. and hon. Members have queried £99 million, and to £65 million this year as betting the threshold rules introduced by the previous Government. preferences have changed to new forms of gambling, Does the Minister believe that those should be altered? and some betting has moved offshore. Racing argues Racing argues that payments for customers in Britain that these developments have hit the sport hard, and who place bets on racing overseas should be reinstated. that has led to the identification of several areas that The betting industry argues that thresholds were previously would address the problems and increase the income reduced substantially in exchange for removing the levy received from the betting industry. The betting industry, on foreign racing, and that it would be odd to charge a on the other hand, argues that the amount that it levy payable to British racing on events that are nothing contributes through having the right to broadcast races to do with British racing. What thought has the Minister through media or picture rights and sponsorship has given to this issue? increased over the same period, and says that the total Labour Members recognise the enormous contribution amount from the levy, TV picture rights and sponsorship that horse racing makes to Britain and to so many of its payments from betting to racing has remained stable in communities in so many ways, particularly in rural recent years. The average total of these payments was areas, and we want to see the sport strengthened and £164 million between 2006 and 2010, and in 2010 it placed on a secure and stable financial footing for the remained at £160 million, as the hon. Member for long term. Our manifesto promised that as betting on Shipley (Philip Davies) pointed out. sport increases, we would bring forward measures for As we have heard, this is a hugely detailed and consultation on generating a fair return to sport based complex issue. The horse racing industry, bookmakers on a contribution from the profits of the betting industry. and other interested parties have widely differing views We will work with the levy board to ensure that all about how betting should fund racing and by what operators taking bets on British races pay to support amount. As the Government consider how to put the British horse racing. relationship between betting and racing on the stable As I have said, the Government have to establish next footing for the long term that we all want to see, and to year’s levy, but we want a wide-ranging discussion that decide what contribution bookmakers and others should develops proposals to put racing on to a secure financial make to the sport, there are a number of questions and footing for the long term. We believe that ordinary racing areas on which we would like further detail or clarification. fans want to see racing thrive in Britain, funded by the For example, can the Minister tell us what assessment industry’s profits. We want plans to be developed to reform the Government have made of the impact on the growth and modernise the funding arrangements for racing. of offshore betting on the racing industry? When will The Labour Government made the commitment that the Government announce their response to and the half the proceeds from the sale of the Tote would go outcome of the document, “Consultation on Regulatory back into racing. We also want the Tote, under future Future of Remote Gambling in Great Britain”, which arrangements, to make a permanent contribution to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford South racing. We want its ownership to be transferred into (Mr Sutcliffe) launched last year and which concluded safe hands to ensure racing’s financial future. in June? I will conclude my remarks on that point to give the Betting is taking place in a different context as a Minister his full 10 minutes. I congratulate again the result of new technology and the resulting globalisation hon. Member for West Suffolk on securing this debate, of the industry, and that has had a major impact on the and all hon. Members who have taken part in what I sport as a whole, its structure and its finances. What have found to be a fascinating and informative discussion. discussion has the Minister had with the Treasury about the sport and the betting industry over the past few 2.50 pm months? Is he considering no longer permittingbetting The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, operators to advertise to and transact with British Olympics, Media and Sport (John Penrose): To begin, I consumers in a way that allows them to avoid the levy? echo a common thread throughout the debate by 1067 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1068 congratulating the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Matthew John Penrose: I am afraid that I have to be extremely Hancock)—I nearly called him the Member for Newmarket, quick and will not be able to take any more interventions but his constituency is of course broader than that. I due to the pressure of time, but the hon. Gentleman’s also congratulate the Backbench Business Committee speech was very short so I shall give way to him. on choosing what is clearly a well selected debate, given Philip Davies: I am very grateful. May I suggest that the breadth, depth and variety of the contributions. that commercial arrangement is simply between That shows what an important issue this is. bookmakers and racecourses? Often, the problem is The motion calls for the Government to come forward that too many people are pitching in, when in fact all with proposals by the end of the year. I am happy to the bookmakers want to do is buy a product from the accept that as the challenge and the target, and we will promoter of the racing product, so to speak, which is aim to meet it. I cannot make announcements right the racecourses. Surely it should be up to the racecourses now, it being only January. The consultation that was to put up prize money levels to attract owners in the kicked off by the last Government has been completed first place. The commercial arrangement should be a and there were a large number of submissions on the simple one. future of remote gambling and offshore gambling, which is a broader issue than the horse race betting levy, but is John Penrose: That illustrates one of the difficulties nonetheless important to the levy. We will respond to in designing a sustainable system for the future. My that consultation, and I am currently in the process of hon. Friend is quite right that that is one potential considering the responses. solution, but I think many people would have grave problems with it. I hope that Members will wish me A range of other interests have been laid out ably and luck in coming up with a solution that pleases everybody, well in this debate. I will not recap them all, partly due or at least does not displease too many people. Many to lack of time. I want to ensure that I respond to some people in the Horsemen’s Group and other parts of of the points that were made, rather than just repeat racing would be extremely worried by my hon. Friend’s them. It is absolutely right for the House to urge the suggestion, but I take his perfectly legitimate point. Government to come up with concrete proposals before A flier has been going around from William Hill, and the end of the year, and I am happy to accept that I believe the substance of it also largely appeared in an challenge, in line with the mood of the House. advertisement in the Racing Post last week. It states: I will have to tread a little carefully because, as I said, “What is the answer, then? Simple. Replace the levy with a we are still considering the details of our proposals. I normal commercial negotiation.” am happy to give as much detail as I can on the Amen to that, and many people would say the same direction of thinking and the principles that underlie thing. The difficulty is, what exactly does a normal what has to be done, but beyond that, I shall rely on a commercial negotiation look like given that at the moment, quotation from Alan Greenspan, a former chairman of we do not have a willing buyer and a willing seller? the Federal Reserve in America, who said in a speech to Racing has nothing to sell—it does not have the type of the Economic Club of New York in 1988, when asked property rights that my hon. Friend the Member for about the future direction of interest rates, on which he West Suffolk talked about. I am not sure whether William was obviously not allowed to opine: Hill is proposing a property right, but if it is, I suspect that many people in other parts of the bookmaking and “I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you’ve probably misunderstood what I’ve said.” gambling industry will be concerned about that. That is another problem that we face. There is no obvious I will be a little careful on that basis. compromise, and if we are to get one, there will have to What I can say on the principles underlying this be a great deal of good will on both sides and a matter is that it is absolutely right, as everybody has willingness to discuss the matter. agreed, that there is a strong symbiotic relationship We have already taken our initial steps. We intend to between racing and bookmaking, and rightly so. It is take powers in the Public Bodies Bill to remove the clear that each of the two cannot exist without the Secretary of State’s role in the levy determination process. other. Racing needs the income from bookmaking. That is a step in the right direction because it takes Bookmaking is perhaps less dependent on horse racing politicians and politics out of the individual levy than 10, 15 or 20 years ago, but it is still a tremendously determination, but it does not go nearly far enough important part of its income. We must recognise that. towards revising the system fundamentally, and that is the point that we have to get to. It has also been pretty much universally agreed in today’s debate that the current levy system is old-fashioned Whatever solution is proposed—as I said, I intend to and, if not broken, in the process of breaking. It is a take up the challenge of bringing solutions forward for solution that to modern eyes and ears feels corporatist. discussion during the course of the year—it has to It feels peculiar to have political intervention, lobbying produce a level playing field in a number of ways. First, and decision making on something that feels as though there has to be a level playing field between betting it ought to be a normal commercial relationship. As a exchanges and bookies, which are two fundamentally number of hon. Members stated, the challenge is not different business models. It is clearly no responsibility whether we accept that premise—most hon. Members of any Government to start dictating which business have accepted the basic premise—but in working out models they prefer within a particular industry, so we what a normal commercial relationship will look like should not play favourites between betting exchanges and how we can get from where we are today to that and traditional bookmakers. However, we should ensure point, and on a sustainable basis. that there is a level playing field in the contribution to racing of those two business models, and then one or the other will presumably win out in due course by the Philip Davies: Will the Minister give way? normal rules of free commercial competition. 1069 Horse Racing Levy20 JANUARY 2011 Horse Racing Levy 1070

[John Penrose] 3pm Matthew Hancock: It has a been a pleasure to hear Equally, it is essential that we have a level playing today’s debate and the passionate declaration of support field between British horse racing, other sports and for the racing industry. I declare my support for, and events that are bet on—given the innovation in the support from, the racing industry. That passion has industry, it seems that we will be able to put a bet on shown the value of this Backbench Business Committee many more things in future—and foreign racing. It debate. would clearly not be in the interests of British racing if a significant, or even modest, contribution was inherent What have we learned today? There is a broad consensus in the cost of placing a bet, but was not applied to other on the need to reform the levy and clear support for the events on which people could place a bet in a bookmaker’s. need for a fair return. The Minister joined us in recognising We have to understand whether we can either whittle the value of a property or racing right in that respect. that differential down or get as close to a level playing For him that was one option, but for me it is the field as we can, so that we do not disadvantage British preferred option. We also heard of a previous Minister’s racing. support for a sports betting right, which is significant. Finally, it was a great pleasure to hear the Minister refer As a number of colleagues have said, we must also in the terms that he did to the impact of offshore have a level playing field between people who place bets betting on the industry.The symbiotic relationship between with domestic bookmakers and betting exchanges and betting and racing can be improved by a commercial those who do so remotely or overseas through operations relationship, but only if that is based on what racing has based offshore, including through the internet. We are to sell and its right to sell it. clearly a long way from that at the moment. Lastly, the level of support, the fact that speeches As I said earlier, when I consider the responses to the have had to be short, and the number of people who previous Government’s consultation, I will bear in mind have spoken show how important and urgent the issue the broader issue. Important though a level playing of the racing levy is. I am delighted that the Minister field is, there is also the question of consumer protection. accepts the motion and that he is prepared to take up At the moment, people who place bets in Britain, with the gauntlet—I will ensure that he does, and that it fits domestically regulated exchanges or bookmakers or when it is finally put on. through any other type of gambling, are protected by Question put and agreed to. the Gambling Commission. If someone places a bet on equivalent games that are regulated offshore, their protection Resolved, may be severely lower or in some cases zero. That That this House notes that the horseracing industry supports clearly has implications such as the potential for problem employment of 100,000 people in Britain and that the racing gambling. industry contributes £3.5 billion to the UK economy each year; celebrates the contribution the industry makes to the cultural and I have heard what Members have said and am happy sporting landscape of Britain; recognises Newmarket’s role as the to pick up the challenge. As I said, I hope Members will global headquarters of racing; but further notes that the horseracing wish me luck. They will have heard from the debate that betting levy yield has been falling in recent years; further recognises the different positions are quite wide apart at the moment, the changing nature of the gambling industry; is concerned that betting operators are increasingly based offshore and so do not and in some cases deeply entrenched. That is a major fully contribute to the levy; and considers that the Government problem that we have to solve, and I look forward to should bring forward proposals to improve the system of funding bringing forward our proposals as requested in the for racing and the relationship between racing and bookmakers motion. before the end of 2011. 1071 20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1072

Disadvantaged Children at the age of three in the top income quintile—the top fifth of earning families—compared to those at the 3.2 pm bottom. Those in the bottom fifth are a third more likely than those in top fifth to have conduct problems Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con): I beg to or be hyperactive. move, The differences between children start very early, That this House has considered the matter of improving life based on the father’s occupation, the mother’s education chances for disadvantaged children. and housing tenure. They accentuate and widen further I begin by thanking the Backbench Business Committee at every stage between the ages of 3 and 14. However, for giving parliamentary time to this important subject, there are two important riders to that. First, as the hon. and by paying tribute to the right hon. Member for Member for Nottingham North points out, what parents Birkenhead (Mr Field), from whom we look forward to do is far more important than who they are. Secondly, it hearing. His work, of course, is the prompt for this is not actually the income of the parents that drives debate. He has once again contributed hugely to the the income of their children: it is their education that wider debate on such matters. drives the future success of their children, and it just so Following briefings with the right hon. Gentleman, happens that educational attainment is closely correlated which were organised by my hon. Friend the Member with parental income. for Salisbury (John Glen), he and I jointly applied for The statistical patterns of yesterday and today can be this debate. I know my hon. Friend is very disappointed—as broken. If we get the early years and education right, I am—that he cannot be here today because of Select anything is possible. In the early years—what the right Committee work. hon. Member for Birkenhead calls the foundation years— The debate is timely given the publication yesterday most of the success factors are not rocket science. They of the study on early-years intervention by the hon. include a healthy pregnancy, a strong and early attachment Member for Nottingham North (Mr Allen). I am reminded to mum, and spending time with the baby, talking, with each passing birthday that life begins at 40—although reading and singing nursery rhymes. Though it may not I am increasingly coming to believe that it begins at be rocket science, most new parents—as I know from 50—but, sadly, the prospects of many of our poorest recent experience myself—discover that they have a lot children will be largely settled by the time they have to learn. The challenge of hard-to-reach families is even reached the age of six. The hon. Gentleman’s thoughtful bigger—much bigger. In such families, the parents’ study and recommendations make another compelling childhoods may not have been good and they may not case for much-enhanced early action to ensure that be very eager to learn about parenting. Reaching out to every child can reach its potential. I know that it will those parents is key. There is, alas, no silver bullet, but have a wide readership on both sides of the House. the challenge is at the very heart of this debate. We have many opportunities to make party political We know that quality nurseries and child care are key. debating points in the House, and doubtless hon. Members Economists have long told us that the marginal £1 million will want to make some today. That is not a bad thing, or £1 billion would be far more effectively spent in even if it is avoidable. However, I hope and trust that it early-years provision than in tertiary education, but the will not be the dominant feature of this debate, because problem is that that is exactly what we have been doing the issue of disadvantaged children crosses a number of for the last decade. The extensive analysis carried out by Government Departments. Obviously, it involves the the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring shows that, Department for Education and children’s services, but it even with all the investment in Sure Start children’s also involve the Department of Health, housing, the centres, the key early predictors of later educational Department for Work and Pensions, the Department success remained basically stable. We need to think for Business, Innovation and Skills and other Departments. afresh about what is done, how it is done and for Such issues go to the heart of why so many hon. whom—how best to reach the hardest to reach. Members on both sides of the Houses were motivated At school, the importance of the ability to read and to go into politics in the first place. There is so much communicate cannot be stressed enough. Support for more that unites us in our objectives than divides us, but the children who struggle, alongside effective diagnosis that is not to say that consensus is always possible, or of special educational needs, has to be given the highest even desirable, because in both political traditions, priority in our education system. If a child cannot read, conventional wisdom and orthodoxy need to be questioned, nothing else in school works and children can rapidly and there is much to hypothesise, challenge and debate. become disengaged. Working with parents does not The rather depressing facts of the case, working stop at the end of the foundation years. Indeed, quite a backwards, are that among adults there is a significant lot of evidence suggests that it is not in school that the wage premium for having grown up in a better-off, gap between the rich kids and the poor kids widens—it better educated family. That is true across much of the is what happens outside school, in the evenings, at the developed world, but it is especially true in this country. weekends and in the holidays, hence the emphasis in the Some 1 million young adults are not in education, Knowledge is Power Program schools in the United employment or training. The best universities are dominated States on a longer school day, holiday programmes and by those from better-off families. Just 16% of students so on. at Russell Group universities are from the lower socio- There is an apparent correlation across countries economic groups, although they make up half of the between total spend on education and higher levels of population. In secondary schools, the odds of getting social mobility. Education spending in this country five or more good GCSEs are four times greater for pretty much doubled in real terms under the previous children with degree-educated parents. Even at the start Government, which of course brought benefits—I do of primary school, twice as many children are school-ready not deny that for a moment—but did not bring the 1073 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1074

[Damian Hinds] parenting programme getting great results in south London, as is Save the Children’s families and schools corresponding increase in life chances for the most together programme. There is also much to applaud in disadvantaged. Clearly, however, it is not just about the nursery sector, and there are brilliant schools and all what we spend, but about what we do. Studies consistently kinds of fantastic small, local voluntary sector organisations. show that the quality of the person teaching is vital, There is no shortage of new ideas out there. We will which is true at the nursery stage right through to the no doubt hear some from the right hon. Member for secondary stage. We also know that extending participation Birkenhead. The hon. Member for Nottingham North in education at both ends of the scale—in the early is considering others, and the Sutton Trust’s mobility years and post-16—tends to improve mobility as well as manifesto goes through rigorous cost-benefit analyses. average attainments. In my view, looking at that in the round, there will be What is being done, and what can be done? I acknowledge three key enablers to maximising effectiveness. First, the good things done by the previous Government as the focal point of public debate should move far more well as the great ambitions of the new coalition. Of into foundation years, questioning how what happens course, the previous Government did many things with in those formative stages, both in the home and out of which I did not agree, but sometimes it is good to dwell it, impacts on life chances forever. Secondly, we need a on those things with which one does agree. I certainly new set of metrics for poverty of opportunity as well as did not doubt their good intentions in the field of in cash terms—the life-chances indicators that the right education and improving social mobility. Under the hon. Member for Birkenhead enumerates. Thirdly, we previous Government, schools were made more need a repository of ideas, information and data—the accountable; academies were born; great strides were sort of early-intervention foundation that the hon. Member made to bring fresh talent into teaching; free nursery for Nottingham North writes about—that would evaluate care provision was extended; and the process of upping what works best and facilitate the sharing of best practice. the school leaving age to 18 was put in train. Those three things—focus, metrics and the sharing of What of the new Government? Ministers care best practice—need to underpin a new approach to passionately about all children, but it is when they improving the life chances of disadvantaged children. discuss how to improve the life chances for the most Of course, there are many more facets—which, in the disadvantaged that I see them at their most animated. I interests of time, I will not touch on—including promoting applaud the key strands of the new Government’s approach. healthy pregnancies; school admissions policies; improving The first includes the extension of free nursery care to employability and weaving life skills into the curriculum; disadvantaged two-year-olds; the refocusing of Sure the role of mentoring and careers advice; mental health Start; and the Tickell review into the foundation stages issues; the challenges of disability; and specific issues and how to narrow the gap between rich and poor. At for children in care and those who are themselves young the other end of the scale, there are the measures to carers. I look forward to a broad debate. increase the participation age to 18 and enable schools According to the Sutton Trust, the same gaps in key like the KIPP schools in the United States to be formed; early-years indicators are emerging among the millennium the Minister’s Green Paper on special educational needs cohort as in the cohort born in the year I was born. This provision; the doubling of Teach First and the focus on issue remains one of the key unsolved challenges for the quality of teaching throughout the education White our society, and therefore for this House. I know it is Paper and the Secretary of State’s programme; and one that hon. Members in all parts of the House feel perhaps most of all the pupil premium. In all the strongly about, and rightly so. We also feel a great sense debates about funding, the full enormity of this massive of urgency, because this generation must be the last to structural change sometimes gets overlooked. Schools suffer the chasm in life chances that comes with the will now have an active incentive to seek out the most lottery of birth. disadvantaged pupils and find space for them, in the knowledge that they will have the additional resources Several hon. Members rose— they need. Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. Before One could say that at a time of necessary deep we set off, may I remind Members that I hope to keep spending cuts there are not many easy areas in which to the opening speeches to 15 minutes? make those cuts. However, there probably are some. In the field of education, it would have been relatively easy to reverse the recent increase in free nursery care from 3.15 pm 12.5 hours to 15 hours, and it would have been relatively Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Lab): I congratulate easy not to proceed with the increase in participation the hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) age from 16 to 18. However, I am delighted that those and his colleagues on calling this debate. I would also two things were not reversed, and that an additional like to remark on the quality of his speech. If my £300 million has been found for the additional nursery contribution is half as good as his, not only will I be provision for disadvantaged two-year-olds. That is a pleased, but the House will be relieved. measure of the coalition’s commitment. Let me begin by reminding the House of the audacious As for further ways forward, we certainly do not start goal that the Labour Government set not only this from scratch. There are many great national and local House, but the nation. They were the first Government programmes for early years and later on. Home-Start, to say that, over a 20-year time span, we would abolish for example, whose Weywater and Butser branches operate child poverty. Whatever one says about the results, they in my constituency, does sterling work. My hon. Friend were a Government who tried to will the resources the Member for Grantham and Stamford (Nick Boles) to achieve that objective. In fact, the Government’s and I recently visited Parent Gym, which is a fantastic consultation document area puts the money intended to 1075 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1076 try to raise the incomes of the poorest families—largely work that the university of London has carried out on through the tax credits system—at £150 billion. These the cohort studies shows that, perhaps by three years are huge sums, amounting to £15 billion a year on old and certainly by five, life’s race is over for most average, which is the equivalent of 4p on the standard children. Of course we might be able to make some rate of tax. Therefore, the previous Government were differences later on, but for most children we have not immensely serious about trying to achieve that objective. yet discovered how to change their life chances after the If we look at the published data, however, we see that age of five. It seemed to me, therefore, that any review of the results are modest, if not disappointing. Despite the poverty and life chances needed to concentrate on those size of the resources, the number of poor children was crucial early or foundation years. We have called them reduced, over 10 years, by 600,000. That is of course “foundation years” because it seems that all life’s important for those 600,000 children, but it left 2.8 million opportunities are built on them. still in poverty. In a sense, the figures are the beginnings The report has two main recommendations. The first for our new debate—a debate that we as politicians was that the Government should build up a series of life must now craft, and which the hon. Gentleman opened chances indicators, nationally and locally, to run alongside so well. the poverty objectives in the Child Poverty Act 2010. That debate is about this question: where do we go The second was that, once those indicators had been from here? Even if we were not beset by the largest put on to the statute book or equivalent, alongside the structural deficit since the second world war, would we financial goals related to dealing with child poverty the continue with the same strategy as the previous Government should have a different driver for policy. Government? The previous Government were concerned to prevent In particular, the previous Government emphasised the numbers of poor children from increasing, and the importance of redistributing income. In our debates every year, if possible, to find the money to reduce the on the then Child Poverty Bill, I questioned whether numbers. That concern suffocated the rest of the debate. it was an adequate strategy by itself. I did so partly One could have forgiven people for not knowing that because of what I saw in my constituency and what I there were four definitions of poverty on the statute saw when travelling to other Members’ constituencies: book. The one goal was to move children’s families those troubling signs, when children whose parents are above 60% of median earnings. I stress that that is not working are late for school; and when no one in the important, but I no longer believe that it is necessarily household thinks it is important enough to get themselves the key criterion with which we should be concerned up, so that they can then get the children up, to get them when considering life chances. We suggested the washed, dressed, fed and off to school on time. Slowly, I establishment of the foundation years in order that the began to question whether money by itself, important Government should have an organisation through which though it is, was an adequate strategy to deal with child they could drive new policy. That involves the grouping poverty. together of all those activities and services that at present Then, the Prime Minister offered me the opportunity go under the title of “early years”. Those early years to review poverty and life chances—an offer that I start long before pregnancy; they start in schools. willingly accepted. Two pieces of information—two bits The last piece of personal information that I want to of knowledge—that I came across in undertaking that give to the House is that I recently spoke to a group of review knocked me sideways, one of which came from 15-year-olds in a school that I shall be proud to chair one of the more successful Birkenhead junior schools. when it becomes an academy. I asked them what they The school first came to my notice 20 years ago when most wanted from their school contract. Two of the parents were not being truthful about where they lived replies staggered me. One asked whether the school because they wanted to get their children into the would be able to teach them how to make lifelong school. We might all think that it is wrong to lie, but I friendships, and what the necessary skills would be. All felt a sneaking admiration for those parents who, knowing of them wanted to know how to be good parents. They the cards that they had been dealt, felt that getting their did not say “better parents”. None of them gave any children into a good school and giving them a good hint that their parents might even once, let alone regularly, start was the best thing they could do for them. So that have put their own needs before those of their children. school is not in any way a sink school. It seems to me that if we are to drive policy differently I asked the headmaster to list the skills that he and and liberate those whose life chances are now determined his teaching staff—and the equivalent staff in other by the age of five, we cannot start early enough. The schools—thought necessary if children were to be able whole culture of a school and what is taught in it about fly on their first day. Hardened as I am to some aspects these skills is clearly part of the answer. of life, I was staggered by the list of qualities that teaching staff would have liked all children to have. I I should like to address to those on the Treasury stress “all children”, because some already have them. Bench one challenge for the Government. I am lucky in For example, he said that it would be important for that none of the Sure Start units in my constituency is children starting school to know their own name; to being cut, reduced or closed, but that is not likely to know the word “stop”, because it could be used to avert be true elsewhere. Although the report, which I was danger; to be able to take their coat off; to be potty-trained; privileged to help compile, says that we should not to be able to hold a crayon; and to be able to sit still. To accept Sure Start as it is and that we should turn it my mind, this issue clearly went beyond money, no upside down so that it much more closely meets the matter how important money is. original objective of helping the most disadvantaged The second piece of information was from the national families most, it is inconceivable that we can make a go surveys, which are about the only thing from which the of the foundation years if Sure Start units all over the hon. Member for East Hampshire did not quote. The place are slaughtered. 1077 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1078

[Mr Frank Field] Schools and teachers have a key role to play, and they were critical to my own journey. My entire childhood For reasons that were set out during the election and could be described as working class. During those years in the coalition agreement, the Government believe I had first-hand experience of a lack of money and a that, wherever possible, power and money should be lack of opportunity, and I also witnessed the terrible devolved to local authorities so that they can do as they waste that can come with aspirational poverty. At school think best for their area. Local authorities will, of I was not a natural A-streamer in every subject, and I course, be judged by their own local life chances indicators. had an extremely difficult time in many ways and for a I hope that the electorate will push for their establishment number of reasons, but I was touched by certain and measure their local authority’s success in widening inspirational teachers who believed in me. Via their words life chances—in other words, lifting up those who have and deeds, they not only provided me with a good the least advantage in our communities. education, but boosted my self-confidence and self-esteem. This programme will not work without some more I shall always remember the words of one sports teacher. money. I am not talking about the £150 billion given for When she saw how quickly I could run, she said, “Helen, redistribution through tax credits, but it is naïve to we had better buy a stopwatch and start training you believe that the Government will be able to make a go of for the Olympics.” She did buy the watch, and I believed establishing life chances or be able to report progress to her. Although, sadly, I did not make the Olympics, her the electorate by the end of this Parliament unless they positive remark was enough to get me going. Sporting find from somewhere moneys to finance the foundation success boosted my self-confidence and self-esteem, and years more fully—other than from the current budgets that spilled over into my academic subjects, allowing me allocated. I emphasise again that we are not calling for to achieve quite good results in everything. huge sums. I do not think that we know how to spend While I acknowledge the importance of formal academic huge sums in this area, but some commitment is certainly subjects such as those set out in the new EBacc, the needed. I hope that when the Government complete importance of confidence-building subjects such as music, their review in March, they will confirm not only that art, drama and sport should not be underestimated. they are going to follow this strategy, but that they will More focus should also be given to skills in schools. accord it a higher priority than other areas and that, if Children need to feel good about themselves. Not everyone need be, resources will be shifted from those areas to is academic, and perhaps we need to recognise that our make the foundation years the driving force to change goal should not be sameness. Society needs people of all the life chances of our poorest citizens. levels and abilities. Several hon. Members rose— Chris Leslie (Nottingham East) (Lab/Co-op): A high Mr Deputy Speaker: Order. I remind all hon. Members proportion of young boys in my constituency—some of Mr Speaker’s decision to have an eight-minute limit. 39% or 40%—have special educational needs and therefore The full eight minutes need not be taken up, unless rely heavily on teaching assistants in the classroom, but there are many interventions. I hope to be able to call I fear that, owing to the budgetary situation, teaching every Member who wants to speak. That is important. assistants may fall by the wayside first. Would the hon. Lady like to say a few words of support for those who 3.28 pm work in that profession, and for the good work that they do? Mrs Helen Grant (Maidstone and The Weald) (Con): One of the greatest attributes of the British people is their belief in fairness. It is that sense of fairness that Mrs Grant: I could not agree more, in many respects. supports the notion that whatever one’s starting point We must support our teachers. They are key and most in life’s marathon, it does not have to be a personal best of them do a fantastic job, but we need to help, and to for the rest of the race. If people choose to move up the watch the position carefully. field or even get into the leading pack, they should have Everyone has a different level of skill and society the opportunity to do so. To me, that is what social needs people who have a different manner and different mobility is all about. There are many complicated skills, so perhaps the true goal should be equality of definitions, but social mobility is fundamentally about opportunity. Our state boarding schools are hidden an individual’s ability to achieve, to progress and to gems in our country’s education system. They often reach their full potential, whoever they are, wherever head academic league tables, they often outperform the they are from, if they choose to do so. independent sector, and they offer unique life chances Governments around the world see social mobility as to children with potential who may come from difficult an elusive grail. As a result, numerous policies, initiatives, backgrounds with limited financial means. At present grants and strategies have been aimed at creating ladders the Government are rightly keen to extend new boarding of opportunity and life chances for people. For all that, accommodation for vulnerable children, and the state social mobility has stalled badly during the past 30 years. boarding school sector supports that move. Vulnerable Different reasons have been advanced to explain that, children can do very well in such an environment, but including not having enough good schools in poor areas the transition must take place in the right manner and and the expansion of university education, which helped at the right pace. State boarding schools understand richer rather than poorer children. For me, one of the their sector: they know what works and what does not main reasons is that insufficient attention has been paid work, and we must listen to them. to boosting self-confidence and self-esteem in our children, I am glad that creating life chances is a priority for which are the prerequisites for aspiration, motivation the Government. I take considerable heart from initiatives and success. If we are really serious about improving life such as the pupil premium, the continuation of Sure chances for children, we must develop that. Start and the creation of more apprenticeships, because 1079 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1080 they offer an alternative to the strictures of academia. that, ultimately, without a sanction, the councils can Notwithstanding the country’s financial difficulties, I chose to ignore the exhortations of Ministers. The hope that those and other measures remain high on the Daycare Trust, the national child care charity, says that Government’s agenda. many local authorities are already considering diverting funding allocated for early-years provision, leading to 3.34 pm the possible closure of Sure Start centres. Ann Coffey (Stockport) (Lab): I congratulate the I do believe that Ministers have genuinely accepted hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) on the arguments about early intervention, and I welcome securing this extremely important and valuable debate. that. Such a view is supported by the fact that the I believe that there is all-party agreement that early Government set up the report by my right hon. Friend intervention in children’s lives is crucial to tackling not the Member for Birkenhead and this week’s report by just the symptoms but the causes of deprivation, in my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham North. order to prevent disadvantaged children from becoming Both reports call for much more emphasis to be placed disadvantaged adults and prevent cycles of deprivation on the early years. It would be a shame if, having from being repeated. accepted the principle, Ministers failed to tackle the We all accept that it is essential to make the right problem in a way that will make a real difference to the interventions. Both my right hon. Friend the Member lives of some of the most disadvantaged and deprived for Birkenhead (Mr Field) and my hon. Friend the families in the country. Member for Nottingham North (Mr Allen) have made As my right hon. Friend said in his recent report on that point in their excellent reports. However, the key poverty and life chances, which was endorsed by the question is: how do we most effectively achieve such Prime Minister: intervention and produce good outcomes? “Later interventions to help poorly performing children can be In an earlier debate, I discussed some of the interventions effective but, in general, the most effective and cost-effective way that I believe can make a difference, such as outreach to help and support young families is in the earliest years of a work with families. The pilot scheme in my constituency child’s life.” to provide early-years education to disadvantaged two- It is vital that we continue the valuable work with young year-olds was extremely successful, and we also had a children that has been done so far, be it through children’s successful pilot scheme for family nurse partnerships. centres and early-years education, or through outreach Both share a similar model: contact with parents; building work with hard-to-reach families, and that projects and relationships with those parents; giving them information; services around the country are not damaged by the and getting them to use other support services to improve change in the funding process from having individual the quality of their parenting, which is a key factor in ring-fenced budgets to having one smaller communal delivering better outcomes for children. pot of money, which has to be fought over locally. I want to focus today on whether the introduction of the new early intervention grant will help us to safeguard Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con): such achievements and move us further towards obtaining The hon. Lady is making a powerful and thoughtful the outcomes for disadvantaged children that we all speech. I wonder where she feels savings could be made want. The main problems with the EIG are that it is not elsewhere within the educational budget in order to a specific grant—it is not ring-fenced—and that it represents prioritise early-years provision. I hope that Sure Start’s an 11% cut on its predecessor grants. They, themselves, increased focus on the most vulnerable children, albeit were cut last year, so the real cut is more like 17% in with a reduced budget overall, can still deliver more of Government funding to Stockport. The new EIG is not the benefit that we were originally seeking. Perhaps she, confined to early interventions in children’s lives; it is like the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman), for early interventions in a number of areas. The EIG would accept larger class sizes as the price for getting will replace funding to a wide variety of 22 other more money into early intervention. These are the schemes, including everything from the YouthTaskforce choices that we need to make. I wonder whether she has to teenage pregnancy programmes, the youth crime any thoughts on that. plan and young people’s substance misuse services. Those schemes give support to young people in need, but they Ann Coffey: I thank the hon. Gentleman for that will now have to compete against each other for resources. intervention, but the point that I am making is about The Government have said that although local authorities the difficulty when ring-fencing is removed from grants will be able to spend money where they want, they will from central Government to local government. I would be expected to continue to support Sure Start children’s be grateful if the Minister could clarify what processes centres and the free early education places for disadvantaged are in place to ensure that we monitor how much money two-year-olds. Ministers have also reiterated that short continues to be spent on early-years intervention as the breaks for disabled children, support for vulnerable mixed picture of how local councils choose to spend the young people, mental health work in schools and support early intervention grant emerges. for families with multiple problems should also be I would also be grateful for clarification about what priorities. However, it is not mandatory that those services monitoring procedures will be put in place to evaluate are prioritised, and I fear that there will be a lot of the effectiveness of the money spent in terms of outcomes casualties in the local financial tussles for funding up for disadvantaged children. I can foresee two years from and down the country. now a parliamentary question asking for information As the Minister will be aware, there is much concern about early-years intervention receiving the reply, “The in the early-years sector about the removal of ring-fencing, information is not kept centrally.” Without central despite ministerial reassurances that the Government monitoring, it is difficult for hon. Members to hold the expect to see early-years services protected. People know Government to account for their stated policies. 1081 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1082

[Ann Coffey] It is perhaps important that I declare an interest. For the last 10 years, I have been working as a family lawyer, Targets and some external assessments of local authorities specialising in child protection. I want to mention the are being abolished so how will the Government monitor prospects and difficulties faced by those children, in whether their emphasis on the importance of early-years particular, in my speech. I also want to thank my hon. intervention is shared by cash-strapped councils in the Friend for his impeccable timing. We have the benefit of face of priorities set by a local electorate that might not the very important contribution made by the right hon. be the same as those of the Government? The pressure Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) and the written on local councillors might be to maintain parks and paper that he has prepared. Just yesterday, we had the street lighting and to keep roads and pavements in good report from the hon. Member for Nottingham North repair. They have to be responsive to the needs of their (Mr Allen) on early intervention. There is also the electorate and early-years intervention might not be a background, since the formation of the coalition priority for local people. Government, of the report that Professor Eileen Munro The Government have emphasised the importance has been asked to prepare a report on the challenges they give to early years, but the chosen commissioners faced by social workers and those working in child are councils so how, without statutory guidance and protection at this difficult time. without ring-fencing, will the Government ensure that My work experience leads me to observe that the councils deliver on the coalition’s commitment to early current evidence and reports into early-years development interventions in children’s lives? are the key to improving life chances for disadvantaged While I have the opportunity, I want to draw attention children. I shall expand on that by giving some insight briefly to another disadvantaged group—children in into the care proceedings that some children have to go care homes. They are the children who would have through and the impact of that on the families involved. benefited from early intervention in their lives. As the First, however, I want to mention the work of my chair of the all-party group on runaway and missing hon. Friend the Member for Crewe and Nantwich children and adults, I am particularly concerned about (Mr Timpson), who has shown leadership and expertise the number of children who run away from care homes. in raising the issue of outcomes for looked-after children. I was shocked when I discovered that more than half His all-party group on looked-after children and care the children reported missing in Greater Manchester leavers is now looking into outcomes for looked- are from children’s homes in Stockport. This is concerning, after children, particularly the concerns about the as research shows that children who run away are at disproportionately lower educational and other outcomes serious risk, exposed to violence, criminality, substance for such children. I am confident that the work undertaken abuse, sexual exploitation and trafficking. in that regard will feature in and add to the broader debate we are having about outcomes for disadvantaged Over the years, I have expressed much concern about children. the need to improve Ofsted’s inspection reports so that Many hon. Members might be aware that if a child’s they reflect the numbers of children who go missing future and life ever become the subject of a court case, from care homes. We are awaiting the new national they are likely to have suffered a range of abuses and minimum standards for children’s homes, which I hope harms, including physical, sexual and emotional harm will tackle the issue. I am disappointed that the timetable and neglect. Sadly, there is often a mixture of all or for the publication of the new standards keeps slipping. some of those elements. I have read many statements In a parliamentary written answer in July last year, I and reports that will stay with me for many years, such was told the revised standards would be ready in November as accounts of children who have been so neglected and 2010. When they did not appear, I tabled another question so deprived of basic nutrition, food and drink that and was told they would be ready “early in 2011”. I when they arrive in foster care, they automatically go up hope that the new standards will be published as soon to the bathroom to try to get water from the toilet bowl. as possible and will include in the inspections of children’s They might smear faeces due to psychological concerns. homes consideration of how those homes manage children I remember a case years ago of a child whose feet had who go missing to ensure that the highest quality of been forced into shoes so small for such a long time that care and control is provided. if anyone, including a doctor, tried to relieve the child’s In conclusion, as my hon. Friend the Member for pain or go near their feet to treat them, the child would Nottingham North said in his report about the importance be very distressed and traumatised. Those examples of early intervention policies and programmes: give a tiny insight into the many tragic cases and reports “The rationale is simple: many of the costly and damaging that I have come across over the years. social problems in society are created because we are not giving I should like to highlight the particular challenges children the right type of support in their earliest years, when faced by social workers, particularly front-line workers. they should achieve their most rapid development. If we do not provide that help early enough, then it is often too late”. We already have some indications from the Munro review. I shall not dwell on that for long, but I support His words must not go unheeded. Professor Munro’s preliminary observations. This issue is not about targets or paperwork; we are talking about 3.43 pm professionals who are trying their best. They need as Jessica Lee (Erewash) (Con): I, too, begin my speech much support as possible and a structure that will by thanking my hon. Friend the Member for East enable them to be out helping children and exercising Hampshire (Damian Hinds) for securing the debate. their judgment about those children’s future prospects For many of us, a motivation in coming to this place rather than filling in reports and filing paperwork. and standing for public service was the wish to discuss Let me deal briefly also with the difficulties that local such issues as improving the life chances for disadvantaged authorities have in placing children into foster care. The children. I certainly speak for myself in that regard. situation around the country is variable but there can be 1083 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1084 shortages in foster care placements. That feeds into the to implement early intervention, and look at how we concerns raised in the report of the right hon. Member can all work together in the longer term to improve the for Birkenhead. The early years are crucial, and disruption outcomes for such disadvantaged children. and continual placement moves can have a serious impact on children’s, particularly young children’s, 3.52 pm development and ability to form attachments and important relationships with adults. David Simpson (Upper Bann) (DUP): I congratulate the hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) The court process is bewildering and challenging for on obtaining this important debate. I speak as someone anyone, even before one has factored in the addictions who grew up with a rural, working-class and relatively that the parents and young people involved might be average background, and as the father of three children. troubled with. They might have limited cognitive functioning My parents, like all parents, wanted the best for me, and or learning difficulties or they might lack a support I want the best for my children. I imagine that all hon. network. I remember the case of a young mother who Members, from whatever party, would share that wish had struggled in a relationship of domestic violence; for succeeding generations. That is why it is welcome to when she was asked if there was anyone she could stay see that the Government plan to improve the life chances with or who could help, her answer was simply, “No.” I of disadvantaged children at a very early age before think of many of my friends and family with young they start school. I agree that the nought to five age children who are not in poverty and have a good support group, which has been dubbed the foundation years, network, but they struggle with young babies, so one should be put on an equal footing with primary and can only imagine how difficult it is for young mothers in secondary schooling a very different scenario. But we have to face up to certain realities. This is not Safeguarding children is ultimately the concern of simply about throwing money at a problem. Other the courts, and that has to come before anything else, crucial issues are involved. Neither can we take the but court proceedings can be lengthy. There are always approach that it does not require financial investment difficulties in securing court dates, experts, advocates by Government. I fear that too often in the past an and judges. For a child who goes into foster care at one, emphasis has been placed on financial intervention, proceedings might still be under way when the child Government expenditure and statistics on a page. We approaches their second birthday. Even I can work out have created a culture of benefit dependency that has that nearly 50% of that young child’s life has been spent become generational, passed down from parent to child. in a court process. Again, that brings me back to the Have we really failed when it comes to education? We contribution of the right hon. Member for Birkenhead, have emphasised the number of young people who go and the concerns about the impact of that process on to university, regardless of the fact that far too many young children. leave with degrees that are utterly useless when it comes Drug and alcohol abuse feature more frequently than to finding a job in the real world. I am reminded of a any of us would wish and there are difficulties with media studies course once offered at Staffordshire university mental health provision. I look forward to a response that included a module on David Beckham. As Members from the Minister this afternoon as to how we can more can tell, that would hold little attraction for me, but I clearly join up facilities and support for parents and for am sure that some people might be interested in studying the children who need mental health support. David Beckham’s different hair cuts. How does that help young people achieve a better future and better life Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): The mental prospects? health issue is incredibly important. Does my hon. For that reason, I welcome the fact that the Government Friend agree that one problem in the education system have acknowledged that the children of adults with few at the moment is that many school teachers are not opportunities in the labour market are at risk of growing properly trained to recognise mental health problems in up with the same disadvantages, perpetuating the poverty pupils? It is often too easy to dismiss such problems as cycle for a new generation. I also welcome the fact that bad or difficult behaviour. We must include such training the Government have said that they will focus on reducing in the teacher training process. the factors that lead to “disadvantaged children… gaining fewer qualifications”, Jessica Lee: My hon. Friend makes a good point. which leads to Again, this is about working across departments and “a widening gap in employment outcomes in later life.” professions. There has already been a good move towards However, those must be the right kind of qualifications that, but any further support for school teachers and that actually offer the prospect of employment. health visitors, working together with social services, We have had too casual an attitude to the benefits of will always improve the outcomes for young children. marriage and family. As a nation, we have almost made I welcome the reports on early intervention and the it a crusade to tell everyone that just about any kind of early years, and the progress that has been made as a family unit is equal to every other. It is rather like a result of the Munro review, and I urge the Government school sports day at which everyone wins and nobody to consider the national parenting campaign in more loses. Everyone is told that they have done so well and detail. I also welcome some of the steps taken by the they all get a prize. That simply does not work, and we coalition Government, such as the pupil premium. should not regard the drift away from the traditional My constituency is lucky to have an excellent Home-Start idea of family to be a badge of honour. in Ilkeston, and we have great Sure Start centres. They It is important that incomes continue to rise, and it is work incredibly hard and I urge local authorities and right that prospects increase along with standards of those in Government, while there is a real momentum, living. In terms of health, life expectancy and social 1085 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1086

[David Simpson] and care for their children. Secondly, we should recognise the importance of stable parental relationships in the mobility, it is vital that we continue to drive the economy life of a child. forward and invest in our future, but we must also Whatever people say about our society today, I know address the areas that have been neglected or actively from the immense amount of community work in my under political assault in recent years. We cannot ignore constituency that there is really good work out there. the importance of family. It is more than just a word, a Home-Start East Cheshire, part of the Home-Start catchphrase or a political gimmick. A child’s life prospects network that has already been mentioned, is one such are increased in a stable family with two parents who set excellent example. Volunteer youth workers do detached out clear boundaries for acceptable behaviour and teach work on the streets and on deprived estates; grandparents them proper social skills and interaction. Some people care for grandchildren so that parents can hold down might point out that many young people are not growing one or even two jobs; and women organise mums and up in such an environment and need to be assisted, and tots groups at the local churches to provide mums—and I entirely agree. However, it must also be pointed out dads—with a morning’s precious breather and a chat. that many of those young people will eventually be in I recognise, however, that the level of volunteering is relationships and will become parents. Are we simply to lower in deprived areas, and we should seek to address repeat the cycle all over again? that important challenge. It is not simply about finances and budgets, but nor can we ignore the financial issues. I agreed with the Sarah Newton (Truro and Falmouth) (Con): My hon. Minister of State, Department for Education, the hon. Friend makes an excellent point about the importance Member for Brent Central (Sarah Teather), who has of voluntary organisations and their work to support responsibility for children, when she said on 21 December disadvantaged families. Does she agree that the Government that need to tackle urgently the problems with the Criminal “the fact that 2.8 million children in the UK live in poverty is a Records Bureau checks that need to be made before scandal.” volunteers can volunteer? Would it not be a good idea Who could argue with that? I cannot, however, agree if, for example in my constituency, we had a Cornwall with the comments that followed. She said: volunteers card, with an annual check? People who volunteer—often for several groups in their community— “The best way to eradicate child poverty is to address the causes of poverty, rather than treat only the symptoms.” could have an annual check and be enabled and supported in their volunteering? It should not be a choice between treating the causes or the symptoms. Rather, it should be about doing everything Fiona Bruce: I do so agree. In fact, that was the subject possible to treat both. I note the comments made by the of my very first question in the House, some months former Children’s Commissioner for England, who warned ago, and I look forward eagerly to hearing the Government’s of the dangers of the planned cuts. I also note the response to the idea of such a scheme being put into concerns raised about pupil premiums, the size of the action. I thank my hon. Friend for raising it again; that available budget and the question of new money. is a timely reminder. We must get to the core of the matter: social mobility. As the mother of two teenage boys with the benefit of However, it must be considered not on its own, but a supportive wider family, I want to promote and encourage alongside family stability, personal discipline, personal the role of parents and grandparents in helping children responsibility and a set of principles or—dare I say it in to grow up to be all that they can be. In the report by the this House—a moral compass. That must be an element right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field), I welcome of any new approach. We hear much about the big his statement: society and there is now something of a scramble to “We imperil the country’s future if we forget that it is the claim to be the champions of it. The evidence we have aspirations and actions of parents which are critical to how well seen with our own eyes day in, day out overwhelmingly their children prosper.” tells of the failure of recent years and the breakdown in He is absolutely right. Children flourish with support family and community that follows in its wake. The and encouragement from the care giver or care givers so-called big society, which all the main parties now with whom they have, ideally, a long-term, stable and seem to want to espouse, can be built upon only the loving relationship. So do parents. smallest building blocks of any society, namely the If parents never had continuing close care and nurture individual and the family. We must not treat the causes as they grew up, or the example and experience in their and simply ignore the symptoms, so finances are important, lives of caring parents, how difficult it must be for them but neither should we try, as others have in the past, to to be good parents themselves. We have to address that treat the symptoms without finally deciding as a people key issue. How can we break the inter-generational and as a Parliament to tackle the underlying causes. cycle of poverty in families where parents themselves have not had a good parenting model? 4pm Mr Graham Stuart: My hon. Friend talks about Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con): Hon. Members have absences in young people’s lives. I am particularly concerned highlighted the importance of ensuring that we improve about young boys, who are often brought up in families the life chances of children growing up in underprivileged with no male role models. They turn up at primary circumstances. This is a timely and important debate, school, where more than eight out of 10 teachers are and I am glad to be able to contribute. now women rather than men, and they lack the male I shall highlight two issues. First, we should recognise, role models in life to ensure that, as they grow up, they encourage and support the good work that already can learn how to behave as a man, as a father and as a takes place in local communities to help parents nurture supporter of their own family. 1087 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1088

Fiona Bruce: My hon. Friend makes an excellent their parents into our reception. Hon. Members might point that I shall reflect on later when I talk about the be saddened to hear that the youngest marriage we were importance of strengthening relationships between parents. ever asked to act on for a divorce was one in which the Teaching parenting and relationship skills in schools couple had had an argument at the wedding reception. is part of the solution, so that people really understand It would be helpful for many young people to learn what it means to enter into a committed relationship. what it means to enter into a committed relationship, Some of the best support and encouragement for those particularly when they have not witnessed it in their without such a role model or family support comes own family lives. from the local community—from people who are known If we want to increase the life chances of children and trusted, who are willing to be a friend to others, and from disadvantaged backgrounds, we should support who are willing to give that most precious commodity, and strengthen family relationships, including marriage. time, and to give it continuously over a period. A Government report published in May 2010 entitled, In his review, the right hon. Member for Birkenhead “State of the nation report: poverty, worklessness and recommends that local authorities should aim to make welfare dependency in the UK” stated: children’s centres a hub for the local community. In “Around 3 million children in the UK have experienced the separation of their parents. This is partly attributable to a rise in some areas where there are no existing community cohabitation, given the increased likelihood of break-up for cohabiting centres and a low level of community engagement, that couples relative to married couples. Approximately one in three of is to be commended. However, it is important not to those parents cohabiting at birth will separate before the child is overlook the good work that already goes on in communities five years old, compared with 1 in 10 married parents.” where organic hubs exist in churches, schools, community It is important to reflect on those statistics, and to groups, and even homes, often with little or no financial support and encourage those, like my brother, who find support from the state. Before precious public funds are themselves in the situation of being a single parent. It incurred in setting up new hubs—I know from my behoves us all to support them as part of the wider experience as a councillor how expensive they are—I community. suggest that every local authority that has not already Good parenting can, I believe, be learned; so, I believe, done so should undertake a comprehensive audit of can good relationships. We can break the cycle of what voluntary work, including caring work, is already deprivation that is caused, in part, by a lack of role happening in their area, often at a highly dedicated and models in both areas. Parents are vital to the health and professional level in local communities, so that we can welfare of their children, as are their relationships, and build on what already exists. we should support them. As a local councillor in my previous constituency, we did just that, and we discovered an enormous amount 4.11 pm of voluntary and community work of which the local Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab): I join authority was previously completely unaware. I remember right hon. and hon. Members in congratulating the the portfolio holder for community services saying to hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) on me, “I had no idea so much community work existed.” securing this important and welcome debate. I also join Having been discovered, these groups were able to colleagues in welcoming the reports of my right hon. receive additional support from the local authority, Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) and that giving them the potential to flourish to an even greater of my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham North degree. I think, for example, of the group called Active (Mr Allen), which was published yesterday. I could not Hope led by an inspirational young teacher who goes agree more with them, nor with hon. Members’ remarks into schools in disadvantaged areas to help to build this afternoon, on the crucial importance of the early children’s confidence and esteem through outdoor activities. years. It is good to see this subject receiving so much His work was highlighted through just such an audit, attention, not only in those reports, but in other reports and it is now very much in demand across the town. that have been published in recent weeks. This week, the Parents and their relationships need support. As the charity Family Action published “Born Broke”, and independent review produced by the right hon. Member just before Christmas, we had the important UNICEF for Birkenhead has shown, the problems of child poverty report “The children left behind”. are not just related to money, although that is, as we I warmly welcome and strongly endorse many of the have acknowledged, an important factor. Child poverty suggestions in the reports of my right hon. Friend the is about more than money. Without wanting to detract Member for Birkenhead and my hon. Friend the Member in any way from the valued and courageous work that for Nottingham North. It is absolutely right that we single parents do to bring up their children—my own need to be proactive in addressing the needs of brother is one such—I want to stress the importance of disadvantaged children, and that we should intervene supporting parents to build strong relationships between early. It is absolutely right that what happens in the themselves so that they, in turn, can support each other home affects what happens at school. It is right that we and nurture their children together. should secure access to quality services and programmes One of the most important determinants of the quality for children and families, and I welcome what my right of parenting is the relationship between parents. It is hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead has said about vital to help young people to develop not only parenting the importance of putting children’s centres at the heart skills but relationship skills between themselves. As of the support that we offer disadvantaged children and someone who has run a community law firm for some their families. I welcome the proposal for local child 20 years, I have seen over that time how relationships poverty commissions. It is right and sensible that we between those who have come to us for a divorce have track a range of outcome indicators so that we can been breaking down at an increasingly early stage. It is ensure that children improve their life chances across grieving to me to see how often tiny children accompany the spectrum of outcomes. 1089 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1090

[Kate Green] Kate Green: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that suggestion, which covers a number of important The early years are crucial, but investing in them will points. The first is the importance of fathers in raising not be enough on its own. We need to sustain the children and improving child outcomes, and of the investment right through the child’s life, otherwise the support that we can give families, whatever their structure, good effects of the additional investment in the early to ensure that both parents remain engaged in their years will fade. I am concerned that we must keep our children’s lives. attention on addressing income poverty and inequality. Secondly, the hon. Gentleman hints at the important There is so much evidence that adequate family incomes point that universal provision for all people who become are crucial to children’s outcomes. The UNICEF report parents—not just the poorest—provides us with a crucial that I mentioned highlights that the UK suffers from opportunity to improve the way in which they are relatively poor outcomes across a range of indicators equipped and given the confidence to raise happy, successful compared with other countries. That relates to our kids. He is right also to say that parenting and the position at the lower end of the inequality spectrum. ability to parent well go much further than simply Our children are raised in a much more unequal country providing materially for children and providing them than those with more successful child outcomes. with good physical health and circumstances. They are Money is important, as right hon. and hon. Members also about emotional, educational and social support, have said, and it is actually quite easy to understand all of which should sit within programmes of support why—it is about what money can buy. Parents who for new parents. I very much welcome the hon. Gentleman’s cannot afford the rent on decent housing will find it comments. difficult to provide a quiet space for children to do As I said, we should do everything we can to enable homework. It may also mean that they are forced into parents to bring up their children successfully in the overcrowded and unsuitable accommodation, where context of family life. It is therefore particularly important children cannot grow up safe and healthy. The lack of that we give extra attention to services such as Family an adequate income to afford a decent diet will harm Action’s Building Bridges service, which works with children’s health and well-being and limit their ability to parents in the home to enable them to keep their kids learn. Poorer families lack the means to ensure that with them and ensures that they are properly supported their children can participate fully in their schooling to do what they want to do—raise successful children. I and education. They may not be able to participate in am wary of an over-emphasis on care settings and extra-curricular activities or secure the equipment, books taking children out of the family home, which we and computers that would help to improve their learning. should avoid wherever possible. The worst outcomes Parents who are forced to take a series of inadequately are for our looked-after children, and we should do paid and unstable short-term jobs will find it difficult to everything we can to minimise the number of children secure adequate income from employment. If we are who end up in state care. interested in improving children’s outcomes, we have to improve family income, too. Money is not separate Mr Graham Stuart: We all take on board the hon. from what enables children to do well; it is integral to Lady’s comments, given her long record in this area. I their success. A continuing policy of income redistribution am delighted to hear her say that she sees an equal role must therefore be at the heart of our strategy for for fathers and mothers in bringing up children. Does improving children’s outcomes. she agree with a presumption of equality of access I wish to say a little about the provision of services between fathers and mothers in the event of separation, for parents and children who face particular disadvantages rather than the current presumption, which too often and have a high level of need. As Family Action has means fathers dropping out of children’s lives altogether? stated in the report to which I referred earlier, the best solution for most children is to keep them with their Kate Green: The presumption at the moment is that families and support those families to do their best in the child’s best interests must be paramount, which I bringing up their kids. Poor parenting and poverty are continue to support. Of course, in the majority of cases, not necessarily linked. In the vast majority of cases, we would want to secure contact with both parents after poor parents are as desperate as any others to do the separation. However, the starting point should not be very best for their children and to provide them with a the interests and wishes of the parent; the best interests loving family background and a stable home life. of the child must remain paramount. I hope that there will be no deviating from that valuable and valid principle Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con): I wholeheartedly in the Children Act 1989. agree with the hon. Lady, and I should like to share an Let me conclude by addressing one or two of the experience with her. When I was about to be a father for suggestions made in the report of my hon. Friend the the first time, I went to parental classes on childbirth Member for Nottingham North. I am disappointed that and on how I could help my wife in the first few weeks he is not here this afternoon to hear the many compliments afterwards, and things that I could do physically to that his work certainly deserves. I was pleased that he help. Perhaps it was a missed opportunity that there was wrote of the need to intervene early and to sustain that no explanation for new fathers and mothers of what intervention and support. His suggestions for private they could do to bring up their child well and do the funding to support our children and the families who most positive things possible for them. The classes were raise them are interesting and imaginative, but I hope about the health and well-being of the child in the early they will not be used to let the Government off the weeks and months, not about how to be a good parent. hook. At this time, when so many of the voluntary Perhaps we should introduce lessons involving such agencies that have done so much to support our most matters for new fathers and mothers. vulnerable families are struggling to maintain their 1091 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1092 finances and when they are concerned about their financial Sarah Newton: Bearing in mind the intergenerational— future—they face uncertainty perhaps as soon as the and multi-generational—nature of the poverty described beginning as the next financial year—it is important so well in the reports, does my hon. Friend agree that in that we underwrite with financial support what is needed the Sure Start centres, schools and nursery provision to raise happy, successful and healthy children. That is many of the parents struggle with literacy and numeracy the responsibility of all of us: the country, the state and and were not parented well themselves, so they might the Government cannot abdicate it. not know how to support their children in those good communication skills that are so vital to their academic Jessica Lee: Will the hon. Lady give way? achievement post-five?

