Monday Volume 583 30 June 2014 No. 15

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Monday 30 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/. 577 30 JUNE 2014 578

Mr Speaker: I call the hon. Member for Romford House of Commons (Andrew Rosindell)—[Interruption.] After the initiative of the right hon. Gentleman in bringing about the grouping and then in so graciously recollecting the fact Monday 30 June 2014 that he had done so, the hon. Member for Romford is sadly not with us. The House met at half-past Two o’clock Mr Pickles: Perhaps I was prescient. Mr Speaker: Yes, the right hon. Gentleman might PRAYERS have been prescient. I am sure the hon. Member for Romford was told by the Department. If he was not, we are sorry. If he was, he should be here and we are sorry [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] that he is not. No doubt further and better information will become available in due course. Development (Brownfield Land) Oral Answers to Questions 2. Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) (Con): What steps he is taking to encourage development on brownfield land. [904504]

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 4. Chloe Smith (Norwich North) (Con): What steps he is taking to encourage development on brownfield land. [904507] The Secretary of State was asked— 10. Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con): What Waste and Inefficiency steps he is taking to encourage development on brownfield land. [904513] 1. Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): 12. David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con): What steps he What recent assessment he has made of the scope for is taking to encourage development on brownfield local authorities to make savings by reducing waste and land. [904515] inefficiency. [904503] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for 16. Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con): What recent Communities and Local Government (Nick Boles): The assessment he has made of the scope for local Government are determined to make the best use of authorities to make savings by reducing waste and brownfield land and meet as much of our housing need inefficiency. [904519] as possible on brownfield sites. Earlier this month, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State The Secretary of State for Communities and Local announced an ambitious package of reforms to accelerate Government (Mr Eric Pickles): With permission, development on brownfield sites and deliver up to 200,000 Mr Speaker, I will answer question 1— homes by 2020. Mr Jones: Residential development on brownfield Mr Speaker: I remind the Secretary of State that he is land in town centres is a key way to protect small and seeking to answer that with question 16. I shall be medium-sized town centres from the structural change advised if I am mistaken or if he has changed his mind. in retailing while alleviating the demand for residential development on countryside land. Will my hon. Friend Mr Pickles: Thank goodness someone is paying attention set out what more can be done to encourage councils, to what is going on. when putting in place their local plans—they are doing To be helpful, I have published “50 ways to save”, a that now—to develop more on brownfield sites? practical guide to councils on how they can make the most of their budgets to protect front-line services and Nick Boles: My hon. Friend makes an extremely keep council tax down. important argument that one of the ways to revive town centres is to bring more people to live right in the heart Andrew Selous: Will the Secretary of State commend of them. That is why we have introduced a permitted Central Bedfordshire councillors who, while taking out development right to make it easier to convert offices £60 million of costs, have transformed all 12 libraries, into residential property. It is also why, in the recently brought back into use a leisure centre and greatly published planning guidance, we made it clear that improved it, set up a reablement service and provided councils should be looking to incentivise development extra care housing for the frail elderly. Does that not on brownfield sites and reflect the cost of developing show what a relentless focus on front-line service and those sites. value for money can achieve? Chloe Smith: I welcome those measures. Will the Minister join me, and indeed the Chancellor, in saying Mr Pickles: It is some time since I visited Central that we will not stand by and pull up the ladder of Bedfordshire council. I hope that I can visit very soon. housing that the next generation needs? The work is very impressive and clearly demonstrates how a good council, looking carefully at what it spends, Nick Boles: I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. can protect and enhance local services. I look forward She has done a lot of work recently on the interests of to an early visit. the next generation—the growing generation—of people 579 Oral Answers30 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 580 in our country. Housing need is one of those key need to do everything they can to make sure that sites interests. It is one of the reasons why we brought are viable by setting section 106 agreements and the forward planning reforms, and help to buy is helping community infrastructure levy at an appropriate level. people get on the housing ladder. Secondly, there is no way that a developer can argue that a site is not viable for development unless they have Stephen Mosley: Cheshire West and Chester strategic clear public evidence to demonstrate why it is financially housing land availability assessment shows enough unviable. brownfield land to cater for west Cheshire’s housing need for the next 30 years, yet the council is proposing to build on green-belt land outside Chester. Will my Mr David Lammy (Tottenham) (Lab): The Minister hon. Friend reassure my constituents that the intention has made much in the House of accelerating development of the Government’s planning reforms is to encourage on brownfield land and the Secretary of State has said a brownfield development ahead of green-belt development? lot about speeding up planning. Why has the development for Spurs, which is currently with the Department with Nick Boles: Our policies are clear that brownfield regard to a compulsory purchase order, been with the development is supported unless the brownfield site in Department for 14 months? Might we reach a decision question has a very high environmental value. In order shortly and will he confirm that the Secretary of State is to bring forward proposals for development on green-belt not an Arsenal supporter? land, councils have to satisfy a high policy test of exceptional circumstances and they also have to go Nick Boles: I would never dare to tread into the through a process of intensive consultation through a question of people’s football loyalties, particularly not local plan process before they can change green-belt at this time. I understand the right hon. Gentleman’s boundaries. frustrations, but the matter has not entirely been with the Department as we have had to refer back to parties David Rutley: In a recent Civitas pamphlet, Peter on some complex questions. I am keen to make a Haslehurst from Macclesfield highlighted the importance decision as soon as possible, but I know that he will of brownfield development and the need to learn lessons want that decision to hold up in court and it is therefore from other countries, particularly the United States, in important to ensure that it is robust. taking that forward. What steps are being taken by my hon. Friend’s Department to learn from international case studies to help further accelerate this important Mr Speaker: The Minister might not be an Arsenal work? supporter, but I most certainly am—and very proud of it. Nick Boles: We should always be willing to learn from other countries, but we should also not talk down our Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): Surely own achievements. More than two thirds of all new the planning Minister understands that there has been houses are built on brownfield sites, but we can always an increasing trend, particularly in urban areas, to use do more and that is why my right hon. Friend the greenfield sites while land banking brownfield sites, Secretary of State has proposed housing zones, with a often leaving them derelict in the heart of our towns package of £400 million, to help put in place local and city centres. What is he doing to ensure that that development orders on brownfield land so that development land-banked land is brought into active use to provide comes through more quickly. regeneration benefits for our towns and cities? Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield South East) (Lab): I have referred previously to paragraphs 47 onwards of the Nick Boles: There is absolutely no evidence of what national planning policy framework, which mean that the hon. Gentleman has just claimed and in answer to sites have to be deliverable and viable to be included in a about six questions I have just explained the multiple local plan. Many developers are objecting to brownfield policies of this Government to bring brownfield land sites being included and want greenfield sites to be forward for use through guidance, policy, housing zones substituted instead because of this requirement. As a and new pots of money. result of the package to which the Minister has just referred, how many of the sites excluded from local Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) (Lab): How will the plans by paragraph 47 requirements will now be able to new local development orders on brownfield sites work be included by local authorities? in practice? For example, will the Minister say how local people will be involved in deciding which sites should be Nick Boles: I take this opportunity briefly to apologise included in development orders and confirm that that to the hon. Gentleman for having referred to him during will not undermine localism? a debate last week when he was not present, and for not having given him notice of that— Nick Boles: I am grateful for the opportunity to Mr Betts: And does the Minister apologise for what confirm that it absolutely will not undermine localism, he said, as well? as local development orders have to go through the same local consultation as any other local planning Nick Boles: I do not apologise for what I said, but I permission. The fundamental difference with local apologise for referring to the hon. Gentleman. development orders is that the local council effectively To answer his question, of course we do not collect a determines up front the broad parameters of development central database of every single brownfield site in the that will be acceptable. Any proposal that meets those land and how they are affected by very recent policy broad conditions can then go ahead. It is a bit like a announcements. It is very clear that local authorities zoning system rather than our traditional system of 581 Oral Answers30 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 582 submitting a particular planning application for every news that Merton, with 337 troubled families, is ranked site. It absolutely something that is driven locally and 120th among the local authorities. It has done an extremely led by local councils. good job and had worked with 86% of those families by the end of March, turning round nearly half of them. Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD): Among his reforms, Merton has now put itself forward to work closely with will the Minister review the business rate exemptions the expanded programme, and I think the hon. Lady available for derelict buildings further to incentivise has reason to be proud of the way in which her local owners of those builders to redevelop those sites or authority has handled this matter. otherwise bring them back into use? Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): Does my right Nick Boles: We will always look at any new ideas, but hon. Friend agree that it makes sense to target resources I am sure that my hon. Friend will welcome the fact that on troubled families, who cost the public purse an anyone who takes on premises that have been empty for average of £75,000 a year? Am I right in thinking that quite a long time can now get a level of exemption that the Government are about to commit £200 million was previously not available. more to this programme, so that more troubled families can be helped and so that we can target help and resources on the 400,000 families in the greatest need? Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab): The Minister referred to the fact that there was a multiplicity of ideas Mr Pickles: It is probably a good thing that we have relating to local government and brownfield sites. Does kept this reasonably simple. It is about getting people he really think that people will want to build on a back into work, reducing the amount of antisocial brownfield site if they know that fracking is likely to behaviour and getting children back into school. My take place there in the future? right hon. Friend is right to suggest that the programme has been a success, and I am also grateful for the Nick Boles: It is not my belief that fracking is likely to support of the right hon. Member for Leeds Central take place in the centre of towns and cities, which is (Hilary Benn) in this regard. We will expand it, and we where most of these brownfield sites are. There is of hope that it will change the lives of lots of people. course a question about the various uses that might be made of any site, but most of the brownfield land that Lyn Brown (West Ham) (Lab): The troubled families should come forward for development, particularly housing programme should be aimed at families who are facing development, is unlikely also to be used for fracking. multiple challenges and who have the most complex needs. That is something that we would support. The Troubled Families Programme Secretary of State asserts that the programme is succeeding, but how can he justify that when, even on his own tests, many of the families he claims to have “turned round” 3. Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden) (Lab): are still committing crimes, their children are still missing What assessment he has made of the performance of school and their family members are not working? the troubled families programme. [904505] Indeed, some of the families he claims to have turned round have been nowhere near the programme. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles): The troubled families Mr Pickles: I do not understand the hon. Lady’s programme is performing strongly, and my right hon. hostility. This has been a very successful programme, Friend the Prime Minister has announced that, two and we have worked closely with Labour authorities. years into the three-year programme, over 97,000 of the There is a lagging authority, however. I understand that 120,000 families who will be helped by the programme her experience might be different, in that Newham has are being worked with, and that nearly 40,000 have identified 985 families and is working with 90% of already been turned around. them, but has turned round only 14% of them, compared with the national average of 33%. Let us be clear: we are Siobhain McDonagh: Has the Secretary of State had not turning these good folks into model citizens—these the opportunity to consider the impact of temporary are very difficult families—but if we can get the children accommodation on the families being looked after by into school for three successive terms, get other family troubled families units? Many of those families live in members into work for three months and reduce the private rented accommodation. In my part of south amount of antisocial behaviour, it is better for those London and, I am sure, in other parts of London and people and for their neighbours. It is also a lot better the south-east, large numbers of people are being placed than the rather smug attitude being taken by some in temporary accommodation as a result of eviction, Opposition Members. some of which is quite distant from their home borough. Every Friday, I see families going from south-west Home Building London to Wembley, Tottenham and other parts of London. As I see them leave, I am troubled about the 5. Mr Dominic Raab (Esher and Walton) (Con): future for their children. What steps he is taking to increase home building. [904508] Mr Pickles: In preparation for answering the hon. Lady’s question, I asked what concerns she might have The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for about her own authority, Merton, and I was told that Communities and Local Government (Kris Hopkins): she had not had a specific discussion with the authority This Government have already delivered 445,000 new on this subject. I should like to give her the very good homes since 2010. Housing starts on new homes in the 583 Oral Answers30 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 584 past year increased by 31%, the highest increase since of land. My hon. Friend is right: this is about encouraging 2007, and we have created new dedicated housing zones local authorities, with partners, to come forward. I to support housing development on brownfield sites. know that the local enterprise partnerships are in conversation about delivering homes and making sure Mr Raab: I thank the Minister for that answer and that the transport infrastructure is there to open up for the progress made to date. To take that forward, is housing opportunities. Every Member of the House has not the key to go further in strengthening local democratic an opportunity to build a strong relationship with their control over both the planning policy and the tax authority, to understand housing need and to bring revenue derived from new homes? That would incentivise about some of those partnership opportunities that my new builds, while giving communities with high density hon. Friend talks about. or lots of green belt or greenfield sites more genuine choice and control over the pace of development. Emma Reynolds (Wolverhampton North East) (Lab): In a recent press release the Minister said that the Kris Hopkins: The key thing for me is that we trust Government’s affordable house building efforts are a local authorities to devise a five-year plan, to know clear success story, but in the same press release the their community, to know their place, and to have that figures show that the number of affordable homes built dialogue with the community. With respect to incentives, over the past year is the lowest for five years, and the every new house will bring money into the local authority number of homes built for social rent has fallen to a to support those communities through the new homes 20-year low. If that is a success story, what does failure bonus. We recognise that we need to grow small and look like? medium-sized businesses, which is reflected in the fact that the Chancellor announced a £500 million package Kris Hopkins: Failure looks like the collapse of the to support them. That is about jobs and apprenticeships. housing market in 2008, the 250,000 jobs that were lost, Those are the incentives that a local community can the fall from 12,000 to 3,000 in the number of small and gain as a consequence of building homes. medium-sized businesses building houses, and the failure to deliver council houses at the required level. This Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/ Government have taken responsibility for delivering Co-op): Hackney council is one of the two largest affordable and social housing and picking up the failed builders of council housing in the country, yet week in, and collapsed housing market left by Labour. week out at my surgeries, I see people in desperate situations, unable to access that council housing or to Emma Reynolds: I will take our record over the afford the very high rent levels that we now see in my Minister’s any day. The Labour Government’s decent constituency. Is the Secretary of State getting some homes programme transformed the homes and lives of serious work done to look at how housing benefit can millions of people across our country. In 2009 we built be recycled to make sure that it provides capital for four times as many homes for social rent as his Government housing, rather than the ongoing revenue support for did last year. When it comes to affordable homes, I will those very expensive rents? take no lectures from him. Labour councils are outbuilding Tory councils by 2:1. Will he now admit that, whether Kris Hopkins: First, we have to recognise that the they are in power in Whitehall or in town halls, the Labour Administration failed to deliver sufficient numbers Tories simply cannot be trusted to tackle the housing of council houses. In four years of this Government we crisis? have delivered nearly twice as many council houses as they did in 13 years. In addition, an affordable homes Kris Hopkins: The record will show that in four years programme has delivered 200,000 houses already and in we have delivered—this is despite the dismal housing the next three years will deliver another 165,000 houses. market we were left, the fact that people could not get Some £300 million has been made available for housing loans from banks and the fact that individuals had lost revenue account borrowing to deliver another 10,000 council their jobs as a direct consequence of Labour’s failed houses. This Government recognise the role of social housing policy—200,000 affordable homes, twice as housing and are delivering where the previous Government many council houses as Labour delivered in 13 years clearly failed. and a clear vision to deliver more houses through Help to Buy, which will deliver 120,000 houses for first-time Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford and Stortford) (Con): There buyers. Our desire to build housing is clearly on the are hundreds of acres of surplus land still in public record and we are delivering. ownership—land that could be providing thousands of homes. May I therefore urge the Minister to redouble Social Housing (Rent Arrears) his efforts and the efforts of the Government as a whole to unlock the land and, in particular, to forge stronger 6. Julie Hilling (Bolton West) (Lab): What assessment long-term development partnerships between the public he has made of recent trends in the level of rent arrears and private sectors so that we can turn these idle assets in social housing. [904509] into family homes? 7. Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab): What Kris Hopkins: I recognise the work that my hon. assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of Friend did in delivering that land. As a consequence rent arrears in social housing. [904510] of his work, we have pledged that we will deliver 100,000 houses. Some 76,000 houses have been delivered The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for on that land and we expect more to be built. A strategic Communities and Local Government (Stephen Williams): review has taken place to identify some £5 billion worth According to the Homes and Communities Agency, at 585 Oral Answers30 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 586 the end of 2013-14, the average level of rent arrears Kate Green: Trafford Assist has been quite successful, among larger housing associations was 3.6%, an but its funding is for only one year and is not ring-fenced, improvement from 4.1% over the previous quarter. and now the council has revealed a shocking £6 million discrepancy in its adult social care budget. Given the Julie Hilling: Bolton at Home tells me that its arrears pressure that the council will be under to plug that stand at £1.9 million, even though it has a 97% collection spending gap, it is likely that Trafford Assist will not be rate and has employed an additional 11 people to able to continue after the coming year. What can the increase collection and support tenants in financial Government do to ensure that such successful schemes difficulty. The Minister’s policies are jeopardising his can continue into the future? business model on social housing and the ability to build new houses and improve current stock. Can he Brandon Lewis: The hon. Lady is right; local authorities honestly say that his policies are working? are running a range of really good schemes. That is why they have been passed to local authorities. What has Stephen Williams: According to the information I been highlighted is that many authorities are running have, the number of people affected by the social size good, efficient schemes and spending way below the criteria has fallen across Bolton, from 3,215 households amount of money originally put forward. That is also when the policy started in May 2013 to 2,775 now, so why the Department for Work and Pensions is carrying there seems to be some discrepancy in the figures. out the review, which it will be reporting on some time this autumn. Alex Cunningham: Across Stockton borough, arrears for Tristar Homes are up by 25%, to nearly £1.2 million, Community Cohesion on the year prior to the introduction of the bedroom tax, and they would be up by 60% if both Tristar Homes and the local authority were not helping with 9. Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) (Lab): some discretionary aid. Several hundred people, many What progress his Department has made in advancing of them disabled, are in arrears for the first time in their the agenda set out in its publication “Creating the lives, causing unseen misery and even shame. Was it conditions for integration”, published in February really the Secretary of State’s intention to grind such 2012. [904512] people into the ground? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Stephen Williams: It is not the intention of either Communities and Local Government (Stephen Williams): the Secretary of State or me to grind anyone into the We are supporting more than 30 projects to break down ground. The whole point of applying size criteria to barriers, encourage community cohesion and celebrate the social sector is to match the criteria that already what we have in common. During this holy month of exist in the private rented sector, and they existed throughout Ramadan, it is appropriate to single out the Big Iftar the entire 13-years period that the hon. Gentleman’s 2014, when British mosques and community groups party was in government. The policy is about fairness to host non-Muslims as they share iftar after sunset. This taxpayers as well as to tenants. For those tenants who demonstration of community integration in action has have difficulty moving, Stockton council, like all local expanded from 30 events last year to well over 100 this authorities, has discretionary housing payments in order year. to help them through the process. Mr Sharma: The Minister has slashed the budget for Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con): cohesion and anti-extremism work in the DCLG and Can the Minister confirm that of the £68 million of cut back on the programmes being funded. That has led discretionary housing payments made available to councils to a deterioration in our ability to deal with extremism. last year, £11 million went unspent? Does he think that was wise? Stephen Williams: My hon. Friend is indeed correct. Stephen Williams: I am not aware of any slashing of Local Welfare Assistance Schemes budgets for community integration groups. I visit projects up and down the country, including in Ealing, where a great many community projects are undertaken, including 8. Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab): What the teaching of the English language and the Near discussions he has had with local authorities on the Neighbours programme—a major £8 million investment, future of local welfare assistance schemes after April announced by the Secretary of State, the Archbishop of 2015. [904511] Canterbury and me, that is operating in several boroughs in London. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis): During the consultation for the local government finance Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab): Are not settlement, I met a range of local authorities and, Government policies driving social division, particularly indeed, the Local Government Association. More in education? Has the Minister had a word with the poignantly for this question, the Department for Work Secretary of State for Education to try to prevent him and Pensions held numerous discussions when it abolished from causing further damage in that direction? the poorly targeted crisis loans and community care grants in 2012 and passed funding to councils. It is Stephen Williams: One such example of community continuing to discuss local provision with councils in cohesion is in Luton. This coming Sunday, I will be in the review that it will publish later this year. Luton visiting a Remembering Srebrenica event and a 587 Oral Answers30 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 588

Big Iftar event. That will celebrate the bringing together and councillors can do when they focus on delivering of people in Luton and I hope to see the hon. Gentleman good, efficient, value-for-money front-line services for there. their residents. Council Tax Freeze Homeless Households

11. Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): What 13. Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Lab): What recent assessment he has made of the effect on local assessment he has made of recent trends in the number authorities of the freeze on council tax. [904514] of households being found homeless but not in priority need by local authorities. [904516] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis): The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Council tax freeze funding has thus far helped cut Communities and Local Government (Kris Hopkins): council tax in real terms by 11% since 2010. Forest of Since 2010 we have invested over £1 billion to tackle Dean is one of the excellent authorities; it is now in its homelessness and support vulnerable households affected fourth year of a council tax freeze. The Government by welfare reform. Last year, the number of households have made £5.2 billion available to support councils found to be homeless but not in priority need was less that freeze and have built the funding into the spending than a third of the 2003 peak of over 67,000. review baseline. Simon Danczuk: Last year in Rochdale, the number Mr Harper: The situation is even better than the of households that were homeless but not in priority Minister set out: all three Conservative-led councils in need increased by 40%. There are now 320 households my area have frozen council tax, in contrast to the in this category in Rochdale with little access to assistance. Independent police and crime commissioner, who put Will the Minister consider reviewing the law on council tax up without making a real effort at savings. I homelessness to ensure that all homeless people get the urge the Minister to continue with the programme help they need? because freezing council tax makes a real difference to the budgets of families and helps make ends meet in Kris Hopkins: The hon. Gentleman is right. A total of difficult times. Please will he continue that policy? 323 households were found to be homeless but not in Brandon Lewis: My hon. Friend makes a good point. priority need—just over a quarter of the peak figure What the Government have been able to do with the of 1,276 in 2005. That is a disgraceful figure, and I council tax freeze has shown a real saving for families agree that we do not want to be in this position. Over across the country in keeping council tax down. That is £12 billion-worth of investment through Crisis is helping in the context of the fact that council tax roughly single homeless people, and in Rochdale this has supported doubled under the Labour Government. a successful Bond Board scheme that has helped 125 single homeless people. I respect the hon. Gentleman and Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op): Far from there would like to work with him to try to solve some of being a freeze, the Government have hit more than those issues in Rochdale. I look forward to receiving a 2 million of the poorest households with large council note from him about this. tax increases. In the light of the recent evidence from Citizens Advice, which shows that council tax arrears Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op): The number have become the biggest debt problem reported to it, of families with children living in bed-and-breakfast will the Minister commit to carrying out a full review of accommodation is at a 10-year high, with all the the real impact of the policy before the end of the consequences for the education, health and well-being Parliament? of the children concerned. Does the Minister think that that is a creditable record on homelessness since the Brandon Lewis: I am not surprised at the hon. Government came to power in 2010? Gentleman’s question. As I said, his party presided over the near doubling of council tax until 2010. I see why it Kris Hopkins: Homelessness overall is currently down would resist this Government’s work to freeze council by 7%; I am not sure where the hon. Gentleman has got tax and help hard-working families. Local authorities his figures from. The number of families in temporary could go even further and follow some good councils accommodation—bed and breakfast—has dropped by that have reduced council tax by cracking down on not 37% in the past year. That is a direct consequence of just fraud and error but uncollected council tax. Uncollected this Government’s intervention to make sure that vulnerable council tax in Liverpool, for example, is costing every families, in particular, are not in the position they were council tax paying household there £500 a year. in under his party’s Administration.

Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): Will the Community Pubs Minister congratulate Councillor Steven North, leader of East Northamptonshire council, not only on freezing 14. Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con): What steps council tax yet again but on achieving a £50 million the Government are taking to support community investment called Rushden Lakes, which is entirely in pubs. [904517] my constituency and is creating 2,000 jobs? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Brandon Lewis: I am happy to join my hon. Friend in Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis): congratulating the councillor. I thank him for giving us We are providing £200,000 to Pub is The Hub and the the chance to highlight the really good work that councils Plunkett Foundation to help communities and community 589 Oral Answers30 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 590 pubs to diversify and take over their local pubs. We have Nick Boles: My hon. Friend and I debated this subject also doubled small business rate relief until 2015 and at some length in Westminster Hall last week. I committed cut national insurance. In addition, the Chancellor scrapped then, and am happy to repeat that commitment now, to the previous Government’s beer and alcohol duty escalator look closely at the research produced by that organisation. and reduced beer duty in two successive Budgets, for the We do not have any evidence that the policy is not first time in many decades. working. It is, of course, worth remembering that out- of-town development can go ahead—this is happening Graham Evans: In rural constituencies such as Weaver in Rushden Lakes, as mentioned earlier by my hon. Vale, pubs are at the heart of community life. Does my Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone)—where hon. Friend therefore welcome the outstanding work the impact on town centres will not undermine their done by the Pub is The Hub programme to ensure that vitality or viability. our rural pubs can provide more services, and will he ensure that its good work can continue? Private Rented Sector Brandon Lewis: My hon. Friend makes a good point. Pub is The Hub is an excellent organisation. I was 17. Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) delighted to be able to put funding into it and to see it (Lab): What steps he is taking to give greater certainty help pubs to diversify, whether it is through local libraries of tenure and to improve affordability in the private being part of the pub, or pubs offering school meals or rented sector. [904520] providing lots of other services for their local community and making themselves the absolute heart of that The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for community. It is a good organisation and long may it Communities and Local Government (Kris Hopkins): We prosper. are supporting investment to develop a high-quality, professionally managed private rented sector. Our £1 billion Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): In 1992, there Build to Rent fund is on track to deliver up to 10,000 houses were four pubs in the village of Gisburn and we are now for rent. We are committed to promoting a sustainable down to one. Sadly, it closed a few months ago. The private rented sector, which is why this summer we will Star brewery wants to reopen the pub and more than publish a model tenancy agreement, giving landlords 20 residents of Gisburn are very keen to see it reopen, and tenants the choice to agree longer-term fixed tenancies. but it is a listed building and there seems to be stalling of some sort of by the local authority. Will the Minister Debbie Abrahams: What is the Minister doing specifically encourage local authorities and brewers to work together to stop tenants being ripped off by letting agencies? The to look for compromises in order to ensure that local model tenancy agreement was meant to have been published communities have the very heart of the community—their last October, so when can we expect to see it? local pub—reopened?

Brandon Lewis: Absolutely. A pub like that can be the Kris Hopkins: The model tenancy agreement will absolute heart of the community, providing a range of be published shortly. I am grateful for the opportunity services. Pub is The Hub and the Plunkett Foundation to say what we will do, including a document on how to may be able to help. I am certainly happy to meet my rent and a redress scheme to protect landlords and hon. Friend if that would be helpful. I encourage his tenants, in addition to the Consumer Rights Bill, which local authority to look at authorities such as Norfolk, insists on forcing agents to publish their fees on websites which has just announced a specific local scheme for and to put them on display. We also want to make sure Norfolk to help local pubs to stay open as a key part of that individuals who fail to look after the needs of these communities. others face not a maximum fine of £5,000, but a limitless fine. We want to protect the rights of tenants and we are Out-of-town Retail Development putting in place the opportunities to do so.

15. John Pugh (Southport) (LD): What assessment Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con): I know his Department has made of the extent to which the that the Minister is working on the model tenancy sequential test has inhibited out-of-town retail agreement and, in particular, the tenants charter, to set development. [904518] out clearly rights for those in private rented accommodation. Last week I met agents and landlords in my constituency The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for of Rossendale and Darwen who are looking forward to Communities and Local Government (Nick Boles): We and welcome that change, but will the Minister confirm have maintained strong planning policies requiring a that it will not include rent controls, which would mean town centre-first approach, including the sequential that landlords would be unable to invest in their property? test. This ensures that out-of-town development goes ahead only where there are no suitable sites in an Kris Hopkins: I know that my hon. Friend takes existing town centre. much interest in this subject and I can confirm that there will be no rent controls. This is about encouraging John Pugh: I thank the Minister for that response, but the growth of the private rented sector, to make sure we are being given some conflicting evidence: research that we have very high standards, the checks in place to by the Association of Convenience Stores shows unabated protect tenants and the opportunity to expand the expansion. Will the Minister conduct some further length of a tenancy through a voluntary process. An independent research into supermarket out-of-town agreement between a landlord and a tenant is the right expansion? way forward. 591 Oral Answers30 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 592

Laura Sandys (South Thanet) (Con): Does my hon. Business Rates Friend agree that we need to bear down on malpractice in the private rented sector? The Hackney Gazette reports 20. Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): What that a councillor who has set up a charity for the steps he is taking to help local firms with their business homeless refers them to his own estate agency and then rate bills in (a) England, (b) Tamworth and (c) places them in properties that he owns in my constituency. Lichfield. [904523] Is that not an abuse of our housing system? The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Kris Hopkins: I know the details involved, because Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis): my hon. Friend has written to me, and we have forwarded We have provided a £1 billion business rates package for them to the appropriate authorities. The Charity 2014-15, including the £1,000 discount that will benefit Commission is now examining what my hon. Friend smaller shops, pubs and restaurants, of which there are has alleged, and I will not comment any further until about 280 in Tamworth and 540 in Lichfield. We have after the investigation. also introduced a 50% discount for businesses taking on long-term empty shops, and as I said earlier, we have doubled small business rate relief for another year, Local Development Frameworks helping more than 500,000 businesses.

19. Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con): Christopher Pincher: Is my hon. Friend as concerned When he next plans to meet district council representatives as I am about Labour’s high street policy review, which to discuss their local development frameworks; and if suggests that business rates may be levied on farm land? he will make a statement. [904522] Does he not agree that—

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mr Speaker: Order. I am sure that the Minister’s Communities and Local Government (Nick Boles): I views on Labour party policy would be of great interest welcome the fact that King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and possibly a source of edification, but they are not council is one of the 55% of local authorities that have relevant now, because this is about Ministers’ responsibility an adopted local plan. My hon. Friend and I met last for Ministers’ policies and those of the Government. year, and I would be happy to arrange another meeting The wry smile of the hon. Member for Tamworth with him and local council representatives, if he would (Christopher Pincher) suggests that he is well aware of like that. that fact. Topical Questions Mr Bellingham: I thank my hon. Friend for that very helpful reply. Does he agree that, given the importance [904543] Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab/Co-op): of localism and local authority autonomy, councils T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental such as King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, which has plans responsibilities. in place plus a five-year-plus supply of housing, should have a very good chance indeed of not being overridden The Secretary of State for Communities and Local on appeal when it comes to speculative, opportunistic Government (Mr Eric Pickles): I wish to make a short developments? statement about the London borough of Tower Hamlets. In April, I instructed inspectors to launch an investigation Nick Boles: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The into the mayoral administration of Tower Hamlets and key is having a robust five-year land supply and, if an to report by the end of June, or such later date as I authority can demonstrate that, there is absolutely no agreed. The investigators, PricewaterhouseCoopers, have reason why their decisions about housing development informed me that the council has considerably delayed should not stick. the investigation by delaying the provision of key information or by simply not providing it at all. This is Mr Ben Wallace (Wyre and Preston North) (Con): not acceptable. I am consequently extending the period Many of my constituents in the market town of Garstang for PwC to report. The costs will be met by the council. are currently under siege from developers, who are Whether the council likes it or not, this investigation trying to bypass the local core development plan process will be thorough and comprehensive. I will update the and using their might to force through planning permission. House in due course. Other than what the Minister has just said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for North West Norfolk Stella Creasy: I share the right hon. Gentleman’s (Mr Bellingham), what extra steps might he put in place concerns about the situation that he has set out. to ensure that local authorities keep control of where I invite the Secretary of State to join Opposition they want developments to happen and how they want Members in condemning companies, such as Wonga, them to proceed? that are sending people fake solicitors’ letters. What is he doing to ensure that no local authority is using debt Nick Boles: My hon. Friend knows that the most collection agencies that are doing the same? important thing is that his local authority produce a plan. We are happy to support the process of getting Mr Pickles: I do condemn that; it is an outrageous that plan in place in any way we can. I can meet him and idea that people should be frightened in this way. I his local authority; I have officials who can help his cannot imagine local authorities, which by and large local authority; and it can also get some help from the always behave responsibly, doing something similar, but Planning Advisory Service. The key is to get that plan in I will certainly make investigations to ensure that it does place, and then the local authority will be in charge. not happen. 593 Oral Answers30 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 594

T2. [904544] Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): has cancelled the town centre regeneration project? Does the Secretary of State agree with me about the Will he say what the Government are doing to help importance of co-ordinated responses? This year in regenerate our high streets and municipal centres? Gloucestershire—including in my constituency—we had significant troubles with flooding and damage The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for to roads, which necessitated responses from the Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis): Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, My hon. Friend makes a good point. That decision is the Department for Communities and Local Government disappointing. A good town centre shows vitality and is and the Department for Transport. May I ask him to the heartbeat of a community; it is good for the local make sure that his Department helps to co-ordinate authority, as well, as there are successful businesses that work to best support local authorities and the paying business rates, something that local authorities people affected by those difficulties? should be keen on. Cheaper car parking to get more footfall is one way of achieving that. The Government Mr Pickles: I am pleased to report to the House that have brought in the biggest discounted package in business we were so impressed by what those in Gloucestershire rates for a generation—the £1 billion package that the did that we invited them to appear before the co-ordinating Chancellor announced in the autumn statement—as committee. There were many fine examples of working well as town teams and the Portas pilots. Where Labour with all the various agencies of the state for the betterment has not tried to stop them developing, as it has in of residents. Crawley, many people can now celebrate having good town centres through the Great British high streets Hilary Benn (Leeds Central) (Lab): Last year, the campaign. Secretary of State told the “Today” programme that he was going to stop CCTV being used around schools to T3. [904545] Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab/Co-op): prevent illegal and dangerous parking. He said: May I draw the Secretary of State’s attention to the “No, they can’t use a camera…I think it’s kind of the easy recent report on child sexual abuse by the all-party answer…to say ‘it’s all to protect the children’”. group on child protection? That report found that What on earth led the right hon. Gentleman to suggest the information-sharing guidelines issued by the that protecting the safety of our children was a bad Department in 2009 are now out of step with the idea? “Working Together” information from the Department for Education. Given that sharing of information is Mr Pickles: There seems to be a bit of a delay; that usually one of the things that has gone wrong when was some time ago. We consulted, we listened to the children die or are seriously injured, will he commit consultation and where it is not possible to have an to reviewing the guidelines now, in line with the enforcement officer present at the school, we have no recommendations? objection at all to cameras being used. What we have done is to stop councils going out and patrolling the Mr Pickles: The hon. Lady makes a very reasonable streets with cameras in order to make money, rather point. In this area, and also with Troubled Families than to protect children. I think we have passed the test programme and the better care fund, the ability to share of protecting children; what we have to do is to ensure information has bedevilled everything. I know that this that we pass the test of not persecuting the motorist. issue is a high priority for my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General. Hilary Benn: As usual, there was a lot of bluster there. The fact is that the Secretary of State wanted to T6. [904548] Jack Lopresti (Filton and Bradley Stoke) ban the use of cameras outside schools, but was forced (Con): What action can my right hon. Friend take to to change his mind. He knew it was unworkable because ensure that local authorities are able to move travellers the response to the consultation said: who are illegally pitched on to authorised sites in hours or days, and not weeks, as it is taking in south “Schools…were opposed to a camera ban.” Gloucestershire? Schools also said that cameras had a useful deterrent effect, that where they were not used dangerous parking Mr Pickles: As the House will know, we have made a was reported to increase and that parking was a significant number of changes, particularly on enforcement, on safety issue. After two U-turns in a week, when is the stopping duplication and on ensuring that enforcement Secretary of State going to realise that gimmicks in action can be taken on caravans. Local authorities and search of a headline are no substitute for policy that can the police have a lot of powers, but they have to act actually be implemented? promptly. It is certainly my experience that, if action is taken promptly, the law is adequate. Mr Pickles: The House always enjoys the right hon. Gentleman’s Lady Bracknell impersonation. He is saying T7. [904549] Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/ that I am guilty of consulting on this issue, listening to Co-op): What is the Secretary of State going to do the consultation and implementing what it wanted, but about providing the housing that is needed for people that seems to me to be a fairly reasonable way for a desperate to get on the housing ladder through either democrat to behave. buying themselves a house or renting one? Is he aware that the public policy institute of the London School of T5. [904547] Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): Will my Economics produced a report recently that said that hon. Friend join me in condemning the incoming the current situation was madness and that using 2.5% Labour administration of Crawley borough council, to 5% of the green belt could solve the housing which with a complete lack of vision and aspiration shortage? 595 Oral Answers30 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 596

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Kris Hopkins): Communities and Local Government (Stephen Williams): This Government are still picking up the pieces left by It is right than an investigation takes place into what the previous Administration when it comes to housing. happened in Birmingham. However, whatever the governing Whether it is by building affordable housing—and some structures and whatever the ethos of the school, some 200,000 such houses have been delivered to date; through of the things that were said there were fundamentally the new spend of some £23 billion, public and private, wrong. Surely everyone in the House would agree with to deliver 165,000 houses; by building twice as many that. council houses as the hon. Gentleman’s Government did in 13 years; or, to pick up his point about brownfield Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con): Not only has Labour- and the green belt, through our £400 million package to run Northumberland county council not frozen its council promote the building of some 200,000 houses on brownfield tax; it has cancelled its monthly full council meetings on land, this Government are responding to the needs of the premise of saving money. We know that it is to avoid the people of this country. protest about the teenage transport tax and the lack of a local plan. Does the Secretary of State agree that T8. [904550] Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con): democracy, debate and scrutiny are key pillars of a Stratford-on-Avon district council is about to submit council that should not be scrapped? its core strategy to the Planning Inspectorate for approval. Will the Minister confirm that, after Mr Pickles: I think those Labour councillors will find submission but before adoption, the strategy will be that they can run but cannot hide from the electorate. given weight in planning decisions and provide Part of the process of being a local councillor is being protection for my constituents, while delivering much- accountable to the electorate. They should just stop needed housing? hiding and face the facts. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab): Communities and Local Government (Nick Boles): I Does the Secretary of State agree with his housing congratulate Stratford-on-Avon district council on reaching Minister, who said on “Panorama” last week that it is that important point and thank my hon. Friend for “perfectly legitimate” for landlords not to give tenancies everything that he has done to help it get there. We to people who are claiming benefits? recently clarified in guidance, not least as a result of his interventions and advice, that once a plan has been submitted to the inspectorate for examination, it can Kris Hopkins: May I clarify what I said? It is not carry material weight in any decision about planning appropriate for a landlord to remove somebody just applications, even before it has formally been found to because they are on housing benefit, but an individual be sound. can make a commercial choice about who they want to live in their accommodation. It seems that the Labour T9. [904552] Pat Glass (North West Durham) (Lab): party, in its forthcoming manifesto, will prescribe who Story Homes has applied for planning permission to can live in an individual’s house. A private investor who build 151 houses on a greenfield site outside the has purchased a house should have the opportunity to boundary of Lanchester village in my constituency. It choose who lives in that house. is attempting to use the gap before the County Durham plan is approved to force the application through. The Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): At 2 o’clock this Minister kindly agreed to meet a Government Member afternoon, Essex county council issued a statement and his local authority on this very issue. Will he saying that its audit committee will take no further extend the same courtesy to me? action against Lord Hanningfield, the council’s former leader who spent £450,000 using the council’s credit Nick Boles: Of course; it would be my pleasure. card. Does the Secretary of State agree that there should be an independent inquiry into who knew what and Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con): Businesses on when? Worcester’s High street were outraged when, shortly after the floods, Labour hiked the parking charges, Mr Pickles: I have some sympathy with what my hon. harming local businesses. Will the Secretary of State Friend says. Lord Hanningfield brought great shame on join me in congratulating the new Conservative local government and the House of Lords. He should administration on Worcester city council on reversing do what he can to repay the money. those hikes as soon as it took power? Mr Pickles: That is excellent news; congratulations. Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab): Is the Minister aware of any recent progress with the Cleveland John Cryer (Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab): Can the fire authority mutualisation proposal? little Liberal answer the questions that were asked by my hon. Friends the Members for Ealing, Southall Brandon Lewis: I have not heard anything further (Mr Sharma) and for Luton North (Kelvin Hopkins), from the authority since I met the hon. Gentleman and which he failed to do earlier? While he is running his colleagues some weeks ago. around the country trying to reinforce integration, there are people in charge of free schools—Christian and Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): The Planning Muslim fundamentalists—who are trying to push their Minister is well aware of the problems in North East communities in the opposite direction. While I am at it, Lincolnshire council with delays in producing a local can I welcome him to the Dispatch Box? It just goes to plan, and last week it lost yet another appeal, imposing show where unmitigated grovelling can get people. unwanted development on the village of Humberston. 597 Oral Answers30 JUNE 2014 Oral Answers 598

Will the Minister meet me and representatives from the Mr Speaker: I am in a generous mood so I will call council to see what can be done to overcome my Mr Davies and then I will give the hon. Member for constituents’ concerns? Tamworth (Christopher Pincher) a chance to do better the second time round. Nick Boles: Of course I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend again. He is right to say that North East Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): The people of Lincolnshire council is in the process of failing its local Micklethwaite in my constituency are grateful to the residents again and again in producing a plan, unlike Secretary of State for twice rejecting an inappropriate North Lincolnshire, which has done so in very good planning development there. Unfortunately, the Labour time. council has now approved a very similar development, with grave concerns from local residents about the planning process, and what appeared to be a whipped Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): One stated vote. Will the Secretary of State look into that to see objective of the Homes and Communities Agency’s whether he can intervene, and whether any rules can be programme for the allocation of economic assets is to brought in to stop repeat applications for the same site? “align the assets with local economic ambitions and thereby to create more effective local economic development strategies”. Nick Boles: There are already rules that enable councils However, for Hythe marine park in New Forest East, to resist applications that are very similar to ones that the HCA seems minded to appoint a preferred bidder have been rejected, and it is only a shame that my hon. on the basis of just a moderately higher bid, without Friend’s local authority did not see fit to explore what regard to those other important elements. Will the possibilities are open to it. Minister comment on the need for the HCA to follow its own guidelines when appointing preferred bidders Mr Speaker: Last but not least, Mr Christopher for something that will have such a major impact throughout Pincher. the constituency? Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker: I cannot wait to hear the reply, but I I know my place; regrettably, you appear to know it too. wonder whether we ought to have an Adjournment Will the Secretary of State rule out levying business debate on the matter. rates on farmland—as some have suggested—because that will hit farmers and will also hike the price of food Kris Hopkins: I have had the opportunity to visit for hard-working families? HCA departments around the country, and there is some tremendous work delivering the houses that are Mr Speaker: The hon. Gentleman has put the same needed. I take the point that my hon. Friend has raised. question—he just sanitised it. I will see the chief executive of the HCA this afternoon, Mr Pickles: And very good it was too. Let me be so I will take a note with me. absolutely clear: we have no plans to impose taxation on agriculture by extending the rating system to agricultural Several hon. Members rose— land. We rule that out absolutely. 599 30 JUNE 2014 European Council 600

European Council European Council was going to let the European Parliament choose the next President of the Commission in that way, I at least wanted to put Britain’s opposition to the 3.33 pm decision firmly on the record. The Prime Minister (Mr David Cameron): With I believe that it was a bad day for Europe because the permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement decision of the Council risks undermining the position on last week’s European Council. of national Governments, and it risks undermining the Before turning to the appointment of the next power of national Parliaments by handing further power Commission President, let me briefly report back on to the European Parliament. Although the nomination two other points. First, the Council began in Ypres with has been decided and must be accepted, it is important a moving ceremony at the Menin Gate to mark the that the Council at least agreed to review and reconsider 100th anniversary of the gunshots in Sarajevo that led how to handle the next appointment of a Commission to the first world war. It is right that we should take President. That is set out in the Council conclusions. special steps to commemorate the centenary of this Turning to the future, we must work with the new conflict and remember the extraordinary sacrifice of a Commission President, as we always do, to secure our generation who gave their lives for our freedom. national interest. I spoke to him last night and he The Government are determined to ensure that Britain repeated—[Interruption.] has fitting national commemorations, including the re-opening of the newly refurbished Imperial War museum Mr Speaker: Order. A statement by the Prime Minister next month. Secondly, the Council signed association must be heard. There is great interest in questioning the agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. These Prime Minister, and there will be a full opportunity to reflect our commitment to supporting those countries do so, but propriety and courtesy dictate that the Prime as they undertake difficult reforms that will strengthen Minister must be heard. their economies, bolster their democracies and improve the stability of the whole continent. The Prime Minister: Thank you, Mr Speaker. President Poroshenko joined the Council to discuss the immediate situation in Ukraine. The Council welcomed The new Commission President repeated his commitment his peace plan and the extension of the ceasefire until in his manifesto to address British concerns about the this evening. The onus is now on Russia to respond EU. The whole process only underlines my conviction positively by pressing the separatists to respect a genuine that Europe needs to change. Some progress—some ceasefire, release hostages and return occupied border modest progress—was made in arguing for reform at posts to the Ukrainian authorities. The Council agreed this Council. The Council conclusions make it absolutely that, if we do not see concrete progress very soon, we clear that the focus of the Commission’s mandate for remain willing to impose further sanctions on Russia. the next five years must be on building stronger economies That would not necessarily require a further meeting and creating jobs, exactly as agreed with the leaders of of the Council, but the Council will return to the issue Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands at the Harpsund at its next meeting, which has now been arranged for summit earlier this month. 16 July. The Council underlined the need to address concerns Turning to the appointment of the next Commission about immigration arising from misuse of, or fraudulent President, I firmly believe that it should be for the claims on, the right of freedom of movement. We European Council—the elected Heads of national agreed that national Parliaments must have a stronger Governments—to propose the President of the European role, and that the EU should act only where it makes a Commission. It should not be for the European Parliament real difference. We broke new ground, with the Council to try and dictate that choice to the Council. That is a conclusions stating explicitly that ever closer union point of principle on which I was not prepared to must allow for different paths of integration for different budge. In taking that position, I welcomed the support countries and, crucially, respect the wishes of those of the Leader of the Opposition as well as that of the such as Britain that do not want further integration. Deputy Prime Minister in opposing the imposition of For the first time, all my fellow 27 Heads of Government Jean-Claude Juncker on the Council. I believe that the have agreed explicitly, in the Council conclusions, that Council could have found a candidate who commanded they need to address Britain’s concerns about the European the support of every member state. That has been the Union. That has not been said before. Therefore, although practice on every previous occasion, and I think it was a Europe has taken a big step backwards in respect of the mistake to abandon that approach this time. nomination of the Commission President, we did secure Of course, there is a reason why no veto is available some small steps forward for Britain in its relationship when it comes to the decision—the reason is that the with the EU. previous Government signed the Nice treaty, which Last week’s outcome will make renegotiation of Britain’s gave up our veto over the nomination of the Commission relationship with the European Union harder, and it President, as well as the Lisbon treaty, which gave the certainly makes the stakes higher. There will always be Parliament stronger rights to elect the Commission huge challenges in the long campaign to reform the President. Therefore, once it was clear that the Council European Union, but with determination, I believe we was determined to proceed, I insisted that it took a can deliver. We cut the EU Budget. We got Britain out formal vote, which does not usually happen. Facing the of the bail-out schemes. We have achieved a fundamental prospect of being outvoted, some might have swallowed reform of the disastrous common fisheries policy and their misgivings and gone with the flow, but I believed it made a start on cutting EU red tape. We are making was important to push the principle and our deep real progress on the single market, and on the free trade misgivings about this issue right to the end. If the deals that are vital for new growth and jobs in Britain. 601 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 602

My colleagues on the European Council know that What happened to the Prime Minister’s great allies in Britain wants and needs reform, and they know that Europe? He wrote in the Daily Telegraph this morning Britain sticks to its position. In the European elections that people cried out for change across the continent. They “it has been suggested we now lack allies.” are intensely frustrated and they deserve a voice. Britain All he needed to do to block Mr Juncker was persuade will be the voice of those people. We will always stand those people in the boat, but everyone in the boat voted up for our principles, we will always defend our national against him. The Swedish Prime Minister voted against interest and we will fight with all we have to reform the him. The Dutch Prime Minister voted against him. The EU over the next few years. At the end of 2017, it will German Chancellor voted against him. not be me, this Parliament or Brussels that decides Now, the Prime Minister wants to imply that all of Britain’s future in the European Union. It will be the this shows that every other European leader is just British people. I commend this statement to the House. deeply unprincipled. Indeed, the Health Secretary went as far as to say it showed everyone else was a “coward”. Is that how the Prime Minister would describe his 3.40 pm fellow European leaders? Is not a more plausible explanation Edward Miliband (Doncaster North) (Lab): I start by that the problem for the anti-Juncker cause was that it joining the Prime Minister in remembering all those had a toxic supporter—the Prime Minister? And is not who lost their lives in the first world war, and it is right the reality that he could not attract any allies because that we will mark their sacrifice and those events throughout the rest of Europe simply lost patience as a result of his this year. actions not just in the last few weeks, but in the last few I also welcome the association agreements with Georgia, years? It comes down to this: when he comes calling, Moldova and Ukraine, and I endorse the Prime Minister’s they believe he is doing so to help solve the problems of sentiments about the situation in Ukraine and the the Conservative party, not those of the European responsibilities of the Russian Government. The truth Union. is that the Prime Minister returned to Britain on Friday Let us take the Polish Foreign Minister, who is an having failed—not some small, mild failure, but an Anglophile. This is what he said about the Prime Minister: appalling failure of relationship building, winning support “″He is not interested, he does not get it...his whole strategy of and delivering for Britain. I know it is inconvenient to feeding” remind him, but he lost by 26 votes to two. Now he his Back Benchers comes to the Chamber and seems to claim that failure “scraps in order to satisfy them is…turning against him…he as a complete vindication of his tactics. His party may ceded the field to those that are now embarrassing him”. think it represents splendid isolation, but it is utter [Interruption.] humiliation. The Prime Minister said that with a mandate from all Mr Speaker: Order. Mr Ellis, calm yourself, man. major parties, including Labour, he could build an Only this morning a teacher said to me in Speaker’s alliance to stop Mr Juncker. So why did he fail? He house: “How can I tell a little boy in my class to behave started with a divided Europe over the Juncker candidacy, when parliamentarians don’t?” Be a good boy; get the and he ended with a united Europe—against him. He message. did not say in his statement, so how does he think he pulled off that remarkable achievement? Edward Miliband: Perhaps the Prime Minister will now tell us whether he agrees with the assessment of the At the start of the process, the German Chancellor Polish Foreign Minister—and who can blame him for said, thinking in that way, because every time this Prime “The agenda”— Minister has had a major decision to make, he has put of the next European Commission— party interest before national interest. He walked out of “can be handled by him”— the European People’s party nine years ago, and earlier this month threw in his hand with the German equivalent Mr Juncker— of UKIP. Perhaps he can tell us how that went down “but also by many others. At the end, there will be a fairly broad with Chancellor Merkel? Was not his decision on the tableau of names on the table.” EPP a parable of his failure to lead for Britain—short-term How did we end up with only one name? How did she party management at huge long-term loss to Britain’s and 25 others end up supporting Mr Juncker? Is not the national interest? answer that the Prime Minister’s combination of threats, Three years ago, the Prime Minister walked out of insults and disengagement turned out to be a master a European Council announcing that he had vetoed a class in how to alienate your allies and lose the argument treaty, but it went ahead anyway and he just looked for Britain? That includes his threat to leave the European absurd. Now, he wants to negotiate a new treaty when Union if Mr Juncker was chosen. he cannot say what he wants in it. All the time, this is We all remember that he went rowing in a boat with driven by a party whose centre of gravity is drifting Chancellor Merkel and other centre-right leaders on a towards exit. Does he not accept that, with Mr Juncker, Swedish lake in order to win support. But afterwards the strategy of threatening exit was put to the test and she said: failed? [Interruption.] I know Government Members “Threats are not part and parcel of the”— do not want to hear about his failure, but they are going to hear it. European— Does the Prime Minister not agree that the great “spirit. This is not part of the way in which we usually proceed”. irony—the thing that makes this even worse—is that he We know who she was talking about—the Prime Minister. claims to be a great supporter of Britain’s membership 603 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 604

[Edward Miliband] idea of closer political and economic union, and to the freedom of movement of peoples, which would siphon of the European Union? We agree that we should be in huge numbers of further immigrants into this country? the European Union. Does he not agree that his problem May I also deplore the provocative decision of the is the gap between what people behind him are demanding European Union to move its economic frontier to within and what sensible European reform amounts to? Europe 300 miles of Moscow, which will certainly be regarded is not unreformable; it is just that the Prime Minister by Russia as a strategic threat to which it will respond? cannot do it. [Interruption.] The Prime Minister: I completely agree with my right Mr Speaker: Order. The role of the Prime Minister’s hon. Friend about the importance of recognising that Parliamentary Private Secretary is to fetch and carry freedom of movement is not an unqualified right. It is notes and to nod and shake his head in the right places. very important for it to be properly qualified, particularly Mr Williamson, be quiet and if you cannot be quiet, get in respect of benefit abuse. However, I am afraid that I out, man! do not agree with the other point made by the Father of the House. I think that the eastern partnerships that the Edward Miliband: The Prime Minister could not get EU has entered into can help to embed market economics four countries to support him over Mr Juncker, and if and democracies in those countries. I think it important he cannot get four countries to block the appointment to stress in respect of, for instance, Ukraine or Moldova of a President, how on earth is he going to get 27 countries that this is not about asking countries which orbit they to support a new treaty? This weekend has shown want to fit into, and whether they want to choose conclusively to everyone but this Prime Minister that between a good relationship with Russia and a good his renegotiation strategy is in tatters. We know where it relationship with the EU. They should be able to have would end: he would be caught in the gulf between his good relationships with both. Back Benchers who want to leave and what he can negotiate. The Prime Minister failed over Mr Juncker. Mr Peter Hain (Neath) (Lab): Why is losing in Brussels He was outwitted—[Interruption.] always such a magnificent victory to the Prime Minister and his Back Benchers? Mr Speaker: Order. I am quite sure that the Leader The Prime Minister: I always prefer it when we succeed of the Opposition will bring his remarks to a close; and in, for instance, cutting the EU budget or reinforcing the baying mob should calm itself so that he has the the need for deregulation, but what matters—and the opportunity to do so. right hon. Gentleman, as a former Europe Minister, Edward Miliband: The Prime Minister failed over should know this—is that there are times when it is Mr Juncker. He was outwitted, out-manoeuvred and important to stand up for a principle and not to give in, out-voted. Instead of building our alliances in Europe, no matter what the pressure may be. It does not matter he is burning them. He is a defeated Prime Minister how many countries were ranged against me. I think who cannot deliver for Britain. that Jean-Claude Juncker was the wrong candidate, I think that it was the wrong principle, and there are The Prime Minister: We have heard yet another times when you should stick to your guns. performance worthy of Neil Kinnock—endless words, Sir Malcolm Rifkind (Kensington) (Con): Does the endless wind, endless rhetoric, but no questions, no grit Prime Minister agree that the conclusions of the European and no ability to stand up for Britain. I have to say that Council were both unprecedented and very helpful? I will not take lectures on negotiation from the people Instead of simply referring to a two-speed Europe, who gave away the veto, gave away the rebate and who which implies that we all end up at the same destination, backed down on the budget every year and even signed the Council stated—for the first time, as far as I am us up to euro bail-outs. We will not take any lectures aware—that we must allow from them. The fact is that we did not have a veto in this situation because the Opposition signed the Lisbon “those that want to deepen integration” treaty and they signed the Nice treaty. That was always to do so, but we must also respect opposed by Conservative Members. “the wish of those who do not want to deepen any further.” The right hon. Gentleman talks about the ability to Does that not represent real progress with regard to one bring allies together. Where were his allies in the socialist of the main objectives of the United Kingdom? party? They were at a meeting in Paris. All the key The Prime Minister: I agree with my right hon. and socialist leaders were there. They all decided to support learned Friend. There is no doubt that seeking changes Jean-Claude Juncker. Where was the Leader of the in the concept of ever closer union is one of the toughest Opposition? He was not even invited. That is how much things that we are asking for in our renegotiation. This influence he has. is the first time that European Council conclusions have Not once did the right hon. Gentleman actually say ever included anything like this: that he did not support Jean-Claude Juncker either. To “In this context, the European Council noted that the concept support the Government over opposing this principle of ever closer union allows for different paths of integration for and opposing this individual, only to criticise and complain, different countries, allowing those that want to deepen integration is typical of the right hon. Gentleman’s approach: weak, to move ahead, while respecting the wish of those who do not opportunistic and wrong. want to deepen any further.” The Council also concluded: Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle) (Con): May “The UK raised some concerns related to the future development I express to our Prime Minister my admiration for his of the EU. These concerns will need to be addressed.” determined opposition to the election to the presidency Those words have not previously appeared in European of the European Union of a man who is wedded to the Council conclusions. 605 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 606

Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): I welcome the at the European Council we made some progress on Prime Minister’s further support for enlargement of ever closer union and on setting out specific concerns the EU, with the announcement that Albania has that Britain had, but we have got a long way to go—and, become the sixth candidate country to join. Does he frankly, as I said on Friday, the job has got harder. agree it is important that we work with these countries However, I think there are many in Europe who understand now on the huge challenges facing them, rather than that we need a totally different approach for the eurozone wait until the last minute, just before they become full members than for the non-eurozone members. members? Sir William Cash (Stone) (Con): I commend my right The Prime Minister: I agree with the right hon. hon. Friend for the stand he took on the overriding Gentleman that the enlargement process has been successful Bloomberg speech principle, which was that national in driving the development and improving the democracy Parliaments are the root of our democracy, for which, and governance of many of these countries. I further as we have commemorated recently, people have over agree with him about engaging with them now, because the past 100 years fought and died—not only to save a country like Albania has huge challenges in terms of this country, but to save Europe as well. Does my right tackling corruption, embedding its democracy and hon. Friend recall that the European Commission, which developing its economy. In that context it is very important is now headed by Mr Juncker, recently asserted through that when new countries get to join—Albania is a long Mr Barroso that the European Parliament is the only way from that process—there will have to be a totally effective Parliament for the European Union? Does my new approach to transitional controls. right hon. Friend therefore agree with me that we must assert our national Parliament—it must prevail—and Mr Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (LD): that he was completely right to do what he did this Do not the antecedents of this problem go back to the weekend? fateful decision of the Prime Minister when he was running for his party leadership to approve the withdrawal The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes an important of the British Conservatives from the European People’s point, which is that there are those in Europe—frankly, party? Mr Juncker was the candidate of the EPP. Had there are too many of them—who say that the only the Prime Minister’s party been a member of it, it could democratic legitimacy in Europe is the European have had influence in private, instead of impotence in Parliament, and that somehow the Parliament is the public. That would have been good for the Prime Minister, essence of democracy whereas the European Council is good for his party, good for the Government and, my an organisation that meets in a darkened room. That is goodness, far better for Britain. completely wrong. The European Council consists of Prime Ministers and Presidents, who have a much greater democratic mandate than the European Parliament. The Prime Minister: I have great respect for the right One of the points that needs to be thought about for the hon. Gentleman and it is good to see him in his place future is that if there is another election like this, we today, but I think he is profoundly wrong about this. could have a candidate for the Commission presidency Let me give two examples of why I think that. The who was deeply against the interests of other member Liberal Democrats are members of the Alliance of states—perhaps a candidate who wanted to kick Greece Liberals and Democrats for Europe, yet he was not able out of the euro or who did not believe the Baltic states to stop the leading candidate process in that group; and belonged in the European Union. That is why the the Labour party is a leading member of the Socialist principle at stake is so important. Group, yet it was completely incapable of stopping the leading candidate process in that group. There were Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab/Co-op): Initially, members of the EEP who did not approve of this but Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland and Italy all expressed still could not stop it, so the idea that we would have reservations about the appointment of Mr Juncker. been able to stop it within the EPP is complete nonsense. What does the Prime Minister think he did to change their minds? Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston) (Lab): Twenty-six to two is not just the score for the Prime The Prime Minister: The most significant thing that Minister’s—very successful—negotiations to stop the happened is that all these countries, in one way or Commission President; it is also the score for the countries another, signed up to the Spitzenkandidat—the leading that are either in the euro or under treaty obligation to candidate—process. The European political families, be in the euro. There are only two countries that have starting with the socialists, decided to appoint a candidate got an opt-out, and we are one. If the Prime Minister they wanted for the Commission; the EPP and the wants to stand up for Britain’s interests, will he update liberals followed suit; and leader after leader found the House on just what negotiations he has had to themselves strapped to a conveyor belt of their own ensure that our interests are reflected as the eurozone making which they could not get off—that is what requires deeper political integration? happened. We did not do that, which is why we rightly opposed this to the end. The Prime Minister: The hon. Lady is absolutely right. What we need to secure is a European Union Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife) (LD): But where the eurozone members who need to integrate may I encourage the Prime Minister to return to the further can integrate further, but the members of the issue of reform, because long after the indignation is single market, particularly those like Britain that do not spent, reform will be fundamental to the future of want to join the euro, can stay out of that integration the European Union and our relationship with it? and, indeed, in some cases, powers can be returned to Notwithstanding his disappointment, the Prime Minister member states. I explained that in these detailed negotiations has been very pragmatic in the past two or three days, 607 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 608

[Sir Menzies Campbell] The Prime Minister: Well, that is not the outcome that I seek; I want to secure a reformed European particularly with his telephone call of congratulation to Union, and I want Britain to be part of that reformed Mr Juncker. Much can be done to reform Europe without European Union. I have to say that the problem with treaty change, so is it not time for the rigorous application the hon. Gentleman’s position is that the Opposition do of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, not seem to see anything wrong with the status quo. It is which do not need treaty change, only political will? only those on this side of the House and in my party who know that we need serious change in Europe before The Prime Minister: I agree with a lot of what my we hold that referendum. right hon. and learned Friend has said. There are changes that can be made in Europe without treaty change, but Mr John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con): I congratulate my view is that to secure the sort of renegotiation that the Prime Minister on—[Interruption.] It is now time Britain needs, we should be accompanying some of the for all sensible political leaders to argue for the UK. We treaty changes that the eurozone, in time, will need with are not in the euro and we do not want to join the treaty changes that will also suit Britain, in the way that political union. Only with strong leadership can we the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Ms Stuart) have a relationship that makes sense for Britain. pointed out—as a country that wants to be in the single market but does not want to join the euro. The Prime Minister: I thank my right hon. Friend for his remarks. I think that the Opposition were rather Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab): May I gently suggest hoping that we would all be falling out over the European to the Prime Minister that, as Mrs Gaitskell once said, issue, but they can see that we are absolutely united in it is the wrong people cheering? How exactly have doing the right thing for Britain. Britain’s national interests and the interests of reform in Europe been advanced by his recent posturing? Mr Elfyn Llwyd (Dwyfor Meirionnydd) (PC): May I associate myself fully with what the Prime Minister said The Prime Minister: It advances Britain’s interests if about the fallen of the first world war? I am proud to people know that a British Prime Minister and a British say that I will be present in mid-August for the unveiling Government will set out a principle and stick to it. The of the memorial to the Welsh fallen. problem all too often under the Labour Government If and when the Prime Minister needs the assistance was that they did not stick to their principle. That is why of other states on important issues to come, does he they gave away part of our rebate, they caved in on the think that his behaviour last week has made his job budget year after year, and they signed up to eurozone easier or more difficult? bail-outs. If they had stuck to their principles, they might have been more respected. The Prime Minister: Let me echo what the right hon. Gentleman said about the first world war memorial. Sir Richard Ottaway (Croydon South) (Con): Much When one stands under the Menin Gate in Ypres, it is has been made of so-called divisions inside the Conservative very striking to note just how many Welshmen fell in party over this issue, but does the Prime Minister agree that conflict. I was able to see the name of my great-great that the opposite is true? As a one-nation Tory who uncle who fought bravely for the Canadian Scottish believes in our membership of the European Union, I Battalion in 1915 and fell. was proud of the way he stood up for British interests As for how Britain approached this issue, I think last week. Does he agree that the Socialist Group’s everyone will be able to see that we were making a candidate for the job— and, by implication, the Labour serious argument of principle about the wrong decision party’s—a Mr Martin Schulz, makes Mr Juncker look and the wrong path that Europe is taking by having like an arch Eurosceptic? leading candidates appointed by political parties and then foisted on to the European Union as Commission The Prime Minister: My right hon. Friend makes an Presidents. We now know who will be the Commission important point. As I say, this process began because President for the next five years. Let us think forward: if one after the other the European political parties decided we continue with this process, we might have as the to pick a leading candidate—a so-called Spitzenkandidat leading candidate of one of the leading parties someone —for the job. who has views that are completely antipathetic to one or more member states. That is a very dangerous principle. Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East The democratic legitimacy in Europe should flow through Cleveland) (Lab): Who’s your candidate? the European Council, which is where the elected Heads of Government and heads of state sit. The Prime Minister: I do not have a candidate for the job, because as a political party leader I think it is Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): Since his wrong to elect the head of the Commission in this principled stand at the weekend, is the Prime Minister way—that is the whole problem. I have to say that the aware that there is quite clearly support from our European position Labour would have been in if Martin Schulz partners for a large element of reform? Will he now had ended up as the Commission President would have commit himself to the painstaking and difficult work of been even more embarrassing for you. building the alliances necessary to help us get those reforms so that he can deliver what he promised to the Mike Gapes (Ilford South) (Lab/Co-op): Does the country? Prime Minister agree that a British exit from the European Union would be an economic disaster for this country, The Prime Minister: I am grateful to my right hon. damaging our trade and employment, and reducing Friend for his remarks. That is exactly what I will do. British influence in Europe and the world? There are countries and leaders in Europe who are clear 609 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 610 about the need for reform. They want to see greater Sir Gerald Howarth (Aldershot) (Con): I, too, flexibility and competitiveness. They are willing to look congratulate my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at the British agenda of completing the single market, on his sterling leadership this weekend, which stands in signing trade deals, having a flexible European Union, stark contrast to the behaviour of the sell-out merchants not forcing everyone into the single currency, and imposing on the Opposition Benches over the past two decades. safeguards for the single market. Even difficult issues May I encourage my right hon. Friend to continue to such as ensuring that freedom of movement is a qualified stand up for British interests, which are best served not right and addressing benefit tourism are things that by ever closer union but by returning real powers to this leaders on both the right and the left in Europe are sovereign Parliament? willing to change, and that is what we need to build on. The Prime Minister: I am grateful to my hon. Friend Mr Pat McFadden (Wolverhampton South East) (Lab): for his support. During what will be, as I have described The Prime Minister said in his article this morning and it, a long and difficult campaign to reform the European in his statement today that it does not matter if he is Union and our membership of it, it is important to isolated as long as he is in the correct position. The recognise that people need to see clearly that when difference is that in the negotiation on which he is now Britain stands for a principle, it sticks to it. embarking, he needs the support not of one other member state but of all other member states. How does Hugh Bayley (York Central) (Lab): If the Prime he intend to move from a position of not so splendid Minister wants to strengthen Britain’s hand in any isolation to securing the support that he says he wants? future renegotiation, it is important that he should be If he cannot secure it, he will end up recommending able to say that he represents the national consensus withdrawal, which is precisely the outcome he says he and that he has consulted other parties, business and does not want. the CBI, as well as the TUC, to set out clearly what changes he is after. What plans does he have to play this in the national interest rather than from a party political The Prime Minister: The right hon. Gentleman makes standpoint? an important point. Britain will build alliances with the leaders and countries that want to see change in Europe. For instance, the Swedish Prime Minister said yesterday The Prime Minister: First, on this specific issue there that the UK were detailed cross-party discussions to ensure that we all did everything we could to try to stop the conveyor “has friends in the EU…Just look into what we have written in belt of the leading candidates. We should build on that. our conclusions.” I set out a very clear agenda in the Bloomberg speech, The Danish Prime Minister said that the EU including deep engagement with business. The British “should not occupy itself with some of the things that member Chambers of Commerce and the Institute of Directors states can handle better themselves.” supported what I did at the weekend, and we will go on The Finnish Prime Minister said that talking to British businesses to ensure that we deliver what they also think is right, which is reform of the “for a country like Finland, British membership is very important.” European Union. The fact is that when it comes to this renegotiation, there are many countries in the EU that want to keep Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden) (Con): Britain in and recognise that real change will have to Given that my right hon. Friend’s position had the come. support of the Labour party and the Liberal Democrats as well as of the Conservatives, was he not right to Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton) (Con): What would ignore the advice of those who urged him to turn tail as have to happen for my right hon. Friend to come back soon as some of our allies turned coat? He was right to from his renegotiation and recommend that people vote stand his ground, and by so doing he has made it more out? likely that we will win real reform in future. I congratulate him above all on stating the British position with such conviction. As Mrs Thatcher said, the half-hearted The Prime Minister: Well, I have set out my approach, always lose; those with conviction ultimately win. which is always to follow the national interest. It is in the national interest to renegotiate our position in Europe to secure the changes that I have set out. I do not start a The Prime Minister: I am grateful to my right hon. negotiation believing that we will not achieve those Friend for what he has said. This is always important, things; I set out wanting to achieve them and to come because in the European Council there is always a back to this country, but I will always do what is in the temptation simply to go with the flow, to sign up to national interest. whatever is being proposed and to try to seek some sort of bauble or extra bit of leverage on the way. Indeed, I suspect that that is what happened in a number of cases. Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab): I was very clear that this was an important principle, I could not help but notice that not a single Lib Dem that I thought Europe was taking a wrong turn, and Minister is in the Chamber today. Where are they all? that I was not going to turn away and do anything but oppose it. The Prime Minister: We have heard from two very prominent Liberal Democrats, and it is very good that Kate Hoey (Vauxhall) (Lab): Does the Prime Minister they are present today. On this issue, I was the one not agree that any real attempts to get radical reform of attending the European Council, and my colleagues can the European Union will come up against a brick wall answer for themselves. made up of people who lead Europe and who, whatever 611 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 612

[Kate Hoey] The Prime Minister: I was not aware of that. I will follow the reaction in Southend very closely. they say publicly, want ever closer union and a federal structure? Is that not the real issue? What the British Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Lab): Does the Prime people want has to be decided by a referendum as soon Minister recall that, at one time, we had a Prime Minister as possible. called Harold Wilson, who thought that there should be fundamental reform of the then common market? After The Prime Minister: The hon. Lady is absolutely much huffing and puffing, he announced to an amazed right that a referendum is required, because people have electorate that he had gained those fundamental changes. to see that Britain is absolutely serious about requiring Harold, being a clever person, never defined what those reform in the EU. I totally agree with the premise of her changes were. In order to give the electorate a real question, which is that there have been and to some choice this time, will the Prime Minister set up a red and extent still are people who sit around the table and say blue lines committee so that voters will know from endlessly that the euro is the currency of the European where he is batting when it comes to the crucial negotiations? Union, forgetting that there are countries such as Britain with a permanent opt-out from the euro. We must get The Prime Minister: Of course we will set those out away from that thinking and from the idea of ever very clearly—[Interruption.] I have said that we have closer union and move towards the idea that this is not got to get Britain out of ever-closer union and end the just about going at different speeds in the same direction, abuse of free movement and welfare. We have got to but that for some countries, Britain included, it is about have proper safeguards so that we can stay in the single going at different speeds in a slightly different direction. market but not have to join the single currency, proper We are not going to join the euro, we are not going to safeguards so that if we do not want to be in justice and join the Schengen no-borders agreement, and real flexibility home affairs we should not be in justice and home needs to be hard-wired into the European Union if affairs, and a whole lot more besides. I respect the right Britain is going to stay. hon. Gentleman a great deal, and I would say to him that there is a fundamental difference between the situation Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham) (Con): he mentioned and what is happening today, because the I congratulate the Prime Minister on the stance he took European Union has changed and developed so much. in Europe. He made us all very proud of the British For those countries that have the euro as their currency, Prime Minister. Is it not a fact that many of the citizens that is driving integration. I believe that, over time, they of the European countries now wish to see change in are going to need not only a banking union but more of Europe? Does he agree with the Luxemburger Wort,a a fiscal union and other elements of a transfer union. leading Luxembourg paper, which said, speculating on That will happen to the eurozone, and it is right for the his stance: British people to have the opportunity to express their “Could it be that the Brit is already far ahead of the game?” view on a very different position for Britain in that European Union. Those conditions simply did not exist in 1975. The Prime Minister: I have not been as hard working as my right hon. Friend in scouring Luxembourg’s press, but I shall obviously put that right. There are Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): The Leader people all over Europe, not just in Britain, who want to of the Opposition accuses the Prime Minister of being a see a more flexible approach and European reform. The failure, but is it not occasionally a virtue, even in this European elections reflected that, and the leaders of place, to stand up for what one believes in and to fail? It Europe need to listen to those elections. is not necessarily a vice to compromise and succeed, but it is surely neither a vice nor a virtue—it is just rather sad—constantly to compromise and to be a failure, Kevin Barron (Rother Valley) (Lab): Does the Prime which is the default position of the dead hand of the Minister think that the use of personal insults, either in Leader of the Opposition. this House or in the European Council, is more likely to strengthen or weaken the UK’s influence in any renegotiations? The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes a very good point. The fact is that the leaders of the principal parties in Britain agreed that this person was the wrong The Prime Minister: I do not think that it is right to one, but as soon as things get difficult the weak give up make personal insults or personal attacks, and that is the chase. certainly not the approach that I took. I was very clear that this was an issue of principle, but I also said that I thought this individual was the wrong person to take Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South) (Lab): Does Europe forward. That was on the basis of experience of the Prime Minister remember the wise advice of Theodore what he has stood for and explained in the past. But I Roosevelt when he spoke of the need to absolutely agree that personal insults should play no “speak softly and carry a big stick”? part in this. If he does, how did he manage to end up speaking so loudly and carrying such a small one? The worst of it is James Duddridge (Rochford and Southend East) (Con): that everyone knows that this Prime Minister is not only The policy of standing up for Britain has gone down ropey on strategy but useless on tactics. incredibly well in Southend, which is hardly a surprise. Has the Prime Minister seen the recent polling that puts The Prime Minister: As Prime Minister I have secured the Conservatives up 5%, two points ahead of the weak a cut in the European budget, vetoed a European treaty, Leader of the Opposition? secured progress for the single market, and got us out of 613 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 614 the euro bail-out schemes that the hon. Gentleman’s Britain. We have had treaty after treaty, change after party signed up to in government. That is a track record change, power after power taken from this House and of achievement in Europe, but there are times when you passed to Brussels, without the British people being are making a stand on a principle when you are going to given a say. That is why we need the renegotiation and be outvoted. There are two reactions to that: you can the referendum. Our power in this place comes from the either give up and go along with the majority, which is, I people who elect us. We cannot continually change the suspect, what the Leader of the Opposition would have rules of the game without asking their permission. done, or you stick to your principles, make your arguments and stick to your guns. Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): I, for one, am delighted that the Prime Minister is so enjoying going down in Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con): I thank flames. I look forward to him doing exactly the same my right hon. Friend for bringing such refreshing next May. He said earlier that his defence was that he is transparency to the negotiating process. Mrs Merkel a man of conviction, but I suspect the only conviction has said that she is ready to listen and respond to the he knows anything about was handed down in the Old concerns of the United Kingdom. Does her willingness Bailey last week. Is not the one thing that we have extend to revision, if not abolition, of the working time learned for certain about this Prime Minister that he directive? accepts reassurances far too readily? Will he give this lot a second chance as well? The Prime Minister: There are a number of things that we need to change in Europe. The working time The Prime Minister: I think the hon. Gentleman was directive has done great damage, including to our health a bit better when he was in the Oxford university service, and we never approved of it in the first place. Conservative association—he might then have said That is very important. We will continue to have discussions something I would agree with: I do not agree with any with the Germans and others about all the things that of that at all. we want to change as part of our renegotiation. Sir Edward Garnier (Harborough) (Con): In his statement Cathy Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab/Co- my right hon. Friend said that the Council agreed that if op): Does the Prime Minister agree that, having forced we do not see concrete progress in Ukraine very soon, a vote, losing it by 26:2 does not make a good platform we will remain willing to impose further sanctions on for future negotiations? Russia. Does my right hon. Friend, the President of the United States and the other leaders of Europe, and, The Prime Minister: I do not agree. This was about equally importantly, the President of Russia, agree on the future leadership of the Commission, an issue on the definition of concrete progress? which political party after political party in Europe had signed up to the leading candidate process. They created, The Prime Minister: My hon. and learned Friend is as I put it, a conveyor belt that they could not get off. I right to raise this. We set out in the Council conclusions do not think that that has such big implications for a clear set of steps that need to be taken, including future negotiations. I said that it has probably made it transferring border posts that have been taken by so-called harder, and I suspect it has, but if we show real fortitude rebels back to the Ukrainian Government and the and drive in bringing forward that agenda, there is no release of hostages. President Poroshenko extended his reason why we cannot succeed. ceasefire for a further 72 hours, which runs out this evening, and the European Union, working with the Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere) (Con): I congratulate Americans—we have been hand in glove all the way—will my right hon. Friend on his principled and consistent have to see what changes have been made and whether stand. Is he aware that in the convention that preceded additional sanctions need to be put in place. At the the treaty of Lisbon, the Government of the day opposed meeting in July we can look at the so-called tier 3 giving the European Parliament a role in choosing the sanctions and potentially go much further, if further next Commission President, then capitulated, and then progress has not been made. told this House during debates on the treaty of Lisbon that this was a good thing and not a change in substance Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab): anyway? Does my right hon. Friend agree that we have May I first join the Prime Minister in marking the need seen too much backstairs surrender of power to Europe— for a memorial? This year, in my own village of Maddiston, smuggling of power to Europe—which Labour would the community has built and dedicated a memorial to no doubt take to the point where we ended up in a the fallen that was never there before. Passing on to the united states of Europe? meat of the things the Prime Minister mentioned, apart from his own diplomatic triumph, he talked about The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is right. There building stronger economies. When the European Scrutiny were two key changes. One was in the Nice treaty, which Committee went to the Conference of Community and made the appointment of the European Commission European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the President a matter for qualified majority voting, not a European Union, COSAC, we heard many countries unanimous vote. The second change, in the Lisbon complaining that the fiscal compact in fact meant rule treaty, gave the European Parliament greater power. by Brussels over their economies, resulting in poverty Both changes were taken through by the then Labour for them. We appear to have poverty for some and Government, and on both occasions, along with a selfishness for others, and to boast that we do not give whole lot of other changes, were not put in a referendum any money to the solidarity fund for those countries to the British people. I think that is one of the reasons shames the UK. What will he do to get those people out why the well of public opinion has been so poisoned in of poverty when he talks about building economies? 615 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 616

