Monday Volume 535 7 November 2011 No. 220

HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

Monday 7 November 2011

£5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2011 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through The National Archives website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/parliamentary-licence-information.htm Enquiries to The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT

MEMBERS OF THE CABINET

(FORMED BY THE RT HON.,MP,MAY 2010)

PRIME MINISTER,FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY AND MINISTER FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE—The Rt Hon. David Cameron, MP DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL—The Rt Hon. Nick Clegg, MP FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS—The Rt Hon. William Hague, MP CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER—The Rt Hon. , MP LORD CHANCELLOR AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR JUSTICE—The Rt Hon. Kenneth Clarke, QC, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT AND MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND EQUALITIES—The Rt Hon. , MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE—The Rt Hon. Philip Hammond, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR BUSINESS,INNOVATION AND SKILLS—The Rt Hon. Vince Cable, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WORK AND PENSIONS—The Rt Hon. Iain Duncan Smith, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE—The Rt Hon. Chris Huhne, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH—The Rt Hon. Andrew Lansley, CBE, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION—The Rt Hon. Michael Gove, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT—The Rt Hon. Eric Pickles, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT—The Rt Hon. , MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT,FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS—The Rt Hon. Caroline Spelman, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT—The Rt Hon. Andrew Mitchell, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND—The Rt Hon. Owen Paterson, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND—The Rt Hon. Michael Moore, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WALES—The Rt Hon. Cheryl Gillan, MP SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CULTURE,OLYMPICS,MEDIA AND SPORT—The Rt Hon. , MP CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY—The Rt Hon. Danny Alexander, MP LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS AND CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER—The Rt Hon. Lord Strathclyde MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO—The Rt Hon. Baroness Warsi

DEPARTMENTS OF STATE AND MINISTERS Business, Innovation and Skills— SECRETARY OF STATE AND PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE—The Rt Hon. Vince Cable, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— The Rt Hon. David Willetts, MP (Minister for Universities and Science) John Hayes, MP (Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning) § Mark Prisk, MP The Rt Hon. , MP § Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint (Minister for Trade and Investment) PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Edward Davey, MP Edward Vaizey, MP § Baroness Wilcox — MINISTER FOR THE CABINET OFFICE AND PAYMASTER GENERAL—The Rt Hon. Francis Maude, MP MINISTER OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Oliver Letwin, MP PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES— , MP Nick Hurd, MP Communities and Local Government— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Eric Pickles, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— The Rt Hon. Greg Clark, MP The Rt Hon. , MP (Minister for Housing and Local Government) PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Andrew Stunell, OBE, MP Robert Neill, MP Baroness Hanham, CBE ii HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT—cont.

Culture, Media and Sport— SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CULTURE,OLYMPICS,MEDIA AND SPORT—The Rt Hon. Jeremy Hunt, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— John Penrose, MP Hugh Robertson, MP (Minister for Sport and the Olympics) Edward Vaizey, MP § Defence— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Liam Fox, MP MINISTER OF STATE—Nick Harvey, MP (Minister for the Armed Forces) PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Gerald Howarth, MP The Rt Hon. Andrew Robathan, MP Peter Luff, MP Lord Astor of Hever, DL Duchy of Lancaster— LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS AND CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER—The Rt Hon. Lord Strathclyde Education— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Michael Gove, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— , MP Nick Gibb, MP John Hayes, MP (Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning) § PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Tim Loughton, MP Lord Hill of Oareford Energy and Climate Change— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Chris Huhne, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— Charles Hendry, MP Gregory Barker, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE—Lord Marland Environment, Food and Rural Affairs— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Caroline Spelman, MP MINISTER OF STATE— The Rt Hon. James Paice, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Richard Benyon, MP Lord Henley Foreign and Commonwealth Office— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. William Hague, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— Jeremy Browne, MP The Rt Hon. David Lidington, MP (Minister for Europe) The Rt Hon. Lord Howell of Guildford PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Henry Bellingham, MP Alistair Burt, MP Government Equalities Office— MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND EQUALITIES—The Rt Hon. Theresa May, MP § MINISTER FOR EQUALITIES—Lynne Featherstone, MP § Health— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Andrew Lansley, CBE, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— Paul Burstow, MP The Rt Hon Simon Burns, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Anne Milton, MP Earl Howe Home Office— SECRETARY OF STATE AND MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND EQUALITIES—The Rt Hon. Theresa May, MP § MINISTERS OF STATE— Damian Green, MP (Minister for Immigration) The Rt Hon. Nick Herbert, MP (Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice) § Lord Henley (Minister for Crime Prevention and Antisocial Behaviour Reduction) PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Lynne Featherstone, MP (Minister for Equalities) § , MP HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT—cont. iii

International Development— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Andrew Mitchell, MP MINISTER OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Alan Duncan, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE—Stephen O’Brien, MP Justice— LORD CHANCELLOR AND SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Kenneth Clarke, QC, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— The Rt Hon. Lord McNally The Rt Hon. Nick Herbert, MP (Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice) § PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Crispin Blunt, MP , MP Law Officers— ATTORNEY-GENERAL—The Rt Hon. Dominic Grieve, QC, MP SOLICITOR-GENERAL—Edward Garnier, QC, MP ADVOCATE-GENERAL FOR SCOTLAND—The Rt Hon. Lord Wallace of Tankerness, QC Leader of the House of Commons— LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND LORD PRIVY SEAL—The Rt Hon. Sir George Young, MP PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY—David Heath, CBE, MP Northern Ireland— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Owen Paterson, MP MINISTER OF STATE— The Rt Hon. Hugo Swire, MP Privy Council Office— DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL—The Rt Hon. Nick Clegg, MP Scotland Office— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Michael Moore, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. David Mundell, MP Transport— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Justine Greening, MP MINISTER OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Theresa Villiers, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Norman Baker, MP , MP Treasury— PRIME MINISTER,FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY AND MINISTER FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE—The Rt Hon. David Cameron, MP CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER—The Rt Hon. George Osborne, MP CHIEF SECRETARY—The Rt Hon. Danny Alexander, MP FINANCIAL SECRETARY—Mark Hoban, MP EXCHEQUER SECRETARY—David Gauke, MP ECONOMIC SECRETARY—Chloe Smith, MP COMMERCIAL SECRETARY—Lord Sassoon PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY—The Rt Hon. Patrick McLoughlin, MP LORDS COMMISSIONERS— Michael Fabricant, MP Angela Watkinson, MP Jeremy Wright, MP Brooks Newmark, MP , MP ASSISTANT WHIPS— Philip Dunne, MP , MP Robert Goodwill, MP , MP , MP Chloe Smith, MP Norman Lamb, MP Greg Hands, MP iv HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT—cont.

Wales Office— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Cheryl Gillan, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE—David Jones, MP Work and Pensions— SECRETARY OF STATE—The Rt Hon. Iain Duncan Smith, MP MINISTERS OF STATE— The Rt Hon. Chris Grayling, MP Steve Webb, MP PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARIES OF STATE— Maria Miller, MP Lord Freud Her Majesty’s Household— LORD CHAMBERLAIN—The Rt Hon. Earl Peel, GCVO, DL LORD STEWARD—The Earl of Dalhousie MASTER OF THE HORSE—Lord Vestey, KCVO TREASURER—The Rt Hon. John Randall, MP COMPTROLLER—The Rt Hon. Alistair Carmichael, MP VICE-CHAMBERLAIN—The Rt Hon. , MP CAPTAIN OF THE HONOURABLE CORPS OF GENTLEMEN-AT-ARMS—The Rt Hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns, DBE CAPTAIN OF THE QUEEN’S BODYGUARD OF THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD—The Rt Hon. Lord Shutt of Greetland, OBE BARONESSES IN WAITING—Baroness Garden of Frognal, Baroness Northover, Baroness Rawlings, Baroness Verma LORDS IN WAITING—Earl Attlee, Lord De Mauley, TD, Lord Taylor of Holbeach, CBE, Lord Wallace of Saltaire

§ Members of the Government listed under more than one Department

SECOND CHURCH ESTATES COMMISSIONER, REPRESENTING CHURCH COMMISSIONERS—Tony Baldry, MP HOUSE OF COMMONS

THE SPEAKER—The Rt Hon. John Bercow, MP

CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS—, MP FIRST DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS—Nigel Evans, MP SECOND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS—The Rt Hon. Dawn Primarolo, MP

PANEL OF CHAIRS Mr , MP, Hugh Bayley, MP, Mr Joe Benton, MP, Mr , MP, Mr Peter Bone, MP, Mr Graham Brady, MP, Annette Brooke, MP, Martin Caton, MP, Mr Christopher Chope, MP, Katy Clark, MP, Mr David Crausby, MP, Philip Davies, MP, Jim Dobbin, MP, , MP, Mr Roger Gale, MP, Mr James Gray, MP, Mr Mike Hancock, MP, Mr Dai Havard, MP, Mr Philip Hollobone, MP, Mr Jim Hood, MP, The Rt Hon. George Howarth, MP, Mr , MP, Dr William McCrea, MP, Miss Anne McIntosh, MP, Mrs , MP, Sir Alan Meale, MP, Sandra Osborne, MP, Albert Owen, MP, Mrs Linda Riordan, MP, John Robertson, MP, Andrew Rosindell, MP, Mr Lee Scott, MP, Jim Sheridan, MP, Mr , MP, Mr Andrew Turner, MP, Mr Charles Walker, MP, Mr Mike Weir, MP, , MP SECRETARY—Simon Patrick

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION TheRtHon.TheSpeaker(Chairman),SirPaulBeresford,MP,MrFrankDoran,MP,TheRtHon.AngelaEagle,MP, JohnThurso,MP,TheRtHon.SirGeorgeYoung,MP SECRETARY OF THE COMMISSION—Dorian Gerhold ASSISTANT SECRETARY—Joanna Dodd

ADMINISTRATION ESTIMATE AUDIT COMMITTEE Alex Jablonowski (Chairman), The Rt Hon. Angela Eagle, MP, The Rt Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst, MP, John Thurso, MP, Stephen Brooker, SECRETARY OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE—Gosia McBride

MANAGEMENT BOARD Robert Rogers (Clerk of the House and Chief Executive), David Natzler (Clerk Assistant and Director General, Chamber and Committee Services), John Pullinger (Director General, Information Services), Andrew Walker (Director General, HR and Change), John Borley, CB (Director General, Facilities), Myfanwy Barrett (Director of Finance), Joan Miller (Director of Parliamentary ICT) (External Member), Alex Jablonowski (External Member) SECRETARY OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD—Matthew Hamlyn

SPEAKER’S SECRETARY—Peter Barratt SPEAKER’S COUNSEL—Michael Carpenter SPEAKER’S CHAPLAIN—Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin

PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER FOR STANDARDS—John Lyon, CB PARLIAMENTARY SECURITY CO-ORDINATOR—Peter Mason

7 November 2011

THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORT

IN THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTY-FIFTH PARLIAMENT OF THE OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND [WHICH OPENED 18 MAY 2010]

SIXTIETH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

SIXTH SERIES VOLUME 535 TWENTY-SIXTH VOLUME OF SESSION 2010-2012

that more than 450 colleges have now lost their right to House of Commons recruit international students under the points-based system. Only colleges offering a genuine, high-quality Monday 7 November 2011 education will be able to sponsor international students in future.

The House met at half-past Two o’clock Mr Evennett: I thank my right hon. Friend for her reply and commend her for the work she is doing in this PRAYERS area. Does she agree that the news last week that one in five colleges has lost its sponsor licence status shows that the accreditation scheme set up by her and her [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Department is working to stop the widespread abuse of the visa system?

Mrs May: My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and what Oral Answers to Questions I have announced today is just the start. All private colleges will have to go through that rigorous accreditation system by the end of the year and those that fail the HOME DEPARTMENT system will no longer be able to bring in international students.

The Secretary of State was asked— David Morris: I am pleased to hear that the Government are successfully shutting off immigration through bogus Foreign Students colleges with the accreditation scheme, and I was glad to hear the answer to the previous question. 1. Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford) (Con): What steps she is taking to strengthen the Mrs May: My hon. Friend has mentioned the accreditation regime for colleges that admit foreign accreditation scheme for colleges, but of course we are students. [78437] going further in taking action against individual students as well as restricting their rights. We have introduced 9. David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con): new rules on English language and we have restricted What steps she is taking to strengthen the accreditation students’ rights to work and to bring in family members. regime for colleges that admit foreign students. [78447] Next April we will close the post-study work route that has allowed graduates two years’ free access to the 16. Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con): What steps she is labour market here in the UK. We want to make sure taking to strengthen the accreditation regime for colleges that those who come to study are coming genuinely to that admit foreign students. [78454] study and not to work.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department Mark Pawsey: We do need to cut out the incentives (Mrs Theresa May): Our fundamental reforms of student for people who abuse the student visa route, but there visas include a rigorous new inspection regime for private will of course be cases when a mature student wishes to colleges. These tough new rules, coupled with robust be accompanied by their spouse and children of school enforcement action by the UK Border Agency, mean age. What are the Government doing to prevent abuse 3 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Oral Answers 4 of the system by those who see this as a loophole programme of work based on five areas: prevention, through which they believe they can bring any number pathways out, punishment, partnership working and of dependants into this country? providing support.

Mrs May: As I indicated in my previous answer, we Karl McCartney: I welcome my right hon. Friend’s are taking action against students as well as against commitment to addressing gang and youth crime. Does colleges. We are restricting the right for students to she agree that the problem cannot be solved by Government bring in family members. Only postgraduate students at alone, but that parents especially and local voluntary universities can bring in dependants and we have changed and community groups have an important part to play? the rules so that only those at universities and public Will she tell me what is being done to support communities colleges can work while they are studying. That means to fight back? that we can continue to attract the brightest and best to our academic institutions while ensuring that we get rid Mrs May: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is of abuse. essential that the Government recognise not only that this issue goes across various Government Departments, Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): I hope that the but that we need to work with the voluntary and community Home Secretary was not too busy at the weekend to sector. In February I committed £4 million for the read the report of the Select Committee on Home communities against guns, gangs, and knives fund. That Affairs that was published on Friday—specifically is already supporting the work of more than 200 grass-roots paragraph 44, which expresses astonishment that the projects across and Wales that are working UK Border Agency has been unable to tell us how with young people, their families and local communities. many students have been deported for breaching their In the report that I presented to Parliament last week leave and that it does not recognise the term, “bogus I made a commitment that half of the £10 million of college”. Does she not think it extraordinary that the funding to tackle gang violence will go to the non-statutory main agency dealing with these matters does not accept sector. a term that she, I and the whole of Parliament have always used to describe such colleges? Ian Swales: When a gang member leaves home armed with a knife, they do so with the ability to commit Mrs May: I think that what matters is not the term grievous bodily harm or even murder. What can the we use but the action we take. That is why action is Home Secretary do to reduce the number of knives on being taken to ensure that those colleges that have not our streets? been offering education to students are no longer able to bring in students and that we get rid of abuse in the Mrs May: My hon. Friend makes an important point. student visa system, which has been a problem in this Obviously, we are tackling that in a number of ways. country for far too long. First, we have introduced changes in a new knife crime offence, which was introduced in the Legal Aid, Sentencing Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab): I support and Punishment of Offenders Bill last week to tackle it any measures that root out any abuses in the immigration from that end. At the other end we have made money system, but what discussions has the Secretary of State available to the Ben Kinsella fund, and Brooke Kinsella had with universities such as the university of Warwick produced a very good report for the Government, going that have expressed concern about student numbers round and identifying projects that work with young from abroad because they rely mainly on such students people to stop them carrying knives and prevent them to exist? from being a danger to others and to themselves.

Mrs May: Before we put our policy into place, we had Ian Austin (Dudley North) (Lab): Everybody wants significant discussions with representatives from the to see tough action to tackle antisocial behaviour and I university sector. We continue to talk to universities welcome what the Home Secretary said a moment ago about the impact of the student visa system that we about the involvement of council, Church and community have introduced, and that scheme ensures that institutions groups in providing youth services. I have just come that are offering a genuine education are able to bring in from a meeting with young people from Dudley, some the brightest and best students, but it is up to them and of whom are in the Gallery now, and one of them asked us to make it clear that students are still able to come me about Dudley council’s decision to cut spending for and learn at our universities from overseas. youth services. Does the Home Secretary think that antisocial behaviour is likely to increase or decrease as a Gangs result of cuts to spending on youth services?

2. Karl McCartney (Lincoln) (Con): What steps she is Mrs May: What I think is important is that in every taking to address antisocial behaviour by gangs. [78438] local community decisions are taken that are right for that local community about what is going to work. The 17. Ian Swales (Redcar) (LD): What steps she is taking Home Office and the Government are providing funding to tackle gang culture. [78455] to a number of communities throughout the country to ensure that in many cases they can do excellent work The Secretary of State for the Home Department with young people to ensure that we can reduce the (Mrs Theresa May): The Government’s approach to number of knives that are carried on our streets. This is gang culture is set out in the “Ending Gang and Youth just the start. Further work will be done to try and Violence” report, which I outlined to the House last counter the gang and youth violence which, sadly, blights week. This marks the start of a cross-Government too many of our communities. 5 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Oral Answers 6

Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab): In August local agencies and the voluntary sector in tackling the Prime Minister told me that the Home Secretary knife, gun and gang-related violence, and I would be would meet social media companies to explore the role happy to talk with him about the project. of the internet and technology in propagating gang culture. Will the right hon. Lady tell me what the : I am grateful to Ministers for supporting outcome of those meetings was and what action will be the “Carry a basketball not a blade” initiative in my taken? constituency, but knife crime has risen in London every year since the current Mayor was elected. What more Mrs May: I am happy to do so. I did indeed meet will the Minister do to press the Mayor to get on top of representatives of Twitter, Facebook and BlackBerry. I this terrible problem in London? met them with representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers and from the Metropolitan police, Nick Herbert: I agree with the right hon. Gentleman and we discussed a number of matters—how the police that knife crime is a serious concern, which is why the can actively use social media networks, and how the Government, as my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary companies can look at their terms and conditions to see has just pointed out, have introduced a new offence of when they might take people off the network because aggravated carrying of a knife. We need to send clear they are breaching those terms and conditions. Subsequent signals and there needs to be effective police action. He meetings have been held on a one-to-one basis between knows that the Mayor has been promoting that in the police and the individual companies. London with his knife crime plan, Operation Blade, and we will continue to support those efforts. Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD): In discussions with a very senior, experienced officer, one of the issues that he highlighted was the lack of effective Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): Is not the key to communication channels between the police and young cutting knife crime the sending of a clear social message people. To what extent does the Home Secretary believe that anyone who commits a crime with a knife or gun that the ending gang and youth violence teams will be will go to prison, actions that this Government have able to pick up and run with that issue? taken, along with the excellent ideas that Brooke Kinsella has come up with? Mrs May: My right hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. There is some good work being done Nick Herbert: I agree with my hon. Friend. It is about here in London, for example, with the Safer London tough enforcement and sending a clear signal that those Foundation, which is a charity backed by the Metropolitan who carry knives and use them in a threatening manner police. That is an important aspect of the work that I will receive a custodial sentence, which we are legislating hope the ending gang and youth violence team will be for, and about the programmes that work with communities able to encourage at a local community level. to deter people from using knives. That is what Brooke Kinsella’s excellent report focused on. Knife Crime Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) (Lab/Co-op): In the past 10 days alone victims of knife crime have included 3. Albert Owen (Ynys Môn) (Lab): What recent a poppy seller in Sussex, a father attending a first assessment she has made of the level of knife crime. birthday party in Mitcham and a young man trying to [78439] stop a fight in Walthamstow on Friday night. Given the scale of cuts to policing and community safety budgets 13. Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab): What recent that the Government are implementing under the Home assessment she has made of the level of knife crime. Secretary’s watch, does she think that knife crime will [78451] continue to go up or go down next year?

The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Nick Nick Herbert: I share the hon. Lady’s concern about Herbert): In the 12 months to June 2011, data collected knife crime, which is why we are introducing the measures by police forces in England and Wales indicate that I have announced on strong enforcement and the important 7% of relevant violent offences involved the use of a community programmes to deter people from carrying knife or a sharp instrument. knives, but I notice that her question did not include a single positive proposal for dealing with knife crime, Albert Owen: Knife crime affects every community. other than the usual Labour party proposal, which is to In my constituency, following the senseless murder of spend more money. Leon Jones who was just 21, a group was set up called Dump the Knife—Save a Life. That was young people Police Forces (Collaboration) working with the police and the local community. Can the Minister ensure that funding for such groups will be available in the future, following the announcement of a 4. Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con): cut of some 60% in community budgets? What progress she has made in increasing the level of collaboration between police forces. [78440] Nick Herbert: I appreciate the value of groups such as the one the hon. Gentleman describes and am happy 15. Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): What progress she to look at it. We have made £18 million of funding has made in increasing the level of collaboration available for the next two years to support the police, between police forces. [78453] 7 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Oral Answers 8

The Secretary of State for the Home Department officers, it is incumbent on the Secretary of State to tell (Mrs Theresa May): I welcome the increasing levels of us the exact total savings from such collaborations collaboration between police forces and expect more nationally and the remaining national funding shortfall forces to consider how to work together to bring after those collaborations have saved some money—if improvements and save money. The Government provide only so that the Minister for Equalities, the hon. Member funding to support regional collaborations to tackle for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), is organised crime and have strengthened the duty to able to stop her police cuts campaign quickly. collaborate through the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. Mrs May: Discussions are taking place between police forces on exactly how much money can be saved by such Harriett Baldwin: I thank the Home Secretary for collaborations, and better approaches to police procurement that reply. Does she agree that the collaboration between and to IT, for example, will help to save £380 million. West Mercia police and Warwickshire police, through But I am very sorry because it sounds as if yet again the their human resources department, produces exactly Labour party opposes action to save money while ensuring the kind of saving that can be made without resorting that the police are able to maintain their services. to the compulsory mergers advocated by the previous Government? Family Migration Route

Mrs May: Indeed, and I commend my hon. Friend’s 5. Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con): What steps she police force for the work it is doing in collaboration. is taking to prevent abuse of the family migration route Many forces across the country are collaborating in a into the UK. [78441] number of areas. We are able to ensure that we can get the benefits of collaboration without forcing mergers 14. Mr (Basildon and Billericay) (Con): on police forces, which the Labour party tried to do What steps she is taking to prevent abuse of the family when it was in government. migration route into the UK. [78452]

Tony Baldry: Thames Valley police is collaborating in The Minister for Immigration (Damian Green): This various ways with no fewer than six other forces, and Government are determined to bring net migration the work it is doing with the Hampshire constabulary back to sustainable levels, and to bring a sense of alone is saving £9 million a year. Does my right hon. fairness back to our immigration system. That is why Friend agree that that demonstrates that it is perfectly we consulted on new measures to prevent the abuse of possible for police forces to save money without that family migration, to promote integration and to reduce having any impact on front-line policing? burdens on the taxpayer.

Mrs May: My hon. Friend is absolutely correct that Andrew Stephenson: I thank my hon. Friend for that that is possible. Thames Valley and Hampshire police answer. At our party conference the Home Secretary are showing that, as are other forces up and down the outlined plans to amend the immigration rules better to country. Indeed, in many cases they will not only be balance the right to a family life with the wider public saving money, but may be providing a more effective interest in controlling immigration. What estimate has service. the Minister made of the number of immigrants using article 8 of the European convention on human rights Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South) (Lab): to remain in the United Kingdom? One area where collaboration between forces would be welcome is in dealing with metal theft, which is growing Damian Green: My hon. Friend makes a good point, across the country. For example, a business in my and the UK Border Agency took a snapshot, reviewing constituency lost its industrial process, which meant in detail those appeals by foreign criminals against that it then lost business. What will Ministers do to deportation which were determined in October to December ensure that collaboration increases and, more importantly, last year. There were 551, of which 162 were successful, when will they introduce legislation to deal with metal and of those 99—61%—were allowed on article 8 grounds. theft? That is precisely why we will revise the immigration rules to reinforce the public interest in seeing foreign Mrs May: The hon. Lady has raised a matter of nationals who are convicted of a criminal offence and serious concern to a great number of Members, particularly those who have breached our immigration laws removed given that we have seen not only the impact on the from this country. economy, but the appalling incidence of theft of metal plaques from war memorials, which I am sure has Mr Baron: Amid the UK Border Agency’s problems shocked everyone in the House. We are discussing with with handling asylum cases, will the Minister assure the ACPO and others what legislative changes to the Scrap House that spouses coming to live here in the UK will Metal Dealers Act 1964 might be needed and we are have to show a commitment to speak and learn English—for talking with the police about what action can be taken their benefit as well as the benefit of society as a whole? to better identify the rogue dealers in advance of any changes to the legislation. Damian Green: Both those points are right: such an approach is not just for the benefit of the individual; Mr David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab): Nobody will oppose it is absolutely for the benefit of the community that sensible collaborations, but with last week’s report of a they enter. That is why last November we introduced 7% rise in theft and a 10% rise in household burglary requirements that spouses and partners must demonstrate reported, coupled with a projected loss of 16,000 police a basic knowledge of the English language before they 9 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Oral Answers 10 are granted a marriage visa. It is reasonable that anyone Antisocial Behaviour intending to live in the UK should understand English so that they can integrate fully and participate fully in 6. Nicola Blackwood (Oxford West and Abingdon) life in this country. (Con): What steps she is taking to reduce antisocial behaviour. [78442] Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab): Given the passport control fiasco exposed over the past few The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the days, does the Minister seriously still expect us to accept, Home Department (James Brokenshire): The Government as he said seven days ago: are committed to tackling the corrosive impact of antisocial “The Government is doing more than ever before to protect behaviour. We are ensuring that the police and other the UK’s borders”? agencies have faster more effective powers, that complaints are dealt with more responsibly and that the public have Damian Green: Absolutely. The hon. Gentleman knows much clearer information about incidents occurring in that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is going their local area. to make a statement on that matter later, when it can be dealt with in detail, but in his honest moments he will Nicola Blackwood: I thank the Minister for his answer, accept that one of the biggest problems—one of the biggest but constituents and local police have raised with me shambles—that this Government inherited was the their frustration at the difficulties that local police have immigration system that the previous Government left in dispersing groups of antisocial individuals, who cause us, and that is what we are getting to grips with now. so much misery for their victims by their actions. The Home Office has consulted on giving front-line police the power to direct antisocial individuals and groups Kate Green: Access to good quality expert advice is away from specific areas, but will the Minister update important to support legitimate applicants and to ensure the House today on whether those proposals will be that those who should not be here can be advised implemented and, if so, when? quickly that they have no case, but constituents report to me that such advice is in increasingly short supply. James Brokenshire: I thank my hon. Friend for her What steps will the Minister take to ensure that good question. I certainly recognise the issues that many quality advisers remain in place, particularly following communities face from antisocial behaviour and the the Government’s cuts to legal aid? fact it perhaps was not previously taken as seriously as it should have been. We propose to combine the most Damian Green: The Government’s cuts to legal aid effective elements of the various dispersal powers available specifically do not apply to asylum cases, because we to the police into a single simpler police power to direct accept that genuine asylum seekers will be in need of people away from an area where they are committing or proper legal advice, but across the House it is agreed are likely to commit antisocial behaviour. We intend to that some of the legal advice available in immigration legislate on the new powers at the earliest opportunity. cases, whether asylum or general immigration cases, is frankly substandard. That is why, when looking at our Gloria De Piero (Ashfield) (Lab): As the Home Secretary support for the legal aid system, which was yet another has acknowledged, vandalism, antisocial behaviour and public spending regime that ran out of control under theft from war memorials repulse everybody, particularly the previous Government, we have specifically protected in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday. Given that the most vulnerable. much of that activity is related to the illegal metal trade, why will Ministers not bring forward legislation right Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD): All of us want away? What is the hold-up? to try to avoid abuse of all the immigration systems, but does the Minister accept that our high-tech industries in James Brokenshire: I welcome the hon. Lady to her particular rely on key individuals from overseas? It is position on the Front Bench. I certainly agree with her very important to be able to attract those individuals, that the attacks on war memorials in the run-up to and some of these immigration changes risk deterring Remembrance Sunday are absolutely despicable. I am them from coming here. What steps will he take to sure that the whole House will join me in condemning ensure that we still get the key international people we those shocking crimes. The Home Secretary has mentioned need? a number of steps that the Government are already taking. We are working with the Association of Chief Damian Green: I am happy to say to my hon. Friend Police Officers to put in place an action plan. Steps are that we have already taken those steps. Indeed we are already under way and we are working with other bringing down the number of people coming here but, Departments to take further action as well. at the same time, we are differentiating more effectively, so that the brightest and the best can continue to come Alcohol-related Antisocial Behaviour here. That is why we have created the new investors and entrepreneurs visas, which have doubled the number of 7. Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con): What entrepreneurs who have come into this country over the steps she is taking to reduce alcohol-related antisocial course of this year, and that is why we have set up the behaviour. [78444] exceptional talent route. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Mr Speaker: Order. I am extremely grateful to the Home Department (James Brokenshire): The Government Minister. are bringing forward a package of measures to ensure 11 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Oral Answers 12 that alcohol is no longer the driver of crime and disorder to provide forced labour in the food sector (a) in London that it has been over the past decade. Measures range and (b) nationwide. [78448] from giving more powers to local communities over licensing decisions, to cracking down on those selling The Minister for Immigration (Damian Green): Iwas alcohol to children and trialling a sobriety scheme to looking forward to that question as well, Mr Speaker. reduce offending. Those provisions are in addition to the introduction of wider measures to address antisocial The UK Border Agency does not have evidence of an behaviour. increase in forced labour in the food sector as a result of the forthcoming London 2012 Olympics. However, the Iain Stewart: In 2007, just five people were prosecuted agency assesses, remains alert to, and, where appropriate, for attempting to buy alcohol under age. Will my hon. acts on a wide variety of immigration threats and risks Friend set out in a bit more detail what steps he is specifically associated with the Olympics. taking to restrict the sale of alcohol in retail outlets to those who are under age? Mark Hendrick: The Government’s wait-and-see approach is dangerous. When Greece hosted the Olympics James Brokenshire: My hon. Friend has raised a very in 2004 and Germany held the World cup in 2006, the important point on the whole issue of the irresponsibility authorities adopted a forward-thinking strategy that of alcohol being sold to children. We have taken steps included extra training for police to spot trafficking, to double the maximum fine to those who are selling and PR campaigns to raise awareness among the public. alcohol persistently to under-age children to £20,000, and Will the Government consider adopting a more proactive to increase the powers of the police and local councils strategy ahead of the games to ensure that human to close such premises down permanently. We are working trafficking does not become part of the London 2012 with other Departments, and the Department of Health legacy? is leading on an alcohol strategy that will take into account further issues. I am under no illusions about the important role that parents and schools also have, Damian Green: I am very aware of the importance of which is why further action is being taken. this issue, and I am happy to assure the hon. Gentleman that a strategy has been in place for some time. For Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab): Will the Minister example, the Olympic project team at UKBA has carried update us on the Government’s plans to introduce a out over 8,000 identity assurance checks on contractors minimum price for alcohol to reduce alcohol misuse and workers on the Olympic site and have arrested and antisocial behaviour? 20 people as a result in the current financial year alone. In total, the team have carried out over 60,000 ID James Brokenshire: Yes. The hon. Gentleman will be assurance checks and made over 300 arrests since 2008. aware that the Government have stated clearly their The kind of proactive strategy that the hon. Gentleman intention to ban below-cost sales, with the first measure wants is very much in operation.. being the banning of sales below duty plus VAT. I can confirm to him that those proposals will be implemented Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con) rose— on 1 April next year.

Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): May I urge the Minister Mr Speaker: Order. On this question, the wish of the to concentrate on tough penalties for people who get right hon. Gentleman might or might not be satisfied. involved in alcohol-induced antisocial behaviour instead of introducing this rather soppy, wishy-washy, nanny-state nonsense of minimum pricing of alcohol? Nicholas Soames: Does my hon. Friend agree that in the Olympic year, the work of the border agency will be James Brokenshire: I thank my hon. Friend for his of the first importance? Does he agree, since the agency typical contribution to these debates. In dealing with is likely to come in for some stick later on this afternoon, issues of alcohol, we need to ensure that we have robust that its individual officers do a remarkable, vital and powers to deal with alcohol-related antisocial behaviour, very important job for this country, and that that needs as we are doing. We also need to deal with pricing, which to be officially recognised? is why we are banning below-cost sales, and with prevention, which is why we will be taking further action in relation Damian Green rose— to schools, parents and the health service.

Mr Speaker: Michael Connarty is not here, so I call Mr Speaker: Order. The Minister should answer in Mark Hendrick. [Interruption.] Order. It is all very well the context of the London 2010 Olympics, or possibly for the hon. Member for Dudley North (Ian Austin) to in the context of forced labour in the food sector, in say that the right hon. Member for Mid Sussex (Nicholas London or elsewhere. Soames) wants to ask about the food industry, but the question on the Order Paper is not about the food industry. Damian Green: I completely agree with my right hon. Friend that UKBA officers do a vital job very Illegal Immigration (Olympics) conscientiously. It is particularly important that they continue to do that and, if possible, to enhance their 10. Mark Hendrick (Preston) (Lab/Co-op): What services in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics. assessment she has made of the potential effects of the Part of that will involve ensuring that no abuse occurs London 2012 Olympics on the level of illegal immigration in the food industry. 13 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Oral Answers 14

UK Border Agency the phrase about waving people through, because nobody has been waved through the border. However, under the 11. Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): What previous Government, as he will hear from the Home estimate she has made of the future number of staff Secretary later, people were waved through. employed by the UK Border Agency. [78449] Public Disorder (Tottenham) The Minister for Immigration (Damian Green): Our priority remains to secure the border and to control 12. Mr (Tottenham) (Lab): What migration while we help to reduce the public deficit. We assessment she has made of the effectiveness of policing expect to have reduced by about 5,200 posts from the in Tottenham on the first night of the public disorder of start of the review period to around 18,000 by March August 2011, following the Metropolitan Police Service 2015. We are on track to meet our staff reduction statement of 24 October 2011. [78450] target. The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Nick Sheila Gilmore: Will the Minister tell us how many of Herbert): My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has those 5,200 staff are being cut from the front line of the commissioned the chief inspector of constabulary, Sir border force? Denis O’Connor, to undertake an urgent review of public order policing in the five forces most affected by Damian Green: The hon. Lady will know that later the disorder, which we expect to receive shortly. We will this afternoon my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary ensure that the lessons from that review are taken will make a statement covering the issues that she is forward. interested in. The reductions in staffing are not affecting the front line because we are improving the front line by, Mr Lammy: I am surprised that the Minister did not for instance, having airline liaison officers overseas. Over comment on the statement of the Metropolitan police, the past few years, that has prevented 60,000 people which said that their policing on the first night of the whom we did not want to travel from travelling in the riots was not good at all. He will recognise the frustration first place. The use of facial recognition technology and and anger in Tottenham at the scale of the damage to e-gates also makes our borders more secure. Tottenham High road. What will he and his Department do to encourage other Departments to ensure that my constituency is regenerated? Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Will the Minister assure the House that the effectiveness of our front-line Nick Herbert: I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman border controls will not be undermined by pressure to realises that it is right for us to wait for the report by the reduce queues at airports? independent inspectorate and to take careful note of what it says about the policing that took place. Clearly Damian Green: As I have just explained to the hon. things did go wrong and we have to learn the lessons. Member for Edinburgh East (Sheila Gilmore), it is The Government are committed to doing so as, I am important to have intelligent border controls, to use sure, are the Metropolitan police. As the Prime Minister technology and to put the right people in the right has made clear, this is not just about the security response, places so that we can keep our borders secure. Those are but about the social response and the preventive measures, elements of this Government’s transformation of the which I know the right hon. Gentleman is keen to UKBA to sort out the shambles that we inherited. promote, that can deal with this situation and stop such things happening again. (Rhondda) (Lab): The Minister may not know how many people are being removed from the Gangs (London) border force, but I do. The numbers are 886 in this financial year and 1,552 before the next general election. 18. (Hackney South and Shoreditch) He boasts that he is getting a grip, but this year there (Lab/Co-op): What financial support she is providing have been waits of many hours, EU nationals have been to London boroughs to tackle gang-related issues. waved through in their hundreds and non-EU nationals [78456] have waltzed into the country without so much as a by your leave. We would absolutely adore it if he got a grip. The Secretary of State for the Home Department Can he really say, hand on heart, that his cuts have (Mrs Theresa May): The police, local government and nothing to do with the corners that are being cut with voluntary groups in London currently receive Home our security? Office funding to tackle gang, gun and knife crime as part of the communities against guns, gangs and knives Damian Green: I am delighted to welcome the hon. programme, which was announced in February. Further Gentleman to his position as shadow Minister for support will be available next year for local areas across Immigration. I remember fondly when, in government, the country to implement sustainable approaches to he talked about the tackling gang violence. “huff and puff in many of the tabloid newspapers”—[Official Report, 16 June 2003; Vol. 407, c. 15.] Meg Hillier: In Hackney, the integrated gangs complaining about immigration. I am sure that he will intervention unit has overseen a major reduction in provide a lot of that in future years. I am sorry, but I gang violence. It is funded from the base budget of the have already answered his question. It is the way in council, but that might be more challenging in future which we use people that makes our borders more years. What work is the Home Secretary doing to ensure secure. I suggest that he pauses before he keeps using that boroughs across London are working together and 15 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Oral Answers 16 providing funding for similar initiatives so that we do Police Officer Numbers not see gangs being tackled in one area only for them to bubble up in another? 20. Graeme Morrice (Livingston) (Lab): What estimate she has made of the number of police officers who will Mrs May: The hon. Lady has made an important be in post in 2015. [78458] point about the importance of tackling this problem across the board. In talking to the Metropolitan police The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Nick and in the work that will be done by the ending gangs Herbert): As I have just explained to the House, we have and youth violence team that the Home office is setting set a challenging but manageable funding settlement for up at a local community level, we will incorporate the the police service. It is for the chief constable and the need to ensure that this work does not simply move police authority in each force to determine the number gangs on to other parts of London. Funding is being of police officers that are deployed given the available focused on areas where there are particular problems. resources. Hackney is in receipt of several amounts of funding for such projects. I fully take on board the hon. Lady’s point and we will look at it in our further work. Graeme Morrice: The public disorder of August showed us that police numbers count, along with forces throughout the United Kingdom working closely together on major Police Funding Settlement issues. Does not the Minister see therefore how foolish it is to cut more than 16,000 police officers by 2015—the same number that brought order to London during the 19. Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab): Whether she plans summer riots? to reassess the police funding settlement for 2012-13. [78457] Nick Herbert: As I have said, police forces must make savings because we have to deal with the deficit, but The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Nick they can do so in a way that protects front-line policing. Herbert): The spending review settlement for the police There is no reason why there should be damage to the is challenging but manageable, and we will not reopen front line if they drive savings elsewhere. I have pointed the debate on the overall level of reductions. As part of out to the House before, and will do so again, that a the provisional settlement process for 2012-13 we will third of human resources in police forces are not on the provide provisional allocations for police authorities, front line. Some 25,000 police officers are in back-room which will be subject to consultation before parliamentary jobs. That is where police forces should begin. approval. Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con): In Ian Lavery: Some 16,000 jobs nationally and 627 in making the police settlement and deploying the police’s the Northumbria police force are to be slashed. Will the forces, will the Minister ensure that rural police forces Minister look again at the police funding settlement to have an element of funding related to rurality and prevent those huge cuts in front-line services in the sparsity? police force? Nick Herbert: We do ensure that, and I understand Nick Herbert: I have explained that we are not in a my hon. Friend’s concern about the issue. I will, in fact, position to reconsider the four-year funding allocation be speaking about rural crime at an Association of that has been made, because we have to deal with the Chief Police Officers conference later this week. It is deficit. Opposition Members simply do not seem to important that we tackle such matters, and they will all understand that. The police can make savings in ways be taken into account when we consider the specific that protect front-line services, as we heard earlier, and allocations for police forces for the third and fourth we are committed to ensuring that that continues to be years of the spending round. the case. Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab): I am sure the Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood) (Con): In its Minister would like to join me in welcoming the 500 extra White Paper, the Home Office said that from 2012-13, police community support officers pledged by the Welsh the police and crime panels would have the power to Assembly Government. The ones in Gwent are being trigger a referendum on a policing precept recommended recruited at the moment. Does he agree that they will be by the police and crime commissioner. When did the a really valuable help in tackling antisocial behaviour in Secretary of State decide that that power would be Welsh communities, unlike the Government’s cuts in better exercised by herself? front-line policing?

Nick Herbert: I do not accept the premise of my hon. Nick Herbert: If I can ignore the last part of the hon. Friend’s question. I have committed to meeting him to Lady’s question, I will say that PCSOs play an important discuss the issue, but we believe it important both that role in helping to ensure that we tackle crime and the panel has the power of veto over an excessive maintain confidence in communities. Last week the precept set by a police and crime commissioner, which Home Secretary and I, and the shadow Home Secretary has now been legislated for, and that the public have the and her shadow Ministers, were able to attend the ability to reject an excessive precept through the referendum Jane’s Police Review community policing awards, which lock. That is the subject of separate measures that are recognised the role of PCSOs and others, and it is before the House in the Localism Bill. important that we continue to recognise that role. 17 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Oral Answers 18

Police Authority Funding then, but I should like to make a few things clear. In the past, under the last Government, some security checks 21. Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan) (Con): What were lifted at times of pressure on the border, including consideration she has given to the funding formula one instance when local managers at Heathrow terminal 3 decided to open controls and no checks were made—not which allocates funding to each police authority. [78459] even cursory checks of passports. The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Nick To prevent that from happening again and to allow Herbert): The Police allocation formula is a robust and resources to be focused on the highest-risk passengers credible tool for estimating police work load in police and journeys, in July I agreed that UKBA could pilot a force areas. It continues to be used to allocate the scheme that would allow border force officials to target majority of central Government funding that goes to intelligence-led checks on higher-risk categories of travellers. police authorities. We have since discovered that Brodie Clark, the head of the UK border force, authorised the wider relaxation of Alun Cairns: The South Wales police force area includes border controls without ministerial sanction. As I said, Cardiff, which, as a capital city, has additional civic I shall make a statement to the House later today and responsibilities, which obviously mean that the police will answer questions on this matter fully then. force incurs ongoing costs. Will the Minister agree to look at that factor and to meet me to consider it further? : The Home Secretary did not answer my question on how many people went through under Nick Herbert: I will continue to look at that factor, the reduced security regime, and I am concerned that and am happy to agree to meet my hon. Friend—other she does not know. As she will know, previously, both hon. and right hon. Members have met me to discuss Labour and Conservative Ministers have committed to that issue. I should point out that forces can bid for the roll-out of e-Borders so that proper screening could funds through special grants for events or unforeseen be available for everyone entering and leaving the country. circumstances. That is restricted to expenditure exceeding She seems to be rolling that system back, not forward. 1% of a force’s annual budget, but South Wales police When describing the rolling back of checks for EU have benefited from such awards in the past. citizens this summer, a UKBA staff member told me, “We were told not to check children travelling with family groups. That was ridiculous. Supposing a man…had Topical Questions taken them away from their mother and they were wards of court, they would pass through undetected. I T1. [78462] Philip Davies (Shipley) (Con): If she will have detected many wards of court simply by running make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. them through the warnings index.” The Home Secretary took the decision to reduce the The Secretary of State for the Home Department checks for EU citizens this summer. Why did she do so? (Mrs Theresa May): A number of hon. and right hon. Members have referred to reports in the past few days Mrs May: As I have indicated to the right hon. Lady, on the UK border force. As the Home Office has I shall set out exactly what decisions were taken in my already said, a senior official at the UK border force, statement to the House later today. I indicated in my Brodie Clark, has been suspended for acting without first answer to her that we were looking at targeting ministerial sanction, but I will make a statement to the intelligence-led checks on higher risk categories of travellers. House later today. She referred to e-Borders, but this has nothing to do with e-Borders. When we took office, we had to stop the Philip Davies: Of all the people who were arrested contract with the contractor that the last Labour and convicted as a result of the riots across the country Government agreed for e-Borders because it was in the summer, what estimate has the Home Secretary significantly behind schedule in putting it in place. made of the number who were arrested and charged through the police use of CCTV and DNA? T2. [78463] Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con): What steps is the Minister taking to alert parents to Mrs May: My hon. Friend is returning to topics that signs of grooming being forced on to innocent children I know he has pursued for some considerable time. by either their family or close friends, which is Obviously, there was significant use of CCTV. That is completely unacceptable? why this Government continue to support its use. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Yvette Cooper (Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) Home Department (James Brokenshire): The crime of (Lab): I welcome the Home Secretary’s decision to child sexual exploitation is utterly appalling and instigate an inquiry into border control this summer, reprehensible, and I well understand why my hon. Friend which we will discuss shortly, but let me ask her a is raising this issue, given the impact that such incidents security question: what is her estimate of the number of have had in Derbyshire. I pay tribute to the work of people who passed into Britain through our ports and Derbyshire police through Operation Retriever. I note airports this summer under the reduced security and that their work was recognised at the police review event passport regime that the UK Border Agency was operating? in the past few days. Awareness-raising is done through the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre’s Mrs May: As the right hon. Lady knows, I will make thinkuknow programme, which delivers prevention a full statement to the House later this afternoon, and messages directly into schools and is helping to raise will have a full opportunity to answer her questions awareness of this issue among parents and young people. 19 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Oral Answers 20

The Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon. What action is my hon. Friend the Minister taking to Friend the Member for East Worthing and Shoreham recover criminal assets and the proceeds of crime? (Tim Loughton), who has responsibility for children and families, is developing an action plan to safeguard James Brokenshire: My hon. Friend has rightly children and young people from sexual exploitation, highlighted the issue of criminal finances. We are determined which will be published shortly. Raising awareness among that criminal proceeds will be taken away from those parents of this terrible form of abuse will be an important who commit these appalling offences. In total, using element of that. powers such as asset denial and by targeting money launderers, the agencies involved denied criminals more T5. [78466] Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) (Lab): than £1 billion last year. However, we want to take further South Wales police have an excellent programme for action, which is why we are setting up the National tackling domestic violence, working with local Crime Agency, and we also want to make asset-recovery authorities, health authorities and voluntary groups. quicker, more robust and more effective in order to What new advice and guidance will be issued to them address the point that he rightly highlighted. following the statement from the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, the hon. Member for Huntingdon T9. [78470] Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East) (Mr Djanogly), that the Government did not consider (Lab): I know that the Home Secretary is reluctant to an investigation by the police or the police having been answer any questions on the UK Border Agency in called out as providing sufficient clear objective advance of her statement, but does she accept that evidence that domestic violence had occurred? 18 months into this Government, the decisions taken on Britain’s borders are hers and hers alone, and that she The Minister for Equalities (Lynne Featherstone): We should make no attempt to blame the previous Government will be asking the, the idea that the police—I am sorry, for the mess that we see now? but I did not hear the question properly. I apologise. Is the hon. Lady asking about the evidence needed to get Mrs May: I am willing to stand here and take legal aid for legal advice on domestic violence? I apologise responsibility for the decisions that I have taken. I only to her. I did not hear the question. wish that the Opposition were willing to stand up in this House and take responsibility for the decisions that Mr Speaker: We must move on. they took when they were in government.

T3. [78464] Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Con): In welcoming the latest departmental developments T6. [78467] Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): Please regarding the police crime mapping website, which my listen carefully; I will say this only once. In the future constituents are beginning to learn to use, does the assessment of police numbers and funding formulae, Minister agree that this marks the beginning of a real have any discussions taken place with the Ministry of step-change improvement in police transparency and Defence about the huge cuts in the MOD police? In hopefully accountability to local communities? the case of the Colchester garrison, the last Labour Government managed to cut its 30 officers to three, which has affected the Essex police. The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice (Nick Herbert): I strongly agree with my hon. Friend. POLICE.uk, our street-level crime mapping website, has received Mr Speaker: I do not think anybody has ever had any more than 430 million hits since its launch at the trouble hearing the hon. Member for Colchester, even beginning of the year, which translates to well over some miles away. 40 million visits. We are adding new information on crime types and, from next year, justice outcomes. It is Nick Herbert: As my hon. Friend knows, the MOD an important part of our transparency programme, and police are not the responsibility of the Home Office; it demonstrates that the public want, and make use of, they are the responsibility of the MOD. However, I am this information. happy to discuss the matter with them.

T7. [78468] Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central) (Lab): The Prime West) (Lab/Co-op): When does the Home Secretary Minister promised that all legitimate claims made under intend to review the definition of an “air weapon” the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 following the recent riots under the Firearms Act 1968? would be paid. I understand that a commitment has been made to ensure that the Metropolitan police will Mrs May: I shall come back to the hon. Gentleman. see its money, whereas Greater Manchester police authority [Interruption.] I am sorry, but I did not actually hear is still struggling to get an answer from the Home the question. I understand that he said “air weapons”. Office. Can the Home Secretary or one of her Ministers Is that right? give an answer today?