Kate Green: No—I am just concluding, although I Craig Whittaker: It has been widely established that am always willing to hear the interesting and useful the best way to way to treat early causes is before birth, suggestions of my co-vice chair of the all-party group and the Sure Start centres will be a great way to enhance on children. that process in the future. I greatly welcome this debate and the reports that The third report that I want to highlight today is the have informed us in recent weeks, and the many interesting, one commissioned from Professor Eileen Munro, which important and imaginative ideas that we have heard. is a review of children’s social work and front-line child Raising our children cannot and should not be done on protection practice. As with the other two reports, in the cheap. They are our most important priority. They her initial report Professor Munro has started to expose are our future. Whatever the pressures on the public the underlying causes of what has gone wrong in child finances, our children must be the priority. They deserve protection. This brings me on to the group of disadvantaged the best. children who are often overlooked and fall beneath the radar—looked-after children. Of this cohort, only 7% go 4.22 pm to university. A whopping percentage of those in prison Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley) (Con): I thank my have had some dealings with the care system during hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire (Damian their lives. Life chances through employment are also Hinds) for securing this debate. very low in comparison with those for children who are not in care. As we have heard from my hon. Friend the The best way to improve life chances for disadvantaged Member for East Hampshire, there is also a premium children is to address the causes of child poverty and on wages later in life. disadvantage rather than simply treating the short-term symptoms. It is safe to say that hon. Members on both The previous Government moved the figures for sides of the House agree with that, and with the goal of university attendance from 1% to 7%—a great achievement ending child poverty by 2020. That must be achieved but, sadly, not enough. The new Government need to but, as we all know, huge burdens will continue to be do more to give those children, who have had a diabolical placed on families as the task of eradicating our country’s start in life, a better outcome. The status quo is unacceptable. financial crisis continues. That could have a huge effect The results from the Munro review will, we hope, start on increasing child poverty, especially in workless to address some of the underlying causes and early households. We must therefore ensure that getting people interventions needed. The hon. Member for Upper into and back into work is at the top of our Government’s Bann (David Simpson) is no longer in his place— agenda. [Interruption.] I am sorry: he is back. That will teach me to keep my head down. So I can inform him that As a constituency MP who knows only too well the there is a role, as part of the big society, for individual devastating effects of unemployment on children, I communities, voluntary groups and charities to help to look forward to the coalition Government’s reforms of enhance the life chances of all our young people, over the benefit system, and in particular to the Work programme and above the roles of local authorities and the Government. proposals. I also look forward to the spring, when the Government will produce their new child poverty strategy. We have heard already from my hon. Friend the Lord Hill has announced that there will be a range of Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce) about the many policies to help to eradicate child poverty. things that have happened in communities across the A range of policies to start the process of attacking country, but I want to tell the House what happens child poverty has already been announced. The £2.5 billion locally in the Calder Valley. We have identified three key pupil premium that will give disadvantaged children the areas where, as part of the big society, we can help to resources they need to succeed in school and beyond enhance the life chances of our looked-after children. has already been mentioned. Investment in early years When many young children come into care, we find that and safeguarding education will bring long-term benefits they have never had the opportunity to learn or develop not only to the child but to the state in future years. Let creative skills. Some of them have never had a chance to us also not forget the 15 hours of free child care per draw or even glue things together, as we did with “Blue week for all disadvantaged two-year-olds, to name but a Peter”. Children’s reading skills double between the few of those initiatives. As we know, the Government ages of 7 and 8, but many children who come into care also commissioned the two excellent reports from the have never even read a book. One other area where a right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) and the difference can be made is by helping children in care hon. Member for Nottingham North (Mr Allen), who and their carers, who often do not have the experience both considered early intervention. Both reports highlight either, in supporting and signposting at the key educational the dire need for early intervention through child care milestones in the children’s lives. and education. There will also be a great role for Sure The House may recall from my maiden speech—because, Start, once it is refocused, to support the most vulnerable after all, it was so memorable—that I pledged to support families. looked-after children by facilitating the setting up of a 1093 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1094

[Craig Whittaker] Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall) (LD): Does the hon. Lady think that, unfortunately, our society is suspicious local charity in the Calder Valley to enhance the life of men who are interested in getting involved with and chances of that group of disadvantaged children. I can supporting young children? Indeed, some men might happily report to the House that the launch date of our feel that they are making themselves vulnerable if they charity is in April, and the trustees have agreed to host decide to volunteer to work with young people. and fund those projects, which will help to address those three key areas I have spoken about. That is a Fiona Mactaggart: In my view, the red top newspapers tangible way in which communities can help to address have created that approach much too much. If men had some of the root causes that set those children at a more experience of the lives of children, they would be disadvantage at the outset of their lives. It is a small robust and resilient to those unfounded accusations. start, but hopefully the Field, Allen and Munro reports Most speakers in this debate have called for effective will act as catalysts so that through the new Government’s early intervention to tackle such inequality. I would policies we can start to sort out some of the root causes strongly urge us to draw on good evidence of what of child poverty and disadvantage. works. For example, in my constituency a family nurse 4.30 pm partnership working with teenage mothers has gathered powerful evidence of how it has helped young women Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): When I was first not only to bring up their children but to take up elected to the House and we talked about educational education opportunities and build successful and happy achievement, the conversation was nearly always about lives. We know from research by the HighScope Perry A-levels and universities. One of the great things about project in America that a structured, play-based early the Government of whom I was pleased to be member curriculum can make a huge difference to children. I am was that we shifted the debate from educational achievement sad that cuts in child care tax credits will mean that by young adults to one about educational achievement fewer parents will be able to afford access to high-quality at the beginning of education—children learning to read, provision for their children, despite welcome additional for example. What is wonderful about today’s debate is early-years provision for some of the poorest two-year-olds. the focus on the very beginnings of education and children at the stage when they are learning to talk and Unfortunately, we tend to grab on to things in politics listen. These basic skills are the building blocks of our that we think will be popular where there is not necessarily personalities and future abilities to cope with the world. the evidence to sustain them. Our Government were occasionally guilty of that, and the current Government’s Mr Frank Field: May I also draw attention to the fact proposed marriage premium is also an example. It will that, not only has there been this wonderful change, but skew income distribution to those who are more prosperous it must be the first Parliament in which more Members and from those who are less prosperous. However, one want to debate this than the horse racing levy? [Laughter.] of the things that we need in this debate is really good evidence. The last time we had a Tory-led Government, Fiona Mactaggart: The laughter following that remark they stopped the cohort studies, which tracked the shows that my right hon. Friend is supported in his progress of children and young people every seven view. It is a positive shift. My suspicion is that it reflects years, and we now have two cohorts missing. I would the greater participation of mothers in politics—but I strongly urge those on the Treasury Bench to do what will not push that point too far! We know that disadvantage they can in this era of cuts to ensure that that mistake is starts earlier, well before school, and unfortunately gets not repeated. Unless we have good quality evidence worse during formal education. Despite the efforts of about what works, we will carry on making mistakes. the previous Government, which I helped with, the gaps in achievement remain stubbornly wide, although we managed to narrow them in some respects. At five, Kate Green: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for 35% of children who qualify for free school meals raising the important issue of tracking and research. I, achieve a good level of development, compared with too, would ask those on the Treasury Bench to respond 55% of children who do not qualify. The children on to that point, because it is important that we sustain free school meals are more likely to be bullied, twice as such tracking. It is not good enough to look too early at likely to be permanently excluded, half as likely to get how a particular cohort of children is performing. The good GCSEs and, despite progress, less likely to go to advantage of cohort studies is that we can track people university. all through their lives. We need to make it clear that disadvantage is directly associated with poverty in education. There is a further Fiona Mactaggart: I thank my hon. Friend for that disadvantage, however, to do with boys. The second intervention, although I will not take any more, because lowest achieving group of pupils in schools are white they are now beginning to eat into my time. We need British boys. They are exceeded only by Gypsies and good quality evidence. If we do not have it, the odds are Travellers. People have said that it might be because that we will make more mistakes. There will be debates there are too few male teachers in primary schools. As in Government about such matters, and although investing someone who used to educate primary school teachers, in a cohort study is not very sexy, I would strongly urge I think it is partly because too few young men are those Ministers in the Chamber to do what they can to interested in small children, and therefore have the skills ensure that such evidence is collected. and qualities that would make someone like me, interviewing I want to be brief and talk about the things that need students for teacher education courses, consider them to happen. We know that it is not just teachers who capable of becoming good teachers. Perhaps it tells us make a difference to children—many Members have something about how we bring up young men that they spoken about the contribution that parents make—because do not know enough about the lives of children. their peers make a difference too. That is one of the 1095 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1096 reasons why poor children in prosperous areas overachieve children of Pakistani, Bengali and Kurdish origin. I do compared with poor children in poorer areas by a not know how many reports on that subject have come factor of 18%. That is why I have some suspicions about through the system. the much-trumpeted pupil premium, which does not As I said, I am an ex-history teacher, and it might take into account the fact that poor children in prosperous seem that I am giving the House a history lesson, areas already do much better than those in poorer although I hope that things can be learned from history. areas. I would also strongly echo the support that others My speech might bring back reminiscences of an old history have given to parenting education. We introduced quite teacher. I want to say something about my experience. I a lot of parenting education, but, unfortunately, the do not think there is anyone here who cannot think people in my constituency who got most of it were, to back to either a teacher or a school that made a difference be brutal, those who were in trouble with the law or to them. I support the Secretary of State when he said whose children were in trouble with the law. Those that people found parenting education quite transformative, “our schools should be engines of social mobility”. as did the parents whose children went to a Catholic infant school in my constituency that offered it. I strongly After 27 years in teaching, I passionately believe that to believe that parenting education can make a huge difference. be the case. I went to a grammar school, and before Members raise their eyes to the ceiling, let me assure Other Members have referred to the problems of them that I am not going to give them a lecture about children in care. I cannot compete with Members who bringing back grammar schools across the country. My talked about the poverty of their childhood—mine was constituency does, however, have the advantage of having very prosperous—but I remember well how shocked I the very successful Lancaster royal grammar school for was at how few things, such as books, CDs and clothes, boys and Lancaster girls’ grammar school, which I shall children in care possessed. say more about later. I want to mention one more way in which the I have 27 years’experience of teaching in comprehensives, Government could make a real difference to disadvantaged 25 of them in social priority schools. The lessons that I children. Most of my educational advantages and most have learned apply to Governments of all persuasions, of the things I learned were the result of being able to because they are all tempted to take certain actions. read. I got into books and I discovered whole new Comprehensives were supposed to be the vehicle for worlds that would otherwise have been completely beyond raising social mobility. When I started teaching in them, me. When I went to university to do English, I remember I was told that they would be the grammar schools for asking one of my fellow students what she had read as a everyone. Then, certain schemes were introduced, including child. I was shocked when she said that she had read mixed-ability classes and special needs. Then we had The Beano, and that was it—yet she had managed to get special needs teaching in the classroom, and special to university. needs teaching outside it. Then came integrated studies, Children can transform their lives through books. environmental studies and humanities. One of the most depressing pieces of news that I heard Often, more than 50% of the children whom professionals recently was the decision to axe the Booktrust. It has a in those schools were dealing with were entitled to free scheme that gives books to babies and gives every mum school meals. Often, for more than 50% of them English a book bag. My constituency is full of mothers who do was a second language. That is still the case in some of not read English, and for them those books are those schools today, although that has not yet been transformative. They meant that their children could go mentioned. Those factors existed alongside all the other into school knowing at which end of a book to begin problems that hon. Members have pointed out. Every reading. Members of Muslim families might be readers, few years, a Government scheme would be introduced but their books are often in Arabic, and start at the in which the teacher was taken out of the classroom and back. I urge Ministers to do what they can to revive the trained to do something new. Any teacher dealing with Booktrust scheme. circumstances of disadvantage will say that the key thing is how much stability, security and aspiration can 4.41 pm be given to those children. Why is it that the most Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Con): I way-out education experiments are always done for the join other hon. Members in congratulating my hon. lowest achievers and the most disadvantaged? Friend the Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) on securing this debate, and I hope that they will pay Andrew Percy: It is precisely this issue of having attention to what he says later, because he has more initiative after initiative after initiative that we must ideas on how to progress this matter, which is key to end. One particularly damaging example from recent many of us across the House. I shall try to keep to his years, given the important role teachers can play in principle of seeing this as a cross-party effort. As an young people’s lives, was hiving off the pastoral role of ex-teacher, I have learned lessons today from legal experts teachers to other people working in schools. That left and about early intervention. teachers simply to deliver the curriculum, never to I want to talk about an aspect of disadvantage that nurture the children. This provides another example of has not been mentioned yet. I am glad to see the hon. the constant “initiativitis” from which we must move. Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) in her place, because she has fought for Eric Ollerenshaw: My hon. Friend makes an important this for a number of years. We talk about poverty, but point. It is always the schools undergoing initiatives there is also disadvantage in regard to race and culture. that need the greatest stability. That is why I welcome Year in, year out, she has gone on about the the Secretary of State’s reform of the national curriculum, underperformance of black boys in particular, but, which will put real history and geography back into it. after all this time, there is still underperformance among When those schools attained the achievement and stability 1097 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1098

[Eric Ollerenshaw] is left of the education maintenance allowance with the national scholarship for students. We need to tie up that they wanted and lifted their pupils A to C grades, they golden thread to maintain support for disadvantaged faced another problem. When the students left the children in every sector of education, and I hope the school or entered university, the subjects they had studied Government will pick that up and drive with it. were not counted as equal to other subjects learned in The lessons that I learn from history are that not only the more advantaged schools. This happened for the must this issue be dealt with—and it can be dealt with best of intentions, but it amounted to underselling. In through the provision of good schools and good teachers— my experience, however, with security, good teaching but we should pursue it beyond the next month and the and, particularly, a good head teacher, there is nothing next scheme. those children cannot achieve. They can match anybody and should be given the right to do so. That means having the right to learn the same subjects that are 4.50 pm taught in the best schools. That would provide a level Andrea Leadsom (South Northamptonshire) (Con): playing field and support could be continued through Of all the fascinating and important topics that we the system. discuss in the Chamber, none is more important than I want to give Ministers a case study from Lancaster. this, and it is perhaps the topic about which I personally In 2003, with the best intentions, the previous Government feel most passionate. set up an excellent cluster in Lancashire that linked the You may observe, Mr Deputy Speaker, that I am primary schools—Bowerham, Dallas Road, Willow Lane, wearing red. You may also observe that, although we Ridge and Moorside—with the following secondary are not allowed props, I am wearing a piece of clothing schools: the Central Lancaster High school, Lancaster that I am allowed: a hat, which I wish to take off to the Royal Boys’ grammar, Lancaster Girls’ grammar and Opposition for having had the compassion to create the nine other schools in Morecambe. Teachers had to Sure Start centres. That is enough theatre; although all apply to participate in the initiative, which was conducted Members would agree that there is much to be done to under a programme called “Excellence in Cities”, combined improve Sure Start centres, they represent a huge move with another called the behaviour improvement programme. in the right direction, and the fact that there is so much Civil servants draw up these initiatives, but teachers consensus across the House on the need to focus on the have to deal with the applications. What this achieved earliest years is immensely positive. for those schools was, I think, roughly £1 million extra a year, which went to providing learning mentors. I want to describe my experiences as chairman for 10 years of a charity called OXPIP—the Oxford Parent The scheme was abolished in 2008—after just five Infant Project. It is based in Oxford, and is now co-located years. After a few years, the Government no longer even with Rose Hill children’s centre, an incredibly important measured the success of the scheme. It can be measured. centre in one of the most deprived areas in the country Performance at key stage 2 consistently went up year on which has been operating for a long time. During my year above the county average, while exclusions went 10 years as chairman, OXPIP has focused, throughout down far below the county average—and there were Oxfordshire, on delivering psychotherapeutic support some tough primary schools in this cohort. Attendance for families who are struggling to bond with their was also above the county average. Despite the newborn babies. achievements, it was stopped. We were told that the money was being moved to the school development grant. The I shall now give a short master class in early infant poor heads were told that they had to reapply to go brain development, which is mentioned in the reports through the new system, which they did successfully. If from the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) we move to the present, we find that the school development and the hon. Member for Nottingham North (Mr Allen) grant has been amalgamated into the general schools on early intervention. This really is the key to mending grant. A successful system, therefore, which stopped our society, creating the society for which we all strive, being measured—except by the schools—has been moved, and solving many of the problems that we end up moved and moved again by all Governments. firefighting in politics. I believe that this case study provides an example of When a baby is born, he has only the “fight or flight” what the pupil premium can achieve. In my view, the instinct, rather like an animal. He does not possess the schools can get money through the pupil premium, but social part of the brain, the frontal cortex, which enables it is a year away. There are now 12 months in between, us to form relationships, see the world as a good place, during which the whole system might well collapse. and have hope and aspiration. That part of the brain There is a gap in the process of one policy following develops later, and the peak period of its development another policy, which has happened before. It provides occurs when the baby is between six and 18 months old. a warning to the coalition parties. If we want seriously It develops as a result of secure attachment to a principal to achieve things, it is not good enough just to agree to carer, who is normally the mum but could be the dad, great schemes. What is important is what the schemes the nanny, the granny or even the next-door neighbour. do on the ground and their impact on the teachers. That That first important relationship establishes the baby’s brings me back to my point about the teachers who are lifelong mental health opportunities. trying to create stability for what we call the most If a baby is neglected, abused or unloved during the disadvantaged pupils—the very children who need that first 18 months or two years of its life—or, worse still, is stability. I hope that we can continue monitoring these treated inconsistently—its neural pathways and brain aspects, which will be key to any and every Government. development will reflect that, not just for the moment I acknowledge what the previous Government did but for the rest of its life. Leaving a baby to scream and with, for instance, academies and Sure Start, but we will scream will have two profound impacts on that baby. I have a job to do in tying up the pupil premium and what am not talking about our desire to leave the baby to cry 1099 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1100 for a while because we are sick and tired of marching research done because of the ethical problems involved him up and down; I am talking about leaving him to cry in leaving one group to suffer while interventions are night after night. made with another group. We have somehow to get First, the baby’s level of cortisol—the stress hormone— around that and find ways to build up the evidence. I will be considerably raised. If it remains raised for a am planning to launch NORPIP—the Northamptonshire long period, it will reach a danger point, and will start parent infant project—this year, with support from the to damage the baby’s immune system. Secondly, the director of children’s services, and I hope to use that as baby will develop a higher level of tolerance to its own a model for how this can be done across the country. stress hormone. Whereas you or I might be excited by a Importantly, the children’s centres must be brought good hand at cards, a baby with a high tolerance to its to the centre of all policy making. The right hon. own stress level might, in later life, feel the need to beat Member for Birkenhead had made the great suggestion—I someone up, spray-paint something, or become involved am not sure whether it was to me or whether it is in his with drugs in order to get the kick that we might get paper—of making people sign up for child benefit in a from a hand of whist. There is a real scientific reaction children’s centre, to ensure that they are not stigmatised to constant high levels of stress experienced at a very in any way. Most importantly, the Government need to young age. re-examine the adoption legislation to ensure that babies If a baby does not experience that secure attachment can be adopted before the age of two, because any time during the peak period of development of his frontal after that is simply too late. Training for health visitors cortex, his brain development will be damaged over and midwives in the crucial importance of early attachment, time, and that damage will be permanent. So the baby improving nursery protocols to focus on the attachment who is constantly neglected will grow up thinking that needs of babies, and parenting training in classes can neglect is a feature of life and will have a higher likelihood also all prove so valuable. I wish to finish by saying that of being depressive, possibly throughout life, of feeling cross-party support is key and I am so glad that we are a failure and of being unable to make friends. Likewise, seeing an example of it today. people who are abused and treated inconsistently have a chance of being unable to form decent relationships in 4.58 pm later life. All these things are, of course, on a spectrum: Mr Sam Gyimah (East Surrey) (Con): The right hon. some horrifying statistics suggest that 40% of five-year-olds Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) made an observation in this country are not securely attached. Of course not about the number of Members here to debate this issue all those people will go on to have problems of violence, compared with the number who debated the horse depression or drug taking, but some of them will. John racing levy. The other observation that I would make is Lennon said “All you need is love” and that could not that so many Members of the new intake are here on a be truer, as a growing raft of scientific evidence Thursday afternoon to debate this subject. That is so demonstrates. especially because most of us will have stated at some A fundamental problem is that if a girl does not form point in our political campaigns that making life better a secure attachment to her mum as a baby, she may lack for other people was our motivation for getting into the physical brain ability to empathise with her own politics. We have my hon. Friends the Members for East baby when she goes on to have one. So we end up with a Hampshire (Damian Hinds) and for Salisbury (John cycle of misery that passes down through generations. Glen) to thank for getting this debate together. I know The ability to feel that the world is a nice place, to get on that my hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire in life, to form lasting relationships and so on also has been focused on this subject for a very long time. affects someone’s chances of a decent job and, lo and Before he came to this place he was involved with the behold, their prospects in the workplace, their prospects Bow Group, where he examined the causes of debt, for having a long-lasting relationship and so on. So that deprivation and despair. In this House, he has set up the cycle of misery is a bit chicken and egg: does the all-party group on credit unions. So helping the poverty come first or does the lack of attachment come disadvantaged is something that he is committed to, first? We are not putting nearly enough focus on the and I am glad that he has given us all the opportunity to importance of early attachment and on providing that speak in this debate. support. What is interesting about this debate is the amount of For the past 12 years, OXPIP has been providing consensus—something that we do not often get in the psychotherapeutic support for families and their babies Chamber—as well as the fact that we are not attacking who are struggling, and we have had astonishing results: each other’s motives. We do not always get that in the babies have been taken off the child protection list; Chamber. The consensus is that the early years to which countless families have said that they had not realised the right hon. Member for Birkenhead referred in his just how they were reliving their own earliest experiences excellent report as the “foundation years” are critical to with their own families; and we have managed to break one’s life chances. That is when boundaries are set and that cycle of deprivation. From a political point of view, when cognitive functions are developed. prevention is not only so much kinder, but so much We need only consider the difference that the little cheaper than cure. So I wish to conclude by issuing a things, such as reading to a child, can make. If I look call to action. There are things that the Government back at my own life, it was traumatic in the early years can do, and I wish to make some very specific when my parents split up when I was four or five years recommendations. old. I remember my mother spending a lot of time First, I agree completely with the hon. Member for reading to me in her very strong way. I could not get Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on the desperate need for away from having an hour or two hours of reading with more evidence. OXPIP has been working for 12 years her every evening and, at the time, I hated every moment but we have always failed to get any proper quantitative of it. As my hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire 1101 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1102

[Mr Sam Gyimah] about the early years that we need to focus on, but let us not ignore the other stages in their life. The hon. Member said, however, if a child cannot read at school, nothing for Stretford and Urmston said that we should continue else works. It was important, and I can understand it to invest throughout someone’s life, but that is probably now. Whenever I complained, she used to throw the where I slightly disagree with her. It is interesting to scriptures back in my face: train a child in the way they move away from seeing this issue as purely one of should go and when they grow they will not depart from resources and from thinking that the problem will be it. Now, at the age of 34, I can in some way understand addressed by investing more and more. Deep character what she was trying to achieve. development, which is how I would sum all this up, does That is based on my experience and we all have our not depend on wealth. One piece of information that I own individual experiences—some good, some bad, came across in the report of the right hon. Member for and some to which we are indifferent. The interesting Birkenhead is that Chinese families— thing about what the right hon. Member for Birkenhead has done is that he has grounded some people’s gut Kate Green: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? feeling in analytical work. I have commented on what he said about the foundation years, but he has also Mr Gyimah: I need to race on—I am terribly sorry. In come up with a set of life chances indicators, all of Chinese families there is not the same correlation between which are important. What excited me most as I read poverty and the outcomes we see in other types of his report was the fact that it changed the terms of the family. While we focus on the early years, I would like us debate—moving from considering static indicators, such to reintroduce the concept of character into public as poverty, to considering this as a life chances issue. discourse and to discuss how to bring up and raise The hard data and the research that back them up mean children to improve their life chances. When I talk that we can now move on and come up with some about character, I mean self-discipline and a child saying, decent polices. By move on, I mean that we can move “I am not going to watch TV now; I need to do my away from the predominant approach of the previous homework.” I mean a child showing respect to others Labour Government, which was the redistributive approach and knowing that when they go to school and someone of all-round tax credits, to the approach that some of us gets on their nerves, they should not just thump that on the Government Benches might have had, which is person, but should report them to the teacher. Some that parenting and the family are outside the responsibility academics call these considerations pro-social norms. of the state. In fact, if someone is responsible, they This is something that happens at home and we should know what it means to be a parent, so what business not be afraid to talk about character in our public does the state have to comment on it? discourse. Character is a function not of wealth but of We all agree that parenting is at the core of this values and we should be happy to speak about it. matter. It is the single biggest responsibility that we can take on as human beings but, interestingly enough, it is 5.6 pm the one that nobody trains for. We train if we want to play the piano, or to learn how to speak in public. One Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con): I am grateful for the can train for almost everything except being a parent. opportunity to speak in this important debate and I When training does exist, the situation has often irrevocably acknowledge the efforts of my hon. Friends the Members broken down. As the hon. Member for Stretford and for Salisbury (John Glen) and for East Hampshire Urmston (Kate Green) said, state intervention happens (Damian Hinds) in enabling it to take place. We have when people have had problems with the law, by which heard much about the lifetime consequences of child time it is probably too late. I find it interesting that some poverty for individuals on a personal level and that of the comments that we have come up with suggest many of the costly and damaging problems our society having an intervention earlier on in the process, before faces arise as a result of the right support not being things go wrong. Why is that important? It is hard to be given to our children in their early years. I came across a parent. The knowledge that most people have comes many statistics in researching this issue, and my hon. from grandparents or their own experience, and we only Friend the hon. Member for South Northamptonshire have to look at the popularity of the site Mumsnet to (Andrea Leadsom) has reminded us that a child’s know that it is all about shared knowledge. Those who development score at as early as 22 months can be an live in an area where there is a lot of good shared accurate predictor of their educational outcome at 26. knowledge can learn from it, but if they live in a part of We all have an obligation to work to change such the country without that knowledge, they are left to indicators. their own devices. People make mistakes, sometimes I want to talk about the importance of the family with the best of intentions. unit, the vital role of the extended family and the Let me turn to the point I want to focus on, as I have importance of support, with a sense of balance, as well to rush through this. Let us not be fatalistic. Some as one or two issues around education. As someone parents will struggle and some parents will do a good who believes in the importance of a strong family unit, I job, but peer pressure might mean that their children believe that parents are the key drivers in determining will go off the rails. Sometimes the school is where their children’s life chances. I am pleased that instead of things go right or wrong, and sometimes it is the local concentrating on the negative aspects of parenthood, environment. In focusing on the early years, we should the report of the right hon. Member for Birkenhead not automatically consign disadvantaged or unconventional (Mr Field) focuses on ideas to enable parents to achieve families to an at-risk group. Let us not say that people their aspirations for their children. Evidence shows the have only one life chance, as so many things happen in benefits of marriage for a child’s development and that the course of someone’s life that can make a difference the children of married parents do better on a number to their life chances. There is overwhelming evidence of aspects relating to social and emotional development. 1103 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1104

Kate Green: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? In this context, I want to mention the benefits of selective education. At one time, that was seen as the Mark Pawsey: I will continue if I may. best way of providing bright children from less well-off We have heard about the importance of the father’s backgrounds with the best opportunities in life. My role in minimising the risk of poor outcomes. My hon. constituency of Rugby has an excellent system, and as Friend the Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce) reminded both a product of that system and a parent of children us about the absence of a male role model in the lives of who have gone through that system, I know many many disadvantaged children. I want to offer support people who have benefited immensely from the excellent for the role of grandparents in the family unit, which teaching and extra-curricular activities on offer at such often seems to be an all-or-nothing arrangement in that schools. they are either ever-present or completely absent. The I am pleased with the measures that the Government break-up of the family unit means that some grandparents have already introduced, such as the refocusing of Sure no longer have a relationship with their own children Start and the pupil premium. I hope that the Government’s and, as a consequence, have no relationship with their longer-term strategy to be announced in March will grandchildren. When neither the parents nor the take into account not only the conclusions of the reports grandparents have the time or skill to support the child, of the right hon. and hon. Gentlemen, but the valuable there is, of course, a role for the state to step in. contributions to this debate. My experience as a father echoes that of other fathers here, which is that absolutely nothing prepares one for 5.12 pm the burdens of parenthood and that one has no idea of the implications for one’s own life. For young mothers David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con): I, too, and fathers, who are often ill-prepared for parenthood, congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for East Sure Start centres have helped to provide the support Hampshire (Damian Hinds) on securing the debate and they need. Having visited Sure Start in my constituency, I applaud Members on both sides of the House for the I recognise its value and believe those important resources good temper in which it has been held. I also congratulate and facilities should be targeted in the areas of greatest my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mark Pawsey) need. I fully support the proposals to open Sure Start who spoke just before me in a debate on life chances. He centres to the market so that private companies may bid and I started 43 years ago in the same class. I sat three to run them. behind him, and I am delighted that his life chances It is important to mention maternity and paternity have not been overly impacted by that experience. provisions, because only this week the Deputy Prime We are talking today about social mobility, which, to Minister announced proposals to allow couples to share me, is the hallmark of a civilised society. It is a subject maternity leave. I am pleased that the rules will allow that probably 650 Members on both sides of the House either parent to care for their child, but as a former would agree really matters. It really matters that we get business owner I must sound a note of caution. It is this right. I want to speak on one aspect of this, and it is necessary to highlight the difficulties that exist between about how we measure it and targets. Occasionally reconciling what is good from a child development targets get a bad press and people say that we should perspective with the needs of people running small not have so many, but in this area, targets are important. businesses in particular. The director general of the The problem is that we have confused three different British Chambers of Commerce has asked valid questions things—poverty, inequality and life chances. Those three about how employers are expected to plan and arrange are quite different. They are heavily correlated, but they cover with this increasingly flexible system. are not the same, and the danger is that if we apply a The report by the hon. Member for Nottingham policy to the wrong one, or try to affect another, we will North (Mr Allen) highlights that it is crucial to recognise get the wrong outcomes. that the educational cycle begins at birth. A child’s My concern is that we have made the measurement of development does not start from the day they enter inequality a proxy for success in that area. We have primary school, and we should start counting development discussed the intention of the last Prime Minister but from birth. In the education system, children do not one to eradicate child poverty by 2020, which is a noble reach year 1 until they are five years old, and we have ambition, but the principal definition used for that already heard from other hon. Members that five is purpose—median income at 60%—is a measure of often too late for children who are risk. I am pleased inequality, not poverty. The risk is that money is spent that the report of the right hon. Member for Birkenhead sub-optimally and that, even though we make transfer (Mr Field) also draws attention to this issue. payments of £150 billion over a period, we will still be Only 20% of young people in the poorest households ranked 21st out of 21 countries in a UNICEF report. gain five or more A* to C grades at GCSE, compared with 75% of those from the richest families, so the pupil Kate Green: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? premium is crucial. If we want children from poorer families to get to university, we must ensure that the David Mowat: I apologise for being the third Government additional targeted resources will give them a head Member not to give way, but we have been asked to start. Providing money for each pupil from a deprived rattle through. background means that head teachers will have more One of the most important aspects of the report money to spend on those children. produced by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead The right hon. Gentleman’s report also refers to the (Mr Field) is the indices for life chances. Targets matter, importance of good teaching between the ages 14 to 16 and if we could start to measure the correct things, it is in reducing the likelihood of children trying cannabis, possible that we could really start to make a difference playing truant or becoming a frequent smoker or drinker. in those outcomes. 1105 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1106

[David Mowat] at the very least, that all children can read, write and communicate properly. If we do not do so, we will My hon. Friend the Member for East Surrey obviously fail them, but we will fail society as well, and, (Mr Gyimah) gave the example of the Chinese community as a member of the Education Committee, one thing and the fact that in schools, the poorest Chinese children that I constantly worry about is how we ensure that our outperform children from all other parts of society, schools system delivers such results. except the richest Chinese children. That shows that something is happening that is not just about money. I The pupil premium and so forth are very important, have conceded that everything is correlated, but it is not and we must encourage all those who are entitled to just about money; it is about attitude. The words in the collect it to do so. The question of stigma often arises, right hon. Gentleman’s report that I found the most however, so we need to think about that in terms of the useful in that context were those relating to positive policy. The very fact that we need the pupil premium is parenting. “Positive parenting” is a strong phrase that a measure of our failure, but we have talked about describes the breeding of self-confidence and aspiration measures throughout the debate, or at least while I have in some communities. I hope that the Government will been present, so let us recognise that we have to deal test those indices and take them up if they find them with a big measure. valuable, because we need a proxy for social mobility Secondly, education is critical, but there are other that is not the same as some of those embedded in the roadblocks. I am struck by the fact that we do not deal Child Poverty Act 2010. holistically with early years issues. That is why I was so I will make a final point on a different subject. We impressed by the work of the right hon. Member for can continue what we are doing on educational attainment, Birkenhead (Mr Field). Alongside all the usual issues, but we must also create jobs and ensure that the people the health of a young person also matters, so we have to leaving our universities are able to take up the opportunities ensure that, in the foundation years, as described in the that will exist in the world over the next few years. That right hon. Gentleman’s review, we consider not just relates increasingly to a knowledge of applied science, education, but health care and other factors. We need engineering and technology. I applaud what the coalition an holistic approach at that level. Government are doing on apprenticeships. One of the My third point, which strikes me every time I go most significant policy failures of the past 20 years has abroad, especially when I focus on planning and housing been that we have succeeded in increasing the number development, as I did before becoming a Member, is the of people who go to university by a factor of five, while importance of a child’s environment. That includes the at the same time fewer of them are studying applied quality of their homes, the way in which they play and science and engineering. That is at a time when the interact with each other, and how families interact with world is moving towards more advanced manufacturing each other. I have been to some fascinating places, in and all that goes with it. I will finish by reiterating that Rotterdam for example, where local communities with social mobility is the hallmark of a civilized society. The really well designed housing developments come together, coalition Government, who are supportive of that aim, look after each other, spot problems, allow families to should be ready to be judged by their success on that, or develop and ensure that fewer children are disadvantaged. lack thereof, over the next few years. That is important It is, therefore, important for us to think about the to us all. environment. Too much of our housing just does not allow such family life or social development between 5.18 pm families, so I want to ram home the point that we have Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): It is a great honour to improve our planning system. to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington I have talked about education because I am on the South (David Mowat). He has given the coalition Education Committee, but we need to highlight a few Government a proper test, and rightly so, because it is more issues that have cropped up during its work. One important that they should have such a test. The phrase issue is the number of children who care for somebody “disadvantaged children” is not an attractive one, and else. We cannot expect that to be good for them or for we should be embarrassed by the fact that we have to anybody in their near neighbourhood; it is totally wrong. talk about it so often in this country.It certainly embarrasses The hon. Member for Wigan (Lisa Nandy), who is also me and often has. The experience of meeting a young a member of the Committee, rightly rammed home the person who is unable to communicate properly, or read point that it is unacceptable to ignore that group in the and so forth, can be heartrending. One has only to context of school discipline, but it is unacceptable to think of the waste that we allow to happen, with so ignore it in any context. We have to calibrate the problem many people who could do so much being left behind. and ensure that we start to do something about the fact We really need to address the whole issue of disadvantaged that more than 10% of children scuttle back home after children. a day at school to look after somebody in their household. Social mobility is critical. We want a mobile society, We need to address that problem, do we not? and that mobility depends on everyone being able to move around. They cannot do so because there are too Also on the subject of education, we have to think many roadblocks. I shall refer to a few and suggest about the early years and encourage proper care and some ways in which we might deal with them. attention for the child as well as where they come from and the family framework in which they are involved. First, we have rightly talked about education, but too many children leave the education system without being That brings me to another example from Europe that equipped to communicate properly and without the we need to consider. On the continent we often see the confidence to get around and about their lives. Therefore, extended family approach, but we do not see it here. We we must ensure that the education system makes sure, should be encouraging people to think more in terms of 1107 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1108 their whole family and its different generations. That is school in Penkridge in my constituency, where the head linked to other points that I made about planning, made that very point, saying that there were not enough health care and education. men in primary teaching and she would love to see more We have to be far more inclusive and holistic, and come into it. The right hon. Member for Birkenhead much more demanding that our institutions and charities makes the same point about children’s centres: co-operate with each other to share information more “The lack of male staff is an equally pressing issue needing to effectively and ensure that local government stops being be addressed.” so silo-based. Sarah Newton: Does my hon. Friend agree that to Andrea Leadsom: I should like to draw my hon. address that imbalance, we might encourage more men Friend’s attention to the charity OXPIP, with which I to volunteer? In my town of Falmouth, the Rotary club have been involved for a long time and which works well does excellent work in a local primary school to help with the children’s centre in Oxford. There is great with reading, which has really improved reading standards. potential for the voluntary sector to work closely with statutory agencies to deliver exactly the sort of help to Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. I which he is referring. remind Members that they must speak to the Chair and not in the opposite direction. Neil Carmichael: I thank my hon. Friend. That is a very important example of what is necessary, but we Jeremy Lefroy: I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. need to see it across the piece. In my constituency, the Rotary club does work on reading Government can talk about what they want to happen, in Doxey primary school. I remember how much I but ultimately we have to ensure that it does happen. enjoyed reading to my children. I am not sure whether Delivery is crucial, as is measuring, assessing and the feeling was mutual, although they told me later that understanding the problems. If we do not know what is it was. happening after we have said that something should My second point, which was mentioned by the hon. happen, we are failing completely. We must be holistic, Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green) and check up, and never, ever take our eye off the ball. many other hon. Members, is the critical role of children’s centres. We should ensure that, with the changes, we do 5.27 pm not lose what has been achieved. The report by the right Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con): In common with all hon. Member for Birkenhead states that Sure Start colleagues, I pay tribute to my hon. Friends the Members centres for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) and for Salisbury “should maintain some universal services so that Centres are (John Glen) for helping to arrange this debate. I also welcoming, inclusive, socially mixed and non-stigmatising, but pay tribute to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead aim to target services towards those who can benefit from them (Mr Field) and the hon. Member for Nottingham North most.” (Mr Allen) for their reports. Before I was elected to this I urge the Government to take note of that, and I am House, the hon. Member for Nottingham North gave sure that they will. an excellent talk in my constituency which opened my My third point regards television and media. I take eyes to this subject for pretty much the first time. I am up a point made by the hon. Member for Upper Bann grateful that the Government have sought to enlist (David Simpson), who is no longer in his place, about those Members’ expertise. Staffordshire university—[Interruption.] I beg his pardon; There is great expertise, too, among Government I missed him. He referred to a particular media studies Front Benchers, to whom I also pay tribute. I remember course at Staffordshire university. I must say that a visit to my constituency by the Under-Secretary of Staffordshire university has a very high reputation in State for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for media studies and is one of the major institutions in East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton), who the country for developing state-of-the-art video games travelled an awfully long way to find out about a technology, which is a major export industry for this particular scheme that was going on at Wolgarston high country. I just want to give some balance to the impression school in Penkridge. He did not have to do it, but he did that people may have got from his comment, which I am so because he was interested. sure was not intended as a generalisation. I should like to take up three points from the report The right hon. Member for Birkenhead talks about by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead. The first is the role of the BBC. He recommends that it kitemark the key fact that we have to get more young men, in the children’s programmes that are most beneficial to particular, into work. That is absolutely essential. The parents in the development of language. I urge the BBC unemployment figures that came out yesterday were and other broadcasters to pay attention to that. disturbing, and the Government must address that. I I grew up in a house without a television, and indeed look forward to the Work programme coming into still live in a house without one. I do not recommend place, but I urge the Government to ensure that in the that for everybody, although it has certainly done me, months before that happens people do not drop out of my family and my children no harm. However, I do the system. I know that things have been done to think that parents should be encouraged to consider address that potential problem. their use of television, and whether it is necessary to I reiterate what my hon. Friend the Member for have one in every room in the house, including the Beverley and Holderness (Mr Stuart), the hon. Member bedrooms. Perhaps television could become a social for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) and various other Members activity with the whole family watching it together, said about the importance of having men involved in rather than an individual activity with everybody watching primary teaching. This week, I was at St Michael’s first their own programmes. 1109 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1110

[Jeremy Lefroy] children. That is a responsibility not just of parents but all of us who have the best interests of children and I echo the point made by the hon. Member for youths at heart. She also made an important plea for Slough about reading. Again, that is absolutely essential art, drama and sport not to be overlooked, and I hope and something that we must never forget. I underline that the Secretary of State will take that point seriously the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for East in talking about the new direction of the curriculum. Surrey (Mr Gyimah) about character—something that The hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson)—I is sometimes forgotten. We have to have qualitative, not see that he is definitely still in his place—focused on the just quantitative, measures in approaching this subject. fact that the changes we need to see, to which all I and my family spent many years living in Tanzania. Members seem to be committed, will not happen without A Swahili proverb says, “It takes a whole village to raise investment. The sentiment that it is not all about money a child.” Many hon. Members have made that point in is absolutely right, of course, but it is partly about various ways. My hon. Friend the Member for Congleton money and we need to ensure that the right contributions (Fiona Bruce) talked about the importance of community are made. as well as family. My hon. Friend the Member for My hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston Stroud (Neil Carmichael) talked about the way in which (Kate Green) joined the hon. Members for South the built environment can help or hinder the sense of Northamptonshire (Andrea Leadsom) and for Rugby community. (Mark Pawsey) and my right hon. Friend the Member I look forward to several further debates on this for Birkenhead in focusing on the importance of Sure matter in this Parliament. It is absolutely essential that Start children’s centres in delivering services. At a time we take note of everything that has been said today and when some Sure Start centres are under threat—I was return to it time and again to see what progress is being told recently of the potential closure of six in Derby—that made. We are talking about something that is vital to provided all of us with a timely reminder that the local the future of this country and of our children, and it is authority cuts will put tremendous pressure on councils. essential that we do not just leave it to one debate and We all need to fight for the facilities in our communities. one day in a Parliament. The hon. Member for Calder Valley (Craig Whittaker) said that eradicating child poverty was a key objective 5.34 pm of both parties. In fact, “child poverty” is something of Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab): I begin by a misnomer, because what we really mean is that we congratulating all the Members who have contributed want to eradicate poverty. Children are generally poor to an excellent debate, and the hon. Member for East because their parents are poor, so when we talk about Hampshire (Damian Hinds) on bringing the debate benefit policy and creating jobs, we must remember that before us. He started by focusing on the fact that what children’s poverty does not happen in isolation from the happens outside school is as important as what goes on circumstances of their parents. inside, if not more so. That was a powerful argument My hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona for the value of youth services and is linked to the fact Mactaggart) was one of the few to reflect on the fact that most of the most deprived children in our country that the debate was not just about the early years. They can be pinpointed within certain constituencies. That is are vital, but continuing to support children throughout not to say that Conservative Members do not have their education, whatever direction that might take, is deprived children in their constituencies, which of course key. The change to education maintenance allowance is they do, but it is important to reflect on the fact that an important factor to consider in respect of disadvantaged children who are brought up surrounded by deprivation children and young people. She also focused on the are more likely to learn bad habits and come into contact importance of evidence and research-based policy, as with people who will lead them in the wrong direction. opposed to policy based on ideology or policy that is Members of all parties have welcomed the work of not properly researched. my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead The hon. Members for Lancaster and Fleetwood (Mr Field). His recent report “The Foundation Years” (Eric Ollerenshaw) and for Brigg and Goole (Andrew is incredibly valuable, and I add my voice to those that Percy) spoke of policy experimentation within the education have paid tribute to both him and my hon. Friend the sector. In the light of that, it was interesting that they Member for Nottingham North (Mr Allen), who appears made positive comments on the raft of changes we have to have been talking about early intervention almost seen in education in just a few short months, including since he was a child himself. the introduction of free schools, and academies being My right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead given extra money if they are outstanding, unlike under explained his experiences at Birkenhead junior school, the previous policy whereby money was given to the which reflected some of mine at Spire junior school in more deprived schools. There has also been a dramatic Chesterfield, in my constituency, which has more than change of direction in that more schools are now judged 70% of its pupils on free school meals but is rated as against the English baccalaureate—many will now be “outstanding” by Ofsted and was the venue for the viewed as failing, even though they were unaware that Deputy Prime Minister launching the pupil premium. those were the rules by which they were playing. In considering deprived communities, I should like to The hon. Member for South Northamptonshire informed focus on the importance of people throughout the us of some of the science behind perpetuating disadvantage, education sector supporting children throughout the which was a valuable and useful contribution to the educational and demographic range. The hon. Member debate. for Maidstone and The Weald (Mrs Grant), who is no In pursuing the arguments made by right hon. and longer in her place, made an important contribution hon. Members, I should like to reflect briefly on some about the need to build confidence and self-esteem in of the steps taken by the previous Government to make 1111 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1112 the life chances of our most disadvantaged children Governments for a long time. It is a difficult problem to better. They included free nursery places and Sure Start, tackle and it requires complex solutions. The Government which was a visionary decision that has made a big are extremely grateful for his report, as we are for the difference. Sure Start has a lot more potential to make interim report by the hon. Member for Nottingham an even greater difference to disadvantaged children. North (Mr Allen), which was published yesterday. He Increased out-of-school provision and increased investment made the point that, too often, the life race is over by in youth services have made a key difference in more five. Early years are life-changing, sometimes positively deprived communities, as have the improvement in GCSE and sometimes negatively, and we need a holistic approach outcomes and literacy and numeracy, and the measures to tackling the issues that arise from that. taken to eradicate poverty. They are all significant strides My hon. Friend the Members for Maidstone and The in the right direction, as is evidenced by the increase in Weald (Mrs Grant) and for Lancaster and Fleetwood the number of children on free school meals who go to (Eric Ollerenshaw) spoke about the importance of quality university. teaching and its role in improving self-esteem. The hon. However, as hon. Members on both sides of the Member for Stockport (Ann Coffey) made several House reflected, and given the Government’s decision interesting and important points, including the need for to pursue the issue, there is still much to do. The us to focus on runaway children. The Government take Opposition agree with the sentiments articulated by the that issue seriously, and I hope to assure her that the Government on the need to focus on early years, outreach Department for Education is already working on the work and health visitors. The decision to invite my right report that was recently produced by Barnardo’s. She hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead and my hon. also raised some important points about the performance Friend the Member for Nottingham North to provide framework. The Government want to move more to an reports was welcome. We hope that they will be given outcomes focus rather than an inputs focus, and we are resources and the means to deliver their ends. working with the sector and local authorities to try to The extra money for pet projects and the cuts to define that performance framework. We want to pilot EMA, Sure Start and local authority funding must be payment by results to try to incentivise the use of seen in the context of what the Government are trying evidence-based programmes—the kind of evidence-based to achieve. The commitment of the House to reducing programmes that were illustrated in the report from the inequalities in educational attainment has been heard hon. Member for Nottingham North. loud and clear on both sides of the Chamber. A consensus My hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Jessica seems to have formed around the importance of early Lee) spoke with great expertise from her perspective as intervention and eradicating child poverty, and we will a family lawyer. She made one point that caught my be watching to see whether this Government’s policy attention about the need, when working with someone helps to reduce that gap or whether it moves more with a drug or alcohol problem, to look holistically at people into poverty. Our children deserve the best. The the family and not deal only with the person presenting Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for a problem. That was picked up in the Government’s Birkenhead and my hon. Friend the Member for drug strategy. Nottingham North can be assured that the party that My hon. Friends the Members for Congleton (Fiona has always done more than any other to improve social Bruce) and for Rugby (Mark Pawsey) raised the issue of mobility, with fairness at its core, will listen, learn and parents and relationships. What we know from the keep fighting for the best outcome for our children. evidence is that there are several pinch points of enormous stress in relationships, especially when young—or older— 5.43 pm couples have their first child. Without wanting to preach about how families organise themselves, the Government The Minister of State, Department for Education will make that the focus of their relationship support. It (Sarah Teather): I congratulate the hon. Members for is a tragedy when a relationship breaks down because East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) and for Salisbury the support is not available to allow people to get over (John Glen) on securing this debate. I offer the House a difficulties, or they are not equipped to do so. The heartfelt apology for arriving a few minutes late and Government have invested £7.5 million a year across missing the beginning of the former’s speech. I am this comprehensive spending review period and, in addition, always very particular about being on time, and I am have given £500,000 to the voluntary sector to train extremely embarrassed that I missed that. Sure Start children’s centres practitioners to help to This has been a fantastic debate—really, really interesting. identify these issues. The tone has been very good. Listening to enormous The hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate expertise, often from new Members, gives me great hope Green)—I always enjoy listening to her, even if I do not that the issue of disadvantaged children will continue to always agree with her—made several important points be championed by all parties. It is clear that we want a about parenting skills, an issue that was also picked up sustainable solution to this problem. The fact that there by the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) is so much interest, especially among new Members on and my hon. Friend the Member for East Surrey both sides of the House, gives me great hope that we (Mr Gyimah). The hon. Member for Stretford and shall achieve that. Urmston will be well aware—she has raised the issue My hon. Friend the Member for East Hampshire with me before in Education questions—that parenting closed his speech with the key points on which we need programmes are an important part of Sure Start children’s to focus—life chances, the quality of the home environment centres, and some of the evidence-based programmes and better evidence. His remarks set the scene and his that the hon. Member for Nottingham North was picking themes were picked up by hon. Members on both sides up yesterday highlight that issue in particular. However, of the House. The right hon. Member for Birkenhead the solutions do not always have to be formal. Several (Mr Field) rightly stressed that the issue has preoccupied hon. Members spoke about the role of parent-toddler 1113 Disadvantaged Children20 JANUARY 2011 Disadvantaged Children 1114

[Sarah Teather] I said that income is vital, and the fact that the Government recognise that is spelt out in the coalition groups, and such peer support can be important for parents agreement, which states that we will meet the targets set who can pick up skills and techniques for dealing with out in the Child Poverty Act 2010. However, we intend issues as they arise. to do it with a slightly different focus from the previous The hon. Member for Slough made several interesting Government. We want to put a lot of effort into trying points, but a debate began in her speech about the to tackle the underlying issues affecting a child’s life importance of male role models—something that the and, in particular, the entrenched disadvantage that Government take seriously.Indeed, the coalition document gets passed from one generation to another. The interim states that we want to increase the number of men in report from the hon. Member for Nottingham North early education. It is a very complicated problem to made clear just how vital intervening early is. For those solve. It is as much about the esteem of early-years who have not seen his interim report, let me say that the practitioners as any of the other reasons picked up by front cover contains a scan of a child’s brain at a very hon. Members during the debate. The Government young age, and already we can see how things are have started a new programme based on Teach First hardwired—that was picked up by the hon. Member for called New Leaders in Early Years, which is intended to South Northamptonshire (Andrea Leadsom). The need pick up graduates. We hope that it will entice young to intervene early is precisely why the Government have men to enter the early-years profession for different invested extra money in disadvantaged two-year-olds. reasons and target some more academic approaches, We know that quality early education at that stage which would kill two birds with one stone in terms of makes a huge difference. what we are trying to do on quality in early years. The hon. Member for Slough picked up on a point The hon. Member for Calder Valley (Craig Whittaker) about what happens with poorer children when they spoke about the role of the big society, and may I mix with children from other backgrounds. It demonstrates congratulate him on fulfilling his maiden speech pledge the reasons I felt strongly that we needed to extend the already? It must be a world record. early-years free entitlement from 12.5 hours to 15 hours and to continue with that despite the difficult circumstances. The quality of the debate has been extremely high. That universal offer for three and four-year-olds is As Members on both sides have said, it is unacceptable extremely important. The quality of social mixing makes that in the 21st century, and in one of the richest a big difference to a child’s chances. I hope that bringing countries in the world, the circumstances of a person’s that down to all disadvantaged two-year-olds will make birth, rather than their ability, dictate their outcomes in a significant difference to children’s lives. Indeed, we life. We know that unfortunately many poor families intend to legislate to make that an entitlement in the struggle with the basics, while the wealthiest, who often education Bill that will be published shortly. live just a few streets away, can get on in life. Some Similarly, it is vital that Sure Start is accessible to all, children never achieve their potential because of the but we need a better focus on disadvantaged families. barriers that are thrown in their way, while their wealthier As I said just a minute ago in response to the hon. neighbours clear hurdles with ease. I see that in my own Member for Stretford and Urmston, we intend to use constituency. payment by results to ensure that we focus on using The barriers that children face, often very early in life, evidence-based programmes better. That is also why we affect their life chances forever. Again I see this, I am have invested extra money in health visitors, because afraid, in my own constituency. There is the staggering outreach is vital, as was pointed out earlier. We need to statistic that a child born in Harlesden, in the heart of ensure that we get to those families in difficulty, bringing my constituency, is likely to die, on average, more than them into centres so that we can focus the extra help 10 years earlier than a child born in Kensington, which and evidence-based programmes that we are using on is just a few miles away. Many Members commented on them. My colleagues in the Department of Health have the fact that there are complicated relationships between also announced extra investment in the family nurse the different elements of disadvantage, and very complicated partnership, a fantastic scheme that has had good results relationships between that and income. Income is extremely and shown promise, particularly in working with young important, but it is not the only problem, and if we are families. to tackle this in the long term we need to consider the The Government have also asked Dame Clare Tickell causes and factors other than income. to review the early-years foundation stage, to see whether we can simplify some of the burdens, but retain all the Dan Rogerson: Hon. Members have drawn to the quality, because it has done so much to improve outcomes House’s attention particular issues concerning those in for young people at that age, and also to think about the care system and children who are themselves carers. how we can get services to work more closely together. I would like to add a group that has not been mentioned: That is already the focus of some of her thinking, as she those in kinship care arrangements with grandparents, looks at how we can utilise other health professionals to parents, siblings or other relatives. We need to do more, ensure that we serve the most disadvantaged children and encourage local authorities to do more, to ensure best. That focus on narrowing the gap is also why the that they are given the support that those who foster, for Government feel so strongly that we need to invest in example, get. the pupil premium, and there will be an extra £2.5 billion for schools by the end of the spending review period to Sarah Teather: I agree with my hon. Friend. Eileen ensure that we can focus on the most disadvantaged Munro is considering that as part of her review of children. social care. We need to encourage local authorities to I am running out of time, and there are many more think about all the options for kinship care, including points that I would like to respond to. I am extremely with grandparents, before a child is taken into care. grateful to hon. Members for their contributions to this 1115 Disadvantaged Children 20 JANUARY 2011 1116 very good debate. I hope that there will be many more Air Passenger Duty opportunities to debate the issue over the course of the Parliament, because the ideas that we have heard, Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House particularly from those with expertise in this area, are do now adjourn.—(Mr Newmark.) helpful to us in formulating policy.

