Thursday Volume 582 12 June 2014 No. 6

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Thursday 12 June 2014

£5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2014 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 671 12 JUNE 2014 672

However, we will examine method of slaughter labelling House of Commons when the European Commission produces its report, which is expected in the autumn. Thursday 12 June 2014 Albert Owen (Ynys Môn) (Lab): Farmers and food producers raise the issue of labelling often with me and The House met at half-past Nine o’clock other Members. Can the Minister assure the House that his Department is doing everything it can to have clear PRAYERS labelling on all packaging, particularly after the horsemeat crisis and various other issues, so that we can have country of origin and even region of origin labelling on [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] our packaging?

BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS George Eustice: Some new labelling requirements from the European Union have just been put in place, to SPOLIATION ADVISORY PANEL distinguish between animals that are born, reared and Resolved, slaughtered in a particular country, reared and slaughtered That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, That there or simply slaughtered there. That is a major she will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid improvement. We have stopped short of having compulsory before this House a Return of the Report from Sir Donnell country of origin labelling on processed foods, because Deeny, Chairman of the Spoliation Advisory Panel, dated 12 June the European Commission report suggested that it would 2014, in respect of a painted wooden tablet, the Biccherna Panel, now in the possession of the British Library.—(John Penrose.) be incredibly expensive to implement. However, we do encourage voluntary labelling on such products, and there has been widespread uptake of that.

Oral Answers to Questions Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): I am sure my constituents in Kettering would want to see halal and kosher meat labelled as such. Although the Minister is a ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS good man, the response drafted for him by his Department was weak and pathetic. If we wait for the European The Secretary of State was asked— Commission to rule, we will have to wait for ever. If his objection is that there is no distinction between stunned Halal and Kosher Meat and non-stunned meat, why not label meat as such? Why cannot the UK do that ahead of the European 1. Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): If he will ensure that Commission? all halal and kosher meat is labelled at point of sale. [904168] George Eustice: The advice we have received is that it would be better to introduce such regulation at European The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for level. A number of other countries have considered it, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): including Spain and France, and have run into difficulties. In the first instance, the Government believe that it is However, my hon. Friend makes a good point—if one for retailers and food outlets to provide their customers were to introduce compulsory method of slaughter with such information. However, the European Commission labelling, I think one would go not for labelling as halal is currently producing a study on options for compulsory or kosher, for the reasons I gave earlier, but for labelling method of slaughter labelling, and we will review the as stunned or unstunned. options when the report is published later this year. Philip Davies: The Minister is a good man, and I am Dangerous Dogs Strategy sure he must understand the strength of feeling among the public about this issue. Surely it is in the best 2. Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab): What recent steps he interests of everyone that halal and kosher meat be has taken to implement the Government’s strategy on properly labelled, for the benefit of those who particularly dangerous dogs; and if he will make a statement. want to buy it and those who particularly do not. [904169] Which consumers do the Government think will be disadvantaged by having meat fully and properly labelled at the point of sale? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): George Eustice: I am aware of the strength of feeling On 13 May, new amendments to the Dangerous Dogs on the issue, and my hon. Friend has been a long-standing Act 1991 came into force, including higher sentences for campaigner on it, ever since his ten-minute rule Bill two dog attacks, an extension of the offence of a dog being years ago. There are two difficulties with the approach dangerously out of control to all places, including private he suggests. In the case of halal meat, we must remember places, and a specific offence for a dog attack on an that about 80% is stunned anyway, so “halal” does not assistance dog. distinguish between stunned and unstunned meat. When it comes to kosher meat, we should recall that the hind Ian Lavery: In my constituency there has been a spate quarters of the carcase are not deemed kosher anyway, of vicious dangerous dog attacks, the latest on an so an approach along the lines he suggests would not eight-year-old girl named Grace Lucas, who suffered help consumers who want to avoid unstunned meat. horrible injuries to her face. The real problems are a 673 Oral Answers12 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 674 lack of education and, of course, irresponsible dog 14. [904185] Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con): ownership. What are the Government doing to tackle Will my hon. Friend meet me and a representative from those important issues? Cornwall council to resolve funding for areas around my constituency that were damaged by floods and in George Eustice: The hon. Gentleman makes a good this year’s storms? point. Before I became a Minister, I followed the issue closely from the Back Benches. We are doing two things. Later this year we will introduce community protection Dan Rogerson: I will meet Cornwall council tomorrow notices, which will introduce new powers, for instance and we can discuss those issues. I do not know whether to issue orders to require an owner to keep their dog on my hon. Friend or a member of her staff will be there, a lead, muzzle their dog or put postbox guards on their but I will be happy to raise any local issues with the door. In extreme cases, there will be powers to insist on council so that we can work through them. a dog being neutered. I also agree with the hon. Gentleman about responsible dog ownership. That is why we are Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab): In February, the clear that anybody who is breeding dogs for sale should Prime Minister promised that “money is no object” in have a licence. the Government’s response to the winter floods. Four months on, only £530,000 has been paid to farmers out Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con): I recently of the supposed £10 million available in the farming attended a free Dogs Trust chipping event in Blacon in recovery fund, and only £2,320 has been paid to fishermen my constituency, and I noticed that a lot of people were out of the supposed £74,000 approved under the support unaware that it will be compulsory to have dogs chipped for fishermen fund. Why is that much-needed support in from 2016, and Wales from 2015. What is not getting to the people it is supposed to be helping? the Minister doing to ensure that dog owners are aware that that will be compulsory from 2016? Dan Rogerson: I reassure the hon. Gentleman that George Eustice: That is an important point and we there is nothing “supposed” about those totals, and the must ensure that dog owners are aware of those proposals. money is there for people to bid for—the key question is We are working with veterinary practices across the encouraging people to do so. My hon. Friends and I, as country to ensure that they know about them and are well as agricultural shows, for example, continue to passing the information on to dog owners. We will also emphasise that people should apply for that money, and run a communications exercise in the press to raise the we have simplified the system. Many applications are issue. currently being processed, and I encourage all people eligible for those funds—whether farming, fishing or Flooding the other funds I have set out—to apply and make use of that money. 3. Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab): What steps the Government have taken to respond to Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome) (LD): Somerset recent flooding. [904170] is no longer flooded and dredging has started, which is good news. The Minister will know that one of our key The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for asks is to have a sustainable future for maintenance, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson): which involves setting up a Somerset rivers authority The Government have committed more than £560 million with its own revenue stream. Will the Minister update in support of those affected by the recent flooding. us on what progress has been made on that? That includes an extra £270 million to repair and maintain critical defences that were damaged in the winter storms, targeted help for households through the repair and Dan Rogerson: My hon. Friend and other Somerset renew grant and council tax relief, and help for farmers Members have, understandably, consistently raised that and fishermen with funding for repairs through existing issue, and I am delighted that the strategy put in place schemes. We have also provided businesses with business to deal with such matters is moving forward. Someone rate relief and a £10 million hardship fund. has been appointed to take the lead on that, and the Secretary of State was in the area last week. I spoke to Mrs Lewell-Buck: I thank the Minister for his response. people at the Royal Bath and West show, and I am Despite the lessons of this winter, the Environment delighted that all the measures that people think will Agency is still set to lose hundreds of front-line staff make a difference locally can now be taken forward. because of DEFRA budget cuts. The agency’s chief executive has admitted that that will mean fewer resources Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): To underline the for maintenance work. Does the Minister think it is fact that the Government are directing funds to flood responsible to cut the agency’s resources at a time when defences, will the Minister reassure me that appropriate flood risk is increasing? funding will be available for maintenance and necessary new infrastructure to defend the Severn estuary? Dan Rogerson: The Secretary of State and I work closely with the Environment Agency and talk to it about its key responsibilities. I met the chief executive Dan Rogerson: During this financial year the yesterday to discuss issues of waste crime, and so on. Environment Agency will invest £380,000 in maintaining He was clear that front-line vital services provided by flood defences and structures on the Severn estuary in the agency are protected, and it will use the expertise of Gloucestershire, and an additional £2 million will be more than 10,000 staff who will be in place throughout invested to repair flood defences and structures damaged this year to do their work. They do a fine job. during the winter floods. 675 Oral Answers12 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 676

Farmers and Food Producers (New Markets) have a summit on the matter before the summer recess. A number of factors are driving this: it is partly due to 4. Andrew Jones ( and Knaresborough) changes in global commodity prices, but it is also clear (Con): What progress he is making on opening up new that in some cases supermarkets are taking a larger markets to British farmers and food producers. [904171] margin than before. Regarding solutions, we are keen to open new export markets for British beef so that farmers The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for can get a better price. We are also keen to ensure that Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): there is fair contracting between farmers and processors, In 2013 we opened 112 markets for animals and animal and between processors and retailers. products, helping increase exports to non-EU markets by £179 million, to £1.35 billion. We continue to negotiate Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP): The with third countries, and so far in 2014 have opened Minister will be aware of my correspondence on the 54 new markets. export of pork to China. From his correspondence to me on 8 May, I know that inspections are to take place Andrew Jones: Building on that success and the growing with the authorities in Northern Ireland, as DEFRA reputation for British food and drink abroad, which I regulates the negotiations on behalf of the whole of the know from my own experience as an exporter in the UK. Will the Minister advise the House on when those sector, what plans do the Government have to use inspections will take place? What is the possibility of international sporting events, such as the Grand Depart approval following on from that? of the Tour de France which arrives in Harrogate and Knaresborough in just three weeks, as a platform further George Eustice: The hon. Lady has raised this issue to promote that success? with me a number of times and we have had meetings on it. It was also raised with me at a meeting in George Eustice: My hon. Friend has been an enthusiast Northern Ireland at the beginning of this year, and we for this event coming through his constituency. He continue to raise it with the Chinese authorities. When raises an important point. We will be looking to use all Mr Zhi, the Chinese farming Minister, was in the UK in opportunities we can to promote British foods. Major April we took the opportunity to raise it again. We want sporting events are an excellent way for companies to more meat processors to be able to export pork to showcase their products. UK Trade & Investment Yorkshire China and we need clearance for their plants. We will and the Humber is bringing in a series of buyers from continue to keep up the pressure. around the world to meet local companies at a “meet the buyer” event at the Carriageworks in on Wednesday 2 July. Many of those buyers will then travel Neil Parish (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con): Exporting on to the International Festival for Business in Liverpool. beef would improve the market here, and I know the Secretary of State has done an excellent job in China. Dr Eilidh Whiteford (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): Our Japan still bans our beef, right back from the days of egg producers have been outraged to learn that Italy BSE. We now have BSE completely under control, so it will face no financial penalties for its failure to implement is time those markets were opened up again. Will the the EU directive that outlaws battery cages. Our poultry Secretary of State and the Minister do their very best to farmers have invested millions of pounds to comply make sure that happens? with the law, and, as a result, have put themselves at a competitive disadvantage in very tough international George Eustice: All I can say to my hon. Friend, who market. Why does the UK implement EU directives has been a champion of this industry for many years, is that other countries see fit to ignore, and what will the that we are working on many different fronts to create Government do to support our poultry sector? new markets. In the past year, we have opened markets for breeding cattle to countries such as China, for pig George Eustice: The Government have consistently meat to Chile and for dairy to Cuba. In the year ahead, raised concerns about other member states not complying we will continue to look at exporting beef to Singapore with the rules on battery cages that were introduced two and poultry meat to Papua New Guinea. The country is years ago. It is fair to say that the Commission has working incredibly hard to open as many new export taken this matter seriously and has brought some cases markets as possible. against some member states in the European Court of Justice. We continue to maintain pressure on the Pilot Badger Culls (Somerset and Gloucestershire) Commission, but I believe it takes the matter seriously and is taking the appropriate action. 5. Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): What steps he Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire) (LD): I plans to take to ensure that the monitoring of the pilot draw the attention of the House to my entry in the badger culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire is Register of Members’ Financial Interests. independently scientifically evaluated. [904172] The Minister will be aware of the drastic reduction in farm-gate beef prices and the effect that has had on The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and confidence in the sector. Will the Minister tell us why he Rural Affairs (Mr Owen Paterson): DEFRA is currently thinks that reduction has taken place? What is he doing working closely with Natural England and the Animal to find other markets that will encourage an increase? Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency to develop the detail of how the monitoring will be implemented, George Eustice: The hon. Gentleman makes an important including auditing and evaluation procedures. The results point. This is one of the key issues being raised with and outcome of the monitoring of this year’s culls will Ministers as we go around agricultural shows. We will be made publicly available after they have been completed. 677 Oral Answers12 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 678

Mr Hanson: I am grateful to the Secretary of State and was still playing a most constructive part. I also pay for that reply. Will he ensure that, in addition to that tribute to the role the right hon. Gentleman played scientific examination, he also meets with the Welsh when he was the senior Minister in charge at the end of Assembly Minister who is dealing with this matter in the MacSharry period, when some serious reforms, Wales—not too far from his own constituency—where from which we are currently benefiting, were pushed an alternative method of vaccination is being undertaken? through. It is disappointing that that trajectory has not Will the Secretary of State agree to evaluate that as part been continued. It is absolutely our intention to report of the process as well? to the Commission on time, on 1 August. I made a written statement earlier this week and I made further Mr Paterson: I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman announcements on greening at the cereals conference for his question. We have regular discussions with our yesterday. counterparts across the border. We take information from them and they take information from us, so we are Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): I observing with interest the vaccination trial that is join my right hon. Friend in paying tribute to Sir Ben taking place over 1.5% of the surface area of Wales. Gill, a former constituent and a very good friend to the farming industry. Mindful of my historic interest in this Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab): field, which is on the register, does the Secretary of We learned late last year that the Government would State share my disappointment that the Commons Act not allow scientific evaluation of the extensions of the 2006 register is woefully inaccurate and out of date, pilot culls. Then the independent experts reported that which means that those eligible for claims will be unable DEFRA had failed to meet its main test for humaneness to make them, and that we will not have the paperless and now we learn that Ministers have no plans to claims the Select Committee on Environment, Food scientifically evaluate the second phase of the pilot and Rural Affairs was promised when taking evidence? culls, which are due to take place later this year. Is there any valid reason why scientific evaluation of the culls has been abandoned—or is the Secretary of State just Mr Paterson: I am grateful to the Chair of the Select allergic to scientific advice? Committee for her question. She is right to raise some of the technical issues that have been thrown up. It is Mr Paterson: I welcome the hon. Lady to her post very much our intention that the reform should be and congratulate her on her new position. I would like introduced in a manner that makes it as easy as possible to reassure her that it was always our intention, stated for applicants to understand, and as easy as possible for right back in 2011, that an independent panel would the Rural Payments Agency to pay out, and we are assess the first year of the pilot culls. We have had some pleased to see a significant number of applications by helpful recommendations from the panel, which we are the digital method. taking on board, but I think she is unfair and underestimates the professionalism of the skilled staff we have in Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/ Natural England and the AHVLA, who will continue Co-op): The Secretary of State will be aware of the to monitor the culls this year. disappointment, certainly in environmental quarters, that the full 15% modulation was not taken up by the CAP Reform Government for England—although the record for Scotland and Northern Ireland is as open to criticism in that 6. Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East) respect. When it comes to any future reform, does he (Lab): What his priorities are for further CAP reform. accept that taxpayers cannot accept large amounts of [904173] their money going to subsidise wealthy farmers? That needs to be changed, so will he give that commitment The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and today? Rural Affairs (Mr Owen Paterson): I wanted to see the last round of CAP reform continue on the trajectory set by MacSharry and Fischler, so frankly, the end result Mr Paterson: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for was disappointing. Future reform should be driven by his question. I remind him that we have agreed to go my departmental priorities of growing the rural economy for a 12% modulation, and then review the position, and improving the environment, while providing value having established what type of schemes are relevant, for money for taxpayers. and possibly go on to 15%. We will spend £3.5 billion on improving the environment through our pillar 2 Mr Brown: Will the Secretary of State join me in schemes. I am completely clear that I would like to paying tribute to Sir Ben Gill, the former president of continue the trajectory set in train by MacSharry and the National Farmers Union, who led the industry Fischler, whereby decisions pertaining to what crops through very turbulent times some 13 years ago and are grown and what animals are raised should be left to also played a significant role in a previous CAP reform the market, but there is a very real role for taxpayers’ round? In doing so, can he say whether Britain will meet money to be spent compensating landowners and farmers the Commission’s deadline of 1 August for submitting for the environmental work in respect of which there is our greening proposals arising from the latest CAP no obvious market mechanism. round and whether cash crops will be included in the UK submission? Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con): I would like to pay tribute to Sir Ben Gill and to draw attention to my entry Mr Paterson: I very much join the right hon. Gentleman in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. Does in paying tribute to Sir Ben Gill, who only a few months the Secretary of State agree that any further CAP ago came to see me to promote the British apple industry reform has to focus on the simple issue of using farm 679 Oral Answers12 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 680 land to produce food because we have to tackle the for food, and we should concentrate on having good, important issue of food security, which is looming more efficient farming that produces food for our population and more and is ever-present in our society? and enhances the environment.

Mr Paterson: My hon. Friend is spot on. There are Andrew George (St Ives) (LD): Nevertheless, the 1 billion people hungry in today’s world and we are Government have established the principle in the benefits heading for a further increase in population of 2 billion. system of placing what I think is a reasonable cap on We should be aware that there is no unlimited cheap, taxpayer-funded handouts. Does the Secretary of State safe food beyond our shores—it was the position of the agree that if that principle is okay for welfare recipients, last Government that there was—so we as a Government it is also right to place a reasonable cap on taxpayer-funded absolutely want to see domestic food production increase. handouts to people who do not actually need them? We already have a huge task: 30% of the food eaten in this country is imported, but could be produced here. Mr Paterson: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. First, it should be put on the record that we agreed to a CAP (Common Land) degressivity of 5% of £150,000, so there is a reduction, but I do not think we should be frightened of having large, successful farming businesses in order to feed this 7. Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) (Con): What country. assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the allocation of direct payments through pillar 1 of the Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP): The Secretary of CAP on common land. [904174] State will be aware of the dispute in Northern Ireland over the allocation of the moneys resulting from the The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and CAP reform. Will he do all that he can to ensure that Rural Affairs (Mr Owen Paterson): We published our there will be no party-political or partisan allocations assessment of the financial impact of changes to pillar of those moneys, and will he conduct an assessment to 1 in chapter 7 of our response to the CAP reform encourage the Department to allocate them fairly? consultation. We have held discussions with stakeholders about the future allocation of direct payments in respect Mr Paterson: One of the major changes in this round, of common land. The approach for the new CAP which we did negotiate, was absolute freedom for the schemes, which begin in 2015, will take account of four constituent parts of the to reach fairness, the need to minimise administrative burdens their own arrangements in regard to CAP reform and and the need to comply with the relevant European the way in which it is implemented. All four regulations legislation. are a matter for local politicians in Northern Ireland to resolve. Mr Robertson: I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. He will have gazed out on many occasions Fish Stocks towards Cleeve common in my constituency. People are concerned that if there is a future prevention of claims 8. Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con): What for dual use, the funding will not be available to manage recent estimate he has made of levels of UK fish the common for purposes of wildlife conservation and stocks. [904175] indeed businesses. Will my right hon. Friend bear that in mind when he comes to take decisions on these The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for matters? Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): The International Council for the Exploration of the Mr Paterson: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his Sea assesses the state of EU fish stocks annually. The question. We are aware of the problem of dual use, but next round of advice for the majority of European fish it is absolutely our intention that those who have common stocks, including those in UK waters, will be released land should be eligible for new environmental land on 30 June, and will inform decisions on 2015 fishing management schemes, which we shall publish shortly. quotas that will be made at the 2014 December EU Fisheries Council. Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): Many are concerned at the Government’s stance in the CAP Mr Amess: Given that fishing is such an important negotiations—opposition to proposals to cap the amount part of Southend’s economy, it is very disappointing a single farmer can receive in subsidies, for example. In that stocks of sole, plaice, cod and herring have been the interests of transparency, does the Secretary of depleted as a result of channel deepening via suction State agree that it is time for all Members to register any dredging. Will my hon. Friend please look into that, CAP-related payments they receive on the Register of and ensure that the Thames estuary is pollution-free Members’ Financial Interests? and full of fish again?

Mr Paterson: I think that that question is one for the George Eustice: This issue was raised with me during House authorities—perhaps the Leader of the House a recent conference of the National Federation of can deal with it later at business questions. I am not Fishermen’s Organisations, and my hon. Friend has frightened of large businesses producing food efficiently. written to me about it as well. The chief fisheries science I refer back to what my hon. Friend the Member for adviser at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and York Outer (Julian Sturdy) said. We should wake up to Aquaculture Science has subsequently overseen an initial the fact that there is not unlimited safe food beyond investigation of the issue, and has prepared a detailed these shores. There is a huge increase in world demand report that acknowledges that there has been a decline 681 Oral Answers12 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 682 in stocks recently. The cause of the decline is not clear, confidence that the Government are spending what is but some have pointed the finger at the London Gateway needed on flood protection. Can the Minister assure me development. Other possible causes include the discharge that the Department will agree to do that, and will he of surface water that may contain contaminants. Another make a public announcement before the summer recess? meeting is planned for July, when next steps will be decided on. Dan Rogerson: I know that the hon. Gentleman has a long-standing interest in this matter, and that he has Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab): Given met my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to that it is clearly in everyone’s interests for the UK discuss it. He will doubtless be reassured to know that fishing industry to modernise and, in so doing, to use we are investing more in flood defences than the last good data to protect and grow fish stocks, why has the Government. However, it is right for us to ensure that Minister allowed the Marine Management Organisation those figures are in the public domain. In his letter, the to relax its commitment to use a European Union grant chair of the UKSA said that he broadly agreed with the that was specifically designed to support the sector for statistics, but that they were not currently available for that purpose? his assessment and he would need to look at them. We are discussing with the UKSA what it is best to do, and, George Eustice: I do not accept that. The lion’s share as I have said, we will write to the hon. Gentleman when of the European maritime and fisheries fund will be the process is complete. invested in selective net gear and used to support work relating to the discard ban. Trichinella in Pigs

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): Responsible drift netting 10. Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con): What plays an important role in the management of UK fish representations he has received on testing for trichinella stocks, and has been a traditional part of fishing off the in pigs. [904177] East Anglian coast for centuries. Can the Minister confirm that the Government will ensure that the European The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Commissioner’s proposed blanket ban on drift netting, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice): which will destroy what is left of the Lowestoft fleet, is First, I would like to declare an interest: my brother is not introduced? the chairman of the British Lop Pig Society, and he has made representations to me about the time it takes some abattoirs to carry out the trichinella test, which we George Eustice: We are aware of the issue, and we are investigating. think that the targeting of species such as herring, bass and salmon by UK drift net fisheries is a far cry from The Food Standards Agency, which has responsibility the type of drift netting with which the previous ban for this policy area, formally consulted on the changes sought to deal in the Mediterranean. We will be negotiating to trichinella testing in March 2014. Responses indicated for the application of a risk-based regional approach to broad support, but also that awareness of the changes is ensure that the right fisheries are monitored and required low. to take the appropriate litigation action when that is necessary, without the imposition of a blanket ban on Mr Speaker: We are grateful to brother Eustice. drift netting. Dr Coffey: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Flood Protection (Government Spending) Outdoor or free-range pigs are very prominent in Suffolk, where the industry is important, and it feels there has been a stitch-up by the FSA with the pig marketing 9. Hugh Bayley (York Central) (Lab): What recent association. I recognise the FSA is not my hon. Friend’s discussions his Department has had with the UK ministerial responsibility, but it is very important that Statistics Authority on the publication of official free-range and organic pigs are not literally the sacrificial statistics of figures on Government spending on flood pig to satisfy the European conditions that are being protection. [904176] imposed.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for George Eustice: I understand the point my hon. Friend Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson): is making. There had been some indication at some Positive discussions have been held with the UK Statistics point that all pigs should be tested for trichinella. We Authority about the publication of flood protection have tended previously to test only boars and sows that expenditure. We are in the final stages of firming up are cull sows. However, the argument for testing only proposals, after which we will write to the hon. Gentleman outdoor pigs as a compromise is that outdoor pigs are giving the details. The robustness of the figures is more susceptible to picking up this type of tapeworm. already assured by our strict finance processes, and we will provide additional context for the benefit of a full Wild Boar (Forest of ) range of users. 11. Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): What Hugh Bayley: I remind the House that in February assessment he has made of the effect of wild boar on the head of the UK Statistics Authority wrote to me the Forest of Dean and of proposals to contain their saying that the figures published by DEFRA on flood numbers. [904179] protection spending were unreliable, and expressing a preference for figures published in future to be quality- The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for controlled by his department as official statistics. I Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson): think that that would do a great deal to restore public Small numbers of wild boar can benefit biodiversity by 683 Oral Answers12 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 684 disturbing static ecosystems, and contribute to the local proposals have been acted on. I met him very recently economy through wildlife tourism. However, in excessive and it is absolutely our intention that the report will be numbers they can also damage specific wildlife sites and published soon. harm the tourism industry, as visitors can be put off by the presence of boar and the visual damage they cause. T5. [904192] Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): The Local meetings take place every six months to consider national seed collection at Kew and the Royal Botanic the situation and proposals to tackle wild boar numbers. Gardens at Kew are considered by many of us to be a national treasure. What are the Government doing to Mr Harper: I thank the Minister for that answer. We ensure the continuing vitality and viability of Kew have to manage wild boar to keep the population under Gardens? control. The deputy surveyor in the Forest of Dean is doing an excellent job and has the support of the community, including the local authority, and I would The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for be grateful if the Minister endorsed that good work Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson): here at the Dispatch Box. The Government of course recognise Kew’s obligations to care for the national collections under the National Heritage Act 1983. Against the backdrop of the deficit, Dan Rogerson: I am happy to say to my hon. Friend the Department has continued to offer relative protection that I endorse the Forestry Commission’s approach, to Kew. Overall, the annual average of the Government’s which engages with the local community he represents funding of Kew over this spending review period is when considering the impacts of wild boar in the Forest greater than that of the last. We continue to work with of Dean and setting its own cull figures. While the Kew as it puts in place plans to raise revenue and we Forestry Commission is neither expected nor able to continue to invest in the excellent work it does. control wild boar on anyone else’s land, I would expect it to work in co-operation with the other landowners and the local authority, as necessary. Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood) (Lab): DEFRA has just published “Making the most of our evidence”—I have a copy here—which makes the ludicrous claim that Topical Questions the Department is in favour of science-based policy making. I note that the foreword is by the Under-Secretary T1. [904188] Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab): in the other place, Lord de Mauley, not by the Secretary If he will make a statement on his departmental of State, so will the Secretary of State confirm whether responsibilities. he has read it?

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Mr Paterson: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her Rural Affairs (Mr Owen Paterson): The priorities of the question. I read documents pertaining to my job as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural are growing the rural economy, improving the environment, Affairs. safeguarding animal health and safeguarding plant health. This week we have announced, as part of the common agricultural policy, the criteria for the implementation Maria Eagle: That is an interesting reply. Which of of the EU’s rules on greening. While the latest round of the unscientific policies insisted on by the Secretary CAP reform is disappointing, we remain determined to of State makes the most of our evidence? Is it his denial give our farmers sufficient flexibility to be free to do of climate change? Is it his ineffective and inhumane what they do best—producing food—while at the same badger culls? Is it his fantasy biodegradable plastic time ensuring that we do not make the same mistakes as bags? Or is it his national air quality strategy, which the last Government by designing a payments system would make air pollution worse? Does this not illustrate that was so complicated that we saw £600 million being that in practice the Secretary of State, who appears to taken out of the rural economy in disallowance. Over be allergic to science, routinely ignores evidence in the course of the next CAP, more than £3 billion will be favour of his own eccentric, ideological views? spent on improving the environment. Mr Paterson: The hon. Lady has had months and Julie Elliott: I thank the Secretary of State for that months to work out that splendid rhetorical blast—I answer. In March of this year in response to a question get on with the day job. I was at the cereals show from my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol East yesterday talking to real farmers who are producing (Kerry McCarthy), the Under-Secretary of State for food, and welcoming the first investment in this country Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the hon. Member by Bayer— following our agri-tech policy—bringing in for Camborne and Redruth (George Eustice), stated wheat testing and leading on to the breeding of wheat. that the Elliott report would be published in the spring, That is what an active Department does. [Laughter.] but we are now into June. Will the Secretary of State enlighten us as to when we might expect the report and T7. [904195] Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): Have a statement in this House so we can discuss the issue of Ministers been able to complete an assessment of the the protection of consumers from food fraud, as was Environment Agency’s proposals to strengthen flood exposed by the horsemeat incident last year? defences to protect the port of Immingham and the villages of New Holland and Barrow Haven, on the Mr Paterson: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her south bank of the Humber, following the December question. Professor Elliott produced a very interesting tidal surge? When will they be able to make an interim report, and I am pleased to say some of its announcement? 685 Oral Answers12 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 686

Dan Rogerson: As the hon. Gentleman knows, my down to 0.5% and food prices have actually fallen in the right hon. Friend the Secretary of State visited the area past couple of months, so this is now significantly with him during the flooding. Obviously, we will take below average inflation in the economy. advice from the Environment Agency and all the local bodies involved when coming up with plans to protect Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds) (Con): The the area better. The Department for Transport will be removal of notifiable disease status for contagious equine included in that, given all the work it will be doing metritis and equine viral arteritis is causing much concern around the port of Immingham. in the world-class blood stock industry in this country. Is the Minister aware that the export of horses from the Mr Speaker: I am very glad that the hon. Member for UK to Hong Kong, India, Qatar, New Zealand, Saudi Brent North (Barry Gardiner) has recovered his composure. Arabia, UAE and other countries is likely to be hit I was genuinely concerned that his sides might literally because notifiable status is a prerequisite for horses in split. those countries?

T2. [904189] Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/ George Eustice: I had the opportunity to meet my Co-op): If the Secretary of State is so assiduous and so hon. Friend and my hon. Friend the Member for West passionate, how come he got nothing in the Queen’s Suffolk (Matthew Hancock), the Minister for Skills and Speech on the environment—the only thing mentioned Enterprise, with a delegation from the Thoroughbred is shale gas and fracking? Has he heard the “Farming Breeders’ Association. I understand the points they are Today” programme recently, which described the making. Although those two diseases have a low impact common agricultural policy deal as a “greenwash” and can be prevented through the application of the which will do nothing for wildlife in this country? industry’s codes of practice, there could be some concerns about the impact on trade. That is why I have asked officials to look at the matter closely, to reassess the Mr Paterson: I listened to “Farming Today” yesterday impacts on the trade, and to investigate alternative ways and today, and I made it very clear that this is a forward, such as burden sharing with the industry. I can disappointing CAP reform. The hon. Gentleman might assure my hon. Friend that we are looking at this closely wish to reflect that his previous leader, Mr Tony Blair, and will take his views into account. gave away a huge slug of our national rebate in return for CAP reform and totally failed to deliver. We are going to deliver £3.5 billion through our pillar 2 schemes T4. [904191] Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): More than for environmental work which he will approve of. 2 million households in England and Wales are spending more than 5% of their household income on water bills. Will the Secretary of State explain exactly T8. [904196] Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): Since what the plans the Government have to give Ofwat May 2010, the Environment Agency has spent about more powers or to bring in measures that will require £11.7 million in defending Crawley through improved all water companies to tackle water bills for everybody, flood defences, but during this wettest winter on record particularly for that 5% of households? the area of Ifield Green was still affected. May I have assurances from the Department that it will press Dan Rogerson: I thank the hon. Lady for drawing my Crawley borough council to co-operate fully on further attention to what is happening with water bills. As flood defence schemes? companies are coming up to the price review period, bills will be levelling off or dropping. It is therefore vital Dan Rogerson: I agree that that partnership working that we have a strong regulator, so extra powers are is crucial to finding solutions in flood risk management, needed. It is a strong message from Government that we and I strongly encourage all parties, including Crawley are supporting it in its work as a good independent borough council, to continue to work closely and to regulator, and that will lead to better deals for consumers. co-operate on flood risk management in the Crawley area. Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD): I know that the Secretary of State intends to drive a hard bargain with T3. [904190] Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) (Lab): I the insurance industry, so he will be shocked to learn never thought it would be possible that in this day and that a business in Bradford-on-Avon that was devastated age, in one of the richest countries in the world, by the floods at Christmas has had its business rate I would see my local churches and charities going out relief deducted from the assessment of its losses by its collecting money for food banks. Will the Minister pay insurer. Clearly, it is not the Government’s intention tribute to those kind and caring people? Is this not in that business rate relief should be a sop to the insurance stark contrast to this rotten Government, who shower industry, so will he use his relationship with the industry gifts on the wealthy while they watch the poor go to ensure that this practice ends? hungry? Dan Rogerson: I and Ministers from other Departments George Eustice: I am happy to join the hon. Gentleman hold regular round-table meetings with the insurance in welcoming the great work that is done by the food industry, and I will be sure to raise the issue that my banks. I regularly visit one in my own constituency that hon. Friend has mentioned this morning. does very good work, and we should celebrate that. On the wider point about food prices, which the Department T6. [904194] Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): With is responsible for looking at, it is important to note that beef prices falling, beef farmers in my constituency in the year to the end of April, food price inflation was are keen to ensure that the Department uses its good 687 Oral Answers12 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 688 offices to increase public procurement of beef for the passion and grief that people in my constituency experienced defence industry, national health service, schools and over the great work and life of a 19-year-old who died others. Will the Minister please look at that urgently? of cancer?

George Eustice: I can confirm that Peter Bonfield is Sir Tony Baldry: I agree that the experience of holding currently doing a piece of work for us on how we might a vigil at for Stephen Sutton helped improve the Government’s buying standard and have a to focus national attention on the remarkable courage more balanced approach to procurement so that price is and exuberance with which Stephen lived his last three not the only determinant. He is working on that and we years of life. He managed to raise £4 million for the expect to publish details of that plan later this year. Teenage Cancer Trust by telling his story and through his determination to make every moment of his life count. Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire) (Con): The collapse in beef prices is having a very damaging effect on the market. What steps can the Government take to ensure that where cheap imports from eastern Europe are for ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE sale on supermarket shelves, shoppers know that they are cheap imports? The hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, George Eustice: There is a requirement for country of was asked— origin labelling on all fresh meat. We are holding a Imprints in Social Media summit later this summer to look at the problems experienced by the meat industry. It will consider those 2. Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD): What issues and how we might increase exports of beef. discussions the Committee has had with the Electoral Commission on updating guidance on the use of T9. [904197] Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) imprints in social media. [904159] (Lab): My hon. Friend the Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle) highlighted the importance Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): In United of science-based policy making. Will the Minister Kingdom elections there is no legal requirement for tell the House how often the Marine Management imprints to be used in social media. However, the Electoral Organisation’s scientific group has met since it was set Commission’s guidance recommends as good practice up in 2010? that all campaign material should contain information equivalent to an imprint so that the identity of the George Eustice: I am afraid that I do not have that campaigner is clear. information to hand, but I will get in touch with the Dr Huppert: Last month my constituent Michael hon. Lady and give her that information. Abberton was visited by the police after a UKIP councillor complained about his tweeting a fact-check list of UKIP’s policies. That was clearly absurd, although I can see why UKIP did not want people to know its policies, and CHURCH COMMISSIONERS the police have apologised to my constituent. This raises concerns about the guidance, which has not been updated recently. Will the hon. Gentleman ask the commission The right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the to look at this urgently and produce more up-to-date Church Commissioners, was asked— guidance ahead of next year’s elections? Stephen Sutton Mr Streeter: I think the guidance is clear enough. The issue is whether the Government are going to introduce 1. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): If he will as a matter of law the need for an imprint on social visit Lichfield cathedral to discuss the service of media campaigning material. As I understand it, that is remembrance and celebration of the life of Stephen a matter that the Government are still considering. Sutton. [904158]

The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Sir Tony CHURCH COMMISSIONERS Baldry): I am always happy to visit Lichfield cathedral. The whole country will have celebrated the life and The right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the achievements of Stephen Sutton. The recent service of Church Commissioners, was asked— remembrance and celebration at Lichfield cathedral Chaplains in Schools and Academies demonstrates the importance of cathedrals as a focus for unity at times of local and national celebration, 3. Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): What commemoration and mourning. estimate the Church Commissioners have made of the number of chaplains in schools and academies. [904160] Michael Fabricant: It is a shame in this instance that the Archbishop of Canterbury is not empowered to The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Sir Tony confer sainthoods. Will my right hon. Friend join me in Baldry): There are nearly 380 Anglican chaplains working congratulating Adrian Dorber, the in schools. A recent report by the National Society cathedral, on seizing the moment and taking advantage, found that a growing number of schools are paying for in the best possible way, of the great outpouring of salaried chaplains. 689 Oral Answers12 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 690

Martin Vickers: I thank my right hon. Friend for his 7. Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con): What reply. Does he agree that school chaplains help to representations the has made on further the work of the Church in encouraging the Meriam Ibrahim. [904165] spiritual development of our young people and giving them a better understanding of the pressures pertaining The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Sir Tony to modern society? Baldry): The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Church Sir Tony Baldry: I do agree with my hon. Friend. As of England wholeheartedly supported the call from the Her Majesty the Queen made clear in a speech at Christian Muslim Forum for the death sentence against Lambeth palace in 2012, a long part of our nation’s Meriam Ibrahim to be dropped. The Church of England tradition has been for the Church of England to promote will continue to support the Archbishop of Sudan on tolerance and understanding of other faiths. An increase this issue. in the number of chaplains in schools furthers the promotion of tolerance and community integration. Mr Nuttall: I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. The plight of Meriam Ibrahim is of great concern ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE to churches throughout the country. St Anne’s parish church, Tottington, in the diocese of Manchester, where The hon. Member for South West Devon, representing I serve as church warden, wrote to the Sudanese embassy the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, two weeks ago setting out our concerns. Will my right was asked— hon. Friend urge the leaders of the Church of England Electoral Roll Status to do all they can to keep up the pressure to secure the freedom of this lady? 4. Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): If the commission will establish a process whereby every time Sir Tony Baldry: My hon. Friend is right, and his a voter comes into contact with a public agency their constituents demonstrate that this concern is shared electoral roll status is confirmed and non-registrants throughout the country. I hope that other communities are encouraged to apply. [904162] and individuals who feel similarly will also write to the Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): It would be Sudanese embassy and that parliamentary colleagues for the Government, not the Electoral Commission, to will support early-day motion 71, tabled in my name, establish such a process. My hon. Friend may wish which has support from Members in all parts of the to raise the issue with the Cabinet Office directly, and House. probably already has. Although there will undoubtedly be practical and cost implications that the Government Andrew Stephenson: A number of Pendle residents will need to consider carefully, the commission can see have contacted me to express their concern about this the benefits of involving public agencies in encouraging case and what it means for the Christian community in electoral registration applications. The commission will Sudan. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the issue is discuss this further with the Cabinet Office as the transition that the alleged crime of apostasy is in direct conflict to individual electoral registration continues. with fundamental human rights, as set out in the UN universal declaration of human rights? Mr Hollobone: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. I am just a humble Back Bencher and my voice does not go very far in the Cabinet Office, but his Sir Tony Baldry: I entirely agree with my hon. Friend, considerable gravitas and that of the Electoral Commission and that point was reinforced yesterday by the Prime would carry far more weight than my opinion. I welcome Minister. Article 18 of the UN universal declaration of the Electoral Commission’s tentative endorsement of human rights seeks to enshrine freedom of religion and the proposal and urge it to meet the Cabinet Office the freedom to change one’s religion, whereas the alleged urgently to see how it might be advanced. offence of apostasy makes it a hanging offence to change one’s religion. They are clearly incompatible. In Mr Streeter: I too am exceedingly humble but I international law, fundamental universal UN human certainly take my hon. Friend’s point. The Electoral rights must prevail. Commission thinks there is merit in the scheme, although there are practical obstacles. For example, it would be necessary for every public servant at the point of contact Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): The case of with a member of the public to have access to the Meriam Ibrahim has come to particular public attention electoral register there and then to be able to give because it is so shocking in its detail, but of course she specific advice. The scheme is well worth considering as is just one of many people across the world who are we all want to see as many people as possible entered on being persecuted for their religious faith. What outreach the public register. work is the Church of England doing with other Christian Churches in the countries where persecution of Christians is a significant issue? CHURCH COMMISSIONERS The right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Sir Tony Baldry: As at least two debates in this House Church Commissioners, was asked— in recent months have demonstrated, article 18 of the Meriam Ibrahim UN declaration of human rights seems to be an orphaned right. The Church of England and other faith groups 5. Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): What have been working hard to ensure that the international representations the Church of England has made on community and the UN Human Rights Council pay Meriam Ibrahim. [904163] proper regard and respect to article 18. 691 Oral Answers12 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 692

Listed Buildings (Repairs) work through the clergy credit union, the use of premises, the promotion of volunteering and financial education 6. Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab): What in Church schools? estimate has been made of the cost of the backlog of repairs to the Church of England’s listed buildings. Sir Tony Baldry: I entirely agree that progress is being [904164] made. Credit unions are now being set up in towns and cities across the country. I refer my hon. Friend and the Sir Tony Baldry: The Church of England’s 12,500 listed entire House—it is always good to see so many Members churches have an estimated backlog of repairs of present for Church Commissioner questions—to a rap £60 million, and the 42 cathedrals have an estimated released yesterday by the Church of England entitled backlog of £87 million over the next five years to keep “We need a union on the streets”. It underscores the them open and watertight. views of the Church of England on payday lending and highlights credit unions as a better way to borrow. It Helen Goodman: I am grateful to the right hon. can be found at https://soundcloud.com/the-church-of- Gentleman for that response. I recently visited Lincoln england/we-need-a-union-on-the-streets. The chorus is: cathedral and met the dean, who told me that that “What we need is a union, we need a union on the streets cathedral has a backlog of repairs of £16.5 million. The Everybody hand in hand, people can’t you understand”. right hon. Gentleman has done well to get money out of the Treasury, but in fact Lincoln could eat up all that Biblical Literacy (Children) money. What more does he think we could do to ensure that we preserve these vital national assets? 9. Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): What steps the Church of England is taking to increase Sir Tony Baldry: The hon. Lady is correct: this is biblical literacy among children. [904167] quite a challenge, but I think one needs to recognise that there is a number of pots of money available. There is Sir Tony Baldry: It is important to remind the House the very welcome £20 million the Chancellor of the that the Education Act 1944 made religious education a Exchequer recently awarded to cathedrals to keep for compulsory subject in schools. I do not believe it is immediate repairs; the Heritage Lottery Fund has put possible in England to properly teach religious education aside £25 million a year for necessary repairs; the listed without ensuring that children have a proper understanding places of worship scheme totals £42 million a year; and of Bible narratives. of course we have to be grateful to the wider public, who raise approximately £115 million each year to Mr Sheerman: Does the right hon. Gentleman agree spend on repairs to their parish church buildings. The that we should see it not only as religious education but hon. Lady is a Front-Bench spokesperson for her party as part of our heritage and citizenship in this country, on culture, media and sport, and I am always willing to and that the stories of Noah’s ark, Adam and Eve and discuss with her other ways she thinks further funds can even the nativity should be part of that citizenship be found. education? Is he worried about the recent poll that showed the low level of such knowledge among children Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): and their parents? Thousands of small parish churches are in desperate need of urgent repairs to heating, lighting and electrical Sir Tony Baldry: I entirely agree. It would be very systems, as well as roof repairs. How much or what difficult, for example, for an A-level student to understand proportion of the amounts that my right hon. Friend the work of T. S. Eliot without any knowledge of the just mentioned relate to VAT due on those repairs? Bible narratives. There is a responsibility on schools to teach religious education, and one would hope and Sir Tony Baldry: My hon. Friend may recall that the anticipate that they would teach the Bible and Bible Chancellor of the Exchequer made very generous provision narratives as part of that. Families do that, as, of of, if I recall correctly, £25 million to help to offset VAT course, do the churches through Sunday schools. costs on church repairs, so there is no reason why churches should be deterred from carrying out repairs Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Further to those and restoration by concerns about VAT bills. comments on biblical literacy, will my right hon. Friend Financial Services welcome the Heart 4 Harlow and Harlow credit save initiative, which provide help for financial affairs, particularly 8. Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con): What beating the loan sharks? When he is next in the area, progress the Church of England has made on support will he visit Heart 4 Harlow, the faith community and for the provision of responsible financial services. the credit save initiative to see what they are doing? [904166] Mr Speaker: Order. I would describe that as attempted Sir Tony Baldry: The Archbishop of Canterbury’s ingenuity. The hon. Gentleman is seeking to shoehorn Task Group has identified a number of initiatives to into the last question on the Order Paper that which he promote responsible credit and savings and is now would have put if he had been called on the previous implementing those initiatives across the country. question, but, because I am in a generous mood, let us hear Sir Tony. Damian Hinds: I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer. The archbishop’s intervention has already Sir Tony Baldry: I always welcome opportunities to had a profound and welcome impact. May I encourage visit Harlow and to support my hon. Friend, who is the commissioners to do all they can to support that such an excellent constituency Member of Parliament. 693 12 JUNE 2014 HM Passport Office 694

HM Passport Office Secondly, HMPO is addressing a series of process points to make sure that its systems are operating 10.32 am efficiently. Thirdly, where people have an urgent need to travel, Yvette Cooper (Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) HMPO has agreed to upgrade them: that is, their application (Lab) (Urgent Question): To ask the Home Secretary if will be considered in full; it will be expedited in terms of she will make a statement on Her Majesty’s Passport its processing, printing and delivery; and HMPO has Office. agreed to upgrade those people free of charge. The Secretary of State for the Home Department All these measures are designed to address the problem (Mrs Theresa May): Her Majesty’s Passport Office is that is immediately at hand. In the medium to long receiving 350,000 more applications for passport term, the answer is not just to throw more staff at the applications and renewals than is normal at this time problem but to ensure that HMPO is running as efficiently of year. This is the highest demand for 12 years. Since as possible and is as accountable as possible. I have January, HMPO has been putting in place extra resources therefore asked the Home Office’s permanent secretary, to try to make sure that people receive their new passports Mark Sedwill, to conduct two reviews—[Interruption.] in good time, but as the House will know there are still delays in the system. As the Prime Minister said yesterday, Mr Speaker: Order. The Home Secretary’s statement the number of straightforward passport applicants who must be heard, and preferably with courtesy. There will are being dealt with outside the normal three-week be plenty of opportunity for questioning, but let us hear waiting time is about 30,000. what the Home Secretary has to say. Her Majesty’s Passport Office has 250 additional staff who have been transferred from back-office roles Mrs May: As I said, in the medium to long term the to front-line operations, and 650 additional staff to answer is not just to throw more staff at the problem work on its customer helpline. HMPO is operating but to ensure that HMPO is running as efficiently as seven days a week and couriers are delivering passports possible and is as accountable as possible. I have therefore within 24 hours of them being produced. From next asked the Home Office’s permanent secretary, Mark week, HMPO is opening new office space in Liverpool Sedwill, to conduct two reviews: first, to ensure that to help the new staff to work on processing passport HMPO works as efficiently as possible, with better applications. processes, better customer service and better outcomes; Despite those additional resources, it is clear that and, secondly, to consider whether HMPO’s agency HMPO is still not able to process every application it status should be removed, so that it can be brought into receives within the normal three-week waiting time for the Home Office, reporting directly to Ministers, in line straightforward cases. At the moment, the overwhelming with other parts of the immigration system since the majority of cases are dealt with within that time limit, abolition of the UK Border Agency. but that is, of course, no consolation to applicants who are suffering delays and are worried about whether they Yvette Cooper: This has been a sorry shambles from a will be able to go on their summer holidays. I understand sorry Department and a Home Secretary who cannot their anxiety and the Government will do everything even bring herself to say that word. Government they can—while maintaining the security of the incompetence means that people are at risk of missing passport—to make sure people get their passports in their holidays, their honeymoons and their business time. trips. Every MP has been inundated with these cases There is no big-bang single solution so we will take a and it seems that she has not even known what was series of measures to address the pinch points and going on. resourcing problems that HMPO faces. First, on resources, There has been a huge turnaround in the things the I have agreed with the Foreign Secretary that people Home Secretary has to say from two days ago, when we applying to renew passports overseas for travel to the asked her the same questions. On Tuesday, she told us UK will be given a 12-month extension to their existing that the Passport Office was meeting all its targets; on passport. Since we are talking about extending existing Wednesday, she told us that maybe it needed more staff; passports—documents in which we can have a high and today she says that maybe it needs some changes in degree of confidence—this relieves HMPO of having to policy too. On Tuesday, she told us there was no backlog; deal with some of the most complex cases without on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said there was. On compromising security. Tuesday, she said, “it is not true” that staff numbers Similarly, we will put in place a process so that people have been cut; on Wednesday, her own figures showed who are applying for passports overseas on behalf of that they have been cut by 600; and now she is having to their children can be issued with emergency travel put them back. documents for travel to the UK. Parents will still have On Tuesday, the Home Secretary told us the only to provide comprehensive proof that they are the parents problem was rising summer demand, but now we find before we will issue these documents, because we are out that she took over passports for foreign residents not prepared to compromise on child protection, but from the Foreign Office in April, even though diplomats again this should relieve an administrative burden on warned that it was not working. On Tuesday, the Minister HMPO. for Security and Immigration said that security was not These changes will allow us to free up a significant being compromised, and now we find out that on number of trained HMPO officials to concentrate on Monday security checks on addresses and counter- other applications. In addition, HMPO will increase signatories were dropped; and Ministers claim that they the number of examiners and call handlers by a further did not have a clue what was going on. Well, that much 200 staff. is certainly true. 695 HM Passport Office12 JUNE 2014 HM Passport Office 696

Can the Home Secretary tell us now how bad the our priority and we will not issue a passport until the situation is, not only for the straightforward cases but necessary checks have been completed. However, as I for all the other cases, and what does she mean by said in my statement, for those applying for a renewal “straightforward” cases anyway? How long will it take from overseas, where we can have confidence in the to get the system back to normal? When all her changes documents that they have already had and the process are in place, what can families across Britain expect? they have been through, we will be offering an extension When did she first know there was a problem? MPs of 12 months. have been warning about this issue for ages. Why did Finally, the shadow Home Secretary raised the issue she not know that those security checks were being of staff numbers, as did other Members earlier this dropped? Surely she has spent the past week asking for week. Here are the figures: in March 2012 the Passport details about everything that has been going on. Or Office had 3,104 members of staff—[Interruption.] perhaps she has not, because the truth is that she did Opposition Members talk about 2010, so I will make not know what was going on. She has come to this late. one simple point: when we took office there were staff She has not had her eye on the ball. She has been in HM Passport Office who had been brought in to deal distracted by other things. with the new identity card. This Government scrapped It is really unfair on people who have saved up the identity card. Over the past two years the number of everything for their holiday, only to see it wrecked by staff in the Passport Office has increased from 3,104 to the Home Secretary’s incompetence. Will she now apologise 3,445. That is the answer. People might say that this is to those facing ruined holidays, business trips or trips about reduced staff numbers, but actually staff numbers back to Britain? Will she get a grip on her Department have been going up over the past two years. and sort it out? Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): The Home Mrs May: The shadow Home Secretary has raised a Secretary has set out clearly the action that she is taking number of issues. The Passport Office started to receive to deal with the problem. Those listening outside this increased numbers of applications not just in recent Chamber will welcome the grip that she is showing and weeks, but from the beginning of the year, so it took will see the nonsense that we have heard from Labour action to increase the number of staff available to deal for what it is—a cheap attempt to make up for their with them. From January to May, over 97% of applicants poor show on Monday. in straightforward cases received their passport within three weeks, and over 99% received them within four Mrs May: I thank my hon. Friend for his comments weeks, but of course that means there were applicants and I recognise the points he made about the attempts who did not receive their passport within the normal from the Opposition. Outside the political arena that is expected time. That is why the Passport Office has been the House of Commons, we should never forget that increasing the number of staff throughout this period this is about people who are applying for their passports, and will continue to do so, as I have indicated. planning holidays and so forth. That is why the Passport The shadow Home Secretary asked about the difference Office has been taking the action it has taken, and why between straightforward and more complex cases. A it is continuing to increase the number of staff to ensure case is straightforward when all the information is there that it can meet the current demand which, as I said, is and the application form has been properly filled in, the highest for 12 years. signed and so forth. In those cases it is possible to deal with a straightforward renewal very quickly. [Interruption.] Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab): Is The problem comes when the right information is not the Home Secretary aware that in the past hour I have there or the correct forms have not been sent received an e-mail from a constituent who tells me that in—[Interruption.] her husband—[Interruption.] Here it is. My constituent tells me that her husband received British citizenship in March and immediately applied for a British passport; Mr Speaker: Order. Mr Bryant, we cannot have a that the Home Office totally bungled the entire procedure, running commentary throughout the Home Secretary’s but after repeated calls and approaches from her, promised response. Colleagues will have plenty of opportunity to the passport at the beginning of last week; that the question the right hon. Lady, but her remarks must be passport has not been received; that they had booked a heard with a modicum of courtesy. visit abroad to her family and have paid the airfares; and that because of the fact that her husband has not Mrs May: A case ceases to be straightforward if it is got the British passport and the Passport Office will not necessary for the Passport Office to go back to the return to him his original passport, which is still valid, individual to request other documents, which of course they will have to cancel the flights and lose a great deal delays the process. We are looking at part of the system of money. They are in a total mess because of the Home to ensure that that is being done as efficiently as possible. Secretary’s failure to administer and her arrogant refusal The shadow Home Secretary asked about taking over to deal with individual cases. What is she going to do to the process of passport applications from British nationals put this right? overseas. Before March this year that was done by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at processing centres Mrs May: No, I was not aware of the e-mail that the worldwide. The change was made to provide better right hon. Gentleman received from his constituent, but value for the fee-payer and greater consistency in how I am aware of it now. I am sure that the right hon. overseas passport applications are assessed, and to use Gentleman will be taking that matter up with Ministers our expertise to better detect and prevent fraud. The and the Passport Office. I have been clear that I recognise checks needed for applications from overseas can take that there are people who are having difficulties getting longer than those for applications in the UK. Security is access to passport renewals or new passport applications. 697 HM Passport Office12 JUNE 2014 HM Passport Office 698

[Mrs May] that constituents who wish to express concerns can do so directly to their MPs, and that MPs can have a The current level of applications is higher than we have special hotline to communicate with the Passport Office? seen for 12 years. Action is being taken and will continue to be taken by the Passport Office to try to ensure that it Mrs May: My hon. Friend’s point about the qualification can deliver on the normal rates that people expect. I am for urgent travel was raised by my hon. Friend the sure that as an experienced Member of the House the Member for Cambridge (Dr Huppert), and as I said to right hon. Gentleman will be using every opportunity him earlier, the Passport Office will of course put full that he has— details on its website. Either I or the Minister for Security and Immigration will write urgently to Members Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab): He of Parliament with the full details, so that every Member has just done so. of Parliament is aware and can advise their constituents fully. Mrs May: I am grateful to the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr Donohoe). The right hon. Member Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/ for Manchester, Gorton (Sir Gerald Kaufman) has used Co-op): The Home Secretary has come to the House one of those opportunities, but there are other opportunities today to announce a series of desperate measures in the to bring those details to the attention of the Passport Passport Service—extending passports, reducing security Office and to Ministers so that that case can be looked checks, fast-tracking some applications and adding in into. many more bureaucratic hurdles to getting a passport. Yet, as I know, Ministers receive weekly updates about Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD): Many people the flow of applications and turnaround. It is beyond are grateful to have heard the announcement from the belief and not credible that Ministers were not aware of Home Secretary about the free upgrade process for this problem before it was raised in the House. When people who need their passport urgently. Can she clarify will she and her Ministers take responsibility for this? exactly what that process entails and explain what counts As a former Minister, I know that I discussed ebbs and as urgent? Many people need that reassurance. flows every time that I met officials in the Passport Service, and if there was a problem, I would be on to Mrs May: It will be for people to bring to the attention them about it. What is she doing to make sure that this of the Passport Office that they have an urgent need to never happens again? travel. We intend to make it clear on the website so that people can go online and see that in detail and see what Mrs May: First, I and the Minister for Security and the process is. In that way, they will be absolutely clear Immigration have said in the House and I have said about what they need to do and how they qualify. elsewhere that for some months—since the beginning of the year—it has been clear that the number of applications Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab): When the was increasing. The flow has gone up, has steadied, and Government tried to shut Newport passport office a has gone up and down. Over that period, the Passport few years ago, staff and unions warned at the time that Office has taken action by increasing the number of cuts would impact on the service, and they have been staff and by increasing the hours during which proved right. It would be good if the Home Secretary considerations are done. It is now operating seven days could at least acknowledge that putting the full processing a week from 7 am to midnight, and it is looking at function back into Newport, along with the jobs that increasing those hours further. The hon. Lady said that we lost, would be a start. Will she also acknowledge we have relaxed the security, but there was no relaxation that it is not only the customers who are suffering badly of security, as I made clear in my announcement to day. at present? The situation is putting stress on the staff, Finally, the hon. Lady talks about a series of measures such as those in the Newport office, who are under being taken. Yes, a series of measures are being taken. immense pressure because of this Government’s As I made clear in my statement, there is no single thing incompetence. that will suddenly change the way in which the Passport Office is able to deal with these applications. What is Mrs May: At the time those decisions were taken, the necessary is not a grand political gesture, but the slow, point was raised in the House and Ministers responded careful consideration that we have been giving and that to it. It is absolutely right, from the Passport Office’s will now lead to urgent action by the Passport Office in point of view, that it should look at how it can provide increasing the number of staff. services as efficiently as possible. I want to make sure that in going ahead, we review how it is providing those Sarah Newton (Truro and Falmouth) (Con): As part processes and how it is operating its system so that we of the very welcome review announced today, will my make sure that customers are getting the best possible right hon. Friend consider an idea put to me by the service. But I return to the point that we have seen manager of the Crown post office in Truro, which is demand levels—applications for passports—higher than that Crown post offices’ new capabilities in identity they have been for 12 years. Action has been taken and verification could be used in speeding up and further is continuing to be taken to ensure that we can deal with localising the application process for the renewal of those applications. passports?

Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con): Will my Mrs May: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the right hon. Friend spell out to us in the Chamber today proposal from the Crown post office in Truro. I will what the criteria are for an urgent need to travel, so that ensure that it is fed into the review and given due everybody knows? Will she make arrangements to ensure consideration. 699 HM Passport Office12 JUNE 2014 HM Passport Office 700

Mr Bob Ainsworth (Coventry North East) (Lab): The overseas. That is why we are putting those measures in Home Secretary is now announcing a series of measures; place. As I said in relation to the emergency travel the problem has been ongoing and apparent not for a documents, parents will still have to show comprehensive couple of weeks, but for months. Members of proof that the child is theirs, because child protection Parliament—myself and everyone else—have been must, of course, be at the forefront of our minds. inundated by constituents in panic and distress. Why has it taken so long for this problem to be recognised Mr Geoffrey Robinson (Coventry North West) (Lab): and for measures to be taken to address this issue? Is the Home Secretary aware that it was nothing short of idiotic to take on the responsibility for processing Mrs May: The increase in demand was recognised passport applications from overseas at the very time earlier this year. HM Passport Office put steps in place when her Department was expecting the pre-summer to deal with that increased demand. The increased surge, which happens every year? There is a bit more of demand continued and, as a result, further steps were a surge this year, but it is more or less in line with the put in place. Those steps included increasing the number extra people that she has. That was plainly just an of staff available to deal with the applications, increasing idiotic management decision. the number of staff on the telephone helpline, extending the hours of operation of HM Passport Office and More importantly, will the Home Secretary explain working with couriers to ensure that printed passports to the House why there was not a single Government were delivered within a very short space of time once Back Bencher at the Adjournment debate on this issue they were issued. Over time, as the demand has increased, to represent people’s interests, despite her plug for the steps have been taken. It is clear that further steps need debate earlier that day? The Minister for Security and to be taken, and they are being taken. Immigration, who is responsible for the Passport Office, reassured the House on Tuesday that Caroline Dinenage (Gosport) (Con): Does my right “We have not compromised on our checks, and will not do hon. Friend agree that the focus for all MPs at this so.”—[Official Report, 10 June 2014; Vol. 582, c. 526.] difficult time of unprecedented demand should be assisting How was it possible for him to give that reassurance their constituents, not engaging in cheap, smug, self-satisfied, when a letter had gone out the previous day doing party political point scoring? precisely that? Why does she not—

Mrs May: I am sure that every Member wants to help Mr Speaker: Order. May I just say before the Home the constituents who have come to them with concerns, Secretary responds that there is a great deal of interest, and they should indeed be doing that. We have increased which I am keen to accommodate, at least in part? It the number of people who are available through the would help if contributions were brief. We have the general helpline to individuals who wish to make inquiries business question to follow and the last day of the about their passports, as I said, by some 650 members Queen’s Speech debate is exceptionally heavily subscribed. of staff. Previously, the figure was 350. Of course, all People will lose out, and they will lose out all the more Members of Parliament recognise that people get in if there is not economy. touch with their MPs about this issue because they have a genuine concern about what is happening to their passports. That is why we are addressing the issue and Mrs May: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will attempt to why the Passport Office has been addressing it over the be brief in my response. past weeks. As has been made clear publicly, Ministers were not aware of the document to which the hon. Member for Mr David Winnick (Walsall North) (Lab): Is the Coventry North West (Mr Robinson) refers, and they Home Secretary aware that none of her feeble excuses asked for it to be withdrawn immediately. today can explain away the sheer incompetence and shambles that have again occurred on her watch? Mr Ben Wallace (Wyre and Preston North) (Con): May I say how much I appreciate my right hon. Friend Mrs May: I fear that I will repeat what I have been taking pragmatic steps to deal with the situation, especially saying, which is that demand is at its highest level for with the 12-month extension? If it gets worse, will she 12 years and the Passport Office has taken action over perhaps consider extending that to UK citizens in this recent weeks to meet that demand. There is still an issue country as a short-term measure? Does she agree that with demand. We recognise the concerns that individuals the Passport Office had to spend £257 million after who are applying for new passports or renewals have being diverted on to an identity card scheme, and that if about timing. That is why further action is being taken. it had been able to spend that money on its core offering, perhaps this would not have happened? Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): Some of the most worrying cases that I have dealt with have involved British nationals overseas, so I welcome in Mrs May: I have already referred, of course, to the particular the 12-month extension. The granting of identity card scheme. emergency travel documents for the children of British My hon. Friend talks about the possibility of the nationals who are abroad is also extremely helpful and extension to passports being brought in domestically as welcome. well as in overseas cases. We did examine that possibility, and it was what the Labour Government did when they Mrs May: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. He is had queues at passport offices back in 1999. To introduce right that a number of the more complex and worrying that now would have meant setting up new centres and cases have come from those who are applying from processes, which could have disrupted the work that the 701 HM Passport Office12 JUNE 2014 HM Passport Office 702

[Mrs May] Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): My constituents in Dover and Deal are deeply concerned about border Passport Office is already doing. That is why I believe it security, and whatever pressure the Home Secretary is better to concentrate on dealing with the applications may be put under by a Labour party that has a great that are being made. tradition of allowing anyone to just wander in, will she ensure that the safety and security of our borders and Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): Speaking passports are not compromised? purely personally, I would prefer it if we did not talk about throwing Government staff around. Mrs May: That is absolutely clear. That is the attitude The families who have come to me to raise their cases that we have taken throughout the immigration system. have mainly been trying to get a child’s first passport. For the first time ever, we have an operating mandate They have pointed out to me that the Government’s for our Border Force and our border security, and as I website said that they would get their passport within said earlier in response to the shadow Home Secretary, three weeks, which was clearly a mistake. I know of one one of the reasons for bringing overseas passport family who have definitely missed their holiday. What applications into HMPO was to have greater consistency can be done to ensure that families in my constituency in how they are assessed and enable expertise to be used get proper information? in better detecting fraud.

Mrs May: The website has always indicated to people Mr George Mudie (Leeds East) (Lab): We all have what the normal expected period for a straightforward constituents who have made straightforward applications application is. As I indicated earlier, if there is a problem within Home Office guidelines and who a day or two with the application, it can take longer, but we are before they flew were forced to pay £55 for an upgrade ensuring that the information on the website is as clear to get their passports. What consideration is being given as possible to people. I have also asked for it to be to repay that money? ensured that it is absolutely clear what documents are required, because there may be issues to do with the Mrs May: I recognise that some people have paid type of birth certificate that is submitted, which can sums of money to ensure that their passport application lead to problems for families. was upgraded, and I have indicated that for urgent travel in the future we will be doing that free of charge. I Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con): A constituent contacted recognise that people have had those difficulties, and me on 25 April calling for a passport for his mother to that there are still people with applications in the system go on a family holiday, and he received the passport by that are concerning them. That is why we have taken the 30 April and sent my office a note saying: steps outlined today. “Thank you for your help—it saved our holiday.” Another constituent contacted me on 3 June and received Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington) (LD): Like their passport yesterday, and they have sent me a note other Members, I have had numerous cases of people saying: who were waiting for their passports. Fortunately, they “Thank you for your effort. I shall look forward to a well-earned have all been sorted, although at very short notice in holiday.” some cases. It is clear that cases are dealt with differently Does that not show that when urgent cases have been when people go to their MPs. How can we ensure that brought to the Passport Office’s attention, passports people who do not go to their MPs receive the same have been provided on time? service and have their complaints dealt with in the same way as though they had gone to their MP? Mrs May: I thank my hon. Friend for his comments. The point is that, as I have indicated, the vast majority Mrs May: MPs take up issues in many areas of of straightforward passport applications are still being activity, and they are dealt with perhaps more expeditiously dealt with within the time scales that people normally than they would be normally. That is part of the issues expect, and we should recognise that tens of thousands that we deal with in our constituency surgeries and so of people are having their passports sent to them and forth. However, the hon. Gentleman is right: we must their applications dealt with to the normally expected ensure that information and advice is provided and that timetable. When urgent cases are brought to the Passport when people complain and apply to the Passport Office Office’s attention, it is doing everything it can to deal and raise an issue about their passport, they are dealt with them expeditiously. with properly and quickly and get the proper information. That is why more staff have been brought in to answer Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab): general inquiries, which are often from people chasing What would the Home Secretary like to say to my the progress of their passport. The Passport Office is constituent Elizabeth Dey, who after more than four making every effort to ensure that people get the service weeks of waiting may well miss her honeymoon in they require, so that it is not necessary for people to go 10 days’ time? to their MPs or feel that that is the only way they can Mrs May: I suggest that the hon. Gentleman gets in get that service. touch with the Passport Office— Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): Thomas Docherty: I have done that already. The Home Secretary will be more than aware that the Scottish summer school holidays come around a lot Mrs May: Then if the hon. Gentleman would like to quicker than in England. This fiasco therefore has a give the details to the Minister for Security and Immigration, more immediate impact on my constituents in Scotland, we will ensure that the case is pursued. yet the Home Office has shed 150 processing staff in the 703 HM Passport Office12 JUNE 2014 HM Passport Office 704

Glasgow office, adding to the crisis. Will the Home were able to cut the cost of passports. That will have Secretary acknowledge the particular difficulty in Scotland, been welcomed by hard-working people in Harlow and and will she promise all those Scots who want to go on across the country. their summer holidays that they will get their passports? John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): Part Mrs May: As I have indicated, steps are being taken of the anger and frustration is that these problems were to address the demand we are seeing and increase the not just predictable—they were predicted. They were ability to process the applications. That is against the predicted by the front-line staff. Will the Home Secretary background of a real recognition that many people are review the correspondence of the past two years, at applying to renew their passport or for new passports at least, from Public and Commercial Services Union front-line this time because they want to go on holiday in the staff representatives, who wrote consistently that summer. We recognise that and are making every effort “the closure of 22 interview offices and one application processing to address the issue. centre and the sacking of 315 staff…around one in 10 of the workforce…has been a major factor in creating this current Steve Brine (Winchester) (Con): May I, like others, crisis.”? welcome the changes for children who need to travel to She has set up a review. It is best to talk to the front-line the UK? I have constituents with a very poorly child staff doing the job. Will she meet a delegation of PCS overseas who may need to get back to London quickly representatives from the front line to talk about how we for treatment, and they will welcome today’s can go forward urgently and in the long term? announcements. Can the Home Secretary give the House more information? She mentioned urgent travel documents. Mrs May: The point of the review, as the hon. Through what route can they be obtained, to save Gentleman understands, is to see whether the processes constituents such as mine from having to go all around are the best possible we can have in place. As part of the system? that review, I would certainly expect information to be taken from front-line staff, not just from union Mrs May: The process for getting emergency travel representatives in the way the hon. Gentleman suggests. documents would be to apply to the British embassy or I will certainly look at the possibility, which happens high commission overseas, just as they would have done anyway, of Ministers—either myself or the Immigration for their initial passport application. Minister—meeting front-line staff. That is what I think is important: to meet front-line staff. The views of a Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) (Lab): My constituent variety of people will be taken in the review, but I return was hoping to go on holiday in two weeks’ time. She to a point I made earlier and to which the hon. Gentleman applied in February this year for passports for three did not refer: the very high level of demand experienced children. She called the Passport Office on 8 May to by the Passport Office. It has already taken steps to deal find out the progress of the application, and was told by with that. a member of staff that they would call back. No call was received. She called again on 18 May and was told by staff that they would look into it. No call was Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con): I welcome received. She contacted the Passport Office again on this balanced set of measures from the Home Secretary. 29 May, and was told by staff that her daughter’s birth Will she confirm that everything possible is being done certificate had been mislaid. On 30 May she sent another to increase short-term staffing capacity, while being birth certificate by recorded delivery, and on 3 June she consistent with the need to uphold quality assurance was told that the application was with the examination and security? team. She will be going on holiday in just two weeks. My office has contacted the MPs hotline on several Mrs May: That is absolutely right. It is not the case occasions, but after a bit it just goes dead. We have that one can simply take somebody with no experience continued to ring, but not once has anyone answered of passport business and make them examine passport the phone. applications. We have security checks for passport applications and we need people who are trained to be Mrs May: I accept that the service the right hon. able to do that. Every effort is being made to ensure we Lady and her constituent received is not good enough. can bring more staff into the front line as quickly as If she makes the details available, we will ensure that possible, commensurate with ensuring they have the HMPO chases up that particular case. As I said earlier, necessary level of training to be able to do that securely. more staff are being put on the general inquiries hotline to try to ensure that people do not receive the same Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab): Two years ago, the response that she and her constituent received when lives of 150 loyal and efficient workers in my constituency they tried to get information—that was not good enough. were devastated by a closure that the Government described as creating a smaller but more efficient passport agency. Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Does my right hon. Others predicted today’s chaos. Will the Home Secretary Friend not agree that what hard-working constituents find it in herself to have the common sense and the in Harlow are really concerned about is the fact that this humility to apologise for the ineptocracy the Government Government cut the cost of passports for families saving have created? for their holidays, whereas the previous Government used them as a stealth tax? Mrs May: Yes, there have been changes in the way the Passport Office operates. The Passport Office has been Mrs May: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for reminding operating efficiently and effectively in dealing with people’s us of that. In all the debates on the Passport Office, applications since those changes were made. We now people have lost sight of the fact that the Government have a period of higher demand than we have seen for 705 HM Passport Office12 JUNE 2014 HM Passport Office 706

[Mrs May] Mrs May: My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Of course we need to look at that, which is part of the 12 years. That high demand is now being addressed by a process of looking at HMPO’s work going forward, to number of steps that have been taken, but we will look see whether patterns and numbers are changing and at how the Passport Office should operate more efficiently to ensure that appropriate resource is available to deal in the future to ensure that it offers the best possible with that. I note, as he said, that it is the Government service. who have been looking at this issue carefully, and we are putting in place measures intended to deal with it. Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): I would like to thank HMPO staff for helping me to assist my constituents—the Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab): I handful who have come to me. Interestingly, one of raised this question in the House earlier this week and them said that the reason they applied for a passport got answers that were not satisfactory to me or, more was that, for the first time since 2008, they could afford particularly, my constituents, given that the hotline is to go on a foreign holiday. Does the Home Secretary still not working. Will the Home Secretary take the acknowledge that part of the increased demand is down decision today to reopen the office in Glasgow, so that to a better economic environment? passports can be issued to my constituents without them having to travel down to Durham or over to Mrs May: In the current, improved economic Belfast? It seems ridiculous that it is necessary to do environment, I am pleased that people feel able to go on that, rather than taking the decision, which she could holiday when they have perhaps been unable to do so take today, to reopen the Glasgow office to the public. previously. However, I am also conscious that there will be people who have sent in their renewal applications Mrs May: The hon. Gentleman raised the issue of the who are concerned about whether they will be able to MPs’ hotline in the House earlier in the week. My hon. do exactly what my hon. Friend says his constituents Friend the Immigration Minister said that if he gave want to do. That is why I have put forward these him the details, he would pursue the case. I am conscious measures, which HMPO will be putting in place, in of the concerns that a number of Members have raised addition to those it has already put in place. about the MPs’ hotline, which is an issue we will pursue. Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South) (Lab): Not a day goes by without more constituents Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con): I welcome coming forward because of delays, such as the constituent the extra staff working extra hours to tackle the exceptional who contacted me first thing this morning, having demand. Many of the constituents contacting me are applied for their passport over six weeks ago. Time is parents applying for first-time passports for children or running out. Calls to the Passport Office go unreturned renewals for younger children. Will the Home Secretary and constituents of mine face the prospect of losing out clarify the time scales that those parents should expect on their holidays, which they worked hard to pay for. for their passport applications? What would the Home Secretary say to my constituent, who faces the prospect of losing hundreds of pounds Mrs May: As I said, the straightforward applications because of this incompetence? for a straightforward renewal of the passport are normally expected to be within three weeks, but some are going Mrs May: What I would say to the hon. Lady—as I beyond that. Where it is a first-time application and an have said to a number of others in relation to their interview is required, it can take longer. I would expect constituency cases—is that the Passport Office will a child’s first-time application to be within normal make every effort to ensure that the applications of times, but if someone does not present the absolutely those who have a requirement are met quickly and dealt correct documentation, the application will take longer, with properly. As I indicated earlier, straightforward which sometimes happens. As I indicated earlier, either cases are normally dealt with within three weeks. If the Immigration Minister or I will ensure that we write extra information is required or if someone is making a urgently to MPs to set out the measures taken and first-time application and requires an interview, that relevant details such as when people will be able to can take extra time. The straightforward cases are normally demonstrate an urgent need to travel in order to be dealt with within three weeks, but every effort will be upgraded. made to deal with the case the hon. Lady raises, as I am sure she is trying to ensure. Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): The Home Secretary’s definition of “straightforward” has changed five times Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): Did my right hon. in the course of the past hour—and it has just changed Friend notice that the shadow Home Secretary made again. That matters because the number of delayed not a single constructive suggestion to deal with the applications that the Prime Minister came up with present situation and that the collective chunter of yesterday depended on straightforward applications, so Labour Back Benchers on this issue has simply been a the real figure is far higher than 30,000, is it not? Will cry to throw more public money at the problem, as it is the Home Secretary apologise to my constituents—foster whenever there is an issue? When the permanent secretary parents who applied for a passport for their foster child, at the Home Office carries out the review, will he also Corry? Weeks later, they received a phone call from the consider why applications this year increased by some Passport Office, saying that the passport was on its way, 300,000 on last year? There has clearly been an so they booked their holiday. Six weeks after that, unprecedented increase in demand, which no one could however, they had still not received the passport, so have foreseen, but someone needs to give some consideration Corry, the foster child, was unable to go on holiday with to how it came about. his parents. Will the Home Secretary apologise to them? 707 HM Passport Office12 JUNE 2014 HM Passport Office 708

Mrs May: The hon. Gentleman suggests that the to say that her friend was leaving Glasgow airport at six definition of straightforward cases has changed, but it o’clock the next morning and did not have a passport, has not. I have been very clear that straightforward and the man who, two months after sending off his renewal of passports is normally expected to be dealt application, received a letter saying that it had not been with within three weeks. That is on the Passport Office’s signed. My staff would want me to pay tribute to the— website and it is what I have said today. I recognise that there have been some very difficult cases, such as the Mr Speaker: Order. I am sorry.The right hon. Gentleman one that the hon. Gentleman describes. I was listening is an extremely senior Member and I treat him with the carefully and I think he mentioned the problem of the utmost courtesy, but we are very pressed for time. What parents being told that the passport had been dispatched, we need is a one-sentence, short question. but not then receiving it. I would be grateful if he would care to provide the details, as I may have misunderstood Mr Clarke: I am happy to oblige, Mr Speaker. Will the case. the Home Secretary address herself to the question put to her by my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con): At Prime Harlington (John McDonnell), and personally meet Minister’s Questions yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition front-line staff and union representatives who warned claimed that tens of thousands of people were having that this was going to happen? their holidays cancelled because of passport delays. Meanwhile, the Association of British Travel Agents Mrs May: As I thought I had made clear to the hon. has said that it is seeing no increase in holiday cancellations Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell), on account of passport delays. Who should we believe—the we do meet front-line staff and will do so again in order Leader of the Opposition or ABTA? to discuss this issue. For the purposes of the review, representations will be received from a number of people, Mrs May: I am tempted to say that there are those both those involved in the passport service and those who have the figures at hand and know what they are, who, I am sure, have experienced similar kinds of customer and there are those who make claims about them in this service. The review is necessary to ensure that we are House. doing things in the best possible way in order to give the best possible service to customers, and front-line staff Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab/Co-op): will of course be met during that process. The gov.uk website still says that it should take three weeks to get the passport, so would the Home Secretary Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) (Lab/Co-op): care to correct it? Further to the question from my hon. Many of my constituents have contacted me about this Friend the Member for Leeds East (Mr Mudie), will she problem, including three British citizens who applied please tell us whether my constituents who had to pay for passports for children born abroad. One has waited an extra £55 on top of the £72.50 they paid to get their for six months, another for five months, and a third for “straightforward”renewal applications processed in order three months. One child’s school admission has been to go on holiday in the first place—they got the passport delayed, another’s health treatment has been delayed, just in the nick of time—can now expect a refund? and in the third case flights were booked and then Mrs May: The hon. Lady asks me to change the cancelled at a cost of £1,600. Will the Home Secretary advice on the website. We are, of course, looking at the tell us when her new measures may come into force, advice on the website, as is the Passport Office, to whether my constituents are likely to benefit from them, ensure that it is as clear as possible. The point is, and whether there is any consistency in what the Home though, that the vast majority of straightforward Office is saying? We have been told that the suggested applications are being dealt with within the normal time lines are intended as guidance, but the Home three-week period. Secretary is now talking of advice that is on the website.

Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): This is a Mrs May: The time that it takes to process an application serious issue, and we all agree that it is not satisfactory. from overseas will vary according to the complexity of In Kettering, however, I have had three complaints and the case that is before the Passport Office. Obviously I I dealt with them all myself. As for the MPs’ hotline, the cannot comment on the individual cases raised by the phone was picked up every time and each case was hon. Lady because I do not know the details, but, as I solved within the day to the satisfaction of the affected have said, I will write to Members explaining clearly constituents. when it will be possible to apply for the emergency travel documents—I referred to part of that process in Mrs May: I am grateful to those Members who have response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member indicated that the cases they took up have been dealt for Winchester (Steve Brine)—so that they understand with and that people have received their passports. Staff the new arrangements and can advise their constituents at the Passport Office are working very hard to deal accordingly. with the cases they are seeing. As we have just heard, they are responding to the cases that MPs are raising—and Several hon. Members rose— I think we should not forget that. Mr Speaker: Order. I am sorry to disappoint Members Mr Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) who are still rising, but I know they will understand that (Lab): This is the biggest problem that my constituency I must have some regard to the overall level of demand office has been presented with since the bedroom tax. for other parts of today’s schedule, and that we must My staff have often worked overtime to deal with cases now move on. I am sure that there will be further such as those of the lady who phoned early one afternoon opportunities to explore these issues. 709 12 JUNE 2014 Business of the House 710

Business of the House for the Foreign Secretary to keep the House fully informed as this deeply worrying situation develops? 11.27 am In future business there is an eerie silence on the recall Bill, and the Deputy Prime Minister managed, in Ms Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab): Will the Leader of true Lib Dem fashion, to disagree with his own draft the House give us the business for next week? Bill only last week. Can the Leader of the House tell us when the Government’s latest version of the recall Bill The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew will actually be published? Lansley): The business for next week will be as follows. A report from the National Audit Office has revealed MONDAY 16 JUNE—I expect my right hon. Friend the that the Government’s armed forces restructure is in Foreign Secretary to update the House following chaos. The plans are already six years behind schedule, the global summit to end sexual violence in conflict. and instead of making savings of nearly £11 billion, it That will be followed by the conclusion of the remaining looks like these changes are going to cost the public stages of the Consumer Rights Bill, followed by a purse more. The Chair of the Public Accounts Committee motion to approve a statutory instrument relating to has rightly described the additional cost as scandalous. special educational needs. The changes risk exposing a dangerous capability gap TUESDAY 17 JUNE—Conclusion of the remaining stages in the nation’s defences, so will the Leader of the House of the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill. arrange for a statement from the Defence Secretary so he can explain these failings in his Department? WEDNESDAY 18 JUNE—Opposition Day [1st allotted day]. There will be debates on Opposition motions, As the passport agency descended into chaos, the including a debate on energy prices. Government first tried denial, then played the blame THURSDAY 19 JUNE—Motion to approve a statutory game, and now have been forced into a series of emergency instrument relating to terrorism, followed by a general measures. The head of the agency denied that there was debate on the UK’s relationship with Africa, followed a backlog only on Monday; the Home Secretary was by a general debate on defence spending. The subjects boasting that it was meeting its service targets on Tuesday; for both debates were determined by the Backbench by Wednesday the Prime Minister was forced to admit Business Committee in the last Session. that it has been trying to clear the backlog for weeks; and overnight we found out that Ministers were not FRIDAY 20 JUNE—The House will not be sitting. even aware that vital security checks have been scaled The provisional business for the week commencing back to speed up the process. Even if the Home Secretary 23 June will include the following: was unaware, the Leader of the House acknowledged MONDAY 23 JUNE—Conclusion of the remaining stages the problem last week and promised a written ministerial of the Deregulation Bill. statement. Seven days later, we have not had one, and my colleague the right hon. Member for Delyn (Mr Hanson) TUESDAY 24 JUNE—Remaining stages of the Wales has had no substantive reply to his named day questions Bill. on this subject. Will the Leader of the House explain WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE—Opposition Day [2nd allotted why we have had to drag the Home Secretary kicking day]. There will be a debate on an Opposition motion, and screaming to the Chamber today to account for this subject to be announced. fiasco? Is the non-appearance of the promised statement THURSDAY 26 JUNE—General debate on the programme a further sign of the Home Secretary’s incompetence, or of commemoration for the first world war. has she fallen out with the Leader of the House too? FRIDAY 27 JUNE—The House will not be sitting. After yet another weekly session where the Prime Minister focused on the rhetoric and ignored the reality, Ms Eagle: I thank the Leader of the House for I have decided that we need a regular “mind the gap” announcing next week’s business, and may I also take watch to highlight the Government’s failure to live up to this opportunity to congratulate my hon. Friend the their PR hype. This week alone we have had the news Member for North East Derbyshire (Natascha Engel) that the housing benefits bill is set to soar by yet on her unopposed re-election as Chair of the Backbench another £1 billion despite the Government promising to Business Committee? She is doing such a good job that make work pay and provide enough affordable homes, no one even thought she should be replaced. We could food bank use is up by 54% last year alone despite the not say the same about many Government Ministers. Government saying they would face up to the cost of I would also like to wish the England football team living crisis, and, despite matching our promise to end good luck in their first World cup game on Saturday. We child poverty by 2020, this week a report from their own are all convinced that they are going to have a great Child Poverty Commission said that was not remotely tournament and we will all be watching their every “realistic”. move, as usual, from behind the sofa. The Government’s Whitehall farce continues to run I note from the Leader of the House’s comments that and run. The Conservatives are blaming their multiple the Foreign Secretary is due to give us a statement on failures on the civil service, their special advisers, the his conference on sexual violence, which is very welcome, last Labour Government, and now they are even trying on Monday, but we all watched in horror as militant to blame Oxfam. The Prime Minister wanted to reshuffle extremists overran swathes of north-western and central his deck, but has now realised that he has got a pack of Iraq yesterday, and they are now reported to be within jokers. The Liberal Democrat headquarters managed to 50 miles of Baghdad. Over half a million people have tweet: had to flee, and the country has been forced to declare a “we didn’t go into govt because it was the right thing to do, we state of emergency. Will the Leader of the House arrange went into govt because it was the right thing to do”. 711 Business of the House12 JUNE 2014 Business of the House 712

[HON.MEMBERS: “Where are they?”] There is not a Members—including Opposition Members—that we single Liberal Democrat Member here; they are all at a inherited a defence budget with a £38 billion black hole. lesson on how to tweet properly. Only the Liberal We have taken action to balance the books; Army 2020 Democrats could change their minds halfway through a is an integral part of that. An excellent job has been tweet. After their disastrous election results, the Deputy done—not least by the Defence Secretary and the Chief Prime Minister has finally had some good news this of the General Staff—to redesign the Army so that it week. They have finally topped a ballot—but it was can meet future demands while remaining affordable. only the ballot for private Members’ Bills. Meanwhile, We are committed to investing £1.8 billion in the reserves, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has declared that and we are now seeing the benefit of that: the trained the Liberal Democrats could be the biggest party in strength of the reserve forces is rising for the first time 2025, and William Hill has pulled its sponsorship from in 18 years. the Liberal Democrats’ closest rivals, the Monster Raving The hon. Lady asked about the situation in the Loony party. This clearly demonstrates that there is Passport Office. I made it clear in response to questions only one joke party left in British politics. last week that my colleagues would update the House on that matter this week, and they have done so in Mr Lansley: I am grateful to the shadow Leader of response to questions and to an Adjournment debate the House for her response to the business statement. I secured by the hon. Member for Coventry North West echo her congratulations to the hon. Member for North (Mr Robinson). The Home Secretary has also given the East Derbyshire (Natascha Engel), whose re-election is House a full, authoritative response on the issue and a testament to her chairmanship of the Backbench outlined a number of measures that will make a substantial Business Committee and to the work of the Committee difference in the weeks ahead. as a whole. It has brought forward some important debates and given Back Benchers a greatly enhanced The hon. Lady asked about issues that she suggested voice. Surveys in recent years have shown that the were not being covered in the Government’s reply, and public now believe that the House debates issues of she included food prices. I heard one of my DEFRA relevance to them on a more regular and timely basis. colleagues reminding the House that food prices in the year to March rose by only 0.5%, and in the past two I also echo the shadow Leader of the House’s good months food prices appear to have been falling, so it is wishes to the England team. It will be a late night on important to bear in mind that on some issues relating Saturday, but at least it will be followed by Sunday to the cost of living people are in a better place than morning. I am looking forward to the England team they might otherwise have been. That is particularly the scoring many goals and kissing the badge, as they say. I case when they are in work, and as we saw just yesterday am told that the Leader of the Opposition is being more than 2 million new private sector jobs have been invited to do that with the trade unions in Nottingham created since the general election. If there is a gap, it is at the moment. It seems a strange idea, but it tells us between the Labour party and reality on what is happening something about where the trade unions think the interests in our economy.Our long-term economic plan is delivering of the Labour party lie, in contrast to the coalition, on reducing the deficit and on growth, which is 3% up which knows that it serves in the national interest. on a year ago. We have 2 million more private sector The hon. Lady asked about a statement on Monday. I jobs and 400,000 more businesses. We are delivering our have announced that the Foreign Secretary will be in the long-term economic plan in the national interest while House on that day to make a statement, and we will of the Leader of the Opposition is off to serve the union course take opportunities to update the House on the interest. very concerning situation in Iraq. The threat presented by the so-called Islamic State for Iraq and the Levant is Mr Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con): alarming for the whole international community. The I echo the call for a debate on the situation in Iraq, Iraqi authorities in the federal Government and in the although it is noticeable that Her Majesty’s official Kurdistan regional Government need to co-ordinate Opposition did not ask for such a debate, having not and work together to put forward a political response provided a debate on foreign affairs during consideration and a security response to the situation. We are aware of of the Queen’s Speech. Does my right hon. Friend agree large numbers of Iraqis being displaced from Mosul that we need a general debate on foreign affairs, to cover and the surrounding areas. The Department for not only Iraq but the crisis in Syria and the situation in International Development is monitoring that situation Ukraine? closely, and rapidly assessing the humanitarian need that will arise from it. I will ask my colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and in DFID to Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his ensure that the House can be updated whenever possible. question and he is absolutely right: I was very surprised and disappointed that the Opposition did not choose to The hon. Lady mentioned the recall Bill. We announced debate matters relating to foreign affairs and defence. the Bill in the Queen’s Speech and will introduce it in Of course, the Backbench Business Committee will due course. We are making good progress with it. We enable defence issues to be raised next week, but this have already introduced five Bills in this Session—three was the second year in a row that the Opposition did in the other place and two here—and we will introduce not choose to debate foreign affairs. Given the circumstances further Bills in due course. in which they made that decision—the events in Ukraine The hon. Lady also asked about defence spending. I and Syria, and now Iraq—it would have been helpful have announced a debate on defence spending, which had they chosen to have such a debate. Anybody who will take place next Thursday following the examines the debate on the Queen’s Speech in the recommendations of the Backbench Business Committee. House of Lords will see that it had a full, substantial It will give my colleagues an opportunity to remind debate on foreign affairs. I believe that Members in the 713 Business of the House12 JUNE 2014 Business of the House 714

[Mr Lansley] some immediate response, but something he had been considering. I think it was the subject of a pre-existing other place were astonished that there was no debate on consultation in any case. We will of course ensure that foreign affairs in this House, but of course, these were we keep the House informed about the progress of that matters for the Opposition. consultation and our response to it.

Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): On average, Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con): Tackling 7,500 people are on the waiting list for transplants and domestic violence has rightly risen up the political each year 1,000 people die because an organ is not agenda. Football United Against Domestic Violence is available. May we have a debate on why we cannot a new campaign by Women’s Aid working with national co-ordinate transplant week with the transplant games? footballing bodies, sports, media, football clubs, the That would allow us to raise the profile of the Donate police, players and fans to send a clear message that Life campaign and then, we hope, three people a week domestic violence is always unacceptable. Following would not die waiting for an organ to become available. Tuesday’s successful parliamentary launch supported by the Premier League, BT Sport, the Football Association, Mr Lansley: I very much share the hon. Lady’s sense Charlie Webster, Jahmene Douglas and a large number of the priority and importance of this issue. I was the of cross-party MPs, does my right hon. Friend agree sponsor in this House of transplant week some years that we should hold a debate on this important subject? ago, because more transplants take place in my constituency than anywhere else in the United Kingdom; it contains Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend is quite right: domestic Papworth hospital, a leading heart and lung transplant violence and abuse ruin lives. They are completely centre, and Addenbrooke’s hospital, which deals with unacceptable, which is why tackling this crime has been livers, kidneys, and pancreatic and other organs. If I one of the Government’s top priorities since coming to may, I will ask my hon. Friends at the Department of office, and that includes backing the important work of Health, who work with the charities concerned, about Women’s Aid. He knows that there is not compelling the timings of these important charitable events and evidence that suggests a causal link between sporting what possibilities there might be, as we do want to make events and domestic violence and abuse. However, an further progress. The number of people on the organ event of the importance of the World cup presents an donation register has increased by 50%, which is having opportunity for us to target different audiences with a big impact on the availability of organs, but we need our message concerning domestic abuse; he is quite to do more. I hope we will be able to co-ordinate things right about that. It will build on the work of Women’s in the way she describes. Aid, and the Home Office has launched a campaign for that purpose. Whether we are talking about physical Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): May we have a violence, threats or coercive behaviour, they all count as debate on why Labour councils, particularly Telford & abuse and it is part of our work to stop it. Wrekin council, are deliberately misinterpreting and Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) (Lab): It is a statutory miscommunicating the Government’s national planning responsibility of electoral registration officers and local guidelines? Do the Government still prefer development, authorities to do door-to-door canvassing of non- be it residential or retail, to be on brownfield rather responders to voter registration. In Hansard today, there than greenfield sites? is a list of 22 local authorities that break the law, some of which have broken the law for four years on the trot Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend is absolutely right: this and no action has been taken. Will the Leader of the is very much about a presumption in favour of brownfield House have a debate in Parliament on this important over greenfield development; that is what the Government issue that affects our democracy? are looking towards. The other important thing is that this Government expect planning to be locally led. I am Mr Lansley: I cannot promise an immediate debate sure my hon. Friend will bring to bear on his council, in but I will if I may talk to the Minister of State, Cabinet the way he describes, local people’s views on what they Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge want in their local plan. Under the Localism Act 2011, Wells (Greg Clark), who is responsible for Cities and that should be pre-eminent in the local plan. Constitution and has oversight of such issues. In the first instance though, I will ask the Electoral Commission Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen) (Lab): On to respond because it has a responsibility to ensure the Monday, the Secretary of State for Education announced integrity of elections, which includes the work of the that, in future, schools will teach British values. Although electoral registration officers and whether or not they he appears to have been panicked by the crisis in his meet their responsibilities. Department into announcing something with which he used to disagree, it is a very good idea. The problem is Mr Dominic Raab (Esher and Walton) (Con): This that it is easier said than done and harder to do well morning, the Court of Appeal overturned the Government’s than badly, and if it is done badly it would probably be application for a terrorism trial to be held in blanket better not to do it at all. Can we have a debate in this secrecy. It still allows the state to hand-pick journalists House, before the Department publishes its proposals, to report on the case subject to undefined conditions. on how exactly British values can be taught successfully The House has had no explanation of why that is and effectively in our schools? necessary, given existing powers such as public interest immunity powers, and the state is relying on vague Mr Lansley: Indeed, I heard the Secretary of State common law powers which have not been set and defined say that. If I recall correctly—I will ensure that I am by elected Members of this House. Given that principles correct about this—I think he said that while he was of open justice and democracy are at stake, can we have looking for schools to promote British values, it was not a statement or a debate on the matter in the near future? 715 Business of the House12 JUNE 2014 Business of the House 716

Mr Lansley: It is probably best if I confine myself to the new head of NHS England has said that they have a what the Attorney-General said this morning, which is future role to play, so this is a good opportunity to that the principle of open justice is key to the British debate the issue on the Floor of the House. legal system and that trials will always be held in public unless there are very strong reasons for doing otherwise. Mr Lansley: I recall that in the latter stages of the The measures applied for by the Crown Prosecution previous Session, there was a debate on community Service in this case were, it is believed, justified in order hospitals and I am pleased to see that Simon Stevens, for the trial to proceed and for the defendants to hear the new chief executive of NHS England, has taken the the evidence against them, while protecting national matter up. When we took office, it was very important security. The issues were considered today by the court; to us to have a greater focus on delivering care close to it is not for the Government to decide such things. As people’s homes, to improve people’s ability to step out the Attorney-General rightly said this morning, we can of the high-cost acute hospitals so that they could look to the courts to ensure that the interests of justice concentrate on their job, and to give a focus to local will be maintained. commissioners. Often, it is the new local clinical commissioning groups that best understand how Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP): May we community hospitals can serve the purposes of the have a debate on ovarian cancer and particularly the people they look after. need for the BRCA test to be available? It is available in Scotland, but despite the guidelines from the National Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Lab): May Institute for Health and Care Excellence saying that we have a debate on compensation for losses caused by women in the rest of the UK should qualify, it is not the passport fiasco? In my office over the past few available to them. There is an urgent need for a debate weeks, we have been trying to help people left in a to address that inequality for women. desperate situation by the chaos, and it will not have escaped the country’s notice that the word “sorry” did Mr Lansley: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for raising not once pass the Home Secretary’s lips. She did not that point. I cannot promise a debate, but it is an issue address the issue of compensation, either. Is it not only about which she and colleagues might wish to approach fair for people who apply for passports in good faith the Backbench Business Committee, as debates on and in good time and who suffer losses—for example, important health issues have been among the more by having to cancel their holidays—to be compensated? successful of those it has been able to promote. I will Maywehaveadebateonthat? speak to colleagues about responding directly to the hon. Lady on the issues she raises about the guidance. Mr Lansley: I think that the Home Secretary fully Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con): As I responded to the questions raised just before business came 17th in the ballot for private Members’ Bills, if I questions. I am sure that in future we will be able to introduced a Bill to confirm that prisoners should not look after our constituents much better, in the way that be allowed to vote, would it have Government support? she described, by being able to raise urgent cases. In my experience as a constituency Member of Parliament, Mr Lansley: I wish my hon. Friend good luck in the when we have had to raise cases we have been able to get private Member’s Bill process, but I will adhere to the through on the MPs’ helpline and resolve them rapidly. convention that the Government respond with their view on such Bills on Second Reading. Paul Uppal (Wolverhampton South West) (Con): Many Members across the House will agree that Sepp Blatter’s Julie Hilling (Bolton West) (Lab): Of the 16 families recent comments were wholly unacceptable and a distraction who have contacted me about passport delays, the most from the real issues. If we are committed to tackling tragic case is that of Kiran and Bina Salvi, who went to racism in football, we need to focus on the terraces, India in March for the birth of their surrogate twins. where there is a real issue, not on the back-rooms of They were told that it would take six weeks to obtain Fleet street. Given this country’s proud history of tackling their passports, and they have now been told that it will racism, may we have a debate on the state of football so now be at least 16 weeks. They are at risk of losing their that we in this House can send out the clearest message jobs, running out of money, stuck in a hot hotel room that racism and corruption in football is unacceptable and terrified that their precious babies will get malaria. and that by pushing the issue aside, FIFA risks tarnishing May we have a proper statement on this issue so that we itself and ultimately the sport? can help Kiran and Bina bring their babies home? Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, because Mr Lansley: The hon. Lady has given us some of the I completely agree with him: racism is unacceptable in details, but if she wants to give me any additional all areas of society. I thought the remarks were probably details I will ask my hon. Friends at the Home Office to inappropriate not least because in this country the respond. She will have heard what the Home Secretary Football Association has been proactive in tackling had to stay about the availability of emergency travel racism in football through a whole sport inclusion and documents and access to urgent consideration for passport anti-discrimination plan, “Football is for Everyone”, applications without charge. I hope that one of those and the FA’s inclusion advisory body, chaired by Heather options might be helpful in the case the hon. Lady Rabbatts, is further promoting equality in the national mentions. game. It was therefore inappropriate to use that language in relation to questions properly being asked about the Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): way in which FIFA was managing its processes. It was May we have an early debate on the role of community not appropriate. I am glad that my hon. Friend has had hospitals, particularly in rural areas? I understand that the chance to raise the matter. 717 Business of the House12 JUNE 2014 Business of the House 718

Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) (Lab): Even though the head-hunters are, who will monitor the progress of the north-east of England is the only region outside the head-hunters and who will take the final decision on London that makes a positive contribution to our GDP, the replacement Clerk? it has among the lowest median incomes and the highest jobseeker’s allowance rates in the country. May we Mr Lansley: My right hon. Friend will understand please have a debate to consider the special measures that the procedures for the appointment of the new that can be taken to address the gross inequity and Clerk are a matter for the House of Commons Commission. inequality that afflicts the north-east of England and Although I am a member of the Commission, my hon. other regions? Friend the Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (John Thurso) answers on its behalf to the House. Mr Lansley: I hope—I do not know—that the hon. I know that my right hon. Friend will find an opportunity Gentleman has had a chance to address those issues in in due course to ask those questions. We will face a the course of the debate on the Queen’s Speech. He will, daunting task indeed in filling the silver-buckled shoes of course, have an opportunity to do so today in the of the present Clerk, who is not here now. I hope to debate on the economy and living standards that the announce soon an opportunity for Members to pay Opposition have initiated with their amendment. He is tribute to the Clerk before the summer recess. quite right: it is disappointing that the north-east is the only region of the United Kingdom where unemployment Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East went up in the latest figures; everywhere else, it went Cleveland) (Lab): Long-term youth unemployment since down. One thing we need to keep looking at is how we May 2010 in my constituency is up by 18.5% and can continue to rebalance the economy, as is successfully long-term female unemployment is up by 76%—from happening in many other places. We want to try to 125 to 220 women—and in the north-east average earnings improve manufacturing. We have seen manufacturing are down by £49 a week. Could we have a debate about growing in the latest data at 4.4% a year, which is faster how the Government’s long-term economic plan is clearly than for a long time. As a manufacturing economy, the failing my constituents? north-east should be participating more fully in that. Mr Lansley: As I told the hon. Member for Mr Lee Scott (Ilford North) (Con): May we have a Middlesbrough (Andy McDonald), who asked about debate, following on from the global summit on sexual the north-east a moment ago, the latest data show a violence in war, on the conflict in Sri Lanka, which is reduction in unemployment everywhere else in the UK. still going on, against the Tamil community, where [Interruption.] I am saying that it is important that we women are being raped daily? understand why the north-east is not conforming to an extremely positive trend right across the rest of the country. The latest data show that unemployment as Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. As I defined by the International Labour Organisation is said, the Foreign Secretary will update the House on down by 347,000 on the year; that the claimant count is Monday, following what appears to have been an extremely down by more than 400,000; that the number of private successful global summit, not simply because we brought sector jobs has gone up by nearly 800,000 in a year; and so many countries together for the purpose of ending that, since the election, the number of unemployed sexual violence in conflict, but because of the vigour of young people is down by 91,000 and that of long-term the NGO community coming together in the same way. unemployed by 108,000. The message being sent out is that people need to understand the sheer scale and enormity of sexual Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): The Leader of the violence in conflicts and that so very few people have House has been to my constituency, so he knows how been held responsible. That must not be true in future. beautiful it is, but Labour-led Stroud district council, It must be that the people responsible for such things having failed to get a local plan, has left it vulnerable to will genuinely be held to account for the crimes they unscrupulous developers. Does the Leader of the House commit. agree that we need to emphasise the fact that local plans are required and that it is the responsibility of no one Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab): In March, I asked the other than the councils to have one? Leader of the House when the Government would deliver the will of the House and the country by banning Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I wild animals in circuses. He teased me rather in his have had the pleasure of visiting Stroud and it is a most response by saying that he could not pre-empt the beautiful place and a wonderful part of the country. It Queen’s Speech. We have now had the Queen’s Speech is very important that local people have an opportunity, and the measure is not in it. When will the Government through local plans, to ensure that development takes bring forward legislation? place in a way that is consistent with their views on the quality of life in their area. The local plan process is Mr Lansley: As the hon. Gentleman knows, it is the vital in that regard. Many authorities are getting on Government’s intention to make progress on this, but with it: I think that 76% of all councils have at least a unfortunately, as I said last week, it has not been published plan. Further amendments to the national possible to find time in the short Session ahead of us. planning policy guidance mean that publishing a local plan in itself enables one to have influence on the Mr Simon Burns (Chelmsford) (Con): Is the Leader individual planning decisions being made, so it is important. of the House prepared to arrange for a statement next week on the procedures to replace the current Clerk of Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde) (Lab/Co-op): the House, when we could find out more on how much Like many Members, I am very concerned about the the use of head-hunters will cost, who will decide who number of constituents having severe difficulties with 719 Business of the House12 JUNE 2014 Business of the House 720

Atos Healthcare. One particularly distressing case involved of Atos until its exit early next year and we will find a my constituent Mr Vickers from Hyde, who has multiple new provider to deliver the best possible service for support needs and has not had his application for a claimants. personal independence payment processed, even though he applied in October 2013. May we therefore have a Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire) (Con): Will the Leader debate about the Government’s performance in delivering of the House arrange for us to have a debate on the the assessments, so that we can try to minimise the delay future of the beef industry in Britain, which is currently and distress being caused? experiencing a catastrophic collapse in prices as a result of imports, in which we can focus particularly on the Mr Lansley: It was necessary for us to move from the country of origin, whether it be Ireland or other European previous system of the disability living allowance to the countries? personal independence payment, which is a much better system. In the past, people sometimes stayed on allowances Mr Lansley: I am not sure whether my hon. Friend for years without any assessment. It is important to had an opportunity to catch your eye, Mr Speaker, have a proper assessment. As we make progress—we are during Environment, Food and Rural Affairs questions. doing so steadily—we need to make sure not only that If he did not, I will of course ask my hon. Friends at we do it properly, but that we get to the point where DEFRA to respond directly to him about the issues decisions can be made quickly. that he raises. Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): Could the Leader of the House or the Backbench Business Committee Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): Back in the early spring, give the House an opportunity to hold a general debate I wrote to the Home Secretary about the issue of on the concept of recall, so that the House collectively putting the mother’s name on the marriage certificate can work out what we are seeking to achieve? Some are and I had a negative reply. Since then, there has been a arguing that oversight of the behaviour of Members of growing campaign, with many thousands of people Parliament should be performed entirely externally, but signing a petition, yet there was nothing in the Queen’s any external body would, by definition, have to be Speech about this issue. Will the Leader of the House statutory, and any statutory body would be subject to now ask his colleagues at the Home Office to look at it judicial oversight, which would mean the intervention again and see whether a measure on it can be included of the courts and the potential for judicial review and in this Government’s legislative programme? applications in due course to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. It could, therefore, take a considerably Mr Lansley: I am sure that the hon. Lady is aware long time for an MP who was under a cloud to go that we have announced a full programme for this through that judicial process before their constituents Session in the Queen’s Speech and that there will be very had any opportunity to recall him or her. limited opportunities for additional legislation beyond that which has been announced. I believe that the Mr Lansley: My right hon. Friend makes an important petition she refers to has received a Government response, point. As I have said in that past, I do not think we can but whether it has or has not I will ask Ministers to look contemplate a body other than the House itself reaching further at the points she raises and respond to her. right into this Chamber to determine the circumstances in which a Member could continue their membership of Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con): May we have this House. I think it is the House itself that should have a debate on nuisance calls? The latest batch of unsolicited such regulatory responsibility, not least for reasons of automated calls to my constituents are about some kind privilege. of boiler replacement scheme. The calls are to constituents As far as a debate is concerned, the recall Bill will who have already applied to the Telephone Preference give exactly such an opportunity. It is also important Service. They are massively inconveniencing, but they that we hear from the Standards Committee, which is are also very distressing for elderly residents who live on conducting a review of how to further strengthen this their own. House’s standards process. Mr Lansley: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): Echoing the question. He will recall that we published the nuisance comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge calls action plan on 30 March. Since January 2012, the and Hyde (Jonathan Reynolds), may I ask for a full regulator has issued monetary penalties totalling just debate on the chaos that is Atos assessing employment over £2.5 million to companies for breaching its rules, and support allowance? There is a backlog of 712,000 but in response to the action plan further work will be cases at the moment. We know that Atos is not fit for done with the Office of Communications to see whether purpose and will be replaced, but can we ensure that we the maximum penalty might be increased, in order to get things right next time and have a full debate to give a real sanction for those who are making nuisance discuss that? calls, which is contrary to the code.

Mr Lansley: Of course, I have to remind the hon. Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op): With the Lady that the contract was awarded to Atos by Labour lowest level of house building since the 1920s, may we in the first place. As she says, we are exiting the contract have a debate on housing supply? The Government are early, and of course there will be a substantial financial taking many measures to increase housing demand, and settlement to the Department for Work and Pensions as all that those measures have led to is price inflation. Is a result. We will continue to monitor the performance there not an opportunity in the next few weeks to 721 Business of the House12 JUNE 2014 Business of the House 722

[Mr Andrew Love] Mr Speaker: Order. We have very little time. What I need is short questions and short answers. We might discuss housing supply? The measures in the Queen’s then make some progress. Speech are totally inadequate. We need real action and we need it now. Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend is right that the £1 billion package includes that discount, which many Mr Lansley: On the contrary, the Government are businesses will receive automatically. Any business that taking action and indeed the Queen’s Speech included thinks it might be eligible for the discount but has not measures that—as the hon. Gentleman may have seen—will received it should contact the council, but there is come forward in the infrastructure Bill, which will absolutely no need to employ an agent in order to further support house building in this country. However, receive it. 445,000 new houses have been built under this Government. We are recovering from the position we were left in by Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab): the last Government, where house building fell off a The Leader of the House witnessed this morning not cliff in the latter part of 2008. A good illustration of only the unedifying spectacle of a Home Secretary who that recovery is that last year there were 216,000 new refuses to apologise to those experiencing problems planning permissions. with the Passport Office, but the large number of Members who were unable to raise their constituents’ concerns Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): On Tuesday, the because of time pressures. Will he ensure that the Home Department for Transport issued a consultation document Secretary continues to account to Parliament on the about the TransPennine Express rail franchise, which passport fiasco and that she does so on the Floor of the contained a proposal to end through-services between House? Cleethorpes and Manchester. It also included repeated references to the importance of good rail services to Mr Lansley: I heard a Home Secretary who is very economic growth. As the Government have identified well aware of the situation, as she has been for a long northern Lincolnshire and the Humber area as a key time, who is taking the necessary steps and who told the economic growth area, will the Leader of the House House today of further steps to provide reassurance find time to have a debate on this issue? and support to our constituents. You, Mr Speaker, understandably did not feel that it was possible to allow Mr Lansley: I cannot promise a debate immediately every question earlier. Therefore, as the Home Secretary but, in order to be as helpful as I can to my hon. Friend, said repeatedly, any Member who has particular difficulties, and recognising the importance of the points he raises, I especially if they cannot get through on the MPs helpline, will ask the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, our should raise them through my office or with the Minister hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Stephen for Security and Immigration and we will ensure that Hammond), to reply. There is considerable detail in we respond to them as quickly as possible. what he might be able to say, and I want him to be able to provide that to my hon. Friend. Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Has my right hon. Friend seen my early-day motion 72 on excessive hospital Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab): When the Government car parking charges? get around the restoring the Passport Office from its present emaciated and failing state to the efficient service [That this House is disappointed that three-quarters of it had been for the previous century, may we have a NHS hospitals in England charge patients and visitors to debate on the need to ensure that those areas that park on-site; notes that there are discrepancies over what suffered the savage cuts two years ago, such as Newport, is charged across England, with one hospital in London have the first call on new jobs? charging up to £500 per week to park on-site; believes that high charges deter visitors from seeing their loved Mr Lansley: The hon. Gentleman had a chance to ones and can hit the most vulnerable at a difficult time; ask the Home Secretary a question about that earlier. I further notes that the cost of abolishing car parking fear that his characterisation of the Passport Office is charges in England is estimated to be £200 million which, not helpful, not least for his constituents and others. As according to research, could be achieved through prescribing he will have heard from the Home Secretary, the Passport more generic drugs; and therefore asks the Government to Office is continuing to provide substantially the service consider scrapping hospital car parking fees across England.] intended. Where problems have occurred, new staff are Despite the Government saying that charges should be being deployed, both in call centres and in case handling, proportionate, some hospitals are charging up to £500 a and the Home Secretary has just announced other week, and the charity Bliss says that parents with sick measures that will enable constituents to get the service children are paying an extra £34 a week. May we have they are looking for. an urgent statement on that, and will he make representations to the Department of Health to see Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con): La Casa Loco is a very what can be done? successful Mexican restaurant in Rugby. Two years ago the owner engaged a firm of no win, no fee consultants Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend is right that vulnerable to reduce the business rates bill, but it was unsuccessful. people and their families who regularly have to attend This year the Government announced the very welcome hospital are hit hardest by parking charges. That is why news that they are reducing the business rates bill by it is most important that hospitals use their discretion £1,000 for 300,000 shops, pubs and restaurants on our and the kind of plan the NHS Confederation has for high streets, but in May the owner of the restaurant offering concessions to those who have to attend regularly received a bill for £500— for treatment or to visit patients. As far as raising 723 Business of the House12 JUNE 2014 Business of the House 724 resources for that is concerned, the money available for Mr Speaker: Order. Before I call the hon. Gentleman, the health service is there for the treatment of patients. I may I just establish that he was here at the start of the have always made it clear that my personal view is that statement, because I did not see him in his place? we should, wherever possible, deploy those resources for the direct benefit of patient care, rather than diverting Grahame M. Morris (Easington) (Lab) indicated dissent. it to subsidise parking. Mr Speaker: In which case, I hope that he will understand Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): May we have a debate that it would not be appropriate to call him. on how to win friends and influence people in Europe? The Leader of the House could lead it so that we could Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): May we have judge whether he would be any good as an EU a debate on who is to be the next President of the commissioner. More importantly, he could explain to European Commission? Given that all the major parties us why on earth Conservative MEPs have today joined are united in their opposition to the candidacy of forces with the AfD party in German, expressly against Mr Juncker, this is an opportunity to send him a collective the wishes of their own party leader. raspberry as well as to highlight the unity on the Conservative Benches against ever-closer union. Mr Lansley: I think that the hon. Gentleman’s question is in one sense presumptuous. As far as winning friends Mr Lansley: As my hon. Friend will understand, and influencing people in Europe is concerned, that is there will be regular opportunities to consider these exactly what the Prime Minister is doing, and with the matters, not least because the Prime Minister is assiduous support of the party leaders. The position he has taken, in coming to the House and explaining them, as he did which is one of principle, is that under the treaties the after the G7 summit and as he will have an opportunity European Council has the responsibility to put forward to do after the further European Council at the end of the President of the Commission. That should not be the month. I hope that that will give us an opportunity pre-empted by the European Parliament. He has set to show that across the House there is a belief that the that out and the other party leaders absolutely support principle set out in the treaty should be adhered to: him. It is clear that Heads of Government across Europe namely, that under the treaties it is responsibility of the support that principle. democratically elected Heads of State and Government in the European Council to put forward who should be Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): the President of the Commission. I thank my right hon. Friend for announcing the Foreign Secretary’s statement on the summit on sexual violence Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con): May we have a in conflicts. May we please have a debate on the matter debate on the incursion of solar farms on to valuable so that we can explore it more and discuss the scale of green belt and high-grade agricultural land, as there the problem and what the summit achieved? appears to be a growing conflict over our renewable energy commitments and protecting high-grade, food- Mr Lansley: I hope that the statement on Monday producing land, which is vital for our food security? will be helpful to the House. It may well lead, quite properly, to calls for a further debate. We have to get our Mr Lansley: My hon. Friend will recall that the minds around the enormity of the problem. It is believed Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate that an estimated 100,000 women were raped during the Change, our right hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill Guatemalan civil war. Between 20,000 and 50,000 were and Battle (Gregory Barker), set out very clearly how raped during the war in Bosnia. Over 200,000 were that should be reconciled, not least by stating that the raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Those are strategy is that solar PV should be appropriately sited, frightful statistics. It is really important, as I have said give proper weight to environmental considerations, previously, that those responsible are held to account, provide opportunities for local communities to influence because very few of them have been. We must be much decisions affecting them, and provide some form of more confident that we can hold them to account in community benefit. I recall reading his letter. I hope future. that my hon. Friend agrees that it sets out some good guidance for local authorities on making decisions about Several hon. Members rose— these applications. 725 12 JUNE 2014 726

Point of Order Debate on the Address

12.18 pm [6TH DAY] Hugh Bayley: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Debate resumed (Order, 11 June). During Environment, Food and Rural Affairs questions Question again proposed, today, the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as for North Cornwall (Dan Rogerson)—I have spoken follows: with his office about this—said, “We are investing more Most Gracious Sovereign, in flood defences than the last Government.” Four We, YourMajesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons months ago, following a similar claim by the Secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of State, the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority wrote in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to to me to confirm that Government spending on flood Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has protection has been cut by about £250 million during addressed to both Houses of Parliament. the time the coalition Government have been in power. He added that The Economy and Living Standards “given the salience of these figures and the public interest in them, it is my view that it would better serve the public good if Mr Speaker: I inform the House that I have selected Defra were to consider publishing official statistics on expenditure… amendment (c) in the name of the Leader of the on… flooding… in future.” Opposition. Debate should be relevant to the terms of Can you advise me on how this House could give the the amendment. UK Statistics Authority, rather than Ministers, the power to determine which figures are so important that they 12.21 pm should be published as official statistics that are independent, quality assured and accurate? Ed Balls (Morley and Outwood) (Lab/Co-op): On this final day of debate on the Queen’s Speech, I beg to Mr Speaker: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for move an amendment, at the end of the Question to add: his point of order and for notice of his intention to raise ‘but regret that the Gracious Speech fails to tackle the deepseated something of this kind. My best advice to him is that he cost-of-living crisis with a plan to secure a strong and sustained should contact the Public Administration Committee, recovery that delivers rising living standards for the many, not just within whose auspices such matters would definitely a few at the top; and call on your Government to act to boost housing supply and ensure at least 200,000 new homes are built fall. I appreciate that this has been a long-running each year, introduce an independent infrastructure commission, matter so far as he is concerned, and if he wants to reform the energy and banking markets to make them more broker a step change or some sort of improvement in competitive for consumers and businesses, make work pay by what he regards as an unsatisfactory state of affairs, expanding free childcare for working parents, raise the value of going through that Select Committee might be a useful the minimum wage over the next Parliament, introduce a lower way to proceed. He can, of course, go to the Table ten pence starting rate of tax, set out reforms to ban recruitment Office and use the Order Paper in the usual way, and I agencies from hiring solely from overseas and put in place tougher enforcement of minimum wage laws to tackle the exploitation of dare say he will do so, but that is my most constructive migrant workers that undercuts local workers, introduce a compulsory advice to the hon. Gentleman and I hope it is helpful. jobs guarantee for young people and a new gold standard vocational qualification and give business a real say on apprenticeships in return for increasing their numbers to ensure that every young BILL PRESENTED person gets the skills they need to succeed in the future.’. Our economy is growing again and unemployment is SOCIAL ACTION,RESPONSIBILITY AND HEROISM BILL falling [HON.MEMBERS: “Hooray!”] yet we are today Presentation and First Reading (Standing order No. 57) debating this Queen’s Speech just three weeks after local Mr Secretary Grayling, supported by the Prime Minister, and European elections in which mainstream politics in the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Chancellor of the our country was delivered a serious warning shot from Exchequer, Secretary Theresa May, Secretary David the electorate—turnout was desperately low, the two Jones, the Attorney-General, Oliver Letwin, Grant Shapps main parties each failed to win even a third of the and Mr Nick Hurd presented a Bill to make provision electorate, the Liberal Democrats were wiped out in as to matters to which a court must have regard in most parts of the country, and the poll was topped by a determining a claim in negligence or breach of statutory party with no Members in this House at all and which duty. campaigns to lead Britain out of the European Union. Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on As the Leader of the Opposition said in his opening Monday 16 June, and to be printed (Bill 9) with explanatory speech of this debate last week, these developments notes (Bill 9-EN). reflect “a depth and scale of disenchantment that we ignore at our peril—disenchantment that goes beyond one party and one Government.”—[Official Report, 4 June 2014; Vol. 582, c. 15.] All of us, in all parts of this House, know deep down that my right hon. Friend is right. We all heard time and again on the doorstep the worries, fears, insecurity and pessimism of people up and down our country that the economic recovery is not working for them, their family and their community. After Labour’s victory in Hammersmith and Fulham, 727 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 728 perhaps the Treasurer of Her Majesty’s Household, the judged over the next year is whether on jobs, skills, right hon. Member for Chelsea and Fulham (Greg innovation and reform this generation can rise to the Hands) should listen more carefully to the electorate on challenge and build an economy that works for all and these matters. not just a few.

Several hon. Members rose— Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): In his quest to re-engage the electorate who have become Ed Balls: I will open my remarks on the Queen’s disenchanted, I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will Speech and take interventions in a moment. believe that transparency and plain speaking are important. In that spirit, will he let us know clearly what Labour’s In the startlingly honest and blunt words—the Chancellor views are on increases in national insurance for employers? should listen to these words—of the Minister without Portfolio and previous Conservative Chancellor, my Ed Balls: I am happy to do so. I know that my right right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field), (Mr Clarke), whom I respect a great deal, has a proposal, but that is “the populations of most European countries including the United not my proposal and it is not Labour’s proposal at all. Kingdom have not yet felt any sense of recovery.” We know that there are pressures in the national health He is right. There is a cost of living crisis and people are service and that £3 billion has been wasted on an NHS not feeling the benefit. The former Chancellor is right, reorganisation, but we also know that there is a cost of too, to say that we in Britain are not alone. The European living crisis. People are paying hundreds of pounds elections were no triumph for mainstream parties of left more a year because of the Government’s VAT rise, and or right in most European countries, with far right or what we want to do is cut taxes for working people. populist parties flourishing. The pattern that we have seen here in Britain—growth returning, but citizens George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): The shadow expressing their insecurity and discontent at the ballot Chancellor mentioned the right hon. Member for box—was repeated in countries such as Denmark and Birkenhead (Mr Field), who was quoted as saying, Austria, which also have growth and falling unemployment. “I can’t tell you what a good meeting I had” That is why I say to all parts of this House, including with the shadow Chancellor about the jobs tax. Will he my own, that it is a challenge to all mainstream parties take the opportunity now in the House to confirm that that working people do not believe that they will share the Labour party does not have a plan to introduce a in rising prosperity, be able to afford a home, secure a jobs tax? better job or save for a decent pension. Hon. Members: Rule it out. Several hon. Members rose— Ed Balls: I have just given exactly that answer. That is Ed Balls: I will give way in a moment, when I have my right hon. Friend’s plan, not mine. I remind the established my argument. [Interruption.] Hon. Members House that in April 2010 at the general election the then should not be complacent; they should listen to this. Leader of the Opposition, now the Prime Minister, People have good reason to be sceptical. This stagnation said: in real wage growth is not just a problem of the past few “We have absolutely no plans to raise VAT. Our first budget is years. It started in Britain over a decade ago as rapid all about recognising we need to get spending under control technological change and global trade pressures put the rather than putting up tax.” squeeze on middle and low income households. The If hon. Members want to discuss broken promises, they UK is not alone. That pattern is reflected across the should have a word with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. developed world. Low wage and unskilled employment has grown, but research shows that traditionally middle- Several hon. Members rose— income, middle-class jobs in manufacturing and services have fallen as a share of total employment in all OECD Ed Balls: Let me make a little more progress, then I countries. As the recent publicity around Google’s driverless will give way. car shows, labour-substituting technology is likely, if Let me start by trying to find some common ground anything, to accelerate. with the Chancellor on these big and difficult debates. I So the question for this Queen’s Speech and the think we can agree that Britain has always succeeded, challenge for this political generation is to show that, in and can only succeed in the future, as an open, the face of globalisation and technological change, we internationalist and outward-facing trading nation, with can secure rising prosperity that working people believe enterprise, risk and innovation valued and rewarded. they can share in. Of course we have to respond to their We need to back entrepreneurs and wealth creation, concerns about immigration and reform in Europe, but generate the profits to finance investment and win the the challenge is to get more better paid jobs for people confidence of investors round the world. We can agree who feel they have been left behind, and to bring in new on that. investment, new industries and new jobs which could Turning our face as a nation against the rest of the replace those in traditional areas where jobs have gone. world and the opportunities of global trade is the road Those of us on the Opposition Benches will, with an to national impoverishment. But at a time when there open but critical mind, study the proposals in the Queen’s are powerful forces in technology and trade, which Speech on fracking, annuities, and pensions savings mean that many people are seeing their living standards vehicles, but the real test against which this Queen’s falling year on year, we cannot take for granted public Speech and the manifestos of all political parties will be support for that open global market vision. As the 729 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 730

[Ed Balls] Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): Before those interventions, the shadow Chancellor was making an Member of Parliament whose constituency until recently extraordinarily important speech. Does he agree that had the largest BNP membership of any in the country, the fundamental question we face is whether the link I know how some on the extremes of left and right see between economic growth and the living standards of isolationism as the solution—turning inwards, setting people doing ordinary jobs in our country is broken or their face against Europe and the world economy—which not? Will he return to such points, because those are the would be a disastrous road to take. It would be the issues that my constituents fret about day in, day out? wrong way to proceed. Ed Balls: I will. This is the most vital and difficult Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab): On issue. We have seen a rise in unskilled jobs in our the question of jobs, we all applaud the number of jobs country in recent years. That is a good thing, but it is created in the country, but do we know how many have not good enough. If that goes alongside falling living been created on zero-hours contracts? standards year on year for people not just on the lowest but on middle incomes, what will we end up with? We Ed Balls: We know that the zero-hours contract is one will end up with rising poverty among working people of the symptoms of change in our labour market that is and record numbers of working people going to food causing such insecurity. My hon. Friend raises that banks, as well as rising alienation and a view that matter because the reality is that none of us on either mainstream politics is not delivering. Unless Conservative side of the House can afford to bury our head in the Members wake up to that, they will see the consequences sand and ignore the legitimate and mainstream concerns of it next year. of people across our country about our economy not currently working for them and their families. Mr Ellwood: On a point of order, Madam Deputy The challenge for this generation is how we respond. Speaker. [Interruption.] In my view, there are two quite wrongheaded ways to respond. The first is to assume that business as usual Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): I call will just do the job—that the return of GDP growth will Mr Ellwood on a point of order—in quick order as solve the problem. I must say to the Chancellor and to well. Government Members—particularly to the right hon. Member for Chelsea and Fulham, given the result in his Mr Ellwood: Absolutely, Madam Deputy Speaker. I constituency—that every time they boast that their am glad of that vote of approval. I am just asking for economic plan is working, I am afraid most people in clarification and giving the shadow Chancellor an our country just think they are completely out of touch. opportunity to correct himself. He, I think inadvertently, It may be working for some—a privileged few—but misled the House by suggesting that Bournemouth’s people say time and again, “It’s not working for me. It’s youth unemployment has increased; according to figures not working for my family. It’s not working for our from the Library, it has reduced by 40% over the past community.” That is what they have to solve. year.

Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con): We Madam Deputy Speaker: Mr Ellwood, that is not a have asked time and again, but will the shadow Chancellor point of order; that is continuing the debate. You have rule out an increase in national insurance or not? I had three chances at it: three strikes and you’re out—no would add that businesses in Bournemouth are worried more. about another tax—a property owner’s tax, which is another Labour invention—so will he rule that out as Ed Balls: It is also completely pathetic. In the hon. well? Gentleman’s constituency, the number of young people aged between 18 and 24 claiming JSA who have been Ed Balls: To return to a previous debate, the hon. out of work for more than 12 months has gone up by Gentleman has had a 700% rise in long-term youth 700%. As I said a moment ago, you either bury your unemployment in his constituency since 2010. What he head in the sand, or you face up to these big issues. We should do is to engage with what we actually need in are facing up to them, but Government Members are order to have a successful long-term economic plan. incapable of doing so.

Mr Ellwood: I am very pleased to see the shadow Ian Austin (Dudley North) (Lab): The shadow Chancellor Chancellor has a briefing note that even has my picture is setting out a really important argument about the on it. What he is not informed about is that long-term recent election results, the widespread disenchantment youth unemployment includes students. I am pleased to that clearly exists in Britain at the moment, and the say that the three universities in Bournemouth are increasing effects of globalisation and technological change on the their numbers. The statistic has gone up because it economy. Is it not absolutely extraordinary that while includes students. he is doing so, he is being subjected to these utterly juvenile interventions? Does he not find it extraordinary Ed Balls: I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman got that all Government Members can do is to read out that wrong last time, and he is wrong again. I am handouts from the Whips, and the idiot from Bournemouth referring to jobseeker’s allowance—the claimant count—and cannot even get that right? [Interruption.] students are excluded from the figures. I must say that it is excusable to make that mistake once, but having done Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. it twice, his chances of getting on to the Front Bench are severely diminished. Mr Ellwood rose— 731 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 732

Madam Deputy Speaker: Sit down, Mr Ellwood. Ed Balls: I will give way in one second. [Laughter.] This is a serious debate. Mr Ellwood, I am My greatest concern on the agenda of how we can sure that you have very broad shoulders, and you will deliver more good jobs for the future is the Chancellor’s give your all when you get your turn to speak, perhaps commitment to delivering a balanced economic recovery. in interventions on the Chancellor. If we look at what is actually happening, it is true Ed Balls: I am trying to respond to serious issues. The that the economy is growing, but within the G7, it is still reality is that, yes, after three years of flatlining, our only the UK and Italy that have not recovered to their economy is finally growing again, but net lending to pre-crisis peaks in output. With the rise in the population, small business is still falling, youth unemployment is it will take a full 10 years for income per head to recover still at record highs, wages are not keeping pace with to where it was in 2007. Worse than that is the level of prices and people are worse off. What I want to say is business investment. that unless we face up to that reality, we will not make I am pleased that there are finally signs that business progress. [Interruption.] investment is starting to pick up, but as of now, we have the fourth lowest level of business investment in the Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. Mr Ellwood, I can European Union. Only Cyprus, Greece and Ireland are hear what you are saying. Actually, I agree that the way lower than the United Kingdom. Our export growth is in which the hon. Member for Dudley North (Ian sixth in the G7, 16th in the G20 and 22nd in the EU Austin) referred to you was uncalled for. You are an since 2010. Our research and development expenditure honourable Member of this House, and I am sure that is the lowest in the G7. Lending to business is still Mr Austin wants to make it clear that that is his view. falling. There has been a 12% fall in infrastructure output since 2010. Public investment is being cut next Ian Austin: I did not mean—[Laughter.] Madam year. Those are not figures about which we can be Deputy Speaker, the last thing I would want to do is complacent. upset you, but I have to say that the hon. Gentleman’s intervention—[Laughter.] Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con): The right hon. Gentleman is talking about investment, Hon. Members: Apologise! but he is being quite selective. In respect of foreign direct investment, is he aware that the UK secured nearly 800 new projects last year—the highest ever—and Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. I expect Members to that we have 20% of all FDI in the EU? Is that not a behave according to the rules of the Chamber, of which very good sign indeed? they are fully aware. Mr Austin, the word you are looking for is “sorry”. Stand up, please, and say sorry. Ed Balls: Of course that is good news. For decades, we have been an open, global trading nation that attracts Ian Austin: Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to investment from around the world, and I want to keep it apologise to you. [Interruption.] that way. However, complacency is not the way to make that happen. We have to face up to the reality that living Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. For goodness’ sake, standards are falling because, as the International Monetary everybody calm down. That is good enough: “sorry” is Fund said in its report last week, our recovery is on the record in relation to the hon. Member for characterised by woefully low productivity growth. That Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood). That is the end of it. is why living standards and wages are still falling, even as growth returns. Unless we face up to that challenge, Mr Jamie Reed (Copeland) (Lab): On a point of we will have substantial problems. order, Madam Deputy Speaker. James Morris: Last year, the right hon. Gentleman Madam Deputy Speaker: No. I am not going to take a said that the Chancellor should listen to the IMF. point of order; I am going to listen to what Mr Balls has Surely, he should take his own advice. He was wrong on to say. This is getting ridiculous. growth. The Government’s long-term economic plan is working. Higher taxes would lead to a more insecure Ed Balls: As I said, the first wrongheaded thing to do Britain. In the spirit of the debate that he wants to have, is to bury one’s head in the sand and not to face up to surely he has to admit that he was wrong on growth. the reality. We can debate the Chancellor’s record. In 2010, he said that he would balance the Budget in 2015, Ed Balls: In 2010, the Chancellor said that, by now, but the deficit will be £75 million. He said that he would the economy would have grown by 12%. It has actually make people better off, but the Institute for Fiscal grown by half that amount. That is why the deficit has Studies has confirmed that people will be worse off in not come down and why people are worse off. The 2015 than they were in 2010. He said that we would all Chancellor would have been well advised to take the be in this together, but he has imposed the bedroom tax sound advice in 2010 and not choke off the economic on the most vulnerable, seen record numbers go to food recovery. He should take the sound advice of the IMF banks and cut the top rate of income tax for those now and look at ways to improve housing supply and to earning more than £150,000. tackle the woeful productivity performance over which he is presiding. James Morris (Halesowen and Rowley Regis) (Con) rose— Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab): The Chancellor acts as though he is the only person who has delivered Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con) rose— growth, but we already had growth when he came to 733 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 734

[Toby Perkins] Europe whom we can persuade to do things better for the future or walk away from our European partners power. When there was light at the end of the tunnel, he and find that we are treated with disdain in the decision- spent two and a half years building more tunnel. Finally, making halls of Europe. That is the real question for now that we have growth—after everyone else—he says, statesmanship and politics in our country at the moment. “Haven’t I done well?”. Our view on that question is clear. We say that there is no future for Britain in walking away from the European Ed Balls: My hon. Friend’s description of the historical Union. It is the biggest single market for the companies, record since 2010 is correct. However, the real issue is regions and countries of the United Kingdom. We have why we still have such low investment and why living to reform Europe to make it work better for Britain, but standards are still falling. The jobs that we are creating we are much more likely to win the arguments if we are are not delivering rising living standards for working fully engaged, rather than having one foot out of the people. We have only to look at the election results from door. a few weeks ago to see the potential challenge to Britain’s place in the world if we do not understand those forces. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor used to agree with that argument. They came though the Lobby with Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): Will my right hon. Friend us in 2011 to oppose an arbitrary timetable for an EU give way? referendum. Then, they changed their minds. The Prime Minister flounced out of a summit and decided to Ed Balls: In a second. appease Tory Back Benchers by performing a U-turn. In the memorable words of Lord Heseltine, As I said, the first mistake is to bury our heads in the sand. The second mistake is to attempt to appease those “To commit to a referendum about a negotiation that hasn’t begun, on a timescale you cannot predict, on an outcome that’s who say that the problem is rapid globalisation and unknown, where Britain’s appeal as an inward investment market technological change and that therefore the simplest would be the centre of the debate, seems to me like an unnecessary thing to do is to put up trade barriers, stop all migration gamble.” to Britain and leave the European Union. That is the wrong approach as well. Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con): On a We all know the depth of concern about immigration point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Mr Speaker in our country, but when the Prime Minister claimed, was very clear in his guidance earlier that we should foolishly, that he would reduce net migration to the tens speak to the amendment. I am struggling to find in the of thousands, “no ifs, no buts”, he did the cause of amendment any mention of a European referendum. sensible and progressive immigration reform no good at all, because he has failed. Net migration has not come Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Fortunately, down to the tens of thousands; it has stuck stubbornly that is a matter for me, and not the hon. Lady. The clear above 200,000 a year. Even the Chancellor has admitted argument that is being advanced is about the importance that the Government will not meet their immigration of that matter to the economy. As long as the right hon. target. Sending ad vans around the country urging Gentleman stays on that point, he is in order. immigrants to go home has only undermined their credibility. That is not the right approach on this issue. Ed Balls: The argument that I am making is that if we We need clear reform on this matter. We need tough as a House—those of us on the left and on the right—are new laws to stop agencies and employers exploiting to face up to the challenge of delivering more and better cheap migrant labour to undercut wages and jobs. We jobs for working people and if we are to see off the need to strengthen our border controls, not weaken pressures for isolation and withdrawal, we cannot take them. We need to ensure that people who come to this the wrong-headed approach either of denying that there country can learn English, and we must provide the is a problem or of appeasing those who would try to support to make that happen. We need fairer rules to walk away. We need a Queen’s Speech that rises to that make sure that people who come here contribute, cannot challenge. My point is that, in putting all its energy into claim benefits when they arrive and can more easily be Europe and the referendum, the Conservative party has deported if they commit a crime. We need to reform the the wrong strategy to deal with the challenge that we free movement of labour in Europe through longer face. transitional controls, stronger employment protection and restrictions on benefits. Those are the things that The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr George Osborne): we have to do. We need reform, not posturing and Just so that we can be absolutely clear, will the right pandering. hon. Gentleman make it clear from the Dispatch Box that Labour will not offer a referendum on Britain’s Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): But the fact membership of the European Union now or in the remains that too many traditional, working-class voters manifesto at the general election and will therefore vote voted UKIP in the European elections. That is a serious against any private Member’s Bill that proposes one? problem for both political parties. Should we not now regret that there was such unrestricted immigration Ed Balls: We have said very clearly that we do not from eastern Europe? Can we not learn the lessons of believe in an ever-closer Union. If there is any proposal that? to transfer powers to Brussels from London, we will have a referendum in the next Parliament. Our position Ed Balls: I am very happy to say to the hon. Gentleman is clear. We are not turning our face against a referendum. that not having transitional controls in 2004 was a What we are turning our face against is a referendum mistake, and one that we all still deal with the consequences that would destabilise our country and cause it to lose of. The question is whether we should have allies in investment and jobs. 735 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 736

Hon. Members do not have to take my word for it: let As I said, the challenge that this Queen’s Speech should me read the conclusion, a year on from the Prime have risen to, but did not, is how we can ensure that we Minister’s decision, of the Chancellor’s biographer in generate a secure recovery that delivers more good jobs the Financial Times. He stated that Downing street’s for our country. The huge disappointment was that that three objectives for the referendum were was not the subject of this Queen’s Speech. We know “to pacify Tory MPs, sap the momentum of the fringe UK that there is no quick fix and that we have to earn our Independence party and put the troublesome subject of Europe way to rising prosperity. We cannot turn our face against to sleep until the general election in 2015. On all scores, it failed.” change, Europe and the world, but nor can we succeed That must qualify as the understatement of the year. with a race to the bottom whereby British companies [Interruption.] I have given my view. simply try to compete on cost and the Government see their role as simply removing regulation, undermining Mr Osborne: I ask the shadow Chancellor to answer job security and hoping it will work. That will not the question that I put to him. Does he rule out offering, generate the low and middle-income jobs that we need now or in the Labour manifesto at the general election, in the future. Our view is that we can succeed only an in-out referendum on Europe, and will the Labour through a race to the top, by backing innovation and party therefore vote against any private Member’s Bill investing in skills, making our economy more competitive that is introduced? and dynamic and earning our way to higher living standards for all. Ed Balls: The answer is no, of course we will not rule Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland that out, because we have a clear commitment that if West) (Lab): In my constituency, long-term unemployment there is any proposal to transfer powers, we will have an has increased by almost 600% in the past two years and in-out referendum in the next Parliament. That is our 380 people are desperately in need of some sight of the position. I gave the Chancellor the answer once, he did so-called recovery. What was in the Queen’s Speech that not listen and I gave it to him again. will give them any hope? Is not the reality that the Prime Minister’s attempt to appease Tory Back Benchers has failed and that it has Ed Balls: I am afraid that the Queen’s Speech missed not worked very well with the Front Benchers either? out the key elements of a long-term economic plan that Just a few months ago, just after the Budget, the last would deliver rising prosperity for all. That is the problem. time we had such a debate, we had read stories in the We know that there is a problem on housing—demand newspapers about the Education Secretary trying to has run ahead of supply—so where was the action in undermine the leadership ambitions of the Mayor of the Queen’s Speech to deliver new towns, Treasury London—it was briefed, I believe, to The Mail on guarantees, planning reform, affordable homes, reform Sunday at a lunch. Last week, it was the Home Secretary to Help to Buy and a new help to build scheme, which who was targeted by the Education Secretary, this time would deliver what we need? We have lower levels of to The Times over lunch. The first time, the Education house building than at any time since the 1920s, and the Secretary explained that he was tipsy. He has obviously Chancellor is tinkering. It is about time that he showed been on the sauce again. There is a pattern here: a rival some leadership on housing, otherwise the aspirational to the Chancellor tops the “ConservativeHome”leadership majority will not get on the housing ladder. The danger poll and the Education Secretary is sent out to try to is that interest rates will rise much earlier in the recovery stop them at all costs. Now we know that when the than they should, choking off the living standards of Chancellor and the Education Secretary have a late-night people across our country. chat about the Prevent strategy, they are talking about a The same point applies more widely to the Queen’s rather different prevent strategy from the one that we Speech. On skills, where was the action to deliver a gold are talking about. It is pretty clear who the Chancellor standard for vocational qualifications? Where was the has tried to prevent through all his interventions. tax on bank bonuses to ensure that every young person who is out of work for a year is guaranteed a job? Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Will the right hon. Where was the action to ensure that we incentivise a Gentleman give way? non-statutory living wage, improve the minimum wage and tackle the abuse of zero-hours contracts? Ed Balls: I want to come to the Queen’s Speech, but I Although we welcome the extra investment in child will give way. care, that will not happen until the next Parliament. It will fail to help too many families who are struggling Robert Halfon: I am grateful. If the right hon. with the costs of child care, which have gone up so Gentleman’s economic message is being listened to, why much. Why will the Chancellor not increase free child did the Labour vote in Harlow decline by 20% over the care for the under-fives from 15 hours to 25 hours a past two years, and why did Labour lose three council week for working parents? It is a Labour policy, but it is seats in safe Labour wards? Is it not because Labour a good policy and should be in any sensible long-term betrayed the working classes and voted against our tax economic plan. cuts for lower earners, our fuel duty freeze and our council tax freeze? Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): My right hon. Friend is absolutely right to seek to raise Ed Balls: I respect the hon. Gentleman and his views, prosperity and ambition in this country. Is not the but the main message of my speech so far has been a Government’s strategy utterly self-defeating? We now warning against complacency, and I suggest that he have record numbers of people in work but in poverty. heeds that warning. [Interruption.] As should the right Do we not need to ensure that those people have work hon. Member for Chelsea and Fulham (Greg Hands). that pays, and pays well? 737 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 738

Ed Balls: I agree with my hon. Friend. I want to come Toby Perkins: The Chancellor says that the economic to a conclusion, because many Members, particularly plan is working, but who is it working for? It might be on the Opposition Benches, want to speak, but he is working for his friends who he used to go boozing with completely right. Where in the Queen’s Speech was the at the Bullingdon club, but working people in my independent infrastructure commission to get the constituency find that it is harder and harder every infrastructure we need? Where was the proper British single month to make work pay. What will the Chancellor investment bank to back small businesses? Where were do to make work pay under his Government. those key elements of a plan that will deliver more and better jobs for working people? Mr Osborne: That is what is so revealing about the There was one other reform that I was disappointed Labour party’s performance in the past half hour. The was not in the Queen’s Speech, and I urge the Chancellor shadow Chancellor started by reading out the article in to reconsider it in the next two or three weeks. We know the New Statesman this morning and trying his piece on that there are big challenges to restore public trust. Our new politics, but within about 10 minutes it all descended commitment is clear: we will balance the books in the into Bullingdon club jokes, and the hon. Member for next Parliament and get the national debt falling, and Dudley North (Ian Austin) having to withdraw his we will do it in a fairer way. It is hugely disappointing comment. The shadow Chancellor then descended into that the Chancellor has not committed, as he could the normal slapdash that we have got used to in the have done, to introduce legislation to allow the Office House. Incidentally, there is a striking echo with what for Budget Responsibility to audit independently the went wrong with the Leader of the Opposition’s speech costings of every spending and tax measure in each at the beginning of the Queen’s Speech debate. That is main party manifesto. The Chair of the Treasury because he is unable to engage in the serious economic Committee and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury argument about what needs to happen in this country. support that; why will the Chancellor not put politics Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): When a hard-working aside and do the right thing? It would be the first such person in Harlow considers the economy, he will leave independent audit ever. It is essential to restore public his house in the morning on the way to work probably trust in politics and improve the nature of the political knowing that his mortgage is low and fuel duty is debate, and the Chancellor can still change his mind in frozen. When he gets to work he will see more people in the next few weeks and make it happen. work and more apprentices, and when he looks at his This is Labour’s agenda for economic change. As I pay packet, he will see that his tax bill has been cut by have argued from the beginning of this speech, we will hundreds of pounds. sustain support for an open and dynamic market economy only if we can show that it will work for all, not just Mr Osborne: My hon. Friend is right. By reducing some. We need radical reforms to deliver more good income tax and increasing the personal allowance, by jobs and make work pay, in marked contrast to Tory freezing fuel duty—something he campaigned on powerfully Ministers and Back Benchers burying their heads in the in this Parliament—and above all by having an economy sand, repeating a hollow mantra and hoping that more that creates rather than destroys jobs, we are holding of the same will restore public trust. That is patently not out the prospect of economic security and better prosperity working. We need 200,000 homes a year, a compulsory for our country in the decade ahead. That is what we all jobs guarantee, a gold-standard vocational qualification, want to secure. 25 hours a week of free child care, energy market reform with a 20-month price freeze, the books to Several hon. Members rose— balanced in a fair way, a proper British investment bank and an independent infrastructure commission. That is Mr Osborne: I will give way in a moment, but let me the long-term economic plan that Britain needs, and make some progress. I know that about 50 Members only Labour will deliver it. want to speak in this debate—[HON.MEMBERS: “Not on your side.”] Well, we will hear. No doubt Labour Members 12.59 pm can all get up on their feet and repeat what they said last The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr George Osborne): year . I rise to support the Queen’s Speech and its many I have done something that I know we are not supposed measures that back business, savers and hard-working to do in this place, because I actually bothered to read people. The shadow Chancellor has come with a new what the shadow Chancellor said in the House last year. catchphrase. He talked about a “long-term economic Here we are in the privacy of the House of Commons plan”. I think it is good; it might catch on. It has a ring where no one is listening, but what were his pearls of to it, but I am sure I have heard it before. That is the wisdom? In this exact debate last year he issued a stark problem with his entire speech: he could not utter the warning that the British economy would “flatline” unless inescapable truth that Britain has a long-term economic we abandoned our plan immediately. Since he made plan, and that that plan is working. that prediction, we have stuck to our plan and our We are attracting more investment than Germany economy has grown by more than 3%. and creating jobs at a faster rate than the United States. Last year in this debate the shadow Chancellor said We are expanding more than four times faster than the that business investment would “stall”, but it has since Government the right hon. Gentleman admired in France, grown by almost 9%. He told us that unemployment and growing faster than any major economy in the would rise, but since he made that prediction more than world. Of course, there is much more to do to build our 800,000 new jobs have been created. He warned ominously exports, back our businesses, encourage savings, build that youth unemployment would rise too, but it is down homes, secure investment, build our economic infrastructure by 100,000 over the past 12 months. From re-reading and rebalance our economy, and the Bills in this Queen’s the speeches of the shadow Chancellor, I have discovered Speech take us forward in that direction. that he performs a very useful function. He is an infallible 739 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 740 guide to the future performance of the British economy: performance is expected to persist. It stated that the whatever he predicts, we can be sure that the exact news coming out of the UK recently has been “pretty opposite happens. much all good”, in contrast to the shadow Chancellor’s predictions, which were pretty much all bad. It concludes Mr Donohoe: Will the Chancellor answer a simple that our fiscal policy—the deficit reduction plan that question about employment? How many people are on the shadow Chancellor bets his entire economic credibility zero-hours contracts? on opposing—is the “anchor” of Britain’s stability and economic success. My answer to the right hon. Gentleman Mr Osborne: I do not have the number the hon. is this: I am listening to the IMF, the CBI, the chambers Gentleman asks for here, but there were zero-hours of commerce, the Institute of Directors, the Federation contracts under the previous Labour Government and of Small Businesses and the OECD. Who on earth is he there are Labour councils that use zero-hours contracts. listening to? As those on the Labour Front Bench have pointed out, not all zero-hours contracts are bad. One measure in the Queen’s Speech that was not mentioned by the Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab): Will the shadow Chancellor—indeed, he did not actually address Chancellor listen to the IMF on the housing market, of the speech in his remarks—will ban exclusivity with which he has made a total mess? House prices are rising zero-hours contracts. Labour had 13 years; the shadow by 20% in London, and there is negative equity in the Chancellor was in charge of economic policy for 13 north. Not one property was sold for £600,000 in my years and could have taken such a step, but he did not. I constituency. Will the Chancellor now abandon the suggest that Labour Members hold their tongues and stupid Help to Buy scheme, which goes up to £600,000 come with the Government through the Division Lobbies for new home owners? as we do something about an abuse that they did absolutely nothing to crack down on. Mr Osborne: I will come on to say something about the housing market, and I am first to say that we must Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): On the topic be vigilant about housing. But to get a lecture from the of pearls of wisdom from the shadow Chancellor, does party that presided over the biggest housing boom and my right hon. Friend agree that his rather careful bust in British history— formulation that a jobs tax is not his argument was rather too clever by half? We did not hear from the Ed Balls: What? shadow Chancellor a clear commitment that a jobs tax is not Labour’s policy now or at the general election. Mr Osborne: The shadow Chancellor says “what?” Mr Osborne: My hon. Friend is right. We listened He might forget what happened in 2007-08 when the carefully, but like the Leader of the Opposition the banks almost went bust because they extended housing shadow Chancellor did not rule out a jobs tax. Why? loans that people could not afford, house prices fell, Because it is Labour’s tax of choice. That is what they housing starts went off a cliff, and the people of Britain did in government when they increased national insurance, paid the price of an economic policy predicated on the and what they proposed at the general election. A fact that there would be no more boom and bust. The couple of years ago the shadow Chancellor admitted people of Britain are living with the consequences of that he would be minded to do that as a means of that policy. Will he just accept now that basing an bringing order to the public finances—his weapon of economic policy on the prediction that there will be no choice is a jobs tax. That is Labour’s answer to jobs: tax more boom and bust was an error of judgment? them, destroy them, make people unemployed. That is why every Labour Government in history have left the Ed Balls: Will the Chancellor like to tell the House House with unemployment higher than when they entered how many people went into negative equity after 2007, office. and how that compares with the number of people—the tens of thousands—who were put into negative equity Several hon. Members rose— after the Conservative housing crash of 1989? If he is going to make these statements he ought to be able to Mr Osborne: Let me make a little progress and then I make them stand up. While we are here, will he tell us— will take more interventions. In a debate after last year’s Queen’s Speech—[Interruption.] I am talking about Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): No, no, this year because last year the shadow Chancellor urged no. Mr Balls, sit down. Not “While we are here.” One me to do something this year. In the conclusion to his point at a time. speech last year, he said that the Chancellor should listen to the International Monetary Fund. He also said Mr Osborne: The right hon. Gentleman’s argument that seems to be, “My crash was better than your crash.” “a sensible and economically literate chancellor would heed the That is a brilliant argument. I will tell him the answer. IMF’s advice.” He was going to remove a temporary scheme that I have reflected on that advice, and I think I will listen to protects people from mortgage costs when they become the IMF. I have its most recent statement from last week unemployed. I extended it year after year after year. I and it states that growth in Britain is projected to be have extended it again in the Budget to make sure that “the fastest among the major advanced economies.” people do not find themselves having their homes It says that the economy has rebounded strongly, that repossessed. Can I also tell him that the housing market inflation has fallen rapidly, that growth is becoming fell by almost 20%? The price of houses fell and there more balanced, that we are moving towards an investment- were people at Northern Rock—[Interruption.] His led economy, and that that good macro-economic argument is literally, “I’m sorry we messed it up, but 741 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 742

[Mr George Osborne] know. He tabled a motion today, although he did not speak to it. The cost of implementing it would be you messed it up in the past as well.” That is an £14 billion. There is not a single measure in it that absolutely hopeless argument. I have learned the lesson would reduce public spending or pay for that £14 billion from the terrible mistake— price tag. It is completely incredible.