Tom Greatrex indicated assent. Mrs May: I am happy to answer the hon. Gentleman on that point. We will indeed cover claims made under Mrs May: May I write to the hon. Gentleman and set the Riot (Damages) Act 1886, but as I am sure he will it out to him clearly? appreciate, it is necessary to check and verify those claims. We have been generous with the definition that T4. [78465] Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con): we have used, but there is still a necessary process to go Organised crime costs the British economy £40 billion a through—for example, to identify the exact value of the year and affects families, businesses and local communities. property lost. 21 Oral Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Oral Answers 22

T8. [78469] Karl McCartney (Lincoln) (Con): Is the are necessary. I, too, pay tribute to Michael Brown for Minister aware that the average fine in 2010 for people the campaign that he is running. He is very brave to do caught driving without motor insurance in Lincolnshire so in the face of such tragic circumstances. was £213, down from £233 in 2008, when the average cost of fully comprehensive motor insurance premiums Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) for my constituents is around £650, having risen on (Con): One of the worst forms of antisocial behaviour average by 40% in the same two years? Does he agree that my constituents tell me about involves people’s that such fines do nothing to dissuade potential or lifestyles and actions having a really detrimental effect existing offenders from driving without insurance? What on their neighbours’ quality of life. What proposals are plans do the Government have to address the situation? the Government bringing forward to help the police and local authorities to deal with this problem? Nick Herbert: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this serious issue, about which I want to talk to James Brokenshire: As my hon. Friend has rightly the Department for Transport. Uninsured driving already said, these are local issues that deserve local solutions. raises the cost of premiums for honest motorists to the There has been a consultation on speeding up the tune of £30. Individual fines are a matter for magistrates, eviction of antisocial tenants; it closes today. The rights but it is important that we look at this matter. of a tenancy bring with them responsibilities, and we will be reflecting on that consultation in due course, Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab): once the responses are finalised. Further to the Home Secretary’s reply about the Riot (Damages) Act 1886, if insurance companies are successful in pressing claims for the cost of business interruption, Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran) (Lab): What will those costs also be included in the financial settlement? mechanisms, if any, are being put in place to ensure that staff and their representatives are given an opportunity Mrs May: I do not think that business interruption is to express their concerns about problems with the functions being looked at, but I am happy to write to the right of the UK Border Agency? hon. Gentleman and set out exactly what we are doing in relation to the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 and what Mrs May: I can assure the hon. Lady that we are criteria are being followed to ensure that police forces always willing to hear from members of staff about any and others are paid the necessary sums. concerns that they might have, and about any proposals for the better operation of the UK Border Agency. T10. [78471] Andrew George (St Ives) (LD): My Indeed, I was in Turkey only a matter of days ago, constituent Joanne Bryce, whose sister Claire Oldfield- listening to those who were making visa decisions in the Hampson’s murder was uncovered in Cambridgeshire embassy there, and hearing directly from them their in December 1998, has worked tirelessly to find out concerns and their ideas for making things better. why the case has been so appallingly mishandled by the local constabulary, but she and I have been frustrated Several hon. Members rose— at every turn. Will the Policing Minister meet me to discuss the issue with my constituent? Mr Speaker: Last but not least, Mr . Nick Herbert: Yes, of course I will meet my hon. Friend. I appreciate his concern and that of his constituent Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Following an illegal about the matter; the problem is that the case was encampment of 13 caravans in Harlow town centre at investigated by the precursor of Police the weekend, Essex police have refused to be the lead Complaints Commission. That is an obstacle, but I will agency in removing the trespassers because they are indeed discuss the case with him. following Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines. Will the Minister confirm that ACPO guidance is no Hazel Blears (Salford and Eccles) (Lab): The Home substitute for the police enforcing the law, rather than Secretary has recently launched a consultation on the forcing Harlow council to go through a lengthy court disclosure of previous convictions of serial perpetrators process? of domestic violence, following the tragic murder of Clare Wood in my constituency and the courageous Mrs May: My hon. Friend raises an important issue. campaign by her father, Michael Brown. Will the Home First, however, may I commend Essex police for the Secretary tell me whether there will be early legislation action that they took alongside Basildon council in the following the consultation to implement the scheme operation at Dale farm? We are looking at whether we and prevent further tragic deaths like that of Clare need to give the police extra powers in relation to the Wood? clearing of encampments and other incursions on to land. Currently, assuming that the incursion is not Mrs May: It is certainly our intention to act as soon stopping the normal life of the community, the landowner as possible on the basis of the consultation. The right has to take legal action. If it is stopping the normal life hon. Lady will be aware that certain powers are already of the community, the police do have some powers. This available to the police to make disclosures to individuals. matter concerns a great many people, and we are actively The consultation will look at whether further powers looking into it. 23 7 NOVEMBER 2011 G20 24

G20 of the summit to call for new and innovative approaches to trade liberalisation. That is what was agreed in the communiqué. 3.32 pm On improving global governance, I presented a report, which I am placing in the Library today. We secured The Prime Minister (Mr David Cameron): With agreement for the key proposals. First, we agreed that permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement the G20 should continue as an informal, flexible gathering on last week’s G20 summit. There were three key aspects rather than attempting a complete reordering of the to the summit. First, agreement on an action plan for system of global governance. What is needed is not new growth and jobs, with specific countries agreeing to do institutions, but political will. Secondly, we agreed that specific things in order to maximise overall growth in we should make the now established Financial Stability the world economy. Secondly, the G20 continued with Board a separate legal body to give it the authority and its work to identify and remove some of the key obstacles capability that it needs. Thirdly, we agreed that we should to growth, including imbalances between surplus and strengthen the WTO’s role as of the world deficit countries, to stop the slide to protectionism, to trade system. Further progress was also made on cracking improve global governance, and to protect the world’s down on tax havens and tax evasion and on having a poorest from the current economic problems. Thirdly, proper regulatory system for banks to make up for the there was, of course, the main issue of instability in the woeful system that has existed in so many countries, eurozone. Let me take each in turn. including ours, over the last decade. First, the action plan for growth and jobs. This On development, Bill Gates gave a presentation includes many of the things that Britain is already suggesting ways of mobilising resources to help the doing, from fiscal consolidation and monetary activism world’s poorest. This included helping some developing to removing the barriers in the way of business and job countries to help themselves through proper systems for creation. The G20 recognised yet again the importance collecting taxes and transparent revenues for natural of implementing resources. At the same time, he gave strong support to “clear, credible and specific measures to achieve fiscal consolidation.” the UK’s own record on the development agenda. It also clearly identified a group of countries that have On the financial transactions tax, I have been clear all the space to borrow for additional discretionary measures. along that we are not opposed in principle to such a tax I have to tell any Members of the House who would like if one could be agreed at the global level, but we will not to see the UK borrow more that no one was proposing unilaterally introduce a new financial transactions tax that the UK should be in that group of countries. We in the UK. Neither will we support its introduction in are determined to deal with our debts, not to leave them the European Union unless it is part of a global move. to our children and grandchildren. The need to press on Britain has introduced a bank levy and we are meeting with our plan for fiscal consolidation has now been our global agreements on overseas aid. If other countries recognised by the G20, as well as by the International want to introduce new financial taxes at home, including Monetary Fund and the OECD. to raise revenue for development, that is for them to Secondly, obstacles to growth. The imbalances that decide. What they should not do is try to hide behind did so much damage in the run-up to 2008 are growing proposals for an EU tax as an excuse for political again. This matters, because if we are to maximise inaction on meeting targets, whether they be for spending global growth and avoid some of the speculative bubbles on development or, indeed, climate change. of the past, countries with a trade surplus need to The current proposals for a financial transactions increase domestic demand and ensure that they keep tax in Europe are so deeply confused that different their markets open, while those with a trade deficit have European countries, and indeed European institutions, to undertake structural reforms to improve competitiveness. have talked about spending the revenues of such a tax in There was some real progress. For instance, Russia is five different ways: on development, on climate change, making changes to its foreign exchange regime, and on social policy, on resolving the banking crisis, and, China agreed to increase its exchange rate flexibility. most recently, as the best way to supplement the EU Both of those are reflected in the communiqué, but budget. I have to say that that would be a bit of a stretch more needs to be done. even for Robin Hood. The greatest mistake that the global economy could Let me turn, finally, to the problems in the eurozone. make is to enter into a slide towards protectionism. It is clearly in our national interest for the eurozone to The World Trade Organisation report sets out all the sort out its problems. As the Chancellor has said, the protectionist measures that have been taken in G20 biggest single boost to the British economy this autumn countries over the last year, and they are a cause for would be a lasting resolution to the eurozone crisis. concern. So the G20 reaffirmed its pledge not to take That is why Britain has been pressing the eurozone to protectionist actions, committed again to roll back any act—not just at the G20, but for many months. The deal new protectionist measures that might have arisen, and in Brussels 10 days ago was welcome progress, and it reaffirmed its determination to refrain from competitive reflected the three essential elements that Britain has devaluation of currencies. We also welcomed the fact been calling for: first, reinforcement of the bail-out that Russia, the last G20 country outside the World fund by eurozone countries to create a proper firewall Trade Organisation, is now set to become a member of against contagion; secondly, recapitalisation of weak the WTO by the end of the year. European banks; and, thirdly, a decisive resolution to On Doha, I have said it is time to look at working the unsustainable position of Greece’s debts. with groups of countries in so- called “coalitions of the The Euro area countries now need to do everything willing” to drive new trade deals. Together with five possible to implement their agreement urgently. Of course, other G20 leaders, I wrote to President Sarkozy ahead the rest of the world can play a supporting role, but in 25 G207 NOVEMBER 2011 G20 26 the end this work has to be done by the eurozone Edward Miliband (Doncaster North) (Lab): I thank countries themselves. No one else can do it for them. As the Prime Minister for his statement, but I have to say I have said before, Britain will not contribute to the to him—what a complacent statement from an out-of-touch eurozone bail-out fund—whether that be through the Prime Minister! Anyone listening to him would think European financial stability facility or a special purpose that the G20 summit had been a great success, but it was vehicle. And while the International Monetary Fund not. may administer a fund, it cannot and will not contribute Let me ask the Prime Minister about the three areas to it. in which the summit should have made progress: the The IMF does, however, have a vital role to play in eurozone, reform of our banking system, and economic supporting countries right across the world that are in growth. On the eurozone, the Chancellor said in mid- serious economic distress. There are 53 countries currently September: being supported by the IMF,of which only three—Greece, “’The eurozone has six weeks to resolve this political crisis.” Ireland and Portugal—are in the eurozone. It is essential The six weeks are up, but there is no clear solution for confidence and economic stability that the IMF has on financing. How much, from whom, and in what the resources it needs. So, at the G20, Britain, the US, circumstances? None of those questions are being answered. China and all the other countries round the table made Now we see the crisis in Greece spreading to Italy, and it clear that we are willing in principle to see an increase no plans for jobs and growth—just more austerity. in IMF resources to boost global confidence. There was Can the Prime Minister tell us why European and no agreement about the timing, the extent or the exact G20 leaders failed to find a solution to the problems of method through which this could be done. However, the eurozone? Given that the Chancellor told us from Britain stands ready to contribute within limits agreed Cannes that he and the Prime Minister were by this House. Those who propose that we walk away from the IMF, or who oppose even the increase in IMF “right at the heart of the discussions here”, resources agreed by the last Government, are not acting people will be struck by the Prime Minister’s tone today. responsibly or in the best interests of Britain. Progress that was made at the summit was, of course, down to him—and, as always with this Prime Minister, It is in our national interest for countries across the failure is nothing to do with him. world that are in distress to be supported in their efforts to recover. The collapse of our trading partners, whether Does the Prime Minister not now regret that he did in the eurozone or not, would have a serious impact on not try harder and earlier to engage in the discussions our economy. Businesses would not invest, British jobs and push for an agreement, rather than standing aside would be lost, and families across Britain would be and claiming that Britain was a “safe haven”? If we were poorer. Through the IMF, we can help other countries indeed at the heart of the discussion, can the Prime in a way that does not affect our own public finances—but Minister say what responsibility he takes for the failure let me be clear: it is for the eurozone and the European of the eurozone? Given the importance that all this has Central Bank to support the euro, and global action for Britain, can he tell us specifically what he plans to cannot be a substitute for concrete action by the eurozone. do in the coming days to secure an agreement? The G20 withheld specific IMF commitments at this Let me turn to the funding for the IMF. The Prime stage precisely because we wanted to see more concrete Minister said in his press conference on Friday, and action from eurozone countries to make their firewall again today, credible and to stand behind their currency. In short, “you can’t ask the IMF or other countries to substitute for the the world sent a clear message to the eurozone at this action that needs to be taken within the eurozone itself.” summit: “Sort yourselves out and then we will help, not the other way round.” We agree with that position. The sensible step of increasing resources for the IMF should not be taken to make up These are very difficult times for the global economy. for inadequate eurozone action. The Government are completely focused on one objective: The Prime Minister has said that he would not support to help Britain to weather the storm and safeguard our the direct use of IMF resources to top up the European economy. Because of the tough decisions that the financial stability facility, but can he also categorically Government have already taken to get to grips with our rule out the use of IMF resources indirectly, in parallel, deficits, Britain has avoided the worst of this stage of to make up for insufficient funding from the EFSF or the global debt crisis. In 2008, under the last Government, the European Central Bank? Can he also square his UK bond yields were about the same as those in Greece; position that his commitment is within agreed resources today, although we have the second highest deficit in with the comment of the managing director of the IMF the EU—second only to Ireland’s—our bond yields are that there is “no cap…no ceiling” on IMF resources? almost the same as those in Germany, and around the lowest that they have been since world war two. That is Let me turn to the issue of banking reform, and because we have a credible plan to deal with our debts, specifically the global financial transactions tax, which and the resolve to see it through. The situation in Italy we support and believe should be implemented if we further emphasises the importance of a credible plan to can reach agreement in all the major financial centres. It deal with debts and ensure confidence in the markets was on the agenda in Cannes, although no real progress more generally. was made. I have to say I could not tell from his statement whether the Prime Minister really supports it; The eurozone must now do what is necessary, and see after all, “not opposed in principle” is hardly a ringing through the agreement that it reached in Brussels 10 days endorsement. I do not think we should be surprised, ago, Britain, and all our G20 partners, will continue to because the week before the summit negotiations had press for that to happen. I commend my statement to even started, the Chancellor was writing to business the House. leaders casting doubt on whether any such mechanism 27 G207 NOVEMBER 2011 G20 28

[Edward Miliband] oversaw for a decade. He talks about the eurozone, with no recognition of the fact that Labour had a “national offers an efficient way to raise revenue. So can the Prime changeover plan” to get the whole of Britain to adopt Minister tell us whether he actually argued for a global the euro? Above all, let us be clear: if we had listened to financial transactions tax at the summit, and can he tell his advice, we would not have been in Cannes discussing us what steps he will be taking in the weeks and months a Greek bail-out; we would have been at the IMF ahead to advance its cause? discussing a British bail-out. Turning to growth, the first substantive paragraph of Let me remind the right hon. Gentleman of the the communiqué states: figures. In 2008 Greek and British bond yields were “Since our last meeting, global recovery has weakened, particularly both 4.5%. Since then, in the UK that rate has halved, in advanced countries, leaving unemployment at unacceptable whereas in Greece it is up by six times. That is because levels.” they did not have a credible policy for deficit reduction, That is certainly true in this country, where growth has and we do. flatlined and unemployment is at a 17-year high. So Let me come back to the issue of the IMF, because does the Prime Minister understand why people are so what we are seeing from the Labour party is breathtakingly disappointed by the failure of the summit? irresponsible. Let us be clear about its position on the The Prime Minister talks about the words in the IMF, and let us remember that that is an organisation communiqué about trade and imbalances, but action founded by Britain, in which we are a leading shareholder, on trade and imbalances will take years to implement. and also an organisation that rescued us from Labour He also mentions undertakings by various countries in the 1970s. Labour’s position is, first, to vote against who have scope to take action, but it is a very important the increase in resources agreed by the G20 under their point in the communiqué that they will be implemented own Government. They called it a “triumph” at the only if time, yet Labour Members trooped through “global economic conditions materially worsen.” in a complete display of opportunism. But it gets worse, People around the country will be wondering: how because now they are saying that they do not want IMF much worse do they need to get for action to be taken? resources for any eurozone country. Are they saying He says, by the way, that nobody is arguing for Britain that they want to take the money from Ireland and to change course, but the IMF said only last month that Portugal? They would have turned up at the summit, if the British economy continues to undershoot, the where every country was talking about increasing IMF Chancellor should do just that. How much longer does resources, and said that on no account would Britain the country have to wait for him to change course? support that. How ridiculous. They are saying to eurozone countries, which also contribute to the IMF, “You’re After the April 2009 G20 summit the Prime Minister never, ever allowed to seek its assistance.” If they meant said: that, I would take it seriously—but this is all about “The glitz and glamour of this week must seem very remote to politics: they are putting the politics ahead of the the small businessman who still can’t secure the credit to stay economics. We know that that is the case with the afloat—or the mother worrying if she’ll be able to keep a roof shadow Chancellor: he only ever thinks about the politics. over her children’s heads.” The question for the leader of the Labour party today The 2009 G20 summit succeeded, and this one failed. is: are you a bigger politician than that? I am afraid that For the young person who is unemployed, for the the answer is no. business that has seen demand for its goods disappear, and for the shops that have seen people leaving the high street, this summit achieved precisely nothing. That is Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle) (Con): Did why the Prime Minister looks so out of touch when he Chancellor Merkel tell my right hon. Friend why the claims that the summit has made a difference on growth. European Central Bank is not fully discharging its But is not the real problem this: the Prime Minister does duties as the euro’s lender of last resort? It is not not really believe that we need a global plan for growth? providing massive quantitative easing, not moving towards He thinks the answer for the world is collective austerity, near-zero interest rates and not urging President Sarkozy just as he used to claim that the answer is austerity at to renationalise the leading French banks before the home. credit crunch closes on France. Chancellor Merkel knows very well that it was not inflation but high unemployment People wanted action from this summit, and they did which, in my lifetime, brought down the Weimar republic, not get it. Those struggling to find work, seeing their and will do the same for the European Union. living standards squeezed, asking why the economy is not working for them, deserve better. Is not the truth that this is a do-nothing summit from a deeply complacent The Prime Minister: My right hon. Friend speaks Prime Minister, out of touch with the real needs of our hugely powerfully about this issue. He is right that we economy? must not allow the IMF to substitute for what the ECB and the other institutions of the European Union need The Prime Minister: Honestly, I do not know who to do; that is vital. It was one of the reasons why, in the writes this rubbish! I liked the bit when the right hon. end, all the countries of the world that were prepared to Gentleman quoted my response to the 2009 summit: I see an increase in IMF resources wanted to see more have to say that if the 2009 summit was such a success, done by the eurozone and by the ECB. I have discussed why did the Labour party vote in the House of Commons this with Chancellor Merkel on many occasions. My against one of its key conclusions—the idea of increasing right hon. Friend will know as well as I do of the huge IMF resources? He talks about regulating banks, with hold-back that there is in Germany about what a central no recognition of the failed regulatory system that he bank is, and what it should do. But I do believe that, as 29 G207 NOVEMBER 2011 G20 30 it says in the communiqué, you have got to have the for reform—for example, on budgetary policy, which is institutions of the eurozone fully behind the currency in going to be a major issue in coming years—he has dealt order to save it. himself out of the game with a focus on the repatriation of powers, which, frankly, is not the issue that is going Mr Alistair Darling (Edinburgh South West) (Lab): to make or break the European economy? Understandably, the Prime Minister is putting a brave face on what happened last week. On any viewing, the The Prime Minister: I do not agree with the right hon. G20 failed to reach its aims on growth, on the imbalances Gentleman, for this reason: I have managed to assemble or on the eurozone crisis, which is as bad now as it was a a coalition for budgetary restraint in the European few days ago. I see that there were reports that the G20 Union, and this year Britain, France, Germany and is planning to meet again, perhaps as early as in the others have all agreed to freeze the EU budget in real remaining part of this year or at the beginning of next terms. I would like to go much further, but I have to say year. Is that right? If so, would the Prime Minister bear that a freeze in the budget in real terms is not something it in mind that in some ways, no summit is better than we have been able to achieve in recent years, and is a another failure? The G20 may not be perfect, but it breakthrough, so I do not accept the point about looking cannot afford another meeting where it singularly fails at rebalancing powers in Europe and fighting for a deal to come up with the goods. on the budget. We can do both.

The Prime Minister: The right hon. Gentleman is Mr William Cash (Stone) (Con): Given that the single entirely right: meetings that do not have a proper conclusion market, including the City of London, is governed by can often add to the problem rather than solve it. What qualified majority voting, how does the Prime Minister is required is the political will for eurozone countries to propose to achieve a majority to protect our interests in act. I was very clear after the G20 meeting that it had the context of the fiscal union that he advocates? not achieved a breakthrough on the euro—that is absolutely clear. Some progress has been made in terms of establishing The Prime Minister: First, we need to disconnect the the three elements that need to be put in place—the issues that my hon. Friend raises. The issue of the single firewall, the recapitalisation and the Greek write-down—but market and the threat to the City of London and much more has to be done. There may well be a meeting Britain’s financial services is a real threat. We have to of G20 Finance Ministers, but I agree with the point work extremely hard to build alliances in the single that the right hon. Gentleman makes: it is progress and market and in the European Council to stop directives resolution of these issues that is required, rather than that would damage our interests. I think it is extremely another meeting. important that we do that work. Financial services matter hugely to this country, and this is one of the Several hon. Members rose— areas that I want to ensure we can better safeguard in future. Mr Speaker: Order. Given the intense interest in this I do not support fiscal union. I do not think that statement and the fact that there are two further statements Britain ought to join a fiscal union, as I do not think to follow, brevity is essential. that is the right move for us. However, we have a single currency that is quite dysfunctional, and one way in Mr Andrew Tyrie (Chichester) (Con): The European which it could be made more functional is greater fiscal Commission has estimated that implementation of the union. That is a statement of fact rather than our saying financial transactions tax would reduce gross domestic that we want in any way to join it: we do not. We want product in the euro area by 1.8%. Of course, that would to safeguard the interests of Britain by making sure that hit the UK disproportionately hard at a time when we the single market works for us. need more growth, not less. Does the Prime Minister agree that, of all times, now is not the appropriate Glenda Jackson (Hampstead and Kilburn) (Lab): Is moment to consider such a controversial measure? it really in the best long-term interests of this country for the Government consistently to present the United The Prime Minister: It is important for people to see Kingdom as the neighbour from hell with regard to the the European Commission report on the financial European Union—not least with regard to the Tobin transactions tax, which shows the figures that my hon. tax? The issues on which the European Union wishes to Friend talks about, and shows that it would cost jobs. spend money are the issues on which the Prime Minister’s As I have said, if we could achieve global agreement for constituents and mine, and citizens around the world, a tax of that nature there would be a case for it, but it is wish to see money spent—not least on alleviating suffering very hard to see that happening. I think that the focus in the third world and on climate change. Will he of politicians in Europe should be to meet the promises change his mind on this issue? they have already made about development rather than to hide behind a financial transactions tax that they The Prime Minister: With great respect to the hon. know is very unlikely to come into being. Lady, this Government—and to an extent the Governments whom she supported—have made and kept promises David Miliband (South Shields) (Lab): The frustration about things that our constituents care about, such as and impatience that the Prime Minister expressed on development and climate change. We are meeting those. Thursday and Friday last week were extremely well As for being a good neighbour, one of the most merited, and it would be as well if he came here and unneighbourly acts someone could perform when the repeated his concerns about the failure of leadership whole world is looking at growing the resources of the across Europe at this vital time. In that context, though, IMF to safeguard the global economy is to walk away is it not a tragedy that when Europe does need a voice from that and vote against it—something that I know 31 G207 NOVEMBER 2011 G20 32

[The Prime Minister] forward in areas such as trying to roll back protectionism, and particularly on the issue that the right hon. Gentleman that quite a lot of Labour MPs, probably including raises about globally significant financial institutions some on the Front Bench, are rather ashamed of. Such and the impact that they can have. The approach that an act would show them to be not only not a good Vickers recommends is fully in tune with what other neighbour, but on another planet. G20 countries are recommending.

Mr John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con): As there is a Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab): Does the Prime danger of the euro crisis now spreading to Italy, can the Minister realise that the British people out there are Prime Minister tell me what the leaders of euroland listening to the sheer effrontery of this British Prime have said they will do by way of buying Italian bonds or Minister suggesting a growth plan for Greece, Italy, offering subsidised loans to Italy to head off the crisis in Spain and Portugal, while here at home he sticks rigidly the market there? to high inflation and mass unemployment? Hypocrisy by the bucketful! The Prime Minister: My right hon. Friend asks an important question. It goes back to the question that the Father of the House asked, about the actions of the The Prime Minister: That probably sounded better in ECB. The ECB has been intervening in markets and front of the mirror than when the hon. Gentleman got buying bonds of countries that are under pressure. That to the Chamber. is what makes it so difficult to understand why some in Europe are so opposed to the ECB being more of a Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks) (Con): Does my right monetary activist, if I could put it that way. The key hon. Friend agree that one of the biggest single fillips to with Italy—everyone should be careful about speculating global growth would be breaking the deadlock over the about another country, but the point I made in my Doha round? Can he say how confident he is now that statement is that Italy must demonstrate that it has a the approach of willing coalitions will help make progress credible fiscal path. That is as much about the confidence on this issue under the Mexican presidency? of the markets that it will be able to pay its deficit and pay its debts. If it can do that, its interest rates will fall. The Prime Minister: I thank my hon. Friend for that question. The point about Doha is that it is not progressing Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab): The door marked in the way that it was meant to. There is a gridlock “Exit from the eurozone” is now clearly in view and a between many of the developing countries and, particularly, number of eurozone states are moving inexorably towards countries such as America that do not see enough in the it. Is it not obvious that until those states can recreate round for them. So it seems that the only way forward, their own national currencies and find an appropriate if we want to see more global trade deals that are good parity for those currencies, they will not recover? for all those participating, is to have coalitions of the willing—countries that want to push ahead. That is The Prime Minister: The hon. Gentleman refers what has been sanctioned at the G20, and that is what principally, I think, to Greece. That is an issue that the we can now push ahead with. Greeks have to decide themselves. They have been offered a deal that writes down their debts and can enable them to stay in the single currency; it is their decision whether Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston) (Lab): to take that road or to take another road. The only Greece, Spain and Portugal already are, and Italy probably thing I would say to Members of the House who are is, insolvent within the European monetary union. None deeply sceptical about a single currency, of whom I am of these countries is likely to regain its competitiveness one, is that we should be very careful to recognise that while it is part of the single currency. Does the Prime countries leaving a single currency can cause all sorts of Minister not think it would be better for the IMF to knock-on effects and problems for other economies, give them extra funds only once they have left the single including our own. We should not see it as some sort of currency, rather than while they are part of the EMU? painless easy option for a country to fall out of the euro. It would have very real consequences for other The Prime Minister: The hon. Lady makes an important countries, including our own, and we have to think point, but it is not necessarily fair to lump all those about that in that context. countries together. Some of them, such as Italy, have huge deficits in terms of the ratio of debt to GDP, but Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) have managed to compete within the single currency, so (LD): Given the role that the big banks played by being I am not sure that the way in which she groups those overstretched and therefore triggering the present financial countries together is entirely fair. The important role of crisis, can the Prime Minister tell us what progress he the IMF is not to support a currency system, not to made in persuading his colleague countries in the G20 support the eurozone, and not to invest into a bail-out to follow the proposal that we made and that the fund. The IMF has to be there for countries in distress. Vickers commission recommended to break up the banks That is why everyone in the House supported, for that are too big to fail, so that in no economy are the big instance, the IMF programme that went into Ireland. financial institutions able to hold a gun to the state and The IMF went in as a partner of other countries, but it to the taxpayer? did go in. If she turns her question round the other way, it would be extraordinary, would it not, to say to The Prime Minister: Obviously, many people will eurozone countries, “You are shareholders in the IMF, comment on the ultimate failure of the G20 to resolve you contributed to the IMF, but when you’re in distress the eurozone crisis, but the G20 has made good steps you can’t get any money from the IMF at all”? That 33 G207 NOVEMBER 2011 G20 34 would be an extraordinary position—but it is one that the IMF money. As I have said, if it comes to giving seems to have the support of those on the Labour Front extra support for the IMF, we want to do that within Bench. the headroom that has been set.

Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): Has not Mike Gapes (Ilford South) (Lab/Co-op): Are we not the avoidance of a concentration of political and economic really dealing with a sophisticated form of Russian power on the continent been a cardinal feature of roulette, in which the Prime Minister tells us on the one British foreign policy for 300 years? How then is it in hand that he does not think that it is right for eurozone our interests to facilitate the creation of a single fiscal countries to have their funding from the IMF cut off, and monetary union that will have enormous power but says on the other hand that at this stage there over us, but over which we will have very little influence? should be no additional money from the IMF? When will the stage be right for that additional IMF money? The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend asks a question with a broad historical sweep. We are suffering at the The Prime Minister: There are 53 IMF programmes moment from a single currency that we are not a around the world, only three of which are in the eurozone, member of, but that has some serious structural faults. so in part it is a judgment for the IMF about when it It is in our interests that those faults are resolved, and needs to replenish its resources. Let me be clear about one way of helping to do that would be to have a greater what needs to happen in the eurozone countries. They pooling of fiscal sovereignty among the members of the have to sort out the problems of the euro: they need that single currency. I always felt that that was necessary and firewall, and it is Europe that effectively has to provide was going to happen, which is one reason why I never it. They need that recapitalisation and the demonstrable supported the single currency. However, I do not think and clear write-down of Greek debts. Those are the that we can stick happily with the status quo when the things that they have responsibility for. We have single currency is having a chilling effect on our economy, responsibility, as an IMF shareholder, for bulking up through the crisis, and not seek some sort of resolution. the IMF finances at the right moment. I do not see that as Russian roulette; it is just very sensible economics Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): A few years ago and politics. the President of Yemen was invited to the G20, but the country now has the world’s third highest rate of malnutrition. What additional help can Yemen be given Louise Mensch (Corby) (Con): Can my right hon. as a result of the G20 meeting? Would the Prime Friend tell the House what advice he has received on the Minister be happy for some of the IMF money he has consequences of failing to pay our IMF subscriptions, just given to go to Yemen? as so irresponsibly advocated by the Opposition?

The Prime Minister: First, we have not yet given any The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes a very IMF money. There was no agreement on how much good point. I am not entirely sure what would have should be given, exactly when it should be given or in happened if we had turned up at the G20 having voted what way. The world was saying that it stood ready to down the deal from the London G20 on increasing the support the IMF. The IMF has supported countries like IMF resources. First of all, we would have declined to Yemen in the past and, as the right hon. Gentleman implement one of the key findings of the last G20, and knows, we have put development aid into Yemen. The then we would have turned up and said that we were not biggest challenge in Yemen is the lack of effective prepared to see any increase in IMF funding for anything governance, and I think that what Bill Gates was talking else. Britain would have been completely isolated and about—proper systems for raising taxes and for left out. The reason why the Opposition are talking transparency in Government revenues and in revenues about this is that it is all about the politics and nothing from extractive industries and minerals—are the keys to to do with the economics, and they know it. helping such countries along their way. Stewart Hosie: The Prime Minister said that the UK Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton) (Con): Back in July would not fund the EFSF, but it remains one of the the Financial Secretary to the Treasury told a Committee eurozone’s most powerful tools, and there are two new of this House, with regard to IMF obligations: powers proposed for it—to insure newly issued sovereign “We have an agreement to fund up to £20 billion, broadly debt, and to spin out investment trusts to buy that debt. speaking.”—[Official Report, Second Delegated Legislation Committee, Do the Prime Minister and his Government believe that 5 July 2011; c. 9.] those powers will be enough to leverage the EFSF up to Pretty broad, it turns out. We now hear that the figure is the ¤1 trillion or so required to give it the firepower that closer to £40 billion. Does my right hon. Friend agree it needs? that it is vital to level with the British people, with no weasel words or sophistry, and that Ministers have an The Prime Minister: There are still real difficulties obligation to be absolutely straight about what they with that. The EFSF and the idea of a special purpose plan to do with other people’s money? vehicle were set out at the eurozone meeting 10 days ago, but the problem is that since then we have not seen The Prime Minister: Let me be absolutely clear about enough detail on how exactly those funds would work this. There are two sorts of money that the UK provides and how they would be levered up. You need—I have to the IMF: money through our quota, which is effectively used “bazooka”before—a bazooka big enough to convince through our shareholding, and money through loans people that you will not have to use it, and that is what and other arrangements. There have been three votes in the eurozone needs to do, but it has not yet completed this House in the last three years on all the elements of that work. 35 G207 NOVEMBER 2011 G20 36

Several hon. Members rose— deep economic distress, and, if we were to walk away from it and just to allow trading partners—in the eurozone Mr Speaker: Order. In the interests of accommodating or outside—to collapse with no one to help them, that more colleagues, I now appeal for single, short would mean British jobs lost and British businesses supplementary questions and the Prime Minister’s going bust. It might give you a five-second soundbite on characteristically pithy replies. the news in order to try to give you some political advantage, but it would be completely irresponsible. Dr (New Forest East) (Con): Why does the Prime Minister seem to think that the Greeks will be Mr (Harwich and North Essex) (Con): any more successful at staying in the euro than we were I agree with my right hon. Friend that Greece’s remaining at trying to remain in the ERM? in the eurozone is a matter for the Greek Government, and that there is no free hit for the break-up of the euro, The Prime Minister: One of the few advantages of the but will he take time to read the Centre for Economics ERM was that you were able to get out of it, but one of and Business Research paper, which points out that, for the issues with the euro is that there is not a mechanism, Europe as a whole and the United Kingdom in particular, properly and legally, for leaving it. If a country wanted our economy will be growing faster in two years’ time if to leave the euro, of course it could, but in the end this is the euro breaks up than it will if we try to keep the an issue for the Greeks. They have to decide: do they currency going? accept the deal on the table that cuts their debt, and stay in the euro, or do they take a different path? The point I The Prime Minister: I have seen reports of the piece have been making is that they have to make up their of work that my hon. Friend speaks about, and perhaps mind for the rest of the world to move on. I will have time this evening to read it at greater leisure. We can look at the economic experts and what they say, (Islington North) (Lab): Was there but there is quite a strong consensus that the consequences any discussion at the G20 about the unaccountable of a country falling out of a single currency zone, where power of the rating agencies to decide the future of banks and businesses are very interrelated, are very national economies, or about the massive profits being serious for all the members concerned. As I say, if it made on short-term loans out of the poverty and austerity happens, we will have contingency plans in place and we of Greece, Portugal, Spain and Ireland—any discussion will have to manage them as best we can, but no about control over the banking system, rather than one—however sceptical they are about the euro—should bowing down to it? think there is an easy way for a country to leave.

The Prime Minister: There were concerns expressed, Sir Stuart Bell (Middlesbrough) (Lab): Now that the and they are frequently expressed, about the role of the Greeks will have a new Government who will ratify the ratings agencies and the way they are regulated. Sometimes, 26-27 October agreements, and as the Group of Twenty they come from politicians who have had a particularly is an informal grouping, would it not be appropriate, rough time with the ratings agencies, but it is very where there is agreement, for the group’s Finance important that we use organisations such as the Financial Ministers to get together to help the European financial Stability Board to make sure that we get the answers stability fund put together its firewall under the Sarkozy right, rather than do it according to political fiat. presidency?

Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds) (Con): We The Prime Minister: The G20 Finance Ministers might must have contingency plans if the eurozone breaks up. have to meet again, but, as I said in answer to the right Does the Prime Minister agree that Parliament must be hon. Member for Edinburgh South West (Mr Darling), given a very early opportunity to scrutinise the adequacy only if a new set of arrangements is being put in place. of those contingency plans? Part of the problem in Europe is that, so often, meetings are scheduled without proper thought about what the The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes an important outcome will be—about what will be achieved. That has point, but that is quite a difficult ask, because there is of been one of the things that have caused a huge amount course important ongoing work on contingency plans, of market turbulence over recent months. but the more we discuss and speculate on the nature of another country’s currency and economy, the more we Nadhim Zahawi (Stratford-on-Avon) (Con): Figures could damage their interests. So, I will think carefully out today show that EU productivity is falling at its about what he says, but it might be difficult to air some fastest rate since 2009. The only big economy to record of those issues in public. an expansion in output per worker is the UK. Why does the Prime Minister think that the United Kingdom can Geraint Davies (Swansea West) (Lab/Co-op): The borrow at a 0.5% interest rate for one year’s money, Prime Minister knows that the IMF currently gives compared with 4.7% for Spain and 6.3% for Italy? 32.4 billion special drawing rights—about £32 billion—to the eurozone to prop it up, so how can he justify giving The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes an important more British taxpayers’ money to the eurozone via the point. First, in getting greater competitiveness across IMF when there are people starving in Africa and Europe, this is the most important thing that Europe people cannot pay their heating bills in Britain? could be doing right now: completing the single market, completing the market in energy, completing the market The Prime Minister: No country has ever lost money in services and making sure our economies are competitive. lending it to the IMF. The IMF is, in a globalised world, The point he makes about the bond market is vital, too. a vital institution for supporting countries that get into The fact is that if you do not have credibility, you 37 G207 NOVEMBER 2011 G20 38 cannot borrow money at low interest rates, and if you faced by different parts of the country, but in the do not have credibility, interest rates go up. That would north-east we have seen the expansion of the Nissan plant, be the worst thing to hit your economy. and we have the new Hitachi train plant going into the north-east as well. What we need to do as a country is to Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) (Lab): At become more competitive—to start manufacturing and summit after summit, the Prime Minister has argued to making things again, which will benefit all the regions support a monetary union he does not really think is of our country. appropriate for this country and in which he does not believe, so that stability can be brought to Europe and Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): Would not France, the world. That has failed. How many more failures will among other countries, do rather more to help developing it take and how many more summits will there be before countries if it met its own UN target for international he argues for what is really right for Europe: for those development, as we are doing, rather than exhorting countries to return to their original currencies? those of us who are meeting our UN targets to sign up to a financial transactions tax? The Prime Minister: I have sympathy with the hon. Gentleman’s point, which has complete intellectual The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend puts his finger coherence. The fact is that they could go in that direction, on it. Some other countries are using the cover of a but other European Prime Ministers, Finance Ministers financial transactions tax to get off the fact that they have and, indeed, the people in those countries will say that not met their targets for overseas development assistance. they do not want to leave the euro and that they want to In all the figures that we bandy around about the financial make the euro work. We are affected by what is happening transactions tax, it is worth bearing in mind the fact that in the eurozone, which is why I keep saying that it is in around 80% of it would be raised from businesses in the our interests that they get their act together and make United Kingdom. I am sometimes tempted to ask the their currency work. Youcan argue for the opposite, but French whether they would like a cheese tax. the fact is that that is what most European countries want and that is what I think they will try to achieve. Mr Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley) (Lab): Seeing that the European Central Bank has been told to sit on its Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): I do not hands, obviously by the Germans, is it not time that the know whether the Prime Minister remembers 16 September Prime Minister reminded the Germans that it was the 1992—golden Wednesday—when the United Kingdom Marshall plan that saved their country after the war? came out of the exchange rate mechanism, which was the start of our economic recovery. Why are the political The Prime Minister: The European Central Bank is elite of Europe denying Greece and other euro countries independent; no one is able to tell it what to do. There is the same mechanism to improve their currency: withdrawal a very strong case for saying that the eurozone institutions, from the euro so they can re-establish their national including the ECB, need to do more to stand behind currency? their currency and their currency zone, but we have to understand why the Germans feel as strongly as they The Prime Minister: I learned a very important lesson do, and it is partly based on their history and what they from our experience in the exchange rate mechanism: feel went wrong in the 1920s and ’30s. None the less, I never fix interest rates in a way like that because you think that the argument that the ECB and the eurozone may need a different interest rate in your economy from institutions need to do more is right. that applying elsewhere. That is why I am so completely opposed to Britain ever joining the euro. I could not Margot James (Stourbridge) (Con): Does my right be clearer about that—unlike the Labour party, which hon. Friend agree that if we were to listen to Labour spent 13 years planning and preparing for our eventual and ease our deficit reduction strategy, our interest rates admission to the euro. We must allow other countries to would soar towards Italian levels and away from German make their own choices, and the choice of people in levels, and will he explain to the British taxpayer what Greece—it is their business—seems to be that they want that would be likely to cost in increased interest payments? to stay in the euro. That is not the choice I would necessarily make—or that Mrs Bone, or even Mr Bone, The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes an important would necessarily make—but that is the choice they point. It is not just a question of the extra interest seem to want to make and we have to support them payments the Government would have to pay, although in it. that would be pretty crippling for the taxpayer; it is also the fact that those higher interest rates would affect Mr David Anderson (Blaydon) (Lab): Another report business investment and the mortgages that people pay. came out today from the Institute for Public Policy We could see a really bad effect on households and Research showing that 32,000 jobs in the public sector business as well as on the Government finances. were lost in the north-east last year while the number of private sector jobs also went down, and the number of Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab): When will the G20 public sector jobs in London and the south-east went show global leadership and produce a plan for growth up. Why should the Europeans trust the action plan and a plan for jobs? from the Prime Minister when his inaction plan in this country is destroying the regions of this country? The Prime Minister: The point about the global plan for growth and jobs—and the reason it is worth while, The Prime Minister: Of course there has to be a and the whole of the G20 process is worth while—is rebalancing of public sector and private sector jobs in that different countries are committing to doing different our economy, and of course there are difficult circumstances things at the same time to maximise global growth. It is 39 G207 NOVEMBER 2011 G20 40

[The Prime Minister] The Prime Minister: We must put in place contingency plans for any of these countries leaving the eurozone. quite clear that Britain needs to get on top of its debts The hon. Gentleman asks what those plans are. For and its deficit and export more; it is also clear that obvious reasons, if we start to describe exactly what we China needs to grow its consumption, grow its middle might have to do, we could set off all sorts of chain class, and import more. If we all do these things at the reactions. If he wants to discuss privately with a Treasury same time, we will find that we can maximise global Minister the elements of any plan, he is at liberty to growth and increase employment levels too. do so.

Mr David Nuttall (Bury North) (Con): I entirely Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Is it the Prime agree with my right hon. Friend’s statement that the Minister’s understanding that were Greece, Italy or any UK should not contribute to any further eurozone other country to leave the eurozone, it would require a bail-out fund, but how can UK taxpayers be certain treaty change? that our contributions to the IMF will not be used for such purposes when the UK has only 4.29% of the vote on the IMF governing body? The Prime Minister: I believe my hon. Friend is right that there is nothing in the treaties that allows a eurozone The Prime Minister: The IMF has extremely tough member to leave the eurozone yet stay in the European and clear rules about when it can and when it cannot Union. My sense is that were that to happen, some lend money. That is why it cannot put, and nor would allowance would be made. He is right to say that that we support its putting, money into a euro bail-out fund would involve a treaty change at some stage to ensure or into a special purpose vehicle. That is not the role of that it was legal. the IMF—that must be the role of the European financial stability facility—but what the IMF can do is lend Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab): The Prime money and help countries that are in distress. As I said, Minister has suggested that he is in favour of a global no country has ever lost money on lending it to the financial transaction tax. That will happen on a global IMF, because it is the senior creditor in all these basis only if people take the lead. What my constituents arrangements. wanted to know when they contacted me was what steps the Prime Minister took at the Cannes summit to Mr Andrew Love (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op): The Prime promote that tax. Minister keeps talking about rebalancing the economy. We have seen a 20% to 25% reduction in the value of the The Prime Minister: I spoke on the financial transaction pound, which should have made us competitive, yet the tax at the session where it was discussed and said that private sector is not taking up the slack because there is we supported it at a global level. I made a few of the no confidence out there. Do we not need another plan points that I have made in the House today because to build confidence? sitting around the table were the representatives of European countries and institutions, including the European The Prime Minister: The worst thing we could do for Commission, that have spent this money several times confidence would be to abandon the plans to deal with over. When we talk about the European budget, it is our debt and our deficit, because we can see what is given as the great way to raise money for that; when we happening in countries such as Italy that do not have a talk about development, it is given as the way that we proper plan for getting on top of their debts: they have will pay for development; when we talk about climate higher interest rates and all the problems that they change, it suddenly becomes the magic way to meet all bring. The hon. Gentleman is right that we have had a our climate change commitments. Frankly, I do not depreciation in our currency that should lead us to be think that we should allow other European countries to more competitive. If one looks at the export figures get away with that. from Britain to countries such as India and China, one sees that there is a good increase in our exports. Mr Ben Wallace (Wyre and Preston North) (Con): It Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con): My is highly likely that China’s condition for buying into constituents do not want to pay taxes to bail out the eurozone debt will be the lifting of the EU-wide arms euro. Will the Prime Minister remind us who got this embargo, which would be directly against Britain’s national country into the permanent EFSF and who got us out interests given its defence industry base and the tens of of it? thousands of jobs that are dependent on it. Given that that would require a unanimous decision by all EU The Prime Minister: None of our constituents wants member states, will the Prime Minister confirm that the to pay taxes to bail out the eurozone; that is not what UK Government would veto such a request? our taxes should go towards. When we came to office we were part of the European financial stabilisation The Prime Minister: We do not support the lifting of mechanism—the EFSM. I have got us out of that from the arms embargo. In the discussions at the G20, there 2013, but between now and then we are still at risk was not some sort of shopping list from the Chinese—a because of a very bad decision to which the previous rather unfair point that some have made. Clearly, it is in Government agreed. China’s interests, just as it is in our interests, that the eurozone crisis is dealt with. China has huge export (Halton) (Lab): If the eurozone continues markets in Europe and it owns huge amounts of European to fail to deal with the crisis, what actions will the Prime debt. That is why China, like Britain, subscribes to the Minister take to protect the interests of the UK? IMF and will support an increase in its resources. 41 G207 NOVEMBER 2011 G20 42

Mr (Caerphilly) (Lab): The Prime Minister Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) (Con): The more a has said that the action plan for growth and jobs balloon is inflated, the more it hurts when it eventually includes many of the things that Britain is already explodes. Would it not be better for us to help the doing. I can assume only that it is a very thin document. Greeks default and devalue now rather than later? How many minutes were spent talking about job creation at the summit? The Prime Minister: We have argued very consistently that part of any solution has to be a very decisive The Prime Minister: A great deal of the first day was writing down of Greek debt, because it obviously cannot spent talking about the condition of the world economy, afford the level of debt that it currently has. That is the and particularly the fact that economies in the developed plan that it is being offered. Some would argue that world are obviously seeing very low rates of growth. I even that is not enough, and that is my hon. Friend’s also had a meeting, I am pleased to report, with the position, but our view has always been that unless the leader of the TUC and other international trade unionists, debts are written down significantly, there will not be a to discuss specifically growth and jobs, and how we can proper solution. try to prevent youth unemployment from rising in western European countries. I do not know whether all my Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury) (Con): My right hon. predecessors always found time for such meetings at the Friend has rightly argued that fixing the eurozone is a G20, but I was delighted to have one. matter for eurozone countries. May I welcome the fact that he has announced that we are making contingency plans for the possibility of that failing? Joseph Johnson (Orpington) (Con): Did the Prime Minister see at the G20 any evidence that eurozone The Prime Minister: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. leaders were becoming clearer that it is an entirely As I said, it is difficult to say more about it in the House, fanciful notion to expect China to bail out eurozone but I will discuss with Treasury Ministers whether we countries whose GDP is many times its own? can say a little bit more. If Members have contributions that they want to make or concerns about elements of The Prime Minister: I would not underestimate the any contingency plan, which would have to be very wide huge pressure that the eurozone leaders are under to ranging and cover all sorts of different eventualities, come up with a solution to the crisis in the eurozone. they should talk to Treasury Ministers. Clearly some of them have huge ideological difficulties with seeing a greater role for eurozone institutions. I do Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con): not think it is completely out of the question that other Does the Prime Minister have an estimate of the liability countries—China, or Saudi Arabia—might at some stage that the UK would have incurred had we not excluded want to contribute to a eurozone fund, not least because ourselves from the European financial stability mechanism the risk would be taken with the eurozone money and bail-out fund that the Labour Government supported? not with the Chinese or other money. In the end, however, there is no substitute for the eurozone acting The Prime Minister: One thing that we have managed first to sort out its difficulties. to keep out of is the European element of the Greek bail-out. That has had two iterations, and we were not Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab): Which involved in the first or the second. The specific idea of were the countries persuaded by the Prime Minister using the EFSM to support Greece was batted away by that they had space to borrow for what he calls “further Britain. discretionary measures”? Mr Sam Gyimah (East Surrey) (Con): One of the key The Prime Minister: A list in the action plan for issues about the eurozone is the need to recapitalise a growth and jobs specifically states that countries such number of European banks, especially those that are as Canada, China and others could borrow more. They quite weak. What comments can the Prime Minister are set out in the communiqué, a copy of which is in the make about the relative strength of UK banks, and will House of Commons Library. he say that the UK taxpayer will not have to stump up any more cash to recapitalise our banks?