The Prime Minister: First, I think that the best way But we have to accept the fact that other countries got for countries to get out of poverty is by ensuring that on board this conveyor belt of having a leading candidate they make the structural reforms, including, as we have and then found it very difficult to get off, even when done in this country, having open markets, having some of them had real doubts about the principle and, competitive economies and dealing with our debts. That indeed, some doubts about the direction Europe would is why we are growing at 3% this year, which is about take as a result. That is why we have said that in the 2.8% faster than the countries in the eurozone. The conclusions it is important that we have a review of point that the hon. Gentleman makes that is a good one what happened, and my view is that it should not is that one of the biggest arguments at the European happen again. Council had nothing to do with the United Kingdom at all; it was the members of the fiscal stability and growth Mr Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West) (Lab/Co-op): pact arguing with each other about whether it should be Reform of the EU will require leadership from Britain tighter or looser. I think that only underlines the fact and a process of alliance building with other EU Heads that it was important to keep Britain out of the fiscal of States. How far does the Prime Minister think his compact treaty. isolation on this issue has contributed to a positive outcome of that potential process? David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con): Does the Prime Minister agree that the willingness to stand up The Prime Minister: I do not accept the premise of for British interests in the face of opposition is a sign of the hon. Gentleman’s question. When it comes to strength of which he can be rightly proud and that we completing the single market or signing trade deals, and are far better off being led by a man who is willing to go even when it comes to difficult issues such as getting out and bring home the bacon for Britain than by Britain out of the “ever closer union” clause, or indeed someone who would not even know how to eat it if it reforming the free movement of people to make sure was presented in a bap? that it is a more qualified right, there is support for Britain across Europe. The Dutch Prime Minister, in his The Prime Minister: That was an ingenious segue own debate in his House of Commons before the European from my hon. Friend. I think that it is absolutely clear summit, talked about the “lies” of ever closer union. from what we have seen today that if the Leader of the The idea that there is not support across Europe for Opposition was in negotiations like this and the going many of the things that Britain is saying is simply not got tough and it looked like the vote would go against true. him, he would simply cave in. Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): The Prime Minister did exactly the right thing last week, and I Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): I congratulate him on standing up for British interests. am sure that the Prime Minister will want to take this Will my right hon. Friend make it clear to the rest of the opportunity to congratulate Stirling in Scotland on European Council that many millions of British people hosting an excellent armed forces day over the weekend. want a relationship based on trade and co-operation The Scottish people observed his ritual humiliation and that if the rest of the European Union does not with a mixture of bemusement and horror as the UK agree, it will be no surprise if the British people vote to edges ever closer toward the EU exit door. Is not the leave the EU? only way now for Scotland to secure its EU membership to vote yes decisively in September to stop him, his The Prime Minister: I am very grateful for my hon. party and their UK chums dragging Scotland out of Friend’s remarks. Ultimately, this is going to be a choice Europe against its will? for the British people. I know where he stands on the issue and I suspect that in a referendum he will make his The Prime Minister: First, on a note of unity, I join views very clear. It is right that it should be the British the hon. Gentleman in congratulating the city of Stirling, people’s choice. My job is to make sure we secure the the local authority and all those involved on an absolutely very best renegotiation so that people who want to stay brilliant armed forces day. With regard to the reactions in a reformed European Union, and believe that it is in of people in Stirling to the stand I had taken in the our national interests to do so, get the best possible choice. European Union, I must say that I thought they were uniformly positive. Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): Never mind the party political bellowing from the Conservative Conor Burns (Bournemouth West) (Con): Was my Benches—business leaders in my constituency and the right hon. Friend as surprised as I and others were to rest of the north-west want Britain to be at the forefront learn that the European elections were apparently a of Europe, not in isolation. The Prime Minister concluded pan-European plebiscite on who should be the next his response to my right hon. Friend the Member for President of the European Commission, and that apparently Birkenhead (Mr Field) by saying that there was much Mr Juncker was a candidate? Does he agree that people else besides that he would renegotiate. Will he fill in the who can sincerely believe that rubbish are not only on gaps and tell us precisely what he means? another continent, but on another planet? The Prime Minister: First of all, on the issue of what The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes a good business said, the British Chambers of Commerce said: point, which is that the leading candidates—the so-called “The Prime Minister fought to secure the best possible outcome Spitzenkandidaten—did not advertise themselves in Britain for Britain, and he was right to do so”. at all. In fact, the EPP did stand in Britain and—I The Institute of Directors said that checked—got 0.18% of the vote, so the idea that there “it is admirable—and refreshing—that a British Prime Minister was this great mandate for Jean-Claude Juncker is false. should stand up for principle and the UK’s interests in Europe”. 617 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 618

People have talked about the CBI. The CBI backed my factories manufacturing in every member state of Europe, view that we need reform in Europe and to have a I know the value of the single market, but that has now referendum based on a reformed position. I have set nearly been outweighed by all the costs, regulation and out, in the Bloomberg speech, in an article in The constitutional attacks that come with it. Therefore, Sunday Telegraph and elsewhere, the key changes that what the Prime Minister has just done in Europe has need to be made. I recommend that the hon. Lady reads given us the best chance, through him, to negotiate the them and sees whether there are any other changes reform necessary to sustain the option to stay in. she would seek to make, and then we can have a discussion. The Prime Minister: I know that my right hon. Friend has great experience of the business world. It is important Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con): The Prime that following my Bloomberg speech, the reaction of Minister should be in no doubt that he spoke for the business community was not to say, “This is a risk Peterborough and our country last week with his robust Britain shouldn’t be taking”, but to say, “We need leadership at the EU Council. I always knew he had reform and as long as we can secure good reforms then lead in his pencil, but it is good to see him sharpening it Britain should stay in that reformed European Union.” on the inexorable drive to ever closer union, as personified It is important that business, large and small, is behind by Mr Juncker. If he is looking for areas of serious the approach that I am taking. reform, will he make the free movement directive the No. 1 priority? On the Conservative Benches, he has Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield) (Lab): A massive support for reforming that in the UK’s best year or so ago, one of the Prime Minister’s Back Benchers long-term interests. was quoted as saying that he—the Prime Minister—was in danger of coming over a bit Melchett. [Interruption.] The Prime Minister: I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s Melchett was a character in “Blackadder”. Judging by remarks. It is important to look at the issue of freedom the Prime Minister’s performance over the weekend, I of movement. I particularly mentioned the issue of the think that many of us have some time for that comment. benefit changes that are necessary. I also think we need When he said that if Mr Juncker was appointed there to look at transitional controls, when new member would be “consequences”, what was he getting at? states join the EU. We need a radically different approach from the one that has been held until now. As for my The Prime Minister: First of all, there are consequences hon. Friend’s remarks about lead in my pencil, I will let from Europe adopting the principle that the head of the the relevant people know. Commission should effectively be appointed following nominations by European political parties. If that is Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): Some allowed to continue, and if it happens again, there will of us who agree with the Prime Minister on the need for be real consequences, because we could end up with reform in Europe, but who are basically pro-Europe, are candidates who, as I said, have particular views that rather disappointed and depressed by what happened in are totally against the interests of individual member the European Council, for the following reasons. Many states. That is a very worrying development. In the of us think that Europe expanded a bit too far too fast, Council conclusions, we have agreed to review this but we want the reforms and we want them urgently. process, and I hope we can make sure that it does not What has happened in Europe in the last few days has happen again. made the task of reform much more difficult. The fact of the matter is that when we look back on this day, Sir Malcolm Bruce (Gordon) (LD): If exit from the when only his barmy army seem so well pleased, we will European Union is not what the Prime Minister seeks, see that the trouble is brewing for all of us. can he resist the siren voices who are calling for ever more unachievable demands, backed by the threat of The Prime Minister: I would argue that the hon. exit, to ensure that that does not happen? After the Gentleman should not be depressed. As I said, reforming excitement of this week, will he reflect on how he can the European Union is going to be a long and hard build alliances for reform that will promote jobs, cut red campaign and undoubtedly there will be difficulties and tape and reduce waste, which is actually what the citizens setbacks along the way. But it is absolutely vital as we of the entire European Union are looking for? go into that reform that people know that when the British Prime Minister and the British Government say The Prime Minister: I thank my right hon. Friend for there is a principle that is important, they will stick to it. that question. The work of the British Government—a I do not accept that there is not support for this coalition Government—in the EU is to complete the across the European Union. I have not got to the single market in digital, energy and services and to sign Luxembourg press yet, but Le Figaro in France says the trade deals with the fastest growing parts of the that the approach has been a big mistake, possibly world. That agenda is progressing well, and it is important irreversible, and the German press says that there are that we stick to it. I am not setting out impossible real worries about the way this development has been demands; I am setting out things that could be changed, handled. I do not think the hon. Gentleman is right to and should be changed, in order to reform Britain’s say that the argument that the wrong approach has been place in the EU. taken is simply a British one. Seema Malhotra (Feltham and Heston) (Lab/Co-op): Mr Stephen O’Brien (Eddisbury) (Con): I hope the An estimated 3.3 million of our constituents are in jobs Prime Minister takes inspiration from the fact that in a that could be at risk if the UK exits the EU. Business previous battle of Britain we saw off many Junckers. As leaders have reacted with fury after Friday’s fiasco and somebody who used to help to run a business that had its aftermath. John Cridland, the head of the CBI, has 619 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 620

[Seema Malhotra] and “after long and tough negotiations”, said that Britain’s economic future depends on being in so that he can say, Europe. Does the Prime Minister agree with him, and can he guarantee that he will never vote for Britain to “I believe that our renegotiation objectives have been substantially, leave the EU? though not completely, achieved”—[Official Report, 18 March 1975; Vol. 888, c. 1465.] The Prime Minister: I do not agree with the hon. will he reflect on the fact that that is what Harold Lady. The CBI’s director general said: Wilson said? “We will…press the case for the UK remaining in a reformed European Union.” The Prime Minister: I know and respect that, whatever That is my policy. As I said, the Institute of Directors, deal I manage to achieve, my hon. Friend will vote for the British Chambers of Commerce and David Frost, Britain to leave the European Union, because that is his the former Europe director in the Foreign Office, all long-held and deeply felt view. As I explained in answer made the point that this was the right stand to take, and to an earlier question, the conditions today are very it is important to stand up for a principle and to fight different from those in 1975. Then, of course, Britain for it. had just joined the EU—there was no great change that had taken place in the EU—but this time, since I have Several hon. Members rose— been a Member of Parliament, we have had the treaties of Nice, Amsterdam and Lisbon, and huge changes in Mr Speaker: Order. I am keen to accommodate more terms of the eurozone and its development. I was told colleagues on this extremely important matter, but in when I became Prime Minister, “It’s very unlikely, Prime order to do so I require exemplary brevity. I know that Minister, that you’ll have to deal with any treaty changes the tutorial will be provided by Dr Julian Lewis. at all,” but I think we have already seen three in the past four years. I am confident that, because change is Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): Trying, as needed throughout the EU, Britain can secure the changes always, to see the bright side of life—I am not going to we need. sing it—is there not something to be said for having an obvious and overt federalist as Commission president Phil Wilson (Sedgefield) (Lab): Saturday’s Financial rather than a covert and rather cleverer alternative? Times editorial said: The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is ingenious in “Europe’s leaders should look beyond Mr Cameron’s ineptitude”. seeing a silver lining in every cloud. I had not got him Does the Prime Minister agree? down as one of nature’s out-and-out optimists, but I will have to reassess that judgment. We will now have to The Prime Minister: Funnily enough, I do not agree deal openly and frankly with the new Commission with that. I think that what Europe’s leaders will do is president if he is endorsed by the European Parliament. conclude that when they are dealing with Britain, they He did say in his manifesto—although he was not are dealing with a country that sticks to its principles. standing specifically in Britain, as it were—that we have to address the issues of reform that Britain has put on Margot James (Stourbridge) (Con): Thanks to the the table, and we now need to make sure that we hold actions of the Prime Minister last week, Jean-Claude him to that. Juncker is now a marked man. Few had previously heard of him, but now a whole continent knows of him Jack Dromey (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab): The and what he stands for. Does my right hon. Friend automotive industry in Britain is a world-class success agree that what we need to do now is ensure that the story. Key to that success is inward investment. Key to actions of the EU President be judged through the lens inward investment is continuing membership of the of what they contribute to EU reform and that this European Union. Does the Prime Minister not recognise seeming setback may well mask a greater opportunity the damage that he is doing to the jewel in the crown of for much-needed change in the long term? British manufacturing and the British national interest through the ever-greater uncertainty he is creating over membership of the European Union as he takes us The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes an important towards the exit? point. One of the things that will be key to the EU’s success in the coming years is whether it can deal with The Prime Minister: I do not accept what the hon. a Europe that requires change for the eurozone and Gentleman says. Over the past four years, we have seen change for Britain. From my discussions with Jean- an absolute transformation in the fortunes of the British Claude Juncker, I think he understands that that is a automotive industry. We see that in Jaguar Land Rover very important agenda on which we have to make and in Nissan. These companies are choosing to invest progress, otherwise the British people will take a different and they are doing so after I made the Bloomberg view. speech, because they can see there is a British Prime Minister and a British Government who are fighting for Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab): Does the Prime a better deal in Europe. Minister not experience the slightest cognitive dissonance in arguing on the one hand that the voters of Europe Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood) (Con): When feel that the European project has gone far enough, the Prime Minister gets Britain’s new deal in Europe, while arguing on the other that the borders of Europe with should be extended all the way to Donetsk in the “big and significant improvements on the previous terms” Leninsky district of Ukraine? 621 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 622

The Prime Minister: I am not making that argument. important to opt back into a small number of measures The argument I am making is that it is right for the that will actually help us to catch criminals and terrorists, European Union to have association agreements and and to keep our people safe. other forms of agreements with countries in central and eastern Europe, in order to help encourage their Fiona O’Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab): When did the economic development, politics, fights against corruption Prime Minister realise that he had failed to convince and rule of law. Just as I think the membership application almost everyone, and with that realisation, what adjustments process has been so beneficial for countries in eastern did he make to the substance and style of his engagement Europe that have joined the European Union, so I believe with other EU leaders? these association agreements can help as well. The Prime Minister: As I have said, the critical moment Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con): May I was when other leaders who had signed up in some way commend my right hon. Friend on saying what he is to this leading candidate process realised that they going to do and then doing it? I know it surprises could not actually change their approach, which I think Opposition Members, but it is called leadership. In his was the case in many European countries. They were on conversation with Mr Juncker, did he manage to remind a conveyor belt they could not get off, so it became him that the British people are not isolated in wanting apparent that Britain was not going to succeed in our reform and that at least a third of the people of Europe campaign to stop this principle and stop this person. At voted for reform of the whole of Europe? that point, it is important to stand up for a principle, and to take the arguments all the way to the end. If you The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes an important get a reputation that every time the going gets tough, point. It must be right for the reaction of Europe’s you simply give in, you get into the position in Europe leaders not to ignore the third of the continent that that Labour Governments put us in time and again. voted for parties that are hostile to, or want very radical reform of, the EU. We have to accept the fact that our Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): I hugely respect the citizens want change in Europe, and we should be way in which the Prime Minister has listened to public trying to make changes that reconnect people with the opinion following the European elections, unlike Opposition purpose of this organisation, which has been about Members and the European Union, but if the European securing peace on our continent and which should now Union continues to ignore public opinion in the way it be about securing greater prosperity and more jobs. has over the weekend, is there a mechanism by which we can either continue to cut the EU budget or withhold Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/ our budget contributions completely? Co-op): The PM has had a lot to tell us today about losing, so will he admit to the House how many jobs The Prime Minister: I am believer in this: when we will be lost if Britain were to leave the EU? sign up to something, we should stick to it and deliver what we said we would do. With the European budget, we achieved a cut over the seven-year financial framework The Prime Minister: My intention is that Britain which will effectively mean lower European budgets. reforms the European Union and then agrees to stay in Our battle now is to make sure that the EU sticks to a reformed European Union. That is the right outcome. that, and does not find new and innovative ways of There are all sorts of economic analyses, which people spending money. can read, about the consequences for Britain either of remaining in an EU that is overly bureaucratic or, indeed, of choosing to leave. Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab): The debate about our future role in Europe would be better informed if we knew what the red-line issues were that would force the Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) (Con): Once Prime Minister to recommend a no vote in his referendum. again, my right hon. Friend is the toast of Somerset for Will he say when he will let the public know what those his stand against Mr Juncker. Now he has done this red line issues are, so that they can have a more informed bold thing, is it not the ineluctable logic of his position debate about Europe? that he should oppose any further moves to the integration of justice and home affairs, which covered the first 13 paragraphs of the Council’s conclusions, and most The Prime Minister: Perhaps I could send the hon. The Sunday Telegraph particularly that we should not opt in to the European Gentleman a copy of my article in arrest warrant, which would give Mr Juncker, the and of the Bloomberg speech, which set out the key Commission and the European Court of Justice additional areas, including ever-closer union, that are so important. powers? Paul Uppal (Wolverhampton South West) (Con): A point that is very rarely made—with the democratic The Prime Minister: I am very grateful to my hon. deficit we have, following the recent European elections—is Friend once again. People seem to do a lot of toasting that there has been a huge and significant rise in extremist in Somerset, which I am sure is very good for the health parties. May I impress on my right hon. Friend, for in all sorts of ways. when he next meets his European counterparts, that if On the issue of the justice and home affairs opt-out, we fail to reform the status quo we are creating an what we have done is to achieve the biggest return of environment that is very difficult for minorities across power from Brussels to Britain that there has been since Europe, but if we reform, it will create an environment we have been members of this organisation, by exercising in which we can extinguish a lot of such extremist that opt-out. We did that on the basis that it was feeling? 623 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 624

The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes a very what he said he would, in the national interest, rather important point. We need to make sure that all of than just going with the flow to the UK’s detriment, for Europe’s leaders address what has gone wrong in the fear of being isolated. European Union and the view people take of it, because it is not healthy for extremist parties to be given a sort The Prime Minister: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. of recruiting sergeant, as it were, by failures in the As I have said, it is important—not least for the future organisation. negotiations that this country will need to take part in—to make sure that people know that when we make Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Finsbury) a stand, we stick to it. (Lab): I am sure that the readers of The Daily Telegraph are reassured by the Prime Minister deciding that he can now work with Mr Juncker. The real question, Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): Only however, is whether Mr Juncker can work with him, an ex-PR man would seek to paint a vote lost 26-2 as a particularly after the insults, including those to the victory. It does not bode well for future renegotiations. so-called “cowards” by those who are supposed to be What does the Prime Minister put it down to: his the Prime Minister’s supporters. The reform agenda is withdrawal from the EPP, his failure to build alliances really important, but has he not proved himself a lame or his hectoring of leaders of other states from the duck when it comes to promoting it? Baltic nations through to Poland and Ireland?

The Prime Minister: I have sat with Jean-Claude The Prime Minister: As I said earlier, the idea that Juncker around the European Council table for the past somehow this all came about because the Conservative four years. I spoke to him last night and, as he put in his party no longer sits in the EPP is complete nonsense. manifesto, he wants to address the concerns that Britain The Liberals sit in the ALDE group—the Alliance of has about the European Union. My job as Prime Minister Liberals and Democrats in Europe—and the Labour is to hold him to that and make sure that we reform the party sits in the Socialist group. All the groups decided organisation. to adopt a leading candidate. Many of the Prime Ministers and Presidents subsequently rather regretted that the Jesse Norman (Hereford and South Herefordshire) treadmill was taking them in a direction that they did (Con): I spent Armed Forces day at a very moving not necessarily want to go in. service in Hereford cathedral organised by the Royal British Legion. In that spirit, I congratulate the Prime Minister on standing up both for constitutional principle Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con): Right across Europe and for the voice of Britain, of reform and of the nation we have seen an increase in the Eurosceptic vote and a state, and on doing so with one hand tied behind his demand for reform. Does the Prime Minister therefore back by the Labour party—[Interruption]—because of agree with me that the European Union needs to respect the Nice and Lisbon treaties. [Interruption.] Does he that support for the nation state and ensure that whenever share my view that the real issues are the deep lack of we select a President the viewpoint from across the democratic legitimacy embedded in many EU institutions, European Union is taken into consideration? the need to address popular discontent, as shown in the recent election, and the need for reform that is backed The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is absolutely particularly by European allies who see the need for right. The Dutch Prime Minister has a mantra, “Nation treaty change to secure the eurozone? states where possible; Europe only where necessary.” That is the approach that we should take. There are The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes an important some in Europe who think that whenever there is a point. We need to battle the view that in Europe the problem of legitimacy, the answer is more Europe. My only democratic legitimacy comes through the European argument is that in many cases the answer should be less Parliament. Our view is of Europe as a collection of Europe, more for nation states, more for national nation states working and co-operating together; therefore, Parliaments, more subsidiarity. a lot of the democratic legitimacy should come through the European Council, made up of the Presidents and Lucy Powell (Manchester Central) (Lab/Co-op): Today Prime Ministers of Europe, who all have a democratic we have learned that the Prime Minister’s approach to mandate from their own peoples. Europe now has the full backing of the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr Redwood) and the hon. Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): The Prime Minister has Member for Stone (Sir William Cash). [Interruption.] emphasised the importance of national Parliaments. Yes, and many other Members. If the Prime Minister is What opportunity will this Parliament have to scrutinise as successful in the forthcoming renegotiations as he his proposed choice of the next UK Commissioner to has been in these negotiations, will he recommend that Europe? Britain leave the EU—yes or no? The Prime Minister: The hon. Lady asks an important question. As has happened on some other occasions, The Prime Minister: My position is that I want Britain asking a potential candidate to see Members on certain to secure renegotiation and reform, and then vote to Select Committees is something I am absolutely prepared stay in a reformed European Union. I think that the to consider. hon. Lady must have written her question before she heard the remarks of my hon. Friends. What we have Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): The learned today is that if we had a Labour Prime Minister, constituents I listened to over the weekend told me that as soon as they got in the room and felt a bit of they were pleased that the Prime Minister had done pressure, they would give up. 625 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 626

Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): This weekend, Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): The Fresh Tom Pursglove, the excellent Conservative candidate for Start group of Conservative MPs has been making the Corby, and I were campaigning in east Northamptonshire. case for European reform across Europe. On every visit, Everyone we spoke to, whether they were a Conservative the Prime Minister’s leadership on the reform agenda supporter, a Labour supporter or a Liberal Democrat has been spoken about and debated. No one else is supporter—no, sorry, we could not find any Liberal leading the fray in the way that he is. Will he continue to Democrat supporters—all thought that the Prime Minister make the case not just to the UK, but to the rest of the had done the right thing. Given what has been discussed EU, that reform is the only way to go? today, will the Prime Minister confirm that he will not rule out the possibility of leading the out campaign The Prime Minister: I am grateful for my hon. Friend’s in 2017? remarks. In other European countries, many people want the approach that we are taking—greater flexibility, The Prime Minister: I am very grateful to my hon. greater competition and powers flowing back to Friend for the campaigning that he has been doing in nation states, not just towards Brussels—and support Corby and Northamptonshire. I have made it very clear our views. what I want to achieve. This is about Britain’s national interest. I will always do what is in our national interest. The best outcome for Britain will be to secure the Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab): Does the Prime renegotiation and the changes, and vote to stay in a Minister agree with the hon. Member for Cardiff North reformed European Union. (Jonathan Evans), who has great experience of Europe, who said on Radio Wales yesterday that had the Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): Given that more Government still been in the EPP, they could effectively than half the exports from my region, Wales, go to the have exercised a veto on the decision to elevate Mr Juncker? European Union, will the Prime Minister help me to Is it not true that the worthwhile reforms in Europe will understand how his Billy-no-mates 26-2 defeat helps come from the moderate parties and not from the businesses such as Airbus, Toyota, Tata Steel and Vauxhall headbangers with whom the Prime Minister is associated in my region? at the moment?

The Prime Minister: The right hon. Gentleman should The Prime Minister: The question I would ask back ask the businesses in his region and he will find that to the hon. Gentleman is, if it is so easy to veto the they say that it is right for Britain to reform the European Spitzenkandidat process, why did Labour not do it in Union and vote to stay in a reformed European Union. the Party of European Socialists? The idea that we That is the position of the Institute of Directors, the would have been able to do so if we had been in the EPP British Chambers of Commerce, the CBI and many is nonsense. There were other Prime Ministers in the others. EPP who did not stop the process. I am proud that we Martin Horwood (Cheltenham) (LD): It is true the have our own political grouping in Europe and that it Jean-Claude Juncker was not everybody’s favourite was the one group that decided not to take part in the candidate. However, having remembered the spark that process. ignited a war that killed more than 10 million Europeans, was this not the week to celebrate peace, democracy and Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): Will the Prime Minister friendship among the free nations of Europe, rather pledge never to adopt the negotiating position of the than to exaggerate difference and disagreement? Leader of the Opposition, which is to go along with absolutely anything the EU asks him so as not to The Prime Minister: It was the week, rightly, to appear isolated in the EU—and before he listens to any commemorate the fallen in Ypres. We had a sombre advice from the Lib Dems, may I suggest that he has a event and a very good discussion about the peace that quick glimpse at the opinion polls? During the summit, Europe—and, I would argue, NATO—has helped to did the Prime Minister get any intelligence from his bring to our continent. We should never again go back socialist counterparts as to whether the Leader of the to the ways of the past. At the same time, it was Opposition will once again surreptitiously block the perfectly legitimate the next day in Brussels for those of private Member’s Bill of my hon. Friend the Member us who had a very clear objection in principle to make for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill), which will that objection known. guarantee the people of this country an in/out referendum on the EU? Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab): The events of the past week have exposed not only a lack of The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend asks an intriguing judgment on the part of the Prime Minister, but his question and I do not know whether Labour will block inability to negotiate with other countries on our behalf. the opportunity to put into statute now the need for a Does this fiasco not demonstrate the need for his departure referendum before the end of 2017. Everyone in this from No. 10 and not the UK’s exit from the European House will have a chance to vote on that Bill, and I Union? hope we will support it. The Prime Minister: The hon. Lady was struggling to keep a straight face during that question, but I applaud Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South) (Lab): Having her effort. As I have said, what this demonstrates is that so skilfully turned a divided EU into an EU united if we had someone doing this job who set out a principle against his position, will the Prime Minister spell out at and an argument, but who caved in at the first sign of the Dispatch Box precisely where he expects to win in fire, we would be in a very weak position. his renegotiation? 627 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 628

The Prime Minister: As I have explained, I will send Mr Michael McCann (East Kilbride, Strathaven and the hon. Gentleman a copy of the Bloomberg speech Lesmahagow) (Lab): We know that Germany exercises and The Daily Telegraph article, so he can immerse considerable influence in the European Union, and himself in the detail. We need to make changes to ever until last week’s vote, the mood music seemed to suggest closer union, benefit tourism, and the free movement that Britain and the United Kingdom were on the same directive, and we need to make changes to embed the page. Will the Prime Minister tell the House exactly why single market and save those countries that do not want Chancellor Merkel refused to support him? to be part of the eurozone. This all begs a question—the Government have a clear plan and set of demands that The Prime Minister: Obviously, it is for Chancellor we want to make, but what have we got from the Labour Merkel to set out her views, but I would explain it like party? It is opposed to a referendum and it caves in on this: among other leaders, she was one of those who every important European issue; it gave away the rebate had signed up to the concept of the leading candidates and never stood up for Britain on the budget; and it and the EPP picking a particular candidate—just as the signed up to eurozone bail-outs and it was weak, weak, socialists had picked a particular candidate—and the weak. domestic reaction when she suggested that other candidates could come forward was extremely strong. As a result, Crispin Blunt (Reigate) (Con): Socialist France is as I have put it, I think a number of people got themselves rapidly emerging as the principal barrier to the renegotiation on to a conveyor belt by supporting this process, and objectives of my right hon. Friend, and he is unlikely to they found it very difficult to get off. get much useful help from its allies on the Opposition Benches. Happily, just in time in 2017 there will be a Penny Mordaunt (Portsmouth North) (Con): I thank French general election that should see the Union pour the Prime Minister for the stance he has taken. The poll un Mouvement Populaire return to office. Will my right published this afternoon shows that although the Labour hon. Friend ensure that he and all his colleagues do party is not with him, the British people are. Does he their best to improve our relations with the UMP? agree that it is not just in Britain’s interests that he sticks to his guns, but in the EU’s interests? The Prime Minister: We must work with all elected Prime Ministers and Presidents in Europe, and I work The Prime Minister: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, very closely with Francois Hollande. There is an who is right to say that lots of people around Europe understanding in France that it has always believed in want to see reform and to see Britain as the leading “L’Europe des patries”—the Europe of nation states—and voice of reform. Clearly, we will not get that reform we must make sure that that is followed through. unless we set out principles and stick to them.

Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab): We know who Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op): Can the the Prime Minister was against, but why can he not tell Prime Minister envisage a situation in which he believes us who he would have favoured to be President of the it is not in the national interest for Britain to continue European Commission? Is it because this had nothing its membership of the EU? In those circumstances, will to do with principled statesmanship, and everything to he campaign for an “out” vote? do with cynical behaviour? The Prime Minister: Those are not the circumstances The Prime Minister: I was very clear: I thought there I seek. I will always be guided by what I see as the were a good number of people sitting round the European national interest, and I have set out several times in the Council table who would have made good Commission House today what defines the national interest: reform Presidents, and I can think of people from the left, the in Europe, a referendum in Europe, and Britain in a right and the centre of politics. This is the important reformed Europe. point: if we keep with this leading candidate process named by political parties, again, we will never have a Several hon. Members rose— serving Prime Minister or President sitting as President of the European Commission, and I think that is a huge Mr Speaker: Order. I want just a small number of mistake. very pithy questions. I look in hope if not in expectation to Sir Tony Baldry. Dame Angela Watkinson (Hornchurch and Upminster) (Con): The Prime Minister will have been as disappointed Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): Will my right hon. as I was that Sweden did not support him in the vote Friend similarly confirm that we did not pick a fight in against Jean-Claude Juncker. Given the recent negative Europe, and that it was not us who introduced the comments by Fredrik Reinfeldt about ever closer union, system of leading candidates, which undermines the does the Prime Minister agree that Sweden and other constitution? But for that, there would have been no northern European countries with secure and flourishing row. economies will be a rich seam of support in the reforms he is seeking? The Prime Minister: My right hon. Friend is entirely right. The socialist grouping first, followed by the EPP The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes an important and others, decided to take that approach, which I do point. Prime Minister Reinfeldt said: not believe is in line with the European treaties. “Just look into what we have written in our conclusions…You will find references…saying this ever-closer union perception is Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab): Businesses maybe not the best for everyone.” in my constituency—multinationals such as Kellogg’s; That is clear support for Britain’s position. European companies such as ESBI, SAICA and Lucchini; 629 European Council30 JUNE 2014 European Council 630 and British-owned companies that seek to export to The Prime Minister: I do not accept what the hon. Europe, such as Northern Drives & Controls—all say Gentleman says, and I do not accept that the arguments that it is crucial to their business to stay in the European we made included any insult—they did not. There was Union. How does the Prime Minister expect to have the an argument about principle and an argument about authority to negotiate a better deal for Europe to enable the direction that the EU was going. On our influence, them to do so? the German press this morning reports: “Cameron showed consistency in his fundamental conviction. We know The Prime Minister: I have listened a lot to the voices where we are. He wants tough EU reforms, further of British businesses large and small. They, too, want liberalisation, a reduction in bureaucracy, and growth European reform. They are frustrated by the bureaucracy and jobs.” The German press can see what we stand for. and the red tape, and by the failure to complete the single market. They do not want Britain to be part of a Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con): I thank the European superstate; they want co-operation and trade Prime Minister for ditching the useless policy of negotiation between nations. That is what we want. Although the and capitulation that got us on to the motorway without task has undoubtedly become more difficult, I see no exits towards a united states of Europe. Does he believe reason why we cannot achieve it if we stick to our guns. that the leaders of Europe get it? If there is no reform, the British people will head for their JCBs, create their Simon Kirby (Brighton, Kemptown) (Con): Last week, own exit and vote to go down it in 2017. I attended Brighton’s wonderful golden handbag awards. May I take this opportunity to nominate the Prime The Prime Minister: I am grateful for what my hon. Minister for a different handbag award for sticking up Friend says. There is real understanding that Britain for Britain in the way he has? wants and needs reform of the EU. That is why it is encouraging that that is written for the first time in the The Prime Minister: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. conclusions of last week’s Council meeting. A new element of life in Brighton has been visited on me. I am sure it was a great event and I am grateful for Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East) (Lab): Does his support. the Prime Minister believe that his MEPs strengthened or weakened his negotiating position with Chancellor Merkel when they defied him and joined her Eurosceptic Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op): But, on opponents in the European Parliament? reflection, does the Prime Minister accept that his aggressive and personalised opposition to Jean-Claude Junker was The Prime Minister: I do not think it made any in fact counter-productive to British interests, and that difference at all. it would always be that way? In the event that Mr Junker won, which he did, he would be unsympathetic to Several hon. Members rose— British interests. In the event of Mr Junker losing, the Prime Minister’s aggression would mean that supporters Mr Speaker: Order. I am sorry to disappoint colleagues, of Junker would be lined up against Britain, and his but I have called 86 Back Benchers. The Prime Minister friends would demand favours and compromises, has given very fully of his time and I am grateful to him undermining our position. Is it not always best to and to colleagues. I must have some regard to the fact support one candidate rather than demonise another? that it is an Opposition day, and people who have been The Prime Minister has not gone with the flow; he has in the House for some time will know that far more gone with the wind. people get in on statements than ever before. 631 30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 632

this important project will ever be fully operational or Opposition Day provide value for money. Delay is the desperate people, many of whom have been working and paying into the [3RD ALLOTTED DAY] system for years or decades and are now struck by disability or illness, waiting six months or more for help DWP: Performance from the Department for Work and Pensions.

5.10 pm Paul Uppal (Wolverhampton South West) (Con): I am glad that the hon. Lady has mentioned the issue of Rachel Reeves (Leeds West) (Lab): I beg to move, waste. Does she feel comfortable that under the last That this House notes that after £612 million being spent, Labour Government housing benefit bills were occasionally including £131 million written off or written down, the introduction more than £100,000—a figure that many people in the of Universal Credit is now years behind schedule, with no clear private sector could never afford? plan for how, when, or whether full implementation will be achievable or represent value for money; further notes the admission of the Minister of State for Disabled People in oral evidence to Rachel Reeves: Does the hon. Gentleman feel comfortable the Work and Pensions Committee on 11 June 2014 that over that under this Government spending on housing benefit 700,000 people are still waiting for a Work Capability Assessment, for people who are in work has gone up by more than and the report of the Office for Budget Responsibility in March 60%, reflecting the fact that more people are in low-paid 2014 that found that projected spending on Employment and or insecure work and are unable to make ends meet, Support Allowance has risen by £800 million since December; even though they may be working all the hours God sends? recognises the finding of the Committee of Public Accounts in its First Report, HC 280, that Personal Independence Payment We have a Government who are totally out of touch delays have created uncertainty, stress and financial costs for with the reality of life for millions of hard-working disabled people and additional budgetary pressures for Government; taxpayers and those in need of help. The Government further recognises that the Work Programme has failed to meet its are careless with the contributions that people make to targets, the unfair bedroom tax risks costing more than it saves, the system, callous about the consequences of their and other DWP programmes are performing poorly or in disarray; incompetence for the most vulnerable, and too arrogant and calls on the Government to publish (a) the risk register and to admit mistakes and engage seriously with the task of other documentation relating to the delivery of Universal Credit as a Freedom of Information tribunal has ruled it should, (b) the sorting out their own mess. time in which it will guarantee that disabled people will receive an assessment for PIP and (c) a full risk assessment showing the Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Does the hon. Lady potential impact of delays, delivery problems, contract failures agree that the whole thrust of the Government’s reforms and underperformance on (i) people receiving or entitled to has been welfare into work? Since 2010, youth benefits, (ii) departmental budgets and spending plans and (iii) unemployment in Harlow has gone down by 30% and the Government’s welfare cap. unemployment has fallen by a third. This debate is about how we as a country treat our fellow citizens. It is about the young woman diagnosed Rachel Reeves: Of course I welcome the fact that with a life-limiting illness who has waited six months unemployment, including youth unemployment, is now for any help with her living costs. It is about the disabled falling, but we have to face up to the fact that too many man whose payments have been stopped because he did people in work are struggling to make ends meet. The not attend an interview to which he was never invited. It hon. Gentleman will know from his constituency that is about the millions of working people in this country some people who are in work have to rely on housing who pay their taxes and national insurance every week benefit and tax credits to make ends meet because they and who want to know that their money is ensuring a are not paid a wage they can afford to live on, they are strong and efficient system of social security that will be on zero-hours contracts, or they are among the record there for them and their families, with rules applied numbers of people who are working part time but want fairly and promptly to ensure support goes to those to work full time. We need to address those challenges who need it and not to those who do not. Instead, the as well. Government are wasting more and more taxpayers’ money on poorly planned and disastrously managed Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): Can the hon. Lady projects, and are allowing in-work benefits to spiral explain why the hon. Member for Dagenham and Rainham because of their failure to tackle the low pay and (Jon Cruddas) says that Labour’s welfare policies are insecurity that are adding billions of pounds to the cynical and punitive? benefits bill. There is strong support in Britain for a social security Rachel Reeves: It is all about ensuring that more system that helps people get by when they fall on hard people are in work through the compulsory jobs guarantee, times; secures dignity and a decent standard of living ensuring that people have the skills to hold down a job for those unable to work because of sickness or disability; with a basic skills test and a youth allowance, and doing and ensures that no child goes hungry, without essential more to ensure that people in work can earn enough to clothing or without adequate housing because their live on—through, for example, an increase in the minimum parents are in low-paid or insecure work. Instead of a wage and ensuring that more people are paid the living system that works, under this Government we have got wage. Those policies will make a huge difference to the chaos, waste and delay. Chaos is 7,000 people waiting hon. Gentleman’s constituents in Dover and Deal, which for a work capability assessment, and the Government will be a Labour constituency after the next election. still not able to tell us which provider will replace Atos. Waste is more than £600 million spent on universal Julie Hilling (Bolton West) (Lab): Does my hon. credit, including £131 million written down or written Friend agree that it is an absolute scandal that the off, with no clear assurances about how, when or whether Government do not know what they are talking about? 633 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 634

They talk about the number of jobs being created, but independence payment, the Government told me that they do not know how many of them are on zero-hours the figures were not available. In other words, they are contracts or how many are on Government schemes or not only incompetent; they do not know how incompetent how many have been transferred from the public sector. they are! In fact, the Secretary of State knows absolutely nothing about these so-called jobs that the Government are Rachel Reeves: My hon. Friend puts it very succinctly, supposed to have created. and I am coming on to some of the examples we have all heard about from our constituency surgeries. Rachel Reeves: What we do know is that more than What we here must take care to do and what this 5 million people—20% of the work force—are paid less Government have now totally failed to do is to remember than the living wage. Furthermore, 1.5 million people the human impact, often on people in vulnerable are on zero-hours contracts and 1.4 million people are circumstances, of this catalogue of chaos. Behind the working part time who want to work full time. bureaucratic language and spreadsheets showing backlogs When it comes to detailing the extent of the Secretary and overspends are people in need who are being let of State’s dereliction, it is hard to know where to start. down and mistreated, and taxpayers who can ill afford For a useful overview, we need look no further than the the mismanagement and waste of their money. Let me Department’s own annual report and accounts for 2013-14, provide just a few examples that I am sure will be which was released at the end of last week. It reveals the familiar to Members of all parties from our constituency latest opinion of the DWP’s head of internal audit—that surgeries. the Department has yet to take the necessary action to In February, a woman came to my surgery in a state “address control weaknesses” and, in his words, to of desperation. Her husband had suffered a stroke the “provide an improved…environment from which to manage the previous year, rendering him unfit for work. He applied continuing challenges and risks faced by the Department.” for the personal independence payment and employment It lists no fewer than eight areas described as “significant and support allowance, but a month after making the challenges”where the Department still falls short. Universal application, they were still waiting just to get their Atos credit, we are told, assessment. She had given up work to look after her “continues to be a significant challenge for both the Department husband, but because they had not had their decision and delivery partners”, on PIP, she could not apply for carer’s allowance. They and it goes on to say that were so short of money that I referred them to one of the food banks. Both had worked for many years and “there continues to be an inherent level of risk contained in the paid into the system, but when they needed support, it plans.” was not there for them. In March this year, the husband On fraud and error, we are told that the rate has died. His Atos appointment letter had never come. His “worsened” with respect to housing benefit and that the wife, now a widow, had been made unwell by all the chance of the Government achieving their target for stress of this experience. She applied for ESA, but she reduction has heard nothing. “remains a very substantial challenge and is unlikely to be achieved.” The report confirms that in the area of contracted-out James Duddridge (Rochford and Southend East) (Con): assessments for employment and support allowance Does the hon. Lady regret the fact that it was her and the new personal independence payments, Government who appointed Atos in the first place? “the volume of assessments undertaken by providers…has fallen consistently below demand, with a detrimental impact on customer Rachel Reeves: As the hon. Gentleman will have service and implications for forecast expenditure on sickness and heard, the example that I gave involved personal disability benefits”. independence payments, which were introduced by this In other words, it is hurting, but it certainly is not Government, not the last one. We have made our position working. clear. Although we appointed Atos, we said last autumn that it should be sacked. However, it is not just a Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/ question of replacing Atos; it is a question of reforming Co-op): My hon. Friend is offering a stark indictment the work capability assessment and introducing targets of this Government’s policies. Does she agree that another relating not just to the number of decisions, but to the stark indictment of their policies is the massive increase correct decisions. in food banks across this country, another one of which Another couple came to me after applying for personal I had to open in my constituency just a few weeks ago? independence payments last August. The husband was asked to attend an assessment on a date when he would Rachel Reeves: I totally agree with my hon. Friend. be in hospital for a spine operation. Nursing staff at Of course, these remarks are from the Government’s Leeds General Infirmary advised the Department for own report. In our constituencies we all see people who Work and Pensions that he would be unable to attend are so desperate that they have to queue at food banks the appointment, and he was told that a home assessment to be able to feed themselves and their families. That is would be arranged, but he then heard nothing for not something that should be happening in 21st century months. In May, I wrote to the Department on the Britain. couple’s behalf. The reply that I received said simply: “we will respond to your query as soon as possible but due to the Helen Jones (Warrington North) (Lab): Is my hon. volumes being received and the PIP system still being in its Friend aware that when I asked how many people in my infancy there may be delays in getting back to you”. constituency had been waiting more than six months or Meanwhile, we also referred that couple to a food bank three months for medical assessments for personal when their money ran out. These people deserve better. 635 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 636

Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): Does my independence and family. However, as my hon. Friend hon. Friend share my surprise that, although the problems has said, we also know that, as a result of some of the with Atos were known about—and it is now being Government’s reforms, many people who need to be suggested that they had been known about for some helped to obtain the car that will give them the freedom time—a contract was given to that organisation for that the rest of us take for granted have had that PIP? Was due diligence carried out before the new support taken away from them. The delays and the contract was issued? chaos is one thing, but there is also some of the substance of those decisions. Rachel Reeves: My hon. Friend has made a very important point. The PIP contract was awarded to Atos Charlie Elphicke: Will the hon. Lady give way? although we knew that there were problems with the work capability assessment. It was this Government’s Rachel Reeves: I have already given way to the hon. decision to give a contract to a provider that we already Gentleman, so, no, I will not. knew was failing. I know that many hon. Members will have similar Since this debate was announced at the end of last stories to tell today, and I hope the Secretary of State week, my office has been inundated by communications stays to listen, because when we write to the Department from people from all over the country with similar with our constituents’ problems we only ever get replies tragic and appalling stories to tell. This morning I from the correspondence unit. I realise that the Secretary spoke to Malcolm Graham from Romford, who last of State is probably deluged with letters raising problems. September was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. He underwent 10 weeks of chemotherapy and a 10-hour The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Iain operation. He had been unable to work, and he finds it Duncan Smith): I am sorry, but I just cannot agree with hard to get around. He applied for a personal independence that. Every letter from a member of the Privy Council payment and employment and support allowance on gets replied to by me, and every other Minister replies to 23 September last year. After phoning the Department every single other Member of Parliament’s inquiry. If nearly every day since then, he finally had his assessment the hon. Lady is now insinuating that we do not, perhaps for personal independence payment on 16 May. On she could demonstrate why. 20 June—five weeks later—he received a letter from the Department saying that it now had all the information it needed in order to make a decision, but today, more Rachel Reeves: Well, I will send the Secretary of State than nine months after his application, he has yet to all the letters I have had from his correspondence unit, receive notification of what support, if any, he will not one of them signed by him. [Interruption.] Well, receive. In the meantime, he has had to rely on help letters that I have written to the Department about from family and friends. He has struggled to keep up the challenges facing—[Interruption.] The right hon. with his bills, and has even been visited by a debt Gentleman says he replies to these letters; he has not recovery firm. written a single letter to me about—[Interruption.] Until he was struck by cancer, Mr Graham had worked all his life. For 40 years he had paid his tax and Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. national insurance. However, he told me today “When I The House is discussing an important point. needed it, the help was not there. I never knew what it would be like to be on the other side of the fence.” He Rachel Reeves: If the Secretary of State now claims added: “But now that I do, I wish that the Secretary of that he signs his letters “The correspondence unit”, State would imagine what it is like being on this side of perhaps he has replied, but I would have expected the the fence—what it is like being in my position.” Secretary of State to sign the letters and I will be very happy to forward all the letters to him. [Interruption.] Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South) (Lab): My He carries on chuntering from a sedentary position; I hon. Friend is making a very strong and moving speech have not had a single letter about my casework from about the impact on individuals of these horrendous him. I will send them all to him, and perhaps he can fiascos, but does she agree that the issues involving PIP write to me and my constituents explaining why they go beyond some of the examples that have been given have been treated so abysmally by him and his Government. today? I am thinking particularly of Motability. Many of my constituents have been caught by the double Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): All I can whammy of delays involving, first, the disability living say is that my experience when raising cases from my allowance and now PIP. They have waited long periods excellent local citizens advice bureau is that they have for a resolution, but because a decision is being reconsidered, been answered very well, in full and thoroughly by the their Motability—the lifeline that has enabled them to Minister for disabled people, my right hon. Friend the get out of their homes—has been taken away before Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), who that decision has been made. Is that not a horrendous has listened to my concerns and answered them, largely indictment of the Government? [Interruption.] dealing with the appalling performance of Atos, hired by the Labour party and dealt with successfully by my Rachel Reeves: Government Members should listen right hon. Friend. rather than heckle, because my hon. Friend has made an incredibly important point. I recently went to Ringways Rachel Reeves: Well, maybe there is one rule for Tory garage in Farnley, in my constituency, to give someone Back Benchers and another rule for Labour party MPs, the keys to a Motability car. That person talked about because I have not had a single letter signed by the the difference that Motability made, in terms of Secretary of State. 637 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 638

The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions of personal independence payments in place of disability (Mike Penning) rose— living allowance was supposed to save £780 million in annual spending by next April, but with £200 million a Rachel Reeves: I will give way; I haven’t had any year being spent on administration, including £127 million letters from this one either. a year going to contracted-out assessment providers, this change is set to be completed not next year but, at Mike Penning: This one! The shadow Secretary of this rate of progress, in 42 years’ time. State should look behind her, and she will see many, many of her colleagues nodding when I say that I have Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab): I received an written personally, and dealt with cases personally, and e-mail today from a constituent who is in considerable when there was a mistake, I admitted there was a distress. She first applied for her PIP on 1 November mistake, so the generalisation she has just made about 2013, so she has now been waiting for eight months. She party political bias is fundamentally wrong. is in work and she has always been physically fit but she has now just been struck by misfortune. She is in such Rachel Reeves: The Minister for disabled people has distress and Atos has told her that her referral is subject never replied to the letters I have sent to the Department to a quality check to see whether Atos is doing its job for Work and Pensions about people in my constituency. properly. Clearly, if it has taken eight months to get to I have given two examples today. [Interruption.] He this stage, it is not doing its job properly. says he has; can the right hon. Gentleman stand up and say he has ever replied to a letter from me? Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. Interventions must be short because a great many Members Mike Penning: Letters from a Privy Counsellor, which are waiting to speak and it is simply unfair if people the right hon. Lady is, will be responded to by the make speeches instead of interventions. Secretary of State. [Interruption.] Well, if you’re not a Privy Counsellor, it would be me responding, but look Rachel Reeves: Eight months is far too long for around behind you—I apologise for the “yous”, Madam anyone to have to wait and, clearly, any further delay is Deputy Speaker—and see that I have responded in totally unacceptable. depth to colleagues. They may not have liked the reply, On the work capability assessment, the Government but I have done that, and if the hon. Lady had written spend £100 million a year on the contracted assessors, to me directly, I would have replied. as well as tens of millions more on decisions that are appealed. Now, the process has almost reached “virtual Rachel Reeves: Maybe the letters got lost in the post, collapse”, according to the senior judge overseeing the but I have never received a letter from the Minister for trials, with Atos walking away from the contract, the disabled people. Government yet to identify a replacement and a backlog of more than 700,000 assessments in a queue. As a Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): May I just say that the result of the disarray, we are seeing spiralling costs to Minister last week did contact my office, because I was the taxpayer, with the latest report from the Office for sent a letter by an official, not him— Budget Responsibility showing an £800 million increase in projected spending and leaked documents revealing Mike Penning: And I apologised. that the Government now see this as one of the biggest fiscal risks, with spending on course to breach their own Ian Lucas: And he apologised. But I have to say that welfare cap. the Secretary of State clearly does not know what is going on in his own Department. He is not even listening Guy Opperman (Hexham) (Con): This debate is also to the debate, and, frankly, let me say this about the about employment, so will the hon. Lady welcome the views expressed by the Conservative party about the rise in employment, not least in her constituency, where, vulnerable people who are coming to us for help: they according to the House of Commons Library, the number are being disregarded and treated with contempt by the of jobseeker’s allowance claimants has reduced by 23% laughing cavaliers opposite. They should be ashamed of in the past year, with youth unemployment down 26% themselves. and unemployment among those who are 50 and over down by 17.6%? Rachel Reeves: I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. Rachel Reeves: But what we have also seen in my I hope the Secretary of State also responds to the constituency is that average wages in Yorkshire and calls we are making today for the Government to give Humber have reduced by £26 a week since the coalition sick and disabled people some clarity and assurance by came into government and employment and support publishing a guaranteed time limit for the assessment of allowance claims have increased by 0.9 percentage points claims. For example, Macmillan Cancer Support has during the same period. recommended that the personal independence payment assessment process be limited to 11 weeks. I hope the Alison McGovern (Wirral South) (Lab): On that previous Secretary of State will tell us today that he will undertake intervention, does my hon. Friend share my sense of to give that guarantee—if not, why not? deep frustration that even after the 1980s the Conservatives We are also calling for the Secretary of State to own have failed to learn that the important thing is not a up to the extent of the problems in his Department, falling claimant count, but the unemployment rate? particularly the mounting costs arising from problems Although that is thankfully lower, there are loads of with the personal independence payment, the work other reasons to think that we still have problems in our capability assessment and universal credit. The introduction economy. 639 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 640

Rachel Reeves: My hon. Friend is absolutely right to been overturned, how many claimants have been left say that there is still an awful lot to do to reduce without any money and how long the longest period is unemployment and ensure that everybody in work is for reconsideration. It cannot answer a single one of earning enough to be able to support themselves and those questions under a freedom of information request. their families. Let us now deal with universal credit, the Secretary of Rachel Reeves: That links in with what I was saying State’s pet project and the Prime Minister’s flagship earlier. If the Government do not learn from their welfare reform. Where are we with that? It was supposed mistakes, how can they make improvements? to be the Government’s way of achieving £38 billion of Universal credit is widely off track; the work capability savings over 10 years and £7 billion a year thereafter by assessment has almost completely broken down; personal reducing fraud and error and by encouraging more independence payments are a fiasco; the Work programme people into work. Today, with more than £600 million is not working; the YouthContract is a flop; support for spent on set-up costs, we should be starting to see the families with multiple problems are falling far short of benefits—1 million people should be claiming universal its target; the jobmatch website is an absurd embarrassment; credit now, as part of a roll-out that the Government the unfair and vindictive bedroom tax is costing more said would be completed by 2017—but instead we find money than it saves; and the Government cannot even that £130 million of this expenditure has already been agree on a definition of child poverty let alone take written down or written off and only 6,000 of the action to deal with it. simplest cases have so far received the benefit, which is To paraphrase Oscar Wilde: to fail to deliver on one less than 1% of the level it should be at now. Most policy might be considered unfortunate; to miss one’s worryingly of all, we now have no reliable timetable and targets on two has to be judged careless; but to make no Treasury-approved business case to tell us how, when such a complete mess of every single initiative the or whether this project will ever be fully operational or Secretary of State has attempted requires a special gift. deliver value for money. It is something like a Midas touch: everything he touches We have repeatedly called on the Government to turns into a total shambles. come clean about the state of universal credit. The Meanwhile, the Secretary of State will spew out rescue committee, which we appointed to advise on dodgy statistics, rant and rave about Labour’s record, the future of universal credit, has recommended that say “on time and on budget” until he is blue in the face the books be opened for a warts-and-all review, with the and, in typical Tory style, blame the staff for everything National Audit Office signing off any new business case that goes wrong. We have all long given up hope on the before it goes forward. But instead of moving on from Secretary of State ever getting a grip on his Department. the culture of secrecy and denial, which has been identified The real question today is when will the Prime Minister as the biggest fatal flaw besetting universal credit, the learn and take responsibility for the slow-motion car Government are instead spending yet more taxpayers’ crash he has allowed to unfold? The DWP has the money fighting freedom of information requests and highest spending of any Government Department, and court cases to try to stop the publication of documents the responsibility for handling some of the most sensitive setting out the risks, milestones and state of progress of situations and some of the most vulnerable people in this multi-billion pound project. They are hiding behind our country. We will all be paying a price for a long time a veil of secrecy that is making universal credit harder, to come for this Government’s failure to get a grip, and not easier, to deliver. the lives of too many people, such as Malcolm Graham who is still waiting for his personal independence payment, David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con): I respect the hon. have been irreparably damaged. It is clear that this Lady’s real world experience and the things that she has Government will never take their responsibilities in this done in the business world before coming to this place. area with the seriousness that is needed. Let me pledge In that vein, will she not understand that it is vital to today that a Labour Government will. They will help roll things out on a test-and-learn basis and not, as the those thousands of families who have been let down by previous Government did with tax credits, on a crash- the system and the millions of taxpayers who are seeing and-burn basis? their money wasted. That change cannot come soon enough. Rachel Reeves: What I know from my business experience—I am sure the hon. Gentleman knows it as Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. well—is that writing off and writing down £131 million Before I call the Secretary of State, let me say that of expenditure is not good value for money. It is good Members know perfectly well that making a long to test things, but I do not see this Government doing intervention instead of waiting to make a speech is much learning from the mistakes they are making. simply rude and it is unacceptable. Interventions must The evidence is now clear that the Secretary of State’s be short. As there are so many Members waiting to record has been a complete car crash. speak, I will have to impose a time limit of six minutes on Back-Bench speeches, after the Secretary of State has spoken. Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Finsbury) (Lab): On the point about learning lessons, is my 5.39 pm hon. Friend aware that I have been making freedom of information requests to the Department in relation to The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Iain mandatory reconsiderations? When people get their Duncan Smith): I welcome today’s debate. We have work capability assessment, and it has failed, before they waited and waited for a debate on welfare in Opposition can appeal there has to be a mandatory reconsideration. time, yet today we see a cynical motion from a cynical The Department does not know how many cases have party, pandering to their unions and chasing media 641 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 642 headlines. They have cynically avoided the topic of Ian Lucas: Give way! welfare reform, missing the real point, which is the impact and success of what we are delivering. More Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. people are in work than ever before, with the figure up Mr Lucas, the Secretary of State is not giving way. Do 1.7 million. More people are in private sector work than not shout. ever before, with the figure up more than 2 million. Unemployment and youth unemployment are lower Mr Duncan Smith: I said that I will give way, Madam than the Opposition left them at the last election, and Deputy Speaker, but I wanted to set out the successes of workless households are at the lowest rate since records this Government against the nonsense of the Opposition’s began. debate. The Department processes 7.4 million claims successfully, At its peak, when I walked through the door, our issues more than £680 million in payment to 22 million inheritance was 5 million people on out-of-work benefits, claimants and carries out more than 24 million adviser a million of them for more than a decade. Youth interviews. To date, since we introduced the efficiency unemployment had increased by nearly half and long-term programs, call volumes have been at their lowest level, unemployment doubled in just two years. One in five as have complaints. We have seen record debt collections households was workless and the number in which no of more than £2 billion—and, by the way, debt is lower one had ever worked almost doubled. than the figure we were left—as well as record online Ian Lucas: I am grateful to the Secretary of State for claims. At the same time, we have saved £2 billion giving way. I want to talk about incompetence on his from the Department’s baseline spending compared part. Every week, people come to my surgery who with 2009-10— cannot have their personal independence payment claims Several hon. Members rose— processed. Will he take some responsibility and apologise to them for the incompetence of his policy and his Mr Duncan Smith: I am going to make a little progress, Department? as you have told me that we need to, Madam Deputy Speaker. I will give way later. Mr Duncan Smith: We take full responsibility for ensuring that that benefit is rolled out carefully, so that Let me repeat that: £2 billion has been saved from the when we do the full national roll-out of the whole Department’s baseline expenditure compared with 2009-10, benefit, we will know that it works. We have made a when the previous Government left office. Let me give series of adjustments and also have more recruitment two examples of where, when we came into office, there going on and more staff going in. I will give some was ridiculous, excessive and personal waste. When I pointers about where we will be when I return to this walked through the door, I found that the previous point. I simply say to the hon. Gentleman that when Government and their Ministers had had six cars and Labour rolled out tax credits, more than 400,000 people six drivers sitting permanently inactive, costing more failed to get their money and the Prime Minister had to than £500,000. We have reduced that to one pool car make a personal apology. I do not want to repeat that in used by all of us, or we get taxis or the tube— this case. I want to ensure that those most in need will Several hon. Members rose— get the benefit. Mr Duncan Smith: I will give way in a second. Margot James (Stourbridge) (Con): Amid the litany of failures of the previous Government, which my right Equally, under Labour the DWP spent £13 million hon. Friend was recalling, and their dreadful legacy in on first-class travel. I honestly wonder whether anybody this area, does he remember that of all the new jobs wanted to see them that much more quickly as they got that the property boom-fuelled growth generated, three off at the other end—I doubt it. We have banned that. quarters or more went to foreign nationals? Is that not Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab): Will the Secretary a circumstance which this Government have reversed of State give way? entirely? Mr Duncan Smith: I will give way in a second; I want Mr Duncan Smith: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. to set out the ground rules. The motion contains no Well over 70% of new jobs now go to British nationals, mention of those efficiencies or achievements, no suggestion as opposed to 90% that went to foreign nationals before. of what Labour would do and—there is no better I want to repeat the figures: there were 5 million on illustration of how cynical the Opposition are—no out-of-work benefits, youth unemployment increased admission of the shambles they left behind. The economy by nearly half, long-term unemployment doubled in was at breaking point, £112 billion had been wiped off just two years, and one in five households—it is worth our GDP and we were burdened with the largest deficit stressing that—was workless, and the number of households in peacetime history. Welfare bills were completely out where no one had ever worked almost doubled under of control. Housing benefit alone had doubled, contributing Labour. Now, as the Opposition themselves seemed to to overall spending increasing by 60%. The benefits admit over the weekend, as I noticed in the papers, they system was in meltdown, with a mess of 30-plus benefits have no plans, no policies and no prospects—only, as that meant that work simply did not pay. the hon. Member for Dagenham and Rainham (Jon Under Labour, the safety net had become a trap— Cruddas) put it put rather succinctly, an “instrumentalised, cynical nugget of policy to chime with our Ian Lucas: Give way. focus groups and our press strategies and our desire for a top line”. Mr Duncan Smith: At its peak, 5 million people on I agree. Today’s debate is just that—a cynical nugget of out-of-work— short-term policy to put to the unions. 643 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 644

Huw Irranca-Davies: I thank the right hon. Gentleman Bryant) needs to keep a little quieter and listen to for giving way. I make no apology for speaking up for reality. It was his party that made a shambles of the IT constituents who are very concerned about what is introduction when it was in government. happening to them, having been caught up in the system. As the NAO has confirmed, our phased roll-out is He attacks us for cynicism. Is he also concerned by the ensuring that we have a new, efficient system that works: report last week from Macmillan, which showed that 60% more parents than we expected are paying directly; 60% of people who went through the PIP assessment processing procedures are down, from an overall 21,000 were waiting four and a half months, and a quarter to 450; and we expect savings of £220 million a year were waiting six months? That could be somebody in once it is complete. my family, in his family or in our constituents’ families? That is not cynicism— Emily Thornberry: I just want to make sure that I Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing): Order. understand correctly what the right hon. Gentleman has said. I believe that he has just given an undertaking Mr Duncan Smith: No one ever complains about to the House that work capability assessments will be someone raising issues to do with their constituents. done in 10 days. [Interruption.] He has not given that That is what we are all here for. However, instead of undertaking. I wrote to the Department about a constituent scaremongering, we deal with these points. I do not say who applied for PIP on 19 November, and I received a for a moment that what we are trying to do is anything letter on 18 June telling me that it did not have a time but difficult. We are trying to reform a system that was scale for when he would get his work capability assessment. in many senses broken. It was not delivering money to key people. DLA was, by common agreement, not Mr Duncan Smith: I was referring to PIP and the fact doing what it was meant to do. The delivery times that that the terminally ill will not have to wait longer than the hon. Gentleman talks about are out of date. As 10 days to be seen. I think that the hon. Lady is regards terminally ill people, nobody should wait for referring to WCA. They will go straight to the support more than 10 days under the PIP programme. That is group. [Interruption.] Well, I have given an undertaking happening. that they should not have to wait more than 10 days to be dealt with. Several hon. Members rose— Mr Duncan Smith: I want to move on, but I shall give David Mowat (Warrington South) (Con): My right way to one of my hon. Friends. hon. Friend mentioned the shadow Secretary of State’s four-point rescue plan. Part 1 is a three-month delay, Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): Does it which would lead to a write-off. Parts 3 and 4 include surprise my right hon. Friend that the shadow Minister scope increases, which at this phase in the programme made no mention of the 80 constituents who have would be bound to cause further write-offs. That is benefited in her constituency from the new enterprise precisely why Labour lost £20 billion in the previous allowance, creating successful new businesses? There Parliament. was no mention of them in her speech. Mr Duncan Smith: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, Mr Duncan Smith: No, that does not surprise me. The who is right about that, and I will come to that point in purpose of today’s debate is to avoid anything to do a minute. That is what happens in the development with welfare reform and just pick away at issues that the process. Universal credit is rolling out against the time Opposition think will get them some kind of coverage. scale I set last year, as I will demonstrate. That is the cynicism that the hon. Member for Dagenham and Rainham was talking about. Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con): Several hon. Members rose— On behalf of my constituents, I want to thank the Secretary of State for all the excellent and essential Mr Duncan Smith: I want to make a little more work he is doing on welfare reform and for the part his progress and highlight a couple of programmes. First, Department is playing to deliver the Government’s long- let me deal with the issue that shows the cynicism of the term economic plan, which has seen unemployment in Opposition more than anything else—the issue that the my constituency fall by 40% and youth unemployment hon. Member for Leeds West (Rachel Reeves) did not fall by 50% over the past 12 months. want to raise, child maintenance, the enforcement commission and the Child Support Agency, on which Mr Duncan Smith: What an excellent intervention. It the Opposition have remained silent. When we came is a testing one, but I will try to live up to it. into office, £500 million had been wasted on scrapped Let me move on to universal credit. Across all IT, including £120 million on a botched rescue scheme. 44 programmes of change in the Department, we are I notice that the Opposition now want a rescue scheme taking a careful and controlled approach to achieve a for universal credit. At that rate—£120 million lost—we safe and secure delivery. For example, the benefit cap do not need any of their rescues. started with an early roll-out and is now fully implemented, On child maintenance, 75,000 cases were lost in the seeing 42,000 households capped and 6,000 move into system. There were no effective financial arrangements work. Universal credit is on track to roll out safely and at all for more than half the children. The IT system securely, against the plan I set out last year. The hon. cost £74 million a year in operating costs alone, even as Member for Leeds West quoted a figure of £12.8 billion the number of expensively managed clerical cases hit but, as ever, shows a poor grasp of the finances. We 100,000. [Interruption.] Instead of becoming his party’s have always been clear that universal credit’s total budget megamouth, the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris is £2 billion, and we will not overspend. 645 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 646

Furthermore, we have taken decisive action so as not cannot get an answer from his Department? Where is to repeat the way in which programmes were rolled his humility and his accountability? How is he dealing out under the previous Government. The reset will with this? avoid the “big bang” concept that they put forward at the last election. They did a number of things that led Mr Duncan Smith: First, no wait that is not in accordance them to have to write off huge sums of money. For with the time it takes to do these assessments is acceptable. example, their benefit processing replacement programme We are driving those down. For anybody who has been was not even introduced; it was just scrapped after waiting, I accept that for them it is a personal tragedy. £140 million had been wasted on IT that could never be We want to change that, which is what we are doing. used. Lectures about money that has to be written off That is why we are doing it in this way, and I will come with nothing to show for it should be directed at them, back to that point with some figures later. The point is not us. that we introduced the changes with PIP because ultimately We have introduced the pathfinder in order to test it will be a better system than DLA. Many people did and learn. We are now rolling it out, as I announced the not get the kind of service they needed under DLA, and other day, to 90 jobcentres across the north-west, and that is the purpose of PIP. that process will be completed in the autumn. Furthermore, I have announced that, from today, new universal credit Joan Walley rose— claims for couples will be rolling out into the live status, and claims for families will follow that roll-out. That Mr Duncan Smith: I will come back to that point in a will complete universal credit’s roll-out in the north-west, moment, but first I will make some progress. as we set out last year. Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con): Will the Secretary On the digital solution, nothing offers clearer proof of State give way? that the existing live service works. It is delivering universal credit and will continue to do so. As I have Mr Duncan Smith: Okay, but then I must make some always said, the majority of the existing IT will continue progress. to be used, even as we develop the final element, which is the digital service, using all that equipment. It is Gareth Johnson: Does the Secretary of State agree about an end-state solution—fully online, fully secure that the most effective way of getting people out of and responsive to all digital threats—enhancing what poverty is by ensuring that they achieve employment? we have already built. Universal credit will roll out on To that end, is he aware that not a single Labour time, and it will deliver what we have said it will deliver—at Government, from the time they took office to the time least £38 billion in net benefit to the Exchequer. they left, have ever reduced unemployment? I therefore urge him to stick with his policies. Sheila Gilmore: I wonder whether the Secretary of State can explain what an “end-state solution” actually Mr Duncan Smith: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I is, or what it will mean, and why he did not properly test will return to the matter of unemployment later, but the PIP, which had only a two-month pilot, meaning that reality is that we are driving unemployment down and every applicant is now a guinea pig? employment up. Youth unemployment and long-term unemployment are falling as a result of this Government’s Mr Duncan Smith: I think that I have been pretty actions. clear about the end-state solution. It is universal credit completely delivering to everybody in the UK. That is Several hon. Members rose— the end-state solution—live, online and fully protected. Perhaps I need to spell it out to the hon. Lady again. On Mr Duncan Smith: I will make a little progress, because PIP, I will simply say that we did not rush it. We have I am conscious that many Members wish to speak. kept control of the level and scale of the roll-out. As we With regard to employment and support allowance, I have learnt what the difficulties are, we have made make no secret of the fact that the process of reform is changes, working with the providers. I will demonstrate challenging; I have said so from the word go. There will in a moment that we are driving those numbers down to always be issues when dealing with such delicate matters, reasonable levels, as expected. but the question of how we deal with them and what lessons we learn is important. Let me remind the House Guy Opperman: We on the Government side of the that the previous Government, with our support—I House welcome the rise in job numbers, which have thought that they were moving in the right direction— improved by 30%-plus in Hexham. I also welcome the introduced the WCA, but the contract was a very difficult transformation in universal credit, which is fixing a one. To break it arbitrarily would have cost over £30 million. broken system. The pathfinders, the pilots and the What we saw at the beginning, and then had to change, reform are necessary and we must stick to our guns. was some very harsh decision making, particularly in Members on this side of the House are behind the relation to those with cancer and mental health conditions. Secretary of State. Some 200,000 cases were then locked in the system in a growing backlog, and there were a very high and rising Mr Duncan Smith: I thank my hon. Friend. number of appeals. In fact, the previous Government had to increase spending on appeals by 1,500% at the Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab): Can the time. Secretary of State tell me how in touch he is with those We have taken decisive action to deliver improvements. people who have wasted over six months waiting for There have been four independent reviews, which have PIP? What are we to say to our constituents when they accepted over 50 Harrington recommendations. There 647 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 648

[Mr Duncan Smith] I say to the hon. Member for Leeds West, who made a poor speech, that my Department has a proven track is now an easier route into the support group for cancer record of delivery—[Interruption.] In that case, perhaps sufferers, and three times more people with mental she will answer this question, which has been raised health conditions are in the support group than were in before. A little while ago, in March, she is recorded as 2009. We ended the Atos contract a year early, with a having said that, left to her, “all the changes that the significant sum paid back to the Department by Atos. Government has introduced” in welfare reform would More than 1.35 million incapacity benefit claimants be reversed “and all benefits” could be and should be have gone through the reassessment process, and 720,000 “universal”. She has been asked this question before. more people are now preparing or looking for work. It was a quote. I will give way to her if she wants to Furthermore, appeals against ESA decisions are down deny it. by just under 90% and we are bringing in a new provider. The hon. Member for Leeds West pressed me about the Rachel Reeves indicated dissent. new provider, so let me say something about it. We are going through the competition process and companies Mr Duncan Smith: There we have it—we now know are willing to bid and compete. In due course, we will what the policy is. announce which companies secure the bid in the end. There will be a new provider. Rachel Reeves: The right hon. Gentleman did not Now we are doing the same to drive down the ESA read out a quote and I deny what he said. backlog, which has fallen by 100,000 in the past few months—it is now about 688,000 and falling further. Mr Duncan Smith: I have to say to the hon. Lady that That is a good start, but I understand that there are it is reported that she said that “all changes that the concerns and issues that people want to raise. [Interruption.] Government has introduced” in welfare could be reversed I thought that somebody at the back wanted to intervene. and “all benefits can be universal”. That is what she is quoted as saying. I will send her the quote if she likes. Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): You’re begging them This is important. to intervene. Rachel Reeves: As I said, what the right hon. Gentleman Mr Duncan Smith: I do not need people to intervene read out is not a quote of what I said and I deny that on me; the hon. Gentleman makes enough noise for all that is my view. of them. One thing I do know is that he needs to listen more and talk less. Mr Duncan Smith: In that case, will she explain why We made the deliberate choice to introduce PIP in a she was saying—to a group called the Christian socialists, controlled and phased way. [Interruption.] It is good I think—that all the changes that the Government have fun being opposite the hon. Member for Rhondda introduced to welfare can be reversed and all benefits (Chris Bryant); one does not need much of an audience can be universal? That is what she said. with him sitting there. We have taken the right approach. On PIP, the NAO Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con): To be fair to said, “The Department has learnt from the controlled the hon. Member for Leeds West (Rachel Reeves), she start in April 2013…the MPA identified the controlled spent 30 minutes not saying what she was going to do, start as a positive way to implement the programme and so she may not have said what she was going to do then reduce the risks”. As I said, the delays faced by some either. people are unacceptable, and we are committed to putting that right. Already we have introduced a dedicated Mr Duncan Smith: This is what is so interesting. Over service to fast-track terminally ill people, and that is the weekend, the lid was lifted on what is really going down to around 10 days and below. The Public Accounts on. [Interruption.] They do not like this, because it is Committee has said that too many people have waited the truth. The hon. Member for Dagenham and Rainham longer than six months. By the autumn, no one will be said of the Opposition employment policy announced waiting longer than six months, and before the end of the other day: the year, no one will be waiting for more than 16 weeks, “We managed in the political world to condense it into one which brings things back into line with where we were story about a punitive hit on 18 to 21-year-olds around their expecting them to be. benefits. That takes some doing, you know, a report with depth is collapsed into one instrumentalised policy thing which was fairly cynical and punitive.” Fiona O’Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab): I am sure that He was making the point, I think, that the Opposition the Secretary of State would not wish to mislead people are failing to say what they really want to do. The hon. watching this debate. Will he clarify what he means by Lady let the cat out of the bag when she made it clear “terminally ill”—somebody who is terminally ill, or that the Opposition want to spend more on welfare and somebody who has to die by a certain date? to reverse our changes to the welfare system.