Ed Balls: You were wrong. Several hon. Members rose— Mr Osborne: I was wrong? This is the man who presided over the deepest recession in British modern Mr Osborne: I will make a little progress and then history and the biggest banking crisis since the Victorian give way. age. He has the nerve to get up and say to the team that That speaks to a broader point. The shadow Chancellor is turning the country around that we got it wrong. The is not a naturally retiring type. He likes to get out there truth is that he is the person who got it wrong. and meet people. He likes to go to supermarkets and There was a very interesting observation this week by shake people’s hands. The truth, however, is that he has Charles Clarke, who was the Home Secretary when gone quiet in recent months and we do not see him so Labour were in office. This is what he said: much on the television or hear him on the radio. I think “we have rested a great deal on assuming that the Conservative that is because he knows—or rather his party leadership strategy wouldn’t succeed, that ‘plan A’…would not work and knows—that they have lost the macro-economic argument. that has proved to be an unwise judgment because in fact, the He is now losing the micro-economic argument within Conservatives have succeeded in getting the economy onto a more his own party. The Leader of the Opposition does not positive path which leaves us”— want to talk anymore about Labour’s spending and the Labour party— borrowing plans, because he knows they are very unpopular. “very little place”. Instead, there is a whole series of populist initiatives on price controls, incomes policies, bans on foreign investment, Alison McGovern: I think the Chancellor gave himself renationalisation, and wars on business and enterprise. away at the beginning of his speech when he described The truth is that the shadow Chancellor actually spent a “long-term economic plan” as just a catchphrase. He considerable period of time, in Opposition in the 1990s said he would close the budget deficit and he has not. If and then in office, trying to get his party to reject these his policies are such a success, why not? kinds of things. He knows that they will lead to higher prices, lower incomes, less investment and fewer businesses. Mr Osborne: It is not a catchphrase; it is a plan that has cut the claimant count in the hon. Lady’s constituency In fact, the shadow Chancellor makes no secret, if we by 45%. That is a plan that is working. The budget read between the lines of his speech today and his deficit has been halved. If her argument is that we article in the New Statesman, that he is not in favour of should be cutting faster or trying to get the deficit down trying to restrict the open economy, and that he values faster, that is a novel argument because it is not one I foreign investment coming into the country. The problem remember being made at any one of the economic is that the message being given out by the leader of the debates when she and the rest of the Labour party Labour party is the complete opposite of that—it is in a trooped through the Division Lobby against every single completely different direction. He jumps on every single change we have made to try to bring the public finances issue to make the argument, essentially, that we need a under control. more closed economy and that there is a dangerous race to the bottom. The truth is that I think the shadow Several hon. Members rose— Chancellor and I agree that it would be a disaster for Britain to head down that route. Mr Osborne: I will give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth North (Penny Mordaunt) who The shadow Chancellor has a macro-economic argument, made an absolutely brilliant opening to this Queen’s which is that Britain should be borrowing and spending Speech debate. more, and, if necessary, increasing taxes to pay for it, but the Labour leader will not allow him to make that Penny Mordaunt (Portsmouth North) (Con): I can argument anymore, so he has gone completely silent. understand why the shadow Chancellor does not want Normally, he is there right behind the leader of the to congratulate those on the Government Front Bench. Labour party, right behind his shoulder blades waiting Does my right hon. Friend agree that the people in to support him. Instead, he has learned a trick from his Portsmouth—those who have taken a risk and set up a old friend, the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and business, and the 2,000 people who have got back into Cowdenbeath (Mr Brown): when the Labour party is work—ought to be praised for their achievements rather doing badly, losing by-elections and the like, stay quiet than have them dismissed by the Labour party? and disappear. That is what he has attempted to do in the past couple of months. The truth is that the threat Mr Osborne: I completely agree with my hon. Friend. that his economic approach represents—higher taxes, The progress being made in Portsmouth—the jobs created, and borrowing that would destroy our public finances the businesses set up and the support people get from and push interest rates up—does not go away just their Member of Parliament—is an example of how the because he goes away. That is the plan he would put into long-term economic plan is working for the people of practice were he ever to walk through the doors of the Portsmouth, and how we need to go on working with Treasury again. that plan, rather than abandoning it. The hon. Member for Wirral South (Alison McGovern) Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Before asked me what we can do to get the budget deficit down. the Chancellor moves on, he was giving us a history I suspect that even the shadow Chancellor does not lesson earlier but could we have some proper history? 743 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 744

He was criticising the shadow Chancellor for the period Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) when the Chancellor alleges things went wrong with the (Lab): Before the Chancellor descends further into his banks and lending. He himself, the present Chancellor, self-congratulatory speech and quotes statistics about was urging less control and less regulation. Let us get my constituency to me, will he confirm that the employment that history right. Will the Chancellor address one rate is still below pre-recession levels and that a third of issue: why is productivity failing to improve? the jobs in my constituency are below the living wage? Mr Osborne: I agree with the hon. Gentleman that productivity is one of the challenges for the British Mr Osborne: Well, yes, the employment rate is below economy. I have to say that, if offered the choice in the what it was before the economy crashed and we had the early stages of a recovery between productivity deepest recession since the 1920s and ’30s, but the good improvements and increased job numbers, I would take news, as the hon. Lady will have noted, is that there has increased job numbers, because of the considerable been a sharp rise in the employment rate in the last human damage and the potential serious long-term year—800,000 new jobs created. The employment rate economic damage that high unemployment can cause. I now is very close to its pre-recession peak, so I would am enormously proud of the record of the British suggest that she should not make too many predictions business community in creating those jobs, and of the on that front. people who have got those jobs and are holding them. I I am absolutely explicit that I want to get the employment agree that we want to make our economy more productive. rate up. I want to ensure that our schools are providing We do that by having an open economy where we kids with the right skills, that we are creating more welcome investment, support enterprise and support apprenticeships—one of the great success stories of this business. The Labour party’s policy proposals on prices, Government—and that we have more students coming incomes, new restrictions on foreign investment, higher out of our universities with the right graduate qualifications, taxes on business and a higher corporation tax are all so that we get our employment rate up even higher and the wrong approach and would make our economy less achieve the goal of full employment in this country. productive. One of the risks that will face any economy—particularly Several hon. Members rose— one such as the United Kingdom’s, with a large number of financial services in it—is any risk from financial Mr Osborne: I will give way to my hon. Friend the markets. As we begin to see the slow withdrawal of Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham) and monetary stimulus here in the UK and in the United then make some progress. States, and with the eurozone heading in the other Mr Bellingham: Earlier my right hon. Friend mentioned direction, we might expect to see an increase in market Charles Clarke, who knows quite a lot about what is volatility. That is all the more reason why the financial happening in Norfolk and will be aware that unemployment markets in foreign currencies, commodities and fixed in my constituency has fallen by 660 over the last year. income should be fair and effective. Tonight at Mansion That is 660 families with jobs, a wage packet and hope House and here in the House of Commons, I want to for the future. Is my right hon. Friend aware that the set out briefly the steps that the Governor of the Bank vast majority of those jobs are either full time or in of England and I are taking. self-employment? We will bring forward enhanced criminal sanctions to punish and deter market abuse, but we will not opt into Mr Osborne: My hon. Friend is absolutely right: European rules, instead developing our own tough domestic there has been a remarkable jobs story in Norfolk as powers. We will extend the senior managers regime well, supported by the economic investment we are proposed by the Parliamentary Commission on Banking putting into new roads into the county. I have spoken to Standards—so ably chaired by my hon. Friend the the chamber of commerce there and seen its ideas for Member for Chichester (Mr Tyrie)—so that it covers attracting more investment into King’s Lynn and other the branches of foreign banks. We will also use the key centres, and I congratulate my hon. Friend on all he legislation we asked Parliament to pass in the wake of is doing to back business there. the LIBOR scandal to regulate further benchmarks in Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) areas such as foreign exchange, fixed income and (Con): Does my right hon. Friend accept that his economic commodities. The new review that the Governor and I strategy has seen unemployment in my constituency fall are establishing, chaired by the former deputy managing by 25% over the last four years? The Government’s director of the International Monetary Fund, Minouche decision to grant a city deal to Plymouth will create Shafik—now the deputy governor of the Bank of 10,000 new jobs by releasing some of the land in the England—and involving the Treasury and the Financial dockyard. Conduct Authority, will provide further recommendations. Let me be absolutely clear: the integrity of the City Mr Osborne: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The matters to the economy of Britain. Markets here set the city deal, which he championed and urged on us, has a interest rates for people’s mortgages, the exchange rates real prospect of bringing more investment and jobs into for our exports and holidays, and the commodity prices Plymouth. It is great news that work is being created in for the goods we buy. We are going to deal with abuses, that great city and I congratulate him on all the local tackle the unacceptable behaviour of the few and ensure leadership he is showing there. that markets are fair for the many who depend on them. Several hon. Members rose— We are not going to wait for more financial scandals to hit; instead we are going to act now and get ahead. We Mr Osborne: I will take one more intervention from a will take these steps to build resilience in our financial Labour Member and then make some progress. markets and our economy. 745 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 746

Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury) (Con): I greatly welcome Mr Osborne: What the remit that I sent to the Financial those steps. Will my right hon. Friend reassure the Policy Committee said is that we need to be vigilant House that enforcement will be based on simple principles about risks emerging in the housing market. Last week of integrity and not create a climate of box-ticking of the IMF said very clearly that there is not a credit-fuelled the kind that we saw with the now discredited Financial boom today, but we need to be vigilant, and I completely Services Authority, which was introduced by the last agree with that. More than that, I have created—Parliament Government? legislated for—the system of that vigilance. The Financial Policy Committee did not exist before this Government Mr Osborne: My hon. Friend is absolutely right that came to office; there was no such thing as the remit that what we need in our regulation is the exercise of judgment, the shadow Chancellor has just referred to. We have rather than just process. One of the biggest errors of given the Financial Policy Committee tools to look at judgment was the abolition of the Bank of England as mortgage standards, alter capital ratios and make an authority that would oversee systemic risks in our recommendations on loan-to-income ratios and loan-to- economy and monitor levels of debt, and the creation value ratios, and I am clear that it should not hesitate to of the tripartite regime, which we have abolished. use them if it judges that to be necessary. That message goes out loud and clear from this Dispatch Box and it One of the new features of the financial regulation will go out loud and clear at Mansion House tonight. landscape is the Financial Policy Committee, which is the group, independent of the Government, that looks Mike Thornton (Eastleigh) (LD): I wonder whether at systemic financial risks, seeks to spot asset booms the Chancellor is aware that when I worked for Northern and has the tools to do something about them—something Rock, I used to visit Newcastle and we used to see that, sadly, was completely lacking six or seven years members of the Financial Services Authority leaving ago. We have given the Financial Policy Committee the chief executive’s offices and thanking him for his far-reaching powers over capital ratios and mortgage advice on how to do their jobs. standards, with powers to recommend limits on loans- to-income and even loans-to-value. That is the answer Mr Osborne: My hon. Friend brings his experience to to the question about housing and the impact of housing bear in the Chamber. Northern Rock was the epitome debt on our financial system and families. I am clear of what went wrong—the 125% mortgages. It is the that the Bank of England should not hesitate to use important link between rising house prices and mortgages those powers, and any others we make available, should that families find unaffordable if prices fall or they lose it see serious risks emerging in the housing market. That work, and the risks to the balance sheets of banks that is a fundamental improvement in the resilience of the came together in a toxic combination in 2007 and 2008. British economy. The Financial Policy Committee exists to make sure I agree that we need more homes as well, and the that we spot those risks in advance. changes to our planning system are now increasing Several hon. Members rose— housing supply. Planning permissions and starts are now at a six-year high. The fundamental answer to the Mr Osborne: Let me make a little progress, as I know challenge of the British housing market is to see more many Members want to speak. I want to cover a couple homes built. Frankly, I would ask the Labour party, of the key legislative measures in the Queen’s Speech. which opposed the planning changes when they were I hope that the Bill to support small businesses and introduced a couple of years ago, to reconsider its enterprise will receive support from across the House, position and confirm that they will remain in place. as it will help those small businesses with their exports, And by the way, as the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland reduce tribunal delays and open up even more Government (Helen Goodman)—who I think sits on her party’s procurement to them. We are, of course, going to help Front Bench—said that Labour should get rid of the smaller businesses—and indeed all businesses—by taking Help to Buy scheme, let me tell her that it is helping under-21-year-olds out of the jobs tax altogether. That families across the country, overwhelmingly outside the is in stark contrast to the jobs tax plan that the Labour south-east of England, to buy homes that are well party is developing. below the national average house price. I am proud that this Government are helping people with the aspiration Then there is the tax-free childcare Bill—a really of buying their own home and providing the support important measure to help hard-working families. In for families who can afford it to get on the housing this Parliament, we have already extended the free nursery ladder. care available to parents of three and four-year-olds to 15 hours. From this September, 260,000 two-year-olds from low-income families will be eligible for free hours Ed Balls: May I ask for a clarification of what the as well. Now we are taking another big step forward in Chancellor is announcing to the House today and at helping working parents. Once we pass this new Bill, all Mansion House later? He wrote to the Governor of the families with children under 12 will, in effect, be able to Bank of England setting the remit for the Financial get tax relief for their child care costs—up to £2,000 of Policy Committee as recently as March. The Governor help every year for every child. That is a huge boost to of the Bank of England wrote back to the Chancellor working families in this country, and this tax-free child with his comments on the remit on 31 March. Is the care is affordable only because of the difficult decisions Chancellor now, a couple of months later, having to add we have taken to bring the public finances under control. to, revise or supplement that remit? Is that a reflection of the fact that there is widespread and growing concern, Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op): The including in the Bank of England, that what is happening Chancellor mentioned help to small businesses, but in the housing market is destabilising, and does he surely the help they really need is an increase in net regret that he did not face up to these issues earlier? lending to them from the banking sector, yet it is 747 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 748 continuing to fall. How does the Chancellor explain Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. I that in the light of the funding for lending scheme, think that the Chancellor has got the message. which simply does not appear to be working? Mr Osborne: Well, Mr Deputy Speaker, that was the Mr Osborne: Funding for lending is now, of course, definition of a cheap political pot shot, and it rather skewed away from mortgages—a decision taken by the sums up the tone of Labour Members’ approach. They Governor of the Bank of England and me before started with a whole spiel about new politics and having Christmas—precisely to start to apply some macro- to engage with the disenchanted, but after only a few prudential controls to the housing market. It is heavily minutes, it has swiftly deteriorated. skewed towards small business lending in order to address the issue of an impaired banking system, still deeply Ed Balls rose— damaged by what went on six or seven years ago. The good news is that a huge amount of progress has been Mr Osborne: Let me directly answer the hon. Gentleman’s made since this debate last year and since last year’s point and then I shall take a final intervention from the Mansion House speech; we are undertaking a major shadow Chancellor before winding up. restructuring of the Royal Bank of Scotland and, of We are very clear that we want impartial and free course, starting to return Lloyds to the private sector. guidance—face to face if people want it. We are talking All of that will help make sure that our financial system to consumer groups such as Which?, Saga, and Citizens is functioning properly and supporting businesses that Advice about how to ensure that we deliver such free want to grow and expand. and impartial advice through the industry and consumer groups all working together. Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): Will the Chancellor give way? Ed Balls: We have welcomed annuities reform and the introduction of collective pension vehicles. The test for Mr Osborne: Let me make this final point before us is whether the sums will add up, whether it will cost taking another intervention. more, whether it will work in a fair and equitable way I want to conclude by mentioning a measure that the and whether the advice and guidance will be sufficient. I shadow Chancellor—or, indeed, the Leader of the put it to the Chancellor that this may be something on Opposition, which is pretty revealing—did not mention which we could try to get a cross-party consensus in the at all. I refer to the pensions tax Bill, which will give long term rather than play politics. people real choices about what they do with their defined contribution pension pots, and ensure that they get free Mr Osborne: I certainly hope, in the spirit of new and impartial guidance on those choices. We have spent politics, that there will be agreement across the House the last three months in consultation, and I have met and that the Labour party will support our reforms. pension providers and many consumer groups. The There was no agreement on this issue when we were in consultation closed yesterday, and I will announce next opposition. My hon. Friends who were Opposition month the details of how the freedoms and the guidance MPs at the time—when, indeed, the right hon. Gentleman will work. We will set out the implications for defined was a Treasury Minister—will remember that we tried benefit pensions, too. time and again to get the Treasury to open up annuities and to remove the compulsory requirement to annuitise. We want an economy in which effort is rewarded and We remember the private Member’s Bill proposed by those who save are trusted with their pension savings in David Curry—and my right hon. Friend the Member retirement. We will enshrine all this in law; it heralds a for Croydon South (Sir Richard Ottaway) was involved, revolution in pensions based on this simple principle: too—attempting to achieve this objective, with the “you earned it; you saved it; now you have control over Conservative party turning up en masse to try to deliver your own money”. Because it is such a simple principle, it. We tried. If the shadow Chancellor is telling me that because it involves trusting people and because that is has had a change of heart and supports this measure, I popular with people, the Labour Opposition have not can say “all well and good”. Perhaps that will help to got a clue about how to respond to it. From the moment address the disillusionment of Labour supporters that that the Leader of the Opposition rose to give his he mentioned earlier—[Interruption.] The shadow dismal, pre-scripted reply to the Budget, they have been Chancellor ends like he started. He wanted to give us a completely pole-axed by it. big new thing about new politics, but he cannot resist trading the blows across the Chamber. Ian Lucas rose— Ed Balls: The point I made to the Chancellor in my Mr Osborne: Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will tell me speech was that there is a disillusionment across politics, whether he will support this Bill in the Division Lobbies. incorporating Labour and Conservative voters, and that we need to face up to it collectively rather than just play Ian Lucas: Unlike the right hon. Gentleman, I ran my partisan politics. That was my point. own business in the 1980s, and I remember the pension mis-selling and how many people lost their life savings Mr Osborne: I would argue that the best way to as a result of reckless Conservative legislation and a address people’s disillusionment is to create an economy lack of proper advice. This is a very serious matter, so that works for people and grows jobs for people. I rather than taking cheap political pot shots, will the enjoyed the right hon. Gentleman’s tour d’horizon of right hon. Gentleman tell me what exactly will be the the global economy, and I certainly agree that the nature of the advice given to people about their life Google self-drive car will be an important intervention—and savings before he asks them to spend it? he will probably be one of the first customers for it. 749 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 750

[Mr George Osborne] be when first analysed? That means that it has been even more difficult for us to fill the hole that was left by We passed a milestone this week when we learned Labour and to achieve growth. That is finally under that 2 million new jobs had been created by our economic way, but the job is not yet done. plan. We saw new surveys this week showing Britain attracting investment from around the world. The IMF Margaret Beckett: I think the hon. Lady will find that said we would have the fastest- growing major advanced the OBR’s argument does not account for the total economy in the world and confirmed that deficit reduction discrepancy between what the Chancellor said would strategy at the heart of our approach is the anchor of happen and what has actually happened. We have had stability. We saw again today that the shadow Chancellor the nonsense of Government Members claiming that and the Labour party would be a disaster for the British we were wrong to say that their policies might curtail economy, with more borrowing, more spending, more growth, when that is precisely what happened. As for taxes and a war on business. In this Queen’s Speech, we the OBR, if the Chancellor is so proud of it—and I reject these disastrous policies. Instead, we deliver on think that he has created a good institution—why does the long-term economic plan that is turning Britain he not allow it to scrutinise our plans, rather than around and offers a brighter future for all. I urge the making up his own version? House to support the Queen’s Speech. The Queen’s Speech demonstrates the Government’s utter failure to address the difficulties that people face. Several hon. Members rose— The eventual return to growth has been as welcome as it was long overdue, but it is seriously alarming that Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. Many Government Members do not seem to recognise the Members want to speak, so it would help to keep great difficulties that still confront so many.Only yesterday, interventions brief. If Members continue to intervene, we learnt that Ofgem had written to the energy companies they will go to the bottom of the list. We are on a highlighting the fall in wholesale prices over the last six-minute limit, but it will have to be reduced if we do 18 months or so, and asking them nicely if they ever not show consideration for others. Anything Members intended to pass it on to their customers. Where is the can do to shorten their speeches will be much appreciated. legislative framework to underpin action to tackle the energy companies’ disregard for the interests of their 1.39 pm customers? Margaret Beckett (Derby South) (Lab): The kindest Where are the proposals for reform of the banks, thing that can be said about this Queen’s Speech is that which demonstrate almost daily that for them too it is it is simply inadequate to address the problems which, back to business as before, bonuses and all? Why is sadly, our country and its people still face, and about there nothing in the Queen’s Speech to address either which it is evident that the Government parties are still the decline in housing starts or the increasing pressure in denial. and insecurity experienced by many tenants? And why, oh why, have no steps been taken to ease the increasingly The Chancellor said in his speech that he had made intolerable pressures on the many people who have been the mistake of reading the record before coming to the forced by circumstance to rely on benefits to make ends House. I made the same mistake: I read the record of meet? So many of those people are in work, albeit work the Chancellor’s Budget speech on 22 June 2010. He that is low paid and insecure. said today that what we must now do is stick to our long-term economic plan, which is what Government People with disabilities, in particular, are still being Members continually say—they say it as if saying it hit by the iniquitous bedroom tax. The Government were as good as having one—but today’s economy does must have been advised that people would not be able to not reflect the long-term economic plan that the Chancellor move because there was not enough alternative set out in 2010. accommodation. During the same week in which they introduced that tax, they cut taxes for those who were The Chancellor said today that the Government were already the wealthiest. “holding out the prospect”. Well, they held it out then. According to that plan, by this year debt was supposed The most noticeable aspects of the Queen’s Speech to have fallen as a percentage of GDP, and the structural are the measures that are not in it and should be. Some current deficit should have been eliminated. The public of its proposals merit a cautious welcome, although as sector borrowing requirement should be down to £37 billion, yet, in many instances, we have only the headlines. falling to £20 billion next year. Growth this year was However, I want to single out the issue of pensions. I then projected to be 2.7%, but the plan was for growth am pleased that the Chancellor mentioned it. I urge of well over 2% in 2011, 2012 and 2013. As we all know, caution on all Members, but especially Opposition that simply did not happen. In other words, far from Members, because in this regard the Conservative party sticking to a long-term plan that is now delivering, has form. Annuities have long caused concern, although which the Chancellor described as the “inescapable an answer has not been easy to find, but the more that I truth”, the inescapable truth is that Government Members listened to the Chancellor talking about giving people have seen their plan and their forecasts fall to pieces control of their own money and about the exciting new around their ears. freedoms that were on offer—which, according to him, were heralding a revolution—the more uncomfortable I Dr Thérèse Coffey: I do not recognise the picture that became, because, like the Conservative party, I have the right hon. Lady is painting, given the increased been here before. number of jobs and other improvements. Does she It was in identical terms that the 1980s Tory Government recall the statement by the Office for Budget Responsibility sold so-called pension reforms to an unsuspecting public. that the recession was even deeper than it had seemed to That resulted in one of the greatest pension scandals of 751 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 752 all time, the mis-selling of personal pensions. Shamelessly Sir Gerald Howarth: I am delighted to assist the right misleading advertising implied that if people left existing hon. Lady, who I know is very reasonable. The Chancellor pension schemes and put their savings in the hands of of the Exchequer has just identified one of the causes of the financial services experts, they could miraculously the problem that we faced, namely the Labour put less in and get more out. People were encouraged by Government’s decision to remove responsibility for the the then Government to gamble with their retirement supervision of the banks from the Bank of England. I savings without their employers having to contribute, know that that is the case, because I was an international and without even the safety net of pooling their own banker myself. The Tory party warned the Labour risk—and it all ended in tears. I heard what the Chancellor Government that if they removed that responsibility said about the assurances that he had given and about from the Bank, there would be problems. [Interruption.] whom he had consulted, and I advise my right hon. and hon. Friends to consider what he said in great detail. We Mr Deputy Speaker: Order. I want to hear Sir Gerald, have asked the Government to publish in full the assessment but I cannot hear him when Members are shouting him of the costs and risks of their proposal, but so far they down. have refused to do so. I hope that they soon will. I have noticed that there is an incentive for the Sir Gerald Howarth: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Government in this proposal, over and above the well-being Let me be the first Government Member to congratulate of pensioners. The Chancellor stands to gain a few my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on sticking to his billions of pounds in extra tax. So there is something in guns, and on the long-term economic programme, which it for the Treasury—probably rather more than there is has unquestionably benefited the United Kingdom—not for pensioners, in the short term—and the most careful least my constituents in Aldershot, where unemployment scrutiny of the details will be required. has now fallen to 1.8%. We have done fantastically well, Over the past few days—and, today, in the excellent and, in my view, that was undoubtedly a factor in the speech with which he opened the debate—the shadow Newark by-election success, on which I congratulate my Chancellor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Morley right hon. and hon. Friends. There is no doubt that the and Outwood (Ed Balls), has drawn attention to our sheer weight of Conservative effort helped, as, indeed, proposals to raise the minimum wage and encourage did the contribution made by Patrick Mercer, who was the use of the living wage so that work can be made to very popular in the constituency, and had done good pay; to tackle the abuses of wage and employment law work over 13 years. that enable employers to use immigrant labour to undercut However, as the shadow Chancellor pointed out, we the wages and conditions of others; to set up a British should not be lulled into a false sense of security. One of investment bank and regional banks to support small the key reasons for UKIP’s success is that it has homed businesses, which—as was pointed out earlier—our existing in on the public’s rising concern about immigration. banks are still failing to do; and to address the crises in That concern is not new; it has existed since the 1960s. housing and health care. We would have seen all those What is new is that while there was an understandable proposals in a Labour Queen’s Speech. There is much reluctance to vote for the British National party, no along those lines that the House and the Government such inihibitions apply to UKIP. should and could be doing, but clearly it will not be done under this Administration. For 50 years, those of us who have expressed concern about the impact of mass immigration on our country have been reviled and denounced as racist. All argument 1.46 pm was effectively closed down, as perfectly decent people Sir Gerald Howarth (Aldershot) (Con): I am sure that expressing perfectly reasonable fears were intimidated the House is very grateful to the right hon. Member for into remaining publicly silent. Derby South (Margaret Beckett) for reminding us all of Things have now changed, however. People feel that the magnitude of the fantastic challenge that the at last they can break free from the shackles of political Government faced when they came to office in 2010. It correctness in which they have been chained. It is no is just a shame that neither she nor the shadow Chancellor longer racist to want to preserve our British way of life, seized the opportunity to apologise to the House and our religion and our culture; it is not racist to express the nation for the catastrophic destruction of the public pride in our nation’s history and, indeed, in our imperial finances and the running up of a massive deficit. past. It is not just the Conservative party that has been Margaret Beckett: I have heard that argument in the affected by the public’s concerns, as the shadow Chancellor’s House so many times. Indeed, the Chancellor used it comments again made clear. Labour has seen white today. However, there is a bit that I have missed: the bit working-class support desert to UKIP. Furthermore, where the right hon. Gentleman explained how the last many of those who have arrived from abroad and have Government also brought about the crashes in the integrated into our society are also concerned about the United States and Japan, and in Spain and Italy and continuing flows of migration. throughout the European Union. I am looking forward The main parties have to recognise the effect that this to hearing him give that explanation. unprecedented tidal wave of migration has had on the UK, including our economy. Of course migration has Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. We not been without its benefits, some of which are only need short interventions, and, in fairness, Members too evident on the Benches around us here, and companies should not bait others who have just spoken. I do not such as Tata have made, and continue to make, a very think that that helps to ensure that everyone else will valuable contribution. However, this week’s Ofsted report have a chance to speak. on Birmingham schools has revealed the extent to which 753 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 754

[Sir Gerald Howarth] Labour’s failure to apologise for inflicting this policy on the nation, together with its failure to apologise for people newly arrived here not only reject our values and the destruction of the public finances, which I mentioned customs, but want to impose their own on the rest of us. earlier, means it is wholly unfit to return to office. That I have a very clear message for them: this is a Christian brings me to the topic of the next Queen’s Speech. I country, a tolerant country, we speak English, we shake hope with all my heart that that will be prepared by my hands with ladies, and open facial recognition is a key right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) part of our culture. If they find that offensive, they as leader of the Conservative party, elected with a clear should please feel free to leave and move to a country working majority in this place. This country absolutely that is more to their liking—for there are plenty of needs that. We cannot afford to go back to the policies repressive regimes around the world that clearly are of tax and spend, and running up yet more debt, as my more to the liking of people like that. As the T-shirt right hon. Friend the Chancellor has reminded us again worn by a young man whom I saw on the underground today. We have to keep reminding the British people earlier this week said: “Speak in English; Think in that that is what Labour did in office and it has not yet English; Dream in English”. I thought that was rather recanted. We therefore must do our duty to the British good advice to a lot of people in our country. people, which is to be returned with a clear working majority. What we all need to understand is that it is numbers that are the issue. As that excellent organisation To get to that happy position, however, we need to MigrationWatch has pointed out, between 1951 and convince the public that we will build on the existing 1991 the population born overseas grew by less than measures we have put in place to contain inward migration, 2 million, yet after the election of the Labour Government particularly from less affluent EU countries. We must in 1997 the scale of immigration increased to a level act now. The Government should accept the unanimous without historical precedent. Between 1991 and 2011, recommendation of the European Scrutiny Committee the foreign-born population more than doubled, increasing to disapply the European Communities Act 1972 in by 4 million. Much of this was deliberately encouraged relation to specific EU legislation, not least so that this by the Blair Government, partly, as we were helpfully Parliament can once again become sovereign and take told by a Labour speechwriter, Mr Andrew Neather, to swift action to recover control of our borders and rub the noses of the right in diversity. reduce the level of burdensome regulation being imposed on us externally. If the European Court of Justice does All this has had an impact on our country. The Prime not like that, then tough; the British people certainly Minister has been at the forefront of the campaign to will. denounce the growth of Islamic fundamentalism in the UK, but there are practical challenges, too. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor mentioned the housing 1.55 pm issue. We need to build a new home every seven minutes Mrs Anne McGuire (Stirling) (Lab): It is a privilege to just to accommodate new migrants to this country. speak in this debate. This is the last opportunity I will England is already the most crowded country in Europe, have to speak in a Queen’s Speech debate as a Member yet unless tougher action is taken the population will of this House. I have to say, however, that the Queen’s grow by 7 million in the next 15 years, 5 million of Speech we heard last week was not nearly as exciting as which will be attributable to immigration, which is the the first Queen’s Speech I heard in this House in 1997. equivalent of the towns and cities of Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow and Manchester. I want to pick up on a few of the comments that have been bandied around by those on the Government Benches, not least the hon. Member for Aldershot Mr Bellingham: Does my hon. Friend agree that this (Sir Gerald Howarth), who I have the pleasure, of Government have made very significant progress in course, of following. “Tax and spend” is one comment reducing migration into the UK from outside the EU? they throw about, but they do not say what that actually Indeed, there have been a number of big successes in means. We can look around our country and our individual that regard. However, does he also agree that the time constituencies and see what the spend was all about. It has now come for the Governments of all countries in was about replacing schools that had not been looked the EU to look again at the absolute free movement of after for tens of years. Many of our schools were people for jobs across the EU? The only way we can Victorian-built, and many of our hospitals had been solve this problem and bring migration into some form built at the end of the 19th century, never mind the of balance is by looking at migration from the EU as 20th century. well. Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Lab): Will my hon. Friend give way? Sir Gerald Howarth: My hon. Friend, with whom I have the privilege of sharing adjoining offices in Portcullis house, is entirely right. This Government have set about Mrs McGuire: Very briefly, as I want to take Mr Speaker’s trying to tackle migration, not least by dealing with the advice. legacy left by the previous Government, and we have tackled non-EU migration. My hon. Friend is right to Robert Flello: I agree with everything my hon. Friend alert the House to the extent to which our membership has said, but she will also remember, as I do, Conservative of the EU is inhibiting our ability to do something Members standing up time and again and calling for about that other aspect of migration, however, and I schools and hospitals in their constituencies, and have a proposal, which I will make in winding up my how they have the shameless gall to say otherwise is contribution. beyond me. 755 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 756

Mrs McGuire: I remember it well, and there is now those people as having come off the unemployment the mirror image of that: they are in government now, register, creating a false figure for the unemployment in and they are calling for even more expenditure in their our constituencies. The previous Tory Government used individual constituencies. That certainly puts a whole to shunt people on to incapacity benefit. The present new slant on “Think nationally—or globally—and act Government are using zero-hours contracts in much the locally.” It is almost as though there is no connect same way. between the two. The second issue that I want to address is how people I first want to welcome two elements of the Queen’s can afford housing in the present environment. According Speech, however. One is the commitment to continue to to the Scottish Parliament information unit, the average implement new powers for the Scottish Parliament, pay in Scotland is £26,472. The average price for a which I hope will be done within the context of a semi-detached house in my constituency is £140,000. I United Kingdom—the “No” badge I am wearing today know that Members who represent constituencies in the has absolutely nothing to do with me not wanting south of England might think that that is not a high anybody here to speak to me. price, but we must ask ourselves how on earth people I also welcome the increased penalties for those not are going to get a mortgage or other finance for such a paying the national minimum wage, but I say to the house on a salary of around £26,000 a year? It just does Government that it is one thing to increase penalties, not compute. In my area, we have strong tourist but it is another thing actually to enforce the law. There accommodation and food industries, in which the average is absolutely no point in increasing the penalties if there wages have actually dropped. They now average £10,558 is not going to be the enforcement welly behind the a year. national minimum wage to tackle employers who are Taking all those factors together, we find a situation behaving illegally. in which many people in this country do not feel that I want to concentrate on a couple of areas. One is they are benefiting from the rosy picture painted by the zero-hours contracts, which the Chancellor blithely Chancellor earlier. We do not have to move far from dismissed. Yes, zero-hours contracts have, of course, this Chamber to find evidence of that. I wonder how been with us for a long time, and, yes, they can in some many of us think about how our low-paid workers in circumstances be a useful resource in managing a work the House of Commons dining rooms or in the Tea force, but the difference between what happened in the Room are even managing to get into work. Some of past and what is happening now is that zero-hours them are on zero-hours contracts. We need to look at contracts have effectively become part of the mainstream the long-term implications for those people. in how our employment market is operating. This Queen’s Speech is, I hope, the last under this Let us consider a couple of companies that have a Government. I also hope that it predates a new Queen’s presence in most of our areas. Sports Direct has 23,000 Speech after the general election under a Labour workers, and 20,000 of them are on zero-hours contracts. Government led by my right hon. Friend the Member That is 86% of its work force. That is not about Sports for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband). I can find no Direct having flexibility. Some 80% of Wetherspoon better description of the Conservatives than that used staff are on zero-hours contracts, too. That is not just by Disraeli. He said of Conservatism that it about managing the bulges in customer numbers at “offers no redress for the present, and makes no preparation for certain times of the day or at the weekend, but is a the future.” policy decision by those companies to use zero-hours This Queen’s Speech fulfils both those criteria. contracts as an employment tool. What is even worse is that having 1 million or so workers on zero-hours 2.4 pm contracts helps to disguise the unemployment figures— Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire) (LD): I [Interruption.] Is the hon. Member for Burton (Andrew welcome the Queen’s Speech. In particular, I welcome Griffiths) talking to himself or does he want to intervene the proposals giving the Secretary of State for Environment, on me? Food and Rural Affairs powers to introduce regulations Andrew Griffiths (Burton) (Con): The right hon. Lady to hold direct elections in national parks in England. condemns companies that employ people on zero-hours Why do I think this is important? I speak from some contracts, but will she condemn the more than 60 Labour experience as I was the chairman of the Brecon Beacons MPs who also do so? national park. The Bill refers to England, but the governance of national parks in England is very similar to that in Mrs McGuire: The hon. Gentleman was obviously so Wales. At the moment, all members of national park busy talking to himself that he did not hear what I was authorities are appointed, not elected. This results in a saying, which was that there are instances in which democratic deficit. Members appointed by the Secretary zero-hours contracts might well be suitable. However, a of State represent the national interest—I can understand zero-hours contract approach is now being embedded that—but members appointed by local authorities, often in our mainstream way of employing people. That on a political basis, sometimes do not even represent stokes up people’s uncertainty about their income, creates wards in the national parks. Elections for local authority instability in their lives and leaves them unable to get councillors do not often feature national park issues. finance, even for rented accommodation. Those who The national parks that were set up in Scotland some think that these contracts provide numerous hours’ time after those in England and Wales do have direct work each week should note that, according to the elections for a proportion of the members of national Office for National Statistics, an individual who worked park authorities. The elections have been well contested, for just one hour within its survey period was considered with good turnouts, and have proved popular; but more to be employed. The attractive mirror image to this importantly, they give people a chance to debate national situation for the Government is that they can describe park matters during a democratic process. 757 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 758

[Roger Williams] the single largest timber producer, and a vital habitat for wildlife. The report estimated that our forests I believe that this proposal will strengthen the case “are producing annual returns on investment estimated at for national parks and their purposes. The national £400 million”. park establishment believes that it will bring forward It suggested that the public forest estate should be anti-national park candidates. It might do that, but I defined in law as land held in trust for the nation. The believe that most people who live in national parks Government’s response supported the suggestions, but support the principle, but wish to express a view on how legislation has yet to materialise. I am sure that other their services should be delivered. This Bill will be good hon. Members would agree that action is now needed to for national parks and for the people who live in them. ensure that our forests are protected for generations to I also welcome the announcement in the Queen’s come. Speech that, from 2016, all new homes will be required to meet a zero-carbon standard. However, that will not 2.10 pm deal with the existing housing stock. In constituencies such as mine, rural fuel poverty is a serious issue that Mr Jack Straw (Blackburn) (Lab): We heard a vigorous can have terrible health impacts. I had hoped that new defence of the Queen’s Speech from the Chancellor of proposals would have been included to help people who the Exchequer, so it is surprising that so many Conservative are struggling with fuel bills and fuel poverty by improving Members have voted with their feet and emptied their our current housing stock. side of the Chamber, obviously lacking the confidence to speak up in favour of their own Chancellor. The energy bill revolution has repeatedly shown that investment in a major home energy efficiency programme A central part of the Government’s defence of their would deliver better economic outcomes than almost all economic policies is the challenge they make to the other forms of investment. Improving homes through competence of and decisions taken by Labour insulation would help to bring down people’s energy Governments between 1997 and 2010. I was privileged costs. It would help to keep their homes warmer and to be a senior member of the Labour Government have major health and environmental benefits. Improving throughout the term and I am proud of their achievements. the quality and efficiency of our homes must be one of As John Major once shrewdly observed, the only people our top priorities if we are to tackle the growing issue of who never make mistakes are those who never make fuel poverty. We must recognise the economic, social decisions. No more than any Government, we did not and environmental benefits of improving our homes get all our judgments right, but overall I believe we and establish the idea that creating homes capable of made the correct judgments, including on the economy. keeping people warm and healthy is the most vital The criticism the current Government make of us is not infrastructure investment we can make. I trust that such just wide of the mark; it fails to take account of the a provision will appear in the infrastructure Bill. contradictory policy positions they were adopting at the time. On 28 November 2012, I congratulated the Government on introducing regulations to protect wild animals in The first charge the Chancellor has often made is that travelling circuses and asked the Prime Minister whether the Labour Government did not fix the roof when the he would commit to introducing a ban in this Parliament. sun was shining, but we did—we had to. As my right He responded by saying: hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Mrs McGuire) mentioned, one of the scandals of the Thatcher and “It is our intention to do just that. My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the fact that we have changed the regulations in Major Governments was their palpable neglect of public advance of legislation, so that the clearly expressed will of this services. There were hospitals and schools with leaking House can be met.”—[Official Report, 28 November 2012; Vol. roofs and buckets everywhere. There were schools where 554, c. 219.] the sun could literally be seen through the open roof. Given that the Royal Society for the Prevention of There is not a Conservative constituency in the country Cruelty to Animals, the British Veterinary Association, where the roofs of its schools and hospitals were not the Captive Animals Protection Society and Animal fixed by the last Labour Government, and no Conservative Defenders International all support a complete ban on MP complained about that spending at the time. the use of wild animals in circuses, it is surely time That brings me to my second point. I have been finally to pass legislation on this issue. Twenty-seven through what Conservative shadow Chancellors were other countries have introduced some form of prohibition saying in response to the Budgets and spending reviews on the use of wild animals in circuses, including half of between 2000 and 2010. Yes, there are plenty of passages the EU countries. Given the widespread support for a of criticism, in small print, about the levels of borrowing ban, I was concerned that there was no mention of it in and taxation to which the Conservatives could, and do, the Queen’s Speech. I hope that other Members will point, but if we look at what they were saying about the support me in asking the Government to introduce this spending plans that were leading to all those improvements uncontroversial, and long overdue, legislation for a in their constituencies, we find that a very different complete ban. story emerges. In 2004, they published a medium-term In 2012, the Independent Panel on Forestry published economic strategy, setting out their plans for the years its final report to the Government on the future of to 2011-12. The Institute for Fiscal Studies published its England’s forests and woodlands. It called for our forests own commentary on that, saying that if the Conservatives and woodlands to be revalued to take into account all were to win the forthcoming general election, spending the services they provide. Forests are particularly important would for the local economy in rural areas. The panel’s research “still be higher” showed that our forests are the under the Conservative plans “single largest provider of outdoor leisure and recreation”, “than it was in every year of Labour’s first term”. 759 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 760

At the 2005 general election, the Conservatives’ main acknowledge that the previous Labour Government did pitch, in the face of Labour criticism, was to reassure make some mistakes. One of those has been all over the voters that no significant cuts would take place if they newspapers this morning. It was a decision that he was were elected. The Economist newspaper for 14 April closely involved in and that I voted against: the decision 2005 published a major article under the heading to invade Iraq. That has proved to be one of the single “Much ado about nothing: The Conservatives’ spending most disastrous decisions ever made in foreign policy, plans are strikingly similar to Labour’s”. After the and we have reduced that country to chaos. There are 2005 election, the reassurance that the Conservatives also lessons to be learned for the future, when next we would not be cutting public spending continued, but in think of involving ourselves in foreign countries with even more categorical terms. On 3 September 2007, the military ventures, whether in Ukraine or Syria. “ConservativeHome” website proclaimed: The right hon. Gentleman was also generous in his “Tories will match Labour’s spending plans for the next three description of the very difficult economic decisions that years”. both Governments have grappled with. Of course he is It highlighted an article in The Times of the same date, right to say that the roof has to be fixed, but I am sure written by the then shadow Chancellor, which stated: he would accept it when I say, as a former Chairman of “I can confirm for the first time”— the Public Accounts Committee, that there were productivity he solemnly intoned— declines in areas such as the NHS and that extraordinary “that a Conservative Government will adopt” waste was involved in the rapid increases in expenditure, particularly on health and education. I am sure that the Labour Government’s spending totals for the years both Governments have a lot to learn about that. I 2008-09 to 2010-11. agree with him that we were probably wrong to agree to commit ourselves to accepting Labour’s spending plans, Robert Flello: Does my right hon. Friend also recall which were too high, and I have consistently argued that at the same time the Conservatives, to a person, that we should have addressed the deficit even quicker. were calling on the then Labour Government to weaken It is a matter of regret that we are still spending more the oversight and weaken the regulation of the banks to than ever before. That highlights the key challenge that allow them greater freedom? both parties face: we have to keep addressing this deficit. Mr Straw: I absolutely confirm that. As we have The current Government are winning the economic accepted, we did not regulate the banks and other argument because there remains a lack of coherence in financial institutes sufficiently, but the Conservatives at Labour’s spending plans. The whole country realises the time were demanding, in this Chamber and outside that there has been this monumental waste and the it, not more regulation but less. Just in case readers did Government are addressing it. Perhaps we could have not get the point of the then shadow Chancellor’s done more and we could have done it in a better way, article in The Times in September 2007, its headline was but we are seeking to address it. This Labour Opposition, “Tories cutting services? That’s a pack of lies”. All the unlike the Labour Opposition before 1997, who accepted plans for the economy—those of the Conservatives, as our spending plans before 1997, do not apparently have much as those of Labour—were knocked badly off a coherent economic message to address that. We know course by the global financial crisis. But for all the that elections are won on the economy. insinuations we now hear about how Labour ignored At the moment, we cannot deny that 2 million extra the warning signs, there is not a line—not a word—of jobs have been created in the private sector, and I have such predictions in that article, nor anywhere else in to say, following an intervention from the Opposition what Conservatives were saying at the time. Benches, that they have not all come from ex-members The Chancellor talks today of Britain’s recovery, and of the Bullingdon club. There are a lot of ordinary I am delighted that output, after the longest recession in people who are getting these jobs. The Opposition have modern history, is now close to where it was six years to address that problem, and we have to concentrate on ago. But although he will not do this, future economic the economy. It was significant and a bit of an innovation historians will, I believe, judge that part of the reason that, in the Gracious Speech, the Queen often mentioned for the recovery was the wise decisions made by my the economy. right hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh South West (Mr Darling) when he was Chancellor of the Mr Straw: I am extremely grateful to the hon. Gentleman Exchequer. Let it also be remembered that, for all the for giving way and for his generosity towards me. Yes, of Conservative efforts to rewrite history now, the average course I accept the 2 million figure that he mentioned, level of debt to GDP under Labour was below that of but does he acknowledge that a significant element of the preceding Conservative Governments and below that 2 million, whether we like it or not, is composed of international averages, not only for the 11 years before those migrants who have come in, about which he so the recession took hold, but even when our last two much complains? years in power are included. We fixed the roofs, for both sun and storms. By contrast, the Conservatives then were calling simultaneously for lower taxation and lower Sir Edward Leigh: Yes, of course I acknowledge that, borrowing but the same spending. How on earth did but the point I want to make is that it is by concentrating they think those sums would ever add up? on the economy during the last year of this Government that we will establish our credibility as a party of government. What worries me is that although there is 2.16 pm so much in this Queen’s Speech that is excellent, especially Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): The whole the Bill dealing with pensions, we still sometimes forget House has great respect for the right hon. Member for the essential lesson that, as a Conservative party and a Blackburn (Mr Straw), who, as always, was careful to Conservative Government, where we do conservative 761 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 762

[Sir Edward Leigh] We need to address the concept of human rights. I am a great supporter of the Council of Europe and all its things and address the economy in a conservative way, work; I am a member of it. The fact is that we cannot we win. Where we indulge in modernising gimmicks, we continue to have a proactive European Court of Human stumble and start to lose. Sometimes, we forget that. Rights in Strasbourg, which is defeating the efforts of When we do conservative things, such as cutting the the former Home Secretary, the right hon. Member for deficit, introducing a benefit cap and attempting—not Blackburn (Mr Straw), and many others to deal with enough—to deal with immigration, we win. terrorism. There is much more that we need to do, I am still worried about a couple of things in the which is why, for all that the coalition has achieved, we Queen’s Speech. Is it really essential, when we are trying must get a clear result at the next general election. I to address record spending and difficulties in the economy, hope from the bottom of my heart that it is a Conservative to start talking about eradicating plastic bags in victory, so that we can address the very serious problems supermarkets? Is that a priority? Is it essential to start that still afflict our nation. talking about the recall of MPs? It may at first sight be populist and popular, but it is very difficult to administer 2.25 pm and probably will not solve any problems. For centuries, Stewart Hosie (Dundee East) (SNP): The Queen’s rogue MPs have consistently been kicked out of this Speech said that the stated objective of this legislative place, so let us concentrate on the economy. programme was to build a stronger economy. It said that it was to strengthen the economy. The Prime Minister Mark Hendrick (Preston) (Lab/Co-op): By modernising, used many of the same phrases in his speech last week, which the hon. Gentleman is very much against, does and spoke again, as the Chancellor did today, about this he mean reneging on the pledge to commit 0.7% of the fabled long-term economic plan, which is a bit like a gross national product to international aid, which was a fabled unicorn; everybody knows what is meant, but no manifesto promise of the three major parties in this one has ever seen one. This long-term economic plan is country? much the same. Anyone with any common sense would Sir Edward Leigh: That is a manifesto promise. My assume that a long-term economic plan was predicated views on that are well known. I have two daughters on substantial above-trend growth, yet the word “growth” working in international development in Africa, and I did not appear once in the Queen’s Speech. Indeed, the am proud of the efforts that we have made on international Prime Minister only uttered it twice: once to chide the aid. I am totally committed to spending properly on leader of the Labour party, not unreasonably, and international aid, but the Department for International another time in response to an intervention from his Development, like every other Department, must spend own side. Why the coyness? Where is the plan for real what we can afford to spend and what we need to spend. growth in the economy? When one looks at what is Frankly, it is somewhat economically illiterate to insist proposed in this legislative programme and at what has by legislation or by other means that a Department sets come before, particularly in the Budget, one can see a fixed percentage of GNP on aid, health or anything that, at its heart, this is still an austerity Government. else. What happens if there is a recession and the Yes, there are some helpful Bills, such as the national economy contracts? We could end up spending less on insurance contributions Bill and, potentially, the small aid. I have consistently made that argument, but I am business, enterprise and employment Bill, but there is grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. nothing that anyone can point to and say, “That will make a real difference in delivering growth in the economy.” My point is that we must concentrate on the economy. Perhaps the Government think that mining tunnels We still face enormous challenges. It is very difficult to under people’s homes without permission to carry fracked get to grips with some of these challenges while we are gas qualifies as a growth measure. in a coalition Government. A lot has been made about Why are the Government so coy? Why are they giving immigration in this debate. The truth is that we have us this convoluted formulation of words about long-term made a mistake—the shadow Chancellor was generous plans and a focus on a very narrow, although helpful, enough in response to my intervention to accept that—in policy about national insurance? It is because they have allowing such high immigration from eastern Europe. failed and they know it. Nothing the Government said We all accept that, especially when economies diverge last week or this week changes the underlying direction so greatly, as happens between Bulgaria and Romania of travel or the underlying shape of the economy as and ours. It cannot be accepted in the long term that described to us in the Red Book only a few months ago. there should be an untrammelled right of immigration from poorly performing economies into our own. We Dr Thérèse Coffey: I am really interested in the hon. just have to accept that. Therefore, the European Union Gentleman’s contribution. The International Monetary rules on this must be reformed. I should like to see Fund has confirmed that we are the fastest growing legislation put in place, but it will not be possible while country in the G7. We have seen growth in all sectors of we are in a coalition. the economy in the past year. That must be welcomed. We also have to address the problem of the referendum. There is no unicorn. The only unicorn is the Scottish The British people deserve a referendum. Nobody under National party’s claims that Scotland will be better off the age of 55 has been given a referendum. It is virtually out of the UK. impossible to get a referendum Bill through via the private Member’s procedure. The referendum Bill should Stewart Hosie: That is because we would be. Although be in the Queen’s Speech. It should be a Government I welcome the limited growth that we have had, the Bill. I say to my hon. Friends the Liberal Democrats, actions taken by this Government since the last election who are sitting in front of me, that they cannot deny the stifled and strangled the recovery for some years, and right of the British people to have a choice. that is the underlying problem with their plan. 763 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 764

Let me take Scotland as an example. What the fail on their short-term and long-term targets so far and Government are proposing—this was before the Budget—is that will fail again. If it is about financial security, there an 11% fiscal expenditure cut, a 27% cut in capital and a is no evidence that it will succeed. If it is about growth, real terms 9.9% cut in the overall budget. This year’s the Government are not even talking about that. If it is Budget made that position worse, and that applies to about delivering on the needs and ambitions of the spending Departments throughout the UK. Nothing in people, it is woefully inadequate. As the discretionary the Queen’s Speech changes that. Nor does it change consolidation laid out in black and white in the Red the fact that the Chancellor told us that for 2013-14, the Book is predicated on a ratio of cuts to tax rises of 4:1, current account deficit would be down to 2.3% of GDP, we do not have a long-term economic plan but a Tory borrowing would be reduced to £60 billion and the net Government who seem determined once again to try to debt would be at 70% of GDP. He was forced to tell us balance the books on the backs of the poor. That is not this year that the current account deficit was higher, a long-term economic plan; that is a disgrace. borrowing was actually £95.5 billion and the net debt was 75% of GDP. The short-term metrics were wrong. 2.33 pm What about the big targets the Chancellor set for Andrew Griffiths (Burton) (Con): I am delighted to himself? They were that the debt would begin to fall as take part in this important debate on the Queen’s Speech a share of GDP by this year, that the current account and to congratulate the Chancellor on what he has done would be in balance next year and that the same year for our economy in the United Kingdom and particularly borrowing would be down to £20 billion. Presumably, for the economy in Burton. I take part in the debate that is what the Prime Minister meant by financial because I was urged to do so by one of my constituents security. Of course, as we know—nothing in the Queen’s at a thriving Burton business club lunch recently. He Speech changes this—the debt will not fall until 2016-17, said to me, “Andrew, will you go into the Chamber and two years late. The current account will not be back in urge George to carry on with his long-term economic the black until 2017-18, two years late. Public sector net plan. Will you tell him not to listen to all that Balls?” I borrowing in 2015-16 will not be £20 billion but £68 billion, assume that he was talking about the shadow Chancellor. three and a half times higher. My constituent was absolutely right, because the Although the limited recovery we have seen in the Government’s long-term economic plan is working for past year is of course to be welcomed—this directly my constituents and my businesses in Burton and Uttoxeter. answers the question asked by the hon. Member for When I spoke to those entrepreneurs and small business Suffolk Coastal (Dr Coffey)—not a single one of the men and women at Burton business club, they told me Chancellor’s key targets has been met and his actions, about the confidence they have in our economy. They as this is an austerity Government, stifled growth and have full order books, they are taking on new employees delayed recovery year-on-year. No amount of convoluted and they are optimistic about the future for their businesses formulations or warm words about long-term economic and for our economy. If that is the case, we must plans can change that. continue with our long-term economic plan because in What are the Government planning? It is there in Burton it is working. black and white in the Red Book, on page 20 for Since I became the Member of Parliament for Burton, anybody who wants to have a look. There will be a we have seen unemployment reduce by 43%. Today’s discretionary consolidation—that is cuts, and tax rises—next Opposition amendment talks about opportunities for year to the tune of £126 billion. That is £2,000 per young people, but I talk about the 1,100 apprenticeships person in tax rises and cuts. That is what they are that young people in my constituency have started as a planning and that is what they have signed up to. result of the policies of this Government. The Opposition talk about the need to help people in poverty, but I talk Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) (Lab): I am interested about the 900 families who now have the security of a in the hon. Gentleman’s comments on achieving growth. job as a result of the policies of this Government. The Presumably the skill base would need to be increased, so plan is working in Burton. I take it that he agrees that cutting the college budget by Obviously, this debate is on the economy and I want £50 million would not be the way to achieve sustainable to touch on a particular issue to do with that and with growth. the Queen’s Speech, and that is the 900,000 people employed in the beer and pub trade. I come from the Stewart Hosie: When it comes to improving education, home of Britain’s brewing industry where 4,000 people having a record number of Scots in full-time college are employed in beer and pubs, so this issue is hugely places is excellent; having 25,000 to 26,000 Scots starting important for the families that rely on that important apprenticeships every year is first class; having 32,000 industry and not just for those who enjoy great British Scots start university this year is the way to proceed; beer and our community pubs. I am very pleased to see and having all the school exam results improve in the in the Queen’s Speech legislation to protect our publicans way they have is probably a really good start. If the hon. up and down the country, as any Members on both Lady is saying that we can do more and can do better, of sides of the House have voiced their concerns about course we can—any Government can—but let us not how pubcos have treated some of our landlords. I was talk down success, particularly when we are trying to one of those who stood up and spoke about self-regulation, hold this Government to account. and I have to admit that I was wrong. The need for The point that I was making is that what we have is legislation has been demonstrated and I am pleased that not a long-term economic plan. It is certainly not the Government have come up with a proposal that will sustainable and it is certainly not a recipe for the growth protect publicans and bring real transparency and openness the economy needs. It is just more Liberal and Tory into the system. Our pub industry will flourish as a austerity. It is the same plan that has seen this Government result. 765 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 766

[Andrew Griffiths] Small businesses, which I have been campaigning for and championing since I entered the House three years I am also pleased that Ministers recognise the dangers ago and which employ nearly half the work force, are in the proposal for a free-of-tie option. As the Department still feeling the pinch. The Federation of Small Businesses for Business, Innovation and Skills economic report by survey shows that access to finance and late payments London Economics proved, that would have closed are still the two biggest issues, with £30.2 billion owed almost 2,000 pubs virtually overnight. I am pleased that to them in late payments. Although I recognise that the a statutory code and a regulator will give real protection Government have finally responded to the issues that to landlords and publicans, but I have some concerns. It my inquiry on late payments identified last year and has always been the stated aim of this Government to taken up some of my recommendations, it is likely that cut red tape and regulation, with the one in, two out the measures will relate only to the public sector. That is rule, and I hope that they will bear that in mind when not good enough and does not go far enough. We need they consider the proposed costs of the adjudicator. to ensure that the Government are standing up to big Self-regulation costs the industry about £100,000 a year, businesses and doing the right thing. If they do not, but it is estimated that the proposal for the adjudicator we will. will cost £5 million a year, which will be funded by a Then, of course, we had the Government’s arrogance levy on the industry. We must be careful that in our about what they would do about public borrowing. desire to protect those publicans we do not set up a They claimed that they would clear the deficit by 2015, quango that will end up costing the industry and that but we are we are not even halfway there yet, and they will be over-burdensome. are still borrowing £190 billion more than they planned. As the Member of Parliament for Burton, where Associated with the fragile recovery are the effects on Marston’s is based, I am also concerned that its franchisees unemployment and employment. The unemployment will be caught up in this. I urge the Government to rate is above pre-recession levels, and employment rates reconsider whether this legislation is aimed at capturing are below pre-recession levels. I still have major issues the franchise model. It is worth while thinking about on how the figures are distorted by the inappropriate that. I am also grateful that the Government chose not sanctioning that is a policy in the Department for Work to accept the proposal for a mandatory guest beer. We and Pensions. all recognise the concerns of SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers, and lots of small breweries that Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): Does my that proposal would have hit the cask ales and Britain’s hon. Friend share my concern—it was one of the points smaller breweries, and that we would have seen imported I wanted to raise with the Chancellor when I was foreign lagers as the guest ale. attempting to intervene on him—that more than 1 I commend the Government for this Bill and hope million people who are unemployed do not appear on that we can see it speedily enacted without too much the claimant count of which he is so proud? They meddling or interference to damage it. As a result, represent more than 47% of the total number of the publicans, the British beer industry and the British pub unemployed. There appears to be no knowledge of industry will thrive across the country. what is happening with these individuals and why they are finding it so difficult to get jobs. It clearly cannot be 2.39 pm benefits dependency, because they are not on benefits. Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) Debbie Abrahams: Absolutely.My hon. Friend highlights (Lab): I found the reference in the Queen’s Speech to the another issue in how information on claimants and Government continuing people not receiving payments is being missed. We “to build a stronger economy and a fairer society” should be doing as much as we can to expose those absolutely incredible. It assumes that we already have a issues. stronger economy and a fairer society, and we patently I mentioned the employment rate still being below do not. We have had the worst economic recovery in pre-recession levels. The jobs that have been created 100 years. After three years where the economy flatlined, since 2010 tend to be insecure, part time, low paid and the recovery is still very fragile. We need 1.6% growth on zero-hours contracts. The number of people on each quarter to catch up to the growth we had at the end short-term contracts has increased by 20 times since of 2010. 2010 to 1.65 million, with 655,000 of those involuntary. What is growth based on? Once again, we are seeing Increases in the number of temporary jobs account for the start of a housing bubble, driven by the Government’s more than half the rise in employment. Nearly one in policies, and an increase in household debt, which was five, or 1.46 million people, work part time because up to £2.9 billion in March this year. The Tories’ 2010 they cannot get full-time work. That is the highest manifesto stated: underemployment since 1992. Four out of five new “A sustainable recovery must be driven by growth in exports”. jobs, and one in three of those in Oldham, pay below the living wage. Absolutely. Who would disagree with that? But the Government have not enabled that to happen. The Another issue is the geographical spread of the so-called trade figures remain in the red—by £22.4 billion in recovery. Since 2010, 79% of new jobs have been created quarter 4 last year, which is equivalent to 5.4% of GDP. in London, with another 10% in nine urban centres By their own measures, the Government are failing. outside London. Related to that, UK productivity is the second lowest in In the limited time available, I want to talk about the the G7 and 20% lower than the G7 average. That is the inequalities this Government are presiding over. All widest gap since 1992 and reflects a massive fall in those employment and unemployment effects are happening non-financial investment. at a time when the Government have made specific 767 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 768 policy decisions on increasing the top rate of tax for Government Members believe in high-skill, high-value people with incomes of more £150,000, but average jobs. That is why we are so passionate about our wages are down £1,600 a year. The analysis by the apprenticeship programme and about the university Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that the net effect of technical colleges we are introducing. It is why we are so tax and benefit changes for an average family is a loss of passionate about our young people gaining the best more than £900 since 2010, while bank bonuses have skills and about improving school standards. That is the soared by 83% and top-to-bottom pay ratios in the way to get pay increases, to defeat poverty and to deal FTSE 100 stand at 300:1. with the cost of living issues facing our constituents. We are already seeing the impact in access to food In my constituency, I see employers rising to the banks: this week’s Oxfam report, “Below the Breadline”, challenge. I see B/E Aerospace in Leighton Buzzard shows that 20,247,042 meals were given to people in now employing some 540 people, Honeytop Speciality food poverty in 2013-14 by the three main food aid Foods developing a new factory, and Care Group, a providers—a 54% increase on 2012. Another recent company from India, setting up a new factory on the Oxfam report, “A Tale of Two Britains”, highlighted Woodside estate in Dunstable. In India, that business the growing gap between rich and poor, with five of the has taken on a significant number of disabled people, richest families in the UK wealthier than the bottom and its delightful chief executive plans to do the same in 20%, or 12.6 million. That follows a raft of other this country—let no one say that capitalism cannot reports—for example, from the Equality Trust. have a human face and a heart. The gap matters—it really does. It matters because, The jobs figures in my own constituency show that as overwhelming evidence shows, society as a whole there has been a 40% fall in the overall claimant count benefits from being fairer and more equal in areas for jobseeker’s allowance in the past year and a fall in ranging from life expectancy and mental health to unemployment of 54% for 18 to 24-year-olds, 35% for educational attainment, social cohesion and social mobility. those over 50, and 39% for those who have been out of It is worrying that we are seeing further increases in work for more than 12 months. Of course, we have premature deaths in deprived areas compared with more further to go—we want everyone to have a job—but affluent ones. According to a report published in May, that is not bad progress, given the scale of the challenges people in Manchester are twice as likely to die early as with which we were left. people in Wokingham, yet as I mentioned in Prime We have a Prime Minister who has said at the Dispatch Minister’s questions yesterday, last December the Box that he would like to see a minimum wage of £7 an Government scrapped the health inequalities formula hour. More companies are paying the living wage. I that Labour introduced in office to ensure that NHS remind Opposition Members that it took a Conservative resources were allocated according to need, and which Mayor of London to introduce a living wage in London, the analysis proves has been effective. and a Conservative Secretary of State for Work and A fairer, more equal society also benefits our economy. Pensions to make sure the cleaners in the Department Again, there is overwhelming evidence from a range of got the living wage. That did not happen under the sources that inequality causes financial instability, previous Government. undermines productivity and retards growth. What would a socialist Government look like? We do not have to imagine it, because we can just look across Several hon. Members rose— the channel, where we will see higher rates of unemployment, much lower rates of business start-up and a whole host of French entrepreneurs, such as Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. Mr Guillaume Santacruz, crossing the channel to set up It will be obvious to the hon. Members in the Chamber business here. He has said: that a great many still wish to speak this afternoon and “Where will I have the bigger opportunity in Europe?” there is very little time left. After the next speaker has concluded, I will reduce the time limit to four minutes. I Of the UK, he has said: appreciate that this makes it difficult for Members who “It’s more dynamic and international, business funding is have prepared speeches, but if everyone is to be given easier to get, and it’s a better base if you want to expand.” the opportunity to speak, we simply cannot have more He has left socialist France to come to a majority- than four minutes. I call Andrew Selous. Conservative-led Britain to expand his business. Oliver Colvile: Does my hon. Friend agree that cutting 2.47 pm corporation tax makes it much more attractive for business and industry to come here, and that that is a Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): There key thing we should be looking to do, to make sure we seems to be a degree of amnesia among Opposition have lower taxes? Members about the scale of the great recession presided over by the last Government and which this Government Andrew Selous: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. are having to deal with. That recession cost the British We sometimes miss the point that what we should economy £112 billion, and it cost 750,000 people their concentrate on is not the tax rate, but the amount of tax job. On Labour’s watch, youth unemployment increased the Exchequer gains. Economic history has shown over by nearly half, long-term unemployment almost doubled a long period that lower rates of tax tend to generate in just two years, 5 million people were left on out-of-work more tax revenue, as they inspire entrepreneurs to create benefits, and in one in five households no one was more businesses and expand them. working. We have made improvements, although of I am proud that we have a Government who are course we want to go further, but it is worth remembering rising to the infrastructure challenge facing this country. the scale of the difficulties this Government have had to We have heard a lot about infrastructure. My area has deal with in the past four years. waited for a crucial bypass for 60, 70 or even 80 years. I 769 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 770