Mrs (Epping Forest) (Con): Will the The Prime Minister: On the current plan for the Prime Minister reassure the House that he will not take recapitalisation of European banks, British banks would the advice of Opposition Members and increase the not require any additional capital because they are deficit to boost growth artificially? The consequent rise quite well capitalised already. There is a concern that in interest rates and inflation would cause enormous needs to be expressed that as the Europeans move to damage to small businesses and families right across recapitalise their banks, it is quite important that they this country. do not do that purely by shrinking bank balance sheets, and that they encourage banks to find fresh sources of The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is absolutely capital so that lending does not decrease in the European right. If we went to the G20 summit arguing for a Union. £20 billion increase in borrowing this year, or the increase that Labour supports of £87 billion over the Parliament, Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough) (Con): Are we at the same time as saying that we were going to get out not in danger of ignoring the political reality of the of the IMF, I think the G20 would conclude that we current situation, which is that saving the euro at almost were completely barking. any cost is in the long-term interests of Germany, but 43 G20 7 NOVEMBER 2011 44

[Mr Stewart Jackson] UK Border Force not necessarily that of the taxpayers of the United 4.37 pm Kingdom? That being so, surely the ECB and not the IMF must be the lender of last resort. The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mrs Theresa May): With permission, Mr. Speaker, I The Prime Minister: I certainly agree with my hon. should like to make a statement on the UK border Friend’s last point. The point about the future of the force, an operational division of the UK Border Agency. euro is that we should take a very hard-headed, national- The border force is responsible for ensuring that only interest view. All the evidence is that a disorderly break-up legitimate travellers and goods are allowed to enter and of the euro would have very bad effects on all the leave the UK, while reducing threats including illegal economies within Europe, and bad effects on Britain. immigration, drug smuggling and terrorism. One can make longer-term arguments about what it Border force activities include verifying the immigration might mean and how things might change but, in the status of passengers arriving and departing the UK; short-term, there is no doubt that when we are trying to checking baggage, vehicles and cargo for illicit goods; secure growth and jobs in this country a disorderly and searching for illegal immigrants. Border force officers break-up of the eurozone would not be good for Britain. confirm the identity of passengers arriving at the UK border; check passengers against a watch list known as (Keighley) (Con): May I thank the the warnings index; and undertake a visual inspection Prime Minister for the thoughtful and constructive of passengers’ passports. Where a biometric passport is leadership that he offered at the G20? The debate has held, the biometric chip, which contains a second focused quite narrowly on Greece in recent weeks. What photograph, is opened and verified. is his interpretation of the emerging situation in Italy? Non-EU passengers undergo additional checks. Officers establish whether a visa is required and whether a visa is The Prime Minister: We all have to be careful not to held. If the passenger has a biometric visa, a fingerprint speculate on other countries, but the requirement of database check can be made, and officers decide whether those who are lending money to Italy is a clear and the passenger should be granted entry to the UK. consistent plan for Italy getting on top of its debts and deficit. When they see that, interest rates will come back In the past, under the previous Government, some of down again. However, that is a lesson to any country those checks were lifted at times of pressure on the that if they do not have credibility in the markets, their border. In the summer of 2008, warnings index checks interest rates can go up quite quickly. were suspended on European economic area nationals— children and adults—on Eurostar services. At Calais, (Staffordshire Moorlands) (Con): Does warnings index checks were suspended on European the Prime Minister agree that the UK already has a economic area and UK car passengers—again, adults financial transactions tax—one that raises around £3 billion as well as children were not run against the index. Since a year? It is just that we call it stamp duty. 2008, at various ports and airports, that happened on more than 100 occasions. The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes a very good Officials tell me that once, in 2004, local managers at point. One point that Bill Gates made to me is that if Heathrow terminal 3 decided to open controls and no other European countries introduce stamp duty on shares, checks were made. To prevent that from happening they might find that they can get to the 0.7% of GDP again, and to allow resources to be focused on the that they are meant to be giving in overseas development highest-risk passengers and journeys, in July I agreed assistance without having a financial transactions tax. that the UK Border Agency could pilot a scheme that If they care about overseas development, as this would allow border force officials to target intelligence-led Government do, that might be quite a good answer. checks on higher-risk categories of travellers. Initial options had been put to the then security Several hon. Members rose— Minister and the immigration Minister in January, who agreed them as a basis for further work. That resulted Mr Speaker: Order. We have two further statements in proposals for a risk-based strategy coming to me in to follow and programmed business. I am sorry to have April. After further work, I agreed an amended and to disappoint a few colleagues today, but that is the way limited pilot scheme in July, which meant that, under it is. limited circumstances, EEA national children, travelling with their parents or as part of a school group, would be checked against the warnings index—designed to detect terrorists and serious criminals—when assessed by a border force official to be a credible risk. The pilot also allowed, under limited circumstances, border force officials the discretion to judge when to open the biometric chip, which contains a second photograph and no further information, on the passports of EEA nationals. Those circumstances were that the measures would always be subject to a risk-based assessment, that they should not be routine and that the volume of passengers would be such that border security would be stronger with more risk-based checks and fewer mandatory checks than with more mandatory 45 UK Border Force7 NOVEMBER 2011 UK Border Force 46 checks on low-risk passengers and fewer risk-based is looking at the actions of the wider team working for checks for high-risk passengers. The advice of security Brodie Clark; and John Vine, the chief inspector, will officials was sought and they confirmed that they were conduct a thorough review to find out exactly what content with the measures. happened with the checks across the UKBA, how the I want everybody to understand what was supposed chain of command in the border force operates and to happen under the terms of the pilot. In usual whether the system needs to be changed in future. For circumstances, all checks would be carried out on all the sake of clarity, I am happy for Mr Vine to look at passengers. Under the risk-based controls, everybody’s what decisions were made and when by Ministers. That passports would be checked; nobody would be waved investigation will begin immediately and will report by through; visa nationals’ fingerprints would be checked; the end of January. I will place the terms of reference all non-EEA nationals’ biometric chips would be checked; for the inquiries in the House of Commons Library. all adults would be run past the warnings index; all Border security is fundamental to our national security non-EEA nationals would be run past the warnings and our policy of reducing and controlling immigration. index; and border officials would be free to use their The pilots run by the UK border force this summer professional judgment to check the biometric chips of were designed to improve border security by focusing EEA passengers and to check EEA children travelling resources on passengers and journeys that intelligence with parents or a school group against the warnings led officers to believe posed the greatest risk. The vast index. majority of those officers are hard-working, dedicated The pilot was extended on 19 September and was due public servants. Just like all of us, they want to see to end last Friday. The results are not yet fully evaluated, tough immigration controls and strong enforcement, but UKBA’s statistics show that, compared with the but they have been let down by senior officials at the same period last year, the number of illegal immigrants head of the organisation who put at risk the security of detected increased by nearly 10%. Last week, John our border. Our task now is to make sure—[Interruption.] Vine, the independent chief inspector of UKBA, raised concerns with Rob Whiteman, the chief executive of Mr Speaker: Order. I apologise for interrupting, but UKBA, that security checks were not being implemented the Home Secretary must be heard. I know that these properly. On Wednesday, the head of the UK border are matters about which Members rightly feel extremely force, Brodie Clark, confirmed to Mr Whiteman that strongly, although in fairness we might note in passing border controls had been relaxed without ministerial that on Friday Members of the Youth Parliament felt approval. extremely strongly about the five motions on which they First, biometric checks on EEA nationals and warnings spoke, but they listened to each other with courtesy. index checks on EEA national children were abandoned on a regular basis, without ministerial approval. Biometric Mrs May: Our task now is to ensure that those tests on non-EEA nationals are also thought to have responsible are punished and that border force officials been abandoned on occasions, again without ministerial can never take such risks with border security again. approval. Secondly, adults were not checked against the That is what I am determined to do, and I commend warnings index at Calais, without ministerial approval. this statement to the House. Thirdly, the verification of the fingerprints of non-EEA nationals from countries that require a visa was stopped, Yvette Cooper (Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford) without ministerial approval. I did not give my consent (Lab): I thank the Home Secretary for advance sight of or authorisation for any of these decisions. Indeed, her statement and welcome her agreement to establish I told officials explicitly that the pilot was to go no an independent inquiry. That inquiry must get to the further than we had agreed. truth, but it should do so considerably more rapidly As a result of these unauthorised actions, we will than by January. never know how many people entered the country who Reports have already reached me from the UK Border should have been prevented from doing so after being Agency today that the shredders are on and that there is flagged by the warnings index. Following Mr Clark’s a ban on internal e-mails. Will the Home Secretary look conversation with Mr Whiteman, the latter carried out urgently into those allegations, and into what documents further investigations and on Thursday morning he perhaps are being shredded and what e-mails deleted in suspended Mr Clark from duty with immediate effect. the Home Office and the UKBA on this issue? It is also The Home Office permanent secretary, the immigration important that the inquiry has access to all communications Minister and I were notified of his decision that morning. between Ministers, the Home Office and the UKBA. The pilot scheme, which had been due to end the next The scope must cover the resource pressures facing the day, was suspended immediately, and on Friday two UKBA. We now know that 6,500 staff are being cut other border force officials, Graeme Kyle, director of from the agency, including 1,500 from the border force. operations at Heathrow, and Carole Upshall, director We need to know what pressures officials were put of border force south and European operations, were under to cut corners as a result and keep queues down also suspended from duty on a precautionary basis. with reduced staff. There is nothing more important than the security of We also need some answers from the Home Secretary our border, and because of the seriousness of these now. In questions earlier and in her statement, she allegations I have ordered a number of investigations. could not tell the House how many people came through Dave Wood, the head of the UKBA enforcement and our ports and airports this summer without proper crime group and a former Metropolitan police officer, checks. On average, 100,000 foreign citizens enter Britain will carry out an investigation into exactly how, when every day. UKBA staff have claimed that reduced checks and where the suspension of checks might have taken were in place almost daily from August, lasting at least place. Mike Anderson, the director general of immigration, half of the shift. How many people were not checked 47 UK Border Force7 NOVEMBER 2011 UK Border Force 48

[Yvette Cooper] cases have been written off as just too difficult to deal with; Ministers have now given the green light to an against the watch list? How many people did not have experiment to water down, rather than increase, border their biometrics checked? What is the Home Secretary’s controls; and the Home Secretary does not even know estimate of whether anyone from the watch list entered how many people entered Britain without proper checks Britain at that time? Did any convicted criminals or this summer. Thousands of people entered without security suspects enter? The truth is that the Home proper checks, and without the Home Secretary having Secretary does not know. She says that we will never a clue what was going on. It is no good blaming the know. Even now, she seems to be doing nothing to find previous Government, or blaming officials. This is out and assess who has entered the country and what happening on her watch, these are her decisions, and the security risk might be. this is her Government’s mistake. She needs to get a grip The Home Secretary has admitted that she took the and stop passing the buck. decision to reduce checks for EU citizens in July—not checking under-18s against the warnings index or doing Mrs May: I must say that I regret that response from biometric checks on EU passports—yet she will know the right hon. Lady. There is no more serious issue than that cases have been identified by border officials involving border security, but, instead of engaging with the facts, EU citizens, including people involved in organised she has chosen to play party politics. She knows that the crime, people trafficking, falsifying passports or removals checks that I approved and the relaxation of checks, of children who are wards of court. She made that which I did not approve, are two very different matters. decision—not Labour Ministers in the past: this Home Let me take her points in turn. She alleges that the Secretary—and that decision is her responsibility. She pilot scheme and the unauthorised actions were the cannot run away from it or hide behind cases from result of cuts. I explained the basis for the pilot scheme 2004, long before new systems were introduced. She in my statement. I would remind her that the last knows that the intention of Labour—and, we had Government were planning to cut the UK Border Agency assumed, Conservative—Ministers was to roll out e-Borders and that it remains the stated policy of her party in and to put the technology in place so that everyone opposition to cut the Home Office budget. She mentioned could be properly screened entering and exiting the in passing that the House had not been informed about country, and not only at quiet times. In fact, the immigration the pilot programme, but it has never been the policy of Minister claimed in May that 90% of non-EU flights any Government to notify the House of operational and 60% of EU flights were covered, but it turns out matters such as those. Her own Government did not notify that he meant 90% of flights in the winter or at quiet the House when they introduced a risk-based warnings times in the afternoons. index policy, or when they let passengers through Heathrow The truth is that instead of strengthening the checks without even looking at their passports. year on year, as all previous Ministers had committed The right hon. Lady suggests that the problem was to do, this Home Secretary decided to water them related not to unauthorised official actions but to the down, as official Government policy, even though she measures that we piloted in July. Let me remind the never told the House. She has blamed officials for House again that, as I said in my statement, these relaxing the checks further than she intended, yet she measures allowed greater intelligence-led checks to be gave the green light for the weaker controls. She claimed made against higher-risk passengers. Does the right in her statement that she did not intend it to be routine hon. Lady think that was wrong; if so, why did the last not to check the biometric chip in EEA passports, yet I Government introduce a warnings index policy that have a copy of the interim operational instruction that allowed risk-based checks back in 2007? she has refused to publish, which states: Let me remind the right hon. Lady of what I said. “We will cease routinely opening the chip within EEA passports, The pilot allowed officials in limited circumstances to checking all EEA nationals under 18 against the warnings index”. use their discretion whether to check the biometric chip It adds: of EEA nationals and whether to run EEA nationals’ “If for whatever reason it is considered necessary to take children travelling in family groups or school groups further measures, local managers must escalate to the Border against the warnings index. Under her Government in force duty director to seek authority for their proposed action.” similar circumstances, adults were not run against the So the Home Secretary gave agency staff the green light warnings index, and on at least one occasion at Heathrow to go ahead and experiment to meet the pressures from the border was opened up, so no checks were made queues, and look how far they went. A member of the against inbound passengers. She says that officials at Border Agency staff said this morning: UKBA are telling her that they were suspicious about individuals, yet they were being let through. It was clear “Every day I let in 10 people who I think there would be a good in the guidance on the policy that for any EEA national case against”. or EEA national child against whom suspicion was felt, How on earth did Ministers not know about this? How the officer should do the necessary biometric chip checks on earth could there be continual complaints from staff or warnings index checks. for months without the immigration Minister or the The right hon. Lady asked whether the inquiry should Home Secretary knowing what was going on? At best, include the decisions of Ministers as well as officials. they were deeply out of touch; at worst, they were I have already said that I am happy for John Vine’s complicit in a loss of control at our borders. investigation to look at what decisions were taken by This Home Secretary is presiding over growing chaos Ministers and when. She asked about the publication and corner cutting at our borders: Raed Salah was of paperwork between Ministers and officials. We will banned from this country by the Home Office, yet he certainly make all the relevant paperwork available to was allowed to waltz in at Heathrow; 100,000 asylum the investigations. I can assure her and the House that 49 UK Border Force7 NOVEMBER 2011 UK Border Force 50 the paperwork will show without ambiguity that the Mr Jack Straw (Blackburn) (Lab): No one is asking relaxation of checks that occurred was not sanctioned the Home Secretary to take lectures. What she is being by me. asked to do is take responsibility for the shambles over The right hon. Lady asked whether any dangerous which she is presiding, 18 months into the Government’s individuals had managed to come to Britain. That is a term of office. Will she now answer the question posed very serious issue; that is why I addressed it in my by my right hon. Friend the Member for Normanton, statement. I made it clear to the House that we are not Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper)? How on earth in a position to be able to say how many people entered did it come about that neither her immigration Minister who should have been prevented after being flagged by nor she spotted that—as she claims—her instructions the warnings index. We would have known, however, if were not being followed? Does she never talk to immigration anybody had tried to enter the country during the pilot, officers, or go to a port or an airport? as the pilot was due to operate, because all adults were run past the warnings index and all non-EEA passengers Mrs May: I do indeed go to airports and I do indeed were checked against that index. It was only EEA talk to immigration officers, and I assure the right hon. nationals’ children travelling with their parents or in a Gentleman that I find my discussions with immigration school group who were not automatically run against officers very fruitful because of the ideas they advance the warnings index. That is more stringent than the about better measures that we could take to improve controls put in place by the last Government, who in security at our borders and reduce immigration, which similar circumstances did not check all adults against is, of course, what the Government intend to do. Last the warnings index. week, during a period when the pilot was due to be operating, the chief inspector spoke to the chief executive I have said on a number of occasions that there is of UKBA to express his concerns. As a result, conversations nothing more important than the security of our border, were held with the head of the UK border force, which and I made clear in my statement the measures we are led to the action that is now being taken. taking to address the lapse. In addition, we are reforming every route to the UK to reduce net migration; we are clearing the asylum backlog; we are improving removals; Mr James Clappison (Hertsmere) (Con): I warmly we are addressing the problem of article 8; and we are welcome the approach that my right hon. Friend is creating a border policing command in our National taking, including the inquiry that she has instituted. Crime Agency to improve our border security in the Can she confirm that anyone who has illegally entered long term. the UK as a result of these events will not benefit from an amnesty instituted by Ministers, as happened repeatedly I will take no lectures, however, from the party that under the last Government? Can she also confirm that gave us a total net migration of more than 2.2 million such cases will not be allowed to pile up in a backlog of people, the foreign national prisoners scandal, Sangatte, 500,000, as earlier cases did, including the 100,000 to widespread abuse of student visas, the botched e-Borders which the right hon. Member for Normanton, Pontefract contract, a 450,000 asylum backlog, no transitional and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) had the gall to refer? controls for eastern Europeans, the Human Rights Act and a points-based system that failed to reduce immigration. My task now is to make sure that those responsible for Mrs May: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for reminding this lapse are properly dealt with and to make sure that the House of that point. It was the actions of the last border force officials can never take these risks with Government that led to the build-up of more than border security again. That is what I am determined 450,000 asylum cases, which has only just been cleared. to do. We are now able to operate a much more efficient asylum system. I can also assure my hon. Friend that this Government are not in favour of allowing an amnesty Several hon. Members rose— to illegal immigrants.

Mr Speaker: Order. A great many colleagues wish to Mr David Blunkett (Sheffield, Brightside and participate in the debate on this statement. I know that Hillsborough) (Lab): Last year the Government announced a fine example of the brevity required will now be the abandoning of second-generation biometrics; we provided by the right hon. Member for Haltemprice had not expected them to abandon first-generation and Howden (Mr Davis). biometrics quite so quickly. I realise that we are dealing with a ministerial graveyard Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) (Con): —as some of us know very well—but what monitoring The shadow Home Secretary used the phrase “deeply and reporting mechanisms were introduced by Ministers out of touch” and “complicit in a loss of control at our so that they could be informed of the progress of the borders”, which is, of course, a perfect description of pilot programme and whether it was being eroded at the Labour policy for the last decade. The Home Secretary edges? made a decision on 22 July this year which only she could make, simply because she is the only person with Mrs May: We ensured that there would be a proper advice from the security agencies. Can she tell us in evaluation of the pilot programme. The point of making broad terms what that advice was? it a pilot programme was to establish whether it would indeed be possible to target those who constituted a Mrs May: I am happy to tell my right hon. Friend higher risk in terms of border security, and whether that security officials were asked about the proposals there would be benefits from such action. As I have being put forward and they indicated that they were said, the pilot ended last week, and the full results of the entirely satisfied with them. evaluation have not yet been made available. 51 UK Border Force7 NOVEMBER 2011 UK Border Force 52

Mrs Anne Main (St Albans) (Con): The Home Secretary Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op): read out a litany of occasions on which rules had been From the Home Secretary’s very defensive responses, relaxed under the last Government. Is she aware of the we know who she is blaming in advance of her inquiries, guidance that was given in each of those cases, and does but those who know the people at the top-end of the she believe that that relaxation may have contributed to border force, and who know how that body works, say it a laxity in the system which has led officials to feel they is unthinkable that they would have taken these actions need not always follow the rules to the letter? without the knowledge and approval of Ministers. That is right, isn’t it? Mrs May: I am aware of some of the guidance that was published at the time, which stated, for instance, Mrs May: As I said in my statement, my understanding that details of EEA nationals arriving on services that is that the head of the UK Border Agency admitted he had been assessed as low or very low risk should be had taken action outside ministerial approval. checked only on a targeted basis. Various relaxations were introduced at the time. I have asked the chief inspector of the UK Border Agency not only to assess Nicola Blackwood (Oxford West and Abingdon) (Con): what has been happening across the board in terms of Evidence to the Home Affairs Committee showed that checks, but to examine the processes for ensuring that while the agency was truly chaotic under the last Ministers’ decisions are properly undertaken, recorded, Government, significant problems remain in respect of passed down and acted on, and that no one goes further its ability to protect our borders properly. It is clear the than that. agency is in need of urgent and real reform. As a start, can the Home Secretary assure me and my constituents Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab): I welcome the that the Government will swiftly press ahead with the appointment of John Vine. I also thank the Home creation of a border policing command? Secretary for agreeing to give evidence to the Select Committee on Home Affairs tomorrow, when we will Mrs May: I thank my hon. Friend for her question. probe her further on these matters. She will know that We will, indeed, be pressing ahead with the establishment successive Select Committee reports have told successive of a border policing command inside the National Governments about the culture of complacency that Crime Agency. I am also pleased to be able to tell the exists at the highest levels of the UK Border Agency, yet House that the new chief executive of UKBA, Rob senior officials were paid £90,000 in bonuses last year. Whiteman, who has been in place for five weeks, has May I urge her to turn this crisis into an opportunity? already done a lot of work in assessing what changes If the Vine report suggests a root-and-branch change are required to ensure UKBA staff operate the maximum in the way in which the agency is operating, will she level of security. please accept those recommendations—along with the recommendations of the Select Committee—and implement Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East) (Lab): them? Can the Home Secretary confirm that all airports, including Manchester, were included in the pilot? If so, Mrs May: I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his can she confirm whether those who run Manchester question. I was, of course, looking forward to appearing airport and the airlines that operate there were made before his Select Committee in any case, and as that aware of the pilot? happens to have fallen at this time, I will, indeed, look forward to answering questions on this matter. There have over the years been reports that have rightly raised Mrs May: I do not believe that Manchester was concerns about the operation of the UK Border Agency included in the pilot, but I will, of course, check that and what has been happening at our borders. I have I am right about that because— made it absolutely clear to the chief inspector that I look forward to him not only reporting on what has Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): It’s your pilot! happened, but bringing forward recommendations as to how we can in future better ensure we are maintaining Mrs May: Yes, it is my pilot, and the arrangements our border security. for that pilot were made known to UKBA officials at the various ports where it was operating. Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington) (LD): Does the Home Secretary expect any of the reviews that she has initiated to recommend that retrospective checks be Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con): My constituency contains carried out on any people who got into the UK over the the nation’s second-busiest air gateway, and a majority period in question and on whom partial information of my constituents are deeply concerned about immigration. had been captured, and what would such retrospective Will the Secretary of State say whether Gatwick was checks involve? part of the pilot? If so, when her investigations are complete, will she tell us how many people came through Mrs May: I do not expect the investigations by Dave during that period? Will she also confirm that national Wood and Mike Anderson to come up with such a security will always be a greater priority than the length recommendation, because they are specifically examining of the queues in immigration halls? what happened in relation to certain individuals. Chief inspector John Vine’s report will tell us in more detail Mrs May: Yes, indeed Gatwick was included. It was what has happened over the period in question across possible for the pilot to be operated across all the ports; the board, rather than at just a number of ports. I have it was not specified for any particular ports. There was a to say, however, that I doubt that he will come forward focus on particular ports, but Gatwick was included with specific recommendations on any individual. and I believe that Manchester was too. 53 UK Border Force7 NOVEMBER 2011 UK Border Force 54

Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire) (SNP): Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Lab): Will the Does that mean that the airports in Scotland were Home Secretary consider the question of staffing levels included? If there are issues for the airports in Scotland, throughout the UK Border Agency? I am talking about what discussions has the Home Secretary had with the effect they have in respect of enormous queues at Scottish Ministers on this issue? Heathrow and other airports, which become a deterrent to legitimate travellers; the inability of that agency to Mrs May: The answer is yes. If, as I say, it is “all the respond to written inquiries from people, including ports”, it includes all the ports, including those in MPs; and the situation where the agency apparently Scotland. I will be happy to be in touch with Scottish cannot cope with its work load. Ministers about this. Mrs May: As I made clear in my statement, this was Alok Sharma (Reading West) (Con): Lord Glasman, not an issue about staffing levels; this was a pilot that a close adviser of the leader of the Labour party, told was intended to help us understand whether it was us: possible, with different arrangements, to make more intelligence-led checks on higher-risk individuals. We “Labour lied to people about the extent of immigration”— have made it clear that it is going to be possible to improve the border operations through the use of greater Mr Speaker: Order. The hon. Gentleman will resume technology—the use of e-gates is an important element his seat. This is a statement about Government policy. in that. The hon. Gentleman refers to letters written by That is the purpose of the exercise, let us be clear. MPs, but I must say to him that my hon. Friend the Minister for Immigration is responsible for signing— Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con): On Friday, dealing with—about 60,000 letters on immigration matters while in my constituency, I received a phone call from each year. someone who had been in the country illegally since 1965. This person had left the country, had been prevented Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD): There has by border officials from coming back in and then been a catalogue of problems in UKBA for many years, recently—on that very day—had been given six months as was shown in a recent Select Committee report to stay here. It is a question not just of checking these before this case took place. We had seen the disasters of people, but of doing something about them when we see the asylum backlog, which has not quite gone away; them. poor decision making; cases being dropped; and a huge number of successful appeal rates. Fixing this has defeated Mrs May: My hon. Friend makes a very important many previous Home Secretaries, so how can we be sure point, and this is why we have an exercise in place to that this one will resolve it? improve our ability to remove people who are in this country without having a right to be here. Mrs May: I thank my hon. Friend for that question. He is right to say that over the years—this is the point I Mr Nick Raynsford (Greenwich and Woolwich) (Lab): have been making—successive Governments have come Given the UK Border Agency’s reputation for mishaps across difficulties in the operation of UKBA, or its and inefficiency, and the sensitivity of this issue, why predecessor organisation in the Home Office, in relation did the Home Secretary bring this pilot into force to security checks and border controls. This coalition without making arrangements for checking at regular Government are taking the right steps, by establishing and frequent intervals how it was actually working in the border police command, to strengthen our ability to practice? Why did it take three months before this deal with controls at our border. But, as I indicated in failure emerged? my answer to the right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz), it will of course be for us to look at any recommendations that come from the chief inspector’s Mrs May: As I indicated in my statement, the pilot investigation in order to see whether further action is was for a limited period of time. It was exactly what it necessary to put in place what we all want: a system to said: a pilot to test whether the operation was going to ensure that UKBA can maintain the security of our ensure that we could target higher-risk individuals, rather borders in the way we wish. than routinely checking everybody in certain categories. The evaluation of the pilot would have led to a decision Derek Twigg (Halton) (Lab): In her statement, the as to whether or not it was appropriate to continue that Home Secretary said that the controls had been relaxed in any further way. This was for a limited period and the without any ministerial approval, but she did not mention full evaluation was to take place at the end. knowledge. Will she confirm whether the Prime Minister, No. 10, she, her Ministers, the permanent secretary at Michael Ellis (Northampton North) (Con): Does the the Department or her private offices had any knowledge Home Secretary agree that it is perfectly in order to give whatever of those relaxations and controls? very well-paid, high-level senior officials some common- sense discretion, but if they go further than their Mrs May: I assure the hon. Gentleman that the first discretion—further than is authorised by Ministers—and I was aware of them was when I was informed by the weaken our borders, it is appropriate to look at criminal permanent secretary that action had been taken against sanctions for any misconduct? Brodie Clark, who is the head of the UK border force.

Mrs May: I can say to my hon. Friend that if there is Chris Kelly (Dudley South) (Con): I thank the Home any evidence that the law has been broken and that Secretary for her statement. Will she tell the House criminal charges are appropriate, that will be pursued. which months, on previous performance, saw the most 55 UK Border Force7 NOVEMBER 2011 UK Border Force 56

[Chris Kelly] say how many police will go to the border police command. I am sure that my hon. Friend will appreciate that, given interceptions and whether they were the same months what has taken place, it is now necessary for us to have as those we are talking about today? another look at exactly what we intend to do with that border police command. Mrs May: Yes, they are the same months that we are talking about today. Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab): When the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton) (Lab): Is (Mr Davis) told Charles Clarke it not a fact that under this Home Secretary’s watch, “because of this culpable failure to protect the safety of the something like 100,000 people, possibly including terrorists, public,” have vanished into the undergrowth with nobody knowing your where they are? When the Home Secretary said again and again in her statement “without ministerial approval”, “position is now untenable”—[Official Report, 26 April 2006; was she not admitting that she does not have a grip on Vol. 445, c. 575.], her Department? The responsibility ends with her. I am afraid he was right. Why is that remark any less right for this Home Secretary today? Mrs May: I have been perfectly clear with the House that I take responsibility for the decisions I have made, Mrs May: I think I have explained in my statement and I have done that this afternoon. In the circumstances and in answers to questions exactly what happened. that have been set out, what we have seen is a pilot that was agreed, and actions going beyond that—unauthorised Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): In her statement, actions—taking place at our border. my right hon. Friend said that border officials were free to use their professional judgment to check the biometric Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con): The Public chip of EEA passengers. Given that biometrics are and Commercial Services Union is alleging that staff meant to speed things up and provide greater security, I cuts and staff shortages caused the relaxation of these and my constituents would want every passport holder rules. Will my right hon. Friend take this opportunity with a biometric chip to have their passport checked. completely to reject those allegations? Mrs May: Perhaps I should repeat what I said about Mrs May: Yes, I will take that opportunity. It was the biometric chip. The biometric chip holds within it a clear when the proposals for the pilot were presented to second photograph. That is all it holds within it. The me that the desire was to ensure that more risk-based decision was taken under the pilot to allow discretion to checks could be made and therefore that we would be operated in relation to EEA nationals and the opening target resources on higher-risk individuals. In doing of the biometric chip on a risk-based approach. I am that, it could well be possible to improve security, but, sure my hon. Friend would want a border force that of course, evaluating whether that was the case was the ensures it is targeting those who place most at risk purpose of ensuring that this was only a pilot. individuals living in the United Kingdom.

Mr Michael McCann (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Pat Glass (North West Durham) (Lab): Is not the Lesmahagow) (Lab): Having served as a full-time official real issue that any pilot that relaxes security and immigration in the civil service trade union movement for 26 years, checks at our borders is a disaster waiting to happen, may I say that if a civil servant under the senior civil and that is what we have—a disaster that has happened? service had wilfully disobeyed an instruction he would have been guilty of gross misconduct and would have been summarily dismissed? If the matter is as clear-cut Mrs May: I explained in my statement the reasons for as the Home Secretary suggests, will she tell us why undertaking the pilot and also the fact that during the Brodie Clark is not facing the same sanction? period that the pilot was undertaken, the number of illegal immigrants who were detected at the border Mrs May: Because a proper process is being undertaken. increased. I think that rather improves security. Further investigation by Dave Wood is taking place to ascertain the full extent of what happened. (Bromsgrove) (Con): Government figures show that by 2010 illegal immigration had reached an Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds) (Con): I trust all-time high of more than 700,000 in our country. Does my right hon. Friend to sort out the sloppy and lax my right hon. Friend believe that the UK Border Agency management culture that has prevailed at this agency is solely responsible for this shambolic state of affairs? for too long. May I ask about her excellent idea for a border police command? When will it be introduced Mrs May: The UK Border Agency is the body and how many police will be detailed to it? What the responsible for putting in place the policy that is agreed public want now is even more reassurance that our for dealing with immigrants at the borders. The UK borders are going to be safe. Border Agency does very good work—I have seen it for myself at Calais—in interrupting illegal immigrants Mrs May: The intention is that the National Crime who are trying to enter this country. It is doing that Agency will be established in 2013. It will be necessary work on a daily basis to try to ensure that we reduce the for legislation to go through the House to establish the number of illegal immigrants. This Government are the NCA and the border police command will be part of Government who are trying to do something to reduce the national crime agency. I am not able, at this point, to immigration into this country, to reduce net migration, 57 UK Border Force7 NOVEMBER 2011 UK Border Force 58 and also to improve the removal of illegal immigrants Mrs May: As I have indicated, my understanding is so that those who come here with no right to be here are that all ports were included, but I will check that point removed from this country. and write to the hon. Gentleman, given his specific interest in it. Ann McKechin (Glasgow North) (Lab): The House rightly takes seriously the issue of child trafficking. Can Mr Julian Brazier (Canterbury) (Con): Will my right the Home Secretary advise me what evaluation was hon. Friend confirm that she will not quadruple the carried out on the increased risk of child trafficking as a number of work permits for non-EU residents, that she result of the pilot and the increased risk of child trafficking will not preside over the growth of hundreds of phoney that has occurred as a result of this scandal? colleges that bring in phoney students, and that she will not plan a large-scale amnesty? Mrs May: The evaluation of the pilot’s impact was intended to demonstrate that. In relation to the possibility Mrs May: I am happy to confirm all those points. of increased child trafficking, I come back to a point Indeed, far from doing any of those things, this Government that I made earlier. It was clear to officers that it was at are getting rid of the abuse of student visas by ensuring their discretion to check children who were coming in, that colleges that have been bringing people in to work either in family groups or in school groups, and any rather than study can no longer do so. It is this Government suspicions that they had in relation to that they could who have brought in an annual limit on non-EU economic follow up by undertaking those checks. migrants.

Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton) (Con): We know that Mr John Spellar (Warley) (Lab): Given the concerns the radical Islamist Sheikh Raed Salah walked past UK about the UK Border Agency, can we be clear about border controls this summer, despite being on a Home why the Home Secretary did not arrange to monitor Office banned entry list. Was this connected to the news this sensitive pilot or, given her wide range of responsibilities, that we hear today, or was it simply a case of someone why the immigration Minister did not do so? Can we not checking his passport? also be clear what he signed up to and what he was told? Let us not wait until January for those answers. Will the Mrs May: No, it was not connected to the news that Home Secretary issue a statement to that effect this I have outlined to the House today. I will be making week? information available on the issue involving Raed Salah to the Home Affairs Committee. Mrs May: I have just made a statement in which I set out the timeline for when decisions were made. If the Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East) (Lab): I would like right hon. Gentleman had listened carefully, he would to return to the issue of who knew what when about the have heard it. pilot. Did the Prime Minister sanction the pilot going ahead? Stephen Mosley (City of Chester) (Con): We heard Mrs May: The decision was taken by me as Home suggestions earlier that documents were being shredded Secretary, together with the immigration Minister. and e-mails were being deleted. What powers will the three inquiries have to ensure that documents are available to them and witnesses can be called to give evidence? Kris Hopkins (Keighley) (Con): Does my right hon. Friend recognise that under the previous Government the public lost confidence in Labour’s ability to manage Mrs May: I can assure my hon. Friend that the immigration and border controls, and that that drove a internal inquiry has been ongoing since the first information significant number of people into the hands of the far on the matter was available on Thursday and is continuing. right? Does she agree that we should not let the people I expect it to be a relatively quick inquiry. The inquiry down in such a way? by the chief inspector is starting today, and I saw him and one of his assistant chief inspectors this morning. They have already started the necessary work for conducting Mrs May: I agree with my hon. Friend. Sadly, the the field work at various ports around the country and immigration policy of the previous Government led to will have the full powers available to the chief inspector significant concerns among members of the public. in normal circumstances. This is an issue that matters to members of the public. It is this coalition Government who are taking action that I believe members of the public want us to take to (Llanelli) (Lab): We have been rather reduce net migration into this country, to get rid of the disappointed by the Home Secretary’s answers on abuse of student visas, and to deal with some of the Manchester and Belfast airports and the number of other issues that have led to the significant numbers of people coming into the country. Will she make available people coming into this country over the past 13 years to us as soon as possible all the details about the ports under a Labour Government. and airports involved, the times they were involved and the number of people who came in, rather than waiting Stephen Pound (Ealing North) (Lab): The right hon. until January for an inquiry? She should make it her Lady knows more than almost anyone how uniquely business to find these things out. serious the security situation is in Northern Ireland. Can she please confirm that Belfast International was Mrs May: I have already indicated that I will make not included in the wave-through amnesty? available information about which ports were included. 59 UK Border Force7 NOVEMBER 2011 UK Border Force 60

Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South) (LD): I hope Mrs May: My hon. Friend is an assiduous member of that the Home Secretary will not mind me saying so, but the Home Affairs Committee, and I suspect that it may she sounds today like she is more on autopilot than choose to return to that issue. As he will know as a anything else. Does she recollect being given a report member of the Committee, in due course the head of about the pilot at the end of September? If she did not the National Crime Agency will be available to appear see it, which of her Ministers did? before the Committee and to talk about his proposals for the agency, which will include the border police Mrs May: As I indicated in my statement, it was command. decided in the middle of September to extend the pilot until this week. If that is the report the hon. Gentleman Glenda Jackson (Hampstead and Kilburn) (Lab): is talking about, we of course looked at it and considered Was there a specific incident that caused Mr Vine to whether we should extend the pilot. raise his concerns only last week with Mr Whiteman, or did he have concerns during the previous four months? Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central) (Lab): If the Home Did he raise them with anyone? Did such individuals Secretary agrees that every aspect of this issue should raise those issues with the Home Secretary or anyone in be investigated, will she confirm that the inquiries will her office? consider the resources that are made available to UKBA? Mrs May: The chief inspector had carried out an Mrs May: The terms of reference for the inquiry by inspection of a Heathrow terminal, and during that the chief inspector will be placed in the Library, so the inspection he developed a concern about the consistency hon. Gentleman will be able to see for himself exactly of the controls being operated. It was that issue that he what it covers. raised, and it was following discussions about that issue that what had happened has come out. Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): Will the Home Secretary congratulate the front-line UKBA officers who do a Mr Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West) (Lab/Co-op): brilliant job around the country, including in Dover, Earlier this year I hosted a delegation of Chinese business and is she aware of Phil Woolas’s comments that his men and investors, who very politely told me that they efforts to tighten our borders were opposed by Treasury felt they had undergone excessive security screening and and Foreign Office Ministers? delays at Heathrow airport. When the Home Secretary introduced this shambolic pilot, did she not consider Mrs May: I am grateful to my hon. Friend, and I will the message that it might send to legitimate and well- indeed pay tribute to the work that is done by UK meaning trading partners from other parts of the world, Border Agency officers at our ports, including those who have undergone a far more rigorous examination? who are at Dover. As I made clear in an earlier answer, they do very good work on a daily basis to stop people Mrs May: I am not quite certain where the hon. coming into this country illegally and to seize goods Gentleman is coming from on that particular point, that should not be coming into this country. As I say, because he seems to complain on the one hand about a those who operate at Dover should be commended for pilot with some limited relaxation of controls, and on the work that they do on a daily basis. the other hand about excessive controls.

Helen Jones (Warrington North) (Lab): If the pilot Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab): This was to be evaluated, someone must have been collecting summer, returning from holiday at the end of August information on how it was working. Can the Home along with thousands of others, we arrived at Heathrow, Secretary tell us where that information was held, and where we were actively discouraged from using the can she now answer the question of my hon. Friend the modern technology that the Home Secretary has talked Member for Halton (Derek Twigg) about whether any about so frequently in her answers. Will her pilot study Minister or ministerial private office knew what was indicate exactly what percentage of passengers arriving going on? used the new machines, what percentage went through officials and what percentage of people caught trying to Mrs May: Yes, we were looking at the operation of enter illegally went through either the machines or the pilot, as a full evaluation, at the end of the pilot officials? taking place. Opposition Members have asked on several occasions whether during the course of the pilot it Mrs May: E-gate usage is known—those figures are became clear to Ministers that it was being operated not available—and one of the matters that I have taken up just as requested and authorised, but in another way, with the UK Border Agency is the extent to which it and the answer to that is no. should encourage people who are able to use e-gates to do so. The hon. Lady’s experience suggests that otherwise Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood) (Con): Brodie has occurred. Clark was governor of Whitemoor prison when five IRA men escaped, yet he was promoted to be the Prison Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse) (Lab): The Service head of security and then to head the UK Home Secretary says that she discussed the pilot with border force. The Home Secretary explains that things the Immigration Minister and the Minister responsible will improve under the NCA, but does she agree that for security, but did she consult ministerial colleagues confidence in the agency would be bolstered if its head and security officials at the Department for Transport? were subject to a parliamentary confirmation hearing? If so, what was their advice? 61 UK Border Force 7 NOVEMBER 2011 62

Mrs May: The matter related to the operation of M5 Motorway Accident border security controls, which is a matter for the Home Office. 5.36 pm Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) (Lab): I The Secretary of State for Transport (Justine Greening): am appalled that the Home Secretary set up a pilot at With permission, Mr Speaker, I should like to make a Manchester airport and did not know she had done so. statement to update the House on the serious collision That is extraordinary. Will she now answer without any that took place on the M5 motorway in Somerset on the ambiguity the question that has been asked four or five evening of Friday 4 November. times: did information come from those pilot schemes into her or any other Minister’s office in the Home As the House will be aware, at approximately 20 minutes Office—yes or no? past 8 on Friday evening, a road traffic collision occurred on the M5 northbound in Somerset involving multiple Mrs May: As I have made clear, an evaluation of the vehicles. Some of those vehicles subsequently caught pilot was going to take place at the end of the study, so fire. The incident occurred between junction 25, Taunton, that we could look at how it was operating and whether and junction 24, Bridgwater north, approximately a it was doing what it was expected to do. As I said in my third of a mile north of junction 25. The emergency statement, a decision was taken in the middle of September services and the Highways Agency responded to the to extend the pilot until November in order to ensure incident immediately, and therefore a large number of that there was a fuller period of time to make the emergency service vehicles and resources were able to evaluation. attend the scene very quickly. At approximately 9 pm, based on the numbers of Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab): How often did the casualties and vehicles involved, Avon and Somerset Home Secretary get reports and updates on the progress police declared a major incident. Due to the nature of of the pilot, and how often did she update the Prime the incident scene, it took some time to confirm exactly Minister on it? how many people and vehicles were involved in the collision. Avon and Somerset police have now confirmed Mrs May: The hon. Gentleman refers to the Prime that 37 vehicles were involved in the collision. Tragically, Minister’s involvement, which has been referred to by seven people lost their lives. A further 51 people were another hon. Member, and I answered that question: it injured and were treated at Musgrove Park hospital, was a matter for the Home Office and decisions were Yeovil district hospital or at the scene. taken by the Home Office. I would like again to offer my condolences—and I am sure those of the House—to those who have lost friends or family in that horrific crash, as well as to offer our thoughts to those who have been injured. The families of those who lost their lives are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers from Avon and Somerset police, who will continue to work with them as long as they are needed. Police investigations on the motorway were completed at 10 minutes past 4 on Sunday 6 November, and the scene was then handed over to the Highways Agency and its contractors to begin repairs to the carriageway. The collision incident caused a significant amount of damage to the highway: a stretch of 40 metres of road was damaged by fuel spillage from vehicles and a stretch of 60 metres was damaged by intense fire. Two lanes of the southbound carriageway reopened yesterday at 20 past 5 and, following extensive resurfacing works, all lanes on the northbound carriageway reopened shortly before 9 pm. The final remaining lane closure on the southbound carriageway was removed at 20 past 9 last night, and the road is now running in both directions. The Minister responsible for roads, the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), visited the scene of the incident on Saturday, and I was there yesterday. I was tremendously impressed by the determination and professionalism of staff from the emergency services— police, fire crews and ambulance staff—local hospitals and the Highways Agency.They worked with real dedication in the most difficult of circumstances. Our efforts to deal with the scene also involved the Environment Agency. The way in which all those agencies were able to work together highly effectively was critical in ensuring that those involved in the accident were helped and 63 M5 Motorway Accident7 NOVEMBER 2011 M5 Motorway Accident 64

[Justine Greening] this particular incident, I will be considering carefully our forward plans on road safety to ensure that we have treated speedily. I pay tribute to Assistant Chief Constable the right measures in place to deliver real and urgent Anthony Bangham who, as gold commander, led those progress on tackling the continuing blight of death and efforts. injury on our roads. I commend this statement to the It was a harrowing and painstaking task for all concerned House. to deal with the incident, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank massively all those involved for Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood) (Lab): I thank their efforts and bravery, including individual members the right hon. Lady for her statement and for early sight of the public who were passing or near the incident, of it. I am sure that we would both have preferred the some of whom tried to help those trapped in vehicles. I circumstances of her first appearance at the Dispatch would particularly like to pay tribute to the local community, Box as Secretary of State for Transport to be different, people and businesses in and around Taunton. From but may I take this opportunity to congratulate her on local people and hotels offering to accommodate relatives her appointment? I wish her well in her new role, and of those injured and members of the public offering I am sure that her decision to visit the scene of this support, to local off-duty hospital staff turning up at horrific incident over the weekend will have been their hospitals to help to provide care, it was humbling appreciated, as will the visit of the Under-Secretary of and inspiring to see how selflessly so many people were State for Transport, the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead willing to offer their support to others who needed it. (Mike Penning), particularly by those still working to deal with the aftermath. May I associate Labour Members It would be a mistake at this very early stage to with the sympathy that the Secretary of State expressed speculate about the causes of the collision. Investigations for those who have lost loved ones and those who have into the cause of the crash are still at a very early stage. suffered injuries in this tragedy? To put that in context, the recovery phase finished only yesterday, and it is only today that the investigation I join the right hon. Lady in thanking the emergency phase becomes the key focus. While Avon and Somerset services in Somerset. Tales of extraordinary bravery police have indicated that the presence of smoke on the have emerged from what must have been a terrifying carriageway is a significant line of inquiry, Assistant situation, and yet again we have been reminded of the Chief Constable Bangham has been clear that, in his professionalism and dedication of our emergency services. words to me earlier today, it is “far too early” to jump to I also add our thanks to the staff of Musgrove Park conclusions on the causal factors of the incident. Our hospital in Taunton and Yeovil district hospital. They first priority now must be to ensure that the police are provided an exceptional response after the incident and able to conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation are continuing to provide the first-class care that we of the crash. have come to expect and rely on from our national health service. As I said, earlier today I spoke to Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, whose Avon and Somerset This is one of the worst road accidents we have suffered force is leading the ongoing investigation. He told me for many years, and it is right that the police must now that, given the large number of vehicles involved, and be able to carry out the very thorough investigation they the need carefully to look at the vehicles recovered and have begun into the cause of this tragedy. The truth is of course to talk to the many witnesses, it may be some that we do not know today whether there were steps weeks until the investigation can conclude on any cause that could have been taken to prevent the incident. We or causes of the incident. The police continue to appeal must await the conclusions of the investigation and for witnesses, and I encourage anyone with any information avoid the temptation to rush to judgment. to contact the police directly on 101 or by calling While families are struggling to come to terms with Crimestoppers on 0800 500 111. their devastating loss and victims lie injured, I do not I would like to emphasise to the House the extremely believe it is the right time to pass judgment on specific high priority that I attach to road safety. The UK has a policies. The Secretary of State said that lessons will be proud tradition as a world leader on road safety, and learned for future policy development. Will she confirm that is a tradition that I am determined to continue. that the conclusions of the investigation into this incident Although the number of deaths and serious injuries on will be fully considered before steps are taken to advance our roads has fallen dramatically over the past 20 years, any of her Department’s proposals that she has inherited the horrific crash on Friday has reminded us of the that may have a bearing on road safety? terrible personal consequences of collisions for motorists The Secretary of State referred to the dramatic fall in and local communities. Earlier this year, the Government the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads published a road safety framework that commits us to a over previous years. However, she will have noticed the range of activities which will enable us to do even better increase in deaths over the last year, which was reported in future. We will of course take full account of any just last week. That is something of which she and this lessons from this terrible collision in developing our House need to take particular note. She should know future policies and supporting the future safe travel of that she will have the full support of the Opposition if people. she brings a renewed focus to the challenge of reducing The safety of our roads also requires effective partnership the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. working across a wide range of organisations—national Will the Secretary of State confirm whether she has and local government, police and emergency services, yet discussed this incident with the Home Secretary, the and many others. We need to work together effectively if Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, we are going to do the best job we can of ensuring that who is in his place, and the Secretary of State for people stay safe on our roads. Over the coming weeks, Business, Innovation and Skills? Have they confirmed and going beyond any lessons that may be learned from whether they intend to review the licensing regime for 65 M5 Motorway Accident7 NOVEMBER 2011 M5 Motorway Accident 66 public events, firework displays and bonfires? Following that we have some input into any recommendations that the fire under the M1 in April, the then Secretary of are put forward by the police and the Highways Agency State for Transport promised a review of the wider for the future of the road. lessons that should be learned about the activities that we allow to take place under motorways. Will the right Justine Greening: I very much hope that we will be hon. Lady update the House on that work and on any able to have an ongoing dialogue with local MPs about conclusions that have been reached? Will she consider the effectiveness of any measures that end up being widening that work to consider activities alongside, as proposed. Frankly, I would expect that on any key well as underneath, our motorways? proposals that affect any Member’s local public transport. Finally, I would be grateful for an assurance that the Secretary of State will make a further statement to the Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab): The right hon. House following the conclusion of the investigation. It Lady says that the road death figures are still heading in is important that there is an opportunity to discuss the right direction, but my reading of the latest figures these issues more fully than feels appropriate today. I was that, even before this terrible crash, we were looking thank her for ensuring that the House has been updated at the first annual increase in road deaths that this at the earliest possible opportunity following this tragedy. country has seen for 20 years. As she will know, that is deeply worrying to road safety campaigners and others. Will she at the very least have another look at her Justine Greening: I am very grateful for the hon. predecessor’s plan to encourage faster speeds on the Lady’s kind words welcoming me to my new role. As she motorways by increasing the speed limit? says, it is a shame that these are the circumstances under which I arrive at the Dispatch Box. Justine Greening: To go back over the figures on road In response to the points that the hon. Lady made, of safety, of course it is concerning that the most recent course we will consider the lessons that can be learned quarter’s figures that have been released showed such a from this incident, if there are any. As she pointed out, rise, but we should still not lose sight of the fact that the the most important thing is to ensure that the police can trend is in the right direction. We should also be conscious get on with their investigation as it unfolds. It is worth of the fact that levels of road safety can, of course, be reiterating her point that, for the families of people who affected by the weather, so it is not quite as straightforward have been injured and particularly for the families who as simply saying from looking at those figures that there have lost relatives, it is important that we do not speculate is an underlying reduction in road safety compared with unnecessarily about what might have caused the accident. previous quarters. On road safety, the hon. Lady pointed out last quarter’s One key point to recognise in relation to those numbers figures, which showed a rise in fatalities. It is also fair to and the hon. Gentleman’s point about speed is that point out that in the 12 months to the end of June, we people can drive unsafely at any speed and in any continued to see an overall reduction in fatalities and weather conditions. It is important that we do not jump injuries on our roads, so the trend is moving in the right to a solution when the police still have to examine the direction. The challenge for this House is to ensure that causes of the accident, and that we ensure that we have that does not level off and that we take steps to ensure a measured discussion about action that could be taken that the figures come down further, as far as possible. in future months to improve road safety. We as a House need to have that discussion in a responsible and balanced The hon. Lady’s question about licensing arrangements way. slightly prejudges where the police investigation may end up. She has made the point that there is a question over whether this event falls under the Licensing Act 2003 Mr David Laws (Yeovil) (LD): I join the Secretary of as a regulated event. That is clearly something that the State and my hon. Friends the Members for Taunton police and the local authority will consider. Deane (Mr Browne), for Somerton and Frome (Mr Heath), for Wells (Tessa Munt) and for Bridgwater and West If the police investigation that is under way presents Somerset (Mr Liddell-Grainger), as well as the other any conclusions that I think it is important for this local MPs, in congratulating the emergency services on House to consider, I will of course come back and make their fantastic response to Friday’s tragedy. From a a statement. It is possible that the police will conclude Yeovil perspective, I particularly pay tribute to the that they cannot say absolutely what caused the collision. many people from my constituency, including at Yeovil However, if there are meaningful lessons and conclusions hospital, who did fantastic work on Friday night and that it is worth this House discussing, I will ensure that Saturday morning. we have a follow-up statement. Although the Secretary of State is absolutely right not to leap to conclusions when we do not know the full Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater and West Somerset) facts, there are undoubtedly many positive lessons to be (Con): If I may, I will pay tribute to the hon. Member learned from the response of the emergency services on for Taunton Deane (Mr Browne), who is in his place, Friday and Saturday. I hope that she will undertake to because it is the nightmare of every MP to face such a ensure that that best practice is spread to all emergency tragedy. The Secretary of State and the shadow Secretary forces across the United Kingdom. of State made it clear that this matter will be thought through logically. One worry is that, as the M5 is the Justine Greening: The right hon. Gentleman makes most important arterial route in our county, whatever an excellent point. During both my trip to the scene and happens to the M5 affects the whole county. When local hospitals and that of the Under-Secretary of State, decisions are made, I ask the Secretary of State please my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead to consult the MPs with constituencies along the M5, so (Mike Penning), the point was constantly made to us 67 M5 Motorway Accident7 NOVEMBER 2011 M5 Motorway Accident 68

[Justine Greening] Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Lab): May I associate myself with the words of condolence to all the about the extremely effective way in which a number of families affected and the words of praise for all those different agencies had worked together. For example, at involved in what must have been horrific? I draw the the hospital that I visited in Taunton, staff talked to me House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ about how they had in place an emergency process for Financial Interests. dealing with such an incident, and it worked extremely I believe that the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. well when that incident finally happened. There are best Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), will practice lessons to be taken from that, and we will know—hopefully he has whispered it in the ear of the certainly work to ensure that they are disseminated to Secretary of State—about the very positive impact that other agencies across the rest of the country. I hope that the Heavy Rescue Partnership has had, saving lives in the Highways Agency will play a key role in that. association with Staffordshire fire and rescue. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the investigation will Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab/Co-op): I welcome consider whether the availability of such an approach the Secretary of State’s personal commitment to road might have made the difference on the night of that safety, because every single death is a tragedy. May I ask terrible incident? her to look again at the framework that her Department has developed? I believe that there has unfortunately Justine Greening: We will consider all such issues going been a tendency to see an increase in safety measures, forward, so the answer is yes. such as better eyesight testing, as a burden rather than as something that will save lives. Tessa Munt (Wells) (LD): I join my right hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil (Mr Laws) in his comments Justine Greening: In all this we must strike the right about the emergency services, and I wish particularly to balance, but I can absolutely assure the hon. Lady that point out the contribution made by the family liaison I take incredibly seriously the issue of safety not just on officers who work in such circumstances. the roads but across the transport system. I will take a I was present at the time on the southbound carriageway, very careful look at it to ensure that we always strike and I saw what had happened as I was drawing off the that balance. The strategic framework for road safety road at the Taunton junction. I do not think I have ever that we published in May contained a number of steps seen anything like what I saw on Friday evening. It was in the right direction. I would of course like to consider an absolute inferno, and it was impossible for me to what more we can do, but we have, for example, increased leave the car on the southbound carriageway to do fixed penalty notice fines for many motoring offences. anything. The fixed penalty notice fine for speeding had not risen since 2000. The Government are taking a number of Will the Secretary of State commend the bravery of steps to ensure that we have a very proactive approach two of my constituents, both of whom are in their to road safety. 20s—a young man called Sam Jones and another gentleman by the name of Tom Hamill? Both played their part in rescuing people from the vehicles, particularly Tom, Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon) (Con): The who I understand saved the life of a very small baby. I Secretary of State will know that the M5 is the major thank them for doing that. spine road into Devon and Cornwall, and is very busy in both directions. This appalling tragedy has been a Justine Greening: I pay tribute again to members of real shock to all of us on the peninsula. May I therefore the public who, in many cases, selflessly put themselves commend her for her calm and measured way of responding in the way of harm to help and save others. We have all to the crisis, and join her in thanking the emergency read of the many acts of heroism that people instinctively services? In particular, I thank the Highways Agency performed to help those whom they saw in need. In a for getting the road back together again so quickly. world in which there is a lot of discussion about a big society, the fact that people’s instinct when they saw Justine Greening: I thank my hon. Friend for those such a tragedy unfolding was to run towards it and try words. It is actually a stretch of road that I know very to help says an awful lot about the spirit of local well. In fact, I had driven along it myself only two communities up and down our country, particularly in weekends before. He is absolutely right that we should Taunton. pay tribute to the Highways Agency, which did an outstanding job in being ready to work with the police (Newport West) (Lab): Will the Secretary and then, critically, in taking the necessary steps once of State join in the heartfelt tributes paid to my constituents the police had released the scene. The agency not only and neighbours Tony and Pamela Adams, who died in ensured that the highway was safe for motorists to get the accident? We can all empathise with them—they back on the southbound carriageway as quickly as possible, were on a journey that they had made many times but took steps to re-lay the northbound carriageway, before, but within seconds a normal situation descended which took just five to six hours. That meant that we into hell on earth. They were not just another statistic; were able to get that carriageway opened on Sunday they were two lovely people who had been sweethearts night rather than Monday morning. for 50 years. They were stalwarts of the Allt-yr-yn I should also say that the Highways Agency did an community and their local church, St Mark’s. In fact, excellent job on the Friday evening of ensuring that the Tony had organised the order of service for yesterday. motorists who were not directly involved in the accident No one is expecting any instant solutions from the but were held up as a result of it were safely and Government, but may we take it that we as parliamentarians gradually escorted away from the scene. will understand the immeasurable loss to the family and 69 M5 Motorway Accident7 NOVEMBER 2011 M5 Motorway Accident 70 friends, and say that we will do all we can to ensure by become even tougher. I am very happy to talk with the the decisions that we take that an accident of this kind hon. Gentleman, who has an interest in this area, to see is less likely in future? how we can maintain a balanced and informed debate on how to improve road safety. Justine Greening: Yes. I once again send my condolences to that family. There is very little that anybody can say Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) (Con): May to their relatives at the moment that will provide any I add my name to those of my right hon. and hon. real comfort under the circumstances of this tragedy. As Friends in commenting on our sympathy for the bereaved the hon. Gentleman points out, it happened instantaneously, and our praise of the security and emergency services in which is a particular challenge for families who lose Somerset, particularly the Avon and Somerset constabulary? people in such circumstances. I can assure him that, as May I also thank the Secretary of State for being calm I have said to the House already, I take road safety and in her approach and for being willing to look at the safety across our transport system incredibly seriously, evidence, particularly in relation to the 80 mph speed and I will ensure that if there are any lessons to be limit? I do not think that now is the time to be dwelling learned, they will be acted upon, although we must wait on those issues, but a full and thorough review must be for the outcome of the police investigation. the right way forward.

Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) Justine Greening: I agree with my hon. Friend. Critically, (Con): I echo the condolences offered by hon. Members we must bear in mind that safe driving on motorways is on both sides of the House to the families who have not simply about the maximum speed limit; it is also been badly affected. Connectivity with the peninsula about smart driving—not driving too close to people in not only by railway but by road is a very big issue. The front and braking in a way that is not too quick and that M5 is the only arterial dual carriageway that goes the surprises motorists behind. There are an awful lot of whole way down. Is my right hon. Friend willing to different aspects of safe driving on motorways. In fact, meet me and people from the south-west to discuss how we are already considering whether we can ensure that we can improve that connectivity, and to find ways to learner drivers have some experience of driving on ensure that when the motorway is closed, as it had to be, motorways as part of their training. That proposal has we can get to and from places much more easily? been put to us. We can do a number of things to improve the situation. Clearly, it is important for individual Justine Greening: My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary drivers at all times to bear in mind that although there is with responsibility for roads and I will be quite happy a speed limit, they must drive according to the conditions to have that meeting. The broader point that my hon. of the road and the weather. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Oliver Colvile) makes on resilience is critical. We saw Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab): May I the challenges for the road network in that area last thank both Front Benchers for voicing so clearly the year. Although my visit yesterday was to show support sentiments felt on both sides of the House for all those for the emergency services and the Highways Agency involved? Crash barriers save lives, and they are particularly and the wonderful work they had done, I took the well designed in the UK. We can see from the pictures opportunity to raise initially some questions on winter that the crash barriers prevented vehicles from going on resilience for that area, and I would be happy to meet to the southbound carriageway. However, a degree of my hon. Friend. compression was caused by having crash barriers on both the hard shoulder and the central reservation, Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): As where we expect them to be. Such compression exacerbates chair of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Road the potential for fire to spread, as people are funnelled Safety, the transport safety charity, I welcome the Secretary into a particular spot. As part of the Secretary of of State to her new job. We look forward to working State’s investigation, will she look at whether having with her on safety issues on a cross-party basis. crash barriers on both sides of the road had any impact This tragic accident reminds us all that speed does on the spread of fire among vehicles? kill, and hon. Members must think very carefully about it. I hope that when we analyse—[Interruption.] Yes, we Justine Greening: The hon. Lady is right to point out must carefully analyse this accident. I hope that one that the Highways Agency must manage risks. The specific thing that the Secretary of State’s experts look crash barriers are on the side of that particular stretch at is the fire. It is very unusual in road accidents to have of motorway because there is a steep bank. She raises fires of that intensity. Many of us in road safety the issue of the compression of vehicles, but alternatively, campaigning organisations have been worried for some had the barrier not been there, the risk is that vehicles time about the vulnerability of the fuel tanks of commercial would have gone down the bank. Nevertheless, the vehicles. Will she ensure that she looks at that, and will police were quite careful to ensure that they looked she consider the restoration of the road safety partnerships? around the banks to see whether there were any injured people or fatalities who were not on the motorway Justine Greening: The hon. Gentleman is right that itself. The Highways Agency takes a risk-based approach the fire was a significant factor in the number of fatalities to such things, which is what it had done on that and it is fair to say that it was a particularly unusual particular stretch of motorway. occurrence. He asks about fuel tanks on heavy goods vehicles. As he will be aware, there are a number of (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con): I agree regulations on ensuring that HGVs are safe, and he will with the whole House on our heartfelt sympathy for be interested to know that EU harmonisation rules those who lost loved ones in this absolutely terrible mean that over the next three years those standards will crash. I congratulate the emergency services, which 71 M5 Motorway Accident7 NOVEMBER 2011 M5 Motorway Accident 72

[Neil Parish] Justine Greening: I shall ensure that we share best practice more broadly.Obviously, I know that the devolved were there within four minutes, which is an excellent authorities take their own decisions in this area, but I response. As other hon. Members have said, the M5 is think that they will be happy to learn any lessons that the great arterial road into the south-west. However, we can be learnt. need to look not only at the M5, but at the A30 and A303, because they are also major roads into the west country. Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) (Con): This major incident involved emergency services from across the region. I pay tribute to them. What support Justine Greening: I thank my hon. Friend for those will be available to them and to members of the public, comments. It is important that we look across the road including one or two of my constituents, involved in network to ensure that roads are maintained safely. As I this terrible tragedy? have said, it is important that we wait for the police to go through their investigation into this particular incident, which could take some weeks, before we can draw Justine Greening: My hon. Friend is right to raise that conclusions on any actions that need to be taken. point. It was one that I particularly raised with the local hospitals involved, Assistant Chief Constable Bangham Nia Griffith (Llanelli) (Lab): This tragic accident is a and the Highways Agency, and I can provide reassurance salutary reminder to every single one of us just how that the necessary support will be in place. Of course easy it is to go from cruising along a motorway to the emergency services are used to dealing with very ending up in a pile-up. Although I would not make any serious and harrowing accidents, but they would recognise comment on the initial causes—it is not appropriate that this was a particularly large and challenging one. for any of us to do so—and although I hear what the Although many people in the emergency services have Secretary of State says on the complexity of the speed attended many such accidents in the past, there are issue, will she remember that faster speeds mean longer some accidents that require support to be in place, and stopping distances and greater impacts on collision, this was one of them. and will she abandon plans to raise the speed limit on the motorways? (Windsor) (Con): Emma Barton lies in hospital in a coma. She lost her mother a few months Justine Greening: As I have said, it is far too early to ago, and she lost her father and sister in this accident. It jump to conclusions about the possible cause or causes is easy in these debates to think of such accidents merely of the accident, but I can reassure the hon. Lady that I as statistics, so I want to put on the record my condolences take road safety incredibly seriously, so I shall, of course, to any family she has left, and to her friends and other always ensure that I am happy that the measures that we relatives. I commend the tone in which the Secretary of introduce are appropriate. State made her statement today. Will she join me in ensuring that any additional services that may be required Mr (Bournemouth East) (Con): I join for people involved will be provided? the Secretary of State in paying tribute to the emergency services and in offering my condolences to those affected by this terrible tragedy. Stopping distances are critical. Justine Greening: I can absolutely confirm that. I A growing trend on all motorways is the fact that cars understand that Emma Barton’s boyfriend is with her in drive in such close proximity one behind the other. May the hospital. My hon. Friend’s points underline how for I invite her to consider the increased use of chevrons some people this is an unfolding drama: there are some painted on the road, which encourage individuals to in hospital who, because of their condition, are unaware think more carefully about their distance from the car that they have lost their nearest and dearest. That is in front, allowing that critical stopping distance and another reason why it is right to approach any debate therefore saving lives? on road safety in an incredibly sensitive manner until the police have had time to conduct their investigation. Justine Greening: We are in the middle of several pilots considering whether chevrons can help drivers Bob Russell (Colchester) (LD): Successive Governments work out how much space they need. One of the challenges over the past 40 years can be commended on how they is that heavy goods vehicles need much longer stopping have approached road safety. The number of road deaths distances than cars, which is something to bear in mind last year was the lowest since records began 85 years as well, because there is no point in cars stopping in ago, and by the time the previous Labour Government time after an accident if the HGVs behind have not left left office, the annual death toll on our roads had been themselves enough stopping distance. virtually halved. The Secretary of State said that she attached an extremely high priority to road safety, and I Mr David Hamilton (Midlothian) (Lab): I congratulate welcome that, but there is no need to speculate because the Secretary of State on how she has approached this it is clear from all the evidence that if an 80 mph speed subject, and echo the comments that have been made limit is introduced on our motorways, if moving traffic today. There will be a report, and I thank her for saying is allowed on to hard shoulders, and if there is a that she will return to the Chamber, but will she also reduction in the frequency of MOT vehicle roadworthiness indicate whether she will include Members of the Scottish tests, the number of deaths, injuries and crashes will Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland rise. Given the increase in the number of serious injuries Assembly, so that best practice can be rolled out throughout and deaths in recent months, does she agree that it the UK? would be criminal to pursue those three objectives? 73 M5 Motorway Accident7 NOVEMBER 2011 M5 Motorway Accident 74

Justine Greening: There is not much that I would like Karen Bradley (Staffordshire Moorlands) (Con): I to add at this point. We need to let the police get on with associate myself with the words of sympathy being their investigation, rather than prejudging what they expressed across the House. Does the Secretary of State might say were the causes of the collision. The other agree that while the facts remain uncertain and emotions point is that the pilot on hard shoulder running, on the remain so raw, it is inappropriate for lobbyists and M42, proved it to be safer. lobby groups to use this terrible tragedy to further their own campaigns? Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con): The public tragedy of these seven deaths, so far, needs to be Justine Greening: We all need to be conscious of our considered alongside the 35 private tragedies—the average responsibility to approach road safety in a balanced, number of deaths per week—in comparison with the informed and sensitive way, given the tragic collision on 107 deaths each week 25 years ago. I commend my right the M5 on Friday, and I hope that the House will show hon. Friend for saying that we want to look for the leadership in doing just that. causal factors and then consider what further measures we can take. However, will she get the Government to Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con): I was travelling southbound consider whether the question of the change from on the M5 in Somerset on Friday evening and was summertime to wintertime, which brings with it an diverted from the motorway, which meant that thankfully, average death cost in this country of 70 lives a year—two unlike the hon. Member for Wells (Tessa Munt), I did weeks’ worth of deaths—is worth returning to in time? not have to see the incident that led to loss of life. I do not want an answer, or a promise to do it, straight However, I did see a multiple collision in queuing traffic, away, but that is one of the decisions that the House which added to the demands on the emergency services could take, and it would save a significant number of that night. As part of a review, will the Secretary of lives. State consider what steps could be taken to improve warnings and information for other road users, so that Justine Greening: My hon. Friend, as a former Minister they can be better prepared for what is up ahead? with responsibility for roads, always has an important point to make. I am aware of the arguments about Justine Greening: My hon. Friend is right to raise the daylight saving time—there are arguments on both subject of information. It is not just when there are sides—but obviously we have to be conscious of how accidents that it is good to give motorists additional any change would affect not just the south of our information so that they can make their own decisions country but the north. I have no doubt that we will about how to avoid a congested area. I would also like continue to have that debate over the coming months. to look into how we can get better information to motorists on a daily basis, because it can help whatever Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con): I very the driving circumstances. much agree with my right hon. Friend’s comments about considering road safety measures more generally Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con): I welcome and not just speed limits, but may I urge her, as part of my right hon. Friend to her place, endorse her remarks, her review, to consider the system in France, where they echo her condolences to the families, and commend her have two levels of mandatory speed limit on motorways—an statement. It is absolutely right to take a calm and 80 mph limit for fair-weather driving and a considerably measured approach towards making road safety the key lower limit for adverse conditions? priority.Given some of the increases in braking technology, for instance, I am sure that she will have the support of Justine Greening: I have considered that. In fact, I the whole House if she does not rush to early conclusions was in discussion with the AA over the weekend to hear on the remarks about speed at this stage. its views on HGVs and the speed limit. It has supported variable limits. However, it made another point too. Justine Greening: We have always said that any decision Organisations such as the AA think that drivers can we took would follow a consultation, and that is right. take decisions for themselves about the right speed to These are important areas to get right, and they require drive at, and that is something that we should be trying a balanced approach. That means understanding all the to build upon. It is important that drivers take responsibility downsides and upsides before any final decision is taken. for driving in a way appropriate for the road conditions. I can therefore assure my hon. Friend that we will go through the right process before we take any decisions. Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con): In the context of getting to the truth of what happened in this dreadful Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) (LD): I would like to accident, will my right hon. Friend tell us whether add my condolences to those affected by this awful CCTV or traffic cameras were in operation along that tragedy, which is a serious reminder of the continuing stretch of the M5? If so, are they being used as part of toll on our roads. Just last year, in 2010, there were the inquiry? 1,850 deaths and more than 200,000 injuries, or some 600 every day. Mechanical failure contributed to some Justine Greening: When I went to the Highways Agency of those casualties. Will the Secretary of State join me yesterday I saw some of the monitors on which the in celebrating the success of the MOT test, which helps footage from those CCTV cameras can be viewed. to improve safety standards? People are viewing that footage, but the main challenge is that it was dark, which means that the information in Justine Greening: The MOT test has been in place for the images is less than was hoped for. None the less, that many years, and of course it plays a role in ensuring footage will definitely be looked at to see whether it can that cars are roadworthy. However, we should also provide any information that can feed into the inquiry. recognise its limitations, and the fact that motorists will 75 M5 Motorway Accident7 NOVEMBER 2011 M5 Motorway Accident 76

[Justine Greening] taken. In relation to the fire, there is no doubt that the police will look into not just the precise circumstances always need to take the necessary steps to ensure that that led to the collision, but why things unfolded as they their vehicles are roadworthy in between tests. If there did. As I have said, HGV fuel tank standards will be are indications to suggest that a vehicle is not roadworthy, toughened and get progressively better over the next it is the motorist who has the responsibility to ensure three years. That is obviously good news, and appropriate, that it is checked by a local garage. and if there are further lessons to be learnt, they will be.

Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con): Twenty-nine years Chris Kelly (Dudley South) (Con): May I join in the ago I had the sad responsibility of identifying several expressions of condolence? What is the scope for increasing friends who had been killed in circumstances similar to the number of miles of lit motorway in this country? those on the M5 last Friday. Does my right hon. Friend agree that we must not forget those who had the sad Justine Greening: Again, there is a danger of jumping responsibility, if not duty, of identifying their friends or to what the solutions could be following the police family members, or the calm courage that they needed investigation. Suffice it to say, however, that I am of course to go through that awful process? open-minded about taking any steps that we think can improve road safety and ensure that we maintain—indeed, Justine Greening: My hon. Friend is right, and that is improve—our road safety record. one of the reasons why we have to approach this in a measured way. In fact, the formal identification process is still under way for many of those families. Only once LOCALISM BILL (MONEY) (NO. 2) we have got through that, and the pathology, can the Queen’s Recommendation signified. coroner for the south-west start his inquest, which we Resolved, would hope can take place later this week. Many of us cannot even begin to understand what it would be like That, for the purposes of any Act resulting from the Localism Bill, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of money to go through such a traumatic experience, and we provided by Parliament of any expenditure incurred by a Minister always have to bear that in mind. of the Crown under the Act.—(Jeremy Wright.) Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): My right hon. Friend is fortunate to have as the Minister with LOCALISM BILL (PROGRAMME) (NO. 3) responsibility for roads the Under-Secretary of State Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Order No. 83A(7)), Hempstead (Mike Penning), who, as a former professional firefighter, brings his personal knowledge and experience That the following provisions shall apply to the Localism Bill to this issue. We have heard from several Members for the purpose of supplementing the Orders of 17 January 2011 (Localism Bill (Programme)) and 17 May 2011 (Localism Bill today that one of the sad features of this tragedy was (Programme) (No. 2)): the extent of the flames and the inferno that resulted. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the inquiry asks Consideration of Lords Amendments not just how we can prevent such crashes from happening, 1. Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall but how we can prevent vehicles from bursting into (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion flames? at 10.00 pm at this day’s sitting. Subsequent stages Justine Greening: My hon. Friend is right on two 2. Any further Message from the Lords may be considered counts. First, we have a Minister with responsibility for forthwith without any Question being put. roads who is perhaps uniquely placed to bring his 3. The proceedings on any further Message from the Lords insights to bear in dealing with such incidents. His visit shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion to the site the day after the accident was vital in giving one hour after their commencement.—(Jeremy Wright.) us the assurance that the necessary steps were being Question agreed to. 77 7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 78

Localism Bill engage with a large number of submissions from outside groups, it behoves the Government to listen to the sensible Consideration of Lords amendments suggestions that have been made, and to the constructive advice we have received, with an open mind. Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans): I must draw the House’s attention to the fact that financial privilege There is a form of Bill-handling in which it is seen as is involved in a substantial number of Lords amendments, the Bill Minister’s responsibility to carry the Bill through which will be listed in the Official Report. If the House its every parliamentary stage as though it were a Ming agrees to the amendments, I shall ensure that the appropriate vase, to repel boarders and to keep people away from it entry is made in the Journal. so that emerges intact at the other end. That has never been my view. I think that it is right to listen to constructive [Following are the Lords amendments in which financial suggestions, of which there have been many during the privilege is involved: 3 to 12, 23, 29, 40, 49, 50, 54 to 60, Bill’s progress. 62, 64, 66 to 69, 72, 74 to 115, 131, 148, 150, 157 to 165, 225, 226, 250 to 254, 257, 260, 294, 295, 302, 312, 334, I want to pay tribute to the scrutiny that all members 335, 337 to 344, 349, 371, 376, 377, 387, 389, 395, 399 to of the Committee performed. I am sorry to see that the 402.] hon. Member for Worsley and Eccles South (Barbara Keeley) is not in her place tonight, because she approached her responsibilities with the utmost dedication and Clause 9 forensically scrutinised the Bill. We all know that the Opposition lack the excellent resources provided to the GENERAL POWERS OF CERTAIN FIRE AND RESCUE Government by civil servants, so I would like to pay AUTHORITIES tribute to her leadership on the Bill from the Opposition Front Bench. We do, however, have the benefit of the 6.27 pm presence of the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington, The Minister of State, Department for Communities although the hon. Member for Plymouth, Moor View and Local Government (Greg Clark): I beg to move, (Alison Seabeck) has been moved to other duties. He is That this House agrees with Lords amendment 1. therefore the last man standing, and I am glad that our team is intact. Much rests on his shoulders, and we are Mr Deputy Speaker: With this it will be convenient grateful for his contribution. to consider Lords amendments 2 to 13, 231 to 233, 242 In the House of Commons Committee, we strengthened and 399 to 403. the Bill, especially in relation to the duty to co-operate. We had some very productive discussions on that, in Greg Clark: For the best of a century, most Bills that which we established agreement with hon. Members have passed through this House have taken power from across the House. On Report, we said that we would communities and councils and given more power to consider the neighbourhood planning aspects of the central Government, or in some cases to European Bill in the House of Lords, because some of the government. This is an historic Bill, not just for the amendments that were suggested by Members on both measures it contains but for what it represents. It is sides of the House required greater technical reflection. about striking out in a different direction. Power should Many of the amendments that we shall consider today be held at the lowest possible level. We want this to be deal with those matters. the first Parliament for many years that, by the end of The process has been productive. Looking at the its Sessions, will have given power away. report of the Third Reading debate in the House of That is true for many of the Bill’s provisions—the Lords, I was struck by some of the comments. Lord community right to challenge; the community right to Best, speaking on behalf of the Cross Benchers this bid for assets of public value; the abolition of regional time last week, said that spatial strategies; the introduction of neighbourhood “the key role of this House in scrutinising legislation has been planning—but nowhere is it more significant than in wonderfully illustrated by the progress of the Localism Bill. I clause 1, which deals with the general power of competence. have been given a list of 10 major issues that were originally of The general power of competence changes the default considerable concern to the Local Government Association, for position. Currently, local government exists to do the example, and on which that body, representing local authorities things that central Government require it to do. Clause 1 up and down the land, now feels reassured and to a very large degree satisfied with the legislation as it now appears. The same turns that default position upside down. Local government kind of list could have been devised by a number of external can do the things that it thinks are right, unless they are agencies, with the same satisfaction rating at the end of that.”—[Official positively banned. What is not forbidden is permitted. Report, House of Lords, 31 October 2011; Vol. 731, c. 1106.] The question for councils is not, “Can we do this?” but, Lord Tope, my noble Friend on the Liberal Democrat “How can we make it happen?” Benches, said that 6.30 pm “we are now sending something like 100 pages of amendments back to the Commons. What is more notable is that all those I am pleased to see across the Chamber veterans of amendments have been passed without the need for a vote; in our many hours in Committee, including the hon. Member other words, we have truly reached consensus.”—[Official Report, for Birmingham, Erdington (Jack Dromey). The Bill House of Lords, 31 October 2011; Vol. 731, c. 1107.] has enjoyed 70 hours of scrutiny in the House of The Labour Front-Bench spokesman, Lord McKenzie Commons and 105 hours of scrutiny in their lordships’ of Luton, said: House. It has also been the subject of advice from many “It has been a listening team, which has boded well for the outside groups. As colleagues who served on the Committee outcome of the Bill… The Government have listened to the voices will know, I have always taken the view that, if we are of experience and common sense.”—[Official Report, House of going to make use of that parliamentary time and Lords, 31 October 2011; Vol. 731, c. 1108.] 79 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 80

That has been our demeanour throughout the proceedings, Bill are subject to the affirmative procedure. That power and it will continue to be our demeanour as we approach will allow the Secretary of State to amend or repeal any the matters before us today. I see from the amendment power that overlaps with the general power of competence, paper that suggestions from colleagues on both sides of but it will require the affirmative procedure to be employed. the House have serious thought behind them, and I will Lords amendment 232 will remove an exception that respond to them constructively and positively. permitted orders to be accepted through the negative Having dealt with the general power of competence, resolution procedure. I will not go through all the let me turn to some of the amendments in the group, amendments, but I think that Members will acknowledge, starting with those that cover transport. There was as did their lordships, that we have responded to the extensive discussion in the other place on the general concerns that many hon. Members expressed about the powers, and it was argued that the general power of nature of the powers reserved to the Secretary of State. competence should be extended beyond the local authorities Benign though the present Secretary of State is, there that were in the original drafting of the Bill. Lords was a fear that some future Secretaries of State might amendments 4, 5 and 7 therefore extend broad new not be as localist in their intentions. Those provisions powers to the integrated transport authorities and their will now be safeguarded in the Bill. passenger transport executives. These points were also The final amendment in the group will remove all raised by Opposition Front Benchers in Committee. doubt that fire and rescue authorities should not be able The provisions will enable authorities to undertake to charge for community fire safety advice or for fire ancillary and possibly joint activities outside their geographic prevention activity. This matter was raised in the other boundaries, for example. This will improve and strengthen place by Baroness Smith of Basildon, a former fire the Bill in the direction that we have set out, and I am Minister, and we have been pleased to introduce the pleased to commend those Lords amendments to colleagues provision. today. I am grateful for their lordships’ scrutiny. I am especially We agree with Lords amendment 6, which proposes grateful to the Front-Bench team that represented the to extend the general powers of competence to, for Government so well. It was led by Baroness Hanham example, combined authorities. We know that Greater and supported by Lord Taylor, Lord Attlee and Lord Manchester has established very satisfactory arrangements Shutt. We urge colleagues to agree to the Lords amendments for joint working, and it is reasonable that those powers in this group. should be extended to such arrangements. Lords amendments 8 to 13, 242 and 399 to 402 have been Helen Jones (Warrington North) (Lab): The Minister termed collectively the “core cities”group of amendments. always sounds terribly reasonable and persuasive, and They represent a significant breakthrough. During the one could almost fall for his view that the Bill is a Ming passage of the Bill, it was clear to those on all sides that vase. In fact, it is really a dodgy, cracked, second-hand we had an opportunity to embed mechanisms to allow urn. He has had to amend it hugely in the other place. the future devolution of power from central Government to local government. Working over the summer with the I do not wish to detain the House too long on this representatives of the Core Cities Group and the leaders group of amendments, as we have a lot to discuss, but I of local authorities, from all parties, across the country, want to put on record the fact that we are deeply we were able with the co-operation of Front Benchers concerned at having only three and a half hours tonight of all parties represented in the House of Lords to agree in which to discuss more than 400 amendments. The a set of amendments that will allow for the transfer of Minister referred to the scrutiny that the Bill has already public functions and the delegation to local authorities, had, and we absolutely accept that several statements by agreement and subject to a super-affirmative procedure. had to be made today, but we hoped that the Government This is an important new power. It will allow us to would extend the time available for these discussions. enact, without the need for primary legislation, agreed Dealing with over 400 amendments in three and a half transfers of power between local authorities and central hours really does not improve parliamentary scrutiny. It Government. Those transfers of power might not be was heartening when we constantly heard from the obvious today. I have encouraged particular cities across Prime Minister before the election how much he wanted the country to consider which powers that are currently to return to Parliament many of its powers and to held by central Government they could usefully discharge improve parliamentary scrutiny—but we have never themselves. This mechanism will give us the opportunity seen it from this Government. We did not see it with the to allow them to do so, and I should like to put on Health and Social Care Bill and we are not seeing it record my gratitude to the leaders and officers of the with the Localism Bill. Core Cities Group for their help. The Minister would have us believe that this is an A few technical amendments in this group respond to historic Bill that returns power to the lowest level. In recommendations of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory fact, it is not. It is a Bill about centralising power and Reform Committee. On Second Reading and in Committee, devolving the blame. [Interruption.] I knew I would we had much to say about the so-called Henry VIII upset the Minister eventually; it was only going to be powers that were to be made available to the Secretary a matter of time. We welcome some of the Lords of State. My view at the time was that we should go amendments, but we have to make it clear that we still through them individually, and that those that were think this Bill is shambolic and has not been thought proved unnecessary or superfluous should be removed through. The fact that the Government had to make so as the Bill progressed through the House. many amendments in the other place shows how little We have delivered on that commitment. A substantial they thought about it to start with. number of those powers have now been narrowed in Let me deal with some of the issues in this group of scope or, in some cases, removed. For example, Lords amendments. We welcome the extension of powers for amendment 231 will ensure that orders made under the integrated transport authorities and passenger transport 81 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 82 executives and for combined authorities, for which we of State. It is not simply a Bill about devolving powers argued in Committee, as the Minister will remember. It to local authorities. The Secretary of State retains, is a bit of pity, I think, that the Government resist such albeit subject to certain safeguards, an extraordinary provisions in Committee and then wait to bring in the power to repeal, amend, revoke or disapply any duty on amendments from the unelected House. local authorities.

Greg Clark: We discussed these matters quite extensively 6.45 pm in Committee. I think there was a shared view across the We do not intend to oppose the amendments, but we Committee that where the Government agree with some think they have to be seen in the context of the extraordinary amendments proposed by Members, the convention is Henry VIII powers that the Secretary of State still that they should reflect on them to ensure that they are retains. I repeat that, however much the Minister tries legally robust. That is an established process, and throughout to persuade us, he is not introducing an historic Bill that proceedings on the whole Bill, as I think the hon. devolves lots of powers to local authorities. He is introducing Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Jack Dromey) a Bill that gives many more powers to the Secretary of would agree, I have honoured every commitment I State. Everything we debate this evening will have to be made from the Front Bench—for example, that we seen in that context. would consider any suggestions positively. That is why Lords amendment 1 agreed to. we have come back with these proposals. We have Lords amendments 2 to 13 agreed to, with Commons delivered on every commitment we made, so it is a little financial privileges waived in respect of Lords amendments 3 churlish of the hon. Lady to suggest that it was somehow to 12. delayed.

Helen Jones: I remind the Minister that there is such After Clause 13 a thing as Report stage in the elected House, and that he is allowed to propose amendments there—he does not TIMETABLES FOR CHANGING ENGLISH DISTRICT have to wait for the Bill to go to the unelected House. COUNCILS’ ELECTORAL SCHEMES He could have accepted amendments at that stage. He says he has to make sure that things are “legally robust”, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for which Ministers often say, and I must be frank with him Communities and Local Government (Andrew Stunell): and point out that in my experience it is often used as a I beg to move, That this House agrees with Lords delaying tactic while Departments sort out what they amendment 14. are prepared to agree to and what they are not. Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): With this We welcome amendment 3, which makes it clear what it will be convenient to discuss the following: fire and rescue authorities can charge for and prevents Lords amendments 15 to 49 and 95 to 111. them for charging for community fire safety work. I am glad that the Minister listened to my noble Friend—not Lords amendment 112, and amendment (a) thereto. simply a turn of phrase, as she is my friend—Baroness Lords amendments 235, 248, 256, 261, 263 to 333, Smith in the other place, as she has great experience in 404 to 413 and 441. these matters. Andrew Stunell: As my right hon. Friend the Minister eloquently set out in respect of the last string of Greg Clark: The hon. Lady has pointed out that her amendments, the Government believe that we need to noble Friend is indeed in the House of Lords. Unlike decentralise power to local communities. I think that is her, I am prepared to listen to the House of Lords. now a shared all-party analysis, that the days of top-down What the Baroness said would not have been heard in control should be removed and that we should move to the House of Commons. bottom-up control. For the last 30 or 40 years—my right hon. Friend Helen Jones: I am grateful to the Minister for that suggested perhaps for the last 100 years—there has intervention, but while their lordships add much to our been gathering frustration at the way in which local debate, there is something to be said for letting the communities and local councils have had their decision elected House deal with these amendments properly. He making taken away from them and their power denuded, has brought them back from the House of Lords and and, particularly for those in local government, how more than 400 amendments are going through in three they have increasingly faced a situation in which everything and a half hours. That does not strengthen the position they did was either compulsory or prohibited with no of the elected House. scope for local discretion or for taking account of local The Minister also mentioned the core cities provisions. circumstances, local needs, local resources or, indeed, We welcome the powers to authorities proposed in the local opinion. amendments, especially where they would improve local The communities that local authorities have served economic development and wealth creation and increase have had the role of angry bystanders, whereby things local accountability. We hope that the powers will be were simply done to them, imposed on them or dumped used to ensure better co-ordination on the ground. We on them—not done by them, decided by them or, least note the duty on the Secretary of State to consider a of all, chosen and delivered by them. This Bill marks a proposal from local authorities for the transfer of public huge cultural change not just for those local communities functions. and local councils, but for those in Westminster, and We think that there is much potential in those proposals, perhaps even more for those in Whitehall. We need to but they have to be seen in context. As I said, this is a change that culture: it is a long overdue change, and this Bill that gives more than 142 new powers to the Secretary Bill makes a start on achieving it. 83 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 84

[Andrew Stunell] appropriate, without asking the Secretary of State for regulations or permission. Lords amendment 273 also I am encouraged by the fact that the criticism of removes the restrictions on the maximum size of area Opposition Members is now that we are not going far committees. or fast enough, when, in fact, over the last 13 years, they The Bill gives more powers to local authorities in made the problem worse, not better. We look forward respect of local elections. We have responded to greatly to their co-operation in this place—as it was so representations about unnecessary restrictions on authorities willingly offered in the other place—so that we can wishing to change their scheme of elections, and the improve the Bill, make it even more localist, and deliver significant time constraints that were built into that for local communities and local councils. scheme. Lords amendment 14 removes the rules stipulating when authorities may change their scheme of elections. Mr Nick Raynsford (Greenwich and Woolwich) (Lab): It leaves them to make such decisions at a time that is As the Minister will know, the amendments include a right for them and their local communities without requirement for the deletion of clauses 42 to 58, the being dictated to by central government, and enables local referendum provisions. Does he regard that as an them to decide the date on which they will hold their enhancement of local decision making, an embarrassing first whole council elections. withdrawal from a rather bizarre and ill-thought-out Members of both Houses expressed the fear that the proposal for local decision making, or simply a recognition Government’s proposals would place unnecessary burdens of a cock-up on the Government’s part? on local authorities. We reflected carefully on those arguments, and discussed them at length with appropriate Andrew Stunell: Given that the right hon. Gentleman parties both inside and outside the House of Commons. spoke and, I believe, voted against the inclusion of that One example relates to the point raised by the right hon. provision in the Bill, I should have thought that he Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr Raynsford) would welcome the fact that the Bill in its present form about the proposed mayoral arrangements. As a result reflects his point of view more accurately than it did of comments made on Report—by the right hon. before. Gentleman, among others—and on Second Reading in The amendments take the power and local responsibility the House of Lords, we agreed to streamline our proposals of local authorities further than the Bill as originally for elected mayors. Lords amendment 312 and a number drafted. Although the original Bill set out to achieve of consequential amendments remove our initial proposals that, we always made clear that there was more to do, on shadow mayors as precursors to directly elected and that we were willing to listen when there were mayors, while Lords amendments 94 and 296 and a sensible arguments for going further. That is what underlies number of consequential amendments remove our the amendments, all of which—as was pointed out by proposals on mayoral management arrangements, under my right hon. Friend the Minister—secured support which the elected mayor would also have become the throughout the other place. During the debates both chief executive of his or her authority. here and in the other place, a number of Members of both Houses made sensible suggestions about additional Mr George Howarth (Knowsley) (Lab): May I ask the areas in which we could free up local government. Let Minister a question about Lords amendment 112? As me highlight two examples in which the Bill now goes he will know, there are proposals—which are not universally even further than we originally proposed in freeing accepted—for a directly elected mayor for the Liverpool local authorities to manage their own business as they city region. There is some support for them, and I consider appropriate. support them in principle. Would the amended provisions Good arguments were advanced in the other place in make possible the creation of a directly elected city support of the view that the rules on area committees region mayor, but only on the basis that the powers of were too prescriptive. In response, the Government that person in regard to such important matters as tabled Lords amendments 269, 271 and 272, which transport, police and fire and rescue services are increased? remove the Secretary of State’s powers to make regulations Otherwise the amendment is pointless. in relation to such committees. When we were discussing the earlier group of amendments, the hon. Member Andrew Stunell: The Bill does not encompass matters for Warrington North (Helen Jones) maintained the relating to city region mayors. That would require a argument—which does not bear close examination—that, separate provision. Let me, however, draw the right in some mysterious way, inserting these proposals in the hon. Gentleman’s attention to the amendments with Bill, and improving them today, constituted an act of which we will deal shortly relating to core cities, and to centralisation. Nothing could be further from the truth: my right hon. Friend’s request for the core city regions our amendments relating to area committees demonstrate to consider what powers they might wish to take. There not just our intentions, but our delivery of increased are various options, but I should make it clear that there localism for local authorities. is no proposal in the Bill for a city region mayor. Good arguments were also advanced in the other place Under the Local Government Act 2003, local authorities for the view that the rules on area committees were too can already conduct non-binding referendums on matters tight. We therefore tabled Lords amendments 263, 267 relating to their services or expenditure. In addition, the and 270, which enable an executive of a local authority Bill gives local people powerful new rights to vote on to delegate its functions to an area committee and to key issues such as governance changes—for example, arrange for the discharge of those functions by an mayoral elections, council tax increases and, of course, officer of the authority. That enables councils to establish neighbourhood plans. A number of members of the whatever area committees they wish to establish, and to House of Commons Committee feared that, given those give them whatever executive functions they consider new rights, the provisions on referendums did not add 85 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 86 enough to justify the additional burden. Similar observations is the role of councillors to take decisions by balancing were made in the House of Lords Committee, and, after the various views of citizens alongside the needs of the careful reflection and discussion, we determined that community, particularly where there is no consensus, the right course was to accept amendments 96 to 112 on and those councillors are ultimately responsible to local Lords Report, removing the provisions relating to local people for their decisions through the ballot box. I hope referendums. That does not change the provisions on the signatories to the amendment in question will air council tax referendums, which are the vehicle that their points of view, but I hope they will not force a switches the power to prevent excessive tax rises from Division. the Government and the Secretary of State to the local communities and electors who will be paying those bills Alec Shelbrooke (Elmet and Rothwell) (Con): I if they vote for them. congratulate my hon. Friend on making those comments. It is important that such referendums be non-binding, Helen Jones: What is the Minister’s response to the especially when we consider cities such as Leeds, part view of the Electoral Commission that if council tax of which I represent, where there are many diverse referendums are introduced in 2012, the time scale will communities. In times of economic trouble, it is easy for be too short to allow them to be prepared for properly? a blame culture to arise, and I can envisage situations Will he listen to the commission’s representations? in which some might try to use hate in a referendum campaign. If referendums were binding, that could Andrew Stunell: We will, of course, take careful account cause a problem. of all the advice we receive. The powers are to be changed only in respect of non-binding referendums. Andrew Stunell: I thank my hon. Friend for that wise The Government are committed to giving people a remark. One can envisage such binding referendums greater say, but local people currently have many good having a variety of unintended negative consequences. opportunities to speak out and be heard. The issue of standards was keenly debated in both Houses. Members and peers made it clear that they 7pm supported the abolition of the Standards Board regime Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) (Lab): and the removal of what was a top-down, bureaucratic The Minister and I were involved in the congestion system. However, concerns were raised about some charge referendum in Greater Manchester, and I think aspects of our proposals to deal with local authority we both had concerns about the returning officer’s standards after the abolition of the Standards Board, impartiality. Will the changes under discussion deal and about whether they would ensure the high standards with situations such as that, where the returning officer we all expect of local authorities. There was, however, was appointed by one side of the campaign and they much common ground and we were able to refine and operated from adjacent offices? develop our proposals as the Bill progressed through the House of Lords, and thereby get to a position which Andrew Stunell: The hon. Gentleman reminds me reassured all parties. All sides agreed that the promotion that we sometimes make common cause on issues, and and maintenance of high standards of conduct was he is right to say there were concerns about that. The vital; the debate was about how best to achieve that. provision in question removes the proposal for non-binding We have introduced amendments 29 to 36 to address referendums. Other proposals remain in the Bill, and these concerns. They focus on the offence of pecuniary the referendum to which the hon. Gentleman referred interests, and ensure that there are appropriate defences, was, I believe, carried forward under the 2003 Act, such as “reasonable excuse”. In simplifying our proposals, which we are not amending. we have ensured that councillors cannot use their position I shall now turn to the amendment proposed by the for financial advantage, but without the danger of hon. Members for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith), criminalising a councillor for an honest oversight or for Cleethorpes (Martin Vickers), for Brighton, Pavilion omission. (Caroline Lucas), for Romsey and Southampton North There was a feeling that the provisions dealing with (), for Clacton (Mr Carswell) and for local authority standards after the abolition of the Colne Valley (Jason McCartney)—and, I believe, supported Standards Board needed to be set out in more detail. by the hon. Members for Shipley (Philip Davies) and On Lords Third Reading, following meetings with peers for Kettering (Mr Hollobone). It seeks to add to the Bill of all parties and cross-Benchers, the Government a scheme of binding local referendums. The Government introduced amendments 15, 20 to 26, 7, 125, 332 and are committed to giving people a greater say in how 333, strengthening the standards provisions in the Bill. their communities are run, but we do not believe that it Local authorities will now have to draw up a code of is sensible to introduce binding referendums on any conduct in accordance with the Nolan principles of subject that might arise. Given the potential scope of standards in public life, which I am sure I do not need to the local issues that binding referendums might cover remind Members are selflessness, integrity, objectivity, and the many complex impacts that such a regime could accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. Central have on local service delivery and local public finances, Government will not otherwise prescribe its content, it would be unwise for there to be a presumption that all other than to require councillors to register and disclose local referendums should be binding. There could be both their pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in an occasions where there are two competing referendums open manner. Local authorities will also have to put in with potentially conflicting aims. There could be occasions place arrangements both to deal with complaints that where the course of action requested has significant the code has been breached and for coming to a decision cost implications and would have an adverse impact on about complaints. Again, we will not stipulate what the delivery of other services or priorities. Ultimately, it these arrangements should be. 87 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 88

Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire) (Con): I thank With these amendments, taken as a whole, we have the Minister for the clarity he is giving. In respect of achieved a balanced approach to the promotion and this provision, district councils have felt that there might maintenance of high standards of conduct, with local have been some suggestion that they would have to have authorities determining for themselves how best to achieve a standards board looking after parish council complaints. that. They will be freed up from the top-down, bureaucratic I am sure that is not the Minister’s intention, however. yoke of a national regime, of a model code and of a quango-regulated regime that became a vehicle for petty, vindictive and often politically motivated complaints. Andrew Stunell: It is neither our intention nor what is Our approach, which balances localism with safeguards, provided for in the Bill. is the right one to ensure accountability locally and consistently high standards right across the country. Graham Jones (Hyndburn) (Lab): May I extend that This group also contains a number of more minor question? We are going to have neighbourhood forums amendments, many of them technical in nature, but I in respect of neighbourhood development plans, and will mention one because it will be of particular interest there is also an issue to do with community budgets and to Labour Members. Lords amendments 38 to 43 introduce the Government asking for community groups to come measures intended to increase accountability on local together to spend local money—that was recently proposed authority decisions about pay and reward. During the by the Department for Communities and Local Commons’ consideration, Labour Members welcomed Government for deprived areas such as mine. Will such these provisions, as far as they went, on senior pay and matters be the responsibility of the new standards asked us to go further to see how the Bill could bring arrangements? They will not fall under parish council similar levels of accountability on the pay of the rest responsibility; rather, they will be dealt with by the of an authority’s work force. We committed to do district council or the Government. How will they fit in so, particularly in the light of Will Hutton’s review of with the standards arrangements? fair pay in the public sector, which made several recommendations. Following the representations that Andrew Stunell: I think the hon. Gentleman might be we have received, and with that report as the background, confusing different processes. The Standards Board regime we made amendments in the Lords which have the applied to councillors at parish, district and county effect of expanding the scope of pay policy statements level. We are sweeping away the Standards Board and to include an authority’s policies towards its lowest-paid making sure that local authorities put in place sound staff, as well as the relationship between the pay of its and sensible provision to safeguard the integrity of most senior staff and the rest of its work force. I hope themselves and the members who serve on them. that Labour Members will agree that these sensible changes broaden the scope of the measures to capture the spirit To return to the question of my hon. Friend the of their comments and the Hutton recommendations. Member for South Derbyshire (Heather Wheeler), district councils do not have to monitor parish councils. They In summary, this group of amendments will radically do need to have in place arrangements to deal with reduce the prescription bearing down on local authorities, allegations of misconduct by a parish councillor, but how freeing them up to serve their local communities better. they do that is up to them. We will expect district councils I wish to pay tribute to the way in which hon. Members and parishes to work together to make arrangements as from all parties have—in Committee and on Report in simple as possible. this House, and in the other place—engaged with this part of the legislation to deliver a much-improved Bill. I urge the House to agree to these Lords amendments, Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield South East) (Lab): I welcome and I hope that hon. Members will not press their the fact that the Government at last recognise they may amendment (a) to a Division. have some responsibility for appropriate standards being maintained in local councils. Can the Minister give an assurance, however, that where there is a serious complaint Helen Jones: We are dealing with a broad group of against a chief executive or leader of a council—perhaps amendments relating to local authority governance. I about bullying of a junior member of staff or another wish to begin by speaking to amendment 15, which councillor—the complainant will receive as robust an would ensure that it is compulsory rather than voluntary investigation into those complaints as under the current for local councils to adopt a code of conduct. The regime that the Government seek to abolish? subsequent amendments make it clear that the code of conduct must be in line with the Nolan principles and would ensure that arrangements are in place to investigate Andrew Stunell: Absolutely. We are clearly setting out complaints against a member, including the appointment what councils have to do and have in place, and the of an independent person whose view must be sought safeguard that they are required to provide. before action is taken. As the Minister said, this group On the application of the standards regime in London, would also allow the Mayor of London to exercise we took the opportunity on Lords Report to make functions relating to standards and provides for a register amendments 16 to 19, 28, 37, 408, 411 and 413, which of interests. ensure that the Mayor of London and the Greater We welcome the amendments. It was bizarre that, London assembly are given equal roles in and responsibility in Committee, Government Members opposed the for promoting and maintaining high standards, rather requirement to have a code of conduct—I found that than leaving that function to be discharged by the extremely confusing. We accept, in this House, that we assembly alone. The amendments also allow the assembly should be subject to clear standards of behaviour, but and Mayor to delegate functions to a committee or the Government were proposing that other elected member of staff. representatives—people who deliver important services 89 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 90 to their communities and take decisions that affect Lastly, I am concerned that, although we now have people’s daily lives—should not face a similar requirement; something about pecuniary interests in the Bill, there is a council might have a code or it might not. Such a little about non-pecuniary interests, other than the fact situation is not acceptable. It fails to offer sufficient that the code of conduct must secure their disclosure. protection to the public and it implies that the standards We may well discover that it is necessary to have a regime is optional. clear definition of “non-pecuniary interests”, as we have in this House, for the sake of giving clarity to local councils and ensuring that minimum standards apply 7.15 pm everywhere. In Committee, we heard all sorts of convoluted justifications for such an approach. The Minister said Let me address amendments 38 to 46 and 48, which that the old system was the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the hon. Member for Hazel Grove “an almost constant source of irritation to almost every local (Andrew Stunell) rather skated over. The Government authority.”––[Official Report, Localism Public Bill Committee, 3 February 2011; c. 287.] did not want to accept this set of amendments either, but they have now been forced to do so. Originally, the He is right about—in my experience, it was usually the Government intended to require local councils to publish Lib Dems doing the irritating, because they were continually only information about the pay of senior staff. The putting in complaints. He argued that authorities should reason for that was very simple: they wanted to propagate have the freedom not to have a code of conduct, but the myth that councils would not have to make cuts if that denigrates local government. He got very close to only they cut top salaries. Let us be very clear that that saying that local government was not important enough is a myth. Liverpool council has cut £500,000 from to be required to have a code of conduct. Nobody in executive pay, but it is a drop in the ocean compared Committee was standing up for the old system, but that with the £100 million-worth of cuts that it faces. did not mean that it was right not to have a code of conduct at all. Labour Members think it is a vital part of our democracy and deserves to be treated as such. Alec Shelbrooke: Does the hon. Lady think that local authority money is better spent on libraries or on an The Minister argued that there was no need for international relations department? compulsion because everyone would have a code of conduct anyway, but that failed to answer the question of what would happen if they did not. We are pleased to Helen Jones: I think that, as Ministers keep saying see the amendments and to see that clause 18 sets out from the Front Bench, it is for local authorities to make clearly that a register of interests must be maintained in decisions about their priorities—the hon. Gentleman an authority and how pecuniary interests must be disclosed. cannot have it both ways. Let me be clear that I believe that people have a right Graham Stringer: My hon. Friend could not be more to know how their money is spent. My personal view is accurate, in that most of the vexatious claims under the that pay at the top of local authorities has risen to an previous legislation came from Lib Dem councillors unsustainable level, but it has been following pay in the who had lost the argument. Is she satisfied that these private sector. We ought to make it clear that more than proposals contain a sufficient filter or enough common- 90% of those who earn more than £150,000 are in the sense criteria to reduce the number of vexatious claims private sector—not the public sector. It is very interesting from Lib Dem councillors or to stop such claims? that the Government do not say anything about that. Neither do they want to say very much about low pay in Helen Jones: The only people who can stop vexatious the public sector, because that does not fit the myths claims by Lib Dem councillors are the Lib Dems, but I that they create. am sure that as they dwindle away in local government so, too, will the number of claims from them. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for These amendments are, no doubt, an improvement Communities and Local Government (Robert Neill): Iam on the original Bill, but I have some reservations about shocked at how little attention the hon. Lady has paid how the system will work in practice. In particular, to our debates up to now. Does she not recognise that I wonder about the role of the “independent person” when the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington specified. He or she must have their views sought by the (Jack Dromey) raised this issue, we said at a very early local authority before it makes any decision on an stage that we were more than prepared to take that away allegation. However, although their view must be taken and consider it? The tone of her contribution is markedly into account, that person is not the decision maker and different from the very constructive manner of her does not have the power to investigate. I accept that we colleagues in Committee. We kept our promise: we have do not want to set up a system that is too convoluted, reflected and delivered. but I foresee a real possibility of conflict. In most local authorities—in good local authorities—that person clearly will be involved, but there is no requirement for that to Helen Jones: If the Government believed that this happen. In addition, that independent person may be issue was so important, they could have put it in the Bill consulted by those who are the subject of an allegation. to start with, but they did not because their focus was That really raises the question of what the role is: is the all on pay at the top of local authorities and not on the independent person the judge, the defence counsel or low pay that is endemic at the bottom. merely a therapist for all those involved? It is very unclear and we will have to consider again how the Greg Clark: Once again the hon. Lady is being rather arrangement would work in practice—it may be that churlish. The Hutton committee had not reported by more work than we intend will result for lawyers. that time. We made a commitment that we would consider 91 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 92

[Greg Clark] for running the referendums. There was a real fear that the number of petitions and referendums would simply the recommendations in good faith and we have done spiral over time. Even the leader of Shropshire council, that, as is reflected in the Bill. It would be nice if she who is a Conservative, warned that the costs could be could be a bit more generous in her remarks. “outrageous”, but it took a long time for the Government to change course. Helen Jones: If, as the right hon. Gentleman says, the Underlying those provisions was the Government’s reason was that the Hutton committee had not reported, failure to trust elected councillors to decide how to one would have to ask why the Government introduced engage with their electorate. We still hear a lot from specifications in the Bill about senior pay. They did so Government Front Benchers about devolving powers to because they want consistently to promote the myth local authorities, but it took them some time to realise that councils would not have to make front-line cuts if that imposing this system on local authorities would only they would cut top pay. have been unwise to say the least. Local authorities We are pleased that councils will now have to set out might want to use petitions, referendums or public details of who they regard as their lower-paid staff and meetings—whatever they wish—and, like all of us in their approach to the pay of those employees. They will elected office, if they do not get it right they pay the also have to include a statement about their policy on penalty at the ballot box. That is as democracy should pay dispersions—what used to be called differentials be. when I was negotiating. This is a real and growing issue The Under-Secretary was adamant in Committee in this country and people are extremely concerned and would not budge an inch. I felt quite sorry for him, about it. The amendments represent a very modest step, because he suffered the fate of many junior Ministers of but at least they will make information available to the being sent like officers on the Somme to defend an public and ensure that councils consider the issue. The indefensible position until those above them finally publication of details about pay will expose the inequalities decide that they ought to give way. Indeed, I am surprised that prevail and encourage people to think about how that he is still here, because I understand that at the many of the services they rely on are delivered by people weekend the Lib Dem leader in Broxtowe called for him on low pay. There are people out there who provide care to resign following his performance. In Committee, the for the elderly, clean our streets and empty our bins—people Under-Secretary would not accept the dangers of what whom we take for granted but without whom our towns he was proposing. However, there were risks that highly and cities would quickly cease to function—and they vocal pressure groups that did not necessarily represent are often very low-paid. the wider community—certainly not the whole authority area—could use the measures, so there was potential for I regret that the Government have not seen fit to whipping up feeling against necessary, but sometimes include the requirement for local government contractors unpopular, provision. to provide pay transparency if the value of their contract is in excess of £250,000. We argued in Committee for I recall examples that I have dealt with regarding that to be included, because we believe that it is a matter housing for people with mental health problems in the of basic justice. We believe that those who are paid from community. My experience has been that the idea is public money should not be on poverty pay and that the usually unpopular because of the misconceptions about firms that provide public services should demonstrate mental health that many people hold, but that if one how they are spending our money. Contracts that are talks to neighbours and tries to deal with their fears, outsourced might seem like better value, but if they that usually works. Once people are settled in their depend on low pay that is then topped up by benefits, homes, overwhelmingly the community around them is not only are they an affront to the people who work in very supportive and helpful. One could not do that sort those services but they might cost more public money in of work in the face of a polarising referendum, which the long run. The increase in the outsourcing of services some people might whip up for their particular ends. has made this step even more important, because we No one is saying that a referendum is always a bad idea, want good companies to compete on quality and efficiency, but there are many ways of engaging with voters and not by undercutting pay levels and terms of service. The that is only one of them. amendments will at least bring more transparency into the system, but it is a pity that the Government could 7.30 pm not have extended the duty a little further. If amendment (a) to Lords amendment 112 is put to Let me address the amendments that remove the the vote, we will oppose it for the reasons that have details regarding local referendums, which really illustrate already been stated. We do not believe that imposing what a mess the Government have got themselves into binding referendums on local councils is the way forward, with the Bill. A welter of amendments dealt with this because they can be misused, they can have an impact issue in the Lords, although it was dealt with extensively on services elsewhere and, as was said earlier, they may in the Bill Committee both in the evidence it received be used by people promoting racial hatred or for other and during its debates. The late Sir Simon Milton, for purposes that we would consider inappropriate. In the example, pointed out that a referendum in London end, the local council must take a decision and stand could cost £5 million if held on the same day as local by it. elections, but could cost £11 million if held on a different We welcome the amendments that remove the mayoral day. However, it took the Government some time to management arrangements from schedule 2 and delete realise what a huge drain on a local authority’s budget the power of the Secretary of State to order that a that could be. My hon. Friends also raised in Committee specified authority must move to an elected mayor and the huge costs that would be involved for local authorities, cabinet system because, again, the original clauses clearly such as that for checking petitions for a referendum and gave the lie to the idea that the Bill was about empowering 93 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 94 local communities. On the contrary, it gave yet more The problem with what the Government were proposing power to the Secretary of State. The proposal to order a was the muddling of those two, which has huge potential move to an elected mayor and cabinet was one of the for undermining standards in the governance of local most controversial in the Bill, together with the power authorities because it removes the system of checks and to impose shadow mayors. I note that the Government balances that help local authorities to run properly. are retaining the power to order an authority to hold a Removing the proposal and the introduction of a referendum on the subject because clearly they do not mandatory requirement to have a code of conduct is a trust local councils, but at least we have seen some step forward, as are some of the other amendments in progress. the group. I only wish that the Government had listened It is astonishing how many U-turns Ministers have earlier in Committee to the points that were made by done on this issue. In 2007, the Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friends. for Communities and Local Government, the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) told a Zac Goldsmith (Richmond Park) (Con): I shall be Committee of the House: brief, as I have made this point many times to Ministers. “I would prefer that the Government did not prescribe the The coalition agreement states: governance system for councils at all.”––[Official Report, Local “We will give residents the power to instigate local referendums Government and Public Involvement in Health Public Bill Committee, on any local issue.” 25 February 2007; c. 251.] Despite being wildly enthusiastic about the introduction I expect that, as the former leader of a local authority, of referendums, I was critical of this component of the he believes that, so I do not know what happened in the Bill because I did not think it went nearly far enough. meantime, unless he was sat on by his right hon. Friend This aspect of the Bill recognised that people want the Secretary of State for Communities and Local more say and more control over the decisions that affect Government. The hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew their lives, but because the referendums that we were Stunell), who is now also an Under-Secretary of State proposing were to be non-binding, I think the Government for Communities and Local Government, told the same would have failed to deliver. I tried on many occasions Committee: to persuade the Minister to convert the idea so that the “governance should be entirely a matter for local councils”—[Official referendums would be binding, but I failed. Report, Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Public I was told to take comfort from the fact that this was Bill Committee, 20 February 2007; c. 269.] a start, and that the referendums did not need to be I agree, but he is a Lib Dem, and we have all seen binding because only a mad local authority would ever “Focus”leaflets which argue different things in different go against the wishes of its electorate. Well, there are areas. many mad local authorities, as everyone here knows. [Interruption.] I will name one or two. Earlier this year The real point about these proposals is that they were King’s Lynn and West threatened to build a entirely undemocratic—a fact that was recognised clearly large incinerator, which triggered an almighty backlash in the other place. They would not have given the from the local population. In the ensuing referendum decision to local people and would have given whoever the turnout was 61%, which would make most was made the shadow mayor a huge electoral advantage constituencies envious in the run-up to a general election. in any poll that followed. We believe that that was an That is a serious figure—61% of the 80,000 people polled entirely unacceptable way of going about things. To add —and 92% of those voted against the incinerator. That to the confusion, the Secretary of State and the Under- was an overwhelming result, and hon. Members can Secretary, the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst, probably guess the outcome: the result was ignored by have both said on different occasions that a mayor and the local authority. cabinet system would only follow a referendum of local people. That is typical of the mischief and muddle that Helen Jones: Did the question include where the have characterised the Bill. So bad were the Government’s incinerator should go? original proposals that even Tory councillors were speaking out against them. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for Zac Goldsmith: To be honest, I do not know what Elmet and Rothwell (Alec Shelbrooke) says from a options were offered, but a large percentage of the sedentary position, “You don’t want to listen to them.” population turned out to vote and the vast majority of I hope his own councillors hear what he says. those made their opinion known and were ignored. The most outrageous suggestion from the Government Whether we agree with that decision is academic. The was the proposal to allow an elected mayor also to be fact is that people had their say and were ignored. the chief executive of a local authority. Goodness knows what put that into their heads. It reflects a degree of Alec Shelbrooke: To reinforce the point that my hon. confusion between political leadership and administration Friend makes about councils listening, when the then which is extremely worrying. I well recall in years past, governing coalition of Conservatives and Liberals on when Labour took control of Lancashire county council, Leeds city council was discussing an incinerator, which my former hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool I opposed, the Labour councillors made great play of North and Fleetwood, Joan Humble, going to the social the fact that the incinerator was going to be built. They services offices and saying, “We are going to implement won power on the council in 2010, and they are now this manifesto. You are going to tell me how to do it, building the incinerator. We have not heard a peep from and I will listen to your advice on how to do it, but the councillors who opposed it before. make no mistake, we’re going to implement it.” That is the difference between political leadership and Zac Goldsmith: We could go on. I shall take the administration. One listens to officers about the best opportunity to give one more example of a mad council way to do things, but one has a political direction. ignoring the wishes of local people. That was in my own 95 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 96

[Zac Goldsmith] Zac Goldsmith: We are getting into a technical exchange—[Interruption.] It is very technical, and I local authority in Richmond, where a couple of years think that the right hon. Gentleman has answered his ago—[Interruption.] It happens even in places such as own question, as Government Members have pointed Richmond, where I called a referendum on a proposal out from a sedentary position. The previous Government’s to bring in a supermarket, which local people felt would proposals for the non-binding aspect of the referendum seriously damage the independent shops in one of the were clearly inadequate, but I concede that, as the much loved streets in Barnes. We had a bigger turnout Minister said at the time, they represent a start. It was a in that referendum than in any general election, but we start until the entire chapter was dropped as it was had a Mugabe-esque result: nearly 90% of people rejected being negotiated in the other place. That might have Sainsbury’s, yet the local authority did absolutely nothing been a mistake, in which case I am happy to reintroduce to prevent the takeover of the high street by Sainsbury’s. the concept in the amendment, but it takes the previous Again, whether we agree with the decision or not, Government’s idea one step further. The amendment democracy ought to play a role in such decisions. would give people power to instigate a local referendum, which is a commitment that all Government Members (Harrow East) (Con): My hon. Friend made in the run-up to the last election. We all committed is making a powerful case in favour of referendums. He to ensuring that people could have their say in local referred to overwhelming turnouts in favour of a referendums, and in my view it was an important part proposition. However, the proposal before us contains of the manifesto. Crucially, it is binding. Crucially, we no safeguard for such a referendum, and there could be have raised the threshold to 20%, which I hope would a binding referendum on a very small turnout. How prevent the kind of abuses that people are worried about. would he deal with that problem? Bob Blackman: My hon. Friend once again makes a Zac Goldsmith: I thank my hon. Friend for his powerful case for referendums, but the point is that intervention. There is a safeguard, although it may not although the trigger for instigating a referendum would be enough. The Government’s proposal was that 5% of be 20% of the electorate, there would be no safeguard the population could trigger a referendum, which I when it came to the voting. The turnout could be as low always felt was too low and would allow it to become a as 5% or 10%, but the result would still bind a local cranks’ charter, because it does not take much to get authority. 5% of people to call for something, and we could end up debating some mad ideas. My amendment would Zac Goldsmith: I thank my hon. Friend for his raise the minimum number of signatures required to intervention. I will not argue on that point, because I do trigger a referendum to 20%, but I would be happy with not necessarily disagree with him. The purpose of the 30%, because it should be difficult. A referendum should amendments is to introduce the concept of binding act as a veto in the hands of the people, but it should local referendums. If it was decided as a result of a not be an easy mechanism to deploy. proper debate in the House that the minimum proportion of signatures needed to be 30%, I would not argue with (Leeds Central) (Lab): We have just that. At one point the Bill specified that it would be heard about one potential weakness of the hon. Gentleman’s 15%, and after much discussion the Members in whose amendment, and I would like to raise another. He has names the amendment stands decided to raise the figure made great play of the fact that the result of the referendum to 20%. In my view, that is not an issue to get hung up would be binding—it is repeated several times in the about. Similarly, I certainly do not oppose the concept wording of the amendment—but it then states that that of a minimum turnout, and would have been willing to would be include that in an amendment, following proper discussion. “subject to exceptions set out in regulations made by the Secretary It is the principle that is important. It was an error for of State”. the Government to remove even a half-hearted attempt Could he assist the House by giving three examples of at handing power back to local people, and it is a the kind of exceptions that he has in mind? mistake that I think people will remember. I will not press the amendment to a vote, because Zac Goldsmith: I can give the right hon. Gentleman clearly it does not enjoy overwhelming support, and one exception that covers many more than three: matters Front Benchers on both sides of the House have said that are not in the control of the local authority. If the that they will whip against it. If I pressed it to a decision can be made without reference to national Division, I would not expect to achieve anything other Government, the local authority would be bound by the than wasting people’s time. However, I hope that the results of a referendum. I am glad that the right hon. Government will think again and recognise that they Gentleman described the weakness that I highlighted have an opportunity to show that when they talk about earlier as a “potential” weakness, because I hope that localism they actually mean it, and that they trust I answered the question adequately. people to make decisions that affect their own lives. I hope that they will recognise, as the Minister has done Hilary Benn: The example that the hon. Gentleman many times, that no one is better placed to decide the gives seems to be covered already by subsection (2) of nature, shape, form and future of an area than the his amendment, which says that a referendum can take people who live in it. I urge the Government to think again. place only if relates to one of the four examples given in paragraphs (a) to (d). It seems to me that his answer falls at an earlier hurdle—his own amendment. I ask 7.45 pm him again whether he can give three examples of situations Graham Jones (Hyndburn) (Lab): I want to return in which he thinks the Secretary of State should say that briefly to the local code of conduct and how it will the result of a referendum is not binding. work. We all know that the Standards Board is going—and 97 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 98

I, for one, am not sorry to see it go, but I would like to might, in the example of Peel ward, live on an ordinary see something put in its place. We must have some form street near me. They are not subject to the controls, of security. I think that the Minister failed to answer my charters, rules or regulations of any organisation. They question, so I will put it again and give him the opportunity are outside that, and not part of any judicial framework, to intervene if he wants to. This legislation establishes so I do not think that he is right. I accept that there is a neighbourhood forum groups that will shape and influence grey area between who we give money to and how far planning policy. Residents will be drawn almost at we should hold them to account in public life. None the random, or it will be the usual people who get involved less, when someone who lives two streets away from me in community activities who will come forward. Surely and is not involved in any organisation can get involved they must be accountable in some way, according to in spending £17,000, might misspend it and cannot be some form of standards? They cannot simply operate in held to account, there is definitely a void. I take the a vacuum, in which things can simply happen and then Minister’s point, but I am raising a concern that he has there is no way to hold them accountable for their failed to answer. decisions. Last week the Department for Communities and Robert Neill: Surely the hon. Gentleman accepts that Local Government announced the Community First the local authority remains the accountable body, and programme, offering £30 million grants to 597 of the the normal district audit and other regimes apply to it. I most deprived wards. Here the Government are asking appreciate the sincerity of his point, but I earnestly urge for neighbourhood committees to be set up. In my him to think again, because he is missing the point, constituency, Peel ward, one of the most deprived in the which is not as grave as he might think. country, is to receive £17,000 in each of the next two years as part of the Community First programme. The residents were told last week that they will have to set up Graham Jones: I appreciate that, but, having a lot of a committee to spend what is essentially public money, experience in local government, I think that the Minister yet there is no accountability. The Minister is totally is missing the point: there is no judicial framework, so unclear about how local authorities will deal not only somebody can go out and do something, and if there is with elected members in local authorities, but with a complaint by another member of the public about unelected members who will be involved in some of the those actions there is nowhere for it to go, so the decision making that will help to shape public policy. complaints that we get now could continue. If that is going to happen in planning policy, we will have some Andrew Stunell: I wanted to hear the rest of the hon. problems, so we need a substantive framework and an Gentleman’s point in case I was missing something opportunity for people to bring into public debate the fundamental, but I was not. I hope that I can return to decisions that the individuals on those bodies make. the point later. I can assure him that there is nothing in Further to that point, I am concerned that there is the Bill that changes the requirement for any body that no robust framework for standards, and again I bring receives public money to spend it in a lawful way, and local government experience to that point. A lot of with integrity. If it is a charity or community group, the vexatious complaints are politically motivated—[HON. Charity Commission and other regulatory bodies will MEMBERS: “Yes!”] I hear the cheers from Government kick in. He is erecting a substantial mountain out of a Members; I do not know where such complaints are very small molehill. coming from, but they certainly did not come from the Labour side in my local authority. Regardless of that, Graham Jones: I thank the Minister for his intervention, those who have worked in local authorities know that but I think that his answer is more smoke and mirrors. I many complaints are politically motivated, and they am asking where the judicial framework is, and his need to be removed. That is a serious and substantive answer is that there is none, but there is a legal framework, point, and simply having a non-elected chair but an within which we all operate. If that is the case, why do elected committee is not acceptable. When we look we have standards in public life? It is because that is a around local government, we find that even that has judicial element that governs and reflects the service failed. There needs to be an unelected, unaccountable— that we all give—but we encounter problems when sorry, accountable—[Interruption.] I hope the record is people make decisions that are not in the best public corrected. There needs to be an accountable but non-elected interest, but in their own personal or prejudicial interests. body, because that, more than anything, will stop a lot of vexatious complaints. The Government would be Robert Neill: Is the hon. Gentleman suggesting that doing themselves a favour if they introduced such a every voluntary organisation that receives public funding framework into local government. should be subject to a standards regime? Surely he would accept that although neighbourhood forums, for example, propose the neighbourhood plan, there are Alec Shelbrooke: I shall comment on a couple of other safeguards, in terms of the referendum, consistency amendments, but, starting with amendment 15 and with the local authority’s strategic plan and national following the remarks of the hon. Member for Hyndburn policy, and a test of soundness, to deal with such matters. (Graham Jones) on the Standards Board, I was a councillor A standards regime would be grossly disproportionate for six years, from 2004 to 2010, and once during that in such cases. time I was taken to the Standards Board but found not really to have done anything wrong. The local authority Graham Jones: I am grateful to the Minister for dealt with the matter internally, but the person who trying to clarify that. Many of the organisations to brought it did not like the decision and tried to take it to which the Government give money have robust frameworks, appeal, and that is the point: it was about a planning but we are talking about a group of individuals who issue. 99 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 100

[Alec Shelbrooke] with our public, talk to people and understand things, or we become part of a robotic system in which the Councillors stood in the ward I represented in Leeds public are further distanced from us. on manifestos saying that they would protect certain I guess that the vast majority of Members engage characteristics of villages, and, when a planning application locally with their constituents, going down the pub, was made that totally undermined that, they wrote a talking to people in the high street, getting information letter of objection. The person who made the planning from what people feel is happening on the street and application took them to the Standards Board, saying talking to them about it. Local councillors cannot do that they were making a prejudicial complaint. That that any more, because unless they declare at the outset, person used the board as a bullying tactic against “I am not discussing this with you, come to my surgery councillors, and it happened time and again. at this time,” they run a risk, and that represents a big Nobody in this Chamber would say that people should disconnect from and disservice to the public. That was not expect anything except the highest standards from an unintended consequence of the Livingstone case, but those in public office. Everybody across the Chamber whether we agree with his comments or not, that is not agrees with that, but the provisions brought in by the the issue, because they occurred in his private life, and Standards Board were taken up by members of the public. the case should never have gone to the Standards Board. Those people wanted to force the issue with a councillor, We do have protection of the public: it is called the and they did not just make their life a misery; they cost ballot box. That was always my argument as a councillor them, personally and financially, a fortune. when it was said that someone was going to the Standards Board. There is a ballot box, whereby people can be Graham Jones: I was a victim of a vexatious complaint, voted in or out, and if someone were seen to be wholly on a very minor technicality, to the Standards Board. It corrupt it would not matter whether they were in the was politically motivated, and, although I will not say safest seat in the country, they would be voted out. which party chased it, I agree with the hon. Gentleman that such things are very annoying. Graham Jones: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Alec Shelbrooke: I will give way. I think I know what Alec Shelbrooke: I am most grateful to the hon. is coming. Gentleman, who makes my point. The complaint against him was politically motivated, whereas the one against me was made by somebody who was trying to get a Graham Jones: I agree with the thrust of what the particular decision on a planning issue and, effectively, hon. Gentleman says, and I do not want to be controversial, trying to bully councillors not to get involved. There but let us take the Community First programme in my were several such cases, and whether someone has such constituency’s Peel ward, where residents are going to politically motivated Standards Board cases, or whether spend public money, or the neighbourhood forums. the case comes from a slightly different angle, depends They are not elected. Where is the ballot box for those on which part of an authority they represent and the people? biggest issues there. Alec Shelbrooke: But there is something called the I do not want to get into which party takes the most Serious Fraud Office—the fraud squad—and there is a people to the Standards Board, but I feel that the law of the land, so we do not need to pursue such things Labour party has been slightly unfair on our coalition through the Standards Board. If people misappropriate colleagues. In the city of Leeds, Labour councillors public funds, they can be reported to the police and formed a queue around the block to take others to the there can be an investigation. Sometimes we double up Standards Board. Indeed, one Labour councillor in Leeds, on legislation to try to say to the public, “Look what whom I am to going to name in the Chamber, took we’re doing,” but in reality they have ended up with less many people to the board over things that he considered influence and power, because things have become bound to be a problem when Labour was in opposition, but up in an operation that has not helped at all. now his party is in power and he is still not getting the information he wants, he is still pursuing the complaints. Graham Jones: If my community group decides that Even his own leadership say that they cannot keep it is going to spend money on a project for which it has control of him. ownership, or on a project down the road for which Do not get me wrong: the mindset behind establishing there is no ownership within the Community First the Standards Board was correct. Credit should go to programme, and it then decides to skew the funding to the previous Government for setting it up to demand what suits its needs, not somebody else’s, how does that the highest standards, but in reality and in practice that fit in? That is not illegal, that is not fraud, but it is is not how it has worked, and it has become a useless against accepted standards in public life. tool that stops people writing in a manifesto what policies they would like to pursue. The board has been Alec Shelbrooke: I invite the hon. Gentleman to intervene twisted and manipulated. again on me. Who is awarding the grants to those The former Mayor of London was taken to the people to spend that money? Standards Board over a comment he made, and luckily he received the ruling that it had been made in his Graham Jones: The Government are. personal and private life, but what ruling was given to us councillors? It stated, “If someone comes up to you Alec Shelbrooke: Yes, but the money comes from the in the pub, you must say, ‘I am sorry, I am not a council, and that is the point: it comes from the local councillor.’” Come on, let us get real. Either we engage authority to start with. 101 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 102

Graham Jones: It actually comes directly from the episode when some of the characters woke up to find a Department for Communities and Local Government. bear in the front garden and decided that they wanted to introduce a bear tax to keep the bears out. The mayor Alec Shelbrooke: Through local communities and local had a meeting and said, “I want to bring in a bear tax.” government, projects are being identified—[Interruption.] Everybody said, “We’re not paying any more tax”, to I give way to the Minister. which the mayor said, “All right. Well, I blame the immigrants.” Everybody cheered and the mayor said, Andrew Stunell: I wonder whether I may help my hon. “We’ll have a referendum on it.” As the episode goes on, Friend by reminding him that any body or organisation they have a referendum to kick out the immigrants that spends public money is subject to the equalities because they are unhappy about having to pay more tax duty, introduced under equalities legislation introduced and there was not enough tax to sort out the bears. by this Government earlier this year. Later, the episode highlights the fact that people in their communities, their friends and so on have an immigrant Alec Shelbrooke: I am most grateful to my hon. past and are fully integrated. There is a road to Damascus Friend for assisting me with that line of debate. There moment for Homer who goes around saying, “This is a are protections in place: there is the law of the land, terrible referendum. We can’t vote on this.” The result there is legislation and, when it comes to democratically comes in, and there is a 96% vote to get rid of all the elected people, there is the ballot box. I do not think it immigrants because nobody listens. will do any harm to local government to remove the Standards Board and consider other areas, because it Zac Goldsmith: I apologise for intervening again, but has wasted hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of my hon. Friend’s argument is exactly an argument in pounds of taxpayers’ money on vexatious, vindictive favour of democracy and referendums. If an unattractive claims. Beyond that, the board has slowed the process proposition is made, people’s gut reaction may be to of local government, as well as the service and, indeed, take the least attractive option. However, after debate the communications we, as elected Members, would and discussion—just as Homer Simpson proved to my want to have with our public. We need to address that. hon. Friend in his youth—the right decision is normally reached. There are examples of that happening. In 8pm Switzerland, there was recently a vote on a motion that would have made migration to that country almost I shall also speak to amendment 112 proposed by my impossible. All the pundits and pollsters said the proposal hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Zac would be overwhelmingly accepted; in fact, it was rejected Goldsmith). Again, I want to focus on the facts. I am by two to one as a result of the type of discussions grateful to the shadow Minister for her comments and prompted by the referendum. I say to my hon. Friend: for the opportunity to intervene on the Minister earlier. please do not fear democracy in the way so many of our If we have a binding referendum, we do not have colleagues here do. control over what someone may be made to do. We can bring in threshold limits, but there is something called the internet, which makes it easy for people to move Alec Shelbrooke: It is not democracy I fear; it is forward with ideas and get to thresholds. A relatively people who may not be fully informed going to the low number of people could then go and vote, and we ballot box. Let us not forget that the Third Reich was would be faced with some very nasty legislation. elected. In conclusion, there is a place for referendums, and Zac Goldsmith: I have a brief question. If the amendment the balance in the Bill is about right. However, referendums is pressed to a vote, would my hon. Friend support it if should not be binding, which could open things up. It is it included turn-out thresholds, not just trigger-mechanism perhaps sometimes hon. Members’ responsibility not to thresholds? adopt the position we would take ourselves, but to consider what is best overall to protect the people from Alec Shelbrooke: I would not support the amendment those who would seek to abuse and twist a system, as, for the reasons my hon. Friend just mentioned, because indeed, happened with the Standards Board. if someone wants to have a referendum that is binding on any subject, they leave themselves open to several Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (LD): problems. My hon. Friend’s amendment contains provisions It is a privilege to follow that interesting contribution that he feels would deal with that. However, in this from the hon. Member for Elmet and Rothwell (Alec place, we must be very careful about the legislation we Shelbrooke). I mean that; his contribution was very introduce and the language we use. We may try to interesting. foresee the instances that may occur and try to stop some unsavoury referendums taking place, but once the I welcome the contributions made by noble Members legislation saying that it is binding is in place, someone in the other place, which have been exemplary. There somewhere will find a way around it. has been working together, cross-party work and working among the Cross Benchers. Ministers in the other place We live in heightened times of tension. That is inevitable have carried forward issues raised in Committee in this in an economic downturn. We go through periods when place. Therefore, I am not sure why there is so much there is a blame culture and it is easy to pick on the criticism of the amendments. During consideration of weakest person. the Bill, there has been co-operation with the Local If the House will indulge me, I would like to refer to Government Association. This is perhaps more relevant “The Simpsons”. I am sure I am not alone when I say to the next string of amendments, but I would like to that I am huge fan of “The Simpsons”. Some of the put on the record the fact that I have recently become episodes can be particularly cutting. I remember one vice-president of the Local Government Association. 103 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 104

[Annette Brooke] minimums, would be to allow localities themselves to experiment on what works best for them and to consult I welcome the Government amendments because, for their residents as they wish. the most part, they will extend local decision making I agree with the Government that the Bill introduces and they are all steps in the right direction. Restrictions an improvement—at least a small one—in relation to a on area committees will be removed and councils will be council tax referendum, in that when a local council able to choose what sort of structure they operate under comes up with a proposal for a level of council tax, it is and when they change structure. I was a councillor somewhat better that central Government might require when cabinet structures were imposed by a Labour a referendum on that level rather than merely disagreeing Government. There is also the timing of when a vote on with it and putting in place one that central Government all-out local elections may be held, if that is the choice happen to prefer. The local authority is the single body of the local authority. I welcome the abolition of the that is setting the council tax, then central Government concept of shadow mayors, because that was certainly come in with a successiveness tax test, and then there not the best example of local decision making. has to be a referendum. We have said much tonight about the standards reforms. I am concerned about how the Bill interacts with the They are possibly the most important matter to discuss Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. The in relation to this string of amendments. It seems that way in which the police precept is set has some very all hon. Members recognise that reform was necessary. special aspects relative to other local government precepts. Sadly, I think it would be true to say that hon. Members The first of these is that the police precept is a pretty of all political parties have probably engaged in vexatious small proportion of the overall council tax, so setting a complaints, so it should not be only my party that is the percentage increase above which it is required to have a thrust of such comments. We need to recognise that, local referendum acts as a far greater disincentive to unfortunately, the set up—the nature of the beast—meant placing a precept above that than it does for local that vexatious complaints would occur. government, because the proportionate cost of having a When the Bill was first introduced, it was a reaction referendum for the police precept is far higher—perhaps to a great need for reform and it moved the pendulum. up to 2% of the police budget. That makes it extraordinarily As often happens, it probably moved it too far. The difficult for a police body to attempt to go beyond what other place has pulled that pendulum back and has central Government have set as that trigger. achieved a very interesting balance. There has certainly Overall, I am concerned that setting these referendum been much discussion on the matter. At the back of my requirements undermines the incentive to vote for local mind, I feel that we should be prepared to review how politicians who want to stand on a lower-tax basis. If things are working. Obviously, we do not have such a central Government are in any case providing an automatic provision before us today, but it would be useful to safeguard so that even if there is an enormously left-wing know how the new system is working out in, for example, council that wants to push up the council tax by a huge two years’ time. It might be necessary to revisit the amount, that reduces the incentive to vote for politicians system. None of us has a crystal ball and can see how who believe in lower taxes. well the new system might work, but this is definitely the right type of reform. It is important to get a balance Graham Jones: I remind the hon. Gentleman that my and, as much as possible, make the measure local. left-wing Labour council is setting a 0% council tax Nevertheless, there need to be important protections. level for the forthcoming year. I therefore heartily welcome all the Government amendments in this string. I am afraid that I will not Mark Reckless: The hon. Gentleman’s Labour council, support the amendment of the hon. Member for Richmond like every other council in the country, has set a 0% Park (Zac Goldsmith). His passion for increasing local council tax level because this Government, who believe democracy is very important, but there are issues with in localism, have come in with an offer they cannot local referendums, not least the fact that they could lead refuse. to conflicts and abuse. The amendment clearly has a I was a councillor for four years, and I am afraid that number of technical deficiencies and therefore could such measures do not just reduce the incentive to vote not be considered anyway. for parties of the centre right: it sometimes leads to good Conservatives taking offsetting measures to give themselves greater scope for freedom from central Mark Reckless (Rochester and Strood) (Con): I shall Government. My own council of Medway had virtually address my remarks to the amendments relating to the lowest unitary tax in the country outside the Scilly referendums—Lords amendment 112 and the excellent Isles, yet when we attempted to put in a tax increase that counter-amendment tabled by my hon. Friend the Member was very slightly above the standard percentage cap that for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith)—and to the Minister’s was set, we were not designated but put under the remarks about council tax referendums. process whereby action would be taken against us the It occurs to me to wonder how our counterparts in following year if we did not pull our socks up. In fact, the United States Congress or the German Bundestag our increase was far lower, in absolute terms, than might look at our debate. It is about the Localism Bill, increases of similarly sized councils elsewhere. yet we seek to prescribe almost every last detail of how The problem is the fear of being capped—of not and when a locality might consult its people on an knowing what the level will be next year—and possibly issue—whether that consultation should be binding or even the fear of being forced to have very expensive non-binding, how far it extends, and what exactly should referendums with very embarrassing results for the local be the trigger of signatures or the turn-out required. An politicians, particularly if they do not succeed, and for alternative way of doing this, even if there were certain which their locality has to pay for in any event. That 105 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 106 may lead some councils, even good Conservative ones, happen, but unfortunately the provisions of the Bill do to put up council tax by more than they otherwise not allow it to happen. In the case of the police precept, would in a particular year so that they have a higher we are bringing in this third body—the Secretary of base and there is less concern that they might get State. The Secretary of State, not the local panel, has capped in a future year in needing to put through a the power to trigger a referendum. That is a highly substantive increase. regressive step that will prevent the elected police and crime commissioner from establishing a responsible Alec Shelbrooke: Does my hon. Friend think it is fair relationship with his chief constable—perhaps being that the Government can impose a cap and say, “That’s able to get him more budget and, in return, getting it—you’re not raising it”, as in his fine example from different priorities for policing. They will always be Medway? Would it not be better to take that to the looking over their shoulder to the Secretary of State, people and say, “Do you want to have this rise in who is giving a standard rise that they cannot go above council tax which we believe is above a cap?”, when he without the risk of a local referendum that would cost could argue exactly the case he has argued for Medway? perhaps 2% of the council tax, which they would have to pay even if they won. This will have a chilling effect 8.15 pm on our proposals for police accountability. Mark Reckless: As I said, I believe that in this respect I am very disappointed, because in 2005 I wrote a the Bill is a marginal improvement on what we had book called “Direct Democracy” for which I had four before. Let us consider the idea that the federal Governments co-authors—my right hon. Friends the Members for in the US or Germany would look at each state, determine Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) and for Arundel and what the level is—indeed, the same level for all states—and South Downs (Nick Herbert), my hon. Friend the Member say, “If you want to raise your property tax by more for Clacton (Mr Carswell), and Daniel Hannan, who is than that, you have to have this referendum, and this is now an MEP. In that, we called for direct democracy the exact way in which we specify that it has to be run.” and the devolution of powers, and, in particular, an By comparison, we seem to have an extraordinarily elected person in charge of overseeing the police who centralised state, and I am disappointed that the tiny would have local powers. We still believed that in the steps in the Bill have only a very little impact on that. coalition agreement and we still believed it in last year’s In the policing universe, the Bill is not just a little bit White Paper when we said that the panel would be able of progress but a step back. The significant difference is to trigger a referendum. It is terribly disappointing that that there is not a single body making the decision, as this Bill fails to provide for that and instead hugs the with a local council within the referendum protection; power to the Secretary of State. we are setting up a special local body, a police and crime panel, that will have scrutiny, oversight and an overview Bob Blackman: I want to make three points. The first of the directly elected commissioner. We said in the is about the codes of conduct and the abolition of coalition agreement that the elected police and crime the Standards Board. I, like many local councillors at commissioner the time, was the subject of numerous referrals to the “will be subject to strict checks and balances by locally elected Standards Board. The first that anyone heard of it was representatives.” when they received the letter from the Standards Board We were then told—I questioned the Minister for Policing saying that it had decided to take no further action on and Criminal Justice about this earlier—that the panel the vexatious complaint. It could take many months “will have a power to trigger a referendum on the policing precept and, in certain cases, years before a complaint was recommended by the Commissioner.” determined one way or the other. In cases that were The Minister said that he disagreed with the premise of chosen for investigation, the investigations could take my question, which was in fact the premise in the White the length of a councillor’s term of office before it was Paper that the Home Office published in July last year, decided whether they were guilty. “Policing in the 21st century”, which said that the police I have concerns about what is being proposed. I and crime panel will have this power. However, the Bill, completely agree with having a national standard for which provides for these referendums, has no provision the codes of conduct that local authorities should impose. to allow the police and crime panel to trigger such a There should be national standards and everybody referendum, and the powers appear to have been taken should abide by them, even though they will be monitored by the Secretary of State, despite the coalition agreement at a local level. There is a key concern about how valid and what was promised in the White Paper last year. complaints will be investigated. I have a concern about When the Minister spoke about this on 30 March, it elected councillors overseeing complaints about other seemed that his officials had not properly explained to elected councillors and about how politicians might him his own Bill. He said that seek to gain party political advantage over one another “the police and crime commissioner will set the precept but a through standards committees. The concept of having referendum will be triggered. The” independent individuals in charge is of course welcome. However, the risk is whether such people can be found police and crime for every local authority and whether they will be of a “panel will not be able to prevent that, but it will be able to suitable standard to make the system work. I have propose an alternative precept with accompanying reasons that will have to be published. The public will then have to decide—having concerns but, broadly speaking, the Government’s both sides of the story.”—[Official Report, 30 March 2011; amendments should be welcomed. Vol. 526, c. 433.] My second point touches on the amendment tabled That suggests that the referendum was going to be by my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park between the commissioner’s precept and an alternative (Zac Goldsmith) on referendums. The key concern is proposed by the panel. That is what we said would about the difference between a local authority consulting 107 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 108

[Bob Blackman] betrayal out of the way before they face the threat of the ballot box three or four years later. Perhaps we need the people it serves and it being bound by a referendum, to re-examine the governance of local authorities and possibly on a single proposition. I do not think that ask whether they should face more frequent local elections, local authorities in this country consult properly. Instead, rather than having periodic elections when the decisions they notify the public that they will do something to made by the local electorate are often more about the them, regardless of what they think of it. national Government of the day than the decisions that I will give an example from a local authority on are made at a local level. which I used to sit. The London borough of Brent has Having spoken about those three key issues, I will decided to close half its libraries. The council put it to conclude my remarks. I warmly welcome the amendments the public and 82% of people said that they did not like proposed by the Government. it. The answer from the council was, “We’re still going to do it.” That was the result of a consultation. The idea Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con): I rise to speak was overwhelmingly rejected, but the council are progressing about the referendum issue. Members will note that with it. That would be a case, like my hon. Friend the I am one of the signatories to the amendment tabled Member for Richmond Park described, in which a by my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park referendum would undoubtedly go against what the (Zac Goldsmith). local authority wishes to do. However, that does not I support the principle of referendums and believe change the fact that local authorities are elected to serve that they are a natural development of our democratic and to make decisions. They should do so even if those process. Having spent many years as a local councillor decisions are not liked by the people whom they represent. fighting against centralisation, I warmly welcome the I will also cite the case of Bristol, which several years moves that the Government are making, but they could ago conducted a referendum on the level of council tax go further. To give an example, I sponsored and secured to be charged. The council put four options to the a referendum in one ward of my unitary authority to people of Bristol: a reduction in council tax with a abolish a town council. I did so because there was clear drastic reduction in services; a marginal reduction in opposition to a council that was charging in excess of council tax with a marginal reduction in services; a £100 per household for band A properties. There was stand-still option; or the council’s preferred option of an overwhelming vote to abolish that council. Unfortunately, an increase in council tax and keeping services at the the referendum was not binding, because it was held same level. Lo and behold, the people voted for a under the Local Government Act 2003, to which the substantial reduction in council tax and a substantial Minister referred. The unitary council of north-east reduction in services—not quite what was expected. Lincolnshire subsequently overturned the referendum One has to be careful in taking on a referendum. For result. the purposes that I have described, a referendum is clearly not the route to follow. Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole) (Con): Outrageous. Equally, as I have said in interventions, if we had referendums with a trigger of 20% or 30% of people Martin Vickers: I agree, it was outrageous that a signing a petition, that would not necessarily work if decision of the electorate that had been arrived at the turnout for such a referendum would be far too low. democratically through the ballot box should be overturned That would be ridiculous and would impose on local by a local authority. Having granted the referendum authorities an unfair basis for making decisions. As we initially, it should have reversed the result, if that was its all know, it is easy to get people to sign a petition, but it wish, only through another referendum. is another thing to get them to vote. Clearly there is a role for petitions in consultations, but using them to Andrew Percy: To assist my hon. Friend in his point, trigger referendums is difficult. I add that in my constituency the people of Old Goole My third point relates to the position on council tax. are seeking to separate from Goole and form their own I have always been an advocate for councils being free parish council. There is a huge argument going on, and to set council tax at the level they choose. If councillors the one way in which it could be resolved is through a choose to impose a swingeing increase in council tax, binding referendum. the public have the right to vote them out at the next election. We should trust the people to do that. I have Martin Vickers: Absolutely. My hon. Friend makes always been stringently opposed to the capping of council an extremely valid point, and I am sure Members of all tax or previous forms of local taxation, because it takes parties can think of such examples. away the decision-making powers of local authorities. The hon. Member for Warrington North (Helen Jones) Councils should not have referendums held over their made a valid point about premises that cater for people heads on council tax, but people should have the power with mental health difficulties. I accept that local authorities of the ballot box to remove councillors who vote for have very difficult decisions to make in such cases. I can a swingeing increase. That is the right way to protect recall there being such a decision in my ward six or people. seven years ago, and if a referendum had been taken in Most local authorities in this country have their the street in question there would certainly have been an councillors elected by thirds, so the local electorate has overwhelming vote against such an establishment. However, the power every year to remove councils and councillors it would be open to local authorities, as it is under the who choose to vote for large increases in council tax. In 2003 Act, to determine the arrangements for a referendum unitary authorities, there are all-out elections, which —whether it should be held in a ward or within the means that councillors, having been safely elected, can authority as a whole. There are ways of broadening the take decisions at the beginning of their cycle to get their electoral base to cover such circumstances. 109 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 110

8.30 pm Proposed subsection (5) of the hon. Gentleman’s My hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park amendment sets out the local authorities that it would made good points about turnouts. I accept that there apply to, including should be an increase to 20% in the proportion of “the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a signatures needed to trigger a referendum, which would local authority”. be a way of weeding out the frivolous requests. So I wish to ask the amendment’s supporters whether, would the other criteria that would be used to determine under the regulations and rules to be laid before Parliament whether a referendum should go forward. designing the mechanisms and ground rules for referendums, as mentioned in proposed subsection (11), universal My hon. Friend’s amendment is an obvious move suffrage would apply in the case of the common council forward. We argue about referendums—only a couple of the City of London. In other words, will it be one of weeks ago we debated whether we should have one at person, one vote, or will businesses be able to purchase national level. They are a natural development of the votes and outvote local residents, as they currently can? democratic process if we are to give our voters really Referendums could enhance local democracy, but I do meaningful power. not want us to enhance the power of businesses to control the lives of residents with the City of London Alec Shelbrooke: I am listening very carefully to my corporation area. hon. Friend’s points. I think Members of all parties have been guilty of trying to explain why they do not Martin Vickers: The hon. Gentleman makes a valid think particular referendums, on serious issues, should point. My view—I can speak only for myself—is that be binding. democracy means one person, one vote, and that that If there were a referendum suggesting that councillors would apply whether in the City of London or elsewhere. should not receive any money whatever for their work, I believe it would find popular support, yet councillors John McDonnell: That is incredibly helpful, because work hard and need some sort of recompense. If that although amendment (a) might not be pressed to a vote, referendum were binding, how would councillors deal the House in due course—fairly rapidly—will need to with that situation? look at how undemocratic the City of London corporation actually is. Martin Vickers: My hon. Friend makes a very interesting There are numerous examples of when a referendum point, and my response is obvious—I am arguing in in the City of London on the basis of universal suffrage— favour of binding referendums, so I believe that such a one person, one vote—would enable residents to address referendum would have to be binding. There could be some of the abuses of the system that take place currently. turnout— If people want an example of those abuses, they should read the front page of The Guardian today. The City of London corporation has applied City cash—anything Andrew Percy: Thresholds. up to £100 million in local authority funding that is never audited or publicised; that completely lacks any Martin Vickers: That is the word I am looking for; I form of transparency to local residents or the rest of the thank my hon. Friend. Such referendums could therefore electorate in both the corporation area or elsewhere; easily be accommodated. and that is never investigated—to enhance a property development on the edge of the corporation area in Members should appreciate that there is growing Hackney. That also enhances the value of properties apathy and disenchantment with our whole political owned by Hammerson, which employs the lord mayor process. The Government have tried to respond to that of the City of London corporation. A referendum in through measures in the Bill, through e-petitions and so the City of London area could valuably take place on on, but the only way we can really give people power is that matter. Residents could vote on whether it is appropriate by giving them a clear-cut vote on issues. Although my for the City of London to enter into developments of hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park said that that sort. he would not press his amendment, I hope that it will spur the Government on to further developments in the The Hackney example is not the only one; there was months and years to come. the Spitalfields development and opposition from the Barbican Association. The City of London corporation has ridden roughshod over the wishes of local residents John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): I to enhance the profits of businesses which employ council apologise to the House for coming so late to the debate. men on the corporation. If the hon. Member for Richmond I am afraid I have been chairing a meeting elsewhere. Park is suggesting that the rules and regulations made I regret the fact that the hon. Member for Richmond under proposed subsection (11) of amendment (a) would Park (Zac Goldsmith) is not in his place now, but of ensure universal suffrage in the City of London corporation, course he has assiduously attended the rest of the it would be a major breakthrough for democracy in debate. I wanted to ask him a couple of questions, but London. maybe other sponsors of his amendment will be able to I hope that the amendment is pressed to a Division if intervene to clarify matters. we gain assurances from all who have tabled the amendment I can see the attraction of holding referendums on that that is what it means. Even if we cannot use the issues that are politically significant in an area, so that amendment to prise open democracy in the City of local authorities can seek guidance. Even if they were London corporation, there will be other opportunities. not binding, they would at least create a debate, and the Hon. Members from all parties should try to place this local authority could take into account the views expressed. matter firmly on the agenda again, because allowing 111 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 112