Mr Duncan Smith: It is the definition given by the Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) consultants who refer the people in question to the (Lab): Perhaps we could get back on track and scrutinise programme. That group will be seen and dealt with the performance of the Department for Work and within the 10 days. That is the definition. Pensions. Will the Secretary of State confirm when he I repeat that by the end of the year those on PIP will anticipates actually delivering 1 million people on universal not be waiting for longer than 16 weeks. credit? Will it be by 2191? At the current rate, it will be. 649 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 650

Mr Duncan Smith: The hon. Lady asks that ridiculous be hugely expensive given that 92% of all those not in question time and again. We are rolling out in accordance education, employment or training do not even have with the plan. Universal credit will have rolled out by GCSE numeracy skills. Paying older workers higher 2016, delivering massive benefits. It would be good if JSA would mean, because under-25s are already paid the hon. Lady said at any stage that she wanted to less, that money would have to be taken from those with support universal credit. Her party has voted against it lower contributions such as young people and carers. and all the savings. The welfare party has learned nothing. My Department has a proven track record of delivery. Nothing illustrates that more clearly than our employment Ian Swales (Redcar) (LD): At one of my first Public reforms. Universal Jobmatch has transformed how almost Accounts Committee hearings in 2010, the permanent 7 million jobseekers look for work, with an average of secretary of the Department said that, with the systems more than 4 million daily searches. Work experience has he had, he could not get losses through fraud and error been one of the Government’s great successes for young much below £1 billion. Does the Secretary of State people, with half of participants off benefits at a 20th of think we can do better? the cost of the future jobs fund. The Work programme has been better than any Labour programme. It helps Mr Duncan Smith: We have already saved over £2 billion more than any programme before, with half a million on fraud and error. We continue to drive that process people having started a job and 300,000 having moved forward, and there are more savings to be made. We into lasting work. That was not the case under Labour. have done remarkably well considering what we were We are confident that the programme’s performance left by Labour, which, as far as I can make out, did not will improve, and the payment by results de-risks taxpayers even bother to try to save any money on fraud and and ensures value for money. error. What we are seeing is remarkable. Unemployment is down by 347,000 on the year, the largest annual fall since Julie Hilling: Can the right hon. Gentleman explain 1998. Long-term unemployment is down by 108,000 on why only one in 20 disabled people is getting work? He the year—again, the largest annual fall since 1998. says that the number of people on benefits has dropped. Youth unemployment is down among those who have How many of them have stopped claiming because left full-time education; it is now at its lowest since 2008, of sanctions? Can he at least tell us what is the quality down 94,000 on the year. of the jobs that people are getting? How many are unpaid, how many are zero-hours contracts, and how Penny Mordaunt (Portsmouth North) (Con): The many are part time? Secretary of State is making excellent points about the Government’s reforms and the maladministration Mr Duncan Smith: In fact, we have been more successful under the Labour party. What about the other issue of in getting disabled people back into work. The proportion the maladministration of pension credit? Under the last of disabled people in work is now rising as a result of Labour Government, pension credit in my city was what we have been doing. On the back of the work under-claimed to the tune of £10 million a year. capability assessment, some 700,000 people will now be seeking and finding work. Mr Duncan Smith: My hon. Friend makes a huge and important statement. The inefficiencies and chaos under Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab): Labour were so great that the welfare system was I hope to be able to raise this matter again if I am called haemorrhaging money. There was a 60% increase in to speak. Why did the Treasury have to borrow £13.5 billion welfare spending—the party that really presided over extra above its target? The reason given was the fall in chaos and malfunction is the Labour party. income tax receipts. People are now living on poverty Before I get on to some of Labour’s spending wages—they are being forced into what the Secretary of commitments, I should say that the hon. Member for State calls jobs, but they do not pay a wage that they can Leeds West said to the Minister, my right hon. Friend live on. the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), that she had never had a letter from him. She has had Mr Duncan Smith: Fond as I am of the hon. Gentleman, many. In future, instead of making allegations, she the reality is that this coalition Government have raised might like to read her correspondence. the tax threshold, meaning that 26 million people now pay less tax and millions have been taken out of the With a little over a year to go to the general election, lowest tax band altogether. That is a huge statement. this is the choice facing the electorate. On the one hand, there is the party that in government wasted £26 billion on botched IT programmes and lost £2.8 billion on Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) (Con) rose— catastrophic tax credit implementation, £500 million on scrapped Child Support Agency IT and £140 million Mr Duncan Smith: I will give way one last time and on the axed benefit processing replacement programme then I must finish. in 2006. In opposition, the party has opposed every single measure of welfare reform and it would turn Anne Marie Morris: The Secretary of State should be back the clock to reverse our progress—back to more truly proud that self-employment is now much more on borrowing and spending. Reversing the spare room the agenda of those going through jobcentres. When I subsidy would cost £1 billion over two years. The unfunded did a review with the all-party group on micro-businesses, jobs guarantee has costs underestimated by £0.6 billion only half the job centres and Work programme providers in the first year and £1.7 billion in future years. Skills were able to help people into self-employment. That is training for all 18 to 21-year-olds below A-level would not the case any more. In my constituency, unemployment 651 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 652

[Anne Marie Morris] It takes a great deal of time to implement any change. That is why, over the years, previous Governments have is down in the past 12 months by 33%, and many of the looked at one area of welfare reform at most, and people coming into work are setting up their own tackled that one area, only to find that it takes much businesses. longer than expected. When the previous Labour Government introduced employment support allowance Mr Duncan Smith: My hon. Friend is absolutely and the work capability assessment, they thought that right. By the way, the situation is the same for every perhaps it could start to migrate two years into the Labour MP. They do not want to talk about the process. Part of the problem in this area is that when the improvement in employment or the fall in unemployment. coalition Government came into office in 2010, they They do not even want to talk about the successes in speeded up the migration process at a time when it was getting the long-term unemployed back to work, on which not working properly for new claimants. That is exactly we have done so much. what we see again with the introduction of the personal We have got Britain back to work. There is record independence payment that is going to replace disability high employment, with three quarters of the rise over living allowance. The Secretary of State keeps saying, the past year accounted for by UK nationals. Half a “We want to take time to get things right.” Well, there is million people have started a job through the Work taking time to get things right and there is a sensible programme. We have seen the creation of nearly 50,000 speed of implementation. new businesses through the new enterprise allowance. The problems with ESA started when we started to There is the lowest rate of economic inactivity on migrate people from incapacity benefit to the new benefit. record. There is the lowest rate of workless households Those problems should have been solved for new claimants on record. We have a proven track record of delivery. before the migration started. The Government have Departmental baseline spending is down by £2 billion. decided to slow down the migration of people from The welfare cap is bringing £120 billion under new DLA to PIP for the very good reason that they have not controls. Welfare spending is falling as a proportion of got PIP working for new claimants. Part of the problem GDP. Reforms are set to save £50 billion. This is a was that instead of doing a proper pilot so that there record we can all be proud of—one of success, unlike was a cohort who had gone through the whole process Labour’s waste and failure. before it was rolled out across the country, the Government allowed only a month before rolling it out. As a result, 6.13 pm not one single individual had gone through the whole process, so the Department did not know how long Dame Anne Begg (Aberdeen South) (Lab): We have each assessment was going to take. to remember three things about welfare reform: first, it Reform takes a long time and needs to be done in is fiendishly complicated; secondly, there are always stages. It is hard enough for any Government and any unintended consequences; and thirdly, enacting such Department to implement change in one area of welfare, change takes a very long time and can often cost quite a but this Government and this Department are trying to lot of money. It is fiendishly complicated because people implement it in several areas. The problem is that they do not lead simple lives; they lead very complex lives. In have bitten off more than they can chew. At last Monday’s modern Britain, we have very complex family circumstances. DWP questions, I asked about the various backlogs. The welfare system has grown up over the decades with The Secretary of State said today that the backlog of things being added and, very often, not being taken those awaiting assessments for employment support away because to do so might result in unintended allowance—work capability appointments—had fallen consequences. to 688,000. It was 700,000 at the beginning of last week, The unintended consequences arise because whenever so it is certainly falling, but it is still a huge number and any Government propose change, there are always things a huge backlog. that they do not think about. I often think of welfare The Government have bitten off more than they can reform as being like a big blancmange—when you press chew because they have forgotten the three basic lessons down on one bit, something pops up somewhere else. about welfare reform: it cannot be done easily, it cannot For instance, when the Government decided that they be done simply, and it costs a great deal of money. were going to raise the pension age, I am pretty sure they did not think of the unintended consequences for the group of women born in 1953 or 1954 who have 6.19 pm found that their state pension age has risen by almost Maria Miller (Basingstoke) (Con): It is a great privilege two years. The Pensions Minister, who is in his place, for me to be able to contribute to this debate, having has tried to get round that particular unintended worked in the Department for a number of years with consequence, but not with much success, and that group my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the of people feel very aggrieved. Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, Even more complicated is universal credit, with six my hon. Friend the Member for Thornbury and Yate pre-existing benefits going into one benefit. It seems so (Steve Webb). I believe these reforms are one of the simple to say, “Let’s have a single working-age benefit,” most important parts of the plan for this country’s yet it is incredibly complicated. As soon as we start long-term economic recovery, because they are helping putting things together, as in universal credit, we get to recreate the environment for work and enterprise, unintended consequences when we start to introduce rather than disempowering people and writing them off things such as free school meals or child care and to a lifetime on benefits. suddenly the disregards and tapers that were in the I listened with disbelief to the hon. Member for original plan seem to be not as good or generous as they Leeds West (Rachel Reeves). I expected a slightly more might have been. thoughtful contribution from her, so I was disappointed. 653 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 654

These reforms were ducked by the Labour party when it prove themselves and to convert the experience into a was in government for 13 years. It had 13 years to put proper long-term job. That is the sort of programme we things right and missed the opportunity. I think it was need more of, and I commend my colleagues for the clear to many Labour Members that things could not work they are doing. continue as they were. Indeed, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has said, the safety net had Chris Bryant: Will the right hon. Lady give way? become a trap. Labour saw that, but it simply did not have the courage to act. My right hon. Friend does have Maria Miller: If the hon. Gentleman will forgive me, the courage to act and it is he and his colleagues who I will not; there is a time limit. will make progress. I urge my colleagues on the Front Bench to make sure It is this Government who are creating the environment that we do more to support more businesses to take on that has allowed for 2 million more people to be employed young people and give them the sort of opportunities in the private sector since the election, but it is the I heard about at my local jobcentre in Basingstoke. welfare reform programme that has helped to make sure Time is far too short for me to make all the points I that the jobs that have been created can be taken by the would have liked to make. The hon. Member for Leeds people who were on benefits. Some 3.6 million people West said that this debate was about how we treated our have been helped off jobseeker’s allowance, including fellow citizens, and I agree with her wholeheartedly. It is through the Work programme. The benefit cap has also right that every one of our constituents are valued for encouraged more people to take up those new jobs, and who they are. It is important that we view them according universal jobmatch is enabling 4 million daily searches. to their abilities and do not simply write them off to a lifetime on benefits. The hon. Member for Leeds West is right to say that this Government inherited significant challenges, but if we are going to succeed we have the right team to make 6.25 pm it happen. They are not just taking forward a set of Natascha Engel (North East Derbyshire) (Lab): I am practical measures, as outlined by the Chair of the sorry that the Secretary of State believes this debate is Work and Pensions Committee; they are also overseeing cynical and nonsense, because I have received more a cultural change. My right hon. Friend the Secretary correspondence on, and more people have come to see of State has not been afraid to talk about the role of me about, this single issue than any other over the past work and its importance to families, as well as the two years. That cannot be unique to North East Derbyshire; corrosive effect of unemployment and intergenerational it must be true across the country. The experiences of unemployment. The Labour party was perfectly prepared my constituents and hundreds of thousands of others to sit back and see a generation of people trapped on across the country suggest that the DWP and its long-term benefits. That is entirely inexcusable. It is this programmes are in serious trouble. Given that more Government who want to consider what people can do, than 700,000 people are still waiting for work capability not simply disregard them for what they cannot do. assessments and that the length of delays people are This debate would benefit from a few more facts experiencing are pushing them into destitution, we really being put on the table, particularly the fact that the are getting into trouble. overall spend on disability benefits will have been higher This cannot only be about saving money. I said as in every year up to 2015-16 than it was in 2010. My much when the previous Labour Government were in colleagues on the Front Bench are continuing to spend power and I say it again in opposition. It has to be some £50 million a year to support disabled people. about finding work for those who are able to work and Under universal credit, the expenditure will increase by looking after those who are not able to work. It is really some £300 million. We will not write people off to a important that we prioritise that, rather than saving lifetime on benefits. We will provide the right support to money from the DWP budget, because even under help them get back into work. those terms the Office for Budget Responsibility has We have not finished the job yet—there is a great deal said that the cost of the employment support allowance more to do—and we will always have to make choices has risen since December by a shocking £800 million. It about the way that money is used, but we want to make is very important that we focus on people. sure that it is used for those who need it most. I am most It is also important that we concentrate on language, pleased that that continues to be this team’s philosophy. because we are sometimes in danger of talking about I am particularly concerned about the position in deserving and undeserving people on benefits and in which many young people find themselves when they poverty. Most people who are on benefits and social enter the job market. If we look at countries such as security are desperate to work. They are looking as hard Spain, we see that the level of unemployment for many as possible for work and they should not be called young people is pretty scary. Under Labour, youth scroungers and skivers simply because the jobs are not unemployment increased by some 24%, but it has fallen there for them. under this Government. We should be proud of those A constituent of mine is registered blind and has figures and we should continue to make sure that they been on a work programme for the past two years. He move in the right direction. was given plenty of help to find work but could not find The future jobs fund failed so many thousands of any. After two years, he has returned to the jobcentre, young people and cost up to £6,500 per placement, but but he is no longer being given the support he needs as a it simply did not provide young people with the long-term blind person who is desperate to get into work. This jobs that they wanted and expected. By contrast, when I man is not a scrounger—he is desperate to find work. visited my own local jobcentre recently I heard how, By the same token, Jamie Thompson, who is paraplegic, under the Youth Contract, work experience is enabling has been coming to see us for two years. He is not able so many young people to get their foot in the door, to to work—he is paralysed from the chest down—but he 655 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 656

[Natascha Engel] before they were moved on. It is to this Government’s credit that we have allowed Cabinet Ministers to be in is being called in for face-to-face interviews every three an office, come up with policies, implement them, deal months. Jamie knows how to contact his MP’s office with the difficulties—there will inevitably be some in and how to work with welfare rights, but it is wrong that making the largest welfare reform programme for he is constantly being called in. His condition will not decades—and see them through. My hon. Friend the change and his medical records will be the same every Secretary of State discussed and was passionate about three months. I do not understand why the system is the issues before we entered government, and it is very pulling Jamie in when it needs to focus on other things. welcome that he has had the chance to see the reforms The last person I want to talk about is Andrew Birks, through. who has a 15-year-old daughter so severely disabled To turn to my constituency, I want to draw the that she needs around-the-clock care. Both her parents House’s attention to the benefit cap, which the Labour work—they have always worked, and never claimed party opposed. I must say that the only feedback I have benefits—but Ella has now had her disability allowance ever had in my constituency is that we set the benefit withdrawn, which has pushed her parents into serious cap too high. In a constituency where the average financial trouble. They have already waited three months individual salary is only £24,000 to £25,000, my constituents for an appeal, and there is still absolutely no sign of it. think that £26,000 net income, which is equivalent to These are the sort of individual cases that I am £35,000 gross, is quite generous. Families who work getting. I have loads of them, and each demonstrates hard for many hours to support themselves do not see that there is a failure in the system with the DWP. As why other people should take away more money from the Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, my hard-working taxpayers than they get for working. The hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen South (Dame cap is the right policy, and it is to the Labour party’s Anne Begg) said, it is really complicated: the DWP has discredit that it opposed it instead of supporting us in taken on a huge number of programmes, and many of doing what is right. I suspect that many Labour voters them are just not delivering what they are supposed to support the benefit cap, and think that we are right and deliver. that the Labour party is wrong about the policy. The welfare state is designed as a safety net to catch On the difficulties of assessments, I have checked people who absolutely cannot help themselves—that is with my office to make sure that I can speak with the especially true for those with severe disabilities, who just facts. On the employment and support allowance, that cannot work—but I am really worried that that safety difficult welfare reform was started by the Labour party net is being withdrawn under this Government, which is with, to be fair, our support. When the Labour Government certainly pushing some of my constituents into destitution. tried to do the right thing, we supported them, but Not only my constituents but hundreds of thousands of Labour Members have been sorely lacking in such a people are being affected by the failings of the DWP. cross-party approach. I am afraid that the instant they They cannot wait 10 months for the next general election; were on the Opposition Benches, any pretence of being they need help now. interested in welfare reform fell away. I do not know what the reason was—whether it was their union paymasters or just opportunism—but they have never supported 6.30 pm anything that we have done, despite our more cross-party Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con): In the approach. short time available, I want to make a few brief points. The main issues about assessments are related to the The first is that from listening to Labour Members one performance of Atos. As I said in an intervention, the would never have thought that they had a record. In Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, rolling out universal credit, my right hon. Friend the my right hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead Secretary of State is taking the right approach. It is (Mike Penning), who has responsibility for disabled slower than we would originally have liked, but taking a people, looked into the issues I raised, and wrote thoughtful careful approach has a lot to recommend it. When we and considered replies, which I shared with local citizens were in opposition and the Labour party rolled out tax advice bureaux, and we have managed to speed up the credits in a big bang, constituents of mine who needed assessments for my constituents. However, I must say the money were given the wrong amount and had to pay that the problem was inherited from the Labour party. it back, so they were getting to the point at which they The contract was very poor. I know that Ministers took were pleading for the tax credits to be taken away. action— Taking a careful approach is very sensible. If she has not already done so, I hope that the shadow Secretary Several hon. Members rose— of State takes up my right hon. Friend’s offer to go to a jobcentre that is rolling out universal credit to see how Mr Harper: I will not give way, because I am very the system is operating in practice. That would be very limited on time. welcome. I am very pleased that Ministers took thoughtful It is worth saying that my right hon. Friend the Prime action so that the contract could be ended with Atos Minister has been right to allow my right hon. Friend to having to pay compensation to the Department and to be the Secretary of State for a significant period so that the taxpayer, rather than the taxpayer having to compensate he can see the reforms through. I looked at what happened Atos. under the Labour party: in the nine years that the Department for Work and Pensions existed, there were Dame Anne Begg: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? eight Secretaries of State. To be fair, one or two Secretaries of State tried some reforms, but they were barely in the Mr Harper: I will give way to the Chair of the Select job long enough to think about them or to design policies Committee. 657 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 658

Dame Anne Begg: If the hon. Gentleman is right that would, the needs of disabled and vulnerable people, the Atos contract for the delivery of the work capability particularly those with mental health difficulties. Atos assessment was a mess, why is he not criticising his confirmed that that would be an absolute target. There Government for using the same company on a new would be champions for people with mental health contract for a very different benefit called personal difficulties and detailed examination of every single independence payment? individual who came forward for a work capability assessment. Despite the Harrington recommendations, Mr Harper: That is partly because she did not give me to which the Secretary of State referred, there have been a chance. I was talking about the employment and no marked improvements for people who are waiting support allowance and the work capability assessment. for ESA—we have already heard those figures. Atos has not performed well on the work capability I will give a precise example of just how chaotic the assessment, and I am very pleased that that has been system is. One of my constituents, who is paraplegic, terminated, but it had to be done thoughtfully so that was placed on ESA. Another constituent is 26 years old compensation was due from the company to the taxpayer, and has the mental capacity of a six-year-old, and is not the other way round. consistently having to go for work capability assessments. The Secretary of State set out very carefully the I find it absolutely impossible to believe that Government Government’s approach to rolling out personal Members have no constituents coming to them in similar independence payment. It is the right policy to deliver or even worse situations; yet they find the points made more support for disabled people, and to help them to by my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds West (Rachel get into work and to live independent lives. I am not Reeves) hilarious. They find it really funny that we have pretending that it is easy—it is a difficult thing to seen an explosion in food banks being used by people do—and I am pleased that the Secretary of State has who are working. had the courage to continue. I point out to the Secretary of State that he furnished On employment, we must recognise that there are absolutely no evidence—no Government Member did—that 2 million more jobs in the private sector. I forget which the jobs that all Government Members are trumpeting Opposition Member tried to suggest that all these new have been created during his sovereignty of the Department jobs are simply schemes. The fact that there are 2 million for Work and Pensions are actually being created by his more jobs in the private sector means that, even with the policies. Other Government Members trumpet that the difficult decisions we have had to take in reducing jobs new jobs are being created by the private sector. in the public sector, there has been an overall net One certain thing in an uncertain world is that 48% of increase of 1.7 million jobs. appeals—I am talking about ESA; I do not want there What I am proudest of—as a combination of our to be any confusion—are upheld, yet people on ESA immigration policy, employment and welfare policies are waiting for months before their appeals are heard. and skills agenda—is the fact that three quarters of the During that period they are told to apply for jobseeker’s jobs created since the election have gone to British allowance, but they cannot do so because they are told citizens. In the five years up to the crash, the Labour that they are unfit for work. They are therefore without party’s policies meant that less than 10% of the jobs any financial support at all. As my hon. Friend the that were created benefited British citizens. That was a Member for North East Derbyshire (Natascha Engel) disastrous failure and a policy mistake that I am glad said, the welfare state was created to protect people this Government have put right. My right hon. Friend from falling through the cracks. But this particular the Secretary of State can be proud of his record, and Secretary of State, along with his Department, is pushing this party can be proud to support him in the Division people through those cracks and hoping that the rest of Lobby this evening. the country will not notice that they have disappeared. I believe that the rest of the country is noticing that—that 6.38 pm it is the most vulnerable in our society who are being Glenda Jackson (Hampstead and Kilburn) (Lab): punished. The hon. Gentleman will in future regret taking such That is a shame and an utter disgrace for the Secretary pride in his Secretary of State. We have all become used of State. At some point I am pretty certain that he will to the way in which the Secretary of State avoids claim that he can walk on water, but he cannot. His answering any kind of direct question or actively engaging Department is not delivering any of the promises that in any of the serious issues about the destruction of the were made, not to the Opposition but to the people of welfare state and his Department’s total and utter this country. People are being maligned and bad-mouthed. incompetence by opting for a self-serving, sanctimonious It is being presented to the country as though there are sermon as opposed to any direct speech. I seem to plenty of jobs out there for those people but they are recall, to go back a very long way, that he stood at the too idle ever to take them. That is not the case, as Dispatch Box and avowedly took exclusive responsibility Government Members know, and as the Secretary of for the delivery of everything from IT systems to universal State should know. Perhaps he is floating so high in his credit in order to take people out of poverty, when what self-appointed sanctity that he has forgotten what is he has in fact done is to plunge thousands and thousands actually happening out there in this country as a direct of our fellow citizens into the most abject penury. result of his incompetence and failure to accept his Today, the Secretary of State still managed to avoid responsibilities. any kind of reference to the realities of the situation for all those people affected when Atos had its contract for 6.43 pm the work capability assessment renewed many months Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con): I hope my ago. I distinctly remember that the Select Committee contribution to the debate will be the calm after the was quite forensic in examining how Atos would prioritise, storm. I had enormous respect for the hon. Member for as the Secretary of State and the Government told us it Hampstead and Kilburn (Glenda Jackson) when, aged 13, 659 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 660

[Richard Graham] few months ago. The new work experience places, which are mostly in business and so give a greater opportunity I first saw her on television playing Queen Elizabeth I, for a sustainable future job, are costing one twentieth of but her contribution today was over the top and largely the cost of the future jobs fund. unwarranted. Compassion is incredibly important, but money matters That is not to say that there are not problems that all in this game, because there is no social justice in bankrupting of us in every constituency across the land have heard the public finances. Neither should there be any pride in about from our constituents. Often the problems are to the predecessor of the hon. Member for Leeds West do with disabilities and with moving from one benefit (Rachel Reeves), the right hon. Member for Birmingham, system to another. Very often they are to do with work Hodge Hill (Mr Byrne), saying that he was sorry there capability assessments that have been carried out by a was no money left, as if this were some form of teddy contractor whose contract has been terminated. Let us bears’ picnic. It is a lot more serious than that. The hon. not forget that that contractor was originally given a Member for North East Derbyshire (Natascha Engel) monopoly contract by the Opposition. mentioned some of her constituents. She is absolutely To some extent we all share in the problems that some right that when there is no money left, creative and of our constituents have had. We all have to recognise innovative solutions have to be found. that, as individual constituency MPs, we have to do our In the time that remains to me, I want gently to bit to raise those issues with the Department where question the origins of the motion. I sense there is an necessary, as well as with Atos, and to fight the corner attempt to rewrite the situation as a new dawn. Opposition for individual constituents to make sure that their problems Front Benchers have no clear policy. I am still not sure are resolved as quickly as possible. My experience certainly whether they support the reforms being made to social has been that the system does respond. The Minister of welfare, which their entire party opposed, whether they State, Department for Work and Pensions, my right are trying to achieve more savings, in which case I am hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike not quite clear how, or whether they are trying to cast Penning), has listened. I have had meetings with him aspersions about waste, especially in universal credit. and telephone conferences with Atos, and am bringing There have been some problems with that but they are Atos to meet the citizen’s advice bureau in my constituency tiny by comparison with the problems with IT in the precisely to go through particular outstanding unresolved NHS that the previous Government had. cases. Let us not pretend that implementing complicated IT I come back now to the nature of the debate. When I programmes is a simple matter: as the Chairman of the stood for Parliament, my main motivation was to try to Work and Pensions Committee, the hon. Member for make real two simple and uncontroversial goals: first, Aberdeen South (Dame Anne Begg), said, these are that work always pays; secondly, that saving always complicated matters. Some mistakes have been made, pays. I am afraid that neither was true after 13 years of which have been discussed and debated in this House the previous Government. Arguably the country had many times, and I believe that we are firmly on the right moved further from both, because the relationship between track. I support the reforms, and want universal credit work and benefits was made much more complicated by to be rolled out as quickly as possible. the introduction of things such as tax credits and because we had a system in which the effective marginal tax rate 6.49 pm was strongly disincentivising people from coming back Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Lab): May I make one to work. Savings did not pay in many cases because a lot point in this debate and seek one undertaking? of pensioners were better off not through having small amounts of savings but, as they still are, by getting The issues that we are debating are immensely important, means-tested pensions. I should be grateful to the particularly for large numbers of our constituents. One Opposition, because those two particular goals, which advantage of being in this place for 35 years is that one were not truths in 2010, inspired me to get involved and notices the changes. I notice that two of the Government eventually brought me to this House. Members who are present are part of a parliamentary inquiry into hunger and food poverty. They have therefore Interestingly, in the motion there is absolutely no had the opportunity to look at what is happening mention of pensions whatever. I cannot help wonder elsewhere in the country and not only in their backyard. whether that was precisely because what this Government have done on pensions has been so important and so The Secretary of State used one phrase that stung me right, and has been well supported across the House. into action. I wish to address that rather than say what I The motion therefore focuses on the other aspect of was going to say. He said that one problem with the what the Department does, which is work and, in particular, Labour Government was that we just paid out money welfare benefits. too easily. Let me touch briefly on a few specific points. As I Mr Duncan Smith: Did I? said, we have all had to deal with issues about work capability assessments and some constituents with Mr Field: I have the quotation here, although perhaps disabilities. But as I have also mentioned, the Government I did not get it right. The Secretary of State said that and Ministers have tried their best to resolve those Labour “wasn’t delivering the money”. It is the delivery problems when they have been raised. of the money that I would like to take him up on and on The Work programme is not perfect—let us not pretend which I would like to seek the undertaking. that everything has been solved—but it is working. Many of our constituents—not just those of Opposition People are getting back to work, and the numbers are Members, but those of Government Members—become increasing: I think the figure is now one in 17 people in dependent only and totally on benefit for part of their work as a result rather than one in 26 as it was only a life. How effectively, efficiently and quickly that benefit 661 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 662 is delivered is of immense importance. For many of our see a jobs guarantee that shows no sign of not repeating constituents, although not all, claiming benefit is not a the errors that made the future jobs fund expensive and pleasant thing to do. They do not do it lightly or think that meant it was not a pathway into long-term work. that they gain out of it, other than gaining the hope that Crashing into that policy comes a new punitive regime they will have money with which to put food on the for those who are furthest away from work and have the table. It is quite clear not only from my constituency, most challenges to overcome. Despite that, they seem to but from going around the country, that there is a be the ones who will be punished the most. It seems to growing difficulty for people in gaining benefit in an be built in to the Labour strategy that there will inevitably adequate space of time. It is undignified not to have be educational failure between the ages of 18 and 24. I money. It is appalling to have to grovel across the cannot begin to understand that as a policy model. It counter for money. The alternative of attending food fits with the critique by the hon. Member for Dagenham banks is, for many people, a very last resort. and Rainham (Jon Cruddas) that these policies are The Department has rules. It makes judgments about not thought through or discussed, but are nuggets that who is out of money, and money is paid to people in are delivered for a Sunday paper. That really does those circumstances. I ask the Secretary of State to concern me. ensure that an undertaking is given in the concluding I understand that Labour has a paternalistic view of remarks that he will look at how well—or not well—those the world. It wants people to see that it has a cadre with rules are working. Although some people are without a managerial attitude. It wants to ensure that there is a money because sanctions have been applied against strong state with strong state institutions that will manage them, others are seeking benefit genuinely but are not away the bad things in life. If only life were that simple. gaining it. When I asked the Minister of State, Department If there is one individual who has done more over the for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Thornbury past decade to understand the real nature of poverty in and Yate (Steve Webb) how many people had been this country than anyone else, it is the Secretary of without benefit for one month, two months and three State. Despite what the hon. Member for Hampstead months, he said that the Department did not know. Just and Kilburn (Glenda Jackson) said, he has dedicated imagine what it is like having no money and waiting one the past decade or more of his life to understanding the day, let alone months, for benefit to come through. I true nature of poverty in towns such as mine. Blackpool therefore ask the Secretary of State to give the undertaking has the fourth most deprived ward in the country and I that the safety measures that the Department has in see on a daily basis what poverty actually means for place will be reviewed and new rules brought in quickly, families in real situations. It is not something that I see so that people are not left dangling at the end of a in my surgery week after week, day after day. I always string, destitute, waiting for decisions that do not come. find it annoying when Opposition Members say that we have no idea what is going on. They should come and sit 6.53 pm in some of my constituency surgeries. I offer real, Paul Maynard (Blackpool North and Cleveleys) (Con): practical help. I do not just read out examples in the It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Chamber of the House of Commons and say, “There Birkenhead (Mr Field). He is the exception to what I am you are. Get on with it.” about to say, because he typified the thoughtful approach I want to make another wider point about Labour to welfare reform that is sadly lacking from the Opposition. policy. The motion promises a guaranteed waiting time Opposition parties of all persuasions have the habit for personal independence payment assessments. It is of falling into a trap. They lose an election and assume hard to disagree with that. We have heard from both that it was the voters who got it wrong, not the politicians. sides of the Chamber about delays to people’s assessments. They hope that in three to four years, the voters will see It is fair to say that many people are still waiting too the error of their ways and return to the true path. They long. I recognise that the Government are seeking to do think that normal service will be resumed and that something about that. everything will be okay. That is what my party did after However, I ask the Labour party to think a little more 1997. It took us many years to understand properly why carefully about what it is promising. If somebody applies the voters had rejected us. for PIP, there is no guarantee that they will have a Four years into this coalition Government, I fear that face-to-face assessment. The moment one implements the same is occurring on the Opposition Benches. The an arbitrary time frame within which that assessment Opposition still think that the voters got it wrong in should occur, one sets up a deadline. Whenever there is 2010 and that all they need to do is oppose, oppose, a deadline in the benefits system, there will be people oppose. We have seen no evidence of any alternative who fall either side of it. It is like the unintended economic narrative to explain what happened before consequences to which the Chair of the Select Committee 2010. More importantly, we have heard no narrative on pointed. If there is a deadline and the assessment can be welfare reform. We hear clear criticisms. We heard a accelerated so that it is carried out within the deadline, thoughtful speech from the Chair of the Work and we risk people having to go through face-to-face assessments Pensions Committee, who made some useful points. who otherwise would not have to do so. We should all However, I am still not clear whether Opposition Members know from our constituency surgeries that such face-to-face want to see the reforms halted immediately or whether assessments can be an ordeal, especially for those with they want the implementation to improve. There is no mental health problems. I understand that it is a policy clarity, just confusion. born of sympathy, but it has a dangerous element of the Nowhere is that more apparent than in the area of target culture within it. youth unemployment. That is a concern of mine, because From my point of view, it is far better to focus on the I represent a seaside town that has seasonal employment philosophy of continuous improvement that Ministers patterns. Yet what do we see from the Opposition? We have adopted. We were grateful that the Harrington 663 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 664

[Paul Maynard] scored. When I started, more than 30 years ago, representing people to the Department of Health and Social Security, report came in and that it was followed by the Litchfield the system was far from perfect. I recall having to plead report. We have tried to act on all that and to make for an extra blanket for someone, arguing that the improvements in the delivery of benefits. Waiting times applicant lived in a particularly cold area. I had to are coming down. contend with advice from the Government’s expert advisers What worries me more than anything else is the saying that food in half-empty tins was better left in the constant and complete refusal by Opposition Members can, so applicants could not possibly qualify for the to countenance any sort of welfare reform. They regard luxury of a Tupperware pot. I am not, therefore, starry-eyed opposition as an opportunity not to have to reform about the old system, but it allowed workers to build up anything. What we are left with is a party that offers no an expertise, have some discretion and prioritise. They analysis and no answers, and that, as a consequence, could, as the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) has no credibility on welfare reform. said earlier to the Secretary of State, apply basic, simple common sense, which is denied to them by a system 6.59 pm based on ticking the boxes. Hywel Williams (Arfon) (PC): The original title for Earlier this year the Welsh Government published today’s debate announced last Thursday was “Chaos the second part of their third and final report on the and waste at the Department for Work and Pensions”, impact of the UK Government’s welfare reform changes not “Performance of the Department for Work and in Wales. It shows that Wales’s total loss of income as a Pensions”, and for me, the original title is apt. I emphasise result of Westminster’s plans for social security will be that staff at DWP offices are not the target of my around £930 million a year by 2015-16. Of all the local remarks, or those of Opposition Members, because I authority areas in Wales, Neath Port Talbot, Blaenau think the blame lies squarely at the door of this Government Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil are estimated to be hardest who have pursued policies that have been harsh in hit by the welfare reforms as analysed. Those last two intent and in effect, and have too often failed to provide local authorities are probably the most deprived in the desired results. Today’s motion mentions a fair few Wales, and they are being hit the hardest. Neath Port of the current catastrophes of policy, administration, Talbot has a high level of long-term sickness and disability oversight and structural areas. I agree with the motion, from its heavy industry. and Plaid Cymru will vote with the Labour party tonight. Although losses will vary widely depending on individual If Labour forms the next Government, the shadow circumstances, the average loss to a working-age adult Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is quoted as in those areas is estimated at around £600, compared saying that Labour would be “Tougher than the Tories” with £500 for Wales as a whole. The people of Wales—no on benefits. Some of that may well be the froth of more than those in north-west or western England, or political journalism and serious points taken out of elsewhere—cannot afford such losses without major ill context without looking at the detail. However if Labour effects throughout society. We cannot afford this Members are the victims of a coarse and vindictive Government, and on present form I fear we will not be press, they seem all too willing to embrace that status—alas, able to afford the next one either. it appears to me, for the sake of headlines. The motion notes the Government’s policies and 7.5 pm their failure to manage the change that they have instigated, George Hollingbery (Meon Valley) (Con): The motion and even a cursory glance will bring up areas not before the House is wide-ranging, and I will concentrate covered in the motion that go beyond the delay to on three fairly niche areas in some detail. The motion universal credit, the crisis in PIP, and the harshness and notes that the Minister of State, Department for Work cost-ineffectiveness of the bedroom tax, not to mention and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for the benefits cap. A whole host of Government policies Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) recently commented have contributed to the misery that so many vulnerable in the Work and Pensions Committee on work capability people suffer. assessment throughput, but it fails to note what officials Hon. Members will need no reminding of the work then said about that issue before the Committee. Those of Atos and the work capability assessment—we have officials told the Committee that the Department has already heard a great deal about that this afternoon—as hugely improved performance. What does that mean? well as seemingly endless cases of people with serious They said that a month has been taken off the front end illnesses, or even those at the very door of death, being of the application process for WCA, which has been passed as fit for work. We all have such cases, and the reduced from 92 days to 60 days. Clearly, that is not temptation in a situation such as this is to quote the good enough yet, but it is a huge important improvement most extreme ones. There are a few extreme cases, but at the front end. Once the WCA decision has been here is one of mine that comes not from the extreme end made, the further decision has also been reduced by a but is, I am afraid, typical: a man with angina, severe month: from 42 days to 12 or 14 days. Considerable breathing problems, crippling arthritis and who is waiting changes have been going on in the Department that are for surgery was passed as fit for work. He is one beneficial to applicants. representative of many people not on the extreme end, We also know that the number of benefit decision and he was passed through a points system that is appeals fell by 79% to just over 30,000 between January clearly still not fit for purpose—I say still, but will it and March this year, compared with the same time last ever be fit for purpose? year. Why? It is because mandatory reconsideration put My central criticism of the system is that the person itself into the mix and ensured that fewer such applications in front of the assessor disappears and becomes go to appeal. I have no doubt that the hon. Member for dehumanised—a collection of tick-boxes and points Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green) will say that some 665 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 666 of that is to do with legal aid, and I suspect she may be particular programme? Surely we cannot. As the right right. However, the load on the costly appeals process is hon. Member for Leigh pointed out, it is essential that also reducing, so it seems that the Department has an Ministers and officials can have free and frank exchanges exemplary track record, within itself and its own behind closed doors on the risks to their Department. If machinations, of reacting positively to the changes to they are inhibited from doing so in any way, they are WCA. most likely not to consider those risks in a free and Where is the delay occurring? The answer has to be, frank way, and we will not have the benefit of the with Atos. To understand that, we must look at where exercise in the first place. It is a preposterous proposition. the WCA came from. The WCA was introduced in All officials and all Ministers need a place where they 2008, and within that legislation five annual assessments can talk safely about what might happen to their were put into the mix. We have now had four of those— Departments in extremis. three from Harrington and one from Paul Litchfield—and Finally, I have some facts and figures on the Work it is clear that the design, scope and outcomes from the programme—I am sorry, but it is hard to avoid statistics WCA were wholly inadequate from the beginning. Large in the argument. Some 300,000 long-term unemployed numbers of improvements were recommended. Those people have found lasting work using the Work programme. of the three Harrington reviews and Paul Litchfield There has been an increase of 44,000 people in jobs in have largely been not just accepted by the Government the past three months alone. Long-term unemployment but implemented, but in short, Atos’s capacity does not has fallen by 108,000 in the past year, which is the match the increase in quality demanded. That is because largest fall in 16 years. Some 296,000 people have so far the original contract and the price the Government found lasting work, which is up from 132,000 a year paid for it is simply not enough to allow it to do the job earlier. The vast majority of those who find sustained that Parliament, quite rightly, demands. employment remain in work beyond the six-month point or, for the hardest-to-help, the three-month point. Sheila Gilmore: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? More than 274,000 participants have gone on to find work beyond those points. George Hollingbery: No, I will not, because we all Performance has continually improved, with all contracts have a limited speaking time. meeting the minimum performance levels in the third I think the Minister was right to end the Atos contract year of the programme. In the most recent cohort, and re-let it because it seems that Atos did not have the nearly 28% were placed in a sustained job, up from 22% capacity to do what it needed to do. It is somewhat of those who joined at the beginning of the programme. ironic that the Opposition motion should seek to emphasise Out of any group, young people proportionately have something that was caused entirely by actions taken by secured the largest number of sustainable jobs—71,640 Labour when in government and that this Government have done so since the programme began. In short, the are taking huge steps to improve, and which Opposition Work programme is truly working for those participating Back Benchers have—quite reasonably and vociferously— in it, and I shall certainly not support the motion. demanded. I believe that that improvement, which we all want, has made it more difficult for Atos to pursue 7.11 pm what it is supposed to pursue. Dr Eilidh Whiteford (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): This Sheila Gilmore: Will the hon. Gentleman give way? is an important and timely debate, given the serious concerns that have been raised about systemic problems George Hollingbery: No. I have already made it clear in the Department for Work and Pensions in recent that I am not going to give way. The risk register is also times. However, the most visible sign of those problems identified in the motion—[Interruption.] I notice that is the increasing number of people at the sharp end of my time now seems to be infinite, which is absolutely welfare reform—those who have been incorrectly assessed, splendid—[Interruption.] The clock has now dropped or those who have to wait inordinate amounts of time down to three minutes. I should have said nothing. for claims and appeals to be processed. The motion demands a publication of the risk register It is only fair to say that there have been problems in held by the Department. That is hardly a new argument, our welfare system for many years, but what disturbs and in the short time I have been in this House it has me is the steep increase in the number of people who are been made many times about a similar document held looking for help with disability benefits in the past by the national health service. Let me quote the right couple of years. Significantly more people in desperate hon. Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham)—the shadow need are looking for referrals to food banks and other Health Secretary—from 23 March 2007 when he was forms of charitable support. asked whether he would release the NHS risk register: A lot has been said in the debate about the introduction “Putting the risk register in the public domain would be likely of personal independence payments. I am glad that the to reduce the detail and utility of its contents. This would inhibit Government have set out a timetable. I asked a question the free and frank exchange of views about significant risks and on that last week but did not get an answer. For people their management, and inhibit the provision of advice to Ministers. who have no money, 16 weeks is still an incredibly long We cannot therefore agree to place a copy of the current version time to wait. What are folk going to do for those three of the register in the Library.”—[Official Report, 23 March 2007; Vol. 458, c. 1192W.] and a half months? Two constituents of mine have waited more than 37 weeks for PIP assessments. They That was then, as now, very sensible advice. only got them after my interventions. In one case, I had Do we really think it a good idea for the Government to send not one but two chaser letters. Quite a bit was to make public all their plans for the management of said about letters going back and forth. Surely the point every conceivable risk that they might encounter in any is that, if the system worked, we would not have to send 667 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 668

[Dr Eilidh Whiteford] and those with long-term conditions. Who can argue with that? Hon. Members agree with the Government all those letters. If the system worked, letters would be on that, but the Government are failing to come to an exception, not the rule. Instead, we have dozens of terms with the fact that we cannot assume that a greater cases on our books. Another constituent has waited supply of sick and disabled people entering the labour 25 weeks for an assessment. When he had the assessment, market will lead to increased demand from employers it took a further nine weeks for the outcome to be for older workers with poor health records, especially in forwarded to the disability and carers service. That, too, areas where the local economy is weak. The Government needed to be chased. need to understand that the income lost by people who On the work capability assessment, I met a constituent lose support is unlikely to be fully replaced by earnings, in her early 50s just a couple of weeks ago who lost her even for those who find work, because that work is employment and support allowance in November last likely to be low paid and part time. That divide between year having been found fit for work, even though her the very poor and everyone else, and between the wealthiest GP considers her unfit for work. She is now in the and most deprived communities, is likely to grow as a bizarre and unacceptable position that the jobcentre consequence. will not let her sign on for jobseeker’s allowance because Welfare reform was an opportunity to address some it recognises that she is not well enough to be available of the systemic problems in our social security provision, for work. She cannot even get to the jobcentre without but it has been used as a vehicle to slash support to assistance. Currently, her sole income is £84 a month in those with disabilities and health conditions. It has disability living allowance. She is living off food parcels created chaos not just in the machinery of government, from a local church food bank. That is not acceptable but in the lives of people who depend on that essential and such women are being very badly let down. The support. Any of us could be in that position at some other serious issue is that local authorities, housing point in our lives. associations and voluntary sector organisations are picking The bottom line is that the Government have not up the tab. They have to deal with the consequences, shown that they can be trusted to deliver a fair and whether that is rent arrears, crisis support or dealing decent welfare system. The sooner such decisions can with the emergency needs of people who would otherwise be made in Scotland, for Scotland, by people we have be destitute. voted for, the better. Another constituent’s claim for ESA was initially disallowed. The consequent accrual of rent arrears led to her being evicted, becoming homeless and being 7.17 pm separated from her child. After a period of sleeping rough, she was housed in temporary accommodation. Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con): We are talking After my involvement, the DWP accepted “errors and about chaos and waste in the welfare system, but I can delays” both in the handling of her claim and in the think of no bigger risk than for a new country to try to mandatory reconsideration process. The woman now produce a new welfare system at top speed. Who knows receives ESA, which she should have had in the first what damage will be done in that situation? I therefore place, and she has been re-housed, but the human cost cannot agree with the closing remarks of the hon. of her homelessness and being unable to care for her Member for Banff and Buchan (Dr Whiteford). child is incalculable, as is the impact on her child. The If we want to know what chaos in a welfare system cost to the local authority and the public purse was looks like, we can look back four long years to 2010, massive. Money was wasted unnecessarily and it would when far too many people claimed too many different not have been spent if the DWP functioned properly. benefits for far too long, at too great a cost to the I have concentrated on individual cases, but I have a taxpayer. The incoming Government had to tackle that more general observation. People who are losing out on situation. I normally agree with the Work and Pensions incapacity-related benefits such as ESA are also those Committee Chair, who is wise and learned on such most likely to lose out as a result of changes to DLA issues, but I do not think she was right to imply that the and the move to PIP. They are also the most likely to solution to the risks and unknown problems of welfare lose out on housing support, especially if they live in reform—she was right about those—is to do nothing. private sector accommodation. Of course, with the cost We have been bolting on new and enhanced bits to the of living rising much more quickly than benefits uprating, system for decades. She says, “Let’s leave it like that. If those most dependent on state support are falling further we bolt on a few more bits and make a few tweaks, we behind everybody else and are being squeezed ever can sort it all out,” but at some point a Government had harder. to bite the bullet and say, “We need a new system. We have to make it simpler and clearer for people to understand ESA claimants tend to be older and have tended to what they are claiming. We need to make it easier for work in lower-skilled manual occupations. They are people to know when they need to notify the Government also disproportionately concentrated in areas with the of changes.” Fundamentally, the Government needed most challenging labour market conditions. That geographic to make it easier to administer the system. We could not distribution is extremely problematic for those with less continue with people claiming six different benefits at severe disabilities and health conditions, who are less the same time, not knowing what they were doing. That likely to qualify for support under the new regime. They was not fair on them or on the system. That is what led will be seeking work in the areas where they are least to the huge amount of fraud and error that this Government likely to be able to find it. and the previous one have been trying to tackle in The Government’s argument today is as it has been different ways without getting the number down by very since they embarked on the welfare reform process: they much. The only way out of the mess is a simpler argue that they are removing barriers for disabled people benefits system that everyone can understand. 669 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 670

We must all accept that progress on universal credit I sincerely hope that when we let the new work capability has not happened at the speed that the Government assessment contract, we learn from the problems of too planned and that we would all have liked, but what was little money, too much volume and too slow a pace. We the alternative? Was the alternative for the Government need to get these contracts right because we need people to press on and say, “It would be bad news to slow to have faith that the assessments produce the right down. Let’s press on at full speed and hope we get it answer; otherwise, we will be in a right mess and have right”? That would have been a complete disaster and a no one who can deliver these assessments in a way that terrible political decision to take. It would have risked is trusted. We need the next contractor to be supported people not getting the benefits to which they are entitled. to get this right. It needs to perform and we need to help In the early days, they might have got more than they it perform. We need to watch the next contract award were entitled to, before finding that they had to pay it carefully to make sure that it is got right. We all want a back a few months later. That situation would have welfare system that is fair and seen to be fair, but if we been unacceptable. We saw that with tax credits and cannot achieve that it will be a disaster for our society. were right to learn from the mistakes. The Government are right to say, “Look, we have problems with the system. Let’s slow it down and trial it properly. Let’s get 7.23 pm it right before we put millions of people through it and Jenny Chapman (Darlington) (Lab): It is a pleasure to risk making their lives even harder.” That was the right contribute to the debate and to follow the hon. Member decision. for Amber Valley (Nigel Mills). I agree with a couple of I note that the motion does not mention the positive the things he said; I agree that the programme has had a things that the Department has done. It does not mention bumpy start, but I disagree that the bumpy start is over. that unemployment is down—by 31% in my constituency I also agree with him that we need to get things right in in the last year. It does not mention the pension changes, order to build confidence in the benefit system. For which are huge steps in the right direction. Nor does it many reasons, that confidence is not as high as we want mention the child maintenance reforms. I shall not it to be, and one of those reasons is the corrosive suggest that they will work perfectly first time—that language that we often hear about people who claim would be a brave claim after the history of the last benefits. 20 years—but the system now looks fairer and tries to Darlington is in the north-east, but unemployment encourage the right behaviour, not the wrong behaviour. there is consistently lower than the regional average. The welfare reforms are very important and we need People in my constituency work hard, and they want to get them right. We need people to have faith in the claimants to be challenged and people to demonstrate welfare system. What we hear on the doorstep is that why they need benefits, but the system is not working. I people do not believe that the system is fair. They do shall give a few examples of real case studies. They are not believe that the people who get benefits actually still live cases that have been raised with the Department, deserve them, but we all know that most people who get but they have not been resolved. I would like an assurance benefits are entitled to them, they claim the right amount from the Minister that we will get a better service from and they try to work the system properly. The only way the Department when things go wrong. They go wrong to change the public perception so that people see that frequently, and despite what the Secretary of State said the system is fair is to get it right, drive out the errors at the Dispatch Box earlier, we are not getting an and complexity, and show that it is fair. adequate response from him or his officials. As part of that, assessments need to work. It is clear One case involves a woman who was advised to claim that the Atos contract was failing miserably. It was too DLA in April 2013. She had a medical and waited to tight a price and the company was forced to try to go for hear what would happen next. She was told she would volume rather than quality. We need to go in the right have to have a medical, but she had already had one. direction on that. I also accept that the PIP assessments She was told that PIPs were replacing DLA so she started out too slowly. The contractors were trying to would have to claim all over again. In June 2013, she get them right, but they were taking far longer than it received a letter referring to a letter she had been sent in was thought they would. What did we want the contractors May, but she had not received that letter. She asked to do—rush the assessments or have unqualified people about progress in September 2013 and she was told that perform them? That would not have been a sensible her claim was with Atos for internal audit. In October approach. 2013, she raised the issue with me, because she had no money and had to go to the food bank to feed herself Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire) (Con): Does my and her five-year-old son. She was unable to pay her hon. Friend agree that the important thing about the rent and her gas, electricity and water bills. I contacted PIP assessments is that they are done correctly? Interestingly, the PIP office in October and again in November. It some people are getting a higher award because the said that it was having trouble getting Atos to respond assessments are being done properly now. to its queries. In February this year she finally got her PIP payment. It took nearly a year to resolve, but we got there in the end. Other people are still waiting. Nigel Mills: My hon. Friend is right. We both represent Derbyshire, a region that was in the initial phase of PIP, A young man with autism desperately wanted to so we have seen how the system went wrong at the start. work, so he volunteered for help from a training provider— I would be the first to blame the contractor for some of Avanta—which then sanctioned him for not complying the mistakes that were made, the speed at which the because he did not understand what he was meant to be assessments were done, and how hard it was to get any doing. Three months later, that case is still not resolved. information. That is now improving slowly, and I commend I received an e-mail from someone who suffers from the Minister for making real changes that are helping. various diagnosed mental health problems. He has been 671 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 672

[Jenny Chapman] have a bill of well over £200 billion. Anyone can see that that was not sustainable. Anyone can see—the public do found fit for work by Atos so he decided to stop taking see—that it was not a viable proposition to keep adding his medication. After all, as he said, Atos had said that to this welfare bill. What this Government have done he was cured. He was later sectioned having been found very effectively has been to focus on this problem, to try in a distressed state. to address it and to bring about reforms to make our I am not revealing the names of these people as they welfare spending sustainable in the future. have asked me not to do so, but their cases give a flavour It is quite irresponsible for Labour Members to say of the problems that my colleagues and I frequently that we Conservative Members do not care and that it is deal with. Another person had an appointment for an the same old evil Tories. The hon. Member for Hampstead Atos medical in Thornaby on 27 June. Thornaby is a and Kilburn (Glenda Jackson) made a passionate speech, perfectly good place, but it is tricky to get there from giving full vent to all her theatrical skills in denouncing Darlington on public transport. It takes at least two bus my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Everyone journeys and the building has stairs and is not properly knows that his attention to detail and his commitment accessible. My constituent has spondylosis, tennis elbow in this area have been second to none. Over 10 or and sciatica after years of working as a labourer. He 15 years, he has devoted himself to trying to understand telephoned Atos and was told that his GP had to fax a the system and the causes of long-term poverty and letter explaining why he needed a home visit. He asked long-term unemployment. In fact, after four years, he Atos to give him a later appointment so that he could and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer get there on time. Because the Thornaby site is so between them have turned around this floundering ship. difficult to get to, Atos seems to think that if people can If we look at the employment figures and see how get to their appointment, it is proof that they are fit to much employment is being created by a prospering work. private sector, and if we look at the numbers of people In another case, the jobcentre agreed that a constituent, entering employment, we will see a marked success in who has a wife and two kids, could do a part-time care this area. It is no good Labour Members wailing about course, but he was sanctioned—incorrectly—for being the changes being made. We all know that the country on a full-time course. He has no money for food or rent faced a significant budgetary problem and we all know while that is being sorted out. In the end, he was offered that a big part of the overspend related to this precise a job, conditional on his completing the course, which area of welfare spending, welfare dependency and so forth, only had a month to run, but the job centre had and it is quite right for the Government to tackle it. sanctioned him for being on the course. My hon. Friend the Member for Forest of Dean The response from the Department on PIPs is dreadful. (Mr Harper) mentioned the benefit cap of £26,000. He It can take 12 to 16 weeks to get an appointment for a was quite right to suggest that this policy is widely face-to-face assessment, and 21 to 26 weeks from date appreciated and widely supported by people across the of claim to a decision being made. That is six months, country who cannot understand why any family in any and that is not acceptable. We need to know how long it constituency should be in receipt of £26,000 a year in will take. The whole system is shambolic. My complaint benefits. The results of polls done on individual policies is not that constituents are being challenged or assessed show that the benefit cap is the most popular Government or asked to demonstrate why they should receive ESA policy of any party since 1945. This is well documented, or PIP: it is that the delays, the poor administration and and there is a reason for it: people understand that the the lack of answers when cases are raised are unacceptable. benefit bill had been expanded way beyond anything that was sustainable. 7.28 pm It is quite revealing that in the course of this debate, the Labour party, which should be re-christened the Kwasi Kwarteng (Spelthorne) (Con): I have been very welfare party, has failed to engage with any of the real interested to hear some of the contributions from Labour reasons why reform was needed. Labour Members have Members as well as those from my hon. Friends. It is relied on what I am calling a subsidiary motion related interesting that the terms of the motion address the to the Department’s administration because they know so-called chaos in the administration of the Department. that on the substantive issue of welfare reform and of To me, that is an admission by the Opposition that they trying to reduce spending and ensure that welfare goes are not challenging the need for reform. As a consequence to the people who most need it, they have been found of the fact that Labour Members cannot engage in a wanting. Frankly, the British people do not accept any debate about whether the reforms are necessary, they of their arguments. have sought to propose this secondary motion, as it were, based on looking at the administration of the Department. 7.34 pm Everyone here knows that we faced a significant Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab): budgetary problem when this Government came to I can tell the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Kwasi power in 2010. It will be remembered that the last Kwarteng) that the only wailing I hear is the wailing Labour Chief Secretary said there was “no money left”, from my constituents, many of whom are very poor. He which clearly was the case. There was a deficit of should be more respectful of that fact. The overall £160 billion, and a large component of that overspend impact of UK tax and benefit changes between January was a consequence of overspending in the welfare 2010 and April 2015 will be to cut the bottom half of department. In 1997, the amount spent on welfare and the population’s net household income by over 2%, with social security was £93 billion. Within about 10 years, the bottom 20% seeing a loss of 4% or 5%. The top half that had gone up by about 60% in real terms. Today we of income distribution other than the richest 10% see a 673 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 674 loss of less than 2% of net income. If the hon. Gentleman calendar and diary in which he had to fill in details of could tell me how that is fair, I would be interested to the jobs he had applied for, it was clear that he had hear it. applied for a reasonable number of jobs, most of which I shall concentrate my remarks on the effects that the he had absolutely no chance of ever getting. current policies are having on my constituents. I come This is a farce. Employers are fed up with being from a former mining area and a coastal area that is inundated with unsuitable applicants, and, far from suffering badly with increasing poverty. It is a disgrace raising the confidence of the jobless, the system is that child poverty is heading for the steepest rise for a undermining morale and increasing poverty. In the case generation, which will wipe out the progress made since that I have cited, it has increased the pressure on the 1998-99 and push at least 50,000 children into poverty young man’s mother to support him, although she in Scotland alone. That accords with independent herself is poor. In another case that I encountered, a projections, which the Government of course ignored in woman from New Cumnock was “sanctioned” because their child poverty strategy report for 2014 to 2017. she did not have access to a computer, although it is not Half of the respondents to the consultation are concerned easy to have such access in her community. about the impact of welfare reform on low-income The Minister should be embarrassed by the amount families. of taxpayers’ money that is being wasted while distress The Child Poverty Action Group says that the is being caused and parents are being deprived of an Government’s strategy does not amount to a plan to opportunity to meet the most basic needs of their end child poverty and fails to set out what actions, children and provide them with food. On Saturday, I milestones and progressive measures could set child will go to one of the local food banks to help with the poverty on a downward trend. Instead, it is more of the collection. There are now about six food banks in my same, even though it is clear from expert studies that constituency. Is it not deplorable that the Government families are being impoverished across the UK, at a cost have tried to hide the fact that referrals to food banks of £29 billion a year. This can only get worse. Two often result from delays in benefit payments, including thirds of poor children live in working families, so the hardship payments? Adding insult to injury by presiding problem is not just about getting people into work. over an inefficient and frankly cruel system only makes What kind of work is provided and what support is things worse. given to families with children are what really matters. Tackling low pay and promoting affordable housing and affordable child care are fundamental. 7.40 pm In my 17 years as an MP, I have never witnessed so Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con): This is a many desperate people appearing at my surgery with cynical, mean-spirited and dubious motion. It was tabled little or no money in their pockets. The Minister has a by a Yorkshire Member, and, as a fellow Yorkshire lot of explaining to do regarding the abject failure of representative, I cannot tell the House how surprised I universal credit to date, especially in respect of simplification am. The economic results achieved by the Government of the system, in spite of the fact that the Secretary in Yorkshire are incredibly positive. Business confidence of State has held up universal credit as the pinnacle of is growing: the number of business start-ups in north welfare reform. Yorkshire is now double the national average, and we As my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen South have more private sector jobs than we have had for (Dame Anne Begg) said, the Secretary of State has years. However, as we get set to welcome the Tour de bitten off more than he can chew. I want to thank my France to Yorkshire at the end of the week, the economies hon. Friend for coming to my constituency recently to of Britain and Yorkshire are being been talked down, give a talk on the implications of independence for and that is a total disgrace. welfare issues. I will not try your patience by going into The Government’s welfare policies are key to our that any further, Mr Deputy Speaker, but I just wanted long-term plan, and also to our economic recovery. to mention it because it was very welcome. There has been a 22% drop in the number of jobseeker’s I am most concerned about the number of vulnerable allowance claimants in Yorkshire, which is at a five-year people being thrown off benefit as a result of a work low. We have seen a bigger reduction in the number of capability assessment that is not fit for purpose. Some claimants of employment and support allowance than people are terrified of the impact that PIP will have on the national average, and 920 new businesses have been their daily lives—even if they can get an interview at set up under the new enterprise allowance. The hon. all—and of a Work programme that provides very little Member for Leeds West (Rachel Reeves) failed to mention work. any of the 80 success stories in her constituency: she did The sanctions regime can be described only as bullying. not refer to any of the businesses that have been set up Citizens Advice Scotland is not the only organisation under NEA over the past few years. Just last week, I inundated with people needing help with inaccurate heard from a company called Lime Tree Europe in assessments or unfair sanctions. In years gone by, I had Halifax, which is a key marginal seat. That company very few cases where sanctions had been applied and it has been trading for three weeks. It is delighted by the was usually for fair enough reasons. There are now benefits that the NEA has brought, and is greatly numerous cases each week and sanctions are applied for looking forward to building its business. the flimsiest of reasons. No doubt Conservative Members Even more odd and sinister is the fact that the Labour will think that to be a good thing, and perhaps it would party has kicked the men and women who work in our be if it was fair. In a recent case, a young man with jobcentres and at the DWP—and who are working hard learning difficulties had been sanctioned three times to change the culture—firmly in the teeth. Anyone who since last September because, apparently, he had not has been to a jobcentre and observed people working done enough to look for work. On looking at his hard to return our fellow citizens to employment will 675 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 676

[Julian Smith] insurance rise. Are they going to place a burden on British business as a result of which it will again fail to know that there has been a complete revolution in the employ the necessary numbers? We want the Secretary way in which those organisations operate. When I visited of State and other Ministers to press ahead with these a jobcentre in Skipton recently, I went from desk to reforms. I say to them: please turn up the volume. desk and saw every woman and every man working flat out to get my constituents back into work. Everyone knew their numbers; everyone was on top of what had 7.47 pm to be done. It is not surprising that 300,000 people are now in sustainable jobs, thanks to the Ministers and Mrs Anne McGuire (Stirling) (Lab): It is a pleasure to other hard-working people in the DWP. follow the hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Julian Smith), but I must tell him that I think I speak for all A couple of weeks ago, with my hon. Friend the Opposition Members when I say that I rather resent his Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Andrew suggestion that any criticisms of the inefficiencies of the Jones), I visited a jobcentre in Harrogate. The first Secretary of State’s Department are laid at the door of person whom we met was Paul, who was doing work hard-working civil servants. Let me also tell him that experience and was showing older people how to use when he next makes assertions about what people who Universal Jobmatch. work in jobcentres actually want, he might wish to prove those assertions rather than simply stating that Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (Con): they are in favour of more reforms and more sanctions. My hon. Friend is making some important points about the success of universal credit. When we visited that The DWP touches all our lives at some point. I think jobcentre, we met users who emphasised the fact that that when we talk about welfare, we should bear in universal credit was making work pay. Surely that is mind that welfare payments—that generic term that we something to which Governments have been aspiring trot out so easily—also include our pension system. The for decades. Minister may correct me if I am wrong, but I suspect that about 54% of our welfare payments are pensioner Julian Smith: Absolutely—and the two people whom payments. We should never forget that. we met said that it was giving them the confidence to go Today’s debate results from the fact that a Government out and find work. Representatives of recruitment firms Department has failed miserably to achieve its objectives, told us that universal credit would make it much easier namely reform of our welfare system, a Work programme to place clients, because they would not be losing their that works for people, and the reform of disability benefits. payments. I agree with what was said by my hon. Friend A surprising aspect of the shadow Minister’s speech the Member for Aberdeen South (Dame Anne Begg), was the implication that she and her colleagues had not the Chair of the Select Committee—who, on cue, has visited a jobcentre in recent months. If they had done just entered the Chamber. The hon. Member for Spelthorne so, they would have heard from jobcentre staff that they (Kwasi Kwarteng) suggested that the Conservatives were want more of the Government’s reforms. They want the only party that was in favour of welfare reform. people to have more work experience and zero-hours Nothing could be further from the truth. What we did contracts, because those things will give them a foot on object to— the ladder leading them back to employment. They want universal credit to work, because it gives them an Kwasi Kwarteng rose— opportunity to motivate people who are not currently boarding the work bus. Mrs McGuire: Will the hon. Gentleman let me finish If the hon. Member for Leeds West will not listen to my sentence? I had only got as far as a comma. jobcentre staff—the people whom I have met—she should The hon. Gentleman should realise that, in fact, we listen to the Yorkshire people, her constituents. What had a consensus on welfare reform. Indeed, the hon. they want is a lower benefit cap. They want the Government Member for Forest of Dean (Mr Harper) mentioned to get on with introducing their national insurance cut that we had worked together in the last Parliament. We for young people, which will encourage employers to are now debating a reform programme that is not about take on more of those young people, and they want the consensus—it is not about talking to other people. It is Government’s benefit reforms to include even tougher the brainchild of the Secretary of State. He went at measures. it with zeal, and he was not prepared to accept that Following what my hon. Friend the Member for there were any ways in which he ought to finesse its Harrogate and Knaresborough and I saw in Harrogate, implementation. We cannot simply dismiss the I hope that universal credit will be rolled out throughout 700,000 people who are waiting for WCA as somehow a the country as quickly, but as responsibly, as possible. blip or a glitch in the system. Those are individuals Rather than hearing criticisms of the DWP and jobcentre who, as my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead staff, I want to see more incentives given to those staff, (Mr Field) said very powerfully, find themselves quite who are performing incredibly well. They currently have literally without money on many days of the week; an opportunity to receive a bonus amounting to 0.25% people who find themselves in the humiliating position, of their salaries. I want them to have more such as they see it, of having to go to get food from friends, opportunities. family and food banks. Labour Members have to admit that if they ever get We have PIP now. I think the Minister deserves just a their hands on the tiller again, they will never reverse little credit for PIP and I have said that to him before. the reforms that the Government have introduced. They He has stalled the implementation, however, and I hope have to come clean about their proposals for a national that at the end of this debate he will tell us exactly what 677 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 678 the waiting times are now, because they have been Since then, there has been a new optimism. bandied around but I have not seen any evidence for Unemployment is down by one third in my constituency, them. with youth unemployment decreasing by 30%. There is We cannot just ignore what other organisations are renewed confidence in the local economy, and businesses saying. The Public Accounts Committee says the DWP are creating jobs. The number of apprenticeships in the has “yet to achieve” savings and it has an “unacceptable town have increased by a staggering 83%. What is level of service” with happening in my town is not unique; it is happening up and down the country. Employment is up and welfare “uncertainty, stress and financial costs for claimants”. dependency is down, and according to the OECD Britain Even the DWP’s own annual report last week said: is a more optimistic place than it was in 2010. “The volume of assessments undertaken by providers on both The best way to get people off welfare and into work contracts has fallen consistently below” is by creating a conveyor belt of aspiration. That starts the expected demand. in the family, continues in schools, and carries on into We have called over many months now for a cumulative skills training and post-16 education. Excluding those impact assessment of the impact of the policies on in full-time education, despite what the Government disabled people. What we have here is a cumulative have done on youth unemployment, there are still disaster area of a ministerial team, which introduced 500,000 young people out of work, so we must make it major change projects without suitable testing. The easier for young people to get the skills that they need to objective assessments have clearly identified that. Ministers give them the best chance in life. continued to advise this House that everything was, and In last year’s Queen’s Speech, the Government said was going to be, hunky-dory. They have sought to that it should be typical for school leavers to go to camouflage all the failures of their Department. We university or start an apprenticeship. Significant progress now even have a new technical term that we did not has already been made, with the Government on track know we had: reset. Actually, that is a term for a new to deliver 2 million apprenticeship starts. The university project; the Secretary of State ought to admit that. technical colleges are part of this ladder of aspiration, We have a Secretary of State who has stretched giving young people—those on low incomes, who would credibility on universal credit when he has said time never otherwise have had the chance—the chance to get after time that it is on budget and on time. I hate to a state-of-the-art technical and vocational education disillusion the Secretary of State, but when I asked the alongside traditional academic education, and we need chief executive of the Major Projects Authority whether to bring that through. We need to ensure that doing universal credit was on budget and on time, he might training and vocational work and taking up apprenticeships have said certain words, but his body language gave a are as prestigious as going to university. whole different interpretation of what he said, and the Secretary of State should look at that evidence in the We also need to be the party of social justice and PAC record. redistribution. The Government have done a lot of work on redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor This ministerial team is living in a virtual world in by cutting taxes for lower earners. Even the 45p rate has Caxton house. It is not the same world most of us—even raised an extra £9 billion for the Treasury, and I urge the the Ministers’ own Back Benchers—have said they live Secretary of State to lobby for that £9 billion extra to be in, and, frankly, if the Secretary of State does not get a put into a special fund that we can use to raise the grip on the chaos within his Department in working national insurance threshold for the poor—part-time with people, one has to ask, “Why is he still in his job?” workers and those on lower pay. We have the money now as a result of the 45p rate, so let us redistribute the money we have gained from tax cuts to the rich and give 7.53 pm it in tax cuts to the poor. Let us be the party of social Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Three principles underlie justice and redistribution. the Government’s welfare reforms: ending dependency, Finally, I want to tell two stories of what has happened establishing a ladder of aspiration, and social justice to me as a constituency MP. A man came into my and redistribution. surgery and said, “The Government won’t let me go to In 1874, Benjamin Disraeli said—I apologise to my the zoo.” I said, “What do you mean?” He said, “Because Liberal colleague, the Minister of State, Department I don’t get enough on benefits to go to the zoo.” I said for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Thornbury to him, “Do you realise the average wage in my constituency and Yate (Steve Webb)—that the Conservatives had is £23,000 and people are paying £1,250 in their taxes done more for the working man in five years than the on welfare benefits, not including pensions, and are you Liberals had done in 50. That continues to ring true saying that those people, who struggle every day, should today. be paying more in taxes so that you can go to the zoo?” He said, “Yes, it is my human right to go to the zoo.” He When I was elected as Harlow’s MP in 2010, there was brought up on a diet of dependency so beloved by was a feeling of negativity in the town. Unemployment, the last Government. and particularly youth unemployment, was rife—a hangover from the last Government’s disastrous policies which suggested that a life on benefits was a way of life. Worse John Glen (Salisbury) (Con): Does my hon. Friend than that, despite welfare spending increasing by 60% agree that it is in challenging these suppositions that under the last Government, the number of food banks this Government are really making progress in the increased tenfold, and median real wages stopped growing reforms they are bringing through, and that we need to in 2003. Notably, the Office for National Statistics says look very carefully at the level of the cap as we go into that inequality is now at its lowest level since 1986. the next year? 679 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 680