[Andrew Selous] persons in the population have increased their wealth in this short period—they have actually doubled it—to have watched the town in which my constituency office just over half a trillion pounds. is located, Dunstable, and the neighbouring town of In so far as the Chancellor had any long-term plan at Houghton Regis being throttled by excessive traffic all, it was to shrink the public sector in order to enable congestion for many years. It has had a dreadful impact the private sector to expand into it, but, of course, that on businesses there. Even though permission was given did not happen. Of the 1 million jobs that have allegedly for the road in 2003, not a shovel hit the ground during been created, two thirds are self-employed on a pittance the whole 13 years under the previous Labour Government. income and almost all of the rest are insecure, low paid I can tell hon. Members that diggers are now on the and on zero-hours contracts. The fact is that virtually ground in my constituency and the road is going to get none of them are full-time jobs on or near the median built. There will be relief for the people of Dunstable income. and Houghton Regis, who waited a long 13 years under As for the present recovery, it is far too dependent on the previous Government for nothing at all to happen. consumer debt to last and it cannot be sustainable. If We have the courage to make sure that people can get we look at all the sources of demand—wage levels, on trains in the morning and do not arrive at platforms productivity, business investment and exports net of that are already full. We have not built a new railway imports—we see that they are all dramatically negative. line since the Victorian era, but it is this Government The biggest fib in the Tory lexicon is that they had to who have the courage to rise to the infrastructure challenge. clear the huge deficit by prolonged austerity. They did We have also shown courage on pensions. Have not not. The then Labour Chancellor’s two stimulatory Opposition Members received letters from their constituents Budgets in 2009 and 2010 brought the deficit down telling them how appalling the annuity market has been sharply from £157 billion in 2009 to £118 billion in and how the projections of their future pensions were 2011—a reduction of nearly £40 billion in just two on the floor, cut by more than half? Were they not years. The present Chancellor’s austerity Budgets have concerned by that? We on the Government Benches slowed the reduction to a trickle and it has reached £108 were, and, as the Chancellor said earlier, many of us billion this year—a reduction of £10 billion over three came in Friday after Friday to try to get private Members’ years. There is not much doubt there about the quickest Bills through to do something about it. Of course, and best way to cut the deficit. Labour Members did not trust our constituents to What should be done? Initially, with private investment spend their own money wisely. Oh no, they did not want flat on its back, we need public investment to promote to do that—they wanted to control it. I am proud to be growth, directed in consultation with industrial leaders serving in a Government who trust people with their at energy, transport and IT infrastructure and at house own money. As the Chancellor has said, they have building and laying the foundations for a low-carbon earned it, they have saved it and they have the right to economy. have control over it. That is exactly what we should be doing. How will it be paid for? With interest rates at 0.5%, a hefty investment package of £30 billion could be purchased Those are all very good things. Of course, there is from the markets at the bargain-basement rate of further to go. The way to deal with the cost of living £150 million a year, which would be enough to generate and helping people pay their bills is more jobs, more more than 1 million jobs—proper jobs—within two better paid and highly skilled jobs and a high value-added years. economy. We are going in the right direction. We are creating more jobs and Government Members want It could, however, be done without any increase at all them to be well paid and highly skilled, and that is what in public borrowing. A further £25 billion to £30 billion we will continue to try to achieve. tranche of quantitative easing could be directed not at the banks, as it has been before, but at agreed industrial projects; or the publicly owned banks, RBS and Lloyds, 2.54 pm could be instructed to prioritise their lending to industry, Mr Michael Meacher (Oldham West and Royton) rather than speculation abroad or on property; or the (Lab): Listening to the Chancellor, I think the Tory very rich, who have monopolised 90% of the gains since attack lines for the next election are pretty clear. They the crash could be subject to a special super tax to help go like this: “Labour left a dreadful economic mess, contribute to tackling the nation’s debt, which some of which we had to clear up the way we did. It’s been them helped to create and from which they have most painful, but we were all in it together. We always had a benefited. long-term economic plan, and now it’s come good and we have a strong economic recovery.”What unites all of 2.58 pm those claims is that every one of them is utterly false. Dr Thérèse Coffey (Suffolk Coastal) (Con): It is a Labour did not leave an economic mess—the bankers great honour to contribute to this debate on the Gracious did. In the Labour pre-crash years, the biggest deficit Speech. Some Members have made their final contribution was 3.3% of GDP, whereas the Thatcher and Major to such a debate, certainly in this House, but I am sure Governments ratcheted up bigger deficits in 10 out of that some will reappear in the other place. their 18 years. Although Thatcher-Major achieved a It is fair to say that the Queen’s Speech is an attempt surplus in two years, Blair-Brown achieved a surplus in to build on the Government’s good efforts over four four years. years in order to make our country continue its journey We were not all in it together. Average wages have towards a fairer society with a long-term economic fallen 7% since the crash, while, according to The Sunday plan. Unemployment, long-term unemployment and Times rich list published month ago, the richest thousand youth unemployment are all down. That is far from the 771 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 772 misery that was predicted several years ago. Nevertheless, nearing rock bottom, and many of the reasons for that I am sure that the Chancellor would be the first to lead directly back to the subject of today’s debate and admit that we have not tackled the deficit as quickly as today’s amendment, which I support—everyday living we would have liked. Of course the issue is that, as the standards. The economy, accompanied by austerity Office for Budget Responsibility pointed out, the recession measures, has meant less money in people’s pockets. was deeper than was initially realised and therefore it is It is not comfortable for people in Northern Ireland taking longer to get out of. to hear the Tory-led Government crow in this House Given the amendment we are considering and the about the positive state of the economy and claim that guidance given earlier, I cannot talk about some of the there has been a miraculous recovery, because that is Bills in the Queen’s Speech, but there is one Bill that I not what people are experiencing and it is far removed think will be iconic and will I am sure receive the from the everyday reality for most families. People feel support of the whole House: the Modern Slavery Bill. I that no matter how hard they work, their lot will not get will keep to the guidance, but it is important that any better, and a large proportion of them remain instead of having just a budget debate we continue to trapped in low-wage temporary contracts that offer no consider the ideas that we will all contribute to in the security and little hope, while those who cannot find next 10 months. work are repeatedly vilified. Earlier, the hon. Member for Huddersfield The rising levels of inequality—highlighted recently (Mr Sheerman) put a question to the Chancellor, to by the Governor of the Bank of England, no less—and which my right hon. Friend replied, in which he rightly an economy in which pay freezes are common and pointed out that productivity is not recovering. As the wages fall far below inflation, are hurting people right Chancellor said, however, to some extent choices have across Northern Ireland. Low and stagnant pay rates to be made. It is fair to say that keeping people in are endemic, with 26% of employees in Northern Ireland work—indeed, having more people in work—is probably being paid below the living wage level. That percentage a better choice at this moment in time, which will then is higher than for any region in England, Scotland or allow us to focus on the productivity challenge that all Wales. of us in this country need to address in order to keep Just last week, the Northern Ireland Council for our economic plan going. However, that challenge is Voluntary Action held a conference specifically on the not unique to our country, which is why we continue to problem of in-work poverty, at which it was revealed seek reform at the European Union level. that working households now make up a majority—some The Bills that we have put forward include the small 52%—of those in poverty. We are told by the Government business Bill. One of the things that the Government not to worry, because they are “rebalancing the economy” have been trying to do is to remove some of the barriers and boosting the private sector. Any such boost to the to growth, while enabling some of the activities that private sector would be welcome, but as it stands Northern they would like to see. We will see that with export Ireland has the lowest private sector wage level of any finance, and with finance being targeted at small businesses region within the UK. We must ask not only what and the help in that sector. There is also the important private sector development there is but what kind it is. It measure adding a deregulation target—a commendable must provide sustainable, stable and fairly paid jobs. element that I think we will all enjoy passing. That is all compounded by the high bills that people Of course, there are important measures to help continue to face for food, electricity and fuel. In Northern people with work and the cost of child care; child care Ireland, we pay even more for our energy than people in payments will be addressed in the Child Care Payments other UK regions. There have been decreases in the cost Bill. The National Insurance Contributions Bill is really of oil on the global market, but people do not see that important. I am sure that many Members of this House reflected in their bills. They see prices go up at the drop have examples of companies having done the wrong of a hat but never seem to fall, an issue that just this thing, and we will set that right, just as we will on issues week Ofgem has asked energy companies to explain. such as zero-hours contracts and removing the exclusivity clause. In my party, we are in no doubt that the current cost of living crisis is hitting the majority of families right On the infrastructure Bill, I welcome some of the across Northern Ireland, and we ask the Government at plans related to housing. I give a cautious welcome to this late stage to ensure that that situation is rectified in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime, the last year of this Tory-led coalition. If it is not, more with Sizewell C hopefully being built in my constituency. people will be totally placed in peril, and at great However, I want to ensure that the voice of the community financial disadvantage. is still part of that NSIP regime, as it should be. There is no doubt that the economic plan is working. In my own constituency, unemployment is now at 604, 3.6 pm which is the lowest it has been since December 2007. Glyn Davies (Montgomeryshire) (Con): Thank you, These are all good things, but the journey is only Madam Deputy Speaker, for calling me to speak. This halfway completed. That is why I am confident that the is the first time that I have been called to speak in a British public, having seen five good years of government, debate on the Gracious Speech since being elected as an will make the right decision next May and allow us to MP in 2010, and since we are debating the final Queen’s propose another Queen’s Speech in 12 months’ time. Speech in this Parliament before the next general election perhaps it is the last occasion that I will have a chance 3.2 pm to be called; whether I have a further opportunity is a Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP): This matter for the voters in Montgomeryshire next May. Queen’s Speech comes at a time when the public’s faith Anyway, thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for calling in politicians, here in Britain and in Northern Ireland, is me today. 773 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 774

[Glyn Davies] 3.10 pm

The Prime Minister began his speech at the beginning Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): It is not at all of this debate last Wednesday by telling the House that surprising that Government Members want to talk the most important task facing the coalition Government about the “long-term” economic plan, because that during the next year is continuing the work of restoring diverts attention from the failure of the short-term, our economy. That is absolutely the right approach. one-Parliament economic plan that we were told about There are 11 interesting and important Bills in the extensively in 2010 and 2011, which they said justified Queen’s Speech, but underpinning everything that the many of the measures taken. Interestingly, it is clear coalition Government should focus on in the next year from some of the contributions we have heard since last is economic recovery. week, particularly the contribution from the hon. Member While I emphasise the important aim in the Gracious for South West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous), that Speech of continuing in a determined way with the task such economic growth that we have managed to see of economic recovery, we should acknowledge what has over the past year appears to have been stimulated by already been achieved. It is far more than many of us public investment. He talked about railways and a bypass. would have expected and it has certainly defied the That sounds like a Labour policy: public investment to consistently dire predictions that have been made by the create private sector jobs. Actually, it is our economic Opposition during the past four years; indeed, my right plan that is being successful. hon. Friend the Chancellor today listed some of those predictions, which have been shown to be completely Does it matter whose economic plans did or did not false. In particular, the falling levels of unemployment work? Many people would say, “Oh, get on with it. We and the rising levels of employment have been nothing have to move forward.” But it is important, and in two short of miraculous. Only yesterday, the employment particular ways. One way has to do with the fragility figures for May were published. Unemployment fell by that still exists in the economy. I want to mention an 161,000 in May. Since 2010, more than 2 million jobs issue I raised in an earlier intervention: the growing gap have been created. between the unemployment rate and the claimant count. When Government Members talk about falling In May the number of unemployed people in my unemployment in their constituencies, they are actually constituency fell to 647—just 2.1% of the economically talking about the claimant count. When they greet active—which is 270 fewer than a year ago, and 33 anything Opposition Members say with, “By the way, fewer than in April. Those are astonishingly good figures, the hon. Member should be aware that unemployment and they are reflected in constituencies right across in her constituency has gone down by 20%”, they are the UK. talking about the claimant count. Some 47% of those Montgomeryshire is blessed with many dynamic small who are unemployed are not in receipt of jobseeker’s and medium-sized enterprises across the range of sectors. allowance. That is 1 million people. Over the past few weeks I have visited several of them, accompanied by Ministers from the Wales Office team. What is happening to those people and to the economy We visited Sidoli, Invertec and T. Alun Jones in Welshpool, within which this is taking place? A lot of them clearly Makefast, Stagecraft, Quartix and Trax in Newtown, cannot get jobs, which suggests that this great recovery and last Thursday I joined a celebration at Stadco in is not as healthy as the Government claim. Perhaps it Llanfyllin as that outstanding company received the differs by geographic area. From the point of view of Jaguar Land Rover quality standard award. Those the economy, this is particularly important, but it is also businesses, which are mainly in manufacturing, are particularly important for the individuals involved—we growing solidly, providing new jobs and creating apprentices, must never forget that. Some of them will have a working demonstrating their confidence in Britain and in the partner, although not necessarily a very well-off one. Government’s long-term economic plan. The last thing They need only relatively small part-time earnings to they need is a national insurance jobs tax, which the lose jobseeker’s allowance after six months, because shadow Chancellor so studiously refused to rule out after that they will not qualify for the income-related earlier today. benefit. Remember that that household has already lost one income, due to losing one of its two jobs, so it has a Over recent months the Opposition have made much much reduced income and then it losses £72 a week in of the cost of living—they have done so again today—as jobseeker’s allowance. That household’s buying power if Labour’s management of the economy had nothing and standard of living has dropped catastrophically. whatsoever to do with it. Experience teaches us that the What is happening to those people? only way to create sustainable increases in wages is through the marketplace, through the pressure created Some of those people are in an even more vulnerable by competition for good, well-trained employees who position. I will illustrate that with the case of a constituent are willing to work. Therefore, it is absolutely right that who came to me who had no income because he had the coalition Government continue with their brilliantly been sanctioned for six months having been declared fit successful economic plans all the way up to the general for work. He has a learning disability of a considerable election. nature and could not cope with the conditionality of In the 20 seconds remaining I want to say that my jobseeker’s allowance. He just gave up and stopped constituency is rural and depends largely on farming. claiming because he could not cope with it any longer. Currently, the cost of living is being seriously affected He was being supported by his parents, who were living by what is happening to the dairy industry.The Government on retirement pensions. How many more people are need to tackle that issue and understand why imports there who have just dropped through the so-called are coming in and why the supermarkets are not accurately safety net? I think that the Government should be labelling. worrying about that, because of what it is telling us 775 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 776 both about our economy and about individual cases. I have the sixth largest economy; and we are highly would like the Government to look into that with some successful in so many ways, under both the present urgency. Government and the previous one. My constituents look at the Queen’s Speech, and it does not relate to the 3.14 pm reality of their existence. Mike Thornton (Eastleigh) (LD): Looking at what As a social and economic entity, we have changed has been happening over the past months and years, I vastly over the years. This year, we remember the wasted am impressed by the desire of Members in all parts of lives of the 1914-18 war, when 16 million young men the House to see a fairer society built on a stronger died. Since that time, and since the second world war, economy. The difference is how we achieve that. We this country has changed dramatically. Nationally and have seen that we need to concentrate on providing jobs, in my constituency—we in Huddersfield are the average— apprenticeships and training for young people. about 8% of people in this country now make anything in manufacturing. The manufacturing sector is very In Eastleigh, youth unemployment is at its lowest for small but highly efficient. It is growing, but as it does so, five years, not four. There are 125 young claimants or it increasingly uses sophisticated machinery and fewer 1.5%. That is still too high but it is a great improvement. skilled workers. The increase in training and apprenticeships is particularly important. We have hit about 3,000 new apprenticeships, We have an hourglass economy, with a large number and these are real apprenticeships, not some sort of fake of very skilled people who are doing very well, but training jobs. This is the way to go. If we want to create many people with traditional jobs and a fair number of a fairer society, we need to train people, educate them skills who have been squeezed out of such occupations, and help them get the jobs they need. while people with few skills are having a bleak time now in this country and will have a bleaker time in future. Work must be worthwhile, and one of the ways to ensure that is through the Liberal Democrat policy—yes, So much of this Queen’s Speech fails to address the it is a Liberal Democrat policy—of increasing the tax fact that so many Members of Parliament, especially allowance to £10,500 a year. It is not enough, though. Opposition Members, but—let me be generous— We need to increase that to make sure that no one on Government Members as well, came into the House to the minimum wage pays income tax. I did a rough get a good life for people. Many people in our country calculation. The tax allowance would be £12,500 a year. are not getting a chance to have a good life; they are I look forward to that happening soon. certainly not doing so in Huddersfield. What we need to have and what should have been in the Queen’s Speech In the time remaining, I want to look briefly at is an emphasis on the difficult things, such as homes housing. One of the things for which we have been and housing. A whole bunch of cowards on these hugely criticised was the help to buy policy. I was Benches—I say this nicely, because I do not want to be talking to the Council of Mortgage Lenders just two brought up before the Speaker—will not face the fact days ago. Of the 19,393 equity loans taken so far, only that nimbyism and the green belt are preventing houses 1,000 were in London. The vast majority were for from being built so that people can have a decent place first-time buyers, and the vast majority were for houses in which to live. When are we going to recognise that? of less than £200,000, not £600,000. The scheme is doing exactly what it was meant to do—that is, allowing When will we invest more in skills, putting real investment young people from an ordinary family with a small into our further education sector and into genuine deposit to buy a house, improving on the situation that apprenticeships that last longer than a year and fit has existed for several years, where people had to be people for future jobs, not present ones? The fact is that rich or have rich parents to be able to get together a we have a good skill base, but it is not big enough. If we deposit to buy a house. Of course the Governor of the are not careful and if we are not brave and courageous, Bank of England is right that we should keep a sharp we will not have the skills relevant to keep our companies eye on the scheme to make sure that it does what it was in the premier league. meant to do, and not what is claimed. It is vital that we Our constituents do not like the argy-bargy that we continue to build more houses. I hope the housing have all the time. We would be much better agreeing on associations can be targeted to allow them to provide lots of the stuff that comes before the House for us to the bulk of this housing. discuss. Universities are an example. We must settle on On the subject of housing, a long-time bugbear of the fact that the present way of funding our universities mine is stamp duty. Why on earth do we have a stamp is putting them all in danger. They are absolutely the duty with a cliff edge and a shelf? Up to £125,000 jewels in the crown of our skill base and our educational people do not pay a penny. If they buy a house at system, but they are under threat. £125,000 + 1p, they suddenly pay £1,250. That is absurd. In this Queen’s Speech debate and during the last If the Treasury would like to find out from me how we year up to the election, we must prioritise skills, education can reform this in a totally revenue-neutral and fair way, and homes. I could write the Labour manifesto. That is please pick up the phone and call me. It is very simple what we need to do. It is what this Queen’s Speech is and easy to do. missing, and what we will replace in a year’s time.

3.18 pm 3.22 pm Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): One Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park) (Con): I am pleased of the things that my constituents do not like is the sort that the debate is about living standards because it gives of debate that we have had today. They watch it on me an opportunity to make the link between rising television and think, “What on earth is going on?” We living standards and improved democracy. That link live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world; we has been made many times before, notably by the celebrated 777 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 778

[Zac Goldsmith] Even if people do not realise it yet, at the very first scandal, they will realise that they have been duped. Power commission, later by the economist Richard Even before the Bill has been put to the test, 170,000 Layard, and later still in a very wide-ranging study by people have signed a petition saying that they want the Harvard university. In their different ways, they all real deal—not this thing that the Government are offering. established that rising living standards boost the public Unlock Democracy has said that, given a choice between appetite for democracy, and that boosted and strengthened this Bill and no Bill, it would go for no Bill, because it democracy in turn stimulates an increase in and boosts thinks that the Bill represents a step back. living standards. The link is unavoidable. I understand why the Government have done this. One element of the Queen’s Speech is a commitment The Deputy Prime Minister has talked about kangaroo to introduce a recall system. In theory, that would courts and vexatious campaigns, but he is wrong. Where certainly improve our democracy and therefore lead to recall happens around the world, there is not one example rising living standards. I say “in theory” because the of a successful vexatious recall campaign. There could Government’s current proposal falls so short of genuine not be one here, because it would require so many or meaningful recall as to be meaningless. However, the people—14,000 people—to be persuaded to join a vexatious House will at least have the opportunity to make profound campaign. We know that that is simply not possible in amendments to the Bill, and I very much hope that it our constituencies. does. I am going to run out of time. I simply ask Members Recall was promised by all three parties before the to consider how the Government’s proposal might work. last election. They felt obliged to make that promise on It is much more worrying than true and genuine recall. the back of the expenses scandal that rocked the House, and it presented an easy, democratic and simple solution. 3.26 pm Effectively, recall means enabling voters to remove Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (Lab): underperforming MPs if at any time they lose the That was the week that was, as we used to say in the ’70s confidence of the majority of their constituents. It and ’80s. To echo the comments of my hon. Friend the could not be more straightforward: if enough constituents Member for Bolsover (Mr Skinner), this is the last sign a petition in a given period of time, they earn the throw of the dice for the coalition Government. The right to hold a referendum to ask whether constituents numbers certainly have not come up for the working want to recall their MP, and if a majority want to recall people of the UK and, in particular, the young people their MP, there is a by-election. There is a natural of this country, who are working in terrible environments safeguard in that the threshold would, in an average that should have been gone in bygone years. constituency, require 14,000 constituents actively to visit the town hall and sign a petition during an 8-week There are problems with zero-hours contracts and period. Recall would put people in charge, allowing the minimum wage. Those people do not have a voice in them to replace their MP if a clear majority want to the workplace because the coalition Government have do so. tried to silence the voice of the trade unions as much as possible. That is the coalition Government’s whole agenda. The public understood that they had finally been There is bogus self-employment, particularly in the promised a reform that might empower them, but then construction industry, where people are being asked to the election happened. I am afraid to say that the pay double national insurance—as employees and as Labour Opposition went quiet on the issue, and the employers. That is a complete sham. coalition Government began to weave small print through their promise. The current proposal is for a form of I have never openly admitted to being an admirer of recall that can happen only by permission of the Standards the Tory party, but one thing I do admire the Tories for Committee, and its criteria are so narrow as to make it is that when they get into power, they deliver for their entirely meaningless. own. They do not just talk about that in rhetorical terms; they deliver it. That is what the Queen’s Speech People are already angry with politicians—the signs was about—delivering for their friends in the City and are everywhere—but hon. Members should try to imagine elsewhere. how voters will react when they discover that they have been duped by this pretend recall Bill, this illusion of Unfortunately, I have to say that the Labour Government reform. It is extraordinary that even if the Bill becomes could have done far more than they did in their 13 years law, an MP could switch parties, fail to turn up once to in office for working people in this country. With one or Parliament or even go on a two or three-year holiday two exceptions, they did not fulfil the ambitions that without qualifying for recall. At the very first scandal, people had for them; they did not have the hunger or voters will learn that they have been tricked. The anger the aspiration to take them forward. that they feel will dwarf— I am pleased that the current Labour leader is talking the language that people understand and that people want to hear. I am confident that, if he continues using Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. that kind of language, we will see the return of a radical The hon. Gentleman, with some ingenuity, has done Labour Government. There is a great appetite out there well to keep in order and speak to the amendment. I for change. That was certainly reflected on the doorstep trust that, in the final minute of his speech, he will during the European elections, when it pained some of conclude with reference to the specific matters in the us to be told, “Youse are all the same. There’s no amendment. difference between youse.” The days of the Labour party tinkering at the edges are gone, and my right hon. Zac Goldsmith: I will certainly do my best, Madam Friend the Leader of the Opposition is taking us in the Deputy Speaker. right direction. 779 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 780

Mention has been made of food banks. Personally, I customers including Jaguar Land Rover and Bentley. It think that it is a stain on all our characters that there are has doubled its turnover to £12 million in the past year food banks in this country. When we pose at food banks and won awards through GrowthAccelerator, including for press releases, there should be a big sign at the front its “Game Changer” award. Its business has grown, and saying, “I’m sorry.” We have subjected people to using its staff told me only a year or two ago of the need for food banks through our policies and we cannot blame new premises. I was able to introduce them to my anyone other than ourselves. proactive Conservative-controlled local authority, which One of the most positive policies of the last Labour introduced them to a developer who is completing new Government was the introduction of the minimum premises for the company as we speak. wage. However, we have dined out on that for long A proactive local authority is also incredibly important enough. We now need to see the living wage. I am proud for the second theme mentioned in the amendment that to say that my local authority, Renfrewshire council, is I wish to refer to—the need to boost house building. In not only introducing the living wage for its employees, Rugby, we are building houses. We have just granted but using its procurement processes to tell its suppliers, consent for 6,200 new homes at the Rugby radio station “We will no longer give you the contract simply because site, and there has been substantial local support for it. you employ cheap labour.” It is trying to instil the It has been a matter of when, not whether, the development standards that it upholds among its suppliers. will take place, because there has been effective consultation The other people who are walking free are employers and engagement with local residents. I hear time after who encourage migrant workers to come to this country time from developers who want to develop in Rugby to undermine and undercut indigenous workers’ terms about the professional and positive approach of planners and conditions, which causes all sorts of problems in in my constituency. Other local authorities could take communities. The senior executive members of the big up that approach. I add that my local authority has companies go back to their leafy suburbs and leave the been diligent in ensuring that it has an up-to-date local rest of us to get on with it. My right hon. Friend the plan. Many of the problems that occur elsewhere arise Leader of the Opposition talks about irresponsible because of the lack of a local plan. capitalism, and that is what we need to stop in this In the last few moments of my speech, I will refer to country. We need to stop the exploitation of migrant plastic bags—with my hon. Friend the Member for workers at the expense of our indigenous workers. Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith) sitting behind me. I was disappointed to see the provision in the Queen’s 3.30 pm Speech, because plastic bags make up a tiny part of this Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con): I am grateful to you, country’s litter and household waste. Most bags are Madam Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to speak this used many times before they are put to another use—for stage of the debate. May I give my apologies for leaving instance, as bin liners. It is a great disappointment that early? I have arranged to meet some constituents with a the matter was included in the Queen’s Speech. Minister immediately after my speech. The amendment calls for the creation of a recovery to 3.34 pm ensure increased living standards for the many, and we Jack Dromey (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab): “What can achieve that by growing our economy. It is growing planet does the Chancellor live on?”, said the Stockland in my constituency, as is shown partly in the claimant Green mother. “Does he begin to understand people count statistics—we are at 50% of the 2010 level, with a like me? My husband has been made redundant three fall of one third over the past year. Much of that has times, and each time the new job is on a lower rate of been achieved through our great location at the centre pay. Do they know, up there, what life is like for us down of England, with excellent road and rail connections. In here?” particular, the Government are improving the junction That goes to the heart of what the shadow Chancellor of the M1 and M6 at Catthorpe, which makes my said earlier about an era of discontent and disconnection. constituency attractive to business. Substantial development There is discontent because life is hard for most of my of both industrial and residential property is taking constituents. Living standards are squeezed and people place, as the Prime Minister remarked when he arrived are worried about their kids and concerned about vested by train at Rugby station to travel along the M6 to the interests—energy companies, for example—taking manufacturing technology centre at Ansty. He saw the advantage of them. They say to me time and again, substantial new housing and industrial development “Jack, it just ain’t fair.” The disconnection is because that is coming forward. there is mistrust of politics and politicians, and incredulity The MTC is itself a success story in supporting when people are told that recovery is under way. Time manufacturing, and a big theme of this Government’s and again I hear, “Recovery—what recovery?” My work has been a rebalancing of our economy. That is constituents say to me that this Government simply do how we can create growth and improve living standards. not understand their lives, because for too many of Let us not forget that the manufacturing sector of our them, life is hard and there is insecurity in the world of economy halved in the 13 years of the last Government. work. I meet constituents on zero-hours contracts and In my constituency, we are making things. Only a few those in the building industry who complain about weeks ago, I went to Rosyth to see the new aircraft being undercut. One said, “Jack, they are exploiting the carriers, which are propelled by motors built by GE migrants and undercutting us.” Energy in my constituency. A company called Automotive Insulations is also a Debbie Abrahams: Is not the increase in the number superb success story in the manufacturing supply chain. of people on zero-hours contracts an absolute shame? It produces acoustic and thermal insulation for the The Chancellor was not even able to provide a figure for motor industry, a sector that is growing fast, with that number. 781 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 782

Jack Dromey: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. 3.39 pm One of the people I met was a young lad of 22. He said, James Morris (Halesowen and Rowley Regis) (Con): “Jack, I’ve just had a baby. We are trying to bring up The Government were formed with one overarching our kid as best we can but I cannot plan from one week purpose: to get our economy back on its feet, building a to the next because of my zero-hours contract.” A framework for jobs and restoring some sanity to our woman, Rachel, poured out her heart to the Leader of nation’s finances. Nowhere was this need greater than in the Opposition on the Castle Vale estate about what life the black country in the west midlands. is like trying to bring up a young child on the minimum wage. There is insecurity at home. One in two people in The previous Government promised to put an end to Stockland Green in my constituency live in the private boom and bust. For families in Halesowen and Rowley rented sector and most cannot plan from one year to Regis, they delivered on one half of that pledge. Even the next where they send their kids to school or manage before the start of the great recession, gross value added their households budgets, because like Cathleen they in Dudley and Sandwell collapsed from 88% of the have contracts that last six months at a time. national average in 1997 to just 74% in 2008. As the prosperity gap between the black country and the south-east Some people are struggling to buy a home, such as grew out of control, the number of private sector jobs the young family who came to see me and said, “We’re in the west midlands actually fell under the previous desperate to buy a home, Jack, but we simply cannot Government. If the boom bypassed the black country, afford it. It costs six or seven times what we earn the bust hit families hard in Halesowen and Rowley combined to buy a home in this area.” Others struggle Regis. to maintain their living standards. One family said, Now, four years of action from this Government—one “We’re worse off now than we were in 2009, and for us, might call it a long-term economic plan—have helped holidays are a thing of the past.” Barbara and Jim to turn things around, and many families in Halesowen Brown are struggling, and they are typical of so many and Rowley Regis are starting to see the benefits. Yesterday’s of my constituents who can no longer afford to pay jobs figures showed unemployment falling more quickly their energy bills. Local businesses are struggling to get in the west midlands than anywhere else in the country, loans from banks. One civil engineering company said, with 80% of the increase in jobs being full-time positions. “Jack, it would be easier to break into my bank than get In my constituency, the number of people who are out a loan from it”. of work has fallen by more than a third since the Mums and dads are anxious about their sons and election. Some 2,000 more people in Halesowen and daughters, such as the wonderful woman in the Castle Rowley Regis are in work, helping to ensure a stronger Vale area who said, “I love my son, Jack. He’s got future for them, their families and the country as a learning difficulties and he has never worked. He is whole. Thanks to the year-on-year increases in personal desperately frustrated and I want to see him get on.” allowances, 30,000 of my constituents are now able to Now, at last he is getting on. Why? Because Birmingham keep more of what they earn for themselves and their city council’s youth jobs fund has funded a job for him families, and 3,000 people on low incomes no longer in the upcycle project. You should see the smile on his have to pay any income tax at all. Things are still face, Madam Deputy Speaker. difficult for a lot of families and we still need to do more to make sure that everybody benefits as the economy The council has also driven an apprenticeship programme recovers, but the evidence is strong that things are with 1,500 apprentices thus far. The biggest builder of getting better. People in Halesowen and Rowley Regis homes in Birmingham is tackling some of the problems literally cannot afford to return to the mistakes of the in the private rented sector and driving the living wage past. to transform the city into a living wage city. However, A Government cannot be judged by the weight of faced with the biggest cuts in local government history, legislation they propose, but by the impact their actions what can be done by local government is important but have on the country. There is more to commend in this limited. Queen’s Speech than we have time to discuss, but the In conclusion, the message from this debate is this: if small business, enterprise and employment Bill will people want an economy that works, decent wages that make it easier for businesses in Halesowen and Rowley reward hard work, a higher minimum wage, a living Regis to compete, to invest and to grow. A few days wage and an end to undercutting; if they want security after the Budget, I was pleased to welcome the Chancellor in their home or the security of knowing they will be to Cube Precision Engineering in my constituency, a able to buy a home, and if they want the next generation young company that has grown from a staff of six to a to get on, including building a new generation of badly team of more than 37. The day after the Budget, Cube needed homes, creating jobs and apprenticeships—the placed an order for a new £325,000 machining centre to kind of wonderful young apprentices I see at Willmott allow it to grow further, increase exports and create new Dixon in my constituency; if they want to be confident jobs. The Bill will help more businesses to access the that they can heat their home, and to have an honest finance they need to invest in their own growth. Government who will not promise the moon but will The measures in the Queen’s Speech build on the move mountains on their behalf, stand up for them and achievement of the Government’s long-term economic be on their side; and if they want a Government who plan: helping businesses to create jobs, increase our are fair, without the grotesque contrast between the tax skills base and build prosperity; supporting families cut for millionaires and the bedroom tax being introduced with child care costs when parents return to work to on the same day; if they want a Government who will make sure that it pays for them to work and our reverse that and put the burden on the broadest shoulders economy is able to benefit from their skills and potential; and abolish the bedroom tax, and if they want a strong and encouraging workers to save for their futures by economy and fair society, they want a Labour Government. allowing them more choices over how they save and 783 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 784 more freedom over how they use their money. This is of what it should have been if the Government were the programme of a Government who have already genuinely ambitious for the people of this country. delivered a lot, but who recognise there is still a lot more to do. This is a Queen’s Speech that I am very proud to 3.47 pm support. Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): It is a great pleasure to speak in this debate about the economy and the cost 3.43 pm of living, which are central to the Government’s mission, as expressed by the long-term economic plan, which Mark Hendrick (Preston) (Lab/Co-op): An economic includes a number of factors that are critical to the recovery for whom? My constituents still struggle. Many long-term plans of this country as a whole. One is, are on part-time hours or zero-hours contracts, and obviously, reducing the deficit; another is making sure those who are in work see their wages stagnating. The we have more skills and more infrastructure, along with Prime Minister wants people to believe that the economy the overall aim of rebalancing the economy. has picked up, but that is not the experience of many of That is of great importance for my constituency in my constituents. Many still feel the pressure and worry Stroud valleys and vale, because we have more than about their future and job security. 9,000 people working in manufacturing and engineering. Recent updated statistics from the Office for National That is one of the reasons why I have launched the Statistics found that there are 1.4 million zero-hours festival of engineering and manufacturing, to put a jobs in the UK, even though Ministers claimed as focus on that heritage and the prospects of the sector as recently as September last year that there were just a whole. It is also critical to ensuring that young people 250,000. The ONS also found that in a further 1.3 million have opportunities and make themselves aware of the contracts, employees were given no hours at all during a examinations and other processes that they might like sample two-week period. to pursue to benefit their careers. Wages for my constituents in Preston remain below But there is more to do, and that is one of this the north-west and UK averages. The average weekly Government’s missions, now and after the next general wage in Preston in 2013 was £370—£110 less than the election. For one thing, we need an infrastructure that north-west average and £150 less than the average in the enables people to get out and about and to work. In my rest of the UK. The latest figures show that UK-wide constituency, that means improving connections with pay growth has slumped to 0.7%, which is sharply down other parts of Gloucestershire—for example, by moving from 1.7% last month and well below inflation, at 1.8%. the railway stations to ensure that people can get to The Government need to raise the minimum wage Bristol from Stroud and so forth. These are useful ideas and introduce the living wage. I am proud that Preston that add up to a strengthening of an already vibrant city council was one of the first councils in the country economy that is ready for the next challenges. to implement the living wage, from the beginning of The other thing we need to do is strengthen our September 2011. provision of skills. Again, we have some plans in my The standard of living for my constituents in Preston constituency. We want to establish, in effect, a unit in a and many others in the north-west has not improved now disused part of Berkeley Magnox power station— under this Conservative-led Government. Child poverty which is now decommissioned—to provide skills for is above the national and regional average, at 28.7%. Life green technology for renewables and also nuclear expectancy in the north-west is below the national technology. That is all good news for young people who average. For men it is 77.4 and for women it is want jobs and want to do well. 81.5, compared with 80 for men in the south-east and I drew the attention of the Prime Minister to the 83.8 for women. There are 2,295 people in Preston—around third issue I want to raise when I took him to Renishaw—a 5%—claiming jobseeker’s allowance. In Preston and really powerful firm in my constituency, employing elsewhere, there are huge amounts of hidden nearly 4,000 people, with hugely innovative and impressive unemployment, among people who have received sanctions products. It is a kind of Mittelstand type of firm. We on their benefit claims and also those who have been need to see more of them in this country—certainly in claiming for over six months who happen to be married the valleys and vale—and we need to encourage them to to someone who is in work. Although unemployment grow and seek to introduce even more research and figures have dropped, the number of people on part-time development. or zero-hours contracts is at an all-time high, while There are two areas worth thinking about here. The 17.8% of children in the north-west live in workless first is the taxation system, and we need to enable households. people to think long term without being bedevilled by In the Queen’s Speech, the Government pledged to short-term planning systems in taxation. They need to increase apprenticeship places to 2 million, but as I have think beyond the horizon, which is something that our argued in the past, they cannot say what type of competitors, notably Germany, are often able to do. We apprenticeships they will be. Unskilled jobs such as need to adjust our taxation system to enable Mittelstand- stacking shelves in the local supermarket are of course type firms to thrive. So, too, do we need to see measures welcome, but they are not replacements for good, high to improve access to capital. That is why I am so pleased quality apprenticeships that give high training and added with the proposed Bill to achieve that, which we shall value in industry, such as at BAE Systems, which is near debate in due course. my constituency and has excellent training, or Westinghouse, The other big issue is ensuring that our supply chain another major company that also provides excellent is responsive enough to deal with the continuity of training. growth. We have already established centres to promote This Government have promised a great deal; they the aerospace sector and the automotive sector, all of have delivered very little. The Queen’s Speech is a shadow which is good. 785 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 786

[Neil Carmichael] been able to take advantage of his second version of the Help to Buy scheme are £80,000 in London and £49,000 In conclusion, if we want to increase living standards, nationally. In other words, we are using taxpayers’ the answer is increased productivity. The issues I have money to help those in the top income decile to buy highlighted—part of the long-term plan as an overall houses that are already overpriced, while pricing more strategy—are precisely the tools to do the job, and the people out of the market. There is no solution for those Government are continuing to work on them. on the lowest incomes, and no solution for those who are renting; they are still left behind. 3.51 pm We need to hear about a programme that meets the Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) (Lab): As predicted, key priorities of the majority, but that has certainly not the Chancellor’s remarks this afternoon made much of happened today. his “long-term economic plan”, but the original 2010 version of an export-led recovery, of increased business 3.55 pm investment and of a shift to a new kind of economy has simply not happened. To compensate, the Government Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds) (Con): I fear have fallen back on a good, old-fashioned, British housing that the amendment contains several new Labour clichés bubble and consumer spend splurge as a recipe to see that make me nostalgic for the Blair and Brown years. them through to the general election—pumping up the Delivering rising living standards for the many, not the feel-good factor and praying that nobody notices that few, making work pay—the only one that is missing is living standards are still sliding for huge swathes of our “an end to boom and bust”. constituencies across the United Kingdom. This form Of course, new Labour did not deliver any of those of growth is not sustainable; it is a high-risk strategy. things, but it did deliver the biggest peacetime borrowing The Chancellor was prodded into talking about deficit that the country has ever seen. I regret to say that productivity, and the hon. Member for Stroud (Neil Labour has not learnt anything in the last 12 months. Carmichael) was quite right to emphasise that should According to the House of Commons Library, it has be a priority. The problem is that our productivity gap is made £29 billion worth of unfunded spending now wider than it has been over the last 20 years, commitments. As for making work pay, this is the party following the flatlining of the economy over the last that refused, in the House, to back the benefit cap. seven years. It is not just the recession that has caused Labour Members are quite happy for those on benefits the decline. According to the Office for National Statistics, to earn the equivalent of £40,000 a year before tax. in comparison with our international competitors, output The amendment refers to child care. Of course that is per hour worked in the UK is 21% lower than the very important for some of my constituents, especially average for the other six members of the G7. This is the working mothers. That is why we are introducing a Bill biggest productivity shortfall since 1992, and according that will deliver 20% of child care costs—up to £10,000 to an alternative measure, the gap in output per worker per child, which is worth up to £2,000 per child per is now a horrifying 25%. Although we expect output to year—to working families. Moreover, 85% of the child pick up this year, poor productivity has stifled earnings care costs of families receiving universal credit will be growth and squeezed real incomes. That shows what covered. should be the priority in the ever-more competitive What are we doing to support small business, the world that we face. biggest deliverer of the 1.7 million extra jobs that have UK companies are sitting on some of the largest cash been created since 2010? I do not know what the Labour reserves of any western economy, but at the same time, party is doing, but, as well as cutting the “jobs tax” by according to a report from the Department for Business, providing an employment allowance of £2,000 a year, Innovation and Skills, we have a we have come up with a Bill that will raise the maximum “sustained, long-term pattern of under-investment in public and fine for employers who do not pay the minimum wage, private research and development…and publicly funded innovation.” and will ban the exclusivity that currently prevents The UK’s total investment in R and D has been relatively people who are on zero-hours contracts from working static at 1.8% of GDP. In America, it is 4%, while in for other employers. France and Germany, it is well over 2% and they are Housing has been mentioned. It is true that we need aiming to get to 3%. This is a new world in the 21st century. more brownfield sites to be built on by residential If we do not innovate and do not develop products, we developers, and our Infrastructure Bill will cut the red are going to fall behind and our tax base will go along tape surrounding unneeded public sector land that is with it. not being returned to planning permission territory. It The Government will point out that they created a will also reduce energy costs, which are a key component number of industrial forums for debate and decision of the cost of living, by ensuring that shale extraction making, and a series of industrial papers came out last takes place across a wider area and more rapidly. year. The sector councils for the automotive and aerospace Finally, let me draw the House’s attention to an industries have been formed for many years and are omission. I do not know whether it is due to slack industry-led, but the other councils have met on only a drafting on the part of Opposition Front Benchers or to handful of occasions, do not have public-facing websites their general disdain for pensioners, but the word and are basically turning into glorified talking-shops. “pensioner” does not appear once in the amendment. That needs to stop soon. We are introducing two Bills to deal with the fact that It is not surprising that the Chancellor refused to give about 12 million of our fellow citizens are not saving way to me when he began to talk about the housing enough to provide for an adequate retirement income. market, because I might have pointed out to him that Our private pensions Bill will create collective pension the average—mean—annual salaries of those who have schemes to ensure that more people can gain access to 787 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 788 affordable pensions, while our pension tax Bill will 4.3 pm bring about the most revolutionary change in pension provision that the country has seen for more than half a Ian Swales () (LD): In 1997 the Labour century. Crucially, it will allow individuals not to be Government were elected to the theme tune “Things compelled to buy annuities at 75, but to have true can only get better”, but in my area they were about to freedom in relation to the pot of money that they have get a lot worse. The Teesside Development Corporation built up during their working lives. was immediately scrapped and after 13 years of neglect, Redcar and Cleveland was judged independently to The plan is working. Labour has no plan. We should have the weakest economy in the country, and just keep on going. Middlesbrough had the second weakest. Several hon. Members rose— Now with a successful local enterprise partnership, Government money pouring in, unemployment in my Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. constituency down by 916 in the last year and Although Members have been very well disciplined and manufacturing up, we can see the fruits of some investment have kept their speeches extremely short, there are still coming through. Tonight when I get off the train I will many Members waiting to speak and we are running be going past the new £39-million biologics manufacturing out of time. I must therefore reduce the time limit to centre near Darlington station and on Monday we will three minutes. be signing the Tees valley city deal, which I hope will act as a break to those Labour people who think the Tees 4pm valley should always be run from Newcastle. The Government are making the wealthy pay more. Grahame M. Morris (Easington) (Lab): I will speak Against any year under the last Government, the wealthy very quickly, Madam Deputy Speaker. are paying much higher taxes on their income, capital For ordinary people in Easington, east Durham and gains, pension contributions and spending. This week the north-east of England, things are getting harder, we passed clause 110 of the Finance Bill, which holds not easier under this Government. Hard-working people the inheritance tax threshold at £325,000. are on average £1,600 a year worse off. Families are I will just make a few comments about the Opposition paying £300 more on their energy bills. At a time when amendment. We cannot take any lessons about house people are working longer and harder for less, raising a building from a party that reduced house building to family in Easington, as elsewhere in the country, has the level of the 1920s by the time it left office and took become more difficult as child care costs have risen by 421,000 social houses out of circulation while the waiting almost a third. lists were going up by 740,000—it is a shameful record. My good friend and near neighbour my hon. Friend Labour also thinks we can make the energy industry the Member for Wansbeck (Ian Lavery) raised a very more competitive by freezing prices, but unfortunately interesting point at Prime Minister’s questions yesterday. that will freeze investment and freeze out new entrants. He asked the Prime Minister about the number of I have tried in vain to find an organisation outside the children who were living in poverty in households where Labour party that thinks the energy price freeze is in the someone was working. The figure was one in three. interests of consumers. I will gladly take an intervention Indeed, two thirds of young people in poverty live in a from anyone who can name such an organisation. working household. The Prime Minister did not address I support the living wage and helped to launch a that question. campaign in Parliament. The Living Wage Foundation Members on the Government Benches tell us that has praised the Liberal Democrat tax cut of £700 because employment is the route out of poverty, but for many it makes the living wage more achievable. The living parents hard work is not even enough to provide an wage is worked out from a net figure, so tax reductions acceptable standard of living for their children. In the do help. Interestingly, the Opposition amendment mentions north-east, full-time workers are now £36 a week less the 10p tax rate. I would have thought they would have well-off than they were a year ago. The link between wanted to bury that, as it reminds people that they economic growth and living standards has been broken. doubled taxes for some of the lowest-paid people in this The assumption that as the economy grows wages would country. They mention vocational arrangements, and it grow too no longer holds water under the policies being is truly a scandal that our young people are so poorly pursued by this Government. I am very pleased the educated that the NHS, engineers and many others have Labour party has pledged to raise the value of the to go outside the country to get their employees. I am minimum wage over the next Parliament and to move pleased that this Government are doing something about towards a living wage for businesses that can afford to putting that right. pay it, and to introduce a lower 10p starting rate of tax. We can only have a successful economic recovery if it is felt throughout society, and the problem with the 4.6 pm Government Front Bench—including, with all due respect, Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab): Picking the Chancellor—is that the economy is only working up on the last point that the hon. Member for Redcar for small clusters of privilege. It is not working for the (Ian Swales) made about the 10p rate, let me add that a vast majority of people, certainly not in my constituency. Labour Government introduced that in the first place. I wanted to raise some issues in relation to the young We can have lots of debates about that after the event, unemployed and those who are not in employment or but obviously I do not have a lot of time to go through training, but I am afraid there is not time. What the the issues I would want to go through. public require is an economy that works for them, not I welcome the fall in unemployment—it would be a just the few, and a Government prepared to deal with bit churlish of me not to do so. Obviously, I also the real issues affecting their lives. welcome the Modern Slavery Bill, because in a modern 789 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 790

[Mr Jim Cunningham] has not been addressed. I know that the next Labour Government will confront that matter and raise the day and age human trafficking is an abomination to amount. civilised society. Of course I also welcome any help that Labour has also pledged to work with the private and small businesses get, although I do not think that what voluntary sectors to ensure that there is a paid job for is being done is enough. Having said all that, the every 18 to 24-year-old who has been claiming jobseeker’s Queen’s Speech falls down because nothing is being allowance for the past 12 months or more, and for every done to construct social housing. By contrast, if Labour adult over the age of 25 who has been claiming JSA for wins the next general election, we will probably build more than 24 months. That policy has been costed at about 200,000 houses a year, because that is what is £1.9 billion. Once we instigate it, it will lead to savings needed. Government Members have been debating what on other benefits. we did and did not do when we were in office, but let us not forget that we had to clear up an 18-year mess left We know that people want to work, but some are not by the Tories—they tend to forget that. I can remember able to do so because of high child care costs. Labour the falling down hospitals, the closure of schools and so says that, to help people to work, it will allow 24 hours on, so we do not need any lessons from those guys over free child care for three to four-year-olds and a guaranteed there on the Government Benches. Of course in 13 access to wraparound child care through primary school. years we could not do everything. There are now 578 fewer Sure Start children’s centres and 35,000 fewer child care places. That will be changed One thing we should draw to the House’s attention is by a future Labour Government. We believe that support that purchasing power, regardless of what job someone for child care will help people to get back into work. is in, has fallen by between 5% and 6%. Schoolteachers and low-paid people in Coventry have seen a gradual Another important issue is housing. Everyone wants erosion of the purchasing power of their wages. When a decent home in which to live, and house-building is at people talk about the European Union and Europe, it is its lowest level since the 1920s. The previous Labour well worth mentioning, because it has been mentioned Government spent £20 billion on repairing homes, and before, that a Labour Government gave the British a future Labour Government will build at least 200,000 people a referendum on Europe for the first time. The homes by 2030, creating 230,000 construction jobs. We Heath Government signed up to Europe but the Labour will also ensure that local councils have “use it or lose Government of the time went ahead and gave that it” powers over developers who hold on to land with referendum. Also on Europe people must remember planning permission and do not build homes on it. We that we had the five tests. will also establish a help-to-build guarantee scheme to increase access to finance for small builders. Obviously, I cannot speak about other issues for as long as I would wish, but I want to mention legislative Rising energy prices was another issue that was missing changes on the regulation of taxis, which are certainly from the Gracious Speech. If Labour comes into power, creating a lot of issues in Coventry, and up and down we will freeze prices until 2017. All of the issues I have the country, with demonstrations yesterday. The other mentioned should be addressed. issue I want to raise is the situation at Coventry City football club. We were promised a Bill last year that would regulate the Football League, but we have been 4.12 pm continually stalled on that. A private Member’s Bill will be reintroduced to do something about that, but people Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland in Coventry want to know why they have to spend £70 West) (Lab): The last Queen’s Speech before the general every time they want to see their football team because election should have shown that the Government were of the shenanigans going on between the football club listening to what ordinary people want. Instead, we had and all the other parties involved. Nothing has been a speech that seemed to be geared more towards allowing done to resolve that problem. May I suggest that the Government Members plenty of time to go off campaigning relevant Select Committee tries to resolve it by taking for their own jobs than it was to helping 380 of my evidence? I am sorry I cannot go on any longer, as I constituents who are long-term unemployed, which is would love to have raised a load of issues. an increase of almost 600% in the past two years. It was a speech that talked about charges for plastic carrier bags, but not about helping those people who are struggling to afford the food to put in them. 4.9 pm The lack of action by this Government to tackle Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East) (Lab): The Gracious inequality was particularly notable. This is a Government Speech represents a missed opportunity. We missed the who have helped the rich get richer while allowing the opportunity to carry out a number of good things to incomes of ordinary working people to fall by £1,600 a revive our economy and give our people a good standard year. The Office for National Statistics recently published of living and the conditions they deserve, and that, as research showing that the wealthiest 10% of households we all accept, is something that concerns the country at owned 44% of the country’s total wealth, while the least large. wealthy 50% owned just 9% between them. That research I would have liked to have seen at least four things in also showed that the north-east has the lowest average the Gracious Speech. The first relates to jobs. It is household wealth—not even half as much as in the important that people are secure in their jobs and south-east. Such deep inequality has shown time and properly remunerated, yet nothing has been done on again to be a drag on the economy. One of the most zero-hours contracts, which are being abused by many effective ways to tackle that is by rebalancing our economy unscrupulous employers. At the same time, despite the to create more jobs and wealth in our regions, particularly Government’s promises, the issue of the minimum wage in the north-east. 791 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 792

Do not get me wrong, Mr Deputy Speaker, the north-east living in poverty and the figure is predicted to soar to 5 does not need any special treatment or sympathy; that is million by 2020. We have the highest ever recorded not what I am after. It is full of people who are highly figures of adults with children in poverty. I have met too motivated to work, who have world-leading skills and many parents in my constituency who are devastated new and exciting ideas. It has bags of potential, particularly that they are struggling to provide for themselves and in low-carbon technology and other skilled manufacturing. their children. This Government have no answer to a In fact, only last week, the Deputy Prime Minister and problem that I believe—I have written in my speech the the Business Secretary came to the fabulous new Rolls same words as those used by my hon. Friend the Member Royce factory in my constituency to see that for themselves. for Paisley and Renfrewshire North (Jim Sheridan)—is I am not sure whether they had time to go for a pint a stain on our national conscience. We are the seventh together afterwards, but I would have been more than richest nation in the world, but we have more than 1,000 happy to recommend one of Washington’s excellent food banks and more than 900,000 people who have pubs. had to access emergency food aid on behalf of themselves What the north-east needs is a fair crack of the whip. or their families. So far under this Government regional development We could have had a make work pay Bill to reward funding has been skewed towards the already prosperous hard work with a higher minimum wage. We could have London and the south-east and, sadly, nothing in this had a consumers Bill to freeze energy bills. In my Queen’s Speech changes that. constituency, where we have the third highest level of Another way to make our society more equal and fuel poverty, that would have helped hundreds of my more prosperous is by harnessing the potential of women, constituents. We could have had a housing Bill with which means addressing the unaffordability and long-term reforms to increase the supply of homes by unavailability of child care. Instead of taking action in 2020, a communities Bill to give people a say over this Parliament to address their record of spiralling payday lenders and betting shops in their high streets costs, plummeting availability and cuts to support through and an immigration Bill to stop workers being undercut tax credits, all the Government could muster in their through enforcement of the national minimum wage final Queen’s Speech was the promise of something to and banning recruitment agencies that use only overseas come in a year’s time. Parents everywhere will therefore labour. welcome the calls for more free child care for working I wanted to talk about long-term youth unemployment, parents outlined in the Opposition amendment. All I which has gone up in my constituency by more than can say is thank goodness this will be the last Queen’s 50% since 2010, but there is not time so I shall conclude Speech from this Government. by saying that we need a race to the top, not to the bottom and an economy that works for us all, not just for the very few rich. 4.15 pm

Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab/Co-op): 4.18 pm I rise to speak in support of my right hon. Friend the Member for Morley and Outwood (Ed Balls) and the Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab): The past four Opposition amendment and on behalf of thousands of years have been a very tough time for a great number of constituents in Liverpool who were looking to the my constituents and many other people across the Chancellor and the Prime Minister to offer them some country. Since the financial crisis of 2008 and the bold relief from the cost of living crisis but received no such and decisive action taken by the previous Government thing in the Gracious Speech. to prevent the collapse of the banking system, the value Not a week goes by in which I do not meet constituents of our economy, and with it the living standards of the on the doorstep or in my surgery who are struggling to majority of our fellow citizens, has fallen dramatically. get by. More often than not, they are in work. They are Though some might attempt to point score over the juggling jobs, they are in precarious employment and causes of our economic situation, it is fundamental that they do not know whether they can put food on the Members recognise right from the start the very human table from week to week. I listened carefully to the cost of its consequences. Chancellor and his comments on zero-hour contracts Whereas Government Members might wish to gloat and was disappointed that he did not know the figures, over indications of some partial recovery, they either but I can tell him that a conservative estimate of the completely ignore or are simply too out of touch to number of people on zero-hour contracts is 1.4 million. recognise that the real value of wages has plummeted What is the Government’s plan to deal with this problem, for most people while their cost of living has gone which has exploded on his watch? He refuses to ensure through the roof. When Shelter estimates that 4 million that those working regular hours month after month families are only one month’s pay packet away from will get a regular contract of employment. That is poverty and not being able to keep a roof over their totally unacceptable. heads, the cost of living crisis that has taken hold in There are so many things that the Government could Britain today should be of real concern to us all. have brought forward to help millions of people in our Over the course of this Parliament, the Bills contained country. In particular—this issue was raised with the in successive Queen’s Speeches have done little to address Prime Minister yesterday—the coalition agreement pledged the plight of those who struggle the most. This, the final to maintain Labour’s goal of ending child poverty by Queen’s Speech before the election, is yet another missed 2020. The Government said that they would develop opportunity to assist those in greatest need in society. better measures for child poverty in this Parliament, but When we look at the problems that working people face there was nothing. Only this week, we learned that a daily and the Government’s inaction, we can only agree shocking 3.5 million youngsters in our country are that we have a coalition Government in zombie mode, 793 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 794

[Graeme Morrice] Leeds Permanent and Northern Rock, which were destroyed because of Thatcherite dogma. That helped to create oblivious to reality. Government Members may boast the global financial crisis that has beset this country about the number of new jobs being created in the and caused the problems that we have. private sector, but that hardly compensates for the As people from right across the political spectrum, many thousands of jobs lost in the public sector due to but not this Government, are seeing, we need to develop Government cuts. Private sector job creation is welcome, a system of regional finance to support local business but many of those jobs are insecure, being low-paid, and to invest in local economies. We cannot rely on the part-time, casual or on zero-hours contracts, where white-tied individuals in the City of London to support people continue to live day to day. the industry and the businesses that we need. It is time The official unemployment count might be reducing, for regional banks. The Government do not even recognise but the cost to the public purse of in-work benefits is the problem, so they will never provide the solution. increasing—hardly the high-value wage economy that is Thank goodness this is their last Queen’s Speech. needed to guarantee the country’s long-term sustainable recovery and hardly a successful economic plan. The 4.24 pm Government have cast aside ordinary working people and are on the side of exploitative employers, who cheer Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool) (Lab): I had intended to from the sidelines as reports such as Beecroft’s try to focus on the structural weaknesses in the British economy strip back employment rights, the minimum wage and of stagnating business investment and a widening safety at work. The Government are trying to line the productivity gap. However, yesterday I received a call pockets of the richest, in the hope that some of the from Maxine Bartholomew, an old friend, who told me crumbs will fall from the table. I am aware that we are that her mother, Rose Stubbs, had died on Tuesday at very short of time, so on that point I will sit down. the age of 87. Rose would have had a lot to say about the Gracious Speech and she would have said it much better and faster than I could, but I will try to do her 4.21 pm justice. Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): In his 2010 Budget, the Rose and Maxine were present at the first Labour Chancellor said that he would eliminate the budget party meeting that I ever attended, in the Borough hall deficit by the next general election in 2015. On his own in Hartlepool, where somewhat nervously I said I would terms, he has failed. In the 2010 Budget, the Chancellor like to somehow become more involved in the local said that net borrowing this year would be £37 billion. Labour party. Rose took me under her wing then and The latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility she has never let me go. put the figure at close to £100 billion. That is not the Rose lived all her life in the Headland part of Hartlepool, Chancellor’s only failure. In 2010, the Chancellor said a unique and historic part of the world, where people that he wanted to create have far too often had to endure hard times. In an area “a new, balanced economy where we save, invest and export”.— of big characters, Rose—at 4 feet 11 inches and 7 stone [Official Report, 22 June 2010; Vol. 512, c. 167.] wringing wet—was the biggest. Her father was a fisherman I have already said how catastrophic the Chancellor’s and a veteran of the first world war, living on the croft failure has been for the deficit. However, adjusted for and eking out a wage in the harshest environment—in dilapidation and depreciation, non-financial private sector terms of both the North sea and the economic situation—of investment has fallen from £43 billion in 2008 to £14 the 1920s and ’30s. In the last years of her life, Rose was billion in 2013. Less investment means less competitiveness angry at the return in the 21st century to the insecure and poorer productivity. employment practices of the ’20s and ’30s that characterised To address the desperate politics of their situation, her father’s generation, and an economic model for this the Tories and the Liberals have sought to revive the country that focused on low skill, low pay and a lack of economy through various short-term measures. The security at work. I know, too, that she would have been funding for lending scheme gave incentives to banks to angry at the absence of any meaningful provision in the lend to the mortgage market but did little to help small Queen’s Speech to address the situation. businesses. The Help to Buy scheme was introduced in Rose always told me that her father had said, “Get a the 2013 Budget and has helped to fuel the property good job in a factory and join a union to ensure that market in the south-east in particular. you receive better pay and conditions,” so she would Short-termism is the byword for this exhausted have been angry at yesterday’s announcement that average Government. Far from having a long-term economic weekly earnings in the north-east fell by 7.3% last year, plan, they are staggering through to the next general leaving full-time workers in our region £36 a week worse election and thereafter the inevitable rate rise will happen. off. The situation is even worse for women in the north-east, Their re-election would be catastrophic for home owners who have lost £49 a week from their pay packets over who are already suffering a cost of living crisis, even the past year. There is nothing in the Queen’s Speech to with record low interest rates, and for business, which address that, so Rose would have supported today’s will have to cope with increased costs. Opposition amendment, which calls for This Government have not addressed the fundamental “a plan to secure a strong and sustained recovery that delivers weaknesses of this country’s economy since the 1980s: rising living standards for the many, not just a few at the top”. over-reliance on the financial sector and over-concentration Rose believed passionately in social mobility, in giving of wealth and investment in London and the south-east. working people the power and the tools to better themselves When the UK economy was at its strongest, it relied on and to ensure that a decent day’s work was well paid. economic growth right across the UK. We had superb That is why she would have been impressed with what regional institutions, such as Halifax building society, our amendment says about a compulsory jobs guarantee, 795 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 796 the importance of vocational qualifications and a new draft Bills, which are an indication of where that partnership with business that emphasises the importance Government want to go if they are lucky enough to of apprenticeships. secure another term in office. Despite the forces of globalisation and discontent with politics, we in this House still have the power to Robert Flello: I recollect that before the 2010 general effect change for the better for people like Rose and election, the Conservatives criticised the then Prime those who come after her. We need to build an economy Minister for what they called a lightweight Queen’s for working people like her. She would have approved of Speech; by comparison with this one, it looks so heavy the Opposition amendment, which is why I will be as to be unliftable. voting for Rosie tonight and the many people like her in Hartlepool. Andrew Gwynne: I completely agree with my hon. Friend and the real issue is that this Queen’s Speech is 4.27 pm lacking in both those areas—Bills and draft Bills. Perhaps it is unfair to Her Majesty the Queen to say this, but the Mr Russell Brown (Dumfries and Galloway) (Lab): only memorable part of her Gracious Speech was her To all those who have managed to find employment in announcing a tax on plastic carrier bags. That is rather the past 12 months, I say well done. To those on the telling, because despite all the big issues facing my Government Benches, however, I say that what we are constituents in Denton and Reddish, there is very little seeing across this country is an unequal recovery. If the in the Queen’s Speech about tackling the cost of living Treasury team look at the figures from the Office for crisis, nothing to ease the pressure on housing that my National Statistics, they will see that the total number constituents face, nothing on the NHS—perhaps that is of hours worked each week across the UK has not a blessing in disguise—and no vision for a better Britain. increased anything like as much as it should have done, given that such a massive number of people are finding The complacency from Government Members was work. Those average weekly hours are being spread striking, because this recovery is unequal. Areas such as among more people, hence the unequal recovery across Denton and Reddish are struggling. I am not a merchant the country. of doom; there are some good indicators. Unemployment is relatively low, at 3.7%. That is welcome but it is still I am sick of saying that this time last year the average higher than the 2.8% rate when I entered Parliament in wage in my constituency was almost 24% beneath the 2005. There is an underlying story of low wages and national average, although thankfully the figure has long hours for people in full-time jobs, and many jobs fallen to just under 20%. The problems that we face are part-time, on zero-hours contracts and insecure. Of were first discovered on the high streets of the United course, that is utterly self-defeating for the taxpayer, Kingdom, and if we look at those high streets today, we because it results in the working poor, whereby we are will see that in most communities there has been very paying extra in-work benefits to subsidise low wages. little improvement. The bedroom tax is costing this Government £4.8 Robert Flello: I am enjoying my hon. Friend’s speech billion more in housing benefit over the course of this immensely. He has hit on that insecurity issue yet again. Parliament, so something has gone sadly wrong. I want Last weekend, Stoke-on-Trent saw its 10th foodbank an explanation of what the bedroom tax was all about, opening up, which surely points to the insecurity that because almost 400,000 more working people are now exists. in receipt of housing benefit and trapped in a bedroom tax situation than in 2010. That is an increase of some Andrew Gwynne: It absolutely does, and it is a stain 60% in England, 59% in Wales and 53% in Scotland. on our country’s reputation that so many people in What was it all about? People have not changed houses, work, as well as those who are out of work, have to rely but they have had to pay more as they have not found on charity handouts. suitable accommodation. The Labour party in government will move on the Of course, in my constituency, an in-work benefit living wage and we will ensure that—through public that has soared in recent years is housing benefit. I now sector procurement—it will be introduced. We need to have 1,000 extra claimants in Stockport and 870 extra ensure that life is much better for so many families the claimants in Tameside. Those increases are surely a sign length and breadth of this country who find it hard, of that insecurity and those low wages. In my constituency, and we need to ensure that we tackle the high levels of wages are 20% are lower than the median for the UK. youth unemployment that depressingly still exist for That is why we need Labour’s deal on the national some communities, in a way that will give young people minimum wage and why we need to put in place living in this country decent jobs, not jobs on zero-hours wage agreements. contracts or on two or three hours a week, which are Youthunemployment is still stubbornly high. I commend not enough for them. Tameside council and, yes, I also commend Stockport council for their efforts to increase the number of 4.30 pm apprenticeships, but what we need is a compulsory jobs guarantee, because what really worked for many young Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): It is a people in my constituency was the future jobs fund. It pleasure to contribute briefly on the last day of the was criminal that this Government axed that very important debate on the Gracious Speech. scheme. We need to upskill the next generation and The striking thing for me is that the last Queen’s maximise the benefits of the jobs that have been created Speech of a Parliament is usually stuffed full of Bills—the in the Manchester city region; in the city centre, in last few things that a Government want to get done MediaCityUK at Salford Quays and at the airport city. before a general election—and then there are a load of We need to attract new jobs to Tameside and Stockport. 797 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 798

[Andrew Gwynne] This Queen’s Speech is not about rising to the challenges that the public want the Government to confront; it is We need to invest in education. It was criminal that all about giving the appearance of activity, but not real many of my schools missed out on Building Schools for activity itself. It is about image, not substance. It is the Future, even though my right hon. Friend the about the theatrics of government, not getting on with Member for Morley and Outwood (Ed Balls) signed off real reforms. It is also about repeating more and more the BSF payments for St Thomas More college, Audenshaw promises, rather than fulfilling the ones they made in school, All Saints school and Reddish Vale technology the first place. Look at what they promised on making college. We need that investment, so that those schools work pay, again in the Queen’s Speech. Strangely, they have the same quality of educational facilities that we made that promise in the 2010 Queen’s Speech. This had in Denton community college. time they made a promise about cutting red tape, which Lastly, there is a chronic need to build more housing. they also promised to do in 2010. They made a promise It is good for jobs, but we need affordable housing both this time, as they did in 2010, about balancing the to buy and to rent. We need decent homes in the private books and eradicating the deficit. We know that the rented sector, because far too many of them are squalid, Chancellor’s failure to generate growth for three years frankly. We need more social housing. I commend New after the general election means that they have failed to Charter Housing Trust Group for its new build—I was meet that promise. lucky enough to cut the first sod at its new site in Of course, we must not forget one of the most Audenshaw—but it barely scratches the surface of what foolhardy promises of all: to bring immigration down is needed. to the tens of thousands. In his solemn pledge on that, This Queen’s Speech lacks ambition. I fear that we the Prime Minister said, “no ifs, no buts”. That was will have to wait 11 months for a Labour Government what they guaranteed. It is amazing that there was no and a proper programme for action. mention of that pledge in the Queen’s Speech. But promises are difficult. These are tough times and, because 4.36 pm of the Chancellor’s failure to get a grip and generate growth early enough, public finances are in a difficult Chris Leslie (Nottingham East) (Lab/Co-op): After state. six days of debate on the Queen’s Speech, what have we We are going to find times tough in the next Parliament learned? I have learned that my hon. Friends on the and lower priorities will have to get less funding. What Opposition Benches have been determined to make the is the reaction of Government Members to these difficult points on behalf of their constituents, while Government circumstances? Do they knuckle down? Do they redouble Members consistently ran out of time. their efforts, roll up their sleeves and try to do something My hon. Friends have been diligent in pointing out about the challenges facing this country? Absolutely all the items that have been conspicuous by their absence not. They switch on to autopilot mode and go into from the Queen’s Speech. My hon. Friend the Member “coasting”, and we end with a legislative programme, for Edinburgh East (Sheila Gilmore), my right hon. such as the one we have, that does not confront the Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr Straw) and my problems that the country faces. hon. Friend the Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Yes, we hear in the Queen’s Speech that the Government Gwynne) made this point, as did my hon. Friend the want to help small and medium-sized enterprises with Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham), my late payments, but what about helping businesses with right hon. Friend the Member for Derby South (Margaret real lending support and the banks that should be Beckett), my hon. Friends the Members for Huddersfield helping those businesses get the equity in and get the (Mr Sheerman), for Birmingham, Erdington (Jack growth that we need in our economy? We hear in the Dromey), for Glasgow North (Ann McKechin), for Queen’s Speech that the Government want to help with Preston (Mark Hendrick), for Bolton South East (Yasmin penalties where the minimum wage is not paid, but what Qureshi) and for Hartlepool (Mr Wright), my right about the real reform strengthening the minimum wage hon. Friend the Member for Oldham West and Royton and ensuring that we link it to average earnings to make (Mr Meacher), my hon. Friend the Member for Denton an appreciable difference? The Government want pensions and Reddish—I have listed him already; that is how flexibility. We welcome that, but what about the advice good his speech was—my hon. Friends the Members and guidance that those retirees will need in order to for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger), for Livingston avoid problems further down the line? The Government (Graeme Morrice), for Wrexham (Ian Lucas) and many even talk about child care tax relief eventually, but what more. I apologise to the hon. Friends I have been unable about 25 hours of free child care for three and four-year- to mention. olds? That would be possible if the Government only We did not get the measures we wanted in the Queen’s pulled their finger out and collected the bank levy as Speech. Many hon. Friends mentioned cigarette packaging they are supposed to do. and smoking in cars, which were not included. There We do not see these measures because the Government was nothing on border controls and no mention of the do not understand the challenges that the public face. national health service. My hon. Friends should not be They do not offer a long-term economic plan. This is a surprised by the paucity of the Government’s legislative Government obsessed with short-term political programme, because it is not by accident; it is by design. calculations—the phony concern of those who are focused It is a deliberate strategy to avoid time-consuming legislation more on the appearance of introducing reform than on that would be difficult for this House to deal with. They the reality of undertaking reform. want to scrape the barnacles off the bottom of the boat, as Lynton Crosby famously put it, because they do not Robert Flello: On pensions, the £5 billion or whatever want anything to get in the way of the image they want figure will go into the Treasury from the Government’s to craft ahead of the general election. proposals will be more than offset when, no doubt 799 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 800 under a future Labour Government, the chickens come Help to Buy, but we need “Help to Build” alongside it if home to roost and mis-selling scandals hit. It will be a we are to tackle that particular problem. Tenants in Labour Government who have to pick up the mess. insecure accommodation are being ripped off by letting agents. Chris Leslie: That is why we want to see the full detail On child poverty, it is predicted that 3.5 million of the advice and guidance that need to be put in place. children will be in poverty over the next few years, The Government do not like hearing it, but these are which is five times the Government’s original estimate, the questions that have to be answered. Those answers but that does not even get a reference in the Queen’s were not in the Queen’s Speech. Speech. As my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham It was not a long-term economic plan that we got in East and Saddleworth (Debbie Abrahams) pointed out, the Queen’s Speech, but a set of short-term obsessions 20 million meals have been served in food banks in the focused on political calculations. The Queen took less past year, which is a badge of shame for the Government, than 10 minutes to read out the speech that she was but there is no reference to that in the Queen’s Speech. given, yet for most of our constituents it offers zero The national health service is, of course, under more progress on their concerns. The parties in government strain than ever before, but there was not a single word think that all is fine with the economy—everything is about it in the Queen’s Speech. going perfectly well—but how detached from reality With all those problems, what have the Government can they get? been doing for the past week? They have been feuding The Financial Secretary will no doubt speak shortly among themselves, with Cabinet Ministers briefing against and she can quote all the economic data she likes, but I one another and not just two parties in coalition but at have to tell her that for many people this is an economy least four factions vying for political control. Somebody that is about low pay, zero hours and, for those who are somewhere has got to get a grip and to show some real struggling, food banks. She can quote GDP statistics in leadership and good government, rather than allowing recent months, but we are seeing an economy where the this appalling state of affairs and factionalisation to very wealthiest 1% in society are doing particularly well continue. and seeing their share of the cake grow while the rest of I must tell Government Members that, day by day, we the population are seeing their share shrink further and are seeing a coalition that is less a coalition than a further. The Government may be satisfied with this conspiracy for inaction. [Interruption.] I will give way state of affairs, but the Opposition are not. to the Chancellor if he wants to talk about food banks, child poverty or housing strategy. They are not interested In the remaining 11 months before the general election, in those matters, however, because the Queen’s Speech we should have a substantial and meaningful legislative is an artifice—it is all about presentation and the spin programme which tackles some of these problems, rather that they want to put on these issues. than the set of headlines and press releases that have been strung together for effect. Where is the Government’s ambition and sense of urgency about the problems in the country today? The legislative torpor in the Queen’s Speech is absolutely Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/ appalling. They have turned the House of Commons Co-op): Will my hon. Friend give way? into the most expensive waiting room in history. In this Queen’s Speech, they are treading water for another Chris Leslie: No. I have only a few more minutes. year. We know that their legacy will be the slowest I wanted also to focus on the Infrastructure Bill that economic recovery for 100 years. This will not do, and the Chancellor has brought forward—the so-called our constituents will not stand for it. The fact that we Infrastructure Bill. Third time lucky. The last two have to wait a further year for the general election is a infrastructure Bills certainly did not do the trick, nor tragedy for the millions of people who need real help did the 11 infrastructure plans and strategies that the now. The Government are squandering the chance for Government have published since the last general election, change in this country and, with it, the potential that or the 79 press releases that we have had on infrastructure our country should have, which is why Opposition since then. We know that this Chancellor is obsessed Members believe that Britain deserves much better than with presentation, not with getting diggers on the ground. this. Let us look at the problems that this country is facing. There are 5 million people on low pay in our 4.47 pm country today, yet there is nothing in the Queen’s Speech The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Nicky Morgan): to incentivise the living wage, which would make a real This Queen’s Speech builds on the Government’s long-term difference. Bank lending to small businesses that need plan to create a stronger economy and a fairer society. real help is falling, but banking reform has been inadequate We have had a debate, but the hon. Member for Nottingham and is not the action that we need. There is a cost of East (Chris Leslie) did not appear to want to talk much living crisis, with prices yet again exceeding wages, about Labour’s amendment and he certainly did not according to the latest economic data. Yet no action has want to talk about Labour’s plan, if it has one, for the been taken on the big six energy companies, which economy. continue to fail to pass on to their customers even Let me go back to the beginning of the debate and reductions in wholesale energy prices. pay tribute to my hon. Friends the Members for Portsmouth The state of affairs in housing is one in which demand North (Penny Mordaunt) and for Mid Dorset and goes higher and higher, but house building is at its North Poole (Annette Brooke) for their eloquent, articulate lowest since the 1920s. I must say to the Chancellor that and, it has to be said, hugely entertaining speeches last if he thinks that a new town in Ebbsfleet adds up to a week. As they affirmed, it was the first time that female housing strategy, he is sorely mistaken. Yes, we have Members of Parliament had both proposed and seconded 801 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 802