[John McDonnell] the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice has also offered to liaise with him. I assume that he will want to businesses to have the vote and to ride roughshod over take up that offer. He made several observations about the wishes of local residents in the corporation area is what would happen in the United States, but I have 21st-century abuse of power and democracy. reason to suspect that he is not in favour of introducing a federal system in the United Kingdom. In default of a Andrew Stunell: We have had an interesting and wide- federal system, we have to manage our own resources of ranging debate, with plenty of interest added by Members’ governance. personal experiences. On council tax referendums, I made the point in my I appreciate the decision of my hon. Friend the introductory remarks that we are replacing a top-down Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith) not to limitation on what councils can spend and raise from press amendment (a) to a Division. He will have seen in the council tax with a process controlled by the electorate— the course of the debate that the force is not with him, the ones who pay for it—which is how local accountability although he has raised a number of interesting aspects, is supposed to work in our democratic system. As those which I am sure he will ensure are kept in front of the who did an A-level in this area will know, that is what House in the years to come. we are all taught happens, but what has not happened Other hon. Members have raised a wide range of for many years. We are changing a top-down financial issues, and perhaps the most persistent raiser of issues control system to a bottom-up control system. In the was the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Graham Jones), eyes of my hon. Friend the Member for Rochester and who is not in the Chamber. This part of the Bill applies Strood, that might not be perfect, but I hope that he to local authorities; it does not attempt, and it never did would accept that it is more than just a small notional attempt, to regulate community groups, neighbourhood improvement. forums or other non-governmental organisations. However, I remind the House that there is still a requirement on Mark Reckless: It might be that for local authorities anybody spending public money to give a proper account we are just about doing as the Minister states, but it is of that spending and to be held accountable, if necessary not the case for the area of policing that I raised. The in the courts, should they fail to do so. On the wider letter that I received from my right hon. Friend the Minister duty on anybody spending public money, the introduction of State was entirely unsatisfactory, and the meeting of the equalities duty provides a substantial safeguard with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing and and remedy for those who feel hard done by as a Criminal Justice has not happened. Importing the Localism consequence. I hope that the House will accept that as Bill into the police framework makes a complete dog’s the right basis on which to proceed. breakfast of the precept setting and contradicts the coalition agreement and last year’s “Policing in the My hon. Friend the Member for Elmet and Rothwell 21st Century” White Paper. (Alec Shelbrooke) told us a shaggy bear story, but hidden behind it were some important observations, Andrew Stunell: I am disappointed to hear my hon. one of which was about the present system’s extensive Friend say that. Local people have as much right to take capacity for creating trouble for council members going a view on excessive police precept increases as they do about their lawful business and trying to serve their on increases in any other sector of local government. I community. He referred to a case in which essentially believe that the provisions we have are right. I hope that he was being bullied by a developer because of views he he is not spurning the offer of a meeting with my right had expressed on a planning application. I am happy to hon. Friend the Minister for Policing and Criminal tell him that, quite apart from our abolition of the Justice, because he might find it more productive than Standards Board, our abolition of the pre-determination he evidently fears it would be. legislation, which is also right at the front of the Bill, will put in place a safeguard in such situations. 8.45 pm My hon. Friend the Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) drew attention to the A number of other hon. Members contributed to the hard work done in the House of Lords, not least by our debate, including my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow Liberal Democrat colleagues. Government Members East (Bob Blackman), who eloquently pointed out that acknowledge the fruitful dialogue in the Lords, which I he, too, had been the victim of a vexatious complaint. believe has produced a much improved Bill. She suggested He urged the Government to impose no limits at all on that it might be appropriate for us to return to the council tax, which should depend entirely on the views standards regime and monitor its performance after a of councillors. That suggests that he perhaps does not couple of years. More broadly, the Government have recall that in earlier days that was the case. What we said that they want to monitor the impact of legislation have is a system of accountability for financial decision as time goes by, and I hope that she will understand that making that is a huge improvement on the current the House always has the capacity to return to matters. top-down version, and one that I would ask him to No doubt the Select Committee and others will keep an observe in practice over the next few years. eye not only on that provision in the Bill, but on all the My hon. Friend the Member for Cleethorpes (Martin others. Vickers) supported the general thread of amendment I heard the contribution from my hon. Friend the (a), standing in the name of my hon. Friend the Member Member for Rochester and Strood (Mark Reckless), for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith), but as I think we particularly on police and police commissioners. My have agreed, that is a matter for a different day. right hon. Friend the Minister of State, who has With his customary skill, the hon. Member for Hayes responsibility for decentralisation, has recently written and Harlington (John McDonnell) found a way of to my hon. Friend about that matter, and I know that introducing a completely different topic to the debate—a 113 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 114 topic that I have no doubt he will bring back to the control over their governance and less unjustifiable House on many future occasions, albeit perhaps in meddling by central Government. The changes made in more propitious circumstances. the Lords take the reforms further, strengthen our provisions That brings me to the remarks of the hon. Member and sweep away even more of the deadening prescription for Warrington North (Helen Jones). I have to say to and regulation that has for far too long constrained the House that there is some history here, because in local authorities. I commend all the Lords amendments times long gone, she and I were both members of to the House. Chester city council. I therefore know that many of her Lords amendment 14 agreed to. remarks were made with her tongue firmly in her cheek, Lords amendments 15 to 49 agreed to, with Commons as they certainly were in past days too. I just wonder financial privileges waived in respect of Lords amendments 23, whether there were two missing words from what she 29, 40 and 49. said—those two words were “thank you”—because her entire speech consisted of agreeing that the amendments that we are discussing are exactly the right ones to make and great improvements to the Bill. Clause 31 I notice that the hon. Lady picked out my Liberal Democrat colleagues as being particularly egregious POWER TO REQUIRE LOCAL OR PUBLIC AUTHORITIES TO when it comes to making complaints. Indeed, a number MAKE PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN EU of other Members in this debate have considered which FINANCIAL SANCTIONS political party is the worst. Let me tell the House that 80% of complaints to the Standards Board come from Greg Clark: I beg to move, That the House agrees parish councils, on which, by and large, there is no with Lords amendment 50. political party representation. That, of course, is part of the scandal of the whole process. When I recently spoke Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): With this it at the annual conference of the parish clerks association— will be convenient to discuss Lords amendments 51 to [Laughter.] I have become accustomed to a more exotic 94, 227, 228, 230, 234, 241, 244, 246, 247, 250, 252 to style of life. I put it to those at the conference, and they 254 and 260. agreed, that had the introduction of the regime been beneficial, the behaviour of parish councils should have improved. What actually happened was a rising tide of Greg Clark: The Under-Secretary of State for complaints and no evidence at all that the regime improved Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend standards. The aim of having a standards board was to the Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew Stunell) should improve standards, not simply to generate complaints. count himself lucky to have had an invitation from I got a hint from the hon. Lady, and also from her the parish clerks. The Under-Secretary of State for hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Graham Jones), Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend that if they had their way, they would return to a the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) centrally determined quango doing exactly the same recently spoke at the annual general meeting of the thing as the Standards Board. I have to say that hankering British Toilet Association. I gather that he was flushed after that quango is not the way ahead. If she is concerned with success after making that speech. about the Bill not being localist enough, she has a I approach the Dispatch Box with some trepidation, slightly peculiar way of showing it. because I was about to say that we had achieved “consensus The hon. Lady also mentioned pay accountability in the House of Lords”, but on the basis of the earlier and transparency, and I think that she was welcoming contribution from the hon. Member for Warrington what we have done. I want to pick up one of the points North (Helen Jones), I fear that all six of those words that she made. She said that she regretted that councils make her see red. It seems that this Chamber should would not be compelled to pass the same duty on to make a unilateral declaration of independence from the outside organisations that were in receipt of council House of Lords, that nothing good can come from funding to deliver their services. I must point out to her there, and that all decisions have to be made here. So I that the legislation gives them the power to do that if should be careful. As for consensus, the hon. Lady they choose to do so, but it does not compel them to do would pick a fight in an empty room. She managed to so. I would just remind her that that is localism. We be warlike on amendments with which she wholeheartedly believe that that is exactly the right balance to ensure agreed, so goodness knows how we are going to get on that local authorities have a framework in which they with this group. None the less, we have achieved a must operate, and a framework that they may apply to degree of consensus and listened to the representations others who provide services for them. that were made in our own Public Bill Committee and The hon. Lady also mentioned local non-binding in the other place. referendums, and she was characteristically generous. We need to devolve power to local authorities, but May I point out that her suggestion that I might not there is clearly a risk that when we do, the powers that have survived comes ill from a team that started off formerly resided with central Government could expose with three people in Committee and has now been the nation to the risk of infraction proceedings if they completely reconfigured, and that she herself is a newcomer put us in breach of EU obligations. This was a matter to it? Those of us who worked through the Committee that needed to be addressed. It is only fair that council and Report stages know the hard work that went in and tax payers should not pay for poor behaviour on the the efforts that have been made to achieve a better Bill. part of local authorities in areas other than their own. The Bill will lift the burden of bureaucracy from That was the purpose of introducing the provisions on councils. It will free them up, the better to serve their EU fines. We have had some useful conversations about local communities. It will give local authorities greater those. 115 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 116

[Greg Clark] Helen Jones: I stand corrected. I should have said that the Minister has probably spent too long down in The concerns raised both in Committee and in the the south. I am now going to surprise him, however, by other place were that Ministers should not be the prosecutor, agreeing with him. The worry about the original measures judge, jury—and, in some cases, the co-defendant too—on was that they risked imposing fines on councils for some of those matters. Thanks to representations from matters over which they had no control. I think that has the Local Government Association and the Greater been corrected in the House of Lords, so we support the London Authority, we have thought carefully and hard amendments. about how we can allay some of those concerns. Lords amendment 50 agreed to, with Commons financial I would like to put on the record my appreciation of privileges waived. the work of the late Sir Simon Milton, who, in evidence Lords amendments 51 to 112 agreed to, with Commons to the Localism Bill Committee when we first met, not financial privileges waived in respect of Lords amendments 54 only raised concerns about those procedures, but suggested to 60, 62, 64, 66 to 69, 72, and 74 to 112. a way forward that would satisfy all our concerns. He went away with his officials and reflected on that. During that process, very sadly, Sir Simon died. All of Clause 61 us in this place greatly regret his passing. We have appreciated his good counsel in these matters over the COUNCIL TAX CALCULATIONS BY BILLING AUTHORITIES years. His colleague Daniel Moylan took up the work IN ENGLAND that Sir Simon had begun, and the fruit of that work is reflected in the Lords amendments, particularly 9pm amendments 57, 234 and 246. They provide that there Andrew Stunell: I beg to move, That this House should be a new stage of designation for authorities agrees with Lords amendment 113. that might be subject to a fine. I owe particular thanks to Lord Tope and Lord Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): With this it McKenzie, who introduced amendments to that effect will be convenient to consider Lords amendments 114 in the other place. What these amendments will require to 150, 236, 236, 251, 334 to 349, and 414 to 417. is that Ministers should designate any authority that Andrew Stunell: The amendments focus on the might be at risk of fines by affirmative order. Such an community right to challenge, on assets of community authority can be identified only if the infraction is the value, and on council tax referendums. As the Minister responsibility of the local authority, only if the actions of State, my right hon. Friend Member for Tunbridge follow its designation, and only in relation to specific Wells (Greg Clark), said at the beginning of our debates, infraction cases. There should be no retrospectivity. the fundamental aim of the Bill is to shift power away The second set of amendments involve the creation from central Government and back to local communities. of an independent advisory panel before any fines can This part of the Bill enables decentralisation to be taken be recovered from a local authority. Baroness Gardner beyond the town hall, so that we can empower communities of Parkes suggested this approach in amendment 58. It and enable them to play a bigger part in local life, would mean a public report being made to the Minister whether their aim is to improve local services or to save by an independent panel, and it would include a fair treasured assets. Community rights will give communities apportionment of the culpability of any local authority more opportunities to do exactly that. When it is successful, so fined. it will give them a chance to compete to deliver those Amendments 59 et al enable the local authority to services themselves, using local knowledge, expertise plan how it would meet the costs, and it is clear through and innovation to improve local services. these amendments that the authority’s responsibility Assets of community value will hand communities for any fines ends when its culpability ends. The fines the initiative so that they can identify important local cannot continue beyond the point at which the authority assets such as the old town halls, village shops and pubs has corrected its behaviour. that are of value to community life. There are already Some minor and technical amendments cover non- many good examples across the country of communities devolved matters in devolved areas. They proceed with coming together to take over local pubs, shops, libraries the full agreement of each of the devolved Administrations. and community centres. I think that all of us will have There are mirror powers for Welsh Ministers to pass on seen examples—if not in our constituencies, during fines in their own area. visits to other areas. However, there are many more These changes sent to us by the House of Lords cases in which communities have missed out because deliver on our commitment to introduce fines for councils they were not aware that a building was up for sale, or only when they are responsible for the United Kingdom because when they discovered that, they lacked the time being fined, only when they can remedy the situation, to make a viable bid. The new right will make it easier and only when they can afford to pay. I commend the for communities to save local assets that are important Lords amendments to the House. to them, and will give them the time that they need to prepare a bid to take them when they come up for sale. Helen Jones: I am sorry that the Minister, who we all We are also replacing central Government capping know is from the soft south and cannot deal with with council tax referendums. I had intended to say stroppy northern women— more about that, but I think that I covered it adequately Greg Clark: I am moved to tell the hon. Lady that I in the last debate. was born and bred in Middlesbrough, and that no A wide range of bodies have said that the powers and resident of that fine town has ever been described as opportunities that we are providing are long overdue being of the soft south. and very welcome. The National Association for Voluntary 117 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 118 and Community Action, the Association of Chief also improved the workability of these provisions by Executives of Voluntary Organisations, the National exempting certain types of relevant disposal: those where Council for Voluntary Organisations and Locality have the community is not at risk of losing the asset. all expressed the view that we are doing the right thing, Amendments 140 and 144 exempt several types of relevant and during the Bill’s passage Members on both sides of disposals from the moratorium in the Bill. As a result, the House have expressed broad support for the principles the provisions will not cover situations such as where a of our reforms. village shop is to change hands as a going concern and However, Members wanted us to go further in some the community will still get the benefit of a shop, nor respects, and expressed concern about the details of a will they capture a situation where a transfer is made number of other aspects of our proposals. As my right between family members or through inheritance or hon. Friend said, we have been in listening mode gifts. Further exempt disposals will be set out in regulations. throughout. We have considered the points that have Most importantly, we have ensured that groups will been made not just by Members of the House of have enough time to raise funds to buy assets; that was a Commons, but by peers and interested parties outside. key concern of community groups. The hon. Members for Birmingham, Erdington (Jack Amendments 141 to 145 specify that the interim Dromey) and for Worsley and Eccles South (Barbara moratorium will be six weeks, the full moratorium will Keeley) played an important role in the debates that led be six months, and the protected period in which a to the amendments, and in the other place Lord Greaves, further application cannot be made will be 18 months, Lord Tope, Lord Patel of Bradford and Baroness Hamwee starting from the first date. In other words, there will, in made helpful contributions. effect, be a 12-month moratorium period. We have also Although we had some excellent debates here in reduced the amount of prescription. Amendments 131, Committee and on Report, we did not think it appropriate 132, 134 and 135 give local authorities greater freedom to amend the provisions until we had had a chance to to decide how to administer and publicise lists of assets consider all the responses to the consultation carefully. of community value in their local area. In summary, That consultation closed in May. Following consideration these amendments will ensure that the provisions give of the responses and the debates in the House of Lords, communities a powerful new tool to preserve assets of we tabled amendments on Report intended to improve community value, while ensuring that we do not create the workability of the provisions in the Bill and strengthen unintended consequences. their effectiveness. These reforms were welcomed by the National On the right to challenge, the consultation and debates Association for Voluntary and Community Action and in both Houses demonstrated that there was an appetite by the Country Land and Business Association. When to extend the reforms, but also that there were concerns both those organisations claim victory, it is clear that about the prescription in the Bill. To address the former, we must be doing something right. Finally, this group amendment 115 makes it clear that the right could be also contains a number of smaller technical amendments, extended to require a Minister or Government Department which include provision for ensuring that levies made to consider expressions of interest. To address the latter on local authorities by levying bodies are not part of concern, we have removed a number of delegated powers, the calculation on whether a council tax increase is particularly those allowing the Secretary of State to excessive, and for ensuring that only residents, and not prescribe time scales associated with the right to challenge. business voters, in the City of London are entitled to Instead, under amendments 118 to 121 it will be for vote in a council tax referendum. I hope that that gives local authorities to set their own time scales, while at least a little comfort to the hon. Member for Hayes having regard to factors to be set out in guidance. and Harlington (John McDonnell). Overall, I hope that hon. Members will agree that these amendments There are also a number of minor amendments to the significantly improve the Bill and address issues of right to challenge. I will not detain the House by describing common concern, and so will agree to them unanimously. them in detail, but, for example, we have made it clear that the definition of community body in the provisions Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) (Lab): does not include a public or local authority, and we Labour Members broadly support the amendments, have ensured that if the right is extended, it would which support some of the points made earlier by my continue to apply only to services provided in England. hon. Friend the Member for Warrington North (Helen There has also been broad support for the principle Jones). This whole part of the Bill had to be substantially of giving communities greater opportunities to identify rewritten following discussions in this Chamber, in assets of community value and more time to raise the Committee and in the other place. Although it purported funds. We have also had constructive discussions about to give communities more power over their areas, it improving the practical application of the provisions actually gave a lot more power to the Secretary of State and avoiding overly detailed rules. I would particularly to outline the time scale for local authorities to consider like to thank Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Lord Cameron a transfer of community assets and on what those were. of Dillington, Earl Cathcart and Lord Howard of Rising We are pleased, therefore, that a definition of land of for their contributions to improving these provisions. community value has been put in the Bill and that some We have listened carefully, and amendments 122 to 126 of the ridiculously prescriptive powers relating to the define land of community value based on principal use community right to bid have been removed or put for social well-being and social interests, including cultural, where they should have been put—with local authorities. recreational and sporting interests. Amendments 127 to We are also pleased that that the amendments should 130 make it clear that only a voluntary or community enable local authorities to set and publish their own body with a local connection may nominate an asset to time scales for deciding on community expressions of be listed by a local authority, which will safeguard interest. I hope that that is helpful to them and to the against vexatious nominations by individuals. We have local communities that wish to take over assets. 119 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 120

John McDonnell: I shall be extremely brief. I John McDonnell: May I clarify that I am not enticing wholeheartedly welcome this part of the Bill and the the Minister to criticise the local authority? However, amendments proposed, but I would also welcome some there is an issue here. A Bill is coming to its conclusion advice from the Minister on the time scale for the and will shortly be enacted. Should not true a local implementation of the Bill and this bit of it. I shall authority taking a reasonable decision and taking into quickly give a relevant example. account all relevant factors take into account the fact In my constituency, a library has been closed and a that the Government intend the Bill to be implemented new one opened. I did not get everything I wanted, but I rapidly? Should it not therefore act in the spirit of the congratulate the local authority on opening the new Bill? library. For some time, there has been an expectation— indeed, promises have been made by the local authority Andrew Stunell: Perhaps it would be appropriate for in the past—that the previous and now redundant library the hon. Gentleman to make sure that the report of this would be handed over for community use. Despite a exchange in Hansard is drawn to the attention of the petition signed by more than 4,000 people urging the council leader. local authority to provide this facility for community I can add a little more information about the timetable. use in some form, the London borough of Hillingdon is The implementation of the rights requires secondary now rushing ahead with its sale. Last week, the authority legislation in accordance with the procedures agreed by actually gave itself planning permission for housing, the House. Affirmative resolution measures require despite the fact that I appeared at the petition hearing parliamentary time and consultation and we cannot with the petition and directly quoted words of wisdom prejudge exactly what the outcome will be. However, from the Secretary of State. He had cited a library being preparatory work is well in hand and the ministerial made redundant as an example of exactly what this Bill team certainly intend to get all these rights not only on is intended to address. the statute book but make them effective and active in So I ask the Minister about the London borough of local communities as soon as possible. Hillingdon’s undue haste to give itself planning permission for housing and to sell the site off to pre-empt the Mr Raynsford rose— coming into force of this Bill. Will he assure me that something can be done to persuade the authority to Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): Order. I do listen to the local people and enable us to use this Bill not think the right hon. Gentleman has been in his seat for the purposes for which it was intended: to empower long. He really ought to think about whether he wants local people in respect of just this sort of asset? I would to make this intervention. Is it crucial? welcome any assurance that he could give, any advice that he might wish to render to the London borough of Hillingdon and anything that he can say about the Mr Raynsford indicated assent. importance of the community being listened to on such examples. Mr Deputy Speaker: Then I shall allow it.

Andrew Stunell: I welcome the hon. Member for City Mr Raynsford: I am very grateful to the Minister for of Durham (Roberta Blackman-Woods) to the Front giving way. He will know that the Government have Bench and welcome her welcome for the amendments taken the view, in relation to the next part of the Bill on that we have introduced. I understand that she obviously planning, that their intended policy should be a material has to go through the ritual motions of accusing us of consideration for local authorities when assessing planning U-turns, but what we actually have is a Government matters. Would it not be appropriate to do exactly the who are listening and ready to share their learning with same in respect of the request of my hon. Friend the the House. We did not come to the House with a Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell)? finished product, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary Should it not be made clear to the council that the of State made clear from the moment the Bill was imminent implementation of this measure should be a produced. I believe that the Bill has been improved at material consideration when deciding the future of the each stage of its progression and has now reached a library? state of perfection. Andrew Stunell: The right hon. Gentleman is being a 9.15 pm little naughty. As he knows, the material consideration The hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John is a matter for the courts, not for interpretation by the McDonnell) has, as ever, skilfully brought to the House Government. Of course, it is open to the local authority an issue of great importance to him and his constituents. to take account of forthcoming legislation and, as I am I can tell him that, subject to events tonight, the Bill will sure the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington will go for Royal Assent later in the year and will come into point out, that might provide an opportunity for it to force next year. He will not be surprised to hear that it move ahead of the change just as much as it might does not contain any retrospective provisions and I am incline it to wait for the measure to be implemented. As afraid there is nothing I can say that will make it ever, one should be careful what one wishes for in this retrospective. He invites me to join him in criticising the place. council for its decisions. That is his right and prerogative as a constituency MP and I am pleased that he is doing Lords amendment 113 agreed to, with Commons financial so but, in the spirit of localism, as a Minister I am privileges waived. bound to say that these are matters for local decision Lords amendments 114 to 150 agreed to, with Commons making, although I might have a view about the decision financial privileges waived in respect of Lords amendments it took. 114, 115, 131, 148 and 150. 121 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 122

Clause 94 their amendment (a). It reflects the 2005 sustainable development strategy, which has not been repealed. In evidence not to the Select Committee chaired by the ABOLITION OF REGIONAL STRATEGIES hon. Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts), to Greg Clark: I beg to move, That this House agrees which I shall be giving evidence later in the week, but to with Lords amendment 151. the Environmental Audit Committee I and a DEFRA Minister made it clear that the 2005 strategy remains Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle): With this it extant and we have no difficulty with the content of it. will be convenient to discuss the following: Of course, that has been captured in previous guidance— PPS1 in particular—and was updated from the first Lords amendments 152 and 153. iteration of the sustainable development strategy in 1999. Lords amendment 154, and amendment (a) thereto. There was a serious debate in the other place about Lords amendments 155 and 156. whether the best place to reflect the shared view of Lords amendment 157, and amendment (a) thereto. sustainable development is on the face of the Bill, or Lords amendments 158 to 165, 237, 238, 240, 257, whether that should be, as it always has been, in guidance. 262, and 350 to 368. On Report there was some concern that a statutory definition makes it difficult to capture the full range of Lords amendment 369, and amendment (a) thereto. aspects of sustainability, which may include but go Lords amendment 370, and amendment (a) thereto. beyond some of the provisions in the sustainable Lords amendment 371 to 382, and 418 to 425. development strategy. I happen to think, and I have said to the Environmental Audit Committee, that some of Greg Clark: Among the areas where centralisation the thinking in the Natural Environment White Paper has increased over the years is in the planning system. makes some helpful suggestions that one should be The regional spatial strategies, whatever their intentions, looking for a net gain for nature. It is important to be clearly took power from local communities. We made open to that. good progress in Committee in addressing the replacement In the other place, Baroness Andrews, the chairman for regional strategies in dealing with larger than local of English Heritage and a recent former planning Minister, matters. The Bill introduces more opportunities for made some of the same arguments about heritage. She neighbourhoods through neighbourhood planning, and said: brings in compulsory pre-application scrutiny. “I feel strongly that one of the elements that is not in this As we have worked through, we have established a amendment”— good deal of common ground. The Committee debate the amendment before us is similar or even identical to focused on the duty to co-operate. Informed by the the one that was considered in the other place— Royal Town Planning Institute and discussions across “...isincluding something about our vital cultural and heritage the Front Benches, we listened to the Committee and, needs, including those of future generations.” as we indicated on Report, made various changes that She went on to say that have been reflected in the Bill as it left the House. We “one might add, for example, ‘meeting the diverse social, cultural, said on Report that the neighbourhood planning section heritage needs of all people in existing and future communities would be amended in the House of Lords. We considered and promoting well-being and social cohesion and inclusion’.” carefully suggestions made from all parts of the House, The noble Lady said that and the amendments before us today reflect that. “if we are to debate the amendment”, It is important to say that we want to see more planning, not less. We feel that over time the imposition the Minister should consider whether the definition from above has stood in the way of local communities could be sufficiently flexible to include expressing their own vision of the future of their community. “the new elements of the definition.”—[Official Report, House of That is what we want to give them a greater chance to Lords, 12 October 2011; Vol. 730, c. 1750.] do. At the heart of that is the need to achieve sustainable I cite that as an example of someone who shares our development. Section 39 of the Planning and Compulsory good will on that point and has recent experience in Purchase Act 2004 provides a duty on those preparing government of planning and of some of the difficulties. local plans to do so with the aim of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development. Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab): I hear Amendment 370 extends that principle to neighbourhood what the Minister says about Baroness Andrews, but planning, with an explicit condition that it should contribute the Government’s response to the Environmental Audit to the achievement of sustainable development. The Committee’s report stated: duty to co-operate will require that public bodies should “The Government agrees that we should put the pursuit of co-operate effectively on sustainable development. We sustainable development right at the heart of the planning system’s debated in Committee whether to include the definition objectives and operation, and that we should be clear about what of sustainable development on the face of the Bill or this commitment means in practice.” whether it should be in guidance. I made a commitment How can they be clear about that if it is not in the Bill? to think seriously about that, which we did. We had various discussions in the other place involving Members Greg Clark: I hope to convince the hon. Lady when I on both sides of the House. say more on that in a few minutes. As we are considering Let me say at the outset that there is no issue in Lords amendments, I will reflect on the conclusions principle with the definition proposed by the hon. Member that were drawn after extensive debates on all these for Birmingham, Erdington (Jack Dromey) and the issues in the House of Lords and what its settled view right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) in was. Lord Howarth of Newport, a Labour peer, said: 123 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 124

[Greg Clark] available to those parts of the country, including the place to which my hon. Friend the Member for Cleethorpes “Like other noble Lords I do not think that it is appropriate to (Martin Vickers) referred, where there was no appetite attempt a full definition on the face of primary legislation because… for a town council but where, nevertheless, there might the right place for that is guidance.”—[Official Report, House of be an appetite for a neighbourhood plan. Lords, 31 October 2011; Vol. 731, c. 1078.] The Opposition spokesman, Lords McKenzie of Luton, 9.30 pm in summing up, said: We agreed to strengthen the safeguards, concerns “We accept that definitions are not going to be included in the about which were expressed in this place, in the House Bill but I hope that at least we shall be able to get very strong of Lords. We have done that in Lords amendments 356 assurances that there will be full definitions in the NPPF.”—[Official to 358 and 368. The hon. Member for Birmingham, Report, House of Lords, 31 October 2011; Vol. 731, c. 1076.] Erdington invoked The Dog and Duck as the test of a At the end of the debate, he said that he was happy to place that should be used for the gatherings of neighbours withdraw the same amendment because my noble Friend in contemplating a neighbourhood plan, and he suggested Baroness Hanham had that its saloon bar should have a minimum of 21 people. “given the strongest degree of reassurance I have heard to date on In fact, I think he suggested fewer, but we thought the issue.”—[Official Report, House of Lords, 31 October 2011; there should be 21, and that found favour elsewhere. Vol. 731, c. 1088.] Such forums should be open as a right to every ward A view was reached in the House of Lords on the basis councillor, and it is important that democratically elected of assurances that my noble Friend gave. I will not representatives should participate, and that neighbourhood quote from some of the other reflections, but some planning should contribute to the social, environmental colleagues there said that this went even further than and economic benefit of the area. they had expected. Lords amendment 370 introduces the sustainable In answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent development test for local planning. Plans, in their North (Joan Walley), the Government are committed to examination, will need to conform and contribute to a clear definition of sustainable development and think the achievement of sustainable development, and the that policy is the right place for it. I have said clearly amendment also specifies that a neighbourhood plan that we have no difficulties with the 2005 definition, can apply to all or part of a parish or neighbourhood area. which I think is ably reflected in the amendment. Hon. Amendment (a) to Lords amendment 369 would Members will know that I cannot pre-empt the consultation provide a statutory right for members of communities on the NPPF, but in all the deliberations we have had on to comment. It is clearly important that people are able the Bill my assurances about the Government’s good to express their views, but we regard the amendment as faith have always been reflected and brought to a final unnecessary, because Lords amendment 369 includes conclusion. I hope that Opposition Front Benchers will community consultation, with a requirement for a statement bear that in mind. of consultation to go forward for examination, and we are consulting now on the regulations to introduce it. Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab): I am Opposition Front Benchers also introduced the proposal sorry to say that the frustration I felt in Committee is that businesses should be able to participate in making now overflowing. The Minister is talking about pre-empting neighbourhood plans. Lords amendment 360 allows things, but surely by having legislation before he has the councils to designate business neighbourhoods that are policy he is pre-empting the whole process. Everything wholly or largely occupied by businesses, but there will is back to front. How can we legislate without seeing the be a double lock: there will need to be two referendums, detail of the NPPF in its final form? and if either the business community or the residential community objects, the matter will be for the local Greg Clark: That was considered in the House of council to decide. Lords. These things have always been captured in policy. The House of Lords has sent back various amendments I could not have been clearer when I said that we have on the community infrastructure levy, and we think it no difficulty with the 2005 strategy or its wording. A important that neighbourhoods retain a stake in the cogent case has been made—let me put it that way—for benefits and some contribution to the cost of hosting expanding and strengthening the definition in the NPPF. development, so there is a suggestion that a meaningful I hope that that demonstrates, on the basis of this proportion of CIL be allocated to them. We will consult House’s experience of the scrutiny of the Bill and the on what proportion that should be. commitments the Government have made, that there is We have considered the restrictions on the use of CIL no difference in our commitment to the matter. Indeed, in response to comments that my right hon. Friend the I have expressed a personal view that I think we could Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon go a little further than the 2005 strategy. We will reflect Hughes) made. The House of Lords concluded that on these contributions in the consultation on the NPPF there should be greater flexibility in the use of CIL and respond in due course. revenues for that proportion which goes to neighbourhoods, Let me say something about neighbourhood planning, recognising that the effects of development on because from the start we all agreed on our ambition to neighbourhoods are local and diverse, and that it should give communities greater opportunity to provide for a be possible to consider them. vision of their future at a level below the local planning In considering CIL schedules, the independent assessor authority. We had some debate about whether it should must already consider the viability of rates of community apply only in parished areas or whether it should be infrastructure levy, and we will provide statutory guidance, available to non-parished areas, and there was again a including an assessment that that should consider the degree of consensus on the idea that it should be delivery of affordable housing. 125 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 126

The amendments proposed by the hon. Member for because the arrangements are needed very soon. Therefore, Birmingham, Erdington are therefore unnecessary and the alternative of including them in the national planning would remove some of the transparency that CIL offers. policy framework when it is eventually published, which There would be a return to case-by-case deals, negotiated was raised in the other place, is not practical. Previous privately, which provide no greater benefit than sticking significant planning legislation in 2004 and 2008 put to section 106. clear transitional arrangements in the legislation to There are some technical amendments on strategic assist local authorities in moving from one planning planning. Lords amendments 151 to 155 allow the system to another. This Bill should do the same. removal of regional strategies by an order laid by the I heard the Minister’s comments about amendment (a) Secretary of State, rather than through a provision to to Lords amendment 157 on the community infrastructure have their abolition commenced by order. We intend levy, but Labour Members have grave concerns about to lay orders revoking the regional strategies as soon as the degree of prominence the Government are giving to possible after Royal Assent, subject to the voluntary the issue of unviability and the extent to which that strategic environmental assessment in which we are might limit the application of the community infrastructure engaged. levy in practice. It is extremely important for there to be Amendment 156 strengthens the test of soundness of independent assessment of the developers’ costs whenever the duty to co-operate, and amendment (a) deals with they are arguing unviability. We would like the Minister transitional arrangements. Again, I want to assure the to consider the matter and if he does not address it in hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington and his the Bill, to do so in the guidance that accompanies the colleagues that there will be transitional arrangements. Bill, so that such a situation does not occur. In a system that is designed to advantage plan making, The amendment to Lords amendment 369 is very in the move from one system to another, it was always straightforward. In keeping with prescribed requirements, intended that we would not contemplate anything that before a neighbourhood planning order can be submitted does not allow local authorities to maintain their ability to the local authority, the amendment would require to plan for the future and make decisions in accordance public consultation to take place. In particular, we want with their needs. So there is no need for legislative to make sure that community and voluntary organisations measures. Such an approach can be delivered through get a chance for their voices to be heard. Labour is very policy, and we will set that out very clearly in our keen to ensure, wherever possible, that community and response to the consultation. I give that commitment. voluntary organisations are able to be fully represented and engaged in the planning process. We would like Mr Betts: We on the Select Committee on Communities Lords amendment 369 to be strengthened if possible. and Local Government received much evidence on the important issue of transitional arrangements. Does I do not wish to go on at length about our amendment the Minister accept that the purpose of transitional to Lords amendment 370, because we have had a number arrangements is to enable local authorities to adjust of opportunities to discuss the need for the Bill to have to the new planning regime that will eventually be a definition of sustainable development. The current implemented, and to give them time to do so properly? definition in the NPPF is not strong enough, and we There will be detailed, thorough negotiations with the would like the Minister to consider taking on board the Local Government Association in trying to reach an definition in the 2005 sustainable development strategy. agreement about what a proper length of time for that That is very important. transitional arrangement should be. We understand why neighbourhood business areas have been put into the Bill, but we are concerned to Greg Clark: I concur with that. ensure that consultation on those areas includes local Overall, the amendments improve the Bill. I am grateful residential communities. I will finish my comments to their lordships for the time they spent scrutinising there because we would, if possible, like to get to vote and approving them, and to all Members of this House on amendment (a) to Lords amendment 154 and and the other place who participated in initiating the amendment (a) to Lords amendment 370. amendments we have back with us today. Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East) (Con): I Roberta Blackman-Woods: I want to try to deal with welcome this Bill and these amendments as we pass a number of issues arising from the Lords amendments powers and responsibilities away from Westminster to very quickly indeed. I shall start with amendment (a) to local authorities. Lords amendment 154 on transitional arrangements. There is sometimes a dissonance between the laws As with many other key aspects of the Bill, hon. that we prescribe here in Parliament and their impact Members will know that discussions have already taken on the front line. I would like to ask the Minister a place in this House and in the other place about the couple of questions to clarify clause 94 and the abolition need for some form of clear transitional arrangements of the dreaded regional spatial strategies in relation to a to be specified in the Bill. In the early stages, it was constituency dilemma that we face in Bournemouth. evident that transitional arrangements were not at the Bournemouth borough council is currently drafting its forefront of the Government’s planning agenda but, as core strategy—the local plan. That is the significant time has gone on, it has become increasingly apparent document of planning intent for the next few years but that, without them, the local planning system could be it is still subject to the old regional spatial strategy thrown into chaos and confusion. because the Bill has not passed into law. The RSS As such, it is worth trying one last time to convince obliges councils to make provision for Gypsy and Traveller the Government of the need to include transitional sites. Three locations have been earmarked for permanent arrangements in the Bill. That seems particularly necessary sites in the proximity of the green belt in the northern 127 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 128

[Mr Tobias Ellwood] Mr Speaker: Is the Minister looking to speak again? part of my constituency.The locals are obviously concerned Greg Clark: Iamhappyto. about this. We had a small debate about nimbyism earlier, but clearly Bournemouth borough council should Mr Speaker: We are grateful to the Minister. If one now have the right to determine whether it wishes to pops the question, one is likely to get the answer. pursue this instead of its being imposed on it by Westminster. Greg Clark: I am grateful, Mr Speaker; I do not I would argue that three Gypsy and Traveller sites in know what to make of that comment. I will respond to close proximity in a very quiet part of one single community a few of the points that have been made by hon. is a bit much. The area is part of Bournemouth’s very Members, including the hon. Member for City of Durham small and diminishing green belt. This is also about (Roberta Blackman-Woods). sharing and quid pro quo—about assets we have in I have been clear that there will be transitional Dorset that are used by the wider conurbation. For arrangements and that we will ensure that they are example, we have a vibrant town centre, an airport, and produced in a timely way so that there is no difficulty incineration facilities. Bournemouth took the biggest with authorities preparing for the introduction of the hit as regards housing development following the numbers national planning policy framework. That does not that were imposed on Dorset by the previous Government; require an amendment. The amendment proposed by most of the housing built in the county was built in the hon. Member for City of Durham does not specify Bournemouth. There is therefore a feeling in Bournemouth what the transitional arrangements should be. All it that we have already contributed, to some degree, to does is to elicit the commitments that I have given her planning law and planning responsibility.There is therefore tonight. I see that she is nodding. I hope that she a question as to whether it is right for these Gypsy and accepts that and that my hon. Friend the Member for Traveller sites to be imposed on the area as they have Mid Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) takes been. the same view. Clause 94 removes the regional spatial strategy, but On the community infrastructure levy, the regulations the Bill is not yet law and the core strategy from already require the independent assessment of viability Bournemouth borough council has to be submitted. when an authority considers a claim for CIL relief from Will the Minister therefore confirm that the removal of a developer to be unviable, especially in the case of the RSS changes the obligations of all core strategies, affordable housing. I give that commitment. If the hon. that there will be an opportunity for councils right Member for City of Durham has any suggestion that across the country to re-submit those core strategies the guidance is inadequate in any way I am happy to once the Bill receives Royal Assent, and that this all sits meet her to consider that, but that has not been our well with the other legislation that is affected—the experience so far. Housing Act 2004, which also covers provision for Gypsy and Traveller sites? I would be grateful for My hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East clarification on those issues. To confirm the feelings of (Mr Ellwood) knows that we recently concluded a residents, I am running a petition that I will shortly consultation on Gypsy and Traveller policy. It would hand to the Minister with a collection of signatures to not be appropriate for me to pre-empt that, but I would ensure that this message is understood. I look forward say that the abolition of the regional strategies puts to his reply. clearly into the hands of local authorities the ability to assess the needs of Gypsy and Traveller communities Annette Brooke: I welcome the Lords amendments across the country. Of course, the changes that we have and will comment on two aspects of them. discussed tonight provide for a fairer system of enforcement, whereby a planning application that is introduced I agree that transitional arrangements are of prime retrospectively does not stay the enforcement action, importance. I accept that they do not necessarily have which has sometimes been the case. to be in the Bill, but I urge the Minister to provide some clarity on them as soon as is practical because it is making planning difficult in many respects in local areas. Mr Ellwood: Bournemouth borough council received legal advice encouraging it to continue with the legal process of going to consultation, as my hon. Friend the 9.45 pm Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Annette Following on from the comments of hon. Member Brooke) suggested. However, I hear from my hon. Friend for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), all Dorset councillors the Member for Cannock Chase (Mr Burley) that the are currently consulting on potential Traveller sites. It legal advice given to his council was that it did not need will be helpful if there is timely clarity on the consultation to pursue that process because the intent of the Government on Traveller sites, so that councils are clear about their was that the regional spatial strategy would be removed position. and that therefore the core strategies did not need to I have made much of the point that there should be a include Gypsy and Traveller sites. One council is being definition for sustainable development, preferably based told one thing and another is being told something else. on the 2005 definition. I have taken from the Minister tonight a clear indication that we will get a stronger Greg Clark: That is often the case with legal advice. definition of sustainable development and that it is This is a matter for the courts. The Under-Secretary of likely to be in the national planning policy framework. I State, my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove welcome that comment. Of course, I shall return to the (Andrew Stunell) pointed out that the weight given to Minister to make further comments if that is not the emerging policy is a matter for decision makers. It is not case. possible, however tempting, for Ministers to direct decision 129 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 130 makers on that point. Regional strategies have set out Evans, Chris Meale, Sir Alan guidance to date, but it is for decision makers to decide Farrelly, Paul Mearns, Ian how much weight they want to give to the Government’s Field, rh Mr Frank Michael, rh Alun intentions in revoking regional strategies. Fitzpatrick, Jim Mitchell, Austin Flello, Robert Moon, Mrs Madeleine I shall conclude by saying a little about the definition Flint, rh Caroline Morden, Jessica of sustainable development. I think it is obvious to Flynn, Paul Morrice, Graeme (Livingston) every Member who has participated in these debates Francis, Dr Hywel Morris, Grahame M. that our intention is to reflect, through guidance, a Gapes, Mike (Easington) stronger and more expansive definition. I have made it Gardiner, Barry Mudie, Mr George quite clear that the 2005 strategy offers a basis that has Gilmore, Sheila Munn, Meg been commended to us by many respondents to the Glass, Pat Murphy, rh Mr Jim consultation. It is extant, and I have no difficulty with Glindon, Mrs Mary Murphy, rh Paul it. We may be able to go further in some respects, but it Godsiff, Mr Roger Nandy, Lisa is clear and reflects the considered views of both Houses. Goggins, rh Paul Nash, Pamela Goodman, Helen O’Donnell, Fiona The colleague of the hon. Member for City of Durham Greatrex, Tom Onwurah, Chi in the other place thought it was right to withdraw the Green, Kate Osborne, Sandra Opposition amendment there on the basis of the same Greenwood, Lilian Owen, Albert assurances. Given that, and given that the consultation Griffith, Nia Perkins, Toby has closed and it will not be much longer before she can Gwynne, Andrew Pound, Stephen see the outcome of our deliberations, I hope she will not Hain, rh Mr Peter Raynsford, rh Mr Nick press her amendment on the subject. I commend all the Hamilton, Mr David Reed, Mr Jamie Lords amendments in this group to the House. Hanson, rh Mr David Reeves, Rachel Harman, rh Ms Harriet Reynolds, Emma Lords amendment 151 agreed to. Harris, Mr Tom Reynolds, Jonathan Lords amendments 152 and 153 agreed to. Havard, Mr Dai Riordan, Mrs Linda Amendment (a) proposed to Lords amendment 154.— Healey, rh John Robertson, John (Roberta Blackman-Woods.) Hendrick, Mark Robinson, Mr Geoffrey Hepburn, Mr Stephen Rotheram, Steve Question put, That the amendment be made. Heyes, David Roy, Mr Frank The House divided: Ayes 205, Noes 305. Hilling, Julie Roy, Lindsay Hodge, rh Margaret Seabeck, Alison Division No. 392] [9.52 pm Hodgson, Mrs Sharon Sharma, Mr Virendra Hoey, Kate Sheerman, Mr Barry AYES Hopkins, Kelvin Sheridan, Jim Abrahams, Debbie Caton, Martin Howarth, rh Mr George Shuker, Gavin Ainsworth, rh Mr Bob Chapman, Mrs Jenny Hunt, Tristram Skinner, Mr Dennis Alexander, rh Mr Douglas Clark, Katy Irranca-Davies, Huw Slaughter, Mr Andy Jamieson, Cathy Alexander, Heidi Clarke, rh Mr Tom Smith, rh Mr Andrew Clwyd, rh Ann Jarvis, Dan Ali, Rushanara Smith, Angela Coaker, Vernon Johnson, rh Alan Anderson, Mr David Smith, Owen Coffey, Ann Johnson, Diana Spellar, rh Mr John Ashworth, Jonathan Connarty, Michael Jones, Graham Straw, rh Mr Jack Austin, Ian Jones, Helen Cooper, Rosie Stringer, Graham Bailey, Mr Adrian Jones, Mr Kevan Cooper, rh Yvette Stuart, Ms Gisela Bain, Mr William Joyce, Eric Corbyn, Jeremy Sutcliffe, Mr Gerry Balls, rh Ed Crausby, Mr David Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald Tami, Mark Creagh, Mary Kendall, Liz Banks, Gordon Thomas, Mr Gareth Barron, rh Mr Kevin Creasy, Stella Lammy, rh Mr David Lavery, Ian Thornberry, Emily Begg, Dame Anne Cruddas, Jon Leslie, Chris Timms, rh Stephen Bell, Sir Stuart Cunningham, Alex Cunningham, Mr Jim Lewis, Mr Ivan Trickett, Jon Benn, rh Hilary Cunningham, Tony Llwyd, rh Mr Elfyn Turner, Karl Benton, Mr Joe Curran, Margaret Lucas, Caroline Twigg, Derek Berger, Luciana Dakin, Nic Lucas, Ian Twigg, Stephen Betts, Mr Clive Danczuk, Simon Mactaggart, Fiona Umunna, Mr Chuka Blackman-Woods, Roberta Darling, rh Mr Alistair Mahmood, Shabana Vaz, Valerie Blears, rh Hazel David, Mr Wayne Mann, John Walley, Joan Blenkinsop, Tom Davies, Geraint Marsden, Mr Gordon Watts, Mr Dave Blomfield, Paul De Piero, Gloria McCabe, Steve Whitehead, Dr Alan McCann, Mr Michael Blunkett, rh Mr David Denham, rh Mr John Wilson, Phil McCarthy, Kerry Bradshaw, rh Mr Ben Dobbin, Jim Winnick, Mr David Donohoe, Mr Brian H. McClymont, Gregg Brown, rh Mr Gordon Winterton, rh Ms Rosie Doran, Mr Frank McDonnell, John Woodcock, John Brown, Lyn McFadden, rh Mr Pat Dowd, Jim Wright, David Brown, rh Mr Nicholas McGuire, rh Mrs Anne Dromey, Jack Wright, Mr Iain Brown, Mr Russell McKechin, Ann Dugher, Michael McKenzie, Mr Iain Buck, Ms Karen Eagle, Maria Tellers for the Ayes: McKinnell, Catherine Yvonne Fovargue and Burnham, rh Andy Edwards, Jonathan Meacher, rh Mr Michael Byrne, rh Mr Liam Ellman, Mrs Louise Campbell, Mr Alan Esterson, Bill 131 Localism Bill7 NOVEMBER 2011 Localism Bill 132