Robert Halfon: My hon. Friend is exactly right, and I be written off and a further £90 million has been want to give a contrasting story—one which shows the written down. Good money is being poured after bad as difference and the battle between the two sides. We have the Government continue to spend millions—the estimates the diet of dependency—the man who believed it was are between £37 million and £58 million—on the old IT his human right to go to the zoo and to get as much in system while spending extensive sums on an end-state benefits as he liked paid through taxation—and we have solution. As the NAO and Major Projects Authority another man, who was helping me fix my car, and who reported, there are significant issues to address in said to me, “I just want to let you know that my whole governance, lack of transparency, inadequate financial family have been Labour but I’m going to vote controls over supplier spending and ineffective departmental Conservative.” I asked why. He said, “Because I’ve got a oversight. job; because the Government have got me off benefits The Government’s incompetence on universal credit and back into work.” That is what the mission of the is matched by the measures to which they have subjected Secretary of State has been all about: welfare into work; people on PIP.Anyone attending the Macmillan Cancer redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor by Support report launch last week could not have failed cutting taxes for lower earners; and social justice. to be moved by the people there and their stories. In my constituency, I have encountered numerous cases where 7.58 pm PIP has been delayed. One constituent made an application Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) for PIP on 5 August 2013, but there were mix-ups with (Lab): It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for assessment appointments and delays with reports—the Harlow (Robert Halfon), and I congratulate his constituent left hand did not seem to know what the right hand was on finding a job, but we need to understand in the doing—and only nine months later was a decision taken. round the impact that the social security and welfare The Public Accounts Committee report was rightly reforms are having on most people. critical of PIP’s introduction. In the first 12 months, the Department made decisions for 84,900 people, or 7,000 a Once again I was absolutely stunned by the Secretary month, at which rate it is expected to be 42 years before of State’s hubris in his speech. The DWP is in absolute the 3.6 million people who have been targeted will be chaos. The welfare reforms have been nothing short of seen. catastrophic. Not one of the projects, from the introduction of universal credit to the revision of the work capability I could go on about PIP, but I just want briefly to assessment and the replacement of DLA with PIP, has mention the work capability assessment. The Select been delivered with even a modicum of competence. I Committee is undertaking an inquiry on its revision, just await the next fiasco in the replacement for the and I was stunned by what we heard when we visited Child Support Agency. Ministers have wasted hundreds Newcastle. The final point I wish to make is this: if a of millions of pounds of public money—these are Department judges people as fit for work and they Ministers who pose as the defenders of the hard-working subsequently die, can we possibly regard that Department taxpayer. Such is their arrogance that they blame everyone as competent? No, we definitely cannot, as that is not for the problems they have experienced, from their own what we expect in a civilised society. We must remember civil servants to the Trussell Trust, which runs so many why we developed our model of social welfare and of our food banks. What has been reported, and what I retain its principle of inclusion, support and security have had confirmed by Trussell Trust members, is for all. Any one of us could be struck down by an illness disgraceful. Anyone who tries to investigate these Ministers or accident and we would need our social security or hold them to account, including the Select Committee support system—we should value it. on Work and Pensions, has been subject to hostility and obfuscation. 8.4 pm We supported the principles of universal credit, and Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham) (Con): I have sat through the Secretary of State would be sensible to remember this debate and listened carefully to speeches made by that. We support the simplification of the social security Opposition Members, and it appears to me that they system and the principle of making work pay, but the believe that history started when this Government came Government’s reforms are not working. The introduction into office. A collective act of amnesia has taken place, of universal credit has been an unmitigated disaster, as demonstrated by the hon. Member for Oldham East with delays, increasing costs and fewer participants and Saddleworth (Debbie Abrahams). She needs to than predicted. In November 2011, four pathfinders, remember that employment and support allowance and including one in my Oldham constituency, were meant the work capability assessment were introduced when to pilot UC before the national roll-out in October her party was in government. It designed the system 2013. In July 2013, it was announced that there were to and the process, and it awarded the contract to Atos, so be six more pathfinder areas, yet by December 2013 we Labour Members have to think about their role in all were informed that the national roll-out was not taking this. Not only did they demonstrate collective amnesia, place but UC would be extended to couples and families. but they have not put forward one idea as to how we can Members of the Select Committee were informed of reform welfare, how we tackle dependency and how we that on the very day of the announcement. The latest help more people get back into work. Labour Members figures show that fewer than 6,000 people are claiming have forgotten their record and the scale of the challenge UC, so I repeat my question to the Secretary of State: this Government inherited when we came into office in when exactly will 1 million people be on it? May 2010. In the middle of all that, in September we got the The Opposition have forgotten that they left behind a National Audit Office report on the various IT problems complex system of benefits, where it was unclear to that the Government had known about for at least 18 those out of work whether they would be better off in months. Some £40 million spent on software has had to work or out of work. I have sat down in jobcentres and 681 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 682 heard Jobcentre Plus advisers spend 15 minutes with One thing that had struck me was just how technology unemployed people trying to work out whether they had bypassed the jobcentre; the previous Government would be better off working than not working. It was had let Jobcentre Plus become out of date and inefficient. not clear all the time whether someone would be better The launch of Universal Jobmatch was a huge off in work, which is why it is right to introduce universal achievement—modern technology was being used to credit. We cannot have a welfare system that sends help match the right people with the right vacancies—but inconsistent and unclear messages to our constituents do we hear any praise for its roll-out from Labour who want to work. Universal credit is vital, not just Members? No, they are not interested in the good news. because it changes and modernises the IT the Department They are not interested in the fact that the Youth uses, but in order to change the culture, so that people Contract has helped get young people into work by know automatically that they are better off in work offering work experience places with the private sector, than out of work, and that they are better off working as opposed to the expensive schemes produced by the more and earning more rather than working less and previous Government. We see hints of those schemes earning less. That shows the mess we had to deal with return again in the future jobs fund, which is one of the when we came into office in May 2010. few ideas that Labour talks about in opposition. The previous Labour Government, as with every We need to ensure that we get value for money and Labour Government, had left office with unemployment that we get people to work in the private sector. It is the at a higher level than when they came into office. That is private sector in this country that is creating jobs. We another part of the legacy we have had to deal with. have seen a tremendous improvement in private sector What should we say about youth unemployment? It had job creation over the past four years. Some 2 million gone up by 50% under the previous Government and, jobs have been created by the private sector, which is worse still, it had increased when the economy was five times the amount of jobs lost in the public sector. growing quickly. That is not my observation; it is the That is a tribute to the businesses in this country, which observation of David Miliband, the former Member for have responded to our long-term economic plan and South Shields. That is the situation we inherited, and created the opportunities. It says something else as well: what we have done in the past four years is reform the if we create clear incentives for people and make them welfare system to ensure that it encourages people to understand that work pays, we will see more people work, that it is stable in terms of the fiscal position and coming forward to take up the jobs. That is why the that it is fair. employment rate is currently just shy of its all-time How is it fair for someone who is in work and record. We are seeing jobs being created in this country, working hard to take home less every month than and three quarters of them are permanent jobs. We someone who is on benefits? That shows why it was never hear about that from the Labour party. All it absolutely right to introduce the benefit cap. Not only wants to do is talk down the jobs that its constituents did we do that to control the cost of benefits, but as a get and the jobs created by businesses. That is damaging result of hard work by the staff of Jobcentre Plus and this economy and the confidence of communities up local authorities, 6,000 people who would have been and down the country. affected by the benefit cap have now gone into employment. If Labour wants to demonstrate that it is fit for office, We should recognise that, and we should be applauding it needs to stop talking down the economy and start people for doing that and tackling the culture of dependency talking up the achievements of companies up and down we inherited when we came into office in May 2010. this country. If it does not do that, the message that The other thing we have done that the Labour party people will get is that Labour has learned nothing from will not like is ended the spare room subsidy in social its time in government; nothing about how to tackle the rented accommodation, thus saving the taxpayer money dependency culture; nothing about the complex benefits and promoting exactly the same principle which Labour systems it left behind; and nothing about how to be on implemented when it was in government but has carefully the side of those who work, those who want to play by forgotten about; the Labour Government did not have the rules and those who want to see everyone else the spare room subsidy for private rented accommodation treated in the same fair fashion. That is what we have but they did have it for the social sector. Labour Members sought to do. will not accept that what we did was provide consistency Welfare reform is a key part of our economic legacy. and fairness, and help tackle the housing benefit bill It has helped to provide the supply of workers that we which rose so catastrophically quickly while Labour need, and it has given hope to people. We know that was in office. people in work are far less likely to be in poverty than those who are out of work. That is why welfare is a key Heather Wheeler: I have mentioned this once or twice part of this Government’s reforms. If we get welfare before in the Chamber, but when I was the leader of right, the economy right and ensure that people have South Derbyshire district council, winning in 2007 for education and skills, we will continue to see the job the first time for the Conservatives, we had to implement creation that this country deserves. the Labour policy in 2008 on the spare room subsidy for the private sector. So what is fair? People only want 8.11 pm fairness, and I am sure my hon. Friend would agree with me on that. Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Finsbury) (Lab): I had a six-minute speech prepared, but I fear Mr Hoban: My hon. Friend is absolutely right and that I may need to ditch part of it to deal with some of what she says again highlights the amnesia of Labour the extraordinary points raised by the hon. Member for Members. They have forgotten what they did in government Fareham (Mr Hoban) who, until recently, was in the and they are pretending that any changes happened Treasury. To hear him allow no facts to get in the way of after we came into office in May 2010. a good party political slogan is really very depressing. 683 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 684

[Emily Thornberry] assistance with their rent, and tax credits—as long as the Government continue to pay them out—because it Let me deal with the four worst points of the hon. is not possible to live in certain areas on an average Gentleman’s speech. First, he said that, under Labour, income. We are in favour of caps on benefit, but we are work did not pay and that people were better off on in favour of them on a regional basis, because that is benefits. He needs to understand what tax credits and fair. The reason why the benefit bill is higher in certain in-work benefits are. The whole point was that people areas is that property is more expensive. I do not know would work. They would not be paid very much and, whether the hon. Gentleman has noticed this, but it is instead of paying tax, they would be able to get tax more expensive living in London and the south-east, or back. The idea was that it was worth working and that even the south, than it is in other areas. These people on was the entire purpose behind in-work benefits. That is benefits are not getting the money themselves; their why we introduced them and why it is such a shame that landlords are getting it because the rents are so high. they are being undermined by this Government. For that reason the benefit bill continues to go up. What Secondly, the bedroom tax has not been introduced is Labour’s solution? We will build 200,000 homes and by this Government in the same way that the previous that is the radical politics that is necessary to be able to Government introduced a bedroom tax for the private address the problem of the cap. sector. The difference is that when a private sector In the two minutes I have left of my speech, I will talk tenant moved from one private rental place to another, about the problems in relation to work capability he or she would not get housing benefit at a level for a assessments. The difficulty lies in the enormous delays flat that was far too big for them. When we introduced in the system. Until recently, I had constituents who it, we were not going to say to them, “You are in a were waiting for an age to get their work capability two-bedroom flat, so we will not give you all your rent”. assessments. I have a number of cases, which I now We were going to wait until they had moved into a new cannot read out, of people who have been waiting for flat and then say, “I am sorry, but you have to move into more than six months for their work capability assessment a flat that is appropriate to the size of your family.” to be done. Once it is done, it may be unfair, so they will That is the difference. Now the Government are saying have to appeal, and the appeals are taking a year. To get to people in social housing, “You must move, and if you around that, the Government have introduced a mandatory don’t and you can’t, because there isn’t social housing reconsideration. The problem with that is that they are available for you of an appropriate size, we will not give also taking an age. I have asked the Department how you all your rent. You will continue to be charged all many claimants are left without any income during the your rent, and out of the tiny amount of money that reconsideration process. The Department cannot tell you get on welfare, you will need to pay that towards me. I have asked the Department what is the longest your rent or you will be evicted.” That is a big difference. period that people have had to wait for their mandatory [Interruption.] It is such a shame that the hon. Member reconsideration. It cannot tell me that. The Department for Fareham is not listening, because if he were, perhaps cannot tell me how mandatory reconsideration is going, he would stop making such comments. so how can it know whether it has been a success? People now have to wait for the work capability Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab): On the assessment, the mandatory assessment and then the bedroom tax, Advice Nottingham provided me with a appeal, 45% of which, even after jumping through all of case study: Arthur, who was living alone in a two-bedroom those hoops, are successful. Is this a Department that is council property, had rent of £70 a week. He moved to working properly? No, it is not. It has a new baby—the private rented accommodation to avoid the bedroom personal independence payment, which is supposed to tax, and is now being paid £88.85 a week in housing work. In my area, we have only new claimants on PIP. benefit and still has a spare bedroom. Does that not The PIP assessment is also a nightmare. I have a constituent show the ridiculous nature of this Government’s housing who, as a result of being in the war in Helmand, cannot benefit reforms? stand or sit, and he has been waiting since 9 July 2013 for his assessment. How can that be? The reason is that Emily Thornberry: I could not have put it better he cannot move, so cannot get out of his home. He has myself. I do hope that the hon. Gentleman was taking been applying for PIP, but he cannot get his assessment. notes. The latest letter from the Department, which has not be Long-term youth unemployment eats into people’s signed by a Minister, says that it cannot give me a time souls. It eats into their future, their ambition and their scale on how long he needs to wait for his assessment. Is very character. Worryingly, under this Government, that fair? It is not. Is this a Government who care? They long-term youth unemployment is going up. That is a do not. Can it be right that a Department allows fact that the hon. Gentleman really should have at the seriously disabled people to be without any source of forefront of his mind and that the Government should income for extended periods, and is still able to look be thinking about as an entire generation are losing itself in the mirror? I fear that it does, and it should be their chance of life. ashamed. Let me touch on my last point before I move on to the speech that I had intended to make—[Interruption.] Several hon. Members rose— No, no, let me make my fourth point, which is that it is not fair that people on an average income should be getting less money than people on benefits. Let me Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Dawn Primarolo): explain this to the hon. Gentleman. If someone is on an Order. I regret to say that there are more Members average income in central London, they cannot live. wishing to speak in this debate than there is time for They get in-work benefits, their rent paid or some them all to speak at six minutes. I will take the time limit 685 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 686 down to five minutes from the next speaker. I have to desire to free people from labels is what divides this side say that it may not be possible for every Member to get of the House from the Opposition. That is what drew in even on five minutes. me to the Conservative party and that is what I am proud to stand for. I resist any attempt from the Opposition 8.19 pm to suggest that it is not respectful to see people as individuals rather than to label them. Chloe Smith (Norwich North) (Con): I am confident Thirdly, I welcome the benefit cap. Many hon. Members that the hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury have spoken about it already. I know many people in (Emily Thornberry) will forgive me for not responding Norwich who would be only too happy to see the meticulously to five minutes of sanctimony and histrionics. benefit cap set at the minimum wage rather than at I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow average earnings. Norwich is another place where those (Robert Halfon) for making an important set of points things are out of kilter. It is a crying shame that Labour that received only giggles from the Opposition. The opposes the benefit cap and that shows the truth of hon. Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (Sandra what my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North Osborne), who is not in her place, demanded respect, and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard) said: Labour seems to while those on her Benches laughed at his points. think that it owns voters. That is another disgraceful I agree with the points made by my hon. Friend the demonstration of how Labour likes to label people as Member for Skipton and Ripon (Julian Smith), who its people, but there will be no people left in support of pointed out that the title of today’s debate on the Order the Opposition when they are not on the right side of Paper, “Performance of the Department for Work and the welfare debate. Pensions,” is a big bash at civil servants. As I make the Finally, I want to thank the Minister of State, first of the four points I want to make during my Department for Work and Pensions, my right hon. substantive contribution, I pay tribute to the staff of Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), the Department for Work and Pensions with whom I who is responsible for disabled people, for a move that work at the jobcentre in Norwich—in particular, Julia he has recently made. He has changed the location of Nix, the district manager, Tom Adams, a project manager, the work capability assessments carried out in Norwich. and a young man called Jamie who is on work experience. The company, Atos, which we have talked about many I have had the great honour of working with those times today, formerly used an office on the second floor three people on a project that seeks to halve Norwich’s of a building in Norwich. The Minister has just put the youth unemployment and I am delighted to say that we wheels in motion to change that location. It is obviously are succeeding. Only last week, we were able to announce not acceptable for some of the most vulnerable people the 1,000th young person to go into work through that represented by me and my hon. Friend the Member for project. That has only been possible through the hard Norwich South (Simon Wright) to be turned away and work of those civil servants. I have been humbled to be sent to Ipswich by public transport or sometimes by able to help them in that project and I want to continue taxi. None of that is acceptable and I pay tribute to my to do more of that. right hon. Friend the Minister for turning that situation Secondly, we need universal credit to come in. It is around. It is the right thing to have done. Do you know crucial to make work pay. Let me give two examples what? Who signed the contract on that building in the from my constituency that demonstrate that. One father first place? Who has forgotten history, in the words of of four is trapped needing housing benefit at the level at my hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr Hoban)? which he receives it. He is unwilling to ask his wife to go Who thinks that that it all began in 2010? The Labour to work because if he did so they would lose the benefits party signed that contract in 1998 and my right hon. they receive. He is frustrated as heck in that trap and it Friend the Minister has put things right. is not fair on him. 8.25 pm Sheila Gilmore: Is the hon. Lady not aware that once Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab): I am wondering where universal credit is finally extended to couples and couples to start, with only five minutes to speak. I wonder with children, second earners will be worse off than whether anybody was surprised by the Secretary of they are at present? State’s opening remarks. He said that the Labour party was the cynical party—what a laugh that is. He said that Chloe Smith: I will make sure that I discuss that with the debate was just pandering to the paymasters in the my constituent, who is disgusted about what Labour trade unions, which has also been said by a number of ever did for him during its 13 years in office. Government Members. He went on to mention that I also want to talk about the group of mums I they have had a good look at the Department in that recently met at Asda, which had kindly organised an they use taxis now and some Ministers use the tube. event off the back of its Mumdex, a scheme that will be That is great. People in the constituencies will be absolutely known to Members of the House. I hold my surgeries in delighted that such cuts have been made. Do the Secretary Asda anyway, so it was a doubly good opportunity for of State and the Ministers not realise that the people we me. Hon. Members will know very well the trap that are discussing tonight can barely afford to use taxis and occurs at 16 hours, which we have spoken about at that some disabled people cannot use the tube? length. The Secretary of State said that the debate was The next point I need to make about universal credit nonsense and that we on the Opposition Benches were is that it will start to treat people as individuals. It will scaremongering. That could be described as arrogance not continue to put people in the boxes of income in abundance from the Secretary of State. Only an support, JSA and ESA. It is crucial that we consider out-of-touch raving lunatic would dare suggest that people’s individual circumstances and I suggest that the everything in the Department for Work and Pensions is 687 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 688

[Ian Lavery] best that they can be, there is a gap far greater than those few feet separating the Government and the on track and under control. It is in utter chaos. I would Opposition Benches. What we have heard from Opposition not suggest for one minute that the Ministers or the Members this evening is unfettered ideology. What we Secretary of State were stark raving lunatics—quite the have heard from Government Members, by contrast opposite. These people know exactly what they are with the Opposition’s cynical party political scaremongering, doing to disabled people, vulnerable people and poor are practical examples and pragmatic approaches to people. They are some of the brightest people in Parliament, what we are going to do to enable people of working if not in the country. They know the consequences of age who can work to work, and to give them a ladder their actions when it comes to cuts to the welfare state. out of poverty, with a good education and employment They know exactly what is happening. as the essential rungs on that ladder. We believe passionately I would dare to suggest that this is the unbridled in that, and we have spent the past four years building brutality of the nasty party coming to the fore— that ladder. It will take years more to make it a sound [Interruption.] Of course, they say, “Good grief, how and lasting ladder, but we have made significant progress, can the hon. Gentleman suggest that?” That is the as we have heard this evening. reality and that is how that party is portrayed in Perhaps we are finding out tonight the real heart and constituencies up and down the country. This is an soul that divide the two parties here. Member after ideological attack on poor people and on people on Member on the Government Benches has demonstrated benefits, as has been said before. It is an absolute the practical work that he or she is doing in their disgrace. constituencies on projects with the DWP, in schools and If we look at the universal credit, the work capability with employers—projects that are making a difference assessment, PIP or the bedroom tax, how on earth can by improving employment, driving up salaries, and anybody even suggest that they have been a success? increasing people’s skills and opportunities. Those are They are in absolute turmoil. All the analysis and all the all things that Opposition Members could be doing, but experts are saying exactly the same. How can PIP be we have heard little about that this evening. Even our successful if 700,000 people are waiting to be assessed? approach to food banks is remarkably different. Colleagues We are talking about 700,000 people, yet the Minister on the Government Benches are engaging with their and the Secretary of State get up and say that there is food banks, and understand that this is not just about nothing to worry about and that things are fine. food; it is about making sure that people who fall between the cracks in our society get all the support Let me end by saying that I will not accept what the they need to help them turn their lives around. hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Julian Smith) said about the Labour party having a go at people in the It is Members on the Government Benches who are DWP. The people who work in jobcentres up and down rolling up their sleeves and making a positive difference, the country are working their socks off. People are not throwing out cynical party political comments which being laid up because of mental stress caused by the do nothing for the people who sent us here—the people backlogs, the hassle and the way in which they are we need to be mindful of this evening. It is shameful to working. They get support from the Labour party, not listen to some of the contributions this evening, which from the Conservative party. undermine the excellent work that people in businesses and in the public services are doing to get alongside the In relation to the so-called trade union paymasters, poorest and most vulnerable people in our society to the trade unions have done more for vulnerable, poor make a positive difference. and disabled people than the paymasters in the City have ever done or are likely to do, so I resent comments As our economy grows—it will take some time before from the Government Benches that the subject for it is the sort of economy that we want it to be—and as today’s debate was chosen to placate the trade union we rebalance it so that all parts of the nation feel the movement. The trade union movement has done more benefit, I want to make sure that no one is left behind. I than they will ever do to support those people, who do am sure that our Front-Bench team has the right ideas not have a voice in Parliament. and the right character to make sure that no one is left behind. With growing prosperity in our country, every part of our country and every person will have the 8.30 pm opportunity to be the best that they can be and to improve living standards for themselves and their family. Sarah Newton (Truro and Falmouth) (Con): Like my Based on the performance that we have seen tonight, hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr Hoban), I the Opposition do not have the team or the ideas to help have sat through most of this debate. The contribution those people get on. of my hon. Friend and that of the hon. Member for Hampstead and Kilburn (Glenda Jackson) show in 8.35 pm stark contrast how, with some notable exceptions on the Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): Some of the Opposition Benches, the two sides of the House approach aspirations of the hon. Member for Truro and Falmouth the vital issue of welfare reform. There can be no one in (Sarah Newton) are indeed shared across the House. the House who does not want to live in a country that The problem is that for all those cheery words, many of provides a safety net for people who cannot work—for the policies that the Government have put in place are people who, through no fault of their own, find themselves not working. That is a fact and that is the purpose of in difficulties and need the support of their fellow this debate, not necessarily to reprise the entire debate citizens. That unites the House; it does not divide us. on the Welfare Reform Bill, on the Committee of which However, when we move on to how we deliver a fair the hon. Lady and I both sat. Many of the things that welfare state that not only looks after the most vulnerable we said at the time were wrong with that and would not people in our society, but enables everyone to be the work have come to pass. 689 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 690

On Saturday morning I spoke to a constituent who March 2012 that there was a small backlog caused by cares for her daughter who has severe learning disabilities. some improvements that followed the Harrington report, She said to me, “My daughter is 25. She’s not going to but that it was on track to be cleared by the summer of get better. She’s not going to change, so why is she 2012? He was not aware of any huge backlog inherited constantly being reassessed for employment and support from the previous Government; he is just trying to avoid allowance? What is all that about?” any responsibility for what is happening. Crucially—this is fundamentally important—we have Graham Jones (Hyndburn) (Lab): Picking up on the a system that is not only really hurting many of the point that my hon. Friend is making, I know a young people going through it, but is not succeeding, even on girl, Nieve Evans, who has cerebral palsy, which of the Government’s own terms. The number of people in course is an incurable disease. She is four years old and receipt of either incapacity benefit, as some people still is on the highest rate of DLA. Her parents are forced to are, or ESA has not fallen by anything like as much as fill in forms continually, and those documents are endlessly we might expect, given the number who have apparently long. Every time they have to apply for the highest rate been found fit for work, who no longer get ESA on a of DLA for her, and she will never improve. Is this the contributory basis and who fall out of ESA altogether. type of welfare state we want? The numbers just do not add up, and that is probably one of the major reasons why the savings are not adding Sheila Gilmore: The issue that I want to raise is not up either. just the stress caused to my constituent and her mother, Why is that important? What is actually happening to but the extra expense and time involved. In debate after people? When we ask the DWP, it says that it does not debate, I and others have suggested that one of the know because it does not track what is happening to simple changes that could be made, which would be people. I think that many people are being found fit for humane and would save money, is not to carry out work but are nowhere near finding work. The Work constant reassessment. Even that minor change has not programme is failing people with disabilities, and sooner been accepted by Minister after Minister who has been or later—in a few months or perhaps a year—they responsible for people with disabilities. reapply for ESA. The numbers are not falling in the way The Minister for disabled people now admits that the Government are trying to claim. That suggests that there is a backlog of 700,000 people awaiting ESA the system is failing even on its own terms. It is not assessments. That comes as no surprise to us, because making the savings, but it is making life very hard for our constituents have been telling us for the past few individuals. It is time to look at all it again and quickly months that the delays have been getting longer and make some changes, some of which are quite longer. All these things—ESA, PIP and universal credit— straightforward, in order to bring savings and improve seem to follow a pattern. First, Ministers deny that many people’s experience. there is a problem, arguing that the Opposition, voluntary groups and advice agencies are scaremongering. Eventually Several hon. Members rose— an announcement is made that some changes are necessary because the benefit is not quite working out, but that is Paul Maynard: On a point of order, Madam Deputy accompanied by a reassurance that everything will be Speaker. I was extremely disturbed to hear over the fine very soon. monitors the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Graham In 2011 the Government ignored concerns about how Jones) describe cerebral palsy as an infectious disease, ESA was working out and rolled out the migration which implies that it can be caught by other people. from incapacity benefit, despite the Select Committee’s That is not the case; it is a neurological condition. I concern about capacity. Simultaneously the Minister wish to place that on the record. told us that Atos was being asked to make savings. I wonder whether some of those savings are in part the Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Dawn Primarolo): cause of the further capacity problems. Last year we Mr Maynard, I think that you know that that is not a heard that there was a slight glitch and Atos was being point of order for the Chair, but a continuation of asked to improve its reporting. Within months, Atos debate in the Chamber. You have got your point on the was out of the door, so the problem was much more record and it is now part of the debate. I am sure that serious than we were told at that time. others will want to clarify the position. Ministers want to blame anybody but themselves for 8.42 pm this situation. Suddenly Atos is the bad guy, after years of being defended whenever Opposition Members dared Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con): I am very pleased to criticise it. The current Minister for disabled people to have the opportunity to speak in this important has occasionally tried to claim that Atos was allowed to debate. As a member of the Work and Pensions Committee, take the original contract knowing that it could not like the hon. Member for Edinburgh East (Sheila Gilmore), make it viable, so it was therefore the Labour Government’s I have a unique opportunity to examine the successes fault. If that was the case, why did one of his predecessors and failures of the complex system that this country has tell the Select Committee in 2011 that there was room in place. Fundamentally, every colleague in the Chamber for cost savings? Why did the Government roll it out if harbours the same desires: to protect those who are they had concerns about the nature of the contract? unable to work and to equip jobseekers with the skills More recently, the Minister for disabled people has and support they need to get into work. tried to blame the previous Government for the current With colleagues from across the House, I have sat in backlog of 700,000, suggesting that it was somehow the Select Committee and listened to accounts of waste, inherited in 2010. If there was any truth in that, why go error and fraud. I have listened to the accounts of ahead with the roll-out? Why did his predecessor say in people who, thanks to the system the previous Government 691 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 692

[Graham Evans] backlog of employment and support allowance applications after its 13 years in power. As with the economy, it has presided over, have been taught that there is no opportunity been this Government’s job to fix its failure. for them. As someone who spent some time unemployed There are people who were written off by the state as in my youth, I know how disheartening the situation unfit for work who are victims of poor assessments and can be, quite apart from the assumptions of a system a fundamental lack of support. Of those now accurately that says, “Because you aren’t in work now, you never described as fit to work, 29% have been claiming incapacity will be.” The accounts we have heard have shown time benefit for more than 10 years and 10% have been and again that reform is not only important but essential. claiming it for more than 15 years. The Government are Certainly, the outlook is brighter for active jobseekers committed to reviewing and continually improving the across Britain under this Government. Employment is assessment process to make sure that nobody gets left now running at over 30 million, which is an increase of behind. They are taking the vital steps needed to ensure 1.7 million since the general election. On the day it was that each person is seen as an individual. It is this announced that private sector employment had risen by Government who are making sure that each person has more than 2 million since the election, figures show that a place in our society. The message is: it always pays to in my constituency the number of jobseeker’s allowance work. claimants had fallen to a record low of just over 3%. That is a drop of 31% since I became the Member of Paul Maynard: On a point of order, Madam Deputy Parliament. Running my annual jobs and apprenticeship Speaker. In my zeal to correct the record, I inadvertently fair, the third of which I held in May, is a great tribute attributed the phrase “infectious disease” to the hon. to the jobcentres and the people who work in them, as Member for Hyndburn. I apologise to him; in fact, he was ably demonstrated by my hon. Friend the Member said “incurable disease”. I place that on the record. for Norwich North (Chloe Smith). They do an outstanding job helping the neediest people get into employment. Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Dawn Primarolo): Good. I am glad that has been cleared up. I have spoken in the Chamber before about PIP and how the Government’s reforms offer responsible protection for those who need it the most while supporting those 8.47 pm who can move back into work. Let me first set out how Fiona O’Donnell (East Lothian) (Lab): It is a pleasure this Government are committed to supporting those to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. with disabilities. Last year in the UK we spent over £50 Opposition Members have been called cynics this evening; billion supporting disabled people. To better serve those if I am a cynic, it is because the Government have made who need support the most, we need to look at how to me one. I thought that we had seen the worst excesses of address people’s needs as they change. Some 71% of the Tories under Margaret Thatcher, but what we are DLA claimants are given indefinite awards, with no seeing under this Government is even worse. Notably, need for reassessment, so it is no surprise that changes not a single Lib Dem has spoken so far; I suspect that in conditions are not picked up. That means that people they are all out trying to hold on to their seats. The whose conditions improve are not identified and, crucially, Minister has no choice but to contribute to the debate that people whose health has deteriorated further are as the Opposition have tabled the motion. not given what they need. How can we be surprised that people feel they have been labelled as lost causes and As hon. Friends have tried to point out to Government written off, given that no one takes the time to see how Members, the motion is not just about the Government their lives have changed? I pay tribute to my hon. doing wrong; it is about them doing wrong badly. The Friend the Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon) who Secretary of State always struggles. He is okay when he gave an excellent example of what I am talking about. is talking about figures—he can be as macho and nasty as fits his character. However, as we saw on BBC’s DLA is clearly now an outmoded system that fails to “Question Time”, when Owen Jones talked about the address the needs of the people concerned. PIP will human toll behind the figures, when he is actually faced ensure that a responsible support network is in place to with the stories of real people he becomes very protect disabled people by providing regular assessments. uncomfortable. That will mean that the proportion of people receiving In the limited time I have, I want to try to get the highest rate for both components will increase to practical support for constituents of mine who have 20% and that those receiving at least one component at brought forward their concerns. I want to talk about the highest rate will increase to 56%. We are committed PIP in particular. That change was brought in by the to a responsible transition, so the Government have set Government; our fingers are not on it. It was not meant up, among other services, a dedicated phone service and to save money, because we have been reassured that it electronic transfer of information, a streamlined assessment will not involve cuts to any support to people with report form and a faster process for people with terminal disabilities. illnesses. May I have some clarification from the Minister? The The work capability assessment has also demonstrated hon. Member for Spelthorne (Kwasi Kwarteng) said the failings of the previous Government. The system that the Secretary of State was good at the technical was designed to ensure that those who are able to work detail, but if the hon. Gentleman had been sitting where get the help they need and that those who are too sick or I was he would have seen that the Secretary of State disabled are fully supported. However, it proved unfit constantly had to turn to the Minister for advice on the for purpose after its introduction in 2008. The hypocrisy detail of how PIP works. Will the Minister confirm that of an Opposition debate about welfare should not be when the Secretary of State talked about the terminally ignored, given that the Labour party left a 200,000-case ill, he meant that there will be no time limit for anyone 693 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 694 who comes from their consultant with a verification of Member, because I have lived it. I have been poor—dirt terminal illness? I have been advised—I will wait until poor, to give the technical definition. I was born in a the Minister gets to his feet; he will have longer than I two-up, two-down and used to share my bedroom with have—that there is a criterion of six months. If what the my sister and, in fact, some of my cousins. According to Secretary of State seemed to say is really the case, that is the technical definition used by my right hon. Friend good news, because for people diagnosed with motor the Member for Bromsgrove (Sajid Javid), I was homeless. neurone disease, half of whom live for only 14 months, My wife is one of seven children, and it was exactly the time is short. Getting benefits paid back in arrears is same; they used to have an outside toilet and an old tin not the same for someone whose life is limited. bath in Derby. I hope that when it takes a long time to assess someone for PIP, carer’s allowance will also be backdated. Graham Jones rose— A young man in my constituency diagnosed with cancer waited over a year for his assessment. In the end, he Paul Uppal: I am not going to give way, and I hope received £4,000, which could have been of huge benefit the hon. Gentleman will respect that, because we are to him and his family at the most difficult time in their pushed for time and other Members want to get in. lives, but his mother was not entitled to carer’s allowance. For a few years, I was at a state school in south-west Will the Minister give an assurance that carer’s allowance Birmingham, where, candidly, some of my teachers will also be backdated to the date when the PIP claim thought I could not speak English. Eventually a teacher was put before the DWP? approached me and said, “Youcan actually speak English, Labour Members have said that we believe that there Paul”, and I said, “I can read it too, sir.” If that teacher is a place for sanctions—but sanctions that are fair. The had not approached me, I would not be standing here Minister needs to ask himself: what is the purpose of a delivering this speech today. The message is absolutely sanction? Is it to punish someone or is it to change the most important thing. People should be told that they behaviour, and what evidence do the Government have can do it and there is no limit on their aspirations—that that the system is working in the way they would hope? just because they come from this background or that I do not doubt that Government Members do not want background, there should be no limit to how far they to see people left with no support, having to turn to can go in society. In our welfare reforms, we are sending food banks or losing the tenancies of their homes, but out that message very strongly and proudly. they have to face up to the fact that that is what is I am a bit of a film buff and I occasionally watch TV. happening under this system. There is a wonderful line in the documentary—I do not Bridges Project in Musselburgh in my constituency know whether anyone saw it—where Stephen Fry went does a brilliant job in supporting young people. A across the United States. He met parents celebrating at young man, still at school, whose mother had died was football colleges where 60,000 Americans would come left on his own in the house, and because he was late out and watch their children play of an evening. He turning up to sign on he was sanctioned. That, to me, is would ask them, “Why are you out when you have to go a disgrace. While this may not be the intent of this to work tomorrow?” His response to the situation time Government, it is what they are doing to people up and and again was, “Only in America,” and he observed down the country, and they have to face up to that. that, when people here say, “Only in Britain,” they are They have to be honest about the impact of these often in a queue or it is raining. That is a simple use of changes and start to redress the situation, because it is words, but it shows the difference, which is the most not just ruining lives but costing lives. I look forward to important thing. the Minister’s response and hope he will be able to I have listened to all the points that have been made answer my questions. during this debate, but what do Labour Members actually want to achieve? It is often said that Labour was the 8.52 pm great party of socialism. Is it the party of the public sector? The motion suggests that it is the party of the Paul Uppal (Wolverhampton South West) (Con): I focus group and of not doing the right, long-term and did not prepare a speech as I wanted to come into the difficult thing. It is being populist and looking for the Chamber and listen to contributions by Members on easiest box to tick. I am proud that we are not just both sides of the House. talking the talk, but walking the walk. That is the This has been an interesting debate and some of the important thing—providing a ladder for social mobility. points made, especially given the drafting of the motion, It is very easy to talk about these things, but very will make interesting reading. We are all aware in this difficult to do them. House that we pass legislation here, but the running of The vast majority of the caseload in my constituency Government is often much more important. We pull the of Wolverhampton South West comes from the centre lever and it is important for us to follow it through. of the city. Constituents approach me time and again. I Nobody is going to pretend that we live in a state of have lived in the real world and we know that people nirvana and everything is perfect. Constituents have will play the game, so it is absolutely vital that we approached me about issues and I have had written change that and have a system that is open to everybody responses from Ministers. and makes work pay. The sentiment is perhaps the most important thing. Two generations ago, my grandparents would often What are we trying to do and what message are we go for 48 or 72 hours without eating. My father came to sending out? I will be interested if Labour Members this country with less than a few pounds in his pocket, agree with this. The sentiment of having a welfare cap, but he came here because he wanted to work. During controlling housing benefit and believing that work his first few days here, someone whispered in his ear, always pays is absolutely crucial. I say that, as a Conservative “Do you realise you can claim benefits?” It was total 695 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 696

[Paul Uppal] has told Atos as much on a number of occasions. The system is in chaos and does not take account of people’s anathema to him that he should do that. His idea was to problems. come here to work, better himself and contribute to the There are also legal issues. It is believed that such system, and that is what we are trying to inspire in delays are discriminatory, because the failure of companies everybody in the UK. We want to send out that important carrying out the assessment and the guidelines that the message. DWP has to work to mean that the Government are I am glad that we are taking those difficult decisions, actively supporting institutional disability discrimination. empowering people and giving them an opportunity. Under the Equality Act 2010, unfair treatment of a Thank goodness we are doing that, because I do not person or group of people by a public body due to a think it would happen under any other party represented protected characteristic—in this case, disability—constitutes in this Chamber. unlawful discrimination. The service provided to claimants of the disability benefit PIP is worse than the service Several hon. Members rose— provided to claimants of non-disability benefits administered by the DWP. PIP and ESA claimants are unfairly treated in comparison with claimants of non- Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Dawn Primarolo): disability benefits in that the norm for claimants of Order. Five minutes simply will not give enough time non-disability benefits is to wait for no more than for everybody to be able to contribute to the debate. My 12 weeks, while, from all the experience of the many judgment is that those who have sat in the Chamber all cases that I and other hon. Members have seen, that is day would rather have four minutes than no minutes at simply not the case with disability benefits. all. Therefore, I am now setting the time limit at four minutes. It will be very tight to get everybody in, but I I think that this callous Government are failing morally hope nobody will be disappointed. The time limit is and legally to administer welfare reform correctly. I now four minutes. urge hon. Members to support the motion, which, as I have said, is about the system, not the principle that some welfare reform is needed. 8.57 pm 9pm Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab): I remember the introduction of the much-needed welfare John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD): I apologise reform under the previous Government and the teething to the House for having been in a Statutory Instrument problems that materialised early on. At that point, Committee—in fact, on DWP issues—listening to the Labour MPs stood up, questioned their Government hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) padding out and said that we needed to see some change. The his speech while saying very little. That is essentially situation in the Chamber today has been totally different. where we are: we are not quite sure what the Labour This Government are just ploughing on and we have party’s alternative is to what we are doing. However, not heard a squeak about it from Government Members, Labour has a motion. In it, Labour complains that with the possible exception of the hon. Member for “projected spending on Employment and Support Allowance has Wolverhampton South West (Paul Uppal), who did risen by £800 million”. touch on his constituents. Frankly, we have been listening That tells us that Labour would prefer that perhaps to sheep living in a parallel universe. another 160,000 people who currently get ESA not get it. This motion is about system failure, not the principle of welfare reform or making work pay. Given that I I am concerned about some areas. I have taken over have had 300 cases across my desk recently, I had hoped as chair of the Lib Dems Back Bench parliamentary to raise 10 of them today, but I am not going to be able policy committee, and one issue I have expressed concern to do that, so I will raise just a couple. Mr M applied for about is sanctions. There is no question but that people PIP last September. In January, an assessment was set are sanctioned who should not be sanctioned. I thought in Tavistock, 20 miles away, which prompts the very that we should find out about more such cases, so I good question: why does he have to go to Tavistock asked my local jobcentre to put on the wall a letter when we live in a city with a population of 250,000? His saying, “I am worried about people being wrongfully paperwork was lost and he had to go for another sanctioned. Can you please contact me if you have been assessment in May. When he arrived he was told it had wrongfully sanctioned?” The jobcentre said no—that it been cancelled, but nobody had thought to tell him. would not put a letter on the wall—which caused me concern, so I have written to Ministers to ask them to Mrs P applied many months ago and continues to consider that issue. I take the view that jobcentres have major operations for cancer of the lung, liver and should make people aware of alternative advice services, bowel. She had to postpone her last assessment because be they the local Member of Parliament or the CAB. of a lung operation. I am not quite sure whether she is considered to be terminally ill, but according to Atos Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP): Will the hon. she is not and she is still waiting for a decision. Mrs P Gentleman give way? applied last December and has been through various processes, including being told she has to go to Portsmouth, John Hemming: I am sorry, but I will not take an which is three and a quarter hours away, for an assessment. intervention from the hon. Gentleman because it will I hope the Minister will look into that. I know Whitehall knock somebody else out. has a problem distinguishing between two naval cities, The Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, the but that, quite frankly, is ridiculous. When Mrs P finally hon. Member for Aberdeen South (Dame Anne Begg), arrived, Atos told her, “We’ll help you back into work,” was quite right to say that welfare reform is a very which is interesting because she is self-employed and complex area. However, there is no question about it: 697 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 698 we have to make it so that people are better off in work I thought we had cross-party agreement that it was one than out of work. I was very pleased when I heard part of the welfare system that was working effectively, universal credit proposed, because I have supported its but the Government have proceeded to abolish it. principle for a long time. I thought that it might be a bit Responsibility is now being transferred to local too radical for the Government, but we are in fact authorities. The Government are arguing that the Care managing to make progress down that route, even though Act 2014 will enable local authorities to provide a there are difficulties in our way. similar level of service, but that is not the case as far as Things such as the welfare cap are right, because it many of the people who already experience the services sends this message: “You should be in work.” The local offered by local authorities are concerned. There has Labour party in my constituency of Birmingham, Yardley been a cut of £3 billion in expenditure by local authorities opposed all the Government’s welfare changes during on social care for people with disabilities. We have the local elections, but it got 27%, while we got 46%. My already seen significant cutbacks on levels of care. local constituents in Birmingham, Yardley agree with People who are severely disabled are now anxious that the welfare cap. Many of them do not earn that much as the money transferred to local authorities is not money, and they think the cap is reasonable. being ring-fenced, local authorities will cut support for We should concentrate money on low-paid workers. people with disabilities, and that support will not be Universal credit, which will top up their pay, will be protected in future. good. I want an increase in the minimum wage above That is causing concern and desperation among people what is proposed. I would go for a figure of about £7 an with disabilities and their carers—so much so that they hour as a way of starting to make progress on that. took the Government to court because of the lack of The welfare benefits system is a complex area. Now consultation on the proposals and the lack of consideration that we are one year out from a general election, I really of the equalities implications. They won in court, but think that the Labour party has a responsibility to put only a few months ago the Government decided nevertheless forward some alternatives. We have heard noises from to proceed with the abolition of the independent living Opposition Members complaining about the cost of fund. I believe that will be challenged again by a number housing benefit going up, but if we freeze housing of claimants. I hope that this time around the Government benefit payments, the people who will suffer are those will not contest that challenge and that we can come on low incomes, whether in work or out of work, who back, discuss the policy and arrive at a consensus again have difficulty paying their rent. There has been talk of about how we can support the most severely disabled the Labour party adopting the Institute for Public people in our country. We need to do exactly what the Policy Research’s proposal about the transfer or localisation ILF was funded to do: to provide care and support so of housing benefit, but that would cause great difficulties, that disability can be overcome at least in the sense that and I do not think that local authorities want it. Less people with disabilities are able to participate in wider than a year from a general election, with the Government society. doing a good job in improving the employment situation— The policy is causing extreme consternation not just getting young people into work and making it worth among disabled people but among their families. We while to work—the Opposition have got to offer an know what will happen: local authority cuts will fall on alternative. the individuals and care will fall on to the families themselves—I have to say that in my constituency many 9.4 pm of those people are ageing parents—and eventually, because of the abolition of the independent living fund, John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): The people will be forced back into residential establishments. motion refers largely to the work capability assessment At the end of the day, that will prove even more costly and the personal independence payment, but it also than the 17,500 people who are currently receiving the refers to the disarray in other benefit programmes. I benefit. want to concentrate on the independent living fund, I appeal to the House and to the Government to which the Government are proceeding to abolish. think again on this one. It is one benefit that we all On Saturday a group of people with severe disabilities thought we had got right. In the 1980s I served on the turned up with their carers and in their wheelchairs and Committee on Restrictions against Disabled People. It chained themselves together in Westminster abbey gardens was the first committee to try to ensure the integration in protest against the Government’s proposal to proceed of disabled people in this country. We thought that the with the abolition of the independent living fund. The independent living fund was the benefit that could protest was organised by a group called DPAC—Disabled succeed. Everyone agreed at that time, and they should People Against Cuts. They wanted to remain there for a agree now. couple of weeks to try to engage with parliamentarians and others on this issue, but unfortunately 200 police 9.8 pm arrived and evicted them from the site, with the support John Glen (Salisbury) (Con): All of us across the of the Dean of Westminster. I wonder what happened House are concerned about the most vulnerable people to the sermon on the mount. in our constituencies. It is deeply disappointing that I thought that there was cross-party support for the many Opposition Members have implied today that independent living fund—that it was one of the benefits universal credit, changes to the benefit system and the that worked. The idea was to fund carers and others PIP are the function of a harsh Government who have who enabled people with severe disabilities to ensure no sympathy for the weakest among us. That is wrong: that they were no longer trapped in residential homes it is precisely because we have recognised that it was but could live independently in their own homes and unsustainable to struggle on with over 50 separate benefits participate in wider society, and that as a result of that that did not respond effectively to minor changes in support some could go to work and earn their income. people’s day-to-day lives. 699 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 700

[John Glen] Employment and support allowance and PIP are a problem because people are not getting assessed. The How could it be right that around 50% of decisions problem is not about the delivery company. It is not on disability living allowance were made on the basis of about whether it is Atos or someone else. It is about the the claim form alone without a face-to-face assessment, basis of the assessment. I had two recent cases. I had a and that changes in circumstances—for good and bad— letter in January from a woman who said, “Thank you went unaddressed by a benefits system that was not for believing in my husband. He got his benefit back. attuned to individuals and the needs of their conditions? Sadly, he died over the Christmas holidays.” He clearly Some 71% of DLA recipients got it for life. That was was not fit to work. not right either for the taxpayer or for the people who I met another lady who said that the DWP had killed had been written off callously by the state. More than her husband. He had a Co-op book. Perhaps people 4 million working-age people were on out-of-work benefits who do not know about working-class communities do and almost 2 million children were growing up in workless not know what a Co-op book is. It is where people pay households under the last Government. their insurance to somebody who comes round every Yes, universal credit is the most ambitious programme Friday night. He was told that he was fit to work. He to reform welfare in a generation and it is essential that got no benefit, so he took a book back. He literally it succeeds. However, as the Government have always dropped down dead going round the village with his said, it cannot happen overnight. It would not happen book on a Friday. overnight under any Government. It is a task of substantial The contract had no penalties. Even though 158,000 cases complexity. It is therefore unsurprising that there are were overturned by the DWP and the benefit appeals challenges in its smooth delivery and the smooth delivery system cost £40 million, the contract had no penalties of the IT systems that are required to make it work. for Atos or anyone else. I hope that the Government Universal credit is just one part of the bigger picture. will not let a similar contract in the future. It is far from the chaos that the Opposition have presented The system must be based on medical assessments. this afternoon. Forty-five welfare reforms are under That has gone under this Government. People relied on way, 42,000 people have had their benefits capped, the assessment of a consultant. That would be taken 23,000 staff have been trained in universal credit and really seriously and people would keep their benefits. It 550,000 participants have started a job following on would be realised that they were not capable of work. from the Work programme. As we have heard, the That has all gone. Now someone is partly trained to sit welfare reforms are set to save £50 billion over the at a computer and tap away, without even looking at the course of this Parliament, with the cap bringing almost person who is asking for the appeal or for the benefits. £120 billion of Government spending under control. That has got to stop; we have to go back to medically We have done all that on top of dealing with the based assessments. backlog of ESA cases that was inherited from the We are told that there are fewer people on the claimant previous Government. count—people are in employment—but the fact is, as I It is crucial that we get universal credit right and that said to the Secretary of State, that £13.5 billion more we do not replicate what has happened with previous had to be borrowed because of the fall in income tax programmes by rolling it out too quickly. That would be receipts. He said that that is because the personal allowance truly irresponsible. Any programme that changes a system has now been raised to £10,000—that is £200 a week; that affects more than 7 million people will be challenging. that is 20 hours maximum. People are still getting tax The question is whether the Government have the courage credits to top that up, which is why we still have basically to do the right thing, no matter how difficult, and the working poor claiming benefits while they are working. whether they will give in when emotive political challenges On jobseeker’s allowance, everyone I talk to about are cynically deployed to give the impression that if the Universal Jobmatch says, “Oh, it’s out of date. The only the Government changed, all would be well. jobs have gone by the time you apply.” People are Where universal credit has been implemented, it is searching the world for jobs when they are looking for a working. In the pathfinder areas, more than 60% of job locally, and they may not have the skills or education claimants said that it was easier to understand, provided to take the things that are on offer. Telephones have a better financial incentive and rewarded small amounts been removed by the DWP from jobcentres. People of additional work. People on universal credit are spending cannot phone in to make their claims so they have to go twice as long looking for work each week as a result. and find some other way of doing it. I say, let us continue down this difficult pathway— The Government refuse to believe diligent jobseekers. I know someone who made 20 job applications a day and was told, “We do not believe you”—sanctioned. Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Dawn Primarolo): Another person was sent for a training or work interview Order. I call Michael Connarty. on the same day as they were signing on, so they did not turn up for their interview—sanctioned. Another was 9.12 pm told at their job interview, “14 hours at a basic minimum wage”, so they would therefore lose all of their benefit Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab): to keep their home, which was a private rent—sanctioned. The fact that we know about the work capability assessment Those are the case-by-case facts. It is quite clear that the is that 700,000 people are still waiting to be assessed. Secretary of State lives in a parallel universe, and so do We have heard a lot of talk about DLA. Disability most of the people who have been defending him. benefits, including DLA, were basically Margaret Thatcher’s Pathways to Work worked, and I remember the pleasure Government’s dumping ground for people she did not of people being trained back into work capability. Finally, want to put on the unemployment register. we must have some concerns with DWP and jobcentre 701 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 702 staff. I opened a telephone bank, and I said at the time, We have seen progress on the Work programme, “You need counsellors to support people because they which other hon. Members have mentioned. One of the are stressed; they are missing work because they are ill, key things is that we are looking to make our approach and that is caused by this Government.” relevant to the world of work today. Self-employment is not something to be shirked. We should encourage Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Dawn Primarolo): people into it. I am delighted that the new enterprise Order. allowance recognises that. Forty-six thousand people in total have been able to create their own business on the back of that scheme, and 8,600 of them are disabled. 9.16 pm That is a refreshing approach when self-employment is David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con): I was fortunate in clearly becoming such an important trend in employment. the late ’70s and early ’80s to be doing voluntary work The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, in the great cities of Liverpool and Manchester, and I Manufactures and Commerce predicts that self-employment gained a great appreciation for the character and resilience will be more important than the public sector in due of the people who live in those communities and throughout course. the north-west. In 1981, when the riots literally exploded I commend the Government’s approach and will not on to the street in Toxteth and Moss Side, they brought vote for the motion. to the surface the real depth of complexity, and the challenges that those communities were facing. Those 9.20 pm challenges were profound and very complex, but what I learned from that experience—I still believe this Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab): Our passionately—is that the way to help people out of welfare state was established to protect the most vulnerable poverty is through work. The way to help people out of in society, and to protect us all with support in times of being disadvantaged and to cope with the challenges in need, so that whether we are young or old, sick or their lives and take care of their families is through unemployed, we are not reliant on charity. I am incredibly work, and having an engaged, stronger community is grateful for the work of Nottingham’s churches, faith helped by providing worthwhile work. groups and voluntary organisations, which are seeking That whole experience brought me into politics, shaped to mitigate the worst impacts of the Government’s my thinking of what I needed to do in my career, and welfare changes, but their work in trying to meet unmet got me involved with wanting to create sustainable jobs need is no substitute for citizens’ rights. in the private sector. One of the most rewarding things We need a social security system that is fair and in my career has been the creation of hundreds of jobs affordable, and one that supports those who need help for people so that they can go on and pay their mortgages, while tackling the underlying causes of that need, be it look after their families, and help build their careers by worklessness, low pay or lack of affordable housing. creating more jobs and moving the virtuous circle further The Government have launched a series of reforms that forward. are failing to deliver. Key programmes are behind schedule and over budget. Taxpayers’ money is being wasted and When we consider welfare and welfare reform, the those who need support are being left to rely on food tragedy since those days is that it was such a missed banks or, worse still, to go hungry. opportunity for people to bring about the reform that obviously needed to happen. Yes, it was challenging and My constituents deserve so much better. Alex McEwan difficult, but too many people ducked the issue and became ill in May 2013 and applied for personal missed the opportunity, and they parked welfare reform independence payment in September. His claim was into the “too difficult to do” box. In his autobiography, referred to Capita for assessment. Twice, visits from Tony Blair speaks with real regret at not having seized Capita were arranged, and twice they were cancelled at that opportunity early on with his landslide majority in the last moment. It was not until mid-January that 1997. Even now the right hon. Member for Doncaster Alex’s assessment was carried out. It was almost a North (Edward Miliband) is quoted as saying in November further three months until Capita provided sufficient 2010: information for the DWP to reach a decision. It took precisely seven months for Alex to receive the help he “I don’t think we did enough on welfare reform. I agree.” needed. There have been notable exceptions. As always, the When I raised Alex’s case with the Minister, he said strong contribution from the right hon. Member for that his officials had looked into it, but that Birkenhead (Mr Field) stands out as a beacon to us all from somebody who takes these matters seriously.However, “unfortunately there have been quite significant delays with this case.” the courageous and honourable approach to welfare reform has been brought about by my right hon. Friend I am not sure whether the Minister believed that to be the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. His an adequate explanation. It seemed to me and my pioneering approach has brought the Conservative party constituent that it was nothing more than a statement and the coalition Government on a journey, and tackled of the blindingly obvious. Alex told me that the delays the big issues that have been ducked for so long. They had caused him great inconvenience and financial hardship have tackled the fundamental challenges, including through when he simply wanted to get a semblance of his life universal credit. Opposition Members have been quick and independence back. The Government let Alex down, to point out the challenges along the way. Okay, there and he is not the only one. were teething problems and challenges, but the key is Pamela Brown suffers from multiple sclerosis and her that we have learned from the mistakes of the previous husband Mike has given up work to care for her. She Government, and learned how to roll things out on a applied for PIP in July 2013 and faced numerous difficulties phased basis to make them possible. just to secure an assessment. Finally, the Browns succeeded 703 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 704

[Lilian Greenwood] unemployment had risen to 8%. Firms were going to the wall, jobs were being lost and down the Tamworth in booking an appointment in October, only to arrive at road or the Glascote road, house after house bore the assessment centre to find that Capita had cancelled repossession notices. Under Labour, people were not the appointment without notifying them. Pamela’s next simply losing their jobs: they were losing their homes as appointment was a home visit three and a half weeks well. That is the grisly welfare and work legacy that later. Capita failed to turn up and, when challenged, Labour bequeathed to us in 2010. said that it had cancelled the appointment. It again Because of the changes made by my right hon. Friend failed to notify Pamela and Mike. It took more than five the Secretary of State and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, months for that couple to get the support they needed. my constituency has just 755 unemployed people today— They asked me to raise their case because they wanted 1.6% of the working population. Marston’s, Jaguar others who apply for PIP in future not to suffer the Land Rover and John Lewis have come to town and same troubles. Spline Gauges is employing skilled professional workers. Pamela suffers from a progressive neurological condition When I held a jobs fair at the end of last year, 300 to for which there is no cure, and yet five months later, she 400 jobs were available and 276 people came along. has to undergo reassessment. The last process was There were more jobs available than people looking for extremely stressful, and Pam and Mike believe it made jobs. BMW is now in town and Tamworth has become her MS symptoms even worse. Mike described Pamela the automotive hub of Staffordshire, with an automotive as being in tears at the thought of having to go through centre at the Torc vocational centre. Thanks to this it again. The Minister of State, Department for Work Government, hope is returning. and Pensions, the right hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead When I talk to businesses in my constituency, 75% (Mike Penning), who has responsibility for disabled say that they will expand and take on workers. They say people, has agreed to meet me to discuss the case. I hope that they are looking forward to the future and 80% say he can provide answers on why my constituents are that they will stay in Tamworth. The one caveat they treated so badly, and more importantly on how he is have is the worry that younger people are not sufficiently seeking to fix the problems. Unfortunately, my constituents infused with the work ethic. That is a challenge for the are not the exception, but the norm. education system, but it is all the more reason why we Advice Nottingham advisers met the DWP recently need to get the Work programme and universal credit to discuss some of the issues they face. They face delays going—so that it always pays to work. Young people and cancellations of assessments and decisions; clients will be enthused about work and businesses will feel waiting more than six months simply to be reassessed; able to take them on. and delays to mandatory reconsideration requests. How I urge my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State not can it be right that claimants have only 28 days to seek to listen to the siren voices of the Opposition—those mandatory reconsideration, but there is no time limit serried ranks of overfed Bourbons who have remembered for the DWP to respond, despite people waiting with no nothing from their history. Press on, because we are benefit while appeals are ongoing? It is no surprise that behind you and so is the country. people have to turn to food banks, but in the 21st century, it really should not be necessary. 9.28 pm 9.24 pm Julie Hilling (Bolton West) (Lab): Despite the best Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con): It is a pleasure efforts of DWP staff, no part of the Department seems to speak in this Opposition day debate on the performance to be working effectively at the moment. It appears that of the Department for Work and Pensions. I have to say the Government came into office with the view that that for a while I thought it would be a debate on the those unfortunate enough to be unemployed, sick, disabled shadow Secretary of State, who is in her place. Although or a carer are simply scroungers and malingerers. They I have the highest regard for her intelligence and abilities, decided that the cost of welfare was too high without which will carry her a long way, hers was a truly any empirical evidence and, as a result, have introduced lamentable performance today. It focused on who did or policies that are causing untold misery to my constituents, did not write letters to her and whether she did or did many of whom have worked all their lives. When they not make some incendiary remarks to the Christian left. needed the safety net of the welfare state, they discovered But her speech was important, as is the motion, because that it is now full of massive holes. they shine a light not so much on the state of welfare The Secretary of State and his Back Benchers tell us and work in this country, but on the state of mind of that everything is fine, and that there is no problem with the Labour party. universal credit, but the Prime Minister told me on Nowhere in the motion does it mention work, the 21 November 2012 that the second phase would be engine of growth in our country. It is also the best introduced in April 2013. The Secretary of State now mechanism to raise people up out of dependency and says, if we can believe him, that it will be introduced in despair, on to the road to achieving their aspirations. In April 2016—but everything is fine. The Secretary of 2005, when Labour last won a general election in Tamworth, State and his Back Benchers tell us that everything is my constituency was bedevilled by dependency. Because fine with PIP, even though at the current rate it would the Labour Government failed to reform welfare and take 42 years to complete all the assessments. They relied too much on public sector work and the financial cannot see a problem with the Work programme, even services industry—and because they spent more than though only one in 20 disabled people is getting a job. they earned—unemployment was twice the rate that it They defend the bedroom tax, even when two thirds of is today. Those were meant to be Labour’s good times. the people affected are disabled, and they cannot see Fast forward a couple of years to the bad times and fundamental problems with ESA and work capability 705 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 706 assessments, particularly for those with mental health or my hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr Hoban) issues and fluctuating conditions who, when they win talking about the changes that have happened in his their appeals, are then sent for another assessment. constituency. They cannot see how illnesses are getting worse as a We on the Government Benches like to think that the result of stress and poverty. glass is half full, because we are prepared to roll our Then there are those with multiple problems who hit sleeves up and provide leadership in our constituencies. the magic 15 points, but not in respect of one measure We have provided job fairs in our constituencies and alone, so they are put in the work-related activity group worked with food banks and mental health charities, for and have reached 365 days with no prospect of working— example. I know that there are some good, honourable and now have no money. Some people are even taking people on the Opposition Benches— their own lives because they cannot cope with the stress and can see no other way out. Furthermore, the Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng: Who? of State and his Back Benchers cannot see any problems with the sanctions regime in which sanctions are unfairly Heather Wheeler: I would never name them; Mr Speaker applied and 58% appealing those sanctions win. They would not appreciate that. cannot see how people are unable to heat their homes and are driven to food banks and into the arms of I say to those honourable people who earn their payday lenders. money as MPs and are proud to represent their constituencies, “Actually, guys, what is happening in It is very easy when we sit in this place to forget about your constituencies? What is going to change in your the real lives of real people outside who have no food in constituencies? When are you going to get out of the their cupboards tonight and have no gas or electricity in mental state that you seem to have, whereby everything their homes. In my last few minutes, let me say a few is bad, nothing is ever going to change, nothing is ever things about some of the 91 ESA and 24 PIP problems going to get better. Well, it is.” Unemployment in South suffered by my constituents whom we have tried to help. Derbyshire used to be 25%; now it is 1.8%. We used to John, a firefighter, received horrific burns at work. have 13 mines; we do not have those any more, but we His wife had to give up her job to look after him. He have apprenticeships, we have engineering, and we have received an initial ESA payment, but had difficulties tourism. We have numerous really special jobs, and attending an Atos assessment. He was refused a home people are working jolly hard. They are rolling their visit and was too ill to attend an assessment, so had his sleeves up because they want better for their families. ESA suspended and had no income at all. It took They are not prepared to live on welfare. They are not 51 weeks to get an award. He said: prepared to have that as a lifestyle. They want everything “I am currently not making ends meet, yet alone the embarrassment for their families in the future. of my wife having to care for me full-time. I have done nothing It is sad that we have spent four years trying to turn wrong, only getting injured and I am so upset at my treatment.” the oil tanker around. Welfare used to be “what you Paul, an ex-serviceman, had serious leg injuries after did”, but things cannot be like that any more, and I a walking holiday. He receives DLA, but a processing want Members in all parts of the House to realise that issue at the DWP resulted in the termination of his they have to change. We must live within our means. benefit, just at the time they decided to amputate his We want people to come out of this in the right way. We leg. Twenty-five weeks later, he got a PIP payment. want to help all our mental health charities, and we With Margaret, a double mastectomy cancer sufferer, it want to help all our young kids to get apprenticeships. took 46 weeks. That is the way forward; welfare is not. I am grateful to the Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, the right hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), who has helped me 9.36 pm resolve many of my cases, but what about those who do Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab): Let us be not know where to go for help and who do not come to clear: this is not a debate about the philosophy of see their MP? I have so many heart-breaking stories, but welfare reform. It is a debate about the way in which it is no time to tell them. We are the sixth-richest country in delivered, and about the service that our constituents the world, yet we have people unable to feed their receive. Today we have presented a catalogue of anxiety, families. The Secretary of State should move on from chaos and waste: a catalogue of extra cost to the his patronising complacency, talk to the people who are taxpayer, huge pressures on DWP staff, and inappropriate being failed by him and sort out the mess in his Department. and hostile language used about benefits recipients—never challenged by Ministers, but hurtful and offensive, as we heard from, among others, my hon. Friends the 9.32 pm Members for North East Derbyshire (Natascha Engel) Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire) (Con): I am and for Darlington (Jenny Chapman). probably tail-end Charlie on this occasion, so I will be We have heard about anxiety, fear and hardship brief. The Opposition have given us a tour de force on among those who rely on social security, namely most what they think is wrong in their constituencies, but of us at some point in our lives. The Secretary of State, when they look at themselves in the mirror and see the who is responsible for this calamity, is in denial, while pain and misery going on in their constituencies, I his Department is on the brink of meltdown. I agree wonder what it must look like to them when they look with my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen South over to our side and see, for example, my hon. Friend (Dame Anne Begg), the Chair of the Select Committee: the Member for Tamworth (Christopher Pincher) talking the Department has bitten off more than it can chew, about how unemployment has been cut by at least a half and we are all paying the price. 707 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 708

[Kate Green] Kwasi Kwarteng: All I was observing in my speech was that it is the single most popular Government This is what we have heard about today. Universal policy since the war according to opinion polls. credit, the Government’s flagship policy, was intended to reach 7.7 million households by 2017, but in April it Kate Green: I think the hon. Gentleman has got two was reaching fewer than 6,000 people. It will take 1,052 policies confused, which shows how on the ball he is. I years to roll out fully at this rate, and the cost to the am talking about the AME cap, not the £26,000 benefit taxpayer is rising. The Secretary of State will be concerned cap—the AME cap that this Government are introducing about that. The National Audit Office has drawn attention and which is now, even before it is in place, going to be to the write-off of assets worth £40 million which have breached. never been used, and a further £91 million of assets that Government Members rightly pointed to trends in will last for only five years. [Interruption.] The Secretary employment, and it is good to see more people in work, of State says that the NAO is talking nonsense. I am but too often they are working for poverty pay. I have to surprised that he is prepared to put that statement on say to the right hon. Member for Basingstoke (Maria record tonight. Miller) and others that Labour was never content to The Department is having to invest in two system abandon people to a life on benefits. That is why we solutions in parallel. As the Select Committee has pointed introduced the successful new deals that increased lone- out, we have no idea how or when the final system parent employment by 15%. It is why we introduced the solution will be achieved, or how much it will cost. We future jobs fund which, far from being a failure, was still have no idea about the treatment of passported extremely good at getting young people into work and benefits following the introduction of universal credit. keeping them in work when the programme came to an My right hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Stephen end. We introduced tax credits that made work pay. Timms) asked about that in 2011, but we still do not Making work pay is not an invention of this Government; know about the treatment of free school meals. There is it was done under Labour first. no clarity about the scale, the cost, or who will receive PIP is another tale of disaster—it was not piloted, them. We also have no idea of how or when housing there were misleading statements on Atos’s bids, and benefit will migrate. The local support services framework, there long delays in decisions. Like others, I have had which the Department itself has said is as important as constituents waiting for an assessment since last universal credit, is not in place, and is not yet even being October—in one of those cases, my constituent had it piloted in universal credit areas. We do not know when only had last week. There are huge backlogs already, that framework will arrive. which at the current rate of progress will take 42 years This is a tale of what my right hon. Friend the to clear. To put it another way, the Minister will need to Member for Stirling (Mrs McGuire) rightly described increase the number of assessments from 7,000 a month as cumulative disaster, but Ministers have been determined to 73,000 a month immediately if he is to get the to deny it. That is why we are demanding that the programme back on track, and this is also wasting Government publish the risk register and other taxpayer money. Each decision costs £1,500 for a benefit documentation relating to the delivery of universal which for many is only worth £1,120. The NAO has said credit, and the courts agree with us. it does not represent value for money and the £3 billion savings are likely to be wiped out by the costs. Then there is the failing Work programme—with overpayments to providers totalling £11 million, and We know the bedroom tax is a disaster. Just 6% of getting just 7% of employment and support allowance those affected have moved. The Joseph Rowntree claimants into work—coupled with the crisis of confidence Foundation points out that savings are £115 million in the work capability assessment that has been presided lower than they should be, and many households, including over by this Government. We have been told this evening, two thirds with a disabled family member, and more and the Minister told the Work and Pensions Committee than 60,000 carers face hardship and fear. a couple of weeks ago, that 700,000 cases, or just under, are now outstanding and awaiting WCAs, and 294,000 of Robert Halfon: Will the hon. Lady give way? those are former incapacity benefit recipients. As my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh East (Sheila Kate Green: No, I will not. Gilmore) and others pointed out, that backlog of nearly The Secretary of State said the Child Support Agency 700,000 cases was not created by the Labour Government. was a success. The NAO is rather more cautious. It says It is a product of the mass migration of IB claimants by it has not really been tested yet and will not be until this Government, despite the warnings that we gave charging is introduced. In the meantime, full roll-out is them that the system could not, and should not, bear expected to exceed by £70 million the costs projected that. in 2012. Meanwhile, nearly half the cases that are appealed What is really shocking is the effect of all this failure. are successful; reassessments have been halted altogether For the first time more of the people in poverty are in for two years; according to a leaked internal document, work than out of work—two thirds of children in decisions are taking nine months; and I tell those who poverty are in working households. It is leading to a have said that the benefit, or annually managed expenditure, shocking rise in debt and the use of food banks, and it is cap is one of the great achievements of this Government— a catalogue of failure that would be farcical if it were the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Kwasi Kwarteng) will not so desperately serious for us all. It is serious for be interested to know this—that it has resulted in an individuals and families who look to the system to extra £800 million of costs since December on ESA and protect them but who are being appallingly let down; it there will be an extra £13 billion by 2018-19, meaning is serious for charities, local authorities, housing providers the AME cap will be breached. and others picking up the pieces from this disastrous 709 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 710 state of affairs; it is serious for the staff working in the Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), 86 to the hon. Department, who are under pressure, demoralised and Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green), 93 to blamed and cannot provide the service they would like; the hon. Member for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and and it is serious for the taxpayer, who is footing a bill Kirkintilloch East (Gregg McClymont) and 98 to the that is rising and threatens to spiral out of control. It is right hon. Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms). So serious for everyone except the Secretary of State, who much for not replying to their letters! has his head in the sand. He denies the facts when they are inconvenient, but tonight those facts have come out. Rachel Reeves rose— This Secretary of State has presided over disaster and chaos. It is time to get this Department back on track Steve Webb: I am happy to give way if the hon. Lady and to call a halt to this catastrophe—it is time for a wants to apologise. Labour Government to clear up the mess. Rachel Reeves: I thank the Minister for giving me a 9.45 pm chance to reply, as I have checked the letters I have written to the Secretary of State. I have had a reply from The Minister of State, Department for Work and him to a letter regarding a constituent of mine called Pensions (Steve Webb): We have heard 41 speeches in a Latimer Saunders and the reply came from Gabriella very worthwhile debate, including some particularly Monk. I wrote a letter to the Secretary of State regarding thoughtful contributions. We have heard from many a constituent called Mark Norris and I have received no members of the Select Committee, including its Chair, response at all, despite the fact that my letter was sent the hon. Member for Aberdeen South (Dame Anne last year. I have never received a letter from the Secretary Begg), and I will respond to her comments in a moment. of State for Work and Pensions in response to any of Let me start, however, by discussing the clue in the the letters I have sent to him. title—it is the Department for Work and Pensions. From listening to the debate people would think that nobody is getting jobs these days and that pensions had Steve Webb: It is a good job I have the transcript of been left alone in the state in which we inherited them. what the hon. Lady said, which was “when we write to They would not realise that we have record levels of the Department…we only ever get replies from the employment and they would not know that we have had correspondence unit.” When the Minister of State, falls in youth unemployment, female unemployment Department for Work and Pensions, my right hon. and long-term unemployment month after month after Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), month, Even in the hardest-to-help groups, such as who has responsibility for disabled people, rose to intervene, young people not in education, employment or training, she said “I will give way; I haven’t had any letters from the numbers are coming down. The Opposition motion this one either.” We waved a letter that she had received, had nothing to say about getting people back to work, so I hope she will withdraw that remark. yet that is the centre of our welfare reform and our Moving on to the substance of reform, we talked strategy is working. about the record of the two Governments on reform. This is not all just about making work pay, although Let us take the case of child maintenance. I want to my hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr Hoban), read out what was said about child maintenance reform a former ministerial colleague, made a powerful contribution by the National Audit Office, which was quoted by the in which he mentioned sitting in a jobcentre and trying hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston. It said: to work out whether or not someone would be better off “So far, the reforms had cost £539 million for a scheme that in work. We are dealing with that situation through the had performed no better than its predecessor”. universal credit reform, which will make work pay. As Unfortunately, that is not our reform; that is Labour’s my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Richard reform in 2006. That is what happened when Labour Graham) said, not only are we making work pay, but we reformed child maintenance. The NAO said the scheme are making saving pay. In the pensions space, we have was no better than the one that went before, despite seen state pension reform; effective automatic enrolment, costing half a billion pounds. That is why we have to with 3.6 million people auto-enrolled; charge caps, which replace it with a new scheme. The hon. Member for are new to reform; and new models of workplace pension. Oldham East and Saddleworth (Debbie Abrahams) said Whether we are talking about work or pensions, this that no doubt this one will go wrong. Actually, we have Department is working. been running it quietly since 2012, phasing it in, learning Before I move on to deal with the substance of some the lessons from the other party and, as a result, the of the operational issues that have been rightly raised, I scheme is being highly effective. We already have record want to address the allegation the shadow Secretary of numbers of people being paid directly under the new State made and to give her the chance to retract it. She scheme. Alongside major reform, we are getting more said—I quote from the transcript—that “when we write maintenance paid to more children than ever before. In to the Department with our constituents’ problems we other words, we are reforming, but not taking our eyes only ever get replies from the correspondence unit.” She off the day job. made the even more outrageous comment, “Well, maybe A number of Members mentioned the performance there is one rule for Tory Back Benchers and another of Atos. As several of my hon. Friends pointed out, rule for Labour party MPs”. So we checked our records there is a bit of collective amnesia regarding who, in and we found that she obviously does not read her own 2005, gave Atos a seven-year contract with a three-year correspondence, as since 2010 DWP Ministers— option to renew. By last autumn, Labour was saying, [Interruption.] I hope I do not get in the way of her “Let’s get rid of Atos; let’s sack it”, but that would have tweeting—it is #Igotitwrong. Since 2010 DWP Ministers cost the taxpayer millions of pounds. Instead, we have have sent 46 letters directly to her, 33 to the hon. terminated Atos’s contract in a managed way. My right 711 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 712

[Steve Webb] Steve Webb: As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, we believe that our welfare reforms are good for the people hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for disabled of the United Kingdom and should be adopted in all people has done that, as a result of which the taxpayer parts of the United Kingdom. gets money and Atos begins to clear the backlog of the Let me move on to some of the contributions made in work that it has been doing. the debate. It was a great pleasure to hear from my right As well as the changes that we are making to bring hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), down the backlog on employment and support who I had the great privilege of working alongside and allowance—it has been said that it has come down who laid the foundations for a number of the vital significantly in the past couple of months—it is worth reforms we are making. She pointed out that contrary remembering that every one of the people in that backlog to the rhetoric we sometimes hear, we are increasing the is getting benefit. It is sometimes made out that they are support for disabled people while also ensuring that waiting for money, but they are currently receiving the more of the money goes to those who are most in need, assessment rate of ESA and incapacity benefit. Those which is absolutely the right priority. figures relate to people who are getting benefit and are My hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Yardley awaiting assessment. (John Hemming) pointed out that although we have a Let me give the House some further examples of how motion from the Labour party, we do not appear to we have been improving the service we deliver to the have any policy options from the Labour party. Despite people who depend on our help. A year ago, the number the fact that there was, I think, some sort of launch last of jobseeker’s allowance new claims dealt with in 10 days week, we had hardly any reference to the alternative. was 66%; now it is 90%. The number of ESA new Once again, it is like talking into a vacuum—we do not claims dealt with in 10 days was 66%; now it is 80%. The know what is coming back from the other side. number of appeals outstanding a year ago was 150,000; The right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) now it is 4,000. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of asked about the support given to people waiting for State said, this is at a time when we are taking running benefit. There are two forms of support. One is the costs out to make central Government more efficient. short-term benefit advance, when somebody is entitled A number of Members referred to the PIP. We are but the money has not come through, meaning that ensuring that the contractors, Atos and Capital, recruit they are in financial need, and when somebody has a more health care professionals to deal with the backlog. change of circumstance that results in an increase to The number of appeals we are facing has fallen precipitously. their benefit award. The other is a hardship payment, It is an extraordinary fall in the number of people for when people are subject to sanction. We will be appealing against ESA decisions. Back in the first quarter happy to respond to the right hon. Gentleman further if of last year, we received 109,000 appeals against ESA he has any further questions. decisions. In the first quarter of this year, it was 11,000. The hon. Member for East Lothian asked a couple of That is an 89% fall in the number of people claiming questions. If I could distract her from her phone for a ESA who are appealing. The reason for that is that we, moment— unlike Labour, are finding far more people eligible for benefit. Let me give the House the evidence for that Pamela Nash (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): That is not claim. In late 2008, when Labour was undertaking work the Member for East Lothian. capability assessments, it was finding 64% of people fit for work. In the most recent quarter, we found not 64% Steve Webb: I apologise. but 27% fit for work. Far from it being this Government The hon. Member for East Lothian (Fiona O’Donnell) who are using the work capability assessment to throw asked two questions. She asked whether carer’s allowance sick people off benefit, it was the Labour party that would be backdated—[Interruption.] I have apologised. used the WCA for that purpose. It is backdated if someone’s claim for PIP comes through. During the debate, a number of Members said that She asked about the definition of terminal illness, and we needed to make changes to the WCA, and that is we use the same definition as the previous Government. what we have been doing as part of the Harrington review There is a six-month definition based on our judgment process. We have accepted about 50 recommendations. that takes account of and is informed by the advice of a One reason why we are getting the number of people we health professional, such as a consultant or a Macmillan are on to ESA and why we have a bigger proportion of nurse. I hope that that makes it clear to her. people in the support group than ever before is that we have taken Labour’s failed WCA and reformed it to Fiona O’Donnell: Will the Minister give way? make it fairer. That is what a good Government does. We want to ensure that the right money goes to the right Steve Webb: No, I have already given way. people. The shadow Secretary of State asked about zero-hours contracts and how many people were on them. The Ian Paisley: Will the Minister take the opportunity answer is that they make up less than 2% of employment. tonight to make it abundantly clear from the Dispatch The Opposition make out that all the new jobs are part Box to all Members of this House that any concessions time or involve zero-hours contracts, but nothing could that the Government intend to make on welfare reform be further from the truth: 98% of jobs are not on that will be made as a result of arguments made in this place basis. It is simply misleading to imply that the economic by Members who take their seats in this place, and that growth we have seen and the jobs that have been created none will be made to a party that refuses to take its are part time, insecure or on zero-hours contracts. Nothing seats? could be further from the truth. 713 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 714