[Nicky Morgan] Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. I want to hear the Financial Secretary, but I am struggling. the Loyal Address, and it is an honour for me to close I am sure that Members want to hear the answers. the proceedings on it tonight. That is especially true at a time when our country can boast more women in Nicky Morgan: The right hon. Member for Oldham employment than ever and more women working full West and Royton showed in his opening paragraph that time than ever. Those statistics are of course part of a he understands the Government’s economic policy perfectly. wider picture in which not only has overall employment It is a shame that he did not stop there, because he reached its highest level ever, but unemployment has summed up so beautifully all the Government’s reached its lowest level in more than five years. achievements over the past four years. Let me turn to the speeches—I counted 37 of them—in My hon. Friend the Member for Montgomeryshire today’s debate. We started with the contributions of (Glyn Davies) talked about the dairy industry in his three distinguished Members: the right hon. Member constituency, and I heard what he had to say. for Derby South (Margaret Beckett), my hon. Friend The hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mike Thornton) the Member for Aldershot (Sir Gerald Howarth) and talked about the increase in the personal allowance. His the right hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr Straw). kind offer to advise the Treasury on the reform of My hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough stamp duty has been noted and I am sure that we will (Sir Edward Leigh) talked about Labour’s waste during take note of what he has to say in the run-up to the next office. He would know a lot about that as the former fiscal event. Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. The hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman) My hon. Friend the Member for South West Bedfordshire offered to write the Labour party manifesto for the next (Andrew Selous) talked about the amnesia of Opposition election. I wonder whether those on the Labour Front Members—we can see it in some of their faces today—and Bench were listening. the problems that they left behind for this Government My hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park to deal with. He spoke about investing in infrastructure. (Zac Goldsmith) talked about recall, about which he is I am sure that he will welcome the Infrastructure Bill passionate. I suspect that there will be many debates on that was announced in the Gracious Speech last week. that issue in this House before the recall Bill is passed. My hon. Friends the Members for Rugby (Mark Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) Pawsey) and for Stroud (Neil Carmichael) talked about (Con): Does my right hon. Friend recognise that it is how the Government are delivering for manufacturing incredibly important that there is investment in the and rebalancing manufacturing. It is worth noting that south-west, including in our railways and roads? That is manufacturing is expanding faster in the UK than in how growth will be delivered in the south-west and in any other country in the G7. my Plymouth constituency. The hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Jack Dromey), who I cannot see in his place, spoke of an era Nicky Morgan: I thank my hon. Friend. The Labour of discontent and disconnection. I agree with him. party did nothing for the south-west. He has been a There is an era of discontent and disconnection in the doughty champion of investment in the south-west Labour party—discontent with the leadership and since his election in 2010. The Treasury and other disconnection from what this country needs to rebuild Departments continue to look at road and rail projects, the economy. which will make a huge difference. Of course, we saw My hon. Friend the Member for Halesowen and the speedy rebuilding of the railway line following this Rowley Regis (James Morris) talked about the Labour year’s floods, which caused such disruption to the south- party’s promise to end boom and bust. He was right to west. We did not hang around talking about it; we got say that it delivered only one half of that promise. on and delivered the investment that was needed. My hon. Friend the Member for Bury St Edmunds (Mr Ruffley) talked about trusting people with their Mr Straw: If the right hon. Lady is so critical of the pension savings. Labour Government’s record, will she explain why the Chancellor, when he was shadow Chancellor, made the The hon. Member for Redcar (Ian Swales) talked commitment in an article in The Times on 3 September about the successes and investment in his constituency, 2007 that a Government under him would endorse and mentioned the Tees valley city deal. I am sure that Labour’s spending plans for the following three years? all Members wish him and everybody who will sign it next week the best of luck. Nicky Morgan: I thank the right hon. Gentleman The hon. Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham) very much indeed for his question. Although I was not talked about the 10p tax rate. He laid claim to the fact in the House at the time, my party warned the Labour that the last Government introduced it. The last Government about excessive borrowing and spending. Government also got rid of it, which caused great It is frankly rather pathetic of Labour Members to say, unfairness to those who were being taxed at that rate. not just in this debate, but in many debates, “You didn’t The hon. Member for Bolton South East (Yasmin warn us. You didn’t tell us that we weren’t doing the Qureshi) made a spending commitment of £1.9 billion, right thing.” They were in government at the time and which only reminds us that the amendment would cost they were running the country. £14 billion. The right hon. Member for Oldham West and Royton The hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana (Mr Meacher) showed in his opening paragraph— Berger) talked about zero-hours contracts. I think she [Interruption.] said that 1.4 million people are on zero-hours contracts. 803 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 804

In fact, the ONS estimates that there are 1.4 million Chris Leslie rose— zero-hours contracts and that 583,000 people are on them. She should be careful, because the ONS recently Nicky Morgan: I give way to the hon. Gentleman. warned the shadow Business Secretary about his interpretation of those figures. Chris Leslie: I thank the Minister; we do have a little The hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright) gave bit of time left. Does the Minister believe that people in an eloquent speech and demonstrated to all of us the this country will be better off at the time of the general dangers of someone turning up at a local party meeting election in 2015 than they were at the time of the last and saying, “I want to get involved.” Many years later, general election? Does she agree with the IFS that they they find themselves here on the green Benches—we will not be? have all been there. Nicky Morgan: The whole country will be better off, Many hon. Members made points about the cost of because we are fixing the economy, getting more people living. Of course the Government want to see rising into work and seeing wage levels going up and the living standards for households up and down the country, inflation rate falling. If the hon. Gentleman was waiting and we have helped households by freezing fuel duty to ask that question, he could have asked it during and council tax, taking money off energy bills, capping many other speeches this afternoon. He will have to do rail fares and introducing free school meals. However, better than that next time. the best way to improve living standards is to stick to our long-term economic plan to improve productivity, It is worth noting that the hon. Gentleman gave a get as many people in work as possible and ensure that speech recently on efficiency savings, but no savings they take home as much of their pay as possible. were identified. He listed a lot of ways to spend money, instead—£21,000 on keeping a police station open; the As the House will know, we have already made real restoration of the spare room subsidy; the jobs guarantee progress on that front, but this Queen’s Speech introduces for young people, which as we have heard today is a measures that will further increase employment. It offers £1.4 billion commitment; a house building programme; tax-free child care, which will make a return to work and a British investment bank. The Government will more financially viable for thousands of mothers and not take lectures on how to run the economy. fathers and, for the first time, help those who are self-employed or setting up businesses. It offers a small This Queen’s Speech proves that this Government are business Bill, which will make it easier to establish and just as radical in our fifth year as we were in our first. grow small businesses, and an Infrastructure Bill that There were more Bills in this year’s Gracious Speech will help businesses both large and small by creating the than there were in the last Government’s final Session, transport and digital networks that they will need to and they are serious Bills tackling serious issues—pensions, thrive in the long term. All those steps will help our infrastructure, small business, child care payments, serious businesses get more people into work, which will support crime, modern slavery, the armed forces, social action our households and grow our economy. and heroism, national insurance contributions and the recall of Members of Parliament. This Queen’s Speech will be one further crucial step Chris Leslie: Will the Minister give way? in the Government’s long-term economic plan. It will help those who want to work but are put off by child Nicky Morgan: I cannot take any more interventions. care costs, and those who are forced to work by the [Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman has had plenty of despicable practice of traffickers and slave masters. It time to make his arguments, but let us see how we get will help small businesses access finance and savers on. First, I want to respond to the points that hon. access their pensions, and most importantly, it will keep Members made about housing. employment rising and the deficit falling. That is why Of course we recognise that in some parts of the we reject the Opposition’s amendments and why I commend country, people are worried about house price rises over the Gracious Speech wholeheartedly to the House. the past year. However, I point out, first, that real house Question put, That the amendment be made. prices are still below their pre-crisis peak; secondly, that The House divided: Ayes 232, Noes 269. the Government are committed to a number of new building schemes to increase housing supply, including Division No. 2] [4.59 pm the new garden city at Ebbsfleet; and thirdly, that we are helping through the Help to Buy scheme thousands of AYES people who earn enough for a mortgage but are struggling Abbott, Ms Diane Beckett, rh Margaret to raise a deposit. The official statistics released last Abrahams, Debbie Begg, Dame Anne week show that Help to Buy is opening up home Ainsworth, rh Mr Bob Benn, rh Hilary ownership to thousands across the country, with more Alexander, rh Mr Douglas Benton, Mr Joe than 94% of all completions being outside London and Alexander, Heidi Berger, Luciana more than 85% being by first-time buyers. To the Opposition Ali, Rushanara Betts, Mr Clive Member who dismissed the “stupid” Help to Buy scheme, Allen, Mr Graham Blackman-Woods, Roberta I say that that is an attack on aspiration and on everybody Ashworth, Jonathan Blenkinsop, Tom who wants to own their own home. Austin, Ian Blomfield, Paul Bailey, Mr Adrian Blunkett, rh Mr David Fourthly, I point out that the Financial Policy Committee Bain, Mr William Bradshaw, rh Mr Ben is in a position to step in if it thinks we are seeing a Balls, rh Ed Brennan, Kevin return to unsustainable lending levels. We are monitoring Banks, Gordon Brown, Lyn the situation and taking action, and we are ready to Barron, rh Kevin Brown, rh Mr Nicholas take further action if we believe it has become necessary. Bayley, Hugh Brown, Mr Russell 805 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 806

Buck, Ms Karen Harman, rh Ms Harriet Onwurah, Chi Smith, rh Mr Andrew Burnham, rh Andy Harris, Mr Tom Osborne, Sandra Smith, Angela Byrne, rh Mr Liam Havard, Mr Dai Owen, Albert Smith, Owen Campbell, rh Mr Alan Hendrick, Mark Pearce, Teresa Spellar, rh Mr John Campbell, Mr Ronnie Hepburn, Mr Stephen Perkins, Toby Straw, rh Mr Jack Caton, Martin Heyes, David Pound, Stephen Stringer, Graham Clark, Katy Hillier, Meg Powell, Lucy Tami, Mark Clarke, rh Mr Tom Hodgson, Mrs Sharon Qureshi, Yasmin Thomas, Mr Gareth Clwyd, rh Ann Hoey, Kate Raynsford, rh Mr Nick Thornberry, Emily Coaker, Vernon Hood, Mr Jim Reed, Mr Jamie Timms, rh Stephen Coffey, Ann Hopkins, Kelvin Reed, Mr Steve Trickett, Jon Connarty, Michael Horwood, Martin Reeves, Rachel Twigg, Stephen Cooper, rh Yvette Hosie, Stewart Reynolds, Emma Vaz, Valerie Corbyn, Jeremy Irranca-Davies, Huw Reynolds, Jonathan Watson, Mr Tom Crausby, Mr David Jackson, Glenda Riordan, Mrs Linda Watts, Mr Dave Creagh, Mary James, Mrs Siân C. Ritchie, Ms Margaret Weir, Mr Mike Creasy, Stella Jamieson, Cathy Robertson, Angus Whiteford, Dr Eilidh Cruddas, Jon Jarvis, Dan Robertson, John Whitehead, Dr Alan Cryer, John Johnson, rh Alan Robinson, Mr Geoffrey Williams, Hywel Cunningham, Alex Johnson, Diana Rotheram, Steve Williamson, Chris Cunningham, Mr Jim Jones, Graham Roy, Lindsay Wilson, Phil Curran, Margaret Jones, Mr Kevan Ruane, Chris Winnick, Mr David Dakin, Nic Jones, Susan Elan Ruddock, rh Dame Joan Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Danczuk, Simon Kane, Mike Sarwar, Anas Wishart, Pete David, Wayne Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Sawford, Andy Woodcock, John Davidson, Mr Ian Keeley, Barbara Sharma, Mr Virendra Woodward, rh Mr Shaun Davies, Geraint Kendall, Liz Sheerman, Mr Barry Wright, David De Piero, Gloria Khan, rh Sadiq Sheridan, Jim Wright, Mr Iain Denham, rh Mr John Lammy, rh Mr David Shuker, Gavin Tellers for the Ayes: Dobbin, Jim Lavery, Ian Skinner, Mr Dennis Bridget Phillipson and Dobson, rh Frank Lazarowicz, Mark Slaughter, Mr Andy Julie Hilling Docherty, Thomas Leslie, Chris Donohoe, Mr Brian H. Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma Doran, Mr Frank Lewis, Mr Ivan NOES Doughty, Stephen Love, Mr Andrew Adams, Nigel Chishti, Rehman Dowd, Jim Lucas, Caroline Afriyie, Adam Chope, Mr Christopher Doyle, Gemma Lucas, Ian Aldous, Peter Clappison, Mr James Dromey, Jack MacNeil, Mr Angus Brendan Amess, Mr David Clark, rh Greg Dugher, Michael Mahmood, Mr Khalid Arbuthnot, rh Mr James Clarke, rh Mr Kenneth Durkan, Mark Mahmood, Shabana Baker, Norman Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey Eagle, Ms Angela Malhotra, Seema Baldry, rh Sir Tony Coffey, Dr Thérèse Eagle, Maria Mann, John Baldwin, Harriett Collins, Damian Edwards, Jonathan Marsden, Mr Gordon Baron, Mr John Colvile, Oliver Efford, Clive McCabe, Steve Barwell, Gavin Cox, Mr Geoffrey Elliott, Julie McCarthy, Kerry Beith, rh Sir Alan Crabb, Stephen Ellman, Mrs Louise McDonagh, Siobhain Bellingham, Mr Henry Crouch, Tracey Engel, Natascha McDonald, Andy Benyon, Richard Davies, Glyn Esterson, Bill McDonnell, John Beresford, Sir Paul Davies, Philip Evans, Chris McFadden, rh Mr Pat Bingham, Andrew Djanogly, Mr Jonathan Farrelly, Paul McGovern, Alison Binley, Mr Brian Dorrell, rh Mr Stephen Field, rh Mr Frank McGovern, Jim Blunt, Crispin Dorries, Nadine Fitzpatrick, Jim McGuire, rh Mrs Anne Boles, Nick Drax, Richard Flello, Robert McKechin, Ann Bottomley, Sir Peter Duddridge, James Flint, rh Caroline McKenzie, Mr Iain Bradley, Karen Dunne, Mr Philip Flynn, Paul McKinnell, Catherine Brake, rh Tom Ellis, Michael Fovargue, Yvonne Meacher, rh Mr Michael Bray, Angie Ellison, Jane Francis, Dr Hywel Meale, Sir Alan Brazier, Mr Julian Ellwood, Mr Tobias Gapes, Mike Mearns, Ian Bridgen, Andrew Elphicke, Charlie Gardiner, Barry Miliband, rh Edward Brine, Steve Eustice, George Gilmore, Sheila Miller, Andrew Brokenshire, James Evans, Jonathan Glass, Pat Moon, Mrs Madeleine Brooke, Annette Evans, Mr Nigel Glindon, Mrs Mary Morden, Jessica Browne, Mr Jeremy Evennett, Mr David Godsiff, Mr Roger Morrice, Graeme (Livingston) Bruce, Fiona Fabricant, Michael Goodman, Helen Morris, Grahame M. Buckland, Mr Robert Fallon, rh Michael Greatrex, Tom (Easington) Burley, Mr Aidan Farron, Tim Green, Kate Mudie, Mr George Burns, Conor Featherstone, Lynne Griffith, Nia Munn, Meg Burns, rh Mr Simon Foster, rh Mr Don Gwynne, Andrew Murphy, rh Paul Burstow, rh Paul Fox,rhDrLiam Hain, rh Mr Peter Murray, Ian Byles, Dan Francois, rh Mr Mark Hamilton, Mr David Nandy, Lisa Carmichael, Neil Freeman, George Hamilton, Fabian Nash, Pamela Carswell, Mr Douglas Freer, Mike Hanson, rh Mr David O’Donnell, Fiona Cash, Mr William Fullbrook, Lorraine 807 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 808

Fuller, Richard Lopresti, Jack Spencer, Mr Mark Walter, Mr Robert Gale, Sir Roger Luff, Sir Peter Stanley, rh Sir John Ward, Mr David Garnier, Sir Edward Lumley, Karen Stephenson, Andrew Weatherley, Mike Garnier, Mark Main, Mrs Anne Stewart, Bob Webb, Steve Gauke, Mr David McCartney, Jason Stewart, Iain Wharton, James George, Andrew McCartney, Karl Stewart, Rory Wheeler, Heather Gibb, Mr Nick McIntosh, Miss Anne Streeter, Mr Gary White, Chris Gillan, rh Mrs Cheryl McPartland, Stephen Stride, Mel Whittaker, Craig Glen, John Menzies, Mark Stunell, rh Sir Andrew Whittingdale, Mr John Goldsmith, Zac Metcalfe, Stephen Swales, Ian Wiggin, Bill Graham, Richard Miller, rh Maria Swayne, rh Mr Desmond Willetts, rh Mr David Grant, Mrs Helen Mills, Nigel Swire, rh Mr Hugo Williams, Mr Mark Gray, Mr James Milton, Anne Syms, Mr Robert Williams, Roger Grayling, rh Chris Mitchell, rh Mr Andrew Teather, Sarah Williamson, Gavin Greening, rh Justine Mordaunt, Penny Thornton, Mike Willott, Jenny Grieve, rh Mr Dominic Morgan, rh Nicky Tomlinson, Justin Wilson, Mr Rob Griffiths, Andrew Morris, Anne Marie Tredinnick, David Wollaston, Dr Sarah Gummer, Ben Morris, David Truss, Elizabeth Wright, Jeremy Gyimah, Mr Sam Morris, James Turner, Mr Andrew Wright, Simon Hague, rh Mr William Mosley, Stephen Tyrie, Mr Andrew Yeo, Mr Tim Halfon, Robert Mowat, David Uppal, Paul Young, rh Sir George Hames, Duncan Murray, Sheryll Vaizey, Mr Edward Zahawi, Nadhim Hammond, rh Mr Philip Neill, Robert Vara, Mr Shailesh Hammond, Stephen Newmark, Mr Brooks Vickers, Martin Tellers for the Noes: Hancock, Matthew Newton, Sarah Walker, Mr Robin Mark Lancaster and Hands, rh Greg Nokes, Caroline Wallace, Mr Ben John Penrose Harper, Mr Mark Norman, Jesse Harrington, Richard Nuttall, Mr David Question accordingly negatived. Harris, Rebecca O’Brien, rh Mr Stephen Hart, Simon Offord, Dr Matthew Main Question put. Hayes, rh Mr John Ollerenshaw, Eric The House divided: Ayes 270, Noes 231. Heald, Oliver Opperman, Guy Heath, Mr David Osborne, rh Mr George Division No. 3] [5.13 pm Heaton-Harris, Chris Ottaway, rh Sir Richard Hemming, John Pawsey, Mark AYES Henderson, Gordon Penning, rh Mike Adams, Nigel Cash, Mr William Herbert, rh Nick Percy, Andrew Afriyie, Adam Chishti, Rehman Hinds, Damian Phillips, Stephen Aldous, Peter Chope, Mr Christopher Hoban, Mr Mark Pickles, rh Mr Eric Amess, Mr David Clappison, Mr James Hollingbery, George Pincher, Christopher Arbuthnot, rh Mr James Clark, rh Greg Hollobone, Mr Philip Poulter, Dr Daniel Baker, Norman Clarke, rh Mr Kenneth Holloway, Mr Adam Prisk, Mr Mark Baldry, rh Sir Tony Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey Hopkins, Kris Raab, Mr Dominic Baldwin, Harriett Coffey, Dr Thérèse Howarth, Sir Gerald Randall, rh Sir John Baron, Mr John Collins, Damian Howell, John Reckless, Mark Barwell, Gavin Colvile, Oliver Hughes, rh Simon Redwood, rh Mr John Beith, rh Sir Alan Cox, Mr Geoffrey Hunt, rh Mr Jeremy Rees-Mogg, Jacob Bellingham, Mr Henry Crabb, Stephen Hunter, Mark Reevell, Simon Benyon, Richard Crouch, Tracey Huppert, Dr Julian Reid, Mr Alan Beresford, Sir Paul Davies, Glyn Hurd, Mr Nick Robathan, rh Mr Andrew Bingham, Andrew Davies, Philip James, Margot Robertson, rh Hugh Binley, Mr Brian Djanogly, Mr Jonathan Javid, rh Sajid Robertson, Mr Laurence Blunt, Crispin Dorrell, rh Mr Stephen Jenkin, Mr Bernard Rogerson, Dan Boles, Nick Dorries, Nadine Jenrick, Robert Rosindell, Andrew Bottomley, Sir Peter Drax, Richard Johnson, Gareth Rudd, Amber Bradley, Karen Duddridge, James Jones, Andrew Ruffley, Mr David Brake, rh Tom Dunne, Mr Philip Jones, rh Mr David Russell, Sir Bob Bray, Angie Ellis, Michael Jones, Mr Marcus Rutley, David Brazier, Mr Julian Ellison, Jane Kawczynski, Daniel Sanders, Mr Adrian Bridgen, Andrew Ellwood, Mr Tobias Kelly, Chris Sandys, Laura Brine, Steve Elphicke, Charlie Knight, rh Sir Greg Scott, Mr Lee Brokenshire, James Eustice, George Lansley, rh Mr Andrew Selous, Andrew Brooke, Annette Evans, Jonathan Leadsom, Andrea Sharma, Alok Browne, Mr Jeremy Evans, Mr Nigel Lee, Jessica Shepherd, Sir Richard Bruce, Fiona Evennett, Mr David Lee, Dr Phillip Simmonds, Mark Buckland, Mr Robert Fabricant, Michael Leech, Mr John Skidmore, Chris Burley, Mr Aidan Fallon, rh Michael Leigh, Sir Edward Smith, Henry Burns, Conor Farron, Tim Leslie, Charlotte Smith, Julian Burns, rh Mr Simon Featherstone, Lynne Letwin, rh Mr Oliver Smith, Sir Robert Burstow, rh Paul Foster, rh Mr Don Lewis, Brandon Soames, rh Nicholas Byles, Dan Fox,rhDrLiam Lilley, rh Mr Peter Soubry, Anna Carmichael, Neil Francois, rh Mr Mark Lloyd, Stephen Spelman, rh Mrs Caroline Carswell, Mr Douglas Freeman, George 809 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 810

Freer, Mike Letwin, rh Mr Oliver Smith, Sir Robert Walker, Mr Robin Fullbrook, Lorraine Lewis, Brandon Soames, rh Nicholas Wallace, Mr Ben Fuller, Richard Lilley, rh Mr Peter Soubry, Anna Walter, Mr Robert Gale, Sir Roger Lloyd, Stephen Spelman, rh Mrs Caroline Ward, Mr David Garnier, Sir Edward Lopresti, Jack Spencer, Mr Mark Weatherley, Mike Garnier, Mark Luff, Sir Peter Stanley, rh Sir John Webb, Steve Gauke, Mr David Lumley, Karen Stephenson, Andrew Wharton, James George, Andrew Main, Mrs Anne Stewart, Bob Wheeler, Heather Gibb, Mr Nick McCartney, Jason Stewart, Iain White, Chris Gillan, rh Mrs Cheryl McCartney, Karl Stewart, Rory Whittaker, Craig Glen, John McIntosh, Miss Anne Streeter, Mr Gary Whittingdale, Mr John Goldsmith, Zac McPartland, Stephen Stride, Mel Wiggin, Bill Graham, Richard Menzies, Mark Stunell, rh Sir Andrew Willetts, rh Mr David Grant, Mrs Helen Metcalfe, Stephen Swales, Ian Williams, Mr Mark Gray, Mr James Miller, rh Maria Swayne, rh Mr Desmond Williams, Roger Grayling, rh Chris Mills, Nigel Swire, rh Mr Hugo Williamson, Gavin Greening, rh Justine Milton, Anne Syms, Mr Robert Willott, Jenny Grieve, rh Mr Dominic Mitchell, rh Mr Andrew Teather, Sarah Wilson, Mr Rob Griffiths, Andrew Mordaunt, Penny Thornton, Mike Wollaston, Dr Sarah Gummer, Ben Morgan, rh Nicky Tomlinson, Justin Wright, Jeremy Gyimah, Mr Sam Morris, Anne Marie Tredinnick, David Wright, Simon Hague, rh Mr William Morris, David Truss, Elizabeth Yeo, Mr Tim Halfon, Robert Morris, James Tyrie, Mr Andrew Young, rh Sir George Hames, Duncan Mosley, Stephen Uppal, Paul Zahawi, Nadhim Hammond, rh Mr Philip Mowat, David Vaizey, Mr Edward Tellers for the Ayes: Hammond, Stephen Murray, Sheryll Vara, Mr Shailesh Mark Lancaster and Hancock, Matthew Neill, Robert Vickers, Martin John Penrose Hands, rh Greg Newmark, Mr Brooks Harper, Mr Mark Newton, Sarah Harrington, Richard Nokes, Caroline NOES Harris, Rebecca Norman, Jesse Abbott, Ms Diane Cooper, rh Yvette Hart, Simon Nuttall, Mr David Abrahams, Debbie Corbyn, Jeremy Hayes, rh Mr John O’Brien, rh Mr Stephen Ainsworth, rh Mr Bob Crausby, Mr David Heald, Oliver Offord, Dr Matthew Alexander, rh Mr Douglas Creagh, Mary Heath, Mr David Ollerenshaw, Eric Alexander, Heidi Creasy, Stella Heaton-Harris, Chris Opperman, Guy Ali, Rushanara Cruddas, Jon Hemming, John Osborne, rh Mr George Allen, Mr Graham Cryer, John Henderson, Gordon Ottaway, rh Sir Richard Ashworth, Jonathan Cunningham, Alex Herbert, rh Nick Pawsey, Mark Austin, Ian Cunningham, Mr Jim Hinds, Damian Penning, rh Mike Bailey, Mr Adrian Curran, Margaret Hoban, Mr Mark Percy, Andrew Bain, Mr William Dakin, Nic Hollingbery, George Phillips, Stephen Balls, rh Ed Danczuk, Simon Hollobone, Mr Philip Pickles, rh Mr Eric Banks, Gordon David, Wayne Holloway, Mr Adam Pincher, Christopher Barron, rh Kevin Davidson, Mr Ian Hopkins, Kris Poulter, Dr Daniel Bayley, Hugh Davies, Geraint Horwood, Martin Prisk, Mr Mark Beckett, rh Margaret De Piero, Gloria Howarth, Sir Gerald Raab, Mr Dominic Begg, Dame Anne Denham, rh Mr John Howell, John Randall, rh Sir John Benn, rh Hilary Dobbin, Jim Hughes, rh Simon Reckless, Mark Benton, Mr Joe Dobson, rh Frank Hunt, rh Mr Jeremy Redwood, rh Mr John Berger, Luciana Docherty, Thomas Hunter, Mark Rees-Mogg, Jacob Betts, Mr Clive Donohoe, Mr Brian H. Huppert, Dr Julian Reevell, Simon Blackman-Woods, Roberta Doran, Mr Frank Hurd, Mr Nick Reid, Mr Alan Blenkinsop, Tom Doughty, Stephen James, Margot Robathan, rh Mr Andrew Blomfield, Paul Dowd, Jim Javid, rh Sajid Robertson, rh Hugh Blunkett, rh Mr David Doyle, Gemma Jenkin, Mr Bernard Robertson, Mr Laurence Bradshaw, rh Mr Ben Dromey, Jack Jenrick, Robert Rogerson, Dan Brennan, Kevin Dugher, Michael Johnson, Gareth Rosindell, Andrew Brown, Lyn Durkan, Mark Jones, Andrew Rudd, Amber Brown, rh Mr Nicholas Eagle, Ms Angela Jones, rh Mr David Ruffley, Mr David Brown, Mr Russell Eagle, Maria Jones, Mr Marcus Russell, Sir Bob Buck, Ms Karen Edwards, Jonathan Kawczynski, Daniel Rutley, David Burnham, rh Andy Efford, Clive Kelly, Chris Sanders, Mr Adrian Byrne, rh Mr Liam Elliott, Julie Knight, rh Sir Greg Sandys, Laura Campbell, rh Mr Alan Ellman, Mrs Louise Lamb, Norman Scott, Mr Lee Campbell, Mr Ronnie Engel, Natascha Lansley, rh Mr Andrew Selous, Andrew Caton, Martin Esterson, Bill Leadsom, Andrea Sharma, Alok Clark, Katy Evans, Chris Lee, Jessica Shepherd, Sir Richard Clarke, rh Mr Tom Farrelly, Paul Lee, Dr Phillip Simmonds, Mark Clwyd, rh Ann Field, rh Mr Frank Leech, Mr John Skidmore, Chris Coaker, Vernon Fitzpatrick, Jim Leigh, Sir Edward Smith, Henry Coffey, Ann Flello, Robert Leslie, Charlotte Smith, Julian Connarty, Michael Flint, rh Caroline 811 Debate on the Address12 JUNE 2014 Debate on the Address 812

Flynn, Paul Lavery, Ian Pearce, Teresa Smith, Owen Fovargue, Yvonne Lazarowicz, Mark Perkins, Toby Spellar, rh Mr John Francis, Dr Hywel Leslie, Chris Pound, Stephen Straw, rh Mr Jack Gapes, Mike Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma Powell, Lucy Stringer, Graham Gardiner, Barry Lewis, Mr Ivan Qureshi, Yasmin Tami, Mark Gilmore, Sheila Love, Mr Andrew Raynsford, rh Mr Nick Thomas, Mr Gareth Glass, Pat Lucas, Caroline Reed, Mr Jamie Thornberry, Emily Glindon, Mrs Mary Lucas, Ian Reed, Mr Steve Timms, rh Stephen Godsiff, Mr Roger MacNeil, Mr Angus Brendan Reeves, Rachel Trickett, Jon Goodman, Helen Mahmood, Mr Khalid Reynolds, Emma Twigg, Stephen Greatrex, Tom Mahmood, Shabana Reynolds, Jonathan Vaz, Valerie Green, Kate Malhotra, Seema Riordan, Mrs Linda Watson, Mr Tom Griffith, Nia Mann, John Ritchie, Ms Margaret Watts, Mr Dave Gwynne, Andrew Marsden, Mr Gordon Robertson, Angus Weir, Mr Mike Hain, rh Mr Peter McCabe, Steve Robertson, John Whiteford, Dr Eilidh Hamilton, Mr David McCarthy, Kerry Robinson, Mr Geoffrey Whitehead, Dr Alan Hamilton, Fabian McDonagh, Siobhain Rotheram, Steve Williams, Hywel Hanson, rh Mr David McDonald, Andy Roy, Lindsay Williamson, Chris Harman, rh Ms Harriet McDonnell, John Ruane, Chris Wilson, Phil Harris, Mr Tom McFadden, rh Mr Pat Ruddock, rh Dame Joan Winnick, Mr David Havard, Mr Dai McGovern, Alison Sarwar, Anas Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Hendrick, Mark McGovern, Jim Sawford, Andy Wishart, Pete Hepburn, Mr Stephen McGuire, rh Mrs Anne Sharma, Mr Virendra Woodcock, John Heyes, David McKechin, Ann Sheerman, Mr Barry Woodward, rh Mr Shaun Hillier, Meg McKenzie, Mr Iain Sheridan, Jim Wright, David Hodgson, Mrs Sharon McKinnell, Catherine Shuker, Gavin Wright, Mr Iain Hoey, Kate Meacher, rh Mr Michael Skinner, Mr Dennis Hood, Mr Jim Meale, Sir Alan Slaughter, Mr Andy Tellers for the Noes: Hopkins, Kelvin Mearns, Ian Smith, rh Mr Andrew Bridget Phillipson and Hosie, Stewart Miliband, rh Edward Smith, Angela Julie Hilling Irranca-Davies, Huw Miller, Andrew Jackson, Glenda Moon, Mrs Madeleine Question accordingly agreed to. James, Mrs Siân C. Morden, Jessica Jamieson, Cathy Morrice, Graeme (Livingston) Resolved, Jarvis, Dan Morris, Grahame M. That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as Johnson, rh Alan (Easington) follows: Johnson, Diana Mudie, Mr George Most Gracious Sovereign, Jones, Graham Munn, Meg We, YourMajesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons Jones, Mr Kevan Murphy, rh Paul of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Jones, Susan Elan Murray, Ian Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Kane, Mike Nandy, Lisa Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Nash, Pamela addressed to both Houses of Parliament. Keeley, Barbara O’Donnell, Fiona Kendall, Liz Onwurah, Chi Address to be presented to Her Majesty by Members Khan, rh Sadiq Osborne, Sandra of the House who are Privy Counsellors or Members of Lammy, rh Mr David Owen, Albert Her Majesty’s Household. 813 12 JUNE 2014 Sutton Coldfield (Royal Status) 814

Sutton Coldfield (Royal Status) Coldfield searching through heirlooms and attics and discovering a mounting cohort of evidence which earlier Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House this year we were able to lay before the Cabinet Office do now adjourn.—(Mr Gyimah.) Minister responsible for this matter, my right hon. 5.25 pm Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark). The senior councillors, including Councillor Anne Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield) (Con): I am Underwood and Councillor Margaret Waddington, grateful, Mr Deputy Speaker, for having been granted alongside honorary alderman David Roy OBE, former this Adjournment debate—my first for at least 10 years—on lord mayor of the city of Birmingham, and members of the subject of the re-assertion of the royal status of the the Sutton Coldfield Civic Society, led by Elizabeth town of Sutton Coldfield. The debate is particularly Allison BEM, have spent much time and effort researching timely because last Friday Mr Speaker visited my and investigating our case. My distinguished predecessor constituency and the royal town, when he addressed my Lord Fowler of Sutton Coldfield has given his vigorous constituents in our historic town hall. support, as has the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Over the last year there has been a tremendous campaign Paul Sabapathy CBE, another distinguished local resident. throughout Sutton Coldfield to validate, prove and Prior to the delegation from Sutton Coldfield that reassert our status as a royal town—not a royal borough, visited the Minister earlier this year, I held a series of for that is a local government structure, but as the royal meetings with the Garter King of Arms, the College of town of Sutton Coldfield. We were granted this status Arms, the Crown Office, the Cabinet Office and officials many centuries ago during the reign of King Henry at Buckingham palace. I would like to record my thanks VIII. to them all for the sympathetic hearing, and the helpful Since 1974 Sutton Coldfield has been part of advice and guidance they offered. These matters are Birmingham for local government purposes. This is both more complicated and more labyrinthine than greatly resented, particularly by my elder constituents they may appear, steeped in history and precedent as who at the time marched and petitioned against the loss they are. of our borough council. Indeed, the late Edward Heath, Throughout this joint investigation into the history Prime Minister at the time, told me that his office of Sutton Coldfield’s royal town status we have found received more letters on this matter, in opposition to the no evidence to prove that our royal title has been either change, in the month before it took place than on all lost or repealed. Instead we have uncovered a great deal other national and international matters. of evidence that shows that Sutton Coldfield was granted This change of status inevitably led to a perceived royal status in 1528 in perpetuity. Although this fact has diminution in our individual identity in Sutton Coldfield, been taken for granted locally until comparatively recently, and the emergence of a “North Birmingham” entity documents show that Sutton Coldfield was referred to with which Sutton has never concurred and has never as the royal town of Sutton Coldfield in an official accepted. Of course, in Sutton Coldfield we understand capacity up until 1974. However, under the Local that local government arrangements are but a small Government Act 1972, to which I referred earlier and part of what we are. We remain, in our view, an ancient which heaved Sutton Coldfield into Birmingham for royal town deeply proud of our heritage and history, local government purposes, that point was not addressed. and conscious of the fact that local government We believe we have now found precedents, not least arrangements, while important, are a relatively modest precedents governing Scottish royal towns, which put part of the fabric, nature and activity of Sutton Coldfield. this right and which I hope my right hon. Friend will Within the town, there is a society, an organisation or a address in his response. charity for almost every enthusiasm and activity one In 1528, Bishop Vesey obtained a charter from King can imagine, and many of them continue proudly to Henry VIII which referred to Sutton Coldfield as sport the royal connection. “the royal town and village of Sutton Coldfield”. Over the last year or so, I have led the campaign to Born at Moor Hall farm, Vesey became a confidant of reassert our royal status and royal heritage. Of course, the King, a status he managed to maintain throughout we are not seeking something new, nor are we seeking his life, in sharp contrast to many of the King’s other any legal change. We wish merely to reassert something confidants, who came to a grisly end, as devotees of that we claim never to have lost and which we have “The Tudors”, the brilliant television series, will attest. enjoyed down the centuries: that the royal town of As a young priest, Vesey was appointed chaplain to Sutton Coldfield bears this title in perpetuity, as clearly Henry VIII’s mother, Elizabeth of York, and when the documented throughout our history. King acceded to the throne he became a close adviser to The campaign to reassert our royal status has been him and was rewarded for his loyalty with the bishopric supported extensively throughout Sutton Coldfield and of Exeter in 1519. He was one of the six bishops to hundreds of people have come forward with evidence to accompany Henry VIII to the famous meeting with support our claim. This campaign has been given terrific Francis I of France at the field of the cloth of gold in support by the award-winning and much admired local northern France, which at the time, of course, was part newspaper, the Sutton Coldfield Observer, under its of England. For much of the rest of his life Bishop experienced and respected editor, Gary Phelps, with the Vesey endowed and supported his home town of Sutton support of one of his journalists, Elise Chamberlain, a Coldfield by plundering his bishopric of Exeter to our rising journalistic star who has spent many hours sorting very great advantage—an advantage that still benefits through evidence and has braved many a dusty archive us today in Sutton Coldfield through the work of the in diligently carrying out her investigation. Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust, which dispenses largesse The Sutton Coldfield Observer energised the search to many worthy and brilliant organisations throughout for historical precedent, with local residents of Sutton the town. 815 Sutton Coldfield (Royal Status)12 JUNE 2014 Sutton Coldfield (Royal Status) 816

In the charter granted in 1528 the following statement an official programme of the event, which refers to is made: Sutton Coldfield as both the royal town of Sutton “And that the same town and village shall for ever hereafter be Coldfield and the borough of Sutton Coldfield, which accounted, named and called, The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, we contend refers both to our status of royal in perpetuity in our County of Warwick”. and to our local government arrangements. Bishop Vesey, who still rests in Sutton Coldfield parish Although such programmes and details bear no legal church, gave the town Sutton park, the biggest municipal status, they do, I think, indicate what was a clear park in Europe. He oversaw the regeneration of the popular understanding at the time and significantly one town centre, much as we are seeking to do today on the not contradicted or gainsaid by the authorities. Nor are back of Britain’s rescued and newly vibrant economy. we seeking any legal instrument affirming all that I have He also built our town hall, in which Mr Speaker spoke said. last Friday, and founded one of our two grammar Our conclusions at the end of this long campaign, schools, which still proudly bears his name. He rebuilt based on extensive research and evidence and on a case the marketplace to encourage trade, with paved streets, supported overwhelmingly throughout Sutton Coldfield new roads and bridges constructed to promote it. by many thousands of local residents, are that in spite Sutton Coldfield today abounds with signs of royal of the vast changes our town has seen over more than association. Our royal status is proclaimed in the arms four centuries, since Henry VIII granted the royal charter of Sutton Coldfield. The gold greyhound and red dragon in perpetuity, there is no evidence to suggest that that derive from the coat of arms of early Tudor kings and royal town status has ever been revoked, and we therefore were incorporated as a direct result of King Henry seek reassurance tonight that we can proudly rely on VIII’s decision to grant Sutton Coldfield the charter of that and use it in a sober and appropriate way forthwith. incorporation as a royal town. From that point on, Sutton Coldfield had secured its 5.39 pm place in our national history. Shakespeare sent one of his best-loved characters, Falstaff, to Sutton Coldfield The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Greg Clark): I on the way to the battle of Shrewsbury in Henry IV Part congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for I. Falstaff says: Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), who has represented Sutton Coldfield so ably for more than 13 years now, on “Bardolph, get thee before to Coventry; fill me a bottle of securing this important Adjournment debate and on sack: our soldiers shall march through: we’ll to Sutton-Co’fil’ to-night”. the campaign that he has led that has been so trenchantly supported throughout Sutton Coldfield by his constituents. I feel the warm approbation of the Secretary of State My right hon. Friend thought that the Secretary of for Education upon me at this point, Mr Deputy Speaker. State for Education might approve of his references to It is believed that this mention was a result of the Bard’s Shakespeare, but I think that our right hon. Friend the family connections with Sutton Coldfield, where it is Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport ought claimed he had well-to-do relatives residing at Peddimore also to approve of the theatrical rendition he gave. As Hall, a later version of which still stands and was his constituency is not far from the home of the Royal originally owned by the Arden family, relatives of Shakespeare Company, David Tennant, Sir Ian McKellen Shakespeare’s mother. The farmhouse has “Deus noster and various other luminaries should watch out now refugium”God is our refuge—inscribed above the doorway. that we have seen the talents of my right hon. Friend the Given the constant threat to our green belt in Peddimore, Member for Sutton Coldfield. it is probably quite apt. I have followed this campaign with close interest. A second charter was granted to Sutton Coldfield by This interest is, of course, bolstered by the fact that I Charles II in 1662, which simply restored those powers represent the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells where we bestowed by Henry VIII 134 years earlier, and confirmed too are proud of our royal connections. As my right all the privileges previously granted. hon. Friend mentioned, I had the great pleasure of A third charter, granted by Queen Victoria on receiving his delegation in Whitehall earlier this year. 31 December 1885, saw the ancient and royal town of On that occasion he brought with him others involved Sutton Coldfield become a modern municipal borough. in his campaign and it is clear that the partnership Importantly, there is no mention of the royal status between my right hon. Friend and the editor and journalists being withdrawn. on the Sutton Coldfield Observer has developed into a The royal town status of Sutton Coldfield was recognised strong and sustained effort throughout Sutton Coldfield again in July 1928 when, on the 400th anniversary of that has captured both the enthusiasm and support of the granting of the charter by Henry VIII, the town local residents. celebrated by holding a pageant. Thanks to diligent The evidence that the Sutton Coldfield Observer has local research, we have located a printed programme of collected—as well as how it was presented to me and my festivities, which includes a letter from Buckingham officials in a formidable dossier that has pride of place palace after His Majesty King George V had received a in my office—was of deep historical interest and would copy of a book of the pageant. The letter reads: be to anyone who looks closely at these matters. It also “In thanking you I am commanded to express His Majesty’s showed the importance that citizens attach to their local best wishes for the success of the Pageant which has been organised heritage and the interest in and commitment to the to commemorate the four hundredth year of the granting to the history of their local surroundings that people feel. Town of a Royal Charter by King Henry VIII.” My right hon. Friend set out the long relationship Once again, in 1957, the royal town status was recognised that Sutton Coldfield has had with the Crown. This when Her Majesty the Queen visited the town for the began when the manor of Sutton passed into the hands world scout jubilee jamboree. Similarly, we have located of the King during the reign of William the Conqueror. 817 Sutton Coldfield (Royal Status)12 JUNE 2014 Sutton Coldfield (Royal Status) 818

[Greg Clark] Our two towns have other things in common, too. We have had more than our fair share of celebrated residents The royal manor of Sutone gets a mention in the over the years. I note with interest that Sutton Coldfield Domesday Book. For reasons that are not recorded, the has been home to much-loved national figures including Crown gave away its royal manor in Sutton Coldfield in Sir Roger Moore and—perhaps she is in that category—the 1135, but the fortunes of Sutton Coldfield were revived, hon. Member for Walthamstow (Stella Creasy). Tunbridge as my right hon. Friend has said, by John Harman, Wells boasts many pillars of the establishment, too, better known as Bishop Vesey, after lying dormant for such as Sid Vicious and the right hon. Member for some years. Returning from his bishopric in Exeter to Newcastle upon Tyne East (Mr Brown). Sutton Coldfield in 1524 to attend his mother’s funeral, The case that my right hon. Friend and his colleagues it is recorded that Bishop Vesey decided that something have made is clear and simple: while there is no corporation needed to be done to regenerate the town. or similar legal entity that carries the royal title, there is He obtained the charter of incorporation from the no reason why the lack of a local council should prohibit King in 1528 that bestowed on Sutton Coldfield the the continued reference to Sutton Coldfield as a royal status of royal town. That charter reads, as my right town. I am very sympathetic to his argument, but he hon. Friend said that will understand that I must be guided by established “the same town and village shall forever hereafter be accounted, precedent in an area that is often complex. I am pleased named and called the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield in our to tell him that in my researches I have become aware of county of Warwick”. a clear and helpful precedent. A number of Scottish As my right hon. Friend set out in his speech, Bishop towns are in an analogous position to Sutton Coldfield, Vesey, having secured this royal recognition, went on to in that local government reorganisations did not carry regenerate the town and gave people access to Sutton forward their royal titles into the names of the new park by making it a royal forest, allowing Suttonians to authorities. In 1977, the Government of the day clarified use its resources. that, notwithstanding the absence of a local government Indeed, Sutton Coldfield’s emblem of the Tudor rose body containing the royal title, also finds its roots in Bishop Vesey’s association with “There is no statutory ban to the continuance of historic titles Henry VIII. According to folklore, King Henry VIII for other purposes.”—[Official Report, 6 December 1977; Vol. 940, was hunting in Sutton Park as the guest of Bishop c. 694W.] Vesey when he was charged by a wild boar. Before the There being no statutory ban, I am not surprised that boar could reach the King, it fell dead with an arrow my right hon. Friend and his constituents should wish through its heart. The King’s saviour emerged from the to use the title. In other words, I am pleased to be able woods and turned out to be in the form of a beautiful to confirm today to him and his constituents that there young woman. When she told the King her family had is no statutory prohibition on the use of this historic been dispossessed of their property, he ordered that title. I can therefore confirm also that there is nothing to restitution should be made to them. To the young prevent the people of Sutton Coldfield making use of woman he personally presented the Tudor rose, which their historic royal title. he decreed should henceforth be the emblem of Sutton Mr Deputy Speaker, you will know that Mr Speaker Coldfield. had the pleasure of visiting Sutton Coldfield just a few Having looked carefully at all these matters, I fully days ago, to speak to Suttonians from the university of understand the pride people in Sutton Coldfield feel in the Third Age in the historic setting of Sutton Coldfield’s their royal heritage and the history of their town. As my town hall. While neither he nor you will have known the right hon. Friend said, the local government reorganisation contents of this Adjournment debate, it had already of 1974 incorporated—I think he used the word been granted. “heaved”—Sutton Coldfield into the city of Birmingham The results of this long campaign in the town will for administrative purposes. I am a great admirer of appear in the Hansard record of our proceedings, which that city and as my right hon. Friend said, many Sutton will no doubt be read with considerable interest across Coldfield residents have served with distinction in the Sutton Coldfield. The debate also brings to a close city of Birmingham. I am looking forward to attending uncertainty on the matter, which I know will be hugely a conference there next month on one of our great civic welcomed by my right hon. Friend, Sutton Coldfield’s heroes, Joseph Chamberlain, organised by the hon. tenacious and invincible Member of Parliament, its Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart). much respected newspaper, the Sutton Coldfield Observer, That was not the first local government change to and all in the town. I warmly commend him and all affect Sutton Coldfield. The town became a municipal those involved in his campaign and I look forward to borough in 1885, and although it was not designated a visiting Sutton Coldfield in due course, not least to royal borough, the title of royal town continued to be deliver my own greetings from Tunbridge Wells to its used, as my right hon. Friend has demonstrated. In that residents. respect, there are some similarities with my own town of Royal Tunbridge Wells. Since 1974, there has not been Question put and agreed to. any local government authority called Royal Tunbridge Wells, the newly formed borough having taken in several adjoining urban and rural district councils. Nevertheless, 5.47 pm the use of the town’s royal title continues. House adjourned. 57WS Written Statements12 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 58WS Written Statements There is a series of AOB items covering: Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the monitoring, reporting and verification of Thursday 12 June 2014 carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport. Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending directive on packaging and packaging BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS waste to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags. UK Coal Proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Doha amendment to the Kyoto protocol to the UN framework convention on climate change and the joint fulfilment of The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation commitments. and Skills (Michael Fallon): As I set out in the statements International meetings and events. to the House on 10 April and 9 June, the Government Endocrine disrupters. have been working alongside a private sector consortium, EU action plan for highly fluorinated substances (PFAS). led by Hargreaves Services plc, to agree the terms of their plan for a managed closure of UK Coal’s deep Work programme of the incoming presidency. mines. This followed a report to Government by the directors of UK Coal in January that the viability of the business was potentially in doubt. EU Energy Council With regret I must inform the House that yesterday Hargreaves announced their decision to withdraw. The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change The UK Coal directors are urgently exploring alternative (Mr Edward Davey): In advance of the forthcoming options. The Government will continue to co-operate Energy Council in Luxembourg on 13 June, I am writing fully with other parties and to explore any proposals to outline the agenda items to be discussed. that might assist in the managed closure of the mines. The offer of a £10 million loan that the Government Under the first item on the agenda, the Greek presidency put forward remains available, alongside other contributions, will seek political agreement to the proposal to amend to assist a managed closure of the deep mines subject to the renewable energy directive and the directive relating Government being provided with assurances that all to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels. The proposal is parties involved are committed to the successful delivery intended to address indirect land use change (ILUC), of a closure plan and that the proposal secures value for which occurs when production of biofuels from crops money for the taxpayer. grown on existing agricultural land results in the displacement of production on to previously uncultivated I will continue to keep the House updated. land. The UK welcomes the Greek efforts to find a ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE compromise. The UK has always wanted strong, effective action on ILUC so that we support only the most sustainable biofuels. We have consistently argued for a Environment Council 5% cap on the contribution from food-based biofuels and the introduction of ILUC factors. In this respect, it The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is very regrettable that the cap on food crops in the (Mr Edward Davey): My noble Friend the Under-Secretary Council proposal is as high as 7%. However, given the of State for natural environment and science, Lord de divergent views in the Council, we can support the Mauley and I will attend EU Environment Council in compromise package as it stands. We consider that it Luxemburg on 12 June. Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for represents the best compromise possible and is preferable Environment and Climate Change in the Scottish to the status quo that would place no restriction on the Government, will also attend. expansion of food-based fuels. Following the adoption of the agenda there will be an This will be followed by the main item on the agenda, approval of the list of “A” items. There will be two a policy debate on the follow-up to the March European legislative items, first an exchange of views on the Council. The debate will cover the three linked issues of Commission’s air quality package both on medium European energy security, the internal energy market combustion plants and national emission ceilings directives. and the 2030 climate and energy framework. The debate The second legislative item is for political agreement on will be structured around questions from the Greek the Commission proposal regarding the possibility for presidency, focusing on priorities for achieving energy member states to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of security in Europe in the short and medium term and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their territory. on securing adequate interconnections within the EU A vote may be requested on this item. There are two and with the EU’s neighbours. There will be an update non-legislative items, draft Council conclusions on by the Commission on progress towards the internal “Convention on Biological Diversity”; as well as a energy market. The debate will feed into preparations policy debate on the Commission’s communication on for the June European Council. “A policy framework for climate and energy in the I welcome the debate, and particularly the recognition period from 2020 to 2030”. in the Commission’s recent communication on European There will be a lunch time discussion on the Commission’s energy security that energy security and the EU’s overall recent communication on “A decent life for all: From 2030 framework are fundamentally linked. The UK is Vision to Collective Action”, sustainable development committed to both of these agendas and considers that goals and the post-2015 process. the best way to ensure that we take both energy security 59WS Written Statements12 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 60WS and climate policy seriously in the EU is to build a ensure the coherence of the data protection provisions comprehensive framework for climate policy and energy with those in other JHA files such as Eurojust and the security. European Public Prosecutor Office (EPPO). Pending In the afternoon session of the Energy Council, Ministers this further technical work, the current text will now will adopt conclusions on energy prices, competitiveness form the basis for the trilogue negotiations with the and vulnerable consumers. The conclusions cover the European Parliament, which look set to commence in key policies and structures required to moderate energy autumn 2014. The UK did not opt in to the draft prices—for example, a well-functioning internal energy regulation at the outset, but will continue to take an market, member state policies to assist vulnerable consumers, active part in negotiations and will consider whether or enhanced energy efficiency, supply diversification, and not to opt in post-adoption once the final text has been measures to address carbon leakage. The UK is content agreed. with the conclusions, which reflect our position. The Council discussed the issue of foreign fighters in The Commission and presidency will then report on Syria, in the aftermath of the recent attack in Brussels. developments in external energy relations. This will be Member states joined the presidency in strongly condemning followed by a second debate on the value of multilateral the attack. The UK expressed its condolences to the energy frameworks—such as the energy charter treaty, Belgians and supported proposals for action from the the energy community treaty and the International Energy EU counter-terrorism co-ordinator. Member states agreed Agency. The Greek presidency has provided questions that the attack in Brussels highlighted that foreign to focus the discussion on considering how they can be fighters must be seen as a shared threat requiring improved and developed. collaborative effort. The UK stressed the importance of We expect the Commission to report on negotiations implementing existing initiatives quickly. The Council of the amended nuclear safety directive. The UK supports then adopted the revised EU strategy on combating the amendment as a proportionate and effective response radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism and instructed to the need to learn the lessons from the accident at the terrorism working party to continue its work on Fukushima and welcomes agreement of the amended defining the accompanying guidelines. directive. During the mixed committee, the Commission gave a Finally, the Italian delegation will inform the Council progress report on the actions agreed by the EU’s Task of the priorities for their presidency in the second half Force Mediterranean (TFM) to address illegal immigration of 2014. They intend to focus on the 2030 climate and across the Mediterranean and prevent migrant deaths energy framework, energy security, completion of the at sea. Ministers agreed that prioritisation of EU efforts internal energy market and external energy policy. was necessary, with preventative work upstream in countries Over lunch, Commissioner Oettinger will update of origin and transit being the principal focus, alongside Ministers on the energy situation in Ukraine and Ministers enhanced efforts to tackle people smugglers and traffickers. will have the opportunity to give their assessment. The UK supported these aims, calling also for increasing returns of those not entitled to be in the EU. Next, the Commission presented its latest biannual FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE report on the functioning of the Schengen area, highlighting in particular the launch of the new external border Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report 2013 surveillance system, Eurosur, and calling for member states to fulfil their commitment to share information on secondary illegal migration movements within the The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Schengen area. The Government have a strong interest Affairs (Mr William Hague): Due to a small number of in the effective functioning of the Schengen area and factual errors, I have today laid before the House a continues to work with European partners to tackle corrected copy of the 2013 Foreign and Commonwealth migratory pressures across the EU. Office report on human rights and democracy (CM 8870). Over lunch there was a discussion on the selection These errors have also been corrected on the online procedure for the new executive director of Frontex. version of the report: https://www.gov.uk/government/ Under AOB the presidency gave legislative updates collections/human-rights-and-democracy-report-2013 on the directive facilitating entry and stay for students and researchers and the progress on the smart borders package. The Commission presented their communication HOME DEPARTMENT on minimum standards on sanctions and measures against employers of illegally staying third country nationals Justice and Home Affairs Council and the communication on the EU blue card. The Commission also presented proposals to amend the visa code and introduce a new category of touring visa The Secretary of State for the Home Department which they hoped would encourage economic growth (Mrs Theresa May): The Justice and Home Affairs while maintaining security. (JHA) Council was held on 5 and 6 June in Luxembourg. Sweden provided a summary from the seventh meeting My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice of the Global Forum on International Migration and and I attended on behalf of the United Kingdom. The Development (Stockholm, 14-16 May 2014); Slovenia following items were discussed. updated Ministers on the recent meeting of the Interior The interior session began with the Council seeking Ministers of the BRDO process (a meeting of Interior and securing a general approach to the draft Europol Ministers from former Yugoslav countries, plus Albania, regulation. This was on the understanding that more which took place in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, 2-3 June time would be allowed for discussions at expert level to 2014) and Poland provided a summary of the latest 61WS Written Statements12 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 62WS ministerial forum for member states of the Schengen Council to complete the digital single market by 2015, area with external land borders. of which the regulation was an integral part. Several The incoming Italian presidency listed its priorities member states were supportive of the presidency’s initiative for the coming semester: combating human trafficking; to secure a partial general approach but wanted to promoting legal migration to facilitate bona fide travellers; return to various issues at expert level, particularly relations with third countries; and smart borders packages. whether data transfers should be allowed on the basis of The incoming presidency said that they would focus on a data controller’s “legitimate interests”. Some countries the implementation of the common European asylum urged for quicker progress on the rest of the regulation, system and would like to see a move towards mutual noting that recent decisions of the European Court of recognition of asylum decisions. Other priorities included Justice—the Google case in particular—risked taking cyber security, gender-based violence and disaster responses. the impetus for shaping the debate away from the Council. During the joint interior and justice session, there The Justice Secretary, speaking for the UK, did not was a discussion on the EU’s future JHA work programme, agree that the text was ready for a partial general which is due to be agreed by the European Council on approach given the number of member states that 27 June. Areas of consensus included the need to focus acknowledged a need to make further changes, but on implementation and consolidation of existing legislation; recognised that he was in a minority. The presidency action to tackle trafficking in human beings and people concluded that a partial general approach had been smuggling; action on counter-terrorism and counter- agreed subject to extensive caveats, including further radicalisation; and co-operation with third countries points of detail being considered at working group and between member states. The UK stressed the level. importance the public attaches to illegal immigration On the one-stop shop, the Council legal service (CLS) and the need for the EU to respond appropriately to reiterated its view that a streamlined supervisory mechanism those concerns. The UK also called for strengthening in the regulation must provide an avenue of effective the EU external border to be a key focus of the guidelines, redress for individuals, above the needs of a simple, alongside action to tackle abuse of free movement—such single decision-making process for organisations. Some as sham marriage and document fraud—action to tackle member states, including the UK, welcomed the presidency’s trafficking in human beings and modern slavery, improved proposed model, while appreciating the concerns of exchange of criminal records, and more effective returns many member states for greater powers to be retained at of prisoners to their countries of origin. The UK also local level to ensure “proximity” to the decision making said it was important for the Council to be able to process. All member states favoured more involvement review the guidelines once adopted. The presidency said for local regulators and would want this included in any they would reflect on the views presented by Ministers, fixture redraft. Some member states mentioned the and submit a letter to the President of the European need for the proposed European data protection board Council. The presidency invited the incoming Italian to be a centralised body with legal powers to resolve and Latvian presidencies to take over implementation disputes among local supervisory authorities. of the guidelines. Next, the presidency secured a general approach on Next, the presidency reported on the progress made the proposal for a directive on the rights of children in on the Schengen aspects of protocol 36 to the treaties—the criminal proceedings. The UK is not opted in to this 2014 opt-out decision. No discussion took place. measure. The Commission reiterated that the child’s There was a discussion about the recent European best interests should always be the overriding principle. Court ruling which invalidated the data retention directive This resulted in several member states lifting their (DRD). The Commission (Malmström) gave a cautious reservations, although concerns remained about the welcome to the judgment, and indicated that it would proposition that children might have to pay for legal be for her successor to consider what steps to propose in assistance. response to it. Member states noted the judgment, but many were still assessing its impact. Some member The presidency presented a “balanced compromise” states called for new EU-wide legislation to replace the on the first 19 articles of the proposal for creation of a DRD as they believed this would help them defend European public prosecutor (EPPO). The majority of legal challenges. Other member states’ responses, including member states agreed that the college model contained the UK’s response, were more nuanced. The UK in the presidency’s text should form the basis for future acknowledged the need for proportionality but also work, despite continued calls from the Commission for cautioned member states against calling for new EU a more centralised approach. Looking forward, member measures if this would diminish the effectiveness of a states took the view that substantial work was needed vital law enforcement capability. We noted that on all aspects under the Italian presidency. communications data is used on a daily basis to fight The presidency presented a paper which set out the serious crime. progress made so far on the Commission proposal to Next, the Council adopted the Council conclusions reform Eurojust’s legal framework. The Commission on the EU anti-corruption report. could not support the presidency’s text as it stood, because the governance arrangements proposed would Justice day started with a discussion on the proposed dilute the Commission’s role in the running of the general data protection regulation, as well as a short Eurojust agency. They hoped it would be possible as update on the proposed directive covering processing of discussions proceeded to find effective compromises personal data for the prevention and detection of crime. that would enable Eurojust to work more efficiently. With regards to the proposed regulation, the presidency sought a partial general approach on its compromised The Council adopted a general approach on the text for international data transfers. Ministers were proposed amendment to the insolvency regulation, which reminded of the commitment made at October European the UK welcomes as a contribution to encouraging a 63WS Written Statements12 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 64WS recovery culture and return to growth. Nearly all member Applications to vary measures specified in TPIM notices 0 states thought this was a balanced political compromise, refused (during the reporting period) although there remained concerns over the handling of late technical working groups, as well as the detail of During the reporting period, one TPIM notice that the procedure for co-ordinating insolvencies of groups had been revoked in a previous quarter was revived of companies: these would be picked up in negotiation upon the subject’s release from prison. with the European Parliament when considering the During the reporting period, one individual was charged recitals. in relation to an offence under section 23 of the Act Under any other business, the presidency noted the (contravening a measure specified in a TPIM notice limited progress on the common European sales law, without reasonable excuse) and his TPIM notice was while recalling that sufficient time was needed for discussion revoked upon his remand in custody. on the dossier. The incoming Italian presidency presented The TPIM review group (TRG) keeps every TPIM its priorities in the field of justice. These would include notice under regular and formal review. The TRG has civil law files—insolvency, small claims, legalisation and convened once during this reporting period. matrimonial property—and data protection. On criminal law, it would prioritise files on the European public prosecutors office, criminal procedural rights and human trafficking. On hate crime, the Greek presidency noted ongoing work on hate crime for example the Council INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT conclusions on combating hate crime adopted at the December Justice and Home Affairs Council and a subsequent seminar on hate crime at Thessaloniki. The Foreign Affairs Council Commission provided an update of the recent EU Roma summit. The Commission also provided an update on ongoing The Secretary of State for International Development negotiations with the US on an “umbrella agreement” (Justine Greening): On 19 May, I attended the Foreign providing data protection rules for the transfer of Affairs Council for Development in Brussels. The meeting information concerning law enforcement, and negotiations covered a number of UK priorities, including on post-2015, on a review of the “safe harbor” agreement. On the the role of the private sector in development, and girls umbrella agreement, the Commission said that discussions and women. were in their final stages. On the review of “safe harbor”, Introduction: Eastern Partnership, Policy Coherence for the Commission informed the Council that solutions Development, and the Global Partnership for Effective had been found to most of its recommendations, but Development that a position on the use of data under the national In her introductory remarks, the High Representative security exemption still needed to be resolved. Baroness Ashton gave an update on the Eastern Partnership, Over lunch, there was a wide-ranging and theoretical including Ukraine. Coherent and effective donor discussion of fundamental rights. This included ensuring co-ordination in Ukraine is vital and the EU has an the charter of fundamental rights was considered when important role to play in supporting political and economic the EU institutions were legislating, as well as a stability. Commissioner Piebalgs noted the successful consideration of the interaction between member state outcome of the global partnership for effective development constitutional courts, the European Court of Justice in co-operation (GPEDC) high level forum, held on 15 and Luxembourg and the European Court of Human Rights. 16 May, and praised the UK’s leadership as co-chair of the forum. He updated Ministers on policy coherence for development (PCD), noting the Commission’s varied work on fisheries, food security, migration, conflict Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures minerals and maritime security. I expressed the UK’s regret that, despite recent progress, the African economic partnership agreements (EPAs) had yet to be concluded, The Secretary of State for the Home Department calling for the remaining issues to be resolved swiftly. (Mrs Theresa May): Section 19(1) of the Terrorism Post-2015 development agenda Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011 (the Act) requires the Secretary of State to report to Parliament The post-2015 development agenda was the main as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of every discussion item. The UK remains at the forefront of the relevant three-month period on the exercise of her post-2015 discussions, building on the Prime Minister’s TPIM powers under the Act during that period. co-chairing of the UN high level panel. There was agreement on the need for continued EU engagement, The level of information provided will always be in particular on issues such as good governance, rule of subject to slight variations based on operational advice. law, human rights, peace and security. I urged the Commission and member states to think strategically TPIM notices in force (as of 31 May 2014) 0 about tactics and substance in order to secure the best TPIM notices in respect of British citizens (as of 31 May 0 2014) possible framework in September 2015. The EU Commission signalled its intention to publish a TPIM notices extended (during the reporting period) 0 communication on post-2015. It has since been published. TPIM notices revoked (during the reporting period) 1 It does not represent a formal EU position but should TPIM notices revived (during the reporting period) 1 be seen as a contribution to internal EU thinking on Variations made to measures specified in TPIM notices 3 (during the reporting period) post-2015. It is for Council to decide when to adopt a new EU position. My Department will continue to 65WS Written Statements12 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 66WS work with the Commission and other member states to to development; EU development and co-operation ensure we get the best possible outcome from next results framework; the annual report 2014 to the European year’s UN negotiations. Council on EU development aid targets; the comprehensive Agenda for Change approach to external conflict and crisis; and the EU common position for the third international conference Commissioner Piebalgs set out how the agenda for on small island development states. A Council decision change was being implemented through EU aid on the resumption of EU development co-operation programming. As a result of UK and like-minded member with Madagascar was also adopted. states’ efforts, there will be a greater focus on the poorest and most fragile countries, increased flexibility and country ownership, and an enhanced ability to measure results of EU aid. Piebalgs noted that future TRANSPORT EU aid programmes will prioritise a limited number of focal sectors to maximise impact and that joint programming in 40 countries is helping reduce aid EU Transport Council fragmentation. This is good progress, but there is more to do to ensure even greater effectiveness of EU aid, particularly for girls and women. Thanks to UK The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport interventions, the Commission and the European External (Mr Robert Goodwill): I attended the final Transport Action Service (EEAS) have committed to ensuring Council under the Greek presidency (the presidency) in that a gender analysis is carried out for each national Luxembourg on Thursday 5 June. programme. Commissioner Piebalgs also highlighted The Council reached political agreement on its first that the EU remained the world’s biggest aid donor but reading of the technical pillar of the fourth railway was far below the 0.7% the (Overseas Development package—recast directives on interoperability and safety, Administration) ODA target. He praised those countries, and a regulation on the European Agency for Railways including the UK, which had met the target and called (ERA). Discussions were generally positive with the for stronger political commitment from others. Looking UK and other member states overwhelmingly supporting ahead, my Department will continue to push other the presidency compromise texts. I emphasised the benefits member states for ambitious, time-bound, EU ODA of market opening in the UK and welcomed the incoming commitments beyond 2015. Italian presidency’s position to progress the political Private Sector Development Communication pillar (a position strongly endorsed by the Commission), Commissioner Piebalgs gave an overview of the new but abstained from the votes on procedural grounds as private sector development (PSD) communication. The only one of the three texts (the regulation on ERA) had EU has long been a key player in areas vital to economic cleared all our parliamentary scrutiny processes. development, including trade, transport, energy and The Council also reached political agreement on the infrastructure but until now has not had a coherent amended directive laying down the maximum weights approach to working with the private sector. I welcomed and dimensions of road vehicles in national and this new focus; the private sector creates the tax base for international traffic. Discussions focused on the outstanding public investment, and provides the jobs and stability issue of cross-border movement of vehicles that exceed that enables individuals to plan and to build better lives. the maximum weights and dimensions laid down in the The UK is at the forefront of working with the private directive. Member states were divided between those sector. We can play a valuable role to help shape this pushing for legal clarity and those that could not support new EU agenda by sharing our expertise and experience. any changes to the relevant article (article 4) due to The communication is not ground breaking but represents concerns about negative modal shift and increased demands an important shift in approach. on infrastructure. I strongly supported a proposal which My Department will continue to work closely with would have provided the legal certainty the UK was the Commission to drive forward a stronger focus on seeking in order to safeguard the long-standing cross-border economic development in EU programmes. movement of vehicles of over 4 metres in height between AOB: PM’s Girls’ Summit the UK and Ireland. This was supported by several other member states. There was, however, significant The Prime Minister and UNICEF will co-host the opposition and as a result the presidency had no option “Girl Summit” in London on 22 July to rally a global but to conclude that no changes would be made to movement to end female genital mutilation and child, article 4 in order to secure a deal on the overall file. early and forced marriage for all girls within a generation. Following lobbying in the margins from the UK and I updated my counterparts on this ground-breaking other likeminded member states the Commission agreed event which is tackling issues faced by many member to make a declaration reaffirming that its interpretation states domestically as well as overseas. With global of the directive is that if two neighbouring member co-operation, we can build on the efforts of many states both allow vehicles that deviate from the requirements developing country Governments and local communities in the annex, then those neighbouring member states to end these harmful practices. The Girl summit will be may permit the cross-border movement of these vehicles, a defining moment to share best practice, secure new but not more widely. This was a positive outcome for commitments to action and increase public engagement the UK as it confirmed that our existing cross-border on these issues. practices could continue. Adoption of Council Conclusions The Council took note of progress reports on the The Council adopted conclusions on: the 2013 report proposed air passenger rights and the port services on the implementation of the EU action plan on gender regulations. The Commission expressed disappointment equality and women’s empowerment; rights-based approach that the Council had not yet reached a common view on 67WS Written Statements12 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 68WS air passenger rights and hoped rapid agreement could Thameslink Southern Great Northern be reached on this and all other aviation dossiers including (Rail Franchising) the EU-Ukraine common aviation area agreement. On the specifics of the air passenger rights dossier, the Commission expressed reservations regarding the category The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick of unexpected flight safety shortcomings and the proposed McLoughlin): On 23 May 2014, my Department announced deletion of the compensation regime for missed connecting its intention to award the Thameslink Southern Great flights. Several member states used the opportunity of Northern (TSGN) franchise to Govia Thameslink Railway the progress report on the port services regulation to Ltd, pending the successful completion of a standstill emphasise their concerns, in particular on scope and period. I am happy to confirm to the House that this whether a regulation was the appropriate legal instrument. standstill period has ended and we completed the contract after the markets closed 11 June. This means that Govia Any other business was dominated by a wide range of can begin the mobilisation process that will mean the aviation items with the Commission providing updates new franchise will begin in September this year. on work at international and European levels to improve aircraft tracking following the disappearance of Malaysian The TSGN franchise is the largest ever let in terms of Airlines flight MH 370, and also its report on the passenger numbers and Govia will transform services application of the airport charges directive. Spain presented across the south-east of England during the seven-year its information paper on preserving and enhancing the term of the franchise. A key aspect of the franchise will EU influence in the International Civil Aviation be delivering this Government’s £6.5 billion Thameslink Organisation (ICAO) and the Netherlands pressed the programme—a major programme of infrastructure work Commission for a clear timetable to discuss further the that is helping create 8,000 jobs and will allow 24 trains social dimension in the air transport sector. per hour to travel in each direction from Blackfriars to St Pancras. New tunnels will link Peterborough and Under land transport the presidency provided Cambridge to the existing Thameslink route, providing information on the outcome of the 8 May informal easy access across London via St Pancras to Gatwick Transport Council and on Shift2Rail. The Commission and Brighton. also provided an update on the cross-border traffic Passengers are at the heart of this franchise and will offence directive. On the maritime side, the Council benefit from improved customer service and nearly conclusions on the EU’s maritime transport policy were 1,400 new electric carriages across the network. These adopted without debate. include the new class 700 trains secured by the Government Finally, Italian Transport Minister, Maurizio Lupi, as part of the Thameslink programme, but also two new set out the theme for the Italian EU presidency as fleets of trains being procured entirely by Govia. These “infrastructure and transport for growth and cohesion” will provide 50% more capacity and 10,000 extra seats and confirmed that the transport priorities will be actions every week day into central London during the morning on TEN-T networks, ports services, the political pillar peak by the end of 2018, and delivering quicker, cleaner of the fourth railway package and the single European and more reliable journeys for passengers and businesses. sky. The key dates for the Italian presidency will be This franchise shows the benefits that Government Transport Councils on 8 October in Luxembourg and working in partnership with the private sector can bring 3 December in Brussels. An informal council will be for the railways through franchising. It is a fantastic held in Milan on 16-17 September. deal for the rail industry, passengers and taxpayers. 3P Petitions12 JUNE 2014 Petitions 4P

Enterprise and Employment Bill. This will include measures Petitions to establish the Statutory Code and an independent Adjudicator. Thursday 12 June 2014 Pub Rent Prices (Derbyshire)

OBSERVATIONS The Petition of residents of the UK, Declares that the Petitioners believe that it is unfair that Claire and Scott face eviction from Patternmakers Arms, a well-attended and happy pub, as a result of BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS unreasonable increases in rent prices and further that CAMRA’s Call for a Pubs Watchdog the Government have consulted on establishing a Statutory Code and an independent Adjudicator for the pub The Petition of residents of the UK, sector to govern the relationship between large pub Declares that the Petitioners believe that the Government companies and their tenants. should stick to its promise to introduce a watchdog to prevent valued pubs from facing closure due to unfair The Petitioners therefore request that the House of practices in the pub sector; further that the Petitioners Commons urges the Government to establish a Code to believe that a pubs watchdog is urgently needed to govern the relationship between large pub companies govern the behaviour of large pub companies so that and their tenants as a matter of urgency. publicans are treated fairly by ensuring that rents and And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Pauline wholesale prices are reasonable; and further that a Latham, Official Report, 30 April 2014; Vol. 579, c. 962.] Petition from UK residents on this subject has received over 43,000 signatures. [P001343] The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Commons urges the Government to stick to its promise Innovation and Skills: and introduce a pubs watchdog to protect valued pubs BIS has been informed that Claire and Scott Muldoon from the risk of closure. no longer face eviction from the Pattenmakers Arms as And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Greg Mrs Muldoon has agreed a new lease with Enterprise Mulholland, Official Report, 14 May 2014; Vol. 580, Inns plc. c. 858.] The Petitioners’ belief that the Government have [P001353] consulted on establishing a Statutory Code and an independent Adjudicator for the pub sector to govern Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, the relationship between large pub companies and their Innovation and Skills, received on 11 June 2014: tenants is correct. On 3 June 2014 the Government On 3 June 2014 the Government published their published their Response to that consultation and also Response to the consultation on Pub Companies and their Response to the House of Commons Business, Tenants and also their Response to the House of Commons Innovation and Skills Committee’s Fourth Report of Business, Innovation and Skills Committee’s Fourth Session 2013-14: Consultation on a Statutory Code for Report of Session 2013-14: Consultation on a Statutory Pub Companies. Code for Pub Companies. Those Responses stated that the Government intend Those Responses stated that the Government intend to establish a Statutory Code and an independent to establish a Statutory Code and an independent Adjudicator to govern the relationship between pub Adjudicator to govern the relationship between all pub owning businesses—not just large ones—and their tied owning businesses and their tied tenants. These will tenants. provide tied tenants with fair treatment, increased The Petitioners called for the Statutory Code to be transparency and stronger rights about how and when established as a matter of urgency. On 4 June Her their rents are agreed. Majesty the Queen announced that the Government The pubs watchdog will stamp out unfair practices would introduce a Small Business, Enterprise and and enforce measures that will protect valued pubs from Employment Bill. This will include measures to establish the risk of closure. the Statutory Code and independent Adjudicator and On 4 June Her Majesty the Queen announced that is planned to be introduced in the House of Lords in the Government would shortly introduce a Small Business, June 2014.