NOES Huhne, rh Chris Ottaway, Richard Huppert, Dr Julian Parish, Neil Adams, Nigel Dorrell, rh Mr Stephen Hurd, Mr Nick Patel, Priti Afriyie, Adam Dorries, Nadine Jackson, Mr Stewart Pawsey, Mark Aldous, Peter Doyle-Price, Jackie Javid, Sajid Penning, Mike Andrew, Stuart Drax, Richard Jenkin, Mr Bernard Penrose, John Arbuthnot, rh Mr James Duddridge, James Johnson, Gareth Percy, Andrew Bacon, Mr Richard Duncan, rh Mr Alan Johnson, Joseph Perry, Claire Baker, Norman Ellis, Michael Jones, Andrew Phillips, Stephen Baker, Steve Ellison, Jane Jones, Mr Marcus Pickles, rh Mr Eric Baldry, Tony Ellwood, Mr Tobias Kawczynski, Daniel Pincher, Christopher Baldwin, Harriett Elphicke, Charlie Kelly, Chris Poulter, Dr Daniel Barclay, Stephen Eustice, George Kirby, Simon Prisk, Mr Mark Barker, Gregory Evans, Graham Kwarteng, Kwasi Pugh, John Baron, Mr John Evans, Jonathan Laing, Mrs Eleanor Raab, Mr Dominic Barwell, Gavin Evennett, Mr David Lancaster, Mark Randall, rh Mr John Bebb, Guto Fabricant, Michael Lansley, rh Mr Andrew Redwood, rh Mr John Beith, rh Sir Alan Fallon, Michael Latham, Pauline Rees-Mogg, Jacob Benyon, Richard Farron, Tim Reevell, Simon Beresford, Sir Paul Featherstone, Lynne Laws, rh Mr David Reid, Mr Alan Berry, Jake Field, Mark Lee, Jessica Robathan, rh Mr Andrew Bingham, Andrew Foster, rh Mr Don Lee, Dr Phillip Robertson, Hugh Binley, Mr Brian Fox,rhDrLiam Lefroy, Jeremy Robertson, Mr Laurence Birtwistle, Gordon Freeman, George Leigh, Mr Edward Rogerson, Dan Blackman, Bob Fullbrook, Lorraine Leslie, Charlotte Rosindell, Andrew Blackwood, Nicola Gale, Mr Roger Letwin, rh Mr Oliver Rudd, Amber Blunt, Mr Crispin Garnier, Mr Edward Lewis, Brandon Ruffley, Mr David Boles, Nick Garnier, Mark Lewis, Dr Julian Russell, Bob Bone, Mr Peter Gauke, Mr David Liddell-Grainger, Mr Ian Rutley, David Bottomley, Sir Peter George, Andrew Lilley, rh Mr Peter Sanders, Mr Adrian Bradley, Karen Gibb, Mr Nick Lloyd, Stephen Sandys, Laura Brady, Mr Graham Gilbert, Stephen Lopresti, Jack Scott, Mr Lee Brake, rh Tom Gillan, rh Mrs Cheryl Lord, Jonathan Selous, Andrew Bray, Angie Glen, John Lumley, Karen Shapps, rh Grant Brazier, Mr Julian Goldsmith, Zac Macleod, Mary Sharma, Alok Bridgen, Andrew Goodwill, Mr Robert Main, Mrs Anne Shelbrooke, Alec Brine, Steve Graham, Richard Maynard, Paul Simmonds, Mark Brokenshire, James Grant, Mrs Helen McCartney, Karl Simpson, Mr Keith Brooke, Annette Gray, Mr James McIntosh, Miss Anne Skidmore, Chris Browne, Mr Jeremy Grayling, rh Chris Smith, Miss Chloe Bruce, Fiona Green, Damian McLoughlin, rh Mr Patrick Smith, Henry Bruce, rh Malcolm Greening, rh Justine McPartland, Stephen Smith, Julian Buckland, Mr Robert Grieve, rh Mr Dominic McVey, Esther Smith, Sir Robert Burley, Mr Aidan Griffiths, Andrew Mensch, Louise Soames, rh Nicholas Burns, rh Mr Simon Gummer, Ben Menzies, Mark Spelman, rh Mrs Caroline Burrowes, Mr David Gyimah, Mr Sam Mercer, Patrick Spencer, Mr Mark Burstow, Paul Halfon, Robert Metcalfe, Stephen Stanley, rh Sir John Burt, Lorely Hames, Duncan Miller, Maria Stephenson, Andrew Byles, Dan Hammond, Stephen Mills, Nigel Stevenson, John Cairns, Alun Hancock, Matthew Mitchell, rh Mr Andrew Stewart, Bob Campbell, rh Sir Menzies Hancock, Mr Mike Moore, rh Michael Stewart, Iain Carmichael, rh Mr Alistair Harper, Mr Mark Mordaunt, Penny Stewart, Rory Carmichael, Neil Harrington, Richard Morgan, Nicky Streeter, Mr Gary Carswell, Mr Douglas Harris, Rebecca Morris, Anne Marie Stride, Mel Chishti, Rehman Hart, Simon Morris, David Stuart, Mr Graham Chope, Mr Christopher Harvey, Nick Morris, James Stunell, Andrew Clappison, Mr James Haselhurst, rh Sir Alan Mosley, Stephen Sturdy, Julian Clark, rh Greg Heald, Oliver Mowat, David Swales, Ian Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey Heath, Mr David Mulholland, Greg Swayne, rh Mr Desmond Coffey, Dr Thérèse Heaton-Harris, Chris Mundell, rh David Swinson, Jo Collins, Damian Hemming, John Colvile, Oliver Henderson, Gordon Munt, Tessa Syms, Mr Robert Cox, Mr Geoffrey Hendry, Charles Murray, Sheryll Tapsell, rh Sir Peter Crabb, Stephen Herbert, rh Nick Murrison, Dr Andrew Teather, Sarah Crockart, Mike Hinds, Damian Neill, Robert Thurso, John Crouch, Tracey Hoban, Mr Mark Newmark, Mr Brooks Tomlinson, Justin Davies, David T. C. Hollingbery, George Newton, Sarah Truss, Elizabeth (Monmouth) Hollobone, Mr Philip Nokes, Caroline Turner, Mr Andrew Davies, Glyn Holloway, Mr Adam Nuttall, Mr David Tyrie, Mr Andrew Davies, Philip Hopkins, Kris O’Brien, Mr Stephen Uppal, Paul de Bois, Nick Horwood, Martin Offord, Mr Matthew Vara, Mr Shailesh Dinenage, Caroline Howell, John Ollerenshaw, Eric Vickers, Martin Djanogly, Mr Jonathan Hughes, rh Simon Opperman, Guy Villiers, rh Mrs Theresa 133 Localism Bill 7 NOVEMBER 2011 134

Walker, Mr Charles Williamson, Gavin COMMITTEES Walker, Mr Robin Willott, Jenny Wallace, Mr Ben Wilson, Mr Rob Mr Speaker: With the leave of the House, we will take Ward, Mr David Wollaston, Dr Sarah motions 7 and 8 together. Watkinson, Angela Wright, Jeremy Ordered, Weatherley, Mike Wright, Simon Webb, Steve Yeo, Mr Tim COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Wharton, James Young, rh Sir George That Steve Rotheram be discharged from the Communities Wheeler, Heather Zahawi, Nadhim and Local Government Committee and Bill Esterson be added. Wiggin, Bill Williams, Mr Mark Tellers for the Noes: EDUCATION Williams, Roger Greg Hands and That Nic Dakin be discharged from the Education Committee Williams, Stephen Mark Hunter and Alex Cunningham be added.—(Geoffrey Clifton-Brown on behalf of the Committee of Selection.) Question accordingly negatived. PETITION 10.7 pm Teachers’ Pension Scheme Proceedings interrupted (Programme Order, this day). The Speaker put forthwith the Questions necessary for 10.8 pm the disposal of the business to be concluded at that time Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab): A couple of weeks (Standing Order No. 83F) ago, Andy Yeadon of John Leggott college and Stephen Lords amendment 154 agreed to. Buck and John Outhwaite of Frederick Gough school Lords amendments 155 to 441 agreed to, with Commons brought a petition to me that I should like to place financial privileges waived in respect of Lords amendments before the House on their behalf and that of the other 157 to 165, 225, 226, 250 to 254, 257, 260, 294, 295, 302, petitioners from John Leggott college and Frederick 312, 334, 335, 337 to 344, 349, 371, 376, 377, 387, 389, Gough school who have signed it. 395, 399 to 402. The petition states: The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons Business without Debate urges the Government to withdraw its proposals on reform of teachers’ pensions, and conduct a valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. DELEGATED LEGISLATION And the Petitioners remain, etc. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Following is the full text of the petition: Order No. 118(6)), [The Petition of staff at John Leggott College, Scunthorpe, and Frederick Gough School, Scunthorpe, COAST PROTECTION Declares that the Petitioners note that the Teachers’ That the draft Incidental Flooding and Coastal Erosion (England) Pension Scheme, along with other schemes, was reformed Order 2011, which was laid before this House on 5 September, be in 2007 to ensure sustainability and viability for the long approved.—(James Duddridge.) term, declares that the Petitioners reject the Government’s Question agreed to. claim that such schemes are unaffordable and a drain on taxpayers, further declares that the Petitioners believe REGULATORY REFORM that proposed changes to public sector pensions, including those of teachers, lecturers, principles and head teachers Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing working in maintained schools, academics, independent Order No. 18(1)), schools and teaching colleges are unjustified and declares That the draft Legislative Reform (Industrial and Provident that the Petitioners believe that continuing government Societies and Credit Unions) Order 2011, which was laid before changes to these pensions will be deeply damaging to staff this House on 19 July, be approved.—(James Duddridge.) recruitment, retention, mobility, morale and motivation Question agreed to. and will jeopardise the education of all children and young people. STANDARDS AND PRIVILEGES The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Ordered, Commons urges the Government to withdraw its proposals on reform of teachers’ pensions, and conduct a valuation That Tom Blenkinsop be discharged from the Committee on Standards and Privileges and Julie Hilling be added.—(James of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Duddridge.) And the Petitioners remain, etc.] [P000974] 135 7 NOVEMBER 2011 Patient Security (Mental Health 136 System) Patient Security (Mental Health System) have replied. The figures make grim reading. Before I go into them, however, I should say that this exercise has Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House shown me that there is a real variety in the quality of do now adjourn.—(James Duddridge.) record keeping at the trusts. There also seems to be a real difference in the way in which the term “abscond” is 10.9 pm used by the trusts as a basis for recording the relevant Nicky Morgan (Loughborough) (Con): I am extremely information. I hope that the Minister and the Department pleased to have this opportunity to raise this important will be able to help with this matter. topic in the Chamber tonight. I should declare at the The Mental Health Act 1983 defines “abscond” as outset my position as a vice-chairman of the all-party when a patient who is liable to be detained under the parliamentary group on mental health. Act The Government’s recent mental health strategy stated (a) absents himself from the hospital without leave granted that mental ill health represented up to 23% of the total under section 17 above; or burden of ill health in the UK, and that it was the (b) fails to return to the hospital on any occasion on which, or largest single cause of disability. At least one in four at the expiration of any period for which, leave of absence was adults will, at some point in their life, experience a granted to him…; or period of mental ill health. For some, it may be a (c) absents himself without permission from any place where relatively mild, one-off episode. For others, the first he is required to reside in accordance with conditions imposed on episode will herald the start of a long-term relationship the grant of leave of absence”. with the mental health services in all their guises. Such In responding to my request for information, some episodes, whether short term or long term, have a trusts used this definition, while others made the distinction profound effect not only on the person suffering with a between a patient who was “absent without leave”, mental health condition but on their families and friends, “absent without explanation”, “missing” or escaped. In many of whom will never have come into contact with addition, some trusts use the terms “AWOL”and “abscond” these conditions or this part of the NHS before. interchangeably without definition or explanation. Other In the most serious cases, a patient might spend a trusts used only “abscond”, but did not define what period of time in an acute care setting, either voluntarily they meant by the term. Finally, some trusts provided or while being detained under the Mental Health Act the number of “incidents” of absconding, rather than for their own welfare and the welfare of those around the number of patients. Others did not make that distinction. them. At such times, the patient and their families For simplicity, however, the figures that I will now and loved ones will expect the patient to be kept safe mention refer to the total number given for the five-year and secure while they are given the appropriate therapy period that I asked about, and therefore do not differentiate and treatment to enable them to resume their place in the different types of absconding incident. our communities. That expectation, and the fact that it My research showed that in the past five years about is sometimes not fulfilled, are the focus of this short 40,500 incidents of absconding occurred, ranging from debate tonight. a total of three reported incidents for Barnet, Enfield In June 2010, shortly after I was elected as the Member and Haringey Mental Health Partnership Trust to 3,891 of Parliament for Loughborough, I was approached by for Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust. There is a constituent, Glyn Brookes, who told me about the significant variation across the country, so clearly some tragic death of his daughter, Kirsty. I appreciate that trusts are doing things very differently from others. In the Minister is unlikely to be able to respond to this the case of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, the particular case, although I have sent his office a copy of total figure for the past five years is 386. I must stress the coroner’s report into Kirsty’s death. However, it is caution in comparing those numbers. We could, in because of this case that I have ended up leading this many cases, be comparing different things—although debate tonight. the overall effect of patients absconding is the same—simply Kirsty was a patient at the Bradgate unit at University because the trusts use their own definitions, despite the Hospitals of Leicester. She was able to escape from the fact that the Department of Health has published its unit using the frame of an external door to help her. definitions of absconding and escaping. Her escape was not dealt with as it should have been, and she was able to commit suicide before either the Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): I do not hospital authorities or the police found her. This has know where on my hon. Friend’s list the Hampshire clearly been devastating for the Brookes family, and Partnership NHS Trust figures, but did she find any I would like to pay tribute to them, and particularly to correlation between the quality of the infrastructure of Mr Brookes who contacted me to tell me their story. I the units and the numbers of people absconding? Did would also like to pay tribute to the excellent coroner she find, for example, that a brand new unit, such as whose report helped, I think, to answer the Brookes Woodhaven in my constituency, tended to have a lower family’s questions about the tragedy. I should say that rate of such problems? This is of particular interest to I have spoken to the former and current chairmen of me, as that eight-year-old hospital is threatened with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, which administers closure, and I have a debate on it later this week. the unit, and I understand that work is ongoing to learn and act on the lessons of this case. Nicky Morgan: I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I As a result of the case being raised with me, I began have seen the subject of his Adjournment debate later to wonder how many other patients absconded each this week. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity year from units run by our mental health trusts. I to go into that level of detail, but I shall come to the submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to all quality of care and to demonstrate that it has a huge 58 of the mental health trusts in England, 57 of which impact on the absconding rate for patients. As I shall 137 Patient Security (Mental Health 7 NOVEMBER 2011 Patient Security (Mental Health 138 System) System) come on to mention, this is an issue on which the what we need to do if we are to deal with the issue Department of Health and the trusts could work together. properly is to break down and challenge those labels, so Interested Members or other interested parties should that the patient is not seen just as a mental health see the link between absconding and the quality of care patient but as a person? All the therapies and preventive given. There is no doubt that there are innovative ways measures she is talking about relate to that issue. If we of ensuring that patients do not feel the need to abscond, can get that right, we will be able to look at people and and that if they are outside the environment, of ensuring treat them in the way that they deserve—with respect, that they will come back because they know that they which will help to prevent the episodes of absconding will receive therapeutic treatment. or escape that my hon. Friend mentions. As I was saying, despite all the caveats, the numbers are simply too high for organisations that owe their Nicky Morgan: I entirely agree with my hon. Friend, patients a duty of care. The fifth agreed objective in the who is a qualified NHS practitioner and knows far Government’s mental health strategy launched earlier more about these matters than I do. Everything that he this year stated: has said confirms the fact that we must not forget that “Fewer people will suffer avoidable harm—people receiving people are at the heart of all cases of this kind—not just care and support should have confidence that the services they patients, but their families. The sooner patients receive use are of the highest quality and at least as safe as any other good therapeutic treatments and can resume their place public service.” in society, the better. My hon. Friend made another This is, of course, an objective that anyone who has an important point: for too long a stigma has been attached interest in any health service, but particularly mental to mental ill-health conditions, and people do not talk health services, would want to see met. The fact is that about them. I hope that tonight’s debate will mark the guidance is already in place for mental health trusts and beginning of more open discussion of such conditions, for those working within them to follow, although it in the House and beyond. would be fair to say that a lot of that guidance deals Kirsty’s father told me that he believed that there was with how to react to an incident of absconding rather nothing to do at the unit where she was being treated. than offering concrete guidance on prevention. In the He said that there were no constructive therapies. case of my constituent, the coroner expressly found that Rethink Mental Illness and the Royal College of “it would appear that the hospital had a system and policies in Psychiatrists drew my attention to a 2010 report that place to protect and supervise Kirsty from harm but at all had been prepared as part of the National Confidential material times those caring for her did not follow those policies.” Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental That is just not acceptable. Illness. According to the report, between 1997 and 2006 The Minister will remember the long sessions earlier absconders accounted for 25% of all in-patient suicides this year discussing the Health and Social Care Bill in and 38% of suicides that occurred off the wards. Absconding Committee Room 10 upstairs—how could we forget patients were also significantly more likely to have been them? One of the recurring themes was not just that we under high levels of observation, but clinicians reported all want to see high-quality services but how we ensure more problems in the observation of those who had our health and social care services are high quality and absconded owing to ward design or other patients in the that everyone is focused on the primary objectives of ward. The report made three recommendations for the health system. Do we do so through inspections? improvement: that staff need to pay better attention, Do we hope that everyone working within the health not just to patients but to ward exits; that observation system works to their own high standards, as many methods should improve, as there was little evidence thousands of employees surely do? Do we ensure that regarding the protective effect of close observation, and guidance is not only available but followed? And do we high levels of observation may be ineffective for people ensure that when things go wrong, as in the case of my who are intent on leaving the ward; and that there constituent, thorough investigations follow and lessons should be an increased focus on engagement and support are learned? Surely it must be a combination of all by staff when patients are admitted. those things. However, as Mind pointed out to me, there is evidence As I mentioned, hospital wards are meant to be that when wards take a more innovative approach to places of therapy, but too often, especially in the case of in-patient care, there are fewer incidences of both aggression mental health wards, they are anything but. In a recent and absconding. There is already an incentive for our report, the Centre for Social Justice said: mental health trusts to do better in terms of the treatment and care that they offer to in-patients. “Hospitals tend to be untherapeutic and dangerous places”. Let me end by drawing all those thoughts together. In helping me to prepare for this debate, Mind sent me a First, we need more research in order to understand the note saying: scale of the problem. The information that I have “The quality of care quite clearly has an impact on a patient’s obtained is, I hope, a good start, but I think that the decision to abscond. Unfortunately, as Mind’s forthcoming acute Department could insist that trusts use one set of definitions and crisis care campaign will show, people in inpatient settings often experience substandard quality, with no meaningful activities, so that numbers can be properly compared, and that little or no interaction with staff or each other, and at worst, lack trusts with low incidences of absconding could share of safety, abuse and coercive treatment.” their experiences with those whose absconding rate is very much higher. The Department could also insist on Dr Daniel Poulter (Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) publication of the information that I had to obtain (Con): Does my hon. Friend agree that one problem—she under the Freedom of Information Act. has done well in bringing this debate before us this Secondly, trusts should not only follow existing guidance, evening—is the fact that people often become labelled but work out how they do their best to prevent patients, when they are in a mental health care setting, whereas when they are at their most vulnerable, from absconding 139 Patient Security (Mental Health 7 NOVEMBER 2011 Patient Security (Mental Health 140 System) System) [Nicky Morgan] My hon. Friend rightly referred to the invaluable work done by the national confidential inquiry into and causing harm to themselves. My office did not have suicide and homicide by people with mental illness. to look very far to find seven newspaper reports about Although the suicides rates in England have been at a patients who had absconded this year. Six of those cases historical low and are much lower than those of most of tragically ended with the patients taking their own lives, our European neighbours, the most recent figures, dating and in one case the patient killed someone else. I believe back to 2009, show that there are still about 4,400 suicides that only by encouraging trusts to take those steps will in England; that is one suicide every two hours. the Department stand a chance of fulfilling the fifth Over the past decade, good progress has been made objective in its laudable mental health strategy. in reducing the suicide rate in England. However, there Finally, I should like us all to remember that at the has been a slight rise in the last couple of years. It is heart of this are usually very ill people and their families. therefore important that we maintain vigilance. We Mr Brookes said to me in July this year, “We trusted the know from experience that suicide rates can be volatile system. We paid our taxes, and we expected the best as new risks emerge. That is why we recently completed care for those who are at their most vulnerable.” a national consultation on our suicide prevention strategy. We talk a lot in the House of Commons about We are considering the responses received, and intend physical health outcomes, but the time has come for to publish the final strategy next year. mental health to get a proper look in. As someone The draft strategy aimed to set out a broad and speaking at one of the all-party meetings on mental coherent approach to suicide prevention and to helping health said, “We all have mental health; it is just that us sustain, and reduce further, the relatively low rates of some people’s is better than that of others.” suicide in England. In particular, it sets out to reduce We are talking about people, so there are no absolutes, the suicide rate in the general population and to provide and there will always be those who are determined to better support and information to those bereaved or take their own lives, but I hope that tonight, by focusing otherwise affected by a suicide. on one part of the mental health system—the security of patients being treated in hospital settings—the House Substantial improvements have already been made in can begin to make clear its desire to see real parity in-patient services. The most recent national confidential between physical and mental health conditions in the inquiry into suicide and homicide was published in July context of funding and treatment. I believe that if we do 2011. It shows that the long-term downward trend in not do that, we will be storing up huge trouble for the in-patient suicides continues. In 1997 there were 214 country, and there will be more tragic deaths of patients in-patient suicides, falling to 94 by 2008. That is still like Kirsty which could perhaps be prevented. 94 too many, so there is still more to be done. I applaud my hon. Friend on her initiative in gathering 10.23 pm the statistics she has presented to the House. However, The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul she is right to sound a note of caution about how the Burstow): I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member figures might be interpreted, and what they reveal to us. for Loughborough (Nicky Morgan) on securing the For example, information about the length of time for debate, and on the thoughtful way in which she set out which patients are missing or the level of risk that they her case. Let me begin my speech where she ended hers. pose either to themselves or to other people is relevant The coalition Government are totally committed to to gauging the true scale of the problem on which she securing parity of esteem between mental and physical seeks to persuade the Government to take action. health. Quite simply, that is the right thing to do, and it is long overdue. We are determined for it to happen as There are a wide variety of reasons for recorded part of the strategy that we are currently delivering and unauthorised absences. These include situations that the changes currently taking place. pose minimum risk to the patient or the public, such as a delay in return to hospital from authorised leave I am well aware of the tragic incident to which because of a missed or delayed bus. We could be talking the hon. Lady referred, and which was undoubtedly the about a delay of no more than a couple of hours before spur for the debate. I also thank her for sharing some patients return safely to their unit. However, that the coroner’s report with me. I am keenly aware of the return has to be recorded, even if it is for just a matter fact that the trust involved in this sad case fully accepts of a couple of hours. the coroner’s verdict and has undertaken an overhaul of its patient security arrangements. It is important for Recent statistics from the confidential inquiry show public confidence in the system that lessons are learned that between 2004 and 2008 the number of suicides per and actions are taken to improve patient safety and year by patients who have absconded from mental health service quality. services has dropped by more than 50%, from 50 cases The coalition Government are committed to patient to 21 cases per year. That is a substantial improvement, safety. It is a high priority in our strategies and in the but it is still 21 cases too many. outcomes on which we are judging the NHS. Our That is why we are not complacent. We know that a cross-Government mental health strategy, “No health significant number of suicides still occur during a period without mental health”, includes two core objectives to of in-patient care in spite of the improvements. Managing which I wish to draw attention: ensuring that people risk effectively is therefore essential, and the confidential who are acutely ill receive safe, high-quality care in an inquiry collects and analyses the detailed clinical information appropriate environment, and thereby ensuring that on all suicides and homicides committed by someone fewer people suffer avoidable harm. The NHS outcomes with mental illness, and more latterly also on sudden framework also prioritises patient safety and emphasises and unexplained deaths of psychiatric in-patients. It treating and caring for people in a safe environment and also makes recommendations for improvements, which protecting them from avoidable harm. goes to the heart of my hon. Friend’s representations 141 Patient Security (Mental Health 7 NOVEMBER 2011 Patient Security (Mental Health 142 System) System) tonight. Its December 2006 report sets out some compelling incidents or patterns of absences. The CQC recommends statistics—for example, that 27% of in-patient suicides that providers monitor and review absences without occurred after the patient left the ward without permission. leave to understand why patients go absent and to help Those deaths were clustered in the first seven days after develop strategies to address these identified issues. an admission. My hon. Friend identified concerns about what she In mental health services, respect for the patient’s described as the variation that she encountered in the wishes must at all times be balanced with the concern definitions that appeared to be being used by different for the individual’s safety and well-being. There is no trusts when she undertook her freedom of information doubt that that balancing act can, and does at times, requests. I can, however, assure her that the definitions present significant challenges for services. However, the of “escape”, “attempted escape”, “abscond”, “failure solution to the problem does not have to be heavy-handed to return” and “absent without leave” are applied or coercive in its approach. A significant body of research, consistently in mental health services. Indeed, most of guidance and best practice has demonstrated practical those definitions relate to the three-part description strategies that can be implemented and can help to that she listed. I suspect that the differences in the reduce significantly the number of people going missing. returns she received are due to the mixture in the type Such strategies include: early assessment; ensuring that and size of mental health services within one trust, and staff begin to form a meaningful, therapeutic and therefore the mixture of type and number of absences collaborative relationship with patients straight away; reported. For instance, a trust may include a high-secure understanding the factors that trigger a decision to hospital, two medium-secure units and also low-secure leave the ward, such as a disturbed environment or an and non-secure mental health services. The numbers incident affecting the patient; recognising that patients from that trust may give us no understanding of the will have social responsibilities such as paying bills or type of risk of the absences recorded. That is why my ensuring that their property is secure—staff need to hon. Friend is right to say that we need good data identify these issues early to prevent anxiety and stress collection in this area, and that is why we have asked the that may lead to the patient choosing to leave—and CQC to collect those data in such a way that we can making greater use of technology, such as CCTV or meaningfully segment them to understand what is going swipe cards, to observe and control ward entry and exit. on. I shall write to her about the statistics that she has Key to the successful delivery of those approaches collected. will be the ongoing development of an acute specialist The Government believe that people with acute mental work force with the right skills and attitudes, and a health needs have a right to receive the care and support culture of inquiry and service improvement based on they need in a safe and comfortable environment in evidence and regular service user and carer feedback. which they are treated with the dignity and respect they The law is clear in the obligations it places on services. deserve. As my hon. Friend has said, there is a cross- The Mental Health Act 1983, to which my hon. Friend Government mental health programme in place to drive referred, sets out the legal provisions relating to keeping whole system and cultural change in mental health patients in legal custody and bringing them back if they services. However, this cannot and should not be seen as abscond. The Mental Health Act code of practice is solely the Government’s responsibility. The essential equally explicit in the guidance it gives to services about building blocks are in place but, as always, the responsibility the systems and processes that should be in place to for the quality and safety of front-line care crucially safeguard detained patients. Hospital managers should depends on three things. First, providers have a duty of ensure that there is a clear written policy about the care to each individual for whom they are responsible— action to be taken when a detained patient, or a patient ensuring that services meet individual needs and that on a supervised community treatment order, goes missing. there are systems in place to make sure that services are These policies should, in turn, be agreed with other effective, efficient and deliver high-quality care. Secondly, agencies, such as the police and ambulance services, the regulator is responsible for assuring the quality of which have significant roles to play in safeguarding the system itself. Thirdly, the commissioners are responsible patients who are absent without leave. for securing the care that meets people’s needs. Just last year, it was confirmed for the first time that My hon. Friend was absolutely right to bring this the detaining authorities would be required by statutory important debate before the House, and she was also regulation to notify the Care Quality Commission, without right to point out that we often debate issues of physical delay, of any absence without leave of any person health in the House but rarely debate mental health detained or liable to be detained under the Mental issues except in extremis. I assure her that the Government Health Act. A failure to take adequate measures to keep are determined to invest in mental health services to a detained patient safe from fatal harm is potentially a ensure that more therapies and therapeutic services are breach of article 2 of the European convention on available. Indeed, that is why we are investing in talking human rights. The CQC asks services that are designated therapy services. It is important that with mental health as low, medium or high security, and psychiatric intensive we look at the whole-life course, intervene earlier to care units, to notify it of all incidences of absence provide more preventive services, and invest in services without leave. There are different reporting requirements that deliver dignified outcomes. I am grateful to my depending on the security level of the service. I can tell hon. Friend for securing the debate and allowing us to my hon. Friend and others who are listening to this shed some light on those important issues. evening’s debate that the CQC will be reporting its first Question put and agreed to. round of these statistics next month. The CQC monitors trends in absence without leave and has followed up 10.36 pm with the particular providers in relation to specific House adjourned.

1WS Written Ministerial Statements7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 2WS Written Ministerial Financial Transaction Taxes (FTTs) The Commission will present its proposal on FTTs and ask for preliminary comments from member states. Statements The tax would be levied on all transactions in financial instruments by financial institutions when at least one Monday 7 November 2011 party to the transaction is located in the EU. Trading in shares, bonds and money market instruments would be BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS taxed at a rate of 0.1% and derivative contracts at a rate of 0.01% on the notional value of the transaction. The Bankruptcy and Company Winding Up Government do not support the Commission’s proposal; The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, as it stands, it would have significant negative impacts Innovation and Skills (Mr Edward Davey): We are today on jobs and growth. I will continue to make clear that, launching a consultation about bankruptcy and company to avoid relocation of trading, any FTT would need to winding up. apply in all financial centres (that is, not just the EU). The consultation document sets out detailed proposals Energy Taxation Directive (ETD) to reform the application process for bankruptcy and compulsory winding up by replacing the current court Depending on progress at officials’ level, Finance route with a new administrative process. Uncontested Ministers will hold an orientation debate on the ETD. applications would be determined by an adjudicator The Commission published its proposal on this issue in and the court would only be involved at the application April. Its stated aim is to bring EU rules on the taxation stage to the extent that there is a dispute that can only of energy products further into line with the EU’s be resolved by judicial intervention. I am placing copies energy and climate change objectives. The proposal of the consultation document in the Libraries of both would require member states to tax energy products by Houses. taking into account both CO2 emissions and energy content. The Government believe that revision of the We propose allowing electronic applications to be ETD should focus on reviewing EU minimum levels of made to an adjudicator, who will be a person appointed taxation, and do not support a mandatory EU-level for that purpose by the Secretary of State and whose carbon tax. In line with the principle of subsidiarity, office would be within the Insolvency Service. Debtors member states should also retain the absolute right to who want to apply for bankruptcy for themselves would set national duty rates on different types of energy have the choice of submitting electronic or paper products, as long as these are above EU-wide minimum applications, and the option of making the requisite rates of taxation. The presidency has drafted “orientations” payment to enter the process by instalments. Where to guide future work on the file, which are in line with creditors are looking to instigate proceedings, a new the Government’s priorities in this area. mandatory pre-action process would incentivise debtors and creditors to communicate with each other and Follow-up to the October European Council, 23 October thereby reach a mutually satisfactory solution to the ECOFIN will discuss the outcomes of the European debt problem without recourse to a bankruptcy or Council, where leaders discussed the immediate challenges winding-up application. This reflects our desire that posed by the financial crisis, and agreed on measures to people are empowered to make the right decisions for secure sustainable and job-creating growth. They also themselves about their finances, as set out in the set the EU’s position for the G20 summit, giving top Government response to the call for evidence about priority to maintaining financial stability and restoring personal insolvency. growth, and discussed preparations for the Durban Litigation can be costly and time consuming. This conference on climate change. new process should therefore deliver a more efficient Follow-up to the G20 summit, 3-4 November in Cannes service as well as saving valuable public and private resources. In order to ensure that the interests of both The presidency will report on the G20 leaders’ summit debtors and creditors are protected, the court would held in Cannes on 3-4 November. The Council will still have an important role. Not only would it decide discuss the outcomes from the summit, including: the the outcome of disputes, but certain petitions for the global economy and international monetary system; winding up of companies, such as those based on public financial regulation; energy commodities and agriculture; interest grounds, would continue to be determined by and development. The session is also expected to look the courts. ahead to the Mexican presidency of the G20 in 2012, We intend actively to engage with interested parties including where additional work is required in the G20 throughout the consultation period, and welcome views and EU to make further progress. on whether the proposals will deliver a workable and Financial assistance to Greece—disbursement of next efficient application process for bankruptcy and most instalment compulsory windings up. The consultation will close on 31 January 2012. Given the current situation in Greece, it is unlikely that this will remain on the ECOFIN agenda. After the TREASURY referendum announcement, euro area countries and the IMF made clear they would not disburse the next ECOFIN instalment of the Greek financial assistance programme, which euro area countries had informally agreed to The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr George Osborne): disburse on 26 October. While the referendum now The Economic and Financial Affairs Council will be seems to be off the table, the situation in Greece is still held in Brussels on 8 November 2011. The Chancellor fluid, and euro area countries might want to hold off will attend. The following items will be discussed: disbursement until Greece is able to commit to the 3WS Written Ministerial Statements7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 4WS second financial assistance programme also agreed on greater convergence of payment rates within and between 26 October. The UK Government will not be part of member states was necessary. He stated that direct any decision on the disbursement. However, it is extremely payments should be made up of basic income support important for the euro area to implement the comprehensive (70%), with the remaining 30% available only if farmers package agreed on 26 October, and that the other met certain environmental or “greening” conditions. elements are not delayed as a consequence of the situation Commissioner Ciolos went on to underline his belief in Greece. that the first pillar of the CAP should apply in a Economic governance—surveillance of macro-economic uniform manner across all member states, with the imbalances: design of the “scoreboard” second pillar offering member states flexibility to respond The Council will discuss draft Council conclusions to national priority needs. on a scoreboard for assessing macro-economic imbalances. Two full table rounds followed giving member states The scoreboard will be a new monitoring mechanism a first opportunity to offer views on the package. Views under the excessive imbalances procedure, and a key varied widely with no unconditional support for the part of a more effective European semester. The package but the UK made it clear that the proposals Government support measures designed to help restore represented a missed opportunity, doing nothing to and maintain macro-economic stability in the EU. move EU farmers towards a situation in which they Preparation of the 17th Conference of Parties (COP-17) could be competitive without direct payments. As tabled, of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate the proposals risked rewarding farmers for normal good Change (UNFCCC) in Durban, South Africa practice or, worse, preventing them from making the ECOFIN will discuss draft climate finance conclusions right decisions for sustainability. which endorse the EU’s “fast start finance report” On the detail of the proposals, some themes emerged setting out the EU’s contributions in 2011. The conclusions during the two discussions. On convergence of direct will also consider the report to the G20 on long-term payments, a number of member states had serious sources of finance, which was led by the World Bank. misgivings about redistribution of funding between member The Government support the further development of states with some expressing the view that proposals the EU’s position in advance of the UNFCCC negotiations went too far while others believed it did not go far in Durban. enough, while the UK, with the support of a number of Annual Meeting of EU and European Free Trade Association other member states, repeated opposition to the capping (EFTA) Economy and Finance Ministers of direct payments. This meeting will take place over breakfast, before the formal ECOFIN begins. It will focus on improving Proposals for the “greening” of pillar 1 received some regulation in order to secure financial stability, where support in principle, but the majority of member states the Government’s priority is to have robust, internationally questioned the rigid, one-size-fits-all system proposed consistent regulatory standards that will benefit the which appeared to deliver more red tape than actual economy in the long run. It will also be an opportunity environmental benefit. This debate led to a discussion to exchange views on respective strategies in the current of the broader issue of simplification. Member states macro-economic environment in Europe, where the were of the view that the Commission had promised Government believe the priority is to achieve fiscal simplification, but that the package as a whole, with a consolidation and lay the foundations for growth. multi-layered direct payment scheme consisting of various mandatory elements, would increase the burden for both farmers and national administrations. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS Few member states had fundamental problems with Agriculture and Fisheries Council the proposals on rural development, though all were clearly interested in the allocation criteria for pillar 2 payments for which the UK called for a faster move to The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and objective allocation criteria. Rural Affairs (Mrs Caroline Spelman): On Thursday 20 October I represented the UK on agricultural issues In conclusion to the debate, Commissioner Ciolos at the first day of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council stated that, in his view, the proposals had received in Luxembourg. I was accompanied by my right hon. broad support as the basis for future discussion but that Friend the Minister of State, Department for Environment, he realised the allocation of payments would be the Food and Rural Affairs, the Minister with responsibility most contentious issue and that further work was needed. for agriculture and food. On Friday 21 October my hon. However, he rejected arguments that the package did Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, not deliver simplification for producers and would be Food and Rural Affairs, the Minister with responsibility writing to Ministers outlining how his package delivered for natural environment and fisheries, the Member for in this area. Newbury (Richard Benyon) represented the United Also on the agenda was a discussion of the food for Kingdom on the fisheries items. Richard Lochhead deprived persons scheme. The presidency and Commission MSP, Michelle O’Neil MLA and Alun Davies AM were together urged the blocking minority of six member also in attendance. states (Germany, UK, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands The main item on Thursday was a Commission and Czech Republic) to reconsider their positions and presentation of the seven proposals which make up the agree to the revised proposal. A number of member package for reform of the common agricultural policy states, led by France, intervened to express their frustration from 2014. Commissioner Ciolos began by stating that that this dossier was being blocked. The presidency sustainable competitiveness, linked to food security, was then asked members of the blocking minority to confirm at the heart of the proposals before going on to say that that they still opposed the revised proposals. All did, 5WS Written Ministerial Statements7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 6WS and the UK commented that the revised legal base only HOME DEPARTMENT confirmed that this was a social scheme for action at a national rather than EU level. Strengthening Women’s Voices in Government The final agriculture item for discussion on the substantive agenda related to the achieving of an EU common position on four draft resolutions of the The Minister for Equalities (Lynne Featherstone): The International Organisation for Vine and Wine (OIV). “Strengthening Women’s Voices in Government” The UK remained silent as it is not a member of the consultation exercise was undertaken between 7 March OIV and the presidency noted that there remained a and 15 June 2011. The consultation set out proposals blocking majority against adoption of the resolutions. for a new approach to engaging and listening to women, Under any other business Council heard an update and invited views and feedback on the proposals. from Commissioner Dalli on implementation of the The consultation set out the principles for the new laying hens directive, which comes into force on 1 January approach, which are: 2013. The Commission was clear that there would be no Women across the UK can be heard and are enabled to postponement of the ban on battery cages even though influence and shape Government policy; at least 11 member states were unlikely to have complied The new approach must be genuinely cross-Government and with the directive by the start of next year. The Commission Departments are committed to listening to women, taking said it would exercise powers, beginning targeted inspection their views into account, and feeding back the results, and visits at the start of 2013, and would begin legal proceedings Women know what central Government are doing across the against non-compliant member states. While there was breadth of policies and are able to act on that knowledge. an argument that non-compliant eggs should be destroyed, The new approach should transform the way in which this would not make political or economic sense. Instead, women’s voices are brought to Government, delivering the use of non-compliant eggs would be limited to an engagement framework which is direct, inclusive and production of egg products within the member state of transparent. origin. There was no opportunity for member states to A total of 1,229 responses were received, of which intervene. 1,166 were from people responding online, with the The second day of Council saw consideration of two remaining 63 being submitted as a written response. An fisheries agenda items. The first related to 2012 fishing estimated 600 people attended consultative events and opportunities in the Baltic sea. The Commission stressed fed back their views about the proposals. the need for a cautious approach, particularly for stocks where there was no scientific advice; and the need to The consultation asked for views on the most important respect existing scientific advice and management plans or challenging issues facing women in the UK today. where relevant. The aim should be to reach maximum The top priorities identified were: sustainable yield (MSY) levels for all stocks. Member Issues relating to the workplace, and women’s experience of states challenged the Commission’s generic approach of work including promotion; better work-life balance; child care and setting up a business. proposing cuts of 25% or 15% for stocks for which there was insufficient advice (“data poor”) and pushed back Tackling violence against women and girls; against the Commission’s ambition to reach MSY sooner A strong appetite for greater equality for women; than the internationally agreed date of 2015, where Access to leadership positions, both in politics and business; possible. The Commission agreed to treat data-poor More engagement with women, including with senior women stocks on a case-by-case basis; an important shift for in business/women entrepreneurs. forthcoming fishing opportunities negotiations of interest Moving forward, we will consider a cross-Government to the UK and other fishing member states. programme of action and encourage participation from After extensive bilateral discussions and a compromise a wide and diverse range of women and women’s proposal from the presidency, the Commission was organisations. pressed in a final negotiating session to offer reduced A copy of the consultation response is available in the decreases across most stocks. Library of the House. The final fisheries item related to the EU-Norway fisheries agreement for 2012. Ministers had an exchange Immigration Rules of views to orientate the Commission’s approach to this forthcoming set of negotiations governing stocks jointly managed by the EU and Norway, and the exchange of The Minister for Immigration (Damian Green): The fishing opportunities. The UK is the member state with changes in the immigration rules being laid before the the largest fishing interest in the agreement. House today are as a result of the Supreme Court The Commission noted the importance of reaching a judgment in R (on the application of Quila and another) balanced agreement on behalf of the EU as a whole (FC) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department and that member states had to be realistic in what they and R (on the application of Bibi and another) (FC) v. felt should be offered to Norway to secure access to the Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] Arctic cod allocation offered. On this issue the UK said UKSC45. Norway should be pressed to use external waters stocks, On 12 October 2011, the Supreme Court found that while other member states pressed for maximum Arctic while it recognised that the Secretary of State was cod uptake and stressed the importance of an EU-Faroes pursuing a legitimate and rational aim of seeking to agreement. The UK also stressed the importance of address forced marriage, a rule (increasing the minimum ensuring Iceland and the Faroes behaved responsibly marriage visa age from 18 to 21) disproportionately and reached a reasonable agreement on mackerel as interfered with the article 8 rights of those who were in well as the extension of the “catch quota” scheme which genuine marriages. Accordingly, the Secretary of State has been shown to reduce discards. has decided to revert to a minimum age of 18. 7WS Written Ministerial Statements7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 8WS

The changes will take effect on 28 November and will indirect greenhouse gas emissions through the process reduce the minimum age at which a person may be known as indirect land use change (ILUC). The UK granted entry clearance or leave as the spouse, civil takes the issue of ILUC seriously. Earlier this year we partner, fiancé(e), proposed civil partner, unmarried or published research on the scale of ILUC impacts and same-sex partner of a sponsor, and the minimum age at we are continuing to lead work on how to tackle these which a person may sponsor such an application, from as well as encouraging the European Commission to 21 to 18 years. It will also delete references to a minimum address this issue on a Europe-wide scale with a robust age of 18 for entry clearance or leave as the spouse, civil solution. I have written to the European Commission partner, fiancé(e), proposed civil partner, unmarried or twice, expressing the Government’s concerns regarding same-sex partner of a HM forces sponsor, and the ILUC and pressing for robust and proportionate action minimum age at which a member of HM forces may to be taken to address the impacts of ILUC. sponsor such an application. Guidance for those affected There are concerns regarding the best use and deployment by the judgment will be published on the UK Border of biofuels. These concerns also extend to the issue of Agency website. best use of biomass across all sectors. Since our There is no place in British society for the practice of consultations on the RED and FQD opened, the forced marriage. It is a breach of human rights and a Committee on Climate Change has published advice on form of violence against the victims. That is why the renewable energy. The Government are now considering Prime Minister has announced that the Government this advice and awaiting the Committee’s further advice will criminalise the breach of Forced Marriage Civil on the best use of bioenergy across all sectors. Further Protection Orders and that there will be a consultation evidence will also be drawn from the results of the on making forcing someone to marry an offence in its Department’s research into the best use of biofuels own right. across transport modes and the Department’s call for We are also investigating what more we can do to evidence on the future of aviation policy: “Developing a identify and protect those young people who have been sustainable framework for UK aviation: Scoping placed at additional risk. document”.1 In addition, the Government are working in a cross-departmental way to develop a bioenergy strategy which will look at the use of sustainable bioenergy across transport, heat and power as well as the impacts TRANSPORT on other sectors. The results of these reports and studies will establish a robust evidence base. When we have this evidence we Renewable Energy Directive will set biofuel targets beyond those set out to 2014 under the current Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport On the other hand, in response to those who have (Norman Baker): Today I am publishing our response called for biofuel targets to be scrapped entirely, we to the comments received in the consultation on our continue to be of the view that there is a place for proposals for implementing the transport aspects of the sustainable biofuels in our wider policy on carbon renewable energy directive (RED), confirming action reduction. The UK must, in law, comply with the RED. we will take to implement this directive in the UK. Biofuels will be a key component in the achievement of The RED requires the UK to source 10% of energy these targets before that work has been completed. used in transport from renewable sources by 2020 and is We will prioritise implementation of the RED over closely related to the fuel quality directive (FQD) which that of the related FQD in order to ensure that financial requires fuel suppliers to land-based transport and similar reward is no longer given to those biofuels that do not applications to deliver a 6% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse meet the RED sustainability criteria. Most of what will gas emissions from their fuels by 2020. be delivered through the FQD will be delivered by the Our policy on biofuels is relevant to both directives. closely related RED, which we expect to be implemented There remain a number of uncertainties regarding the through an amended renewable transport fuel obligation sustainability of biofuels and their best use. However, I in December 2011, subject to the parliamentary process. do believe that genuinely sustainable biofuels have an Our consultations on proposals to implement the important role to play in our efforts to tackle climate RED and FQD revealed a number of concerns regarding change and in security of energy supply.This is particularly expansion of the RTFO to include fuels use in non-road so in areas where there is no viable alternative fuel on mobile machinery (NRMM). Industry has requested the horizon such as for HGVs and aviation. additional time to prepare for this and we are considering It is crucial that we do all we can to ensure that how best to achieve this change. As such, we do not biofuels both deliver real greenhouse gas emission reductions propose to bring into force any expansion of the RTFO and do not cause unacceptable environmental and social to include NRMM fuels before April 2013. side effects in the process. There is much work being In addition there remains uncertainty regarding key undertaken, nationally and internationally, to understand implementing measures for the FQD, which are currently better the indirect effects related to biofuels and to being discussed at the European level. investigate how the negative indirect effects can be However, we do intend to introduce new regulations reduced. to transpose the FQD requirement to reduce emissions As the directives currently stand, they do not take by 6% by 2020, alongside new annual reporting into account these indirect effects. While the extent of requirements for fossil fuels and biofuels. We will be these impacts remains uncertain, there is robust evidence working towards putting the necessary legislation in that widespread use of some biofuels can lead to significant place as soon as possible during the course of 2012. 9WS Written Ministerial Statements7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Ministerial Statements 10WS

The response published today sets out our decision to The fund will be a major boost to local areas in transpose fully all the sustainability criteria set out in unlocking the potential for development and we will the RED to ensure that the UK only rewards the supply advise further as we take decisions on allocations. of sustainable biofuel. Until we have a more robust evidence base, we cannot confidently set biofuel targets beyond those established under the current RTFO. I would like to thank all those who took the time to WORK AND PENSIONS respond to these consultations. 1 http://www2.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/2011-09/ consultationdocument.pdf Pension Protection System (Administration Levies)

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Steve Webb): The administrative resource costs of the Pensions Advisory Service and the pensions Infrastructure ombudsman and some of the administrative resource costs of the pensions regulator are recovered by a general levy on pension schemes. The administration The Secretary of State for Communities and Local costs for the Pension Protection Fund are recovered Government (Mr Eric Pickles): Together with my right through the PPF administration levy paid by eligible hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Transport, and schemes. The rates for both levies are set in regulations the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, I am today announcing and reviewed annually. details about the operation of the Government’s I am pleased to announce that for 2012-13 we are £500 million Growing Places Fund. proposing that the rates for both the PPF administration The fund will be available to get stalled sites for levy and the general levy will be reduced from the levels housing development moving again; provide additional that have remained unchanged since 2008-9. We propose funding for infrastructure projects already in the pipeline; that the PPF administration levy rates will reduce by at and promote wider economic growth. least 25%, and the general levy rates will reduce by at Local areas will be in the driving seat, with funding least 12%. directed to local enterprise partnerships, which will Levy rates in-year are set to avoid frequent changes bring private sector expertise to the prioritisation and and do not directly reflect forecast future costs, but also delivery of significant infrastructure projects. take into account accumulated deficits or surpluses in We are publishing a short prospectus today which expected levy collection. sets out the key features of our approach and invites The proposed new rates for both levies meet forecast expressions of interest for funding from local enterprise future administration costs for the respective pensions partnerships. We are inviting these by 20 December, bodies. In proposing to reduce the rates, the Government with the intention of announcing allocations in January. are seeking to lessen cost pressures on pension schemes. A copy of the prospectus will be placed in the Library This proposed reduction will be welcomed by levy payers, of the House, and will also be available on my Department’s as well as pension scheme trustees, members and sponsoring website. employers.