The hon. Member for Plymouth, Moor View (Alison Francis, Dr Hywel McKechin, Ann Seabeck)—[Interruption.] I am trying to respond to the Gapes, Mike McKenzie, Mr Iain debate. The hon. Lady asked about a constituent who Gardiner, Barry McKinnell, Catherine had had to travel a long distance for a PIP assessment. Gilmore, Sheila Meale, Sir Alan Clearly, it is unacceptable that someone should have to Glass, Pat Miliband, rh Edward travel that far. The guidance is that people should not Glindon, Mrs Mary Miller, Andrew Godsiff, Mr Roger Mitchell, Austin have to travel for more than 90 minutes maximum by Goodman, Helen Morden, Jessica public transport. If that has happened, we would like Greatrex, Tom Morrice, Graeme (Livingston) the details and we will seek to address that point. Green, Kate Mudie, Mr George The heart of the debate is as follows: the Department Greenwood, Lilian Munn, Meg for Work and Pensions is delivering work and pensions Griffith, Nia Murphy, rh Paul reform for millions of people. It is making sure that Gwynne, Andrew Murray, Ian month after month, instead of having to rely on benefits Hain, rh Mr Peter Nandy, Lisa people can find jobs and stand on their own two feet. Hamilton, Mr David Nash, Pamela We are reforming through the universal credit and that Hamilton, Fabian O’Donnell, Fiona will be the legacy of my right hon. Friend the Secretary Hanson, rh Mr David Onwurah, Chi Harris, Mr Tom Osborne, Sandra of State in making work pay, in taking children out of Havard, Mr Dai Owen, Albert poverty, and in helping disabled people to take part-time Healey, rh John Paisley, Ian work and to get back into the labour market. We are Hepburn, Mr Stephen Pearce, Teresa making sure that work pays and that welfare is reformed. Heyes, David Perkins, Toby The Work programme is working and is ensuring that Hillier, Meg Phillipson, Bridget people who have been failed by Labour’s employment Hilling, Julie Powell, Lucy policies get back into work. That is a record of a Hodge, rh Margaret Qureshi, Yasmin Department that I am proud to defend, and I ask the Hodgson, Mrs Sharon Raynsford, rh Mr Nick House to oppose the Opposition motion. Hoey, Kate Reed, Mr Jamie Hood, Mr Jim Reed, Mr Steve Question put. Hopkins, Kelvin Reeves, Rachel Howarth, rh Mr George Reynolds, Emma The House divided: Ayes 225, Noes 310. Hunt, Tristram Reynolds, Jonathan Division No. 24] [9.59 pm Irranca-Davies, Huw Riordan, Mrs Linda Jackson, Glenda Robertson, Angus AYES James, Mrs Siân C. Robertson, John Jamieson, Cathy Robinson, Mr Geoffrey Abrahams, Debbie Creagh, Mary Johnson, rh Alan Rotheram, Steve Ainsworth, rh Mr Bob Creasy, Stella Johnson, Diana Roy, Mr Frank Ali, Rushanara Cruddas, Jon Jones, Graham Roy, Lindsay Ashworth, Jonathan Cryer, John Jones, Helen Ruane, Chris Austin, Ian Cunningham, Alex Jones, Susan Elan Ruddock, rh Dame Joan Bailey, Mr Adrian Cunningham, Mr Jim Jowell, rh Dame Tessa Sarwar, Anas Bain, Mr William Cunningham, Sir Tony Kane, Mike Sawford, Andy Balls, rh Ed Curran, Margaret Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Seabeck, Alison Barron, rh Kevin Dakin, Nic Kendall, Liz Sharma, Mr Virendra Bayley, Hugh Danczuk, Simon Khan, rh Sadiq Sheerman, Mr Barry Beckett, rh Margaret David, Wayne Lammy, rh Mr David Sheridan, Jim Begg, Dame Anne Davidson, Mr Ian Lavery, Ian Shuker, Gavin Benn, rh Hilary Davies, Geraint Leslie, Chris Skinner, Mr Dennis Benton, Mr Joe Dobbin, Jim Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma Slaughter, Mr Andy Betts, Mr Clive Dobson, rh Frank Lewis, Mr Ivan Smith, rh Mr Andrew Blackman-Woods, Roberta Docherty, Thomas Llwyd, rh Mr Elfyn Smith, Angela Blomfield, Paul Donohoe, Mr Brian H. Long, Naomi Smith, Owen Bradshaw, rh Mr Ben Doran, Mr Frank Love, Mr Andrew Spellar, rh Mr John Brennan, Kevin Doughty, Stephen Lucas, Caroline Stringer, Graham Brown, Lyn Doyle, Gemma Lucas, Ian Stuart, Ms Gisela Brown, rh Mr Nicholas Dromey, Jack MacNeil, Mr Angus Brendan Tami, Mark Bryant, Chris Dugher, Michael Mactaggart, Fiona Thomas, Mr Gareth Buck, Ms Karen Durkan, Mark Mahmood, Shabana Thornberry, Emily Burden, Richard Eagle, Ms Angela Malhotra, Seema Timms, rh Stephen Burnham, rh Andy Eagle, Maria Mann, John Trickett, Jon Byrne, rh Mr Liam Edwards, Jonathan Marsden, Mr Gordon Turner, Karl Campbell, rh Mr Alan Efford, Clive McCabe, Steve Twigg, Derek Campbell, Mr Ronnie Elliott, Julie Champion, Sarah Ellman, Mrs Louise McCann, Mr Michael Twigg, Stephen Chapman, Jenny Engel, Natascha McCarthy, Kerry Umunna, Mr Chuka Clark, Katy Esterson, Bill McClymont, Gregg Vaz, Valerie Clarke, rh Mr Tom Evans, Chris McDonagh, Siobhain Walley, Joan Clwyd, rh Ann Farrelly, Paul McDonald, Andy Weir, Mr Mike Coaker, Vernon Field, rh Mr Frank McDonnell, John Whiteford, Dr Eilidh Coffey, Ann Fitzpatrick, Jim McFadden, rh Mr Pat Whitehead, Dr Alan Connarty, Michael Flello, Robert McGovern, Alison Williams, Hywel Cooper, Rosie Flint, rh Caroline McGovern, Jim Williamson, Chris Cooper, rh Yvette Fovargue, Yvonne McGuire, rh Mrs Anne Wilson, Phil 715 DWP: Performance30 JUNE 2014 DWP: Performance 716

Winnick, Mr David Wright, David Herbert, rh Nick Neill, Robert Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Tellers for the Ayes: Hinds, Damian Newmark, Mr Brooks Wishart, Pete Heidi Alexander and Hoban, Mr Mark Newton, Sarah Woodcock, John Tom Blenkinsop Hollingbery, George Nokes, Caroline Hollobone, Mr Philip Norman, Jesse Holloway, Mr Adam Nuttall, Mr David NOES Hopkins, Kris O’Brien, rh Mr Stephen Adams, Nigel Davies, Philip Horwood, Martin Offord, Dr Matthew Afriyie, Adam Davis, rh Mr David Hughes, rh Simon Ollerenshaw, Eric Aldous, Peter Dinenage, Caroline Huppert, Dr Julian Opperman, Guy Amess, Mr David Djanogly, Mr Jonathan Jackson, Mr Stewart Ottaway, rh Sir Richard Andrew, Stuart Dorrell, rh Mr Stephen James, Margot Paice, rh Sir James Arbuthnot, rh Mr James Doyle-Price, Jackie Javid, rh Sajid Parish, Neil Baker, Norman Drax, Richard Jenkin, Mr Bernard Patel, Priti Baker, Steve Duddridge, James Jenrick, Robert Pawsey, Mark Baldry, rh Sir Tony Duncan, rh Mr Alan Johnson, Gareth Penning, rh Mike Baldwin, Harriett Duncan Smith, rh Mr Iain Johnson, Joseph Penrose, John Barclay, Stephen Dunne, Mr Philip Jones, Andrew Percy, Andrew Barker, rh Gregory Ellis, Michael Jones, rh Mr David Phillips, Stephen Baron, Mr John Ellison, Jane Jones, Mr Marcus Pickles, rh Mr Eric Barwell, Gavin Elphicke, Charlie Kawczynski, Daniel Pincher, Christopher Bebb, Guto Eustice, George Kelly, Chris Poulter, Dr Daniel Beith, rh Sir Alan Evans, Graham Kennedy, rh Mr Charles Prisk, Mr Mark Bellingham, Mr Henry Evans, Jonathan Kirby, Simon Pugh, John Benyon, Richard Evans, Mr Nigel Knight, rh Sir Greg Raab, Mr Dominic Beresford, Sir Paul Evennett, Mr David Kwarteng, Kwasi Randall, rh Sir John Berry, Jake Fabricant, Michael Lamb, Norman Reckless, Mark Bingham, Andrew Fallon, rh Michael Lancaster, Mark Redwood, rh Mr John Birtwistle, Gordon Farron, Tim Lansley, rh Mr Andrew Rees-Mogg, Jacob Blackman, Bob Field, Mark Latham, Pauline Reevell, Simon Blackwood, Nicola Foster, rh Mr Don Laws, rh Mr David Reid, Mr Alan Blunt, Crispin Fox,rhDrLiam Leadsom, Andrea Rifkind, rh Sir Malcolm Boles, Nick Francois, rh Mr Mark Lee, Jessica Robathan, rh Mr Andrew Bone, Mr Peter Freeman, George Lee, Dr Phillip Robertson, rh Hugh Bottomley, Sir Peter Freer, Mike Lefroy, Jeremy Robertson, Mr Laurence Bradley, Karen Fuller, Richard Leigh, Sir Edward Rogerson, Dan Brady, Mr Graham Gale, Sir Roger Leslie, Charlotte Rosindell, Andrew Brake, rh Tom Garnier, Sir Edward Letwin, rh Mr Oliver Rudd, Amber Brazier, Mr Julian Garnier, Mark Lewis, Brandon Ruffley, Mr David Bridgen, Andrew Gauke, Mr David Lewis, Dr Julian Russell, Sir Bob Brine, Steve George, Andrew Liddell-Grainger, Mr Ian Rutley, David Brokenshire, James Gibb, Mr Nick Lilley, rh Mr Peter Sanders, Mr Adrian Brooke, Annette Gillan, rh Mrs Cheryl Lloyd, Stephen Sandys, Laura Browne, Mr Jeremy Glen, John Lopresti, Jack Scott, Mr Lee Bruce, Fiona Goldsmith, Zac Loughton, Tim Selous, Andrew Bruce, rh Sir Malcolm Graham, Richard Luff, Sir Peter Shapps, rh Grant Buckland, Mr Robert Grant, Mrs Helen Lumley, Karen Sharma, Alok Burns, Conor Gray, Mr James Macleod, Mary Shelbrooke, Alec Burrowes, Mr David Grayling, rh Chris Main, Mrs Anne Simmonds, Mark Burstow, rh Paul Green, rh Damian Maynard, Paul Simpson, Mr Keith Byles, Dan Greening, rh Justine McCartney, Jason Skidmore, Chris Cable, rh Vince Grieve, rh Mr Dominic McCartney, Karl Smith, Chloe Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Griffiths, Andrew McIntosh, Miss Anne Smith, Henry Carmichael, Neil Gummer, Ben McLoughlin, rh Mr Patrick Smith, Julian Carswell, Mr Douglas Gyimah, Mr Sam McPartland, Stephen Smith, Sir Robert Cash, Sir William Halfon, Robert McVey, rh Esther Soames, rh Sir Nicholas Chishti, Rehman Hames, Duncan Menzies, Mark Soubry, Anna Chope, Mr Christopher Hammond, rh Mr Philip Metcalfe, Stephen Spelman, rh Mrs Caroline Clappison, Mr James Hammond, Stephen Miller, rh Maria Spencer, Mr Mark Clark, rh Greg Hancock, Matthew Mills, Nigel Stevenson, John Clarke, rh Mr Kenneth Hands, rh Greg Moore, rh Michael Stewart, Bob Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey Harper, Mr Mark Mordaunt, Penny Stewart, Iain Coffey, Dr Thérèse Harrington, Richard Morgan, rh Nicky Stewart, Rory Collins, Damian Harris, Rebecca Morris, Anne Marie Streeter, Mr Gary Colvile, Oliver Hart, Simon Morris, David Stride, Mel Cox, Mr Geoffrey Harvey, Sir Nick Morris, James Stuart, Mr Graham Crabb, Stephen Heald, Oliver Mosley, Stephen Stunell, rh Sir Andrew Crockart, Mike Heath, Mr David Mowat, David Sturdy, Julian Crouch, Tracey Heaton-Harris, Chris Mulholland, Greg Swales, Ian Davies, David T. C. Hemming, John Munt, Tessa Swayne, rh Mr Desmond (Monmouth) Henderson, Gordon Murray, Sheryll Swinson, Jo Davies, Glyn Hendry, Charles Murrison, Dr Andrew Swire, rh Mr Hugo 717 DWP: Performance 30 JUNE 2014 718

Syms, Mr Robert Wharton, James PATENTS Thornton, Mike Wheeler, Heather That the draft Legislative Reform (Patents) Order 2014, which Thurso, John White, Chris was laid before this House on 6 May 2014, in the last Session of Timpson, Mr Edward Whittaker, Craig Parliament, be approved.—(Mark Lancaster.) Tomlinson, Justin Whittingdale, Mr John Question agreed to. Tredinnick, David Wiggin, Bill Truss, Elizabeth Willetts, rh Mr David ESTIMATES Turner, Mr Andrew Williams, Stephen Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Tyrie, Mr Andrew Williamson, Gavin Order No. 145(3)), Uppal, Paul Willott, Jenny That this House agrees with the Report of the Liaison Committee Vaizey, Mr Edward Wilson, Mr Rob of 25 June: Vara, Mr Shailesh Wollaston, Dr Sarah That a day not later than 5 August be allotted for the consideration Vickers, Martin Wright, Jeremy of the following Estimates for financial year 2014-15: Walker, Mr Charles Wright, Simon Department for Work and Pensions, in so far as it relates to the Walker, Mr Robin Yeo, Mr Tim implementation of Universal Credit; and Department for Young, rh Sir George Wallace, Mr Ben Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in so far as it relates to the Zahawi, Nadhim Ward, Mr David implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in England.— Watkinson, Dame Angela Tellers for the Noes: (Mark Lancaster.) Weatherley, Mike Claire Perry and Question agreed to. Webb, Steve Mark Hunter BACKBENCH BUSINESS Question accordingly negatived. Ordered, That Mr David Amess, Mr David Anderson, Bob Blackman, Oliver Colvile, John Hemming and Ian Mearns be members of Business without Debate the Backbench Business Committee.—(Greg Hands, on behalf of the Committee of Selection.) DELEGATED LEGISLATION FOREIGN AFFAIRS Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Ordered, Order No. 118(6)), That Rory Stewart be discharged from the Foreign Affairs Committee and Nadhim Zahawi be added.—(Greg Hands, on ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS behalf of the Committee of Selection.) That the draft Communications Act 2003 (Disclosure of Information) Order 2014, which was laid before this House on PUBLIC ACCOUNTS 31 March 2014, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.— Ordered, (Mark Lancaster.) That Ian Swales be discharged from the Committee of Public Question agreed to. Accounts and John Pugh be added.—(Greg Hands, on behalf of Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing the Committee of Selection.) Order No. 118(6)), 719 30 JUNE 2014 Bin Charges: South Gloucestershire 720

Bin Charges: South Gloucestershire despite having no electoral mandate to do so. For these councillors to declare their forced policy a “success” Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House simply adds insult to injury. do now adjourn.—(Mark Lancaster.) On 29 April this year, I formally submitted my petition of 4,200 local residents to Parliament. On 3 June, I 10.13 pm received a welcome formal response from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who Chris Skidmore (Kingswood) (Con): I rise to speak stated: about an issue that has divided local opinion in south “Ministers believe that councils should not be introducing Gloucestershire: the introduction of green bin charges. stealth taxes by imposing new charges on local residents. Instead, On one side of the divide, my hon. Friend the Member councils should be making sensible savings by better procurement, for Filton and Bradley Stoke (Jack Lopresti) and I, the more joint working and cutting fraud, in order to protect frontline local MP for Kingswood, along with local Conservative services and keeping council tax and charges down”. councillors, are determined to stand up for hard-working I was grateful that in his reply he stated on the record residents, who have had little say over the increase in the that he money they have to pay for services that used to be “endorses the Petitioners’ suggestion that the council reconsider included in their council tax. On the other side of the its actions in imposing these new charges.”—[Official Report, divide are the local Labour and Lib Dem councillors, 4 June 2014; Vol. 582, c. 1P.] whose votes ushered in the £36 charge for green bins During the debate in the communities committee of and who are determined to retain the charge in spite of South Gloucestershire council triggered by the 4,200- overwhelming local opposition that has dubbed the signature petition of local residents, councillors voted charge the “green bin tax”. to review the impact of the green bin tax on local Let us be clear: no resident locally voted for a party residents. I hope that they will listen closely to the pledging the introduction of the green bin tax in south Secretary of State’s comments on the petition. I would Gloucestershire. No party stood for the local elections welcome any comments that the Minister has for South in 2011 on a platform of introducing the charge, which Gloucestershire councillors on what they should be takes even more money from local people’s pockets. The doing to focus on further efficiency savings rather than way in which the green bin tax has been introduced simply increasing and passing on the costs to local amounts to nothing less than a stealth tax for which residents. nobody voted and which nobody wants. The introduction of the green bin tax in South The green bin tax came into being late last year, in Gloucestershire has important implications for whether September 2013, when the communities committee of councils can legitimately claim that they have frozen South Gloucestershire council voted to introduce the council tax. This Government have rightly urged councils £36 charge for green bins. The committee was split on to freeze council tax, and that has taken place in South its decision to introduce the charge, with six Conservative Gloucestershire over the past three years, in marked councillors opposing the policy. Despite this, the green contrast to what happened under the Labour Government, bin tax was voted in by seven Labour and Lib Dem when band D council tax rose from £635 to £1,245. In councillors, with a majority of one. 1 recognise that fact, the Government have provided incentives for councils local councils have the freedom to introduce charges, to freeze council tax, at the same time introducing a but it cannot be right that just 10% of all councillors in referendum trigger if they increase it by more than 2%. South Gloucestershire—seven out of a total of 70—voted South Gloucestershire council claims to have frozen in the green bin tax. council tax this year, yet when the £36 green bin charge After local Conservative councillors were outvoted in is added to the bill of a band D council tax payer, that this way, I, as the local MP, set up a petition for local results in a total increase of more than 2% being paid to residents calling on South Gloucestershire council to the council—something that would have triggered a reconsider its green bin charge. The petition was signed referendum if the bin charges had been included in by over 4,200 local people in the Kingswood constituency council tax alone. The many residents who have pointed alone. I presented the petition to South Gloucestershire that out to me are surely right to claim that the bin tax is council and to Parliament. This triggered a debate in nothing but a stealth tax, imposed through the back the council. However, Lib Dem and Labour councillors door to avoid the scrutiny of local democracy or giving teamed up to ensure that the debate took place not in residents a say through local referendums. full council, where local people would be able to see Rather than confining the trigger for a referendum to how their local councillor voted—for or against the council tax alone, I urge the Minister to consider whether green bin tax—but, again, within the small cabal of the the mechanism should be expanded to include any communities committee. additional charges imposed by local councils, so that The green bin tax was introduced in South the overall cost of local government and the overall Gloucestershire on 31 March this year. So far it has cost amount of money that councils are taking out of local £650,000 to implement, while the most recent figures people’s pockets can be more accurately reflected. In show that just 36,000 out of 109,000 households have that way, rather than the green bin tax being introduced paid for their green bins. On their website, Lib Dem by just seven Labour and Lib Dem councillors, local councillors have dubbed this a “success”. Celebrating people would have been able to vote for the waste charging residents more by forcing them to pay for their services they want and the cost of delivering them. green bin waste collection seems to me an odd way of On a similar point, although local authorities have defining success. On the doorstep, time and again, I the freedom to introduce charges, I believe that should meet local residents who are furious that Labour and be done only through a named vote at a meeting of full Lib Dem councillors have introduced the green bin tax council, so that local residents can be fully aware of 721 Bin Charges: South Gloucestershire30 JUNE 2014 Bin Charges: South Gloucestershire 722 how their own local councillor voted on additional It is disappointing that South Gloucestershire council charges that will cost them personally. Surely this is a is introducing a charge for garden waste collection. simple matter of openness and transparency, so local Such charges threaten to increase fly-tipping, increasing councillors should be able to vote individually on these the clean-up costs for the council and harming the matters on behalf of their residents. Local people in environment in the long run as well. Indeed, recent Kingswood deserve to know if their local councillor research by the university of Kent has found that the would vote for or against charging. Few people could adequacy of garden waste collection is significantly argue that the vote of just seven Labour and Lib Dem related to fly-tipping behaviour. In areas where respondents councillors reflects the decision of an entire council on reported that garden waste collection was not adequate, behalf of its residents. they admitted that they were more likely to fly-tip Both I and local Conservatives will continue to campaign compared with respondents who reported that their for the reversal of the green bin tax in south Gloucestershire. service was adequate for their household needs. As a result of the combined determination of Labour It is particularly disappointing that charging has and Lib Dem councillors to defend the bin tax for been introduced in an area where fortnightly collections which they voted, we may have to wait until the next of residual waste have recently been introduced. That time local residents have a chance to voice their own means that there has been a significant reduction in opinion on the matter at the next local elections in May services for the residents, as in South Gloucestershire, at 2015. the same time as charges have gone up. I hope the council will look at how it can reduce council tax to The experience of the introduction of the green bin match the increase in charges. tax in south Gloucestershire points to a worrying decline in local accountability over exactly how local authorities We of course know where this all started. The previous can impose charging on residents. I hope the Minister Government had a policy of actively pushing fortnightly will continue to monitor the situation regarding local bin collections, and of hitting hard-working families authority charging policy on waste, both in south with stealth taxes. Cutting weekly rubbish collections Gloucestershire and nationally, and consider taking was not originally a locally-led initiative, but an explicit appropriate action in due course. Whitehall mission pursued with zeal. What did the previous Government do? Their “Household Waste Prevention Policy Side Research Programme” report 10.22 pm advocated “collection limitations in terms of rubbish bin size or the interval The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for between collections”, Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis): I and sought am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Chris Skidmore) for securing this debate. I know that “to nationalise this policy among local authorities”. he has spoken to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of Legislation in 2005 allowed the introduction of bin State for Communities and Local Government about fines for minor breaches of complex and confusing bin the matter and, as he has said, that he has submitted a rules. Further legislation in 2008 watered down councils’ petition signed by more than 4,000 Kingswood residents legal duties to collect rubbish. The previous Government opposing South Gloucestershire council’s charge of £36 funded the covert imposition of “Bin Brother”microchips for the collection of their garden waste. I fully endorse in families’ bins. In 2009, the pre-Budget report made it the petitioners’ suggestions. clear that a further wave of bin cuts was planned. In short, the town hall Taliban doubled council tax and My hon. Friend makes a very interesting point about halved bin collections. the transparency of decision making. Councils that are We do not agree with those measures; there are other considering introducing or raising charges might want ways of dealing with such things. This Government believe to think about discussing it at full council, where there that households deserve a frequent and comprehensive is full transparency of how councillors vote, especially rubbish and recycling service in return for the average of given that we are talking about decisions about front-line £122 a month paid in council tax by a typical band D services. South Gloucestershire residents can rightly ask household, especially given that the typical refuse collection why a council with about £43.5 million in reserves is service costs councils only £6 to £7 a month to provide. looking to impose more charges on them. It is reasonable for householders to expect their waste I believe the council may be considering a report in to be collected every week. It is the most visible service September on how the tax can be scrapped. I strongly people get for their council tax, and it is often the No. 1 urge the council to listen to its residents and to do the item on their list of what they expect for it. right thing. Prevailing legislation allows for councils to South Gloucestershire council has stated that if it charge for discretionary services such as the collection does not charge for the green bin service, it will have to of garden waste. However, we have made clear our make cuts that might affect other services, such as belief that councils should not introduce stealth taxes libraries. It is a very tired old refrain to put front-line by imposing new charges on local residents. Instead, services on the line by saying that it is a question either they should make sensible savings through better of charging more for discretionary services or of making procurement, more joint working, and cutting fraud, cuts. The statistics simply do not back up that story, while protecting their front-line services and, quite rightly, which is why we are so against stealth charges, as is keeping down council tax and charges. That can be highlighted by this important debate. Instead of moaning, done in a range of ways. All councils should look at our the council could start by collecting all the council tax it practice guidance, “50 ways to save”, because taxpayers is owed: in 2012-13, £2.2 million of council tax went should not be treated as cash cows, which the residents uncollected. The council should focus its energy on under discussion would be right to argue is what is changing the way in which it does business, rather than happening in their case. on a back-door bin tax. 723 Bin Charges: South Gloucestershire30 JUNE 2014 Bin Charges: South Gloucestershire 724

[Brandon Lewis] “emphasises our commitment to the weekly black bag collection service that our residents said they wanted to keep.” We are supporting local areas through a range of North Tyneside council said: opportunities, and we are clear that there is more they “Our weekly bin collections are one of the council services can do. Great councils are finding ways of saving money most valued by the residents of North Tyneside.” and improving front-line services. Some 337 councils are Dartford held a referendum: 95.3% of respondents involved in 383 shared service arrangements, saving agreed with the borough council’s decision to keep about £357 million a year. Shared chief executive and weekly collections of residual waste. senior management teams can save between £500,000 and £1 million a year for small district councils. We have We have taken a series of other steps to help households. brought in the transformation challenge award of We have supported over 40 innovative reward schemes £410 million to help councils to transform the way they to back recycling. Through the Localism Act 2011 we run their local services to put users first. Other examples revoked the 2008 legislation that allowed for the imposition of good practice include shared services, such as between of new bin taxes. We have been changing building Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils, and cracking down regulations to tackle bin blight. We have removed powers on fraud, with Ealing council set to realise nearly £7 million of entry and snooping powers from the “binquisition” of savings by taking action against fraudulent council inspectors and have scrapped guidance telling councils tax claims. to rifle through people’s bins. We have issued guidance to stop the imposition of illegal back-door bin charging Moving to a fortnightly collection of residual waste on household bins. We stopped Audit Commission may appear an easy or lazy choice for a council that inspections marking down councils that do not adopt wishes to save some money, but such a decision can fortnightly collections and abolished the local area often be made without thinking creatively about how to agreements and national indicator 191, imposed by make cost-effective changes to the service while retaining Whitehall, which created perverse incentives to downgrade a five-star weekly refuse collection frequency. There is waste collection services. no need to introduce any more stealth taxes for refuse. We scrapped the Whitehall requirement for municipal In fact, we are working with local councils to increase annual efficiency statements—I am sure many people the frequency and quality of waste collections, to make read those on a quiet Friday night—that allowed a it easier to recycle and to encourage reward schemes to reduction in the frequency of household rubbish collection increase recycling. If we want more recycling in our to qualify as a valid efficiency. We also scrapped the country, we need to encourage and motivate people, not imposition of eco-towns, which would have had fortnightly penalise them for what seems to be the very normal way bin collections or bin taxes as part of the eco-standards, of putting out their rubbish. and stopped funding the Waste Improvement Network, In February 2012, we set up a £250 million fund to which told councils to adopt fortnightly collections. help local authorities to provide a weekly waste collection We challenged the incorrect interpretation by some service. Since November 2012, 82 local authorities have bodies that European Union directives require fortnightly been implementing their successful bids. We will see collections, and resisted the imposition of bin taxes by huge investment over the period of 2012 to 2015 to the European Union. Through the Deregulation Bill we support the delivery of cost-effective, high-performing are changing the law to scrap unfair bin fines. In short, weekly collection services. The scheme will safeguard ours has been a fundamentally different approach from weekly collections for around 6 million households that of the Labour Government: we are working with until 2017, with an extra 400,000 tonnes of material families to help and encourage them to go green, but being recycled and a million fewer tonnes of waste-related believe in regular and comprehensive collections for carbon dioxide emitted. tax-paying households. They already pay enough in Our recent guidance on weekly rubbish collections council tax and deserve a first-class waste service. demonstrated how local authorities can improve recycling To conclude, this charge is unreasonable. My hon. and make common-sense savings on waste collection Friend is absolutely right, and I applaud him for standing while preserving the frequency of rubbish collection. It up for the residents of Kingswood and elsewhere in this challenged myths we have heard before, such as the idea debate. It is a stealth tax. I urge the council to stop that people do not want their bins emptied every week. treating its taxpayers with contempt and to start looking As my hon. Friend has outlined, talking to any resident at reducing unnecessary costs—we have shown a number on any street will prove that to be false. Research found of ways to do that. Many authorities are radically that two thirds of people think frequent and regular reducing management and changing the way they deliver rubbish collections are the most important feature of services to deliver substantial savings while keeping the waste service. Another survey found that two thirds first-class front-line services, and even improving their of the public thought that the Government should services. South Gloucestershire needs to follow suit mandate weekly collections, that weekly collections were instead of using taxpayers as cash cows. In September better and that problems with flies and smells were the council has a chance to put things right; I hope it much worse with fortnightly collections. does the decent thing and scraps the bin tax. A number of successful bidders to the weekly collection Question put and agreed to. support scheme passed on the views of their residents, which were similar to those my hon. Friend has outlined in Kingswood and South Gloucestershire. Cornwall 10.34 pm council told us that its bid House adjourned. 41WS Written Statements30 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 42WS

significant that representatives of the media consider Written Statements that this provision does not do so. While the Government consider that the notice provision would be an improvement Monday 30 June 2014 for the media, courts and Attorneys-General alike, it is satisfied that the existing law will continue to provide satisfactory protection to the integrity of legal proceedings. On this basis, the Government have decided not to ATTORNEY-GENERAL pursue this measure or the related clause on rights of appeal. The Government will accordingly table amendments Criminal Justice and Courts Bill to omit these clauses at the first opportunity.

The Attorney-General (Mr Dominic Grieve): Iam announcing today the Government’s intention to table TREASURY amendments to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill [HL Bill 30] which would omit clauses 51 and 52 from ECOFIN the Bill. Clause 51 would amend the Contempt of Court Act 1981, in particular, to provide that a publication will not be treated as being in contempt of court under The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Nicky Morgan): the strict liability rule in connection with legal proceedings A meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council where the publication is first made available before was held in Luxembourg on 20 June 2014. The following those proceedings are active. Under this clause, this agenda items were discussed: defence would cease to be available on my giving notice Draft general EU budget for 2015 to the publisher. Clause 52 would provide a related right of appeal against court injunctions. The European Commission presented its draft for the EU’s general budget for 2015. The UK made clear that The genesis of clause 51 was the Law Commission the European Commission should not be asking for a report Contempt of Court (1): Juror Misconduct cash increase to the annual budget of almost 5% compared and Internet Publications (Law Com No 340). The to the agreed 2014 annual budget at a time when countries Commission’s consultation and review revealed concern across Europe continue to take difficult decisions to among the mainstream media at their vulnerability to deal with deficits. proceedings for contempt in relation to online archive material. The concern was that the law as it currently Parent Subsidiary Directive stands means prejudicial online material, even if published Council agreed an amending directive to the parent before proceedings became active, is still subject to the subsidiary directive, which will effectively close a tax laws of contempt. The Commission acknowledged this loophole whereby companies operating across Europe and put forward a proposal that the Attorney-General could exploit differences between member states in the should be responsible for alerting publishers to the tax classification of certain financial instruments in presence of material which was potentially prejudicial order to reduce their overall tax liability. and that proceedings were active. Until such time as an Current Legislative Proposals Attorney-General’s notice was served, a publisher would The presidency provided an update on the ongoing have a defence to contempt proceedings. The proposal work on financial services. was intended to provide the media with a measure of protection and reassurance while at the same time enabling Level 2 legislation on bank contributions under Bank the integrity of proceedings to be safeguarded. The Recovery and Resolution Directive and the Single Resolution Government agreed with the Commission’s legal analysis Mechanism and believed the proposal struck the right balance between The Council discussed the preparation of implementing the right to a fair trial and the freedom of the press. legislation that will determine the contributions to be Although intended as a measure designed to assist paid by banks to resolution funds established under the and protect the media, the clause has been criticised on directive on Bank Recovery and Resolution (BRRD) the grounds that it gives too much power to the Attorney- and the regulation on the Single Resolution Mechanism General. These representations were made to me, in (SRM). particular, by the Society of Editors who in addition do Code of Conduct (Business taxation) not accept that this clause addresses a pressing problem Ministers endorsed the report on business taxation and have suggested that the current powers available are prepared by the code of conduct group, and adopted sufficient to protect proceedings. In addition, the Joint the report’s conclusions. Committee on Human Rights—14th Report of Session European Semester 2014 2013-14—while considering that the provisions of the Bill are Ministers approved recommendations for 26 member states and the euro area as a whole, in preparation for “in principle an improvement on the position under the current law”, discussions at European Council on 26 and 27 June, and subsequent adoption at ECOFIN on 8 July. have raised concerns about the safeguards connected with the notice procedure. Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact The Government have considered these concerns very Council adopted decisions bringing to an end excessive carefully. Although the Government remain of the view deficit procedures for six member states. that this is a balanced and measured proposal, they Ministers endorsed terms of reference on the review recognise the disquiet surrounding the proposal. Given of the methodology for assessing effective action in the that this measure was designed to assist the media, it is context of the excessive deficit procedure. 43WS Written Statements30 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 44WS

Joint ECB and Commission Convergence Reports (including The departmental minute, which I have today laid euro area enlargement) before the House, describes the gifting package to the Euro area member states adopted a recommendation GIRoA. on the adoption of the euro by Lithuania, in preparation Subject to completion of the departmental minute for discussions at European Council on 26/27 June, and process, gifting is expected to be undertaken by the end formal adoption at ECOFIN on 8 July. of 2014.

Tornado ZD743 and ZD812 (Service Inquiry) DEFENCE

Reserve Forces (Cyprus) The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Anna Soubry): I wish to inform the House of the The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr Mark Francois): findings of the service inquiry into the accident involving With the expiry of the call-out order made on 29 June two Tornado GR4 aircraft of XV(Reserve) Squadron 2013, a new order has been made under section 56(l)(a) from RAF Lossiemouth on 3 July 2012, in which Sqn of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to enable reservists to Ldr Sam Bailey, Fit Lt Hywel Poole and Fit Lt Adam continue to be called out into service as part of the Sanders tragically died. On the day of the accident, the UK’s contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping two aircraft were conducting training sorties when they Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). collided over the Moray Firth. One hundred and fourteen reservists have been called A service inquiry was convened by the director-general out for UN operations in Cyprus over the last 12 months. of the Military Aviation Authority to establish the Over the period this new order is in force we anticipate cause and examine those factors which contributed to calling out around 60 reservists, who will be fully integrated the accident and to make recommendations to ensure with their regular colleagues. While the use of reserves that the circumstances which led to the collision are in Cyprus is now considered routine business, it is fully avoided in the future. The service inquiry panel has in line with our policy of having more capable, usable, conducted an independent, thorough and objective inquiry integrated and relevant reserve forces. and their report is now complete. The order takes effect from 28 June 2014 and ceases A copy of the report has already been provided to to have effect on 31 December 2014. relevant personnel and units in defence to ensure the timely dissemination of these air safety lessons. The recommendations from the report have either been addressed or are in the process of being addressed. A copy of the service inquiry, redacted in accordance Gifting of Equipment to Afghanistan with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, is being placed in the Library of the House today The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond): and on the Ministry of Defence website. Our deepest I have today laid before the House a Ministry of Defence sympathies remain with the families of those who lost departmental minute describing a gifting package which their lives in this tragic accident. the UK intends to make to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Towards the end of 2014, UK forces will redeploy from southern Helmand, returning Camp Bastion to Foreign Affairs Council/General Affairs Council the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA). The built infrastructure will largely remain in place, together with some equipment that will be required The Minister for Europe (Mr David Lidington): My by UK forces to the end and will not, therefore, be able right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and to be sold or redeployed. Commonwealth Affairs attended the Foreign Affairs This gifting is expected to underpin the transition by Council on 23 June, and I attended the General Affairs supporting the further development of a capable, credible Council on 24 June. The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and confident Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), was chaired by the High Representative of the European within a sustainable security footing. The combined Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness effect of training, mentoring and sustainment through Ashton of Upholland, and the General Affairs Council gifting will help secure the positive support of the (GAC) was chaired by the Greek presidency. The meetings ANSF to UK and US forces and increase the capability were held in Luxembourg. of the ANSF. This is seen as being a key factor in Commissioner Füle (Enlargement) was in attendance enabling a low-risk extraction of the UK and US forces for some of the discussions at the FAC. Commissioners from Camp Bastion. Šefcovic (Inter-institutional relations and Administration) There has been very little UK property gifted to and Füle were in attendance for some of the discussions GIRoA, other than in cases where the handover of at the GAC. President of the European Council, Herman infrastructure at outlying locations has offset the cost to Van Rompuy was present for the GAC ministerial lunch the UK of remediation. Our priority has been to seek which discussed preparations for the 26 and 27 June best value for the taxpayer through redeployment and European Council. by the release of surplus property for sale. This policy FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL will remain during our extraction from Bastion and, A provisional report of the meeting and conclusions where the opportunity arises to redeploy valuable equipment adopted can be found at: http://www.consilium.europa. for future contingency operations rather than gifting, eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/ this will be undertaken. 143347.pdf. 45WS Written Statements30 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 46WS

Introductory remarks Ministers also discussed the importance of the EU providing more support to Tunisia to promote economic Baroness Ashton updated Ministers on the situation growth to underpin Tunisia’s political reforms. in Kosovo following the elections on 8 June. On Iran, she reminded Ministers that the E3+3 joint plan of Iraq and Syria action was due to expire on 20 July. Ministers discussed the latest developments in Iraq, Under AOB, the Foreign Secretary raised the global in the presence of Nikolay Mladenov, UN Special summit to end sexual violence in conflict, which launched Representative for Iraq. Ministers were united in concern the new international protocol. Implementation was the about the rapidly deteriorating security situation, strongly next step, and the Foreign Secretary looked to the EU condemning the attacks perpetrated by the Islamic State to mainstream this into its crisis response and conflict of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Mladenov set out his prevention work. In addition under AOB, Croatia five-point plan for Iraq, including humanitarian assistance, highlighted the severity of the recent floods in the an inclusive political process, and work with the Kurds. Balkans, and Poland argued for broadening the remit of The Foreign Secretary said that Ministers may need the European Endowment for Democracy’s work. to consider a new architecture to handle the transnational threat that ISIL represented, involving regional actors. Ukraine He called for humanitarian assistance for Iraq, and The newly appointed Ukrainian Foreign Minister continued pressure on the Syrian regime for a political Pavlo Klimkin attended part of the FAC to present solution, humanitarian access and chemical weapons President Poroshenko’s peace plan. Mr Klimkin stressed destruction. that the peace process should be inclusive, and reflected Ministers agreed conclusions on Iraq, condemning on the risk of further destabilisation of the situation. ISIL’s attacks and human rights abuses. The conclusions He acknowledged the need for social and economic call on Iraqi leaders to unite to fight terrorism and development in eastern Ukraine. On Crimea, he set out underline the need for political reconciliation and more the political, economic and humanitarian challenges inclusive Government. The conclusions also pledge that faced the Government of Ukraine. Klimkin said ¤5 million of EU humanitarian assistance to meet the Ukraine had begun preparations for implementation of needs of internally displaced persons. the EU/Ukraine association agreement, and noted that the Government of Ukraine was committed to European On Syria, Ministers agreed to extend sanctions to integration. He underlined the importance of energy 12 Ministers. security. Kidnap for Ransom Ministers continued the discussion after Klimkin left. Ministers agreed conclusions on Kidnap for Ransom, The Foreign Secretary noted the importance of continued a key step in our drive to develop international consensus diplomacy and of maintaining pressure on Russia to against paying ransoms. In line with the commitments de-escalate, including by being ready to move to further made at the G8 summit and UN Security Council measures. Ministers agreed to establish a civilian common Resolution 2133, the conclusions condemn the use of security and defence policy mission, a key UK priority, Kidnap for Ransom and unequivocally reject the payment and decided to prohibit the import into the EU of of ransoms and political concessions. They reaffirm the goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol without a EU’s commitment to uphold UN resolutions which certificate of origin from the Government of Ukraine. require all UN member states to prevent terrorists Ministers agreed conclusions which make it clear that benefiting directly or indirectly from ransom payments. preparatory work on sanctions continues so that further Other business steps can be taken should events in eastern Ukraine so require, and restate the Council’s strong condemnation Ministers agreed without discussion a number of of the illegal annexation of Crimea. The conclusions other measures, including the following: also welcome President Poroshenko’s inauguration; express The Council adopted conclusions on Thailand; Afghanistan; support for his peace plan as a major chance for on the Union’s approach on responsible sourcing of minerals; de-escalation, and call on Russia to support the peace on the 10th anniversary of the EU guidelines on human plan and adopt measures to stop the flow of illegal rights defenders; and on the role of the private sector in fighters, arms and equipment into Ukraine. Ministers development. also encouraged the Ukrainian authorities in their reforms, The Council amended EU restrictive measures against the expressed concern about the human rights situation in Central African Republic in the light of UN Security Council eastern Ukraine and Crimea, and looked forward to an Resolution 2127 (2013). end to the gas dispute. The Council extended the restrictive measures against the Southern Neighbourhood leadership of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova until 31 October 2014. Ministers discussed Libya, and agreed conclusions The Council adopted the EU’s annual report on human calling for political dialogue and peaceful elections on rights and democracy in the world in 2013. 25 June, reaffirming EU support for improving Libya’s border controls and securing arms stockpiles. The Foreign The Council approved the EU priorities for the 69th UN Secretary welcomed the work of international envoys. General Assembly. The Council extended the mandates of the EU special On Egypt, Baroness Ashton issued a statement expressing representative for human rights and of the EU special Ministers’ concern about the recent court cases, including representative in Afghanistan until 28 February 2015 and the sentences pronounced against the al-Jazeera journalists. agreed on the budget for their activities. After the FAC the Foreign Secretary told the press that The Council approved the budget for the activities of the EU he was “absolutely appalled” and said that special representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the “Egypt has taken a major step in the wrong direction”. period from 1 July 2014 until 30 June 2015. 47WS Written Statements30 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 48WS

The Council approved the association agendas between the I reaffirmed the need for clear objectives on job European Union and the Republic of Moldova, and between creation, growth and competitiveness; and called for the European Union and Georgia. text on the EU’s priorities to be as focused and ambitious The Council approved the EU position for the first meeting as possible. of the Association Council with central America. European Semester GENERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL Following discussion at the Employment, Social Policy, The 24 June 2014 General Affairs Council (GAC) Health and Consumer Affairs Council on 19 June and focused on: the enlargement and stabilisation and the Economic and Financial Affairs Council on 20 June, association process; a report on following up European the GAC approved the European semester country Council conclusions; the preparation of the 26 and specific recommendations (CSRs) published by the 27 June European Council; the European semester process; Commission to all non-programme EU member states. the application of article 10 of protocol 36 to the treaties; the 18-month programme of the Council; the The advice to the UK is to continue reducing the EU maritime security strategy; and the EU strategy for deficit, tackle youth unemployment, reform the housing the Adriatic and Ionian region. Under any other business, market and invest in infrastructure. This is generally in the GAC discussed EU cohesion policy and the flooding line with the Government’s long-term economic plan in Bulgaria. and reflects the advice of others. A provisional report of the meeting can be found at: Application of Article 10 of Protocol 36 to the Treaties http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/ The Council discussed the UK’s decision pursuant to pressdata/EN/genaff/143363.pdf. article 10 of protocol 36 to the treaties to opt-out of all Enlargement and Stabilisation and Association Process pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice measures. The Council noted that the UK Government and the The GAC considered Albania. Since the GAC last Commission had reached an understanding on the list discussed the issue, Albania has made progress on key of non-Schengen pre-Lisbon police and criminal justice justice and home affairs (JHA) reforms, including a measures that the UK Government would seek to rejoin. seven-fold increase in cocaine seizures and action to In respect of the Schengen pre-Lisbon police and criminal dismantle a fraudulent passport factory, tackling illegal justice measures, the Council recalled that it had previously migration. The Government therefore agreed candidate provisionally noted a broad technical agreement on the status, but only on a clear understanding in the GAC draft Council decision although at this stage not all conclusions that Albania still has much work to do and reservations could be lifted. will need to show sustained political commitment to tackling deep-rooted problems, including through concrete 18-month programme of the Council and measurable steps. Candidate status is a symbolic The new EU presidency trio of Italy, Latvia and step which has no implications for migration, no Luxembourg presented their programme for the Council automaticity for joining the EU and is not a decision to for the period of 1 July 2014 to 31 December 2015. This open accession negotiations. The Government will adopt will focus on: growth and jobs; fundamental rights; a very rigorous approach at every stage of this long climate and energy; and the post-2015 development process to ensure that Albania roots out corruption, programme. cracks down on organised crime and firmly institutionalises The EU Maritime Security Strategy the rule of law. The GAC adopted the EU maritime security strategy In my intervention, I also raised the importance of (EU MSS). The strategy aims to define the maritime the GAC returning in December to the issue of reform security threats, risks and interests affecting the EU, of transitional controls on free movement for future while also strengthening the EU’s response to them. It enlargements, in the context of its consideration of the will also serve to inform future action plans—due to be Commission’s annual enlargement package to be published produced under the Italian presidency—which incorporate this autumn. maritime security considerations more widely across Report on following up European Council conclusions EU policies. The presidency presented its report on the The EU MSS is broadly consistent with the UK’s implementation of European Council conclusions covering: maritime security objectives and we will continue to economic issues; the European semester process; climate work with European and other international partners and energy; and justice and home affairs. on this global issue. Preparation of the June European Council EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region The GAC discussed the draft conclusions for the The Commission presented its communication and 26 and 27 June European Council, which the Prime Minister action plan for the EU strategy for the Adriatic and and other EU leaders will attend. The June European Ionian region. Italy confirmed that it would take this Council will include a dinner in Ypres on 26 June to forward during their presidency. commemorate the outbreak of the first world war followed Under any other business, the GAC discussed the by a Council meeting on 27 June in Brussels. idea of holding formal sessions of the General Affairs The June European Council is expected to focus on: Council dedicated to cohesion policy to allow greater the future justice and home affairs programme; economic scrutiny at a political level of its implementation over issues, including better regulation; climate and energy the 2014-20 multi-annual financial perspective, and its including a Commission report on EU energy security; contribution to the Europe 2020 strategy. No clear and Ukraine. Association agreements with Georgia, conclusions were reached on this at this stage. Moldova and Ukraine will be signed. The issue of the The GAC also considered and expressed sympathy EU’s strategic priorities and institutional changes is for the recent flooding affecting Bulgaria which has also likely to be discussed. caused considerable damage to infrastructure. 49WS Written Statements30 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 50WS

Gifting of Equipment to Pakistan Group, which has confirmed that it fits with the Government’s strategic and delivery objectives. FCO officials also assessed the project for human rights risks, The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth using the overseas security and justice assistance guidelines Affairs (Mr William Hague): The Government are established by the Foreign Secretary in 2011. committed to developing counter-terrorism capability The Treasury has approved the proposal in principle. in Pakistan in furtherance of their counter-terrorism If, during the period of 14 parliamentary sitting days objectives under the counter-terrorism strategy beginning on the date on which this minute was laid (CONTEST). As part of this approach, the UK assists before the House of Commons, a Member signifies an key partner nations to develop effective and sustainable objection by giving notice of a parliamentary question counter-terrorism capabilities which operate in line with or a motion relating to the minute, or by otherwise agreed international human rights standards. By helping raising the matter in the House, final approval of the countries to undertake counter-terrorism activities locally, gift will be withheld pending an examination of the it targets the problem at source and reduces the risk of a objection. terrorist attack against that nation or another. Pakistan has a particularly severe problem with HOME DEPARTMENT improvised explosive device (IED) attacks perpetrated by terrorist groups and insurgents based within the country. Pakistan has sought assistance from the UK in European Asylum Support Office tackling this threat and developing the capabilities of its security forces. The UK is delivering a counter-improvised The Minister for Security and Immigration (James explosive device (CIED) programme to assist Pakistan Brokenshire): The European Asylum Support Office in establishing a multi-agency capability for tackling (EASO) is the agency that promotes practical co-operation IEDs. The programme aims to build capacity to dismantle on asylum between EU member states. It was established IED networks and improve intelligence available to by the 2010 EASO regulation and the UK participates countering emerging IED threats. in it. The EASO has extended its co-operation to the The project is now entering the final year of a three-year Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, programme. A total of £6.995 million was allocated the Kingdom of Norway and the Swiss Confederation during the first two years which focused on training and which have now become observers at EASO through gifting of equipment for the Pakistan Army, police, civil external agreements that were negotiated and adopted defence and frontier corps. Two departmental gifting by the European Union. The UK opted-in to all four minutes were laid on 15 October 2012 and 18 November agreements on 3 February and two of them were adopted 2013 in relation to these gifts. by the Council on 19 May. The departmental minute laid today sets out our These working arrangements will allow Iceland, plans to gift counter improvised explosive device (CIED) Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to participate equipment and training to Pakistan, totalling £4.72 million. in the EASO’s work and be entitled to receive support Of this, an estimated £3.22 million is related to equipment from it. All four associate countries already participate as follows: in the Dublin Regulation and contribute to its effective 1) Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) Equipment operation. We welcome the enhanced co-operation on (£2,471,000) asylum issues that these arrangements will bring and we 2) Search Equipment (£666,000) look forward to their participation in future EASO initiatives. 3) Vehicles (£75,135) 4) Storage and flights (£7,865) Alongside the gift, the cost of training, project delivery, JUSTICE key leader engagement and maintenance costs will be approximately £1.5 million. The training aims to enhance Inquiries Act 2005 Pakistani police, civil defence and military capacity to dismantle IED networks and improve intelligence available The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Simon to countering emerging IED threats. Hughes): Today I have published the Government’s The gift is being met through the supply procedure, response to the report of the House of Lords Select together with a contribution of £400,000 from the Danish Committee on the Inquiries Act 2005. Government. Public inquiries are well regarded and valued by the The package of equipment and training will provide people of this country as a means of holding public the military and law-enforcement agencies with a valuable bodies to account, investigating matters of concern and and sustainable capability to deal with the threat. maintaining confidence in just and transparent government. The request for the UK’s assistance in tackling the They are a means of bringing out into the open, and CIED issue is an excellent opportunity to work in providing answers to, some of the most troubling events. partnership with Pakistan to develop its indigenous A post-legislative scrutiny review of the 2005 Act, capability and mitigate the terrorist risk to the UK, carried out by this Government in 2010, concluded that Pakistan, the UK’s interests in Pakistan and wider the Act itself was generally working well but identified south Asia region. several areas of concern with the practical application The proposed gift has been assessed and approved of the Inquiry Rules 2006. against the consolidated EU and National Arms Export Four years on, the Select Committee’s timely and Licensing Criteria. The proposed gift has been scrutinised thorough report has been a great help in advancing the and approved by the cross-HMG Overseas Contest Government’s thinking on such questions as the applicability 51WS Written Statements30 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 52WS of the Act, its fitness for purpose, the powers of the In accordance with usual procurement practice, we inquiry Chair, and how to ensure that best practice is are now in a standstill period of 10 days before my captured and passed on. Department will be in a position to enter into, and The Government have given careful consideration to complete, the formal contractual documentation and the Committee’s 33 recommendations, agreeing with make the award to NXET Trains Ltd. the majority of them. We will implement changes as Reaching this milestone demonstrates that rail franchising soon as practicable and, where primary legislation is is on track and providing a world-class railway that needed, when parliamentary time allows. benefits the taxpayer and has the passenger at its heart. The Select Committee has made a significant contribution to the Government’s ongoing efforts to make inquiries more effective and efficient, and the benefits will be seen in the conduct of future inquiries. WORK AND PENSIONS Public inquiries which are in the appropriate form, conducted as speedily as possible, respond to public concerns and investigate the facts thoroughly are an Child Maintenance Service essential part of an accountable and transparent democracy. Copies of the Command Paper are available in the Vote Office and in the Printed Paper Office. The document The Minister of State, Department for Work and is also available online, at: https://www.gov.uk/ Pensions (Steve Webb): Today the Government reach a government/publications/government-response-to- key milestone in their progress towards reforming the select-committee-post-legislative-scrutiny-of-the- child maintenance system in Great Britain, by first inquiries-act-2005. bringing into force the regulations allowing the Department for Work and Pensions to end child maintenance arrangements in the 1993 and 2003 child maintenance schemes and, secondly, introducing a range of fees for TRANSPORT using the 2012 child maintenance scheme, managed by the Child Maintenance Service. Essex Thameside Rail Franchise The Government want to help parents to reduce levels of conflict after a separation and work together more effectively. After a relationship breakdown most The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport parents still want what is best for their children and we (Stephen Hammond): On Friday 27 June 2014, the want to support them to achieve this. Wherever possible Department for Transport announced its intention to we want to encourage more parents to consider arranging award the Essex Thameside franchise to NXET Trains maintenance directly between themselves, rather than Ltd. The franchise will begin in November this year viewing statutory child maintenance arrangements as (2014) and run for 15 years until 2029. the default option. The new franchise builds on the firm foundation of Both parents will be offered free information and high standards of punctuality and passenger satisfaction support to help them make the right choices for them that passengers on the route have come to expect. The about their child maintenance arrangements through bid sets out a clear plan for how NXET Trains Ltd will the Child Maintenance Options service. seek to exceed these expectations and meet the significant For those unable to make their own arrangements, demand for transport services that is expected from the there is a new more efficient and effective child maintenance continuing strong economic growth in the area. scheme, managed by the Child Maintenance Service. This is an excellent bid for passengers and will provide The introduction of fees is designed to act as an a large number of improvements, which include: incentive for parents to collaborate following a separation, Additional fleet of 17 brand new trains providing almost encouraging them to think again before defaulting to 4,800 extra seats; the Child Maintenance Service. The fees are also about More than 25,000 additional seats for the morning peak-time people making a small contribution to the cost of an commuters every week by the end of the franchise; expensive service that will continue to be heavily subsidised £5 million invested to improve Barking station; by the taxpayer. The Government do, however, recognise £1.6 million invested to improve Fenchurch street station; that the collection charges for paying parents should be £10 million on improving further stations across the route; higher as they have greater control over whether or not maintenance is paid. The charges are encouraging not Making staff more visible at stations; just compliance but also a shift towards collaboration, Over 200 new car parking spaces; which is in the best interests of the children involved. More than £457,000 spent on cycle spaces and other accessibility improvements; Free wi-fi at stations and on board trains; Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Better information for customers; Affairs Council SMART ticketing scheme including automatic delay repay for passengers. NXET Trains Ltd bid is an ambitious one that not The Minister of State, Department for Work and only provides for existing and future passengers but Pensions (Esther McVey): The Employment, Social Policy, also delivers great returns for the taxpayer with over Health and Consumer Affairs Council met on 19 June £2 billion in premium expected to be paid to Government 2014 in Luxembourg. Shan Morgan, Deputy Permanent over the course of the franchise. Representative to the EU, represented the United Kingdom. 53WS Written Statements30 JUNE 2014 Written Statements 54WS

The Council approved the country-specific (EMU) for which the discussion centred on the value of recommendations (CSRs) on the national reform minimum income schemes. The UK made it clear that programmes 2014 for each member state, including the minimum income schemes were an area of national macro-economic imbalance procedure (MIP). The opinions competence and that a “one size fits all” approach of the Employment Committee (EMCO) and Social would not work. Protection Committee (SPC) on the examination of the national reform programmes 2013 and the implementation The presidency’s progress reports on the equal treatment of the 2013 country-specific recommendations were directive, women on company boards directive and the endorsed. EMCO and SPC reports on cross-cutting European network of employment services, workers issues were noted, as was the employment performance access to mobility services, and further integration of monitor (EPM). labour markets (EURES) regulation were noted. The During the policy debate on the European semester, presidency gave a progress report on the proposal for a the UK stated that it was pleased that the Commission European platform to enhance co-operation in the had struck the right balance between providing prevention and deterrence of undeclared work, and recommendations and recognising progress. This year’s Ministers also adopted Council conclusions on women CSRs reflected the work under way in the UK in a and the economy. number of areas where we were already seeing significant progress (youth unemployment, child care provision Under any other business, the presidency provided and Universal Credit). The UK also tabled a minute information on the outcomes of the Roma summit statement reiterating its position that education policies which took place on 4 April 2014 and the 2014 International remain a national competence. Labour Organisation (ILO) conference. The incoming Ministers had an exchange of views on the social Italian presidency presented its upcoming work programme dimension of the EU and the European monetary union which begins on 1 July.

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Written Answers to February 2013 Location Purpose of visit

Questions Lysaght Institute, Newport Wales Office Jobs Summit

Monday 30 June 2014 March 2013 Location Purpose of visit

Toyota UK Manufacturing, Deeside Economy and manufacturing PRIME MINISTER themed Fracking Bodnant Gardens Wales Tourism Week Wales Mountain Zoo Wales Tourism Week Asia visit-Hong Kong, Japan, Trade mission on behalf of UK David T. C. Davies: To ask the Prime Minister if he Vietnam Government will take steps to establish a Cabinet Committee chaired Engineering Education Scheme- Attending to officially open the event by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to direct and Wales-Big Bang North Wales, co-ordinate policy on the development of shale gas. Llandudno [202387] RICS Energy Conference, Cardiff Keynote speaker The Prime Minister: Issues relating to shale gas are considered at a number of Cabinet Committees including April 2013 the Economic Affairs and Growth and Enterprise Location Purpose of visit Committees. Stena Line, Holyhead Port Economy and infrastructure themed Valero Refinery, Pembrokeshire Energy themed Murco Refinery, Pembrokeshire Energy themed ATTORNEY-GENERAL Milford Haven Port Authority Economy and infrastructure themed Torquing Group, Pembroke Dock Economy and rural SME focused Rape: Convictions Ledwood Engineering, Pembroke Economy and rural SME focused Dock Helen Jones: To ask the Attorney-General what Swansea University Research and Development focused assessment he has made of the reasons for the fall in the Tomos Watkin Brewery, Swansea Economy and SME focused percentage rate of convictions in rape cases between Virgin Media, Swansea Economy and SME focused 2012-13 and 2013-14; and if he will make a statement. Swansea City Football Club Economy focused [202401] Tata Steel, Port Talbot Economy and manufacturing themed The Solicitor-General: The Rape National Scrutiny SPECIFIC, Baglan Research and development focused Panel led by the Director of Public Prosecutions and Loughor Viaduct, Swansea Rail infrastructure related the National Policing lead for rape, considered the Cardiff Business Club lunch Hosting German Ambassador investigation and prosecution of rape cases including their referral from the police to the CPS. A range of issues have been identified that may have contributed to May 2013 the drop in conviction rates. The joint Crown Prosecution Location Purpose of visit Service/police Rape Action Plan published on 6 June Deeside Industrial Park Business Speaking engagement 2014 aims to address these. Forum National Assembly for Wales, Delivering Queen’s Speech to Cardiff National Assembly for Wales WALES June 2013 Official Visits Location Purpose of visit Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Ebbw Vale-Circuit of Wales Regeneration themed-Joint visit at Wales what visits each of the Ministers in his proposed site request of Nick Smith MP The Works, Ebbw Vale Regeneration-joint visit at request of Department have made since January 2013; and what Nick Smith MP the purpose of each such visit was. [200496] BA Maintenance Centre, Cardiff Aerospace and manufacturing themed Mr David Jones: The information requested is enclosed Paris International Airshow Aerospace and economy themed Wales Governance Centre, Cardiff Delivering Wales in the Union keynote in the following tables. Bay speech Secretary of State for Wales, Rt hon David Jones MP January 2013 Location Purpose of visit July 2013 Location Purpose of visit Tata Steel, Port Talbot Economy and manufacturing themed Llangollen Eisteddfod Culture themed Hitachi Durham Rail electrification focused Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells Agriculture and rural affairs Airbus, Broughton Economy and manufacturing Policy Forum for Wales event Delivering keynote speech on themed infrastructure JCB Transmissions, Wrexham Economy and manufacturing Yale College, Wrexham Wales Office North Wales Jobs themed Summit 339W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 340W

August 2013 December 2013 Location Purpose of visit Location Purpose of visit Working Links, Bridgend Welfare reform themed – joint visit with Secretary of State for Work and National Eisteddfod Wales, Denbigh Culture themed Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith MP Sony UK Technology Centre, Bridgend Manufacturing and re-shoring focused Coleg Menai Energy Centre, Skills and nuclear energy-joint visit Biotec Services International, Bridgend Research and development focused Llangefni with Minister of State for Energy, Michael Fallon MP

January 2014 Horizon Nuclear Power, Anglesey Energy-joint visit with Minister of State for Energy, Michael Fallon MP Location Purpose of visit

Mid Wales Chamber of Commerce, Rural economy focused Denbigh and Flint Show Agriculture and rural affairs-joint visit with Secretary of State for Quartix, Newtown SME and rural economy focused DEFRA Castalum, Newtown Manufacturing and rural economy focused National Youth Orchestra of Wales Culture themed – Representing the Firestone site, Wrexham Visit to site of new north Wales prison concert, Llandudno Wales Office development-joint visit with Prisons Minister, Jeremy Wright MP Redwither Tower, Wrexham SME supplier event for north Wales September 2013 prison development-joint visit with Prisons Minister, Jeremy Wright MP Location Purpose of visit

Atticus Digital Creative industries and SME focused-joint visit with UKTI February 2014 Cardiff Medicentre, University of SME and research and development Location Purpose of visit Wales Hospital focused-joint visit with UKTI Wales Office North Wales Business SME and economy focused Malaysia and Oman Overseas trade mission on behalf of Reception, Gyrn Castle UK Government EADS-DSEI Exhibition, Excel Defence industry focused Airbus, Broughton Economy focused visit with Indonesian Centre, London Ambassador Regional Society of Council Clerks Keynote speaker Toyota UK Manufacturing, Deeside Economy focused visit with Indonesian conference, Llandudno Ambassador National Waterfront Museum, In support of Swansea Bay City of Chirk Castle, Wrexham Wales Tourism Week Swansea Culture bid Aberdeen Regional Cabinet Hafod Copperworks, Swansea In support of Swansea Bay City of Wales Office Business Reception, Cardiff SME and economy focused Culture bid Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea In support of Swansea Bay City of Culture bid March 2014 Location Purpose of visit

October 2013 Paris UKTI Trade mission with Welsh SMEs Location Purpose of visit Ruthin Inner Wheel International Women’s Day Ty Llewelyn Reserves Centre, Cardiff 614 Squadron-RAF Reserves Inaugural ACT Training, Cardiff SME and Fast Growth 50 focused Information Day RMS, Newport SME and Fast Growth 50 focused Infrastructure UK breakfast CBI and Wales Office initiative Smart Solutions, Newport SME and Fast Growth 50 focused meeting, Ruthin Fast Growth 50 Awards, Cardiff SME focused awards ceremony-keynote speaker Airbus, Toulouse Aerospace focused visit with Lord Green April 2014 GE Aviation, Nantgarw Aerospace and apprenticeship focused Location Purpose of visit Cardiff School of Art and Design Presenting Royal prefix to Royal Watercolour Society of Wales on behalf Port of Mostyn Infrastructure and energy focused of UK Government Raytheon UK, Broughton Aerospace and manufacturing focused PPA Ltd, Broughton SME and aerospace supply chain November 2013 focused Location Purpose of visit Consort Precision Diamond Co., SME and aerospace supply chain Kinmel Bay focused Bali Democracy Forum International Conference Cawdor Cars, Carmarthen Tackling rural youth unemployment Media Wales, Cardiff Joint visit with the Prime Minister University of Wales Trinity St David, West Wales Jobs Summit Owens Logistics, Newport M4 improvements announcement- Carmarthen Joint visit with the Prime Minister Brecon Army Museum Heritage, culture and defence related Singapore and Indonesia visit Trade mission on behalf of UK May 2014 Government Location Purpose of visit Heathrow T2 visit Economy and infrastructure focused- Welsh SME links to build HMS Dragon, Cardiff Bay NATO Summit-Joint visit with First Minister of Wales Royal Mint, Llantrisant Striking of Remembrance Day coin Llandegla Mountain Bike Centre Queen’s Baton Relay tour of Wales National Centre for Product Design Research and development focused and Development Research, Cardiff CBI North Wales dinner, Ewloe Representing Wales Office Metropolitan University Caernarfon Beer Festival Officially opening the event The Durham Union Society, Delivering keynote speech on the Bangor College China Signing Speaking engagement Durham Union Ceremony, Bangor University 341W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 342W

June 2014 October 2013 Location Purpose of visit Location Purpose of visit Newport Jobcentre Plus Welfare reform themed Work Programme, Newport City Welfare reform themed Council National Assembly for Wales Delivering Queen’s Speech to National Assembly for Wales Intellectual Property Office, Fact finding visit Newport

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales, Stephen Crabb MP

January 2013 November 2013 Location Purpose of visit Location Purpose of visit Parc Prison, Bridgend Law and order themed-joint visit with Dyfed Powys Police Law and order themed visit Prisons Minister, Jeremy Wright MP Cardiff Probation Trust Law and order themed-joint visit with Prisons Minister, Jeremy Wright MP February 2013 Newport Passport Office Immigration themed visit with former Immigration Minister, Mark Harper Location Purpose of visit MP ABP Ports, Newport Infrastructure themed ABP Ports, Cardiff Infrastructure themed February 2014 Location Purpose of visit March 2013 Policy Forum for Wales Seminar, Cardiff Welfare reform keynote speech Location Purpose of visit Bargoed Library, Caerphilly Welfare reform and Universal Credit Celtic Quest, Abereiddy Wales Tourism Week Citizens Advice Bureau, Caerphilly Welfare reform and Universal Credit

April 2013 March 2014 Location Purpose of visit Location Purpose of visit

Valero Refinery, Pembrokeshire Energy themed Kronsopan Ltd, Wrexham Manufacturing and Budget 2014 themed Murco Refinery, Pembrokeshire Energy themed Milford Haven Port Authority Economy and infrastructure themed April 2014 British Gas Training Academy Skills, energy and Green Deal themed Location Purpose of visit

Cardiff Superconnected Cities Broadband infrastructure themed May 2013 Demonstrator Hub Location Purpose of visit

Cardiff Airport Economy themed-joint visit with former May 2014 Aviation Minister, Simon Burns MP Location Purpose of visit BA Maintenance Centre, Cardiff Aerospace and manufacturing themed- joint visit with former Minister of Celsa UK, Cardiff Manufacturing and energy intensive State for Transport, Simon Burns MP industries focused Urdd Eisteddfod, Boncath Culture themed Cardiff Airport Economy themed visit Stagecraft, Newtown SME and rural economy focused Makefast, Newtown SME and rural economy focused June 2013 Trax JX Newtown SME and rural economy focused Location Purpose of visit St Davids, Pembrokeshire Queen’s Baton Relay tour of Wales Aberdare Jobcentre Plus Welfare reform themed Institute for the Blind, Merthyr Tydfil Welfare reform themed Working Links, Treorchy Welfare reform themed June 2014 Milford Haven Port Authority Infrastructure themed-joint visit with Location Purpose of visit Transport Minister, Stephen Hammond General Dynamics UK, Blackwood Defence related

July 2013 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales, Baroness Randerson Location Purpose of visit January 2013 Location Purpose of visit Celsa UK, Cardiff Manufacturing and infrastructure themed Oxfam Forest Children’s Centre, Big Society themed Barclays, Cardiff Economy themed Newport Disability Employment Conference, Regional link up to London from Holocaust Memorial Day event, Holocaust Memorial Day Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff

September 2013 February 2013 Location Purpose of visit Location Purpose of visit

Wales Office North Wales Business SME and economy focused Swansea University Higher education and research and Reception, Gyrn Castle development themed 343W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 344W

February 2013 November 2013 Location Purpose of visit Location Purpose of visit Aberystwyth University Higher education themed Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Wales Tourism Week Glamorgan IBERS, Aberystwyth Agriculture and research and development themed St Fagans Museum, Cardiff Wales Tourism Week National Library of Wales, Education, culture and heritage Aberystwyth themed Cardiff Whitewater Centre Wales Tourism Week Mid Wales Rape Support Centre, Equality themed Lysaght Institute, Newport Wales Office Jobs Summit Aberystwyth Wales Tourism Awards, Llandudno Speaking engagement Cardiff Castle Territorial Army/Reservists launch event Bodnant Food Centre, Conwy Tourism themed following Wales Tourism Awards Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Llangollen Tourism themed ahead of Wales March 2013 Tourism Awards Location Purpose of visit National Service of Remembrance Representing the Wales Office Newport Women’s Aid International Women’s Day for Wales service, Cardiff Sport Wales, Cardiff Sport and health themed

December 2013 Location Purpose of visit June 2013 Location Purpose of visit The Open University in Wales event, Higher education focus Cardiff Eve of Armed Forces Day event, Cardiff In support of Armed Forces Day Cardiff Castle Armed Forces Day event In support of Armed Forces Day CBI Wales Summer Luncheon, Cardiff Representing Wales Office January 2014 Bay Location Purpose of visit St John Cymru: Wales Annual Festival Representing Wales Office and Investiture 2013, Llandaff Optic Glyndwr, Glyndwr University Research and development focused Crest Cooperative, Llandudno Big Society Awards themed Viability, Conwy Big Society themed July 2013 Ysgol Bro Cernyw, Llangernyw Presenting Big Society Award to Location Purpose of visit Vi-Ability social enterprise on behalf of the Prime Minister National Botanic Gardens of Wales Tourism themed Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells Agriculture and rural affairs themed Yale College, Wrexham Wales Office North Wales Jobs Summit February 2014 Live Music Act Roundtable, Cardiff Representing Wales Office Location Purpose of visit

National Roman Legion Museum, Wales Tourism Week and NATO August 2013 Caerleon Summit focused Location Purpose of visit Tredegar House, Newport Wales Tourism Week and NATO Summit focused National Eisteddfod Wales, Denbigh Culture themed Want to Work Awards, Swansea Presenting award Brecon Jazz Festival Culture themed Radnorshire Tourism and Farm Centres Tourism themed March 2014 Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages Tourism themed Location Purpose of visit Oystermouth Castle, Gower In support of Swansea Bay City of Culture bid Royal Welsh College of Music & Higher education and culture focused Drama, Cardiff

September 2013 Location Purpose of visit April 2014 Location Purpose of visit British Red Cross, Maelor Hospital, Voluntary sector themed Wrexham Gwent Police, Cwmbran Human trafficking and tackling modern Wales Office North Wales Business SME and economy focused slavery focused Reception, Gyrn Castle Able Radio, Pontypool Big Society themed

October 2013 May 2014 Location Purpose of visit Location Purpose of visit Marks & Spencer, Cardiff Tackling youth unemployment-in support of Prince’s Trust and Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre Queen’s Baton Relay tour of Wales Feeding Britain’s Future programme Firing Line Museum, Cardiff Castle In support of Cymru’n Cofio/Wales Remembers 1914-1918 FWW event June 2014 National Museum Wales 65th Culture themed Location Purpose of visit anniversary, St Fagans, Cardiff Dedication Service-Welsh National Heritage themed Cardiff University’s Hadyn Ellis Higher education and research and Mining Memorial and Centenary of Building development focused the Universal Colliery Memorial, Cardiff University Attendance at Innovation and Impact Nant y Parc School, Caerphilly Awards 345W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 346W

Performance Appraisal British Irish Council

Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all Northern Ireland what new actions were allocated to other staff employed by his Department received each the Government at the summit meeting of the British-Irish level of performance rating in their end of year Council in June 2014. [201723] performance assessment for 2013-14. [202065] Stephen Crabb: The levels of performance ratings for Mrs Villiers: The British-Irish Council Summit of 13 staff at the Wales Office were as follows: June discussed the economy, the economic importance of transport links between Member Administrations 12.5% were assessed as “Outstanding”; and the on-going work of the British-Irish Council. As 80% were assessed as “Good”; and part of the discussion on the future work of the British-Irish 7.5% were assessed as “Must Improve”. Council, Ministers agreed that the Collaborative Spatial This is in line with the Ministry of Justice’s guided Planning work sector should continue to work together distribution range. The Wales Office is unable to confirm to identify opportunities for synergy with other work the performance rating for disabled staff as, in accordance sectors of the Council. The communiqué agreed by all with Cabinet Office guidelines, the Department does Administrations can be found here: not disclose information relating to five or fewer members http://www.britishirishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/ of staff. attachments/22%20-%20Twenty%20Second%20Summit%20- %20Guernsey%20-%2013%20June%202014.pdf Separately, the Deputy Prime Minister and I also CHURCH COMMISSIONERS held discussions with the First and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland on a range of current issues, including Apprentices the party leader talks on flags, parading and the past.

Robert Halfon: To ask the right hon. Member for Interception Warrants Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, how many apprentices the Church Commissioners have employed in the last 12 months. [201920] Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many interception warrants were (a) issued, Sir Tony Baldry: The Church Commissioners currently (b) declined and (c) cancelled by her Department directly employ one member of staff on an apprenticeship under (i) section 8(1) and (ii) section 8(4) of the Regulation scheme; this role is designed to give experience of supporting of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 in the last six months the administrative work of the national institutional for which figures are available. [201673] structures of the Church of England. There is an intention to roll out apprenticeships more widely should this trial Mrs Villiers: The Interception of Communications proves successful. Commissioner, Sir Anthony May, publishes statistics Within the Church of England, there are jobs and on the total number of interception warrants authorised opportunities for skilled professionals and their students annually. His 2013 Annual Report states that 2,760 to undertake apprenticeships, training, or conservation interception warrants were authorised in 2013 (under work on and within its buildings, stone/carpentry yards both sections 8(1) and 8(4) of the Regulation of and stained glass workshops choir and organ schools. Investigatory Powers Act 2000), a reduction of 19% on There are also some more informal apprenticeship the same figure for 2012, and that 1,669 such warrants and paid internship opportunities within the local and were extant on 31 December 2013. As a matter of national structures that are organised locally by those longstanding practice we do not provide more detailed concerned. breakdowns of statistics relating to interception warrants.