5.57 pm 5.59 pm Damian Hinds: We have had a very good debate this Ms Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington) afternoon, which has been a worthy use of Back-Bench (Lab): I am very glad indeed to have the opportunity to time, and I thank the Backbench Business Committee raise in the House of Commons the vital issue of the once again for granting it. effect of air passenger duty changes on the Caribbean. The debate was effectively brought to life right at the I want to begin by outlining what is intrinsically outset by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead wrong with the changes—namely, the way in which the (Mr Field), who reminded us that too many children duty is calculated. No one in the Chamber is against arrive at school not recognising their own name, or environmental measures designed to bear down on excessive unable to remove their coats or hold a crayon. We have airline travel, and no one wants the British Treasury to had a wide-ranging debate since then, with many hon. lose money, but the way in which the duties have been Members drawing on their expertise and experience, calculated, and the way in which the zones have been from both their personal journeys and their paid and worked out, are indefensible. The zones are calculated voluntary work. The passion and commitment of the on the basis of where a capital city is. For instance, hon. Member for Chesterfield (Toby Perkins) was clear because the capital of the United States is Washington from his response from the Opposition Front Bench. DC, one would pay less duty under this system to fly to My hon. Friend the Minister’s response also made clear Hawaii or Los Angeles than to fly to the Caribbean. how central the new Government’s agenda on this issue How can that be right? How can it be cheaper to fly is to their programme, even in these difficult economic those vast distances than to fly to the Caribbean? These times. are issues of fairness, equity and transparency. Although this debate will stop here in less than The flight tax to the Caribbean increased by 25% on 90 seconds, in a broader sense it will continue. One 1 November 2009. In November 2010, the tax on flights encouraging thing from this afternoon has been the from the UK to the Caribbean increased by a further number of Members here from the new intake. One 50% in all classes of travel. At present, passengers thing that I hope will come out of that is the formation travelling to the Caribbean pay £75 per person in economy an all-party group on social mobility, which I hope will and £150 per person in all other classes. There is a be a vehicle whereby we can contribute to the debate. substantial amount of traffic between Britain and the Caribbean, particularly at holiday times. As a member I will close by mentioning two stories from this of the Jamaican diaspora, I sometimes find myself on afternoon that really struck me. The first was from my those planes packed full of people who are happy to go hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald home and see their relatives. Many of them have saved (Mrs Grant), who talked about the stopwatch, which for two years or more for their flights. I put it to the hon. Members will remember; the second was from my Minister that £75 might not seem much to the Treasury, hon. Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire but when people are paying for a family of four, five or (Andrea Leadsom), who quoted Lennon and McCartney six, it amounts to a lot of money. People have often when she said, “All you need is love”. Those two things saved up for their flights for years, and that sum is a big reminded me strongly of the value of encouragement consideration. and the power of individuals to make a difference, and were a timely reminder that every programme or strategy I am appealing not only to the Minister’s humanitarian amounts to a series of very human interventions. I instincts, however. I know from talking to Ministers of remarked at the start of this debate that the issues that whatever party that I would do that in vain. I also want we have been talking about today lie at the heart of why to talk about the effects of air passenger duty on British so many hon. Members, on both sides of the House, business and on the economies of the Caribbean. were motivated to come into politics. That has certainly been clear this afternoon. Richard Fuller (Bedford) (Con): The hon. Lady is Question put and agreed to. making some excellent points. Before she moves on to Resolved, business, I would like to encourage her to talk more about the matter of equity, although she says that she That this House has considered the matter of improving life would do so in vain. Many people from my constituency chances for disadvantaged children. travel to destinations in the Caribbean, and many of them came to this country in the 1950s, ’60s or ’70s. They have often spent their careers working in the public sector on very low incomes, and many are now pensioners. For them, £75 is a very significant cost. They have siblings, perhaps aunties, and certainly nephews and nieces back on the Caribbean islands—not only Jamaica but many others. Does the hon. Lady agree, notwithstanding the excellent points that she has made about geography and is about to make about business, that there is a strong equity case for the Minister to review the question of air passenger duty? 1117 Air Passenger Duty20 JANUARY 2011 Air Passenger Duty 1118

Ms Abbott: The hon. Gentleman has made his point measure were primarily about increasing sustainability very well indeed. Many of those people, particularly the and reducing emissions, one would have thought that older ones, have contributed to this country. Some of the proceeds would be used for environmental purposes. the generation who came to this country after the war My understanding is, however—I am sure the Minister helped to rebuild its public sector, and they have worked will correct me if I am wrong—that the sums raised all their lives. As I have said, the sums of money from this duty go back into the general pot. Will the involved might seem relatively minor to a Treasury Minister also answer a specific point that was put to official, but they represent a huge imposition on those me? How can it be fair to charge a greater level of tax to people who love this country and who are almost invariably fly to Jamaica—there are many Jamaican families in my British citizens but who also have a great love for the constituency—than to fly the whole way to Hawaii? I country of their birth. One thing that makes this seem would appreciate an answer on that. all the more unfair to those people is that air passenger duty is not charged on private aircraft. If this were Ms Abbott: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who really an environmental measure, one would expect it to makes his point very well. He raised the question of the be charged on private aircraft. I will come back to that avowed environmental intent of the duty. I remember point later. that when passenger duties were put forward under a It is my contention that air passenger duty is having a Labour Government, Ministers said that they were negative effect on British business. I have evidence that there largely in order to help the environment and British business travellers are flying to the continent, discourage unnecessary airline travel. This Government then flying to the Caribbean from there, because it is have stated that the rises in air passenger duty are partly cheaper to do so. Business travellers contribute £70 million intended to help achieve environmental goals. to the British economy—money that is slowly being lost Far be it for me to accuse any Government—whether due to airport passenger duty charges. Aviation taxation it be my own or the present Government—of glossing is putting the UK at a competitive disadvantage in over the reality, but the truth is that if APD were really comparison with our European neighbours. This duty about achieving environmental goals, it would be calculated will incentivise the strengthening of alternative hubs to differently. For instance, APD is calculated according to the UK both in and outside Europe. In the end, it could only element of a given flight—the distance travelled, well reduce the number and connection of destinations not according to whether the plane is full or half-empty. served by UK airports. A whole range of other factors are relevant to environmental Let me move on to tourism. I have been in the House impacts, including the type and age of the aircraft, the quite a few years and I have lived to see Caribbean time it spends in the air and how heavy it is, but the countries urged to restructure their economies and to Government choose not to take those factors into account move away from old-fashioned economies, such as those in calculating aviation tax rates. based on bananas and sugar, into financial services, As I have said, if this is really about the environment, which ended badly. Then they were encouraged to why is no duty charged on private aircraft? The failure restructure the economy and diversify into tourism. to establish a way of calculating the duty that would Thus the Caribbean tourism industry now employs, actually minimise the effect on the environment gives directly and indirectly, more than 1.9 million people—11% people the impression that, although Ministers may of the region’s work force. In important tourist destinations indeed believe in the environmental benefit, it may be such as Jamaica and Barbados, as much as 25% of the no more than a pretext on the part of their officials. work force are engaged in tourism, while 60% of St Lucia’s If we want to persuade people to abandon planes for gross domestic product derives from tourism. For the other forms of transport, it is surely logical for APD to Barbados hotel industry, a significant number of bear more heavily on short-haul flights, to which there holidaymakers are British, and there is no question that are genuine alternatives in the form of trains and boats. the tourism industry in the Caribbean has been damaged What, though, is the alternative for the retired nurse by the increases in this duty. living in Hackney who wants to return to Jamaica every Arrivals from the UK to the Caribbean are now in couple of years to see her friends and family? There is decline, while those from other markets are increasing. no such alternative, but we are imposing these big APD The latest figure from the UK Office for National rates on her flight, or that of her family. Statistics shows that visits to the Caribbean by UK Having raised the issue under the last Government, I residents in 2010 were 16% lower than for the same have taken the earliest possible opportunity to raise it period in 2009. Visits to Barbados for the same period again now. were 22% lower. For a tourist, as opposed to someone with family links to the region, the Florida Keys is now Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab): I joined my hon. a cheaper destination. In respect of our air passenger Friend in some of her representations to the last duty arrangements, the whole system is wrong and it is Government. My impression was always that Ministers having an effect on British citizens who happen to have found the issue too difficult to deal with, and that civil links with the Caribbean. servants thought it a nice tidy way of arranging things to impose air passenger duty in accordance with the Mr Chuka Umunna (Streatham) (Lab): I congratulate locations of the capitals of the countries to which my hon. Friend on securing this debate on an incredibly people were travelling. However, would it not be possible important issue. I represent one of the constituencies to devise an equally simple APD system based on, for with the biggest Caribbean diaspora populations in the example, time zones? Surely a determined Minister who country. It covers Brixton, for example, and this is a wished the duty to reflect the real distance involved huge issue in my community. I endorse all my hon. would be able to corner his or her civil servants into Friend’s comments, but would add one more. If this achieving such an end. 1119 Air Passenger Duty20 JANUARY 2011 Air Passenger Duty 1120

Ms Abbott: My hon. Friend and I went on a number the outgoing Government and was disappointed by of delegations to Treasury Ministers, and found them—as their response. Nobody is asking the Minister to defend Ministers always are—well-meaning, kindly and ostensibly the current system, because we know that incoming understanding of our case. However, they were simply Ministers have to deal with the hand that they are dealt. unable to stand up to their officials. We look to this new What I am asking her to do is to reconsider the current Treasury Minister for more stoutness of heart and system—that is a different point. firmness of purpose. Justine Greening: In that case, I have good news for Mr Umunna: I think it important for us to send the the hon. Lady. She was doubtless paying close attention public—our constituents—the message that this is not a to the emergency Budget in June, when we said that we party-political issue. I have obtained a very good House would look at reforming APD. We recognise some of of Commons note on the subject, and I know that the the shortcomings in the existing system’s structure, and hon. Member for Chelsea and Fulham (Greg Hands), in the next few minutes, I am going to discuss some of who is sitting behind the Minister, made a number of the issues that she has raised. excellent points about it in the debate on the Finance Bill in, I think, 2009. First, it is important to say that the new coalition Government recognise the importance of the strong ties Ms Abbott: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that exist between the UK and Caribbean countries. As making that point. I agree that this is not a party-political a London Member, a large number of my constituents issue, but one on which Members on both sides of the have strong family ties with the Caribbean and they House feel strongly. I also agree with my hon. Friend spend a lot of time saving up to go there, travelling there the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) that Ministers and spending time there, as well as having relatives should show some fixity of purpose. The present method come over to see them in this country. So the hon. Lady of calculation is indefensible in terms of both equity makes an important point about these links. We must and environmental impact, and it could have a big also not forget the Caribbean’s relationship within the impact on British business by removing the incentive Commonwealth, which is a further incredibly important for business-class travellers to make long-haul flights to link with our country. the Caribbean from London rather than from the When the hon. Lady wrote to me recently to raise her continental hub. It is bad for business, it is bad for the concerns about this issue, she rightly highlighted the Caribbean’s economy—of which tourism is a vital part context within which the coalition Government are during an international downturn—and it is bad for operating. Clearly the fact that we have inherited a British citizens with business interests or family members record budget deficit has meant that some of the tax in the region who simply want to be able to travel at an rises announced by the previous Government, such as affordable price. the increase in APD rates that came into effect last I have pursued this issue for some time, but I have November, simply could not be avoided. She referred to every hope that a new set of Treasury Ministers will the APD bandings, which are the aspect of APD that view the arguments afresh, and will undertake to reconsider concerns the Caribbean countries most, and I need not the way in which air passenger duty is calculated. We remind her that they were the brainchild of the previous appreciate that the Treasury’s tax take must remain the Administration, not this Government. same, and, as I said at the outset, we appreciate that However, we need to look forward, which is why there is a genuine environmental case for seeking to today’s debate is worth while and important. The hon. lessen air travel over time. However, we consider the Lady was right also to point out the role that aviation present level of air passenger duty to be unfair, indefensible, and business plays. The coalition Government recognise and a burden on the Caribbean which this Government that as we get the economy back on track and as the should seek to lift. recovery in the world economy starts to gather pace, aviation can play an important part in delivering future 6.14 pm growth for the UK economy. Without continuous The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Justine improvements in air connectivity, we risk endangering Greening): I congratulate the hon. Member for Hackney future growth and prosperity in the UK. She talked North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) on securing about the importance, particularly for the Caribbean this debate. She eloquently ran through some of her tourism industry, of the aviation connection with the concerns about the way in which air passenger duty is United Kingdom. I shall discuss that in a little more currently structured. She is asking me, as a Minister, to detail shortly, but she will be aware that I met representatives defend the current structure, but it is difficult for me to from the Caribbean countries and the Caribbean Council take responsibility for the structure of APD, given that here in London last year, once we started to ensure that it was entirely put in place by the previous Government. we were talking to all the stakeholders who had an I took on board the questions put by the hon. Member interest in the reform of APD. Of course, they were an for Streatham (Mr Umunna) about the fairness of the important group that I needed to talk to face to face. structure, but he would be better placed asking his party We had a very helpful meeting and they set out their leader and the now shadow Chancellor about the logic case effectively to me that afternoon. that the previous Government used in approaching The hon. Lady raised some particular concerns today these issues and how they thought about the issue of and in the letter that she wrote to me, and I shall do my fairness with respect to Caribbean countries. best to address them. First, she talked about the contrast between the duties paid on flights to the Caribbean and Ms Abbott: I am the last person to defend the previous to other destinations, including the United States. It is Government mindlessly. I made it clear from the very true that the current four band structure of air passenger beginning of my speech that I made this argument to duty based on the distances between London and the 1121 Air Passenger Duty20 JANUARY 2011 Air Passenger Duty 1122

[Justine Greening] Richard Fuller: I greatly appreciate my hon. Friend giving way. I have admired the rigour of her analysis as capital cities of other destination countries—something she has gone about her duties as a Minister as well as that was brought in under the previous Government—has her powerful advocacy. If I may, I want to encourage the effect of placing the Caribbean in a higher tax band her to use the second part of her talents—her advocacy. than the United States. Such issues are common to any There is a strong equity case for people in this country banded system. I do not particularly want to defend to consider carefully the APD ratings for Caribbean the existing structure of APD and how the previous islands. A significant number of people who have made Government changed the tax system, but it is difficult their home here like to go home to their place of birth to have any banding system that solves all the problems and origin. We all want to see the environmental goals raised. Whichever approach we take—she mentioned that she has discussed accomplished, but there is a time zones—there are trade-offs between equity, simplicity strong and powerful equity case. I ask her, through her and effectiveness. She is right to point out that the rigour, to give due regard to that case as well as to the current banding system has some downsides, but it is other competing pressures. also fair to be pragmatic about the fact that any banding system will have its downsides. Justine Greening: I am grateful for that intervention. The second point, which is very fair, concerns APD My hon. Friend points out the impact on local communities as structured and the environment. I shall not try to but, in a friendly way, I would challenge the point about defend the way that APD is structured in that regard, contradictions. In terms of our tourism industry and but the new coalition Government have been very clear our need for links with other countries to drive economic that we have a strong sense of purpose about the growth, this is very healthy. Our relationship with the environment. We want to be the greenest Government Caribbean and the role that aviation plays in helping us ever. We know that alongside other major sources of to maintain that more broadly is particularly important, emissions, the aviation sector needs to start to take so we are not necessarily faced with an either/or choice. proper account of its global environmental impact in One of the most intractable problems we face, which the future. It is also worth recognising that from 2012 underpins the whole approach in the Treasury, is the aviation will be part of the EU emissions trading scheme. unavoidable challenge of tackling the fiscal deficit. We That is an important step forward in ensuring that the are faced with that while also making sure that the tax environmental impact of aviation is better taken into measures in place work effectively and do not have the account as part of the overall fiscal environment. sort of negative impacts that we do not want or need them to have. The coalition Government’s approach to the environment will be guided by the evidence. We do not think that Mr Umunna: I should like to follow up the point there is anything to be gained by empty rhetoric on the about equity made by the hon. Member for Bedford environment, so I am very clear that we need to take a (Richard Fuller), which I endorse. The key issue is the fresh look at how best to deliver our environmental banding system, which was, admittedly, introduced by objectives in a way that is fair to passengers—the hon. the previous Labour Government—I think one of the Lady has talked about her concerns about passengers Minister’s predecessors referred to it as being rather flying to and from the Caribbean—and to industry, rough and ready—and I would not necessarily endorse which has perhaps never been more important than it is the form of APD that they put in place. The Minister now. Also, we must not lose sight of the need for the says that the coalition Government have undertaken to UK to have economic growth while tackling the clear review the system, but can she tell us when we can problems with emissions. expect the results of the review? Obviously, the Budget will be on 23 March. Are the results of the review likely Ms Abbott: It is important that we as a country to be announced then or beforehand? That information achieve our environmental goals, but our environmental would be useful to the industry and the many families goals should not necessarily conflict with other wider who want to plan what they will be doing in the next development goals, such as the millennium development few months. goals. As regards the impact of the air passenger duty as constructed on a region that, although it is ostensibly Justine Greening: First, it would be wrong of me to a middle income region, has communities that are among pre-empt the Budget statement. What I can say—we the poorest in the world, I see no reason why environmental have already been clear about this—is that any major goals cannot be co-ordinated with broader development change to air passenger duty will be subject to consultation. goals. One thing that we have learned from looking at how this tax and others have been changed in the past is that we Justine Greening: In many respects, that is precisely need a sensible tax-making policy that involves not just what we are trying to do. We are trying to see where we the Treasury thinking about the objectives it wants to can strike the balance. That is one reason why, at the achieve, but talking with stakeholders. There is a need emergency Budget, we talked about wanting to reform to issue a consultation document to which people can APD. The hon. Lady is setting out some of the challenges, respond and then draft legislation to make sure that the and finding the right mix in an approach to APD that final legislation can achieve the aims we have agreed on means that we try to square off some of the difficult and that have come out of the consultation. issues at the same time will not be easy. Debates such as I cannot give the hon. Member for Streatham any this, and the time that I am taking to meet the various timings for all that, but I can tell him that we want to stakeholders—not just the Caribbean countries and ensure that any reforms we bring forward will work as their interests, particularly in tourism, but the aviation intended. He quoted a previous Minister saying that the industry, airports and business in general— system was rough and ready. We want to avoid making 1123 Air Passenger Duty20 JANUARY 2011 Air Passenger Duty 1124 another change to APD that brings other problems we cautiously which path we want to go down. That is why have not anticipated. Whatever we do in this area, it is we talked about reviewing the existing APD regime in impossible to get the perfect system, but we need to the June Budget. As I have said, in the past few months understand the pros and cons of any particular approach. I have met a variety of stakeholders, particularly from We need to understand what the risks are and whether the Caribbean countries and the Caribbean Council in we can mitigate them. He is right to ask about timelines. London. Those discussions have been very helpful and I The fact that we said in the previous Budget that we have had a useful and detailed report from the Caribbean want to review and reform APD and that we have been countries about their views on how we could reform working on that and meeting a variety of stakeholders APD. Obviously, we will look at that carefully. I am to get their views shows that we want to do this in a determined to make sure that we continue that constructive thoughtful way rather than just announcing something dialogue and I hope that in doing so we can ensure that that would be a surprise to the industry and to people wherever we end up with the reform of APD we will who are trying to plan for their holidays. have done a better job of making sure that— Let me finish by saying that I recognise the urgency with which the hon. Member for Hackney North and 6.30 pm Stoke Newington wants this area of tax policy to be House adjourned without Question put (Standing Order changed. However, I think we are right to work out No. 9(7)).

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to pick holes in the minutiae when dealing with Ministers Westminster Hall who have taken what we want forward. We have praised them the more they have taken small risks to move Thursday 20 January 2011 things on, such as taking on civil servants and the establishment. We have been prepared to back them and not to use the normal foil in debate, criticising when [KATY CLARK in the Chair] everything we call for is not met. Such behaviour is appropriate and, in that spirit, let BACKBENCH BUSINESS me commend the responsible Minister in the current Government who, like his predecessors in other Anti-Semitism Governments, has been prepared to go significantly beyond the call of normal ministerial duty in the attention, Motion made, and Question proposed, That the sitting the seriousness and—I do not think this is overstating be now adjourned.—(Angela Watkinson.) it—the boldness in pushing forward the agenda that we need pushing forward. Although appropriate, that moral 2.30 pm integrity and political courage has been appreciated John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab): It is a pleasure to hold well beyond parliamentarians. this debate under your chairship, Ms Clark. We thank As an all-party group, we will continue to back you for the appropriate and modern way in which you Ministers who are prepared to do things. If their initiatives have consulted on how things should happen, which are not as successful as they and we would like, we will was noted and appreciated by all present. not criticise them, but we will praise them for being I am pleased to see, for a Thursday afternoon, a prepared to take difficult initiatives, instead of sitting significant attendance from all parts of the House. on the fence when that it is easier to do that sometimes. Many more would have liked to be present and to There has also been significant support from civil participate, not least Ministers and shadow Ministers servants—Sally Sealey and Neil O’Connor of the who have informed me of their support for the debate Department for Communities and Local Government and for the work of the all-party parliamentary group spring to mind, as well as others working alongside against anti-Semitism but who, under the conventions them. They have made a significant input in their briefings of Parliament, are required not to participate in a to Ministers, which wise Ministers have read, absorbed Back-Bench debate in Back-Bench time. Nevertheless, and acted on. Doubtless, they will continue to do so. putting that on the record is appropriate. With such backing, we have seen other Ministers do More than five years ago, I commissioned the all-party things beyond the normal call of duty—although they inquiry into anti-Semitism, so ably chaired by my right are normally my political opponents, that ought to be hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr MacShane), put on the record—such as the Secretary of State for who will be participating in the debate, if he catches the Education, with whom I often clash. However, on issues Chair’s eye. Much progress has been made over those relating to anti-Semitism, he has done more than one five years, but much more remains to be done. would normally expect of a Minister in his position. The basis of the inquiry, which included four different That should go on the positive record for all parties. parties among the 14 elected Members comprising the The Minister for Universities and Science, who has a panel, is that parliamentarians like it or not, have a difficult portfolio when it comes to anti-Semitism, has leadership role. Our responsibility is, first and foremost, also given us great encouragement in his months in to ensure that our own Parliament is free of prejudice, office by his incisive understanding of the issues as they including any prejudiced remarks, whether made affect his portfolio and by his preparedness to take calculatedly to offend or ignorantly. Part of our success action. We commend those Ministers in particular, for is that parliamentarians in this Parliament, even if any being ahead of the game. We encourage others, who are of them ever considered overstepping the mark in acceptable doing their bit, to be ahead of the game, too, because discourse, would step back. In fact, we have a clear anti-Semitism issues remain major issues in this country understanding of what is acceptable, which is a marker and worldwide. for the rest of the country. Our robust approach, first and foremost, has been to Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab/Co-op): take responsibility in our own parties—although we I fully agree with my hon. Friend in praising the efforts work on a cross-party basis—for sorting out issues of of Ministers in dealing with the issue. However, is he racism and, specifically, anti-Semitism. In other words, aware of the growing concern in the British Jewish we sort out our own parties before pointing the finger at community about rising levels of anti-Semitism, including our opponents. As has been stated on the Floor of the anti-Semitic rhetoric? Do Ministers have a role in combating House, therefore, successes in fact have not required that? publicity precisely because of what we might call the re-education of those who choose to depart from the norms of normal debate—they are re-educated in their John Mann: If my hon. Friend will forgive me, I will own parties—which is exactly how political parties should answer her question later in my remarks, when I will take responsibility. It is a credit to all parties, throughout discuss such issues. the House, that they have been prepared to live up to As a long-standing and internationally recognised their responsibilities—even so, more can be done. expert and leader in combating anti-Semitism, my hon. In the previous Parliament, as well as the current Friend the Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs Ellman) one—under the previous and current Governments—I is an example to us all. I thank her and use the opportunity and others in all parties have been rightly prepared not of her intervention to advertise the meetings we have 329WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 330WH

[John Mann] Government responses have included the establishment of the interdepartmental working group across two convened throughout the Jewish community since we Governments from different sides of the political equation. received the Government response to our work as an That group has involved the three largest political parties, all-party committee in December. which is testimony to our methodology. It would be Locations for the meetings include Liverpool, where easy to lose that consensus, but we said four or five my hon. Friend is speaking, and certainly Leeds, years ago—not, in my case, in anticipation of losing an Manchester, Oxford and London, but I will have forgotten election and power—that our success would be some of the others. Members of Parliament from all demonstrated if there were a continuum should there be parties are participating, not just explaining our good a change of Government. The methodology that we deeds, as it were, but taking on questions, comments used and the way in which we have built cross-party and feedback from members of the Jewish community. consensus has succeeded, which is testimony to our Our first such event in Manchester was a huge success. approach. It was well attended, and the rigorous debate by Other Parliaments across the world could learn from parliamentarians and the general public was well received. that success. All too often, dealing with anti-Semitism There will be more such events, which are an important has become wrapped up in political argy-bargy. Sectional aside to our work. interests rather than cross-party working have meant We must also put on the record our thanks to various that those Parliaments have not advanced as they should groups. I refer to my entry in the Register of Members’ have. The importance of our model should not be Financial Interests and the support that I receive both understated, because it gives a powerful message that indirectly and directly from the Parliamentary Committee Parliament stands as one. The transition to the new Against Anti-Semitism Foundation, chaired by Stephen Government and, in a more complex way to the new Rubin, and the support given by staff and others to the coalition Government, demonstrates the proof of that work of the all-party group against anti-Semitism. All model. There is a danger that that message could be lost members of the group receive that support, and I include in the good works and the successes, and people must it in my declaration. understand why those things happen in order for progress We are grateful for and welcome the support and to be maintained in the immediate future and the longer advice that we receive from the Community Security term. Trust. Gerald Ronson, Richard Benson and their colleagues ensure that we engage with the issues and are alert to Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD): First, the problems at all times. The trust does a magnificent I apologise that I cannot stay until the end of the job that other countries could learn from. The Board of debate. The hon. Gentleman has discussed a crossover Deputies of British Jews has worked closely with us, as in methodology, and I wanted to seek his comments on has the Holocaust Educational Trust, which has involved something that the Community Security Trust is doing, parliamentarians and their young constituents in an and the methodology that it uses to protect the Jewish effective programme to educate young people about our community. It is working with people of another faith history. Our appreciation for those bodies is significant. that are suffering similar threats, and helping them to enhance their security. That is a good crossover in Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): I congratulate the methodology, and I welcome the fact that the CST has hon. Gentleman on securing this timely and important taken on that role. debate. All hon. Members should oppose any form of anti-Semitic behaviour. It is our responsibility to create John Mann: That is testimony to the CST’s approach. an environment where religious and racial toleration is Undoubtedly, that powerful joint experience will strengthen part of a much bigger project. If we do not accept that the CST as well as its partners from other communities. everybody has a right to live as they please, we will not Another significant development that will be increasingly find it easy to deal with anti-Semitism. important in the future is the establishment, for the first time, of an Institute for the Study of Contemporary John Mann: I agree with the hon. Gentleman. Our Anti-Semitism at Birkbeck college. I estimate that 400 approach has always been to make it clear that when we people attended the inaugural lecture by Professor David deal with anti-Semitism, we deal with racism. Some Feldman, which is a significant number. The intellectual people would be prepared—not necessarily happily—to interrogation that is needed to draw on and analyse be called anti-Semites. They would certainly love to be lessons from around the world is already of huge value called anti-Zionists, which they would regard as an to us, and we look forward to working closely with that accolade. When they are described as racists, however, institute. It is a landmark for this country. There is too they do not like that term, even though it is accurate. much in London for my liking, but on this occasion I Our pitch is not that anti-Semitism is a greater evil will excuse that, because Birkbeck is conveniently nearby. than any other form of racism, but that it is not a lesser That is perhaps the only praise that London will receive evil and that we will not tolerate it being seen as such. from me in this Parliament. Others who deal with hatred—Islamophobia or homophobia, for example—could adopt some of our Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): As an honorary methods when advancing their fight against prejudice. fellow of Birkbeck college, I cannot allow that slightly With the expertise that we have built up, we are always anti-Bloomsbury square remark to pass unnoticed. happy to work with people who are undertaking such However, I have been talking to vice-chancellors in the initiatives and, in our modest way, to share our experiences north of England, because I agree with my hon. Friend and see whether there are any common ties, experiences that the study of anti-Semitism is something that we or lessons learned that other groups can use. There is a should root into our university disciplines as well as in crossover, including in methodology. our schools. 331WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 332WH

John Mann: Betwixt my constituency and that of my participate in them, because the internet is an important right hon. Friend is Sheffield. Perhaps one of the universities priority in countering race hate. there will choose to get involved in this. That would be, The position is similar with newspapers. I noted the if not an immediate priority, a welcome development in potential best practice emanating from the Manchester the future. Evening News, which has a proactive moderating policy Let me put on the record some of the ways in which on the blogs and comment pages that it runs. All too things have moved forward. Police forces record anti-Semitic often, however, newspapers say that it is beyond them to hate crimes, and the first official statistics on anti-Semitic moderate highly offensive and inflammatory remarks. I hate crime were released by the Association of Chief do not think that that is beyond them; I think that there Police Officers on 30 November 2010. There is the is a duty and responsibility in that respect. With regard Crown Prosecution Service review into the disparity to the online press in particular, we need to see that as a between anti-Semitic incidents and the joint Government priority in the next year. and charitable sector inter-faith school linking programme, I implore the Minister to take these issues back to the championed by the Pears Foundation. Sir Andrew Burns Government, unless he has more information for us. has been appointed as the UK’s first envoy for post- The issues include reviewing the Press Complaints holocaust issues. He is a great champion, and his work Commission guidelines to ensure that groups as well as will have an impact. We welcome that appointment and individuals can register complaints. The areas of the look forward to working closely with him over the media and the internet are big priorities in the next year. coming years. There has been international replication We are looking for more Government action to move of our model of an all-party inquiry. Canada, Italy and the agenda on, not least because the Attorney-General’s Germany have all, in different ways, replicated what we office has successfully managed to prosecute those who have done. Following the successful London conference, have used vile and racist internet sites hosted abroad. there was a successful Canadian-led conference in Ottawa, We have made a breakthrough that the rest of the world addressed by the Canadian Prime Minister and many is interested in and which is of huge significance, but we others. Indeed, 51 countries participated. We are making need to develop beyond that. It must not just be a case a mark in showing our successes but also being honest of isolated prosecutions that are important because about our failures. Others are picking up on that and they have been successful. learning from their successes and failures as well. The Government need to take the issue directly to the The Government recently announced that the burden European Union. Is it beyond the European Union to on Jewish parents in paying for school security guards have some common standards relating to the internet would be addressed with Government money. The inquiry that would greatly enhance what has happened in this recognised that as a priority. It is not a gesture but country? That should be within our reach. I appreciate significant practical support from Government. that there are different views on how good and useful, or useless, an institution it is, but whatever one’s views, We have been very active and have more members it exists and we can agree to resource it amply. However, than ever before in Parliament. In addition, successive despite the history of the origins of the EU, the Commission Governments have been highly and appropriately engaged has never, ever seen anti-Semitism as part of its remit, on the issue. Nevertheless, 2009 was the worst year for which must change. Addressing the internet would be a anti-Semitic incidents that the CST has ever recorded, good start, and dealing with education would also be and 2010 is not likely to be much better. Those incidents significant. That needs to be in the work programme continue, and often the issues are linked to the ongoing that the European Commissioners have every time that conflict in the middle east. It behoves the Government they are appointed, that the European Parliament can to ensure that at times of increased tension, communication comment on, and that, as necessary, the Council of plans are in place to keep community cohesion at its Ministers can be involved in. most effective. Of course, the attempts to boycott Israel have been repeatedly denounced by successive Governments. Mrs Ellman: I applaud my hon. Friend for drawing In response to such attempts, the Britain-Israel research attention to the very serious phenomenon of internet and academic exchange initiative, with Foreign and hate. Does he agree that messages of anti-Semitic hate, Commonwealth Office support, is a practical step towards often coming from Islamic sources, should be challenged increased, rather than reduced, academic collaboration, in a much stronger way than they are at the moment? and a step forward towards peace. We commend successive Governments for their approach to that. John Mann: The case that was prosecuted—the Sheppard More progress is needed on a few issues, one of which and Whittle case—involved what we could call a Nazi is internet hate. We look forward to the promised ministerial website, hosted in the United States, but jihadist-style conference, convened via the Department for Culture, or simply offensive websites, allegedly coming from, for Media and Sport, on internet hate. That will be significant, example, Saudi Arabia, are a major problem. The United and we look forward to guidelines being published on States and Saudi Arabia are allies of ours. They are establishing mechanisms for complaint, which will empower generally friendly and helpful countries. However, they those in the communities directly affected. We also look have a different approach. In the United States, it is forward to a potential American initiative that will about the freedom of speech. We need an approach that involve meeting directly and challenging the Googles moves forward this agenda. The interesting issue with and Microsofts of this world on precisely what they are, the Sheppard and Whittle case is that we were able to and are not, doing, to try to ensure that there is consistency prosecute in this country actions directly related to the of approach at a high level. I am certain that if our use of hate sites abroad. If we could get such action colleagues in the US Congress can organise such meetings, fully entrenched in this country and developed across we will in some way be able to get representatives to the European Union, it would have a significant practical 333WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 334WH

[John Mann] I shall speak next about elections. There has been controversy on elections, and there may be more today. impact, but it also would allow dialogue, be it with the I give an example. During the last election, the Muslim Saudis or with the Americans, from a position of some Public Affairs Committee explicitly targeted six Zionists. strength in terms of what is there, so that we could I believe that it regards Zionists as an insult. I made a attempt to eradicate all internet sites that are peddling lengthy submission to the Committee on Standards in race hate, from whatever direction they come. Of course, Public Life on the subject, in which I asked whether it is that is significant because it is the extremists, not the fair in a democracy that a group from outside can spend normal, general, common-sense people of this country, resources targeting people in that way—whoever they who are attracted to such sites. target, and from whatever direction—because it puts Let me mention other priorities. I shall be reasonably them at an unfair disadvantage. brief on those, because I know that other hon. Members will want to discuss them. For Government, higher Mr MacShane: I was targeted by the Muslim Public education is a top priority. Another organisation that Affairs Committee; its rather stupid leaflet said, “Vote we are delighted to co-operate with, the Union of BNP to get rid of MacShane”. An ultra-Islamist group Jewish Students, is having a lobby of Parliament. I hope was inviting the anti-Semitic BNP to dethrone me. It that hon. Members in this Chamber and beyond will was not a problem in Rotherham, but it was in Oldham meet its representatives and hear at first hand their East and Saddleworth. It is an evil group, and my hon. experiences of studying in universities. Our position is Friend is right to draw attention to it. clear, but it is worth repeating. In an atmosphere that is John Mann: The Equality and Human Rights widely recognised as the most tolerant in this tolerant Commission is struggling with elections. We may need and democratic country, the fact is that one group of to write our own code of conduct this year on how students feels that it does not have the same freedoms as elections should be run and what should happen if others. I have described that as a consequence of antisocial candidates believe that things have been done that they behaviour. It impacts on their ability to have the same find inappropriate. There is a void there, and it crosses freedoms as other students, and magnifies the importance all parties. The issue is not in one direction, and it goes of such problems well beyond what is seen in the rest of many different ways. society. Those universities, as learning institutions, must therefore be exemplary in their approach. I hope that The main political parties, as well as the smaller ones, the Government will consider the successful agreement have a responsibility to ensure that candidates or that has been negotiated and enacted at the university complainants, including those from the community, of Manchester. I do not declare an interest, because it is have clear guidance on what they should do, both at the many years since I studied there and I am discussing time and retrospectively. I fear that the problem is current students and the present administration. becoming too big, too quickly. Some claim success, however irrelevant their participation has been in the That model could be used in universities across the campaign, which emboldens more extreme action and country—it could also be used abroad, not least in more extreme language. If we can get agreement, we north America—to set the role and remit of universities should publish our own code of practice this year and to say how students should complain and how the outside the general election cycle. There are, of course, outside world, including us, should evaluate and monitor always elections, but we should do so well in advance of the effectiveness of the procedures that have been put in the next general election. It could be launched in the place. That is an important breakthrough, and I hope run up to the next election, with a lengthy lead-in to that the Government will give appropriate time and ensure that we get it right. That could provide a significant energy to it, as far too many of our university institutions service. Attempting to do it may move things on in what are paralysed whenever there is a problem and do not is a tricky but rather indelicate area. If we do not, it will know what to do. There is a model for universities, and be to the detriment of all political parties, rather nastily they will receive our support. and viciously, in elections to come. With students wanting to study at university, we, as a I next highlight football. I do so because there is a democratic society, cannot have the kind of incidents huge danger in eastern Europe that the new Nazis will that we saw at the London School of Economics in coalesce under the banner of white power using football, December. It was not only the comments of Abdel Bari which may become a big problem in this country. They Atwan that were unacceptable, because the consequential have not yet made huge inroads here, although groups behaviour that resulted from them was equally unacceptable. of fanatics and thugs have made small ones using the That is not tolerance, and it is not free speech. Protocols internet. Immediately before the Olympics, the 2012 in universities, such as the one enacted by Manchester, football championship will be hosted by Ukraine and need to be spread to all universities. If we get that this Poland. It could be rather difficult, as there will be year, it will be a magnificent achievement for Parliament many opportunities for outrageous behaviour by those and an accolade for the Government, who will have our who choose deliberately to offend, and it can happen support in pushing the universities because the issue is quickly and easily. Through the police and Home Office, important. we have great knowledge and expertise in dealing with The Minister for Universities and Science has committed football hooliganism and extremism. We need to lend himself to making clear the Government’s position on more support to Poland and Ukraine to ensure that speakers on campus, and we look forward to hearing those countries are not caught short. It is a PR disaster what the Government have to say about that. I hope waiting to happen, with extremists using the opportunity that the right hon. Gentleman will commission a to spread their propaganda and to incite people. departmental review and update our freedom of speech I was asked by the Football Association 18 months guidance. ago to chair a working group into anti-Semitism and 335WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 336WH

Islamophobia, with many people in the football world memorial day. Does he agree that that puts down a very being involved. I politely asked the FA, which has a new firm marker, which affirms many of the points that he chief executive, to respond to the report submitted by has made? Holocaust memorial day is a very good way my working group, because in the big money world of for Parliament to put on the record its support for many football as well as at the grass roots there is a responsibility of the issues that he has addressed. to ensure that our most inclusive of sports is inclusive at every level. It must act when people attempt to use what John Mann: I absolutely agree with the hon. Gentleman. I regard as our national sport to perpetrate race hatred. I take it from his comments that we can include him as a Football should be in the lead, so I await the Football member of our all-party group. Unless they shake their Association’s response. It is about time that it did so, heads, we will also ensure that others present are added and I hope that it does so productively and positively. to our list, if they are not already on it. The hon. Gentleman’s intervention was appropriate, because the I speak now about the international agenda and work done for Holocaust memorial day is significant in Europe. An increasing number of people in eastern this country and elsewhere in the world. Europe, including some politicians, are attempting to I have a final plea and question for the Government. equate the holocaust and what happened in their countries The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation needs to raise a with what happened in Soviet times. My right hon. significant sum—$120 million—to preserve the uniquely Friend the Member for Rotherham and I were heavily wicked and evil site at Auschwitz into the future. Many involved, as were others here today, in what could best countries have contributed, including Czech Republic, be described as anti-Soviet or anti-communist activities, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Estonia. Germany, not least with the international trade union movement of course, has given ¤60 million. The United States has and other organisations. We have a long track record in contributed $15 million. Austria has given ¤6 million. that respect. We understand what happened in Soviet Even the city of Boulogne-Billancourt has made a times, but it is fundamentally dangerous, wrong and contribution. It is important that we meet the commitments inaccurate to equate the two. that the previous Prime Minister gave the project. That Equating the two provides an excuse for what happened can be done over a period of years, and it can go to the Jewish community in, for example, Lithuania, beyond the current three-year financial planning—it where 94% of its members were murdered in a short can even be a commitment for future Governments, of period, and where many Lithuanians were involved in whatever flavour. However, it is important that this murdering their fellow nationals. It is fundamentally Government give a firm and substantial commitment wrong and dangerous to equate things in that way, and on behalf of us all that we will play our role in guaranteeing we need to challenge that practice, because the more it the future of this site. On behalf of Parliament and this takes hold, the more difficult things will be for Jewish country, our Government should give a significant sum, communities in those countries, and the easier it will be albeit over a period of years, as the US has done. That for extremists to ride on the back of false nationalism will guarantee that the learning that can come from the and whip up hysteria, as has already happened, not existence of this death camp is there for future generations. least in the Baltic states, as people campaign against the With that, I thank hon. Members for the work they Jewish international media conspiracy, the Jewish bankers have done. To the Minister, I say that we will continue and so forth. Those are old concepts, but they are being our work and that we will work with him. The more used in the modern media in these countries. that he does, the happier we will be.

Sir Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (LD): The hon. Several hon. Members rose— Gentleman is of course right that there is a fundamental Katy Clark (in the Chair): Order. Several Members difference between what happened in Nazi Germany have asked to speak in the debate. I advise Back-Bench and what happened as a result of Soviet persecution of Members that if they keep their contributions to nine Jewish communities and discrimination against Jews. minutes, we will be able to call everybody. Surely, however, the problem with drawing such a distinction is that people must understand that if they tolerate 3.15 pm anti-Semitism in any form, they are on a dangerous Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): I congratulate the slope, which can lead to the events we saw in Europe hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) on securing and particularly in Germany. the debate. Although I would not want to go into a dark alley with him to discuss party funding, I would be on John Mann: Absolutely. Our approach of being honest the barricades with him on this issue. Often, when I about the problems in our country, our Parliament and look at people, I wonder who would be first to lead the our political parties—in our own backyard—is exactly resistance if there ever was, God forbid, a dictatorship, the approach that the countries I am talking about need and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would be right to take if they are to come to terms with their history. there. The work he has done over a number of years, That is what being part of the modern democratic which I watched before I was elected to the House, will world is about. These countries are now part of that be remembered by the Jewish community. world, and they need to understand their responsibilities I also congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for and obligations. We should not accept lower standards Finchley and Golders Green (Mike Freer). I know his from these new democracies than we do from the older constituency well because I grew up there. His community democracies, including ours. is very lucky that he is its representative and specialises in these issues. Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP): I congratulate As I have always seen it, there are three kinds of the hon. Gentleman on securing the debate at a most anti-Semitism. First, there is the low-level, under-the-carpet opportune time. Next week, the House will mark Holocaust discrimination. It is the kind of anti-Semitism that 337WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 338WH

[Robert Halfon] anti-Zionist, whose conference expenses are usually paid for by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and who stated in happens at a dinner party. A person walks outside the The Sunday Times that the Jews who died in the holocaust room, and someone says, “Let’s give him a ham sandwich.” deserved it. Those people do not help the debate. They Everyone titters, but when he goes back into the room do not promote peace, and the LSE has a duty to he does not know that anything has happened. That explain why it allows those things to continue. dinner-party anti-Semitism also manifests itself in harsh Thirdly, there is radicalisation in some mosques. I criticism of Israel, which is out of all proportion to the recently had the privilege of going to Kurdistan with criticism of any other country. Given that it is out of the all-party group on the Kurdistan region in Iraq. The proportion, I would argue that it is sometimes used as a Prime Minister of Kurdistan told me that he had been fig leaf by people who just do not like Jews. to England and visited a mosque in the north; he said Secondly, there is skinhead anti-Semitism: thugs smashing that if he had seen that kind of mosque in Kurdistan he up graveyards, violence and intimidation, and the criminal would have shut it down overnight, because of its damage done to synagogues around the world. Dare I aggressive and intolerant teachings. Kurdistan is very say it, that is the easiest kind of anti-Semitism to deal progressive, and supportive of the Jewish community. with because we at least know what we are dealing with. We all know the reports that Richard Reid and Jermaine Today, however, the most worrying, pernicious, dogmatic Lindsay who triggered the King’s Cross explosion on and dangerous form of anti-Semitism comes from extreme 7/7 spent considerable time together at Brixton mosque Islamism. Yes, it is true that extreme Islamists do not in south London. just attack Jews—the massacre of 21 Christians in Finally, and most alarmingly, there is a creeping Egypt on new year’s day is a tragic reminder of that. As culture of appeasement in Whitehall. Whether that is a we know, the free world faces a major assault on its push to create artificial Muslim organisations, such as values. Whether we are talking about Baha’is in Iran, the Muslim Council of Britain, or civil servants going Christians in Egypt or Jews in Israel and elsewhere in out of their way to appease radical Islamists, it is a the world, the extreme Islamists believe that theirs is the major worry. only view that deserves to survive. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 and 7/7 were not just attacks on Britain and Mrs Ellman: Does the hon. Gentleman share my America, but were explicitly designed as an assault on concern that the anti-Semitism that he describes is western civilisation itself. rarely opposed by those who declare themselves anti-racist? Islamism, by the way, should never be confused with Islam. Islam is a religion, practised by millions of Robert Halfon: As always, the hon. Lady puts her citizens. Islamism, however, is a revolutionary political finger on the button. She has a strong track record in doctrine, supported by a small minority, whose aim is to dealing with those issues, and I agree with her completely. overthrow democratic Government and replace it with Hon. Members may recall that last autumn the director religious autocracy. general of the office for security and counter-terrorism, I raised the threat posed by Iranian President Mr Charles Farr, was reported as pledging his support Ahmadinejad’s anti-Semitism in early-day motion 1145. for the extremist Mr Zakir Naik to enter the country. Today, however, I want to focus on the problem of That was in complete opposition to the views of the extreme Islamism in the UK. I want to make four key Home Secretary, who barred Mr Naik from entering points. First, numerous factions and splinter groups, the UK. We also hear in the news today that Ken such as Hizb ut-Tahrir, operate in the UK. They call for Livingstone is now an employee of the Iranian the eradication of Israel, but they have not been banned. Government’s English propaganda channel, Press TV. Moderate Muslims, Jews, Christians and members of What are the effects of extremist culture in the UK? all parties have called for the Government to proscribe One consequence, which I raised with the Prime Minister, Hizb ut-Tahrir because its website, leaders and literature is that Britain has become an exporter of terrorism. frequently promote racism and anti-Semitism, call suicide From Afghanistan to Sweden to Israel, extreme Islamists bombers “martyrs” and urge all Muslims to kill Jewish from the UK have been travelling abroad with the people. Hizb ut-Tahrir is an extremely destructive group, intention of causing mayhem and murder. Closer to which should no longer be appeased. home, we all remember the attack on the right hon. Secondly, there is extremism in universities. Late last Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms). In the Jewish year MI5 identified as many as 39 university campuses community there is a constant climate of fear. There are as vulnerable to violent extremism. The London School growing reports, as has been mentioned, of Jewish of Economics, as has been mentioned, has increasingly students being spat at and beaten up, and having their serious problems not just with students but with its rooms vandalised, and the incidence of recorded anti- professional staff. The involvement, for example, of Dr Semitic events on university campuses has spiked in John Chalcraft and Professor Martha Mundy with its recent years. The CST recorded nearly 1,000 major middle east centre is worrying. Those two senior LSE anti-Semitic incidents in 2009—the highest annual total academics are extreme advocates of the movement to since it began records in 1984. Guards are now posted boycott Israel on the international stage. As the organisation outside many synagogues and Jewish schools. Hate Student Rights has shown, they have a track record of literature and terrorist propaganda is now sold openly intense hostility to Israel and the Jewish people. As with in many book stalls or religious outlets. many so-called study centres for the middle east, much of the funding flows from mysterious trusts and foundations Mr David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con): I pay in Islamic dictatorships, whose accounts are not transparent. tribute to my hon. Friend as a friend who many years A further example is the LSE’s Palestine society, which before coming to the House helped me to gain an is soon to host a visit by Ahron Cohen, a leading understanding of the impact of anti-Semitism within 339WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 340WH the Jewish community. Does he agree that there is no respect the work that the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy room for complacency in our universities and schools? and Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown) did in that respect. That was brought home to me this week when my son However, at the same time there is quite a lot of came home feeling concerned, and unable to understand Sir Humphrey—or perhaps in this case Sir Humphrey why his locker had been etched with the words “Jew” Cohen—with draft scoping documents, diagnostic toolkits, and “gay”. That is a horrible but timely reminder, as we cross-Government working groups, focus polls of staff approach Holocaust memorial day, of the deep and evil and students about their experiences of higher education, hatred and intolerance at the root of the holocaust, self-audit performance schemes, conferences, and which we must counter today as we have in the past. stakeholder engagement forums. I am sure that some of that will be valuable, but the original report of the Robert Halfon: My hon. Friend, who spent many a all-party inquiry put a heavy emphasis on the problems Friday night at my house in our childhood, and who on university campuses, and that is where the Government knows a lot about the Jewish community, is exactly need to take bold action. right. He has been a great friend of the Jewish community The academic Michael Burleigh wrote in The Spectator, for many years. What happened to his son is a tragic in January 2010: symbol of an incident that happens all too often. I “Waffling on about free speech and forming committees is no should mention that the kind of people concerned do way to deal with nascent terrorists”. not just attack Jews; they then move on to the next He went on: thing. It is noteworthy that the words written were “Last weekend, it was revealed that British students have been “Jew” and also “gay”. visiting Somalia to fight for the extremist group Al-Shabab…while The usual excuse for what is happening is the state of the Sunday Telegraph reported that Yayha Ibrahim, an extremist Israel, or the Iraq war. That is the reason that we are preacher barred from America and Australia, was planning a speaking tour of British campuses. This just weeks after underpants given for Islamism. However, I believe that that worldwide bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, an alumnus of University movement of extreme intolerance uses Israel and Gaza College London, attempted to murder 289 people on a Christmas as an excuse for anti-Semitism and violence. Of course Day flight to Detroit.” there are difficulties between the Israelis and Palestinians, The writing is on the wall. The problem is clear. If we but that is not the root cause of extremism. The reality delay action, we will allow it to continue. The poison of is that even if the Gaza conflict were to be solved extreme Islamism is not something that can be talked tomorrow, with Israel retreating mostly to 1967 borders, into submission or bubble-wrapped in bureaucracy. Its the Roshonara Choudhrys of this world would still imams are preaching the most ideological and embittered exist. The objective of extreme Islamists is not a peaceful form of anti-Semitism in the UK. The fundamental resolution to the middle east situation, but jihad; it is an right of Israel to exist and of Jewish families to live in ideology that believes that Israel and, by extension, peace should not be a matter for debate. Jews should be wiped off the map. President Ahmadinejad, as I have mentioned, makes no local distinction between The Education Secretary has often said that a democracy the west bank and Tel Aviv. It is the catch-all Zionist can be judged by how a country treats its Jews, and I entity that must be destroyed. When Ehud Barak offered completely agree with him. When it comes to extremism almost everything to Yasser Arafat at Camp David in and anti-Semitism, the time for words and appeasement 2000, far from discouraging Islamists, it emboldened is over. Extreme Islamic groups must be proscribed. them. Extreme Islamism exists because of dogma and Hate preachers must be prevented from coming to the ideology, not policy goals. Our public institutions must UK by a zero-tolerance policy. The Charity Commission stop appeasing that threat. needs to improve the monitoring of these extreme groups’ finances, as many have charitable fronts. Finally, there There are now security guards outside many synagogues must be a financial penalty for university campuses that and Jewish schools for 24 hours a day. The Education do not put their house in order. Secretary has had to spend £2 million to fund tighter security measures for Jewish faith schools in the state Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab/Co-op): sector. Is it tolerable in a free democracy that a religious In trying to tackle race hate on campus, does the hon. minority is under threat? I remember being in a London Gentleman not agree that more needs to be done to synagogue—not as recently as I should have been—where prevent blame shifting from university authorities to the rabbi said to the congregation “Please do not congregate the student unions? outside, because of the terrorist threat.” That was in London. I thought, “How can it be that you go to Robert Halfon: The hon. Lady is exactly right. The synagogue and cannot walk outside, like any normal blame lies squarely with the university authorities for religious faith, and chat outside with family and friends?” allowing this sort of thing to go on. When I think about it, it makes me weep. I thought it was wrong of the rabbi to say it, despite the security Finally, as Golda Meir once said, pessimism is a threat, because we do not live in 1930s Germany. We luxury that no Jew can allow himself or herself. I do not live, proudly, in the Britain of 2011. want to be pessimistic, but I am very worried. I hope that the Government will respond with real action to I welcome the Government’s response to the all-party some of the suggestions that I and other hon. Members inquiry into anti-Semitism, which contained many strong have made today. and positive measures, such as the £2 million from the Education Secretary to protect Jewish faith schools in 3.31 pm the state sector, and £750,000 to educate British students about the holocaust, through organisations such as the Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): I am happy Holocaust Educational Trust. I did not agree with the to follow the hon. Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon). previous Prime Minister on much, but I very much I found nothing in his speech that I do not completely 341WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 342WH