223W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 224W Written Answers to CABINET OFFICE Childbirth

Questions Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many births, broken down by the week of Thursday 12 June 2014 pregnancy in which the birth occurred, there were in England in the last year for which figures are available. [199856] CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Broadband Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for asked the authority to reply. Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2014: of the average broadband speed in (a) Glasgow North As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question the UK. [199154] asking the Secretary of State for Health how many births, broken down by the week of pregnancy in which the birth occurred, there Mr Vaizey: The Independent regulator and competition were in England in the last year for which figures are available. authority for the UK communications industries (Ofcom) (199856) publishes broadband coverage data for the UK; its 2013 Information on gestational age (length of pregnancy) is not UK fixed-line broadband performance report indicates routinely recorded at the registration of live births. However, the following average modem synchronisation speed for ONS links birth registrations to NHS birth notifications data to the Glasgow City, Scotland and the UK. Data by publish figures by gestational age. These figures are less timely constituency area is not available. than statistics based on birth registrations only. Average modem sync speed 2013 Table 1 below provides the numbers of live births by each completed week’s gestation for 2011 (the most recent period for Mbit/s which figures are available). Glasgow City 17.2 Published statistics on births and infant deaths by gestational Scotland 15.8 age for England and Wales are available on the Office for National UK 17.6 Statistics website: Sports: Children www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/child-health/gestation-specific-infant- mortality-in-england-and-wales/index.html David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Table 1: Live births by gestational age, England, 20111, 2 Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is Live births taking to encourage primary school children to become <22 170 active and involved in local sports organisations. 23 282 [199221] 24 446 Mrs Grant: Over 17,500 schools are voluntarily taking 25 510 part in the Sainsbury’s School Games—over 70% of all 26 646 schools in England—including approximately 13,000 27 771 primary schools. Participating schools can choose from 28 981 sports formats developed by 31 national governing bodies 29 1,115 for sport. Schools are supported by 450 School Games 30 1,419 organisers across the country, who are connecting School 31 1,886 Games to community sports clubs to help ensure activity 32 2,791 is sustained beyond school. 33 3,771 34 6,475 In addition, through the primary PE and sport premium, 35 9,196 we are investing over £450 million across government 36 18,182 (up to and including the academic year 2015/16) to 37 39,122 improve physical education and sport in primary schools. 38 89,033 Heads are free to choose how they use the funding to 39 153,508 secure the greatest impact, which may include working 40 185,411 with local sports organisations and/or increasing pupils’ 41 135,819 participation in the School Games. 42 27,525 Total 679,059 1 Excludes those with low gestational age inconsistent with birth weight, or with PRIME MINISTER gestational age not stated. Life Peers 2 Excludes births to non-residents. Source: Office for National Statistics. Mark Hendrick: To ask the Prime Minister how Civil Servants: Equal Pay many life peerages have been created since 2010; and how many such peerages have been as a result of having been nominated by political parties. [199733] Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which Departments regularly publish details of The Prime Minister: Details are available on the their gender pay gap at each Civil Service grade. House of Lords Appointments Commission website. [199687] 225W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 226W

Mr Maude: The Office for National Statistics publishes Mrs Villiers: Because of the devolution of policing median earnings by responsibility level, Government and justice functions on 12 April 2010, and subsequent Department and gender annually as part of Civil Service reconfiguration of the Northern Ireland Office, my Statistics and this data can be found at: Department does not hold figures for the periods prior http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pse/civil-service-statistics/2013/ to 2010. Attempting to obtain this information would stb-civil-service-statistics--2013.html incur disproportionate cost. Government Departments Since April 2010, seven members of staff have been subject to formal disciplinary proceedings. Given the small numbers involved, it would not be appropriate to Mrs Gillan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet provide any further breakdown as to do so would risk Office what sources of income from organisations the identification of the individuals concerned. funded from the public purse each member of each government department’s board has. [199616] Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Maude: Departments are required to disclose the Northern Ireland what proportion of staff within her details of company directorships and other significant Department who have been dismissed following formal interests held by Board members which may conflict disciplinary proceedings in each of the last five with their management responsibilities twice yearly. financial years classed themselves as white British. Copies of the Register of Board Members’ Interests [199913] are laid in the House of Commons Library, alongside the Annual Report and Accounts, and are available on Mrs Villiers: Because of the devolution of policing request. and justice functions on 12 April 2010, and subsequent reconfiguration of the Northern Ireland Office, my Health Department does not hold figures for the periods prior to 2010. Attempting to obtain this information would Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet incur disproportionate cost. Office what use his Department has made of the Since April 2010, two members of staff have been National Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for dismissed following formal disciplinary proceedings. National Statistics in formulating policy since the Given the small numbers involved, it would not be introduction of that Index in 2011; and what policies appropriate to provide any further breakdown as to do his Department has introduced to improve national so would risk the identification of the individuals concerned. wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010. [198863]

Mr Hurd: This Government is starting to advance the Equal Opportunities use of wellbeing indicators in policy formulation. Evidence provided to the Environmental Audit Committee for its Inquiry into Wellbeing can be found Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for at: Northern Ireland what targets her Department has for http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a- increasing diversity; and what progress has been made z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/inquiries/ on meeting those targets in the last year. [199934] parliament-2010/well-being/ Social Justice Committee Mrs Villiers: My Department has not set specific targets, but is fully committed to fulfilling its statutory responsibilities, including the duties set out under fair Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet employment legislation and the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Office how many times the Social Justice Cabinet Committee has met since 5 May 2010; what issues were on the agenda for each such meeting; and which Giro d’Italia Ministers attended each such meeting. [199874]

Mr Letwin: It is established practice that information David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the including when and how often they meet, which Ministers Giro D’Italia in Northern Ireland; and what plans she have attended and the content of agendas, is not disclosed. has to ensure a positive legacy from the event. [199222]

Mrs Villiers: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board NORTHERN IRELAND (NITB) estimates that the Giro d’ltalia “Grande Partenza” was viewed by 775 million people in 165 countries Disciplinary Proceedings across the world giving this huge audience the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful scenery of Northern Ireland. Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for NITB has estimated that the event should generate Northern Ireland what proportion of staff within her 140,000 tourist visits to Northern Ireland. Department who have been subject to formal Building on the legacy of the Giro d’ltalia is, of disciplinary proceedings in each of the last five course, for the Northern Ireland Executive to take financial years classed themselves as white British. forward and I understand that the Assembly has discussed [199891] the issue. 227W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 228W

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES Administrations, including the Northern Ireland Executive, on the UK position on the international negotiations Equal Opportunities ahead of the annual UNFCCC Conference of the Parties. Mr Raab: To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities how often Section 159 of the Equality Act Energy: Carers 2010 has been used by employers in relation to recruitment or promotion of an individual with John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for protected characteristics in each year since 2011. Energy and Climate Change (1) what assessment he has [199763] made of the adequacy of provision of information for Mrs Grant: The information requested is not collected carers on affordable energy; [199155] or held centrally. (2) what recent discussions he has had with energy companies on the affordability of energy tariffs for carers. [199156] ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Michael Fallon: DECC Ministers and officials meet Climate Change: Conferences energy company representatives on a regular basis to Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for discuss market issues. Energy and Climate Change which Ministers in his It is important that all consumers, including carers, Department attended the most recent Bonn Climate have access to information to help them make informed Change Conference. [199553] decisions about their energy use. That is why Ofgem Gregory Barker: The UK is represented at senior introduced a new simpler tariff framework consisting of official levels at the current Bonn Climate Change a tariff information label and tariff comparison rate to Intersessional conference. It is a mid-year meeting paving make it easier for consumers to compare tariffs across the way for the Lima Conference of the Parties (COP) the market. In April Ofgem launched the “Be An Energy in December and Ministers do not usually attend the Shopper” campaign to empower consumers to shop Bonn meetings. I am fully behind reaching a global deal around for a better deal for their energy. in Paris, am talking to many parties both formally and informally and will attend further international engagements Fracking later this year. Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for for Energy and Climate Change what representations Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has he has received on fracking in 2014. [199784] made of the outcome of the most recent Bonn Climate Change Conference; and if he will make a statement. Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Energy [199554] and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston Gregory Barker: The Bonn Climate Change Intersessional and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has received a number of Conference is not expected to finish until 15 June, so we representations on various aspects of hydraulic fracturing. will not have a concrete assessment of the session until then. The meeting is a mid-year one to pave the way for Fracking: Lancashire the Lima Conference of the Parties (COP) in December. This meeting in Bonn will focus on negotiations on the Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for new global climate change deal that will be agreed in Energy and Climate Change how many (a) officials 2015, on work to enhance emissions reductions efforts and (b) Ministers in his Department have visited in the years to 2020, when the new deal will come into Lancashire for purposes related to fracking since 2010. effect, and to continue to progress the UN climate [199734] regime’s subsidiary agenda, covering rules, mechanisms, reporting and other areas implementing past decisions. Michael Fallon: I and a number of my officials have Even though there will not be an outcome, we want made a number of visits to Lancashire in relation to the meeting in Bonn to focus on technical and practical shale gas operations and are regularly in touch with a discussions to pave the way for countries to bring forward, number of stakeholders in the region. in early 2015, their contributions to the new agreement On 24 April I took part in a conference organised by and to make progress towards agreeing in Lima draft the North West Energy Taskforce and the two Lancashire elements of a negotiating text—these are important Chambers of Commerce in order to highlight to Lancashire milestones for the 2015 agreement. business the potential opportunities from successful As we are not expecting any outcomes, I do not shale gas development. anticipate the need to make a statement. Climate Change: Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what future Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for discussions he has planned with his counterpart in the Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 6 February 2014, Official Report, column Northern Ireland Executive on climate change. [199785] 383W, on Energy Companies Obligation, what progress Gregory Barker: The UK has an open dialogue with he has made on publishing proposals on the form, level the devolved Administrations to discuss matters relating and date for a new fuel poverty target in England; and to climate change. This includes consulting the devolved when he expects to publish those proposals. [199295] 229W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 230W

Gregory Barker: The Government is preparing proposals Summary of notifications of withdrawals from safeguards, 2014, year on a new fuel poverty objective for England in line with to date the provisions of the Warm Homes and Energy Number of withdrawal Conservation Act 2000. notifications (by type of nuclear material involved)1 Reason for withdrawal

One notification involving One notification for use in Health plutonium (Pu), microgramme analysis/analytical purposes (e.g. quantities samples, standards/tracers and/or in instrument Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy calibration) from organisations and Climate Change what use his Department has that provide standards/tracers and/or nuclear material for made of the National Wellbeing Index introduced by instrument calibration2 One the Office for National Statistics in formulating policy notification also involved mg since the introduction of that Index in 2011; and what quantities of natural uranium2 policies his Department has introduced to improve Two notifications involving high Two notifications for material national wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010. enriched uranium (HEU), total~ contained in radiation 2 [198867] 0.4 g detectors (from a company that manufactures radiation detectors) Gregory Barker: The National Wellbeing Index contains Nine notifications involving Nine notifications for depleted two measures directly related to DECC’s priorities: depleted uranium (DU), total uranium as shielding containers3 “Energy consumed within the UK from renewable ~348 kg sources” and “Total greenhouse gas emissions”, where 1 Tabulated information covers advance notifications of withdrawal latest data shows the positive impact being made by approved by ONR - Safeguards. DECC. For example in 2013, provisional data shows 2 There are no facilities outside safeguards that have material in such quantities and forms, and defence establishment requirements for 15% of electricity being produced from renewable sources-a these specialist materials have therefore been met by supply from new high. To provide further support for renewable civil organisations. and other forms of low carbon generation DECC is 3 The advance notifications of withdrawal for depleted uranium implementing Electricity Market Reform, in particular shielded containers were for temporary withdrawals, the containers provisions for Feed-in-Tariffs with Contracts for being used during the replacement of spent radioactive sources at Difference. Since 2010 DECC has also launched the UK defence establishments. Renewable Heat Incentive scheme to provide support Oil: Libya for renewable heat in both the domestic and non-domestic sectors. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy More broadly, a number of DECC’s policies, such as and Climate Change how many barrels of oil were the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) which funds exported from Libya to the UK in each of the last five efficient boilers and insulation measures to low income years. [199476] and vulnerable households and is now guaranteed until at least 2017, contribute toward other aspects of the Michael Fallon: The following table shows imports of National Wellbeing Index, for example “Getting by crude oil to the United Kingdom from Libya for each of financially”. the last five years. The data are rounded to the nearest 1,000 barrels and the 2013 number is provisional Imports of crude oil to the UK from Libya (barrels at 7.37 per tonne) Nuclear Safeguards Barrels

2013 14,828,000 Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many withdrawals of nuclear 2012 21,557,000 materials from safeguards applied under the tripartite 2011 5,638,000 UK-Euratom-IAEA Voluntary Safeguards Agreement 2010 20,032,000 there have been since May 2010; and how many such 2009 13,598,000 withdrawals were permanent. [199177] Renewable Energy Michael Fallon: Information on nuclear material withdrawn from safeguards is available on the Office for Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Nuclear Regulation website at: and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 14 Official Report www.onr.org.uk/safeguards/withdrawals.htm May 2014, , column 597W, on renewable energy, what assessment his Department has made of in the same format as provided to Parliament on 28 July what the market conditions that will enable 2000, Official Report, column 1094W, and in the independent generators to use short-term Power written answer to Parliament on 1 March 2001, Official Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and a wider variety of Report, columns 732-33W. The website provides PPA counterparties will have developed in time for annual reports on withdrawals from 2001 to 2013. As independent generators to secure necessary finance indicated in footnote 3 to each table, the advance terms ahead of the first CfD auctions which are notifications of withdrawal of depleted uranium shielded scheduled for October 2014. [199181] containers were temporary. All other withdrawals were permanent. Michael Fallon: In general, short-term Power Purchase In 2014, the notifications received to date are as Agreements are widely available in the current market, follows: but providers of project finance tend to require long-term 231W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 232W

PPAs. The Offtaker of Last Resort (OLR) mechanism regular contact with counterparts from other Government will provide additional certainty for projects with a Departments, including HM Treasury, on a range of Contract for Difference which should enable them to issues, including fuel poverty. consider a wider range of routes to market and a wider range of offtakers, including short-term PPAs. Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy My officials have worked closely with developers, and Climate Change what recent assessment he has expert advisers and other stakeholders in working up made of the operation of (a) section 1 and (b) the OLR proposals and to understand the likely impacts section 2 of the Warm Homes and Energy on the PPA market. The policy design is at an advanced Conservation Act 2000; what recent representations he stage, and the detail of the proposals has been recently has received on the operation of this Act; and what consulted on. We are on track to deliver the final policy responses he gave to such representations. [199187] and introduce enabling regulations ahead of the first allocation of CfDs. CfD applicants will have a high Gregory Barker: The Warm Homes and Energy degree of clarity about the arrangements for OLR, in Conservation Act 2000 has been amended through the advance of the first auctions. Energy Act 2013. In line with the provisions of the amended Act, the Government will lay draft regulations Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy in Parliament setting out a new fuel poverty objective and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 14 for England. Once the new objective has been made in May 2014, Official Report, column 597W, on renewable regulations, we will publish a strategy for meeting that energy, what the evidential basis was for the statement objective. made in the Government’s response on competitive Both the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate allocation that Power Purchase Agreements could be Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton signed on a conditional basis before a strike price needs (Mr Davey), and I receive representations and meet to be submitted, allowing independent generators to with stakeholders regularly to discuss a range of issues receive indicative financing terms from lenders; and relating to fuel poverty. For example, we attend meetings what representations he has received from generators of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group when possible, on that statement. [199182] most recently in April 2014. Michael Fallon: The Government’s response to the consultation on competitive allocation set out its expectation that the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) market will DEFENCE evolve such that PPAs could be signed on a conditional basis. We have discussed this with stakeholders and have identified no significant barriers that prevent Afghanistan conditional Power Purchase Agreements being agreed prior to the allocation of Contracts for Difference. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence Furthermore, some PPA participants have since confirmed what assessment he has made of when the Afghanistan that they are prepared to consider approaches from Air Force will be ready to function independently of generators on this basis. US and UK support. [199016] UK Coal Mr Francois: The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is trained in accordance with the wider International Security Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Assistance Force (ISAF) Afghan National Security Force Energy and Climate Change with reference to his (ANSF) development strategy. ISAF envisages that the statement of 10 April 2014, Official Report, columns AAF will be at full operational capability with the 24-25WS, on UK Coal Production Ltd, when the £10 required trained personnel, aircraft and equipment by million interest bearing loan to UK Coal will be the end of 2017. complete. [199692] Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon: I refer the hon. Member to the written what proportion of the Afghanistan National Army statement I made today (“Update concerning UK Coal”) has deserted in each month since January 2010. as Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. [199017] As stated, I will continue to keep the House updated. Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 Mr Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy on 13 November 2012, Official Report, column 161W. and Climate Change what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with their counterparts in HM Africa Treasury on the operation of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; and if he will make a Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for statement. [199186] Defence with reference to the answer of 25 March 2014, Official Report, column 180W, on Africa, Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy whether any service personnel are embedded with host and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston forces or otherwise stationed in (a) Niger, (b) Nigeria and Surbiton (Mr Davey), Ministers and officials have and (c) the Seychelles. [199405] 233W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 234W

Mr Francois: There are no UK service personnel Armed Forces: British Nationality embedded with host forces or otherwise stationed in Niger. Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence The UK has a small number of personnel deployed how many Foreign and Commonwealth personnel to Nigeria in roles including diplomatic representation, from each country of origin who were made redundant defence engagement, liaison and training. As part of from the armed forces in each year since 2010 were the package of support to Nigeria announced by the subsequently unable to meet the five-year rule to apply Prime Minister last month, an additional small team of for citizenship; and if he will make a statement. experts has also deployed to help Nigeria establish an [198549] Intelligence Fusion Cell with French and US partners Anna Soubry: Foreign and Commonwealth personnel to assist the Nigerian Government in locating the abducted with four years’ service in the armed forces service can school girls. apply, in the interim, for settlement. This process regularises In the Seychelles, a Royal Naval officer is currently their immigration status while they qualify and meet the serving as a liaison officer for the European Union mandated Home Office criteria to apply for citizenship. Naval Force Somalia (EUNAVFOR). The Ministry of Defence has completed an analysis of personnel records and I can confirm that no Foreign Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for and Commonwealth personnel with less than four years’ Defence whether any UK service personnel are service were made redundant since 2010. Therefore embedded or otherwise stationed in (a) Ethiopia and redundancy from the armed forces would not have (b) Chad. [199425] prevented personnel from applying for settlement or citizenship. Mr Francois: The UK has a small number of service personnel deployed to Ethiopia in roles including diplomatic Armed Forces: Discharges representation, defence engagement, liaison and training. No UK service personnel are currently embedded or Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for otherwise stationed in Chad. Defence how many requests for discharge were made by soldiers aged (a) 19 and (b) 20 years who had served at least three years in the regular Army in the Armed Conflict: Children last five years; and what the outcome was of each such request. [198845] Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department is giving to the Anna Soubry: Soldiers must normally serve a minimum UN Special Representative for Children and Armed of three years before they can voluntarily discharge Conflict for the campaign to eradicate the recruitment with a year’s notice. Consequently, the number of of children by government armed forces by 2016. applications from 19-year-olds is lower than from those [198849] aged 20 years of age. ″Requests for discharge″ has been interpreted as Voluntary Outflow Applications which Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence provides no are recorded on the Joint Personnel Administration formal support to the UN Special Representative, but is system. taking steps to ensure that our recruitment activities are The number of applications for voluntary discharge in accordance with Article 38 of the Convention on the made by trained Regular Soldiers aged 19 and 20 between Rights of the Child, as stated in the answer given on 1 March 2009 and 1 March 2014 are shown in the 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 98W, to the hon. following table. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Cathy Jamieson). Age on Application No of Applications

Armed Forces Covenant: Northern Ireland 19 50 20 330 Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Total 380 Defence which charitable projects based in Northern Source: Ireland have benefited from the armed forces covenant Defence Statistics (Army) (Libor) fund. [199638] These figures include some personnel who applied for voluntary release, but who were subsequently discharged Anna Soubry: The importance of the covenant to the for other reasons. The actual numbers discharged between Government was highlighted by the decision of the 1 March 2009 and 31 March 2014, and the reasons for Chancellor to transfer £35 million from fines levied on the discharge are shown as follows: the banks for attempting to manipulate LIBOR to the Ministry of Defence for use in supporting the armed Age on Application forces community. The fund has now closed and money 19 years 20 years has been allocated to some 97 projects. Voluntary Outflow 20 240 The Northern Irish armed forces community will Administrative discharge 10 30 benefit from a number of UK-wide projects which have Medical/Other — 10 been allocated over £16 million of LIBOR funding. In Total 30 270 addition, we have provided £50,000 of funding to the Note: UDR and Royal Irish Aftercare Service to set up a Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in ″5″ have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. welfare support network and advisory service for veterans Source: and their dependants in Northern Ireland. Defence Statistics (Army). 235W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 236W

These figures exclude requests for medical, administrative Army and disciplinary discharges. Some applications may have been withdrawn at a later date and that some individual Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for soldiers may have applied for voluntary discharge more Defence how many soldiers who enlisted in the Army than once. aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 years and above dropped out before completing phase two training in the last 10 Armed Forces: Young People financial years. [198851]

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Francois: ‘Enlistment’ has been interpreted as Defence what training programmes or qualifications those who joined the untrained strength, for example are available to recruits who enlist as minors which are those that begin Phase 1 training. Totals for the period not available to those who enlist aged 18 years or over. between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2014 are shown as [198846] follows:

Anna Soubry: Young people joining the Army attend Untrained Strength Phase 1 training at the Army Foundation College Age on Entry Intake Outflow (Harrogate) and complete different programmes depending on the part of the Army they wish to join. Full details Under 18 35,190 12,300 of the training offered at Harrogate is available at this 18 and over 64,950 17,250 link: Unknown 430 430 http://www.army.mod.uk/training_education/24420.aspx Total 100,570 29,980 Source: For the Royal Navy and RAF, age at enlistment has Defence Statistics (Army) no bearing on the training programmes or qualifications available during initial training. Personnel may leave the army for a number of reasons, including medical and fitness factors, disciplinary reasons, Irrespective of the age that an individual joins the or voluntary withdrawal. Those who join-up under 18 armed forces, approximately 90% of all recruits complete years of age have a statutory right to discharge from the an apprenticeship within three years of joining. armed forces within six months if they feel they are unsuited to service life. Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits under the age of 18 years at (a) The figures in the table exclude Gurkhas, Full Time enlistment and (b) the point of submitting their Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and application to join the armed forces who stated in all other Reserves. section 3 of AFCO Form 4 that they were unemployed, Where an individual’s entry date is blank on the completed training and moved into trained strength in records, the age on entry has not been able to be the most recent year for which figures are available. calculated and is shown as ‘unknown’. [199635] Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in ‘5’ have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to Anna Soubry: This information is not held in the prevent systematic bias. Totals and sub-totals have been format requested. rounded separately and so may not be the sum of their parts. Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits enlisting in the armed forces under AWE Aldermaston the age of 18 years had previously (a) been convicted of a criminal offence, (b) received a caution from the police, (c) received an antisocial behaviour order and Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for (d) been permanently excluded from school in the Defence how much his Department has spent on most recent year for which figures are available. Atomic Weapons Establishment facilities at [199636] Aldermaston in each of the last five years. [199128]

Anna Soubry: This information is not held in the Mr Dunne: Expenditure specifically on AWE facilities format requested. at Aldermaston is not held in the format requested. Contract payments for AWE are made against an agreed Armoured Fighting Vehicles programme of work that covers all AWE sites; Aldermaston, Burghfield and Blacknest. These costs are not recorded according to site. Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the MRV-P programme concept phase to be completed; whether funding for a Boskalis demonstration has been approved; and what funds have been allocated for this purpose. [199355] Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts have been awarded by his Mr Dunne: The Multi Role Vehicle (Protected) (MRV-P) Department to Boskalis over the last five years; and on Concept Phase will be completed by early spring 2015, how many occasions during the contract period such at which point we expect the results to be submitted for contractors have been found responsible for breaching Initial Gate Business Case consideration. Funds have environmental guidance, thereby committing an been allocated for the delivery of the project. offence. [199409] 237W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 238W

Mr Dunne: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has including assessments from trials on the USS Wasp. awarded no new direct contracts to Boskalis Westminster UK assessments have covered all necessary aircraft NV or any of its subsidiaries in the last five years. There configurations. is one existing contract in place with SMIT, a towage The QEC Flight Deck has been designed with specific and salvage company which is a subsidiary of Boskalis, operating spots for vertical landing to deliver maximum and this was awarded in 2002, under the last Administration, Sortie Generation Rate. These are the spots where the for marine base support services. In addition, Boskalis F-35B will plan to land vertically on a routine basis. If performs some dredging duties at Portsmouth, Marchwood required, in the event of an emergency the whole flight and Plymouth under subcontract to Debut. deck can support vertical landing. Boskalis has been issued with a formal warning on one occasion for breaching a licence issued by the Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to allow Defence at which RAF bases the Joint Strike Fighter dredging at Devonport by disposing on an incoming can regularly land vertically. [199116] tide. Boskalis immediately informed the MMO of their error and the formal warning was issued. No further Mr Dunne: RAF Marham is planned to be the only action is being taken. RAF base in the UK at which the Joint Strike Fighter Defence: Procurement can conduct vertical landings regularly. The Joint Strike Fighter will of course be able to land conventionally Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for and conduct slow landings at other RAF bases. Defence with reference to the answer of 18 December 2013, Official Report, column 636W, on defence: Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for procurement, what the final costs are of establishing a Defence whether the Joint Strike Fighter 35-B will be Golo and running the tendering process. [199274] equipped with a collision warning system. [199787] Mr Dunne: The final cost of supporting our work on Mr Dunne: The F-35 has a limited collision warning the Government Owned Contractor Operated (GOGO) system in its early capability block which is supplemented competition is £7.4 million. This investment has provided by advanced sensors and software to provide pilots with valuable insight into the challenges involved in establishing a much higher level of situational awareness than on a successful GOCO. The outputs from this work will be our existing platforms. The full ground and air collision retained to inform any future GOCO competition should warning system is under development and planned and a decision be taken to re-examine this model as part of funded for integration into the aircraft in line with its the continuing transformation of Defence Equipment introduction into UK service. and Support. Military Aircraft Djibouti Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to mitigate the risks to Defence with reference to the answer of 4 February defence aviation safety systems and culture referred 2014, Official Report, column 169W, on Djibouti, from to in the Defence Air Safety Annual Report July 2012 which squadron armed forces have been deployed at to August 2013; and if he will make a statement. Camp Lemonnier; and what role is undertaken by each [199375] UK officer embedded with US forces at that location. [199424] Mr Francois: The risks highlighted in the annual Mr Francois: The three UK armed forces personnel report represented an aggregate of air safety risks across embedded in Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa the regulated community. These are held by suitably (CJFT-HOA) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti are currently qualified and experienced personnel and are actively from the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the Corps of managed and mitigated. Royal Engineers, and the Intelligence Corps. Their roles Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for involve planning and supporting US military operations Defence when he expects to put out to tender the in East Africa. contract to provide military air traffic management at Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft British and overseas bases. [199408]

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Dunne: Following advertisement in the Official Defence what modifications to the original design of Journal of the European Union in March 2011, bidders the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers were necessary to submitted outline proposals to provide military air traffic accommodate repeated vertical landings by the Joint management at British and overseas bases (Project Strike Fighter; what estimate he has made of the heat MARSHALL). Two bidders submitted detailed proposals produced by vertical landing by the Joint Strike Fighter in January 2014. The second round of dialogue commenced which has the heaviest safe configuration to allow the in April 2014 and will conclude when the bidders are procedure; and whether vertical landings can take place asked to submit their final tender proposals in late on any flat area of the carrier deck. [199115] summer 2014. Mr Dunne: The ability of the ship to support F-35B Risk Assessment vertical landings has been incorporated into the design of Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft carrier from Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the outset. Environmental considerations including heat Defence what records his Department keeps of the generation and dissipation have been thoroughly evaluated, monthly 2-star assessments of its risk registers. [199148] 239W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 240W

Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence makes extensive 398 did not require any special provision to reflect the use of risk management tools and techniques across the use of RPAS by UK Forces. different areas of departmental business. Risk registers are generally created, updated, and assessed as part of Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for day-to-day management action; and the relevant records Defence with reference to the answer of 10 February are kept at local level. 2014, Official Report, column 474, on unmanned air vehicles: guided weapons, if his Department will Somalia publish the method and results from the UK-US firing trials of Brimstone missiles from MQ-9 Reaper. Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for [199420] Defence if he will take steps to recognise the service of members of the Royal Navy in patrolling operations to Mr Dunne: The firing trials successfully demonstrated tackle piracy off the coast of Somalia. [198740] rapid integration of Brimstone missiles onto the MQ-9 Anna Soubry: The UK contribution to counter-piracy Reaper remotely piloted air system—safe carriage, safe operations is held in the highest regard by our coalition release and system targeting—with a high success rate partners and by this Government, and it is right to pay against static and high-speed manoeuvring targets. tribute to all those involved in maintaining maritime However, the final trials report has not yet been security vital to the European and global economy. completed and it remains too early to say what information from the report, or the trial method, will be published. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department maintains (a) Defence with reference to the answer of 10 February mission reports, (b) guided missile firing reports, (c) 2014, Official Report, column 473W, on unmanned air weapon system videos and (d) any other munitions vehicles, when the Joint User Group for Reapers will release records for the UK Reaper fleet following the become active; and if he will make a statement. change of operational command to US pilots. [199421] [199415] Mr Francois: Each UK Reaper sortie has a mission Mr Francois: Although a final decision on when the report produced post flight. If a weapon is fired during Joint User Group for Reaper should become active has a sortie, a weapon report is completed detailing the yet to be taken, it is expected to start functioning during engagement, as well as a video produced of the engagement the autumn. itself. There are no other munitions release records for Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the UK Reaper fleet. US pilots have not flown UK Defence if his Department will carry out an Reaper except during the launch and recovery phase. independent qualitative assessment of the Outside of the launch and recovery phase, UK Remotely psychological and workplace stresses on the operators Piloted Air Systems have always been operated by UK of remotely piloted air systems. [198644] pilots.

Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence currently has no Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for plans to undertake an independent qualitative assessment Defence with reference to the answer of 15 January of the psychological and workplace stresses on the 2014, Official Report, column 578W, on unmanned air operators of remotely piloted air systems. vehicles, whether his Department maintains munitions The health and wellbeing of all of our armed forces records from the UK Reaper fleet on a sortie-by-sortie personnel is of the utmost importance. We are mindful basis or for each operation carried out. [199422] of the pressure and stresses that service personnel may be subjected to when supporting enduring intelligence, Mr Francois: After each UK Reaper sortie a mission surveillance and reconnaissance operations. These personnel report is written detailing the aircraft used and events of are carefully monitored and where appropriate have the flight. This includes weapon releases on a sortie-by-sortie access to the highest levels of military physical and basis. mental health care. Looking after our people is one of the critical roles for our front-line commanders and Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for they keenly focus on the well-being of their people. Defence whether his Department has procured any contracts for life cycle maintenance of the Reaper fleet; Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for and for what periods. [199429] Defence whether Joint Services Publication 398 on UK Rules of Engagement has been amended to reflect use Mr Dunne: No contracts for life cycle maintenance of remotely piloted aircraft systems. [199299] have been procured. Through life maintenance and support of the UK Reaper fleet is provided through the Mr Francois: JSP 398 was updated on 21 October Foreign Military Sales agreement at the time the Reaper 2013, replacing the previous 2004 edition. Rules of system was procured under the previous administration. engagement govern how force can be applied in any given operation. They are not tailored to weapon system types per se, but are written to be applied as appropriate USA to the full spectrum of weapons systems available to UK Forces. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for are governed by the same rules and regulations as any Defence with reference to the advice provided by other weapons system; therefore the amendment of JSP Jemima Stratford QC to the All-Party Parliamentary 241W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 242W

Group on drones, if his Department will take steps to as the Assistant Defence Attaché. The role of the investigate activities carried out at US bases owned by Defence Attaché is to command the Defence Section, to his Department which may be unlawful under domestic represent the Chief of the Defence Staff in Yemen and law. [R] [198639] Eritrea and to advise HM Ambassador on defence and security matters. The role of the Assistant Defence Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence remains content Attaché is to provide administrative support to the with the arrangements that are in place to govern the Defence Attaché. use of UK bases by the United States Visiting Forces (USVF). The Department therefore has no plans to investigate or review the activities undertaken by the USVF. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Bovine TB Defence what discussions his Department has had with its US counterpart on identifying how the US will 12. Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for support the new Joint User Group for Reaper. [R] Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment [198641] he has made of progress in other countries on tackling bovine TB in cattle and wildlife. [904180] Mr Francois: Officials representing all user nations, including the US, have had initial discussions exploring George Eustice: The success of the bovine TB eradication the scope, formation and management of a proposed policies pursued in countries such as Australia, New Joint User Group for Reaper. Further discussions are Zealand, the United States, the Republic of Ireland and planned to take place in the coming months. France demonstrates the need to bear down on the Yemen disease effectively in both cattle and in wildlife. There is no single solution. Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 30 January Equine Industry: Regulation 2014, Official Report, column 691W, on Yemen, whether his Department has undertaken any impact 15. Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for assessment of drone strikes in Yemen. [R] [198640] Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the burden of regulation on the equine Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence has not conducted industry in the UK. [904186] any impact assessment of kinetic strikes by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in Yemen. As the Minister of George Eustice: As part of the Red Tape Challenge State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right Agriculture theme, we announced in January the hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent Government’s intention to scrap 156 regulations and (Hugh Robertson), said on 30 January 2014, Official improve 134 others. There were 11 reform proposals Report, column 691W, UAV strikes against terrorist related to equine regulation in DEFRA’s Agriculture targets in Yemen are a matter for the Yemeni and US theme. An implementation plan containing these proposals Governments. was contained in DEFRA’s “Better for Business–Strategic Reform Plan”published on 9 April 2014 which is available Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for publicly, online. Defence with reference to the answer of 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 169W, on Djibouti, Severn Estuary Flood Defences whether the UK personnel embedded with US forces under US command at Camp Lemonnier provide any 16. Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for support to the US drone programme in Yemen; and if Environment, Food and Rural Affairs What steps he is he will make a statement. [199008] taking to improve and maintain flood defences along the Severn Estuary. [904187] Mr Francois: UK armed forces personnel embedded in Combined Joint Task Force—Horn of Africa (CJTF- Dan Rogerson: During this financial year the HOA) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, are responsible Environment Agency will invest £380,000 in maintaining for the planning and support of US military operations flood defences and structures on the Severn Estuary in in East Africa. They do not provide any support to US Gloucestershire. An additional £2 million will be invested Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) operations in to repair flood defences and structures damaged during Yemen; CJTF-HOA does not oversee operations in the the winter floods. Middle East. The Severn Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for identified a need for around £58 million of funding in Defence how many UK service personnel are stationed Gloucestershire over the next 100 years to maintain or in Yemen; and what the (a) rank, (b) squadron and improve flood defences in the Estuary. (c) function is of each officer stationed in that country. Climate Change: Funding [199426] Mr Francois: There are two permanently based UK Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for service personnel in Yemen. Both of these personnel are Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what level of employed within the Defence Section at the British funding his Department provides to tackle the effects embassy in Sana’a. There is one Army Colonel employed of climate change; and if he will make a statement. as the Defence Attaché and one Army Sergeant employed [904184] 243W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 244W

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA spent £8.3 million in 2013-14 The Water Industry Act 1991 has also been amended under its core adapting to climate change programme. to make clear that sewerage undertakers can construct This included £4.1 million to the Met Office Hadley and use sustainable drainage systems to fulfil their Centre for the provision of world-leading climate science, statutory duty to effectually drain an area where it is the and £1.6 million to the Environment Agency’s Climate most economical solution. Ready support service to help organisations across England adapt to a changing climate. Adaptation is mainstreamed Food across Government. Other Departments and other DEFRA programmes also fund activities that build resilience to Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for climate change. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to help rural food and drink producers. [904183] Environment Protection: Crime George Eustice: Stimulating economic growth in rural areas is a key priority for DEFRA and I recognise the Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for importance of the food and drink sector to the rural Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which economy. companies have been (a) given warnings because of breaches of environmental law and (b) prosecuted for The Rural Development Programme is now and will such breaches in each of the last five years. [199354] continue to support food and drink producers in rural areas to deliver growth and create jobs. Dan Rogerson: The information is as follows: In addition, we are helping local food businesses gain (a) Warnings: The following table shows the total recognition for protected food names. Over 60 British number of written warnings issued by the Environment foods are now recognised in this way, including Agency to companies in England for breaches of Herefordshire cider and perry. environmental law for the period since 2010. Hill Farming

Calendar Number of written warnings issued by the year Environment Agency in England Mel Stride: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the 2009 16,140 Government is taking to support moorland farmers. 2010 13,774 [904182] 2011 12,009 2012 9,964 George Eustice: We will almost double the direct 2013 10,093 payment rate in the moorland from 2015. We will also Total for 61,980 equalise the payment rates in the Severely Disadvantaged period Area and the lowland. Taken together, these changes will distribute direct payments more equitably across Due to the high volume, as recorded in the above English farms. They will also ensure that upland farmers table, it would incur disproportionate cost to collate the on large areas of moorland are not put at a disadvantage names of the individual companies who received such in comparison with other upland farmers. warnings. Records of any warning or warnings issued to the Sheep operator of a permitted site are held on the Environment Agency’s public registers, which can be viewed at the Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for relevant Environment Agency area office. Alternatively, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what any individual may request information from the information his Department holds on the number of Environment Agency National Customer Contact Centre dog attacks on sheep flocks in each of the last three on a particular site or sites by telephoning 03708 506 years. [198743] 506 or emailing: [email protected] (b) Prosecutions: The Environment Agency has George Eustice: DEFRA and our delivery partner, successfully prosecuted 760 companies in England over the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the last five full calendar years. A list of the companies, do not record this information. in each year, will be placed in the House Library. DEFRA has sourced information regarding defendants proceeded against at magistrates court, found guilty Flood Control and sentenced at all courts for offences relating to dogs worrying livestock on agricultural land, England and Wales, 2011-13.1, 2, 3 Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment Offence Outcome 2011 2012 2013 he has made of the effectiveness of water infrastructure investment plans in tackling the problem of flooding; Proceeded against 64 71 50 and if he will make a statement. [904181] Found guilty 53 57 37 Sentenced 53 57 37 Dan Rogerson: Ofwat is assessing water infrastructure Absolute discharge — 1 1 investment plans for 2015-20 under the 2014 water price Conditional discharge 10 16 5 review. All water and sewerage companies have a duty derived from recent legislation to place greater emphasis Fine 34 34 26 on flood risk planning. 245W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 246W

the business case for people to work longer at an individual, Offence Outcome 2011 2012 2013 business, societal and economic level, and sets out a Dogs worrying livestock Community sentence — 1 — number of new actions the Department will be taking on agricultural land4 forward to promote fuller working lives. Suspended sentences — — — (ii) Relevant departmental evaluations on this issue Otherwise dealt with 9 5 5 concerning Jobcentre Plus include “How ready is Jobcentre Immediate custody — — — Plus to help people in their 60s to find work?”: Average fine (£) 165.47 177.50 221.54 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-ready-is- Average custodial 0.0 0.0 0.0 jobcentre-plus-to-help-people-in-their-60s-find-work-ihr11 sentence length 5 Also, where possible surveys of benefit claimants are (months) broken down by age, for example “The Jobcentre Plus 1 The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has Offer: Final evaluation report”: been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more attachment_data/file/261656/rrep852.pdf offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and Children: Maintenance complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those and Pensions if he will make the Child Maintenance data are used. 3 The number of offenders sentenced can differ from those found guilty as it Options Service 0800 telephone number free to all may be the case that a defendant found guilty in a particular year, and callers, including mobile telephone users. [199665] committed for sentence at the Crown court, may be sentenced in the following year. 4 Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953. Steve Webb: Calls to the Child Maintenance Options 5 Excludes life and indeterminate sentences. 0800 telephone number are free from BT land lines but Source: customers may have to pay if they use another telephone Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. company or a mobile, or if they are calling from abroad. We are currently finalising arrangements with the six major mobile network providers to make the numbers WORK AND PENSIONS free to call from their networks. Age: Discrimination In the meantime, callers contacting the Child Maintenance Options service from a mobile telephone Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work are informed by their network provider that they will be and Pensions what recent research his Department has charged. Callers using mobile telephones can request (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated relating to age the Options service to call them back, or alternatively discrimination in (i) the work place and (ii) Jobcentre use the online ‘live chat’ facility or e-mail service, available Plus. [199242] via the Child Maintenance Options website at: www.cmoptions.org Steve Webb: The Department has not commissioned any research in the last two years specifically on age Disadvantaged: EU Grants and Loans discrimination. (i) Previous research relating to age discrimination in Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the work place includes “Attitudes to age in Britain Work and Pensions for what reasons the UK 2010/11”: Government voted against the establishment of a Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived. [199259] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/214361/ihr7.pdf Esther McVey: The UK did not refuse any money, it and “Second Survey on employers’ policies, practices simply voted against adopting the regulation establishing and preferences relating to age, 2010”: the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived on http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130128102031/ the basis that we think member states, and not the http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2009-2010/ European Union, should decide how the money is rrep682.pdf spent. This was in line with the reasoned opinions This research was commissioned by the Department adopted by both the House of Commons and the as part of wider research into the removal of the House of Lords. Default Retirement Age, including “Default Retirement Age– employer qualitative research”: Employment and Support Allowance http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130128102031/ http:/research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2009-2010/ John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for rrep672.pdf Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of The Default Retirement Age was abolished in 2011, the time between applications for employment and meaning most people can now retire when the time is support allowance and an assessment appointment for right for them. Employers can now only set a fixed people who applied in (a) September 2013, (b) retirement age where it can be objectively justified in October 2013, (c) November 2013, (d) December their particular circumstances, but this is open to challenge 2013, (e) January 2014, (f) February 2014, (g) March at tribunal. 2014 and (h) April 2014 in (i) Glasgow North West On 13 June we will be publishing “Fuller Working constituency, (ii) Glasgow, (iii) Scotland and (iv) the Lives–A Framework for Action”. The document outlines UK; [199352] 247W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 248W

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of Esther McVey: The role of the Jobcentre Plus work employment and support allowance applicants who coach is to provide support and advise claimants of the have been waiting to be given an assessment best opportunities available to help them secure appointment for more than (a) three, (b) four, (c) employment. five, (d) six and (e) seven months. [199153] Jobcentre Plus can issue a jobseeker’s direction to require JSA claimants to undertake activity they judge Mike Penning: The information requested is not available. will help them back to work. However, before doing so, the Jobcentre Plus work coach will take into account Health the claimant’s individual circumstances, as well as determining that the activity being required will help Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work improve their employment prospects and they can and Pensions what use his Department has made of the reasonably be expected to undertake it. National Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for National Statistics in formulating policy since the Maternity Pay introduction of that Index in 2011; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010. [198874] Work and Pensions how many women received statutory maternity pay for how long in the latest Mike Penning: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) period for which figures are available. [199688] is measuring National Well-being, not as an index but through a framework of 41 indicators which capture Steve Webb: The total number of women that started social progress around important aspects of life for receiving Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) in 2011-12 individuals, communities and the nation. The statistics was 355,000 and the average number receiving SMP at are experimental and as such we should not expect to any point in time during the year was 273,000. These have examples of major policies that have been heavily figures are estimated based on a 1% sample of national influenced by the well-being data at this stage. insurance records. Evidence provided to the Environmental Audit This figure is for Great Britain only. Northern Ireland Committee for its Inquiry into Well-being can be found figures are the responsibility of the Department for at: Social Development in Northern Ireland. http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a- The duration of SMP claims cannot be estimated z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/inquiries/ from national insurance records, as these only contain parliament-2010/well-being/ information on the amount of SMP paid across the year and not when SMP claims begin and end. However Housing Benefit: Wales the Department publishes the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Women Returners Survey, which provides Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work an indication of SMP claim durations, with the latest and Pensions how many local authorities in Wales publication being in 2009-10. In 2008, about half of applied for additional financial assistance to cover women eligible for SMP took maternity pay for the discretionary housing payments in 2013-14; and what statutory number of weeks (39 weeks). Findings can be assistance such local authorities received. [200023] accessed at the link below (Section 3.3 and Table 3.5 contain information on SMP durations): Steve Webb: The three local authorities in Wales that https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maternity-and- applied for additional discretionary housing payments paternity-rights-and-women-returners-survey-200910-rr777 from the additional £20 million reserve fund provided Notes: by the Government are detailed on the following table: 1. The number of SMP receipts is shown in DWP’s expenditure tables found on the gov.uk website at: Local authority Amount awarded (£) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit-expenditure- Caerphilly 63,000 tables Cardiff 150,000 2. Estimates of the number of women receiving SMP are based Conwy 25,000 on the Lifetime Labour Market Database (L2) which is a 1% sample of national insurance records. This information was published on 24 March 2014 in 3. Estimates are subject to change due to further information the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) subsidy becoming available through the national insurance recording circular S3/2014. Please find attached a link where the system. information can be found: Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Work and Pensions what the cost to the Exchequer was attachment_data/file/295291/s3-2014.pdf of statutory maternity pay in the last year for which figures are available. [199689] Jobcentre Plus Steve Webb: The amount of statutory maternity pay Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for in the last year for which figures are available was Work and Pensions whether a jobcentre is permitted to £2,303 million for 2012-13 (nominal terms). Figures are require a jobseeker to attend a voluntary employment subject to change due to more information becoming support project in receipt of no statutory funding available through employers’ returns to HM Revenue without the consent of that project. [199395] and Customs. 249W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 250W

The figure is for Great Britain only. Northern Ireland Guidance on how to extract the information required figures are the responsibility of the Department for can be found at: Social Development in Northern Ireland. https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat- Source: Xplore_User_Guide.htm Original source is expenditure data from employer returns to Her Separated People: Finance Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and is the amount recovered by employers rather than the amount received by claimants. This information is shown in DWP’s expenditure tables Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for found on the Gov.uk website at Work and Pensions when each of the new projects https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit- chosen in the second round of competition for funding expenditure-tables from the Help and Support for Separated Families Innovation Fund will commence. [199625] Personal Independence Payment Steve Webb: All projects successful during the second Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work round of the Innovation Fund procurement exercise and Pensions how many people he expects to (a) be became operational during or before April 2014. assessed for and (b) receive decisions on applications for personal independence payments in each of the Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for next five years. [199815] Work and Pensions (1) what proportion of the parents who have so far participated in the first round of Help Mike Penning: The information is in the table: and Support for Separated Families Innovation Fund projects have been (a) parents with main care of a Thousand child or children and (b) non-resident parents; [199646] 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 (2) how many people have participated in each of the PIP new claims 386 378 381 381 387 seven Help and Support for Separated Families PIP reassessed claims 191 401 754 369 34 Innovation Fund projects to date. [199627] Total PIP claims 577 779 1135 750 421 Steve Webb: Round one projects all aim to reach PIP new claims decisions 600 373 379 387 380 different numbers of parents depending on their need, PIP reassessed claims 152 337 746 490 34 the project’s location, resources available and the type decisions of service being offered. One of these round one projects Total PIP decisions 752 710 1124 877 414 initially works with non-resident parents only, whereas Notes: the other projects engage a lead parent which could be 1. Decisions in a year will be for claims in that year and the previous year. either the parent with care or the non-resident parent. 2. Reassessed claims are claims from individuals currently on DLA who have been invited to apply for PIP, Most projects then aim to work with both parents Source: during the intervention but this is not always possible. Budget 14 forecasts As far as it is possible, the actual number of parents Personal Independence Payment: North East participating, and whether they are a parent with care or a non-resident parent, are data that is currently being Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work collected by our round one projects. This forms part of and Pensions (1) how many and what proportion of the data that will be collated, analysed and assessed by personal independence payments claims not made our independent evaluator. It is our intention that this under the special rules for terminally ill people, by will be published alongside final evaluation results when claimants resident in (a) Washington and Sunderland completed. West constituency, (b) the Sunderland local authority area and (c) the North East region were successful in Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for each month for which records are available; [199855] Work and Pensions how much has been awarded to (2) how many personal independence payments each of the 10 projects that received funding from Help claims, not under the special rules for terminally ill and Support for Separated Families Innovation Fund people, have been made by residents of (a) in the second round of bidding in December 2013. Washington and Sunderland West constituency, (b) [199647] the Sunderland local authority area and (c) the North East region in each month for which records are Steve Webb: The following table provides the original agreed contract value for each of the contracts awarded available. [199857] in the second procurement round of the Innovation Mike Penning: Information on claims to personal Fund. The contract value is the possible highest amount independence payment is available only at national level. payable as this is partly dependent on performance. Provisional data was published on 5 June 2014 and is £ available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal- Children 1st 451,964 independence-payment-official-statistics-june-2014 Family Lives 306,234 Information on the numbers of successful new claimants National Association of Child Contact 382,081 is available across a range of geographical breakdowns, Centres (NACCC) including parliamentary constituency. The information Pinnacle People 242,240 is published and can be found at: Mediation Now 86,448 Sills & Betteridge 720,742 https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk 251W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 252W

Esther McVey: Current resourcing data shows the full £ time equivalent staff employed to work exclusively on Tavistock Centre for Couple 398,762 universal credit. In total this is (a) 535.8 comprising of Relationships (TCCR) (b) 21 in communications (c) 80.8 in IT Development Headland Future (now Changing 322,795 and (d) 434 in project delivery. Futures) Family Matters Mediate 165,856 These figures exclude contractors. National Family 480,354 Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security Benefits Work and Pensions how many staff will be employed in the specialist housing teams that will be established in universal credit centres. [199393] Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of Esther McVey: A team exists to support current live the proportion of claimants of (a) jobseeker’s service. This will expand as the rollout continues. allowance and (b) employment and support allowance on Help to Work who will enter employment within (i) six months and (ii) 12 months; [199780] HOME DEPARTMENT (2) what assumptions about numbers returning to work underpin the benefit cost savings forecast for Asylum: Syria Help to Work in the autumn statement; and if he will make a statement. [199790] Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to how many Syrian refugees the Esther McVey: The information requested is not available. UK has offered asylum. [199732]

Social Security Benefits: Fraud James Brokenshire: For the purposes of answering this question latest published figures have been provided Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for since the start of the armed conflict in Syria in April Work and Pensions what additional costs and savings 2011. he expects from the introduction of the Single Fraud Between April 2011 and March 2014, 2,649 Syrians Investigation Service in each of the years from 2012 to and their dependants were granted asylum in the UK at 2018. [199788] initial decision. In the same period 45 Syrians and their dependants were granted Humanitarian Protection. Esther McVey: The SFIS Business Case covers the The Home Office publishes statistics on grants of period 2011-12 to 2021-22, and the current figures asylum and humanitarian protection at initial decision indicate that the cost of implementing SFIS is £73 million to main applicants and dependants in Tables as_02 and with a saving expected around £507 million. As the as_02_q (Asylum data tables Volume 1) within the project progresses the business case will be reviewed and Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest where necessary updated. release, Immigration Statistics January—March 2014 is available from: Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress he has made on https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/ series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release Single Fraud Investigation Service; what plans he has for its roll out; and if he will make a statement. and will be placed in the Library of the House. [199789] Not all asylum seekers are deemed to be refugees and not all refugees claim asylum. Refugee status is conferred Esther McVey: Progress has been made with regard following a grant of asylum. to the implementation of the Single Fraud Investigation Service and this will commence from 1 July 2014. Asylum: Uganda Universal Credit Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for the UK Border Agency’s handling of the case of Aidah Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure Asaba. [198569] that his Department is able to cross-check data on housing costs within the universal credit programme in James Brokenshire: The general policy of the Home Office is not to disclose personal information about order to counter fraud. [199312] another person. This is because we have obligations under the Data Protection Act and in law generally to Esther McVey: The universal credit system is already protect this information. protected against fraud and error and security experts are involved at each stage of UC design. It is not in the The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to public interest to disclose detailed plans or processes. those who need our protection and we consider every claim for asylum on its individual merits. Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for We believe that those with no right to be in the UK Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent staff should return to their home country and we will help are employed by his Department to work exclusively on those who wish to leave voluntarily. However, when universal credit in (a) total, (b) communications, (c) they refuse to do so we will take steps to enforce their IT development and (d) project delivery. [199314] removal at the earliest opportunity. 253W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 254W

Entry Clearances Statistics release, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department’s website at: Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration- Home Department what assessment she has made of statistics-quarterly-release the change in waiting times for an initial decision for Human Trafficking Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa applications in the last year; what the average waiting time is for an initial decision David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the for a Tier 1 application; and what assessment she has Home Department when she plans to bring forward made of the economic effect of the time taken for such legislative proposals to prevent modern slavery. [199227] decisions on economic growth. [199152] Karen Bradley: The Government is determined to James Brokenshire: The average waiting time for a lead the global fight against modern slavery, and have Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) customer in the financial year introduced the Modern Slavery Bill to help us do so. 2013-14 was 125 calendar days. The number of days The Bill aims to give law enforcement the tools to stamp taken to process applications dropped by 50 days over out modern slavery and to enhance protection for victims. the course of the financial year and processing times The Bill was published on 10 June 2014. continue to decrease. Members: Correspondence A record number of applications were decided in the financial year 2013-14, and there is nothing to suggest Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for that processing times are deterring entrepreneurs from the Home Department when she intends to reply to the applying. letter to her dated 24 April 2014 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Average calendar days between application raised date and despatch Michael Adebayo Johnson. [199215] Month despatched date James Brokenshire: I wrote to the right hon. Member April 2013 131 on 2 June 2014. May 2013 148 June 2013 142 Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for July 2013 129 the Home Department when she intends to reply to the August 2013 134 letter to her dated 22 April 2014 from the right hon. September 2013 126 Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr A October 2013 96 Mehmood. [199217] November 2013 108 December 2013 114 James Brokenshire: I wrote to the right hon. Member January 2014 141 on 15 May 2014. February 2014 97 Surveillance: Aircraft March 2014 81 Overall Average/Total Cases 125 Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role her Department’s Centre Entry Clearances: Commonwealth for Applied Science and Technology has in (a) the trial of the Aeryon Skyranger drone around Gatwick airport and (b) the trial or use of any other Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the surveillance aircraft operated by Government Home Department how many work visas were issued Departments, agents or public bodies in the UK. to people from Commonwealth countries in (a) 2010, [199440] (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013. [199737] Karen Bradley: CAST has no direct role in the Gatwick James Brokenshire: The information requested is given trial, but does liaise with the trial team in order to learn in the following table. from their experience. Work-related UK entry clearance visas issued 2010 to 2013: current Trials conducted by other Departments and their Commonwealth member state nationalities agencies are matters for the respective Departments. Number

2010 105,146 2011 95,625 TREASURY 2012 90,567 Aggregates Levy: Northern Ireland 2013 96,593 Note: Includes dependants. Data are based on nationalities granted work-related Ms Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer visas corresponding to the current Commonwealth Members listed what recent progress he has made on reinstating the at: Northern Ireland Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme. http://thecommonwealth.org/member-countries [200110] Source: Table be06_q_w (Before Entry tables volume 3), Immigration Statistics Nicky Morgan: In January and February of this year, January to March 2014 the government received two sets of follow up questions The latest Home Office immigration statistics on from the European Commission as part of their formal entry clearance visas granted (by category and by individual investigation into the Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme. nationality) are published in the quarterly Immigration Treasury officials worked closely with members of the 255W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 256W industry and the authorities in Northern Ireland and Detailed internationally comparable data on investment have submitted further evidence in response to the are not readily available. Some countries also collect questions posed. data on the shares of GFCF carried out by different While a new relief scheme cannot be considered until institutional sectors, especially that conducted by general the investigation concludes, the Government remains government; this data can be obtained from the OECD. fully committed to reinstating an aggregates levy credit While some forms of intangible investment are captured scheme in Northern Ireland. in the standard national accounts measure of investment (most notably software), a large range of intangible Day Care: North West assets are not, including research and development, advertising, organisational know-how and training. The Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Chancellor of the most comprehensive set of internationally comparable Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of estimates are produced by the number of families that would be eligible for www.intan-invest.net support for child care costs under the provisions of the These are produced on a market-sector basis and are Childcare Payments Bill in (a) the North West, (b) therefore not directly comparable with the OECD statistics Lancashire and (c) Pendle constituency. [199648] referenced above, which cover both market and non-market activity. Nicky Morgan: The information requested is not available. It should be noted that a range of forthcoming changes to national accounting rules will affect cross- Health country estimates of GFCF and GDP.The most relevant of these for estimates of GFCF are the inclusion of spending on research and development and weapons Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer systems. Further details can be found on the ONS what use his Department has made of the National website, at the following address: Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for National Statistics in formulating policy since the introduction http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/development- of that index in 2011; and what policies his programmes/esa2010/index.html Department has introduced to improve national wellbeing as defined in that index since 2010. [198873] Sanitary Protection: VAT Nicky Morgan: As the Prime Minister has said: “we’ll start measuring our progress as a country not just by Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the how our economy is growing, but by our quality of life.” Exchequer (1) what consideration he has given to The National Wellbeing Index and Measures of changing the five per cent VAT rate applied to female Wellbeing provides a rich contribution to the debate sanitary products; [199803] about the health and happiness of the people of the (2) for what reason HM Revenue and Customs United Kingdom. considers female sanitary products non-essential for These are relatively new statistical series, meaning tax purposes; and if he will make a statement; [199804] that the evidence base on wellbeing, and the implications (3) if he will lower the VAT rate applied to female for policy making, are still being developed. The ONS sanitary products. [199805] Wellbeing statistics released on the 4 June made a helpful contribution to this debate. They revealed, for Mr Gauke: A reduced rate of VAT of 5% currently example, that those households that receive more of applies to female sanitary products. This has been in their income from benefits are more likely to have lower place since 2001 and is the lowest rate possible under life satisfaction. This Government has overseen record EU law. employment levels and is reforming the benefit system The application of VAT in the EU, including rates so that it always pays to work and people are not and flexibilities afforded to member states in this regard, trapped in a life on benefits. is governed by EU law. The Government cannot introduce Investment a new zero rate as this would require a change to EU VAT legislation, which would require a proposal from the European Commission and the unanimous agreement Alison Seabeck: To ask the Chancellor of the of all 28 member states. Exchequer what the levels of (a) public sector investment, (b) private sector investment, (c) investment in intangibles and (d) other investment was Taxation: Self-assessment in each G7 country in each of the last 10 years. [199413] Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Nicky Morgan: Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) Exchequer with reference to the answer of 6 May 2014, is an internationally standardised measure that captures Official Report, columns 113-14W, on taxation, how whole economy investment, covering business, government much is owed in penalties and interest for failure to and residential investment. International data on GFCF meet the deadline set for self-assessment returns in the is available from the OECD, while data on the UK can year ending 31 March 2014. [199786] be found in the ONS’ business investment release; http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-invest/business-investment/ Mr Gauke: This information is available only at a index.html disproportionate cost. 257W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 258W

Travel: Insurance Michael Gove: The Government’s recent consultation seeks to enable local authorities to delegate children’s Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the social care functions to broaden the range of approaches Exchequer if he will take steps to encourage insurance available to secure the best outcomes for children in companies to set travel insurance premiums for the their area. The proposals do not remove responsibilities elderly based on their state of health rather than their from local authorities for ensuring their statutory obligations age. [199078] on child protection and children’s social care are met, and it remains local authorities’ responsibility to ensure Andrea Leadsom: Insurers take into account a range the quality of that provision. of different factors when considering risk and decisions concerning the pricing of insurance products are a Delegated social care function arrangements will continue commercial matter for individual insurers. The Government to be inspected by Ofsted, in the same way as directly does not seek to intervene in these decisions. delivered local authority social care functions, as part of its local authority inspection framework. In addition, The insurance industry recognises that older people regulations currently govern the fitness of third party can face difficulties finding appropriate travel insurance providers and require their registration with Ofsted. and in 2012 signed an agreement, endorsed by the Government, to re-direct older customers to an alternative insurer or to a specialist insurance broker where they Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for cannot provide insurance themselves. Education whether he plans to exempt any functions from his proposals to allow further delegation of Working Tax Credit: Bolton children’s social care functions. [199764]

Mr Crausby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Michael Gove: Part 1 of the Children and Young how much has been paid through working tax credits Person’s Act 2008 currently allows local authorities to to people in Bolton North East constituency in each of delegate social care functions relating to children in care the last three years. [199151] and care leavers. The legislation precludes delegation of Mr Gauke: The information is as follows: independent reviewing officer functions, and of adoption functions, unless the other party to the arrangement is a Table 1: Bolton North East constituency working tax credit entitlement registered adoption society. Tax year Total WTC entitlement (£ million) The Government’s proposals would not alter those 2010-11 19 exemptions, but seek to enable local authorities to delegate 2011-12 18 a wider range of social services functions (if they so 2012-13 17 wish), to broaden the range of approaches available to These figures have been rounded to the nearest £ million. secure the best outcomes for children in their area. The recent consultation on the proposals closed on 30 May and responses are being considered. EDUCATION Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Academies Education what assessment he has made of the effects of proposals for further delegation of children’s social Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for care functions on the implementation of the Education what evidence his Department holds or has recommendations of the Munro Review of child assessed on the effects of conversion to academy status protection. [199775] on the test results of children in primary schools. [199446] Michael Gove: The Government is considering the outcome of its consultation on proposals to enable Michael Gove: In 2013, the percentage of pupils in local authorities to delegate children’s social care functions converter academies that achieved level 4 or above in to third parties, to help broaden the range of approaches reading, writing (teacher assessment) and mathematics available to secure the best outcomes for children in was 81%.1 This was an improvement of one percentage their area. The proposals place no obligations on local point from 2012, and compares with 76% of pupils that authorities and do not remove their responsibility for achieved the same threshold in local authority maintained ensuring their statutory obligations on child protection mainstream schools. Furthermore, the percentage of and children’s social care are met. pupils in converter academies that exceeded this threshold was 25%, compared with 21% in local authority maintained mainstream schools. Dominic Cummings 1 Table 5, National Tables, SFR51/2013: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national- Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for curriculum-assessments-at-key-stage-2-2012-to-2013 Education what the (a) dates and times and (b) Children: Social Services purpose of all visits to his Department by Dominic Cummings have been since Mr Cummings resigned his Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for post as a special adviser. [199800] Education what steps his Department takes to ensure that third party organisations delegated to undertake Elizabeth Truss: This information is not held. children’s social care functions of local authorities are Mr Cummings is no longer employed by the Department of an appropriate standard. [199693] for Education. 259W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 260W

Free School Meals: Nuneaton COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Disabled Facilities Grants Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in schools in Nuneaton will receive free school meals from 2014-15. [199236] Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average waiting time was in each local authority for an Mr Laws: The information requested is not available. assessment for a disabled facilities grant in the most Receipt of a free school meal is dependent upon eligible recent period for which figures are available. [199285] parents or pupils making an application, and it is not possible to predict how many will do so. Kris Hopkins: The Department for Communities and We do, however, recognise that 631 pupils in reception, Local Government does not collect this information. year 1 and 2 were known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in Nuneaton constituency in January Health 2014. This was 18.7% of all pupils in those year groups. With the introduction of universal infant free school Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for meals in September 2014, all children in reception, year Communities and Local Government what use his 1 and year 2 will be eligible for a free school lunch. Department has made of the National Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for National Statistics in formulating policy since the introduction of that Index GCSE in 2011; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010. [198864] Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the answer of 16 January Stephen Williams: The Office for National Statistics 2014, Official Report, column 656W, what change there is measuring National Wellbeing, not as an index but has been in the proportion of pupils at the end of key through a framework of 41 indicators that capture stage 4 achieving five or more GCSEs or equivalent at social progress around important aspects of life for grades A*-C including English and maths in those (a) individuals, communities and the nation. The statistics schools and (b) academies that have established a sixth are experimental at this stage and as such we should not form since September 2011. [199349] expect to have examples of major policies that have been heavily influenced by the wellbeing data at this Mr Laws: Key stage 4 results for individual schools, stage. The Department for Communities and Local including academies, are published online in Performance Government aims to create great places to live and Tables.1 A copy of the list of schools and academies work, and give more power to local people to shape that established a sixth form since 2011, with their what happens in their area. As such, many of the current details, has been placed in the House Library. Department’s policies are aligned with the wellbeing agenda. Evidence provided to the Environmental Audit 1 Available at: Committee for its inquiry into Wellbeing can be found http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/ at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a- z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/inquiries/ Sixth-Form Education: Student Numbers parliament-2010/well-being/ Furthermore, the Department is contributing £100,000 per year for three years to the “What Works Centre for Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Wellbeing”. This centre will be dedicated to understanding Education with reference to the answer of 14 May what local as well as national governments, voluntary 2014, Official Report, column 637W, on sixth-form and business partners can do to increase wellbeing, and education: student numbers, (1) how the approximate the research programme will include a ’communities’ total net cost of unfilled student places in school theme. sixth-forms, academy sixth-forms and 16 to 19 free schools was calculated; [199347] Housing: Disability (2) what these costs were per student. [199348] Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Matthew Hancock: The net cost of unfilled places Communities and Local Government how many local referred to in my previous answer was based on the authorities in the UK maintain a register of accessible funding per student for each individual institution and or adapted homes; and what guidance his Department the number of students recruited in that institution issues to local authorities on registers of accessible above or below the allocated number as appropriate. housing. [199290] This figure was then adjusted to take into the account the sixth-form element of funds recovered by the Education Kris Hopkins: The Department does not hold this Funding Agency from those academies which are funded information. on the basis of estimated pupil numbers but which The Government recognises the importance of ensuring educated fewer pupils than had been provided for in that people with disabilities are able to access suitable those estimates. accommodation which meets their needs. 261W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 262W

Accessible housing registers can be useful and we are Buy Equity Loan scheme and Help to Buy: Mortgage aware that some councils and social landlords have Guarantee scheme, which is managed by HM Treasury. incorporated such an approach within their lettings We do not collect data on the number of people purchasing scheme. a home using either of the Help to Buy schemes who The Government believes it is more important that are in receipt of disability living allowance or personal people who require accessible housing are given the independence payments. right level of priority under a council’s housing allocation scheme, and that councils and social landlords are able Mortgages: Huntingdon to make the best use of affordable housing in their area, including accommodation which is accessible or has Mr Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for been adapted. Communities and Local Government (1) what the That is why, through the Localism Act, we have average age of buyers using the Government’s Help to retained the statutory reasonable preference requirements Buy scheme was in Huntingdon constituency; [199063] which ensure that priority for social housing is given to (2) how many applications have been made (a) those who need to move on medical and welfare grounds successfully and (b) unsuccessfully under the first stage (including grounds relating to a disability). We have of the Government’s Help to Buy scheme in also made sure that council and housing association Huntingdon constituency; [199059] landlords have the flexibility to use their social housing stock in a way which best meets the needs of individual (3) what the total value of Government assistance households and their local area. provided under the Help to Buy scheme is in the Huntingdon constituency; [199060] Mortgages: Government Assistance (4) what the average (a) household income and (b) house property acquisition price was of those buying David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for under the Government’s Help to Buy scheme in Communities and Local Government what steps his Huntingdon constituency. [199062] Department is taking to assist homeowners facing problems paying their mortgages and to provide Kris Hopkins [holding answer 9 June2014]: The area practical advice and support. [199225] of Huntingdonshire district council comprises all the Kris Hopkins: The Council of Mortgage Lenders Huntingdon constituency and part of the North West reported 28,900 repossessions in 2013, down from 33,900 Cambridgeshire constituency. Separate figures for the in 2012 and the lowest level since 2007. It has revised Huntingdon constituency could be provided only at down its forecasts for 2014 to 28,000. The Government disproportionate cost. is not complacent, but believes this fall in repossessions Figures for the numbers of sales under the Help to is a consequence of improved arrears management by Buy equity loan scheme as at 30 April 2014 broken lenders and action the coalition Government has taken down by local authority and postcode sector are available to tackle the deficit and keep interest rates down. at Homeowners struggling with mortgage payments should https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/help-to- take action as soon as possible by discussing their buy-equity-loan-scheme-monthly-statistics situation with their lender or contacting money advice I have also placed a copy of the table in the Library of experts such as Citizens Advice, Shelter, StepChange or the House. National Debtline for free and independent advice on A figure for the average age of buyers in Huntingdonshire taking control of their finances. is not available because central Government does not Government support is available in the form of Support collect information on the ages of buyers under the for Mortgage Interest, paid as part of DWP benefits to Help to Buy equity loan scheme. help eligible out-of-work households meet their monthly The average annual total applicant income of the 127 mortgage interest payments. The Budget in March this households that had bought a property within the area year extended the enhancements to the Support for of Huntingdonshire district council under the Help to Mortgage Interest scheme (a shortened 13 week waiting Buy equity loan scheme as at 31 March 2014 was period and an increased capital limit of £200,000), until £49,181. During this period, the average purchase price 31 March 2016. of properties bought under the scheme in the same area Within England the Government continues to ensure was £213,573 and the total amount of equity loan the provision of free on-the-day legal advice (the Housing payments made by central Government was £5,424,768. Possession Court Duty Scheme) to assist households at Central Government does not collect figures on the possession hearings. We are providing £470 million of numbers of applications that have been (a) successful or funding in the current spending review period to prevent (b) unsuccessful under the Help to Buy equity loan and tackle homelessness and repossessions. scheme. A breakdown for Huntingdonshire is therefore Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for not available. Communities and Local Government how many The Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme is a people in receipt of disability living allowance or matter for the Treasury. Their most recent statistics personal independence payments have received support show that the average value of the 23 properties in from the Help to Buy scheme. [199284] Huntingdonshire that had been sold under the scheme by 31 March 2014 was £162,228, and that the total Kris Hopkins: This Government is committed to value of loans supported by the scheme for these supporting people’s aspirations to own their own home. properties was £3,528,682. This information is available That is why we have introduced schemes such as Help to from Table 7 at: 263W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 264W