Parades: Belfast NORTHERN IRELAND Aviation Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence she has had with the Parades Commission over summer Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for parades in North Belfast. [202146] Northern Ireland what work has been undertaken by officials in her Department to support Northern Ireland’s regional and international air links in 2014 to Mrs Villiers: I met the Parades Commission for Northern date. [202089] Ireland (PCNI) on 14 May this year for a routine discussion about the general prospects for the 2014 Mr Robathan: A strong network of air links is vital to parading season. I have had no correspondence or boost both trade and tourism to Northern Ireland as discussions with the PCNI regarding operational matters well as benefiting the general public. in respect of specific summer parades in any area of My officials remain in contact with their counterparts Northern Ireland. in the Department for Transport, the Northern Ireland The Parades Commission wrote to me on 18 June Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and 2014. I acknowledged this correspondence in a letter Regional Development to support air links from Northern assuring the Commission that it has the fullest support Ireland and discuss matters that arise. of this Government in carrying out its duties. 347W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 348W

Performance Appraisal available to (a) Rock Enroll and (b) Bite the Ballot in each year for which data is available; and how many Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for people each such organisation has directly registered in Northern Ireland what proportion of (a) disabled and each year for which data is available. [202035] (b) all other staff employed by her Department received each level of performance rating in their end Greg Clark: The Government is supportive of of year performance assessment for 2013-14. [202062] organisations that promote democratic engagement such as Bite the Ballot. Mrs Villiers: There are currently three members of Cabinet Office and Bite the Ballot co-developed the staff, 3% of the workforce, employed by my Department Rock Enrol learning resource in 2012-13. The value of who are declared disabled, and who received a performance the contract was £25,700. The Government has made assessment for 2013-14. Given the small numbers involved, Rock Enrol freely available on the gov.uk and Times it would not be appropriate to provide any further Education Supplement websites. breakdown as to do so would risk the identification of the individuals concerned. Northern Ireland For staff grades A to F, who are due to receive their 2013-14 annual performance assessment; 13% of staff Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister have received an outstanding box marking, 86% received how many times he has visited Northern Ireland in an a good box marking and 1% received a must improve official capacity since taking office. [201732] box marking for the 2013-14 reporting year. The Deputy Prime Minister: I have been to Northern Terrorism Ireland three times in an official capacity since taking office. I visited Belfast on 8 October 2010; Lough Erne on 18 June 2013; and, Derry-Londonderry on 21 June Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern 2013. Ireland by which (a) documents and (b) other means the recipients of a Royal Pardon, following the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy, are able to demonstrate to a court or any law enforcement agency, that they are EDUCATION the beneficiaries of exercise of the Royal Prerogative; and if she will make a statement. [199282] Academic Year

Mrs Villiers: Following a search of the records held Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for by the Northern Ireland Office, no evidence has been Education what assessment he has made of the economic found to indicate that between 1979 and 2002 the RPM effects of deregulating school holidays on (a) tourism was used to do anything other than to remit (i.e. shorten) jobs in seaside areas and (b) seaside economies. the sentences of individuals who had already been [201861] convicted of offences. It is therefore the release from custody that demonstrates the exercise of the RPM. Matthew Hancock: The Government is giving more schools greater flexibility to adapt the shape of the school year in the interests of their pupils’ education. While this will extend an existing flexibility to a DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER greater number of schools, our advice will continue to include a clear expectation of schools working with Electoral Register: Northern Ireland each other and the local authority to coordinate dates to avoid unnecessary disruption to parents and their Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister with employers. Official Report, reference to the answer of 1 April 2014, The Department has consulted with representatives columns 555-6W,on electoral register, Northern Ireland, of the tourist industry. Where schools choose to change what actions resulted from his discussions with the their holiday dates, following discussion locally with Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office concerning parents and local businesses, there may well be a positive the schools programme for electoral registration. impact on seaside economies. In areas of high-seasonal [202243] employment, for example, small variations to term dates agreed locally may help parents to holiday outside of Greg Clark: The Government has made the Rock peak periods. Enrol learning resource freely available on the gov.uk and Times Education Supplement website among others. Academies: Land Additionally, the recent introduction of online registration in England and Wales will make it more convenient for Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for young people to register to vote. Education if he will make it his policy to compensate local authorities whose leasehold title to land is Electoral Register: Young People transferred to academy trusts when the associated school achieves academy status. [202246] Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 28 January 2014, Official Mr Timpson: When community schools convert to Report, column 510W, on electoral register: young academies, the freehold is retained by the local authority people, how much funding his Department has made and a lease is granted to the academy trust. 349W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 350W

We have no plans to compensate local authorities in Elizabeth Truss: The Childcare and Early YearsSurvey relation to the transfer of leasehold title to academy of Parents report provides information on the average trusts as the land in question will continue being used (mean and median) amount paid by families for child for its original purpose: the education of children in care in a reference week for pre-school age children. high-quality local schools. In addition, there are strict This information is not available broken down by age or rules protecting publicly funded land used by academies, on an annual basis. regardless of who holds the freehold. This is set out in This information could be produced only at guidance published online at: disproportionate cost. www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-of-school- playing-fields-and-public-land-advice Children’s Centres A copy of the guidance has been placed in the House Library. Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the guidance published by Apprentices his Department on 25 March 2014, on Sure Start centres: local authority duties, what assessment he has Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for made of the adequacy of the core purpose of Sure Education what steps he is taking to ensure Ofsted is Start children’s centres. [202251] able to undertake the proposed increase in inspections Elizabeth Truss: Sure Start children’s centres statutory of apprenticeship providers. [202000] guidance was published in April 2013; the web page Matthew Hancock: Our apprenticeship reforms will containing it was last reviewed on 25 March 2014. improve quality by involving employers in defining the The statutory guidance states the core purpose of new standards and assessment and by controlling the Sure Start children’s centres is to improve outcomes for funding of apprenticeships. Ofsted will continue to play young children and their families, with a particular an important role in ensuring the quality of teaching focus on those in greatest need. The Department extensively and learning in registered training providers. We are consulted on draft statutory guidance, including the discussing the arrangements with Ofsted as part of the core purpose, in 2012. The response was positive, with Trailblazer project. 85% of respondees (local authorities, children’s centre managers, voluntary sector bodies and others) finding Children in Care the document clear on statutory duties. As I said to the Education Committee on 18 June, Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Ofsted is going to be moving to a local-authority-based Education (1) when his Department will publish its inspection regime for children’s centres and I am very response to the consultation, Improving permanence happy to look at the core purpose, particularly in the for looked-after children, published on 30 September light of what Ofsted put out as their inspection regime, 2013; [201906] if there is a lack of clarity. (2) what the reasons are for the length of time taken Citizenship: GCSE to respond to the consultation, Improving permanence for looked-after children, which closed in November Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 2013. [201862] how many students sat the Citizenship GCSE in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011, (d) 2012, (e) 2013 and (f) Mr Timpson: The Government’s Improving Permanence 2014. [201705] for looked after children consultation closed on 29 November 2013. Since this date, the Department for Matthew Hancock: Information on pupil entries in Education has continued to work closely with key citizenship GCSE short courses is published in the stakeholders to explore the complex issues put forward ″GCSE and equivalent results in England, 2012 to 2013 within the consultation. These include fundamental (revised)″1 Statistical First Releases for each year. changes to the statutory framework and we want to Information on the number of pupils entering citizenship ensure widespread support before we publish final proposals. GCSE full courses for 2010/11 to 2012/13 is provided in The Department has continued to work with our expert the following table. Prior to 2010/10, citizenship GCSE group which includes: foster carers, representatives from full courses did not exist. Provisional GCSE results for NSPCC, Family Rights Group, Who Cares? Trust, NCB 2013/14 will be available in October 2014. Fostering Network, BAAF,NAFP,Association of Directors 1 of Children’s Services and leading academics in the Available at: field. We plan to publish the Government’s response 2009/10 soon. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-gcses-key- stage-4 Children: Day Care 2008/09 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130401151655/ Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/statistics/ allstatistics/a00196306/ks4-results-in-england-2008-09-(revised) for Education pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2014, Pupils at the end of key stage 4 entering citizenship at GCSE1. Years: 2010/11- Official Report, column 284W, on children: day care, if 2, 3 he will estimate the average annual cost of childcare in 2012/13 the UK for a child aged (a) two and under and (b) Coverage England Number of pupils three to four using his Department’s Childcare and 2010/11 8,339 Early Years Survey of Parents 2012-13 data. [202400] 2011/12 10,364 351W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 352W

Pupils at the end of key stage 4 entering citizenship at GCSE1. Years: 2010/11- Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for 2, 3 2012/13 Education on how many occasions Dominic Cummings Coverage England Number of pupils was granted a visitor pass to his Department in 2014. 2012/13 10,707 [201649] 1 Includes full course GCSEs only. 2 Discounting has been applied so that only the best grade is counted where Matthew Hancock: In line with the practice of successive pupils have taken the same subject more than once, and only one entry is counted in these circumstances. Administrations, the Government does not comment 3 Includes entries and achievements by these pupils in previous academic years. on security matters. Source: Key stage 4 attainment data Free School Meals

Creationism Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children receive free Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education school meals in each (a) free school and (b) local what penalties would be incurred by a free school, authority area where a free school has been established. academy or other educational establishment which was [202406] found to be teaching or otherwise supporting creationism. [202221] Mr Laws: Information on the percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals Mr Timpson: State-funded schools, including free was included in the publication “Schools, pupils and schools and academies, should not teach creationism as their characteristics, January 2014”.1 an evidence-based scientific theory. Outside of science Information on the percentage of pupils known to be lessons, it is permissible for schools to cover creationism eligible for and claiming free school meals in individual as part of religious education lessons, providing that schools, including free schools, is provided in the this does not undermine the teaching of established publication’s underlying data. This includes school type scientific theory. Academies and free schools are required and local authority. to teach a broad and balanced curriculum and the Table 8a in the publication shows the percentage of model funding agreement now prohibits the teaching of pupils in state-funded nursery and primary schools creationism as an evidence-based theory. Independent known to be eligible and claiming free school meals by schools must comply with the independent school standards, each local authority area. Table 8b shows the percentage and are subject to inspections by Ofsted or an alternative of pupils in state funded secondary schools known to inspectorate. be eligible and claiming free school meals by each local All state-funded schools are subject to Ofsted inspections authority area. Table 3 shows the percentage of pupils and a range of intervention powers are in place if known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals required. In addition, any breach of academy or free in free schools nationally. school funding agreements in relation to creationism 1 Available at: would be swiftly dealt with by the Department for https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-pupils- Education and could result in the termination of the and-their-characteristics-january-2014 funding agreement. Free Schools: Enfield Dominic Cummings Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what capital funding has been made available Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for to free schools in Enfield North constituency since May Education what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his 2010. [202012] Department, (c) special advisers in his Department and (d) officials in his Department have had with Mr Timpson: The Department for Education publishes Dominic Cummings in an official capacity in 2014 to the final capital costs for all free schools online at: date; and if he will publish minutes of each such meeting. [201624] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-funding- for-open-free-schools Matthew Hancock: Dominic Cummings worked as a special adviser at the Department until 21 February Mathematics: Teachers 2014. In that time he attended a range of official meetings. As was the case under previous Administrations, details Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for of internal meetings are not normally disclosed. Education how many of the graduates receiving bursaries to teach mathematics in (a) 2013-14 and (b) Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for 2014-15 at each of the four tiers had (i) a mathematics Education on which official visits Dominic Cummings degree, (ii) a relevant degree as defined by the School accompanied him in 2014. [201625] Workforce Survey and (iii) any other degree. [202238]

Matthew Hancock: Dominic Cummings has not Mr Laws: Information in relation to 2013-14 is not accompanied the Secretary of State for Education, my held in the form requested and could be compiled only right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael at disproportionate cost. Gove) on any official visits in 2014. Data on 2014-15 participants have not yet been collected. 353W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 354W

Physics: Teachers into initial teacher training (ITT) in 2013/14 and 150 relate to entry in 2014/15. We did not collect data on Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for SKE courses requested by School Direct schools before Education how many of the graduates receiving bursaries January 2014. Because SKE can be delivered in parallel to teach physics in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 at each with ITT, the trainee does not necessarily have to complete of the four tiers had (i) a physics degree, (ii) a relevant SKE prior to starting ITT. degree in respect of physics as defined by the School A full breakdown of SKE course data by subject will Workforce Survey and (iii) any other degree. [202237] be available from October 2014.

Mr Laws: Information in relation to 2013-14 is not Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for held in the form requested and could be compiled only Education how many places for initial teacher training at disproportionate cost. starting in 2014 have been allocated to (a) Schools Data on 2014-15 participants has not yet been collected. Direct and (b) higher education providers. [202239] Schools: Sandwell Mr Laws: We initially allocated 15,254 places to School Direct and 23,095 places to higher education Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for institutions for the 2014/15 academic year. Education if he will place in the Library copies of the Further details of the initial allocations have been Property Data Survey Programme results for schools in published on the gov.uk website: Sandwell local authority area. [202385] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher- Mr Laws: The Property Data Survey is due to complete training-allocations-for-academic-year-2014-to-2015 by September 2014. We are currently sharing the initial We will publish final allocation information reflecting findings with schools and responsible bodies to validate any changes later this year. them. Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Special Educational Needs Education how many teacher training bursaries for (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 have been allocated to Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for high-priority subjects of physics and mathematics at Education what assessment he has made of the provision each of the four bursary tiers. [202240] of advice for students with special educational needs. [202116] Mr Laws: Provisional figures on the number of trainees and proportion with a first or second class honours Mr Timpson: The Department for Education, in degree by subject are published in the Initial Teacher partnership with the Council for Disabled Children, has Training (ITT) Census in November each year. Finalised worked directly with a number of young people, including figures are published the following year. Provisional students, with special educational needs and disabilities figures for 2013-14 are available at: (SEND). Their views have helped shape the reforms to the current SEND system to ensure it meets their needs— https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/initial-teacher- including how they would like to receive information training-trainee-number-census-2013-to-2014 and advice. Arrangements for providing information, advice and support for young people are set out in the SEND code of practice which was laid before Parliament on 11 June 2014. DEFENCE From this September, local authorities will be required to provide information and advice directly to children Afghanistan and young people with SEND as well as to parents. Staff working directly with children and young people Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for should be trained to support and work in partnership Defence what assessment his Department has made of with them. Local information and advice services should the effects of lethal targeting by remotely-piloted air direct young people to specialist support to help them systems on security in Afghanistan. [199351] prepare for employment, independent living (including housing) and participation in society. It should also Mr Francois: UK forces, and the wider ISAF mission, provide access to careers advice where needed. have materially improved the security of Afghanistan Teachers: Training since 2001. This allowed the developed Afghan national security forces to assume lead security responsibility for Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for their own country from June 2013. As an integral Education how many School Direct initial teacher capability of UK forces, remotely piloted air systems training offers in (a) 2013-14 and 2014-15 in each (RPAS) are assessed to have made a valuable contribution, subject area were made conditional on completion of a both in their surveillance and strike roles, to the improved subject knowledge enhancement programme. [202236] security situation. All UK forces operate in accordance with International Mr Laws: Since January 2014, we have allocated Humanitarian Law, following the principles of distinction, subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) places to 110 humanity, proportionality and military necessity. The schools, supporting 151 applicants to commence their UK’s clearly defined rules of engagement, which cover initial teacher training. One applicant relates to entry the use of RPAS, are formulated on this basis. 355W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 356W

Armed Forces: Young People Mr Dunne: As an initial planning assumption, the scheduled out of service date for the UK Lightning II Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence fleet is 2048. what investigations were undertaken into the deaths in training of armed forces recruits aged under 18 years in Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State the last three years; and if he will make a statement. for Defence what estimate he has made of the through [199634] life cost of the Lightning II project. [201934] Mr Dunne: The incremental nature of the F-35 approvals Anna Soubry: There have been no deaths in training means that the total cost of the programme is updated of armed forces recruits under the age of 18 in the last after each Main Gate is endorsed. The UK F-35 programme three years, and therefore no such investigations have is scheduled to seek financial approval for its fifth and taken place. final main gate in 2017. At this point the overall cost of the programme will be published. While the Ministry of Army: Northern Ireland Defence maintains a detailed through-life cost estimate for the programme which forecasts all Main Gates it Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for does not publish these figures ahead of formal contract Defence (1) how many British armed forces personnel negotiation. I am withholding the information as its were operationally deployed to Northern Ireland in disclosure would prejudice commercial interests. each year from April 1984 to April 2010; and how many such personnel were accompanied by a (a) Members: Correspondence spouse or (b) civil partner in each such year; [202093] (2) what estimate he has made of (a) the number of Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for British armed forces personnel operationally deployed Defence (1) when he plans to respond to the letter of to Northern Ireland in each year from April 1984 to 5 May 2014 from the hon. Member for Cardiff South April 2010 and (b) the number of such personnel who and Penarth on British Army processes of justice and were accompanied by (i) a spouse or (ii) a civil partner requesting an urgent meeting; [202085] in each of those years. [199300] (2) when he plans to respond to the letter of 5 May 2014 from the hon. Member for Cardiff South and Mr Francois: The information is not held centrally Penarth on British Army processes of justice and and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. requesting an urgent meeting. [199311] Anna Soubry: I responded to the hon. Member today. Educational Testing Service Nimrod Aircraft Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what current contracts (a) his Department and (b) Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for each of his Department’s Executive agencies or non- Defence what capabilities are currently being utilised to departmental public bodies hold with the Educational fulfil the role that would otherwise have been undertaken Testing Service or any of that organisation’s subsidiaries. by Nimrod MRA4 aircraft; and what capabilities will [202167] fulfil that role in the long term. [200749]

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence, including Mr Francois [holding answer 24 June 2014]: Since the Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies, Nimrod MR2 was taken out of service in 2009, some does not currently have any contracts with the Educational 12 months early, for financial reasons, by the then Testing Service or its subsidiary companies. Secretary of State, a range of assets were put in place by the previous Government to cover the capability, namely Guided Weapons Type 23 frigates, Merlin Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopters and C-130 Hercules aircraft. The MRA4 Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for project was nearly £800 million over budget, 10 years Defence how many times an RAF aircraft has engaged overdue and the aircraft could not pass airworthiness an enemy aircraft beyond visual range by firing a tests. beyond visual range air-to-air missile in the last 30 The Ministry of Defence is currently reviewing the years; what aircraft it was fired from; and what the UK’s air intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance target and missile was in each case. [202366] requirements, including wide area maritime surveillance, and is identifying potential solutions. This work will Mr Francois: RAF aircraft have not engaged any provide analysis in support of the 2015 Strategic Defence enemy aircraft by firing beyond visual range air-to-air and Security Review. missiles in the last 30 years. The last air-to-air engagement Performance Appraisal involving UK aircraft took place during the Falklands conflict. Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State performance assessment for 2013-14. [202052] for Defence what estimate he has made of the out of service date for the Lightning II. [201933] Anna Soubry: This information is not yet available. 357W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 358W

TRANSPORT Mr Goodwill: In his report published on 17 March 2014, Sir David Higgins said that there could be a better Driving: Licensing solution for Euston than that proposed in the HS2 hybrid Bill. As a result, HS2 Ltd has been asked to work with Network Rail to explore a more comprehensive Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport solution for Euston, working with the rail industry and how many drivers who have provided the necessary the local community, with the aim of reaching a decision medical evidence are waiting to have their driving licence that would allow introduction of an additional provision restored following temporary suspension for medical to the hybrid Bill by December 2014. This work includes reasons. [202010] establishing a cost estimate for the scheme. Stephen Hammond: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Agency does not temporarily suspend driving licences. Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of Drivers may have their licence revoked or choose to Crossrail 2 works required to deal with extra passengers surrender their licence voluntarily if their medical condition at Euston station resulting from High Speed 2. [202038] affects their fitness to drive. Customers applying in these circumstances are not Stephen Hammond: The Government has provided easily identifiable. An estimate based on information £2 million for a funding and financing study which is available suggests around 9,000 applicants who have looking at the potential overall costs of Crossrail 2, and produced the necessary medical evidence are awaiting whether at least 50% of those costs could be met by assessment. Once a decision has been made to re-issue sources other than central Government. The study is the licence this is done immediately. due to report in the autumn. It will take into account in a high-level way the costs of building or upgrading Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport stations along the route, including at Euston. how long drivers who have produced the necessary medical evidence have waited before their licence is restored following suspension for medical reasons. First Transpennine Express and Northern Rail [202011] Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Stephen Hammond: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing whether bidders for the (a) TransPennine Express and Agency does not temporarily suspend driving licences. (b) Northern Rail franchises will have the freedom to Drivers may have their licence revoked or choose to specify (i) staffing levels, (ii) ticket office hours and (iii) surrender their licence voluntarily if their medical condition driver-only specification of new rolling stock in the new affects their fitness to drive. franchise bids for each line. [201686] On average, drivers who have produced the necessary medical evidence following revocation wait eight weeks Stephen Hammond: The specifications for both the before their licence is restored. Northern and TransPennine franchises have not yet been decided. A public consultation exercise is being Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for conducted, which will inform these specifications. We Transport what the longest period waited was on the expect, however, that for both franchises: (i) staffing receipt of the necessary medical evidence, to restore a levels will be left for bidders to propose; (ii) under the driving licence for those drivers who have temporarily current policy bidders are free to propose changes to had their licence suspended for medical reasons in the ticket office hours, but any change could only take place following further public consultation; and (iii) Specification latest period for which figures are available. [202148] of Driver Only Operation is being considered for the Northern franchise but we expect to leave this free for Stephen Hammond: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing bidders to propose on the TransPennine Express franchise. Agency does not temporarily suspend driving licences. Drivers may have their licence revoked or choose to surrender their licence voluntarily if their medical condition Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for affects their fitness to drive. Transport on which sections of the (a) TransPennine Express and (b) Northern Rail franchises service levels Each case must be fully assessed before determining no longer match passenger demand. [201687] whether sufficient medical evidence has been supplied. More information is needed in some cases and may Stephen Hammond: Statistics showing where there is involve detailed consultation with medical professionals. overcrowding on peak weekday Northern Rail and First Figures are not routinely kept of the amount of time TransPennine Express services in a number of cities in an applicant may wait in these circumstances. An exercise England are available at the following link. in February 2014 suggested some customers may have https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ waited up to 20 weeks. Once a decision has been made attachment_data/file/252514/rai0214.xls to re-issue the licence this is done immediately. These statistics only cover routes in the selected cities and the Department does not hold the information Euston Station requested for other locations.

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Transport what recent estimate he has made of the cost what assessment he has made of whether the franchise of decking over Euston Station and the cutting specifications for rail passenger services on the (a) approach to the station. [202037] TransPennine and (b) Northern Rail lines contained in 359W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 360W the consultation document published on 9 June 2014 Stephen Hammond: The specifications for both the will lead to a change in the level of service for passengers Northern and TransPennine Express franchises have in the North West. [201688] not yet been decided. A public consultation exercise is being conducted, which will inform these specifications. Stephen Hammond: The specifications for both the It will be for the bidders to decide on efficiency levels Northern and TransPennine Express franchises have they put into their bids based upon the requirements not yet been decided. The public consultation exercise that will be set out in the franchise specifications in the sets out options and responses to it will inform these Invitations to Tender. The consultation can be found at: specifications. An objective for both the Northern and https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of- TransPennine Express franchises is to northern-and-transpennine-express-rail-franchises “Realise the benefits from rail investment in the north of England, ensuring the successful delivery of journey time, frequency, Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport reliability and connectivity benefits for passengers.” whether local transport authorities bidding for the (a) This recognises the increase in capacity that the major TransPennine Express and (b) Northern Rail franchises infrastructure works in the North of England will allow. will have the freedom to specify (i) staffing levels, (ii) ticket office hours and (iii) driver-only specification of new rolling stock in the new franchise bids for each line. Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for [201685] Transport which stations with ticket offices on the (a) TransPennine and (b) Northern rail lines are likely to Stephen Hammond: We do not expect bids for the have their opening hours reduced as a result of the Northern or TransPennine Express franchises from local current re-franchising exercise. [201785] transport authorities. This is because Section 25 of the Railways Act (1993 as amended) prevents any public Stephen Hammond: The specifications for both the sector operator, including local authorities from becoming Northern and TransPennine franchises have not yet a franchisee. been decided. A public consultation exercise is being conducted, which will inform these specifications. The Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for consultation can be found at: Transport how many passenger journeys there were on https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of- (a) TransPennine Express and (b) Northern Rail train northern-and-transpennine-express-rail-franchises services between Manchester and Leeds in each of the last five years. [201689] Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what minimum train service levels will be contained in Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport the new franchises for rail passenger services on the (a) holds this information. However, it is held on a commercially TransPennine and (b) Northern lines. [201788] confidential basis so cannot be released.

Stephen Hammond: The specifications for both the Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Northern and TransPennine franchises have not yet what proportion of the current fleet of rolling stock been decided. A public consultation exercise is being operated by the franchise holders on the (a) TransPennine conducted, which will inform these specifications. The and (b) Northern lines will have to be replaced by 2020 consultation can be found at: as they are not compliant with existing legal standards https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of- on passenger accessibility. [201787] northern-and-transpennine-express-rail-franchises Stephen Hammond: All passenger rolling stock is Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for capable of being modified to modern access standards. Transport how many of the current fleet of rolling Indeed, following consultation with its disability advisers, stock operated by franchise holders on the (a) the Department for Transport has set out for the industry TransPennine and (b) Northern lines are scheduled for the work that must be completed to enable each fleet to withdrawal from service before February 2016. [201789] operate after 2019. Whether to make that investment is a decision for the vehicle owners along with the bidders for the future Northern and TransPennine franchises, Stephen Hammond: The lease of nine Class 170 trains noting that some of the current fleet is expected to be (18 carriages) by TransPennine Express ends in May displaced by electric units as a result of the Government’s 2015. The rolling stock owner reached a commercial extensive programme of electrification in Northern England. deal with Chiltern Railways for the nine trains to transfer to Chiltern Railways from that time. The whole of the TransPennine fleet already meets current access standards, as does 9% of the Northern Northern Rail has leases in place for all its current fleet. Work to make a further 36% of Northern’s vehicles fleet of trains through to the end of the current franchise fully accessible formed part of the recent directly awarded in February 2016. franchise agreement.

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what level of efficiencies in (a) back-office and (b) what the cost will be of new rolling stock required support functions he expects to be included in bids for under the terms of the new rail franchises for (a) the new passenger rail franchises for (i) TransPennine TransPennine Express and (b) (ii) Northern Rail lines. and (ii) Northern lines. [201791] [201792] 361W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 362W

Stephen Hammond: The specifications for both the Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Northern and TransPennine franchises have not yet how many people are employed at the Maritime and been decided. A public consultation exercise is being Coastguard Agency Maritime Operations Centre in conducted, which will inform these specifications. The Fareham; and how many people will be employed at consultation can be found at: that centre when it is fully operational. [202472] https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of- northern-and-transpennine-express-rail-franchises Stephen Hammond: The transition to the new HM We do not, however, intend to specify rolling stock Coastguard structure is progressive over 15 months, requirements in these specifications; it will be for the from September 2014 until December 2015, and is bidders to propose the appropriate rolling stock for structured to incrementally deliver the right number of their bids. staff at the right point of the transition timetable. There are currently 27 coastguards employed at the Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC). In Transport who will fund the new rolling stock required preparation for the start of operational duties in September under the terms of the new rail franchises for (a) 2014 this will increase further as successful internal TransPennine Express and (b) Northern Rail lines. candidates are released from their current operational duties elsewhere around the UK. [201793] Once the transition is complete, and the NMOC fully operational, this figure will rise to 96 coastguard officers. Stephen Hammond: The specifications for both the Northern and TransPennine franchises have not yet been decided. A public consultation exercise is being Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for conducted, which will inform these specifications. The Transport what minimum qualifications staff at the consultation can be found at: Maritime and Coastguard Agency Maritime Operations Centre in Fareham will need in order to https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of- discharge the technical duties of that centre when it is northern-and-transpennine-express-rail-franchises fully operational; and what range of qualifications staff We do not, however, intend to specify rolling stock currently employed at that centre have. [202473] requirements in these specifications; it will be for the bidders to propose the appropriate rolling stock for Stephen Hammond: Existing coastguard officers who their bids. are successful in getting a role at the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) will need to have successfully Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for passed the following training programmes dependent Transport whether (a) local transport authorities and on the role they are undertaking: (b) Rail North were consulted over the proposals on Maritime Search and Rescue—Foundation staffing and service levels set out in the consultation Maritime Search and Rescue—Intermediate document on the new franchises for rail passenger Search and Rescue Mission Co-ordinator services on the (i) TransPennine Express and (ii) New coastguard officers recruited into roles at the Northern Rail lines published on 9 June 2014. [201905] NMOC will need to have successfully passed the following training programmes dependent on the role they are Stephen Hammond: The public consultation exercise undertaking: is a joint consultation conducted and prepared by the HM Coastguard Foundation Programme Department for Transport and Rail North, which is a body that represents all local transport authorities in Maritime Operations Officer Programme the north of England. The consultation also encourages Senior Maritime Operations Officer Programme individual responses from local transport authorities. Currently the maritime operations officers externally the consultation can be found at: recruited are undertaking the Maritime Operations Officer https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of- Programme and will be qualified prior to the NMOC northern-and-transpennine-express-rail-franchises taking on operational duties in September 2014. All existing coastguard officers who are currently employed Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Fareham at the NMOC have the requisite qualifications for the posts they hold.

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Transport when he expects the new Maritime and what average number of hours of training staff employed Coastguard Agency Maritime Operations Centre in at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Maritime Fareham to be fully operational. [202471] Operations Centre at Fareham are expected to undertake to reach that centre’s full operating capacity; and how Stephen Hammond: The National Maritime Operations many staff have already undertaken that amount of Centre (NMOC) will commence operational duties in training. [202474] September 2014 when it takes on the operational areas previously covered by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Stephen Hammond: The hours of training needed for Centres (MRCC) at Solent and Portland. The capacity coastguards at the new National Maritime Operations and coverage of the NMOC will geographically expand Centre to be fully operational will vary depending on as the new national network is incrementally implemented the nature of the role, whether they are existing staff, around the UK. The NMOC will be fully operational their levels of experience, or external recruits brand new once this is complete in December 2015 as planned. to HM Coastguard. HM Coastguard has tailored its 363W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 364W training programmes on an individual basis. Training is works without a required permit, which the authority underway for all new recruits and they will receive at may also deal with by fixed penalty, or may initiate a least 488 hours of training. prosecution for the offence. These offences are all dealt with by the appropriate Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport highway authority at a local level. what discussions he has had with external stakeholders Railway Stations on the staffing and training levels required for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Maritime Operations Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Centre at Fareham to be fully operational. [202475] what proportion of the £18 million investment in train stations to date by the South West Trains-Network Rail Stephen Hammond: The proposals for the modernisation Alliance was from (a) public and (b) private sector of Her Majesty’s Coastguard, including plans for staffing bodies. [201916] the new National Maritime Operations Centre and the roles and skills of its officers, were the subject of two Stephen Hammond: The figure of £18 million invested rounds of extensive public consultation from December in stations has been included in a recent news release 2010 to May 2011 and then again from July to September put out by the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance. 2011. More detailed work by experienced coastguards My understanding is that this figure represents the to develop and implement training plans has taken investment made in the financial year 2013-14, but the account of those earlier consultations and has involved total investment made during the period over which representatives of the PCS Union. these schemes were completed is £34 million; £32 million of which came from public bodies; and £2 million from the private sector. New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State what proportion of the £18 million investment in train for Transport what steps he takes to ensure that stations to date by the South West Trains-Network Rail statutory undertakers carrying out emergency works Alliance was from his Department’s Access for All give notice to street authorities as required under Fund; and which stations have benefited and from how section 57 of the New Roads and Street Works Act much expenditure in each case. [201917] 1991; and if he will make a statement. [202383] Stephen Hammond: The figure of £18 million invested in stations has been included in a recent news release Mr Goodwill: Failure by statutory undertakers to put out by the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance. notify the highway authority when they carry out emergency My understanding is that this figure represents the works under section 57 of the New Roads and Street investment made in the financial year 2013-14, but the Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) is an offence. The authority total investment made during the period over which concerned may issue a fixed penalty notice, or the these schemes were completed is £34 million, £17.5 authority may initiate a prosecution against the undertaker million of which came from the Department’s Access for the offence. for All fund and is split as follows. If the authority is a permitting authority under the A full list of the stations where small schemes have Traffic Management Act 2004, section 57 of NRSWA is been delivered can be requested directly from the South dis-applied, and is replaced with an offence of undertaking West Trains-Network Rail Alliance.

Funding allocation Station Project Project total (£ million) DfT SWT 3rd Parties

Winchester AfA new footbridge/lifts 2.0 2.0 — — Wokingham AfA new footbridge/lifts 2.0 1.0 — 1.0 Aldershot AfA new footbridge/lifts 2.0 1.8 — 0.3 Various £750,000 AfA small schemes 0.8 0.8 — — Worcester Park AfA new footbridge/lifts 2.0 2.0 — — New Malden AfA Lifts 1.0 1.0 — — Putney AfA new footbridge/lifts 9.0 9.0 — —

Railways: Compensation In connection with the severe weather related disruption earlier this year, the Department for Transport (DFT) Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport sought to understand what First Great Western’s proposals what recent discussions he has had with train operating on compensation were likely to be. Where discussions companies on the nature and level of compensation have taken place with other TOCs these will also have available to passengers for delayed and cancelled services; been to ensure that the DFT was aware of their intentions and if he will make a statement. [201753] and not to seek to require these to be changed.

Stephen Hammond: All train operating companies An improved system of compensation based on delays (TOCs) are required under their franchise agreement to to individual journeys, known as delay/repay, is being have in place a passenger’s charter which will include introduced for all passengers in place of the system of arrangements for compensation for passengers. poor performance discounts and optional void days for 365W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 366W season ticket holders. Introduction is taking place as route; electrification of the Tilbury docks branch; increased franchises are let following competitions and opportunities capacity on the Great Eastern main line; upgrades to arise within direct awards and existing franchises. Where the power and signalling systems across the Kent route discussions have taken place between the DFT and and the lengthening of services between London and TOCs these will have been in this context. Gravesend.

River Thames: Bridges Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State transport schemes in the Thames Gateway in each of for Transport what discussions he has had on the potential the last 15 years for which figures are available. construction of the (a) Lower Thames Crossing and [201955] (b) Thames Gateway Bridge; and if he will make a statement. [201956] Mr Goodwill: The Government’s local transport funding to the Thames Gateway is made to specific highway Mr Goodwill: Since consultation on options for a new authorities, not specifically to the Gateway. The area Lower Thames crossing closed in July 2013, the Secretary comprises a number of local highway authorities. These of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member include Kent, Medway, Southend, Thurrock and Essex. for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin) has continued It is generally for those highway authorities to decide on to discuss the potential construction of the Lower Thames what schemes this local investment is spent. The following Crossing with his officials and colleagues. My right Information sets out allocations that have been made hon. Friend made a Written Statement to the House on where information is readily available. 12 December 2013 and intends to make an announcement Local roads on the further consideration of Options A and C as Funding for these authorities via the local block soon as possible. funding concerning maintenance and local transport As for the Thames Gateway Bridge, it is for the investment for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15 can be Mayor and Transport for London to decide which found at: schemes in London to develop and promote. The Secretary https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-transport- of State for Transport has regular meetings with the capital-block-funding Mayor of London at which various matters are discussed. And for the period 2000-01 to 2010-11: Roads: Closures http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120606211516/ http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/integrated-transport- block-and-highways-maintenance/ Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for In terms of local transport major schemes (over £5 Transport how many roads in each local authority area million), the Department has funded two schemes since have been closed on (a) one occasion and (b) more 2009. The Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road (£19.1 than one occasion in the last year. [202379] million) and Saddlers Farm Junction A130/A13 in Essex (£63.5 million). Mr Goodwill: Information on the number of road closures in each local authority area is not held centrally Strategic roads by the Department for Transport. The Department does not hold a record of the annual level of investment on strategic roads in the Thames Transport: Thames Gateway Gateway area over the last 15 years. However, over that period major schemes on the A2, A249 and M25 have Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State been delivered representing an investment of over for Transport what steps he plans to take to improve £400 million. the transport network in the Thames Gateway and its The following major (over £10 million) strategic road environs; and if he will make a statement. [201954] improvement schemes have been delivered in the past 15 years in the Thames Gateway area. Mr Goodwill: The South East Local Enterprise Partnership has set out its plans for investment in the Outturn cost Thames Gateway up to 2021 as part of its Strategic Scheme (£ million) Economic Plan that was submitted to Government at A2 Bean-Cobham Phase 1 Bean-Pepperhill (April 2003 to 23 the end of March. In July we will make decisions on the December 2004) Local Growth Fund allocations associated with that A2 Bean-Cobham Phase 2 Pepperhill to Cobham (September 133 plan. 2006 to February 2009) A2/A282 Dartford Improvement (September 2006 to December 122 In addition, the Department is committed to providing 2007) a new Lower Thames crossing as well as improving A249 Iwade to Queensborough Improvement (April 2004 to 96 traffic flows at the existing Dartford crossing. July 2006) We have also been working closely with colleagues in M25 J1b-3 Widening (June 2007 to July 2008) 63 the Department for Communities and Local Government Total 437 to ensure that the major road improvement schemes on the A2 at Bean and Ebbsfleet are progressed to support Rail delivery of the Ebbsfleet Garden City. Very few rail schemes are fully contained within the The Government has committed to funding a series Thames Gateway or a single local authority area, rather of rail investments during the period 2014-19. This they are generally funded on the basis of railway operational includes electrification of the Gospel Oak to Barking geography. As such, no data are available for rail schemes. 367W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 368W

Community Infrastructure Fund Stephen Hammond: It is estimated that the Intercity In the first round of the Community Infrastructure West Coast Direct Award project will spend a total of Fund (2006 to 2008), the Department provided a total £697,034 on external legal, technical and financial advisers. of £64 million for transport schemes to support housing In addition to the core Department for Transport project growth in the Thames Gateway. team, officials from teams across the Rail Executive and Department have contributed to the project. No assessment Travel: Costs has been made for internal departmental staff costs. Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for (1) what his policy is on open access operations on the Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage West Coast Main Line during the term of the new change in real terms of the cost to the traveller of directly awarded franchise with West Coast Trains Ltd; travelling by (a) private car, (b) bus, (c) train and (d) [201682] domestic aeroplane since (i) 1980, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2010. [201766] (2) what his policy is towards open access operations on the West Coast Main Line during the term of the Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport published directly awarded franchise with West Coast Trains Ltd statistics on travel costs based on data from the Office for rail passenger services on that line. [201803] for National Statistics (ONS) in the Transport Statistics Great Britain compendium. Stephen Hammond: Open access operators have helped to provide innovative services for passengers and grow Data from the independent ONS suggests that: new rail markets—often generating excellent passenger (i) Between 1980 and 2013 the real cost of motoring, including satisfaction scores. The additional competitive pressure the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 12%, bus and coach fares generated by open access operators can also help improve increased by 59% and rail fares increased by 62% in real terms. the experience of passengers of franchised services. (ii) Between 1997 and 2013 the real cost of motoring, including These beneficial impacts must be balanced against the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 9%, bus and coach fares increased by 28% and rail fares increased by 22% in real terms. the potential to abstract passenger revenue from franchised operators. This abstraction primarily manifests itself as (iii) Between 2010 and 2013 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, decreased by 2%, bus and coach fares a cost to Government in the form of diminished value increased by 3% and rail fares increased by 5% in real terms. of the franchises when they are tendered. (iv) The costs of travelling by air are not available from ONS To mitigate this problem, the Office of Rail Regulation data. However information is available based on fare data from (″ORR″) applies the ″not primarily abstractive test″, the Civil Aviation Authority. The real cost of the average UK which aims to ensure that applicants for open access one-way air fare, including taxes and charges, covering domestic routes will generate at least 30p of new revenue for flights from 2000 to 2013 declined by 43% and from 2010 to 2013 every £1 of existing revenue abstracted from franchised declined by 3%. Estimates are not available on a comparable basis before 2000. operators. The ORR considers that if the open access operator generates any less new revenue, the benefits of their operation would not outweigh the costs. Our West Coast Railway Line policy is to support the application of the not primarily abstractive test when open access applications are assessed. Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether West Coast Trains (WCT) Ltd and Network Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Rail will be required to issue a memorandum of how many carriages in Virgin West Coast’s nine-car understanding before undertaking any of the infrastructure pendolino fleet will be re-configured to create more upgrade work outlined in the new franchise directly standard class passenger seats under the terms of the awarded to WCT Ltd. [201679] new rail franchise agreement; and where such re-configuration work will be carried out. [201683] Stephen Hammond: This is a matter for West Coast Trains Limited and Network Rail. Stephen Hammond: Twenty one of the Pendolino fleet will be refurbished to convert the first class coach Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport G in each of the 9 car Class 390 to standard class. The what estimate he has made of the cost to Network Rail location of the refurbishment works has not been of fitting the track side infrastructure required to provide determined. free wi-fi access for passengers on the west coast main line. [201680] Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change there is in the daily number of passenger Stephen Hammond: Network Rail is leading on the seats in standard class on West Coast Main Line passenger infrastructure work to enable the introduction of on-board services during the term of the franchise directly awarded 4G wi-fi on Virgin Trains. This project is currently being to West Coast Trains Ltd. [201684] developed further and Network Rail may be able to advise on the current estimate of the cost of installing Stephen Hammond: The Direct Award to West Coast the track side infrastructure required. Trains Limited will see an increase of 5,500 standard class seats per day during the term of the franchise. Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost to the public purse has Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport been of negotiations with train operating companies what regulatory oversight from which body there will be for franchised rail passenger services on the west coast of the planned rail infrastructure alliance between Network main line. [201681] Rail and West Coast Trains Ltd. [201728] 369W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 370W

Stephen Hammond: The alliance between Network Stephen Hammond: The information is as follows. Rail and West Coast Trains Limited will involve closer Public performance measure (PPM) moving annual average (MAA) figures at working and collaboration rather than an infrastructure year end; 1997-98 to 2013-14: Virgin West Coast (VWC) & National alliance. Regulation of Network Rail is a matter for the Percentage Office of Rail Regulation. VWC National

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 1997-98 79.54 89.80 whether the Rail Delivery Group has discussed the 1998-99 76.97 87.92 infrastructure alliance planned between West Coast Trains 1999-2000 81.74 87.84 (WCT) Ltd and Network Rail as part of the franchise 2000-01 62.82 79.08 directly awarded to WCT Ltd on 19 June 2014. [201735] 2001-02 68.69 78.02 2002-03 73.50 79.19 Stephen Hammond: I am not aware of any discussions 2003-04 74.76 81.20 at the Rail Delivery Group on an “infrastructure alliance” 2004-05 72.14 83.61 between West Coast Trains Limited and Network Rail. 2005-06 83.52 86.39 2006-07 86.01 88.09 Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for 2007-08 86.15 89.89 Transport what estimate he has made of the effect of 2008-09 80.04 90.58 the specifications in the rail passenger franchise directly 2009-10 84.55 91.45 awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd on 19 June 2014 on 2010-11 86.55 90.85 levels of (a) on-train, (b) station and (c) ticket office 2011-12 85.87 91.63 staffing; and what discussions on the franchise 2012-13 83.61 90.93 specifications (i) his Department and (ii) Virgin Trains 2013-14 85.79 89.97 has had with trades unions representing staff working Source: Figures are taken from periodically-produced Network Rail PPM data on the West Coast Main Line. [201757] Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Stephen Hammond: Staffing levels are a commercial Transport what his Department’s targets for (a) punctuality, matter for Virgin Trains. The Department has not engaged (b) passenger satisfaction and (c) cleanliness are in the with trade unions representing staff working on the rail passenger franchise awarded to West Coast Trains West Coast Main Line regarding the franchise specification Ltd; when he expects these targets to be introduced on of the recent direct award to West Coast Trains Limited. the franchise; and who will be responsible for regulating the franchisee’s performance against each such target. Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new (a) ticket machines and (b) [201761] automatic barriers will be introduced at stations on the West Coast Main Line under the terms of the franchise Stephen Hammond: The agreed targets are contained for rail passenger services directly awarded to West within the Franchise Agreement between West Coast Coast Trains Ltd; and in which stations they will be Trains Limited and the Secretary of State for Transport, which will be published in due course. The contract will installed. [201758] be managed and enforced by officials in the Department Stephen Hammond: Under the terms of the Direct for Transport. Award to West Coast Trains Limited (a) 41 ticket vending machines will be installed across stations West Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Coast Trains Limited serve; and (b) 200 automatic Transport what total financial support from the public ticket gates will be installed across stations West Coast purse will be given to West Coast Trains Ltd for the Trains serve, prioritising routes between Euston and duration of the directly awarded passenger rail franchise Birmingham and Euston and Manchester. announced on 19 June 2014; and what the deadline is for exercising the optional one-year franchise extension Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for from April 2017 to April 2018. [201762] Transport what the estimated level of (a) public subsidy, (b) premium payments, (c) Network Grant and (d) Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport revenue support will be during the term of the franchise has contracted a premium payable to Government of directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd for rail £433 million over the course of the directly awarded passenger services on the West Coast Main Line. passenger rail franchise to West Coast Trains Ltd. In [201759] addition, the contract includes a provision which will trigger higher premiums to Government if GDP growth Stephen Hammond: The Direct Award to West Coast is higher than forecast and lower premiums if GDP Trains Limited contains contracted premium payments growth is lower than forecast (subject to minimum of approximately £433 million. No revenue support or levels of movements in GDP from forecast). Notice public subsidy is included in the franchise. Network must be provided to West Coast Trains Ltd no later Grant is not allocated on the basis of individual franchises than 31 December 2016 of any intention to exercise the so it is not possible to estimate this figure. up to one year franchise extension.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the level of punctuality for passenger Transport how many officials in his Department were rail services (a) operated by Virgin on the West Coast involved in the negotiations with Virgin for the rail Main Line and (b) on average across all lines was in passenger franchise directly awarded to West Coast each year since 1996-97. [201760] Trains Ltd. [201763] 371W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 372W

Stephen Hammond: The core InterCity West Coast Norman Baker: Under the Animals (Scientific Direct Award team numbered four officials, some of Procedures) Act 1986, any procedures applied to animals whom spent part of their time on other projects. The for a scientific purpose which may cause pain, suffering, core team was supported by finance, legal, technical distress or lasting harm require licence authorities. For and economic specialists and received input from officials a project to be authorised, it must be assessed by a across the Department for Transport’s Rail Executive Home Office inspector and a harm-benefit analysis and wider Department where appropriate. performed. The harm-benefit analysis considers the likely harms Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for which may be experienced by the animals as a consequence Transport which external consultants were involved in of the project, and compares these with the benefits the negotiations with Virgin for the rail passenger which may result and the likelihood of their delivery. A franchise directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd; judgement is made as to whether the likely harms are and what the cost to his Department was of each such justified by the likely benefits. consultancy. [201764] The normally recommended age for separating puppies Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport ran from their mothers is about eight weeks. Therefore, a a procurement for legal, technical and financial advisers requirement for puppies to be separated from their for the InterCity West Coast Direct Award project. The mothers at four weeks of age for a scientific purpose advisers contracted, and the estimated fees to be paid would be deemed to require project licence authority. In for the work on the project, are shown as follows: such cases, Home Office Inspectors take into account the distress caused to young puppies by such early Adviser Estimated fees (£) separation as part of the harm-benefit analysis.

Legal advisers—Addleshaw 204,960 Goddard Asylum: Syria Technical advisers—TRL-Halcrow 227,607 Financial advisers—PwC 264,467 Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Home Department how many Syrian people have been Transport how many officials in his Department were resettled in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable involved in the design of the rail passenger franchise Persons Relocation scheme since its launch; and what directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd. [201765] assessment she has made of the contribution made by (a) the UK and (b) other European countries to the Stephen Hammond: The core InterCity West Coast UN goal for 30,000 Syrian refugees to be admitted to Direct Award team numbered four officials, some of other countries by the end of 2014. [201402] whom spent part of their time on other projects. The core team was supported by finance, legal, technical Karen Bradley: To date 50 refugees have arrived in the and economic specialists and received input from officials UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation across the Department for Transport’s Rail Executive scheme (VPR). We will continue to bring groups here and wider Department where appropriate. on a regular basis, and envisage that several hundred people will be helped over the next three years. The VPR scheme does not form part of the UN quota but HOME DEPARTMENT runs in parallel with the United Nations High Commission Alexander Litvinenko for Refugees’ (UNHCR) own Syria Humanitarian Admission Programme. The Government has been clear Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the that this is a crisis of international proportions and Home Department when she expects to conclude her needs a fitting response from the international community. consideration of the Coroner’s ruling in the case of The UNHCR is best placed to comment on the policies Alexander Litvinenko; and if she will make a statement. of other countries regarding Syrian refugees. With 2.9 [201276] million refugees now in Syria’s neighbouring countries, we continue to believe that prioritising humanitarian Karen Bradley: The Secretary of State for the Home aid is the best way to ensure that the UK’s help has the Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for greatest impact. Maidenhead (Mrs May), is giving fresh consideration to the exercise of her discretion to establish an inquiry following the Court of Appeal’s judgment of 14 February Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the 2014 relating to Mr. Litvinenko. Once this is concluded, Home Department (1) how many refugees from Syria a statement will be made. In the meantime, the Government are expected to enter the UK under the vulnerable continues to co-operate fully with the inquest into Mr person relocation scheme by 1 May 2015; [201923] Litvinenko’s death. (2) how many refugees from Syria were accepted Animal Experiments: Dogs under the vulnerable person relocation scheme between 29 January 2014 and 23 June 2014. [201921] Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account her Department takes of the level of distress caused to four week old Karen Bradley: I refer the right hon. Member to the puppies by separating them from their mothers in answer given on 24 June 2014, Official Report, formulating policy on animal experimentation. [201640] column 127W. 373W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 374W

Belfast International Airport Southport on 30 April; Belfast on 9 May; and Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Newport on 16 May. Home Department what assessment officials in her The chief executive also met local public and commercial Department have made of the feasibility of establishing services union representatives in those offices on those US immigration, customs and agricultural pre-clearance dates. at Belfast International Airport. [202092]

Karen Bradley: Officials have made no such assessment, Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the but would do so if this were requested by Belfast Home Department what the cost of overtime in HM International Airport. Passport Office has been in each month since January 2013. [200160] Civil Disorder: Birmingham James Brokenshire: Overtime costs in HM Passport Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Office in each month since January 2013 are as follows: Home Department what assessment she has made of lessons to be learned from the police offer of immunity £ to witnesses in the case involving the deaths of Haroon Jahan, Shazad Ali and Abdul Musavir in Birmingham January 2013 105,137 during the civil disturbances in that city in 2011. February 2013 67,582 March 2013 369,397 [201665] April 2013 407,202 Damian Green: On 7 May 2014 the Independent May 2013 581,587 Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) announced its June 2013 477,902 findings in regard to Operation Pointer, an independent July 2013 342,479 investigation into the conduct of two West Midlands August 2013 227,851 police officers relating to the triple murder trial arising September 2013 123,480 from rioting in Birmingham in August 2011. The IPCC’s October 2013 94,474 conclusions are deeply troubling-it is clear that the November 2013 93,127 professional standards expected of all police officers December 2013 84,145 were not met in this individual case. We expect West January 2014 199,146 Midlands police to act upon the report and improve its February 2014 400,812 systems and procedures. March 2014 840,588 April 2014 793,559 Entry Clearances: Married People May 2014 964,742 Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what monitoring her Department Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the carries out on the amount of time taken by its contractor Home Department what definition is used by HM companies to carry out the required checks on people Passport Office of a straightforward application for applying for spouse visas to the UK; [202403] passports for the purpose of setting internal targets; (2) what guidance her Department issues to companies and if this definition has been amended since 2010. which carry out the required checks on individuals [201301] applying for spouse visas on the appropriate amount of time for those checks to be completed. [202404] James Brokenshire: A straightforward application is one where all the required information, including supporting Karen Bradley: The Department does not contract documentation, is provided, the application is signed with any companies to carry out checks on people and no further inquiries are required in order to progress applying for spouse visas. the application. HM Passport Office HM Passport Office: Belfast Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) the chief executive of HM Passport Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Office (HMPO) last met staff representatives of HMPO. Home Department how many staff were employed in [200103] the Passport Office in Belfast in each of the last five years. [200956] James Brokenshire: The views of staff representatives are communicated to Ministers through the HM Passport James Brokenshire: The following table shows the Office chief executive. number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed in The chief executive holds regular fora and other the Belfast Passport Office in each of the last five years. meetings with staff at HM Passport Office premises. March March March March March Events were held in: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Durham on 12 February 2014; FTEs 171 163 160 182 205 Liverpool on 14 March; 375W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 376W

HM Passport Office: Glasgow Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the the effect of changes in the number of staff in the Home Department which completed reports from the Glasgow Passport Office since 2008 on the speed of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and processing of applications for passports by that office. Immigration have been submitted for publication but [201356] had not yet been published on 17 June 2014; and what the (a) date of submission and (b) date she expects to James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Passport Office publish the report is in each case. [201384] does not consider that changes in its office in Glasgow have had any impact on the speed of processing applications Karen Bradley: The Secretary of State for the Home for passports. Department laid two reports before Parliament on 19 June 2014, that had been supplied by the independent Human Trafficking chief inspector of borders and immigration pursuant to sections 50 (2) and 50 (3) of the UK Borders Act 2007: Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the An unannounced inspection of the service provided by Glasgow Public Enquiry Office, ID 13061402 06/14. Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 441W,on human trafficking: The rights of European Citizens and their spouses to come to the UK: inspecting the application process and the tackling of Albania, how much funding has been made available abuse, ID 2634429 04/14. by (a) the Home Office and (b) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to establish the International Four further reports have been supplied by the chief Organisation Migration voluntary return package; and inspector that will be published shortly. if she will make a statement. [202547] Interception Warrants Karen Bradley: In November 2013, the UK Government and the Albanian Government, working with the Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), established Home Department how many interception warrants a voluntary return package for female victims of trafficking were (a) issued, (b) declined and (c) cancelled by her who wished to return to Albania. This package includes Department under (i) section 8(1) and (ii) section 8(4) the provision of secure accommodation in Albania of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 in (with guards and social services on site), child care the last six months for which figures are available. assistance where required, and training or support to [201671] establish a business or enter the labour market. This provides the support and assistance required for victims Karen Bradley: The Interception of Communications who wish to return to Albania to rebuild their lives. Commissioner, Sir Anthony May, publishes statistics The IOM package is funded by the Returns and on the total number of interception warrants authorised Reintegration Fund. This is a cross-governmental annually. His 2013 annual report states that 2,760 programme, to which the Foreign and Commonwealth interception warrants were authorised in 2013 (under Office, Department for International Development, the both sections 8(1) and 8(4) of the Regulation of Home Office and the Ministry of Justice contribute Investigatory Powers Act 2000), a reduction of 19% on resources. the same figure for 2012, and that 1,669 such warrants The IOM package is funded to the value of £138,000 were extant on 31 December 2013. As a matter of over an 18-month period, commencing in November long-standing practice, we do not provide more detailed 2013. breakdowns of statistics relating to interception warrants.

Immigration Mariam Ibrahim

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the for the Home Department if she will offer asylum to Exchequer of the asylum and immigration system once Mariam Ibrahim. [201658] fee income has been deducted has been in each of the last seven years. [202386] Karen Bradley: The UK has a proud record of offering sanctuary to those who need it. Each claim for asylum Karen Bradley: Because of several restructures over is carefully considered and where we find individuals the past seven years this information is not available in are in need of our protection, asylum is given. However, line with the question posed. Published accounts for the to be eligible for international protection, a person must former UK Border Agency break down income and be located outside of their country of origin. expenditure information since 2009 and further information is available in the Home Office Report and Accounts for Nitrous Oxide: Sales 2013-14. These can be accessed from the following links: Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications Home Department (1) what actions she is taking to https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ restrict sales of nitrous oxide (a) at festivals and nightclubs attachment_data/file/321446/ARA_web_enabled_18_June.pdf and (b) through the internet; [201545] 377W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 378W

(2) if she will review the definition of butane product Passports in the Cigarette Lighter Refill (Safety) Regulations 1999. [201478] Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passport (a) applications Norman Baker: The Government has no plans to and (b) renewal applications were received by the Passport review the definition of butane in the Cigarette Lighter Office in each (i) month and (ii) year of the last five Refill (Safety) Regulations 1999. years. [199406] We recently wrote to all summer festival organisers to highlight concerns we have about the availability of James Brokenshire: The following table provides the gases such as nitrous oxide at festivals and asked them requested information. to take steps to prevent the sale of these gases. We have Applications for passports and renewals 2010 to May 2014 received a number of positive responses to this request. Number of passport Total number of Nitrous oxide has a number of legitimate medical renewals applications and industrial uses, but any suggestion of misuse, January 2010 332,546 429,010 particularly by young people is of concern. It is currently February 2010 409,434 538,099 an offence to sell any gas for the purpose of causing March 2010 491,887 662,570 intoxication to anyone under the age of 18, including April 2010 424,877 579,053 over the internet, under the Intoxicating Substances May 2010 437,406 590,496 (Supply) Act 1985. June 2010 497,764 665,118 July 2010 403,901 560,475 NSPCC August 2010 295,810 422,438 September 2010 245,652 350,492 Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the October 2010 203,107 289,121 Home Department how many meetings have taken November 2010 206,803 288,285 place since the beginning of 2014 between departmental December 2010 124,975 180,609 officials and the NSPCC; who attended such meetings; January 2011 373,010 483,502 what the purpose was of such meetings; and if she will February 2011 403,128 536,090 make a statement. [201397] March 2011 477,062 648,103 April 2011 363,562 502,243 Norman Baker: Home Office Ministers and officials May 2011 460,205 623,727 have meetings with a wide variety of international June 2011 492,401 656,060 partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the July 2011 376,455 524,602 public and private sectors, as part of the process of August 2011 292,986 423,661 policy development and delivery. Details of Ministerial September 2011 235,191 336,945 meetings with external organisations and individuals October 2011 192,653 274,813 are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis November 2011 197,884 279,982 and are subsequently published on the Cabinet Office December 2011 130,674 191,188 website which is available here: January 2012 368,969 483,275 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office- February 2012 430,084 573,659 ministers-gifts-and-hospitality-oct-2012-to-dec-2012 March 2012 433,458 594,051 April 2012 404,293 554,373 Offences against Children May 2012 466,807 636,952 June 2012 401,849 546,067 July 2012 400,366 557,708 Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for the August 2012 266,719 390,507 Home Department how many police officers are September 2012 235,049 333,657 assigned to (a) Operation Fernbridge and (b) any October 2012 228,216 322,989 subsequent related investigations. [201751] November 2012 194,846 276,642 December 2012 132,867 193,010 Damian Green: This is an operational matter for the January 2013 365,980 482,356 Metropolitan Police Commissioner. February 2013 433,754 580,431 March 2013 413,887 570,393 Offences against Children: Internet April 2013 474,055 653,767 May 2013 488,679 669,404 Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the June 2013 449,916 615,691 Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 June July 2013 408,667 576,261 2014, Official Report, column 667W,on offences against August 2013 275,759 399,665 children: internet, to which police forces intelligence September 2013 245,211 347,045 packages were disseminated; and how many such packages October 2013 241,364 338,840 were sent to each such force. [201832] November 2013 210,083 296,202 December 2013 227,003 320,174 Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to the reply January 2014 427,652 552,192 given on 19 June 2014, Official Report, columns 666-67W. February 2014 472,436 622,727 The information requested is operational and cannot March 2014 525,820 705,850 be released because of the possibility that there are April 2014 504,769 681,509 related investigations or judicial processes ongoing. May 2014 540,071 727,087 379W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 380W

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Proportion of all applications which were processed under premium or fast-track Home Department what steps she is taking to address services the current backlog of applications within the Passport Percentage Office. [199407] 2012 James Brokenshire: On 12 June, the Secretary of State January 7.3 for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the February 6.4 Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), set out to the March 6.9 House the measures HM Passport Office is putting in April 7.2 place to respond to the exceptional current levels of May 8.3 passport demand. June 10.5 July 14.0 I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 12 June August 20.2 2014, Official Report, columns 693-94 for details. September 15.0 October 12.9 Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the November 11.1 Home Department what recent representations she has December 16.6 received on the issuing of passports; and if she will make a statement. [199677] 2013 James Brokenshire: Numerous representations have January 8.4 been made both about the general passport issuing February 6.8 process as well as on behalf of individual applicants. March 8.1 They have been received from Members of Parliament April 7.8 and the public. Those with concerns about imminent May 9.3 travel plans for individuals will be prioritised. All will June 11.1 receive a reply. On 12 June the Secretary of State for the July 15.1 Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member August 18.2. for Maidenhead (Mrs May), made a statement in the September 13.0 House where she announced the arrangements we are October 12.3 putting in place to deal with the current level of demand November 10.1 for passports. December 13.5

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the 2014 Home Department what proportion of passport applications have been processed under the expedited January 7.4 February 5.9 service in each month since June 2010. [199970] March 5.5 James Brokenshire: The table below shows the proportion April 6.8 of passport applications that were processed under May 8.0 premium or fast-track services since June 2010. Total 9.8 Proportion of all applications which were processed under premium or fast-track services Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Percentage Home Department what the policy is of the Passport 2010 Office on the passing of information on the status of a delayed passport application when dealing with June 8.9 correspondence from an hon. Member acting on behalf July 12.3 of a constituent. [200423] August 13.8 September 10.5 October 10.6 James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Passport Office’s November 8.8 policy is to make available the same information to MPs December 14.9 and their constituency secretaries as they would to their constituents. On receipt of correspondence on behalf of a constituent, it is deemed that the constituent has 2011 provided authority for their MP to act on their behalf. January 6.9 This applies to written, e-mailed and telephone February 6.0 correspondence. March 6.2 April 8.1 Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the May 7.5 Home Department what the current anticipated turn-round June 8.7 time for passport processing is for (a) applications July 12.5 from UK residents making new applications, (b) new August 16.0 applications for a child’s passport and (c) UK residents September 11.2 applying abroad. [200815] October 12.2 November 9.8 James Brokenshire: Expected service standards for December 16.4 passport applications are published on: www.gov.uk 381W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 382W

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for the Total core Government funding per head of population Home Department (1) what estimate she has made of £1, 2 the average time period between application and issuing 2012-13 2013-142 2014-153 of passports for residents of (a) Airdrie and Shotts constituency, (b) Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) Derbyshire 109.29 107.50 101.67 Leicestershire 114.95 112.70 106.43 the UK in each year since 2009; [201268] Lincolnshire 91.65 89.32 84.10 (2) what estimate she has made of the number of Nottinghamshire 126.27 126.60 119.70 passports that were issued for residents of (a) Airdrie Northamptonshire 106.15 105.51 99.31 and Shotts constituency, (b) Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each year since 2009. [201271] England 145.14 141.46 133.52 1 Figures are based on total core Government funding which encompasses James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Passport Office all formula funding to the police. does not store information at constituency level and the 2 Population figures are based on the census projections that were cost of extracting the information requested would be used in the Police Allocation Formula to calculate funding allocations disproportionate. Information on passport processing in 2012-13 and 2013-14. The population figures for 2014 are based on performance can be found in HMPO’s annual report the latest census projection, as the Police Allocation Formula was not run in 2014-15. and accounts, which can be accessed via the following 3 The Neighbourhood Policing Fund (NPF) was rolled into Police links. Main Grant in 2013-14. To assist, the NPF allocations have been 2009-10 included in the 2012-13 figures. 4 The Community Safety Fund (CSF) was rolled into Police Main https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Grant in 2014-15. To assist comparison, CSF allocations have been attachment_data/file/118758/annual-report-accounts-200910.pdf included in the 2014-15 figures. 2010-11 Notes: 1. From 2014-15, the Home Office is also paying out council tax https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/identity-and- freeze grant funding relating to the 2011-12 and 2013-14 schemes and passport-service-annual-report-and-accounts-2010-to-2011 local council tax support (LCTS) funding to PCCs in England. This 2011-12 funding was previously paid to the police by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). This is excluded from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ the table to assist comparison with previous years. attachment_data/file/118751/ips-annual-report-2012.pdf 2. The police in England also receive small amounts of central 2012-13 Government grant from other sources including the DCLG and Ministry of Justice. They also receive funding from the police precept https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ component of council tax. attachment_data/file/210619/ IPS_annual_report_and_accounts_2012-13.pdf Police: Hartlepool

Passports: Scotland Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will provide additional funding for Cleveland police to assist in (a) retaining Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the and (b) increasing the number of police officers in Home Department what account her Department took operation in Hartlepool constituency. [201205] of the timing of school holidays in Scotland in formulating plans to deal with passport application delays. [201352] Damian Green: Like all parts of the public sector the police must play their part in reducing the deficit and James Brokenshire: Each year Her Majesty’s Passport the vast majority of forces are rising to the challenge of Office plans its capacity, taking into account the likely reducing costs, maintaining services and cutting crime. level of demand during specific periods, including the Ultimately what matters is how officers are deployed, run-up to school holidays. not how many of them there are and, in Cleveland, police recorded crime has fallen by 14% since 2010.