[Mr Denis MacShane] There he helped to organise a day of hate with leading anti-Jewish Islamists invited to take part. As previous applaud. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member speakers have said, we must ask why our vice-chancellors for Bassetlaw (John Mann), whose energetic, coherent are so unwilling to take robust, clear action on this and sterling work on anti-Semitism has been a model issue. On the whole, our campuses are fascist-free. The for parliamentarians around the world. I am grateful to British National party is not welcome. Its core ideology him for bestowing on me the honour of chairing an is rooted in anti-Semitism, and its leader, Nick Griffin, inquiry into anti-Semitism. has written widely to promote classic anti-Jewish themes, Two or three months ago, my hon. Friend attended such as holocaust denial and accusations about secret the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Jewish cabals and lobbies wielding undue influence. Antisemitism in Canada. What reward did Canada Although we are happy to keep the BNP at bay, vice- receive for hosting that conference? On Sunday, there chancellors do not take similar robust action against were horrible, brutal anti-Semitic attacks on four schools Islamist ideologues. I stress the word “Islamist” in its and a synagogue in Montreal. They took place in the ideological sense as a political world view and not as the Montreal riding—constituency—of Mount Royal where religion, Islam, which has the same rights as other my good friend, Irwin Cotler, the former Justice Minister religions and also the same obligation to be questioned in the last Liberal Government of Canada, is the MP. and criticised by those who are concerned about the rise Professor Cotler is one of the world’s greatest human of religious politics across the world. rights advocates and, as a Minister, he dedicated himself We also asked for greater involvement by the Foreign not only to combating anti-Jewish hatred but to wider Office in monitoring the rise of political anti-Semitism human rights questions, including the defence of human in Europe and on the internet. Today, Baroness Warsi is rights activists in Palestine and Egypt as well as aboriginal to make remarks about attacks on Muslims with a Canadians. There is a move in Canada and elsewhere to reference to anti-Muslim remarks now leaving the dinner nominate him for the Nobel peace prize, and I can think table and going public. In April, she told people in of no worthier recipient. south Yorkshire that she did not want to see more Two years ago, I had the pleasure of working with Muslim MPs or Muslim Lords because Professor Cotler in Geneva at the Durban 2 conference. “Muslims that go to Parliament don’t have ‘asool’.” The first Durban conference degenerated into an anti- Asool is Urdu for “morals” or “principles”. I am glad Semitic hate fest. It had been called to combat racism that she is now defending the Muslim community against around the world, but the only country that was denounced unfair attacks. I hope she also tells her audience that as racist was—surprise, surprise—Israel. Although I anti-Semitism has never been returned to dinner table was a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister at coarseness and that it is out there as public discourse. the time, I was not responsible for that area. It was to We have heard the casual remarks, such as the one by Britain’s shame that we did not withdraw our delegation. the European Commissioner, Karel de Gucht, who said At Durban 2, our ambassador walked out as Iran’s that it is impossible to have a conversation with a Jew President Ahmadinejad launched into one of his traditional about Israel. The German central banker, Thilo Sarrazin, appeals to Jewish hate. I hope that the Minister will said that Jews have different genes. If those comments assure the House that in the preparations for Durban 3, were said in the 1930s, we would see them as a historical the UK will take the strongest position to ensure that reminder of the anti-Semitism of that period. However, the anti-Semitic elements in international political affairs those remarks were made in the past 12 months will be kept in their ugly holocaust-denying and Israel-hating by mainstream, senior, responsible, moderate Social box and that the issues around the racism and Democratic, Liberal and Conservative Europeans. Christianophobia that is endemic in many middle east countries get a full airing. Mrs Ellman: Will my right hon. Friend reaffirm that I must say to you Ms Clark and to my colleagues on anti-Semitism is shown in a wide variety of ways? Will the Front Benches that I have a parents’ evening at my he join me in condemning a statement made by a former daughter’s school, so I may not be here for the winding Member of this House, who is chair of Labour Friends up speeches, but believe me I will read Hansard very of Palestine? His statement was made at a meeting in carefully. this House. It was reported in the media and not denied. He said that there are I am concentrating on international affairs, because the two previous hon. Members spoke very adequately “long tentacles of Israel in this country who are funding election about what is happening in the UK and at the Department campaigns and putting money in the British political system for for Communities and Local Government. Before this their own ends.” debate, I checked on the Foreign and Commonwealth Does my right hon. Friend agree that that is, or is very Office website under the heading “anti-Semitism” and close to, anti-Semitism? found that all the references were to the previous Government and the initiatives that were undertaken—I Mr MacShane: That is an intolerable remark, as I must stress that they were undertaken on an all-party told the former Member himself. It is perfectly possible basis—after the all-party parliamentary group against to criticise Israel and to defend the cause of the Palestinian anti-Semitism made its report three years ago. Many of people without making a 1930s-style allegation. We can the recommendations are still relevant today. see in Europe the rise of political anti-Semitism. We We have far too many examples of hate preachers. have many open anti-Semites in the European Parliament, The woman who attacked my right hon. Friend the supported by the two Nazi MEPs from Great Britain. Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms) was inspired In Hungary this week, we have had the surreal spectacle by one such hate preacher. So, too, was Umar Farouk of a court allowing a convicted Nazi war criminal, Abdulmutallab, who studied at University College London. Sandor Kapiro, to sue for defamation Dr Efraim Zuroff, 343WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 344WH the head of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Israel office. ago by all parts of the European Community. It says, I know that Hungary is not the home of Kafka but this among other things, that it is anti-Semitic to make is Kafkaesque, as the Hungarian authorities are allowing “mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations a Nazi war criminal to persecute a Jew whose job is to about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective—such as, expose and bring to justice the last remnants of the especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish perpetrators of the holocaust. conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.” Today the Prime Minister is hosting a number of right-wing parties from Baltic states at Downing street. We still hear that today. I welcome the outreach to Baltic and Nordic states, but The EU definition continues, saying that anti-Semitic I hope that he is telling their leaders that the attempts activities include: by many of the conservative right-wing parties in the “Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or Nordic countries in particular and in the Baltic states to intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of make an equivalence between the holocaust and the National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices crimes of communism—the so-called “double genocide” during World War II (the Holocaust)…Accusing the Jews as a campaign—is odious and offensive, and it is condemned people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust. Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, by all democratic parties in Europe. Lord Janner of or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests Braunstone has written eloquently about this issue. of their own nations…Denying the Jewish people their right to Given my own family background, I certainly do not self-determination…by claiming that the existence of a State of need any lessons on the evils of communism and Stalinism Israel is a racist endeavour. Applying double standards by requiring of it a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic in eastern Europe. However, this downplaying and nation…Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to devaluation of the holocaust is a cold-blooded tactic by that of the Nazis.” politicians, some of whose pre-war ancestors were openly anti-Semitic. The European right in many of the Baltic I will sit down shortly, but I could bring to the House states is nationalistic and populist. Latvian right wingers cartoons and articles in our main newspapers—our celebrate the Waffen SS. Mr Michal Kaminski, the liberal newspapers, our left newspapers and our conservative Polish nationalist politician, says that he will apologise newspapers—that precisely draw that moral equivalence for what happened to Jews on Polish soil when Jews between Israel and Nazism, which attempt to typecast apologise to Poland for what they did during world war all Jews as supporters of Israel and thus having a two. Frankly, that is unacceptable language. There is double loyalty. very great concern in the Jewish community—tiny as it The battle is intensifying; it is now about the demonisation is—in those countries about this growing attempt to and criminalisation of Israel. I salute my friend Ian airbrush out of history the crimes against Jews between McEwan for going to Israel to accept a literary prize. I 1941 and 1945. want to see more academic, journalistic and political exchange with Israel, and indeed with its neighbouring I quote Lord Janner: states and the people of Palestine and their leaders. I “For Jews in Europe during the Holocaust there was little had hoped that the marvellous work of the all-party complication. The truth was and still remains that the Soviet and group against anti-Semitism would somehow come to Allied forces were the heroes and that Hitler’s Nazis were the an end. Today I find that its work is more necessary perpetrators and the war criminals. Any attempt to pervert this than ever. history is an attack on the memory of the hundreds of thousands of Jews from that region who were murdered including many of my own family, who were in Lithuania and Latvia.” Katy Clark (in the Chair): I remind colleagues that a Lord Janner is right. Just as the Islamists seek to considerable number of Members have asked to speak. devalue the holocaust as part of their ideological assault Unless contributions to the debate are significantly on the right of Israel to exist, so too elements of the shorter, I will not be able to call quite a number of ultra-nationalist and populist right in Baltic, Nordic colleagues. and eastern European countries seek to devalue the holocaust as a unique event to justify their own anti-Jewish ideology of the past and, in some cases, of the present. 3.46 pm The British ambassador in Lithuania, along with Mr Lee Scott (Ilford North) (Con): Thank you, other ambassadors, signed a letter to the Lithuanian Ms Clark. I will try to be as brief as I possibly can. Government protesting about the “double genocide” I thank and pay tribute to the hon. Member for phenomenon. I asked the Foreign Office to publish that Bassetlaw (John Mann) and my hon. Friend the Member letter but to my surprise it has not, praying in aid to for Finchley and Golders Green (Mike Freer) for securing pre-WikiLeaks rules about secrecy and confidentiality. I the debate. I particularly pay tribute to the hon. Member think that it would do the Foreign Office no harm at all for Bassetlaw for everything that he does in his role as and in fact every credit to publish that letter because I chairman of the all-party group against anti-Semitism. know Foreign Office officials and other Government A year ago in the corresponding debate to this one, I officials, and they want to work hard to promote the spoke about a recent visit that I had made thanks to matter as solidly as possible. that wonderful organisation, the Holocaust Educational I will stop shortly to allow others to speak. Very Trust; I congratulate Karen Pollock of the trust on all briefly, however, I want to highlight some sentences the work that it does—long may it continue. I went with from the European Union’s formal definition of anti- a group of students from my constituency to Auschwitz. Semitism. It is an important international document Not long before that I had visited Theresienstadt, another that tries to explain what anti-Semitism is and it was of the concentration camps. When I was at Auschwitz, agreed after many debates and discussions a few years I shed tears at what I saw. 345WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 346WH

[Mr Lee Scott] police patrols and a panic button at my house, which was not fair on my family, who did not stand for public Little did I know then what I was in store for a few office. I also want to thank the Community Security months later and today I will talk through what I Trust, the Board of Deputies, Conservative Friends of personally experienced during the last general election. Israel and, indeed, Labour Friends of Israel, for their It was not something that I expected and I sincerely phone calls and support when I was particularly down. hope that the experience is not repeated for me, or any Do I know who was behind all this? I have some other candidate or Member of the House. shrewd ideas, but I would never make accusations that I After a day of campaigning, I was walking back to cannot prove. They, however, know full well who they my car when I was approached by two young gentlemen—I are. In the name of politics, I can only say that this place use the word “gentlemen” in its loosest sense—who said and its politics, of whatever party, is, and deserves, to me that I was a “Jewish pig” and “should die”. I have better than that. I ask the Minister to take to the always been someone who has tended to use humour Government my view that we need to go a little further whenever I am particularly upset, so I said to them, “I’ll than the hon. Member for Bassetlaw has suggested. We put you down as a possible. You haven’t quite made need firm laws, covering every candidate in every seat, your mind up about how you are voting”. They were as about what is acceptable and what is unacceptable shocked by that comment as I was to hear what was behaviour towards others, whether they be Jews, Muslims coming out of my mouth rather than running away and or Christians. indeed they went. The significance of that incident was that they hated me because I was a Jew. I also want to thank the local synagogues, and the national Union of Jewish Students who, at a difficult A fair number of my constituents—nearly a third—are time, gave me a great deal of support in words—I am Jewish. I also have Muslims, Christians and members of not talking about anything to do with elections. I pay every other religion in my constituency and we live in tribute to the British League of Muslims and the Hainault harmony. It was not the first occasion that I have ever and Chigwell Muslims, who put up “Vote Lee Scott” experienced anti-Semitism, but it was one of the first banners and went out campaigning for me. As the right major occasions. hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr MacShane) has rightly The anti-Semitism did not stop there; it got worse. A said, that has nothing to do with Islam; it is to do with leaflet went out about me, saying that I was an enemy of far right-wing people of any religion trying to persecute Islam. I will briefly relay what else was said in that others. leaflet, which is on the internet if anyone wants to see it. I return to the question of what we can do about this. People just need to google my name and the leaflet One of the most important things that we can do is about me will come up. It said that I was an enemy of education. The work of the Holocaust Educational Islam because I had said in a speech—in fact, here in Trust is vital, but this goes beyond that, because there is Westminster Hall—that President Ahmadinejad was a the massive problem of what young people hear and see mad man. I stand by that comment. The leaflet said on the internet. Forgive me, Ms Clark, because I am that I had said that no sane-minded person wanted war going to break with parliamentary tradition and call and that both Jew and Arab should live in peace but someone from another party, “my hon. Friend”. I have Israel had to be recognised as a country, with secure done this before and have got into trouble, as I will boundaries. Again, I stand by that comment. The leaflet again. I am talking about the hon. Member for Liverpool, said that I had said that Britain should buy weapons Riverside (Mrs Ellman), and her work. She is far braver from Israel. I did not say that. Various other accusations than me in taking a stand, because a third of my were made in the leaflet, finishing with the claim that I constituents are Jewish. A website has gone up with was an enemy of Islam. Out of interest, the picture that pictures of the hon. Lady and, in fact, of virtually was used on the leaflet seems to have me wearing a skull everyone in this room, and it says that we are stooges of cap. Obviously, I wear a skull cap. I perhaps visit the Israel, and vile people who should be destroyed. It has synagogue a little more often than my hon. Friend the gone even further and put up pictures of MPs who are Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon), but not as often no longer even alive. as one should. None the less, that was the picture used, obviously showing that I am Jewish. Mr MacShane: Those people altered my Wikipedia Also, I was the recipient of an e-mail saying that I entry to say that I was a secret Jew, which, as a Catholic, should be stoned to death. I said that I could possibly I can disprove. I was, however, enormously flattered and accept it if someone did not elect me because they did honoured. not like me, but stoning me to death was a little on the extreme side. However, I am not ashamed to tell hon. Members that one night at home I sat down and cried. I Mr Scott: I am happy to welcome the right hon. was really upset by everything that had happened during Gentleman as an honorary Jew, but there is no need for the election campaign, which was not right. It is legitimate him to prove to us today whether he is one. I am sure for someone to want to criticise someone else’s party or that that would be ruled out of order by Ms Clark. politics, but not their religion. I am proud to be a I finish by saying that there is a lot to be done. We Member of Parliament, British and Jewish, and there is have again seen the rise of anti-Semitism, but the one no conflict there whatsoever. thing that we must be solid about is that we must not be I want to give thanks to some people who supported bowed or change what we stand for—our beliefs and me through that difficult period, in particular Peter values. I have no doubt that, by staying united, we will Terry, the then Metropolitan police borough commander defeat this, as we have done in the past. I also wish to for my area, for the police protection that he provided. I give my apologies, as I have to leave the debate before it had to have police officers with me at the hustings, and finishes to return to my constituency. 347WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 348WH

3.54 pm feed on the usual grievances and try to use them to engender support, and it has been excellent to see the Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP): It is a pleasure reaction of communities in Belfast to those attempts. to follow the hon. Member for Ilford North (Mr Scott). The BNP made a recent attempt outside one of our I am sure that the sympathy of all Members across the main football grounds to get support, organise people House goes out to him for what he had to experience and get them to sign petitions, ostensibly about an issue during the general election campaign. As someone who with which most local people would agree. However, has represented an inner-city Belfast seat for many there was a strong reaction from the football supporters, years, both at local level in the Northern Ireland Assembly the club, the local community and elected representatives and here at Westminster, I can empathise with the across the board, and it was greatly appreciated by personal security issues he has experienced. The business Jewish representatives and others in Belfast. of police protection is all too familiar to many of us from Northern Ireland who have been the subject of On the other hand, a number of organisations associated various direct attacks and threats. I therefore fully with the extreme left and Hamas have issued pro-Hamas sympathise with the hon. Gentleman, and heartily endorse propaganda. Again, people have pointed out, not least his call for a more explicit Government response on the in the Northern Ireland Assembly, that the idea of election campaigns. I also endorse what the hon. Member twinning local schools through the Hamas Ministry for Bassetlaw (John Mann) said on that issue, and of Education risks poisoning the minds of children in congratulate him and the other Members who secured Northern Ireland. There is little chance that those children this very important debate. will learn any Jewish narratives or the truth about life The hon. Member for Ilford North mentioned education, under the Hamas regime for women, Christians, and I join those who have praised the work of the homosexuals and others. Holocaust Educational Trust, which is extremely important. I will be brief, as I know that others want to speak. This week, the opportunity has been afforded to Members On a more general application of the issues that we are in the House to sign the book of commitment, which discussing, as the hon. Member for Harlow (Robert honours those who perished during the holocaust and Halfon) said, Islamist propaganda and activity are the supports the sharing and safeguarding of untold stories greatest threat today in terms of anti-Semitism. We so that we can learn from the experiences of survivors. know all about the far right, but there is almost a Like the hon. Member for Ilford North, I had the consensus that the far right is beyond the pale. However, opportunity to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau recently, as Islamist propaganda and activities seem to be tolerated. part of a group from Northern Ireland involved in a People are careful not to say “Jew” or “Jewish” explicitly; project entitled “The thin end of the wedge”, run by the instead, anti-Zionist or anti-Israel language and activities charity Forward Learning. I was greatly moved as I are substituted for what is effectively anti-Semitism. stood there with people from communities in Northern Ireland that have been ravaged by sectarianism, violence, Robert Halfon: The right hon. Gentleman makes a indifference and hatred over the years. The project is powerful point in his speech. One thing that has always designed to encourage community activists to get involved astounded me is that, at demonstrations about the in what is a unique learning experience, and to positively conflict in the middle east, people walk around in tackle sectarianism, racism and anti-Semitism in Northern T-shirts that say, “We are all Hezbollah now”. It is, Ireland by learning from the past, including from this whatever one’s views about the conflict, a symptom that most extreme example of hatred against another people— they are willing to associate themselves with extremism the holocaust—on the very site of the worst atrocity and fundamentalism. that humanity has ever inflicted on a people. The project, run by the tireless director and great Mr Dodds: That is absolutely right. The fact of the worker, Frank Higgins, and by Drew Haire, who works matter is that Hezbollah and Hamas are not just anti-Israel with the charity, has been supported by the EU, and has but exist explicitly to wipe out Israel completely and, by received money from other sources as well. It was extension, Jews. People who associate themselves with very moving for me to stand there with those folk, and that are making it clear that they are part of anti-Semitism. very graphically see at first hand what racism and That needs to be said and exposed, but it is not said as anti-Semitism can, and did, lead to. Education in schools clearly as it should be. Debates such as this are useful in and universities, and beyond that in communities, as highlighting that. exemplified by that project in Northern Ireland, is I reinforce the point that criticism of Israel, as the extremely important, and I heartily endorse the work right hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr MacShane) that “The thin end of the wedge” does in my constituency, said, is absolutely legitimate and perfectly acceptable. and in my community. There are people within Israel and the Knesset who Before I deal with some wider issues, I want to say criticise Israeli policy and foreign policy all the that in the United Kingdom we have not had the time. What verges on anti-Semitism, though, is the extremes of anti-Semitism that other countries have disproportionate singling out of Israel for the sort of had. Nevertheless, it is there, and Members have referred criticism that it gets, with no or disproportionately little to the role that this country now sadly plays as a hotbed reference to the faults, difficulties and problems of the of Islamist extremism. It unfortunately seems to attract other side. We have seen some examples recently. an awful lot of that, and to export hatred and violence Unfortunately, some trade unionists from Northern to a greater extent than other countries. In Northern Ireland went to the middle east and were vociferous Ireland, however, we have the unique experience of our when they came back in their condemnation of Israel in troubled past and perhaps we have something to contribute. the most extreme terms. There was not a single reference Organisations such as the British National party, which to what Hamas was up to or what it stood for. When is trying to organise and recruit in Belfast in particular, that was pointed out, it was of course said, “Oh, you 349WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 350WH

[Mr Dodds] At its most basic, combating anti-Semitism is about respecting each other. It is interesting how young people’s can’t say anything against Israel, or you’re labelled an vocabulary has taken on the words “respect” and anti-Semite.” That is the accusation used against people “disrespect” in ways that we in the older generation do who stand up against anti-Semitism. not normally use them. But if those words are to be Conscious of the time, I will leave my remarks there. used, they must have meaning. A society in which Again, this is a timely debate, and I thank those responsible mutual respect is a cherished value is a society with no for bringing it about. room for anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is challenged when mutual respect exists. When someone sees people in their company of friends or peer group being treated 4.4 pm with disrespect because of their racial background or Sir Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed) (LD): I am religious beliefs, they will challenge it in a society where glad to take part in this debate. I congratulate the hon. mutual respect is a primary value. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) on introducing it We must teach generation after generation the value and on all the work that he has done on the issue. He and importance of mutual respect. That is a particular said that Parliament stands as one. This debate and difficult challenge for many Muslims and Muslim demonstrates, among other things, that we stand as one leaders, who already face a challenge in dealing with the in our condemnation of anti-Semitism and our possibility that extremists will be recruited from within determination to root it out. their communities into terrorist acts. Much work is All forms of racial and religious prejudice and hatred being done to deal with that, but the problem beyond are utterly deplorable. We see it in anti-Semitism and in it—given the urgency of preventing the recruitment of the persecution of Christians in Pakistan, where a Minister terrorists, it is understandable that this is not always was recently assassinated for daring to stand up for the comprehended—is that there are plenty of young people rights of a Christian. We see it in anti-Islamic prejudice. who are not recruited into terrorism and who have no But there is a clear line between anti-Semitism and time for the threat to society that terrorists pose with anti-Muslim prejudices. They have a different character, their bombing and slaughter, who still take on too easily for a reason that I will explain. the agenda propagated by extremists. Their methods may differ, but the extremist message can affect their Of course, there is a perfectly genuine argument to be attitude towards the Jewish community. The challenge, had about religious and political views that is entirely therefore, is bigger than that of stopping the recruitment separate from prejudice and hatred. We should always of extremists from within the Muslim community, and be careful when trying to deal with prejudice and hatred it is an important task. that we do not undermine people’s right to have genuine religious arguments about whether Islam or Christianity I referred earlier to the Holocaust Educational Trust, are sound religious beliefs, or political arguments about which is one of a number of bodies that I want to Israel. I speak as the chairman of Liberal Democrat commend in the context of this debate. The trust’s work Friends of Israel. There are clearly legitimate arguments is well known, but I think that people have become to be had. If anyone is in any doubt about that, they increasingly aware of the work of the Community Security should go to Israel and listen to the intensity of political Trust. It seems horrifying that that trust has had to debate in that vibrant democracy. become such an effective and valued organisation, simply protecting people in the Jewish community as they go The problem that distinguishes anti-Semitism, although about their daily lives—as they go to school, to the it might seem strange to say it, is that we as a nation and synagogue or to a Jewish community event. Many of us the western world rashly assumed for a while that we who attend events with the Jewish community have had dealt with it. We believed that we had slain the become familiar with the faces and the professions of monster with the defeat of Nazism, and that we were those involved in the CST. They are a reassuring presence dealing just with the dying kicks and last nervous and are very necessary. I was struck by the earlier reactions of a corpse. That was wrong. We must understand comments about how other communities are beginning that anti-Semitism is a living and vibrant evil force that to appreciate the value of CST’s work and to learn we must deal with. things from it. Those who were victims of anti-Semitism in Soviet We should commend others and encourage them in Russia or the darker reaches of European society knew their work as well, such as those who have fought for full well even in those years that we had not slain the free speech in our universities, against those who seek, monster. Indeed, in many quarters of British society, by ban or boycott, to deny a platform for speakers, high and low, even in the years immediately after the usually on the grounds that they are associated in some war, anti-Semitism reared its head or bubbled along just way with Israel. It takes courage for a young student to below the surface. Now we are obliged to make a new make a stand and campaign against that on campus. We generation aware of anti-Semitism’s horrific potential should commend and encourage those who have engaged as we saw it in 20th-century Europe. That, of course, is in such campaigns. what the Holocaust Educational Trust does wonderfully. One area upon which I am supremely unqualified to I imagine that most people here have taken part in its offer guidance is that of internet abuse and hate. I am visits to Auschwitz-Birkenau and seen the impact on unqualified because I make relatively little use of the young people. When one is there, one wishes only that various forms of social networking that are now available. all young people could see it to understand what it all My hon. Friend the Member for Caithness, Sutherland means. and Easter Ross (John Thurso) was asked a question It is worth thinking for a moment about young people’s about the subject this morning. He defined himself as a attitudes. When anti-Semitism or a failure to appreciate dinosaur and offered to have a word with the questioner its dangers arises among young people, it is worrying. afterwards to discover what it was about. We know, 351WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 352WH however, what the topic under discussion is about. We I shall concentrate on the section on the media in the have created the most open forum of debate that the report produced a few years ago by the all-party world has ever seen. It is an international forum with parliamentary group against anti-Semitism, chaired by unbelievably easy access, but poison is being injected my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw. The group’s into it in the form of direct attacks on and the identifying inquiry called on the media to have discussions on the of individuals, general statements of hatred, and utterly impact of language and imagery in the current discourse false statements that are used to encourage people to on Judaism, anti-Zionism and Israel, and—while striking form anti-Semitic and other prejudiced views. a balance on the independence of the media—to recognise We have to deal with those problems. We have been that the way in which the news is reported has significant dealing with them, to some extent, through prosecutions, consequences on interaction between communities in and it is good that that has been achieved. However, Britain. Ministers in the previous Administration held a internet service providers will have to do a lot more to departmental conference on the issue. Many ideas were prevent the internet and social networking tools, which discussed, and the challenges and problems were recognised. are of such immense value to so many people in the I reiterate my hon. Friend’s support for an early conference, world, from becoming a source of terrible evil and a and I know that the Minister will try to follow that up means by which evil is spread. I do not think that if possible. anyone who has any power to act in that field should I want to talk about specific examples of anti-Semitism escape from an obligation to do something about it. It is in the media, particularly an ongoing problem with Fox an obligation even on those who, unlike me, engage News, which is also broadcast in the United Kingdom. I regularly with social networking. Sometimes, as in ordinary shall focus in particular on the show hosted by Glenn debate in any other forum, one has to challenge. When Beck, who has been broadcasting anti-Semitic messages someone slips in a demonstrably false and prejudiced for a number of months. Fox News is bound by all of statement, it should not go unchallenged. Therefore, I Ofcom’s broadcasting code, including the section entitled, encourage those with the means, the skills and the “Due Impartiality and Due Accuracy and Undue aptitude to participate fully in such things to pose those Prominence of Views and Opinions”. It has to have an challenges. EU licence to broadcast in the UK, and therefore has to One could produce many anecdotes and stories. Others adhere to the broadcasting code. However, I believe that in this debate have produced personal experiences of the kind of content that I shall highlight would certainly how anti-Semitism can rear its head. I do not propose not fall within the code’s remit. to do that, because others have already done it today. I I have been made aware of recent comments by simply want us to remind ourselves that there is a Glenn Beck on his show that should be of great concern continuum, which is why I intervened on the hon. to all of us who want to stand shoulder to shoulder with Member for Bassetlaw. He was absolutely right to say colleagues such as the hon. Member for Ilford North. that it devalues the understanding of the holocaust in Although the comments were broadcast primarily in Germany and, indeed, in the countries to which it was the US, it cannot and must not be forgotten that the taken, such as the Baltic states, to say that what happened show is also aired daily, live on Sky TV, in the UK. in Soviet Russia was the same. They were different Glenn Beck singled out Simon Greer, the chief executive things and involved different levels of persecution. One officer and president of an organisation in the US was mass slaughter and the other was denying people called Jewish Funds for Justice, who made comments basic civil rights. Other people were being slaughtered about “advancing the common good”. Glenn Beck in Soviet Russia but, in many cases, on different and responded by saying that such comments rather random, horrific grounds in large numbers. The “are what led to the death camps in Germany”, two phenomena were different. and that Simon Greer, When society allows what I have referred to as disrespect, when it allows prejudice to feature as part of its media “as a Jew, should know better.” and when it allows people to be discriminated against Fox executives, including Fox News president, Roger because of their religious belief or racial background, Ailes, and the producer of Glenn Beck’s television that is a very dangerous road. Some of us present have a show, Joel Cheatwood, assured Jewish Funds for Justice direct link, through our parents in particular, to an and other community representatives that they understood understanding of how dreadful things were, and that their concerns, that knowledge must be passed to generation after generation. “ultimate sensitivity must be exercised when referencing the Holocaust”, 4.15 pm and that they would explain them to Beck. The organisation Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East) (Lab): It is a subsequently received a handwritten note from Beck to pleasure to serve under you, Ms Clark, and I congratulate that effect. my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann)—a After the note was sent, in November 2010, Glenn long-time friend—on securing the debate. Many positive Beck broadcast a three-part programme on prominent and interesting contributions have been made this afternoon, Jewish philanthropist and holocaust survivor George many of which I could not possibly emulate. The depth Soros. The programme invoked disturbing language of wisdom and experience in the Chamber is so great that bore a stark resemblance to the imagery and language that I found myself wondering why I was here. Then, used by extreme right-wing groups to demonise the when we heard the speech of our colleague and friend, Jewish community in the lead-up to world war two. the hon. Member for Ilford North (Mr Scott), I realised Glenn Beck referred to George Soros as the “puppet why. He spoke very movingly and, to provide some master”and attacked him for having escaped the holocaust solidarity, nobody should go through what he and his and for his pro-democracy work, which he compared family went through during the general election. to Nazism. 353WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 354WH

[Mr Tom Watson] beneficial basis for doing so; for instance, labelling President Obama a “Nazi.” The Holocaust Educational Beck has a highly polemical style that frequently Trust has said: employs rhetoric drawing on the holocaust. Most “One of the best ways to combat anti-semitism and prejudice shockingly, he accused Soros of having been of all kinds is to encourage tolerance and respect twinned with “a Jewish boy helping send the Jews to the death camps.” advocacy of engagement with civil society and the democratic process.” That provoked enormous offence to the Jewish community in the United States. Thus far, Fox News has defended The Glenn Beck show in no way achieves those vitally that Glenn Beck special. News Corporation has been important aims. silent on the matter. These are not isolated incidents That type of journalism is dangerous and can have of intolerance from Beck. Indeed, in response to some wide-ranging negative effects on society. The kind of of this stuff, Jewish Funds for Justice compiled the material broadcast by Glenn Beck is not unique; a 10 most shocking statements made by Beck in his show number of other “shock jocks” operate in the States. during 2010. The organisation recently undertook an However, none has displayed intolerance on such a action at News Corp’s offices and presented a petition frequent and irresponsible scale as Glenn Beck. It is signed by more than 10,000 people that called on Rupert vital that that kind of “news” is not made or broadcast Murdoch to remove Glenn Beck from the Fox News in the UK. However, the proposed acquisition of BSkyB station because of his comments. by News Corp means that there is an increased threat of I shall quote from the top 10 comments, which are its becoming a reality. not all anti-Semitic; they also attack other groups and Although the Ofcom code exists to prevent that kind individuals. No. 1: of anti-Semitic language from being broadcast as news, “God will wash this nation with blood if he has to.” there is still the danger of “foxification” in the UK. Professor Steven Barnett of the university of Westminster No. 2: putting has recently argued that the laws that oversee broadcasting “the common good first…leads to death camps.” in the UK would prevent a recreation of Fox News. “Women are psychos.” That was No. 3. Beck’s election However, it is possible that there could be a shift in the coverage goal was to make George Soros cry, which centre of gravity, and that the situation in the UK will Beck said was “hard to do,” as Soros change. “saw people into gas chambers.” That was no. 4. Robert Halfon: Although I have not seen the Glenn No. 5: Uncle Sam is a “child molester” who is “raping Beck show, I have seen other parts of Fox News, which our wallets” and “destroying our families.” No. 6: Beck tend to be much fairer on extreme Islamism and on mocks President Obama’s daughters for “their level of Israel than other news outlets. Would the hon. Gentleman education.” Beck said that acknowledge that, whatever Glenn Beck may or may not do, Fox News—and, indeed, the Murdoch “we have been sold a lie” newspapers—has a good record on this? that “the poor in America” are suffering. That was No. 7. Mr Watson: People tell me that Fox News is positive No. 8: about Israel but negative about Jews. It is possible for “Charles Darwin is the father of the holocaust.” Glenn Beck to represent that negative angle of Fox No. 9: social justice is a News. The reason why I am so concerned is that Rupert Murdoch has claimed that Sky News would be much “perversion of the Gospel…not what Jesus was saying.” more popular if it were more like Fox News. I do not Beck likened himself to Israeli Nazi hunters, when he want that to become a reality in the United Kingdom. said: The issue has been picked up in the UK media “To the day I die, I am going to be a progressive hunter.” recently. There have been articles on the subject by That was No. 10. Deborah Lipstadt for The Jewish Chronicle and by Ian I think that most colleagues would agree that those Burrell in The Independent. Lipstadt states: comments are highly alarming and absolutely inappropriate “At the same time, Roger Ailes was interviewed by Tina for broadcast on any show, let alone one that positions Brown’s Daily Beast about NPR’s decision to fire one of its itself as a news show. Such comments would not fall commentators, who also appears on Fox News. The commentator had said that, upon boarding a plane and seeing someone dressed within the parameters of the Ofcom code to ensure: in Muslim garb, he gets nervous. A silly comment but one that did “Due Impartiality and Due Accuracy and Undue Prominence not seem to warrant dismissal. Speaking of NPR officials, Ailes of Views and Opinions”. said: ‘They are, of course, Nazis. They have a kind of Nazi In addition, the Dana Milbank column in The attitude. They are the left wing of Nazism. These guys don’t want Washington Post reported in October 2010 that in Beck’s any other point of view.’” “first 18 months on Fox News, from early 2009 through the When a barrage of criticism rained down upon him, he middle of this year,”— apologised not to the people he called Nazis, but to Abe Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League. that is last year— The Independent “he and his guests invoked Hitler 147 times. Nazis, an additional article quoted Andrew Neil, who said: 202 times. Fascism or fascists, 193 times. The Holocaust got 76 “My own view is [Fox] is out of control”. mentions, and Joseph Goebbels got 24.” Neil told Richard Bacon on BBC Radio 5 Live recently: I hope we all agree that that is a disturbing number of “I think Rupert Murdoch has lost control of it. I know from instances to raise those terms, in a way that is both sources he’s not happy with a lot that appears on it and I think irresponsible and does not provide any educational or he’s lost over the Glenn Becks and the O’Reillys”. 355WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 356WH

In October 2009, Waitrose became one of a number Anti-Semitism is not new; it has been around for of UK firms to pull all advertising on Fox News in more than 2,000 years. It is grounded in ignorance and response to comments made about President Obama. It the fact that people look different, and they celebrate a was reported just last week that the broadcast of Glenn religion that is different from other people’s. Anti-Semitism Beck’s show in the UK has run without any commercials is, therefore, bounded by ignorance and prejudice. We for nearly 11 months in response to his incendiary have difficulty in combating prejudice. Most people, I comments. Such great concern has been caused by Beck am afraid, are prejudiced in some shape or form, but we that there is an ongoing campaign both in the UK and can make sure that we address that prejudice by ensuring the US to stop Glenn Beck and deter companies from that discrimination does not take place and by educating advertising during his show. I am pleased and extremely people to combat some of those natural prejudices. encouraged that companies in the UK feel strongly I live next door to a synagogue. There is another enough about the issue to withhold advertising. It synagogue some 200 yards up the road. My next-door demonstrates that the anti-Semitic and generally divisive, neighbours on the other side are Muslims. Beyond them incendiary and prejudicial language that has been broadcast are Hindus, and across the road there are Catholics and in the UK will not be tolerated in this country. However, people from other Christian religions in the space of a it is important that these issues continue to be raised few hundred yards. We live in peace and harmony. We and that TV executives are challenged on such matters. know that everyone should be allowed to celebrate their religion properly. I represent a constituency that has If Glenn Beck were here today I would say to him: two major synagogues, and shares another on the border “Glenn Beck, you are a bigot. You bring shame to your of the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member country, not because you lack balance, but because you for Hendon (Mr Offord). I salute the work that all of are an unthinking buffoon. Rupert Murdoch tolerates them do. you because you are his useful idiot. He uses you to get a foothold in the doors of the powerful. Like his phone- I grew up in north-west London with many members hacking journalists and his pugnacious leader-writers of the Jewish faith and, although I am not Jewish, I in Australia, you are expendable. Let us hope he disposes regard myself as an honorary Jew, with many Jewish of your nasty brand of intolerance sooner rather than friends—people I have grown up with. I trust that we later.” will always live in peace and harmony. We live, however, in a time when anti-Semitism and It is Rupert and James Murdoch who should answer anti-Semitic attacks are on the increase. We have to for bigots such as Glenn Beck and phone hackers such combat that in all its shapes and forms. I salute the as Clive Goodman and Glen Mulcaire. They employ work the Community Security Trust does to make sure them. They promote them. They are responsible for that people who go to a synagogue or a Jewish school them. It is time for thinking citizens in the United can do so safely. I commend its work in gathering Kingdom, the United States and Australia to unite information on anti-Semitism and the attacks on the against the Murdochs’ vicious brand of politics that Jewish community, but is it not a sad indictment in this masquerades as publishing. day and age, that in this country, which regards itself as free and fair, people have to have security at their places Several hon. Members rose— of religion or education? I congratulate the Government on providing the funding and on supporting the necessary Katy Clark (in the Chair): Order. I intend to start the security, but I condemn the fact that it is necessary. wind-ups at 5 minutes to 5. Anti-Semitism is one thing that we have to constantly guard against. 4.30 pm Before coming to this House, I was a councillor in the London borough of Brent. Two years ago, there was an Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con): Thank you for attempted firebombing in a synagogue in Brondesbury. allowing me to speak in this important debate on anti- It led to a dramatic increase in tension among all Semitism, Ms Clark. I congratulate the hon. Member communities. That is the sort of thing that emanates as for Bassetlaw (John Mann) not only on initiating the soon as we allow anti-Semitic remarks and anti-Semitism debate, but on giving such a fine and thoughtful speech to arise. People start to attack places of worship or on the whole subject. I also congratulate my hon. educational facilities, and we must not allow it to go on. Friend the Member for Finchley and Golders Green I commend the London declaration and the recent (Mike Freer) on all his work, not only now but in the Ottawa protocol, because they set out the stall by which past and in the future, on this important subject. we can help to educate people to prevent anti-Semitism I should start by mentioning the fact, also noted by from gaining further root. the right hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr MacShane), We must always remember the international dimension. that my party chairman is today making a major speech— Hon. Members have referred to the situation with the she may already have made it—on Islamophobia. We President of Iran and in other countries, and to people should not try to divorce this hatred of different people who seek to deny the holocaust, who seek to deny that because of their different religions. One of the problems anti-Semitism exists, and who promote the view that is that in this Chamber we are, largely, talking to ourselves. Israel and people of the Jewish faith should be eliminated We are all committed to combating anti-Semitism, so from the face of the earth. We have to be constantly on we have to reach people who are anti-Semitic and who our guard to prevent those people from gaining any promote those views. We have to re-educate them and semblance of ground. bring them back to the real world so that we can There is nothing new in this. When I was at university participate in a proper democracy, and so that people we had what was probably the biggest meeting at Liverpool can celebrate their religion and background without fear. university for many years. There was an attempt by 357WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 358WH

[Bob Blackman] I end by borrowing a quote that sums up the debate so far: “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” We some sections of the university to seek a ban on the can no longer turn a blind eye; we must always be then Israeli Prime Minister visiting this country. I am intolerant of intolerance. We must always combat the delighted to say that the attempts to put that proposal snide anti-Semitic remarks. I am well aware of what my were roundly defeated by the broad mass of students. I hon. Friend the Member for Ilford North (Mr Scott) commend the work done by the Union of Jewish Students went through during the general election. In many across the country to ensure that there is free and fair ways, I was subjected to it as well, although I did not debate in universities, but we constantly have to be on feel it personally in the way that he did. No one should our guard. Parliamentarians and people from outside have to go through that, whether they are an MP, a know that there are frequent attempts to boycott Israel representative in public life, or just going about their and to boycott Israeli academics. Those attempts give law-abiding business. We have to send a strong message rise to the facets of anti-Semitism that we seek to from this place that we will not allow it to continue; we combat. will not allow these attacks to proliferate, and we will As is probably well known by most of my hon. always defend people of all walks of life and all religions. Friends, I am a Tottenham Hotspur fanatic. I have a season ticket home and away. I did not realise why Mr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con) rose— Tottenham Hotspur had so many attacks from fellow fans until I got my season ticket in the west stand at Katy Clark (in the Chair): Order. As I said, I will start White Hart lane; the first time I went there was like the wind-ups no later than 4.55 pm. going to shul on Sabbath. I have been to football grounds all over the country and combated attacks by 4.42 pm opposition fans who routinely say, “Gas the Jews. Kill all the Jews. Hitler was right.” To witness that at first Mr Offord: I am pleased to join colleagues in contributing hand is to realise why we must always be eternally to this debate, though I feel sad that we need to. People vigilant against anti-Semitism. Next week, when we who have not come to the debate obviously do not have honour and commemorate the 6 million Jews who were Jewish constituents, or are not aware of the problems killed by the Nazis, we must always remember that that some of our Jewish constituents face. those racist, anti-Semitic remarks are the tip of the I was shocked during the general election to hear iceberg. We have to combat them wherever and whenever reports from some of the people who worked with me. they are made. The Labour party candidate had the same experience. Mr Dodds: The hon. Gentleman mentions the thin One of my supporters went to a housing estate and end of the wedge, referring, as it were, to the project in someone shouted at him through a window, “Get back my constituency. On football, he mentioned Spurs to the ghetto.” That was presumably because he was in particular. I was struck the other day, on going to a wearing a yarmulke. I was shocked that people in my premier league match here in London, by the fact that community could attack Jewish people in that way. people supporting a rival club—although not in the I was grateful to one of my constituents who gave me club itself—were selling openly anti-Semitic and racist a yarmulke with my name in Hebrew and English on paraphernalia. It seems that such paraphernalia is on the top. I thought that was great; it was a very nice blue open sale and nothing is done about it. That is not an colour and I was happy to wear it, until someone said to infrequent observation. I wonder why the authorities me, “Wear it on the tube and go into central London.” do not stamp down on that kind of thing, because, Once again, that shocked me because it brought home as the hon. Gentleman said, those small things add that my perception and experience of anti-Semitism are up—they matter. nothing compared to that of the Jewish people in my community. Bob Blackman: I thank the right hon. Gentleman for I am pleased with the report from the Government his intervention. There has to be more foresight in the on the progress made following the all-party inquiry clubs and the authorities that allow that type of memorabilia into anti-Semitism. I am particularly pleased with some to be promulgated and, therefore, accepted in broader of the work around our schools, in my constituency and society. One problem is that many young people go to others, such as Finchley and Golders Green and, no football matches, and their views and attitudes are doubt, in Harrow East, where schools have now been formed by the people they mix with and what they hear given money to provide security. My first question in and see. We must prevent them from having the view Parliament was to the Secretary of State for Education that that sort of attitude and behaviour is acceptable. about schools. He confirmed his view that no parent Growing prejudice is a problem we face in society. should feel unsafe about their child simply going to However, when there was an attack by the English school each day. That is also my view. Defence League on the central mosque in Harrow, it was important that the whole community came together. The report talks about how anti-Semitism is different Not just Muslims, not just Christians but Jews, Hindus from other forms of racism. Modern anti-Semitism has, and everyone came together to say, “The English Defence out of necessity, become more nuanced and subtle. League can pack up their banners and go home. The Anti-Jewish prejudice is often focused on Israel. Jewish mixed and vibrant community does not want you. We people are seen as natural supporters of Israel and, as will not tolerate you. We will not tolerate intolerance.” such, Jewish people throughout the world are seen by The great thing about the society that I want to promote some as legitimate targets. That is a concern. and see, is that when any part of the community is We heard today from my hon. Friend the Member for attacked, the community comes together to defend itself Ilford North (Mr Scott). However, it is not just Jewish and does not allow intolerance to grow. people who are subject to anti-Semitism. My hon. Friend 359WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 360WH the Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) said he the work that they do in ensuring that I and other has also been subjected to it. A useful illustration comes parliamentary colleagues can engage with the issue on a today from my local paper, the Hendon Times,whereI cross-party basis and draw down information from the have been attacked by someone who helped us in the reports produced. general election campaign. I was always rather concerned Members have spoken on a diverse range of topics about some of the views of this individual, but we are a under the broad title of the debate. I will endeavour to broad church in the Conservative party. However, this relate my comments to the issues raised. individual started making anti-Semitic comments. Once I was elected, I would have no truck with any such We heard from my hon. Friend the Member for individuals. I hear today through the local press that he Bassetlaw about the pending review to tackle hate crime has decided to join UKIP.UKIP is welcome to someone on the internet and in the media. We also heard some who makes anti-Semitic remarks, because he is certainly strong comments from my hon. Friend the Member for not welcome in the Conservative party. West Bromwich East (Mr Watson). I hope that the Minister has taken note of the comments of my hon. I also want to talk about my community in Hendon. I Friend the Member for Bassetlaw on the role of the EU have a large Jewish community that is subject to anti-Semitic and EU directives. I am also interested to hear the comments. Of the 924 anti-Semitic incidents across the Minister’s thoughts on what he expects the forthcoming country, 164 were in Hendon, which is in the Barnet seminar to address and how he feels that it might be local authority area. Therefore, we do not suffer able to make progress building on the work started disproportionately more than other Jewish communities. under the former Labour Government. However, we suffer 90% of the slurs, allegations and comments. The CST referred to that as “mission indirect”. My hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw stressed That also includes hate mail, anti-Semitic e-mails and just how powerful cross-party consensus can be. We abusive or threatening phone calls that my constituents have been made aware of that in this Chamber, with still receive. That is in contrast to places such as Manchester, hon. Members in every part calling each other hon. where anti-Semitic attacks consist of violence and Friends. That is, genuinely, to be welcomed. vandalism. In some ways, that reassures me, but not My hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw also drew entirely, while people continue to see problems in their attention to the importance of the need for better daily lives. reporting of hate crime, specifically anti-Semitic crime, I want to mention a couple of organisations. I am and to the progress being made in that respect, with the grateful to the Holocaust Educational Trust for the report from the Association of Chief Police Officers. work it does. I have also visited Auschwitz and found it Hon. Members expressed concerns on the radicalisation a very moving experience. I am also grateful to Danny of young people, which cuts across all faiths and political Stone for the work he does for the all-party group. In views. In 2009 I was a member of the Select Committee my constituency there is an organisation called the on Communities and Local Government, which looked Community Security Trust, which has already been into some of those issues as part of its inquiry into mentioned. I pay particular tribute to Richard Benson preventing extremism. Our findings made it clear that and Carol Laser for their work, of which many people defining a single pathway to radicalisation is impossible, here are aware. I believe that they are part of the big as is predicting which specific individuals will progress society, showing the way to how local people can help to overt extreme practices, including anti-Semitic behaviour. each other. They provide protection not only for synagogues but for schools. They work with young people to help The Select Committee was also critical of how the them protect themselves in our local community. Their then Government generally kept referring back to the collaboration with the Department for Education has usual suspects, some of whom—outside their relations been great with regard to providing school security. with Government—were not putting out materials. I think that that should have been tolerated. However, That brings me back to the necessity of today’s that is now a side point. debate. I find it sad in this day and age that we have to have such a debate. However, I am glad about what has The Select Committee said that there was an urgent come out of the report: the Jewish community is not left need to consider factors such as the access to hate alone to fight anti-Semitism. Many of us here today are communications via the internet. That point has been ready to stand with it. made repeatedly today. In the current economic climate of cuts, concern 4.48 pm should be expressed about adequate funding and support Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab): This for a range of groups in the localities, to ensure that has been an extremely thought-provoking and, at times, advice is available to help to prevent alienation and to emotional and hard-hitting debate. As Members have support community cohesion. We have heard that education highlighted, it is also timely, as it links to Holocaust is important, but some local authorities are struggling memorial week. I would like to reinforce the comments to continue to meet their commitments in that respect of the right hon. Member for Belfast North (Mr Dodds), and are cutting their community cohesion budgets. reminding colleagues that it is still possible to sign the I would welcome the Minister’s comments on how book of commitment, which has been placed in the work previously carried out under the preventing violent House. I would also like to support the comments of extremism programme will be taken forward or amended the hon. Member for Ilford North (Mr Scott) about the by the new Government. Clearly, there is a direct work of the Holocaust Educational Trust. relationship in that programme with anti-Semitic behaviour. I congratulate the all-party group on anti-Semitism The Select Committee was clear that it was important on securing the debate, under the guidance of my hon. for faith groups and their leaders to take the initiative Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann), and on and, where possible, to work in cross-faith groups to 361WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 362WH