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/help-to-buy- Social Rented Housing: Foreign Nationals mortgage-guarantee-scheme-quarter1y-statistics-october- 2013-to-march-2014 Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Out of Town Shopping Centres: Northampton Communities and Local Government how many people registered for social housing in (a) Liverpool, Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for (b) the North West and (c) England are non-UK Communities and Local Government what the reason nationals. [198910] is for the time taken to make a decision on the Rushden Lakes development; and when he plans to announce Kris Hopkins [holding answer 9 June 2014]: Information that decision. [199254] about the nationality of households on local authority waiting lists is not collected centrally. Last December Nick Boles: The Secretary of State issued his decision we published statutory guidance for local authorities to on this case on 11 June. He has decided to grant ensure that-with the exception of service personnel-only planning permission for this development. A copy of those with a well-established local residency and local the decision letter and the inspector’s report has been association qualify for social housing. The guidance sent to the hon. Member and to other interested parties, also encourages local authorities to consider how accurate and these documents are available on the GOV.UK and anonymised information on waiting list applicants website at: and lettings outcomes could be routinely published, to https://www.gov.uk/planning-applications-called-in-decisions- strengthen public confidence in the fairness of their and-recovered-appeals allocation scheme. Information on social housing lettings is collected by Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Department through the Continuous Recording of Communities and Local Government by what date he Lettings (CORE). In 2012-13, 92% of all new social plans to announce whether the Rushden Lakes/Skew housing (general and supported, social and affordable Bridge planning application has been accepted. rents) lettings were to households where the lead tenant [199622] was a UK national. In Liverpool this was 91%. National data is published annually Nick Boles: The Secretary of State issued his decision https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-housing- on this case on 11 June. He has decided to grant lettings-in-england-april-2012-to-march-2013 planning permission for this development. A copy of the decision letter and the inspector’s report has been Ministers have been very clear that local authorities sent to my hon. Friend and to other interested parties, should ensure they have up-to-date information about and these documents are available on the GOV.UK prospective tenants’ nationality and immigration status, website at: in order to ascertain their eligibility for social housing. https://www.gov.uk/planning-applications-called-in-decisions- and-recovered-appeals Sleeping Rough: North West INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Developing Countries: Education Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many rough Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for sleepers there were in each local authority in the North International Development if she will make it her West in each year since 2010. [199273] policy to support the adoption of a target to ensure all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality Kris Hopkins: As outlined in the written ministerial primary and secondary education leading to relevant statement of 18 September 2012, Official Report, column and effective learning outcomes by 2030 in the Open 32WS, my Department no longer publishes statistics by Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable the former government office regions. National and Development Goals. [199772] local authority data on rough sleeping can be found in the Rough Sleeping in England statistical release, which Justine Greening: The UK supports a target to ensure can be found on the Department’s website at all girls and boys complete primary and secondary https://www.gov.uk/government/collectinos/homelessness- education with relevant learning outcomes in the post-2015 statistics#rough-sleeping. sustainable development framework. This language is We are investing £470 million over the current spending included in the most recent draft goals and targets list review period to help local authorities and voluntary released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group sector partners prevent and tackle homelessness, rough (OWG) on 2 June. sleeping and repossessions. This includes £20 million to The final targets in the post-2015 development framework support the roll out of the ‘No Second Night Out’ will however be subject to international negotiations in standard and protect vital front line services. We have the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active also supported the voluntary sector to deliver ’StreetLink’ role. a national rough sleeping hotline, website and app, to connect rough sleepers to local services. Developing Countries: Health Services On 10 June we announced that over £65 million of funding across Whitehall is being offered to councils Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for and other organisations to tackle homelessness around International Development if she will make it her the country and ensure that vulnerable people can policy to support the adoption of a target to achieve access a range of support and lead independent lives. universal health coverage, including financial risk 265W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 266W protection, with particular attention to the most number of young people not in employment, education marginalised and people in vulnerable situations in the or training by 2020 in the Open Working Group Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals. Development Goals. [199773] [199774]

Justine Greening: The UK supports the inclusion of Justine Greening: The UK supports a post-2015 target ensuring universal health coverage as a target under an on employment. This language is included in the most outcome-focused health goal. By definition, universal recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs health coverage includes financial risk protection. This of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June. language is included in the most recent draft goals and The final targets in the post-2015 development framework targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working will however be subject to international negotiations in Group (OWG) on 2 June. the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active The final targets in the post-2015 development framework role. will however be subject to international negotiations in Palestinians the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role. Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid her Developing Countries: Housing Department has given to the Palestinian Authority in each of the last five years. [199228] Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her Mr Duncan: Information on the amounts of direct policy to support the adoption of a target to ensure financial assistance provided by the UK to the Palestinian universal access to adequate and affordable housing Authority over the last five years can be found on the and basic services for all, and eliminate slum-like DFID Development Tracker website at the following conditions everywhere by 2030 in the Open Working links: Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/projects/GB-1-202564/ Goals. [199771] http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/projects/GB-1-113709/

Justine Greening: The UK supports the proposed Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for language of the most recent draft goals and targets list International Development what arrangements are in released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group place to monitor the use of funds given to the (OWG) on 2 June: Palestinian Authority. [199229] “to ensure universal access to adequate and affordable housing Mr Duncan: UK direct financial assistance to the and basic services for all, and eliminate slum-like conditions Palestinian Authority is channelled through the World everywhere,” Bank Palestinian Reform and Development Plan Trust by 2030. Fund and is used to pay the salaries of civil servants The final goals and targets in the post-2015 development from an approved list. The list of individuals is systematically framework will be subject to international negotiations screened and checked against international (including in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an Israeli) and ad hoc sanctions lists. The whole process is active role. independently audited which ensures we know exactly where and how our money is being spent. Developing Countries: Working Conditions Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) whether any UK aid International Development if she will make it her given to the Palestinian Authority has been distributed policy to support the adoption of a target to end child to prisoners convicted of terrorism-related activities in labour by 2030 and protect the rights of and ensure the last five years; [199230] safe and secure working environments for all workers, (2) whether any UK aid given to the Palestinian including migrant workers and those in precarious Authority has been distributed to individuals released employment in Open Working Group negotiations on from prison after serving sentences for terrorism- the Sustainable Development Goals. [199765] related activities. [199231] Justine Greening: The UK supports ending child Mr Duncan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I labour and safe and secure working environments for provided to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberconwy all workers. This language is included in the most recent (Guto Bebb) on 31 March 2014, Official Report, column draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of 461W. the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June. The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active Colombia role. Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Developing Countries: Young People Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he and his Department have received Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for regarding alleged fabrication of charges by the International Development if she will make it her Colombian state against David Flórez, spokesperson policy to support the adoption of a target to halve the for the Patriotic March movement. [199777] 267W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 268W

Mr Swire: My Department has not received any have raised our concerns about such activity during our representations regarding alleged fabrication of charges expanding bilateral engagement with Iran, and will by the Colombian state against David Florez. continue to do so. Palestinians Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign representations to his Colombian counterpart about and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has reports that agents acting on behalf of the Colombian made of recent reports that Hamas leader Khaled government are bringing trumped-up charges against Mashaal said that his organisation will not renounce leading members of the Patriotic March movement. violence or recognise Israel. [199277] [199778] Hugh Robertson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer Mr Swire: My Department has not received any I gave him on 10 June 2014, Official Report, column evidence regarding alleged trumped-up charges by agents 91W. acting on behalf of the Colombian Government against Sri Lanka leading members of the Patriotic March movement. Gibraltar and Spain Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) Sri Lankan Government representatives and (b) Sri Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Lankan non-governmental organisations and civil Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what society organisations (i) were invited to and (ii) representations he has made to the European attended the Global summit to End Sexual Violence in Commission in respect of petitions from the Conflict. [199776] Government of Gibraltar for a representative to monitor the border crossing; [199448] Mr Swire: The Global Summit to End Sexual Violence (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of in Conflict that the Secretary of State for Foreign and delays on the border from British Gibraltar territory Commonwealth Affairs is co-hosting with the Special into Spain on vehicles crossing that border. [199447] Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 10-13 June 2014 will turn the political commitments Mr Lidington: The delays imposed by the Spanish contained in the Declaration of Commitment to End authorities at the border with Gibraltar continue to Sexual Violence in Conflict into practical action. All have a significant impact, resulting in significant changes governments that have endorsed the declaration have in behaviour at the border: visitor arrivals in Gibraltar been invited. We have invited the Sri Lankan high are down and vehicle traffic has fallen. The Government commissioner to London to attend as an observer, as is concerned about the impact that border delays are Sri Lanka has not yet endorsed the Declaration. We having on businesses in both Spain and Gibraltar. have invited a range of Sri Lankan civil society Since the beginning of the disruption last summer, representatives and hope that their expertise of the the Government has raised this issue regularly with the situation on the ground will contribute to the discussion European Commission. We recently sent detailed of the issues at hand. information on the delays, supplied by Her Majesty’s Transcaucasus Government of Gibraltar, to the Director General for Home Affairs, together with an update on the steps Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for taken by Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar to Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions address the recommendations made to them by the he has held with the Russian government on the right Commission. Ministers have also been in direct contact to self-determination of people in the North Caucasus. with the Commission, including the Commissioner for [199762] Home Affairs. In our conversations we stressed the need for the Commission to make follow-up visits to Mr Lidington: I have not specifically discussed the monitor the continuing delays. We continue to request right to self-determination of people in the North Caucasus that the Commission urge Spain to act on their with the Russian Government. However, this Government recommendations and return border checks to reasonable regularly raises concerns about the human rights situation and proportionate levels. in Russia with the Russian Government. Concerns about the human rights situation in the North Caucasus were Iran included in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2013 Annual Human Rights Report. Mr Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart HEALTH on that country’s material and financial support for Abortion terror organisations. [R] [199626] Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Hugh Robertson: We have serious concerns about what research his Department has (a) conducted and Iran’s support for a number of militant groups in the (b) evaluated into the circumstances in which a typical Middle East, including Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic abortion is performed on the grounds that it is Jihad (PIJ), the military wing of Hamas, and Shia necessary to prevent the physical or mental health of militia groups, including in Iraq. This support undermines any existing children of the family of the pregnant prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East. We woman; and if he will make a statement. [199183] 269W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 270W

Jane Ellison: No research has been commissioned by Total abortions by complication, residents of England and Wales, 2012 the Department. It is for two doctors, in the light of Complication1 Number their clinical opinion of the circumstances of the pregnant Uterine perforation 22 woman’s individual case, to form an opinion in good Sepsis 40 faith that one and the same of the lawful grounds in the Other 0 Abortion Act are met.

Total 278 Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 1 Complications are those reported up to the time of discharge. how many women (a) of each age group, (b) in each health authority area and (c) of each type of Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health complication and cause of death died following health how many abortions were performed for foetal complications after abortion procedures in (i) 2012, (ii) abnormality in each of the last five years which were 2013 and (iii) 2014 to date. [199192] reported to a foetal abnormality register but were not notified through the submission of an HSA4 abortion Jane Ellison: In 2012, no deaths were recorded on notification form to the Chief Medical Officer. [199204] Abortion Notification form HSA4 submitted to the chief medical officers of England and Wales. No data Jane Ellison: Results from a matching exercise undertaken have been published by the Confidential Enquiry into on the 2011 and 2012 data between the abortion notification Maternal Death for the years requested but will be forms and NDSCR records were published on 23 May available in due course. 2014 entitled ‘Matching Department of Health abortion notifications and data from the National Down’s Syndrome Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Cytogenetic Register and recommendations for improving how many women (a) of each age group, (b) in each notification compliance’. No matching exercise was health authority area and (c) suffering from each type undertaken for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. A copy of complication suffered health complications of the report has been placed in the Library. It is also following abortion procedures in (i) 2012, (ii) 2013 and available at: (iii) 2014 to date. [199194] www.gov.uk/government/publications/under-reporting-of- abortions-for-fetal-abnormalities Jane Ellison: The following tables show categories of Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health information collected on form HSA4 about complications how many abortions were performed beyond the 24 of abortion up to time of discharge. The categories are week limit where feticide was declined in each of the headed ’none’, ’haemorrhage’, ’uterine perforation’, ’sepsis’, last five years. [199205] and ‘other’. Health authority data is not available. Data were analysed by local authority and grouped into Jane Ellison: Information on whether feticide was regions to protect patient confidentiality. The data is for declined is not collected on the abortion notification 2012 only; 2013 and 2014 data has not been published form HSA4. yet. Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Abortions with complications by age, residents of England and Wales, 2012 what steps he intends to take to endure that literature Age Number distributed by abortion clinics informing women about Under 20 35 adoption as an alternative to abortion under the new 20 to 24 73 Revised Standard Operating Procedures for the 25 to 29 72 Approval of Independent Places for the Termination of 30 to 34 57 Pregnancy is of the highest possible quality and 35 and over 41 objectivity. [199240] Jane Ellison: The updated Required Standard Operating Total 278 Procedures set out that: “women must be given impartial, accurate and evidence based Abortions with complications by region, residents of England and Wales, 2012 information (verbal and written) delivered neutrally” Region Number covering a range of issues including adoption. Part of Yorkshire and the Humber 30 the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection North West 32 methodology is to look for open and honest communication North East 12 from a service provider about the nature of the services West Midlands 25 it provides. The CQC’s inspectors would ask to see a East 36 sample of information that would be provided to service London 48 users and use this as part of the decision-making process South East 34 when making a judgment. South West 22 Wales 17 Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Revised Standard Operating Total 278 Procedures for the Approval of Independent Places for the Termination of Pregnancy, what assessment he has made of the possibility that inaccurate diagnoses will Total abortions by complication, residents of England and Wales, 2012 1 follow his Department’s decision to allow women to Complication Number refrain from informing their GP of a prior abortion. Haemorrhage 216 [199241] 271W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 272W

Jane Ellison: Women seeking an abortion have the Jane Ellison: The Required Standard Operating right to confidentiality and their decision must be respected Procedures make clear that women can choose to delay if they do not want their general practitioner to be appointments/booked procedures and this should always informed. override issues of timeliness.

Abortion: Counselling Cancer

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for (1) what (a) formal and (b) informal discussions Health what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence officials had with (i) pro-life organisations, (ii) the of patients with cancer of the unknown primary first British Pregnancy Advisory Service, (iii) Marie Stopes presenting at accident and emergency. [199342] International and (iv) pro-choice organisations before the publication of guidance on the provision of Jane Ellison: NHS England expects that the treatment non-judgemental counselling; and if he will make a and care for patients with Cancer of Unknown Primary statement; [199214] reflects patients’ needs and preferences and that services (2) how many staff of each grade are employed in his are provided taking into account National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Department’s Sexual Health Policy Team; [199184] (3) which Directorate in his Department produced Public Health England leads on developing a public guidance on the provision of non-judgemental health strategy for England which aims to tackle ‘upstream’ counselling; which Directorate has policy responsibility factors to reduce risks from cancer caused by tobacco, for implementation of this guidance; and if he will alcohol and obesity and to promote health through improved diets and exercise promotion. The national make a statement. [199212] health service has a key role to play in supporting local authorities by commissioning smoking cessation services, Jane Ellison: Departmental officials have made a specialist alcohol services, as well as through raising number of visits and have had informal discussions awareness of lifestyle risks with people who are in with a number of counselling providers which included contact with NHS services and providing intensive support pro-life and pro-choice organisations; these are listed as where needed. follows. Alongside supporting Public Health England to increase Organisations visited or with which contact was made symptom awareness among the general population, NHS Brook Advisory Centre, Brixton England is also working to increase cancer symptom British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), Richmond awareness among health care professionals, and to provide Care Confidential, Alternatives Trust, Newham support to general practitioners in early diagnosis. City Pregnancy Counselling and Psychotherapy Service, Islington In 2013-14 NHS England made £2.3 million available Homerton NHS Trust, Hackney to support improved symptom awareness and early Hull Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Partnership diagnosis. The majority of this funding was provided to Life Care Centre, Walsall strategic clinical networks which have the function of Marie Stopes International, Brixton and Bristol coordinating a more strategic approach to the development of cancer commissioning and provision in England. Norwich Contraception and Sexual Health Clinic They also support early diagnosis through delivery of Plymouth Community Healthcare transparent data about performance in outcomes. For The Government produced guidance on the provision example, new indicators on stage of diagnosis of cancer of non-judgmental abortion counselling in ‘AFramework and diagnosis through emergency routes are being for Sexual Health Improvement in England’ (March introduced as part of the clinical commissioning group 2013). The Framework was produced by the sexual (CCG) outcomes indicator set in 2014-15. This will health policy team in the Public Health Directorate. support CCGs to understand how their local communities The Sexual Health Policy team is made up of the are performing in relation to cancer outcomes. following staff at each grade: one Senior Civil Servant (who also manages policy areas other Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for than sexual health) Health what steps his Department is taking to improve one Grade 6 the collection and reporting of data relating to the incidence of cancer of the unknown primary. [199343] two Grade 7 one Senior Executive Officer Jane Ellison: Information has recently been published one Higher Executive Officer (seven whole time equivalent) by Public Health England’s National Cancer Intelligence one Executive Officer Network (NCIN) about the routes taken by patients prior to a diagnosis of cancer of unknown primary Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (CUP), and the links between age and socio-economic with reference to the Revised Standard Operating deprivation and CUP. These publications increase our Procedures for the Approval of Independent Places for understanding of the epidemiology of CUP and allow the Termination of Pregnancy, what steps he is taking clinical teams to benchmark their levels of CUP diagnoses. to ensure that patients seeking abortion counselling are A survey of CUP registration and reporting practices not subject to pressure to agree to the procedure as a in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia was result of his Department’s requirement that abortion recently conducted by the NCIN and the University of treatment must be delivered within 10 days of the first New South Wales. The results, which identified differences appointment; and if he will make a statement. [199239] in CUP registration practice, are currently being analysed 273W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 274W by the NCIN and will be used to develop a better The CQC will look at the finances of these providers understanding of historic data. The findings can also and, where there are significant concerns about financial support and inform future standardisation of national sustainability, take action to ensure a provider is taking and international registration guidance. steps to return to financial health. Where that is not Preliminary results from the CUP survey will be possible, the CQC will share all the information it has presented at the Cancer Outcomes Conference-the Power with relevant local authorities, to help them minimise of Information 2014. the negative effects should the provider fail and to ensure a smooth process that provides continuing care Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for to individuals. Health what assessment he has made of the importance The aim of this new regime is not to prop up failing of psychological support services for patients suffering providers, but to provide reassurance and co-ordinate from cancer of the unknown primary. [199344] continuity of care for people affected should a care business fail. The CQC is currently working to establish Jane Ellison: The National Institute for Health and this new function, which will begin in April 2015 and sit Care Excellence (NICE) guidance manual: Improving alongside its role to oversee the quality of providers. In Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults with Cancer: the meantime, the Department has a team overseeing www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/csgspmanual.pdf the finances of the five largest providers. provides a framework for the provision of psychological support in people with cancer—including cancer of Significant reform is already under way to ensure the unknown primary. CQC is an effective regulator. Chief inspectors have been appointed, for hospitals, adult social care, and The NICE clinical guideline for Depression with a general practice. The CQC is putting in place specialist chronic physical health problem (CG91) is also a useful inspection teams, headed by the chief inspectors, to resource. carry out more in-depth inspections that subject providers All patients should have systematic psychological to greater scrutiny than before. assessment and have access to an appropriate psychological Under the leadership of the chief inspectors and, intervention from professionals competent to provide after a phase of testing, since April 2014 all acute them. national health service trusts inspections have used the Care Homes: West Sussex new methodology; the inspection reports from this wave were all published by March 2014, three of which Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State produced a shadow rating. The CQC is completing the for Health (1) what steps he plans to take to implement second wave of inspections and all 13 of the 19 inspection the recommendations of the Serious Case Review into reports already published have a shadow rating. The the private care home sector in West Sussex; [199801] CQC also began testing its new inspection model in (2) what plans he has to reform the Care Quality mental health, community services and NHS general Commission. [199802] practice out of hours services in January 2014 and in adult social care in April 2014. Norman Lamb: The Department has noted the report Subject to parliamentary agreement, regulations will of the serious case review into deaths at Orchid View introduce new fundamental standards as requirements care home. The great majority of the report’s for registration with the CQC. These will allow the recommendations are for local attention and response. CQC to take robust action against providers that do not However, the Department is taking action to improve deliver an acceptable standard of care. The CQC will the regulation and oversight of care providers and to produce ratings of the quality of care ranging from enhance protection from abuse and neglect. “outstanding” to “inadequate”, to provide service users The Care Act places care and support law into a with a fuller picture of the quality of care available. The single statute for the first time and enshrines the principle aim is to introduce both sets of regulations in October of individual well-being as the driving force behind it. It 2014. ensures that people will have clearer information and advice to help them navigate the system, and a more Cervical Cancer diverse, high quality range of support to choose from to meet their needs. The Act sets local authorities’responsibility for protecting Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for adults with care and support needs from abuse or Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to neglect in primary legislation. This is vital to ensure implement the recommendations of the Demos report, clear accountability, roles and responsibilities for helping Behind the Screen, to increase uptake of cervical and protecting adults with care and support needs who screening; [199629] are experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect as a (2) what assessment he has made of the conclusions result of those needs. Local authorities are given a lead of the Demos report, Behind the Screen on (a) the role in coordinating local safeguarding activity. decline in screening rates for all age groups and (b) the Following the failure of Southern Cross Healthcare, costs to both the NHS and individual women of the Government consulted widely on how to address screening uptake levels; [199630] the issues around the financial failure of large care (3) what plans his Department has to (a) support providers. The Care Act establishes the Care Quality cervical Screening Awareness Week and (b) promote Commission (CQC) as the financial regulator of providers awareness by other means of the importance of which, because of their size, geographical coverage or cervical cancer screening for cervical abnormalities and specialism, could cause difficulty to local authorities in cancer; and if he will make it his policy to set a target arranging alternative care in such circumstances. of 85 per cent for screening uptake. [199664] 275W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 276W

Jane Ellison: We welcome the Demos report, Behind I wrote to all Members of Parliament on 11 June to the screen: “Revealing the true cost of cervical cancer...”, draw their attention to CSA Week, update them on which we have discussed in detail with Public Health national and local screening statistics and ask for their England (PHE). On the specific recommendations in support in promoting take-up of screening. In addition, the report: the Department and PHE promoted CSA Week on it is NHS Cervical Screening Programme policy that general social media. practitioners should offer ’on the spot’ cervical screening tests to women during other appointments, as long as they are overdue. Chlamydia In 2012-13, more than 500,000 were taken without an immediate invitation; on awareness campaigns, PHE is looking at a number of other Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for cancers for potential local pilot tests within the Be Clear on Health how many people (a) sought chlamydia Cancer programme, and a decision will be made later in the screening and (b) tested positive in each local summer; authority in 2012-13. [199243] a strategy on using celebrities or religious leaders to improve coverage would need to be tied in with any overall marketing Jane Ellison: The table contains the number of chlamydia campaign, but previous experience shows that this only has a tests and diagnoses made in each Upper Tier local short-term effect and needs frequent repetition. The publicity authority in England for the most recent year-for which around Jade Goody, diagnosis, illness and subsequent death, brought in many under-screened women, but this dissipated within data are available (2012) for 15 to 24-year-olds. months following Jade’s death at the end of March 2009; and Chlamydia tests and diagnoses made in each upper tier local authority in England PHE has funded research on the effects of mother/daughter relationships on uptake of screening and vaccination, including Public Health England centre Upper local Total number of in lower socio-economic groups. PHE would be very happy to name authority name Positive tests tests discuss this with Demos and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. London Barking and 601 8,365 We know that for a number of reasons coverage rates Dagenham among women have fallen slightly over the last decade, London Barnet 561 7,137 as highlighted further in the report, and a considerable London Bexley 373 4,530 amount of work is under way to tackle this decline. The London Brent 889 11,782 third annual report of our Cancer Outcomes Strategy London Bromley 447 6,855 said that a priority for 2014-15 will be to improve London Camden 909 14,859 screening uptake among disadvantaged groups. PHE is London City of London 8 126 undertaking analysis on local screening programmes London Croydon 1,233 12,346 with poor coverage, and will work with them to develop London Ealing 521 8,122 action plans to increase coverage in their local areas. London Enfield 450 7,542 Specifically on younger women, the National Institute London Greenwich 896 12,602 for Health Research Health Technology Assessment London Hackney 1,090 13,761 programme has commissioned a £1 million study to London Hammersmith 466 5,515 determine which interventions are effective at increasing and Fulham screening uptake among women who are receiving their London Haringey 1,297 12,244 first invitation from the programme. We also know that London Harrow 324 3,720 coverage rates are lower in certain communities. NHS London Havering 417 7,606 Cancer Screening Programmes have worked with Jo’s London Hillingdon 589 11,720 Cervical Cancer Trust to host two events looking at London Hounslow 615 8,693 challenges to screening uptake among black and minority London Islington 612 7,771 ethnic communities, and a third event is due to be held London Kensington and 296 4,241 in Birmingham in July 2014. NHS Cancer Screening Chelsea London Kingston upon 409 6,355 Programmes has also funded an award winning Lesbian Thames and Gay Foundation’s Are You Ready for Your Screen London Lambeth 2,460 23,753 Test? campaign targeting lesbian and bisexual women London Lewisham 1,536 16,649 to raise awareness about the need to attend for regular London Merton 371 4,945 cervical screening tests. London Newham 989 13,378 Regarding costs discussed in the report, we will ensure London Redbridge 478 8,442 that the report is sent to colleagues in NHS England London Richmond upon 238 4,319 who are responsible for commissioning the cervical Thames screening service. The report will also be discussed at London Southwark 1,409 15,936 the next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Cervical London Sutton 391 5,239 Screening in the autumn. London Tower Hamlets 660 11,855 London Waltham Forest 692 10,625 Acceptable and achievable standards for cervical London Wandsworth 977 12,139 screening coverage rates are being discussed as part of London Westminster 435 6,116 the update of the cervical screening service specification South Midlands and Bedford 652 5,907 attached to the NHS public health functions agreement: Hertfordshire Public health functions to be exercised by NHS England South Midlands and Central 356 4,979 (section 7a agreement) for 2015-16. Hertfordshire Bedfordshire South Midlands and Hertfordshire 2,403 33,184 We are fully supportive of Cervical Screening Awareness Hertfordshire Week (CSA Week) and the work Jo’s Cervical Cancer South Midlands and Luton 380 5,135 Trust does, who I met recently. Hertfordshire 277W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 278W

Chlamydia tests and diagnoses made in each upper tier local authority in Chlamydia tests and diagnoses made in each upper tier local authority in England England Public Health Public Health England centre Upper local Total number of England centre Upper local Total number of name authority name Positive tests tests name authority name Positive tests tests

South Midlands and Milton Keynes 678 9,023 Greater Manchester Salford 910 9,949 Hertfordshire Greater Manchester Stockport 563 7,055 South Midlands and Northamptonshire 1,588 20,053 Greater Manchester Tameside 686 7,795 Hertfordshire Greater Manchester Trafford 491 6,622 East Midlands Derby 858 8,986 Greater Manchester Wigan 1,034 10,402 East Midlands Derbyshire 1,726 27,988 North East County 1,188 22,986 East Midlands Leicester 1,058 16,567 Durham East Midlands Leicestershire 1,343 22,696 North East Darlington 234 3,486 East Midlands Lincolnshire 1,646 21,741 North East Gateshead 521 6,326 East Midlands Nottingham 1,909 22,553 North East Hartlepool 400 5,390 East Midlands Nottinghamshire 1,914 18,589 North East Middlesbrough 821 8,555 East Midlands Rutland 60 896 North East Newcastle 2,027 26,921 Anglia and Essex Cambridgeshire 1,340 26,983 upon Tyne Anglia and Essex Essex 2,128 27,402 North East North 598 8,157 Anglia and Essex Norfolk 1,699 20,016 Tyneside Anglia and Essex Peterborough 588 5,666 North East Northumberland 659 10,699 Anglia and Essex Southend-on- 361 4,958 North East Redcar and 525 5,798 Sea Cleveland Anglia and Essex Suffolk 1,160 18,425 North East South 655 7,219 Tyneside Anglia and Essex Thurrock 313 3,459 North East Stockton-on- 864 9,723 West Midlands Birmingham 4,065 47,614 Tees West Midlands Coventry 1,127 13,552 North East Sunderland 723 9,408 West Midlands Dudley 275 3,911 Yorkshire and Barnsley 545 6,076 West Midlands Herefordshire, 382 3,810 Humber County of Yorkshire and Bradford 1,100 13,316 West Midlands Sandwell 594 5,183 Humber West Midlands Shropshire 450 5,949 Yorkshire and Calderdale 485 4,585 West Midlands Solihull 467 6,016 Humber West Midlands Staffordshire 1,717 29,735 Yorkshire and Doncaster 987 10,431 Humber West Midlands Stoke-on-Trent 654 11,450 Yorkshire and East Riding of 289 4,090 West Midlands Telford and 325 5,309 Humber Yorkshire Wrekin Yorkshire and Kingston upon 1,004 13,569 West Midlands Walsall 1,649 21,377 Humber Hull, City of West Midlands Warwickshire 972 11,204 Yorkshire and Kirklees 1,191 11,253 West Midlands Wolverhampton 403 4,167 Humber West Midlands Worcestershire 996 13,168 Yorkshire and Leeds 3,276 33,985 Cheshire and Cheshire East 726 10,473 Humber Merseyside Yorkshire and North East 687 7,774 Cheshire and Cheshire West 809 10,580 Humber Lincolnshire Merseyside and Chester Yorkshire and North 271 3,562 Cheshire and Halton 444 5,539 Humber Lincolnshire Merseyside Yorkshire and North 743 10,051 Cheshire and Knowsley 508 6,766 Humber Yorkshire Merseyside Yorkshire and Rotherham 1,067 11,331 Cheshire and Liverpool 1,883 23,734 Humber Merseyside Yorkshire and Sheffield 1,794 24,003 Cheshire and Sefton 645 7,818 Humber Merseyside Yorkshire and Wakefield 770 9,851 Cheshire and St Helens 502 7,481 Humber Merseyside Yorkshire and York 361 4,647 Cheshire and Warrington 884 10,045 Humber Merseyside Avon, Bath and 252 4,043 Cheshire and Wirral 939 12,662 Gloucestershire and North East Merseyside Wiltshire Somerset Cumbria and Blackburn 467 5,357 Avon, Bristol, City of 2,210 32,884 Lancashire with Darwen Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Cumbria and Blackpool 876 8,040 Lancashire Avon, Gloucestershire 1,270 16,095 Gloucestershire and Cumbria and Cumbria 948 11,921 Wiltshire Lancashire Avon, North 391 4,486 Cumbria and Lancashire 3,444 42,137 Gloucestershire and Somerset Lancashire Wiltshire Greater Manchester Bolton 921 9,393 Avon, South 233 3,336 Greater Manchester Bury 469 4,748 Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire Wiltshire Greater Manchester Manchester 2,160 24,283 Avon, Swindon 611 5,770 Greater Manchester Oldham 581 6,965 Gloucestershire and Greater Manchester Rochdale 619 6,305 Wiltshire 279W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 280W

Chlamydia tests and diagnoses made in each upper tier local authority in others. NHS England is providing a package of support England to help CCGs to improve timely diagnosis and post- Public Health England centre Upper local Total number of diagnosis support for people with dementia. name authority name Positive tests tests In addition, the Government’s refreshed Mandate to Avon, Wiltshire 972 11,031 Health Education England, published on 1 May 2014, Gloucestershire and stated that a further 250,000 NHS staff will receive Tier Wiltshire 1 training on dementia by March 2015, in addition to Devon, Cornwall Cornwall 1,329 16,195 the 100,000 NHS staff who received Tier 1 training in and Somerset 2013-14. Devon, Cornwall Devon 1,895 21,499 and Somerset Devon, Cornwall Isles of Scilly <5 43 Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Somerset what funds his Department has provided for research Devon, Cornwall Plymouth 706 7,366 into cures for dementia since 2012; and what progress and Somerset has been made on such cures since the launch of the Devon, Cornwall Somerset 1,016 13,081 Dementia Challenge. [199336] and Somerset Devon, Cornwall Torbay 522 4,186 and Somerset Norman Lamb: At the G8 dementia summit in December Wessex Bournemouth 643 9,544 2013, the G8 countries agreed to work together to Wessex Dorset 629 10,477 tackle and defeat dementia. The declaration, built on Wessex Hampshire 2,638 42,073 the Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge, announced Wessex Isle of Wight 299 4,755 the G8’s ambition to identify a cure or a disease-modifying Wessex Poole 245 3,889 therapy by 2025 and to increase collectively and significantly Wessex Portsmouth 910 18,460 the amount of funding for dementia research. Wessex Southampton 691 12,518 Investment in dementia research by the Department’s Kent, Surrey and Brighton and 1,493 24,387 National Institute for Health Research has increased Sussex Hove from £12.6 million in 2009-10 to £24.4 million in 2012-13. Kent, Surrey and East Sussex 996 13,180 Sussex Kent, Surrey and Kent 3016 45,193 Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Sussex (1) how many local authorities have signed up to Kent, Surrey and Medway 533 5,632 become dementia friendly since the launch of the Sussex Dementia Challenge; and what other progress has been Kent, Surrey and Surrey 1,460 20,195 made since that date; [199337] Sussex Kent, Surrey and West Sussex 1,318 14,278 (2) what steps his Department is taking to help Sussex Malpas to develop a dementia friendly community. Thames Valley Bracknell 128 1,569 [199338] Forest Thames Valley Buckinghamshire 578 6,703 Norman Lamb: The dementia friendly communities Thames Valley Oxfordshire 1,186 23,873 recognition process was launched by Alzheimer’s Society Thames Valley Reading 854 10,655 in September 2013 and 55 communities have already Thames Valley Slough 242 2,664 signed up. We have therefore increased our original Thames Valley West Berkshire 180 1,863 ambition of 20 communities committed to work to Thames Valley Windsor and 154 1,798 become dementia friendly, as set out in the Prime Minister’s Maidenhead Challenge on Dementia, to reach 75 communities by Thames Valley Wokingham 190 2,200 March 2015. In addition, 59 local authorities are members Notes: 1. Data includes chlamydia tests and diagnoses among people accessing services of local Dementia Action Alliances. located in England who are also residents in England. The Department has worked with Alzheimer’s Society 2. Data represents the number of tests and diagnoses reported, and not the number of people tested or diagnosed. to develop the recognition process for dementia friendly 3. Data presented are based on tests with confirmed positive and negative communities. Malpas has signed up to the recognition results only. Tests with equivocal, inhibitory and insufficient results have been excluded as most people with these results are retested. process and is receiving support in its work to become dementia friendly. The Department is also working Dementia with Alzheimer’s Society and the British Standards Institute to develop a code of practice for dementia Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health friendly communities, which will help communities to what steps he is taking to improve standards of NHS continue in their work to become dementia friendly. care for dementia sufferers. [199335] Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Norman Lamb: NHS England has an ambition that what resources his Department has allocated to help two thirds of the estimated number of people with carers of dementia patients. [199341] dementia should have a diagnosis and access to post diagnostic support by March 2015. We are informed by Norman Lamb: Carers are central to the Government’s NHS England that there is a tremendous amount of reform of social care and support, with significant work being undertaken by clinical commissioning groups improvements in the Care Act which extends carers’ (CCGs) across the country to improve diagnosis rates rights to an assessment which will be based on the and quality of care for people with dementia. NHS appearance of a need for support. For the first time, England has found wide variation; with some CCGs local authorities will be required to meet carers’ eligible having a longer journey to achieve the ambition than needs for support. The Act also creates a new statutory 281W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 282W principle to promote an individual’s well-being, including Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health health and emotional well-being, which will apply equally (1) what estimate he has made of the costs of treatment to carers. of UK nationals in each other European Economic We have provided £400 million to the national health Area country in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 service over four years from 2011 for carers to have and (d) 2013-14; and if he will make a statement; breaks from their caring responsibilities. In the 2013 [199766] spending review, we announced the £3.8 billion Better (2) what estimate he has made of the cost of treating Care Fund, which includes £130 million funding for European Economic Area nationals who received NHS carers’ breaks for 2015-16. treatment in each region of the UK in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14; and if he will Food Banks make a statement; [199767] (3) what estimate he has made of the number of Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for European Economic Area nationals who received NHS Health when he or other Ministers of his Department treatment in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 have visited a foodbank in order to assess the and (d) 2013-14; and if he will make a statement; contribution of foodbanks to public health and [199768] nutrition. [199814] (4) how much income health trusts in each region or nation of the UK received for the cost of treating Dr Poulter: No departmental Ministers have made a European Economic Area nationals in (a) 2010-11, visit to a food bank since May 2010 on official departmental (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14; and if he business, but this does not preclude visits in their personal will make a statement; [199769] capacities or as constituency MPs. (5) how much income each NHS trust in each region of England claimed back for the cost of treating Health Services: Foreign Nationals European Economic Area nationals in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14; and if he Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for will make a statement. [199770] Health what assessment he has made of the effect on devolved NHS services of changes to the way Jane Ellison: The following information is not held temporary migrants and visitors access the NHS in by the Department: England. [199632] income health trusts in each region or nation of the United Kingdom received for the cost of treating European Economic Jane Ellison: The intention of the relevant powers in Area (EEA) nationals; the Immigration Act 2014 is to ensure that temporary income each NHS trust in each region of England claimed migrants and visitors make a fair contribution towards back for the cost of treating EEA nationals; the cost of any national health service healthcare they the number of EEA nationals who received NHS treatment; receive in the United Kingdom. Under the Act, temporary the cost of treating EEA nationals who received NHS treatment migrants will be required to pay a health surcharge in each region of the UK. when applying for a visa to reside in the UK for more Claims to and from EEA countries are managed than six months. The devolved Administrations will centrally by the Department on behalf of the whole of receive a proportion of funds received from the surcharge. the UK. Income claimed from EEA countries is based It will be for the devolved Administrations to decide on both data collected from trusts and arrangements in whether they spend this on health services and whether place with other EEA countries under bilateral agreements. they amend their health service charging regulations for The Department does hold information on claims to other visitors to the UK. the UK from other EEA countries for healthcare costs. If charges for some primary care services in England However, claims to the UK from other EEA countries are introduced to visitors to the UK, those services will are not based on nationality-they are based on whether continue to be free of charge to people who are ordinarily the UK is judged to be responsible for someone’s healthcare resident in the UK. Therefore, residents of the devolved costs, for example due to residency in the UK or, for Administrations will continue to be treated on the same state pensioners, someone with a UK state pension who basis as an English resident if they access primary care has retired to a different EEA country. It is therefore services in England. not possible to provide a breakdown of costs based on However, introducing charging for visitors may influence UK nationality. behaviour near the borders if visitors from overseas in Health Services: Northern Ireland England choose to travel to the other countries to access primary care services that they would have to pay Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for for in England. Health whether officials from his Department met their The proposed new process for registering with the Northern Ireland counterparts in preparation for the NHS in England is unlikely to affect the healthcare EU Informal Health Council in Athens from 28 to systems in the devolved administrations but it may 29 April 2014. [199633] mean that residents from the devolved Administrations who access NHS care in England are asked more often Jane Ellison: Regular meetings are arranged between to demonstrate that they are ordinarily resident in the officials from the Department and officials from the UK, or otherwise entitled to free NHS care in England. devolved Administrations to discuss a range of European We will continue our discussions with colleagues in health matters. Departmental officials met virtually with the devolved Administrations on all of these issues. their Northern Ireland counterparts in preparation for 283W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 284W the Informal Health Council in Athens on 28-29 April Hospital Beds 2014, and officials from Northern Ireland contributed to the briefing that was prepared for the Informal Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Council. Health how many hospital day beds were taken because of delayed discharge relating to inaccessible housing available for disabled outpatients in (a) Health, Work and Wellbeing Coordinators 2013-14 and (b) May 2014. [199260]

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Norman Lamb: These data are not collected centrally. Health how members of the public can contact their regional Health, Work and Wellbeing coordinator; how Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for much those coordinators are paid; by what body they Health what steps his Department takes to ensure that are paid; and what those coordinators’ roles entail. people do not face delayed discharge from hospital [199813] because there is no suitable housing for them to be discharged; and if he will make a statement. [199264]

Jane Ellison: Health, Work and Wellbeing coordinators Norman Lamb: The Government is committed to were jointly funded by the Department for Work and supporting the availability of suitable accommodation Pensions and the Department of Health. This funding for those who are being discharged from hospital. It has ceased in 2012. already taken steps to demonstrate this commitment One of Public Health England’s (PHE) priorities is and is in the process of establishing new opportunities improving health in the workplace. It has 15 local and mechanisms by which this can be done. Examples centres, where responsibility for local co-ordination sits. of these include: Contact details for PHE’s local centres can be found The recently passed Care Act consolidates duties on local on the web at: authorities in relation to wellbeing, which specifically include consideration of “suitable living accommodation” as a component www.gov.uk/government/publications/phe-centre-addresses- of that duty. and-phone-numbers/phe-local-and-regional-contact-details Housing has also been classified as a “health related service” so that housing and suitability of accommodation should be considered in any assessment (including on discharge from hospital). Health: Screening The Better Care Fund (BCF), which this Government has established with £3.8 billion funding provides a vehicle to enhance Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for and increase the pace of effective integration between health and Health what plans he has to ensure that local social care. Clearly where suitable housing is identified as a authorities in England pursue continuous improvement barrier to the achievement of key measures within the BCF localities can choose to use funding within the BCF to address in the proportion of their eligible population being (a) this. The opportunity to do this is the inclusion within the BCF of offered and (b) taking up NHS health checks. [199812] the Disabled Facilities Grant with £220 million being made available within 2015-16. Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) has set The Disabled Facilities Grant is for the provision of adaptations out a long-term aspiration of achieving an uptake of to the homes of disabled people to help them to live independently. 75% and encourages areas to offer the NHS Health Disabled Facilities Grant adaptations include things like stair-lifts, Check to 20% of the local population each year. In level access showers, winches and ramps. Many people apply for a 2014-15, PHE has seta short term ambition of working Disabled Facilities Grant upon exit from hospital because their towards achieving a 66% uptake and offers to 20% of home is no longer suitable to meet their needs. the eligible population. In terms of the Disabled Facilities Grant and the period of the last spending review, £785 million was made available by the PHE is developing an improvement offer, tailored to Department for Communities and Local Government. They funded the needs of local areas, to support local action. PHE an organisation called Foundations, which is the national body will also enable local authorities to overcome common for Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) which help older, disabled issues that affect offers by actively disseminating learning and vulnerable people to live independently in their own homes on information governance and data flows. for longer. HIAs deliver around 50% of all Disabled Facilities Grants in England. To support improvement in uptake PHE will work to HIAs also provide additional services for older and vulnerable inform the public’s understanding of the programme. people such as handyperson services, to carry out small jobs In recent weeks PHE has launched NHS Health Check around the home also known as minor adaptations, which are content on NHS Choices and is planning to extend this things like grab rails, ramps and moving furniture e.g. moving a by developing a directory of services for England. bed downstairs. Many HIAs provide a bespoke service called “home from hospital” or “hospital discharge” services which Research and evaluation on applying behavioural adapt people’s homes allowing them to be discharged from hospital insights to maximise uptake is also taking place. In the more quickly and freeing up hospital beds. £50 million was also coming months PHE will support a network of local made available for handyperson services during the period 2011 authorities to test and disseminate learning on the to 2015. approaches that maximise uptake. Under the homelessness legislation a household will be considered The quarterly publication of both offer and uptake homeless if a local housing authority determines that it would no data brings transparency to local delivery of the programme. longer be reasonable for them to continue to occupy their accommodation. This can clearly apply to an individual’s change This enables local councillors, Healthwatch and the in circumstances following a stay in hospital. If a local housing public to use existing local government mechanisms to authority has reason to believe that an applicant may be homeless scrutinise activity and encourage improvements in both or threatened with homelessness then they must make inquiries in performance and quality. order to establish if they are owed a duty. 285W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 286W

If a person is homeless through no fault of their own, eligible NHS, local government and the voluntary sector were involved in for assistance and in priority need then the local housing authority signing up to specifically highlighted the importance of suitable will have a duty to secure suitable accommodation for the household’s housing being available as part of safe and effective discharge occupation. Priority need is defined in legislation to include from hospitals. applicants with children and households that include someone who is vulnerable, for example because of old age, or physical or Hospitals: Bolton mental disability, have a priority need for accommodation. The Department of Health has supported the resource “Hospital Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to Home” pathway which we know many areas consider in terms of supporting an individual’s recovery and preventing readmission. what the five most common causes of admission to The resource contains information, suggestions for action, case hospital have been for (a) children and (b) adults in studies and checklists for considering older patients’ housing Bolton since 2010. [199210] situations in hospital discharge and transfer of care. The Shared Commitment for integrated care and support, Jane Ellison: The information is shown in the following published in May 2013 and which the Department of Health, the table:

Count of Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs)1 for the highest primary diagnoses2 in Bolton Primary Care Trust3, for children (aged 0 to 17-years-old) and adults (over 18-years-old), from 2010-11 to 2012-134 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector Age group Diagnosis code Diagnosis description 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

0 to 17 years Z38 Liveborn infants according to place of birth 3,908 4,273 5,365 B34 Viral infection of unspecified site 543 634 911 K02 Dental caries 745 705 497 J06 Acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites 390 362 463 P59 Neonatal jaundice from other and unspecified causes 227 385 451 J03 Acute tonsillitis 469 462 427 R10 Abdominal and pelvic pain 369 406 292 Total admissions 6,651 7,227 8,406

18+ years Z34 Supervision of normal pregnancy 1,620 2,369 2,646 R10 Abdominal and pelvic pain 1,884 1,972 2,128 H35 Other retinal disorders 1,020 1,623 1,839 O26 Maternal care for other conditions predominantly related to pregnancy 1,293 1,462 1,794 R07 Pain in throat and chest 1,636 1,562 1,537 H26 Other cataract 2,210 2,308 1,414 Total admissions 9,663 11,296 11,358 1 Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. 2 Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. For the purpose of this query, 3-character diagnosis codes were used to calculate the FAEs. There are more than five diagnoses listed for each age group because the top five for each year have been listed. 3 PCT of main provider This indicates the PCT area within which the organisation providing treatment was located. 4 Assessing growth through time (in-patients) HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists scheduling error in (a) St Albans, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) England since 2005. [199361] Jane Ellison: Information is not available in the format Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health requested. Such information as is available is shown in how many operations have been cancelled because of the following table.

Table: Cancelled elective operations, 2005-06 to 2013-14 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust England

2005-06 621 856 60,803 2006-07 929 682 52,005 2007-08 1,081 873 57,382 2008-09 527 965 63,644 2009-10 383 358 62,296 2010-11 314 297 58,295 2011-12 367 220 57,087 2012-13 486 150 63,517 287W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 288W

Table: Cancelled elective operations, 2005-06 to 2013-14 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust England

2013-14 357 179 64,192 Note: Cancelled elective operations are defined as operations that were cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons on the day the patient was due to arrive in hospital, or after the patient has arrived in hospital, or on the day of the operation or surgery. The data does not distinguish between scheduling errors and other non-clinical reasons for cancellation. Source: Cancelled elective operations. Published quarterly by NHS England at www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancelled-elective-operations/

Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Norman Lamb: Reports of suspected adverse drug what the current average waiting time is for elective reactions (ADRs) are collected by the Medicines and surgery in (a) St Albans constituency, (b) Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Hertfordshire, (c) the East of England and (d) Commission for Human Medicines through the England. [199445] spontaneous reporting scheme; the Yellow Card Scheme, The scheme has been in place since 1964 and collects Jane Ellison: The information is shown in the following ADR reports from across the whole United Kingdom table. and includes all medicines, including non-pharmacological Average (median) waiting time in weeks from referral to admission to hospital treatments such as herbal and homeopathic medicines. for consultant-led elective treatment, March 2014 Reports are received from healthcare professionals Area National health service organisation Number of and members of the public on a voluntary basis. However weeks there is a legal requirement for pharmaceutical companies St Albans NHS Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning 10.0 to report suspected ADRs to their products. The MHRA Group (CCG) receives approximately 30,000 ADR reports per year. All reports received are rapidly entered onto the MHRA’s Hertfordshire NHS Herts Valley CCG 10.0 ADR database for assessment by a team of medical, NHS East and North Hertfordshire CCG 8.6 pharmaceutical and scientific assessors. The purpose of the scheme is to provide an early warning that the safety of a product may require further investigation and the East of East Anglia Area Team 8.6 England scheme has a proven track record of identifying safety Essex Area Team 10.2 issues. Hertfordshire and the South Midlands Area 8.3 National health service organisations will also record Team details of adverse incidents in local risk management systems and other datasets such as the Hospital Episodes England — 8.8 Statistics datasets. Many of these systems rely on accurate Source: coding to enable data extract and analysis, and codes Consultant-led referral to treatment waiting times, commissioner data for specific to non pharmacological treatments may not admitted patient pathways, March 2014. Published by NHS England at: www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data- always be available. 2013-14/#Mar14 Mental Health Human Embryo Experiments David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Health what recent progress he has made on ensuring how many human embryos have been (a) created for that mental health has equal standing with physical the purposes of experimentation and (b) created for health. [199224] the purposes of extermination and subsequently destroyed in each year since 1991. [199195] Norman Lamb: Mental health has been a priority for this Government for several years now. We made this Jane Ellison: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology commitment explicit in the Health and Social Care Authority has advised that it does not have a central Act 2012 which, for the first time, creates equal status repository of data on the number of embryos experimented for mental and physical health across Government and on, nor the number of embryos created for research. for the NHS and social care. However, it does hold data on the number of embryos The Ministerial Advisory Group brings together stored for research, and the total number from 1 August individuals and organisations with a specific interest in 1991 to 30 June 2012 is 6,149. the cross government mental health strategy “No Health Embryos used in a research project must be allowed Without Mental Health” and how it is delivered. to perish as it is unlawful to use them in treatment The Mandate to NHS England 2014-15 makes clear services. that ’everyone who needs it should have timely access to evidence-based services’, this will involve extending and Medical Treatments: Side Effects ensuring more open access to programmes, in particular for children and young people, and for those out of Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for work. Health what steps his Department takes to record and “Closing the Gap”, our new mental health action identify instances where non-pharmacological plan, which has attracted widespread, cross-sector support, treatments have caused adverse reactions in patients. sets out our priorities for essential change in mental [199201] health, 25 areas where people can expect to see and 289W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 290W experience the fastest changes. The document challenges and PHE’s work. Even though there was no central the health and social care community to move further national resource attached to mental health to be transferred and faster to transform care and support; the public into PHE, they have invested in establishing a presence health community, alongside local government, to give for mental health across their work and they continue health and wellbeing promotion and prevention the to embed population mental health and wellbeing across long-overdue attention it needs and deserves; and individuals public health. and communities to shift attitudes in mental health. Health Education England is developing training The Department of Health is leading an information programmes that will enable all healthcare employers to revolution around mental health. The new national ensure that their staff have a greater awareness of Mental Health Intelligence Network will draw together mental health problems and how they may affect their comprehensive information about mental health and patients. This will include understanding the links between wellbeing. patient’s physical and mental health, so that staff know The new Crisis Care Concordat, signed by more than what actions they can take to ensure that patients 20 national organisations, is a commitment for all agencies receive appropriate support for both their mental and involved in supporting someone in a crisis to work physical health care needs. together to improve the system of care and support so people in crisis are kept safe and helped to find the Mental Health Services support they need. All the signatories have pledged to work together and our expectation is that, in every Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for locality in England, local partnerships of health, criminal Health with reference to the answer of 12 May 2014, justice and local authority agencies will agree and commit Official Report, column 401W, on mental health to local Mental Health Crisis Declarations. services, whether the Mental Health Intelligence System partners are also taking responsibility for the Network has been established. [199324] drive for parity. Public Health England (PHE) has made a commitment to addressing parity of esteem Norman Lamb: The Mental Health Intelligence Network through prioritising mental health and working to embed has been established and is due to launch its web it throughout all PHE programmes. Greater attention is resource and a supporting suite of indicator tools and needed to mental health throughout the public health supporting resources on 18 June 2014. system and PHE seeks to enable and support this through its leadership and delivery of a Wellbeing and The key aim is to provide intelligence to enable better Mental Health programme. It is supporting local authorities service commissioning and to support service improvement and other partners to give greater attention to mental to facilitate the delivery of consistent country-wide best health within the public health system. practice care. PHE was established on 1 April 2013 with the mission to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address NHS: Fees and Charges inequalities through working with national and local government, the NHS, industry and the voluntary and Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for community sector. PHE is an operationally autonomous Health what the average charge levied by health care executive agency of the Department of Health. professionals for written reports requested by patients PHE has made a commitment to addressing parity of who require them for (a) setting up power of attorney esteem through prioritising mental health and working and (b) other purposes is in each commissioning area. to embed it throughout all its programmes. Greater [199246] attention is needed to mental health throughout the public health system and PHE seeks to enable and Dr Poulter: The information is not held centrally on support this through its leadership and delivery of a charges by health professionals, other than general Wellbeing and Mental Health programme. It is supporting practitioners (GPs). local authorities and other partners to give greater As regards GPs, they are required under terms of attention to mental health within the public health contracts for the provision of national health services system. primary medical services to provide certain medical Their approach centres on the following five main reports free of charge to their registered patients. objectives: GPs may also provide other services outside of their 1. Promoting good mental health and improving population contract. Regulations prevent a GP from charging a wellbeing; registered patient a fee for treatment under the contract 2. Preventing mental health problems and preventing suicide or otherwise, except in certain prescribed circumstances. and self-harm; However, the provision of reports is not classed as 3. Supporting people living with and recovering from mental treatment. Consequently, GPs are able to charge for illness; those reports which are not deemed free. 4. Tackling inequalities and improving the wider determinants The Professional Fees Committee of the British Medical of wellbeing and mental health; and Association (BMA) suggests fees for such services to 5. Enabling and embedding wellbeing and mental health across help doctors set their own professional fees. However, the public health system. these fees are guidelines only, and a doctor is not PHE has embraced the principles of Parity of Esteem obliged to charge the rates suggested. Where doctors and from the outset and all through transition, there intend to charge for services to patients, the BMA has been a commitment by PHE to ensure mental advises them to forewarn patients, at the earliest opportunity, health is a core part of the new public health system of the likely level of fees. 291W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 292W

Nutrition: Homelessness Norman Lamb: We are advised that there are no secure services for children commissioned by NHS England Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in the South West. There are services commissioned in what steps he is taking to co-ordinate healthy eating other areas used by children from the South West area. initiatives among the homeless. [199209] We understand that NHS England has identified a number of actions needed to reduce the number of long Jane Ellison: The Department supports the Inclusion distance transfers within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health programme which champions the health and Health Services, and is currently considering how to health care of vulnerable groups, including homeless take this forward including any necessary tendering for people. The programme seeks to improve the health services in due course. data for these groups, and set out practical steps for assessing needs (for example, through Joint Strategic Sleep Apnoea Needs Assessments) and commissioning services. We are also involved in funding work in this area through Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health the Homeless Hospital Discharge Fund to improve (1) what steps his Department has taken to ensure that hospital discharge arrangements for people who are commissioning of service provision for obstructive homeless (£10 million in 2013-14) and £40 million capital sleep apnoea is appropriate to the predicted prevalence fund for hostel refurbishment with a focus on improving in local areas in England; [199266] health outcomes (2014-15). (2) what plans he has to introduce a quality standard for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disordered Prescriptions: Fees and Charges breathing covering the range of conditions from simple snoring to obstructive sleep apnoea; [199286] Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (3) what body has responsibility for the (1) if he will abolish prescription charges for asthma implementation of recommendations made by his medication; [199363] Department’s former Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (2) on what basis the conditions exempt from Working Group; [199267] prescription charges are decided. [199364] (4) what plans he has to introduce clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and management of Norman Lamb: The list of medical conditions conferring obstructive sleep apnoea; and if he will make a exemption from prescription charges in England was statement. [199292] agreed with the medical profession in 1968. The only addition to the list was the introduction of cancer in Jane Ellison: NHS England is committed to working 2009. Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, then President of the with partners across the health system to reduce mortality Royal College of Physicians, was asked in 2008 to and improve outcomes for people with respiratory disease. consider how this might be extended to cover all those NHS England is now responsible for commissioning with a long-term condition. The Department published National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) his report in May 2010. clinical guidelines relating to national health service In the light of the challenging financial context, the services and is responsible for liaising with NICE about Government made clear in the Spending Review, published the prioritisation of NHS quality standards in development. in October 2010, that no changes would be made to the We understand that NICE has not been asked to develop current list of medical exemption. Prescription charges a clinical guideline specifically on obstructive sleep apnoea. in England raise valuable income, in the region of NICE has been commissioned to develop a quality £450 million each year, which helps the national health standard on sleep disordered breathing and will in due service to maintain vital services for patients. course consider which conditions will be covered under An extensive system of exemption arrangements, the scope of the quality standard and the need for including for those on low incomes who may struggle to associated clinical guidance. Local clinical commissioning pay for their prescriptions, is in place which means that groups (CCGs) are responsible for assessing the needs around 90% of all prescription items are already dispensed of their local populations and for commissioning services free of charge. Prescription Prepayment Certificates to meet those needs. For patients with obstructive sleep (PPCs) are also available for those who have to pay apnoea, NHS England expects CCGs to take into account NHS prescription charges and need multiple prescriptions. the NICE guidelines when deciding what services should This is the fifth year the cost of an annual certificate, be made available. and the third year the cost of a three-month certificate, NHS England currently has no plans to continue the have been frozen. Both certificates will also remain at work of the obstructive sleep apnoea working group. £104 and £29.10 respectively, next year. There is no limit However, the National Clinical Director for Respiratory to the number of items that can be obtained through a Disease, Professor Mike Morgan, will continue to consider PPC. The annual certificate benefits anyone needing whether any additional specific initiatives or commissioning more than 12 items a year, and the three-month certificate protocols are needed to promote best practice and anyone needing more than three items in that three-month treatment for people with obstructive sleep apnoea and period. to provide advice on this. Secure Accommodation: South West Sleeping Rough

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many secure places there are in the South Health what progress is being made towards meeting West region for children with mental health conditions the health goals in the Government’s No Second Night involving violent behaviour. [199412] Out Strategy. [199811] 293W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 294W

Jane Ellison: We have met the health goals set out The Scottish devolved Administration or regional in the No Second Night Out Strategy. Action has body may apply for access to this fund to maintain an included setting up the Homeless Hospital Hospitals air link from other Scottish airports to London, where Discharge Fund to improve hospital discharge arrangements there is a risk that an existing link may be lost, and and provide new post-discharge respite care facilities where the case for a Public Service Obligation has been for homeless people, and publishing guidance made. (‘Commissioning Inclusive Services’) for local Health The Chancellor announced in this year’s Budget that and Wellbeing Boards. the funding would be doubled to £20 million per year, Work continues on improving the physical and mental and also extended to allow for the support for start-up health outcomes of rough sleepers and we are investing aid for new air routes from UK regional airports. European £40 million in 2015-16 to refurbish existing hostels to Union aviation State aid guidelines allow for provision support health improvement and reduce the demand on of start-up aid to facilitate start-up of new routes from health services through a new Homelessness Change airports which handle fewer than 5 million passengers programme. This sits alongside Platform for Life, a new per annum. This will therefore cover all Scotland’s programme providing shared accommodation for young airports apart from Glasgow and Edinburgh. people at risk of homelessness, so they have a stable The Department for Transport is working with the platform for work and study. Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will ordinarily expect to interpret the European Sugar Union guidelines, and explain how the funding process will work. Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will revise the Government’s Bus Services: Visual Impairment Responsibility Deal to include sugar in the list of ingredients that companies should work with caterers Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for to reformulate in meals as part of the H4 pledge on Transport what steps he is taking to help blind and [199038] Healthier Staff Restaurants. [199686] partially sighted passengers travel on buses. Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport is Jane Ellison: There are 169 organisations currently committed to ensuring that all disabled people have the signed up to the H4 pledge which includes a requirement same access to transport services and opportunities to for employers to work with caterers to reformulate travel as other members of society. The Public Service recipes to ensure staff meals are lower in fat, salt and Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR)outline energy and do not contain artificial trans fats. There are specific requirements for the bus industry to ensure that currently no plans to include sugar in this list of ingredients. buses are as accessible as possible for disabled passengers. However, as part of the Public Health Responsibility Latest statistics (September 2013) show that 78% of Deal, 11 catering companies have signed up to take a buses in England now meet PSVAR accessibility range of actions to help people consume fewer calories, requirements, while 92% operate with a low floor facility including through reformulation to reduce sugar content. and these figures continue to grow steadily. The Department also recognises that blind and partially sighted passengers find audio and visual announcements TRANSPORT particularly useful when travelling on buses. We will therefore continue to encourage bus operators and local Air Traffic Control: Northern Ireland authorities to invest in audio/visual announcement systems for their buses where possible. However, we also understand Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for that this technology comes at a considerable cost. Transport whether he consulted his Northern Ireland With this in mind, my noble colleague, Baroness counterpart on his Department’s publication Guidance Kramer wrote to bus operators on 4 February 2014 to to the Civil Aviation Authority on Environmental encourage the development of simpler, more affordable Objectives Relating to the Exercise of its Air audio/visual announcement systems for buses that can Navigation Functions. [199639] provide benefits to as many passengers as possible. Alongside this, the Department for Transport is also Mr Goodwill: There was no specific consultation with looking into the possibility of establishing a research the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on this initiative involving small businesses and academic publication. institutions through the “Transport Systems Catapult” to encourage further innovation. Aviation: Scotland Carers: Travel

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Scottish airports will benefit from the Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Regional Air Connectivity Fund. [198920] Scottish Government Minister for Transport and Veterans on the possibility of providing free or Mr Goodwill: The Government announced on 6 June discounted travel for carers in Scotland. [199235] that a Public Service Obligation will be established on the air route between Dundee airport and London Stephen Hammond: Concessionary Travel is a devolved Stansted airport from 1 July 2014 for a two-year period, policy area and the Secretary of State has not discussed with support from the Regional Air Connectivity Fund carer discounts with Keith Brown MSP, the Scottish announced in last year’s Spending Round. Minister for Transport and Veterans. 295W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 296W

Cycling would be required to display a green ‘P’ plate to identify their licence status and aid enforcement of other Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for recommended restrictions. Transport what funding his Department allocated to projects relating to cycling between (a) 2005 and 2010 Driving Instruction: Warrington and (b) 2010 to 2014. [199232] David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Goodwill: During the five financial years 2005-06 Transport how many approved driving instructors were to 2009-10, the Department for Transport (DFT) provided registered in the Borough of Warrington in each year funding for cycling through Cycling England, an arm’s since 2007. [198608] length organisation set up in 2005; in that period, Cycling England received £105 million from the DFT. Stephen Hammond: There are currently 362 approved During the five financial years 2010-11 to 2014-15, driving instructors (ADI) with a WA postcode. Please the DFT allocated a final £63 million to Cycling England, note Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and has allocated direct funding of £224 million for systems do not hold specific data for the ‘Borough of cycling projects, comprising: the £94 million Cycling Warrington’. Cities and National Parks fund, £28.5 million for Links DVSA’s training and registration system is a live to Schools/Linking Communities, the £35 million cycle database and does not hold historical data; therefore it safety fund, £14.5 million for Cycle Rail, £4.8 million to can provide only the current number of ADIs with a the Highways Agency and £46.8 million for Bikeability. WA postcode. In addition, the DFT’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund is providing £540 million for local authorities to prioritise sustainable transport projects, of which 28% or Driving Tests: Warrington £151 million is being allocated to cycling projects. So total investment by this Government in cycling in the David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for five financial years 2010-11 to 2014-15 is £438 million. Transport what proportion of applicants from the DFT funding for the LSTF and its Cycling Ambition, Borough of Warrington passed their driving test in Cycle-Rail, and Linking Communities funds is often each year since 2007. [198615] used to lever matching local contributions. When these other sources are included, spend on cycling in England Stephen Hammond: The information requested is in is equal to £5 per person a year, while spend in the eight the following table. cycling ambition cities is around £10 per person a year. From 2015-16, the LSTF forms part of the Local Passed Candidates Passed (percentage) Growth Fund, a long-term funding commitment of £2 billion a year. 2007 15,799 7,734 49 2008 15,530 7,727 50 Cycling: Children 2009 13,359 6,675 50 2010 13,340 6,584 49 Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for 2011 13,130 6,533 50 Transport if he will issue guidance on the safe use of 2012 12,125 6,332 52 bicycle trailers to provide a minimum level of safety for 2013 12,200 6,433 53 children being towed by bicycles on the roads. [199623] Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency systems do not Mr Goodwill: The Department has no current plans hold specific data for the ‘Borough of Warrington’. The to issue guidance on the safe use of trailers on bicycles. data in the table reflects the number of practical test However children should be transported safely and candidates who registered a WA postcode at the time of securely and trailers should be in a roadworthy condition booking the test. before being used on the highway. Driving Health

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the Transport what use his Department has made of the potential benefits of mandatory display of passed National Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for plates by all novice drivers for a minimum period. National Statistics in formulating policy since the [199782] introduction of that Index in 2011; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national Mr Goodwill: None. There is no probationary period well-being as defined in that Index since 2010. [198872] for new drivers and no requirement to display a ‘P’ plate. However, the Transport Research Laboratory Report Stephen Hammond: The Office for National Statistics on ″Novice Drivers: Evidence review and Evaluation (ONS) is measuring National Well-being, not as an Pre-Driver Training, Graduated Driver Licensing″ made index but through a framework of 41 indicators which a number of recommendations on novice driver safety. capture social progress around important aspects of life One recommendation was that on successful completion for individuals, communities and the nation. The statistics of the driving test a driver would be permitted to are experimental and we would not expect to have progress to a probationary licence from age 18. During examples of major policies that have been heavily influenced the 12 month (minimum) probationary licence the driver by the well-being data at this stage. 297W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 298W

Evidence provided to the Environmental Audit Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Committee for its Inquiry into Well-being can be found Transport with reference to the answer of 31 March at: 2014, Official Report, column 408W, on High Speed 2 http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a- Railway Line, what the evidential basis is for the z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/inquiries/ practical limit to the expansion of capacity on the West parliament-2010/well-being/ Coast Mainline being lower than predicted growth for that line. [199297]

High Speed 2 Railway Line Mr Goodwill: Evidence set out in the Strategic Case for HS2: Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-strategic-case Transport (1) with reference to the answer of 31 March demonstrates that parts of the West Coast Main Line 2014, Official Report, column 408W, on High Speed 2 are effectively full in terms of the number of trains; Railway Line, what the evidential basis is for the many of which are already full to overflowing at certain expense and disruption caused by double-decker times of day and demand is expected to grow. carriages being greater than that caused by High Rail demand has grown by 54% over the last decade, Speed 2; [199296] which is the equivalent of annual growth rate of 4.4%. (2) with reference to the answer of 31 March 2014, Chapter 3 of the Strategic case sets out that even with Official Report, columns 408-9W, on High Speed 2 more modest growth of 2.5%, all of the additional peak railway line, whether his Department has subsequently seats provided by enhancing the line will be used up compared double-decking with revised estimates of the during the 2020s. costs and effects of High Speed 2; [199261] The Department has considered a wide range of (3) with reference to the answer of 31 March 2014, alternatives including upgrades to the existing West Official Report, column 408W, on High Speed 2 Coast Main Line. The most recent report, commissioned Railway Line, what the evidential basis for double- from Atkins can be found here: decker carriages not releasing sufficient capacity for www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ commuter services is. [199298] attachment_data/file/253456/hs2-strategic-alternatives.pdf This provides evidence that expanding capacity on the Mr Goodwill: As per the answer of 31 March 2014, West Coast Main line would not be a robust long term since 2009 we have considered a wide range of alternative solution to the capacity, connectivity and reliability options to a high speed railway including the use of challenges on the line. Not only would it not provide alternative modes, a conventional speed line and upgrades sufficient additional capacity to meet long term demand, to the existing rail network, including double decking. but it would not offer a robust solution to the problem Specifically, the March 2010 High Speed 2 Strategic of poor service performance and would significantly Alternatives Study considered the potential for using disrupt services for many years during construction double deck trains on WCML as one means of enhancing work. capacity on conventional rail routes between London and the West Midlands/North West. Details of this Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for study, including evidence of expense, disruption and Transport how he expects High Speed 2 to reduce capacity, can be found at: overcrowding at London Waterloo. [199332] http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/ www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/alternativestudy/pdf/ Mr Goodwill: High Speed 2 is not intended to reduce railintervention.pdf overcrowding at London Waterloo, as it has been designed as a link between London Euston, Birmingham, Leeds This work found that while double deck carriages and Manchester. could increase the number of passengers per train there is a practical limit to the expansion of capacity in this The 2012 Rail Investment Strategy (HLOS) has asked manner and it offers limited potential to lead to journey the industry to provide additional peak capacity for time savings. 9,700 extra passengers into Waterloo by 2019 and has provided funding for Network Rail to expand Waterloo This option is also likely to lead to significant disruption and other stations. Network Rail and South West Trains and expense. Before such trains could be used on the have set out plans to lengthen peak trains and South West Coast Mainline, the route (including diversionary West Trains is now in discussions with the Department routes) would need to be gauge cleared to allow sufficient for Transport. space for the trains to operate. This would involve raising all overhead wires, raising bridges, modifying Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for platforms on the route, modifying station canopies, Transport what estimate he has made of the excess moving or raising all signal gantries and other signage capacity on peak High Speed 2 services. [199333] on the route, and lowering track in the tunnels. Work would need to be carried out to modify existing depots Mr Goodwill: The HS2 Economic Case published in or to provide new ones. Additional works would also be October 2013 indicates that the average all-day load required to enable line speeds to be maintained on the factor for HS2 services in 2036 for the full network is route. expected to be 41%. Peak period load factors are expected For these reasons it was concluded that there was a to be significantly higher. strong case for not considering this option further. No subsequent work has therefore been done to compare it Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for to the case for HS2. Transport if he will publish an updated cost benefit 299W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 300W analysis for High Speed 2 in light of the decision not to Mr Goodwill: To provide the full information as link High Speed 2 with High Speed 1 and Eurostar requested would risk compromising the privacy of the services. [199334] applicants. The following anonymised summary information may be helpful: Mr Goodwill: We will continue to revise and update For Phase One: the economic case for HS2 as new project milestones Carter Jonas has valued a total of 47 properties. are reached, such as decisions on the preferred route for 4 of those valuations have been queried by applicants. Phase 2, to ensure it is based on the best available Carter Jonas valuations have been used to form the offer price evidence and latest understanding of the project, including a total of 41 times and 35 of these offers have been accepted. taking account of the decision to remove the existing proposals for the HS1-HS2 link from the scheme. For Phase Two: Carter Jonas has valued a total of 22 properties. Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for None of those valuations have been queried by applicants. Transport how High Speed 2 improve reliability and Carter Jonas valuations have been used to form the offer price reduce overcrowding on regional links between towns a total of 20 times and all of these offers have been accepted. and cities in the North West. [199339] Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the recruitment Mr Goodwill: By moving long distance passengers off of the Independent Residents Commissioner promised the existing network, HS2 will release capacity for more by HS2 Ltd in the April 2014 HS2 Residents regional services, reducing overcrowding and improving Charter, including (a) where this position is advertised, reliability, as well as improving connectivity. Nationally, (b) the remuneration package offered, (c) the the Economic Case for HS2 found that HS2 will deliver interview process and the interview panel members, (d) reliability benefits worth £5.5 billion, and reduced crowding the estimated date of any appointments, (e) benefits of £7.5 billion, which includes benefits to regional the Commissioner’s powers and (f) how the services in the North West. Commissioner’s independence will be assured. [199643] In response to recommendations made by Sir David Higgins, HS2 Ltd and Network Rail have been Mr Goodwill: Details of the Independent Residents commissioned to consider what further improvements Commissioner and Residents’ Charter for HS2 are currently can be made to centre to city centre connectivity, east-west being developed and further information will be published links and local connectivity in the Midlands and the in due course. North, with a final report on options in 2015. Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have accessed the HS2 Ltd Transport what estimate he has made of the number of complaints procedure set out in the HS2 Residents’ people who will move home as a result of the Charter of April 2014; what the details are of each construction of High Speed 2 because of (a) complaint; what the outcome is of each complaint; and demolition for construction of the line and (b) blight. what complaints are outstanding. [199644] [199340] Mr Goodwill: The complaints procedure, along with Stephen Hammond: There are 464 dwellings within other aspects of the Residents’ Charter for HS2, is the area currently subject to surface-level safeguarding currently being developed and further information will for the London to West Midlands section of HS2, of be published in due course. which 339 are to be demolished. Given recent Census data showing an average 2.3 occupants per property in Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the UK, we expect around 1,000 people will move from Transport what the average time taken to respond by those homes. HS2 Ltd to property related compensation enquiries is; and what the longest time taken to respond to such an We have not estimated numbers of people who may enquiry has been. [199645] move for reasons of generalised property blight, but there are approximately 220 dwellings within the Voluntary Mr Goodwill: HS2 Ltd aims to respond to all inquiries Purchase Area for the London to West Midlands Route as soon as possible and within a maximum of 20 announced on 9 April. Our aim is where possible to working days. avoid serious impacts on local residents and enable Performance against this standard was 93% for April people to remain in their homes. We expect to consult 2013 to March 2014. shortly on further measures that may make that choice more attractive for homeowners. A high proportion of these inquiries relate to property compensation but HS2 Ltd does not compile separate Pending future decisions on routes and designs, we performance data for different inquiry types. have made no similar estimates for other proposed sections of HS2. Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has paid to Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Carter Jonas for work in connection with High Speed 2 Transport if he will publish a list of properties that to date; and what those payments were for. [199666] have been valued by Carter Jonas under the Exceptional Hardship Scheme for High Speed 2; and Mr Goodwill: £86,851.07 (including VAT) has been whether those valuations have been accepted or queried paid to Carter Jonas by HS2 Ltd, from 2009 to May by the owners of those properties. [199640] 2014. 301W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 302W