Police Police: Recruitment

Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the Government Home Department whether there is a requirement on spend per head of population on police services in (a) police forces to ensure that candidates for the role of Nottinghamshire, (b) the East Midlands and (c) police constable should have the Certificate in Knowledge England in each of the last three years. [201781] of Policing; and whether such candidates have to pay for that certification personally. [202203] Damian Green: The table shows total core Government funding per head of population provided to each police Damian Green: There is no requirement on police and crime commissioner (previously police authority) forces to ensure that all candidates should have the in the East Midlands region and to England for each of Certificate in Knowledge of Policing. It is one of a the last three years. number of routes for entry in to a police force and is Core Government funding to the police is distributed designed to increase access and inclusion and to build using the Police Allocation Formula. The formula takes the profession of policing. into account the relative needs of individual police force Other routes include a Level 3 qualification, service areas, not regions. A composite figure for the East as a police community support officer (PCSO) or special Midlands region is therefore not shown. constable. It is for chief officers to determine the most 383W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 384W appropriate entry route for their force as they are best may arise. We also expect suppliers to provide continuous placed to determine the skills and capabilities that are improvement in delivery of customer services over the most needed locally. course of the contract, which is also monitored through Providers of the Certificate in Knowledge of Policing these processes. are approved by the College of Policing and it is a The Department withheld payment of the contractual matter for each provider to set a fee. The Skills Funding transitional payment until transition was complete in Agency provides funding for those wishing to undertake each country where Teleperformance operates. This has this qualification if they are: (i) 18 and under, (ii) 23 and now been has now been approved for payment in countries under and this is their first Level 3 qualification, (iii) where visa application centres (VACs) are operational unemployed or (iv) ex-military personnel. but withheld in locations still to be transitioned. Ongoing Those who do not qualify for such funding may be contractual payments will be subject to the service able to access a student loan to cover the cost of the credit process outlined above. fees, which is not repayable until they are earning £21,000. The data required to judge performance against It would be a matter for the force to decide if they wish contractual service standards is not yet available. We are to provide any additional support. not aware of any withdrawn applications linked to delays in processing at the identified visa application Teleperformance centres since they took over this service. The Home Office is currently collating data on complaints for the Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the period since Teleperformance commenced operations Home Department (1) what sanctions are available if and it is not available for publication. TPContact fails to achieve and maintain high UK Visas and Immigration has worked closely with standards of customer service while providing services Teleperformance from the point at which contracts to her Department; [200686] were awarded to prepare for live operations, including (2) what steps her Department takes to ensure that the summer peak. Annual and monthly application TPContact achieves and maintains high standards of volumes and forecast figures for 2014 were provided to customer service; [200687] Teleperformance as part of the tender process and local (3) what sanctions have been levied by her discussions have taken place to determine the number Department as a result of TPContact failing to achieve of appointment slots available. Opening hours have and maintain high standards of customer service while been extended and appointment availability has been providing services for her Department; [200688] increased in a number of locations to prepare for the (4) how many and what proportion of all UK visa summer period. Where VACs are open every day, the applications processed by TPContact in (a) Israel, (b) availability of appointment slots is continually monitored, Russia, (c) South Africa and (d) Ukraine have been with further measures being taken if appointments are subject to delays outside the stated service standards; consistently fully booked. [200696] Trespass (5) how many and what proportion of all UK visa applications processed by TPContact in all its overseas Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the service centres have been subject to delays outside the Home Department how many times a Notice under stated service standards; [200697] section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (6) how many complaints she has received about UK 1994 has been used to successfully remove unlawful visa applications processed by TPContact in (a) Israel, settlers from an area in each of the last five years. (b) Russia, (c) South Africa and (d) Ukraine to date; [201691] [200698] (7) how many UK visa applications processed by Norman Baker: The Home Office does not hold this TPContact in (a) Israel, (b) Russia, (c) South Africa information. The decision to issue notices under section and (d) Ukraine have been withdrawn by the applicant 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order (CJPOA) is after the service standard for processing time has been an operational matter for the police. missed in the last five years; [200699] (8) what steps her Department took to ensure that UK Visas and Immigration TPContact was prepared for the required increase in capacity at its facilities worldwide to deal with the Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the summer rush of visa applications. [200702] Home Department whether an 0300 telephone line is available for people wishing to make enquiries of UK James Brokenshire: Any failure against the contractual Visas and Immigration. [201295] critical service levels may result in deductions against their submitted invoices. In the event of continuous and Karen Bradley: UK Visas and Immigration offer the unacceptable failures the Department has the ability to following numbers for members of the public wishing terminate the contract. to make inquiries. The performance of Teleperformance as with all of our contracts is subject to close Home Office scrutiny. Number Service The governance processes include regular meetings at 0300 123 2253 European and Nationality related enquiries all levels, from local operational teams up to senior 0300 123 2235 Asylum Support Customers official levels, to allow in-depth reviews of performance 0300 123 2241 General enquiries against the service standards set out in the contract, and 0300 123 4699 Sponsor and employer helpline to provide an escalation route to resolve any issues that 385W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 386W

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the work ethic which can increase their chances of finding Home Department what recent representations she has employment on release, a key element to reducing received on the incorrect 0870 telephone number being reoffending. given out to applicants seeking advice on their The number of prisoners working in industrial activity applications with UK Visas and Immigration; and if across public sector prisons increased from around she will make a statement. [201321] 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an Karen Bradley: We are aware that some UK Visas and increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities Immigration letters may still contain the 0870 contact from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private number, and this is being addressed. A small number of sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda representations have been received on this matter. and have reported that they delivered over 1½ million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over JUSTICE 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks Doncaster Prison such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning. Figures for public sector prisons are published in the Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice NOMS Annual Report Management Information how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Addendum: Doncaster spent in cells in each of the last three years; https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf unemployed on the last date for which figures are The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours available. [202343] worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. was collected on the average hours per weekday that Information on the proportion of prisoners classed prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average as unemployed is not available centrally and could be hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible obtained only at disproportionate cost. to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to national policy framework came into effect in adult 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House. prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected It should be noted that time in cell includes hours to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in are to earn privileges. and out of the cell. Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it Licensing Laws was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison Justice how many people were convicted of an offence SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work under Sections 141, 142, 146, 147A and 149 (1, 3 and in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to 4), 151, 152 or 153 of the Licensing Act 2003 in the last prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending. 12 months; and how many of those convicted were Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, fined the maximum amount stipulated in that Act for which, as with any large scale recording system, are those offences. [201058] subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 Jeremy Wright: The number of offenders found guilty could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. at all courts of the listed offences related to the Licensing Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners Act 2003, in England and Wales, from 2009 to 2013, are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It alongside the number of offenders given the maximum also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a allowable sentence, can be viewed in the following table:

Offenders found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the Licensing Act 2003, England and Wales, 2009-131, 2 Offence description 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

S.141—Sale of alcohol to a person who is drunk Convictions 6 3 5 10 5 Maximum sentence3 00000

S. 142—Obtaining alcohol for a person who is drunk Convictions 01111 Maximum sentence3 00000

S.146—Sale of alcohol to person under-18 Convictions 331 258 194 182 128 Maximum sentence4 00000 387W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 388W

Offenders found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the Licensing Act 2003, England and Wales, 2009-131, 2 Offence description 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

S.147A—Persistently selling alcohol to children Convictions 3 6 7 10 1 Maximum sentence5 00000

S.149 (1 and 7a) Purchase of alcohol by an individual under Convictions 40112 187 Maximum sentence3 00000

S.149 (3, 4 and 7b)—Buying or attempting to buy alcohol on Convictions 25 19 20 11 5 behalf of an individual under-187 Maximum sentence4 00000

S. 151—Knowingly delivering to a person aged under-18 Convictions 00100 alcohol sold or supplied on premises Maximum sentence4 00000

S.152—Sending a person aged under-18 to obtain alcohol Convictions 00000 Maximum sentencer4 00000

5.153—Responsible person allowing individual aged under-18 Convictions 01021 to sell or supply alcohol Maximum sentence6 00001

Total Convictions 369 288 229 217 143 Maximum sentence 00001 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 extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is a £1,000 fine. 4 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is a £5,000 fine. 5 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is a £10,000 fine. 6 The maximum allowable sentence for this offence is a £200 fine. 7 Data for offences under section 149 of the act are split into two groups within the court proceedings database and are therefore presented separately in the table: parts 1 and 7a—persistently selling alcohol to children, parts 3, 4 and 7—buying or attempting to buy alcohol on behalf of an individual under-18. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Life Imprisonment Employment type of full-time equivalent (FTE) operational support grades employed in public sector prisons in England and Wales as at 31 March 2014 Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment type FTE Justice how many offenders released from one life Fixed-Term 160 sentence have been given another life sentence in each Permanent 4,990 of the last 30 years. [201998] Grand Total 5,150 Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 in line with the Department’s policy for Jeremy Wright: This information is not held centrally presenting staffing data. Totals are formed from unrounded parts prior to and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost rounding. For this reason, totals may not equal the sum of their rounded parts. through a trawl of individual records of prisoner releases. National Offender Management Service Newport

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many operational support grade staff employed what discussions on potential job losses in Newport by the National Offender Management Service on 31 took place between his Department, the Home Office March 2014 were employed on (a) temporary, (b) and Steria prior to the decision to privatise the Ministry fixed-term and (c) full-time contracts. [202083] of Justice Shared Services. [202380]

Jeremy Wright: Information on the number of Mr Vara: The Ministry of Justice are entering into operational support grade staff that were employed by detailed discussions with Shared Services Connected National Offender Management Service (NOMS) as at Limited (SSCL) regarding the future delivery of their the 31 March 2014, broken down by contract type is back office services, with the intention of awarding a contained in the following table. The information refers contract in August 2014. We expect this to bring increased to staff directly employed by NOMS and does not savings and efficiency in back-office functions, provide include staff engaged through an agency. A fixed-term further benefits across wider Government and offer contract is the same as a temporary contract. better value for money to the taxpayer. 389W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 390W

SSCL have stated their intention of providing 12 months Mr Vara: The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and job protection for all transferring staff from the point Child Support), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals of transfer in October 2014. This means that there will Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department be no compulsory redundancies during this period. No for Work and Pensions’ decisions on a range of benefits, decisions have been made to close buildings and we including a person’s entitlement to personal independence expect all sites to remain open during this period. payment (PIP). Following the transfer of staff, services and IT, there (1) Claimants for PIP can appeal to the tribunal on a will be a stabilisation stage during which SSCL will number of different grounds, such as the rate of benefit look at how the service is currently delivered. No decisions awarded. HMCTS is unable to isolate data relating to will be made until SSCL has had the opportunity to appeals solely on the basis of a claim for PIP having fully understand the operation. been refused. HMCTS does not, therefore, hold the We will continue to work with staff, trade unions and specific information requested. other stakeholders to assess any impacts on staff. Information on all appeals against PIP decisions is published by HMCTS in Tribunal Statistics Quarterly. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if The most recent report for the period January to March he will publish all impact assessments his Department 2014, published on 12 June 2014, can be viewed at: has made on privatising the Ministry of Justice Shared https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tribunal- Services in Newport. [202381] statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2014 HMCTS has responded strongly to continue to increase Mr Vara: The Ministry of Justice are entering into the capacity of the SSCS tribunal and reduce waiting detailed discussions with Shared Services Connected times. Initiatives have included increasing venue capacity Limited (SSCL) regarding the future delivery of their and recruiting additional judges and medically qualified back office services, with the intention of awarding a members. contract in August 2014. We expect this to bring increased This has resulted in 545,840 appeal disposals in 2013-14. savings and efficiency in back-office functions, provide This is a 17% increase compared to 2012-13 (465,500) further benefits across wider Government and offer and a 26% increase compared to 2011-12 (433,600). better value for money to the taxpayer. (2) I receive regular representations on the SSCS Prior to this decision, the two private sector options appeals process which are taken into account as we keep were compared against the option to remain a standalone the system under review. However, to date, I have not organisation and assessed using evaluation criteria that received any representations on the length of time the considered IT, cost, staff impacts and the service to our PIP appeals procedure takes. customers. The assessments will not be published as they are commercially sensitive documents. Personal Independence Payment: Preston We will continue to work with staff, trade unions and other stakeholders to assess any impacts on staff. Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many refused claims for personal independence Open Prisons payment for people residing in the Preston constituency have been (a) appealed and (b) successfully appealed to date. [202485] Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many offenders serving life sentences Mr Vara: The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and were held in open prisons in each of the last 20 years; Child Support), administered by HM Courts & Tribunals [201999] Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department (2) how many offenders convicted of murder were for Work and Pensions’ decisions on a range of benefits, held in open prisons in each of the last 20 years. including a person’s entitlement to personal independence [202001] payment (PIP). Claimants for PIP can appeal to the tribunal on a Jeremy Wright: It is not possible to provide the total number of different grounds, such as the rate of benefit number of offenders serving life sentences who were awarded. HMCTS is unable to isolate data relating to held in open prisons in each of the last 20 years, or the appeals solely on the basis of a claim for PIP having total number of offenders convicted of murder who been refused. HMCTS does not, therefore, hold the were held in open prisons in each of the last 20 years, specific information requested. without incurring disproportionate cost. Information on all appeals against PIP decisions is published by HMCTS in Tribunal Statistics Quarterly. Personal Independence Payment: Appeals The most recent report for the period January to March 2014, published on 12 June 2014, can be viewed at: Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tribunal- Justice (1) what the average length of time taken is to statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2014 appeal a decision when a personal independence Prison Service payment has been refused; what steps his Department plans to take to speed up the process of appeal; and if Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice he will make a statement; [201755] how many staff from each prison establishment had (2) what recent representations he has received on been sent on detached duty on 9 June 2014; and how the length of time the personal independence payment many staff had been received at each prison establishment appeals procedure takes. [201756] on detached duty on that date. [202084] 391W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 392W

Jeremy Wright: I refer the right hon. Member to the sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda reply given on 12 June 2014, Official Report, column and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million 316W. The previous answer provided information on prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial every establishment that had received or contributed workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over staff on detached duty until the latest available date of 1,200 prisoners. In addition, there are substantial number 31 March 2014. of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning. Prisoners Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Addendum, available at: Justice (1) how many hours per week prisoners in HM https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Prison Hewell Grange spent (a) in cells and (b) working attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf in each of the last three years; and what proportion of The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 date for which data is available; [202003] and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. (2) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Information on the proportion of prisoners classed Prison Havering spent (a) in cells and (b) working in as unemployed is not available centrally and could be each of the last three years; and what proportion of obtained only at disproportionate cost. such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest Our reforms to the incentives and earned privileges date for which data is available; [202004] national policy framework came into effect in adult (3) how many hours per week prisoners in HM prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected Prison Hatfield spent (a) in cells and (b) working in to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate each of the last three years; and what proportion of a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they date for which data is available; [202005] are to earn privileges. (4) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Highdown spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for of the last three years; and what proportion of such Justice (1) how many hours per week prisoners in HM prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date Prison The Verne, spent (a) in cells and (b) working in for which data is available; [202014] each of the last three years and what proportion of such (5) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date Highpoint spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of for which data is available; [202017] the last three years; and what proportion of such (2) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date Thorn Cross, spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each for which data is available. [202015] of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12, information for which data is available; [202018] was collected on the average hours per weekday that (3) how many hours per week prisoners in HM prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average Prison Prescoed, spent (a) in cells and (b) working in hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible each of the last three years; and what proportion of to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to date for which data is available; [202019] 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House. (4) how many hours per week prisoners in HM It should be noted that time in cell includes hours Prison Swinfen Hall, spent (a) in cells and (b) working when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time in each of the last three years; and what proportion of where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in date for which data is available; [202020] and out of the cell. (5) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, Prison Wakefield spent (a) in cells and (b) working in which, as with any large scale recording system, are each of the last three years; and what proportion of subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last Figures for time in cell for the year 2012-13 and 2013-14 date for which data is available. [202108] could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It was collected on the average hours per weekday that also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average work ethic which can increase their chances of finding hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible employment on release, a key element to reducing to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each reoffending. prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to The number of prisoners working in industrial activity 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House. across public sector prisons increased from around It should be noted that time in cell includes hours 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private and out of the cell. 393W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 394W

Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12, information indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was collected on the average hours per weekday that was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House. prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending. It should be noted that time in cell includes hours Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time which, as with any large scale recording system, are where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 and out of the cell. could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it engaged purposefully while they are in custody.It also gives was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the front-line which can increase their chances of finding employment of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison on release, a key element to reducing reoffending. SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work The number of prisoners working in industrial activity in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to across public sector prisons increased from around prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending. 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an which, as with any large scale recording system, are increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. and have reported that they delivered over 1½ million Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers work ethic which can increase their chances of finding of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks employment on release, a key element to reducing such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning. reoffending. Figures for public sector prisons are published in the The number of prisoners working in industrial activity NOMS Annual Report Management Information across public sector prisons increased from around Addendum: 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million Information on the proportion of prisoners classed prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial as unemployed is not available centrally and could be workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over obtained only at disproportionate cost. 1,200 prisoners. In addition, there are substantial number Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks national policy framework came into effect in adult such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning. prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected Figures for public sector prisons are published in to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate the NOMS Annual Report Management Information a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their Addendum, available at: risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ are to earn privileges. attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf Information on the proportion of prisoners classed Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice as unemployed is not available centrally and could be (1) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison obtained only at disproportionate cost. Downview spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each Our reforms to the incentives and earned privileges of the last three years; and what proportion of such national policy framework came into effect in adult prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected for which data is available; [202316] to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate (2) how many hours per week prisoners in HM a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their Prison Dover spent (a) in cells and (b) working in risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they each of the last three years; and what proportion of are to earn privileges. such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available; [202317] Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for (3) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Justice (1) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Dorchester spent (a) in cells and (b) working in Prison Glen Parva spent (a) in cells and (b) working each of the last three years; and what proportion of in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available. [202318] date for which data is available; [202120] 395W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 396W

(2) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Figures for public sector prisons are published in the Prison Gloucester spent (a) in cells and (b) working in NOMS Annual Report Management Information each of the last three years; and what proportion of Addendum: such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ date for which data is available; [202121] attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf (3) how many hours per week prisoners in HM The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours Prison Grendon spent (a) in cells and (b) working in worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 each of the last three years; and what proportion of and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges date for which data is available; [202122] national policy framework came into effect in adult (4) how many hours per week prisoners in HM prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected Prison Guys Marsh spent (a) in cells and (b) working to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate in each of the last three years; and what proportion of a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they date for which data is available; [202123] are to earn privileges. (5) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Information on the proportion of prisoners classed Prison Haslar spent (a) in cells and (b) working in as unemployed is not available centrally and could be each of the last three years; and what proportion of obtained only at disproportionate cost. such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data is available. [202124] Prisoners: Foreign Nationals Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average Justice what the annual cost of imprisoning foreign hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible national offenders in UK prisons has been in each of to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each the last three years. [202470] prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House. Jeremy Wright: The National Offender Management HM Prison Gloucester was closed at the end of Service (NOMS) does not calculate separately the annual financial year 2012-13. cost of imprisoning foreign nationals in England and It should be noted that time in cell includes hours Wales. NOMS does not analyse cost by prisoner nationality, when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time as costs recorded on the NOMS central accounting where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the system do not allow identification of costs attributable cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in to holding individual prisoners. and out of the cell. Figures have been drawn from All prison costs for Scotland and Northern Ireland administrative IT systems, which, as with any large are a devolved matter and the responsibility of the scale recording system, are subject to possible errors relevant Minister. with data entry and processing. Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance Prisoners: Iraq indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline what steps he is taking to achieve a prisoner transfer of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison agreement between Iraq and the UK; and what steps he SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work is taking to achieve a prisoner transfer agreement between in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to Iraq and the UK with regard to Danny Fitzsimons. prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending. [202224] Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Jeremy Wright: The negotiation of a prisoner transfer Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners agreement between the United Kingdom and Iraq is at are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It an advanced stage. Officials at the Foreign and also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a Commonwealth Office are in discussion with the Iraqi work ethic which can increase their chances of finding authorities and we hope to finalise the agreement at the employment on release, a key element to reducing earliest possible opportunity.Once in place British nationals reoffending. imprisoned in Iraq and Iraqi nationals imprisoned here, The number of prisoners working in industrial activity will be able to serve their sentences in their own country. across public sector prisons increased from around Given the security situation in Iraq, we have reminded 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are the Iraqi Government of its important duty of care for available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an foreign nationals held in its prisons and have asked for increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities urgent advice on their contingency planning. from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda Prisons: Business and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over what the planned timetable is for each prison in England 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers and Wales to achieve Steady State under the systems of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks introduced under the new Business Development Gateway such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning. programme; and if he will make a statement. [202080] 397W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 398W

Jeremy Wright: The timetable for each prison to Benchmarking Phase 2 achieve Steady State is shown in the following tables. Establishment Steady State Date Arrangements are in place by which region Deputy Deerbolt 31 March 2016 Directors Custody (DDC) may recommend an earlier Downview 31 March 2016 date to the Director of Public Sector Prisons. Drake Hall 31 March 2016 Benchmarking Phase 1 East Sutton Park 31 March 2016 Establishment Steady State Date Eastwood Park 31 March 2016 Elmley 31 March 2016 Bedford 31 March 2015 Feltham 31 March 2016 Bristol 31 March 2015 Ford 31 March 2016 Brixton 31 March 2015 Foston Hall 31 March 2016 Bullingdon 31 March 2015 Frankland 31 March 2016 Bure 31 March 2015 Full Sutton 31 March 2016 Cardiff 31 March 2015 Garth 31 March 2016 Channings Wood 31 March 2015 Gartree 31 March 2016 Chelmsford 31 March 2015 Glen Parva 31 March 2016 Coldingley 31 March 2015 Hatfield 31 March 2016 Dartmoor 31 March 2015 Hindley 31 March 2016 Durham 31 March 2015 Hollesley Bay 31 March 2016 Erlestoke 31 March 2015 Holloway 31 March 2016 Exeter 31 March 2015 Isis 31 March 2016 Featherstone 31 March 2015 Isle of Wight (Albany, Parkhurst) 31 March 2016 Guys Marsh 31 March 2015 Kirkham 31 March 2016 Haverigg 31 March 2015 Kirklevington Grange 31 March 2016 Hewell 31 March 2015 Lancaster Farms 31 March 2016 High Down 31 March 2015 Leyhill 31 March 2016 Highpoint (North and South) 31 March 2015 Lindholme 31 March 2016 Holme House 31 March 2015 Littlehey 31 March 2016 Hull 31 March 2015 Long Lartin 31 March 2016 Huntercombe 31 March 2015 Low Newton 31 March 2016 Kennet 31 March 2015 Manchester 31 March 2016 Leeds 31 March 2015 Moorland 31 March 2016 Leicester 31 March 2015 New Hall 31 March 2016 Lewes 31 March 2015 North Sea Camp 31 March 2016 Lincoln 31 March 2015 Portland 31 March 2016 Liverpool 31 March 2015 Send 31 March 2016 Maidstone 31 March 2015 Spring Hill/Grendon 31 March 2016 Mount, The 31 March 2015 Standford Hill 31 March 2016 Norwich 30 March 2015 Styal 31 March 2016 Nottingham 31 March 2015 Sudbury 31 March 2016 Onley 31 March 2015 Swaleside 31 March 2016 Pentonville 31 March 2015 Swinfen Hall 31 March 2016 Preston 31 March 2015 Thorn Cross 31 March 2016 Ranby 31 March 2015 Wakefield 31 March 2016 Risley 31 March 2015 Warren Hill 31 March 2016 Rochester 31 March 2015 Werrington 31 March 2016 Stafford 31 March 2015 Wetherby 31 March 2016 Stocken 31 March 2015 Whitemoor 31 March 2016 Stoke Heath 31 March 2015 Woodhill 31 March 2016 Swansea 31 March 2015 Usk/Prescoed 31 March 2015 Wandsworth 31 March 2015 Wayland 31 March 2015 Prisons: Employment Wealstun 31 March 2015 Whatton 31 March 2015 Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Winchester 31 March 2015 Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Wormwood Scrubs 31 March 2015 Prison (a) Blundeston, (b) Brinsford, (c) Bristol, (d) Wymott 31 March 2015 Bullingdon and (e) Bullwood Hall spent in (i) cells and Benchmarking Phase 2 (ii) working. [201811] Establishment Steady State Date

Askham Grange 31 March 2016 Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12, information Aylesbury 31 March 2016 was collected on the average hours per weekday that Belmarsh 31 March 2016 prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average Blantyre House 31 March 2016 hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible Brinsford 31 March 2016 to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each Cookham Wood 31 March 2016 prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House. 399W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 400W

It should be noted that time in cell includes hours cost as it would need to be extracted from different when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time management information systems including local and where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the central records, quality checked, recorded and formatted. cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure that and out of the cell. Figures have been drawn from prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in administrative IT systems, which, as with any large custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn scale recording system, are subject to possible errors skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances with data entry and processing. of finding employment on release, a key element to Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance reducing reoffending. indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it We are committed to increasing the number of prisoners was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons working. The number of prisoners working in workshops and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the front-line in public sector prisons rose significantly from 8,600 at of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison the end of 2010-11 to 9,700 at the end of 2012-13. SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work Private sector prisons have also been supporting this in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to agenda and have reported that they provided work for prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending. some 1,200 prisoners in 2012-13. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 This work does not include the large number of jobs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. prisoners undertake such as cooking, serving meals, Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners maintenance and cleaning that contributes to the upkeep are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It of prisons and helps offset the cost of imprisonment. also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a Figures for public sector prisons are published in the work ethic which can increase their chances of finding NOMS Annual Report Management Information employment on release, a key element to reducing Addendum, available at: reoffending. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ The number of prisoners working in industrial activity attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are Prisons: Libraries available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda how many books are in each prison library. [202002] and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial Jeremy Wright: The requested information is not held workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over centrally and would need to be collated through inquiries 1,200 prisoners. In addition, there are substantial number at each prison and with each prison library provider in of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks England and Wales. This would incur disproportionate such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning. cost. Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Risley Prison Addendum, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours Risley spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 last three years. [202152] and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Our reforms to the incentives and earned privileges Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12, information national policy framework came into effect in adult was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to are to earn privileges. 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House. It should be noted that time in cell includes hours Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time how many training places and work-related experience where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the places have been provided by the ONE3ONE Solutions, cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in since it replaced the Prison Industries Unit, in each and out of the cell. prison in England and Wales; and if he will make a Figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, statement. [202082] which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Jeremy Wright: Information is not collected and recorded Figures for time in cell for the year 2012-13 and 2013-14 to identify separately prisoner training and work-related could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. places specifically attributed to ONE3ONE Solutions Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners at each prison in England and Wales. To provide the are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It information requested would incur disproportionate also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a 401W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 402W work ethic which can increase their chances of finding Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice is developing employment on release, a key element to reducing a robust monitoring and evaluation strategy for the reoffending. Secure College Pathfinder. This will ensure that the The number of prisoners working in industrial activity most appropriate methods for measuring the performance across public sector prisons increased from around of the Secure College Pathfinder are in place. 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are Detail relating to performance measures against which available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an the Secure College Pathfinder’s construction and operation increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities providers’ performance will be measured will be contained from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private within their individual contracts, which will be published sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda on Contract Finder in due course. and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over Youth Custody 1,200 prisoners. In addition, there are substantial number of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning. Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children aged between (a) 10 and 12, (b) 13 Figures for public sector prisons are published in the and 14 and (c) 15 and 17 years were held in each secure NOMS Annual Report Management Information training centre and secure children’s home in each year Addendum, available at: since May 2010. [202534] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours Jeremy Wright: Informed by advice from local youth worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 offending teams, the Youth Justice Board places young and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. people who are remanded or sentenced to custody in the secure establishment most appropriate to their needs. Our reforms to the incentives and earned privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult The spreadsheet shows the average number of children prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected and young people aged between (a) 10 and 12, (b) 13 to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate and 14 and (c) 15 and 17 held in each secure training a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their centre and secure children’s home in each year since risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they 2009-10 (April to March). are to earn privileges. The 2013-14 figures will be published in the 2013-14 Youth Justice Statistics in January 2015. Secure Colleges These figures have been drawn from administrative Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording he will publish the success criteria against which the system, are subject to possible errors with data entry secure college pathfinder will be evaluated. [202533] and processing and can be subject to change over time.

Average number of young people in each Secure Children’s Home and Secure Training Centre by age group, 2009-10 to 2012-13 Accommodation type Establishment Age group 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Secure children’s homes Aldine House 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 1 1 1 1 15 to 17 2 3 3 2 Total 4443

Atkinson Unit 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 1 0 0 0 15 to 17 3 0 0 0 Total 3000

Ayliffe Young People’s Centre 10 to 12 1 0 0 0 13 to 14 11 7 9 5 15 to 17 10 16 15 12 Total 22232417

Barton Moss Secure Unit 10 to 12 1 1 1 1 13 to 14 8 7 4 5 15 to 17 8 9 13 11 Total 17171917

Beechfield 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 0 0 0 0 403W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 404W

Average number of young people in each Secure Children’s Home and Secure Training Centre by age group, 2009-10 to 2012-13 Accommodation type Establishment Age group 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

15 to 17 1 0 0 0 Total 1000

Clayfields House 10 to 12 0 1 0 0 13 to 14 6 8 5 4 15 to 17 5 5 9 9 Total 11131413

East Moor 10 to 12 1 1 0 0 13 to 14 14 8 9 8 15 to 17 13 19 14 13 Total 28282321

Hillside 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 3 3 4 3 15 to 17 12 12 11 12 Total 15151515

Kyloe House 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 1 1 0 0 15 to 17 1 0 0 0 Total 2100

Leverton Secure Unit 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 0 0 0 0 15 to 17 0 0 0 0 Total 0000

Lincolnshire Secure Unit 10 to 12 1 0 0 0 13 to 14 4 2 3 2 15 to 17 4 6 6 7 Total 8999

Orchard Lodge 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 1 0 0 0 15 to 17 1 0 0 0 Total 2000

Red Bank Community Home 10 to 12 1 1 0 0 13 to 14 8 7 8 4 15 to 17 16 16 19 13 Total 25242616

Sutton Place 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 0 0 0 0 15 to 17 1 0 0 0 Total 1000

Swanwick Lodge 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 5 4 4 5 15 to 17 5 7 7 6 Total 10111111 405W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 406W

Average number of young people in each Secure Children’s Home and Secure Training Centre by age group, 2009-10 to 2012-13 Accommodation type Establishment Age group 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

Vinney Green 10 to 12 1 0 0 1 13 to 14 6 8 8 6 15 to 17 12 11 12 13 Total 19192020

All secure children’s homes 10 to 12 6 5 3 2 13 to 14 69 56 55 43 15 to 17 92 105 109 98 Total 167 165 166 142

Secure training centres Hassockfield STC 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 7 4 2 1 15 to 17 36 39 48 38 Total 42435040

Medway 10to12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 19 11 9 6 15 to 17 44 57 63 62 Total 63687268

Oakhill STC 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 19 12 11 8 15 to 17 53 65 65 64 Total 72777572

Rainsbrook 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 13 11 9 6 15 to 17 62 66 73 67 Total 75778273

All secure training centres 10 to 12 0 0 0 0 13 to 14 58 38 31 22 15 to 17 196 226 249 231 Total 253 264 280 253 Notes: 1. These figures are averages of 12-monthly snapshots of the custodial population in the secure estate for children and young people, taken on the last Friday of the month or first Friday of the following month, depending on which is nearer to the actual month end. 2. The data only represents those young people placed by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales into secure children’s homes (SCHs) and secure training centres (STCs). Some young people are placed in SCHs under welfare grounds and are not included in this data. Some of the SCHs in the table do not or never have had beds commissioned by the YJB, though the YJB is able to spot purchase beds from welfare establishments when the need arises. 3. Numbers may not sum due to rounding. 4. The information comes from the YJB’s Secure Accommodation Clearing House System (SACHS) database and eAsset database. Information from April 2012 comes from the YJB’s eAsset database which replaced the SACHS database for placing young people in custody. 5. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT by removing ring fencing from many local government grants. This gives them freedom to work with their residents to decide how best to meet on local priorities. Local Authority Funding Council Tax Freeze

21. Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for 22. Stephen Metcalfe: To ask the Secretary of State Communities and Local Government what recent for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the spending assessment he has made of the effect on local power of local authorities in relation to the level of authorities of the freeze on council tax. [904526] demand for their statutory services. [904524] Brandon Lewis: Council tax freeze funding has helped Brandon Lewis: Councils are responsible for balancing cut council tax by 11% in real terms since 2010. We have their budgets, and every one of them issued a balanced made £5.2 billion available to support councils who budget for 2014-15. We have increased councils’ flexibility freeze, and built funding into the spending review baseline. 407W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 408W

Social Housing: Rent Arrears Extra care housing for older people is also funded through the Department for Communities and Local Mr Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State Government’s Affordable Homes Programme. The for Communities and Local Government what allocations made outside London for the current 2011-15 assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of programme include funding for over 1,100 extra care homes. In addition, extra care schemes are eligible for rent arrears in social housing. [904521] investment through the range of private sector investment programmes run through the Homes and Communities Stephen Williams: According to the Homes and Agency; for example the Builders Finance Fund and Communities Agency, at the end of 2013-14 the average Build To Rent. Details can be found on the Agency’s level of rent arrears among larger housing associations website: was 3.6%, an improvement from 4.1% over the previous quarter. http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/ourwork Allocations for the 2015-18 Affordable Homes Programme are expected to be announced in July. Accommodation Agencies Older people have a wide range of different housing needs, ranging from suitable and appropriately located Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for market housing through to residential institutions. On 6 Communities and Local Government what estimate his March, we published our planning guidance, which Department has made of the average lettings agency contains guidance on assessing housing need, and requires fees charged to tenants in the private rented sector (a) local councils to consider housing for the elderly against at the start of a new tenancy and (b) when a tenancy is their housing requirement. The guidance requires plan renewed. [202249] makers to consider the size, location and quality of dwellings needed in the future for older people, which Kris Hopkins: My Department has not made its own will be clearly set out in the Local Plan. We are clear estimate of the average lettings agency fees charged to that local councils and mainstream housing providers tenants in the private rented sector but has taken note need to start taking older peoples housing far more of the figures reported by independent organisations, seriously and increase the quality, choice and provision such as the Office of Fair Trading, Shelter and Which. of housing for older people. The Government is currently legislating through the Consumer Rights Bill to ensure there is full transparency Combined Authorities: North East on fees charged by all letting agencies, ending hidden fees. By contrast, I would observe that the Royal Institution Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has commented that Communities and Local Government what plans he the policy proposals of HM Opposition on fees would has to exercise his oversight role in relation to the harm tenants, as it would lead to: North East Combined Authority and its scrutiny “increases in rents to cover the additional costs visited upon arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [904525] landlords” and a Brandon Lewis: The Order setting up the combined “reduction in supply” authority requires that authority to have one or more overview and scrutiny committees. (RICS, Letting agent fees for tenants: a tale of two amendments, 15 May 2014). We have written to the councils concerned making clear we expect their combined authority to follow best practice on scrutiny, including that the membership of Care Homes scrutiny committees should reflect the political balance of the councils. The letter can be found online at: Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-to-leaders- for Communities and Local Government what steps he of-the-combined-authority-for-the-area-of-durham- is taking to support (a) public sector and (b) private northumberland-and-tyne-and-wear sector provision of extra care housing facilities for We have also consulted recently on proposals to older people; and if he will make a statement. [202382] make it a legislative requirement for a combined authority’s scrutiny committee to be balanced in this way. The Kris Hopkins: The Department of Health is providing consultation closed on 24 June and we are now considering £315 million over five years for the Care and Support the responses. The consultation is available at: Specialised Housing fund. The fund is administered by https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposals-to- the Homes and Communities Agency and, within London, amend-legislation-relating-to-combined-authorities-and- by the Greater London Authority. The main aim of the economic-prosperity-boards. fund is to support and accelerate the development of the specialised housing market for older people and Educational Testing Service disabled adults, which includes extra care housing for older people. The successful bids for Phase 1 of the Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for fund were announced last year and will deliver over Communities and Local Government what contracts 3,500 affordable homes. The prospectus for Phase 2 (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non- should be published later this year. Phase 2 will build on departmental public bodies holds with the Educational the earlier phase and will seek to include developments Testing Service or its subsidiaries. [202241] which work across sectors to deliver more specialised housing. Brandon Lewis: None. 409W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 410W

Fire Services: Industrial Disputes arrangements for business continuity planning during strike action are kept under review by the chief fire and John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for rescue adviser. Communities and Local Government (1) what military The principles of the recall to duty protocol, published assets have been deployed in which locations in as National Joint Council for Fire and Rescue Services accordance with the Home Office Model Response Circular NJC/09/13, were agreed between the chief fire plans during recent periods of strike action called by and rescue adviser, the Fire Brigades Union and the the Fire Brigades Union; [201938] National Employers. Appendix 1 applies to fire and rescue authorities in England and makes clear that the (2) what assessment he has made of the number of chief fire officers are responsible for arrangements locally, military pumps available in England during each of the in accordance with their service’s major incident policies. Fire Brigades Union strikes in 2013-14; where each I am confident that should there be a major disaster, pump was located; and whether each such pump was striking firefighters would return to work. deployed. [201939] Floods Brandon Lewis: Pumping appliances crewed by Ministry of Defence personnel have been deployed at various Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for defence locations during the strike action by the Fire Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Brigades Union. These are sited after consultation with contribution made by the Prime Minister of 18 June the chief fire and rescue adviser. Fire and rescue authorities 2014, Official Report, column 1116W, (1) what extra are responsible for undertaking their own business resource his Department will provide to deal with extended continuity planning, and associated contingency eligibility for claims made under the (a) council tax arrangements. relief, (b) business rate relief, (c) business support No Ministry of Defence resources have been mobilised relief, (d) repair and renewal grant and (e) severe in England during the last 14 periods of strike action. weather recovery schemes; [201511] (2) what assessment he has made of the cost of flooding John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for damage to (a) householders and (b) small businesses Communities and Local Government if he will publish in the UK from the beginning of the financial year 2013 his assessment of the robustness of resilience arrangements which will become eligible for support under the (i) in place during periods of industrial action by the Fire council tax relief, (ii) business rate relief, (iii) business Brigades Union in the event of strikes of duration support relief, (iv) repair and renewal grant and (v) greater than 24 hours. [201940] severe weather recovery schemes; and what estimate he has made of the number of additional claims made Brandon Lewis: The responsibility for the preparation under each such scheme as a result of this extended of business continuity plans to deal with industrial eligibility. [201512] action by the Fire Brigades Union, rests with individual fire and rescue authorities. Fire and rescue authorities’ Brandon Lewis: I can confirm that this is under active business continuity plans have performed well in the consideration. My officials are currently assessing the last 14 periods of strike action by the Fire Brigades impacts of flooding throughout the financial year 2013-14 Union, including the 24-hour strike on 12 June. We and the likely costs of extending the recovery funding expect them to perform well in any periods of longer schemes. duration. Floods: Bournemouth Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many Communities and Local Government how many requests crew were available in each fire and rescue authority from residents of Bournemouth East constituency for area during the 24-hour strike on 12 June 2014; and financial support following the winter flooding have how many crew are available in each area on non-strike been granted; and if he will make a statement. [201544] days; [202133] (2) if he will publish his Department’s risk assessment Brandon Lewis: This Government has provided a of the potential under-resourcing of fire and rescue range of financial support schemes to help individuals, services during strike action; [202132] businesses, farmers and local authorities return to normality (3) if he will publish his assessment of the workability after the winter’s severe weather: these include council of the protocol agreed between his Department and the tax relief, business rate relief, the business support scheme, Fire Brigades Union on recall to duty in the event of a and repair and renew grants. major incident or national disaster. [202134] The Government deals with local authorities who administer support schemes on its behalf. It does not Brandon Lewis: The levels of crewing available for deal directly with residents and does not therefore hold each authority, whether or not during periods of strike information at constituency level in terms of requests action, are dependent upon a number of factors. These for financial support that have been granted: that is a include the duty system being worked locally, availability matter for the local authorities concerned. I can say, of on-call firefighters and, during strike periods, local however, that Bournemouth borough council has received contingency arrangements, which are the responsibility some £350,000 to repair local roads damaged by severe of each fire and rescue authority. The Department weather, a further £268,000 from the Department for collects details of appliance availability from local fire Transport’s Potholes Fund and my Department is aware and rescue authorities on a confidential basis. The that as at 25 June, the council has received 70 claims for 411W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 412W council tax relief totalling some £14,000, one claim for At examination, local authorities should justify their business rate relief and three applications from residents plan policies, including their deliverability over the plan for repair and renew grant to help build better flood period. Where an inspector concludes that there are protection into their homes. The Government retrospectively fundamental issues regarding the soundness of the Plan, reimburses councils for the costs incurred from its flood they will identify any conflicts between a draft local recovery schemes. plan and national policy and regulatory process. They are able to recommend modifications to overcome these Housing: Thames Gateway issues if they are asked to do so by the council itself. Private Rented Housing Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for houses were built in each local authority area in the Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Thames Gateway in the last 15 years for which figures answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 578W, are available. [201951] on rent, what his policy is on developing rent review clauses which are index-linked to inflation in a model Kris Hopkins: Statistics on house building completions for longer-term tenancies in the private rented sector. in each local authority district, including the local authorities [202546] in the Thames Gateway, are published in the Department’s live tables 253 (annual) and 253a (quarterly), which are Kris Hopkins: I refer the right hon. Member to my available at the following link: answer to him of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables- 578W, which outlines the Government’s policy and our on-house-building opposition to the Labour party calls for rent controls.

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State Regeneration: Thames Gateway for Communities and Local Government what his estimate is of the number of houses that could be built Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State according to maximum local authority allocations on for Communities and Local Government on what dates brownfield sites in each local authority in the Thames the Thames Gateway Strategic Group has met since Gateway in each of the last 15 years for which figures 2010. [201949] are available. [201952] Kris Hopkins: The Thames Gateway Strategic Group Kris Hopkins: The requested information is not available is a local authority led partnership that was set up by centrally. local authorities to provide strategic direction and targeted solutions to realise the area’s potential. Their Secretariat New Towns has confirmed that the Group met on the following dates: 2011: 16 February, 22 June, 7 September, 1 December Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for 2012: 20 March, 9 July, 20 September, 20 December Communities and Local Government how many expressions of interest in response to the Locally-led 2013: 19 March, 11 June, 22 October Garden Cities Prospectus have been (a) received and No meetings of the Group have taken place in 2014 (b) considered to date. [202543] to date, but a meeting is provisionally scheduled for September. Kris Hopkins: Garden cities are not just housing Retail Trade: Change of Use developments: they are extremely complex infrastructure projects, and high quality proposals will take time to develop. We have had a number of positive informal Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for discussions with localities in response to our locally led Communities and Local Government (1) what types of garden cities prospectus, published in April. We expect premises will be excluded from the wider retail use class Expressions of Interest to be made formally once proposals announced in the Budget 2014; [202512] are properly worked up. (2) when he expects to consult on the review of the General Permitted Development Order announced in Planning Permission Budget 2014. [202542] Nick Boles: We will consult in due course. The Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for consultation will include proposals on the wider retail Communities and Local Government what guidance he use class announced in the Budget 2014. gives local authorities on assessing the infrastructure required for sites which are included in their site Valuation of Life and Health Interdepartmental Group allocations process; and what steps he takes if local authorities do not adhere to that guidance. [202253] Mr O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what monetary Nick Boles: The National Planning Policy Framework thresholds were applied to the cost-per-quality adjusted and our planning guidance make clear that Local Plans life year quoted in the evidence submitted as part of his should be supported by evidence to establish what level Department’s work with the Inter-departmental Group of infrastructure is needed to enable the development for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008; proposed for the area and how it will be delivered. [202428] 413W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 414W

(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of his Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Department’s submission to the inter-departmental Group International Development whether her Department’s for the Valuation of Life and Health review, including country offices are encouraged to seek the views and evidence submitted to the series of interviews with his input of people with disabilities in the design and Department’s staff conducted by researchers from the delivery of their programmes. [201772] University of Leeds and published in 2008; [201419] (3) what the explicit monetary value per quality-adjusted Lynne Featherstone: DFID recognises the importance life was in the context of the Fire and Resilience Directorate, of people with disabilities having influence in the as quoted as part his Department’s submission to the programmes and decisions which affect them. In DFID Inter-departmental Group for the Valuation of Life country offices, stakeholder engagement and participation, and Health review in 2008. [202538] including with people with disabilities, is a fundamental part of strategic decision making and programme Brandon Lewis: The information requested is not management. held by my Department. I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of State, Department Developing Countries: Trade of Health, the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb), on 26 June 2014, Official Report, column 283W, Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for which explains the historical context to this review International Development if she will make it her policy under the last Administration. to support the adoption of a target to promote an open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system that complies with the mandate for agriculture, services and non-agricultural products of INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT the World Trade Organisation Doha Round and implements the outcomes of the World Trade Organisation Bali Burma Declaration in Open Working Group negotiations on the sustainable development goals. [202219] Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of UK aid Justine Greening: As we have already made clear, the to Burma is channelled through Burmese government- UK supports a target to promote an open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading approved organisations or mechanisms. [202347] system that complies with the mandate for agriculture, Mr Duncan: The UK does not provide funding directly services and non-agricultural products of the World to the Burmese Government. We publish details of Trade Organisation Doha Round and implements the which organisations receive DFID funding, and how outcomes of the World Trade Organisation Bali much they have received, on the Declaration. This language is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs www.gov.uk of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June. Development Tracker. The UK is a firm supporter of an open, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading Developing Countries: Disability system. The UK is using its influence within the WTO to push for an achievable and pro-development outcome Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for of Doha Round negotiations, while also ensuring full International Development how many people with and swift implementation of the WTO Bali agreements. disabilities her Department aims to reach with its The final targets in the post-2015 development framework development programmes. [201770] will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active Lynne Featherstone: DFID does not disaggregate role. programme data across our portfolio. Our objective is to integrate disability into wider programming and to Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for influence partners to do more, and so the overall results International Development if she will make it her policy largely depend on the nature of the social and economic to support the adoption of a target to increase trade-related reform programmes of partner governments. capacity-building assistance to developing countries, including support for building their capacity to meet Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for product regulations and standards; and if she will take International Development in what ways her Department’s steps to enhance Aid for Trade initiatives through (a) work to give people in developing countries better access the Enhanced Integrated Framework in the Open Working to financial services takes account of (a) lack of Braille Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development facilities, (b) laws and practices discriminating against Goals and (b) other measures. [202225] people with disabilities and (c) other barriers experienced by people with disabilities. [201771] Justine Greening: As we have already made clear, the UK supports the provision of trade-related capacity- Lynne Featherstone: Our financial sector development building assistance to developing countries, and the programmes work to strengthen regulation, build importance of enhancing Aid for Trade commitments. infrastructure and improve financial capability to increase Language on this is included in the most recent draft the access of poor people, including disadvantaged goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the groups, to financial services that meet their needs. Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June. 415W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 416W

Aid for Trade is a vital ingredient for helping developing Tax Evasion countries build their capacity to trade. The UK spends around £1 billion annually on Aid for Trade, and DFID Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for is working alongside other donors, multilateral International Development if she will make it her policy organisations, and recipient countries, to enhance the to support the adoption of a target to co-operate globally effectiveness of Aid for Trade initiatives. to reduce substantially international tax evasion and The final targets in the post-2015 development framework avoidance in the Open Working Group negotiations on will however be subject to international negotiations in the Sustainable Development Goals. [202226] the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role. Justine Greening: As we have already made clear, the UK supports a target to cooperate globally to reduce Educational Testing Service substantially international tax evasion and avoidance. This language is included in the most recent draft goals Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for International and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Development what current contracts (a) her Department Working Group (OWG) on 2 June. and (b) her Department’s non-departmental public At last year’s Lough Erne G8 summit, leaders agreed body hold with the Educational Testing Service or any to introduce a new international standard of automatic of that organisation’s subsidiaries. [202172] exchange of information to help countries combat tax evasion. We are working in the G20 to develop a roadmap Lynne Featherstone: My Department has no current that identifies obstacles to developing country participation contracts with the Educational Testing Service or its in this new global standard. We are also working in the subsidiaries. G20 to identify Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation issues most relevant to developing countries and to recommend actions to address them. Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State The final targets in the post-2015 development framework for International Development what steps she is taking will however be subject to international negotiations in to ensure that there is greater equity across the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active governments in donations to the Global Alliance for role. Vaccines and Immunisations. [202200] Uganda Lynne Featherstone: The UK is the largest donor to Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the GAVI Alliance with around 32% funding share International Development what steps she is taking in during 2011-15. We wish to see the UK’s donor share response to the Ugandan anti-homosexuality act; and reduce and other donors share increase during the what steps she plans to take to encourage its repeal. GAVIAlliance’s 2016-20 strategic period. We are lobbying [202545] other donors to contribute their fair share ahead of the next replenishment pledging event in early 2015. Lynne Featherstone: We have consistently raised concerns Marie Stopes International about the legislation with the Ugandan Government at the most senior levels, and sought assurances on the protection of individuals. Most recently, the Secretary Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International of State for International Development and the Minister Development what funding her Department plans to for Africa raised the issue with the Ugandan President give to Marie Stopes International for (a) abortion, on 6 May. We will continue to press the Ugandan (b) family planning and (c) other reproductive health Government at the highest levels to defend human services in the next 12 months; what assessment she has rights for all. made of the value for money of such expenditure since June 2011; and if she will make a statement. [201697] The UK suspended all Budget Support to the Government of Uganda in 2013 following the Lynne Featherstone: The Department for International misappropriation of donor funds. After the passing of Development (DFID) will provide approximately £45.8 the Anti-Homosexuality Act we assessed our programme million to Marie Stopes International (MSI) during the to ensure that UK aid was not being provided to period 2014-15. DFID adheres to Development organisations that proactively and publically promoted Co-operation Directorate (OACD-DAC) expenditure the legislation. Following this, the UK and other donors coding requirements to allow comparison across donor suspended funding to one organisation. We will continue spending towards attainment of the millennium to monitor this situation. We are also stepping up our development goal targets. This does not include the support to human rights organisations that protect facility to calculate spend for individual components of minority rights in Uganda. sexual and reproductive health. DFID assesses the value for money (VfM) of all its expenditure through non-governmental organisations CABINET OFFICE (NGOs) on an annual basis. Every project is subject to an annual review and a judgment is made as to whether Civil Servants: Recruitment the funding is achieving good VfM. More generally, investing in reproductive, maternal and newborn health Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet is excellent value for money due to its low cost and far Office how the civil service fast stream programme is reaching benefits. promoted to students in Northern Ireland. [201730] 417W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 418W

Mr Maude: The civil service fast stream marketing Annual UK export of services and contribution to GDP 2011 to 2013 team use the careers site, advertising campaigns, on-campus Chained Volume Measure (Reference year 2010) promotions and events and social media to promote the Gross domestic civil service’s graduate development programme across product the UK. The Northern Ireland civil service is a separate (GDP) organisation from the home civil service and therefore Exports at Export of of market services employs graduates separately through the Northern services Export of prices Contribution Ireland fast stream. KTMT services ABMI GDP to GDP (£ growth (£ growth growth In 2013 the fast stream marketing team used the free million) (percentage) million) (percentage) (percentage) vacancy advertising service offered by the University of Ulster and Queen’s University Belfast to promote fast 2010 182,026 — 148,5616 — — stream opportunities. The fast stream programmes are 2011 189,128 3.9 150,2216 1.1 0.5 also advertised on graduate recruitment websites with 2012 192,123 1.6 150,6388 0.3 0.2 databases of over 700,000 students across the UK. Last 2013 192,919 0.4 153,2652 1.7 0.1 Source: October, fast stream representatives attended the Business ONS Quarterly National Account 2014 Q1 and Finance Fair at Queen’s University Belfast to generate awareness and attract talented students to the civil Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce service. Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Data Protection Report, column 147W, on Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce, for what reasons the Fraud, Error and Debt Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office Taskforce has been reconstituted; what the terms of how many assessments of (a) nuclear facilities and (b) reference and mandate for the new taskforce are; what other critical infrastructure have been undertaken against the membership of that taskforce is; and when the his Department’s information assurance maturity model; minutes of the reconstituted taskforce will be made and if he will publish all such assessments undertaken available. [202553] since May 2010. [202073] Mr Maude: Before 2010 there was no co-ordinated action to tackle fraud, error and debt across Government Mr Maude: There is ongoing work assessing and despite the significant losses to the Exchequer. In 2011 mitigating vulnerabilities in UK’s critical national alone the Annual Fraud Indicator estimated Government infrastructure. Details of this work, including any annual losses from fraud and error were over £30 billion. assessments, are classified. It is also estimated that between £7 billion and £8 Progress against the National Cyber Security Strategy billion per annum is lost through debts owed to Government is available at: not being pursued. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/uk-cyber-security- This Government established the first cross-departmental strategy-statement-on-progress-2-years-on taskforce to address this issue after the last general election. In 2012-13 the Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce reported savings and improved performance in detecting Exports and preventing fraud and error of £6.5 billion, and is overseeing initiatives to improve debt collection. Despite this progress, we know there’s much more to do. The Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office reconstituted taskforce is chaired jointly by the Cabinet what contribution intangible exports made to UK GDP Secretary and myself, and attended by senior Ministers in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [201813] and permanent secretaries, supported by industry sector experts, to ensure there is full alignment towards further Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the reducing fraud and error losses and improving debt responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have collection in benefits and tax credits. asked the authority to reply. As was the case under previous Administrations, Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2014: minutes of internal meetings are not usually disclosed. As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question Government Departments: Databases asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contribution intangible exports made to UK GDP in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet and (c) 2012-13 [201813]. Office how much was saved as a result of digitising data ONS measures UK exports of services. Exports of services records in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. cover a range of intangible products and activities and therefore [201677] will be the best estimate for intangible exports. Export of services contribution to GDP growth is shown in Mr Maude: The Government announced digital and Table 1 attached. IT savings of £0.3 billion for 2010-11, £0.2 billion for The underlying data can be found in ONS Quarterly National 2011-12, and £0.5 billion for 2012-13, against a 2009-10 Accounts which is available on the ONS website at baseline. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/naa2/quarterly-national- We don’t hold full details of the discrete savings accounts/q1-2014/index.html made by Departments in digitising their data records. 419W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 420W

Government Departments: ICT disease below the age of 40 years in each region and constituent part of the UK in each of the last 15 years. Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet [202131] Office what audit he has made of (a) ICL mainframes, (b) IBM mainframes and (c) other legacy ICT systems Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the in Government Departments and the availability of responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have skills needed to maintain them; and when each relevant asked the authority to reply. maintenance contract falls due. [202463] Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2014: As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I Mr Maude: Government Digital Service (GDS) has have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many worked to identify legacy IT equipment, which includes people died of congenital heart disease below the age of 40 in a small number of important legacy IBM and ICL each region and constituent part of the UK in each of the last 15 mainframes. To ensure these are effectively managed years. (202131) Government is creating a Crown Hosting Service, which Table 1 provides the number of deaths where the underlying is due to go live next year. cause of death was congenital heart disease for persons below the age of 40 for each region in England for the years 1998 to 2012 In many cases Departments are locked into contracts (the latest year available). signed over 10 years ago, by the previous Administration, Table 2 provides the number of deaths where the underlying which means they are dependent on suppliers to manage cause of death was congenital heart disease for persons below the these systems. age of 40 in each constituent country of the UK for the years GDS is supporting Departments to bring in new 1998 to 2012. skilled officials to address a long-standing lack of digital Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are published by skills. National Records of Scotland and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency respectively. The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each Heart Diseases year by sex, age and underlying cause, are published annually on the ONS website at: Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all- Office how many people died of congenital heart releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-27475

Table 1: Number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was congenital heart disease for persons under the age of 40, English regions, deaths registered between 1998 and 20121,2,3 Deaths (persons) Yorkshire Registration and The East West East of Year North East North West Humber Midlands Midlands England London South East South West

1998 16 36 30 26 27 32 56 34 27 1999 8 36 36 27 20 37 57 38 13 2000 13 33 36 23 25 34 46 37 22 2001 10 45 24 30 26 27 42 31 19 2002 15 30 43 16 23 22 28 36 17 2003 8 25 28 24 27 30 31 43 13 2004 11 28 31 24 28 29 33 32 17 2005 8 49 39 15 25 18 41 33 31 2006 5 27 23 15 26 18 29 34 21 2007 6 20 32 23 30 15 39 36 18 2008 5 33 20 19 25 12 27 22 13 2009 10 27 33 23 27 12 32 33 23 2010 7 40 31 20 20 18 32 18 15 2011 7 21 29 17 22 20 34 20 20 2012 9 30 23 28 29 22 28 17 10 1 Congenital heart disease was the underlying cause of death defined using the International Classification of Disease, ninth revision (ICD 9) from 1998-2000; and the tenth revision (ICD 10) from 2001. See Box 1 and Box 2 for the ICD 9 and ICD 10 codes. 2 Figures are based on boundaries as at May 2014 and exclude deaths of non-residents 3 Figures are based on deaths registered rather than deaths occurring in a calendar year. Further information on registration delays for a range of causes can be found on the ONS website: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/impact-of-registration-delays-on-mortality-statistics/index.html Table 2: Number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was congenital heart disease for persons under the age of 40, constituent countries of the UK, deaths registered between 1998 and 20121,2,3,4 Deaths (persons) Registration Year England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland

1998 284 13 55 11 1999 272 10 31 24 2000 269 12 40 14 2001 254 17 46 12 2002 230 10 35 12 2003 229 14 35 12 2004 233 12 42 12 2005 259 8 44 12 421W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 422W

Table 2: Number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was congenital heart disease for persons under the age of 40, constituent countries of the UK, deaths registered between 1998 and 20121,2,3,4 Deaths (persons) Registration Year England Wales Scotland Northern Ireland

2006 198 7 22 10 2007 219 17 33 13 2008 176 7 36 9 2009 220 13 34 9 2010 201 6 29 19 2011 190 14 33 9 2012 196 14 34 15 1 Congenital heart disease was the underlying cause of death defined using the International Classification of Disease, ninth revision (ICD 9) from 1998-2000 in England and Wales and Northern Ireland and from 1998-1999 in Scotland; and the tenth revision (ICD 10) from 2001 onwards in England and Wales and Northern Ireland and from 2000 in Scotland. See Box 1 and Box 2 for the ICD 9 and ICD 10 codes. 2 Figures are based on boundaries as at May 2014 and exclude deaths of non-residents. 3 Figures are based on deaths registered rather than deaths occurring in a calendar year. Further information on registration delays for a range of causes can be found on the ONS website: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/impact-of-registration-delays-on-mortality-statistics/index.html 4 Figures for Scotland provided by National Records of Scotland (formerly the General Register Office for Scotland) and figures for Northern Ireland provided by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Box 1: International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number used to define deaths related to congenital heart disease of claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Description ICD 10 Codes Plus Administrative system.

Congenital malformations of cardiac chambers Q20 Table 1 shows the number and proportion of people aged 18 to and connections 24 years claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, living in each region of Congenital malformations of cardiac septa Q21 the UK for May 2014, the latest period available. Congenital malformations of pulmonary and Q22 National and local area estimates for many labour market tricuspid valves statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant Congenital malformations of aortic and mitral Q23 count are available on the NOMIS website at: valves http://www.nomisweb.co.uk Other congenital malformations of heart Q24—except Q24.6 Table 1: Number of people aged 18 to 24 years claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Congenital malformations of great arteries Q25—except Q25.0 each region of the UK, May 2014 Total anomalous pulmonary venous Q26.2 Level1 Rate (percentage) connection Partial anomalous pulmonary venous Q26.3 North East 17,065 6.6 connection North West 32,165 4.7 Anomalous pulmonary venous connection, Q26.4 Yorkshire and the 29,440 5.5 unspecified Humber Other congenital malformations, not elsewhere Q89.3 East Midlands 18,505 4.2 classified - Situs inversus West Midlands 28,705 5.3 Box 2: International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes East of England 17,295 3.5 used to define deaths related to congenital heart disease London 28,830 3.6 Description ICD 9 Codes South East 19,090 2.5 Bulbus cordis anomalies and anomalies of cardiac 745 Southwest 13,835 2.9 septal closure Wales 16,465 5.5 Other congenital anomalies of heart 746 Scotland 24,455 4.8 Congenital malformations of aortic and mitral 747—except 747.0, 747.5, Northern Ireland 12,880 7.4 valves 747.6, 747.8 747.9 1 Data rounded to the nearest 5. Situs inversus 759.3 Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative System.

Jobseeker’s Allowance Ministers: Codes of Practice

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many jobseeker’s allowance claimants aged Office what rules and guidance there are on Cabinet 18 to 24 years have home addresses in each region of Members discussing matters related to their ministerial the UK; and what proportion of all young people in portfolio with members of the public who are not their each such region that figure represents. [202506] constituents at a constituency surgery or other constituency event. [202443] Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have Mr Maude: The Ministerial Code sets out the standards asked the authority to reply. of conduct expected of Ministers. Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2014: As Director General for the Office for National Statistics Respiratory System: Diseases (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseeker’s allowance claimants aged 18 to 24 years Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the have home addresses in each region of the UK; and what proportion Cabinet Office how many deaths related to respiratory of all young people in each such region that figure represents. disease there were in (a) Peterborough constituency (202506) and (b) the UK in each year since 2001. [202516] 423W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 424W

Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the Central Government Departments publish their responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have expenditure with Voluntary and Community Sector asked the authority to reply. organisations as part of their Quarterly Data Summaries Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2014: (QDS): http://www.gist.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/oscar/ As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many deaths related to respiratory disease there were in (a) Peterborough constituency and (b) the UK in each year since 2001. (202516) ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Table 1 provides the number of deaths where the underlying Billing cause of death was respiratory disease in (a) Peterborough parliamentary constituency and (b) the United Kingdom, registered in each year from 2001 to 2012 (the latest year available). Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many creditors remained Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are published by unpaid by his Department on 1 June 2014 for (a) 45 National Records of Scotland and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency respectively. days, (b) 60 days, (c) 75 days and (d) 76 days and over. [201594] The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age and underlying cause, are published annually on the ONS website at: Gregory Barker: The Department’s current accounting system recognises invoices when they are submitted if www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html? they are made out to the Department of Energy and definition=tcm%3A77-27475 Climate Change and a valid purchase order number is Table 1. Number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was respiratory provided. disease, Peterborough parliamentary constituency and the United Kingdom, deaths registered between 2001 and 20121, 2, 3 As at 1 June 2014, the following number of invoices Deaths (persons) remain unpaid: Peterborough parliamentary 45 to 60 to 76 days Registration year constituency United Kingdom Duration 59 days 74 days 75 days and over

2001 147 75,963 Number of 5704 2002 147 78,902 creditors 2003 181 84,548 Total value of 967—42 invoices unpaid 2004 137 78,155 (£000) 2005 169 81,399 2006 147 77,809 2007 159 78,388 Educational Testing Service 2008 145 81,322 2009 147 76,696 Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy 2010 138 76,064 and Climate Change what current contracts (a) his 2011 141 76,419 Department and (b) each of his Department’s Executive 2012 178 79,918 agencies or non-departmental public bodies hold with 1 Respiratory disease was the underlying cause of death defined using the the Educational Testing Service or any of that organisation’s International Classification of Disease; Tenth Revision (ICD 10) codes J00-J99. subsidiaries. [202168] 2 Figures are based on boundaries as at May 2014 3 Figures are based on deaths registered rather than deaths occurring in a calendar year. Further information on registration delays for a range of causes Gregory Barker: Neither (a) the Department of Energy can be found on the ONS website: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/ and Climate Change nor (b) its non-departmental public impact-of-registration-delays-on-mortality-statistics/index.html bodies hold any contracts with the Educational Testing Note: Service or its subsidiaries. Figures for Scotland provided by National Records of Scotland (formerly the General Register Office for Scotland) and figures for Northern Ireland provided Electricity by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Voluntary Organisations and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 14 May 2014, Official Report, column 593W, on electricity, what recent discussions he has had with the Independent Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Renewables Generators Group on the timing of the Office what estimate he has made of the (a) total value introduction of auctioning; what assessment he has of public service contracts that have been awarded to made of independent generators’ ability to raise project voluntary sector organisations in each year since 2008-09 finance against the Offtaker of Last Resort before October and (b) proportion of overall public expenditure which 2014; and if he will make a statement. [202094] was spent on public service contracts with voluntary sector organisations in the last year for which figures Michael Fallon: I met with the Independent Renewable are available. [202407] Generators Group on 24 February 2014 and discussed the introduction of auctioning for Contracts for Difference Mr Maude: Since January 2011 Government (CfDs). Departments have published information on the contracts The Offtaker of Last Resort will support independent they award on Contracts Finder: renewable generators by providing for the worst-case www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/ route-to-market, allowing generators to raise project 425W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 426W finance without necessarily having to enter long-term requirement to complete the roll-out by 2020. They are PPAs. As a result, such generators are likely only to considering a range of factors in developing their strategies need short-term PPAs in order to maximise their secured for this, such as the geographical location of their revenue and level of gearing. We are on track to deliver customers, the age of the current meter stock, and the the final policy and introduce enabling regulations ahead extent to which they wish to respond to customer of first allocation of CfDs. CfD applicants will, therefore, demand. have a high degree of clarity about the arrangements for OLR in advance of the first auctions. Fracking Electricity Generation David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the is taking to simplify regulations applying to the UK’s total amount of available coal-fired electricity shale gas industry. [202356] generation capacity in the UK in each year up to 2030. [202029] Michael Fallon: The Department works closely with the relevant regulators and industry to ensure that the Michael Fallon: The Electricity Market Reform (EMR) regulatory system is as streamlined as possible, while Delivery Plan published in December 2013 included an remaining robust enough to safeguard public safety and estimate for the total amount of available coal-fired the environment. electricity generation capacity in Great Britain in each In order to help companies navigate our regulatory year to 2030. It is available at: system, the Department published in December a https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Regulatory Roadmap setting out all the regulations that attachment_data/file/268221/181213_2013_EMR_Delivery_ applies to shale at the exploration stage. Plan_FINAL.pdf We have already reduced unnecessary duplication in Total coal-fired capacity (GW) the regulatory system for shale gas, clarifying and streamlining the regulation of exploration activity through 2014 20 the Environment Agency, including developing a single 2015 18 application form for permits. The average waiting time 2016 18 for environmental permits for onshore oil and gas is 2017 18 eight to nine weeks. We will introduce standard rules 2018 18 environmental permits later this year cutting permitting 2019 15 times for low risk activities to two to four weeks. 2020 12 The Department of Communities and Local 2021 12 Government published planning guidance for onshore 2022 12 oil & gas projects last July, which makes clear that 2023 9 planning authorities when assessing applications should 2024 9 assume that the environmental and health and safety 2025 8 regulatory regimes operate effectively rather than duplicating 2026 8 effort. 2027 7 We are also consulting on proposals designed to 2028 7 simplify current procedures for obtaining access to 2029 5 underground land. This consultation is open until 15 August 2030 2 2014 and, subject to the outcome of the consultation, Note: could lead to legislative proposals. Based on a scenario of average carbon intensity of electricity generation of 100g CO /kWh in 2030. 2 Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy: Meters Energy and Climate Change how many hydraulic fracturing licences are pending approval in (a) England, (b) Lancashire and (c) Hyndburn constituency. [202358] Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to which geographical areas the Michael Fallon: There is no ″hydraulic fracturing roll-out programme for smart meters will extend; and licence″. DECC issues petroleum exploration and when their programme will happen in each area. development licences (PEDLs). However, PEDLs are [202159] not specific to shale gas and do not give permission for operations, but grant exclusivity to licensees in relation Gregory Barker: In Great Britain, we are adopting a to hydrocarbons (including shale gas but also other supplier-led approach to the roll-out of smart meters. forms) within a particular area. All operations, such as Energy suppliers are required to take ’all reasonable drilling, hydraulic fracturing or production, however steps’ to install smart meters to all of their domestic require planning permission, and applications are subject and smaller non-domestic customers in Wales, England to public consultation. They also require access agreement and Scotland by 2020. with relevant landowner(s), Environment Agency permits, There is no centralised roll-out strategy and suppliers HSE scrutiny, and DECC consent before operations are free to plan the roll-out in a way that suits their can commence. DECC is not currently considering any business and the needs of their customers, subject to the applications for hydraulic fracturing in the UK. 427W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 428W

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Michael Fallon: Recent changes in the estimated costs of Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to dealing with legacy radioactive waste and decommissioning ensure that the risk of flooding is taken into account in announced in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s any potential shale gas sites. [202369] Annual Report and Accounts for 2013-14 are due in their entirety to the decommissioning programme at Michael Fallon: Any development (including a shale Sellafield. These costs should not be used as a guide to gas site) that is planned near a main river or a flood costs of decommissioning modern nuclear reactor sites. defence (including a sea defence) will require a flood The vast majority of the liability at Sellafield is a result defence consent from the Environment Agency. The of the cold war military programme on that site, dating Environment Agency is a statutory consultee in the back to the 1940s, and the very early days of the civil planning process and can object to any development nuclear industry, dating back to the 1950s and 1960s. that they consider to be at high risk of flooding. The These historic facilities were built extremely rapidly to Environment Agency will continue to assess each site very different quality and safety standards compared on a case by case basis and work with operators and with nuclear plants constructed today and without plans local planning to ensure sites are protected from flood for how they would be ultimately decommissioned, risk. These facilities present a unique decommissioning challenge requiring a complex suite of engineering projects in Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for order to first gain access to their waste inventory before Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to retrieving and then treating this material ready for ensure that the views of homeowners are taken into long-term disposal. The activity required to decommission account before any change in existing trespass legislation these facilities at Sellafield bears no relation to the work to allow for horizontal shale gas drilling. [202450] required to decommission modern nuclear facilities. Operators of nuclear power stations being constructed Michael Fallon: We are currently running a 12-week under the Government’s new build programme are required consultation on proposals for underground drilling access to publish plans detailing how these facilities will be for shale gas, oil and geothermal energy. Home owners decommissioned and the operators themselves are liable are invited to take part in this consultation, and can for the costs associated with this decommissioning work. respond by post, e-mail or by using our online portal. The Government will not make a decision on this issue until we have analysed the consultation responses. This Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy feedback may help to refine the existing proposal, develop and Climate Change with reference to the Nuclear an alternative proposal or convince the Government Decommissioning Authority’s Annual Report and Accounts that the existing system is fit for purpose. for 2013-14, published on 23 June 2014, what estimate he has made of the additional cost to the public purse In addition to the consultation, we have engaged with arising from the increased cost on an undiscounted groups or organisations that represent home owners. basis of legacy radioactive waste and nuclear plant We held workshops in February and March this year, commissioning announced in that report. [202282] which were attended by representative groups such as the Country Landowner’s Association, the National Farmers Union and a number of local authorities and Michael Fallon: As reported in the Nuclear elected representatives. Decommissioning Authority’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2013-14, the Nuclear Provision (the estimated cost Natural Resources: South East to complete the decommissioning of all 17 sites in the authority’s estate) is now calculated as £65 billion on a David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for discounted basis (£110 billion undiscounted). These Energy and Climate Change when he expects to costs will be borne in their entirety by the public purse. publish the British Geological Survey’s assessment of the hydrocarbon resources in the Weald area of the south of England. [202357] Performance Appraisal Michael Fallon: The British Geological Survey Weald Basin Report has been published and can be viewed at the following link: Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for http://www.bgs.ac.uk/shalegas/ Energy and Climate Change what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department Nuclear Power Stations received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14. [202054] Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Nuclear Gregory Barker: In DECC, the staff declaration rate Decommissioning Authority’s Annual Report and Accounts for disability is: for 2013-14, published on 23 June 2014, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on the 5.7% have declared they have a disability; evaluation of proposals for funded radioactive waste 70.6% have declared they do not have a disability; and decommissioning plans presented to him by private nuclear operators of the recent increase in the cost of 23.7% have not declared their disability status. dealing with legacy radioactive waste and decommissioning The 2013-14 performance ratings breakdown for these announced in that report. [202280] groups is shown in the following table. 429W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 430W

Children: Maintenance Percentage Declared Declared do Disability have a not have a status not Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for disability disability declared Work and Pensions how many people in Preston are in 1. SCS, Top; AO-G6, 12.2 27.1 22.5 arrears to the Child Support Agency. [202490] Exceptional performance 2. SCS, Achieving; AO-G6, 70.7 67.5 70.7 Steve Webb: Information on the number of people in Effective performance Preston in arrears could not be provided without exceeding 3. SCS, Low; AO-G6, Need 17.1 5.5 6.8 for improvement/developing the disproportionate cost limit. This is because we would need to check individual cases as a parent can have more than one case. Sellafield As of March 2014, there were 3,1901 Child Support Agency cases in arrears in the local authority of Preston. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy 1 Figure rounded to the nearest 10. and Climate Change what the evidential basis was for the statement made by his Department’s Parliamentary Crisis Loans Under-Secretary of State in her foreword to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s Annual Report Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Accounts for 2013-14, issued on 23 June 2014, that and Pensions what the average loan award made for the the continuation of Nuclear Management Partner’s purpose of paying rent in advance was in the last year contract to manage the Sellafield site offers the of operation of crisis loans. [201696] potential of stability and focus on the priorities during a vital five-year period in the history of Sellafield as it transitions from an operational plant into a fully- Steve Webb: Crisis loans may have been awarded for more than one purpose (for example rent in advance fledged decommissioning site. [202281] and living expenses). The Department does not hold the data to accurately calculate the average award made Michael Fallon: The decision on contract extension solely for the purpose of rent in advance. was for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in line with its duties and responsibilities under the Energy Act Disability Living Allowance 2004. The Department has oversight of all NDA activity and, given the particular importance of Sellafield, officials were closely involved throughout the contract review. Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for From this we were assured that the NDA reached its Work and Pensions how many people with chronic decision based on a thorough and independent review conditions have been reassessed as eligible for higher-rate of performance in the first period of the contract and disability living allowance in each of the last five years. consideration of all the options available to it. Ministers [202040] endorsed the NDA Board’s decision to extend the contract for a second term on the basis that rolling the contract Mike Penning: We do not hold the information requested. forward represented the best way forward, giving the opportunity for NMP to build on progress made to EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer date, address weaker areas of performance and make Affairs Council further real progress in this next five year term. Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions officials from his Department had with the Northern Ireland devolved WORK AND PENSIONS administration ahead of the informal Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council on Access to Work Programme 29-30 April 2014. [201722]

Esther McVey: The devolved Administrations are Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for always consulted on any European dossier deposited Work and Pensions how many complaints his with the Cabinet Office that is subject to parliamentary Department has received on the Access to Work scrutiny. While social security is devolved to the Northern scheme in each of the last five years. [202349] Ireland Assembly, International Relations are an excepted matter under the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Mike Penning: Access to Work complaints are handled in accordance with the DWP two-tier complaints process. Influenza The figures that are available since the introduction of that process are shown in the following table. Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Customer complaints received Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 19 June Number of complaints 2014, Official Report, columns 703-04W, on influenza, 2011-12 (Q4 only) 121 whether the same experiment would be allowed to take place in the UK. [201666] 2012-13 75 2013-14 157 Mike Penning: The information is not available. 431W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 432W

Jobcentre Plus Mike Penning: The information you have requested is not currently available. Statistics on clearance times are Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for intended for future publication but releasing them at Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 12 June this stage would give an incorrect representation of the 2014, Official Report, column 247W, on Jobcentre Plus, process since the system has not yet reached maturity, whether Jobcentre Plus is required to obtain the and further quality assurance of the data is required. consent of a voluntary employment support project which receives no statutory funding before issuing a Separated People: Advisory Services jobseeker’s direction requiring a jobseeker’s allowance claimant’s engagement with that project. [202540] Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department has spent on Esther McVey: In return for receiving benefits we developing the Sorting Out Separation web app; how expect jobseekers to do everything they can to find many people are actively using that app; what the cost work. This could include engaging with an employment is per user of the app; what assessment he has made of support project. We expect districts to work in partnership the value for money of the app; and what steps he plans with organisations that offer opportunities which will to take to ensure that future online development in this help improve a claimant’s employment prospects, but area represents good value for money. [201856] they are not legally obliged to gain their consent before issuing a Jobseeker’s Direction. Steve Webb: The costs of the Sorting out Separation Jobseeker’s Allowance web app are £417,500 to date. This includes initial build, maintenance and development, hosting, videos and promotion. Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department Contracts and services for Sorting out Separation has made of the skills level of jobseeker’s allowance have been procured using the online ‘Contracts Finder’ claimants aged between (a) 18 and 21 and (b) 22 and and CloudStore (‘G Cloud’ framework). Both of these 24 years. [202507] are flexible, low-cost methods of commissioning, which has enabled the Department to maintain a strong focus Esther McVey: All jobseekers are assessed at the on value for money from initial development to live beginning of their claim to jobseeker’s allowance for running. potential skills needs that are a barrier to them finding As of 31 May 2014 there were 180,000 visitors to work. Where a skills need is identified, claimants are Sorting out Separation, which equates to an approximate referred to courses. cost per user of £2.30. We have commissioned work on This Government is committed to ensuring jobseekers search engine optimisation to maximise awareness and have the skills they need to get into work. In 2012-13 usage and we anticipate that this will sharply reduce the 171,100 young people aged 19 to 24 and claiming benefit cost per user in due course. started a learning course, an increase of 30% over 2011-12. Social Security Benefits

National Insurance Contributions Office: Newcastle Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Upon Tyne and Pensions what estimate he has made of changes in the cost to the public purse of benefits payments as a Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for result of changes in employment levels since May 2010. Work and Pensions where the boundaries lie of the [201904] geographical area served by national insurance services at Newcastle’s Jobcentre Plus. [201754] Esther McVey: Since 2010-11 expenditure on benefits and tax credits paid to people not in work has fallen in Esther McVey: The boundaries are defined by postcodes real terms from £43.2 billion to £42.2 billion in 2013-14, and geographical areas served by national insurance and is forecast to fall further, to £40.6 billion this year. services at Newcastle’s Jobcentre Plus are: This is due to a combination of factors including welfare TS1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, reform, changes to benefits and significant employment 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 growth. The number of people in work has risen by 1.7 DL1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 million since 2010, and the number of people claiming DH1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 the main out of work benefits has fallen by over 700,000. SR1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 NE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of NE38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 61, 62, 63, 64, the reasons for regional variations in the number of 65, 66, 67, 68, 69. sanctions issued to benefit claimants by job centres. [201924] Personal Independence Payment Esther McVey: Local and district management are David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for responsible for ensuring Jobcentre Plus staff apply labour Work and Pensions what the average length of time market conditionality fairly and consistently and to taken to settle a personal independence payment claim make sure referrals to decision makers are appropriate is. [202222] and of consistently good quality. 433W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 434W

Decisions are subject to quality assurance process to pay rent to their landlords. We make an initial judgment ensure that decision makers continuously apply the law on each claim as to whether the claimant is at risk of fairly and consistency. default. If so we can put them on managed payments immediately.Any representations received from the landlord Unemployment: Brighton will be taken into account when reaching this judgment. If it is decided to pay the rent direct to the claimant Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work then we have two safeguards in place. First, we will and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to review our initial decision if we are advised that arrears tackle (a) unemployment and (b) youth unemployment have reached the equivalent of one month’s rent. Second, in the Brighton, Kemptown constituency; and if he will if direct payments have continued, we will move to make a statement. [201618] payment to the landlord if we are advised that arrears have reached the equivalent of two months’ rent. Esther McVey: Jobcentre Work Coaches offer all claimants tailored support from day one of their claim, Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for which includes skills provision, job search support and Work and Pensions (1) when the IT system being work experience opportunities. developed by his Department for universal credit will Those at risk of long-term unemployment are given be fully operating; [202350] personalised support through the Work programme. (2) when the IT system developed by his Department Jobseekers returning from the Work programme will get for universal credit will be fully operating; and when this extra support through our new Help to Work scheme system will start to be decommissioned to make way for Work experience and Sector Based Work Academies the digital solution developed by the Cabinet Office. participants also get additional help with internet access, [202458] help with job search in the form of mock interviews, CV construction and job and apprenticeship applications. Esther McVey: As part of the wider transformation in the development of digital services, the Department Also, the work coaches have an information event on will further develop the work completed jointly with the 2 July 2014 arranged in conjunction with Brighton and Government Digital Service to test and implement an Hove city council and the Youth Employability Service enhanced digital service. This enhanced digital service to bring together local employers, apprenticeship providers will integrate work and benefits activity allowing us to and young people. deliver the full scope of universal credit for all claimant Over the last year we have seen the total number of types. people claiming JSA fall by over 600 in Brighton, Our single target operating model sets out how we Kemptown and the 18-24 claimant count has fallen by will transform our approach and ways of working to 165 over the same period. This is a sign that the ultimately make the universal credit service fully available Government’s long-term economic plan is working. online. Where it is both practical and operationally Universal Credit sensible to do so, we will integrate together the enhanced digital service with the existing universal credit service. We expect an early version of the digital service to be Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work introduced to a limited number of claimants and staff and Pensions in which (a) areas and (b) jobcentre plus by the end of 2014. offices universal credit will be available to couples in (i) June, (ii) July and (iii) August 2014. [202153] Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2014, Esther McVey: Universal credit will accept claims Official Report, column 174W,on universal credit, whether from couples from 30 June in the London borough of he has approved the Department for Work and Pensions’ Hammersmith and Fulham, Rugby, Harrogate, Bath, business case for the implementation of universal credit. and the Highland Council of Scotland. Claims will be received via Jobcentre Plus offices in Hammersmith, [202461] Rugby, Harrogate, Bath and Inverness. Claims from couples will be gradually rolled out in the north-west of Esther McVey: The Chief Secretary to the Treasury England from summer 2014 onwards. has approved the UC Strategic Outline Business Case plans for the remainder of this Parliament (2014-15) as per the ministerial announcement (5 December 2013, Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work Official Report, column 65WS)—link to WMS: and Pensions if he will estimate the number of cases of a local authority paying a landlord directly because a http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/ tenant who receives universal credit was more than cmhansrd/cm131205/wmstext/ eight weeks behind on rent payments; and what steps 131205m0001.htm#column_65ws his Department has taken to (a) encourage tenants in receipt of universal credit to pay rent on time and (b) tackle repeated non-payment of rent by universal credit CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT claimants. [202218] Arts: North West Steve Webb: Housing payments are not administered by local authorities under universal credit. All claimants Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for in universal credit are offered practical help and advice Culture, Media and Sport which arts organisations and on budgeting and money management early on in their events in the North West he has visited since his claim alongside being advised of their responsibility to appointment. [202151] 435W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 436W

Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media Public Libraries and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Sajid Javid), has visited the following Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for organisations and attended following events in the North Culture, Media and Sport (1) what proportion of library West since his appointment: users reported success in obtaining a specific book in Mellor Mill, Stockport (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14; Lady Lever Art Gallery, the Wirral [201600] Tate Liverpool (2) what proportion of requests for books were met Merseyside Maritime Museum within (a) seven, (b) 15 and (c) 30 days in (i) 2010-11, International Festival of Business, Liverpool (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14; [201601] Broadband: South East (3) what the aggregate opening hours per 1,000 population were for all public libraries in (a) 2010-11, Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14. [201602] Culture, Media and Sport what progress he has made on improving the availability of superfast broadband in Mr Vaizey: The detail requested is not held centrally (a) the Thames Valley and (b) Windsor constituency. by this Department, nor is it collected by the Chartered [201678] Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy as part of the annual public library statistics provided by individual Mr Vaizey: I can confirm that the Berkshire broadband library authorities. project was allocated £2.03 million, which was matched by the Berkshire councils, the project signed its supplier Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, contract on 4 October 2013 and is proposing to make Media and Sport what recent steps he has taken to available superfast broadband to over 17,000 premises provide more business resources in libraries. [201676] that would not otherwise have got it. Ofcom monitors and reports on broadband and the Mr Vaizey: The Enterprising Libraries programme, a table is of Next Generation Access availability across £1.2 million partnership between Arts Council England, Berkshire between 2012 and 2013: the British Library and the Department for Communities and Local Government, is supporting local economic Percentage growth by turning libraries into spaces for the development Local authorities 2012 2013 of business ideas, providing coaching, advice, meeting Bracknell Forest 76.8 96.2 spaces and IT support for local businesses and Reading 92.9 95.0 entrepreneurs. Currently 16 public libraries in England Slough 91.7 96.6 are actively engaged in the programme and receiving West Berkshire 59.5 65.1 financial support. Windsor and 83.1 89.7 Other specific initiatives being delivered through public Maidenhead libraries includes the Access to Research service. This Wokingham 87.3 92.5 two year pilot commenced in January 2014 and provides Berkshire 81.7 88.5 a free service enabling local libraries to provide users with access to a wealth of research, including business Film information. In addition, library authorities are developing business resources to meet local needs. Staffordshire for Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for example has introduced Start2, a service that is available Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made in all public libraries across the county and has trained of the total value to the economy of the sale of UK staff offering information and signposting on all aspects film productions to foreign distributors in each year of looking for and finding work, including providing a since 2005. [202160] starting point for entrepreneurs who want to start their Mr Vaizey: The sale of UK film productions to own business and small enterprises looking to expand foreign distributors is captured by the ONS International by signposting them to relevant sources of information Trade in Services Survey within “royalties” in aggregate or specialist organisations. film industry estimates. The BFI Statistical Yearbook presents data broken down as royalties shown in the Tourism: Yorkshire and the Humber following table. However, royalties also include items beyond the sale of international film distribution rights, Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for and cover all income obtained from the use of UK Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department talent such as rights to use franchises, copyrights, licenses, has made of the contribution of (a) Yorkshire and the patents and trademarks. Humber, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) Harrogate and Film industry exports Knaresborough constituency to the UK’s tourism economy. £ million [201903] 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Mrs Grant: The latest regional-breakdown estimates Royalties 660 582 646 792 935 1,565 1,199 792 from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), published Film 307 330 403 549 541 541 540 550 on 20 February 2014, show that in 2011 tourism in production services Yorkshire and the Humber directly contributed a gross Total 967 912 1,049 1,341 1,476 2,106 1,739 1,342 value-added (GVA)of around £2.6 billion to the economy. Source: This is 5.3% of the UK’s tourism economy, which is ONS ITIS Survey valued in this study at £48.7 billion. The same estimates 437W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 438W show that North Yorkshire contributed a GVA of £0.89 As published in April 2014 in the Independent Farming billion, which represents 1.8% of the UK’s tourism Regulation Task Force report, incorporating earned economy. We do not have an estimate of the contribution recognition into dairy hygiene inspections has reduced of the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency to the number of FSA inspections taking place on dairy the UK’s tourism economy. farms by over 8,000 per year. 14 out of 31 on-farm inspection regimes incorporate an element of earned recognition and, overall, we are removing £13 of compliance costs for every pound added. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS We know that we have to continue to build on this good work and have further to go. Agricultural Products: Exports Agriculture: Finance Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State he is making in increasing exports of UK agricultural for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much produce; and if he will make a statement. [201943] his Department spent on business support to farmers, George Eustice: The Government and industry first excluding common agricultural policy payments in launched the joint Food and Drink International Action each financial year since 2010-11. [201946] plan in 2012 and a refreshed plan last October. The plan commits us to deliver £500 million of value to the UK George Eustice: The Department spent £14.8 million economy by supporting 1,000 companies by October in 2013-14 on support to farmers through specific grants. 2015. In 2013, exports of UK food and drink reached This excludes common agricultural policy payments. £18.9 billion from £18.2 billion in 2012. In 2013, we Figures relating to the three previous financial years opened 112 markets for animals and animal products, would be available only at disproportionate cost. helping increase exports to non-EU markets by £179 million to £1.35 billion. This year, we have opened 54 Agriculture: Research new markets for animals and animal products. The Government has been successful in breaking Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State down restrictions relating to BSE to provide greater for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much opportunities to increase beef and lamb exports. Following his Department spent on agricultural research in each lifting of the BSE ban by the US earlier this year, financial year since 2010-11. [201937] enabling export of beef once technical negotiations have been concluded, a memorandum of understanding George Eustice: The agricultural science research and on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies has been development budget for the Department for Environment, agreed with China providing a framework for negotiations. Food and Rural Affairs was £53 million in 2010-11, Once opened, these markets could be worth up to £181 £55 million in 2011-12, £55 million in 2012-13 and million per annum. The Government and industry continue £47 million in 2013-14. to work together to increase food and drink exports. Agriculture: Somerset Agriculture: Bureaucracy Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans assessment he has made of the effect on UK food he has to reduce regulation in the agricultural industry; production of the recent flooding in Somerset; and if and if he will make a statement. [201927] he will make a statement. [201929] George Eustice: DEFRA has taken a number of steps Dan Rogerson: DEFRA officials have commissioned to reduce regulation in the agricultural industry. In an analysis of the economic impact of the recent floods January 2014, DEFRA announced proposals under the on English farm businesses. The report is being finalised red tape challenge agriculture theme to scrap or improve and will be published in due course. I shall place a copy 56% of the 516 regulations reviewed. in the Library of the House. DEFRA is carrying out a thorough review of the visits made by DEFRA and its regulators with the aim Air Pollution of significantly reducing the burden on generally compliant farmers and concentrating enforcement action on those Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for with a history of non-compliance. We expect to achieve Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy this through improved targeting of visits, stopping is on the introduction of further low emission zones unnecessary checks or visits and sharing data between outside London to reduce the levels of nitrogen dioxide regulators. air pollution in ambient air. [201995] The agricultural industry will also benefit from our review of guidance and data. Our target is to make all Dan Rogerson: The Government has funded a number DEFRA and its regulators’ guidance simple, quick and of local authorities outside London to investigate the clear, with an ambition to reduce the volume by over feasibility of low emission zones (LEZs) within their 80% by March 2015. For data reporting we are aiming areas, through the annual Air Quality Grant Scheme to reduce the time that businesses spend on reporting targeted at reducing levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) data by 20% by March 2016. and accelerating compliance with EU limit values. 439W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 440W

This ongoing support is focused on addressing barriers Flood Control: Thames Gateway and looking for practical options for putting in place NO2-related LEZs and similar measures. Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for his Department spent on flood defences in the Thames Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local Gateway in each of the last 15 years for which figures authorities have been sent letters indicating that they are available. [201973] may have to pay part or all of the fines arising from infraction proceedings following the European Court of Justice’s finding against the UK for breach of Dan Rogerson: The annual totals fluctuate depending nitrogen dioxide limit values under the EU Air Quality on local need for investment in particular projects and the level of funding available. The table below shows Directive. [201997] capital expenditure on flood and coastal erosion risk management within the Thames Gateway area between Dan Rogerson: In March this year, DEFRA sent 2008-09 and 2013-14. Figures for earlier years are not letters to all local authorities in England to inform them available. of the Commission’s decision to commence infraction procedures against the UK for non-compliance with The figures in the table include Government flood defence grant in aid, local levy (raised by regional flood NO2 limit values, what it means and the next steps that should be taken by the Government in response. As and coastal committees from councils) and contributions part of this, local authorities were reminded of the from other public and private sources spent on projects discretionary power in Part 2 of the Localism Act carried out by the Environment Agency and by local under which the Government could require responsible authorities in the area. authorities to pay all or part of an infraction fine. The figures in the table do not include revenue costs, such as staff salaries and the routine river maintenance Bovine Tuberculosis programmes or region-wide projects and programmes, such as flood and coastal erosion risk management strategies and reservoir inspection programmes. Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many herd Thames Gateway area owners have (a) failed to complete TB surveillance tests £000 on time and (b) received reductions in their Single 2008-09 17,975 Payment Scheme payments since the introduction of a 2009-10 35,342 revised TB testing regime in January 2014. [202181] 2010-11 29,907 George Eustice: Owners of cattle herds are given a 2011-12 13,740 two or three month window to complete their TB 2012-13 10,583 surveillance tests, depending on whether they are subject 2013-14 13,558 to annual or four yearly surveillance testing. The enhanced Total 121,105 cross compliance rule for overdue surveillance tests applies to cattle keepers with a testing window that The Thames Gateway area in this table includes started on or after 1 January 2014. In April 2014 (the expenditure on tidal defences in Barking and Dagenham, most recent date for which we have data) 264 herd the outer Thames estuary in Essex, the Thames and owners had failed to complete their TB tests on time, Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee’s which compares to 689 overdue tests in April 2013. All area, including Kent, the Environment Agency’s Thames of these herd owners who are Common Agricultural Barrier team areas. Policy scheme recipients will be liable to reductions in their payments once these become due, unless they can show that the late testing was beyond their control. Floods

Flood Control: Lake District Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for contribution by the Prime Minister of 18 June 2014, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if his Department Official Report, column 1116W, what extra resource his will assess the viability of limiting the extraction of Department will provide to deal with extended eligibility water from Windermere and Ullswater only when flow for claims made under the (a) Farming Recovery Fund levels are high to reduce the risk of over-extraction and and (b) support for fishermen schemes. [201507] flood control. [202031] George Eustice: The Prime Minister in his comments Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency limits United mentioned looking at the eligibility for grants for those Utilities to abstracting water from Windermere and who had suffered from the winter flooding to earlier Ullswater to periods when there is adequate flow in the flooding incidents, and we are doing so. The Government downstream rivers. Recent studies of Windermere and has provided a number of funding support mechanisms Ullswater have concluded that both abstraction licences for those affected by the winter floods. Because of their are sustainable. Current abstraction levels would not origin as EU grant schemes, neither of the two grants have a material impact on flood risk as the total daily which are referred to here, the Farming Recovery Fund abstraction would only equate to approximately 1% of and the European Fisheries Fund, are open to extending the flow during a flood. eligibility. 441W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 442W

Food Supply We are also improving public procurement of food and catering services so that it contributes to a competitive Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State UK food and farming sector. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many To help UK producers grasp opportunities on the weeks supply of food stocks are routinely stored within global market, DEFRA and UKTI launched the the UK. [201926] ‘International Export Action Plan’ and ‘Food is GREAT’ campaign. The Export Action Plan outlines an ambitious George Eustice: The Government does not hold stocks target, jointly agreed by Government and industry, to of food. The UK Food Security Assessment, published help 1,000 UK food and drink companies with their in 2010 and subsequently reviewed biennially, is an international growth by October 2015, adding a further evidence based analysis of our food security looking £500 million to the economy. DEFRA Ministers are ahead ten years. The assessment considers the global working hard to personally visit priority overseas markets, context to UK food security as well as the resilience of champion the best of British food and break down UK food supply chains, and concludes that the UK has barriers to trade. good levels of resilience based on diverse sources of supply as well as strong domestic production. The holding Forests: Huntingdon of stockpiles of food is not considered to be a valid indicator of food security. Mr Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which areas of for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment forestry and woodland in Huntingdon constituency are he has made of the effectiveness of the role of British classed by his Department as ancient woodland. agriculture in supporting national food security; and if [201987] he will make a statement. [201928] Dan Rogerson: Of the 1,721.9 hectares of woodland George Eustice: The UK currently has a high degree identified within the Huntingdon constituency, 540.5 of food security in terms of access, availability, resilience hectares (1.6% of land within the constituency or 31.4% and variety of food supply. The evidence for this is in of woodland within the constituency) is classed as the UK Food Security Assessment, published in 2010, ancient woodland. which analysed the different factors impacting on UK There are 45 discrete areas of ancient woodland in food supply. UK food security is built on a strong food the Huntingdon constituency. 29 are located in the production base in the UK and access to a wide variety western arm of the constituency to the west of the A1, of markets through the EU and an open, rules-based mainly around Grafham Water. The others are mostly world trading system. in two pockets: in the southern arm of the constituency Secure food supplies are derived from being fully to the west of Great Gransden; and in the far north side integrated into a well-functioning and transparent global of the constituency north of Alconbury. market, not just relying on UK production. Reduced A map showing the location of the ancient woodland access to global markets would heighten supply vulnerability has been placed in the House Library. in the event of emergencies such as poor weather, which negatively affect domestic production. Kielder Dam Improvements in productivity which lead to the UK increasing its domestic production will benefit the food chain and the UK economy more generally and are Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for welcome, but are not alone sufficient to guarantee food Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if his Department security. will assess the viability of using Kielder Water as a water source and linking it to the national water grid. Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State [202032] for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to improve the UK’s food production to Dan Rogerson: We have been working closely with supply ratio; and if he will make a statement. [201947] Ofwat and the Environment Agency to consider how we can promote connectivity in our water supply system of George Eustice: We are working with farmers, food which the establishment of a national water grid is only and drink manufacturers and retailers to ensure the UK one option. The infrastructure investment needed for a has the right climate to attract increased inward investment grid is considerable. Water is also heavy, difficult and and to enable UK producers to grow and compete on costly to move. Relatively local connections are likely to global and domestic markets. be the best options, incrementally building a wider and To support the agricultural industry to improve more integrated network. productivity and competitiveness, the Government is Water companies are already joining up sources of investing £160 million in an industry-led UK Strategy supply to build resilience and are strongly encouraged for Agricultural Technologies. Other activities in support to consider options for interconnections in their Water of the food and drink sector include: enabling consumers Resources Management Plans (WRMP), alongside other to select British products through country of origin options, such as demand management. All water companies labelling; working with individual sectors, such as dairy have statutory WRMPs, which look ahead at least and livestock, to increase their competitiveness; and 25 years. The Water Act 2014 includes provisions that supporting industry activities to develop a skilled workforce will make it easier for water companies to make bulk and increase innovation. supply arrangements between their networks. 443W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 444W

Kielder Water has a very large capacity and offers Rain Forests: Conservation security of supply to customers in the Northumbrian Water Limited operating area. Other water companies Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State outside the area have investigated ways of using Kielder for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps as part of their 2014 WRMPs. The water companies his Department is taking to raise awareness about steps found that local solutions offered better value for both to protect and preserve rainforests worldwide. [202454] customers and the environment. Dan Rogerson: DEFRA is the UK competent authority Meat Products: China for the European Timber Regulation (EUTR) and the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Regulation, which are designed to counter illegal logging Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what his and help protect rainforests. Information on both is Department’s priorities are in the negotiations with published on DEFRA’s Central Point of Expertise for China concerning the export of meat products other Timber Procurement (CPET). Information on EUTR is than pork; [201774] also published on gov.uk. The National Measurement Office, which enforces EUTR and FLEGT on DEFRA’s (2) what progress the Government has made in its behalf, speaks at numerous events at which it raises negotiations with China on the export of meat awareness of the legislation. products other than pork. [201773] DEFRA is responsible for £140 million of the George Eustice: Securing access to Chinese markets International Climate Fund (ICF) dedicated to international for a range of UK products is a key priority in the forestry projects. Our ICF spending so far has targeted Government and industry’s Export Action Plan. In rainforest deforestation in Brazil and contributed towards addition to our interests on pork, we are working the World Bank’s Biocarbon Fund. Case studies of ICF closely with industry and the Chinese authorities to projects are described on gov.uk, and details of ICF advance negotiations on the export conditions for poultry spending are made available through the International meat. This trade could be worth up to £70 million a Aid Transparency Initiative. year. Sharks Over the longer term, we are working to secure market access for beef and lamb exports to China Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State estimated to be worth up to £120 million a year. We for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what have recently agreed a Memorandum of Understanding statistics his Department collects on shark populations with the Chinese authorities and this formally initiates in and near UK waters. [202455] the detailed technical negotiations. This development has been widely welcomed by industry, and while the George Eustice: DEFRA continues to fund the collection negotiations are likely to take some time we will seek to of biological, distribution, and abundance data on sharks conclude them as quickly as we can. through dedicated fisheries surveys. We also work very We are also pressing for early agreement on exports closely with non-governmental organisations, such as of UK poultry meat and have invited the Chinese the Shark Trust, which also keep valuable records. authorities to conduct an inward inspection visit as soon as possible. I would encourage any plant interested Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State in exporting to China to ensure it complies fully with for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will Chinese requirements before any inspection visit. assess the chance of a possible increase in shark The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and numbers in and near UK waters as a result of climate Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for change. [202456] North Shropshire (Mr Paterson) intends to visit China again this year to advance these and other UK market George Eustice: DEFRA continues to collect data on access interests. the distribution and abundance of sharks through dedicated fisheries surveys. This and all other relevant information Performance Appraisal will contribute to future assessments of the state of UK seas and our progress towards achieving Good Environmental Status as required under the Marine Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Strategy Framework Directive. Such assessments will Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion take into account climate change. of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating Timber: Trade in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14. [202055] Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will meet Dan Rogerson: Core DEFRA outcomes for the environmental groups and specialists in the field to performance assessment period 2013-14 are currently discuss the trade of legal hardwood timber and associated being analysed. environmental concerns. [202453] The information, which forms part of a wider Performance Management diversity analysis, will be Dan Rogerson: DEFRA recently hosted a stakeholder published, no later than January 2015, as part of the event on the European Timber Regulation and the annual Workforce Monitoring Report under the Public Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Sector Equality Duty. Regulations, at which Lord de Mauley met interested 445W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 446W parties, including several NGOs. Next month he will be defines surplus land; and what land held by his speaking at a launch event for WWF’s major upcoming Department’s non-departmental public bodies can be timber campaign, which will be another chance to so described. [202508] engage directly with a range of interested parties. As responsible Minister, Lord de Mauley would be happy to consider any invitations to meetings on this Dan Rogerson: The Department defines surplus land subject. as land surplus to its business requirements. Vacant Land The following table sets out land held by the Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Department’s Non-departmental public bodies that is Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how his Department surplus as at 23 June 2014.

Department ALB (if relevant) Asset name Asset address

DEFRA EA Haven River: Former Mussel Washing Plant Cut End Road, Boston, Lincolnshire DEFRA EA Trentside Offices-Freehold Land Trentside North, West Bridgford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire DEFRA EA River Welland, Spalding East Bank River Welland at Lock Mill House, Cowbit Road. Spalding. South Holland, Lincolnshire DEFRA EA River Stour Near Bear Street, Nayland, Colchester, Essex DEFRA EA Wandsworth Triangle High Street, Wandsworth, London DEFRA EA Slaidburn Witcher Well Dunsop Witcher Well Hatchery. Dunsop Bridge, Slaidburn, Clitheroe, Lancashire DEFRA EA Allotments Chertsey Hill Rear of Chertsey Grove, Chertsey Hill, Carlisle, Cumbria DEFRA EA 61-67 Knutsford Road 61-67 Knutsford Road, Latchford, Warrington, Cheshire DEFRA EA Killington R. Lune broadraine River Lune Fishing Rights, Adjoining Broad Raine Mill, Killington, Sedbergh Cumbria DEFRA EA Tonbridge Town Lock NE of Medway Wharf Road, Off Cannon Road, Tonbridge, Kent DEFRA EA Dymchurch Sea Wall, Hythe Rd Hythe Road, Dymchurch, Romney Marsh, Kent DEFRA EA Banbury FAS (Additional Land) Banbury, Oxfordshire DEFRA EA Banbury FAS (Additional Land 3) Banbury, Oxfordshire DEFRA EA Banbury FAS (Additional Land 1) Banbury, Oxfordshire DEFRA EA Land adj 21 Esher Road Esher Road, East Molesey, Surrey DEFRA EA Pumping Station adj to 21 Esher Road Esher Road, East Molesey, Surrey DEFRA EA Botany Stream Improvement Land off Sovereign Way, Tonbridge, Kent DEFRA EA Lavendon Mill Lavendon Road, Olney, Buckinghamshire DEFRA EA Land at Blackditch Rhyne and Nailsea Nailsea Wall, Nailsea, Clevedon, Avon DEFRA EA Langport: Cocklemoor Land at Cocklemoor. Whatley, Langport, Somerset DEFRA EA Dudley Port Johns Lane, Tipton, Sandwell, West Midlands DEFRA EA Hull Plot 38, Watton Nature Reserve Tophill Low WTW. Baswick, Brandesburton, Driffield, North Humberside

TREASURY Nicky Morgan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 June 2014, Official Report, column 625W.

Children: Day Care Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2014, Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Official Report, column 674W, on children: day care, Exchequer what estimate he has made of the potential what the cost to the public purse was of the report effect of the tax-free childcare scheme on childcare prepared by Economic Insight for his Department. prices; and if he will make a statement. [202013] [202162]

Nicky Morgan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer Nicky Morgan: The cost of the Economic Insight I gave on 25 March 2014, Official Report, column report can be found at: 152W. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/295442/transparency_spend_over Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the _25k_february_2014.csv/preview Exchequer with reference to paragraph 3.22 of Delivering Tax-free childcare: the Government’s response to the Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the consultation on design and operation, when the decision Exchequer with reference to paragraph 6.10 of Delivering to make National Savings and Investments HM Revenue Tax-free childcare: the Government’s response to the and Customs’ delivery partner for tax-free childcare consultation on design and operation published in March was made. [202161] 2014, what clear guidance and communications tools 447W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 448W his Department plans to provide to help parents make Corporation tax liability (£ million) informed decisions on which scheme is best for their circumstances. [202254] 2008-09 29 2009-10 26 Nicky Morgan: The Government’s response to the 2010-11 26 consultation on design and operation of tax-free childcare 2011-12 30 set out in paragraph 6.11 that the Government will provide detailed online information and consider other Figures on the amount of tax paid, broken down by communications channels that can be used to raise company size, are not readily available and could be awareness and understanding of tax-free childcare. provided only at disproportionate cost. The Government will work with stakeholders, including parents, to develop guidance to help parents understand Diesel Fuel: Excise Duties the scheme, including the interactions between tax-free childcare and other Government support. Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in tax accrued to the Exchequer Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the in fuel duty on diesel in 2013; and what quantity of Exchequer what estimate he has made of the diesel this figure represents. [201996] proportion of families currently paying for childcare that will be eligible for the proposed tax-free childcare Nicky Morgan: This information can be found at the scheme. [202294] UK Trade Info website at: https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/ Nicky Morgan: The information requested is not TaxAndDutybulletins.aspx available. Dover Priory Station Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the take-up of tax-free childcare by parents in each income (a) decile Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) percentile. [202296] pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 395W,on Revenue and Customs, when discussions Nicky Morgan: This information is not available and between HM Revenue and Customs, Mapeley and Network could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Rail regarding the sale of land on the western perimeter of the Priory Court site and the construction of new Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the parking facilities for Dover Priory Railway station have Exchequer what estimate he has made of the (a) median taken place. [201915] and (b) mean value of top-up that the Government will contribute to each child under the tax-free childcare Mr Gauke: 16 June 2014, Official Report, column scheme. [202459] 395W does not relate to discussions between HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Mapeley and Network Rail. Nicky Morgan: The Government has published an Previous replies have explained that HMRC does not Impact Assessment on Tax-Free Childcare here: own the Priory Court Site but occupies it as part of the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-free- STEPS PFI agreement with Mapeley. HM Revenue and childcare-impact-assessment Customs have held formal discussions with Mapeley and Network Rail which commenced in February 2014. Corporation Tax: Ashfield Further discussions of future proposals have been between Mapeley, as the freehold owner of Priory Court, and Network Rail. Gloria De Piero: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid in corporation tax by businesses Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer registered in Ashfield constituency in each of the last pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, five years; and what proportion of such taxation was column 395W,on Revenue and Customs, which personnel paid by small and medium-sized enterprises. [201870] attended discussions between HM Revenue and Customs, Mapeley and Network Rail regarding the sale of land Mr Gauke: Since 2010, the Government has cut the on the western perimeter of the Priory Court site. main rate of corporation tax from 28% to 21%. It will [202196] fall further to 20% in April 2015. The small profits rate was cut to 20% in April 2011. These corporation tax Mr Gauke: 16 June 2014, Official Report, column cuts will be worth around £9.5 billion per year to 395W does not relate to discussions between HM Revenue businesses by 2016-17. and Customs, Mapeley and Network Rail. Representatives The table below sets out the amount of corporation from HMRC Estates and Support Services Team and tax liable for payment by businesses with a registered from local HMRC business attended initial discussions address in the Ashfield parliamentary constituency for with Mapeley and Network Rail on proposals for the accounting periods ending in the past five years. The construction of a multi storey car park on land adjacent latest year for which figures are available is 2011-12. to Priory Court Dover. Previous replies have explained that further discussions, on the sale of land on the Corporation tax liability (£ million) western perimeter of the Priory Court site, have been

2007-08 36 between Mapeley as the freehold owner of Priory Court and Network Rail. 449W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 450W

Lloyds Bank: Warrington It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where it (1) if he will hold discussions with Lloyds Bank on the identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across effect of the proposed closure of its contact centre in the whole of the UK. Warrington on women workers who cannot re-locate The National Minimum Wage team in Northern because of (a) childcare or other caring responsibilities Ireland contains six full-time and two-part-time staff and (b) a lack of adequate public transport provision; with all using Belfast as a base location. [202352] However, as I explained in my previous response, (2) if he will hold discussions with Lloyds Bank on HMRC deploys resources to risk, so work relating to a (a) the proposed closure of its contact centre in specific geographical area may not always be undertaken Warrington and (b) the possibility of other jobs being by the NMW team based in that area. In addition, the based there. [202353] NMW Dynamic Response Team (DRT) provides a multi-agency response to emerging risks, high profile Andrea Leadsom: Lloyds Banking Group is run on a casework and compliance initiatives across the UK. commercial basis. The bank retains its own independent board and management team with responsibility for determining its own strategies and commercial policies Revenue and Customs including those which may relate to the location of business functions. Mr Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer The Government’s shareholding in Lloyds is managed if he will make an assessment of the effect on public on an arm’s length basis by UK Financial Investments perception of the efficacy of HM Revenue and Customs Ltd (UKFI). As an engaged shareholder, UKFI works of including levels of revenue protection together with closely with the bank’s management to hold management levels of additional revenue collected when publicising rigorously to account for performance. UKFI’s role is the effect of compliance activities by HM Revenue and to manage the investment and ensure that the bank’s Customs. [201674] strategy maximises value for money for the taxpayer. The Government does not get involved in any of the Mr Gauke: It is important that HM Revenue and day to day decisions of Lloyds Bank. Customs (HMRC’s) methodology for assessing the effects of its compliance activities reflect the full range of Mapeley impacts of its activities on customer compliance, both to provide accountability for its overall performance Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer and to manage its business and the performance of its when assessments have been made of the value for compliance teams on a day-to-day basis. money of the private finance initiative contract between Revenue protected sets out tax receipts that are protected HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley Steps Contractor through HMRC activity. It includes the effects of seizing Limited; and when the first such assessment was made. smuggled goods and the direct cash effects from activity [202079] such as preventing repayments, as well as an assessment of the impacts of HMRC activity on future taxpayer Mr Gauke: The National Audit Office (NAO) have behavior. Ensuring that customers are put on the right conducted two value for money assessments on the track for the future, rather than waiting for non-compliance private finance initiative contract between HM Revenue to occur before stepping in, is better for customer, better and Customs and Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited. for the Exchequer, and more efficient for HMRC. The first of these, PFI: The STEPS Deal, was published by the NAO on 7 May 2004. The second NAO value for The concept of revenue protected is also not a new money assessment, HM Revenue and Customs’ Estate one, it has always been a feature of HMRC’s compliance Private Finance Deal Eight Years On, was published on performance although this component was not separately 3 December 2009. identified before 2011-12 in external reporting.

Minimum Wage: Northern Ireland Sanitary Protection: VAT Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2014, Official Report, Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer column 36W, on minimum wage: Northern Ireland, (1) how much has accrued to the Exchequer in VAT receipts whether HM Revenue and Customs’ national minimum from the sale of sanitary products in each of the last wage enforcement team have any staff located in Northern five years; and if he will review the applicability of such Ireland outside the city of Belfast; [202044] a tax with existing equality legislation. [202135] (2) how many people are employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time in the HM Revenue and Customs national Mr Gauke: VAT receipts from the sale of sanitary minimum wage enforcement team based in Belfast. products, subject to the reduced rate of VAT, are estimated [202256] to have been approximately £15 million in each of the last five years. Mr Gauke: The Government takes the enforcement VAT rules apply the standard rate of 20% to most of national minimum wage (NMW) very seriously and goods and services. While there are exceptions to this HMRC enforce the NMW legislation on behalf of the standard rate, these are strictly limited under EU VAT Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). law. 451W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 452W

One such exception is that female sanitary products and can be subject to a reduced rate of VAT. Since 2001, the https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chief-secretarys- UK has therefore applied a 5% reduced rate of VAT, the speech-to-the-centre-for-transatlantic-relations lowest permissible under EU law, to the supply of sanitary products. Tax Evasion The application of VAT in the EU, including rates and flexibilities afforded to member states in this regard, Mr Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer is governed by EU law. It means, for example that the what steps HM Revenue and Customs is taking to use Government cannot apply a zero rate to female sanitary powers under Part I, Chapter II of the Regulation of products. That would require a change to EU VAT Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to prevent and detect legislation, which would require a proposal from the tax evasion. [201769] European Commission and the unanimous agreement of all 28 member states. Mr Gauke: In 2013-14 a total of 348 HMRC investigations across Enforcement and Compliance were Self-employed: Scotland supported by the acquisition of CD for the purposes of preventing and detecting crime and assessing or collecting Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the taxes and duties. A total of 11,103 requests were made, Exchequer (1) how many (a) men and (b) women were (the majority requesting subscriber information). In registered as self-employed in (i) Kilmarnock and 2013-14 communications data underpinned investigations Loudoun constituency and (ii) Scotland in each of the that prevented revenue loss in excess of £1 billion. last four years for which figures are available; [200631] (2) how many people registered as self employed in Tourism: VAT (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (b) Scotland reported net income of (i) zero and (ii) below Mark Durkan: To ask the Chancellor of the the threshold for national insurance in each of the last Exchequer what assessment his Department has made four years for which figures are available; [200630] of the effect of cutting the rate of tourism VAT on the (3) what the (a) mean and (b) median age of people tourism balance of payments. [202041] registered as self-employed was in (i) Scotland and (ii) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency in (A) 2010, Mr Gauke: No such assessment has been made. There (B) 2011, (C) 2012 and (D) 2013; [200632] is no single rate of tourism VAT. The VAT rate paid on (4) how many people were registered as self- goods and services bought by tourists in the UK is employed in (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun exactly the same as that which applies to UK residents. constituency and (b) Scotland in each of the last four This means for example, that tourists can benefit from years for which figures are available. [200633] the UK’s zero rates of VAT on certain foods, children’s clothing and certain transport. But it also means they Mr Gauke: Estimates of the numbers of individuals are charged VAT on things like catering services (the with self employment sources are published in HMRC’s supply of meals, alcohol, snacks and drinks) sold by National Statistics table 3.10 which is available at the restaurants, pubs, cafes and canteens. following internet address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/income-of- Welfare State: Northern Ireland individuals-with-self-employment-sources-2010-to-2011 The numbers of individuals making zero profits and Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at other income levels is also shown in these tables. what the current value is of all financial penalties Tables for 2009-10 and earlier years are available imposed on the Northern Ireland Executive as a result from the National Archives internet site at the following of that body not implementing the Government’s welfare address: reform policy. [201864] http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121102223513/ http:/hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm Danny Alexander: I wrote to the Northern Ireland Overall, these show a long term trend of growth in Minister for Finance and Personnel on 31 March to set the numbers of self-employed people. out that that the Northern Ireland Executive’s funding allocations would be reduced by £13 million, £87 million Speeches and £114 million for 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively. Mr Jenkin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the speech delivered by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in New York on 25 June 2014 represents the policy of the Government. [202346] FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Danny Alexander: I recently visited the USA in my Armed Conflict: Children capacity as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, where I delivered speeches to audiences in New York and Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State Washington on 23 and 25 June respectively. for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many Transcripts are available on the Treasury website: occasions he has raised the issues of child soldiering https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chief-secretary-on- and progress on tackling it with his counterparts in investing-in-the-uk other countries in the last two years. [202201] 453W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 454W

Mark Simmonds: Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) Hugh Robertson: The decision on whether to travel to is an important personal priority. I am leading a campaign Egypt, or any other country, is for each individual to to prevent the recruitment of child soldiers and to make. The purpose of Foreign and Commonwealth protect children from becoming victims of sexual violence Office (FCO) Travel Advice is to help individuals make in five priority countries: Democratic Republic of Congo an informed decision. We advise anyone considering (DRC), Somalia, South Sudan, Chad and Burma. Over visiting Egypt to read the FCO Travel Advice before the last two years, I have raised this issue with counterparts travelling. in Chad, Sierra Leone and DRC, as well as most recently with the Somali President and the Minister of the Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Interior in South Sudan during visits in April this year. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth steps to ensure that British expertise will be used in the Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East building of the nuclear power station in Egypt. [202271] Devon (Mr Swire), also discussed the issue during a visit to Burma in January. Hugh Robertson: UKTI officials in Egypt are closely During the recent End Sexual Violence in Conflict monitoring progress towards the building of new nuclear Summit, I hosted a ministerial roundtable on CAAC power stations in Egypt and will work to promote attended by UN Special Representative of the Secretary- appropriate opportunities for British companies. General for CAAC. Ministers from Sierra Leone, DRC and Somalia underlined their commitment to ending Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Egyptian Colombia government on the Muslim Brotherhood. [202275]

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Foreign Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the representations to his Colombian counterpart to Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed support the requests for an investigation into the death the Muslim Brotherhood with former Egyptian Foreign of Yonni Steven Caicedo, a television cameraman in Minister Nabil Fahmy on 14 May. Colombia shot dead on 19 February 2014; [202086] (2) if he will make representations to his Colombian Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign counterpart supporting the requests for an and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he investigation into the murders of four FENSUAGRO had held with his Egyptian counterpart on the new trades union members shot dead on 17 May 2014 in parliamentary elections law in that country. [202336] Alto Amarradero; [202087] (3) if he will make representations to his Colombian Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Foreign counterpart that Colombia should guarantee the safety and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the of Nubia Acosta, Nevis Niño Rodríguez and the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has yet to families of El Tamarindo; [202088] meet his new counterpart, Foreign Minister Sameh (4) if he will make representations to his Colombian Shukri who was sworn in on 17 June. He did raise the counterpart supporting the requests for an issue of parliamentary elections and the need for political investigation into the death of Thomas Rodriguez inclusiveness with former Egyptian Foreign Minister Cantillo, a SINTRAINAGRO trades union member Nabil Fahmy on 14 May before the new law was passed. killed on 9 May 2014; [202090] (5) if he will make representations to his Colombian Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign counterpart concerning the withdrawal on 26 May 2014, and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has of precautionary safety measures recommended by the received on the details of the new parliamentary Inter American Court for Human Rights to protect the elections law in Egypt. [202337] human rights activist Juan David Diaz. [202091] Hugh Robertson: The new parliamentary elections Mr Swire: I met representatives from six human law, enacted by the decree of former interim President rights organisations, including Oxfam and Christian Adly Mansour on 5 June, increases the number of Aid as well as Colombian non-governmental organisations parliamentary seats to 567, with 420 seats to be elected (NGOs) during my visit to Bogotá last week. I also met by single member constituencies and 120 through party two Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs, heads of the lists. On 3 June, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Colombian Government’s major human rights agencies Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member and representatives of the Attorney-General’s office. I for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), issued a statement set out HM Government concern about the reported urging Egypt’s leaders to ensure that the transition rise in attacks against human rights defenders and a leads towards accountable and democratic governance, lack of sentences for those responsible. underpinned by strong and accountable institutions.

Egypt Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Department has had with the committee of legislative and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to reform in Egypt on the proposed new parliamentary encourage more tourists to visit Egypt. [202269] elections law in that country. [202439] 455W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 456W

Hugh Robertson: The new parliamentary elections and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi on 17 June to law was enacted by decree of the former interim President discuss a range of issues, including gender-based violence Adly Mansour on 5 June. The Foreign and Commonwealth and the UK’s plans to host the 2014 Girls Summit Office did not have direct discussions with the committee aimed at tackling female genital mutilation (FGM) and of legislative reform in Egypt. early and forced marriage. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has also discussed the Prevention of Sexual Violence in plans to make to his Egyptian counterparts on the Conflict Initiative and its efforts to prevent violence seven year jail terms handed down to three Al-Jazeera against women and girls, with India’s new Foreign journalists; and if he will make a statement. [202537] Minister, Sushma Swaraj. Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Foreign Through the Department for International Development and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the (DFID) the UK supports measures in India’s 120 poorest Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made a districts to promote the empowerment and access to statement on 23 June expressing his concerns and urging benefits and services of excluded groups. DFID India the Egyptian Government to demonstrate its commitment also provides support to national and state Governments to freedom of expression by reviewing this case as a in India, which includes helping girls to complete basic matter of urgency. education and further tackling violence against women and girls. The Egyptian ambassador Ashraf el-Kholy was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Interception Warrants (FCO) on 23 June. FCO Political Director, Simon Gass told the Egyptian ambassador that the British Government was deeply concerned by the verdicts, and with the Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign procedural shortcomings of the trials. The British and Commonwealth Affairs how many interception ambassador to Egypt also raised this issue in Cairo with warrants were (a) issued, (b) declined and (c) cancelled the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 24 June. by his Department under (i) section 8(1) and (ii) section We will continue to raise this case with the Egyptian 8(4) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 authorities. in the last six months for which figures are available. [201668] Egypt: Libya Hugh Robertson: It is the long standing policy of Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for successive Governments not to comment on matters of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss intelligence. I would refer the hon. Member to Section 3 with his counterparts in Egypt and Libya lessening the of the 2013 Annual Report of the Interception of threat along the borders of those countries caused by Communications Commissioner, The right hon. Sir terrorist networks in Libya. [202272] Anthony May, which was presented to Parliament pursuant of Section 58(6) of the Regulation of Investigatory Hugh Robertson: The National Security Adviser visited Powers Act 2000. Egypt on 10-11 June and Libya on 16 June, and discussed the situation on the Libyan-Egyptian border with the Iran then Egyptian Foreign Minister Fahmy and Libyan PM Al Thinni. We will continue to discuss means to lessen Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the threat along Libya’s borders with the Government Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has of Libya and those of neighbouring states. had discussions with the Iranian government about the The UK is providing direct support to strengthen imprisonment of Pastor Behnam Irani. [202259] Libya’s borders. We have a Border Security Adviser embedded with the Libyan Border Security HQ, and Hugh Robertson: We are aware of the arrest and provide four UK experts to the EU Border Assistance imprisonment of Pastor Behnam Irani. We remain deeply Mission in Libya (EUBAM), including the Deputy concerned about the detention and treatment of all Head of Mission. The UK’s Defence Advisory Training prisoners of conscience in Iran and the ongoing Team provides advice and training to the Libyan Ministry discrimination against Christians and other minority of Defence and institutions, including the Border Security religious groups. We have called for the Iranian Government Force. to protect the rights of all minority groups in Iran and India end the persecution of individuals on the basis of their faith. The UK’s non-resident Chargé d’Affaires raised Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign the issue of freedom of religion with the Iranian authorities and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed during his visit to Iran on 12 March. violence against women and girls with representatives of the Indian government; and if he will make a statement. Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign [202405] and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Iranian govrnment on the arrest of Silas Rabbani, Mr Swire: We are committed to working with the Karaj Farshid, Fathi Alireza, Seyydin, Mohammad Indian Government and international partners to address Rohangir, Surush Saraie, Escander Rezale, Shahnin the problems of gender-based violence, human trafficking Lahouty and Medhei Ameruni; and if he will urge that and child exploitation and regularly discuss these issues government to confirm that those people are healthy with the Indian authorities. Our high commissioner Sir and safe in the location where they are and that their James Bevan recently met India’s Minister for Women families be made aware of this. [202260] 457W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 458W

Hugh Robertson: We are aware of the arrests of Silas Department received each level of performance rating Rabbani, Karaj Farshid, Fathi Alireza, Seyydin, in their end of year performance assessment for Mohammad Rohangir, Surush Saraie, Escander Rezale, 2013-14. [202056] Shahnin Lahouty and Medhei Ameruni. We remain deeply concerned about the detention and treatment of Hugh Robertson: The 2014 validation process for all prisoners of conscience in Iran and the ongoing staff performance ratings is not yet complete for 2013-14. discrimination against Christians and other minority The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) takes religious groups. We have called for the Iranian Government seriously its obligations to collect diversity data as to protect the rights of all minority groups in Iran and required by the Equality Act 2010. Information about end the persecution of individuals on the basis of their the diversity and makeup of our staff is listed in the faith. The UK’s non-resident Chargé d’Affaires raised FCO’s Diversity and Equality Report. the issue of freedom of religion with the Iranian authorities during his visit to Iran on 12 March. All staff have been asked to provide personal disability data to be held anonymously. We continue to encourage Meriam Ibrahim increased declaration by staff as current declaration rates are below the level necessary to give meaningful Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State statistical information. I will write to the hon. Member for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make (and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the urgent representations to his counterpart in South House) when the validation process is complete to Sudan on the reported re-arrest of Mariam Ibrahim in answer her question. South Sudan. [202045]

Mark Simmonds: Meriam Ibrahim and her family Religious Freedom were released on police bail on 26 June following their detention at Khartoum International airport on 24 Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State June. We understand that she and her family are currently for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information staying at the US embassy. his Department holds on which countries considers We will remain closely engaged in this case and apostasy a crime and what sentence it carries. [202046] continue to call on the Government of Sudan to abide by its international obligations to uphold an individual’s Mr Lidington: The Government’s information on issues right to freedom of religion or belief. such as this comes from publicly available sources, such as the US State Department’s Annual Report on Mining: Human Rights International Religious Freedom and reporting by NGOs, supplemented by information from our network of Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign embassies and high commissions. We maintain no central and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of list of countries that consider apostasy a crime or what 16 June 2014, Official Report, columns 367-8W, on penalty is imposed. We formulate our response to the armed conflicts: minerals, which companies have joined situation in individual countries on a case by case basis, or have applied to join the Voluntary Principles on taking into account which course of action is most Security and Human Rights initiative. [202436] likely to have a positive effect for individuals and communities in the country concerned. Mark Simmonds: In the last two years, Freedom of thought, conscience or belief, including UK-headquartered companies Tullow Oil and Premier the right of the individual to change his or her religion, Oil have joined the Voluntary Principles on Security is a fundamental human right enshrined in international and Human Rights. An application from another company law. We call on Governments that render apostasy a based in the UK is currently under consideration by the crime to uphold their international obligations on freedom Steering Committee of the Voluntary Principles Initiative. of religion or belief. Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of Western Sahara 16 June 2014, Official Report, columns 367-8W, on armed conflicts: minerals, which UK companies he has met to discuss the Voluntary Principles on Security and Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Human Rights. [202437] Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 384W, Mark Simmonds: I have met the following companies on Western Sahara, if the Minister for the Middle East to discuss the Voluntary Principles on Security and and North Africa will meet representatives of Human Rights—Anglo American, BG Group, BP, Dana POLISARIO, the administering power de facto in the Petroleum, Dominion Energy, Ophir Energy, Perenco, area east of the Berm dividing Western Sahara, to Premier Oil, Rio Tinto, Shell, Soma Oil and Gas, Stellar discuss security and terrorism. [202069] Diamonds and Tullow Oil. Hugh Robertson: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Performance Appraisal officials regularly meet POLISARIO Front representatives to discuss Western Sahara. Officials also undertake Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for visits to the region, and to the refugee camps at Tindouf. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion British Ministers do not have direct contact with the of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his POLISARIO Front. 459W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 460W

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS We will refresh the Skills Funding Agency register of approved Apprenticeship training providers to ensure that only reputable providers are able to offer Apprenticeship Agriculture: Research training and organisations doing so will be subject to Ofsted inspection. Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Apprentices: Greater London Department spent on agricultural research in each financial year since 2010-11. [201944] Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships Mr Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation there were in London on 31 May (a) 2010 and (b) and Skills’ expenditure on agricultural research is through 2014. [202354] the UK Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) as per the figures given below: Matthew Hancock: Information on Apprenticeship Research Council funding for agriculture research starts and participation by Region are published in £000 Supplementary Tables to a Statistical First Release: Council 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Biotechnology and 87,200 90,200 87,900 90,800 attachment_data/file/324021/apprenticeships-starts-by- Biological Sciences geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xls Research Council https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ Economic and Social 2,914 2,328 3,392 3,102 Research Council attachment_data/file/296370/ Nov2013_Apprenticeships_Region_Participation.xls Natural Environment 9,100 14,800 15,600 12,600 Research Council Apprenticeship data are presented by academic year. Science and Technology 110 140 155 140 Final data for the full 2013/14 academic year will be Facilities Council published in November 2014. Total 99,324 107,468 107,047 106,642 TSB funding for research and development in the agricultural sector Apprentices: Horticulture £ 2010/11 143,089 Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for 2011/12 3,336,702 Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his 2012/13 7,339,822 Department is taking to fund and support businesses in 2013/14 9,455,470 the horticulture sector to take on apprentices. [201713]

Matthew Hancock: Apprenticeship reforms are Apprentices addressing exactly the barriers that employers have identified to taking on apprentices. Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trailblazers led by employers are designing the new Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what quality standards apprenticeship standards for occupations in their sectors. will be imposed on employers when apprenticeship Horticulture employers are fully engaged in the reform funding moves directly to employers; [202149] programme and the trailblazer for the sector has recently (2) what factors he took into account in deciding not submitted a standard for approval. to adopt a pure provider payment model in reform of The budget announced £170 million funding to extend apprenticeship funding. [202150] the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers to help smaller businesses take on young apprentices aged 16 to 24. Matthew Hancock: The 2013 consultation on This will fund over 100,000 incentive payments of £1,500. Apprenticeship funding reform sought evidence on the Extending the grant into 2015 will ensure apprenticeship feasibility and impact of three different mechanisms for take up by small businesses, including those in the giving employers more control over the funding. Following horticulture sector, continues to be supported. consideration of the responses to this consultation, the pure provider payment model was ruled out on the Asbestos basis that it was the least likely to deliver the intended aim of giving employers true purchasing power. The subsequent Technical Consultation published in Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for March 2014 sought views on two models—a PAYE Business, Innovation and Skills whether any buildings model and an apprenticeship credit model which are owned or used by his Department contain asbestos. consistent with an employer-led Apprenticeships system. [201597] We are currently evaluating the responses to this consultation and will announce which payment mechanism Jenny Willott: The Department for Business, Innovation we plan to pursue in the autumn. and Skills (BIS) do own and use buildings which contain We have established a ministerial advisory panel on asbestos. Apprenticeship standards, made up of experts to advise The reports for all buildings within the BIS core the Secretary of State on the approval or rejection of estate which contain asbestos are regularly reviewed for employer designed Apprenticeship standards and appropriateness and action plans to manage, update assessment approaches. and re-inspect are implemented. 461W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 462W

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Jo Swinson: The Secretary of State for Business, Business, Innovation and Skills whether all buildings Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member owned or used by his Department have been allotted a for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has not held any meetings responsible person as a duty holder in line with Health with the British-Irish Council within the last year and Safety Executive guidance. [201598]

Jenny Willott: All buildings owned or used by the Employment Tribunals Service Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have a responsible person as a duty holder in line with the Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Safety Executive guidance. Business, Innovation and Skills how many times his As current director of estates at UKSBS, Roger Taylor Department has appeared at an employment tribunal is responsible for the management of all aspects of to contest protective awards in each of the last five estates management on behalf of Department for Business, years. [202008] Innovation and Skills for the core buildings owned and/or used by them. Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has not appeared before an employment Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for tribunal to contest a protective award. Business, Innovation and Skills whether all buildings owned or used by his Department have been inspected Protective awards are determined by employment to identify any asbestos materials within them. [201627] tribunals following applications made by former employees or their representatives. Jenny Willott: All buildings owned or used by BIS is sometimes joined as a respondent in protective Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which award claims, because under legislation, the Secretary are in scope have been inspected for asbestos containing of State guarantees the payment of protective awards materials. made in favour of employees whose employer is insolvent, Buildings which are out of scope include those managed up to a certain amount. by the landlord and those built post 2000. It is for the tribunal to establish the facts in each case, considering evidence of the actions taken by employers Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, and their representatives, and decide whether there was Innovation and Skills whether staff in his Department adequate consultation on redundancies. BIS is not in a are able to access the reports reviewing the buildings position to know the extent to which an employer or owned or used by his Department on asbestos within its their representative consulted with employees and does buildings. [201628] not give evidence on that point nor take any particular position. Jenny Willott: All available information relating to the estate of Department for Business, Innovation and BIS’ responsibility is to establish what payments are Skills (BIS) is held by the maintenance provider. This due and who is entitled to receive them. We therefore information includes reports and other information make written representations to the tribunal on points relating to asbestos in buildings. of law or to seek clarification of who is covered by a protective award. We may appeal an award, but only if This is available on request to all maintenance provider we consider that the tribunal has made the judgment contractors. based on an incorrect reading of the legislation. Other interested parties such as staff, need to be The number of cases where BIS has made representations directed to the maintenance provider by Property Asset to an employment tribunal regarding protective award Management Directorate who work for BIS. cases in the last five years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. British Business Bank

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff in Sheffield 1988 are employed at the headquarters of the British Business Bank. [202119] Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Matthew Hancock: A total of 86 people are currently Innovation and Skills what changes his Department working on British Business Bank programmes, of which plans to bring forward to the Furniture and Furnishings 44 work in the Sheffield headquarters. They are employed (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. [202554] by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and their employment will transfer to the British Business Jo Swinson: For the past 10 months, the Department Bank plc once EU state aid approval has been obtained for Business, Innovation and Skills has been discussing for that institution, which is expected to happen later with industry, enforcement authorities and the fire services, this year. a proposal to bring forward changes to the match and cigarette tests in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) British Irish Council (Safety) Regulations 1988. We believe this would bring benefits to both businesses and consumers by reducing Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State the levels of potentially harmful flame retardant chemicals for Business, Innovation and Skills in how many generally used to meet the requirements of the match meetings of the British-Irish Council he has taken part. test, while also improving fire safety. Any such changes [202300] would be subject to formal public consultation. 463W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 464W

Green Investment Bank Insolvency

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to Business, Innovation and Skills how many times the ensure that the Green Investment Bank does not Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Service has provide support to (a) the proposed Helius Bioenergy made payments of protective awards due to failures on Plant at Avonmouth and (b) other biofuel projects. [R] the part of the company or administrator to conduct a [200184] proper collective consultation in each of the last five years; to which companies such awards were made; and how much was paid out in (a) statutory entitlements Michael Fallon: I have spoken to the Chief Executive and (b) protective awards in each such case. [202006] of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) about the proposed plant at Avonmouth to ensure he is aware of the concerns Jenny Willott: The Insolvency Service’s Redundancy that have been raised about it. The impacts of individual Payments Service (RPS) only makes protective award proposals for biomass power projects are subject to payments to employees if their employer is insolvent detailed assessment during the planning approval process and an employment tribunal has determined that there and final decisions in each case are a matter for the was insufficient consultation, by the company, administrator relevant planning authority.This proposal received planning or liquidator, regarding redundancies and makes a protective consent in March 2010. The final consent letter may be award. found on the DECC Energy Infrastructure webpage at In the last five financial years, the RPS has paid out https://www.og.decc.gov.uk/EIP/pages/projects/ the following in statutory payments for cases where a Avonmouth.htm protective award was awarded: I cannot comment on the merits of that decision. £ The Government’s position on the role of biomass power within the UK’s energy mix has been set out 2009-10 87,209,871.62 clearly in the UK Bioenergy Strategy (2012) which can 2010-11 82,604,201.50 be found on the Government’s website at: 2011-12 68,181,382.07 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-bioenergy- 2012-13 57,267,407.27 strategy 2013-14 7,937,522.34 This sets out how the Government seeks to ensure the benefits of bioenergy are achieved in a way that delivers The protective award payments made on these cases genuine carbon reductions and that fuel is sourced (in addition to the statutory payments) were as following: sustainably. The extensive sustainability requirements in place for the use of biomass fuel are set out in the UK £ Government Response to the consultation on biomass 2009-10 28,808,241.65 sustainability and the Renewables Obligation (RO), 2010-11 30,997,901.63 published in August 2013. 2011-12 23,437,557.92 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ 2012-13 29,290,224.74 attachment_data/file/231102/RO_Biomass_Sustainability 2013-14 16,581,330.05 _consultation_-_Government_Response_22_August_2013.pdf In considering whether to participate in financing a These figures include cases in administration and biomass power project, GIB must satisfy itself that the those in liquidation. Government’s sustainability requirements are fully met. A breakdown of the individual cases is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Higher Education: Egypt Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many times the Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Service has Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to encourage made payments in cases where Deloitte was appointed universities in the UK to enter into partnerships and the administrator in each of the last five years; how twinning arrangements with the British university in many such cases also involved payments made for Egypt. [202261] protective awards; and how much was paid out for (a) statutory entitlements and (b) protective awards in Mr Willetts: I am keen that UK universities broaden each such case. [202007] their engagement with their Egyptian counterparts in recognition of the country’s growing research strengths. Jo Swinson: In the last five years, the Insolvency The newly created UK—Egypt Newton—Mosharafa Service’s Redundancy Payments Services have paid Fund presents a real opportunity to take UK—Egypt £77,233,534.54 in statutory entitlements, in 173 cases institutional engagement to another level, by investing where Deloitte was appointed the administrator or £20 million over five years in a bilateral partnership liquidator. focused on science, research, innovation and education. Of these cases, 20 cases resulted in protective award The British university Egypt will be eligible to apply judgments totalling £6,930,864.72 paid from the national for calls once the fund is launched. insurance fund. 465W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 466W

Due to the number of cases, it is not possible to grant funding (provided by BIS) should be allocated for disclose how much was paid in each individual case so a delivery of these functions. Before April 2012 Government total has been provided instead. directly funded all three of the Illegal Money Lending Teams. Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Following are the budgets allocated to the Illegal Business, Innovation and Skills how many outstanding Money Lending teams over the last four years. protective awards to be paid by the Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Services are owed to firms in £ million which less than 20 people are employed on one site. England Wales Scotland [202009] 2014/15 3.60 0.63 0.4 Jenny Willott: Under legislation, a protective award 2013/14 3.91 0.67 0.4 can be made where it is determined that there was 2012/13 4.13 0.59 0.38 insufficient consultation in situations involving 20 or 2011/12 4.07 0.65 0.48 more redundancies in one establishment. 2010/11 4.07 0.65 0.48 The Redundancy Payments Service makes payments, Trading Standards is a devolved matter in Northern to affected employees, where an employment tribunal Ireland and so it is not possible to provide comparable has made an award and the employer is insolvent. data. The Employment Appeal Tribunal, in the Woolworths case (USDAW v. WW Realisations 1 Ltd and others), Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, decided that it should remove the European test of Innovation and Skills how many full-time and part-time ’establishment’ from UK law. The Department is appealing staff were employed to work in the Illegal Money this judgment as we do not agree with this interpretation Lending Unit in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales of the law. and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last four years We think the right interpretation of the law is that up to the most recent period for which records are employers must consult employee representatives if making available. [202197] 20 or more redundancies at one establishment. In a dispute, it is for the employment tribunals to decide Jenny Willott: The numbers of full-time and part-time what is an establishment on the facts of each individual staff that have been employed by the Illegal Money case. Lending Units in Scotland, England and Wales over the Until the Woolworths appeal is determined, employment last four years are as follows: tribunals are staying (not deciding) claims from employees who worked on sites with fewer than 20 proposed Full-Time Part-time (full-time redundancies and the RPS is unable to make payments equivalents) to such employees. Financial Information on the number of affected cases is not years England Wales Scotland Wales readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. 2014/15 58 7 8 1.9 2013/14 63 7 8 1.9 McDonalds Restaurants 2012/13 63 7 8 1.6 2011/12 50 6 8 0.8 Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for 2010/11 Unavailable 9 8 0.8 Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had Trading Standards is a devolved matter in Northern discussions with McDonald’s Corporation on its Ireland and so it is not possible to provide comparable relationship with trades unions in the UK. [201854] data. Jenny Willott: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member Motor Vehicles: Insurance for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has not had such a discussion with McDonald’s Corporation. Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will request that Money Lenders the Office of Fair Trading investigates the level of competition in the car insurance industry. [202297] Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much he allocated Jo Swinson: The competition powers of the Office of to the Illegal Money Lending Unit in (a) Scotland, (b) Fair Trading (OFT) passed to the new Competition and England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each Markets Authority (CMA) on 1 April 2014. Like the of the last four years up to the most recent period for OFT, the CMA is an independent authority, and therefore which figures are available. [202104] has complete discretion to investigate those cases, which, according to its prioritisation principles, it considers Jenny Willott: Since 1 April 2012 the National Trading most appropriate. Standards Board (NTSB) has been responsible for the In the case of the private motor insurance industry, Illegal Money Lending Units in England and Wales, the CMA is already conducting a market investigation, and Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) has been responsible and on 12 June set out for consultation its proposed for the Illegal Money Lending Unit in Scotland. The changes to the market. These include a cap on the NTSB and TSS decide what proportion of their total charges to the insurer of an at-fault driver in an accident 467W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 468W for the cost of providing a replacement vehicle to the their adult skills funding to reflect those priorities and non-fault driver; better information for consumers; and meet the needs of learners and employers in their local a ban on price parity agreements between price comparison area: websites and insurers. Further details are available via https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-funding- this link to the CMA press release: statement-2013-to-2016 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-sets-out-changes- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-funding- for-private-motor-insurance statement-2012-2015 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-investment- National Vocational Qualifications statement-for-2011-to-2014-new-challenges-new-chances New Businesses: Government Assistance Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost to the Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for public purse was of NVQ qualifications for learners Business, Innovation and Skills how many start-up aged 24 and over of (a) entry level, (b) level 1 (excluding loans have been granted to businesses in (a) Harrogate English or mathematics) and (c) level 2 for each of the and Knaresborough constituency, (b) North Yorkshire last three years. [201593] and (c) the North of England in each of the last five years. [201902] Matthew Hancock: The funding available for adult skills is outlined in the Skills Funding Statement. The Matthew Hancock: The Start Up Loans programme statement sets out the Government’s priorities for the commenced in 2012. budget and it is for providers to decide how they use The information is as follows:

Harrogate and Knaresborough North Yorkshire North of England1 Value of loans Value of loans Value of loans Loan volume (£ million) Loan volume £ million) Loan volume (£ million)

2012 0 0 4 0.01 54 0.23 2013 52 0.31 414 2.26 2,993 16.55 2014 to date 92 0.53 629 3.29 5,108 26.55 1 North England comprises of values for north-east, north-west, Yorkshire and Humber. Note: All values are loans drawn down.

NHS: Mergers Mr Willetts: As highlighted in the International Education Strategy, there is no cap on the number of Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for genuine overseas students who can come to the UK, nor Business, Innovation and Skills how much the (a) do we have plans to introduce one. This has been Competition Commission and (b) Office of Fair reaffirmed by the Prime Minister. Trading spent on assessing mergers in the NHS in (i) Government and the sector are taking every opportunity 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14. [202460] to promote the warm welcome the UK extends to international students, notably using the “Britain is Jo Swinson: The Competition Commission’s (CC’s) GREAT” campaign. For example, the high commission inquiry into the proposed merger between Royal in Delhi began work last year (with the Foreign and Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Foundation Commonwealth Office, UK Trade and Investment and Trust and Poole Hospital Foundation Trust, which was the British Council) to promote positive messages on concluded in 2013/14, was the Commission’s only UK education at outreach events, exhibitions and road assessment of an NHS foundation trust merger. The shows in some of India’s biggest cities. cost of this inquiry was £710,000, which includes the Early indicators for 2014 show there was an increase cost of the staff on the inquiry amounting to £639,000 in the year to March 2014 in the number of visa and direct costs of £71,000 (including survey costs). applicants for higher education institutions (+7%). UCAS The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) did not collect figures, to May 2014, for undergraduate applications specific information on the resources used in considering suggest a 7% increase from non-EU countries. mergers involving NHS foundation trusts. However, the average approximate cost involved in scrutiny of a Paternity Pay merger by the OFT was £20,000; in total, the OFT considered four mergers involving NHS foundation trusts Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for in 2012-13 and 2013-14, of which only one was referred Business, Innovation and Skills how many people received for further scrutiny by the CC. statutory paternity pay in the latest year for which figures are available; what the total cost to the Exchequer Overseas Students of such pay was; and for what average length of time such pay was received. [201422] Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is Jenny Willott: The Government collects data on the taking to tackle the decline in the number of international total amount of ordinary statutory paternity pay and students coming to the UK to study; and if he will make additional statutory paternity pay paid to employees by a statement. [201621] employers and uses this to estimate the numbers taking 469W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 470W paternity pay, and the size of the average claim. Ordinary Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation statutory paternity pay and additional statutory paternity and Skills consulted family brewers and micro-brewers pay are payable at the lesser of 90% of salary or the as part of last year’s public consultation on proposals statutory flat rate (£135.45 in 2012/13, currently £138.18). for a Statutory Code and independent Adjudicator for The latest available figures are as follows: the pubs sector. We received 34 written responses to the consultation 2012/13 Number of Total claimed (£ Average from pub companies and breweries with fewer than 500 claimants million) claim (£) pubs, and from micro-breweries. In addition to this, Ordinary Statutory 209,223 50.5 241.50 Ministers and officials met with family and micro-brewers Paternity Pay and their representative bodies before, during and after Additional Statutory 4,733 7.2 1,529 the consultation to discuss our proposals to establish a Paternity Pay Statutory Code and independent Adjudicator. Note: All figures are estimates using the HMRC CANDIF database. Figures are For further information on stakeholders that Ministers calculated using a 3% scan of employer national insurance returns and scaling have met, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. the results up to create a 100% estimate. Scan conducted in June 2014. Friend the Member for Cardiff Central (Jenny Willott) HMRC estimates do not include the average length gave to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Toby Perkins) of time that this pay is received. on 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 426W. The Department will continue to take an even handed approach to discussions with stakeholders from all sides Postal Services: Rural Areas of the debate as legislation proceeds through Parliament. Stakeholders, including family and micro-brewers, will Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State also be given a further opportunity to comment on the for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has Statutory Code through a further consultation once to ensure that the six days a week universal Royal Mail legislation is in place. service continues in rural areas. [202198] Research Councils: Finance

Jenny Willott: The one price six-days-a-week postal Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for delivery service to all addresses in the UK is clearly set Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) capital and down under the Postal Services Act 2011 as part of the (b) revenue funding his Department has allocated to minimum requirements of the UK’s universal service research (i) projects and (ii) facilities, excluding quality- and can only be changed by Government with the related research funding distributed via the funding approval of both Houses of Parliament. The protection councils and awards made by the research councils, in is exactly the same for rural areas as urban areas of the each financial year from 2010-11; to which organisations UK. and for what period such allocations have been made; Parliament has given Ofcom the primary statutory how the outcomes of such funding will be assessed; and duty to protect the ongoing provision of the universal which organisations will undertake those assessments. service throughout the country and ensured that Ofcom [200883] has the regulatory powers and tools it needs to intervene if the universal service is ever at risk. More information Mr Willetts: The BIS funding for research (i) projects about the regulatory framework for postal services can and (ii) facilities that has been allocated in the financial be found on Ofcom’s website: years since 2010-11 is set out in the table below. There is no capital funding of research projects or resource www.ofcom.org.uk funding of research facilities. Research is taken to mean funding for projects at Public Houses similar technology readiness levels (TRL) to those managed by research councils. As a result, this does not include Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the research and development funding that is provided Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his through the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) which is Department is taking to consult family and micro- targeted at products, materials and techniques at the brewery pub owners on the proposed mandatory code higher TRL levels. Details of this funding can be found of practice. [202039] in the TSB and BIS annual reports.

£ million 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Item

(a) Capital research funding (ii) Facilities National Measurement 6.2 7.4 9.2 8.1 A Office (NMO) Gaster Wind Tunnel 0 0 0 0.7 B

(b) Resource research funding (i) Projects NMO—National Physical 49.2 46.1 46.6 47.3 A Laboratory NMO—Other 5.1 8.5 8.3 8.1 A Foresight Programme 2.4 2.0 2.2 1.8 C 471W Written Answers30 JUNE 2014 Written Answers 472W

£ million 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Item

UK-US Global Innovation 0 0 0 0.7 D Initiative Commonwealth 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 E Scholarships UK-SA Science Seminars 0 0 0 0.1 F Public Attitudes to Science 0 0 0 0.4 G 2014 Report STEM Interventions 0 0 0 0.1 H Report Note: The assessments of the outcomes of the research funding will be the responsibility of the organisations that have been funded in each case, as set out below. A National Measurement Office B Aerospace Technology Institute C Government Office for Science D British Council E Commonwealth Scholarship Commission F Royal Society G Ipsos MORI H University of London.

Trade Union Recognition Percentage of workplaces with Government office region recognised unions (%)

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, North East 38 Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the North West 21 number of companies registered in (a) Paisley and Yorkshire and Humberside 34 Renfrewshire North constituency, (b) Renfrewshire, (c) East Midlands 31 Scotland and (d) the UK that do not recognise trades West Midlands 23 unions. [201716] East of England 16 London 16 South East 10 Jenny Willott: This Department does not hold South West 13 information on whether or not individual employers Wales 31 recognise a trade union or not. Scotland 30 You may be interested in the following figures, from Great Britain 22 the 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study (WERS), More information on the WERS data is available at: showing percentage of workplaces with recognised unions https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/workplace- where the workplace is located in Scotland, the other employment-relations-study-wers Government office regions and Great Britain as a whole. This does not include information on Northern Ireland [Continued in Column 473W] workplaces where employment law is devolved. 5MC Ministerial Corrections30 JUNE 2014 Ministerial Corrections 6MC

centre launched in 2006. That brings the total number Ministerial Correction of children who have been protected to 2,255 in that Monday 30 June 2014 seven-year history. [Official Report, 12 June 2013, Vol. 564, c. 406.] HOME DEPARTMENT Letter of correction from Damian Green: Protecting Children Online An error has been identified in part of the speech I gave during the debate on protecting children online. The following is an extract from a speech given by the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, the The correct response should have been: right hon. Member for Ashford (Damian Green), during the debate on Protecting Children Online on 12 June Damian Green: In 2012-13, CEOP safeguarded and 2013. protected 560 children, an increase of 41% on the previous year, and the highest yearly figure since the Damian Green: In 2012-13, CEOP safeguarded and centre launched in 2006. That brings the total number protected 790 children, an increase of 85% on the of children who have been protected to 1,996 in that previous year, and the highest yearly figure since the seven-year history.

ORAL ANSWERS

Monday 30 June 2014

Col. No. Col. No. COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 577 COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT— Business Rates...... 592 continued Community Cohesion ...... 586 Local Welfare Assistance Schemes ...... 585 Community Pubs ...... 588 Out-of-town Retail Development...... 589 Council Tax Freeze ...... 587 Private Rented Sector...... 590 Development (Brownfield Land)...... 578 Social Housing (Rent Arrears) ...... 584 Home Building...... 582 Topical Questions ...... 592 Homeless Households...... 588 Troubled Families Programme ...... 581 Local Development Frameworks ...... 591 Waste and Inefficiency ...... 577 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

Monday 30 June 2014

Col. No. Col. No. ATTORNEY-GENERAL ...... 41WS JUSTICE...... 50WS Criminal Justice and Courts Bill ...... 41WS Inquiries Act 2005...... 50WS

DEFENCE...... 43WS TRANSPORT ...... 51WS Gifting of Equipment to Afghanistan...... 43WS Essex Thameside Rail Franchise ...... 51WS Reserve Forces (Cyprus)...... 43WS Tornado ZD743 and ZD812 (Service Inquiry) ...... 44WS TREASURY ...... 42WS FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 44WS ECOFIN...... 42WS Foreign Affairs Council/General Affairs Council... 44WS Gifting of Equipment to Pakistan...... 49WS WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 52WS Child Maintenance Service ...... 52WS HOME DEPARTMENT...... 50WS Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer European Asylum Support Office ...... 50WS Affairs Council ...... 52WS WRITTEN ANSWERS

Monday 30 June 2014

Col. No. Col. No. ATTORNEY-GENERAL ...... 337W BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS—continued Rape: Convictions...... 337W Trade Union Recognition...... 471W

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 459W CABINET OFFICE...... 416W Agriculture: Research...... 459W Civil Servants: Recruitment ...... 416W Apprentices...... 459W Data Protection...... 417W Apprentices: Greater London ...... 460W Exports ...... 417W Apprentices: Horticulture ...... 460W Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce...... 418W Asbestos...... 460W Government Departments: Databases...... 418W British Business Bank ...... 461W Government Departments: ICT ...... 419W British Irish Council...... 461W Heart Diseases ...... 419W Employment Tribunals Service...... 462W Jobseeker’s Allowance...... 421W Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Ministers: Codes of Practice ...... 422W Regulations 1988...... 462W Respiratory System: Diseases...... 422W Green Investment Bank ...... 463W Voluntary Organisations ...... 423W Higher Education: Egypt ...... 463W Insolvency...... 464W CHURCH COMMISSIONERS ...... 345W McDonalds Restaurants ...... 465W Apprentices...... 345W Money Lenders...... 465W Motor Vehicles: Insurance ...... 466W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 405W National Vocational Qualifications ...... 467W Accommodation Agencies ...... 407W New Businesses: Government Assistance ...... 468W Care Homes ...... 407W NHS: Mergers...... 467W Combined Authorities: North East ...... 408W Overseas Students ...... 467W Council Tax Freeze ...... 406W Paternity Pay...... 468W Educational Testing Service ...... 408W Postal Services: Rural Areas...... 469W Fire Services: Industrial Disputes...... 409W Public Houses ...... 469W Floods...... 410W Research Councils: Finance ...... 470W Floods: Bournemouth...... 410W Col. No. Col. No. COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT— ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS— continued continued Housing: Thames Gateway ...... 411W Agriculture: Research...... 438W Local Authority Funding...... 405W Agriculture: Somerset ...... 438W New Towns ...... 411W Air Pollution ...... 438W Planning Permission ...... 411W Bovine Tuberculosis ...... 439W Private Rented Housing ...... 412W Flood Control: Lake District ...... 439W Regeneration: Thames Gateway...... 412W Flood Control: Thames Gateway...... 440W Retail Trade: Change of Use...... 412W Floods...... 440W Social Housing: Rent Arrears ...... 407W Food Supply...... 441W Valuation of Life and Health Interdepartmental Forests: Huntingdon ...... 442W Group ...... 412W Kielder Dam ...... 442W Meat Products: China ...... 443W CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 434W Performance Appraisal ...... 443W Arts: North West...... 434W Rain Forests: Conservation...... 444W Broadband: South East...... 435W Sharks...... 444W Film ...... 435W Timber: Trade ...... 444W Public Libraries...... 436W Vacant Land ...... 445W Tourism: Yorkshire and the Humber...... 436W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 452W DEFENCE...... 354W Armed Conflict: Children ...... 452W Afghanistan ...... 354W Colombia ...... 453W Armed Forces: Young People...... 355W Egypt ...... 453W Army: Northern Ireland...... 355W Egypt: Libya ...... 455W Educational Testing Service ...... 355W India ...... 455W Guided Weapons...... 355W Interception Warrants...... 456W Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft...... 355W Iran...... 456W Members: Correspondence ...... 356W Meriam Ibrahim ...... 457W Nimrod Aircraft...... 356W Mining: Human Rights...... 457W Performance Appraisal ...... 356W Performance Appraisal ...... 457W Religious Freedom ...... 458W DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ...... 347W Western Sahara ...... 458W Electoral Register: Northern Ireland...... 347W Electoral Register: Young People ...... 347W HOME DEPARTMENT...... 371W Northern Ireland...... 348W Alexander Litvinenko ...... 371W Animal Experiments: Dogs ...... 371W EDUCATION...... 348W Asylum: Syria ...... 372W Academic Year...... 348W Belfast International Airport ...... 373W Academies: Land ...... 348W Civil Disorder: Birmingham...... 373W Apprentices...... 349W Entry Clearances: Married People ...... 373W Children: Day Care ...... 349W HM Passport Office ...... 373W Children in Care...... 349W HM Passport Office: Belfast ...... 374W Children’s Centres...... 350W HM Passport Office: Glasgow ...... 375W Citizenship: GCSE...... 350W Human Trafficking ...... 375W Creationism...... 351W Immigration...... 375W Dominic Cummings...... 351W Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Free School Meals...... 352W Immigration...... 376W Free Schools: Enfield ...... 352W Interception Warrants...... 376W Mathematics: Teachers...... 352W Mariam Ibrahim ...... 376W Physics: Teachers...... 353W Nitrous Oxide: Sales ...... 376W Schools: Sandwell...... 353W NSPCC ...... 377W Special Educational Needs...... 353W Offences against Children ...... 377W Teachers: Training...... 353W Offences against Children: Internet...... 377W Passports...... 378W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE ...... 424W Passports: Scotland...... 381W Billing ...... 424W Police ...... 381W Educational Testing Service ...... 424W Police: Hartlepool ...... 382W Electricity...... 424W Police: Recruitment...... 382W Electricity Generation...... 425W Teleperformance ...... 383W Energy: Meters...... 425W Trespass ...... 384W Fracking...... 426W UK Visas and Immigration...... 384W Natural Resources: South East ...... 427W Nuclear Power Stations...... 427W INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 413W Performance Appraisal ...... 428W Burma...... 413W Sellafield ...... 429W Developing Countries: Disability ...... 413W Developing Countries: Trade ...... 414W ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Educational Testing Service ...... 415W AFFAIRS...... 437W Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation .... 415W Agricultural Products: Exports ...... 437W Marie Stopes International ...... 415W Agriculture: Bureaucracy ...... 437W Tax Evasion ...... 416W Agriculture: Finance ...... 438W Uganda ...... 416W Col. No. Col. No. JUSTICE...... 385W TRANSPORT—continued Doncaster Prison ...... 385W Transport: Thames Gateway ...... 365W Licensing Laws...... 386W Travel: Costs ...... 367W Life Imprisonment ...... 387W West Coast Railway Line ...... 367W National Offender Management Service ...... 387W Newport...... 388W TREASURY ...... 445W Open Prisons...... 389W Children: Day Care ...... 445W Personal Independence Payment: Appeals ...... 389W Corporation Tax: Ashfield ...... 447W Personal Independence Payment: Preston ...... 390W Diesel Fuel: Excise Duties...... 448W Prison Service ...... 390W Dover Priory Station...... 448W Prisoners ...... 391W Lloyds Bank: Warrington...... 449W Prisoners: Foreign Nationals...... 396W Mapeley ...... 449W Prisoners: Iraq ...... 396W Minimum Wage: Northern Ireland ...... 449W Prisons: Business...... 396W Revenue and Customs...... 450W Prisons: Employment...... 398W Sanitary Protection: VAT ...... 450W Prisons: Libraries...... 400W Self-employed: Scotland...... 451W Risley Prison...... 400W Speeches...... 451W Secure Colleges ...... 401W Tax Evasion ...... 452W Youth Custody...... 402W Tourism: VAT ...... 452W Welfare State: Northern Ireland...... 452W NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 345W Aviation ...... 345W WALES...... 337W British Irish Council...... 346W Official Visits ...... 337W Interception Warrants...... 346W Performance Appraisal ...... 345W Parades: Belfast...... 346W WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 429W Performance Appraisal ...... 347W Access to Work Programme ...... 429W Terrorism ...... 347W Children: Maintenance ...... 430W Crisis Loans ...... 430W PRIME MINISTER ...... 337W Disability Living Allowance...... 430W Fracking...... 337W EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council ...... 430W TRANSPORT ...... 357W Influenza...... 430W Driving: Licensing...... 357W Jobcentre Plus ...... 431W Euston Station ...... 357W Jobseeker’s Allowance...... 431W First Transpennine Express and Northern Rail...... 358W National Insurance Contributions Office: Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Fareham ...... 361W Newcastle Upon Tyne...... 431W New Roads and Street Works Act 1991...... 363W Personal Independence Payment...... 431W Railway Stations ...... 364W Separated People: Advisory Services...... 432W Railways: Compensation...... 363W Social Security Benefits...... 432W River Thames: Bridges...... 365W Unemployment: Brighton ...... 433W Roads: Closures ...... 365W Universal Credit...... 433W MINISTERIAL CORRECTION

Monday 30 June 2014

Col. No. HOME DEPARTMENT ...... 5MC Protecting Children Online ...... 5MC 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 Monday 7 July 2014

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CONTENTS

Monday 30 June 2014

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 577] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

European Council [Col. 599] Statement—(Prime Minister)

Opposition Day [3rd allotted day] DWP: Performance [Col. 631] Motion—(Rachel Reeves)—on a Division, negatived

Bin Charges: South Gloucestershire [Col. 719] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Written Statements [Col. 41WS]

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 337W] [see index inside back page]

Ministerial Correction [Col. 5MC]