[Alison Seabeck] groups to drive out anti-Semitism and to encourage cohesion. It is not, therefore, simply an outcome of the encourage tolerance and acceptance and that there are Iraq war or recent history. strengths in diversity. Hon. Members highlighted some Remembering the unique, tragic and appalling history excellent work in the area, such as the strong example of of anti-Semitism, in particular in the 20th century, is the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman), on important, and it should serve as a lesson to us all—one the back of a serious incident. we must certainly never forget. I hope that, in some Work needs to be done with young people in their small way, today’s debate has contributed. communities. That is essential, because the alienation of Katy Clark (in the Chair): Order. As this is a Back-Bench young people from their parents and elders also causes debate, I intend to call the hon. Member for Finchley radicalisation, providing evidence of some anti-Semitic and Golders Green (Mike Freer), who was one of its behaviour and of a lot of the mindless behaviour described instigators, no later than 5.20 pm. by the hon. Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon). Members throughout the Chamber have referred to 4.57 pm the role of universities, many of which have responded, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for to ensure that precautions such as speaker request Communities and Local Government (Andrew Stunell): I forms or signed behaviour agreements are in place. shall certainly leave plenty of time for Back-Bench However, as Members pointed out, a great lack of speakers. Indeed, I appreciate the opportunity, as a knowledge and, at times, of expertise and commitment Front Bencher, to sneak in and contribute to the debate. remains in some areas, among some universities—student The debate is very timely, as a number of speakers union and staff-side—in dealing with potential incidents, have pointed out, and that is a tribute to the Backbench as well as in avoiding opportunities for unacceptable Business Committee process which I hope is fed back to behaviour and radicalisation. However, I trust that vice- the appropriate quarters. chancellors reading the text of the debate in Hansard will take note of the concerns expressed, in particular It would not be right to go any further without giving by my right hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham praise and thanks to the all-party parliamentary group (Mr MacShane), who is no longer in his place. against anti-Semitism, in particular the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann). I welcomed the tone that he The Government, like the previous one, will want to set for the debate, making it clear that anti-Semitism is a continue a dialogue with the further and higher education cause of deep concern, crossing party boundaries, and sectors, to ensure that every care is taken to avoid the has prompted what I hope is the clear intention of the worst practices and experiences, some of which we have new Government to continue building on the foundations heard described today. We all look forward to the laid under the previous Administration and to carry Minister’s comments. forward the work commissioned by his all-party My hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw also touched parliamentary group. I thank him for his support for on Parliament leading by example and talked about the my stewardship, which I fully understand is conditional targeting of Jewish and pro-Zionist candidates in elections. upon future progress if, none the less, welcome for all Election material that is intimidatory, with inappropriate that. The debate is an opportunity to demonstrate our use of language, such as was evident in Bethnal Green strong and enduring commitment to tackling anti-Semitism, and Bow in 2005 and in the dreadful examples given in as a House and not just as a Government or as a set of today’s debate, must be stopped and challenged. That political parties. point was made by the right hon. Member for Berwick- I will start by responding to some of the specific upon-Tweed (Sir Alan Beith). We should never stand points raised by the hon. Member for Bassetlaw, and to back, but always challenge. No candidate should have one or two other points. I will then set out what the to face what the hon. Member for Ilford North faced. Government propose to do, and provide feedback on the Government response to the report by the all-party The material and quotes described in the document group, which we published before Christmas. on anti-Semitic and violent rhetoric by UK extremist The hon. Gentleman raised the issue of internet hate groups are intolerable and should always be challenged. and, perhaps more generally, the consequences of the I hope that anti-Islamic material would also be subject electronic world as it affects the print media. The to the same full force of the law. Other faiths, too, face Government response published in November drew unacceptable hate crimes, as we heard from the right attention to our work with newspaper editors and the hon. Member for Belfast North, who highlighted some Press Complaints Commission, which, it is fair to say, excellent educational work in Northern Ireland. was not really conclusive. Nevertheless, a working group We have had a full and rounded debate. Along with on online matters is run by the Press Complaints other colleagues, I welcome what the Home Secretary is Commission. I assure hon. Members that I shall keep doing this evening in further enhancing discussion around track of that and, where appropriate, provide a bit of Islamophobia, because there are links. However, anti- impetus. It is appropriate for me to pass on the remarks Semitism has the unfortunate distinction of being one made in this debate to my ministerial colleagues in the of the oldest prejudices—for want of a stronger word—in Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to ensure the western world. Although, generally, it has been that the points raised are not lost to them. driven out of mainstream cultural and political discourse, The hon. Gentleman, and others, spoke about the it remains and it is, sadly, accompanied by a host of problems in higher education. That point was reinforced other prejudices against a range of different groups, for me when I heard a speech by the Chief Rabbi whether defined by religion, gender, race or sexuality. who visited the Department for Communities and Local We have to work throughout communities and age Government and spoke powerfully about the need to 363WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 364WH tackle that issue. I share the hon. Gentleman’s importance—at least in the long term—of ensuring that commendation of the Manchester university protocols—like young people who have no interest in getting involved in him, I declare an ancient interest in that university. terrorism do not absorb an agenda from some radical Work needs to be done, and I will say more about that preachers that is too hostile and prejudiced, even though in a few minutes. they may resist the urge to get involved in terrorism. There have been three powerful pleas to deal with election campaigning, and of course, all mainstream Andrew Stunell: My right hon. Friend asks me to parties signed up to rules, guidelines, advice and codes draw a fine line between having unpopular opinions before the last election. I think that reconsideration of and committing violent, unpopular and illegal acts. I do recent events is appropriate. I do not want to introduce not want to get drawn too far into that debate, but the an element of controversy, but perhaps a recent court Government and the DCLG are developing their thinking case has a bearing on the issue. I want to talk to the on how to promote integration in our society and tackle Electoral Commission about whether progress can be the alienation of all groups, even those not necessarily made, and draw on incidents that have been raised in connected to a religion or ethnic background. this debate. If hon. Members have more relevant evidence Unfortunately, there are plenty of alienated young people that they feel should be considered, I invite them to who do not fit either of those two stereotypical models. make it available to the Electoral Commission. Ensuring that we promote the integration of all into society is an important Government objective. The hon. Member for Bassetlaw referred to football, and the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) Reference has been made to the cross-Government declared his undying love for Tottenham Hotspur—we working group that was set up to tackle anti-Semitism, all have our weaknesses, so I understand that. However, and I will report briefly on what the group has been there is clearly something to be done in that area, and I doing and what it proposes to do. The group meets was interested to hear the concern of the hon. Member quarterly to monitor further progress on the commitments for Bassetlaw, who said that he had not received an made by Departments to tackle anti-Semitism. That appropriate and timely response about his work from work can be seen in the Government’s response document the Football Association. I will draw his remarks to the from last November, and the group ensures that those attention of my colleagues in DCMS and perhaps there commitments are followed through. In the first instance, will be some air time for that. We talk about the nudge the working group focuses specifically on issues that are theory these days—perhaps the matter just needs a bit still cause for common concern. Anti-Semitism on the of a nudge. A problem exists in relation to specific internet is top of that list, and we have undertaken to incidents, events and clubs, and it should be paid proper give regular progress reports to Parliament on that attention. subject. The final point made by the hon. Gentleman that I I had a meeting yesterday with the Under-Secretary will mention relates to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation. of State for the Home Department, the hon. Member Subsequent to the election, the Prime Minister put on for Old Bexley and Sidcup (James Brokenshire), who is record the Government’s intention to make a donation the Minister with responsibility for crime prevention. to that foundation. No announcement has been made We looked at how to ensure that issues of concern to the about the timing or the size of the donation, but the DCLG and the Home Office can be jointly taken forward, words used by the Prime Minister were “a substantial and we will do what we believe to be necessary in order contribution.” I cannot take the matter further at the to stimulate action. moment, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that the issue Later this year there will be a second ministerial is on the agenda. seminar to find ways of improving action and impact. It It may be possible to respond to all the points raised, will involve colleagues from a number of Departments but this is a Back-Bench debate, so some matters are including the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and probably best left on the record. The hon. Member for the Crown Prosecution Service. There will be representatives Hendon (Mr Offord) reported that the Community from the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Security Trust headquarters is in his constituency. As he DCLG, as well as MPs, lawyers and departmental officials. will know—I wrote to him to tell him—I visited the trust The seminar will be led by the Under-Secretary of State in the autumn and was extremely impressed by its work. I for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my hon. Friend support the hon. Gentleman’s view that the trust makes an the Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey), who is the important contribution to tackling community tension Minister with responsibility for communications. We and plays a part in developing the big society. are pushing forward on this. We are clear that we must The hon. Member for Plymouth, Moor View (Alison find ways of tackling at both national and international Seabeck) asked about the future of the Prevent Violent level anti-Semitism on the internet. Extremism programme. She will know that Lord Carlile I want to pick up the point about anti-Semitism on is carrying out a review on behalf of the Home Office, university campuses. First, although I am sure that it and that reports and policies are being developed. was implied in many of the remarks that were made, no Announcements will be made in the near future, and I one actually mentioned further education, and further assure the hon. Lady that this Government are as education colleges and campuses— concerned as any other Government have been to take whatever appropriate steps are needed to guarantee the Alison Seabeck: I think that I did. security of all citizens in the country. Andrew Stunell: I apologise if I overlooked that reference. Sir Alan Beith: I want to reinforce a point that I made The point that the hon. Lady and I—I am sure—agree earlier about the importance of actions taken to prevent on is that, of course, what has been said about university terrorism and the finding of new recruits in the Muslim campuses is important, but so too is what may be going community. That issue should not blind us to the equal on in other educational establishments. 365WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 366WH

[Andrew Stunell] issue that children face when they are going to school? Often, children attending Jewish schools are targeted on The problem was first highlighted by the all-party public transport and in going to those schools. We must group’s inquiry in 2005, but progress has been harder to take action to stop that happening, as well as making make on it than on some of the other issues that were children safe when they get to school. raised. There are some examples of good practice, including the Manchester university code, but it is clear Andrew Stunell: The announcement about security at that that is not enough. There is a strong feeling that schools is the acute side of the treatment. We also need many individual universities and student unions have to deal with the chronic issues, which have rightly been not taken these issues as seriously as they should have drawn to the attention of the House during the debate. done; or perhaps it is not so much that they have failed Part of that involves understanding and assessing the to take them seriously, but that the high passions that problems. We reported at the end of last year that are aroused, often by international events, have been agreement had been reached for all police forces to allowed to spill over into completely unacceptable behaviour, record anti-Semitic hate crimes, and the first official which has not been challenged robustly and effectively. anti-Semitic hate crime statistics were published on We believe that that must change. 30 November last year. Robert Halfon: I thank my hon. Friend for his thoughtful As I have said, the Government are committed to response, but does he not agree that the university hosting a seminar later this year to ensure continued problem is ever increasing? Will he consider taking up progress on tackling anti-Semitism and all other forms my suggestion that where there is extremism on campus of hate on the internet. We certainly understand the and it is not dealt with properly by the university importance of tackling anti-Semitic discourse and we authorities, they should be penalised in some way, possibly supported the publication of the report entitled “Playing financially? the Nazi Card”. We have also appointed Sir Andrew Burns as the UK envoy for post-holocaust issues. He Andrew Stunell: I do not think I want to get there yet. has started work on looking at holocaust-era assets and I was about to say that Universities UK has established developing an international tracing service. an academic freedom working group. The aim of that We have made a public commitment to fund the group is to consider how universities can best protect Lessons from Auschwitz project for the coming financial academic freedom, freedom of speech, freedom on campus year. We are committed to remembering the holocaust and freedom to study under the contemporary conditions and have committed £750,000 in the form of a grant of geo-political conflict, racial and religious tension to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for the 2011 and violent extremism. The Universities UK working commemorations and related educational activities. We group will include representatives from the FE sector, have committed £2 million to Faith in Action, a small so it will be very wide ranging. When the report is grants programme to support local inter-faith activity. published, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Universities A large number of those projects have directly involved and Science will respond with a ministerial statement, Jewish communities across the country. More broadly, so we are setting store by that report and will certainly we supported inter-faith week to the tune of £200,000 respond strongly to it. I can announce today that I am in 2010. asking the cross-Government working party, which I The Government take this issue seriously; the referred to initially, to take up this issue alongside its Department takes it seriously; and I personally, as work on anti-Semitism on the internet. Those will be the Minister, take it seriously. I look forward to working the two focal points of that work. with other engaged hon. Members on both sides of The debate is particularly timely, with Holocaust the House in the coming year to make a reality of all memorial week being next week. As I have said, the our wishes on this very important topic. Government have now published our response to the report of the all-party inquiry into anti-Semitism. We have backed that response up with facts and figures in a 5.18 pm number of cases. As has been reported in the debate, £2 Mike Freer (Finchley and Golders Green) (Con): I million has been allocated to pay for the security of thank my hon. Friends and Opposition Members for Jewish schools in the state sector. On Monday, I shall attending the debate—the first Back-Bench debate on visit North Cheshire Jewish primary school, which is in anti-Semitism. I may be new to Parliament, but I am the constituency adjacent to mine. I know from my not new to the issue, so I have followed the debate previous visits to the area that the security required closely and have been impressed by many of the there is a shock to all non-Jewish visitors, who expect a contributions by hon. Members. primary school to be a primary school, perhaps not The debate is particularly important, not just because with open access, but certainly with friendly, welcoming the Government recently published a response to the access rather than high fences and armed guards. There, all-party inquiry, the “Three Years on Progress Report”, in a quiet suburban neighbourhood, far away from any but because we are approaching Holocaust memorial threat of upset or trouble, one would have thought, it week. Like many other hon. Members, I pay tribute to has proved necessary to have such high levels of security. the Holocaust Educational Trust for the work that it I think that the whole House acknowledges that it is does with pupils, parliamentarians and, indeed, aspiring right that Jewish faith schools should have assistance parliamentarians. I first went on the trip as a parliamentary with the extra protection that they need. candidate. Bob Blackman: I thank my hon. Friend the Minister I also pay tribute to the fact that the debate, quite for his remarks about the security of schools and, rightly, has been consensual. I am grateful to hon. indeed, synagogues, but will he comment on the other Members for their contributions, which have shown a 367WH Anti-Semitism20 JANUARY 2011 Anti-Semitism 368WH depth of knowledge, a passion and a deep interest in the My colleague and friend, my hon. Friend the Member subject. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw for Ilford North (Mr Scott), who is not in his place, (John Mann) for his chairmanship of the all-party made one of the strongest contributions this afternoon. group against anti-Semitism. In particular—I pull out He has personal experience of being hated, not because some of the points made during the debate—the hon. of who he is, not because of what he does and not Gentleman drew attention to the international recognition because of what he believes, but solely because of his of the work that the UK has done on this area and to religion. He spoke passionately. Those of us who are the fact that we remain the leader in combating anti- not Jewish simply cannot understand the feelings generated Semitism. He also drew attention to the growing threat by such attacks. My hon. Friend bravely explained the of internet hate. I have some personal experience of impact on him when he went home. I pay tribute to that, although not to the same degree as others. After the work that he does for all the communities in his my question to the Prime Minister about funding the constituency, and it is telling that the mosque stood restoration project at Auschwitz-Birkenau, I was denounced alongside him after that physical and verbal attack. on an Aryan blog as a Jewish stooge, or a stooge of the I thank the Minister for the commitments that he Jewish community. I took it as something of a compliment made today. Those who serve on the all-party group that it had got under some people’s skin. The big will have noted them and will keep a watching brief. In problem, of course, is that much internet hate is anonymous, particular, he assured us that he will be nudging the which makes it particularly difficult to control and to PPC about the internet working group, and that combat. The hon. Gentleman also reiterated many of the cross-departmental working group has the internet the ground-breaking initiatives that arose from his report. and universities at the top of its agenda. He will also be My hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Robert considering the rules of electoral behaviour, and he will Halfon) eloquently told us about the three levels of take steps to ensure that the Football Association responds anti-Semitism, from dinner party anti-Semitism to the to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw. more aggressive desecration of graves and other physical I am pleased to note that the Minister has confirmed attacks—what he called skinhead anti-Semitism. He that the Government’s contribution to the Auschwitz- also gave a passionate exposition of the threat of extreme Birkenau restoration project will be “substantial”. That Islamism, saying that it is not the same as Islam. word will be carefully noted and underlined. [Interruption.] The right hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr MacShane), I am sure that the Treasury will see these comments, but who is not in his place, made a good and telling point it will not damage the Minister’s promotion prospects. about the inaction of university vice-chancellors, who Lastly, I give credit to the hon. Member for Plymouth, seem willing to tackle the BNP but are not equally Moor View (Alison Seabeck), the Opposition spokesman, vigorous in attacking anti-Semitism. for her support and for saying that cross-party consensus The right hon. Member for Belfast North (Mr Dodds) is very powerful on such key issues. gave a good description of the work of Thin End of the I reiterate one point. We talk about anti-Semitism, Wedge, an organisation in his constituency. He also but it can sometimes be a nebulous concept. Those of made some good points about the educational deficit us who are not Jewish sometimes fail to understand on other religions, particularly Judaism, in areas controlled what it feels like. The community has to cope with by Hamas and Hezbollah. convoluted attempts to undermine culture food by My hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Bob banning Shechita, and with the anti-Israel boycotts of Blackman) has a weakness for Tottenham Hotspur, but food, academics and politicians. Those are bad enough it is not the only football club with a Jewish following. individually, but combined they generate a negative In my constituency, the Finchley and Wingate football atmosphere and a feeling of being not only under club began as a Jewish football club, and, of course, it attack but under siege—of being demonised, de-legitimised plays on Sundays. My hon. Friend made the good point and isolated. That is what anti-Semitism is about, and that tolerance for anti-Semitic remarks encourages and that of course is what we have to combat. fuels extremist behaviour. We have to tackle both, rather Finally, I pay tribute to the work of the Community than just tackling the more extreme end. Security Trust. Under the leadership of my good friends My hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr Offord) Gerald Ronson and Richard Benson, the CST does made a good point, saying that anti-Semitism is rarely outstanding work. As the hon. Member for Carshalton far from the surface. We know that anti-Semitism takes and Wallington (Tom Brake) said, in conjunction with place in London, but we tend to live in a rather tolerant the Jewish leadership council it is embarking on an bubble. One has to travel only slightly further out from initiative to share that best practice of community London to see anti-Semitism rather more in the raw. protection with other faiths that are equally at threat. My hon. Friend rightly pointed out that anti-Semitic It has been a thoughtful and passionate debate, Ms Clark, slurs are as likely to create a hostile environment as and I thank you for your chairmanship. I also thank my physical attacks. colleagues for their contributions. The right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed Question put and agreed to. (Sir Alan Beith) made the strong point that Parliament stands as one on the subject. It is important that we parliamentarians do so not only at this time of year but 5.27 pm throughout the year in everything that we do. Sitting adjourned.

45WS Written Ministerial Statements20 JANUARY 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 46WS

realistic assumptions and a reassessment of the extra Written Ministerial costs incurred. As a result the allowance will reduce from £12.41 to £8.50 per day. Statements Living out Supplemented Rates of Local Overseas Allowance—This allowance achieves the same aims as food and incidentals allowance but for personnel based Thursday 20 January 2011 abroad. The allowance has been removed and replaced with food and incidentals allowance paid in local currency. Home to Duty Travel—This assists service personnel DEFENCE with the cost of daily travel between their home and place of duty. At present, individuals are responsible for the first three miles of their journey. In future, this will Armed Forces Allowances increase to nine miles, even when they have no choice in the location of either home or duty premises. This change will be introduced over a period of three years The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence to mitigate the affect on individuals. (Mr Andrew Robathan): A part of the strategic defence Recruitment and Retention Allowance (London)—This and security review, the Government announced that allowance is designed to encourage personnel to serve the amount spent by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in London. Since changes to this allowance would have each year on personnel allowances would be reduced by the greatest impact on those on the lowest salaries, the over £300 million. Reductions to civil service allowances allowance will be maintained for all those of the rank of will necessarily be dealt with separately to those affecting corporal and below. For all others it will be removed. To the armed forces. I am now able to detail the changes to allow adequate preparation for this change, it will not armed forces allowances, which will achieve a reduction be introduced until 2012. in spend of some £250 million by financial year 2014-15. A strong economy is a national security imperative, Disturbance Allowance—This flat-rate allowance was and the Government conducted the strategic defence intended to compensate for the necessary additional and security review (SDSR) against the background of expenses that arise when service personnel are required a dire fiscal situation, which requires difficult decisions to move to take up new assignments. In practice, many on reducing public spending. Proper support to our significant costs associated with moving (removals, storage service personnel is equally essential. An appropriate etc) are covered through other allowances. It is therefore set of allowances is an important element of that support, appropriate to reduce the value of this allowance by and will remain so in the future. However, it cannot be 10%. For those with children, the additional elements immune from careful scrutiny to ensure that it remains previously paid will be reduced by 53%. appropriate. While reductions in this area will never be Daily Subsistence—This allowance reimburses actual welcome, the package of changes which we are introducing allowable subsistence expenditure. We have reduced the has been developed in full consultation with the service maximum rate payable to £25 per day, in line with the chiefs of staff and represents the best balance between rates paid by other Government Departments, and made affordability and fairness. similar percentage reductions in overseas rates. Service personnel are entitled to appropriate notice Get You Home (Early Years)—This allowance is of changes to allowances, and there will be a minimum designed to enable junior members of the services to of three months notice before any alterations which maintain links with close family as they adjust to service affect those currently serving take effect. In specific life by funding four journeys to the family home per cases the notice will be longer (up to 12 months). year. In future it will be available only to those undergoing The changes affect the following allowances: initial training and for all personnel under the age of 18. Incidental Expenses Allowance—This a contribution Get You Home (Seagoers)—This allowance is designed to minor expenditure incurred during temporary duty to support retention of seagoing personnel by reducing involving overnight absence; it is paid at a flat rate of the impact of routine separation. The current provision £5 per day. In future this allowance will only be paid to of 12 journeys to the individual’s place of residence will personnel in hospital. All personnel will continue, as be reduced to 10. now, to be reimbursed for the actual costs of travel, food and accommodation. Motor Mileage Allowance—There are three rates of motor mileage allowance currently in use. These will be Local Overseas Allowance—This allowance contributes unified to a single rate of 25p per mile, in line with the towards the cost of living, when service personnel are HMRC basic rate. required to serve overseas. We will be modernising the way in which the allowance operates by re-evaluating Commitment Bonus—Commitment bonuses are paid the items used to construct it, and by reducing the at specified career points, and reward completed service. number of rank-based bands from 13 to three. In view Due to current service manning levels and the redundancy of the significant impact of these changes on some programme we announced in the SDSR we have decided service personnel and their families, they will be staged to reduce the value of these bonuses by 50% for all new over two years. entrants, implemented with immediate effect. Food and Incidentals Allowance—This is a contribution Specialist Pay (Reserve Banding)—Specialist pay is to the additional costs which are incurred by unmarried paid to service personnel with specialist skills in order service personnel and those serving unaccompanied, if to help recruit and retain them. Reserve banding is used they do not have access to service accommodation or to facilitate a gradual reduction in specialist pay when messes. In future the allowance will be based on more individuals are in positions not requiring specialist skills. 47WS Written Ministerial Statements20 JANUARY 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 48WS

The period of gradual reduction has been changed The Government recognise that there are a number from six years to three, and will cease after the recipient of important components of a broad and balanced has spent three years out of specialist assignments. education for which it would be inappropriate to prescribe Additionally, we will remove specialist pay from those national programmes of study. This applies, for example, who give notice of resignation. We will not implement in the case of religious education, where what is taught this change until 2012. Outwith these changes, we have needs to reflect local circumstances. Religious education asked the armed forces pay review body to review all will not, therefore, be considered as part of the review specialist pay as part of its 2011 programme of work. of the national curriculum. The Government do not In addition to the changes described above, we have intend to make any changes to the statutory basis for made alterations to a number of other smaller allowances, religious education. to simplify the allowance system and contribute to the Similar considerations apply to PSHE (personal, social, reductions in our allowance expenditure. health and economic) education. The Government recognise however that good PSHE education supports individual EDUCATION young people to make safe and informed choices but that often schools need more support and help in the National Curriculum (England) way that they cover the important topics that are dealt within PSHE education, including sex and relationships education. We will therefore conduct a separate internal The Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove): review to determine how we can support schools to I am today announcing the Government’s intention to improve the quality of all PSHE teaching, so that review the national curriculum for both primary and teachers are in a stronger position to deliver appropriate secondary pupils in England. PSHE education. It is my ambition to reduce unnecessary prescription, The new national curriculum will represent a standard bureaucracy and central control throughout the education against which all schools can be judged. It will be system. That means taking a new approach to the a national benchmark, to provide parents with an curriculum. understanding of what progress they should expect. It The Government believe that it is teachers, not Ministers will inform the content of core qualifications, and it will and civil servants, who know best how to teach. We inform the new basis of assessment in primary schools. must give our teachers more time and space to create Academies will retain the freedom to disapply the national lessons that engage their pupils and enable students to curriculum, but it is crucial that we have a national fulfil their potential. The national curriculum will be curriculum against which all schools can measure themselves slimmed down so that it properly reflects the body of The new national curriculum will begin to be taught essential knowledge which children should learn. Individual in maintained schools from September 2013. In order schools should have greater freedom to construct their to allow schools time to manage the transition to the own programmes of study and develop approaches to new curriculum effectively, the new programmes of learning and study which help us to catch up with study for English, mathematics, science, and physical high-performing education nations. education will be introduced from 2013, with programmes It is important to distinguish between the national of study for other subjects coming into force the following curriculum and the wider school curriculum. The national year. The review will also advise on how the new curriculum curriculum was originally envisaged as a guide to study should be phased in for each key stage. in key subjects which would give parents and teachers The review will be led by my Department, supported confidence that students were acquiring the knowledge by an advisory committee of respected and successful necessary at every level to make appropriate progress. head teachers and employer and higher education But as it has developed, the national curriculum has representatives. The review will be informed by an expert come to cover more subjects, prescribe more outcomes panel of academics who will construct an evidence base and take up more school time than originally intended. and ensure that the new curriculum is based upon the Reforms to the national curriculum that have been best international practice. The review will also be introduced in recent years, such as the inclusion of skills shaped by the views of teachers, subject communities, development and the promotion of generic dispositions, academics, employers, higher education institutions, parents have also distorted the core function of the national and other interested parties as it develops its proposals. curriculum and diluted the importance of subject As a first step my Department has today launched a call knowledge. International surveys of educational for evidence. I would invite all interested parties to achievement show that in the same period our standing contribute to the review and the development of the has declined. new national curriculum. The review will therefore revise the national curriculum I have today placed a copy of the remit for the in line with the best international practice so that it sets national curriculum review in the Library of the House. out clearly the essential knowledge that all children should be expected to acquire in key subjects during the course of their school career. The new national curriculum HOME DEPARTMENT should embody for all children in England their cultural and scientific inheritance, enhance their understanding Independent Review Crime Statistics of the world around them and introduce them to the best that has been thought and written. I intend to ensure that our national curriculum is informed by the The Secretary of State for the Home Department best international practice, as well as evidence about the (Mrs Theresa May): I am today announcing a review knowledge children need to deepen their understanding led by the national statistician to decide which independent at each stage of their education. body should have future responsibility for the publication 49WS Written Ministerial Statements20 JANUARY 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 50WS of crime statistics and to oversee the implementation of Lack of information as to alternative sites; recommendations last year from the UK Statistics Doubt as to whether the legislative reform order would Authority. apply for 120 days or 90 days; I am concerned that our existing measures of crime Doubt that the £l70,000 payment in lieu of rent would be are confusing and offer the public only a partial picture forthcoming to provide facilities for children and environmental of the true level of offending. It is in the public interest improvements in the local area. that we have measures of crime that are clear, meaningful and in which the public can have confidence. The Government are confident that these points will be met: The UK Statistics Authority reported on barriers to trust in crime statistics and made six recommendations The Government have made it clear that the security in their report published in May 2010. I welcome the requirements of the games are wholly exceptional and that UK Statistics Authority’s report and have given careful they constitute no precedent whatever for future development of Wanstead Flats. The Government can see no circumstances consideration to their recommendations to improve in which something similar on Wanstead Flats would be public trust in the statistics. required in the future; While the UK Statistics Authority saw no evidence of The MPS has published, as planned, details of its site political interference in crime statistics published by the evaluation criteria (as well as its long and short-lists of Home Office, I believe bolder action is needed to more proposed sites) as part of its planning permission application clearly demonstrate their political independence. For to Redbridge borough council. This showed that no other that reason, I have decided to move future formal site met all the relevant criteria; responsibility for the publication of crime statistics to The MPS has confirmed that it will only require the site for a an independent body. maximum period of 90 days. This limitation will be written I have asked the national statistician to provide advice into the legislative reform order; on this together with the future arrangements for the The City of London corporation has said (and confirmed in data collection systems that underpin the statistics as public correspondence) that the £170,000 payment in lieu of part of a wider review of crime statistics that she has rent will be used to fund long-term lasting improvements to agreed to lead. The review will report back by the end of Epping forest. Local people will also be consulted on how it April 2011 so that changes can be implemented from should be spent. This funding is in addition to the cost of April 2012. making good the site which will be borne separately by the MPS. I have placed a copy of the terms of reference for this review in the Library of the House. One other issue to emerge during the course of the consultation was the proposed use of the legislative reform order temporarily to remove the “burden” of the criminal offence in section 34 of the Epping Forest Act. During the consultation it became apparent that section 34 Wanstead Flats (2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games) of the 1878 Act has in fact lapsed and that the criminal offence relating to enclosure of land on Epping forest (which needs to be removed on a temporary basis by the proposed legislative reform order) arises under byelaws The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Nick made under section 36 of the Epping Forest Act 1878 Herbert): On 16 September, Official Report, columns 62- rather than section 34 of the Act. We consider that the 63WS, I announced that the Government were undertaking consultation remains valid and the proposed legislative a three-month public consultation on a proposed legislative reform order can proceed. reform order to make a temporary amendment to the Epping Forest Act 1878. Muster, briefing and deployment centres are a tried The proposed legislative reform order (to be made and tested feature of large-scale police operations and under the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006), will be a vital element of operational policing plans for will enable the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to the games. Given that the Government and other parties construct a temporary muster, briefing and deployment are in a position to meet the points made during centre on Wanstead Flats, part of Epping forest. It is consultation, it will now bring forward the proposed proposed that this will take place for a period of 90 days legislative reform order during 2011. As the consultation during the summer of 2012 to support the London 2012 document made clear, the order will remove the prohibition Olympic and Paralympic games. on the enclosure of land for the fairground site part of The consultation closed on 9 December and I am Wanstead Flats in the summer of 2012 on a temporary grateful to those who responded. Twenty-four responses basis only. The proposed legislative reform order will were received (as well as a further seven responses, make no permanent changes to the 1878 Act nor will which may have been from the same people, sent to the any lasting powers relating to Wanstead Flats or Epping Home Office website) during the course of the 12-week forest be conferred on the police or any other public public consultation. Of these 31 responses, 18 were body. Full protection under the Act will resume at the against, eight were broadly supportive of the proposal end of the period. or had no specific objections and five were ambivalent A draft legislative reform order and accompanying or did not address the consultation questions. explanatory document will be laid before Parliament The main points to emerge from the consultation under section 14 of the Legislative and Regulatory were: Reform Act 2006 for scrutiny and consideration. The The fear that the proposals would set a precedent for future consultation responses have also been published in full development of the area and that the muster, briefing and on the Home Office website and copies have been deployment centre might remain on site; placed in the House Library. 51WS Written Ministerial Statements20 JANUARY 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 52WS

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE and expresses their willingness to participate in these debates to ensure full transparency and accountability of opt-in decisions. EU Business Enhancing (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Thirdly, in circumstances where there is particularly strong parliamentary interest in the Government’s decision on whether or not to opt in to such a measure, the The Minister for Europe (Mr David Lidington): The Government express their willingness to set aside imminent annual report on EU Justice and Home Affairs Government time for a debate in both Houses on the has provided a useful point of reflection on current basis of a motion on the Government’s recommended arrangements for parliamentary scrutiny over Justice approach on the opt-in. The precise details of these and Home Affairs decisions. The Government have arrangements to allow such debates and the circumstances come to the view that the current arrangements are not in which Government time would be set aside will be the adequate and Parliament has too small a role. subject of further consultation with the European Scrutiny I am therefore pleased to announce that the Government Committees, business managers and the Commons and have agreed an important package of measures to Lords Home Affairs and Justice Select Committees. strengthen parliamentary scrutiny of EU business, including These discussions will also need to determine how in the important area of Justice and Home Affairs, to arrangements would operate during periods of be elaborated and implemented in close consultation parliamentary recess and dissolution of Parliament. with the business managers and the relevant parliamentary However, the Government believe that as a general rule, committees. This Government are committed to upholding it would be appropriate to do so in circumstances where the right of Parliament to hold the Government to they propose to opt in to a measure which would have a account on EU issues and this package will provide substantial impact on the United Kingdom’s criminal Parliament with further tools to enable it to do this job or civil law, our national security, civil liberties or effectively. immigration policy. The Government will also put in The treaty of Lisbon provides for a five-year transitional place analogous arrangements for parliamentary scrutiny period after which the infringement powers of the European of decisions to opt-out of measures under the Schengen Commission and the jurisdiction of the European Court protocol. of Justice (ECJ) will apply to all unamended police and As currently, the Government will not override the criminal justice instruments adopted under the pre-Lisbon scrutiny process unless an earlier opt-in decision is “third pillar” arrangements. The transitional period essential. Where the Government consider an early began on 1 December 2009 and will end on 30 November opt-in to be necessary, it will explain its reasons to 2014. The UK has until 31 May 2014 to choose whether Parliament through the statement set out above. In to accept the application of the Commission’s infringement these circumstances, it would usually be appropriate for powers and jurisdiction of the ECJ over this body of the statement to be made orally. instruments or to opt out of them entirely, in which case The Government are committed to strengthening its they will cease to apply to the UK on 1 December 2014. engagement with Parliament on all European Union Parliament should have the right to give its view on a business as part of our wider work to reduce the democratic decision of such importance. The Government therefore deficit over EU matters. It will review the arrangements commit to a vote in both Houses of Parliament before for engagement on EU issues in consultation with they make a formal decision on whether they wish to Parliament, and make a further announcement in due opt-out. The Government will conduct further consultations course. on the arrangements for this vote, in particular with the These measures will significantly strengthen Parliament’s European Scrutiny Committees, and the Commons and oversight of EU Justice and Home Affairs matters and Lords Home Affairs and Justice Select Committees and make the Government more accountable for the decisions a further announcement will be made in due course. it makes in the EU. The Government are fully committed to rigorous I have discussed the terms of this statement with the parliamentary scrutiny of opt-in and Schengen opt-out Home Secretary and the Justice Secretary who agree decisions in relation to new proposals from the Commission. with its contents. The Government will continue to honour the arrangements that are currently in place following the undertakings of the then Government Minister, Baroness Ashton, for LEADER OF THE HOUSE enhanced parliamentary scrutiny of JHA opt-in decisions. The Government will also undertake to extend scrutiny Members’ Salaries of opt-in decisions with the following commitments. First, following the existing process of parliamentary The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir George scrutiny of all JHA measures under title V of the treaty Young): On 3 July 2008, the House of Commons passed on the functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the a resolution linking future annual increases in Members’ Government commit to make a written statement to salary to the median pay increase received by a basket parliament on each opt-in decision to ensure that Parliament of 15 public sector work force groups in the preceding is fully informed of the Government’s decision and of year. The correct figure for this increase is determined the reasons why they believe their decision is in the each year by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) national interest. Where appropriate and necessary, this and takes effect automatically at the beginning of the statement may be made orally to Parliament. relevant financial year, having been notified to the Secondly, the Government urge the Committees to House by the SSRB, through the Speaker. I am grateful take full advantage of their existing right to call a to the SSRB for undertaking this work on behalf of debate on an amendable motion on any opt-in decision the House. 53WS Written Ministerial Statements20 JANUARY 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 54WS

The chairman of the SSRB has written to the Speaker WORK AND PENSIONS and the letter has been laid before the House. The increase for 2011-12 is 1%, according to the formula. In the absence of a further review by the SSRB to specify a Sure Start Maternity Grant different formula (for which provision was made in the 2008 resolution), only a further decision of the House can stop the increase from taking effect from 1 April 2011. The Minister of State, Department for Work and The Government support the independent determination Pensions (Steve Webb): The Government announced in of Members’ remuneration. However, in light of the the emergency Budget that, from April 2011, payment decision to impose a two-year pay freeze on all public of the Sure Start maternity grant would be protected at sector workers earning more than £21,000 per annum, a the current rate of £500, but limited to the first child. motion will be brought forward to invite the House to Amending regulations were laid today restricting payment rescind the 2008 resolution, so that the 1% pay increase to families where their new baby, or babies if it is a will not take effect. multiple birth, will be the only child under 16 in their The 2008 resolution also requires the SSRB to conduct household. The regulations will come into force on a review of Members’ salaries in the first year of each 24 January and apply to babies born, expected, or the new Parliament. By rescinding the resolution in its subject of an adoption or other analogous arrangement, entirety, the motion removes the requirement for the on or after 11 April 2011. SSRB to conduct such a review this year. The review of Sure Start maternity grants are available to families Members’ salaries will instead take place following the in receipt of income support, income-related employment commencement of the relevant sections of the and support allowance, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, which pension credit, child tax credit at a rate above the family provides for the future independent determination of element, or working tax credit that also includes a Members’ salaries. disability or severe disability element. This broad eligibility ensures that the grant is as widely available as possible PRIME MINISTER among families with lower incomes both in and out of work. Intelligence Services Commissioner Restricting payment in this way ensures that the limited resources available support families when they The Prime Minister (Mr David Cameron): In accordance need it most. Expenditure is inevitably highest when a with section 59 of the regulation of Investigatory Powers new baby is the only child in the household and there Act 2000, I have agreed to appoint the right hon. are no baby items that can be reused or recycled. Sir Mark Waller as Intelligence Services Commissioner This measure will save £73 million a year as part of from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013. the Government’s deficit management plans.

881W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 882W

Written Answers to £ Age Median1 Mean1 Questions 16-24 1,300 2,800 25-34 4,000 15,300 35-44 7,000 22,600 Thursday 20 January 2011 45-54 10,000 35,900 55-64 12,000 46,000 For all aged 16 and 6,500 26,200 above 1 Excludes those with zero pension wealth. WORK AND PENSIONS Notes: 1. We interpreted the question’s mention of pension pots as a reference to DC Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes pension wealth and therefore provided figures in that context. The estimates quoted reflect DC pension wealth held by employees who are currently contributing to DC occupational pension schemes. These estimates may Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for include DC pension wealth held in more than one pot. They exclude those individuals with zero pension wealth. Work and Pensions what recent representations he has 2. We provide figures for both mean and median DC occupational pension received on his proposal not to pay the mobility component wealth. The median may provide a better measure compared to the mean since of disability living allowance to young people in residential the distribution of private pension wealth can be skewed by a small number of very large amounts of wealth at the top of the distribution. care; and if he will make a statement. [35033] 3. The Wealth and Assets survey (WAS) is a large scale nationally representative longitudinal survey of over 30,000 private households in Great Maria Miller: We have received a number of Britain that provides comprehensive information on people’s assets and net wealth. representations on the withdrawal of the mobility 4. The first wave was conducted from July 2006 to June 2008. It collected component of disability allowance for people in residential detailed information on financial and non-financial assets, wealth components care, in the form of parliamentary questions and such as savings, pensions, property, mortgages and debt as well as people’s attitudes and savings behaviour over time. correspondence. There was also an adjournment debate 5. A copy of the “Wealth in Great Britain 2006/08” using the Wealth and on the subject on 30 November 2010 Assets data is available at the following web link: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/wealth-assets-2006- We have encouraged disabled people and their 2008/Wealth_in_GB_2006_2008.pdf representatives to put forward their views on this proposal Source: as part of the wider DLA reform consultation document, Wealth and Assets Survey 2006/08 which was published on 6 December 2010 and will finish on 14 February 2011. Sky Lanterns: Safety

Housing Benefit: Bromsgrove Rebecca Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment his Department Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work has made of the (a) fire and (b) public health risks of and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 December sky lanterns; and if he will make a statement. [34924] 2010, Official Report, column 1079W,on housing benefit: Worcestershire, how many people in Bromsgrove were Mr Davey: I have been asked to reply. in receipt of housing benefit of more than £400 per This Department and the Department for Environment, week in the latest period for which figures are available. Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have had several [34321] meetings to discuss the safety issues of sky lanterns. Reports on behalf of Norfolk Trading Standards by the Steve Webb: As at September 2010, there were no Health and Safety Laboratory and a report by the claimants receiving more than £400 per week in housing Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority benefit in Bromsgrove. both assessed that high quality lanterns when used according to instructions were generally safe in relation Multiple Occupation: Ayrshire and Arran to fire safety. BIS and DEFRA continue to work with Trading Standards and other interested parties to gather Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work evidence and monitor the situation. and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of multi-occupancy lets of each type of tenure in Tax Credit North Ayrshire and Arran constituency. [30509] Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State Steve Webb: This information is not available. for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the potential effects on employment levels of Pensions the planned increase in the tax credit taper rate. [33395]

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply. Work and Pensions what recent estimates he has made The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was of the average size of an individual’s pension pot. formed in May 2010 to make an independent assessment [34649] of the public finances and the economy. On 29 November 2010, the OBR released the official forecast for total Steve Webb: Estimates of median pension wealth employment and general Government employment. The held in defined contribution (DC) occupational pensions forecast includes the impacts of quantifiable tax and by an employee who is a member and contributing to expenditure measures that were announced at the time the scheme in 2006-08, by age: of the June Budget. 883W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 884W

The change to the tax credits taper rate should be Tony Baldry: As a Royal Peculiar Westminster Abbey considered alongside changes in the personal allowance. does not come under jurisdiction of the Church The personal allowance for under 65s will be increased Commissioners. The hon. Member may therefore wish by £1,000 to £7,475 in 2011-12. This will remove 880,000 to direct his query about the affordability of admission low income tax payers from tax altogether and 23 million charges to the Receiver General of Westminster Abbey. taxpayers will benefit by up to £170 each per year. Work Capability Assessment LEADER OF THE HOUSE Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will defer implementation of the IPSA: Liaison Group Employment and Support Allowance (Limited Capability for Work and Limited Capability for Work-Related 8. Nicky Morgan: To ask the Leader of the House Activity) Amendment Regulations 2011 until he has what progress has been made on the creation of a received recommendations from (a) Mind, (b) Mencap liaison group between hon. Members and the Independent and (c) the National Autistic Society on the mental, Parliamentary Standards Authority. [34736] intellectual and cognitive descriptors for the work capability assessment. [34890] Sir George Young: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chris Grayling: We believe that the principles of the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (Simon work capability assessment (WCA) are right, but that Hart) today: the system which we inherited contained some flaws My hon. Friend will have heard Mr Speaker’s statement yesterday that risked undermining its effectiveness. We have therefore on this matter. I welcome this initiative and understand that the moved swiftly to put those right. Liaison Group will meet soon. We welcome the first independent review of the WCA, led by Professor Malcolm Harrington. We are committed Petitions to taking forward the review’s recommendations so that we can make the system fairer and more effective. The 9. Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Leader of the Government response to Professor Harrington’s review House what recent progress he has made on sets out how and when we will implement the the Government’s plans to link petitions to debates in recommendations of the review, the majority of which the House. [34737] will be in place in time for the national roll-out of the incapacity benefits reassessment programme. Sir George Young: I refer the hon. Member to the We are grateful to Professor Harrington who has answer given by the Deputy Leader of the House today agreed to take forward the next annual review of the to my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and WCA. He will start work immediately on the programme Darwen (Jake Berry): of work he has identified, to look in detail at the The Government will move the online petition system to the descriptors for mental health and other fluctuating DirectGov portal soon, certainly before the summer. conditions. We look forward to receiving the results of Officials are currently working on an effective verification this work. We are committed to a process of ongoing system to ensure that petitions becomes a useful tool for engaging review and improvement of the WCA and believe that it with Government, rather than the gimmicky system of the previous would be inappropriate to delay implementation of Government’s petition site. other pertinent recommendations while we await additional recommendations. Adjournment Debates

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Paul Uppal: To ask the Leader of the House what and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the the public purse of implementation of the Employment format of the pre-adjournment debate held on 21 December and Support Allowance (Limited Capability for Work 2010. [34734] and Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity) Amendment Regulations 2011. [34891] Sir George Young: I welcome the decision by the Committee to retain the pre-recess adjournment debate, Maria Miller: An impact assessment for these regulations, and the innovative format which allowed 45 hon. Members including an assessment of the cost to the Exchequer, to contribute, almost twice as many as the previous will be published when the regulations are laid. year’s debate. I am keen to work closely with the Backbench Business Committee and the Procedure Committee on innovations CHURCH COMMISSIONERS to the working of the House. Westminster Abbey: Fees and Charges Private Members’ Bills

Mr Offord: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, Mr Bone: To ask the Leader of the House if he will representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church make provision for sitting days for the consideration of Commission will take steps to assess the affordability Private Members’ Bills in the 2010-11 session beyond of the admission charge to visit Westminster Abbey in the number set out in Standing Orders commensurate comparison to other attractions in London. [35000] with the expected length of the session. [34843] 885W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 886W

Sir George Young: I will bring forward proposals for £ million consideration by the House in due course. Extra provision Agricultural should be made for the consideration of Private Members Agricultural research development Bills in light of the length of the session. 2005-06 35.6 99.3 2006-07 35.3 118.9 ATTORNEY-GENERAL 2007-08 38.3 136.9 Domestic Violence 2008-09 42.2 180.5 2009-10 65.1 171.4 Lyn Brown: To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussions he has had with the Director of Public Decisions have not been finalised on future funding Prosecutions on the Crown Prosecution Service’s to agricultural research. Parliament will be notified performance in the prosecution of cases involving once this has been agreed. Support for agricultural allegations of domestic violence. [35197] development from our bilateral programme will be decided upon the conclusion of the ongoing bilateral and The Attorney-General: I refer the hon. Member to the multilateral aid reviews. answers I gave on 18 January 2010, Official Report, columns 693-94, to the oral questions from the hon. Members for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger) Burma: Asylum and Luton South (Gavin Shuker). Fiona O’Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has WOMEN AND EQUALITIES had with non-governmental organisations working on Departmental Pay the Thai-Burmese border on (a) numbers and (b) treatment of Burmese refugees; and if he will make a Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for Women and statement. [34835] Equalities what information she holds on the number of sub-contracted staff servicing the Government Equalities Office who were not paid at a rate equivalent Mr Duncan: UK Government officials in Bangkok to or above the London living wage in the latest period are in close contact with the Thailand Burma Border Consortium and other NGOs working on the Thai-Burma for which figures are available. [34807] border. We are concerned by reports that thousands of Lynne Featherstone: All sub-contracted staff servicing new refugees have crossed the Thai-Burma border since the Government Equalities Office were paid at a rate November to escape the fighting in east Burma, and equal to or above the London living wage. reports that some of these have been encouraged to return to Burma by the Thai authorities. The British ambassador to Thailand and Department for International WALES Development (DFID) officials visited the Thai side of Departmental Press Releases the border on 17 January 2011. They raised these concerns with the local military and civilian authorities, and Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for pressed them to treat all those who have crossed into Wales on how many occasions her Department has Thailand seeking refuge in accordance with international provided embargoed media briefings prior to an oral law and international standards. statement to the House since 26 May 2010; in respect of DFID is providing about £1.6 million this financial how many such briefings her Department was year for food, housing, other supplies and improved informed that the embargo had been breached; what access to legal assistance for the 146,000 Burmese refugees steps were taken as a result of each such breach; and on living in camps in Thailand. how many occasions her Department has provided media briefings without an embargo prior to an oral Departmental Working Conditions statement to the House since 26 May 2010. [31911]

Mr David Jones: None. Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department’s policy is on (a) the space provided per employee, (b) home working INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT and (c) hot desking; how many employees it has on Agriculture: Research average per desk; and how much space on average there is per employee. [34596] Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has allocated to agricultural research and Mr Duncan: The Department for International development in the last five years; and how much such Development (DFID) does not have a formal policy on funding he plans to allocate in each of the next four the space provided per employee. DFID provides a financial years. [34430] working environment which values and nurtures a diverse work force and allows staff to work a range of alternative Mr Duncan: The Department for International working patterns. According to the latest benchmarking Development (DFID) has provided the following centrally report produced by the Government Property Unit, in funded expenditure for agricultural research and bilateral 2009-10 DFID’s UK estate was occupied at 15.2 square expenditure for agricultural development in the last five metres per person and there were 0.9 workstations per financial years. person. 887W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 888W

In order to use our UK estate more efficiently, we are David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland currently planning the reorganisation of our London and I have regular discussions with the Chancellor of headquarters. Staff will work at ‘hot desks’ provided at the Exchequer on a range of issues. The UK Government a ratio of 7 desks per 10 staff. This reorganisation recognise that concerns have been expressed about the should result in an occupancy level in this building of current system of devolution funding whereby changes around 11.4 square metres per person. to the block grant are calculated by the Barnett formula, but the UK Government’s priority is to reduce the Food Aid deficit and they do not have any plans to change arrangements before the stabilisation of the public finances. Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on levels of global food production. [34796] TRANSPORT Mr Duncan: Global food production will need to Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Accidents increase in order to feed an extra two billion people by 2050. This will be hugely challenging for the global food system. The Department for International Development Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for (DFID) is helping address that challenge in a range of Transport how many traffic accidents have been ways, such as funding research into improved agriculture recorded at the Dartford crossing in each of the last technologies; working with other G20 countries to reduce eight years. [35026] the vulnerability of poor people to food price volatility; Mike Penning: Accidents are recorded using Stats 19 and supporting the governments of food insecure countries (Police) Data and includes all collisions where injuries such as Bangladesh and Ethiopia to improve the nutritional are reported. Using validated Stats 19 Data, the recorded status of women and girls. collisions for the A282 (which includes the Dartford Crossing) for the last eight years is: Sudan: Referendums Number Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports he has received of humanitarian 2002 95 issues arising from large-scale population movements 2003 74 following the recent referendum in Sudan. [34556] 2004 81 2005 79 Mr Andrew Mitchell: According to reporting by the 2006 66 UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2007 73 (OCHA), the total number of returnees from the north 2008 63 to the south of Sudan over the last 11 weeks has been 2009 66 182,446. A further 21,186 are awaiting transportation south from Khartoum, with a current average rate of Validated and published Stats 19 Data are currently return of 1,500 to 2,000 people per week. There have only available up to 2009. been instances of harassment of convoys, but the two parties agreed a framework to provide greater security Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls along key routes on 17 January 2011. The UN will monitor compliance. Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for People returning home are often households headed Transport what estimate he has made of the additional by women, with several children, as male breadwinners toll revenues accruing at the Dartford Crossing remain in Khartoum for the time being. Some transit attributable to the 2012 Olympics. [34828] camps have been congested by delays in onward transportation, but this situation is easing. Needs in Mike Penning: The Department for Transport has these camps include clean water, food, shelter, and made no estimates of additional road user charge receipts addressing issues such as the separation of families, at the Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing during the especially children from parents. 2012 Olympic Games. On return, southerners are entitled to assistance packages Significant increases in traffic volumes at this crossing of food, seeds, tools and other essential items for three are not anticipated as the transport strategy for the months. The UK is working with the Government of 2012 Games promotes the use of public transport. Southern Sudan, the UN and other partners to start to The Highways Agency is working closely with the address the longer term integration and livelihoods Olympic Delivery Authority on the delivery of that needs of the returnees. strategy. The plans for spectator transport include the provision of park and ride sites either side of the crossing (that at Bluewater providing a shuttle to the nearby Javelin rail shuttle from Ebbsfleet station). SCOTLAND The crossing forms part of the ‘alternative’ section of the Olympic Route Network—that is routes which will Students: Fees and charges used by vehicles transporting athletes, officials, media etc. in the event that the main core and venue routes Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (e.g. the A13) are not available for any reason. HA and what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor ODA will be considering proposals to assist these of the Exchequer on the Barnett formula. [35082] movements through the crossing over the coming months. 889W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 890W

Freight Facilities Grant: Scotland (3) if he will bring forward proposals to place the benefits received by the (a) executive board members, Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for (b) non-executive board members, (c) senior Transport whether he has had recent discussions with management, (d) acting chief executive and (e) the Scottish Executive on the abolition of the Freight chairman of Network Rail within his responsibility. Facilities Grants scheme from March 2011. [33599] [34132]

Mike Penning: No recent discussions have taken place Mrs Villiers [holding answer 17 January 2011]: Network with the Scottish Executive on its abolition of the Rail is a private sector company. Decisions on the Freight Facilities Grant in Scotland from March 2011. remuneration of its staff are matters for the company, In Scotland this is the responsibility of the Scottish in which the Government have no powers to intervene. Government. Under a condition of its network licence Network Large Goods Vehicles: Excise Duties Rail is required to maintain a management incentive plan, which is used to determine the remuneration of the company’s senior executives. This must be submitted Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for to the independent Office of Rail Regulation for approval Transport pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2010, or amendment. Official Report, column 348W, on large goods vehicles: excise duties, what progress has been made on the The Government welcomed the announcement that introduction of HGV road user charging; and by what Network Rail has suspended its management incentive plan pending a joint review with the Office of Rail date he expects a scheme to be operational. [34941] Regulation. This review must be fundamental and far- Mike Penning: As set out in the Department for reaching. Any future incentive system should be more Transport business plan 2011-15, we intend to introduce transparent and based on the principle that bonuses are primary legislation for HGV road user charging in May not an automatic right, but should focus on rewarding 2012, with the proposed scheme coming into operation exceptional long-term performance. in April 2014. Officials are currently developing the details of an effective charging scheme which represents Railways: Construction value for money and are preparing draft legislation. We expect to consult formally later this year. Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Motor Vehicles: Registration Transport when he plans to publish the consultation criteria for High Speed Two. [34346] Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 18 January Transport whether he plans to bring forward proposals 2011]: I have previously made clear that the forthcoming to register commercial vehicle trailers for the purposes consultation will cover both the Government’s overall of reducing the incidence of theft or misuse of such strategy for high speed rail and the line of route for the trailers. [34830] initial phase, between London and the west midlands. The consultation questions will be published at the Mike Penning: The Government have no plans to launch of the consultation. register commercial vehicle trailers. Network Rail: Pay Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department plans to make an assessment Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for of economic and environmental benefits to the UK of Transport what information his Department holds the extension of the high speed rail network into about the benefits the board members and senior Scotland. [34432] management of Network Rail receive in addition to basic salary or fees. [34129] Mr Philip Hammond: The Government support a truly national high speed rail network, but recognise Mrs Villiers [holding answer 17 January 2011]: Network that this will need to be delivered in phases. While the Rail is a private sector company. Information about the development of high speed rail lines in Scotland are a remuneration of its board members and senior management matter for the Scottish Government we are happy to is set out in Network Rail’s annual reports and accounts, work with it on its ambitions. In its report of December which are available on the company’s website: 2009, HS2 Ltd assessed several options for networks www.networkrail.co.uk incorporating links to Scotland. Its conclusions are set out in chapter 6 of this report. Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will bring forward proposals to Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport bring the setting of (a) the salary of the acting chief when he plans to begin consideration of route options executive of Network Rail and (b) the fees of the for the extension of the high speed rail network north current Chairman of Network Rail within his of Birmingham. [34433] responsibility; [34130] (2) if he will bring forward proposals to bring the Mr Philip Hammond: High Speed Two Ltd is currently awardoffreetravelto(a) current employees, (b) developing route proposals for the legs from Birmingham former employees and (c) board members of Network to Leeds and Manchester and will provide advice to me Rail within his responsibility; [34131] by the end of the year. 891W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 892W