These payments relate to the following activities: During a meeting with the insurance industry, the attending property consultations in the capacity of property Department agreed to commission new research into experts how telematics can change the behaviour and attitudes providing valuations of properties of learner drivers. We are currently working with insurance attending properties on the day of completion to facilitate companies to encourage participation before tendering handover the research. acting on behalf of clients in receipt of payments regarding We will publish the findings of both the focus groups HS2 Ltd access to land and environmental surveys and research in due course. completing client Land Interest Questionnaires undertaking Farm Impact Assessments Public Transport Large Goods Vehicles: Driving Tests David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to Transport what training is given to driving examiners ensure that costs of public transport do not increase. who test students in laden lorries. [198687] [199223] Stephen Hammond: Potential large goods vehicle (LGV) Stephen Hammond: I recognise concerns passengers examiners are required to hold the relevant driving have about impacts of fares on household budgets, licence entitlement for the category of vehicle they will which is why for the first time in a decade average be testing. In the case of laden lorries that is either regulated rail fares have been capped at inflation for category C or category CE. 2014. Initial training courses last five weeks with a ratio of Outside London, bus services are deregulated and two trainees to each trainer. Courses emphasise health fares are mainly a matter for the commercial judgement and safety issues connected with working practices, test of bus operators. However, the Government has made a centres and vehicles. The Driver and Vehicle Standards commitment to retain the current Bus Service Operators Agency (DVSA) conducts regular progress checks which Grant (BSOG) rate for the remainder of this parliament culminate in a final test and end-of-course evaluation. and has frozen the fuel duty rate until May 2015. Since early 2010 some of the vehicles used to train Public transport costs in Northern Ireland are a examiners to conduct category C and CE practical matter for the NI Assembly. driving tests have been loaded with independent bulk containers to simulate a lorry carrying a commercial Railways load. Consequently during training all potential LGV examiners are trained and examined using loaded vehicles. Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Before 2010, some category CE training made use of Transport how much was spent on improvements to the concrete blocks on the trailer to simulate a load. railways in England and Wales in Control Period 4; DVSA also delivers refresher courses for examiners and what estimate he has made of how much will be who have not conducted LGV testing for six months or spent in Control Period 5. [199233] more which readdress the most important elements of the initial training course. Mr Goodwill: Over Control Period 4, the total amount spent on enhancements on the railways in England and Large Goods Vehicles: Taxation Wales, as set out in Network Rail’s delivery plan update, was £7.557 billion (2012-13 prices). Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State Over Control Period 5, it is estimated that £11.446 billion. for Transport how much was raised through the implementation of the UK HGV Road User Levy Railways: Overcrowding Act 2013 in Northern Ireland in April 2014. [199783] Mr Goodwill: The HGV Road User Levy applies to Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the UK. Once a levy is purchased for a foreign registered Transport where the greatest overcrowding on the rail HGV, it is not possible to assign the levy to the specific network is; and how High Speed 2 will reduce that country (England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland) overcrowding. [199331] which the vehicle visits. By the end of April 2014, levy Mr Goodwill: DfT publishes statistics showing the receipts from foreign HGVs visiting the UK were levels of peak crowding in a number of major cities £7.2 million. Cumulative levy receipts from foreign HGVs each year, based on the proportion of passengers in at the end of May were £10.5 million. excess of capacity (PiXC) and the proportion of passengers Motor Vehicles standing at trains’ busiest points. The latest publication from 2012 is published at the following link: Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rail-passenger- Transport what steps his Department is taking to numbers-and-crowding-on-weekdays-in-major-cities-in- promote telematics in cars (a) for young drivers and england-and-wales-2012 (b) generally. [199042] The PiXC statistics show that the highest levels of crowding are generally seen on peak London commuter Mr Goodwill: The Department is conducting focus services. In autumn 2012 the highest PiXC levels across groups with young people, parents and employers to the morning and afternoon peaks were on First Great gain a better understanding of their perspective on the Western services at Paddington, Chiltern services at safety of young drivers, including the use of telematics. Marylebone and London Midland services at Euston. 303W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 304W

The Strategic Case for HS2 (www.gov.uk/government/ two highway authority areas, which enables them to publications/hs2-strategic-case) sets out how HS2 has charge for works taking place on the busiest roads at the the capacity to triple the number of seats leaving Euston busiest times. on the west coast main line corridor. By releasing Outside of England, measures to reduce the incidence capacity on the classic network, HS2 will ease crowding of traffic jams are a matter for the respective devolved on crowded commuter routes into Euston, particularly Administration. London Midland services and potentially Chiltern services as well. Roads: East of England

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that Transport how much funding his Department has (a) (b) overcrowding on trains is regulated and allocated to each local authority in the East of England effectively monitored. [199443] for road improvement in each of the last five years. [198593] Stephen Hammond: Capacity provided by franchised rail operators is monitored by the Department through Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport provides regular passenger counts. The results enable the Department funding to local highway authorities through a number to liaise with operators where capacity problems are of funding programmes. This funding includes grant identified, and to ensure that potential solutions are through both the Highways Maintenance and Integrated investigated. Transport Block grants. This funding can be used to It is for the rail industry to plan to fully deploy improve local roads that the authorities are responsible available rolling stock to best meet passenger demand, for if they so wish. and take all reasonable steps to minimise any crowding. The following tables provide the funding we have allocated to those authorities that fall within the East of Road Signs and Markings: Northern Ireland England since 2010-11: Local Highways Maintenance Capital Block Grant Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Local Transport Plan Name 2010-11 (£ million) Transport whether officials in his Department consulted their Northern Ireland counterparts before Bedfordshire (Plan) 7.031 publishing the draft Traffic Signs Regulations and Cambridgeshire 12.809 General Directions 2015. [199637] Essex 23.075 Hertfordshire 17.456 Mr Goodwill: Department for Transport officials worked Luton and Dunstable (Joint Plan) 1.284 closely with Northern Ireland colleagues throughout Norfolk 23.948 the Traffic Signs Policy Review. A meeting was held Peterborough 8.663 with the devolved Administrations in February 2014, at Southend-on-Sea 2.019 which the proposed changes to the Traffic Signs Regulations Suffolk 18.094 and General Directions were presented. Thurrock 1.484

The Northern Ireland Executive has also been invited £ million to respond to the public consultation on the draft Local Highway Authority 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 regulations. Bedford 3.198 2.800 3.288 3.264 Road Traffic Cambridgeshire 13.394 10.695 12.750 11.662 Central Bedfordshire 4.645 3.920 4.728 5.469 Essex 26.029 19.838 22.482 22.573 Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Hertfordshire 23.611 18.585 20.962 22.019 Transport what steps his Department is taking to Luton 1.404 1.070 1.193 1.255 reduce the incidence of traffic jams. [199076] Norfolk 29.354 21.403 24.230 24.963 Peterborough 3.899 3.029 3.472 3.578 Mr Goodwill: This Government is investing £24 billion Southend-on-Sea 2.219 1.720 1.795 1.948 on strategic roads in England across this Parliament Suffolk 22.683 17.668 20.145 20.666 and the next six years. This includes £317 million, Thurrock 2.194 2.132 2.023 1.990 before April 2015, on Highways Agency pinch point schemes tackling congestion and supporting economic Integrated Transport Capital Block Grant growth. We are also providing, before April 2015, Local Transport Plan Name 2010-11 (£ million) £265 million from the Local Pinch Point Fund for 112 projects across England aimed at relieving congestion Bedfordshire (Plan) 2.539 and supporting economic growth. Cambridgeshire 6.104 Essex 10.455 In England, subject to approval, ’Permit Schemes’ Hertfordshire 8.755 are available to local authorities in England so that Luton and Dunstable (Joint Plan) 2.014 anyone wanting to dig up the road must first apply for a Norfolk 8.224 permit to work. This provision gives authorities the Peterborough 1.818 power to better challenge how long those works take, to Southend-on-Sea 1.660 impose conditions, and to co-ordinate works. They can Suffolk 5.061 also charge ’over-run’ charges to utility companies. The Thurrock 1.366 Department is also currently trialling Lane Rental in 305W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 306W

Mr Goodwill: In the 2014 Budget, the Government £ million announced a £200 million pothole fund for the financial Local Authority 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 year 2014-15. Some £168 million is being made available Bedford 1.101 1.006 1.006 1.415 to councils in England, including up to £10 million for Cambridgeshire 4.439 4.059 4.059 5.707 London. This is enough to fix over 3 million potholes Central Bedfordshire 1.464 1.338 1.338 1.882 on the local road network. Essex 9.150 8.366 8.366 11.764 The administering of the fund falls under the current Hertfordshire 6.804 6.221 6.221 8.748 operating costs of the Department for Transport and so Luton 1.470 1.344 1.344 1.890 no additional costs have been incurred. Norfolk 5.824 5.324 5.324 7.487 Peterborough 1.640 1.500 1.500 2.109 Roads: Safety Southend-on-Sea 1.245 1.138 1.138 1.600 Suffolk 4.508 4.122 4.122 5.796 Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Thurrock 0.960 0.878 0.878 1.235 Transport if he will make it his policy to research the Local authorities are also able to use revenue funding, use of non-slip surfaces for manholes in order to allocated by the Department for Communities and Local reduce the number of accidents involving motor cycles. Government through the Revenue Support Grant, for [198631] maintaining their local highways. Mr Goodwill: There are various types of manhole The Department has also provided funding to highway covers on the market that have enhanced skid resistance. authorities for local major road schemes set out as In addition, the Institute of Highways Engineers has follows: produced guidance on locating manhole covers to reduce the risk they pose to motorcyclists. As such, the Department £ million currently has no plans to commission research on these Local Highway Authority 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 issues.

Essex 26.4 26.0 6.2 0.0 0.2 Shipping Herts 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 Luton 0.0 0.0 2.5 11.3 2.0 Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Norfolk 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 19.0 Transport what recent assessment he has made of the Note: Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s capacity to Figures for 2010-11 to 2013-14 are actual spend figures. 2014-15 figures are allocations. discharge its statutory duties to survey and inspect (a) The Department has also agreed to provide funding domestic and (b) international shipping. [199365] to authorities through the Local Pinch Point Fund. The Fund is aimed at removing bottlenecks on the local Stephen Hammond: The Maritime and Coastguard highway network and supporting growth-enhancing Agency (MCA)’s current business plan has an operational development. The Fund has been allocated to the following priority (OP) entitled: “OP2-Ensuring our ship survey, authorities in the last five years: inspection and certification capability, and the parallel work in relation to seafarers, meets our domestic and £ million international obligations”. Progress against this operational Local Authority Scheme 2013-14 2014-15 priority is monitored on a monthly basis by the MCA Executive Board using a balanced score card system. By Bedford Bedford Western Bypass Northern 4.500 0 Borough Section this method the MCA is able to assess its capacity to Council discharge its statutory Survey and Inspection duties. Central Woodside Link Houghton Regis 2.350 2.650 The MCA monitors its capacity to discharge its Bedfordshire (A5-M1) Council statutory duties to survey and inspect (a) domestic Essex County A176 Nether Mayne, Basildon 0.763 1.583 (Flag State responsibility) and (b) international (Port Council State responsibility) shipping through a system of activity Essex County A414/A1025 (Clock Tower) Junction, 0.809 2.104 monitoring. Performance against these Survey and Council Harlow Inspection activities feed into the Balanced Score Card Essex County Army and Navy Improvements: 0.441 0.675 Council A1060 Parkway Widening for OP2. Essex County Army and Navy slip road 0.260 1.191 Shipping: Pay Council Norfolk County Great Yarmouth A12-A143 Link 0.835 3.910 Council Road John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Peterborough Junction 17 A1(M) - Junction 2 3.385 1.115 Transport what recent discussions he has had with the City Council Fletton Parkway Widening Scheme (a) UK Chamber of Shipping and (b) European Southend on Sea A127 B1013 Tesco Junction 0.320 2.943 Council Community Shipowners Association on pay rates for Suffolk County Completion of Lowestoft Northern 0 4.635 seafarers subject to UK National Insurance payments Council Spine Road (phase 5) employed on vessels working from UK ports; and if he Note: will request data on pay rates from maritime Pinch Point Funding is available in financial years 2013-14 and 2014-15 only. employers’ associations. [199358] Roads: Repairs and Maintenance Stephen Hammond: Ministers have not had direct Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for discussions with either body but dialogue at ministerial Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of and official level is continuing with relevant bodies on administering the Potholes Challenge Fund. [198925] the wider agenda of seafarer pay. 307W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 308W

The Department is currently reviewing the statistical Travel: South East data it uses and other data sources that may be relevant for future use but this does not include an objective to Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for collect pay rates as this is undertaken by other Departments. Transport (1) what information his Department holds on how many journeys were made between Portsmouth Shipping: Working Hours and Brighton by (a) car, (b) rail and (c) bus in each of the last five years for which figures are available; Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for [199402] Transport what recent assessment he has made of the effect of seafarer fatigue on maritime safety; and what (2) what information his Department holds on how steps his Department is taking to enforce manning many journeys were made between Southampton and levels on vessels. [199411] Brighton by (a) car, (b) rail and (c) bus in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [199403] Stephen Hammond: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Marine Accident Investigation Mr Goodwill: The National Travel Survey (NTS) has Branch were active participants in the multi-partner trip data by mode of transport collected via a 7-day HORIZON research project, an EC-funded study, which travel diary for residents of Great Britain. However, used simulators to identify the effect on seafarers of data are not available for specific local areas as the working hours and interrupted rest. The project report sample is too small at that level of geography to provide demonstrates conclusively the links between certain reliable results. watchkeeping patterns and the performance of seafarers Some regional level results are available through (looking particularly at “sleepiness”). combining two survey years of data together. The latest The Government is committed to reducing the effects results available are for 2011 and 2012 combined. They of fatigue on maritime safety and the health of seafarers. cover all domestic journeys by all modes of transport, The output from HORIZON has been used to provide including car, rail and bus. practical guidance to seafarers. The MCA remains involved Table NTS9903 (at link below) shows the average with research on seafarer fatigue with other industry number of trips per person per year by region of residence. stakeholders. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ MCA Surveyors routinely inspect UK ships and foreign attachment_data/file/259042/nts9903.xls flag ships in UK waters and verify hours of work Table NTS9905 (at link below) shows the percentage records for compliance with the regulations, and check of trips within and between regions. ships are safely manned in accordance the requirements https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ of the International Maritime Organisation convention attachment_data/file/259032/nts9905.xls on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Unmanned Air Vehicles (STCW). The UK is leading the Paris Memorandum of Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Understanding on Port State Control Concentrated Transport what steps his Department is taking to Inspection Campaign to ensure compliance with the facilitate the integration of remotely piloted aircraft hours of rest requirements of watchkeepers under STCW systems into UK civil airspace. [199031] which will run from 1 September 2014 to 30 November 2014. Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport leads on Speed Limits: Urban Areas policy for the operation of civil remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) in the UK. We are working with Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for international Governments, regulators and the industry- Transport what assessment his Department has made including the European Commission and International of the potential effect of changing the national urban Civil Aviation Organization on the development of default speed limit to 20 mph on (a) air pollution and regulation for the safe integration of RPAS into UK (b) other environmental conditions; what similar and European airspace. studies in other developed nations his Department has The UK Civil Aviation Authority and the European assessed; and if he will make a statement. [198586] Aviation Safety Agency have a statutory responsibility to deal with the detailed Regulation. Mr Goodwill: The Department does not have any In addition, the Department for Transport currently current plans to introduce a default 20 mph speed limit. chairs the cross-Government Working Group on RPAS Local authorities are best placed to determine the speed and sits on the Autonomous Systems Technology Related limits for their areas, based on local knowledge and the Airborne Evaluation and Assessment Steering Board, views of the community, and have the powers to do so. which both seek to enable the safe and routine use of We are aware of studies carried out for local authorities, RPAS in all classes of airspace without the need for including for the City of London, which showed no restrictive or specialised conditions of operation. This overall negative effects on air quality in 20 mph speed will be achieved through the co-ordinated development restrictions. and demonstration of key technologies and operating However, the Department is about to commission procedures. comprehensive research into the effects of 20 mph limits. This will cover many aspects including effects on West Coast Railway Line speed, collisions, casualties and modal shift. The research will also consider air quality, best practice, road users’ Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for perceptions and effects on the quality of the environment, Transport with reference to the answer of 28 April as well as relevant research from other countries. 2014, Official Report, columns 517-8W, on railways: 309W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 310W passengers, what the evidential basis is for the stated Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under section 4 1, 2 forecast of increases in passenger numbers on the west of the Cancer Act 1939, England and Wales, 1984 to 2013 Number coast main line over the next 10 years. [199294] 1997 - Stephen Hammond: Chapter 4 of Network Rail’s 1998 2 West Coast Route Utilisation Strategy describes the 1999 1 evidential basis and modelling approach of the anticipated 2000 - changes in demand to 2024-25 which are contained in 2001 - the same document. This is now available at: 2002 - http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/imagelibrary/ 2003 1 downloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=4675 2004 1 2005 - 2006 6 ATTORNEY-GENERAL 2007 4 GlaxoSmithKline 2008 - 2009 2 Jim Dobbin: To ask the Attorney-General what the 2010 1 terms of reference are for the investigation by the 2011 - Serious Fraud Office (SFO) into GlaxoSmithKline 2012 - (GSK); whether the SFO will investigate (a) GSK’s 2013 - activities within the UK, (b) allegations of bribery of 1 The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were UK doctors, (c) promotion of Seroxat prescribing for the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has (d) been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest children and the 2002 CSM Expert Working penalty is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence Group on the safety of SSRI antidepressants; and for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. whether there is a point of contact for members of the 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and [199631] complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted public who wish to help the SFO investigation. from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection The Attorney-General: The Director of the Serious processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those Fraud Office (SFO) recently announced that he has data are used. Note: opened a criminal investigation into the commercial Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. practices of GlaxoSmithKline plc and its subsidiaries. Source: The SFO investigation will follow the evidence and it is Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice. not appropriate to comment while inquiries are continuing. Driving Under Influence A press release regarding GlaxoSmithKline and information on how to contact the SFO can be found Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on its website at: (1) how many fines have been (a) paid, (b) collected www.sfo.gov.uk and (c) reduced for alcohol-related motoring offences in each of the last four years; [199838] JUSTICE (2) how many fines have been (a) paid, (b) collected and (c) reduced for motoring speeding offences in each Cancer of the last four years. [199839] Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Vara: It is not possible to identify from Her Justice how many prosecutions have taken place under Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals systems how many the Cancer Act 1939 in each of the last 30 years. fines have been (a) paid, (b) collected and (c) reduced [198623] for specific offences. This information could be provided Jeremy Wright: The number of defendants proceeded only at disproportionate cost as identifying this would against at magistrates courts for offences under the require a manual search of all fine accounts. Cancer Act 1939, in England and Wales, from 1984 to 2013, can be viewed in the table. Fly Tipping Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under section 4 of the Cancer Act 1939, England and Wales, 1984 to 20131, 2 Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Number Justice (1) how many people were convicted of fly-tipping in South Staffordshire in each year since 1984 - 2009-10; and how many such people received the 1985 1 maximum allowable sentence; [199178] 1986 - 1987 - (2) how many of those convicted of fly-tipping were 1988 - handed the maximum possible sentence in each year 1989 - since 2009-10; [199179] 1990 - (3) how many people were convicted of fly-tipping in 1991 - (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13 1992 - and (e) 2013-14. [199238] 1993 - 1994 - Jeremy Wright: The number of offenders found guilty 1995 2 at all courts of “fly tipping” related offences, in England 1996 - and Wales, from 2009-10 to 2012-13, and also specifically 311W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 312W for South and Central Staffordshire, alongside the number of offenders given the maximum allowable sentence, can be viewed in the table.

Offenders found guilty at all courts for “fly tipping” related offences, South and Central Staffordshire and England and Wales, 2009-10 to 2012-131,2 Offence description 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

South and Central Staffordshire Depositing, causing the deposition or permitting Convictions 7 8 10 8 the deposition treating, keeping or disposing of controlled (but not special) waste in or on land without a licence3 Maximum sentence10 0000

Depositing, causing the deposition or permitting Convictions 4 0 2 0 the deposition of controlled special waste in or on land without a licence4 Maximum sentence11 0000

Handling, controlling or transferring controlled Convictions 8 3 2 2 waste without taking reasonable measures; failure to comply with the requirements of the Secretary of State; failure to take such measures as available to secure transfer of household waste to authorised person or persons authorised for transport purposes5 Maximum sentence12 0000

Contravening conditions of a waste management Convictions 0 0 0 0 licence6 Maximum sentence3 0000

Occupier failing to remove waste or eliminate or Convictions 0 0 0 0 reduce the consequences of waste deposited in contravention of S.33(1) EP Act 19907 Maximum sentence14 0000

Transporting controlled waste in the course of a Convictions 2 5 4 0 business or otherwise with a view to profit without registering as a carrier8 Maximum sentence15 0000

Dumping9 Convictions 1 1 0 0 Maximum sentence16 0000

Total Convictions 22 17 18 10 Maximum sentence 0 0 0 0

England and Wales Depositing, causing the deposition or permitting Convictions 627 688 627 519 the deposition treating, keeping or disposing of controlled (but not special) waste in or on land without a licence3 Maximum sentence10 1010

Depositing, causing the deposition or permitting Convictions 144 82 61 39 the deposition of controlled special waste in or on land without a licence4 Maximum sentence11 0000

Handling, controlling or transferring controlled Convictions 297 433 432 391 waste without taking reasonable measures; failure to comply with the requirements of the Secretary of State; failure to take such measures as available to secure transfer of household waste to authorised person or persons authorised for transport purposes5 Maximum sentence13 2021 313W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 314W

Offenders found guilty at all courts for “fly tipping” related offences, South and Central Staffordshire and England and Wales, 2009-10 to 2012-131,2 Offence description 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Contravening conditions of a waste management Convictions 47 14 13 14 licence6 Maximum sentence13 0000

Occupier failing to remove waste or eliminate or Convictions 17 9 7 2 reduce the consequences of waste deposited in contravention of S.33(1) EP Act 19907 Maximum sentence14 0000

Transporting controlled waste in the course of a Convictions 80 163 163 115 business or otherwise with a view to profit without registering as a carrier8 Maximum sentence15 0000

Dumping9 Convictions 76 55 45 38 Maximum sentence16 0000

Total Convictions 1,288 1,444 1,348 1,118 Maximum sentence 3 0 3 1 1 The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extractedfrom large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 An offence under Section 33(8) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 4 An offence under Section 33(9) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 5 An offence under Section 34 (2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 6 An offence under Section 33(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 7 An offence under Section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 8 An offence under Section 1 of the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989. 9 Offences under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978. 10 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is two years in custody. 11 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence five years in custody. 12 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is a £5,000 fine. 13 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is 5 years in custody. 14 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is a £5,000 fine, plus £500 per day. 15 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is a £5,000 fine. 16 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is three months in custody or a £3,000 fine. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Judicial Review An assessment of the impacts of this policy was published alongside the consultation response paper Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice “Judicial Review: Proposals for Further Reform: the what assessment he has made of the potential effect of Government Response” and is available at the new judicial review regulations on people who are https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/judicial- fighting eviction or the repossession of a house. review [199208] It is important to reiterate that no change has been Mr Vara: Judicial review is an important way of made to the availability of civil legal aid to individuals challenging decisions by public authorities and will or to eligibility for legal aid for judicial review proceedings. remain so. The recently amended regulations do not Where a client is in receipt of legal aid, he or she will prevent people receiving legal aid in judicial review remain so for the life of the case (unless it is withdrawn cases. for other reasons). We consider that there will remain sufficient providers who undertake judicial review work, The Government’s policy is that limited legal aid taking on cases which they consider to be of merit. resources should be targeted at those judicial review cases where they are needed most, if the legal aid system The Government plans to undertake a post- is to command public confidence and credibility. We implementation review of the legal aid provisions within amended the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders 2013 to implement the proposal that legal aid providers Act 2012 within 3-5 years of implementation. The should only be paid for work carried out on an application review will include an assessment of the impact of this for permission if permission is given by the court, change. subject to a discretion to pay providers for work carried Legal Aid Scheme out on an application for permission in cases that conclude prior to a permission decision. The discretion Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice is held by the Lord Chancellor but will be exercised by if he will make it his policy to release statistics on the the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) on behalf of the Lord number of refusals by the Legal Aid Agency to pay Chancellor. The amendments took effect on 22 April legal aid in cases settled before the permission stage. 2014. [199207] 315W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 316W

Mr Vara: The Legal Aid Agency records information Jeremy Wright: The deployment of staff between on the outcome of each application for a discretionary prisons on detached duty is a regular and normal part payment in respect of remuneration for work on of prison resourcing. It allows staff to be allocated from applications for permission for judicial review, where a prisons with the capacity to provide them, to those case concludes before a decision on permission is taken where additional staffing is required. On average over by the court. The Government is considering the best the three month period (January to March 2013), less way of publishing this information. than 1% of staff were provided on detached duty. A large proportion of the capacity is typically available Magistrates’ Courts: Prestatyn from prisons that are in the process of closure or going through a re-role. This process temporarily releases a Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice number of officers who are not supplied for specific what his policy is on the redevelopment of Prestatyn occasions but are sent and received on a shift pattern Magistrates’ Court. [199564] throughout the week. The number of staff available for detached duty at Mr Vara: HM Courts and Tribunals Service continues any one time is a matter for operational judgment and to keep the use of its estate under review to ensure it takes account of overall staff numbers, levels of sickness, meets operational requirements. prisoner numbers and the regime and security requirements. The average weekly provision of staff, broken down Prison Service by grade, that were received as part of the nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme , are shown in the Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice tables below for January to March 2014. (1) on what occasions prisons have used detached duty Table: Average weekly provision of staff on detached duty to prisons in England staff from other establishments since 1 September and Wales, broken down by grade, January-March 2014 2013; [199480] Grade January 2014 February 2014 March 2014

(2) how many staff of each grade were used as part Band 3 200 150 130 of the detached duty arrangements in each month since Band 4 10 10 - December 2013; [199481] Total 210 160 130 (3) how many staff of each grade were available for detached duty arrangements in each month since We have maintained our policy of rounding figures to the nearest 10 in line with the department’s policy for December 2013; [199482] presenting staffing data. The data is only accurate to (4) which prisons received how many detached duty this level because late updating of data within HR staff of each grade in each month since December systems means that the unrounded figures recorded for 2013; [199483] a specific date have a margin of error around them. (5) how much was spent on accommodation and Totals are formed from unrounded parts prior to rounding. subsistence for prison officers providing detached duty For this reason, rounded totals may not equal the sum in prisons in (a) January, (b) February, (c) March and of their rounded parts. Values of 5 or fewer are denoted (d) April 2014. [199502] as ‘-’.

Table: List of prisons receiving staff on detached duty by average weekly full-time equivalent provision and grade, January - March 2014 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 Staffing provision Band 3 Band 4 Band 3 Band 4 Band 3

5 or fewer Aylesbury Brixton Aylesbury Brixton Aylesbury Bedford Coldingley Bedford Coldingley Brinsford Belmarsh Guys Marsh Brinsford Guys Marsh Bullingdon Brinsford Wormwood Scrubs Brixton Wormwood Scrubs Cookham Wood Bristol Bullingdon Gartree Brixton Cookham Wood Glen Parva Bullingdon Durham Guys Marsh Coldingley Gartree Haverigg Cookham Wood Guys Marsh High Down Durham Haverigg Hindley Erlestoke High Down Isis Gartree Hindley Isle of Wight Haverigg Holloway Leicester Hindley Humber Lindholme and Moorland Holloway Isis Onley Humber Leicester Pentonville Isle of Wight Onley Sheppey Cluster Leicester Send Stocken Manchester Stocken The Mount 317W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 318W

Table: List of prisons receiving staff on detached duty by average weekly full-time equivalent provision and grade, January - March 2014 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 Staffing provision Band 3 Band 4 Band 3 Band 4 Band 3

Nottingham The Mount Wayland Onley Wayland Werrington Send Werrington Winchester Sheppey Cluster Winchester Stocken Wormwood Scrubs Wandsworth Werrington Winchester Woodhill

10 Glen Parva High Down Belmarsh High Down Belmarsh Guys Marsh Glen Parva Feltham High Down Isle of Wight Littlehey Isis Lindholme and Moorland Manchester Lindholme and Littlehey Nottingham Moorland Littlehey Manchester Portland Norwich Pentonville Rochester Pentonville Portland Woodhill Rochester Rochester The Mount Sheppey Cluster Wayland Woodhill Wormwood Scrubs

20 Feltham Feltham Various London Prisons Portland

Using centrally held financial records it is not possible, Mr Vara: The Public Defender Service (PDS) will without incurring disproportionate cost, to disaggregate continue to deliver a range of quality services within the the costs of accommodation and subsistence claimed criminal defence market from advice and representation for detached duty from other expenses claimed by staff. at the police station and magistrates courts through to advocacy in the higher courts. Prisoners: Sanitary Protection Secure Colleges Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what types and brands of sanitary products female Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice prisoners are able to purchase from the National what the average annual cost is of a place in a new Product List; and what the cost of each such product is. Secure College. [199691] [199603] Jeremy Wright: The Government’s vision for Secure Simon Hughes: Female prisoners can purchase the Colleges was set out on 17 January 2014 in its response following sanitary products from the National Product to the consultation paper “Transforming YouthCustody”. List: Secure Colleges will place education at the heart of Sanitary pads—Always Ultra Normal 32s—price £2.69 custody, and equip young people with the skills they Sanitary towels—Tena Lady Normal 12s—price £2.69 need to turn their lives around. The current average cost of a place in youth custody Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice is around £100,000 per annum, with some places costing what types and brands of sanitary products are in excess of £200,000. Secure colleges will achieve ongoing provided to female prisoners free of charge. [199604] savings by operating at a significantly lower cost per place than the current average, while allowing withdrawal Simon Hughes: All prisons across the female custodial from more expensive and inefficient provision. estate provide Interlude tampons and sanitary towels to The MOJ will not publish estimates of the annual women free of charge. cost per place until the operator competition for the Secure College has been completed, to avoid prejudicing Public Defender Service the effectiveness of the competition. Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Justice what plans he has for the future of the Public when the construction contract for a Secure College Defender Service. [199628] awarded to Wates was put out to tender. [199694] 319W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 320W

Jeremy Wright: Invitations to tender for the design Damian Green: The Ministry of Justice does not and build of the Secure College pathfinder were issued routinely collect this data. Victim Support has provided under the Ministry of Justice’s Strategic Alliance the data based on available information. Framework Agreement on 31 January 2014, shortly As part of its grant in aid to Victim Support, the after we published the Government response to the Ministry of Justice requires the provision of a court Transforming YouthCustody consultation on 17 January based witness service. and announced plans for the Secure College pathfinder Victim Support has provided the following figures for in the east midlands. 2009-10 to 2013-14 showing the number of people supported: Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what fee Wates will receive for the construction York Crown court York magistrates court contract for a Secure College; and what proportion of the overall budget for a Secure College this fee will 2009-10 717 606 represent. [199695] 2010-11 701 405 2011-12 612 368 Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice will work 2012-13 557 333 with Wates to develop a design for the Secure College 2013-14 547 870 pathfinder over the coming months, and will agree a maximum price for the construction once the detailed Whilst crime rates continue to fall, Victim Support project proposals have been agreed. continues to support all witnesses who wish to receive support when attending court. Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the construction contract for a Secure College was formally awarded to Wates. [199696] BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS Jeremy Wright: The construction contract for the Adult Education Secure College pathfinder has not been awarded. The Ministry of Justice has selected Wates as the preferred David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for bidder to design and build the pathfinder. The Project Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking Partnering Agreement, which commits the Ministry of to educate adults in literacy, numeracy and ICT skills. Justice to working with Wates to develop the design for [199220] the Secure College pathfinder, will be signed later this month. A further contract, a Commencement Agreement, Matthew Hancock: Skills policy is devolved so this is required for construction. answer refers to policy in England only. One of the Government’s priorities is to ensure that Victim Support Schemes all adults have the level of English, maths and digital skills to help them find and sustain employment, as well as achieving other positive outcomes such as improved Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice health and well-being. what assessment he has made of the effect on funding available for victims’ services of devolution to police We are implementing a major programme of reform to raise the quality and standards of these vital subjects and crime commissioners. [199326] in adult education which will improve the quality of the teaching workforce, reward the best providers and ensure Damian Green: From 1 October 2014 the majority of learners are stretched to achieve the best they can. support services for victims of crime will be commissioned at the local level by democratically elected and publicly We are investing £30 million this year and next to accountable police and crime commissioners and this attract the best graduates to teach in further education Government is making more money than ever before (FE) and to provide opportunities for existing teachers available to ensure that victims receive the vital support to improve their skills. As part of a £15 million bursary they require. scheme between 2013-15 we are offering up to £20,000 to the best and brightest graduates to teach in FE. In PCCs with their knowledge of local victims’ needs January 2014 we announced further measures to improve are uniquely placed to ensure that available funding is the workforce including; a golden-hello scheme offering targeted where most required to help victims of crime a bonus of £7,500 to maths graduates in their second to both cope with and, where possible, recover from the year of teaching; a recruitment incentive scheme offering impacts of crime. £20,000 to providers for taking on a specialist maths PCCs are also ideally placed to co-commission with graduate teacher; and a subject knowledge enhancement other local commissioners such as health or local authorities, scheme to enable highly qualified graduates who have thereby reducing duplication and achieving better value the skills and aptitude to teach but need to develop for money. some specific maths skills before they start teacher training. Victim Support Schemes: York We have put English and maths at the heart of all our major programmes. From 2014/15 all intermediate Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for apprentices will be required to work towards achieving Justice how many victims of crime and witnesses were a level 2 in English and maths and young people supported by the Witness Service at (a) York Crown undertaking a traineeship will be required to study court and (b) York magistrates court in each year since English and maths unless they already have a level 2 2004-05. [198529] qualification in English and maths. 321W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 322W

We fully fund all adults to achieve their first English Matthew Hancock: The funding available for Adult and maths GCSE as well as other qualifications which Skills is outlined in the Skills Funding Statement. The help them get to that level. Our reforms to English and statement sets out the Government’s priorities for the maths GCSEs will make them more rigorous and help budget and it is for providers to decide how they use ensure that young people and adults develop the skills their adult skills funding to reflect those priorities and most relevant to employers. The reformed GCSEs will meet the needs of learners and employers in their local be available for first teaching from September 2015 and area. The Skills Funding Statements 2012-15 and 2013-16 our ambition is for them to become the gold-standard also show in the Data Annex what learning the available measuring achievement at level 2 for all ages and ability funding has supported over the last three years: levels. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-funding- We encourage and support a wide range of different statement-2013-to-2016 and flexible types of provision so that adults can learn https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-funding- in a way that suits them, for example, learning in the statement-2012-2015 workplace, Community Learning including Family English, Maths and Language (FEML) provision, through Animal Experiments traditional college courses and using technology and online learning. Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many animals We are making sure jobseekers on benefits have the have experienced severe suffering in scientific research best chance of finding employment by helping them funded by the Government since 2010; and if he will improve their literacy and numeracy skills. From April provide funding aimed at developing scientific 2014, those with poor spoken English which is preventing advances allowing the reduction or avoidance of severe them from finding work have been expected to train in suffering of animals used in procedures. [198601] English, with the possibility of losing their benefit if they choose not to participate. In December 2014, we Mr Willetts: The Government do not hold the will launch the 18-21 Work Skills pilot which will test information you have requested. The Home Office has different approaches to teaching and learning and the published advisory notes on recording and reporting outcomes of mandating new 18 to 21-year-old jobseeker’s actual severity. From data collected, the Home Office allowance claimants with English and maths below will provide clarity on the burden of harm and, over Level 2 to English and maths training for up to 16 hours time, should give an indication of the effectiveness of per week, alongside their jobsearch. refinement methods, particularly for the most severe We have a substantial programme of research to procedures. identify the most effective approaches to teaching and It is important to note that procedures classified as learning. In April, I announced the launch of a new severe represent only a small percentage of the total. research centre with the Behavioural Rights Insight Team to bring the latest findings from behavioural The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement science to bear on the challenges of improving adult and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) was literacy and numeracy. established by the Government in May 2004 to advance and promote the replacement, refinement and reduction Basic digital skills are now seen to be as vital as of animals used in research and testing (the 3Rs). The literacy and numeracy, not just for employment but for NC3Rs primarily receives Government funding through all aspects of life. The Government’s recent Digital BIS from the science and research ring-fenced budget Inclusion Strategy set what actions we will take to via the Medical Research Council (MRC) and ensure everyone has these skills. The strategy can be Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council found at: (BBSRC). The projected budget for the NC3Rs is https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government- £7.88 million in 2014-15 and £7.84 million in 2015-16. digital-inclusion-strategy/government-digital-inclusion- BBSRC also provides further funding for the 3Rs strategy under its responsive mode schemes, and the MRC and For its part, the Department for Business, Innovation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Skills (BIS) has committed over £30 million over support research projects which contribute to the the last 5 years to UK online centres to help more development of new knowledge and new methods that people develop the basic digital skills needed to use a help replace or refine animal use. However, figures on computer, and to get online safely and securely. This has future spend are not available. so far helped over 1.25 million people, most of whom For a detailed breakdown of past funding I refer my were adults, get online. A £1 million extension to the hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member current programme will help another 43,000 people to for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas), on 11 March get online. This is aimed at hard to reach groups, many 2014, Official Report, column 167W. who are socially excluded. We are currently in the process of tendering a new programme with the aim to China get another 1 million people online in the next 3-5 years. Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions Business, Innovation and Skills what funding was he has had with the Chinese Government on the export available through the Skills Funding Agency for (a) of British cheeses to China. [198745] adult learning courses to support return-to-work programmes and (b) English as a Second Language Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Business, courses in each of the last three years. [199410] Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for 323W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 324W

Twickenham (), has not had any recent I will have due regard to an updated Equality Analysis discussions with the Chinese Government regarding the before a final decision is made and regulations are laid export of British cheese to China. However, officials at before the House. the British embassy in Beijing have been in contact with the relevant authorities regarding the recent temporary Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for suspension of imports of British cheese into China. The Business, Innovation and Skills how many students of suspension has now ended. each type of main disability are in receipt of disabled students’ allowances. [198942] Credit Rating Mr Willetts: Information on students awarded and Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for paid disabled students’ allowance is published annually Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on a by Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical minimum monetary threshold for a late payment which First Release “Student Support for Higher Education affects an individual’s credit rating. [199030] England”. The latest statistics are available at the following link: Matthew Hancock: Credit ratings will take into account http://www.slc.co.uk/media/694170/slcsfr052013.pdf a number of different variables, including late payment, but it is a commercial judgment taken by credit reference Information on the disability type for students in agencies. receipt of disabled students’ allowance is available only at the point of application and so are not included in our routine statistical outputs. The figures provided in Digital Technology: Skilled Workers the following table reflect the number of applications and do not necessarily correspond to the number of Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for students who were actually awarded and paid. Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what plans he has to DSA application data by disability type, Academic year 2012-13, Effective date address the shortage of skilled workers in the digital 10 July 2013 and technology sector; [198735] Number of new DSA applicants assessed as (2) what progress his Department has made on the Disability type eligible for DSA Information Economy Strategy published in June 2013. Autistic disorder 880 [198736] Blind/partial sight 410 Deaf/partial hearing 530 Mr Willetts: The Industrial Strategy One Year On Learning difficulty 21,720 Progress Report: Long-standing illness 2,840 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Mental health 3,390 attachment_data/file/306854/bis-14-707-industrial-strategy- Multiple disabilities 3,560 progress-report.pdf Disability type not captured 1,080 published on 23 April, provides an update on progress Wheelchair/mobility 540 on the Information Economy Strategy. The Information Other disability not 460 Economy Council is driving forward action in several categorised elsewhere areas including addressing skills issues, barriers to growth, Total 35,390 and the analysis and use of data sets. Notes: 1. Data has been rounded to the nearest 10. As a part of our work on skills we have created higher 2. The data has been derived from analysing free text fields therefore may not apprenticeships as an alternative to traditional graduate be 100% accurate. 3. Count of applicants refers to new DSA applicants in academic year 2012-13 recruitment. In IT higher apprenticeships there have who have been assessed as eligible for DSA. been 420 starts in 2012/13 compared with 60 starts in 4. Applications are for new DSA applications received in academic year 2012- 2010/11. We have also created cyber security schools 13. 5. Total does not add up due to rounding. programmes, apprenticeships, internships, Centres for Doctoral Training and will shortly be launching a Cyber Disabled Students’ Allowances: Brighton Security Massive Open Online Course.

Disabled Students’ Allowances Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students received disabled students’ allowance in Brighton and Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Hove local authority area in (a) 2012-13 and (b) Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will carry out a 2013-14. [199423] public consultation on proposed changes to disabled students’ allowances; [198941] Mr Willetts: Information on students awarded and (2) with reference to his written statement of 7 April paid disabled students’ allowance is published annually 2014, Official Report, columns 1-2WS, on Higher by student loans company (SLC) in the Statistical First Education: student support, what impact assessment Release “Student Support for Higher Education England”. his Department has made of the proposed changes to The latest statistics are available at the following link: disabled students’ allowances. [199002] http://www.slc.co.uk/media/694170/slcsfr052013.pdf Mr Willetts: We are currently consulting with a wide A further breakdown for Brighton and Hove local range of stakeholders to help inform both the Equality authority has been provided in the table. Equivalent Analysis and Disabled Students’ Allowances Guidance figures for the academic year 2013/14 will be available for 2015/16. from November 2014. 325W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 326W

Students in receipt of disabled students allowance from Brighton and Table 1 sets out funding allocations for 2014/15 to Hove local authority York College by the Skills Funding Agency. Previous Academic Year 2012/13. Effective date: 13 November 2013 PQs provided data up to and including 2013/14 academic Application type Number paid DSA year. Full-time application 450 Table 2 sets out funding allocations for 2014/15 by Part-time application 10 the Education Funding Agency (the successor body to Post graduate DSA 80 the YPLA) to York College. Previous PQs provided Total 530 data up to and including 2013/2014 academic year. Notes: Table 1: SFA Funding allocations for York College 1. Disabled student allowance may be paid to the student or to a £ supplier on the student’s behalf. 2. Figures are derived from the post code of the applicant’s home Academic year 19+ Cash allocation1 Real terms2 address. 3. The effective date is that of the November 2013 Awards Statistical 2014/15 Adult allocations 3,382,992 3,382,992 First Release. The figures are therefore provisional and do not include 3 students who were awarded DSA after November 2013. 4. DSA payments may be made at any point during the Academic Year or after the end of the Academic Year. Table 2: EFA Funding allocations for York College 5. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not add to the £ sum of the components due to rounding. Academic year 16-18 Cash allocation Real terms2

Employment: Young People 2014/15 15,900,930 15,900,930

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Table 3 sets out funding allocations for 2010/11 to Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what estimate the 2014/15 to Askham Bryan College by the Skills Funding UK Statistics Authority has made of the number and Agency. Data is available from the creation of the Skills proportion of young people aged 16 to 24 in York in Funding Agency in April 2010. (a) training, (b) employment and (c) education in each year since 1995-96; [198511] Table 4 sets out funding allocations for 2010/11 to 2014/15 to Askham Bryan College by the YPLA and its (2) how many young people (a) started and (b) successor body, the Education Funding Agency. completed apprenticeships in (i) York Central constituency, (ii) York local education authority, (iii) Table 3: SFA Funding Allocations for Askham Bryan College Yorkshire and the Humber and (iv) England in each £ year since 1995-96. [198521] Academic year 19+ Cash allocation1 Real terms2 Matthew Hancock: Data are not available prior to 2010/11 Adult allocations 2,264,811 2,455,137 2000. Estimates for the proportion of young people in 2011/12 Adult allocations 3,106,679 3,291,154 training, employment and education separately are not 2012/13 Adult allocations 3,249,205 3,382,422 2013/14 Adult allocations 3,045,779 3,108,486 available. 3 Information on the number of apprenticeship starts 2014/15 Adult allocations 2,846,003 2,846,003 and achievements by geography and age is published in 3 supplementary tables to a Statistical First Release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data- Table 4: EFA Funding Allocations for Askham Bryan College library-apprenticeships-2 £ 2 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Academic year 16-18 Cash allocation Real terms attachment_data/file/308808/apprenticeship-starts-by- 2010/11 6,668,827 7,229,250 geography-level-and-age.xls 2011/12 411,277,092 11,946,729 https://www.gov.uk/govemment/uploads/system/uploads/ 2012/13 12,342,976 12,849,038 attachment_data/file/296382/apprenticeship-achievements-by- 2013/14 13,451,499 13,728,442 geography-level-and-age.xlsm 2014/15 14,840,339 14,840,339 1 Skills Funding Agency allocation data for 19+ participation, additional Higher Education: York learning support and discretionary learner support. 2 These figures have been calculated using HM Treasury deflators, last updated 5 December 2013. 3 Includes 24+ Advanced Learning Loans that were introduced in 2013/14. Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for 4 Askham Bryan college took over the land-based provision from University of Business, Innovation and Skills what funding has been Cumbria in 2011/12. allocated to (a) York College and (b) Askham Bryan College by the Skills Funding Agency and the Young People’s Learning Agency in (i) cash and (ii) real terms Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for in each year since 2009-10. [198510] Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people from (a) York Central constituency and (b) City of York local authority area (i) applied for and (ii) Matthew Hancock: The Skills Funding Agency is started a degree course in each year since 2009-10. responsible for the allocation of funding to further [198512] education college for post-19 education and training, and for Apprenticeships for people aged 16 and over. The information requested is available in the following Mr Willetts: The latest available information on tables. applicants is shown in Table 1. 327W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 328W

Table 1: UCAS applicants aged under 211 to full-time undergraduate courses Table 2: Young 1 entrants 2 domiciled 3 in York Central constituency 4 and York from York Central constituency and York local authority unitary authority, UK Higher Education Institutions, academic years 2009/10 to 2012/13 Year of entry Domicile 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 York unitary authority 965 995 1,070 825 York Central constituency 4440 385 460 330 York Central 470 475 535 450 430 4 1 Young refers to students aged under 21 on 31 August in the reporting year. York local authority 1,205 1,225 1,245 1,130 1,085 2 Entrants refers to students in their first year of study. 3 Domicile refers to a students’ home or permanent address prior to starting 1 This analysis uses country specific age definitions that align with the cut off their course. points for school and college cohorts within the different administrations of the 4 Parliamentary constituency boundaries were revised from the 6 May 2010 UK. For England, ages are defined on 31 August. Defining ages in this way UK General Election. The figure for 2009/10 refers to the City of York matches the assignment of children to school cohorts. constituency. Source: Source: UCAS HESA Student Record Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding for and publishes data on students at UK Higher Education each (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate student Institutions (HEIs). The number of young (under 21) the Higher Education Funding Council for England entrants to UK HEIs who were domiciled in York allocated to (i) the University of York and (ii) York St Central constituency and York local authority prior to John University in (A) cash and (B) at current prices in starting their course is shown in Table 2. HESA figures each year since 1997-98. [198514] for 2013/14 will be available in January 2015. There are differences in the coverage of UCAS and HESA: the Mr Willetts: The following table shows the amount of UCAS figures cover applicants to HEIs, Further Education grant distributed by the Higher Education Funding Colleges (FECs), and Alternative Providers (APs) of Council for England (HEFCE) for teaching and research higher education in the UK; the HESA figures cover per full-time equivalent student for each of the years HEIs only, plus the University of Buckinghamshire. requested. There have been changes in HEFCE’s funding Not all applicants apply via UCAS: some apply directly methodology over this period, so these tables do not to institutions. In addition, some applicants who obtain provide like for like yearly comparisons. In particular, a place via UCAS opt to defer entry until the following the data prior to 1998-99 are not available in a similar year. format to that for later years.

Cash figures York St John University University of York Base price UG PGT PGR UG PGT PGR

1998-99 £2,662 Funds 4,952,504 29,835 9,477 12,929,019 1,013,979 3,941,856 FTEs 2,176 71 8 4,394.5 550.5 622.6 Rate 2,276 418 1,185 2,942 1,842 6,332

1999-2000 £2,682 Funds 5,363,737 56,807 19,253 14,689,431 1,148,184 599,490 FTEs 2,278.0 119.0 11 4,883.7 584.5 237.0 Rate 2,355 477 1,719 3,008 1,964 2,529

2000-01 £2,731 Funds 5,710,880 46,797 9,813 14,429,476 968,398 613,648 FTEs 2,248.3 109.0 8 4,681.0 483.0 249.5 Rate 2,540 429 1,258 3,083 2,005 2,460

2001-02 £2,805 Funds 6,850,259 51,666 1,610 15,606,079 1,017,459 667,144 FTEs 2,530.6 87.0 2 5,005.0 530.0 254.5 Rate 2,707 594 716 3,118 1,920 2,621

2002-03 £2,870 Funds 6,738,292 25,183 954 16,890,816 920,051 597,943 FTEs 2,448.5 113.6 1 5,347.0 535.0 227.5 Rate 2,752 222 954 3,159 1,720 2,628

2003-04 £2,808 Funds 7,398,683 47,555 2,646 17,368,394 976,328 616,426 FTEs 2,476.0 108.0 4 5,584.0 587.0 238.0 Rate 2,988 440 662 3,110 1,663 2,590

2004-05 £3,484 Funds 8,674,927 39,794 5,833 19,573,908 948,967 695,924 FTEs 2,463.1 111.0 4 5,854.2 639.5 225.0 329W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 330W

Cash figures York St John University University of York Base price UG PGT PGR UG PGT PGR

Rate 3,522 359 1,458 3,344 1,484 3,093

2005-06 £3,608 Funds 9,234,557 28,016 0 20,684,286 893,106 0 FTEs 2,499.0 80.0 0 6,016.5 580.0 0.0 Rate 3,695 350 n/a 3,438 1,540 n/a

2006-07 £3,721 Funds 10,062,003 48,864 0 22,742,134 1,144,124 0 FTEs 2,582.1 96.0 0 6,200.8 684.3 0.0 Rate 3,897 509 n/a 3,668 1,672 n/a

2007-08 £3,833 Funds 10,617,720 77,064 0 25,094,421 1,245,662 0 FTEs 2,605.9 120.1 0 6,442.9 681.5 0.0 Rate 4,075 642 n/a 3,895 1,828 n/a

2008-09 £3,964 Funds 10,007,467 59,616 0 27,080,209 1,027,227 0 FTEs 2,454.0 64.3 0 6,624.6 537.6 0.0 Rate 4,078 927 n/a 4,088 1,911 n/a

2009-10 £3,947 Funds 10,258,008 65,646 72,126 28,697,321 407,717 3,537,180 FTEs 2,773.2 95.5 15 7,426.8 560.0 671.5 Rate 3,699 687 4,808 3,864 728 5,268

2010-11 £3,951 Funds 9,803,245 43,090 82,963 29,649,309 402,751 3,329,509 FTEs 2,717.0 116.2 19 7,869.6 561.0 676.5 Rate 3,608 371 4,366 3,768 718 4,922

2011-12 £3,670 Funds 9,613,815 74,480 106,146 30,212,888 515,555 3,308,911 FTEs 2,722.5 122.6 26 8,468.5 673.8 711.0 Rate 3,531 608 4,098 3,568 765 4,654

2012-13 (final) Funds 6,603,696 25,808 32,230 20,468,001 549,602 4,073,426 FTEs 3,168.9 68.8 15.3 9,038.1 715.9 680.2 Rate 2,084 375 2,113 2,265 768 5,989

2013-14 Funds 4,119,752 31,542 32,818 14,094,459 495,831 3,962,711 (adjusted) FTEs 3,474.9 57.1 16.3 9,321.9 703.7 694.4 Rate 1,186 552 2,020 1,512 705 5,706

2014-15 (initial) Funds 1,522,646 31,998 40,665 7,796,656 595,182 4,067,118 FTEs 3,586.0 59.0 19.3 9,529.5 686.1 715.0 Rate 425 542 2,107 818 868 5,688

Current figures York St John University University of York Base price UG PGT PGR UG PGT PGR

1998-99 £2,662 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 3,178 584 1,654 4,107 2,571 8,839

1999-2000 £2,682 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 3,237 656 2,363 4,135 2,700 3,477 331W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 332W

Current figures York St John University University of York Base price UG PGT PGR UG PGT PGR

2000-01 £2,731 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 3,444 582 1,706 4,180 2,719 3,335

2001-02 £2,805 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 3,578 785 946 4,122 2,538 3,465

2002-03 £2,870 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 3,559 287 1,234 4,086 2,224 3,400

2003-04 £2,808 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 3,781 557 837 3,936 2,105 3,277

2004-05 £3,484 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 4,350 443 1,801 4,130 1,833 3,820

2005-06 £3,608 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 4,467 423 n/a 4,156 1,862 n/a

2006-07 £3,721 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 4,585 599 n/a 4,315 1,967 n/a

2007-08 £3,833 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 4,672 736 n/a 4,466 2,096 n/a

2008-09 £3,964 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 4,549 1,034 n/a 4,560 2,131 n/a

2009-10 £3,947 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 4,017 747 5,222 4,196 791 5,721

2010-11 £3,951 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 3,823 393 4,626 3,992 761 5,214

2011-12 £3,670 Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 3,664 630 4,252 3,701 794 4,828

2012-13 (final) Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 2,124 382 2,154 2,308 783 6,104

2013-14 (adjusted Funds ------FTEs ------333W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 334W

Current figures York St John University University of York Base price UG PGT PGR UG PGT PGR

Rate 1,186 552 2,020 1,512 705 5,706

2014-15 (initial) Funds ------FTEs ------Rate 416 532 2,066 802 851 5,577 Note: The reforms to HE funding which this Government introduced in 2012/13 have seen grant that HEFCE makes to universities reduce as the income that universities receive from students increases.

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Research: Gender Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications for undergraduate study were made to (a) the Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for University of York, (b) York St John University and Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment she (c) all English universities in each year since 2009-10. has made of the gender balance amongst chairs and [198515] presidents of (a) learned societies and (b) research councils. [199684] Mr Willetts: The latest information is given in the Mr Willetts: The National Academies, the UK’s leading following table. UCAS have not released any data on learned societies, are independent, self-governing bodies. applications to individual institutions for the 2014 Ministers have no role in academy appointments but we application cycle, but the latest figures for total applicants encourage them to embed equality and diversity in to all UK institutions (published on 30 May) show that everything they do. Professor Dame Ann Dowling is they have risen by 4%, compared to the same point in expected to be confirmed as the first female President of 2013. the Royal Academy of Engineering in September. The UCAS main scheme applications to University of York, York St John University current Presidents of the Institute of Physics, the Royal and England, 2009 to 2013, full-time undergraduate courses Society of Chemistry and the Society of Biology are all 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 female. University of 21,543 24,548 23,725 23,570 25,030 Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation Yo rk and Skills (BIS) appoint chairs to the research councils York St John 6,194 7,685 8,657 9,600 9,700 and these appointments are regulated by the Office of University the Commissioner for Public Appointments. BIS Ministers All institutions in 2,021,546 2,303,678 2,418,828 2,209,337 2,265,95 England are committed to the principle of public appointments Notes: on merit through an open and transparent process and 1. Each applicant can submit up to five applications. to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of 2. Figures cover applicants who applied during the main UCAS application race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, scheme which closes on 30 June. Applicants who subsequently applied during clearing are not included. sexual orientation, transgender and working patterns. Source: There are seven research councils, the chairs of which UCAS reference tables. are currently male. The research councils are committed Post Codes: Northern Ireland to improving diversity in their public appointments and held a workshop in March 2014 to agree an action plan Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for to increase the diversity of each council. The action Business, Innovation and Skills whether public sector plan will be published on the RCUK website and organisations in Northern Ireland will be eligible for disseminated to all council members. the terms of use for postcode address finder from The BIS Board, which provides collective strategic 1 April 2015. [199370] leadership of the Department, has endorsed a plan of activity and a number of actions to help the Department Jenny Willott: Northern Ireland public sector not only to improve its position on gender-diversity organisations will be not eligible for the Postcode Address during 2014/15 but to reinforce its continued commitment File (PAF) Public Sector Licence agreed between the to attracting a strong and diverse field of candidates to Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills (BIS) public appointments. and Royal Mail. The PAF Public Sector Licence covers Shipping: Minimum Wage public sector bodies in England and Wales and will come into full force on 1 April 2015. Bodies whose John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for remit is mainly or wholly within Northern Ireland, Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what recent (a) Scotland, and other Crown dependencies or foreign correspondence and (b) discussions he has had with territories are excluded from the agreement between individual employers in the maritime industry about BIS and Royal Mail. pay rates below the national minimum wage (NMW) Royal Mail discussed the creation of an equivalent to for seafarers subject to UK national insurance the PAF Public Sector Licence with the Northern Ireland employed on vessels working from UK ports; and if he Land and Property Services. The view was that most of will take steps to enforce in the maritime sector his Northern Ireland’s Government Departments were only Department’s policy on enforcement, prosecutions and interested in addresses within Northern Ireland and naming employers who break the law on the NMW; that there was no need for a central agreement. [199360] 335W Written Answers12 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 336W

(2) what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Space Technology: Northern Ireland UK Chamber of Shipping and (b) European Community Shipowners Association on pay rates for Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for seafarers subject to UK national insurance employed Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking on vessels working from UK ports who are paid hourly to ensure that industry and academia in Northern rates below the national minimum wage; and if he will Ireland are able to benefit from opportunities in request data on such pay rates from maritime support of national space security interests. [199368] employers’ associations. [199356] Mr Willetts: As part of the Northern Ireland pact Jenny Willott: The Department is beginning engagement published last year, the UK Space Agency is currently with a range of stakeholders from the maritime industry setting the business case for an investment in a satellite to fully understand issues surrounding payment of the propulsion test facility near Belfast. This capability minimum wage. To date we have met with officials in could be used for satellites employed in commercial and other jurisdictions as this policy area is affected by security uses. legislation outside the UK. We will go on to engage with individual maritime employers and their associations. Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for We will be discussing recruitment models and pay structures Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions as part of this engagement. Following these investigations, officials in his Department had with their counterparts we will consider whether further enforcement activity is in the Northern Ireland Executive before publication of needed in this sector. the National Space Security Policy. [199371] This Government remains committed to the minimum wage and the protection it provides to low paid workers. Mr Willetts: Prior to the publication of the National That is why we have strengthened the enforcement Space Security Policy, committee clearance was requested regime by cutting back the criteria for naming and via the National Security Committee by me which was shaming non-compliant employers and have increased confirmed on 12 December 2014. Although Defence the penalty from 50% to 100% of arrears up to £20,000. and National Security are not devolved matters, devolved We are also taking primary legislation to apply a penalty Administrations will be consulted where it is necessary per underpaid worker rather than per non-compliant or appropriate to do so. employer. UK Coal Where employers in the maritime industry are found to not be paying the national minimum wage that Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for workers are entitled to, we will not hesitate to take Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what assessment his action, including recovering arrears owed to workers Department has made of the conclusions of the Orion and penalising employers financially and their reputation Innovations report entitled Merits of UK Coal State by naming and shaming where appropriate. Aid Application, submitted to his Department on 9 Workers in the maritime industry who think they May 2014; [199685] have not been paid the correct national minimum wage (2) what assessment he has made of the report, should contact the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on Merits of UK Coal State Aid Application submitted to 0800 917 2368. his Department on 9 May 2014 by Orion Innovations. Space Technology [199792] Michael Fallon: I asked officials to review the report Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for and discuss it with the author. This included a discussion Business, Innovation and Skills whether his on the background to the report and an explanation Department has invited representatives of the devolved from Orion of the methodology and conclusions made administrations to join the ad hoc ministerial-led in the report. Furthermore, they questioned the detail steering group on the implementation of his of the analysis, the robustness of the assumptions and Department’s national space security policy. [199367] areas for further development. Their conclusions are that the report is a high level analysis of the key issues Mr Willetts: The UK Space Agency and the Ministry and that it would require significant further work, diligence of Defence are jointly leading work to co-ordinate an and validation of assumptions and contingency. It also implementation plan for the National Space Security requires enhancements to methodology, for example, to Policy that should be agreed between Ministers in the model the phasing of cash flows and include time value four lead Government Departments by the end of the of money considerations and appropriate returns to calendar year. This plan will include the governance capital. Orion has noted that the work was completed arrangements to oversee its successful implementation. on a short time frame and that they would be open to Although Defence and National Security are not devolved carrying out further work if a mandate could be agreed. matters, devolved Administrations will be consulted On this basis, it is not possible to draw conclusions where it is necessary or appropriate to do so. sufficient to inform any investment decision.

ORAL ANSWERS

Thursday 12 June 2014

Col. No. Col. No. CHURCH COMMISSIONERS ...... 687 ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS— Biblical Literacy (Children) ...... 692 continued Chaplains in Schools and Academies ...... 688 CAP Reform ...... 677 Financial Services ...... 691 Dangerous Dogs Strategy ...... 672 Listed Buildings (Repairs)...... 691 Farmers and Food Producers (New Markets) ...... 675 Meriam Ibrahim ...... 689 Fish Stocks ...... 680 Stephen Sutton...... 687 Flood Protection (Government Spending) ...... 681 Flooding ...... 673 ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE ...... 688 Halal and Kosher Meat...... 671 Electoral Roll Status ...... 689 Pilot Badger Culls (Somerset and Imprints in Social Media...... 688 Gloucestershire)...... 676 ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Topical Questions ...... 683 AFFAIRS...... 671 Trichinella in Pigs...... 682 CAP (Common Land) ...... 679 Wild Boar (Forest of Dean) ...... 682 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Thursday 12 June 2014

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 57WS HOME DEPARTMENT...... 59WS UK Coal ...... 57WS Justice and Home Affairs Council...... 59WS Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures . 63WS ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 57WS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 64WS Environment Council...... 57WS Foreign Affairs Council ...... 64WS EU Energy Council...... 58WS TRANSPORT ...... 66WS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 59WS EU Transport Council ...... 66WS Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report Thameslink Southern Great Northern 2013 ...... 59WS (Rail Franchising) ...... 68WS PETITIONS

Thursday 12 June 2014

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 3P BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS—continued CAMRA’s Call for a Pubs Watchdog ...... 3P Pub Rent Prices (Derbyshire)...... 4P WRITTEN ANSWERS

Thursday 12 June 2014

Col. No. Col. No. ATTORNEY-GENERAL ...... 309W BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS—continued GlaxoSmithKline...... 309W Space Technology: Northern Ireland ...... 336W UK Coal ...... 336W BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 320W Adult Education ...... 320W CABINET OFFICE...... 224W Animal Experiments ...... 322W Childbirth ...... 224W China ...... 322W Civil Servants: Equal Pay...... 224W Credit Rating ...... 323W Government Departments ...... 225W Digital Technology: Skilled Workers ...... 323W Health...... 225W Disabled Students’ Allowances ...... 323W Social Justice Committee ...... 225W Disabled Students’ Allowances: Brighton ...... 324W Employment: Young People...... 325W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 260W Higher Education: York...... 325W Disabled Facilities Grants ...... 260W Post Codes: Northern Ireland ...... 333W Health...... 260W Research: Gender...... 334W Housing: Disability ...... 260W Shipping: Minimum Wage ...... 334W Mortgages: Government Assistance...... 261W Space Technology ...... 335W Mortgages: Huntingdon...... 262W Col. No. Col. No. COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT— FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE— continued continued Out of Town Shopping Centres: Northampton...... 263W Sri Lanka ...... 268W Sleeping Rough: North West...... 263W Transcaucasus...... 268W Social Rented Housing: Foreign Nationals ...... 264W HEALTH...... 268W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT...... 223W Abortion ...... 268W Broadband ...... 223W Abortion: Counselling ...... 271W Sports: Children...... 223W Cancer ...... 272W Care Homes: West Sussex ...... 273W DEFENCE...... 232W Cervical Cancer...... 274W Afghanistan ...... 232W Chlamydia...... 276W Africa...... 232W Dementia ...... 279W Armed Conflict: Children ...... 233W Food Banks...... 281W Armed Forces: British Nationality ...... 234W Health: Screening...... 283W Armed Forces Covenant: Northern Ireland ...... 233W Health Services: Foreign Nationals ...... 281W Armed Forces: Discharges ...... 234W Health Services: Northern Ireland ...... 282W Armed Forces: Young People...... 235W Health, Work and Wellbeing Coordinators ...... 283W Armoured Fighting Vehicles ...... 235W Hospital Beds...... 284W Army...... 236W Hospitals: Bolton...... 286W AWE Aldermaston...... 236W Hospitals: Waiting Lists...... 285W Boskalis ...... 236W Human Embryo Experiments ...... 287W Defence: Procurement...... 237W Medical Treatments: Side Effects ...... 287W Djibouti ...... 237W Mental Health...... 288W Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft...... 237W Mental Health Services ...... 290W Military Aircraft ...... 238W NHS: Fees and Charges ...... 290W Risk Assessment ...... 238W Nutrition: Homelessness ...... 291W Somalia...... 239W Prescriptions: Fees and Charges...... 291W Unmanned Aerial Vehicles...... 239W Secure Accommodation: South West ...... 291W USA...... 240W Sleep Apnoea ...... 292W Yemen ...... 241W Sleeping Rough ...... 292W Sugar ...... 293W EDUCATION...... 257W Academies...... 257W HOME DEPARTMENT...... 252W Children: Social Services...... 257W Asylum: Syria ...... 252W Dominic Cummings...... 258W Asylum: Uganda...... 252W Free School Meals: Nuneaton...... 259W Entry Clearances...... 253W GCSE ...... 259W Entry Clearances: Commonwealth...... 253W Sixth-Form Education: Student Numbers...... 259W Human Trafficking ...... 254W Members: Correspondence ...... 254W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 227W Surveillance: Aircraft ...... 254W Climate Change: Conferences ...... 227W Climate Change: Northern Ireland ...... 227W INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 264W Energy: Carers ...... 228W Developing Countries: Education ...... 264W Fracking...... 228W Developing Countries: Health Services ...... 264W Fracking: Lancashire ...... 228W Developing Countries: Housing...... 265W Fuel Poverty...... 228W Developing Countries: Working Conditions ...... 265W Health...... 229W Developing Countries: Young People...... 265W Nuclear Safeguards...... 229W Palestinians ...... 266W Oil: Libya...... 230W Renewable Energy...... 230W JUSTICE...... 309W UK Coal ...... 231W Cancer ...... 309W Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 . 231W Driving Under Influence...... 310W Fly Tipping ...... 310W ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Judicial Review ...... 313W AFFAIRS...... 242W Legal Aid Scheme ...... 314W Bovine TB...... 242W Magistrates’ Courts: Prestatyn...... 315W Climate Change: Funding ...... 242W Prison Service ...... 315W Environment Protection: Crime ...... 243W Prisoners: Sanitary Protection...... 317W Equine Industry: Regulation ...... 242W Public Defender Service ...... 317W Flood Control...... 243W Secure Colleges ...... 318W Food ...... 244W Victim Support Schemes ...... 319W Hill Farming ...... 244W Victim Support Schemes: York ...... 319W Severn Estuary Flood Defences ...... 242W Sheep ...... 244W NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 225W Disciplinary Proceedings...... 225W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 266W Equal Opportunities ...... 226W Colombia ...... 266W Giro d’Italia ...... 226W Gibraltar and Spain ...... 267W Iran...... 267W PRIME MINISTER ...... 223W Palestinians ...... 268W Life Peers ...... 223W Col. No. Col. No. TRANSPORT ...... 293W TREASURY ...... 254W Air Traffic Control: Northern Ireland...... 293W Aggregates Levy: Northern Ireland...... 254W Aviation: Scotland...... 293W Day Care: North West ...... 255W Bus Services: Visual Impairment...... 294W Health...... 255W Carers: Travel...... 294W Investment ...... 255W Cycling...... 295W Sanitary Protection: VAT ...... 256W Cycling: Children ...... 295W Taxation: Self-assessment...... 256W Driving...... 295W Travel: Insurance...... 257W Driving Instruction: Warrington...... 296W Working Tax Credit: Bolton...... 257W Driving Tests: Warrington...... 296W Health...... 296W High Speed 2 Railway Line ...... 297W WOMEN AND EQUALITIES...... 227W Large Goods Vehicles: Driving Tests...... 301W Equal Opportunities ...... 227W Large Goods Vehicles: Taxation...... 301W Motor Vehicles...... 301W Public Transport ...... 302W WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 245W Railways...... 302W Age: Discrimination...... 245W Railways: Overcrowding...... 302W Children: Maintenance ...... 246W Road Signs and Markings: Northern Ireland...... 303W Disadvantaged: EU Grants and Loans ...... 246W Road Traffic...... 303W Employment and Support Allowance ...... 246W Roads: East of England ...... 304W Health...... 247W Roads: Repairs and Maintenance...... 305W Housing Benefit: Wales...... 247W Roads: Safety ...... 306W Jobcentre Plus ...... 247W Shipping...... 306W Maternity Pay ...... 248W Shipping: Pay...... 306W Personal Independence Payment...... 249W Shipping: Working Hours ...... 307W Personal Independence Payment: North East ...... 249W Speed Limits: Urban Areas...... 307W Separated People: Finance ...... 250W Travel: South East...... 308W Social Security Benefits...... 251W Unmanned Air Vehicles ...... 308W Social Security Benefits: Fraud ...... 251W West Coast Railway Line ...... 308W Universal Credit...... 251W Members who wish to have the Daily Report of the Debates forwarded to them should give notice at the Vote Office. No proofs of the Daily Reports can be supplied. Corrections which Members suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked in the Daily Report, but not telephoned, and the copy containing the Corrections must be received at the Editor’s Room, House of Commons,

not later than Thursday 19 June 2014

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CONTENTS

Thursday 12 June 2014

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 671] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Church Commissioners Speaker’s Electoral Commission

HM Passport Office [Col. 693] Answer to urgent question—(Mrs May)

Business of the House [Col. 709] Statement—(Mr Lansley)

Social Action, Responsibility and Herosim [Col. 725] Bill presented, and read the First time

Debate on the Address (Sixth Day) [Col. 726] Amendment—(Ed Balls)—on a Division, negatived Main Question, on a Division, agreed to

Sutton Coldfield (Royal Status) [Col. 813] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Written Statements [Col. 57WS]

Petitions [Col. 3P] Observations

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 223W] [see index inside back page]