Railways: Disability assessment. Full impact assessment documents will be published as part of the consultation process in the Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for coming months. Transport what assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of and (b) consistency in support available to Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for disabled rail passengers across the rail network. [34413] Transport if he will undertake an equality impact assessment of the effects on (a) disabled rail passengers and (b) Norman Baker: Assessment of the adequacy and other disabled users of transport services of the abolition consistency of services provided to rail passengers is of the Disabled Persons Advisory Committee. [34417] primarily a matter for Passenger Focus and the Office of Rail Regulation. However, we expect all rail service Norman Baker: Yes. Full impact assessment documents providers to meet their duties under the Equality Act will be published as part of the consultation process in 2010, and the commitments in their Disabled People’s the coming months. Protection Policy, and to make all reasonable endeavours to meet the needs of their passengers. Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the adequacy of training Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for offered to rail staff to support disabled passengers. Transport what assessment he has made of the support [34472] available to disabled rail passengers who choose to travel at short notice. [34414] Norman Baker: The training of rail staff is a matter for train operators: not the Department for Transport. Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has However, the Department does require that all staff not carried out an assessment of the support available receive relevant disability awareness training as part of to disabled rail passengers who choose to travel at short an operator’s Disabled People’s Protection Policy, which notice. However, we expect all rail operators to meet the is a condition of their operating licence. commitments in their Disabled People’s Protection Policy, as well as their duties under the Equality Act 2010, and Railways: Snow and Ice to make all reasonable endeavours to meet the needs of their disabled passengers. Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for We recognise that rail operators are better able to Transport whether he plans to revise his Department’s plan their resources to meet passengers needs if assistance guidance to local authorities on transport infrastructure is booked in advance using the Assisted Passenger in the light of the recent severe weather conditions; and Reservation System. The Department for Transport has if he will make a statement. [32993] agreed to provide funding to the Association of Train Operators to improve the arrangements in place for Norman Baker: The Secretary of State for Transport, assistance bookings. We expect trials of the new system with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local to start during 2011. Government, wrote on 12 November 2010 to the leaders of all English local authorities. This letter advised on Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the measures the Government have taken to implement Transport what assessment he has made of the findings the recommendations following David Quarmby’s of the Passenger Focus report on the Assisted independent review on winter resilience, published in October 2010, and drew attention to the recommendations Passenger Reservation System. [34415] in the review panel’s report which were addressed to local authorities to take forward. Norman Baker: We note the findings of the report with interest. Overall, it reflects well on the efforts of I wrote to leaders of all local highway authorities in front line rail staff, with overall customer satisfaction England on 15 December 2010 and emphasised the having increased from 69% 71% since the last survey in importance of working together to keep our transport 2008. However it also shows that the assistance booked network moving given the early onset of severe weather matched the assistance actually provided in just 47% of this winter. cases and therefore demonstrates that the current Assisted I reminded them of the guidance produced by the Passenger Reservation System needs to improve. Department with the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG) That is why the Department for Transport has agreed on the range of actions that can be taken with regards to provide funding to the Association of Train Operating to winter service and measures to ensure that salt stocks Companies to put in place a new system for assistance last longer. bookings. We expect trials of the new system to start On 24 December, officials from the Department for during 2011. Transport wrote to the chief executives of all local highway authorities highlighting the conclusions and Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for recommendations of David Quarmby’s further independent Transport what assessment he has made of the likely audit published on 21 December 2010. This audit looked effect on support for disabled rail passengers of the at how well the transport system coped following the ending of the Disabled Persons Advisory Committee. extreme weather which occurred between 24 November [34416] and 9 December last year. This letter also attached further technical guidance in Norman Baker: The Department for Transport’s relation to spread rates for salt, as recommended by proposals have been through a preliminary impact David Quarmby. It also stressed the importance of assessment process, including an equalities impact local authorities implementing the recommendations 893W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 894W from David Quarmby’s October report and December Copies of the consultation have been placed in the audit, including reviewing their own winter service plans Libraries of the House and are available on the Maritime and operations accordingly against best practice. and Coastguard Agency’s website: My Department will continue to work throughout www.mcga.gov.uk the year with the local government sector to ensure that we continue to further improve resilience for future winters. This may include updating and providing further Roads: Safety Barriers guidance if required. Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Rescue Services what research his Department has undertaken on the cost-effectiveness of concrete central reservation barriers Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for compared with metal barriers; and if he will make a Transport how many incidents required intervention statement. [33975] from a HM Coastguard station in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [33117] Mike Penning: A whole life cost study was carried out by the Highways Agency in 2004. The report, entitled Mike Penning: Coastguard record keeping continues “Whole Life Cost Analysis for Median Safety Barriers”, to be affected by industrial action short of a strike. This led to the decision by the Highways Agency to introduce means that incident records may not be completely the policy for concrete barriers in the central reserve on accurate and it is not possible to give a figure for the motorways. The policy was implemented by an Interim number of incidents that were handled in 2008-09. Advice Note IAN 60/05 in January 2005. This policy In 2009-10, just over 21,000 incidents were recorded was taken forward as a full standard in TD 19/06, the within the UK search and rescue region. Requirements for Road Restraint Systems, in April 2007 and included in the Design Manual for Roads and Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Bridges. I am placing copies of these documents in the Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement Libraries of the House. of 16 December 2010, Official Report, columns 133- 4WS, on coastguard services (modernisation), what the latest technologies referred to are; and how the Roads: Snow and Ice proposed new system will operate. [34344] Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Mike Penning [holding answer 18 January 2011]: The Transport if he will allocate additional funding to (a) technologies referred to in the proposals for the local authorities and (b) the Welsh Assembly modernisation of HM Coastguard are the latest version Government for repair of pot holes attributable to of existing technology currently installed in the Maritime recent severe snowfalls. [34322] Rescue Co-ordination Centres. The proposals seek to fully exploit functionality, such as geographic information Norman Baker: The Government have already committed systems and mapping, that is currently not used by HM to providing over £3 billion of capital to local authorities Coastguard but is already used elsewhere by other in England for road maintenance over the next four emergency services. years, reflecting the economic and social importance of This technology covers functions such as incident local roads. command and control, information management, search The funding of road maintenance in Wales is a devolved planning, vessel traffic monitoring as well as radio and matter and therefore the responsibility of the Welsh telephone communications. Assembly Government. The Welsh Assembly Government Chapter 3 of the consultation document ‘Protecting receive funding through a block grant from HM Treasury our Seas and Shores in the 21 Century’, published on 16 and are able to determine the allocation of public December 2010, outlines how the proposed new nationally expenditure between the services under their control. networked system will operate. Copies of the consultation have been placed in the Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Libraries of the House and are available on the Maritime Transport what consideration he has given to the use of and Coastguard Agency’s website at: Heavy Rescue Partnership vehicles to keep major roads www.mcga.gov.uk open during severe weather. [34831]

Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Mike Penning: The Secretary of State for Transport Transport what assessment he made of the likely effects has not given any consideration to the use of Heavy of the proposed coastguard station closures announced Rescue Partnership vehicles as the Highways Agency on 16 December 2010. [34496] have their own National Vehicle Recovery Manager contract in place for the motorway network. Mike Penning: The proposals for the selection of The Highways Agency’s National Vehicle Recovery stations to remain open has been undertaken to identify Manager Contract reflects the geographical Strategic the most suitable locations to provide the best service to Road Network (SRN) coverage of the Traffic Officer the seafarer, coastal communities and provide value for Service (TOS). All other parts of the SRN are covered money. This is outlined on pages 22 and 23 in the by recovery contracts managed by the Police. On these consultation document “Protecting our Seas and Shores roads, the Police use their own statutory powers and in the 21st Century”. contracts to manage the recovery of vehicles. 895W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 896W

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Sport: CSR

Local Television Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment 15. Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for he has made of the effects of the outcome of the Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he has comprehensive spending review on his Department’s taken to promote the development of local television levels of financial support for sport. [34703] services. [34716] Hugh Robertson: In common with other Departments, this was a tough comprehensive spending review for the Mr Jeremy Hunt: This week I published a Local Department. However, as a result of the Government’s Media Action Plan, inviting expressions of interest changes to the national lottery, UK Sport had its funding from organisations interested in bidding for a new network confirmed for the remainder of the London 2012 cycle channel that will host local TV services. The plan also and a similar level of funding available for the start of invites views from industry and the public that will help the Rio cycle. Sport England, after a small fall in shape the commercial, technical and content model for 2011-12, sees its funding rise by 14% over the spending local TV. review period. Tourism: North East British Sky Broadcasting Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, 16. Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Olympics, Media and Sport (1) when he received the Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he report from Ofcom on the regulatory issues connected plans to take to support the development of the with the takeover of BSkyB; [34438] tourism industry in the North East; and if he will make a statement. [34717] (2) whether he has had discussions with the Competition Commission on the procedure for referral John Penrose: The Government will invest almost of bids for the takeover of media companies; [34463] £130 million from 2011-12 to 2014-15 in promoting (3) what meetings he has had with (a) employees, tourism across the country through VisitBritain and (b) directors and (c) executives of (i) BSkyB and VisitEngland. The North East remains an important (ii) News Corporation since his appointment; and what part of our tourism offer and its destinations will benefit the (A) dates and (B) locations of such meetings were. from this effort. [34466] Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Football Governance Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department 18. Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for have had with representatives of BSkyB and News Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has Corporation on the proposed takeover of BSkyB by to bring forward proposals on football governance; and News Corporation; [34464] if he will make a statement. [34719] (2) whether (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have scheduled meetings with Hugh Robertson: In line with the commitment in the representatives of BSkyB and News Corporation on the Government’s coalition agreement, I am in discussion proposed takeover of BSkyB by News Corporation. with the football authorities on what more they can do [34465] to bring about further governance reform and a greater involvement for supporters in their local clubs. I hope Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for to be able to set out the way forward in these areas by Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to May. publish the Ofcom report on the takeover of BSkyB by I will be taking a close interest in the inquiry that the News Corporation. [34397] Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee are conducting on this issue and look forward to responding to their Mr Jeremy Hunt: On 31 December 2010 I received recommendations in due course. Ofcom’s report on the public interest issues relating to the News Corporation’s proposed acquisition of BSkyB. In taking my decision about whether to refer this proposed Participation in Sport: Young People acquisition to the Competition Commission, I will take as much time as necessary to carefully consider all the Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for relevant information so that I am able to come to a fully Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment considered decision. In view of the commercial sensitivity he has made of the effect on national sporting of the process and the need to preserve legitimate performance at elite level of levels of participation in confidentiality, it would not be appropriate for me to sport among young people. [34718] comment on every stage of the process. I will publish Ofcom’s report with commercially sensitive information Hugh Robertson: National sporting performance at redacted. I have not taken a final decision about when elite level is dependent upon the talent pathways that to publish, but I have a duty to publish the report before the national governing bodies of sport put in place. The or at the time of the announcement of my decision. I Government are committed to working with governing am committed to reaching my decision in a fair and bodies to improve talent pathways, particularly through even-handed way, and am satisfied that the decision-making the Whole Sport Plans introduced by Sport England. process will ensure all concerns are properly considered. 897W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 898W

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for within the London 2012 supply chain including two Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many companies based in Newport, Rowecord Holdings and organisations and individuals responded to the Ofcom Premier Forest Products Ltd. I am sure that you would consultation on News Corporation and BSkyB; how join me in congratulating these companies on securing many such responses were opposed to the News London 2012 contracts. Corporation acquisition of BSkyB shares; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each response to the Public Libraries consultation. [34573] Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Mr Jeremy Hunt: I will publish Ofcom’s report, with Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on the commercially sensitive and confidential information future of public libraries; and if he will make a redacted, before or at the time of the announcement of statement. [34844] my decision on whether to refer this proposed acquisition to the Competition Commission. Ofcom’s published Mr Vaizey: The Government are committed champions report will include a summary of the non-confidential of public libraries and their value, not just in encouraging representations. reading, but as the hub of local communities. They are places which can be used by anyone in order to learn, Internet read, access information or get online. The Government continue to drive the improvement Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, and development of public library services through the Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has Future Libraries Programme. The programme was made of the number of households without access to announced in July and is led by the Museums, Libraries the internet in rural communities in England over each and Archives Council and the Local Government of the next five years. [34200] Association. They will support over 30 authorities participating in the programme to explore options that Mr Vaizey: The internet is accessible via dial-up, but will help them to deliver the front line services communities Broadband Delivery UK estimate that 13% or 0.57 want and need more efficiently. Learning from the 10 million households in England where the population is pilot projects will be shared widely to support non- no greater than 10,000 people have a broadband connection participating authorities to deliver their services more capable of less than 0.5Mbps. efficiently too. No estimate has been made of the rate of reduction We continue to monitor proposals about changes to up to 2015, but the Government are committed to library services being made by local authorities across bringing broadband access to all those without a basic England and we take our duty to superintend the delivery level of connectivity by 2015. of services, including any reduction in programmes, News Corporation very seriously.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT he plans to have with News Corporation on its proposed takeover of BSkyB. [34704] Departmental Art Works Mr Jeremy Hunt: In view of the commercial sensitivity of the process and the need to preserve legitimate Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for confidentiality, it would not be appropriate for me to Communities and Local Government how many pieces comment on every stage of the process. However, when of artwork his Department has moved since May 2010. I have made my decision I will publish full information [34302] about the process, including details of which organisations I met at which stages. Robert Neill: The artwork on display in ministerial offices and in some communal areas of the Department Olympic Games 2012 is on loan from the Government Art Collection. Since May 2010, 34 pieces of art have been returned Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, to the Government Art Collection and 24 pieces have Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has been installed. A list of the items installed were published made of the potential legacy for Newport of the on my Department’s website on 14 September 2010. London 2012 Olympics. [34711] Departmental Redundancy Hugh Robertson: Wales and the whole of the UK are already benefiting from the economic, sporting and Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for cultural opportunities generated by the 2012 Games, Communities and Local Government what provision with 490 schools and colleges in Wales already registered was made for the cost of redundancies in his Department’s as part of the London 2012 education programme ‘Get Comprehensive Spending Review 2010 settlement letter. Set’. [34299] In addition, 10 businesses registered in Wales have won work directly supplying the Olympic Delivery Robert Neill: All pressures on Departments’ budgets Authority and many other businesses based in Wales were taken into account as part of the spending review have secured contracts to supply goods or services and settlements were allocated accordingly. The full 899W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 900W costs of redundancies will be met from within DCLG’s Robert Neill: My officials have facilitated the coming spending review resource departmental expenditure limit together of UK trade and industry with the Greater settlement. London Authority, Olympic Park Legacy Company, east London boroughs, private and academic partners Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for now taking Tech City forward; and remain available to Communities and Local Government how many staff assist where required. in his Department have been made redundant since May 2010. [34530] Housing Associations: Mergers Robert Neill: Since May 2010 no staff in the Department Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for for Communities and Local Government have been Communities and Local Government (1) what powers made compulsory redundant. There were no voluntary he has to oversee mergers of housing associations for redundancies throughout this period although 12 staff the purposes of ensuring due diligence; [35064] took flexible early severance under a voluntary scheme. (2) what arrangements are in place to govern the Departmental Senior Civil Servants voting of (a) chief executives and (b) finance directors of housing associations on the merger of housing associations; [35067] Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which senior (3) what reports he has received on recent incidences Civil Service staff have left his Department since May involving the proposed merger of two housing associations 2010; and what (a) contractual and (b) non- where the chief executive of one of the housing associations contractual payments were made by his Department in concerned has retired and received a redundancy settlement; each case. [34297] and if he will investigate such incidences. [35086]

Robert Neill: The number of senior civil service (SCS) Andrew Stunell: As independent organisations, it is staff who have left the Department from 1 May to 31 for individual housing associations to make decisions December 2010 is 13. Five contractual payments totalling on mergers, subject to the requirements and consent of £477,764 were made to leavers who left under DCLG’s the regulator of social housing (the Tenant Services flexible early severance and approved early retirement Authority), who will have regard to all matters of due schemes. No non-contractual payments were made. Actual diligence and good governance. amounts have not been included in this response as this constitutes personal information. The Government have Housing: Construction recently reformed the Civil Service Compensation Scheme to set a cap on payments to high earners. Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria Departmental Working Conditions local authorities will be required to meet to receive the New Homes Bonus payments. [34412] Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Grant Shapps: The New Homes Bonus will match Department’s policy is on (a) the space provided per fund the additional council tax raised for new homes employee, (b) home working and (c) hot desking; how and properties brought back into use, for the following many employees it has on average per desk; and how six years with an enhancement for affordable homes. much space on average there is per employee. [34586] The Government’s proposed model for implementation can be found at: Robert Neill: In 2009 the Department introduced http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/ flexible desking in Eland house to maximise space newhomesbonus utilisation and facilitate the closure of Ashdown house A calculator has also been published alongside this (Victoria). The introduction of flexible desking, alongside which enables local authorities to estimate their grant. other space efficiency measures, has meant that the average space per full time equivalent, based on the net A consultation on the mechanics of the scheme ended internal area, is 9.6m2. on 24 December 2010 and the final details and individual local authority allocations will be published in due Having achieved the Government Property Unit’s course. 10m2 space target for existing civil estate occupations, the Department’s strategy moving forward is to achieve 8m2 per full time equivalent in its HQ building. Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he The Department is committed to improving work/life has to ensure that the new homes bonus reflects the balance. It values diversity and tries to accommodate strategic priority for brownfield development before different work patterns including the use of home working greenfield in Planning Policy Statement 3, Housing; where operational/business constraints permit. and what consideration he has given to providing an additional incentive for supporting brownfield East London Tech City redevelopment. [R] [34855]

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Grant Shapps: The new homes bonus will match fund Communities and Local Government what contribution the additional council tax raised for new homes and his Department is making to the Prime Minister’s initiative properties brought back into use, for the following six to create a Tech City in East London. [34562] years with an enhancement for affordable homes. 901W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 902W

The Government’s proposed model for implementation Robert Neill: Information on local authority senior can be found at: pay is not held centrally. However, the new Government’s http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/ transparency reforms will ensure that this information newhomesbonus is published online to ensure greater public scrutiny and A consultation on the mechanics of the scheme closed accountability. on 24 December 2010 and final details will be published in due course. The new homes bonus does not change planning policy. However, we do believe it will promote more DEFENCE sustainable, locally-led development than the failed and unpopular regime of regional strategies. Air Force: Military Bases The consultation also proposes that the bonus rewards getting long-term empty homes back into productive use. Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for redevelopment at each RAF base in the UK in each of Communities and Local Government whether the last five years; and what estimate he has made of National Park Authorities will be eligible to receive the likely expenditure on work classified as redevelopment new homes bonus. [34889] in each of the next five years. [27575] Grant Shapps: The new homes bonus will match fund the additional council tax raised for new homes and Mr Robathan: The expenditure on redevelopment, properties brought back into use, for the following six defined as capital expenditure and minor new works, years with an enhancement for affordable homes. for the major RAF stations in the UK since financial year 2006-07 is shown in the following table: The Government’s proposed model for implementation can be found at: Expenditure by station http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/ £ million newhomesbonus 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 A consultation on the mechanics of the scheme closed RAF Benson 0.6 2 1 2.2 on 24 December 2010. The responses, including one RAF Boulmer 0.2 0 0.1 0.8 from the English National Park Authorities Association, RAF Brampton/ 00.23.21 are currently being considered and details of the final Wyton/Henlow scheme will be published in due course. RAF Brize Norton 8.1 13.4 31 14.3 RAF Coningsby 0 0 19 0 Housing: Regeneration RAF Cottesmore 4 0.4 1.7 0.9 RAF Cosford 1.3 0.1 0.6 12 Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for RAF Cranwell 0 0.8 2.7 2.6 Communities and Local Government what assessment RAF Fylingdales 0.1 0 0.2 0 he made of the effect on local housing market of RAF Halton 0.1 0.2 1.1 1 housing market renewal programme before taking the RAF High 7.2 2.4 3 3.2 Wycombe decision to cancel the programme. [33296] RAF Honington 1.5 0.2 6.8 8.7 Grant Shapps [holding answer 13 January 2011]: RAFKinloss———— Housing market renewal pathfinders provided case studies RAF Leeming 0.1 1.4 13.1 0 to the Homes and Communities Agency and DCLG RAF Leuchars ———— RAF Linton on 6.4 0.5 7.6 1.1 about their local housing areas during 2010, and these Ouse studies were used to inform the CSR assessment process. RAF Lossiemouth ———— Some pathfinder schemes were successful, however, RAF Lyneham 2.2 0.9 1.6 2.2 others attracted controversy due to an over-reliance on RAF Marham 2.5 0 6 0 demolition, in part encouraged by top-down government RAF Northolt 0.3 0.6 1.2 0.5 targets. RAF Odiham 3.0 3.0 3.6 4.7 The reality of the fiscal deficit means that the spending RAF Shawbury 0.3 0 0.5 0.8 review has had to take tough decisions about where RAF Spadeadam 0 0 0.1 0.2 savings can be made and consequently housing market RAF St Mawgan 0.08 0.2 0.4 0.4 renewal funding in the form of a separate programme RAF Valley 1 19.1 14.5 1.4 will end in March 2011. We will make further RAF Waddington 0 0.2 17.3 13 announcements on promoting regeneration in due course. RAF Wittering 0 0.2 0.5 4 We have already announced plans to get empty homes back into productive use via the new homes bonus. Information for the financial year 2005-06 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate Local Government: Pay cost. Data for RAF stations in Scotland are not currently available and I will write to the right hon. and learned Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Member with the information requested. Communities and Local Government how many and The Ministry of Defence is in the process of completing what proportion of (a) local and (b) county council its annual planning round which will allocate future executives receive salaries greater than that of the programme budgets. This is expected to conclude in Prime Minister. [33643] early 2011. 903W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 904W

Substantive answer from Mr Andrew Robathan to Sir on redevelopment (defined as capital expenditure and minor new Menzies Campbell: works) for RAF stations in Scotland since financial year 2006-07. This data is shown in the following table: In my answer of 7 December 2010, Official Report, column 221W, I undertook to write to you with data on the expenditure

Expenditure by station £ million Financial year 2006-08 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

RAF Kinloss 5.3 3.9 1.9 1.8 RAF Leuchars 4.7 20.2 5.6 9.4 RAF Lossiemouth 5.6 1.8 4.5 6.1

Information prior to the financial year 2005-06 is not held services will undergo some changes that will include a centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. reduction in capabilities and the associated manpower Some of the expenditure has been split between individual financial requirements. The Defence Reform Unit is looking at a years on an estimated basis. range of cross-cutting issues, including whether the The Ministry of Defence is in the process of completing its current senior rank structures across the services are annual planning round which will allocate future programme appropriate. Details will be promulgated by the services budgets. This is expected to conclude in early 2011. when they have been identified.

Armed Forces: Officers Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Royal Navy officers holding the Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for rank of (a) Commodore, (b) Rear Admiral, (c) Vice Defence (1) what steps he is taking to reduce the (a) Admiral and (d) Admiral are currently posted in (i) number and (b) cost of senior officers in the British Scotland, (ii) Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland; [34456] Army; [34440] (2) how many (a) Brigadiers, (b) Major Generals, (2) what steps he is taking to reduce the (a) number (c) Lieutenant Generals and (d) Generals are posted in and (b) cost of senior officers in the Royal Air Force; (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland; [34441] [34467] (3) what steps he is taking to reduce the (a) number (3) how many (a) Air Commodores, (b) Air Vice and (b) cost of senior officers in the Royal Navy. Marshals, (c) Air Marshals and (d) Air Chief Marshals [34442] are posted in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland. [34469] Nick Harvey: As a result of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the UK’s armed forces will be restructured Mr Robathan: The information requested is provided to meet current and emerging threats. In doing so, the in the following table:

UK regular forces stationed location as at 1 October 2010 Scotland Wales Northern Ireland

Royal Navy (a) Commodore 2 1 0 (b) Rear Admiral 1 0 0 (c) Vice Admiral 0 0 0 (d) Admiral 0 0 0

Army (a) Brigadier 3 1 3 (b) Major General 2 0 0 (c) Lieutenant General 0 0 0 (d) General 0 0 0

RAF (a) Air Commodore 2 0 0 (b) Air Vice Marshal 0 0 0 (c) Air Marshal 0 0 0 (d) Air Chief Marshal 0 0 0 Note: There are no Royal Marine officers in the ranks requested who are stationed in these locations.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for (2) how many (a) Brigadiers, (b) Major Generals, Defence (1) how many Royal Navy officers holding the (c) Lieutenant Generals and (d) Generals serve in the rank of (a) Commodore, (b) Rear Admiral, (c) Vice armed forces; [34468] Admiral and (d) Admiral are serving in the armed forces; [34457] 905W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 906W

(3) how many (a) Air Commodores, (b) Air Vice Mr Robathan: The information requested is provided Marshals, (c) Air Marshals and (d) Air Chief in the following table: Marshals serve in the armed forces. [34470]

UK regular forces strength by NATO rank at 1 October 2010 Rank Total Royal Navy Royal Marines Army RAF

Total 1480 1110 18 1230 1130 OF-9 Admiral; General; Air Chief Marshal 10 2 0 5 3 OF-8 Vice Admiral; Lieutenant General; Air 29 8 0 12 9 Marshal OF-7 Rear Admiral; Major General; Air Vice- 95 25 7 39 24 Marshal OF-6 Commodore; Brigadier; Air Commodore 1350 74 11 1170 91 1 These figures have been rounded. Notes: 1. Due to rounding methods used, figures may not always equal the sum of the parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. 2. Figures less than 100 have been left unrounded so as not to obscure the data.

Departmental Working Conditions Nick Harvey [holding answer 8 December 2010]: The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), has not discussed Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence cyber attacks with the Governments of China or Russia. what his Department’s policy is on (a) the space provided per employee, (b) home working and (c) hot desking; how many employees it has on average per Germany: Army desk; and how much space on average there is per employee. [34589] Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his German Mr Robathan: Since April 2008 the Ministry of Defence counterpart on the redeployment of personnel from (MOD) in common with all other central Government Germany. [34224] Departments has participated in the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Property Benchmarking Service, which Nick Harvey: The Secretary of State for Defence, my captures office space utilisation of occupied offices right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr having a net internal area over 500 m2. For 2009-10 (the Fox), wrote to the German Defence Minister on 20 latest date for which figures are available) the position is: October 2010, informing him of our aim to return half our personnel from Germany by 2015 and the remainder Number by 2020. In addition, my ministerial colleagues and officials maintain regular dialogue with their counterparts Number of buildings 22 in support of our close security and defence partnership. benchmarked I will be visiting Germany shortly and will discuss the Total occupied space (m2) 278,601 issue with political and civil representatives. Space per member of full time 13.6 equivalent staff (m2) Military Aircraft The MOD policy on space provided per employee follows the guidelines set out by the OGC. The space Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for provided per employee for new acquisitions and major Defence (1) how many transport aircraft are being refurbishments is eight square metres. leased by his Department; [32314] The MOD has no central policy on hot desking. (2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the Individual areas of the Department are responsible for public purse of leasing transport aircraft of each type arrangements locally. (a) in total and (b) per flight hour in each of the last The MOD provides a range of flexible working patterns, six years. [32338] including home working which are promoted as part of its overall work/life balance package. Managers are Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member shortly. required carefully to consider any requests from staff Substantive answer from Peter Luff to Angus Robertson: for home working, but it is not always possible to I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary support a request due to business reasons. Questions on 21 December 2010, (Official Report, column 1203), Data on how many employees it has on average per about transport aircraft being leased by the MOD. desk are not held. The Ministry of Defence does not currently lease transport aircraft. We did lease four C-17 aircraft from Boeing between 2001 to 2008 at a fixed price. Costs of operating those aircraft Electronic Warfare during the period of the lease broken down by flying hour could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. The four leased C-17 aircraft were bought-out on cessation of the seven year lease Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for period in autumn 2008 and are now owned by the Government. Defence what discussions he has had with the government We have subsequently purchased three further C-17 aircraft from of (a) China and (b) Russia on cyberattacks. [29432] Boeing. 907W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 908W

As I explained in the answer I gave on 12 January 2011 We would not expect the Op HERRICK charter costs to rise in (Official Report, column 235W), we do, however, currently charter Financial Year 2011-12 as on current assumptions we do not see aircraft (i.e. contract through an airline broker with private companies our force structure or the sustainment requirement increasing. to fly Ministry of Defence (MOD) personnel and equipment). Costs may however rise as a result of fuel price increases. Such charters are largely to transport personnel and equipment in direct or indirect support to operations. Military Exercises: Salisbury Plain The number of aircraft chartered by MOD will vary significantly at any point in time. For example the deployment of new equipments Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for or for unit change-overs may necessitate the charter of additional Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the aircraft. Information is held covering the period from November public purse of work on tank crossings as part of the 2007 until the end of February 2011 (including pre-allotted project to provide safe access for military vehicles tasks). The information is held for one-way tasks (or journeys). across the Salisbury Plain Training Area. [34923] The number of individual ‘aircraft chartered’, would be lower owing to the significant number of round-trips undertaken. The Mr Robathan: The current estimated cost for work on tasks have been undertaken by a variety of aircraft types depending the tank crossings across Salisbury plain is £2.4 million on both the load size and whether passengers or freight was transported. excluding VAT, fees and design costs. The actual cost to the Ministry of Defence is unlikely From November 2007 to end February 2011, the Department has chartered approximately 8250 journeys. For the month of to be known until 2012. January 2011, the Department has chartered 132 aircraft to Nuclear Weapons support 206 tasks (or journeys). Details of the cost of chartering aircraft broken down by Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence aircraft type and by flying hour over a six year period could only pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, be provided at disproportionate cost, but I am able to advise that Pavilion of 17 June 2010, Official Report, column 503W, total cost of chartering transport aircraft by financial year (excluding military aviation fuel, but including civilian aviation fuel costs) is on nuclear weapons, which US establishments were as follows: visited by personnel from the Atomic Weapons Establishment in each of the last three years; and how many staff visited each such establishment. [21967] Financial year £ million Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member with the 2006-07 70 information requested and place a copy of the letter in 2007-08 108 the Library of the House. 2008-09 145 2009-10 155 Substantive answer from Peter Luff to Paul Flynn: 2010-11 (forecast) 215 In my answer to your Parliamentary Question on 13 December 2010, Official Report, column 458W, I undertook to write to you The steady increase in spend reflects the increasing size of the and provide details on the US establishments visited by personnel deployed force in Afghanistan and the increasing tempo of operations. from the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). This was partly offset in 2008-09 to 2009-10 by the withdrawal This information has now been collated: the attached annex from Iraq but each tonne of cargo flown to Afghanistan travels details the US establishments visited by AWE personnel in the considerably more distance than a tonne flown to Iraq, particularly years 2007, 2008 and 2009. This table covers those visits made given the requirement for flight routes to avoid Iran. It must also under the terms of the US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement, be borne in mind that the landlocked nature of Afghanistan which was the basis for the Answer to the hon. Member for coupled with security constraints demand that we fly much more Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas) on 17 June 2010, Official cargo as a proportion of the total than we did into Iraq. Report, column 503W.

Breakdown of US establishments visited by AWE personnel in each of the last three years Number of visits by AWE staff to each establishment US Establishments visited by AWE personnel under the terms of the US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement 2007 2008 2009

US Department of Defence, Pentagon 2 5 1 Los Alamos National Laboratory 232 179 164 National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) HQ Washington DC 33 66 29 Sandia National Laboratory, New Mexico 179 187 189 Sandia National Laboratory California 28 19 32 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 173 124 166 Honeywell Kansas City Plant 31 45 24 Nevada Test Site 13 52 41 Y12 Plant Oak Ridge 31 18 23 ITT Crystal City 15 15 6 BAE Washington DC 4 6 — Defence Threat Reduction Agency Washington 19 25 12 NNSA Nevada Operations Office 25 — 5 B&W Pantex Plant 30 27 26 Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Sunnyvale 11 12 13 Strategic Systems Programme US Navy — 13 — Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic — 6 — Savannah River National Laboratory 11 — 7 909W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 910W

Breakdown of US establishments visited by AWE personnel in each of the last three years Number of visits by AWE staff to each establishment US Establishments visited by AWE personnel under the terms of the US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement 2007 2008 2009

Defence Intelligence Agency — 6 — Southern Research Institute — 3 — Remote Sensing Laboratory Nevada — 5 — Nevada Intelligence Centre — 26 — Naval Surface Warfare Centre 3 9 7 Pax River Naval Air Systems Command — 2 — Oak Ridge National Laboratory 9 12 — Naval Research Laboratory 2 4 6 DTI Associates 6—— Fort Bragg —2— Systems Planning and Analysis — 1 — Air Force Technical Applications Centre Patrick Air Force Base 3 5 — Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 5 — 3 Kirtland Air Force Base — — 9 Miramar Air Station — — 3 Federal Bureau of Investigation Quantico — — 2 National Security Agency Fort George — — 1 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station — — 1 Wright Patterson Air Force Base — — 5 Tonopah Test Range — — 1 NNSA Service Centre Albuquerque — — 5 Applied Physical Laboratory 2 — — Northrop Grumman 23 — — Lockheed Martin Missile and Space Company Cocoa Beach 3 — — Idaho National Laboratory 1 — — Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific 3 — — Defence Threat Reduction Agency Albuquerque 1 — — Applied Research Associates 1 — — Central Intelligence Agency 1 — — Savannah River Site — 2 6 Total 900 876 787

The total numbers differ from those in the June 2010 answer as during normal routine training sorties in UK airspace, some staff visited more than one facility. crews are trained on an opportunity basis in the operation of the radar’s maritime search mode. Rescue Services The UK will continue to provide search and rescue services using a range of assets depending on the response Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for required. Defence (1) on how many occasions an E-3D Sentry has been involved in a search and rescue mission in BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS each of the last 12 months; [34458] (2) what search and rescue training is taking place Business: Regulation for E-3D Sentry crews; and in which locations that Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, training is taking place; [34460] Innovation and Skills what plans his Department has to (3) what capabilities the E-3D Sentry has to detect, reduce the burden of regulation on small and medium-sized identify and track vessels under 300 gross tonnes. enterprises. [34805] [34462] Mr Prisk: Reducing the burden of regulation on Nick Harvey: In the last 12 months, no RAF E-3D businesses, particularly SMEs, is a priority for this Sentry has been involved in search and rescue missions. Government. E-3D Sentry is optimised for the air-to-air role and its Early this year we will be announcing outcomes from radar has a limited maritime search mode. I am withholding the growth review, which will set out ambitious proposals details on the capability of the E-3D radar to detect, on where and how regulatory barriers for business should identify and track vessels under 300 gross tonnes as its be reduced, enabling private sector growth and creating jobs. disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the The Better Regulation Executive, in this Department, capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. will also be publishing the Forward Statement of There is no formal training requirement for E-3D Regulation, giving business prior notice of regulatory Sentry crews on specific long range search and rescue and deregulatory measures due to come into affect in techniques. However, an E-3D Sentry participated in a the next six months, as well as outlining details of NATO-led SAR training exercise in May 2010. In addition, progress the Government have made to reduce regulation. 911W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 912W

The BRE continues to work with Departments to Mr Willetts [holding answer 18 January 2011]: Statistics identify regulation which is overly burdensome, particularly on applicants for entry into higher education are available on SMEs, and support policy makers in using non- via the University and Colleges Admissions Service regulatory approaches. (UCAS). It is still early in the 2011 application cycle, but published UCAS figures as of the 20 December Companies: Females 2010 show a 2.5% increase in applications (344,064 applications for 2011 entry compared to 335,795 at the Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, same point the previous year). The number of unplaced Innovation and Skills how many companies that had applicants will depend on the final number of applications women as (a) sole proprietors and (b) directors were and places offered. registered at Companies House in 2009-10. [34243] We announced in the 2011-12 Higher Education Funding Council for England Grant Letter that we were continuing Mr Davey: Companies House does not hold any to make provision for the 10,000 additional entrant information on sole proprietors and we do not differentiate places made available through the University Modernisation between men and women directors. Fund in May 2010. The number of places offered is Conditions of Employment: Reform therefore unlikely to vary significantly from 2010. Provisional end of year figures for 2010 show that Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, that there were 209,253 unplaced applicants (688,310 Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of applicants from all domiciles for a place at a UK the effects of his proposals for employment rights reform institution; 479,057 accepted). Of these unplaced applicants, on (a) the availability of work placements within degree 94,561 had declined an offer or withdrew from the programmes and (b) employment between periods of process and 161,984 were domiciled in the UK. undergraduate and postgraduate study. [34865] Applicants who were not accepted for entry can include: individuals who did not receive any offer; Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation individuals who received an offer (conditional or and Skills is leading a cross-Government review of unconditional) but decided not to go to University; employment legislation. The review aims to maximise individuals who received a conditional offer and failed the flexibility of employers in managing their work to meet the specific conditions (eg they did not achieve force while maintaining the essential protections for certain grades); and individuals who decided to withdraw individual employees with the ultimate objective of from the UCAS system. promoting economic growth. It will consider employment law area by area and any proposals will be consulted on Higher Education: Finance and the potential impact assessed. Copyright: Internet Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish the Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for monetary value of the loan his Department provides to Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what estimate he each higher education institution to cover the costs of has made of the number of music tracks acquired graduate contributions in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, through illegal downloading in 2010; [33873] (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15; and if he (2) what estimate he has made of the scale of illegal will make a statement. [34947] downloading of music from peer-to-peer sources in 2010; [33874] Mr Willetts: The Department makes forecasts of expenditure on loans towards the cost of graduate (3) what estimate he has made of the scale of illegal contributions at the national level. Full-time student downloading of music from non-peer-to-peer sources tuition fee loan outlay for English domicile students is in 2010. [33875] estimated to be approximately £2.5 billion in FY 2010-11 and £2.7 billion in 2011-12. As the new arrangements Mr Vaizey: I have been asked to reply. are phased in from 2012-13, the full-time student tuition No estimates of the type the hon. Member refers to fee loan outlay is estimated to increase to £3.5 billion in have been prepared. 2012-13, £5 billion in 2013-14 and £6 billion in 2014-15. The industry itself have made regular estimates, and These are initial estimates and are subject to change as these have been cited by Government in the past, but HEIs and students respond to the new funding Ofcom will be responsible under the Digital Economy arrangements. Forecasts are not available at institution Act 2010 for compiling a data on, among other things, level. the current level of subscribers’ use of internet access Information on outturn expenditure on student loans services to infringe copyright. This work will start when is published annually as part of the Statistical First the initial obligations code comes into force later this Release: “Student Support for Higher Education in year. England”. Final figures for the academic year 2010/11 Higher Education: Admissions will be published in November 2011.

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State Higher Education: Scholarships for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of applicants to universities in Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, England for entry in September 2011 who will not Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the secure a place. [33935] number of students who will receive assistance from the 913W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 914W proposed National Scholarship Programme in each of the Mr Willetts: Knowledge Transfer Networks do not next four years; and whether (a) mature and (b) part have chief executives, as the services of a network are -time students will be able to access the scheme. [34645] delivered by companies in receipt of a Technology Strategy Board grant, on condition of appointing a Mr Willetts: The National Scholarship Programme suitably qualified Director to deliver the objectives of (NSP) will form part of a coherent package of help the network. targeted on bright potential students from disadvantaged The Director’s salary range is between £64,000 and backgrounds. All universities that want to charge a £113,500 reflecting the pay scale of the parent organisation higher graduate contribution than the £6,000 threshold and the market rate for a credible individual within a will be obliged to participate in the NSP. specific field of technology. The design of the NSP is by no means finalised. Criteria for the NSP are currently being developed National Scholarship Fund through advice from an expert panel, which includes the National Union of Students, the Higher Education Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Funding Council for England, Universities UK, Sutton Business, Innovation and Skills whether those aged 25 Trust and others. My right hon. Friend the Member for or more (a) on low incomes and (b) in receipt of Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon Hughes), the benefits will be eligible to receive assistance from the Government’s Advocate for Access to Higher Education, National Scholarship Fund; and if he will make a has been invited to join the group. statement. [34932] We want a wide range of people to be able to participate in the Programme and likely groups to be supported Mr Willetts: The National Scholarship Programme include disabled students, part-time students, mature-aged (NSP) will form part of a coherent package of help students, those who have been eligible for the pupil targeted on bright potential students from disadvantaged premium at school, or have received free school meals backgrounds. All universities that want to charge a or have low family incomes. higher graduate contribution than the £6,000 threshold will be obliged to participate in the NSP. Government investment in the Programme will reach £150 million a year by 2014/15. We have suggested that Details of the National Scholarship Programme are an option of a first free year for disadvantaged students still being finalised. Criteria for the NSP are currently or a foundation year to attract young talented people being developed through advice from an expert panel, into the professions could potentially help around 18,000 which includes the National Union of Students, the Higher students in 2014/15. In addition, we will look to increase Education Funding Council for England, Universities the leverage of Government funding by getting matched UK, Sutton Trust and others. My right hon. Friend the contributions from universities. The number of students Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon who can benefit from the new Programme will depend Hughes), the Government’s Advocate for Access to on the final design which is currently being developed Higher Education, has been invited to join the group. with advice from the expert panel. We want a wide range of people to be able to participate in the Programme and likely groups to be supported Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: Operating Costs include disabled students, part-time students, mature-aged students, those who have been eligible for the pupil Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for premium at school, or have received free school meals Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the or whose family income means that they will be eligible budget for knowledge transfer networks was spent on to receive student maintenance grants. administration in the last year for which figures are available. [35047] Postgraduate Education

Mr Willetts: The Technology Strategy Board’s Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for administration costs for supporting the Knowledge Transfer Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to Networks for the period January to December 2010 establish a working group with the Higher Education were £285,000. This covered the total staff costs for the Statistics Authority and higher education funding dedicated KTN team within the Technology Strategy councils to consider what additional information Board. should be collected on postgraduates to inform future Information on an individual Knowledge Transfer policy decisions on widening access to postgraduate Network’s administration costs cannot however be specified study; and if he will make a statement. [34934] as their role is to reach out and organise events and meetings that enable key individuals in business and academe, Mr Willetts: We will, as Lord Browne suggested, among others, to network. Much of this activity could monitor participation in postgraduate study to identify be classified as administrative. The cost of delivering these whether changes to the undergraduate funding and services is however closely scrutinised to ensure value finance system have any effect on entry to postgraduate for money and funding is only provided against a well courses and will set out our proposals for postgraduate defined business case with clear objectives and outcomes. provision and our response to the postgraduate review in the forthcoming higher education White Paper. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: Pay Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking Business, Innovation and Skills what the salary is of the to identify further ways to promote postgraduate chief executive of each knowledge transfer network. education at universities in England overseas; and if he [35048] will make a statement. [34936] 915W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 916W

Mr Willetts: The Government welcome genuine students Science from other countries to study at higher education institutions (HEIs) in England at both postgraduate Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for and undergraduate level. Higher Education Statistics Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to Agency figures published earlier this month show that extend the duration of the operation of the Science and 334,960 students from outside the United Kingdom Innovation Framework; and if he will make a were enrolled at English HEIs in 2009/10, with 169,355 statement. [34948] at postgraduate level, indicating the high regard in which English higher education is held around the Mr Willetts: The Science and Innovation Framework world. The British Council, with its presence in more set out the policy of the previous Government. This than 110 countries and territories worldwide, promotes Government have demonstrated their strong commitment the United Kingdom as a study destination, and works to Science and Research by protecting Science and through Education UK partnerships with universities Research programme funding for the next four years and colleges to support international student recruitment within a ring fence. and partnership building with overseas institutions. Science: Equal Opportunities Quality Assurance Agency: Performance Standards Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding he plans Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what assessment he to allocate to the Royal Academy of Engineering to has made of the performance of the Quality Assurance develop a new diversity programme in engineering. Agency; and if he will make a statement; [34937] [32975] (2) how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the Quality Assurance Agency in each of Mr Willetts: We announced the Royal Academy of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. Engineering’s total grant for each of the next four years on 20 December 2010, as part of the science and [34938] research budget allocations, but funding for individual programmes is still being discussed. We expect to conclude Mr Willetts: This Department has made no formal these discussions shortly, and the detailed delivery plan assessment of the performance of the Quality Assurance will then be published on the academy’s website. Agency for Higher Education (QAA), nor does it hold information about QAA’s staffing levels. The QAA is an UK Resource Centre for Science Engineering and independent body, a charity, and a company limited by Technology guarantee. It is funded through contracts with the three UK higher education funding bodies and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland, Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for and through subscriptions from higher education Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make an institutions. The QAA reports annually to the Higher estimate of the likely redundancy costs arising from his Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on decision to end funding for the UK Resource Centre its activities to assure the quality of higher education in for Science, Engineering and Technology. [33622] England. Those reports are available on the QAA’s website, as are the QAA’s contracts with HEFCE, its Mr Willetts: It is not yet clear whether redundancies annual operating plans, and annual reviews. will be necessary within UK Resource Centre UKRC: this is a matter for UKRC. Research This Department has offered to restructure the remainder of the UKRC’s grant this year to assist with UKRC’s transition. Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for extend the duration of the operation of the Research Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what plans he has Excellence Framework; and if he will make a for the promotion of women’s networks in science, statement. [34949] technology, engineering and mathematics following the withdrawal of funding to the UK Resource Centre for Mr Willetts: The Research Excellence Framework Women in Science, Engineering and Technology; (REF) is being developed by the Higher Education [33709] Funding Council for England (HEFCE), in collaboration (2) what plans he has for the collation and with the higher education funding bodies from the publication of statistics on women working in the fields devolved Administrations. Following the announcement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in July 2010 of a one year delay to the implementation following the withdrawal of funding for the UK of the REF, HEFCE has published a revised timetable. Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering Detailed guidance on submissions and assessment criteria and Technology. [33710] will be published during 2011. Higher education institutions will be invited to make submissions for the first assessment Mr Willetts: BIS officials have monitored the UK under the REF during 2013, and that assessment will Resource Centre’s (UKRC) work over the current spending take place during 2014, with publication by the end of period through receiving regular updates on the progress 2014. Further details are available at: of UKRC programmes, as part of quarterly progress http://www.hefce.ac.uk/research/ref/ meetings and through monthly financial summaries. 917W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 918W

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for (2) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has visited of the CEO Charter Scheme operated by the UK the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering Engineering and Technology. [32974] and Technology. [32982]

Mr Willetts: I have not visited the centre itself, and Mr Willetts: BIS officials have monitored the UK neither have my BIS ministerial colleagues. However, a Resource Centre’s (UKRC) work over the current spending UK Resource Centre (UKRC) ambassador met me in period through receiving regular updates on the progress September 2010 to discuss her work with UKRC. of UKRC programmes, as part of quarterly progress BIS officials have worked closely with the UKRC meetings and through monthly financial summaries. over the last spending period, and have visited the centre and attended the organisation’s annual conference Working Conditions and other events. Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his Department’s Business, Innovation and Skills what consultation he policy is on (a) the space provided per employee, (b) undertook on his decision to cease funding the UK home working and (c) hot desking; how many Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering employees it has on average per desk; and how much and Technology. [32977] space on average there is per employee. [34584]

Mr Willetts: This decision was part of the wider Mr Davey: This Department aims to follow the science and research allocation. The following bodies Government’s space standard of 10 square metres per provided advice on this broader allocation: FTE, subject to the building infrastructure being able to handle this level of density. The Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Academy, the Council for Science and Technology, the The Department supports flexible working which can Chief Scientific Advisers’ Committee, the Confederation of British help individuals manage their work-life balance, subject Industry, and the Academy of Medical Sciences. to meeting business needs. Flexible working includes the following examples: flexi-time, part-time, compressed Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, hours, annualised hours and home working. Staff can Innovation and Skills what recent representations he apply to work at home on an ad hoc or regular basis. has received on his plans to cease funding the UK Arrangements are agreed and managed locally by line Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering managers. and Technology. [32978] The Departments predecessors introduced flexible desking several years ago and the majority of the Mr Willetts: The director of the UK Resource Centre Departments buildings now operate using a mixture of (UKRC) met BIS officials on 21 December 2010 and 19 a 7:10 or 8:10 desk to people ratio. January 2011 to discuss the announcement that funding I would refer my hon. Friend to the Office of Government for the UKRC will not be continued after the end of the Commerce “State of the Estate” reports for 2009, which current comprehensive spending review (CSR) period can be found at the following link. (31 March 2011). I have received seven related items of correspondence. http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/SOFTE_brochure.pdf

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY made of the effects of changes in the level of his STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE Department’s funding for the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology from Members: Allowances April 2011 on its access to funds from the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [32979] Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Mr Willetts: The UK Resource Centre (UKRC) has Broxbourne, representing the Speaker’s Committee for been appointed as a partner in the European Union the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Framework Programme 7 INTEGER project on whether allowance limits for hon. Members will be implementing structural change in higher education increased to cover increases in (a) the rate of value institutions (HEIs) and research institutes, due to start added tax and (b) national insurance contributions for in February 2011, but will need to secure £60,000 of staff. [34371] further funding to proceed. Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls If the UKRC secure participation in other FP7 projects, within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary they will need to raise funding beyond the current grant Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply. period to proceed with these. Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated January 2011: Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Innovation and Skills (1) what assessment he has made Question asking whether the allowance limits for hon. Members of the effectiveness of the gender equality training will be increased to cover increases in (a) the rate of value added provided by the UK Resource Centre for Women in tax (VAT) and (b) National Insurance Contributions for staff. Science, Engineering and Technology; [32981] (34371) 919W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 920W

For the remainder of this financial year, the budget limits set Mr Maude: Civil service Departments are each out in the MPs’ Expenses Scheme will not be increased to cover responsible for their own work force planning, including the increase in VAT. Decisions regarding the budget limits for redundancies. The Cabinet Office has no plans for 2011-12 will be taken as part of the Annual Review of the central communications on their behalf. Expenses Scheme, which is currently underway. The decisions will take account of the rates of VAT (for those expenses on which VAT is paid) and National Insurance Contributions in 2011-12. Alison McGovern: To ask the Minister for the We will publish the budget limits for 2011-12 during March 2011. Cabinet Office what his policy is on redeployment of civil servants to prevent involuntary redundancy; and if he will make a statement. [33382]

PRIME MINISTER Mr Maude: Civil service Departments and agencies are committed to mitigating potential redundancies to Driving Standards Agency: Cardiff the greatest extent possible. This includes opening up redeployment opportunities across the civil service and Mr Hain: To ask the Prime Minister (1) on what date giving priority consideration to applications from employees he or officials from his Office first discussed with the at risk of redundancy. Secretary of State for Wales the decision to close the Cardiff office of the Driving Standards Agency; John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet [35041] Office (1) whether voluntary redundancy settlements (2) which officials of his Office were involved in the have been reached with the (a) Cabinet Office Chief decision to delay the announcement of the closure of Information Officer, (b) Chief Executive of DirectGov the Cardiff office of the Driving Standards Agency; and (c) Director General of the Office for Civil Society and for what reasons the decision was taken to delay in the last three months; [33683] the announcement until 18 January 2011; [35043] (2) how many senior civil servants in his Department (3) what involvement his Office had in the decision to have taken (a) voluntary redundancy and (b) early delay the announcement of the closure of the Cardiff retirement since November 2010; and what the (i) job office of the Driving Standards Agency; [35044] title and (ii) financial settlement was in each such case. (4) what the extent of the involvement of his Office [33684] was in the decision to close the Cardiff office of the Driving Standards Agency. [35045] Mr Maude: Since November 2010 there have been seven departures at senior civil service level from the The Prime Minister: My Office had no involvement in Cabinet Office. These include end of appointments, this decision. I refer the right hon. Member to the resignations, early retirements and voluntary exits. These written ministerial statement made by the Under-Secretary figures include the Government’s Chief Information of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Officer, the Chief Executive of DirectGov and Director Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 18 January 2011, General of the Office for Civil Society. Official Report, column 36WS. To protect the confidentiality of individual circumstances, it is not possible to provide details of individual Technology: Greater London arrangements. However Cabinet Office total funding for exits has been £261,000. Stephen Timms: To ask the Prime Minister what Government Departments: Procurement progress he has made on his initiative to create a Tech City in East London. [34567] Mr Spencer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet The Prime Minister: Following the significant Office what assessment he has made of the effects of commitment made by leading technology companies to changes in the number of centrally-negotiated procurement contribute to the East End Tech City, we have been contracts in Government on the number of contracts working with the Greater London Authority, UK Trade awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises. [33598] and Investment and Olympic Park Legacy Company to progress this important initiative. Follow-up events have Mr Maude: Greater centralisation of public sector included technology breakfasts at Number 10, a major procurement is essential if we are to achieve value for conference of over 100 entrepreneurs at the Department money in our purchasing activity. SME participation is for Business, Innovation and Skills and a networking an important part of this centralised strategy, either as event held in Shoreditch. I and ministerial colleagues direct suppliers to Government or as sub-contractors. are continuing to engage with global leading technology The previous Government collected no reliable figures companies to develop this agenda. on SME participation in Government contracts so the Government are only putting together data on the number of contracts awarded to small businesses and this will be published in due course. CABINET OFFICE Civil Service: Redundancy ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Alison McGovern: To ask the Minister for the Agriculture: Research Cabinet Office whether his Department has put in place a communications plan in respect of civil service Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, redundancies. [33380] Food and Rural Affairs how much funding was allocated 921W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 922W to research and development in agriculture by levy development and Knowledge Transfer since its formation boards in each of the last five years; and what estimate in 2008 is shown in following the table. Collated figures she has made of the levels of such funding in each of for the previous sector boards are not available. the next four financial years. [34425]

Mr Paice: Expenditure by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board on research and

Actual expenditure and forecast future spend on R&D and Source Knowledge Transfer by AHDB (£ million)

2013-14 Proposed figures, under consultation. Source AHDB. 22.6 2012-13 Proposed figures, under consultation. Source AHDB. 22.2 2011-12 Proposed figures, under consultation. Source AHDB. 21.0 2010-11 Published planned expenditure. Source AHDB. 21.5 2009-10 Actual expenditure. From AHDB Annual Report and Accounts 2009-10. 19.4 2008-09 Actual expenditure. From AHDB Annual Report and Accounts 2008-09. 20.6 2007-08 Actual expenditure. From AHDB Annual Report and Accounts 2008-09. 20.2

Cycling: Access Work by the Environment Agency suggests that river flows may increase by 20% by 2080, although this may Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for vary around the country. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the policy The Environment Agency’s long-term investment strategy of her Department is on the extension to cycling and presents investment options to manage increasing levels horse-riding of rights of way access over land. [35088] of flood and coastal risk in England caused by climate change and asset deterioration over the next 25 years Richard Benyon: DEFRA is keen to see more access (2010-35). provision for cyclists and horse riders and is encouraging A copy of the strategy and related information can be local authorities to develop new routes and to provide found on the Environment Agency’s website. access routes where people need them. Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Fisheries Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Environment Agency’s capital budget has been for flood Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for risk management in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy 2010-11; and what that budget is for (i) 2011-12 and (ii) is on the promotion of pelagic fish for consumption. 2012-13. [34474] [34647] Richard Benyon: The following table shows flood risk Richard Benyon: DEFRA has recently set up the management budgets from DEFRA to the Environment ‘Fishing for the Markets’ project. This is a new initiative Agency to deliver capital investments through all operating looking to encourage consumption of under-utilised, authorities (the Environment Agency, local authorities sustainable species that are often discarded, which may and internal drainage boards). These are the Environment include some pelagic species. Agency’s budgets for 2008-11 for England, and the allocation assumptions for 2011-13 based on the DEFRA The Government are working to help improve the settlement. sustainability of fish throughout the supply chain, from sea to plate. The Food Standards Agency is able to From DEFRA (£ million) advise on the health issues relating to the consumption of fish. 2008-09 340 2009-10 349 Flood Control 2010-11 354 2011-12 259 2012-13 259 Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government has made of whether flood risks in England will increase over the next (a) five, (b) 10 and Flood Control: York (c) 25 years. [34400] Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Richard Benyon: The latest UK climate science confirms Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when that rising sea levels and more severe and frequent construction of the Environment Agency’s flood rainstorms are likely to occur—resulting in increasing Alleviation Scheme at Water End, York will commence; flood and coastal erosion risk. More information is [34398] available in the UKCP09 climate projections section of (2) when construction of the Environment Agency’s DEFRA’s website: flood Alleviation Scheme at Thirsk, North Yorkshire http://ukclimateprojections.defra.gov.uk/ will commence. [34399] 923W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 924W

Richard Benyon: The indicative funding allocation is placed in the public domain on an annual basis. The proposals for flood and coastal erosion risk management project lists for the last five years can be accessed from projects for 2011-12 are currently subject to discussion the FSA website as follows: between the Environment Agency and its regional flood 2005-06: (Appendix 1, p 81 onwards) defence committees. www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/annualscirep Final decisions on the allocation of funds to regional 2006-07: (Appendix 1, p 91 onwards) committees will be made in February or March by the Environment Agency’s board, and decisions on the www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/researchreport2007.pdf programmes of schemes to be delivered next year will 2007-08: (Report data tables) be made by the committees in April. www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/chiefscireport0708data.pdf 2008-09: (Annex D) Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/ Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the chiefscireport0809annexed.pdf Environment Agency’s Yorkshire Regional Flood 2009-10: (Annex A, p 118 onwards) Defence Committee will approve its capital programme for 2011-12. [34401] www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/csr0910a.pdf The FSA future areas for research are prioritised on Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency’s Yorkshire an annual basis as part of its business planning process, Committee will consider its business plan for 2011-12 against its strategic needs and to address identified gaps for approval by 21 April 2011. in the evidence base. These will take into account recent The business plan incorporates capital and revenue Machinery of Government changes, which altered the programmes, and will be based on final allocations of FSA remit, and the refresh of the FSA’s Strategic Plan grant in aid to be approved by the Environment Agency’s and Science and Evidence Strategy which is currently Board on 3 February 2011. out to consultation, ending 11 February 2011. It is therefore not possible to say at this time what levels of Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for funding will be allocated to research and development Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the in agriculture over the next four years, but it is likely to Environment Agency’s capital spending was on flood be a similar picture to the most recent reports cited risk management in the Yorkshire and North East above. Region in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and what that budget is for (i) 2011-12 and (ii) 2012-13. Research: Finance [34475] Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency’s capital Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much spending and indicative expenditure on flood risk funding her Department allocated to research and management in the Yorkshire and North East region development in the last five years; and how much such for the specified years is given in the following table. funding she plans to allocate in each of the next four Yorkshire and North East region capital expenditure financial years. [34358] £ million Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA’s research and (a) 2008-09 28.5 development spend for the last five years was as follows: (b) 2009-10 45.8 (c) 2010-11 41.1 £ million (i) 2011-12 132.5 (ii) 2012-13 2— 2005-06 139 1 Indicative allocation for agency projects. 2006-07 137 2 The budget for future years will depend on the outcome of DEFRA’s 2007-08 130 “Future funding for Flood and Coast Erosion Risk Management” 2008-09 128 consultation. 2009-10 1119 Food Standards Agency: Research 1 The Department’s Evidence Investment Strategy published in January 2010 quoted a ‘budget’ for research in 2009-10 of £125 million. The figure above reflects the actual ‘spend’. Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much The data was taken from the Science Information funding was allocated to research and development in System, which is used to monitor and record details of agriculture by the Food Standards Agency in the last DEFRA’s research and development projects. five years; and what estimate she has made of the level The total DEFRA evidence budgets (which include of such funding to be allocated by the Agency in each research and development) for the core Department of the next four financial years. [34424] over the next four years will be maintained in the same proportion of total programme expenditure in 2014-15 Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply. as in 2010-11. The Food Standards Agency (FSA), funds research Evidence is defined as reliable and accurate information to ensure that the best available evidence is available, that DEFRA can use to support sound decisions in from “farm to fork”, to protect consumers. The vast developing, shaping and evaluating policy. It includes majority of FSA research is targeted on issues post research and development, monitoring and surveillance, farm-gate. Information on each of the research (and economic and statistical analysis and modelling, secondary survey) projects funded by the FSA (including the cost) analysis and synthesis, and analysis of stakeholder views. 925W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 926W

The total budget available to commission evidence in Water: Older People and Vulnerable Adults each year is as follows: Rory Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for £ million Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she 2010-11 210 has taken to ensure that national water suppliers and 2011-12 199 utilities companies are prioritising for reconnection of 2012-13 188 services and repairs for the elderly and vulnerable 2013-14 177 during the recent water shortages. [34926] 2014-15 167 Richard Benyon: There have been no recent water For comparison, the budget for evidence in 2009-10 shortages or disconnections of customers from the mains was £213 million, of which, £119 million was classified water supply in England. However, some customers did as research spend. In addition, the budget for evidence suffer disruption to their water supply as a result of in 2010-11 was £210 million, of which, the approximate burst pipes within their properties, and on water company research budget is £123 million (actual spend figures networks, during the cold weather in December and not yet available). I do not anticipate any significant January. change in the proportion of research and development/other Where there were supply disruptions due to bursts on evidence commissioned in the next four years. However, water company mains, the water company provided it is difficult to be definitive about this as the figures water by alternative means as required by the Security include a significant ring-fenced unallocated evidence and Emergency Measures Direction 1998, which was provision retained for 2012-13 onwards. This will be produced under the provisions of Section 208 of the allocated annually according to the DEFRA chief scientific Water Industry Act 1991. adviser’s advice on the evidence priorities at the time. Priority is given to the domestic needs of the sick, the The exact proportion of the evidence total spent on elderly, the disabled, hospitals, schools, and other vulnerable research and development may vary depending on this sectors of the population. advice. Where there are supply disruptions due to bursts These figures represent evidence commissioned by within customers’ properties, this is the responsibility of core DEFRA in each year from external providers and the customer. our three laboratory agencies (the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science; the Food and Environment Research Agency and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency). None of the figures quoted above include evidence commissioned out of grant in aid funds FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE by the Environment Agency, Natural England, Forestry Commission or the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. Arms Control

Supermarkets: Prices Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full- Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, time equivalent permanent staff of his Department Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the were allocated to working on preparations and appropriate mechanism for regulation of prices paid to negotiations towards an international arms trade treaty manufacturers by the food retail industry for (a) milk, in each of the last five years. [34155] (b) cheese, (c) yoghurt, (d) other dairy products, (e) meat from livestock, (f) poultry and (g) fish. [34453] Alistair Burt: Securing a robust and effective arms trade treaty remains a priority for the UK Government. Mr Paice: The Government do not consider it The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s counter appropriate to regulate prices paid to manufacturers by proliferation department and the UK arms control and the food retail industry. We believe that the market must disarmament mission in Geneva lead on the negotiation drive both production and price levels to ensure that of an arms trade treaty and are supported by many our food and farming industries are efficient, profitable other departments and posts across the Foreign and and able to compete on the global market in which we Commonwealth Office’s extensive network, and expertise now operate. from across Whitehall. The Foreign and Commonwealth It is important to ensure that large retailers cannot Office does not keep records on the full-time equivalent abuse power by transferring excessive risks or unexpected staff that have worked on the issue over the last five costs onto their suppliers, as risks and costs should be years. shared appropriately throughout the supply chain. Benefits should also be shared appropriately, including with China: EU External Trade consumers. While the revised Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) is a great improvement on the previous Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for regime, the power that large grocery retailers can wield Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the over their suppliers can still create pressures on small Government’s policy that the EU arms embargo on producers, which ultimately may impact on consumers. China should be maintained. [35039] We therefore propose to establish a Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) to monitor and enforce the GSCOP. Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government’s view is that The Bill to establish the GCA will be brought forward the time is not right to lift the EU arms embargo on in the near future. China. 927W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 928W

Conferences Departmental Travel

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on conferences since May 2010. Department has spent on travel for officials since [34669] May 2010. [34672]

Mr Bellingham: As budgets in the Foreign and Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Commonwealth Office (FCO) are devolved to FCO (FCO) spent £8,082,466 on travel between May to missions overseas and to individual directorates and December 2010. These costs are for journeys booked strategic programmes within the UK, this information through the FCO travel management company (Hogg could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Robinson) and do not include the cost of travel booked However, all expenditure undertaken by the FCO is through local travel agencies at overseas posts, which is directly aimed at achieving our foreign policy priorities, available only at disproportionate cost. This is in line to ensure the Department achieves value for money and with our need to operate a global network of over 250 is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing posts and move staff between these posts. Public Money and the HM Treasury handbook on European External Action Service Regularity and Propriety. Conflict Prevention Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign estimate he has made of the UK’s contribution to the and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of costs of the EU External Action Service. [34656] 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 955W, on Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply. conflict prevention, whether he plans to lay a draft of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy before The UK makes its contributions to the EU Budget as Parliament for consultation before publishing the final a whole and not to individual areas of spending within strategy. [35028] it. The UK’s share, excluding the UK abatement, of financing the 2011 EU Budget is estimated to be 15%. Mr Bellingham: I do not plan to lay a draft of the The budget adopted for 2011 for the EU External Building Stability Overseas strategy before Parliament Action Service was ¤464 million. for consultation ahead of publication but, as I confirmed The amending Budget Letter agreeing additional funding in my reply to my hon. Friend on 20 December 2010, for the EEAS in 2011 was accompanied by a Council Official Report, column 955W, we intend to engage declaration calling for a savings plan to be presented by widely with hon. and right hon. Members, those from the chief operating officer as a priority task. We also the other place, and a range of other interested groups, secured a Council declaration calling for Budget neutrality to ensure that the strategy takes account of their views and for a concrete plan to ensure cost savings and and expertise. efficiencies in the future. Departmental Libraries India: Embassies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the merits answer of 20 December 2010, Official Report, columns of opening a consulate in Chandigarh, Punjab, India. 956-7W, on departmental libraries, which external [34781] consultants advised on the closure of his Department’s library; and how much they were paid. [33879] Alistair Burt: The United Kingdom is represented by the British Trade Office in Chandigarh and also has a Alistair Burt: The external consultants were Tribal visa application centre there. Diplomatic and consular Avail. Their independent research and findings covered work in the state of Punjab is led by our high commission a wide scope of information management activities in in New Delhi. addition to the library. The cost of this advice specifically The Government are committed to strengthening on the library cannot be disaggregated but the cost of their partnership with India in order to work together the full review was £47,338.41. to mutual benefit. This reflects India’s increasingly important role in the world and our shared interest in Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for democracy, sustained economic growth and global security. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the This renewed focus on India means that we will continue answer of 20 December 2010, Official Report, columns to review the resources required to deliver our ambitious 956-7W, on departmental libraries, who conducted the agenda. internal review in 2003 that led to the closure of his Department’s library; and if he will place a copy of the Morocco: al-Qaeda review’s findings in the Library. [33880] David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Alistair Burt: The internal review was conducted by Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Management Consultancy Services (MCS) within the (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We will arrange for with the Moroccan government on infiltration of a copy of the findings to be deposited in the Library. Polisario by al-Qaeda in the Maghreb. [R] [35013] 929W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 930W

Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary ensure that any outcome from the meeting includes a has not discussed this subject with the Government of clear statement on the need to further combat anti-Semitism Morocco. as part of wider efforts to combat racism. Our position I visited Morocco in December 2010, where I discussed on participation and representation will remain under a broad range of issues relating to the Western Sahara. I review as a result of these efforts. also welcomed our co-operation with Morocco in the field of security. There is no evidence to suggest a formal link between the Polisario and al-Qaeda in the Sudan: Diplomatic Relations Maghreb. We are carefully monitoring the activities of al-Qaeda in the Maghreb and their links with criminal Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for organisations. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he Office of UK Permanent Representative to EC plans for UK representation in south Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [35024] Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which firm of headhunters Mr Bellingham: With the agreement of the Governments will be used to help identify suitable external candidates of Sudan and Southern Sudan, the British embassy to fill the position of UK Permanent Representative to office in Juba, Southern Sudan, has recently been upgraded to a consulate-general. A newly appointed consul-general the EU; and what brief that firm will be given. [34080] will take up his post in the near future. Any further Alistair Burt: None. changes to the nature of UK representation will depend on the result of the referendum. Palestinians: Children

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Tunisia Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his contribution of 7 December 2010, Official Report, Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for columns 40-44WH, on the detention of Palestinian Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has children, what steps his Department has taken to raise to visit Tunisia to promote bilateral relations. [33721] the issue of the detention of Palestinian children since 7 December 2010. [34966] Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Tunisia at present. Alistair Burt: During my visit to the region on 16-19 January 2011, I raised general human right issues with a I visited Tunisia from 28-30 November 2010 where I number of my Israeli interlocutors. On the specific issue engaged in discussions with my Tunisian hosts on energy of child prisoners, our consulate-general in Jerusalem and commercial opportunities, co-operation on counter- and our embassy in Tel Aviv continue to monitor this terrorism, regional issues and relations with the EU. I issue closely, including attending court cases. Our consulate- also spoke about the need to ensure that political and general also works closely with Defence for Children economic stability is built upon openness, tolerance and International, funding a project to promote awareness access to government and civil society. of the issue, including among EU member states. I have also met with the Tunisian Ambassador to the UK to discuss the recent social unrest in Tunisia and Racism: International Co-operation the importance of observing free and fair elections as soon as possible. We encourage maximum effort to Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign restore law and order and call for full inclusion of all and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on UK legal parties in the formation of a new government. representation at the proposed UN conference on anti-racism planned for 2011. [34088] Western Sahara: Politics and Government Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government have not yet made a decision on our participation in the meeting in September to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for World Conference Against Racism. We recognise that it Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions is common practice for the UN to convene meetings at (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had regular periodic intervals to commemorate the adoption with their Algerian counterparts on proposals by the of its various social and human rights-related agendas Moroccan government to offer limited autonomy to such as the Durban Declaration and Programme of Western Sahara. [R] [35014] Action. But previous meetings on this issue, including the initial World Conference Against Racism as well as Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary its 2009 review conference, were overshadowed by has not discussed this subject with his Algerian counterpart. unacceptable and offensive anti-Semitic rhetoric and I visited Algeria in November 2010, where I raised behaviour. the issue of Western Sahara with the Government of UK officials will work closely with colleagues in Algeria. I re-iterated our commitment to the United other countries to ensure that the September meeting Nations Security Council position, calling for a just, does not become another platform for such behaviour lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which and that the meeting addresses all forms of racism, provides for the self-determination of the people of including anti-Semitism. We will also work hard to Western Sahara. 931W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 932W

TREASURY does not differentiate between travel by Ministers and officials and the information could not be obtained 40 Pence Per Mile Travel Allowance within the disproportionate costs threshold.

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Excise Duties: Fuels if he will bring forward proposals to increase the 40 pence per mile travel allowance for self-employed taxpayers. Mr Binley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer [34263] what plans he has to introduce a fuel duty stabiliser. [34914] Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in response to the hon. Member for Ochil Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the and South Perthshire (Gordon Banks) on 13 September answer given on 1 November 2010, Official Report, 2010, Official Report, column 785W. column 665W, to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith). Departmental Consultants Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on consultancy Nicky Morgan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer since May 2010. [34542] what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the existing system for owners of vehicles licensed in the Justine Greening: HM Treasury spent (excluding VAT) Historic Vehicle Taxation Class to make a Statutory Off £10.38 million on consultancy services during the period Road Notification; and if he will bring forward proposals May-December 2010. These data relate to HM Treasury to reintroduce a rolling exemption from vehicle excise only and do not include any of the Treasury’s Executive duty for vehicles constructed before 1 January 1973. agencies. [34920] The Government have pledged to reduce consultancy spend. HM Treasury has implemented a consultancy Justine Greening: The Statutory Off Road Notification freeze in line with current Cabinet Office policy, to system was introduced in 1998 and continues to offer ensure that consultants are only retained when there is effective tax-free storage of vehicles off the public road an operational necessity. while ensuring the accuracy of the vehicle register. The Government have no plans to change the exemption against the current backdrop of fiscal consolidation. Departmental Newspaper Press Ex-Gratia Payments Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on newspapers Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the and magazines since May 2010. [34545] Exchequer on how many occasions ex-gratia payments in respect of delayed payment of age-related rebates Justine Greening: The Treasury spent £37,568 on arising from the late processing of electronically- newspapers and periodicals between 1 June 2010 and submitted pension forms have been made in each of the 31 December 2010. six years. [34574]

Departmental Official Cars Justine Greening: 403 ex-gratia payments arising from late processing were made in 2008-09 and 85 ex-gratia Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer payments arising from late processing were made in how much his Department has spent on Government 2009-10. HMRC hold information from which such Car Service cars since 13 July 2010. [34539] statistics could be provided for the four years prior to 2008-09. However, the information is not readily available Justine Greening: During the period 13 July 2010 to and to provide the information would require a manual 31 December 2010, invoices to the value of £97,000 trawl through all clerical age-related rebate case papers were received by the Department in respect of the worked over the four year period. Government Car Service. In the equivalent period in 2009, £396,000 was spent. Income Tax

Departmental Travel Guto Bebb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely change in the Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer number of people in single income households with (1) how much his Department has spent on travel by children who will pay income tax at the higher rate his officials since May 2010; [34540] from (a) April 2012 and (b) April 2013. [34454] (2) how much his Department has spent on taxis since May 2010. [34541] Justine Greening: The number of people in single income households with children who will pay income Justine Greening: The Treasury spent £813,000 on tax at the higher rate from April 2012 is estimated to be travel (of which travel by taxi in the UK was £59,000) around 190,000. This is estimated to be around 15,000 by Ministers and officials between 1 June 2010 and higher than the equivalent number from April 2011. 31 December 2010. The Department’s accounting system Estimates for April 2013 are not available. 933W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 934W

Public Finance If staff moves are needed to fit in with changing business requirements these will be considered taking Mr Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the personal circumstances into account. All HMRC staff Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the budget have a contract of employment specifying whether the deficit. [35040] jobholder is fully mobile or has limited mobility and mobility rules provide a framework within which staff Justine Greening: Outturn figures for the Government moves can take place. The mobility rules facilitate deficit (Public Sector Net Borrowing) can be found in redeployment of staff both within reasonable daily the public finances databank on the Treasury website: travel time and, for fully mobile staff, a move of home when this is necessary. http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/psf_statistics.htm In November, the independent Office for Budget Technology Responsibility forecast Public Sector Net Borrowing to 2015-16. This is available at: Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/d/ Exchequer what support his Department is providing econ_fiscal_outlook_291110.pdf to the Prime Minister’s initiative to create a Tech City in East London. [34566] Revenue and Customs: Correspondence Danny Alexander: The Treasury is leading a Growth Review, jointly with the Department for Business, Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Innovation and Skills, in order to create the conditions Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs spent for economic growth and to improve the dynamism of on address cleansing in each of the last five years. the UK business environment. This will cover issues of [34553] importance to technology based companies including access to finance, better regulation and competition. In Justine Greening: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) its first phase, the review is focusing on a number of undertook a project costing £1.03 million in 2006-07 to sectors with a high technology content including advanced enable cleansing of address data on a regular basis manufacturing, business and professional services, digital through HMRC IT systems by reference to reliable data and creative industries, and healthcare and life sciences. from external organisations specialising in the collection A first report will be made by Budget 2011. and consolidation of address data. Since then HMRC has paid around £1.1 million per VAT annum for the data. HMRC now undertakes address cleansing and matching Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the on weekly and monthly cycles, and pay Capgemini Exchequer what arrangements he plans to put in place under the service lines appropriate to Business Applications for businesses without internet access to file their value Support and Maintenance (S02) and Data Centre added tax returns after online filing becomes compulsory. Operations (S04) to do this as part of their work in [34435] maintaining and supporting HMRC IT systems. The costs for this service cannot be separated out from the Justine Greening: From 1 April 2010 existing VAT overall charge. registered businesses with a VAT—exclusive turnover of £100,000 or more, and all businesses newly registering for VAT on or after that date, whatever their turnover, Revenue and Customs: Location are legally required to file their VAT returns online. From April 2012, virtually alt VAT-registered businesses Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the will have to file VAT returns online. Exchequer (1) what criteria he plans to apply to determine HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) offer support which members of HM Revenue and Customs staff are and advice for all customers who need help in converting selected for compulsory relocation as a result of the to online filing, including the very small minority of outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review; customers without internet access. Customers without [34784] internet access have the option of appointing an agent (2) what his most recent estimate is of the number of to file on their behalf, or using other internet access compulsory relocations of HM Revenue and Customs which may be available to them (for example, through (HMRC) staff between different tax offices which will public libraries etc). Depending on the customer’s precise arise from planned changes to HMRC’s funding and circumstances, there may be other options available— organisation during the Comprehensive Spending Review HMRC contact centre staff can advise individual customers period. [34785] further. The vast majority of customers affected by the change Justine Greening: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have successfully made the conversion to online filing, is currently preparing its business plan for the next four and another 360,000 have switched to online filing years in response to the spending review settlement. It voluntarily. involves the delivery of change right across the Department and the impact on lines of business, office locations and VAT: Child Poverty staffing is not yet known. HMRC expects to publish a high level HMRC Change and Delivery Plan around Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the the end of January. This will be developed through the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made on spring and beyond. Further iterations will contain the levels of child poverty of the effects of the increase in detail of impacts on individual jobs and offices. the rate of value added tax. [34471] 935W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 936W

Justine Greening: The increase in the main rate of April this year. These sustainability criteria include a VAT was announced by the Chancellor in the June minimum greenhouse gas emissions saving of 60% Budget. In his Budget statement the Chancellor confirmed compared to fossil fuel and general restrictions on the that the VAT increase is part of the overall plan to use of materials from land important on carbon or tackle the deficit. biodiversity grounds. The greenhouse gas emissions will Neither the June Budget, nor the spending review will be assessed across a lifecycle that includes the emissions have any measurable impact on child poverty over the associated with the processing of feedstocks such as next two years, as detailed in Annex B (distributional drying. analysis) and the Data Sources Document. The Government Following a transition phase, where solid and gaseous published their Child Poverty consultation recently, and biomass plants over 50 kW will be required to report on will publish the first Child Poverty Strategy in spring 2011. their performance against the criteria, from April 2013, solid and gaseous biomass electricity plants of 1 MW VAT: Fuels and over will be required to meet these criteria in order to receive support under the RO. Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the receipts to accrue Carbon Emissions: Global Warming from (a) value added tax and (b) excise duty on petrol, diesel and other automotive fuels in each of the Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for next four financial years; [34738] Energy and Climate Change if he will undertake a study (2) what estimate he has made of the change in the of the (a) quantity, (b) origins and (c) contribution to level of receipts from the sale of petrol, diesel and other global warming of black carbon emissions from the automotive fuels which will result from the increase in UK. [34834] the rate of value added tax on 4 January 2011 in each of the next four financial years. [34739] Gregory Barker: The Department has no current plans to commission a study specifically on the quantity, Justine Greening: Forecasts for the total amount of origins or contribution to global warming of black receipts expected in the next four financial years from carbon emissions from the UK but the need for this is excise duty on fuels are available in Table 4.6 of the under review. The Department is, however, currently Office of Budgetary Responsibility’s “Economic and funding as part of the Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Fiscal Outlook” publication: Programme a number of important studies on the climate http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/d/ impacts of black carbon more generally at a global econ_fiscal_outlook_291110.pdf scale. DEFRA is also funding a national network of VAT forecasts and revenue impacts from policy changes black carbon measurements at 21 sites across the UK are estimated at an aggregate level and are not available for air quality monitoring purposes. for individual goods and services. Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he Carbon Emissions: Biofuels has had with representatives of business organisations on the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Efficiency scheme. [34633] Energy and Climate Change whether his classification of biomass as a zero-carbon technology includes Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to consideration of emissions arising from the drying of simplifying the CRC scheme. The Secretary of State biomass prior to the combustion of the fuel. [34833] and I regularly meet businesses to discuss climate change and energy issues including the CRC. My officials are Gregory Barker: These emissions are considered. Under also discussing how to simplify the policy landscape internationally agreed guidelines, the greenhouse gas with a wide range of the CRC participants. emissions associated with the use of fossil fuel to dry the biomass prior to combustion for energy are estimated Carbon Sequestration and reported by the country where the drying takes place. Greenhouse gas emissions associated with the Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for combustion of biomass are counted as zero at the Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to apply power plant under the Intergovernmental Panel on a cap to the member of new entrant reserve applications Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines. This is because the for carbon capture and storage demonstration projects. corresponding changes in terrestrial carbon stocks are [34916] estimated and reported in the land-use change and forestry sector of the country where the harvesting for Charles Hendry: The Government do not intend to biomass took place, and are therefore not counted apply a cap to the number of new entrant reserve again at the point of use. This does not prevent the UK (NER) applications for carbon capture and storage from using a life cycle approach in its domestic policies. (CCS) demonstration projects. All applications that The UK Government are introducing sustainability meet the minimum NER eligibility criteria will be submitted criteria for the use of solid and gaseous biomass, other to the European Investment Bank for consideration. As than waste or wholly derived from waste, to generate set out in our guidance on the NER, available from electricity under the renewables obligation (RO) from www.decc.gov.uk 937W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 938W we will, however, prioritise applications from CCS projects (Further Information)”—published by my Department in the NER process which are consistent with the domestic in December, we intend to launch the process to select policy priorities for CCS. further CCS projects under the programme following Budget 2011 which is available from: Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State www.decc.gov.uk for Energy and Climate Change whether the next phase of carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration Electricity: Prices projects will include pre-combustion CCS. [34917] Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Charles Hendry: As set out in the information note and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 (“UK Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Commercial January 2011, Official Report, column 142W, on Scale Demonstration Programme: Delivery Projects 2-4 energy: prices, what the increase in electricity prices for (Further Information)”), available from each decile of the population by income constitute in cash terms. [34250] www.decc.gov.uk published by my Department in December, the next Charles Hendry: Pursuant to the answer of 10 January phase of CCS demonstration projects (Projects 2-4) will 2011, Official Report, column 142W.Government launched be open to projects that incorporate CO2 capture based consultations on a package of options for reforming the on post-combustion, pre-combustion or oxyfuel methods. electricity market on 16 December 2010. The preferred package is to have a feed-in tariff with a ‘contract for Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State difference’ model for supporting low-carbon generation for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to in combination with a targeted capacity mechanism, announce the next phase of carbon capture and storage carbon price support and an emissions performance projects. [34918] standard. The following table shows the estimated absolute increase in average domestic electricity bills (expressed Charles Hendry: As set out in the information note in real 2009 prices) for each income decile for years “UK Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Commercial 2013, 2016 and 2020 compared to an electricity bill in Scale Demonstration Programme: Delivery Projects 2-4 the same year absent the package of reform options.

Impact of preferred electricity market reform options on average annual electricity bill £ (real 2009 prices) Equivalised disposable income decile 2013 2016 2020

Bottom 2 12 6 2 2126 3 2136 4 2136 5 3147 6 2147 7 3157 8 3147 9 3147 Top 3147

Energy Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much the Government has Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State allocated to provide domestic energy customers with for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he energy efficiency advice and information in 2011-12. has made of the effects on implementation of the [35337] proposals in his consultation document on electricity market reform on inward investment in the UK energy Gregory Barker: The Government have not yet finalised sector; and if he will make a statement. [34632] the funding for energy efficiency advice and information in 2011-12, but we can confirm that DECC will grant Charles Hendry: The Electricity Market Reform fund the Energy Saving Trust (EST) to deliver this consultation document sets out a range of mechanisms advice and remains committed to ensuring that consumers to secure the essential investment required in our electricity receive comprehensive, high quality telephone and online infrastructure. The consultation process is intended to advice in 2011-12. garner views from industry, the financial sector, academics, NGOs and others on how we might best implement the proposals and specifically asks for information on how Energy Supply the mechanisms might impact levels of investment and new entry to the market. The process is intended to Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State bring new entrants into the market, including inward for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions investment from abroad. he has had with gas and electricity suppliers on trends The Government will be setting out their final views in energy supply costs to domestic consumers; and if he in a White Paper later in 2011. will make a statement. [34631] 939W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 940W

Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials meet We have recently consulted on the detailed policy with suppliers on a regular basis to discuss market design, including eligibility and targeting methods and issues. a response to this consultation will be published in due We believe it is important that consumers have the course. lowest possible energy bills, consistent with the need to invest to reduce carbon emissions from energy and Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for ensure security of supply. Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the number of people (a) in Suffolk Coastal constituency Ofgem therefore, monitors the market closely and and (b) nationally who have entered fuel poverty as a reports quarterly on retail prices. Their latest report result of recent trends in the price of heating oil. shows large increases in estimated supplier margins for the year ahead, largely due to recent price increases. We [35484] are disappointed on behalf of consumers by this Gregory Barker: DECC does not have any information development and welcome the announcement of Ofgem’s on the number of households entering fuel poverty as a review of the retail market. Ofgem will report on this result of recent trends in heating oil prices at either a review in March of this year. This announcement is national or regional level. available online at: http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Media/PressRel/Documents1/ However, as seen in the following tables, DECC does Retail%20Market%2026%20November.pdf have estimates of the number of households in England and the East of England Government office region Energy Supply: Biofuels using heating oil to heat their homes and the proportion of these that are fuel poor. The most recent data currently available relates to 2008. Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his East of England (Government office region) Department holds on the proportion of biomass used Number of in heating and electricity generation in the UK which is Number of these Proportion of households households ‘heating oil’ imported; and how much biomass was imported for using heating that are fuel households in fuel such purposes from each country in the latest period oil poor poverty for which figures are available. [34832] (Thousand) (Thousand) (Percentage)

Gregory Barker: DECC publishes data on the imports 2007 202 43 21 of straw, short rotation coppice and other plant-based 2008 209 63 30 biomass for energy use. Imports of these fuels represented England 36 per cent of total supply of these fuels for energy use Number of in 2009. DECC does not hold information on the Number of these Proportion of source of these imports. Information on wood imports households households ‘heating oil’ is collected by HM Revenue and Customs as part of its using heating that are fuel households in fuel oil poor poverty overseas trade statistics but these data do not indicate (Thousand) (Thousand) (Percentage) the final use of the wood. As such, DECC does not have a figure for the proportion of imports of wood used for 2007 926 214 23 energy use. 2008 828 236 29 As referred to in PQ 2010-1241, from April 2009, the renewables obligation required electricity generators over Fuel Oil 50 kilowatts to submit an annual sustainability report to Ofgem setting out the available information on their Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy biomass feedstocks, including country of origin. and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the Information for the first reporting period is available number of households in (a) England, (b) Scotland, from Ofgem’s website at: (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland who rely on the http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation use of domestic heating oil. [35336] .aspx?docid=222&refer=Sustainability/Environment/ RenewablOb1 Gregory Barker: The latest figures available show that around 828,000 households in England; 155,000 in Scotland; Energy: Prices 143,000 in Wales and 527,000 in Northern Ireland use domestic heating oil as their main heating fuel. Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for These figures are estimated by each devolved Energy and Climate Change if he will use his powers Administration from their latest housing and house under the Energy Act 2010 to introduce social pricing condition surveys. for low-income families with children. [35472] Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Gregory Barker: The coalition Government announced and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the in the spending review that energy suppliers will be monetary value of heating oil sales in (a) England, (b) required from April 2011 to provide greater help with Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each the financial costs of energy bills to more of the most of the last five years. [35338] vulnerable fuel poor households. This will be delivered through the Warm Home Discount—with total support Charles Hendry: The following table details UK of £250 million in 2011-12 rising to £310 million in expenditure on heating oils by the domestic and non- 2014-15. domestic sector. 941W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 942W

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State £ million for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the Domestic Non-domestic potential effects of exploration of (a) shale gas and Burning Burning oil Gas oil oil Gas oil Fuel oil (b) coalbed methane on meeting UK climate change targets. [34853] 2005 850 50 450 1,570 80 2006 1,030 70 580 1,670 150 Charles Hendry: Shale gas and coalbed methane have 2007 950 80 570 1,670 200 not yet been commercially proven on a large scale in the 2008 1,420 110 730 2,350 260 UK, so it is too early to judge any potential effects on 2009 1,020 70 540 1,670 190 UK climate change targets. Source: Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2010 Natural Gas Neither the domestic nor the non-domestic data above are able to be split by country. A large proportion of the non-domestic fuel spend shown above will be used for Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State non-heating purposes. for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on a moratorium on shale gas exploration pending the Data from the ONS’s Family Spending report (table report of the US Environmental Protection Agency on A3 7) suggest that on average for the period 2007-09, risks to humans and the environment. [34854] households in England spent £0.90/week, in Scotland £1.40/week, in Wales £2.50/week and in Northern Ireland £13.80/week on home fuels excluding gas and electricity. Charles Hendry: Government are aware there have been reports from US of issues linked to some shale gas projects. Met Office The UK has a long history of onshore gas exploration, the range of techniques employed in shale gas drilling Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for and testing operations is broadly similar to those used Energy and Climate Change what written long range for orthodox gas production, and there is a strong winter weather forecast his Department received from regulatory safety and environmental regime in place the Met Office in October 2010. [35463] administered by the Health and Safety Executive, local authorities and the relevant environmental agencies to Gregory Barker: The Met Office provided a written ensure that potential risks to safety or the environment forecast to the Cabinet Office in October, which was are properly managed. then shared with the Department. There are only a small number of companies pursuing The forecast stated that early to mid-winter in northern shale gas extraction in the UK at present and the size of Europe was likely to be colder and drier than the 1971 this resource has still yet to be quantified. We would not to 2000 average, with an increased risk of a cold and expect high levels of activity over the next few years. wintry start. On the basis of available information, the Department Methane: Natural Gas sees no need for a moratorium on shale gas activities in the UK. Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has made Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for an assessment of the potential effects of (a) shale gas Energy and Climate Change what independent and (b) coalbed methane exploration on the scientific advice he has sought on the environmental implications of drilling for shale gas. [35046] development of low-carbon energy. [34852]

Charles Hendry: The impact of unconventional gas Charles Hendry: It has not been necessary to seek production on the development of low-carbon energy independent scientific advice. There is a robust regulatory in the UK will be principally driven by its impact on system in place to ensure any environmental implications UK gas prices. The impact of further unconventional are minimised. These would be assessed on a site-specific production on UK prices will depend on the extent and basis by the Environment Agency (EA), in England and location of any production, whether production levels Wales, via their role as a statutory consultee in the exceed or fall short of market expectations, and how it planning process or as part of their consideration of the alters the costs of the marginal source of gas supply. need for, and subsequent response to, an application for However, the prospects for unconventional gas are an environmental permit (under the Environmental only one driver for gas prices. The future path of UK Permitting Regulations 2010). The EA has its own gas prices will also be driven by the global demand for in-house technical expertise which is used to support its gas, the price of other fuels, the tightness in different role in protecting and managing water quality and parts of the supply chain, the reliability of different resources and this expertise is available to Government. supplies and the cost of producing conventional gas. In addition the British Geological Survey (BGS) has Under current market arrangements, if gas prices geological expertise and holds the nation’s base data on were to fall and if there were not an offsetting increase geological conditions. On behalf of DECC, BGS recently in carbon prices then this could result in less investment carried out a study on the prospectivity of shale gas in in low-carbon generation and greater investment in the UK. The study has been placed on DECC’s oil and gas-fired generation. The opposite could result if gas gas website and can be found via the following weblink: prices were to rise. https://www.og.decc.gov.uk/upstream/licensing/shalegas.pdf 943W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 944W

In terms of environmental emissions, there is no meet its EU 2020 target; and how much such energy it current commercial production of shale gas within UK aims to generate from (a) nuclear, (b) carbon capture territory and no assessment of the potential impact on and storage coal, (c) onshore wind, (d) offshore wind, global warming of such operations has been made. (e) tidal and (f) solar sources. [34837] More generally Government and their regulatory agencies will study the experience already gained in Charles Hendry: The UK has a target to generate other countries, notably the US, though it cannot be 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. The assumed that US experience will necessarily be equally Government are committed to achieving this target. relevant to UK conditions or to the UK regulatory Recent analysis indicates that this will require overall framework. renewable energy generation of 234 terawatt hours (TWh) across the electricity, heat and transport sectors, based Nuclear Power Stations on latest central projections of energy consumption for 2020 published June 2010. Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Source: Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has assessed the supply of nuclear technicians required http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/projections/ proiections.aspx for the development of new nuclear power stations. [35219] This does not include generation from nuclear or carbon capture and storage coal as these are not covered in the Charles Hendry: Yes. Cogent, the sector skills council, renewable energy directive. have created two pieces of labour market research to Generation from specific renewable energy sources establish the current state of skills in the industry and For 2020, our modelling estimates that we may see model the future skills requirements. The second report the following levels of generation: “Next Generation, Skills for New Build Nuclear” was Onshore wind: 34TWh published in March 2010 in response to a request from Offshore wind: 44TWh the Nuclear Development Forum to research capacity, capability and timeline to secure a new build nuclear Tidal energy: around 4TWh of wave and tidal generation programme up to 2025. The report assessed the skills Solar: up to 2TWh solar PV. landscape and identified areas where there was a risk of These are central estimates. The exact shares of effort there not being enough skilled workers. It recommends between sectors and technologies will depend on how mitigating actions which the Department is working investors respond to the renewable financial incentives with skills bodies to implement. put in place, and the relative success in overcoming non-financial barriers to renewables deployment such Renewable Energy as planning, supply chain and grid issues. CCS Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons the The Government are committed to continuing public Renewables Obligation does not require minimum energy sector investment in four CCS demonstration projects, efficiency standards in respect of eligibility for biomass this programme could deliver around 1.5GW of CCS energy support; and if he will make a statement. [34768] generating capacity by 2020. Nuclear Power Charles Hendry: The renewables obligation promotes The draft revised National Policy Statements set out the efficient use of biomass for electricity in two ways. there is an urgent need for a diverse range of new energy Firstly, renewables obligation certificates are only rewarded infrastructure and for new nuclear power to be free to for actual electricity generated, the less efficient the contribute as much as possible towards meeting the generation the less ROCs they will receive. need for 18GW of new non-renewable capacity by 2025. Secondly, the UK Government are introducing sustainability criteria for the use of solid and gaseous Renewable Energy: Wood biomass (other than waste or wholly derived from waste) to generate electricity under the renewables obligation (RO) from April this year. These sustainability criteria Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for include a minimum greenhouse gas emissions saving of Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made 60% compared to fossil fuel assessed across a lifecycle of the contribution of the wood panel industry to the that includes consideration of the energy conversion production of renewable heat in each of the last five efficiency of the generating plant. years. [34761] Following a transition phase, where solid and gaseous biomass plants over 50 kilowatts will be required to Gregory Barker: In 2009, the wood panel industry is report on their performance against the criteria, from estimated to have produced 1,639 GWh of renewable April 2013 biomass electricity plants of 1 megawatt and heat, from 395,469 tonnes of wood. Data are not available over will be required to meet these criteria in order to for years preceding this. Industry as a whole produced receive support under the RO. approximately 4,501 GWh of renewable heat in 2009.

Renewable Energy: Finance Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for has made an assessment of the life-cycle carbon balance Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department of (a) processing wood and (b) electricity generation has made of the level of renewable energy needed to from wood; and if he will make a statement. [34762] 945W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 946W

Charles Hendry: The Department has not made an biomass being used for large-scale electricity generation assessment of the life cycle carbon balance of processing in the UK and the potential effects on the UK wood wood. However, I can confirm that the process itself is industries. highly energy intensive; the wood panel industry is one Our analysis of future UK bio-electricity supply takes of the most energy intensive industries in the UK into account the demand of the wood processing and http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ other user industries for biomass feedstocks. consult_carbon_price_support.htm According to the results of the 4th target period assessment Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for of the climate change agreements, the sector reported Energy and Climate Change whether (a) the effect on that 2,550,761,208 kWh of energy with 458,355 tonnes existing wood industries and (b) the sustainability of wood as a feedstock is taken into account in deciding of CO2 was used to produce 3,257,582m3 of wood panel. Their performance during this period was therefore whether to grant planning permission for large-scale biomass energy projects of 50 megawatts and over. 783 kWhp and 0.14 tonnes CO2 per m3 of wood panel produced. [34767] http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/What%20we%20do/ Charles Hendry: In respect of the effect on existing Global%20climate%20change%20and%20energy/Tackling %20Climate%20Change/ccas/175-cca-4th-target.pdf wood industries, commercial interests are not a relevant planning matter. In respect of the sustainability of Estimates of the life-cycle carbon balance of electricity wood as a feedstock, Government policy is that mechanisms generation from wood are dependent on a number of beyond the planning system in the form of the renewables factors; the size and efficiency of the energy generating obligation are better placed to ensure the sustainability plant, the forestry planting, rotation and harvesting of fuel used in large-scale biomass electricity generating cycle, and the method of collecting, transporting and stations. processing the wood. Typical life cycle carbon balances have been estimated by the Environment Agency. Sellafield: Plutonium http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/ Biomass__carbon_sink_or_carbon_sinner_summary_report.pdf Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Their analysis shows that life-cycle emissions for and Climate Change when his Department commissioned electricity generated by clean waste wood or short rotation its cost-benefit analysis of constructing a new mixed coppice chips can vary from 50-300 kg CO2/MWh. oxide plutonium fuels plant in Sellafield; who is conducting the analysis; when the contract for the analysis was put Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for out to tender; where the tender was advertised; what the Energy and Climate Change what (a) mechanism and monetary value of the contract is; and when he expects (b) criteria his Department plans to apply to assess the to receive the analysis. [34754] sustainability of large-scale wood biomass energy plants of 50 megawatts and over; and if he will take Charles Hendry: DECC intends shortly to publish a into account the potential effects of such plants on (i) public consultation on the options for the long-term UK wood processing industries and (ii) UK wood management of the UK’s civil plutonium. As part of markets. [34766] the work supporting that consultation, the Government commissioned the NDA to examine the costs of the various options, which included the reuse of the plutonium Charles Hendry: We are introducing sustainability to make MOX fuel. No external work has been criteria for the use of solid biomass, including wood commissioned at this stage. We anticipate that further fuels, to generate electricity under the renewables obligation analysis of the costs for a number of options will be (RO) from April this year. These criteria include a necessary to support a final decision, which will only be minimum greenhouse gas emissions saving of 60% taken following the consultation process. compared to fossil fuel and general restrictions on the use of materials from land important on carbon or biodiversity grounds. Following a transition phase, where Solar Power: Housing solid biomass plants over 50 kilowatts will be required to report on their performance against the criteria, from Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State April 2013, solid biomass electricity plants of 1 megawatt for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions and above will be required to meet these criteria in he has had with Ministers in the Department for order to receive support under the RO. The sustainability Communities and Local Government on potential changes criteria will not apply to solid biomass that is waste or to building regulations to encourage the fitting of wholly derived from waste. photovoltaic cells to new houses; and if he will make a statement. [34367] The same set of sustainability criteria will be applied to the use of UK and imported solid biomass, and to Gregory Barker: There are regular discussions between both new and existing plants. DECC and the Department for Communities and Local These changes build on the existing requirement under Government on zero carbon homes policy. We remain the RO for biomass plants over 50 kilowatts to report to committed to ensuring that new homes do not add to the best of the operator’s knowledge and belief on a our carbon footprint but we do not want to impose new range of matters relating to the biomass used. These standards that dictate exactly how every home should include the type and form of the biomass, its country of be built. We are considering recommendations from an origin and whether the biomass is an energy crop or interim report from the zero carbon hub on what standards waste. This will provide valuable information on the should be achievable onsite. 947W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 948W

Waste Disposal: Storage 2 Load factor definition: the amount of actual generation as a proportion of the maximum possible generation in a given time period. Load factor on an ‘unchanged configuration’ is a load Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy factor calculated using just those wind farms that have been and Climate Change what storage arrangements there operating continually, and with the same configuration, throughout are for high-level wastes; and what arrangements are the year. Further information on this measure can be found in planned for such storage prior to the construction of a Energy Trends, March 2006, pages 28 to 32 at: geological disposal facility. [33905] http://decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/publications/trends/ articles_issue/file43950.pdf Charles Hendry: High level radioactive waste (HLW) arises as a liquid from the reprocessing of spent nuclear Load factor Percentage fuel and all the UK’s current HLW is located at Sellafield 2009 33.7 where reprocessing takes place. Liquid HLW is stored at Lower estimate 137 Sellafield in custom designed tanks before being immobilised Upper estimate 242 in a passively safe, solid glass waste-form, through a 1 Based on the expected output of a 5MW turbine at Dogger Bank at process known as vitrification. The solid HLW is safely availability of 90%. stored and monitored in a purpose built store at Sellafield 2 Based on expected output of offshore turbines averaged from 15 UK pending return to overseas customers or final disposal offshore sites at 85% availability. For comparison Horns Rev wind in the proposed geological disposal facility. The UK has farm in Denmark is already achieving capacity factors of 43%. a strong and effective nuclear safety regulatory regime It is expected that round 3 projects (which will be at that ensures the safe storage and management of radioactive varying depths) will achieve load factors in the region of waste including HLW. 37-42%. This translates into generation of between 3.2 and 3.8 GWh per MW of installed capacity over the Wind Power course of the year. The main reasons for the increase are increased availability of the turbines (due to better operation and Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State maintenance infrastructure and/or more reliable turbines) for Energy and Climate Change how many planning and better wind conditions as wind farms are located approvals for wind farms in England over the last year further offshore. have not been proceeded with; and if he will make a Note: statement. [34634] DECC statistics can be downloaded from: Charles Hendry: 22 wind farm applications were approved http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/publications/trends/ in 2010. Of these, one is already operational, one is articles_issue/articles_issue.aspx under construction and the remaining 20 are awaiting construction. The amount of time for wind farms to be completed following planning approval depends on various factors including planning conditions, the size of the EDUCATION wind farm and grid availability. We estimate that on average it takes about two years for a wind farm to Aimhigher Programme become operational following planning approval. Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wind Power: Energy Education what estimate he has made of the number of activities delivered under the Aimhigher programme for young people from low-income backgrounds wishing to Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for go to university in each year since 2004 under the Energy and Climate Change what estimate his programme; and how many activities he expects to be Department has made of the average annual amount of delivered in the academic year 2011-12 following the energy to be generated by a wind turbine built under a end of the Aimhigher programme. [28594] round 3 deep water licence. [34838] Mr Willetts: I have been asked to reply. Charles Hendry: In 2009, UK offshore wind farms Aimhigher is managed by the Higher Education Funding typically generated 2.95 GWh per MW of installed Council for England (HEFCE). HEFCE have provided capacity over the course of the year. This is based on an the following information on the number of activities unchanged configuration load factor1 for offshore wind undertaken by Aimhigher partnerships. in 2009 of 33.7%. 2 Data are not available on individual participants or It is expected that load factors for offshore wind will before 2007-08. increase over time, leading to greater efficiencies in the form of increased generation per MW of installed The year 2007-08 was a pilot for gathering the number capacity. DECC analysis suggests the following range of activities and the information is based on 26 of the of load factor estimates for round 3 sites. These are then 45 partnerships. based on the expected performance of turbines at UK offshore sites (based on real wind speed data from the Number of activities Meteorological Office). 2007-08 17,251 1 2009 offshore wind load factor from table 7.4 of the Digest of 2008-09 26,442 UK Energy Statistics, 2010, available at: 2009-10 146,028 http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/source/ 1 Figures for 2009-10 are not comparable with previous years due to a renewables/renewables.aspx change in the way data was collected. 949W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 950W

We have made no estimate of the number of activities Mr Gibb [holding answer 19 January 2011]: This is a that will be delivered in 2011-12. matter for the YoungPeople’s Learning Agency (YPLA) Universities, schools and colleges have learned much who operate the education maintenance allowance for from Aimhigher about ‘what works’. Universities already the Department for Education and manage the Capita use this to inform their own outreach activities covered contract. Peter Lauener, the YPLA’s chief executive, by existing access agreements, agreed with the Office for will write to the hon. Member for Witham with the Fair Access, and the widening participation strategic information requested and a copy of his reply will be assessments they submit to HEFCE. Helping young placed in the House Libraries. people find out about higher education is a normal part of what schools do and schools will receive additional support through the pupil premium from April 2011. Family Intervention Projects

Child Benefit Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of family intervention projects in (a) South Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education Thanet constituency and (b) England. [24589] with reference to the media statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families Tim Loughton: Data from official statistics for intensive reported on 4 October 2010, what discussions the family interventions, published on 15 September 2010, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children show reductions in a number of issues at the end of the and Families has had with (a) him and (b) HM Treasury intervention compared to at the start, including reductions Ministers on adjustment to Government proposals on in school truancy, exclusions and poor behaviour at child benefit for higher rate taxpayers. [30592] school; workless households; family functioning (poor parenting, family breakdown, domestic violence and Tim Loughton [holding answer 14 December 2010]: I child protection issues); crime and antisocial behaviour; have frequent discussions with the Secretary of State and health issues (including drug and alcohol misuse and other Ministers about all aspects of my portfolio and mental health problems). A more detailed analytical and related issues. report looking at factors that can lead to successful outcomes is due to be published on the 25 November. Education Maintenance Allowance The intensive family intervention service in Kent includes the South Thanet constituency. Our records show that, to date, five families have successfully completed an Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for intervention and the service is currently working with Education whether he undertook an equality impact another 10 families. assessment before making the decision to abolish the education maintenance allowance. [31275] Further Education: Student Numbers Mr Gibb: Discussions on distributional impacts, including impacts on equality, informed the process for spending Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for review discussions and decisions, and this Department Education how many 14 and 15-year-olds study at has worked closely with HM Treasury to assess the further education or sixth-form college five days a impact on different sections of society. week; and how many of these students are enrolled at (a) the college and (b) a local school. [32638] Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was paid to pupils in payments Mr Gibb: Details of all students studying at further for reaching pre-agreed targets in addition to education education or sixth-form colleges, including those aged maintenance allowance payments in each year for under 16, is collected and made available by the Data which figures are available; and how many pupils Service. The number of 14 and 15-year-olds studying received such payments in each such year. [34349] full-time during the 2009/10 academic year is shown in the following table. Mr Gibb [holding answer 19 January 2011]: This is a Students aged 14 and 15 studying full time at an FE centre, including a matter for the YoungPeople’s Learning Agency (YPLA) sixth-form college, England, 2009/10 who operate the education maintenance allowance for Age 14 Age 15 Total the Department for Education and manage the Capita contract. Peter Lauener, the YPLA’s chief executive, Full-time full-year 700 3,000 3,700 will write to the hon. Member for Witham with the Full-time part-year 700 4,300 5,000 information requested and a copy of his reply will be Total 1,300 7,400 8,700 placed in the House Libraries. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component figures because of the rounding. Education Maintenance Allowance: Young Offenders 2. Age 14 or 15 at the start of the academic year. Source: 2009/10 Individualised Learner Record final L04 dataset. Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young offenders received education maintenance However, information on where the student is actually allowance payments in each year for which figures are enrolled is not collected and therefore it is not possible available; and how much was paid to young offenders in to provide details of whether these 14 and 15-year-old such payments in each such year. [34350] students were enrolled at the college or a local school. 951W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 952W

Higher Education Mr Gibb: We believe that schools are best placed to decide the most appropriate support for their pupils. Funding for Every Child a Reader and Every Child Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State Counts forms part of the schools budget and it will be for Education what recent discussions he has had with for local authorities, in consultation with their schools the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and forum, to decide whether to take account of the previous Skills on the influence of parental income on level of this funding when making their 2011-12 allocations prospective higher education students’ university to schools. choices; and if he will make a statement. [30461] The Pupil Premium will allocate funding for deprived pupils, which head teachers can decide how best to Mr Gibb [holding answer 15 December 2010]: The spend. However, the Government will be making available Secretary of State for Education and the Secretary of to schools the latest and best evidence and information State for Business, Innovation and Skills have discussed on the activities, interventions and strategies that can the changes to higher education funding and student help raise the attainment of those pupils who will finance at Cabinet. Statements to the House of Commons benefit from the Pupil Premium. on this subject reflect the Government position, as agreed at Cabinet meetings. There is evidence that the Every Child programmes have had a positive impact in raising the attainment of FSM pupils. All three programmes are currently undergoing Pupils: Disadvantaged independent evaluations, to report in late 2010-early 2011, which will give a substantive view of the impact of Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of the programmes. State for Education how much additional funding We are currently working through proposals for literacy schools in County Durham will receive from the pupil and numeracy intervention beyond September 2011, premium in the academic year (a) 2010-11 and (b) which is subject to final decisions following the spending 2011-12. [31897] review.

Mr Gibb [holding answer 20 December 2010]: On 13 December, the Government announced that in 2011-12, Schools: Rural Areas the level of the pupil premium will be £430 per pupil and will be the same for every deprived pupil, no matter Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for where they live. The pupil premium will be allocated to Education if he will take steps to ensure that rural those pupils eligible for free school meals identified by primary schools are not disadvantaged by local the January 2011 census figures for pupils in years from authority budget allocations deploying the Mosaic Reception to Year 11. The premium will be funded by formula. [32576] financial year not academic year. However, were the January 2010 census figures used then there would be a Mr Gibb: For 2011-12, we are continuing with the notional allocation for pupils in Durham of £6 million. current methodology for funding local authorities and This figure could rise or fall depending on the number schools to allow for the clear and transparent introduction of eligible pupils at January 2011, and is indicative only. of the pupil premium. This means that local authorities will continue to be responsible, in consultation with Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for their Schools Forums, for deciding how to allocate Education what estimate he has made of the number of money between the schools they maintain. However, a pupils in East Staffordshire eligible for the pupil minimum funding guarantee will apply so that no school premium. [31979] will see a reduction in its budget compared with 2010-11 of more than 1.5% per pupil. Mr Gibb [holding answer 20 December 2010]: We The pupil premium will be introduced from April have made estimates of the number of pupils eligible for 2011 and will be paid at the same rate—£430—per the pupil premium for each local authority, based on deprived child across the country. The measure of 2010 data. According to these estimates for Staffordshire, deprivation we are using for the premium in 2011-12 13,250 pupils eligible for free school meals would attract will be children known to be eligible for free school the premium, as well as 485 children looked after by the meals as recorded in the Schools Census in January local authority, and 315 children of service personnel. 2011. This totals 14,050 pupils eligible for the pupil premium in Staffordshire, attracting a pupil premium of £5.97 million in total. The actual level number of eligible Schools: Sportsgrounds pupils in Staffordshire and therefore the amount payable will be taken from the January 2011 school census. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of Schools: Reading all-weather sports pitches in use by (a) primary and (b) secondary schools. [32077] Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to ensure that Mr Gibb [holding answer 21 December 2010]: No schools are able to exercise maximum choice in the way estimate has been made by the Department for Education in which they support vulnerable primary school pupils of the number of all-weather sports pitches in use in to improve reading and numeracy skills. [23200] schools in England. 953W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 954W

Schools: Standards Number of weeks from DWP decision to TS appeal hearing Clearance times 2009-10 Date of DWP decision to tribunal hearing Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment support Education how many specialist sports (a) schools and Number of weeks Incapacity benefit allowance (b) colleges the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Fewer than 4 weeks 0 4 State for Children and Families has visited since his Fewer than 8 weeks 92 253 appointment; what assessment he made of the work of Fewer than 12 weeks 1,172 2,245 each such establishment; and if he will make a Fewer than 16 weeks 3,724 5,658 statement. [29057] Fewer than 20 weeks 6,057 8,154 Fewer than 24 weeks 8,101 10,102 Tim Loughton [holding answer 6 December 2010]: Over 24 weeks 27,422 23,916 Since May 2010, I have visited 12 schools, where I have Notes: 1. Data are reported in four-week blocks and are not available in calendar had the chance to see high quality PE and sport. None months. Clearance refers to cases that were decided by a tribunal. Data are of the 12 schools has been a school or college with a provided from the Tribunals Service’s G2 system. specialism in sport. The purpose of visiting any educational 2. Includes dates of disputed decision (and appeal lodgement) provided by institution is not to assess their work—that is the role of DWP and inputted by Tribunals Service into its processing system. Ofsted—but to gain a greater insight into how they The Tribunals Service’s target is to issue a final operate and deal with a variety of issues. decision for 75% of Social Security and Child Support appeals within 16 weeks of receipt from the DWP. Schools: Waltham Forest Incapacity benefit appeals take on average 11.81 weeks and employment support allowance appeals 9.2 weeks from the date of the original DWP decision to arrive at Dr Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Tribunals Service. The Tribunals Service is currently Education what funding his Department has allocated clearing 62% of incapacity benefit appeals and 65% of to (a) academies, (b) free schools and (c) local employment support allowance appeals within 16 weeks. authority schools in the London borough of Waltham Performance below target has resulted from an Forest for 2011-12. [32920] unexpectedly high level of appeals, particularly against employment support allowance decisions. In response, Mr Gibb [holding answer 10 January 2011]: On the Tribunals Service has significantly increased its capacity 13 December, the Department announced the school and, nationally, 47% more Social Security and Child funding settlement for 2011-12 and the methodology Support appeals were cleared in September 2010 compared for funding academies. to September 2009. Further capacity increases are in There is no figure currently available for how much hand. funding will be allocated to Waltham Forest for academies and free schools as this will depend on how many academies and free schools there are in Waltham Forest Court: Closures in 2011-12. We have published on our website the Dedicated Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Schools Grant (DSG) Guaranteed Units of Funding what assessment he has made of the effects of (GUF) per pupil for all local authorities in England. In proposed court closures on the level of fines and fees 2011-12, the GUF for Waltham Forest maintained schools imposed and collected. [35034] will be £5,841.83. The final DSG allocations for local authorities will be based on the January 2011 pupil Mr Djanogly: The impact assessment accompanying count and will be published in summer 2011. the consultation response papers assumes that the court closure programme does not impact on service delivery. As the volume of work is not expected to rise or fall as a result of the court estate rationalisation programme JUSTICE and there is sufficient capacity at recipient courts to undertake work from closing courts, it is not anticipated that fines or fees imposed and collected will be significantly Appeals: Social Security Benefits affected.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applicants for (a) incapacity benefit and what estimate he has made of the level of savings to the (b) employment support allowance whose claims were public purse likely to accrue as a result of the closure of rejected had their appeal heard by the Tribunals Service courts in Wales as announced on 14 December 2010. within (i) three, (ii) four, (iii) five, (iv) six and (v) more [35035] than six months of the original decision to disallow the claim. [34295] Mr Djanogly: Across the spending review period, the estimated gross resource saving accruing from the closure Mr Djanogly: The following table shows the time of courts in Wales announced on 14 December is taken from the date of a disputed Department for Work £2.4 million. and Pensions (DWP) decision for incapacity benefit This gross resource saving figure reflects the position and employment support allowance cases to the date of as at 14 December and excludes any savings on staff clearance by the Tribunals Service. costs, maintenance costs and non-cash costs. 955W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 956W

Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice buildings which are not suitable for flexible working, how many representations he received on his proposed the MOJ is working towards providing a maximum of closure of courts in Wales; and how many such 10 square metres per person across its administrative representations supported his proposals. [35036] estate. There is currently 14.7m2 and 1.2 desks per full-time Mr Djanogly: Excluding responses to the consultation employee across the estate and the MOJ is working to on a national level, there were a total of 217 responses reduce this figure and ensure more efficient use of its to the consultation on the provision of court services in property. Wales. Of these, 12 related to the proposals across Homeworking is an option for all MOJ staff, provided Wales, of which four were broadly supportive, five were that issues, such as health and safety obligations, insurance, generally opposed and three were neutral, and 205 were furniture and equipment, confidentiality, business needs in respect of a particular court or courts. of the unit and regular contact, are fully addressed. Full details of the response to consultation are available in consultation paper CP HMCS 15/10, which can be Fines: Debts found on the Ministry of Justice website at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-cp15- Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for 10.htm Justice what recent discussions he has had with enforcement agencies on the procedures and regulatory framework Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for the collection of (a) fines and (b) outstanding what timetable he has set for closure of the courts in debts; and if he will make a statement. [35025] Wales which were the subject of his announcement of 14 December 2010. [35037] Mr Djanogly: HMCS officials regularly have discussions with enforcement agencies about improving HMCS Mr Djanogly: I cannot confirm any closure dates at enforcement procedures and will continue to do so. this time as implementation plans for closures are currently being developed by HMCS in discussion with staff and Ford Prison the judiciary. HMCS aims to confirm the proposed dates for closure in February. Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Justice how many prisoners at HM Prison Ford have what the cost of the maintenance backlog was for each had all privileges withdrawn as a consequence of court in Wales included in the consultation for court participation in the recent disturbances. [33432] closures as at 14 December 2010. [35038] Mr Blunt: All the prisoners thought to have been Mr Djanogly: I refer the hon. Member to my answer involved in the recent disturbance have since been to him of 21 December 2010, Official Report, column transferred out of HMP Ford, and therefore no prisoners 1164W. currently there have had privileges withdrawn as a result. Dartmoor Prison A number of the prisoners identified as possible perpetrators were placed on report in accordance with Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice prison rules and regulations. These adjudications have what plans he has for the future of HM Prison been opened but remanded for the police investigation Dartmoor. [34311] to be concluded.

Mr Blunt: The role and functions of prisons is kept Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice under regular review, taking into account a number of how many prisoners involved in the recent disturbances factors affecting the requirements of a fit for purpose at HM Prison Ford have been transferred to other custodial estate. Decisions on the long-term future of prisons (a) temporarily and (b) for the remainder of the estate, including Dartmoor prison, will be made in their sentence; and to which prisons. [33433] the light of the review of rehabilitation and sentencing and the need to provide a secure and modern prison Mr Blunt: 86 prisoners have been transferred out of estate, while improving efficiency and value for money. Ford as a result of the disturbance. This group of prisoners contains those identified as possibly involved Departmental Working Conditions and those moved because of damage to the accommodation. Where each of these prisoners completes Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice their sentence will depend on individual risk assessments, what his Department’s policy is on (a) the space provided and the outcome of the police and NOMS investigations. per employee, (b) home working and (c) hot desking; The prisoners were moved to the following how many employees it has on average per desk; and establishments: how much space on average there is per employee. Bedford [34597] Peterborough Winchester Mr Blunt: To achieve savings from its administrative estate, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is working towards Bullingdon the Government standard of eight square metres per Hewell person and 80% desking (eight desks to 10 members of Belmarsh staff) in those buildings where it is possible to do so. In Wandsworth 957W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 958W

Lewes Legal Aid : Employment Camp Hill Springhill. Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding the Legal Services Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Commission provided from the legal aid budget for Justice whether there was any change in the level of legal help and representation on employment matters resources provided to HM Prison Ford as a result of in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement. [34303] the £325 million reduction in his Department’s budget for 2009-10 announced in June 2010. [35030] Mr Djanogly: Legal aid expenditure on employment matters was £6.4 million in 2008-09. Of this, £6 million Mr Blunt: The £325 million reduction to the Department’s was spent on legal help and £0.4 million was spent on budget announced in May 2010, resulted in a resource legal aid under a legal aid certificate which includes reduction of £130,203 to HM Prison Ford. representation. Members: Correspondence Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he took on receiving the last Annual Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Report of the Independent Monitoring Board on HM Justice when he intends to answer the letter sent to him Prison Ford. [35031] by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 29 November 2010 with regard to Ms O Osei. [34753] Mr Blunt: As has been the practice for a number of years Ministers do not directly receive draft Independent Mr Kenneth Clarke: I replied to the right hon. Member Monitoring Board reports when the IMBs submit them. on 11 January. I apologise for the delay in doing so. The reports are firstly submitted to the IMB Secretariat. Prisons: Drugs Then NOMS officials prepare a draft response to all the points on which the individual IMBs have requested a response both directed to Ministers and NOMS. I then Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice consider the reply and, having also examined the issues how many prisoners were charged for possession of (a) raised directly for Ministers, write to the Chair. At the Class A and (b) Class B drugs in 2009-10. [34748] time of the disturbance the Board had submitted its report and the draft response was being prepared. The Mr Blunt: Data on the number of prisoners charged report was available in Gold Command directing the for possession of drugs are not recorded centrally. To incident at Ford, where I first saw it. It was confirmed provide it would require a detailed investigation into to me that the report would form part of the documentation each local prison record and so would incur of the investigation into the incident. I will respond to disproportionate cost. the Chair of the IMB in February after I have been Recorded instead is the number of charges under the informed of the findings of the NOMS investigation Prison Rules for possession of controlled drugs that are report. proved at adjudication, and the punishments then given. The data are collated and published on a calendar year Legal Aid basis in the Offender Management Caseload Statistics. Data for 2009 is available at: www.justice.gov.uk/prisonandprobation.htm Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in (a) England and (b) Leeds Data for 2010 will not be available until mid-2011. Data North West constituency applied for legal aid in each are not differentiated between offences involving Class A and Class B drugs. of the last five years. [34519] More serious offences such as possession with intent to supply will be referred to the police for investigation Mr Djanogly: Applications for civil legal aid advice and prosecution and so are not included in the Offender are made to individual providers, and we record the Management Caseload Statistics. number of instances of advice provided, rather than the number of applications made. All applications are based Prisons: Employment on the Solicitor’s location, which may not reflect where the client is based. Applications for civil legal aid Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice representation are made to the Legal Services Commission. (1) what the average hourly wage is for those who Not all applications are granted. The applications received undertake work in prison; [34906] for representation for the last five years in the requested areas is as follows: (2) how many paid work schemes are operating on the prison estate. [34907] Applications in Civil Rep 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Mr Blunt: The information requested is not held Leeds 76 63 34 39 55 centrally and could only be obtained by contacting North West individual prison establishments at disproportionate constituency cost. England 182,187 177,309 161,206 171,492 187,738 Prison Service Order 4460 (Prisoners’ Pay), a copy of England 194,795 189,455 172,420 183,026 199,950 which has been placed in the House Library, sets out and Wales minimum rates of pay and requires Governors (and (total) Directors of contracted prisons) to devise local pay 959W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 960W schemes that reflect regime priorities of their establishment. HEALTH A snapshot survey of prisoner pay undertaken in 2007 indicated that the average weekly rate of pay for prisoners Arthritis undertaking work and other activities was £9.60. There is no recognised definition of the term “paid Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health work schemes” for prisoners. Prisoners have access to a how many follow-up consultations for rheumatology range of work depending on the local regime. These services took place in the last 12 months. [33100] include cleaning, catering and laundry work, workshops producing goods for internal and external markets, and Paul Burstow: Data on follow up appointments are workshops run by contractors. Around 450 low risk not available specifically for rheumatology services. prisoners in open prisons work outside in individual Data published by the Department of Health looking work placements. on an all speciality basis show that the ratio of subsequent attendance (follow-up) to first out-patient appointment Prisons: Security has remained broadly stable over the last three years at around two (subsequent attendances) to one (first out- Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice patient appointment). what discussions Ministers in his Department have had Source: with (a) the Prison Officers’ Association and (b) the Department of Health Monthly Activity Return (MAR) and Prison Governors’ Association on security at HM Quarterly Activity Return Prison Ford in the last six months. [32943] Blood: Contamination Mr Blunt: Ministers have had no formal discussions with either union about security issues at HMP Ford in Mr Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health the last six months. I spoke to representatives of the what discussions he has had with the (a) Scottish POA when I visited HMP Ford on 2 January. Government, (b) Welsh Assembly Government and (c) Northern Ireland Executive on the outcome of the Zahid Mubarek Inquiry review of support for those affected by contaminated blood products in England; and if he will make a John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for statement. [34991] Justice how many recommendations from the Zahid Mubarek Inquiry related to enforced cell sharing Anne Milton: I refer the right hon. Member to the have been implemented; what targets have been set for answer I gave the right hon. Member for Wythenshawe the implementation of the remainder of those and Sale East (Paul Goggins) on 17 January 2011, recommendations accepted by the Government; and if Official Report, column 543W. he will make a statement. [34571] Mr Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Mr Blunt: There are 15 recommendations from the what factors he took into consideration in the Zahid Mubarek inquiry related to enforced cell sharing. determination of the annual payment at £12,800 for Eight of these recommendations have been met in full. people infected by contaminated blood products who The work done on a further six of these recommendations have gone on to develop serious liver disease. [34992] has revealed that further action is either unnecessary or impractical. The remaining recommendation is that Anne Milton: The factors taken into account are enforced cell sharing should be eliminated. The National explained in paragraphs 5.7-5.11 of the report of the Offender Management Service remains committed to “Review of the support available to individuals infected this as a high priority, and it has been considered as part with hepatitis C and/or HIV by NHS-supplied blood of each new capacity building programme and project. transfusions or blood products and their dependants”, There is no target for the implementation of this a copy of which has already been placed in the Library. recommendation. We are not in a position to create enough places to be able to address the problem of Bone Marrow Disorders: Donors overcrowding, but remain committed to providing safe, decent and secure places for those in custody. Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an assessment of the John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for optimum size of the British Bone Marrow Registry that Justice if he will assess the effect of (a) the closure of (i) is required to meet the needs of the NHS. [34480] Ashwell and (ii) Lancaster Castle prisons and (b) the re-rolling of Morton Hall prison on the Government’s Anne Milton: The Department has not made an timetable for implementation of recommendation 1 of assessment of the optimum size of the British Bone the Zahid Mubarek Inquiry. [34572] Marrow Registry. However, as part of its work, the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum, led by NHS Blood and Mr Blunt: In line with recommendation one of the Transplant, found that increasing the number of donors Zahid Mubarek inquiry, the elimination of enforced registered would not significantly increase the chances cell sharing remains a high priority for the National of United Kingdom patients identifying a matched Offender Management Service. unrelated adult donor. Current headroom means that the closure of HMPs Details of the Forum’s findings on this issue can be Lancaster Castle, Ashwell and Morton Hall, announced found in Annex 4 of ‘The Future of Unrelated Donor on 13 January, are not expected to impact on overall Stem Cell Transplantation in the UK’ (a copy of the prison crowding levels. report has already been placed in the Library). 961W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 962W

Cancer: Health Services The General Dental Council is an independent, statutory body and the Secretary of State for Health has no formal role in assessing its performance. However, the Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) by what mechanism the review of the Cancer Reform makes an annual report to Parliament on the performance Strategy will seek to improve men’s cancer outcomes. of health regulatory bodies, including the General Dental [34772] Council. CHRE’s most recent report was laid before Parliament on 1 July 2010, and is available in the Paul Burstow: “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Library. Cancer” sets out a range of actions to improve outcomes for all cancer patients, including men. A copy has Carers: Bromsgrove already been placed in the Library. We know that early diagnosis of cancer is crucial to Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for Health improving outcomes. To tackle late diagnosis, the strategy if he will assess the level of support provided by carers’ sets out plans to improve general practitioner (GP) centres in Bromsgrove constituency. [34554] access to diagnostic tests, to support cancer awareness initiatives, to extend our cancer screening programmes Paul Burstow: It is for councils to decide how they and to introduce new screening technologies. The strategy support carers’ centres in their area. also covers other outcomes, such as improving patient In addition, central Government recognise the experience. importance of carers and are keen to ensure that we With specific reference to improving outcomes in focus on the key activities that will make the greatest men, the strategy provides an update on the work the impact on improving carers’ lives. ‘Recognised, valued Department has commissioned from the Men’s Health and supported: Next steps for the Carers Strategy’, Forum on improving uptake of bowel cancer screening, published on 25 November 2010, sets out the priorities noting that a conference is to be held later this month to for action over the next four years. The four key priorities discuss the findings and to make recommendations to are: the screening service. Supporting those with caring responsibilities to identify themselves The strategy also notes that, following a public and as carers at an early stage, recognising the value of their contribution stakeholder consultation, the United Kingdom National and involving them from the outset both in designing local care provision and in planning individual care packages; Screening Committee (UK NSC) has recommended that additional modelling work be undertaken for prostate Enabling those with caring responsibilities to fulfil their educational and employment potential; specific antigen (PSA) screening of men in high risk groups, and that further education of GPs through the Personalised support for carers and those they support, enabling Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP) them to have a family and community life; should also be taken forward. To ensure that men are Supporting carers to remain mentally and physically well. well informed about the signs and symptoms of prostate The Department will provide additional funding of cancer and empowered to request a PSA test if they £400 million to the national health service over the next want one, the UK NSC has asked the Prostate Cancer four years to enable more carers to take breaks from Advisory Group to explore options for making the their caring responsibilities. PCRMP information more accessible to men. The Operating Framework for the NHS in England I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave 2011-12 says that: to him on 22 November 2010, Official Report, “It has not always been apparent how funding to support columns 157-58W. carers has been used in each PCT. The Spending Review has made available additional funding in PCT baselines to support the provision of breaks for carers. PCTs should pool budgets with Care Quality Commission: Standards local authorities to provide carers’ breaks, as far as possible, via direct payments or personal health budgets. For 2011/12, PCTs should agree policies, plans and budgets to support carers with Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for local authorities and local carers’ organisations, and make them Health what recent assessment he has made of the available to local people.” performance of the (a) Care Quality Commission and The Department have also made up to £6 million (b) General Dental Council. [34313] available for general practitioner (GP) training, to increase their awareness and understanding of carers’ health Mr Simon Burns: The Care Quality Commission needs so that they can receive appropriate support. (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult The Department for Education announced earlier in social care, established by the Health and Social Care December that they are providing £800 million over the Act 2008. The Commission is accountable to the Secretary next four years for short breaks for parent carers of of State for discharging its functions, duties and powers disabled children as part of the new Early Intervention effectively and economically. Grant. The Government will be providing £198 million, The Department monitors CQC’s financial and £202 million, £206 million and £210 million for short operational performance and risks at a strategic level breaks over the next four years. This figure includes the through regular formal accountability meetings. It does previously announced recycled Child Trust Fund money not assess CQC’s inspection or monitoring of individual of at least £20 million each year. The Early Intervention providers. Regular meetings are also held between Ministers, Grant is not ring-fenced and it will be for local authorities the Permanent Secretary, the chief executive of the to determine how they use that resource to best effect, national health service and the chair and chief executive including what services would be funded for families of CQC, as well as meetings at official level. with disabled children. 963W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 964W

Cataracts: Surgery impact assessments and equality impact assessments, published alongside the Health and Social Care Bill on Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for 19 January. The documents have been placed in the Health whether his Department is taking steps to Library. ensure that visual acuity tests are not used to control Departmental Working Conditions access to cataract operations for patients. [34317]

Mr Simon Burns: Primary care trusts are responsible Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for service commissioning, taking into account the available what his Department’s policy is on (a) the space provided evidence and the needs of the local population. The per employee, (b) home working and (c) hot desking; NHS Constitution gives patients a right to expect local how many employees it has on average per desk; and funding decisions to be made rationally after a proper how much space on average there is per employee. consideration of the available evidence. [34594] Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Brighton Mr Simon Burns: The Government Property Unit mandates space standards for all Government Departments. Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for The current space standard is eight square metres per Health how many people in the city of Brighton and employee. Hove were diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis All Department staff are eligible to apply for home in each year since 2007. [34312] working. However, staff cannot be compelled to work from home. Nor do they have an automatic right to Paul Burstow: This information is not collected centrally. home working which for existing and new staff is at However, the hon. Member may wish to contact Brighton management discretion based on guidance with Human and Hove Primary Care Trust directly for local information Resources involvement. on the number of people diagnosed with chronic fatigue All work desks in the Department’s buildings can be syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. used as hot-desks subject to directorate and other local needs. The Department has also made a number of Cord Blood designated corporate hot-desks available across its estate. These are used on a first come, first served basis. Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Information on the Department’s employees per desk Health (1) what steps he is taking to increase the and space per employee is published annually in the collection of blood stem cells from umbilical cords; State of the Estate Annual Report. The last report was [34452] published in March 2010 and can be accessed at: (2) what recent steps his Department has taken on www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/SOFTE_brochure.pdf the collection of umbilical cord stem cells; [34455] (3) what recent representations he has received on Diabetes: Children increasing the provision of blood stem cells for transplants; [34484] Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of obese Anne Milton: The Department has agreed business children aged under 10 years who had type 2 diabetes plans with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHS BT), who in (a) England, (b) Leicestershire and (c) Leicester in manage the NHS Cord Blood Banking service to increase the latest period for which figures are available. [34388] the size of the bank to 20,000 stored units by 2013. The units are available to all NHS patients. Paul Burstow: The information requested for In 2010, the Department commissioned a review of Leicestershire and Leicester is not available. unrelated donor stem cell transplantation in the United In 2009 the national prevalence figure for obesity Kingdom, including cost and health economic analysis. among children aged 2-10 years was 14.4 per cent%. In The UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum, led by NHSBT the same year there were 328 children in England aged produced a report, “The Future of Unrelated Donor 0-17 years with a recorded diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Stem Cell Transplantation in the UK” (copies of which An analysis combining the three elements requested at a have already been placed in the Library) on 1 December national level is not readily available and could be 2010. obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Government are currently considering the report and will be producing a formal response in due course. Drugs: Care Homes

Departmental Redundancy Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to reduce the misuse of neuroleptic Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for drugs in residential homes. [34931] Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of redundancy payments to staff of primary Paul Burstow: The Department is committed to taking care trusts under his proposals for reform of the NHS. action in support of a reduction in the overall use of [34892] antipsychotic drugs (including neuroleptics) for those with dementia in care homes and other settings by two Mr Simon Burns: The costs of the proposals for thirds by November 2011. A reduction in the use of reform to the national health service are contained in antipsychotics is included as one of four key priority pages 11-14 of the co-ordinating document for the areas for improving the quality of care for people with 965W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 966W dementia and their carers in our new outcomes focused Anne Milton: National health service employees are implementation plan for the National Dementia Strategy. not required to undertake a set amount of mandatory The National Director for Dementia, Professor Alistair training time every year. Information on this issue is not Burns is providing clinical leadership for the National collected centrally or by strategic health authorities. Dementia Strategy and he is supporting the national Responsibility to provide good outcomes for patients health service and social care to safely reduce antipsychotic and staff in the areas of mandatory training such as fire use and to drive up the quality of care provided overall. safety, health awareness and manual handling, best He is also leading work to ensure the development of resides with the individual employer. focused training for all health and social care staff involved in dementia care. For those NHS employees subject to statutory professional regulation, there may be specific continuing Data collected as part of the national audit of dementia professional development requirements that they need services commissioned by the Department will be used to meet in order to maintain their registration. These to drive progress in reducing prescribing rates for requirements are set by the independent professional antipsychotic drugs. The audit is being undertaken by regulators and differ across the professions. the NHS Information Centre and the first results are expected in spring 2011. NHS: Visits Abroad Healthcare Science Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Health how much strategic health authorities spent on what the timetable is for conducting the evidence- overseas travel since 2006. [34559] based, cost-benefit risk analysis which his Department plans to undertake to inform the appropriate model of Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not regulation for the healthcare science work force. [34678] held centrally.

Anne Milton: The cost-benefit risk analysis is expected Prescriptions: Fees and Charges to be carried out during spring 2011. Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for NHS Blood and Transplant Strategic Forum Health what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure that those claiming free prescriptions are in possession Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for of valid medical exemption certificates where required. Health (1) what steps he plans to take in response to the [34316] recommendations of the NHS Blood and Transplant Strategic Forum on stem cell transplantation published Mr Simon Burns: Free prescriptions may be claimed in December 2010; [34499] for a number of reasons. (2) what assessment he has made of the NHS Blood Patients who want a medical exemption certificate and Transplant Strategic Forum report on stem cell are required to apply to the NHS Business Services transplantation published in December 2010; and if he Authority. Applications must be countersigned by the will make a statement. [34500] general practitioner (GP), hospital or service doctor, or at the GPs discretion a member of the practice staff Anne Milton: The Department welcomes the report who has access to the relevant patient records. Medical of the UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum. We are now exemption certificates are valid for five years, after working in collaboration with the national health service, which they must be renewed. NHS Blood and Transplant and the Anthony Nolan Trust, to develop improved partnership working and When a prescription is dispensed, pharmacists are consider how the findings and recommendations in the required to carry out a “point of dispensing” check of report can be best translated into real service improvements. whether the patient has a valid exemption from prescription The Government will produce a response in due course. charges. If the patient does not present the required evidence, a prescription can still be dispensed free of charge, but the pharmacist is required to cross the NHS: Official Hospitality “evidence not seen” box on the prescription form, in order that checks can be made at a later stage. If a Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for patient does not provide evidence of exemption when Health how much strategic health authorities spent on the prescription is dispensed, he or she may subsequently hospitality in each year since 2006. [34558] be randomly selected for verification checks (by the primary care trust, local counter fraud section). At this Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not point the patient would need to provide the relevant held centrally. evidence or possibly face a penalty charge.

NHS: Training Social Services: Learning Disability

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days’ mandatory training those working in what plans he has to improve the provision of support the NHS are required to undertake each year; and for services for children and adults with learning difficulties what purpose in each case. [33261] in (a) the West Midlands and (b) nationally. [34771] 967W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 968W

Paul Burstow: The Government remain committed to (3) how many blood stem cell transplants were driving change for adults and children with learning conducted by the NHS using donors (a) on the British disabilities. Valuing People Now has set priorities until Bone Marrow Registry, (b) on the Anthony Nolan March 2011 of improving outcomes for adults with register and (c) from abroad in each of the last five learning disabilities and their family carers around health, years. [34482] housing and employment. The Government will continue for the future to drive greater personalisation and improved choice and control to improve outcomes for people with Anne Milton: Data on the number of blood stem cell learning disabilities and will work with people with transplants conducted by the national health service learning disabilities and their family carers to ensure and the number of NHS patients that die waiting for a that their views are included in the future transformation blood stem cell transplant are not collated centrally. of the national health service and the new social care The following table shows the number of initial stem vision and across other policies like employment and cell transplants (although in some cases further transplants housing. are needed) conducted in the United Kingdom in 2008 The Department is collaborating with the Department and 2009. Data are not yet available for 2010. for Education ahead of the publication of the Green Paper on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Stem Cell Source 20081 20091 The Green Paper will explore how we can achieve Patient-derived stem cells 1,560 1,623 public services which are centred on the needs of families (autologous) and children, joining up support from education, health Related donor-derived stem cells 523 451 and social care, particularly for those with the most Unrelated donor-derived stem 563 661 severe and complex needs and at key transitions. cells NHS West Midlands undertook a review of Child Cord blood stem cells 84 88 and YoungPeople Disability Services last year, including Total 2,730 2,823 learning disabilities. Following these reviews each primary 1 Figures collated by British Society for Blood and Marrow care trust developed an action plan with the local Transplantation (BSBMT). It is important to note that submission authority. Progress is currently being reviewed. of the data by member transplant centres is voluntary, and therefore may not be completely comprehensive. Stem Cells: Medical Treatments The following table shows the total number of stem cell donors (including cord blood) provided by registry.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Imported1 BBMR2 AN3 Health (1) what the average length of time after submission of a donor search request was for a blood stem cell 2006 212 66 202 transplant to be undertaken by the NHS in respect of 2007 319 65 221 each ethnic group in the latest period for which figures 2008 357 59 215 are available; [34445] 2009 485 77 230 (2) what estimate he has made of the average time 2010 505 67 233 from submission of a blood stem cell transplant donor 1 Data provided by Anthony Nolan. search request and a transplant taking place with respect 2 Data provided by NHS Blood and Transplant, which is responsible for the British Bone Marrow Registry. to (a) the British Bone Marrow Registry, (b) the 3 Data provided by Anthony Nolan. Anthony Nolan register and (c) imported sources in Note: the latest period for which figures are available. [34483] Figures given for donors provided include 2nd transplants, and donations not transplanted due to factors such as deterioration in the health of Anne Milton: As part of its work, the UK Stem Cell the patient. Strategic Forum, led by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) examined in detail donor search to transplant Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for times. The Government are currently considering the Health (1) what estimate he has made of the average Forum’s report and recommendations and will produce cost to the NHS of importing blood stem cells for a response in due course. transplantation; [34478] Data from the British Bone Marrow Registry, run by (2) how many blood stem cell transplant donations NHSBT, show an average (mean) time of 160 days were imported from each country in the last year for (median time of 135 days) between a donor search which figures are available. [34485] request and a stem cell transplant being carried out. It is important to note that this period of time can be affected by a wide range of factors, including changes in Anne Milton: In 2010, the Department commissioned the health of patients. The data are not broken down by a review of unrelated donor stem cell transplantation in ethnic group. the United Kingdom, including cost and health economic analysis. The UK Stem Cell Strategic Forum, led by Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for NHS Blood and Transplant produced a report, ‘The Health (1) how many NHS patients waiting for a blood Future of Unrelated Donor Stem Cell Transplantation stem cell transplant died in each of the last five years; in the UK’ (copies of which have already been placed in [34477] the Library) on 1 December 2010. (2) how many blood stem cell transplants were Annex 4 of the report states that in 2009, the following conducted by the NHS in each of the last two years; adult stem cell donations, as shown in the table, were [34479] imported to the UK. 969W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 970W

No projections have been made of the number of Cost per donation Country Number imported (£) deaths from swine influenza infection that may be prevented during the current influenza season by the current Germany (ZKRD) 187 10,500 vaccination policy or an extension of that policy to United States (US) 131 17,222 include children under five years of age or other healthy (NMDP) age groups. Such projections, if conducted, would be Australia 11 13,500 highly uncertain as they would depend on a number of France 8 11,273 factors that are unknown or uncertain including, the Canada 7 16,451 existing immunity to swine influenza infection in different Israel 7 12,903 age groups of the population, the vaccination coverage Cyprus 6 15,000 in different groups of the population and how quickly Portugal 6 11,363 immunity would accrue in these groups, and the effectiveness Italy 5 11,902 of vaccination. Other 18 — As with all vaccination programmes, JCVI will keep this matter under review. Annex 4 of the report states that in 2009, the following umbilical cord blood units, as shown in the following table, were imported to the UK. HOME DEPARTMENT Cost per donation Asylum Country Number imported (£)

US (NMDP) 33 36,000 Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the US (New York) 16 23,000 Home Department if she will take steps to ensure that Barcelona 14 19,593 increasing the speed of decision-making on family asylum Dusseldorf 13 18,286 cases will not affect the fairness and effectiveness of Other 13 — such decisions. [34875] Damian Green: The Asylum Improvement Project, Swine Flu: Death which was established by the Government in the summer, is exploring new ways to improve the asylum system to Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for speed up the processing of all applications, including Health what the difference is in the number of projected family applications, while improving the quality of decision deaths from swine flu between the Government’s vaccination making, achieving greater productivity and efficiency in policy and a policy to vaccinate all those aged under the asylum process and better, more sustainable, decisions. five. [34940] We are also reviewing the decision making process for family cases as part of the review into ending the Anne Milton: The Government’s policy on influenza detention of children for immigration purposes and we vaccination is informed by the expert advice of the Joint are working with corporate partners to improve the Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). process. The policy focuses on offering the vaccine to those at Asylum: Children greatest risk from the effects of influenza. JCVI does not recommend that children under the age of five outside the at-risk groups should be vaccinated. Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers who On 30 December, JCVI met to review its advice on arrived in the country as unaccompanied minors and seasonal influenza vaccination. It issued the following have been removed or detained with a view to removal statement: in the last 12 months had been living in the UK for “JCVI was presented with data on the current seasonal influenza more than (a) three, (b) five and (c) 10 years. [34162] epidemiology, seroepidemological data collected during the 2009-10 pandemic, modelling of the impact of vaccination strategies Damian Green: A breakdown of the requested during the pandemic, data on the effectiveness of influenza information is listed as follows: vaccines in the young and vaccine uptake and safety data. JCVI noted that a large proportion of those individuals with Time resident in United UASC and former Former UASC severe disease are in recognised risk groups for influenza but were Kingdom UASC removed1, 2 detained1, 2, 3, 4 not vaccinated. JVCI re-iterated its previous advice that all individuals in risk groups should be vaccinated as soon as possible, particularly 0 to 3 years 124 137 those aged less than 65 years. 3 to 5 years 65 38 The committee considered the issue of offering vaccination to 5-10 years 86 19 healthy children either 0-4 years and/or 5-15 years of age. However, 10+ years 5 4 although there is a high incidence of influenza-like illness currently Total 280 198 in these age groups, a significant proportion of this is due to other 1 UASC stands for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. viruses such Respiratory Syncytial Virus. In addition, only a very 2 Time period covered, 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2010. small proportion of those with severe disease are in these age 3 Data exclude detained individuals subsequently removed. groups. Based on previous seasonal influenza epidemiology it 4 Of the 198 individuals detained, none were under 18-years-old. would be hoped that influenza circulation will have subsided Notes: within a month. We do not believe that seasonal or pandemic 1. All figures quoted are internal management information only and vaccine should be used for these or other healthy person groups. are subject to change. The greatest gain will be achieved in increasing vaccine uptake in 2. This information has not been quality assured under National the clinical risk groups.” Statistics protocols. 971W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 972W

Borders: Personal Records Applications accepted into the detained fast track process and percentage granted leave broken down by gender by year of application 2005-10 Accepted Granted (percentage) Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent progress she has made Female 531 11 on the e-Borders programme. [34777] Total 2,592 8 1 2005 data pre-dates the current Asylum Process so there may be limitations to data quality. Damian Green: Since the e-Borders contract with Note: Raytheon Systems was terminated in July 2010, the All figures are internal management information only and are subject to e-Borders programme has been pursuing a strategy to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics secure existing live systems and assets and to procure protocols. services to replace those due under the original contract. Detainees :Sexuality The contract with IBM for the Semaphore system was novated to UKBA on 25 November 2010 and the Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Programme is on course to meet the Home Office Home Department what consideration she has given to Business plan target to transition remaining services adding complex sexuality-related persecution claims to from Raytheon Systems Ltd by April 2011. the list of claims unlikely to be accepted in the We have engaged with a number of alternative providers suitability guidance note for routing into the detained to deliver the key benefits that the contract with Raytheon fast track procedure. [34911] did not deliver. Work in designing the system capability to provide that benefit is now under way. Damian Green: Entry to the detained fast track procedure E-Borders is currently covering around 55% of passenger is determined by reference to published policy available and crew movements into and out of the UK. on the UKBA website. There are no plans to exclude applicants from the detained fast track process because Detainees their claims appear to relate to complex sexuality-related persecution. Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for the However, there is an existing condition in published Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women policy that cases may enter the process only if they are entered the detained fast track procedure in each year amenable to a quick, fair and sustainable decision. If, at since 2005; and what proportion of (i) men and (ii) the time of application, it is apparent that this condition women entering the detained fast track procedure were cannot be fulfilled the applicant will not be entered into granted leave to remain in each such year. [34912] the process. Entry Clearances: Appeals Damian Green: The information requested is provided in the following table. Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Applications accepted into the detained fast track process and percentage the Home Department what her most recent estimate is granted leave broken down by gender by year of application 2005-10 of the average cost of an appeal against refusal of entry Accepted Granted (percentage) clearance. [33734]

1 2005 Damian Green: The cost of immigration appeals is Male 1,754 8 split between the Tribunals Service and UKBA. The Female 381 12 majority of the cost falls to the Tribunals Service. Total 2,135 8 Most recent UKBA estimates (2009-10) suggest the cost of an appeal against refusal of entry clearance 2006 ranges typically between £200 and £500 per case. This Male 1,565 7 unit will vary depending on the complexity of the case, Female 463 15 with family visit visa appeals generally falling towards Total 2,028 9 the lower end of this estimate. The most recent estimate (2008-09) from the Tribunals 2007 Service indicate that a family visit visa appeal costs, on Male 897 5 average, £504 and an appeal against other entry clearance Female 523 12 decisions costs, on average, £577. These unit costs are Total 1,420 8 based upon a broad estimate for the average cost and as such will vary depending upon the complexity of individual 2008 cases. Male 1,283 7 Entry Clearances: Families Female 517 13 Total 1,800 9 Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for family

2009 visitor visas there were in each year since 1997; how many of those were granted in each such year; how Male 1,674 7 many times appeals were raised against refusals of such Female 510 11 applications in each year; how many of those appeals Total 2,184 8 were upheld in each year; and what her most recent estimate is of the average cost to her Department of such an 2010 appeal in the latest period for which figures are available. Male 2,061 7 [33805] 973W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 974W

Damian Green: With regard to family visit visas, the ranges typically between £200 and £500 per case. This number of (a) applications received; (b) visas issued; unit will vary depending on the complexity of the case, (c) appeals received; and (d) appeals allowed, in each with family visit visa appeals generally falling towards calendar year since 2004, is shown in the following the lower end of this estimate. table. This information is not available for previous years. The cost of immigration appeals are split between the The most recent estimate (2008-09) from the Tribunals Tribunals Service and UKBA. The majority of the cost Service indicate that a family visit visa appeal costs, on falls to the Tribunals Service. average, £504 and an appeal against other entry clearance decisions costs, on average, £577. These unit costs are The cost of immigration appeals are split between the based upon a broad estimate for the average cost and as Tribunals Service and UKBA. The majority of the cost such will vary depending upon the complexity of individual falls to the Tribunals Service. cases. Most recent UKBA estimates (2009-10) suggest the cost of an appeal against refusal of entry clearance

Family visit visas Applications received Visas issued Appeals received Appeals allowed

2004 354,217 248,153 29,697 5,685 2005 457,479 331,099 35,724 8,804 2006 502,032 376,375 57,540 18,328 2007 473,797 354,338 62,609 18,081 2008 414,695 313,392 55,965 19,663 2009 426,846 332,817 53,882 20,216 January to September 2010 423,251 350,677 37,657 16,802 Notes: 1. These data are based on management information. They are provisional and subject to change. 2. Data prior to 2007 may not be complete.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students James Brokenshire: No fixed penalty notices (FPN) for motoring offences categories have replaced comparable Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for offence categories in the last five years. There are around the Home Department how many appeals against 200 fixed penalty traffic offences and for every one of refusal of entry clearance were lodged by those who these the police have the option of prosecuting rather had applied for student visas in each year since 2000; than issuing a FPN. and how many of those appeals were upheld in each Statistics on fixed penalty notices issued, broken down year. [33735] by offence category are published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin “Police Powers and Procedures, 2008/09” Damian Green: The number of appeals against the and statistics on prosecutions for motoring offences are refusal of student visas that were (a) lodged and (b) published in the supplementary volumes of Justice allowed, in each calendar year since 2004, is shown in Publication “Criminal Statistics—2008/09”. Copies of the following table. This information is not available for both publications are available in the Library of the previous years. House. Appeals lodged Appeals allowed The only offence that has been added to the penalty 2004 13,315 478 notice for disorder (PND) scheme for non-motoring 2005 14,181 2,202 offences in the last five years is the offence of cannabis 2006 25,141 6,562 possession which was added on 28 January 2009. Currently 2007 33,067 7,452 there are 25 other offences available under the scheme. 2008 37,125 8,052 A full list of PND offences can be found at: 2009 119,699 29,645 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/penalty-notices/penalty- 1 Since March 2009, long-term student applications have been considered under tier four of the points-based system and do not attract a full right of appeal. notice-introduction11 However, an unsuccessful applicant is able to lodge an appeal on residual grounds, namely under provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 and Race All offences available under the scheme can still attract Relations Act 1976. all existing disposals. PNDs are just one of a number of 2 The figures show that in 2009, a total of 9,645 appeals in this category were allowed. Many of the decisions to which these appeals relate are likely to have options available to the police which range from an been made in 2008 when there was a significant increase in long-term student informal warning, to a formal out-of-court disposal, to applications prior to the introduction of the points-based system. charging a suspect and prosecuting them at court. The Notes: 1. This data is based on Management Information. It has not been published nature and the seriousness of the offence, the harm and should be treated as provisional. caused and the offender’s circumstances and previous 2. The data before 2007 may not be complete. criminal history will all be relevant to the police officer’s Fixed Penalties decision on the most appropriate criminal justice response. Statistics on PNDs issued, broken down by offence Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for the category are published in the Ministry of Justice Criminal Home Department how many fixed penalty notice Statistics: England and Wales 2009 and can be found at: categories have replaced comparable criminal offence categories in the last five years. [34362] http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/criminalannual.htm 975W Written Answers20 JANUARY 2011 Written Answers 976W

Members: Correspondence Gorton on 2 December 2010 with regard to Mrs B H Hamah-Ahmeen. [34752]

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on the Home Department when she intends to answer the behalf of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on letter sent to her by the right hon. Member for Manchester, 18 January 2011. 9MC Ministerial Corrections20 JANUARY 2011 Ministerial Corrections 10MC Ministerial Correction Letter of correction from Mr Simon Burns: An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for Southport (John Pugh) Thursday 20 January 2011 on 26 July 2010. The full answer given was follows: Mr Simon Burns: As at 30 September 2009, there HEALTH were 35,719 general practitioners (GPs) (excluding GP General Practitioners registrars and retainers) in England. Of these, 28,607 (79.6%) were partners in the practice they worked in. The correct answer should have been: Dr Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of doctors working in GP practices in Mr Simon Burns: As at 30 September 2009, there England are partners in the practice where they work. were 35,719 general practitioners (GPs) (excluding GP [10450] registrars and retainers) in England. Of these, 27,613 [Official Report, 26 July 2010, Vol. 514, c. 833W.] (76.9%) were partners in the practice they worked in.

ORAL ANSWERS

Thursday 20 January 2011

Col. No. Col. No. CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT...... 987 CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT—continued Access to Culture (Young People) ...... 996 Topical Questions ...... 998 BBC Governance ...... 995 Tourism...... 987 BBC World Service ...... 996 BSkyB...... 997 HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION...... 1008 Community Broadband ...... 990 Procedural Data Programme...... 1008 Creative and Leisure Industries...... 992 Savings Programme...... 1004 Football Governance ...... 994 Grass-roots Sport...... 988 LEADER OF THE HOUSE ...... 1003 High-speed Broadband ...... 993 IPSA (Liaison Group)...... 1003 Olympics (Economic Legacy)...... 989 Petitions...... 1005 Olympics (Scotland)...... 991 Pre-Adjournment Debate...... 1007 WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Thursday 20 January 2011

Col. No. Col. No. DEFENCE...... 45WS HOME DEPARTMENT—continued Armed Forces Allowances...... 45WS Wanstead Flats (2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games) ...... 49WS EDUCATION...... 47WS National Curriculum (England)...... 47WS LEADER OF THE HOUSE ...... 52WS Members’ Salaries...... 52WS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 51WS PRIME MINISTER ...... 53WS EU Business Enhancing (Parliamentary Scrutiny) . 51WS Intelligence Services Commissioner ...... 53WS HOME DEPARTMENT...... 48WS WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 54WS Independent Review Crime Statistics ...... 48WS Sure Start Maternity Grant...... 54WS WRITTEN ANSWERS

Thursday 20 January 2011

Col. No. Col. No. ATTORNEY-GENERAL ...... 885W CHURCH COMMISSIONERS ...... 883W Domestic Violence ...... 885W Westminster Abbey: Fees and Charges...... 883W

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 910W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 898W Business: Regulation ...... 910W Departmental Art Works ...... 898W Companies: Females ...... 911W Departmental Redundancy ...... 898W Conditions of Employment: Reform...... 911W Departmental Senior Civil Servants...... 899W Copyright: Internet ...... 911W Departmental Working Conditions...... 899W Higher Education: Admissions ...... 911W East London Tech City ...... 899W Higher Education: Finance ...... 912W Housing Associations: Mergers...... 900W Higher Education: Scholarships...... 912W Housing: Construction...... 900W Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: Operating Housing: Regeneration...... 901W Costs...... 913W Local Government: Pay ...... 901W Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: Pay...... 913W National Scholarship Fund...... 914W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 895W Postgraduate Education ...... 914W British Sky Broadcasting...... 896W Quality Assurance Agency: Performance Football Governance ...... 895W Standards...... 915W Internet ...... 897W Research ...... 915W Local Television ...... 895W Science ...... 916W News Corporation ...... 897W Science: Equal Opportunities...... 916W Olympic Games 2012 ...... 897W UK Resource Centre for Science Engineering and Participation in Sport: Young People ...... 895W Technology ...... 916W Public Libraries...... 898W Working Conditions...... 918W Sport: CSR ...... 896W Tourism: North East ...... 895W CABINET OFFICE...... 919W Civil Service: Redundancy ...... 919W DEFENCE...... 902W Government Departments: Procurement ...... 920W Air Force: Military Bases ...... 902W Col. No. Col. No. DEFENCE—continued FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE— Armed Forces: Officers ...... 903W continued Departmental Working Conditions...... 905W India: Embassies ...... 928W Electronic Warfare ...... 905W Morocco: al-Qaeda ...... 928W Germany: Army...... 906W Office of UK Permanent Representative to EC...... 929W Military Aircraft ...... 906W Palestinians: Children ...... 929W Military Exercises: Salisbury Plain...... 908W Racism: International Co-operation...... 929W Nuclear Weapons...... 908W Sudan: Diplomatic Relations ...... 930W Rescue Services ...... 909W Tunisia ...... 930W Western Sahara: Politics and Government ...... 930W EDUCATION...... 948W Aimhigher Programme...... 948W HEALTH...... 960W Child Benefit...... 949W Arthritis ...... 960W Education Maintenance Allowance...... 949W Blood: Contamination ...... 960W Education Maintenance Allowance: Young Bone Marrow Disorders: Donors...... 960W Offenders ...... 949W Cancer: Health Services ...... 961W Family Intervention Projects ...... 950W Care Quality Commission: Standards ...... 961W Further Education: Student Numbers...... 950W Carers: Bromsgrove...... 962W Higher Education...... 951W Cataracts: Surgery...... 963W Pupils: Disadvantaged...... 951W Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Brighton ...... 963W Schools: Reading...... 951W Cord Blood ...... 963W Schools: Rural Areas...... 952W Departmental Redundancy ...... 963W Schools: Sportsgrounds...... 952W Departmental Working Conditions...... 964W Schools: Standards...... 953W Diabetes: Children ...... 964W Schools: Waltham Forest ...... 953W Drugs: Care Homes ...... 964W Healthcare Science...... 965W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 935W NHS Blood and Transplant Strategic Forum...... 965W Carbon Emissions: Biofuels ...... 935W NHS: Official Hospitality ...... 965W Carbon Emissions: Global Warming ...... 936W NHS: Training ...... 965W Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy NHS: Visits Abroad...... 966W Efficiency Scheme ...... 936W Prescriptions: Fees and Charges...... 966W Carbon Sequestration ...... 936W Social Services: Learning Disability ...... 966W Electricity: Prices ...... 938W Stem Cells: Medical Treatments ...... 967W Energy...... 937W Swine Flu: Death ...... 969W Energy: Prices ...... 939W Energy Supply...... 938W HOME DEPARTMENT...... 970W Energy Supply: Biofuels...... 939W Asylum ...... 970W Fuel Oil...... 940W Asylum: Children...... 970W Met Office...... 941W Borders: Personal Records ...... 971W Methane: Natural Gas ...... 941W Detainees ...... 971W Natural Gas ...... 942W Detainees :Sexuality...... 972W Nuclear Power Stations...... 943W Entry Clearances: Appeals ...... 972W Renewable Energy...... 943W Entry Clearances: Families...... 972W Renewable Energy: Finance ...... 943W Entry Clearances: Overseas Students ...... 973W Renewable Energy: Wood...... 944W Fixed Penalties...... 973W Sellafield: Plutonium...... 946W Members: Correspondence ...... 975W Solar Power: Housing ...... 946W Waste Disposal: Storage...... 947W INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY Wind Power ...... 947W STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE ...... 918W Wind Power: Energy ...... 947W Members: Allowances ...... 918W

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 885W AFFAIRS...... 920W Agriculture: Research...... 885W Agriculture: Research...... 920W Burma: Asylum...... 886W Cycling: Access ...... 921W Departmental Working Conditions...... 886W Fisheries...... 921W Food Aid...... 887W Flood Control...... 921W Sudan: Referendums ...... 887W Flood Control: York ...... 922W Food Standards Agency: Research...... 923W JUSTICE...... 953W Research: Finance...... 924W Appeals: Social Security Benefits...... 953W Supermarkets: Prices...... 925W Court: Closures...... 954W Water: Older People and Vulnerable Adults ...... 926W Dartmoor Prison...... 955W Departmental Working Conditions...... 955W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 926W Fines: Debts...... 956W Arms Control...... 926W Ford Prison...... 956W China: EU External Trade ...... 926W Legal Aid ...... 957W Conferences ...... 927W Legal Aid : Employment ...... 958W Conflict Prevention ...... 927W Members: Correspondence ...... 958W Departmental Libraries...... 927W Prisons: Drugs ...... 958W Departmental Travel ...... 928W Prisons: Employment...... 958W European External Action Service ...... 928W Prisons: Security ...... 959W Col. No. Col. No. JUSTICE—continued TREASURY—continued Zahid Mubarek Inquiry ...... 959W Departmental Consultants...... 931W Departmental Newspaper Press ...... 931W LEADER OF THE HOUSE ...... 884W Departmental Official Cars...... 931W Adjournment Debates...... 884W Departmental Travel ...... 931W IPSA: Liaison Group ...... 884W Excise Duties: Fuels ...... 932W Petitions...... 884W Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles...... 932W Private Members’ Bills ...... 884W Ex-Gratia Payments...... 932W Income Tax ...... 932W PRIME MINISTER ...... 919W Public Finance ...... 933W Driving Standards Agency: Cardiff...... 919W Revenue and Customs: Correspondence ...... 933W Technology: Greater London...... 919W Revenue and Customs: Location...... 933W Technology ...... 934W SCOTLAND...... 887W VAT ...... 934W Students: Fees and charges...... 887W VAT: Child Poverty ...... 934W VAT: Fuels ...... 935W TRANSPORT ...... 888W Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Accidents ...... 888W WALES...... 885W Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls ...... 888W Departmental Press Releases...... 885W Freight Facilities Grant: Scotland ...... 889W Large Goods Vehicles: Excise Duties ...... 889W Motor Vehicles: Registration...... 889W WOMEN AND EQUALITIES...... 885W Network Rail: Pay...... 889W Departmental Pay ...... 885W Railways: Construction...... 890W Railways: Disability ...... 891W WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 881W Railways: Snow and Ice...... 892W Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes...... 881W Rescue Services ...... 893W Housing Benefit: Bromsgrove ...... 881W Roads: Safety Barriers...... 894W Multiple Occupation: Ayrshire and Arran ...... 881W Roads: Snow and Ice...... 894W Pensions...... 881W Sky Lanterns: Safety ...... 882W TREASURY ...... 931W Tax Credit...... 882W 40 Pence Per Mile Travel Allowance...... 931W Work Capability Assessment...... 883W MINISTERIAL CORRECTION

Thursday 20 January 2011

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CONTENTS

Thursday 20 January 2011

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 987] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Leader of the House House of Commons Commission

Counter-Terrorism [Col. 1009] Answer to urgent question—(Damian Green)

Business of the House [Col. 1019] Statement—(Sir George Young)

Backbench Business [16th allotted day] Horse Racing Levy [Col. 1033] Motion—(Matthew Hancock)—agreed to

Disadvantaged Children [Col. 1071] Motion—(Damian Hinds)—agreed to

Air Passenger Duty [Col. 1116] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Westminster Hall Anti-Semitism [Col. 327WH] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Written Ministerial Statements [Col. 45WS]

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 881W] [see index inside back page]

Ministerial Correction [Col. 9MC]