1W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 2W Written Answers to Energy: Prices Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Questions Energy and Climate Change what the reason is for the time taken by his Department to announce its consultation on the Energy Company Obligation. [78789] Monday 7 November 2011 Gregory Barker: We will be consulting on the energy company obligation (ECO) jointly with the Green Deal. We are currently finalising the documents, including draft statutory instruments to establish the whole Green ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE Deal and ECO legal framework, which we will publish for consultation shortly. Biofuels: Electricity Natural Gas: Exploration Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy had with the Scottish Government on the removal of and Climate Change what assessment he has made of its subsidy of biomass for electricity. [78553] the risks of contamination of the water supply by the process of fracking from the leak of (a) fracking fluid Gregory Barker: The Minister for Energy, my hon. and (b) methane gas. [79046] Friend the Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry), recently met Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Government’s Charles Hendry: Protection of water supplies in England Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, and and Wales are a matter for the Environment Agency, stakeholders from the wood processing and bioenergy and for the corresponding bodies in Scotland and Northern industries to discuss this and other issues. Ireland. Assessment of the risk of contamination to water sources from fracking would be carried out on a case-by-case basis. Biofuels: Timber Currently the only shale gas fracking which has taken place is at one of Cuadrilla’s drilling sites in Lancashire. Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for In this case, I understand that the Environment Agency Energy and Climate Change whether he is considering have assessed the risks both in relation to fracking fluid reducing the subsidy for biomass for wood sourced in and methane gas and, on present information, do not the UK. [78554] consider that these shale drilling operations pose a risk to the environment—including to water resources. If Gregory Barker: On 20 October 2011, we published the drilling operations were to change the Environment our proposals for the levels of support available for Agency would reassess the risk, and any necessary renewable electricity generation, including sustainable monitoring and control measures would be put in place biomass electricity, under the renewables obligation (RO) to protect the environment, including any drinking water for the period 2013 to 2017. Our proposals aim to sources. support the most cost-effective biomass generation such as conversion from coal which we expect to be fuelled Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs from imports. They represent a cautious approach to the growth of new dedicated biomass plant and take Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy account of the availability of sustainable feedstocks and Climate Change whether community-owned renewable and the demand in non-energy sectors. energy schemes with a generating capacity above 50 kilowatt This is a consultation. We are open to evidence from will be eligible to receive support through his proposed all parties on the role of biomass and the level of feed-in tariff with contract for difference. [78770] subsidies and are already in dialogue with the wood panel industry and others on these issues. Gregory Barker: Eligible community owned renewable electricity generating schemes between 50 kW and 5 MW are able to choose support under either the small scale Departmental Responsibilities feed-in tariff or the renewables obligation. Work is currently under way to determine the appropriate eligibility Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for criteria for the feed-in tariff with contract for difference Energy and Climate Change how many meetings he has scheme and how it should interact with other support had with (a) the Renewable Energy Association and mechanisms. (b) the Solar Traders Association since his appointment; and if he will make a statement. [78723] Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of feed-in Gregory Barker: All ministerial meetings with external tariff installations are in (a) solar, (b) wind, (c) micro organisations are published on a quarterly basis and combined heat and power and (d) hydro. [79096] can be found on the Department’s website by clicking the following link: Gregory Barker: The percentage of feed-in tariff http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/ installations confirmed onto the FIT scheme by technology registers/ministermtgs/ministermtgs.aspx type are: 3W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 4W

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for As at end of October 2011 Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph Percentage of 37 of his Department’s consultation on Comprehensive Number of total Technology type installations installations Review Phase 1—Tariffs for Solar PV, published on 31 October 2011, whether his Department has made an Solar photovoltaics 92,525 97.4 estimate of the proportion of multiple PV installations Wind 1,917 2.0 that have been installed by (a) local authorities, (b) Micro combined and heat 276 0.3 housing associations, (c) other public sector organisations power and (d) charitable organisations. [79034] Hydro 242 0.3 Anaerobic digestion 13 — Gregory Barker: We do not hold the information Total 94,973 100.0 required to answer this question. Notes: 1. The latest feed-in tariff statistics were published at 9:30 am on 4 November 2011. A further breakdown of these figures by tariff types and their corresponding installation capacity can be found in the monthly table titled ‘Feed in Tariff capacity: monthly update’. ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS This table can be accessed through the following link: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/ source/electricity/electricity.aspx Animals: Disease Control 2. The statistics presented in this table includes installations transferred from the existing renewables obligation. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs her Department carried out on the effect of (a) rationalisation of veterinary laboratory service sites and (b) the reduction in numbers of staff at such sites Alec Shelbrooke: –To ask the Secretary of State for on (i) quality of diagnosis and (ii) speed of completion Energy and Climate Change whether the reduction in of tests during a period of (A) normal demand, (B) the feed-in tariff for solar power will apply to installations outbreak of a non-notifiable animal disease and (C) completed between 12 December 2011 and 31 March outbreak of a notifiable animal disease; and if she will 2012. [78609] make a statement. [78337]

Gregory Barker: On 31 October 2011, the Government Mr Paice: The AHVLA executive team initiated a published a consultation setting out proposed new tariffs review of the delivery of laboratory services across for solar photovoltaics (PV) under the feed-in tariffs England and Wales as part of an exercise to identify scheme. The consultation proposes that new tariffs will additional savings that need to be made in 2012-13, be implemented from 1 April 2012 but will apply to all while enabling the agency to continue to deliver important new PV installations with an eligibility date on or after scientific services to Government and the livestock industry. 12 December 2011. The eligibility date is the date on This review built on the recommendations of the which a valid application is received by the feed-in tariff VLA Sustainable Surveillance project which recommended licensee, normally the applicant’s electricity supplier. that the post mortem examination of carcasses, which Under the proposals, those with an eligibility date makes up the most valuable aspect of surveillance work, falling between 12 December 2011 and 31 March 2012 be de-coupled from the provision of laboratory services will receive the current tariff for that period and then functions, removing the requirement for co-location of move to the proposed new tariff on 1 April 2012. the two work areas. Important disease surveillance work such as post Caroline Flint: –To ask the Secretary of State for mortems carried out at each of the 16 sites will continue Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph and it is expected that test turnaround time will be 1 of his Department’s consultation on Comprehensive improved. Review Phase 1—Tariffs for Solar PV, published on 31 AHVLA’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks October 2011, what recent estimate his Department has will be maintained as confirmatory tests for notifiable made of the number of solar PV installations which and non-notifiable diseases are carried out at Weybridge have been installed but not yet registered for feed-in which is not part of the regional laboratory network. tariffs. [79032] Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control Gregory Barker: DECC publishes monthly data on the number of small scale solar PV schemes (sub-50 Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for kW) that have been installed and registered on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration Microgeneration Certification Scheme database but have she has given to the public safety implications of using not yet been confirmed onto the FIT scheme. The table shooting as part of the proposed badger cull for (a) can be found on the following webpage: those taking part in the cull and (b) other countryside http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/ users. [77514] source/electricity/electricity.aspx The latest data (as at 31 October 2011) indicate that Mr Paice: Controlled shooting in the field (including there are 32,023 small scale solar (sub 50kW) PV schemes at night) is a method which is widely and safely used for that have been installed but not yet confirmed onto the culling a range of other mammals. To obtain a licence FIT scheme. to carry out culling, operators would be required to 5W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 6W demonstrate competence and attend a Government- Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for approved training course. Safety and security would be Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions key elements of the training. she has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government on We are also looking at what information on those the proposed badger cull using shooting. [77521] taking part in a cull would need to be held and how, so that their personal safety is not compromised. Mr Paice: Bovine TB is a devolved issue; however, We are in discussion with the Association of Chief this disease does not respect national borders and we Police Officers and with the Home Office regarding the continue to cooperate and work closely with the Welsh police response and associated costs related to the proposed Government and seek to co-ordinate activity as far as badger control policy. possible.

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what she has made of the effects of a badger cull using meetings she has had on the proposed badger cull using shooting on access to parts of the countryside affected shooting since May 2010. [77522] by the cull; [77515] Mr Paice: Details of meetings with outside interest (2) whether any footpaths or bridleways will be groups (ie any group or individuals, including lobby closed as part of the proposed badger cull using groups and other non-governmental organisations which shooting. [77518] have an interest in the policy of the Department) are now published on a quarterly basis. Details of all ministerial Mr Paice: Specific licence conditions, for example meetings up until the end of March 2011 are available those relating to shooting close to areas where there is a online at: public right of way, will be considered on a case-by-case basis by Natural England. http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/who/ministers/ transparency/ Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Since March 2011, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. had discussions with (a) the Ramblers Association, (b) Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), has the British Horse Society and (c) other groups involved met with the following organisations to discuss options in access to the countryside on the potential effects on for the control of TB—I was also present at the meetings them of the proposed badger cull using shooting. as indicated. [77516] Name of external organisation

Mr Paice: I have not discussed the proposed policy 26 April 2011 Country Land and Business Association with the Ramblers Association or the British Horse 26 April 2011 Badger Trust Society. Any organisation or individual was able to 27 April 2011 Wildlife Trusts submit a response to the 2010 or 2011 consultation on 27 April 2011 British Veterinary Association/British Cattle the policy. Veterinary Association 28 April 2011 National Farmers Union Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for 28 April 2011 RSPB Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her 4 May 2011 National Trust Department has received any representations expressing 5 May 2011 Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons concern about the policing of a badger cull. [77517] 5 May 2011 RSPCA 10 May 2011 Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust* Mr Paice: Responses to the 2010 public consultation 16 May 2011 British Association for Shooting and on the proposed badger control policy raised a number Conservation* of important issues. A summary of responses was published 24 May 2011 National Farmers Union in July 2011 and is available on DEFRA’s website at: 24 May 2011 British Veterinary Association/British Cattle http://archive.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/tb-control- Veterinary Association measures/index.htm 24 May 2011 Country Land and Business Association We are discussing the issue of policing of a badger 25 May 2011 Association of Chief Police Officers cull with the Association of Chief Police Officers and with the Home Office. I also met with the following organisation to discuss options for the control of TB: Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Name of organisation estimate she has made of the cost to farmers of the 3 May 2011 Tenant Farmers Association proposed badger cull using shooting. [77520]

Mr Paice: We have estimated that farmers and Departmental Lost Property landowners who apply for licences are likely’ to incur a cost of around £1.4 million for one 350 sq km area to Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for carry out the culling operation (including the costs of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her coordination and surveying). This is based on DEFRA’s Department has lost any (a) computers, (b) mobile estimated cost of culling—the industry believes that it telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment can be delivered for less. since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [77370] 7W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 8W

Richard Benyon: Official items lost or stolen are all harm the environment. The helpline provides a mix of recorded as ‘losses’. The following table shows losses IT help for farmers while they familiarise themselves reported in Core DEFRA for the period 12 May 2010 with the software and provides nutrient management to 25 October 2011. advice from trained fertiliser advisers: it also handles registration for new users of PLANET and facilitates Description Quantity access to the software. Computers 22 Period Number of calls Mobile telephones 3 Blackberries 15 April 2006 to March 2007 777 Other IT equipment 12 April 2007 to March 2008 551 April 2008 to March 2009 850 All reported incidents are investigated and if theft, is April 2009 to mid-February 2010 740 suspected, the matter is reported to the police. Staff are Mid-February 2010 to September 2010 1200 advised to report losses of equipment while out of the October 2010 to March 2011 550 office to the police directly as well as to their security 1 Estimated. team. Figures are collated by financial year, and represent Departmental Telephone Services the number of recorded calls. Simple administrative queries such as requests from callers to be sent the Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for software DVD and general questions about PLANET Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her are not recorded. Department has allocated to each telephone helpline An estimated figure is given for the period mid-February funded by her Department in 2011-12; what the to September 2010 because precise data are currently purpose is of each such helpline; and how many calls unavailable as this represents the period when the helpline each helpline received in each of the last five years. was being upgraded in preparation for the release of [77716] Planet 3 in October 2010. Executive agencies Richard Benyon: I refer the hon. Member to the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency response I gave to the hon. Member for Llanelli (Nia Griffith) on 7 September 2011, Official Report, columns 1. PETS helpline 653-54W,regarding the funding and purpose of helplines Number of calls funded by DEFRA, except where updated information 2009 48,674 is available, which has been provided as follows: 2010 46,160 The number of calls each helpline received in each Total 94,834 year of the last five years for which figures are available is given as follows: Figures can be provided only for the last two full Core DEFRA years; those since the contract has been with the current service provider. 1. General DEFRA helpline Number of calls 2. TSE helpline Number of calls 2009 74,045 2010 62,794 2006 247,167 Total 136,839 2007 267,842 2008 257,515 Figures can be provided only for the last two full 2009 23,218 years; those since the contract has been with the current 2010 10,819 service provider. Total 806,561 2. DEFRA farming online helpline Number of calls 3. Wild bird surveillance and animal disease helpline 2006 from April 5,903 It is not possible at this time to provide separate 2007 8,166 figures for the animal disease helpline because it is only 2008 3,266 activated when there is a major animal disease outbreak. 2009 4,103 Calls about animal disease (outside of the period of a 2010 8,616 major disease outbreak) and wild bird surveillance are Total 30,054 incorporated into the general DEFRA helpline figures. Rural Payments Agency 3. PLANET (Planning land applications of nutrients for 1. British Cattle Movement Service helpline efficiency and the environment) helpline Number of calls Allocated funding for 2011-12 is £50,000 following release 2006 309,399 of PLANET version 3 2007 270,366 The helpline is a support mechanism for registered 2008 239,994 users of the PLANET computer-based decision support 2009 241,480 tool which helps farmers and land managers optimise 2010 219,076 their use of fertilisers and other nutrients so helping Total 1,280,315 with growing of crops and avoiding over-use which can 9W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 10W

2. Rural Payments Agency helpline Lighting Number of calls

2006 441,120 Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for 2007 308,128 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her 2008 217,743 Department has made an assessment of the recent 2009 279,392 surveys of (a) nuisance lighting and (b) light pollution 2010 289,264 by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Total 1,535,647 British Astronomical Association’s Campaign for Dark Skies. [77582] The figures include helplines for the following: Single Payment Scheme, Rural Land Register, Customer Richard Benyon: The Government welcome the 2011 Registration, Payment Receipts Information and Rural Star Count Survey and the other activities undertaken Payments Agency Online. by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Campaign for Dark Skies to raise awareness of light Non-departmental public bodies pollution. Officials have not assessed the unpublished Environment Agency underlying data but have discussed the results with the 1. Environment Agency floodline Campaign to Protect Rural England, which show an Recorded message increase in the number of people taking part who could Live agent service service see fewer than ten stars (from 54% in 2007 to 59% in 2011). 2006 73,642 82,039 2007 135,389 333,663 2008 85,447 217,028 Veterinary Laboratory Service: Newcastle upon Tyne 2009 57,882 96,236 2010 40,384 55,669 Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Total 392,744 784,635 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average length of time is for a sample sent by post from the Veterinary Laboratory in Thirsk to be tested and the 2. Environment Agency’s national customer contact centre results known by the Newcastle upon Tyne Laboratory; (NCCC) and if she will make a statement. [77506] This covers three helplines as shown in the following table. Mr Paice: AHVLA are unable to provide this information as there have not been any samples sent by the veterinary General Hazardous Agricultural laboratory in Thirsk to be tested at the laboratory in inquiries waste waste Newcastle upon Tyne.

2007 82,039 78,572 57,057 2008 333,663 64,819 10,733 2009 217,028 50,047 11,182 WALES 2010 96,236 37,197 8,646 Total 784,635 230,635 87,618 Charities Figures are not available for 2006 as the national customer contact centre retains data for a maximum of Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales four years. what representatives she has received from children’s Natural England charities on levels of child poverty in Wales. [77809] Since a restructure on 1 April 2011, which consolidated management accountability for its helplines under a Mr David Jones: Both the Secretary of State for single function, Natural England has been collating Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham precise figures on the number of calls to its helplines. It and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I receive regular does not hold information for the number of calls representations from a range of organisations about received for previous years. matters relevant to Wales including charities. The Government are firmly committed to the goal of eradicating child poverty in Wales and across the United Legal Opinion Kingdom by 2020. The UK’s first Child Poverty Strategy ‘ANew Approach to Child Poverty: Tackling the Causes Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for of Disadvantage and Transforming Families’ Lives’ sets Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times out a new approach to tackling poverty for this Parliament her Department’s legal section provided legal advice to and up to 2020. Ministers in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the We must also recognise that the Welsh Government first six months of 2011. [78079] have responsibility for a number of factors that affect child poverty and have their own Child Poverty Strategy Richard Benyon: The Department does not record the and Delivery Plan for Wales. It is important that their number of times the Department’s legal advisers provide strategy dovetails with ours especially given that Wales advice to Ministers. Advice is provided on an ongoing continues to show levels of child poverty above the UK basis, as and when necessary. average. 11W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 12W

Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales since May 2010; how many responses given in each what grants her Department made to charitable such month disclosed (a) the full information organisations in each of the last five years. [79070] requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Mr David Jones: Nil. Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such Departmental Consultants month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no consultancy contracts in her Department; and if she substantive response has yet been issued. [78903] will make a statement. [77487] Mr David Jones: The information requested is given Mr David Jones: None. in the following tables. Data for quarters 3 and 4 in 2011 are not yet finalised and will be published by the Ministry Departmental Freedom of Information of Justice in their quarterly reports on the operation of the Freedom of Information Act. Statistics on the time Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales taken to respond to cases over 20 working days during how many requests under the Freedom of Information 2011-12 will be published in the departmental annual Act 2000 her Department has received in each month report.

2010 May June July August September October November December

Total received 10 17 17 8 14 5 18 14 (a) Full information 57925098 released (b) Disclosed part 23100002 of the information (c) Disclosed none 00012020 of the information

May June July August September October November December

(i)(A) Substantive response within 10 14 17 7 12 5 16 12 20 days (i)(B) Holding response within 020100 1 2 20 days (ii) No substantive response within 000000 0 0 40 days (iii) No substantive response yet 000000 0 0 issued

2011 (to 30 June) January February March April May June

Total received 11 12 19 12 14 21 (a) Full information released 5 3 2 3 3 7 (b) Disclosed part of the 1 20223 information (c) Disclosed none of the 1 04111 information

January February March

(i)(A) Substantive response within 20 days 10 10 16 (i)(B) Holding response within 20 days 1 2 2 (ii) No substantive response within 40 days 0 0 0 (iii) No substantive response yet issued 0 0 0

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales Mr David Jones: The information is shown in the in respect of how many responses to requests for following table. information received by her Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) Number commercially sensitive information, (b) information (a) commercially sensitive 2 not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) information vexatious or repeated requests has been given in (b) information not held 94 response since January 2010. [78904] (c) too costly to provide 3 13W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 14W

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Number Wales what the cost was of (a) internal and (b) (d) vexatious or repeated 0 external legal advice commissioned by her Department requests in the first six months of 2011. [78526]

Mr David Jones: The Wales Office receives its internal Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales legal advice from two lawyers employed by the Department. which Minister in her Department is responsible for The only external legal advice it received in the first six determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of months of this year was from the Treasury Solicitor, at Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to a cost of £435.10. requests for information made under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request Departmental Manpower fall within the Ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility. [78905] Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in her Department were Mr David Jones: Departmental officials would normally working in its legal section in June 2011; and how many determine whether exemptions to the Freedom of staff were working in the legal departments of her Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to Department’s agencies and non-departmental bodies. requests for information under the Act. [78523] However, the exemption under section 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) of the Act can Mr David Jones: There were 2 (1.8 full-time equivalents) only apply if it is the reasonable opinion of a qualified lawyers working at the Wales Office in June 2011. The person that the exemption applies. In relation to information Wales Office has no agencies or non-departmental bodies. held by Government Departments, the qualified person must be a Minister. The Wales Office has not yet Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for received a request where the section 36 exemption has Wales how many officials were (a) directly and (b) been seen as appropriate, but would consider the most otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies appropriate Minister when such a case is received. for which her Department is responsible (i) in 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on the most recent date for which figures are available. [78529] Departmental Legal Opinion Mr David Jones: The number of officials directly Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for working at the Wales Office were as follows: Wales how much her Department spent on (a) legal (i) 58 in 2000; advice and (b) instructing counsel in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009, (ii) 54 in 2005; (iii) 2010 and (iv) the first six months of 2011; how (iii) 53 in 2007; many times (A) her Department was taken to court and (B) a decision taken by her Department was subject to (iv) 56 in 2010; and a judicial review; and what the outcome was of each (v) as at 31 October 2011, there was a total of 51 staff. such (1) case and (2) review. [78508] The Wales Office has no responsibility for any non- departmental public body. Mr David Jones: The Wales Office spent £4,850.25 in 2007-08, £43,501.18 in 2009-10, £27.40 in 2010-11 and Departmental Pay £435.10 in the first six months of the current financial year on legal advice from the Treasury Solicitor. Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for The Wales Office has not been taken to court or had Wales how many officials in her Department and the any decisions taken to a judicial review. bodies for which she is responsible earned more than (a) £65,000, (b) £95,000, (c) £140,000 and (d) £175,000 Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for in the last year for which figures are available. [78511] Wales how many times her Department’s legal section provided legal advice to Ministers in (a) 2007, (b) Mr David Jones: The Wales Office had three members 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011. of staff who earned more than £65,000 in 2010-11. [78514] There were no staff who earned more than £95,000.

Mr David Jones: The Wales Office does not keep a Departmental Regulation detailed record of all legal advice provided to Ministers. Some information could be provided but only at Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for disproportionate cost. Wales how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for legislation were issued by her Department in (i) 1990, Wales how many times her Department sought legal (ii) 1995, (iii) each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date. advice from external counsel in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) [78520] 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011. [78517] Mr David Jones: This information is not held centrally Mr David Jones: None. and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. 15W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 16W

Departmental Responsibilities Mr Paterson: No.

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for how many applications from employees to run services Northern Ireland whether (a) he, (b) officials of his for which her Department is directly responsible she Department and (c) special advisers in his Department has received since May 2010; and if she will make a have met Mr Adam Werritty on official business since statement. [77597] May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (i) on his Department’s premises and (ii) elsewhere. Mr David Jones: None. [78863] Departmental Work Experience Mr Paterson: No.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Departmental Manpower Wales how many unpaid and expenses-only internships (a) her Department and (b) each public body for Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for which she is responsible employed in the last 12 months Northern Ireland how many officials were (a) directly for which figures are available. [78378] and (b) otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible Mr David Jones: We have hosted two expenses-only (i) in 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) work experience placements for two undergraduates on the most recent date for which figures are available. during this time. We are not responsible for any public [78527] bodies. Mr Swire: Comparable figures for the Department as Young Offenders it is now configured are not available for the years preceding the completion of devolution of policing and Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales justice functions on 12 April 2010. However, there are what recent discussions she has had with (a) the currently 10 officials working in such organisations Secretary of State for the Home Department and (b) sponsored by my Department. Welsh Government Ministers on youth crime. [78620] Departmental Work Experience Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for (Mrs Gillan), and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland how many unpaid and expenses-only Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right internships (a) his Department and (b) each public hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and Welsh body for which he is responsible employed in the last 12 Government Ministers on a wide range of issues, but we months for which figures are available. [78377] have not had any recent discussions about youth crime. We do, however, recognise the importance of tackling Mr Paterson: No one has been employed by my youth crime and indeed the Secretary of State for Wales Department on this basis. However, the Northern Ireland has recently spoken at an event that celebrated the Human Rights Commission, which is sponsored by my success of a programme aimed at rehabilitating young Department, employed nine interns in the 2010-11 reporting offenders and breaking the cycle of crime. year; these internships were offered on an expenses-only basis. Tackling youth crime is a priority for this Government and the focus of recent work has been with areas in Foreign Relations: Republic of Ireland England who face the greatest problems. On 1 November a cross-Government report on ending gang and serious Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for youth violence was published. This sets out the start of Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the crucial work to tackle gang and youth violence through Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Ireland prevention and tough punishment. on further joint collaboration. [77571] We will work with the Welsh Government and other organisations to ensure that any good practice identified Mr Swire: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, is shared across England and Wales in both devolved my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire and non-devolved areas. (Mr Paterson), has regular meetings with the Minister for Foreign Affairs during which there is frequent discussion about how the two Governments can work together on NORTHERN IRELAND various issues to the benefit of Northern Ireland. I met with the Department for Foreign Affairs most Adam Werritty recently in Dublin on 27 October 2011.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Legal Opinion Northern Ireland whether (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) officials of his Department have met (i) Mr Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Michael Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Northern Ireland how many times his Department’s Michael Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Mr Jon legal section provided legal advice to Ministers in (a) Moulton and (vi) Mr Stephen Crouch; and where any 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months such meetings took place. [78660] of 2011. [78512] 17W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 18W

Mr Swire: On 12 April 2010, the Northern Ireland Robert Neill: The Department is not responsible for Office transferred responsibility for policing and justice betting shop licensing. I refer the right hon. and learned to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Comparative figures Member to the answer given to her by the Secretary of are not available prior to this date. State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right The receives legal support hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), from a range of Government bodies, including the on 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 476W. Crown Solicitor’s Office for Northern Ireland, the Treasury Solicitor’s Office, the Home Office Legal Advisor’s Charities Branch, and the Departmental Solicitor’s Office. Advice to Ministers reflects legal advice from these Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for sources where appropriate. I am unable to provide Communities and Local Government what grants his specific figures because legal advice is generally incorporated Department made to charitable organisations in each into submissions prepared by officials from across the of the last five years. [79075] Department and analysing these could be done only at disproportionate cost. Andrew Stunell: The Department’s records do not differentiate between payments made to charitable Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for organisations and other voluntary and community sector Northern Ireland how many times his Department sought organisations. A list of payments made under section 70 legal advice from external counsel in (a) 2007, (b) of the Charities Act 2006 to charities and voluntary 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011. groups is published in the Department’s annual report [78515] and resource accounts on a yearly basis. Mr Paterson: On 12 April 2010, the Northern Ireland This information will include payments made by the Office transferred responsibility for policing and justice Department to charities in each year. Annual reports to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Comparative figures and resources accounts for each year are published on are not available prior to this date. the Department’s website. The Northern Ireland Office receives legal support Data on grants over £500 since 2008-09 are also from a range of Government bodies, including the available on my Department’s website as part of our Crown Solicitor’s Office for Northern Ireland, the Treasury transparency initiative. Solicitor’s Office, the Home Office Legal Advisor’s Branch, and the Departmental Solicitor’s Office. The Community Relations Northern Ireland Office does not commission external legal advice itself, but in acting on behalf of the Department, Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State these bodies may from time to time engage counsel. for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the National Planning Policy Framework containing Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for measures to safeguard the character and sustainable Northern Ireland how many officials in his Department community of towns and villages in England. [78622] were working in its legal section in June 2011; and how many staff were working in the legal departments of his Greg Clark: Our reforms aim to strengthen local Department’s agencies and non-departmental bodies. decision making and reinforce the importance of local [78521] plans. The draft National Planning Policy Framework includes policies on the importance of responding to Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office does not local character, reflecting the identity of local surroundings have its own legal section. It receives legal support from and planning positively for the provision for community a range of Government bodies, including the Crown facilities and other local services. Solicitor’s Office for Northern Ireland, the Treasury Solicitor’s Office, the Home Office Legal Adviser’s Branch The 12-week consultation period closed on 17 October and the Departmental Solicitor’s Office. 2011. We have received over 14,000 responses and are now considering these. Following a process of full and The Northern Ireland Office does not have any agencies. careful consideration, we will publish revised text taking It has two Executive non-departmental public bodies into account representations that have been made and a (NDPBs), the Parades Commission and the Northern summary of responses to the consultation. Ireland Human Rights Commission. Staffing of these bodies is an operational matter on which my hon. Friend may wish to write to the bodies concerned Council Tax: Swindon directly. Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the average saving to a household in Swindon in each COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT council tax band of the council tax freeze in 2012-13. [78392] Betting Shops: Licensing Robert Neill: The saving to a household in each Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for council tax band in Swindon should the relevant authorities Communities and Local Government how many betting (Swindon Unitary Authority, Wiltshire Fire and Wiltshire shop premises are licensed in each local authority area; Police) each choose to freeze their council tax in 2012-13 and how many such licences are currently active. [78545] would be as follows: 19W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 20W

Departmental Security £

Band A 46 Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Band B 54 Communities and Local Government what level of security Band C 62 vetting is required for the post of (a) head of Band D 70 communications, (b) deputy head of communications Band E 85 and (c) head of press office in his Department; and if Band F 101 he will list each person who has held these posts since Band G 116 May 2010. [77865] Band H 139 Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and The savings shown are compared to an increase of 5%. Local Government follows the guidance in the publicly The differences in savings from the freeze are a simple available booklet Her Majesties Government Personnel reflection of the fact that higher banded homes pay Security Controls, available from the Cabinet Office more council tax. website at: I would note under the last Government, from 1997 www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel- to 2010, council tax bills more than doubled—across all security-controls council tax bands. This hit pensioners and others on It would not be appropriate to confirm which specific fixed incomes the hardest. Correspondingly, the coalition posts within the Department are the subject of vetting, Government’s grant scheme to help local authorities to or who has held these posts since May 2010. Confirmation freeze council tax this year and next will provide significant of which posts and persons are subject to vetting would help to those council taxpayers on low and fixed incomes. highlight who within the Department has access to sensitive material and could be used for targeting purposes. Departmental Freedom of Information Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what level of Communities and Local Government which Minister in security vetting is required for (a) grade six and seven, his Department is responsible for determining whether or equivalent, press officers and (b) ministerial private exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 secretaries in his Department. [77866] should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and for making such determinations should the subject matter Local Government follows the guidance in the publicly of the request fall within the Ministerial responsibilities available booklet Her Majesties Government Personnel of the Minister with lead responsibility. [78893] Security Controls, available from the Cabinet Office website at: Robert Neill: Ministers are in general not responsible www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel- for determining whether exemptions should apply to security-controls information sought in requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, although they may be consulted It would not be appropriate to confirm which specific for their views by departmental officials. In the case of posts within the Department are the subject of vetting. the exemption at section 36—prejudice to the effective Confirmation of which posts are subject to vetting at conduct of public affairs—the Act requires the opinion what level would highlight who within the Department of a Minister of the Crown that the section is engaged has access to sensitive material and could be used for with respect to the information being requested. Without targeting purposes. that opinion, the exemption cannot apply. Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Departmental Responsibilities Communities and Local Government what level of security vetting is required for (a) special advisers and (b) ministerial-appointed policy advisers in his Department; Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for and if he will list each person who has held these posts Communities and Local Government how many since May 2010. [77867] applications from employees to run services for which his Department is directly responsible he has received Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77611] Local Government follows the guidance in the publicly available booklet ‘Her Majesties Government Personnel Robert Neill: My Department has not received any Security Controls’, available from the Cabinet Office applications from employees to run services for which it website at: is directly responsible since May 2010. The Government have committed that every Department will put in place www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel- Rights to Provide for public sector workers to take over security-controls the running of services. The Department has also supported It would not be appropriate to confirm which specific the concept of an employee-led bid for the audit work posts within the Department are the subject of vetting. being tendered by the Audit Commission and has worked The names of special advisers are published quarterly with the Commission to ensure a level playing field for by the Cabinet Office in the Library of the House and all potential bidders. It is encouraging that DA also on the Cabinet Office website at: Partnership—which will be majority employee-owned—has http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special- been invited to tender in the next stage of the process. adviser-data-releases 21W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 22W

Confirmation of which posts and persons are subject Housing: Construction to vetting would highlight who within the Department has access to sensitive material and could be used for Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for targeting purposes. Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of total housing need at the (a) upper and (b) lower limits of the recently published Office for Empty Property National Statistics figures in projected population by 2050. [78039] Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment Andrew Stunell: The Department does not estimate he has made of progress on his Department’s policy to housing need. However, the Department publishes return empty homes to use. [76744] household projections, which are a trend-based view of the number of households that would form given a Grant Shapps: My Department has already taken a projected population and previous demographic trends. number of steps to support local action to bring empty Household projections are based on the sub-national homes back into use. Through the New Homes Bonus population projections published by the Office for National we have introduced a powerful new incentive scheme, Statistics, the most recent of which are 2008-based. The for tackling empty homes. Under New Homes Bonus 2008-based household projections show that, by 2033, Government match the council tax for six years, using there will be a projected 27.5 million households in the national average in each band, for any empty homes England, an additional 5.8 million households compared that becomes a new home for somebody, with an additional to 2008. This decreases to 26.3 million projected households amount being provided for those brought back into use in 2033 using the low population variant projection (an as new affordable homes. In the first year alone, around additional 4.6 million households compared to 2008), 16,000 long-term empty homes were brought back into and increases to 28.7 million projected households in use and rewarded through the New Homes Bonus scheme, 2033 using the high population variant projection (an with local authorities benefiting from around £19 million additional seven million households compared to 2008). additional funding as a result I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement of 31 October 2011, Local Enterprise Partnerships: Worcestershire Official Report, column 24WS. In addition, we have set aside £100 million from the Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Affordable Homes Programme to bring empty homes Communities and Local Government if he will estimate back into use as affordable housing. This funding will the level of inward investment to Redditch and the West be available from April 2012 until March 2015 and we Midlands arising from steps taken by the Worcestershire will shortly be publishing the detailed bidding guidance Local Enterprise Partnership. [77807] to enable both registered providers of social housing and community and voluntary groups to apply. We Greg Clark: Worcestershire local enterprise partnership expect that this will generate innovative good practice has stated that the two projects they are currently as well as bringing at least 3,300 empty homes back into developing to drive business growth will bring an additional use. £300 million of private sector funding to the area, We have also worked with the Homes and Communities creating over 8,000 jobs. Agency to launch an online Empty Homes Toolkit1 and an interactive mapping toolkit2 which provide information Local Government Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill and practical advice on tackling empty homes. The Empty Homes Toolkit is the most popular resource on Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities the agency website and is one of the top 10 most and Local Government pursuant to the answer of popular pages on the site. 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 1045W, on 1 http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/news/new-toolkits- Local Government Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill, when tackle-englands-734000-empty-homes he expects to bring forward the agreed amendments to the Bill; and for what reason there has been a delay in 2 This toolkit is available to local authorities. the amendments being brought forward. [77845]

[holding answer 1 November 2011]: Enterprise Zones Robert Neill Following prioritisation of the Localism Bill, we now intend to bring forward amendments shortly. Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local Local Government: Internet authorities have applied to set up enterprise zones and had their applications rejected. [76565] Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance Greg Clark [holding answer 24 October 2011]: Bids his Department issues to local authorities on the use of for enterprise zones were requested from Local Enterprise social media websites. [77261] Partnerships. In this context, no applications were received from individual local authorities. A copy of the enterprise Robert Neill: The Code of Recommended Practice on zone prospectus can be found at: Local Authority Publicity, which local authorities have http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/ to have regard to when producing their publicity, includes pdf/1872724.pdf guidance on hosting blogs and forums. 23W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 24W

Local Government: Pensions Greg Clark: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for and Ripon (Julian Smith). Communities and Local Government whether his Department has carried out an economic impact assessment Planning: Skipton on the effect of proposed changes to the Local Government Pensions Scheme in Stoke-on-Trent. [78245] Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many responses to the consultation on the Draft National Planning Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Policy Framework were received from Skipton and Ripon Communities and Local Government what recent constituency. [77660] assessment he has made of the likely effect on its members of his proposed changes to the Local Government Greg Clark: We have received over 14,000 responses Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement. to the consultation on the draft National Planning [78753] Policy Framework and my Department is currently in the process of registering all of the responses. It is not Robert Neill: The detailed design of the proposals to possible to provide accurate information on the number achieve £900 million of savings in the Local Government of representations received from parliamentary Pension Scheme in England and Wales by 2014-15 set constituencies or for other defined areas as many responses out in the statutory consultation letter dated 7 October have been sent in electronic form or do not contain a is specifically intended to minimise scheme opt-outs full postal address. and protect the position of low paid, mostly part-time We will give careful consideration to the responses members. Some 20% of scheme members would pay no received to inform our final decisions and we will publish increased contributions under either of the Government’s a summary of responses to the consultation in due course. options and a further 33% would pay no more than a 1.2% increase, before tax relief, by 2014-15. Race Relations In due course, the appropriate impact assessments will be published to reflect the decisions reached following Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the conclusion of the statutory consultation process Communities and Local Government whether his early in the new year. Department plans to take steps in response to the recommendation of the UN Committee on the Elimination Manufacturing Industries: Non-Domestic Rates of Racial Discrimination on the development of a race equality strategy. [79309] Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what incentives Andrew Stunell: The Government are tackling the he plans to include in any future scheme for business specific issues associated with racial discrimination through rates to encourage local authorities to support their single equality strategy, social mobility strategy manufacturing industry and small businesses. [78635] and integration policies. The Government continue to give careful consideration to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s recommendations. Robert Neill: The Government have consulted on their proposals to allow local authorities to benefit Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for from the business rates paid by all businesses in their Communities and Local Government what steps he areas. They are considering responses to that consultation plans to take in respect of the recommendations of the and will set out their decision on the proposed scheme UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial as soon as possible. Discrimination; and if he will make a statement. [79310]

Non-Domestic Rates Andrew Stunell: The Government are tackling all forms of discrimination and disadvantage through their Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for equality, social mobility and integration policies. In the Communities and Local Government if he will place in context of that we continue to consider the UN Committee the Library copies of all responses to his consultation on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s on business rates. [78636] recommendations. In a year’s time, the Government will provide further information to the Committee on four of their recommendations, as requested in paragraph 37 Robert Neill: The Government are considering responses of the Committee’s conclusions. The Government will to their consultation on the local retention of business also respond fully to all of Committee’s recommendations rates and will publish a summary of those responses in in its next state report by April 2014, as requested by the due course. Committee in paragraphs 38 and 39 of their conclusions.

Planning Permission: Milton Keynes Social Enterprises

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Communities and Local Government what discussions representations to his Department’s consultation on the he has had about promoting social enterprises within draft National Planning Policy Framework were from his Department’s area of responsibility in each month the Milton Keynes unitary authority district. [78202] since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77021] 25W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 26W

Andrew Stunell [holding answer 27 October 2011]: Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to my answer The Department for Communities and Local Government of 1 November 2011, Official Report, column 490W. ministerial team have had many discussions both internally and with external partners regarding social enterprises since May 2010. Given that a number of these discussions JUSTICE were informal, ad hoc and sometimes took place as part of other meetings it would be impossible to list all of Adam Werritty them. However the Department believes that community-based Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for social enterprises have a particularly important role in Justice whether (a) he, (b) any Ministers and (c) supporting citizens and communities to take power into officials of his Department have met (i) Mr Michael their hands and build the big society, and are vital to Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Michael help grow a sustainable and dynamic economy. The Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Jon Moulton and Department is currently undertaking a range of actions (vi) Stephen Crouch; and where any such meetings took to help support the development and maintenance of place. [78650] these organisations. Mr Kenneth Clarke: Neither I nor my ministerial Through the Localism Bill we are giving communities colleagues have attended any meetings with the individuals the right to challenge to run local authority services, named above. where they believe they could do this differently or better, and to ensure that community organisations The Ministry of Justice does not centrally record have a fair chance to bid to take over community assets meetings attended by all officials in the department. To important to them. This presents a greater opportunity collate the information requested would exceed the cost for communities to use the social enterprise model as a limit for answering parliamentary questions. method to run assets and services on a sustainable basis. Birmingham Prison We have provided capital (grants and loans) to social enterprise-orientated organisations through the John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communitybuilders Fund (which has been endowed to Justice whether the private sector bids in the tendering the Adventure Capital Fund) and other Departmental process for HMP Birmingham were charged for (a) life Funds. We also continue to support the Asset Transfer supervision, (b) parole hearings, (c) programmes and Unit which provides expert advice, guidance and support (d) other centralised services from the National concerning the transfer of under-used land and buildings Offender Management Service. [78809] from the public sector to community social enterprises. On the 3 November, I launched an action research Mr Blunt: The following approach was taken for each report (commissioned from the Young Foundation) of the highlighted areas: which seeks to show how local authorities can better (a) Life supervision; this did not form part of the required understand and support social enterprises in their local scope of services. areas. The Department is also working closely with the (b) Parole hearings; this forms part of the scope of services, sector to demonstrate the value of social enterprise to has been priced for accordingly by the private sector bidders and is deemed included in their subsequent submitted cost for delivering the new Local Economic Partnerships. The results of the contracted services. this work will be published shortly. (c) Programmes; this forms part of the scope of services, has been priced for accordingly by the private sector bidders and is Travellers: Caravan Sites deemed included in their subsequent submitted cost for delivering the contracted services. Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities (d) Other centralised services from the National Offender Management Service; private sector suppliers do not generally and Local Government (1) when he plans to announce rely on any shared services being provided by NOMS so no his policy on planning for Gypsy and Traveller sites; charge is applicable. If specific services can be identified then [79291] specific can be provided. (2) when he plans to publish the Planning Policy Channel Islands Statement on Gypsy and Traveller sites to replace circulars 01/2006 and 04/2007. [79292] Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when Ministers next plan to travel to the Channel Robert Neill: The Government published their draft Islands; and whether they plan to raise implementation new planning policy for Traveller sites for consultation of the (a) Food Supplements Directive and (b) Nutrition in April 2011. The consultation closed in August. We and Health Claims Regulation. [79051] are currently analysing the responses and intend to publish a new policy as soon as possible. Mr Kenneth Clarke: Lord McNally, the Minister with responsibility for the Crown Dependencies plans to Urban Areas: Finance visit both Jersey and Guernsey over the next 12 months. Lord McNally has previously raised the implementation Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for of the Food Supplements Directive and the Nutrition Communities and Local Government how many bids and Health Claims Regulation with the authorities in have been received from local authorities for funding both Jersey and Guernsey. The Channel Islands have from the High Street Support Scheme; and how much confirmed that they are taking the necessary steps to funding has been disbursed to each local authority. implement these EU Regulations in their domestic [77997] legislation at the earliest opportunity. 27W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 28W

Crown Courts: Teesside Number

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice December 2010 1 what representations he has received on the logs issued March 2011 3 by Teesside Crown court in the case of Mr Christopher May 2011 1 Shepherd for 31 March 2008; and if he will make a June 2011 1 statement. [78212] July 2011 1

Mr Djanogly: Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Business events Service has received oral requests and a written request July 2011 1 under the Data Protection Act for the court log referring September 2011 1 to the case of Mr Christopher Shepherd. The court log was provided. Lord McNally, Minister of State Departmental Manpower Number Charity events Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for March 2011 1 Justice how many officials were (a) directly and (b) October 2011 1 otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible (i) in Civil Society Group events 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on the most recent date for which figures are available. March 2011 4 [78119] May 2011 1 June 2011 3 Mr Kenneth Clarke: No Ministry of Justice non- July 2011 1 departmental public bodies employ civil servants except October 2011 3 the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) which, in 2007, transferred from the Home Office to the Business events Ministry of Justice as part of machinery of Government February 2011 1 changes. Until 1 November 2010, CICA staff were September 2011 1 Scottish Government civil servants who transferred to the Ministry of Justice on that date. Lobbyist events In the financial year 2007-08, the average number of July 2010 1 CICA staff was 416. Information is available on CICA staff at 30 June 2010 and at 31 March 2011 as part of February 2011 1 the transparency agenda and can be accessed at March 2011 3 June 2011 1 http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/transparency-data/ senior-civil-service-salaries-and-organograms.htm Crispin Blunt, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Departmental Responsibilities Number

Charity events Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice July 2010 1 at how many events organised by (a) charities, (b) other civil society groups, (c) businesses and (d) lobbying September 2010 1 organisations Ministers and senior officials in his October 2010 5 Department have given speeches in each month since December 2010 1 May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77366] January 2011 1 June 2011 1 Mr Kenneth Clarke: I have listed in the table the July 2011 1 number of events that both my ministerial colleagues September 2011 1 and I have spoken at since May 2010 in a ministerial capacity. I have not included constituency or party Civil Society Group events political engagements. February 2011 1

Number Business events Charity events October 2010 1 June 2010 1 June 2011 1 Jonathan Djanogly, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State July 2011 1 Number October 2011 1 Charity events Civil Society Group events October 2010 1 July 2010 1 February 2011 1 October 2010 1 July 2011 1 November 2010 3 29W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 30W

Jonathan Djanogly, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences related 1 2,3 Number to dogs , England and Wales, 2005-10 2005 2006 2007 20084 2009 2010 Civil Society Group events Total 306 232 269 199 135 184 July 2010 proceeded September 2010 against 1 Includes offences under: Nov 2010 1 Dogs Act 1871, section 2—Owning dangerous dog not kept under control; March 2011 1 Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, section 1(3)—Failing to comply with control order April 2011 1 made under Dogs Act 1871, section 2; Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, section 1(3)—Failing to comply with destruction May 2011 1 order made under Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, section 1(1)(a); July 2011 1 Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, section 1(6)—Having custody of dog in breach of disqualification order. September 2011 1 2 The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom October 2011 1 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 Business events two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. April 2011 1 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and June 2011 1 complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police October 2011 1 forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those The Home Office will respond for Nick Herbert, data are used. 4 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Minister of State. Source: The Ministry of Justice does not centrally record Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice events attended by senior officials. To seek to collate Knives: Crime this information would exceed the cost limit for answering parliamentary questions. Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were prosecuted for an offence in connection with a knife in (a) London, (b) England Departmental Work Experience and (c) each police force area in each of the last five years. [78328] Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many unpaid and expenses-only internships Mr Blunt: The number of persons proceeded against (a) his Department and (b) each public body for which at magistrates courts in relation to selected knife offences, he is responsible employed in the last 12 months for by police force area in England and Wales, from 2006 to which figures are available. [78382] 2010 (latest available) can be viewed in the table. Court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for Mr Kenneth Clarke: Over the period of the last 12 publication in the spring, 2012. months, the Ministry does not hold a central record of Persons proceeded against at magistrates’ courts for selected offences, by police the total number of persons undertaking unpaid work force area, England and Wales, 2006-101, 2, 3 experience, work placements and internships. To establish Offence/Police force area 2006 2007 20084 2009 2010 this information will require an examination of locally held records and this will incur a disproportionate cost. Have a blade or article which was sharply pointed However, the Ministry has engaged in the new Whitehall in public place, or on Internship programme pilot for 2011, which provided school premises5 two unpaid interns for two weeks from 25 July 2011. Avon and Somerset 214 200 169 215 198 The Ministry of Justice is developing a policy on Bedfordshire 74 81 82 90 98 work experience, work placements and internships in Cambridgeshire 83 65 91 79 66 order to meets its commitment to provide a minimum Cheshire 101 121 97 142 109 of 100 work placements during 2011-12. City of London 16 10 9 13 14 Cleveland 90 109 134 120 119 Cumbria 50 51 46 84 60 Dogs Act 1871 Derbyshire 94 123 71 108 98 Devon and Cornwall 138 171 171 195 173 Dorset 81 78 60 89 100 Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Durham 96 107 49 105 80 Justice how many people have been subject to Essex 217 182 158 280 235 proceedings in a magistrates court for offences under Gloucestershire 48 48 51 74 55 the Dogs Act 1871 in each year since 2005. [78683] Greater Manchester 441 436 363 474 363 Hampshire 194 198 274 288 220 Mr Blunt: Proceedings in the magistrates courts for Hertfordshire 105 78 66 120 133 offences under the Dogs Act 1871 cannot be separately Humberside 135 170 135 190 134 identified from offences under sections 1(3) and 1(6) of Kent 3 2 106 170 140 the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989. The available information Lancashire 169 176 152 222 229 from 2005 to 2010 (latest available) is given in the Leicestershire 140 135 100 100 105 following table. Lincolnshire 85 54 104 101 78 Annual court proceedings data for 2011 are planned Merseyside 253 250 228 403 312 for publication in the spring 2012. Metropolitan Police 2,099 1,810 2,267 2,138 1,975 31W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 32W

Persons proceeded against at magistrates’ courts for selected offences, by police (3) how much his Department spent on (a) legal 1, 2, 3 force area, England and Wales, 2006-10 advice and (b) instructing counsel in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009, 4 Offence/Police force area 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 (iii) 2010 and (iv) the first six months of 2011; how Norfolk 80 96 113 114 118 many times (A) his Department was taken to court and North Yorkshire 70 62 42 91 92 (B) a decision taken by his Department was subject to a Northamptonshire 1 3 37 95 97 judicial review; and what the outcome was of each such Northumbria 246 318 276 393 346 (1) case and (2) review. [78094] Nottinghamshire 176 184 164 214 181 South Yorkshire 169 179 151 210 185 Mr Djanogly: The information is as follows: Staffordshire 111 108 61 119 122 (1) When seeking legal advice from external counsel Suffolk 123 97 43 85 64 the Ministry of Justice follows guidance from the Attorney- Surrey 4765718258General and Treasury Solicitors: Sussex 165 165 179 206 159 http://www.tsol.gov.uk/attorney_generals_ panel_of_counsel.htm Thames Valley 227 165 167 289 258 The Department does not keep a central record regarding Warwickshire 38 32 59 53 35 the number of times legal advice is sought from external West Mercia 124 117 93 119 128 counsel and it would not be possible to differentiate West Midlands 469 485 472 540 411 between advice and representation costs without manually West Yorkshire 214 227 267 300 226 sifting through records and invoices for the periods Wiltshire 82 53 24 82 81 above, to do so would incur disproportionate costs England 7,268 7,011 7,202 8,792 7,655 Dyfed-Powys 39 51 44 51 44 (2) (a) The cost of supplying internal legal advice is Gwent 74 77 59 81 72 not measured by the Department. All MOJ headquarter North Wales 131 101 98 81 82 lawyers provide advice to different parts of the Department South Wales 187 164 144 237 226 including the Secretary of State and Ministers as required. Wales 431 393 345 450 424 (b) The Ministry of Justice publishes information on its total legal spend in its Business Plan quarterly data England and Wales 7,699 7,404 7,547 9,242 8,079 summaries (QDS) in accordance with commitments made at Budget 2011 and the written ministerial statement Unlawful marketing of on business plans. The purpose of the QDS data is to knives6 make more management information available to the Greater Manchester — ————public. The QDS provide a quarterly snapshot on how Kent — — — 2 — each Department is spending its budget. This information Metropolitan Police — ————can be found on the Justice website at: WestMercia ————— http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/transparency-data/ WestYorkshire 1 1——— quarterly-data-summaries.htm England 1 1 — 2 — Information that is currently available on the Justice 1 The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for website shows that for January to March 2011, the 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 Department’s total corporate legal spend was c £8.3 offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is million of which c £1.3 million was internal legal staff imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which costs, the rest was external spend and includes advice the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and and representation. complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted For the period April to June 2011 the Department’s from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection total corporate legal spend was c £5.9 million of which c processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those £1.3 million were internal legal staff costs; the rest was data are used. external spend and includes advice and representation. 3 The figures presented here have been taken from the Ministry of Justices court proceedings database and are a record of the sentences passed in courts, Data for July to September are not yet available. they will differ from the figures presented in the figures published in the ’Knife The figures above include costs for litigation and Crime Sentencing—Quarterly brief’ which are drawn from the Police National Computer. advice; the information is not recorded in a manner that 4 Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. makes extracting the cost of advice only possible. 5 Offences used: Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.139 as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 (3) (a) and (b) As per the answers to 78062 and S.3 - Having an article with blade or point in public place 78070, the Ministry of Justice does not keep a record of Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.139A (1) & (5)(a) added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.4(1) - Having an article with blade or point on school premises how many times the Department requested legal advice 6 Offences used: and instructed counsel during the periods noted and is Knives Act 1997 S.1 - Sell, hire, offer or posses knife in manner indicating/ unable to provide a breakdown of costs in this manner suggesting suitability for combat or stimulate/encourage violent behaviour Source: as this information has not been centrally recorded. Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice However, the external legal spend costs above do include Legal Opinion external advice and costs for counsel. The cost of extracting this specific information would be disproportionate. Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for (A) The Ministry of Justice does not keep a central Justice (1) how many times his Department sought record of how many times it has been taken to court legal advice from external counsel in (a) 2007, (b) and the outcome of each case. Treasury Solicitors represent 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011; the Department in its litigation but not all of the [78062] matters involve court proceedings. To extract this (2) what the cost was of (a) internal and (b) information for the periods requested would involve external legal advice commissioned by his Department manually checking files for those years at a cost which in the first six months of 2011; [78070] would be disproportionate. 33W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 34W

(B) The Ministry of Justice does not keep a central Mr Blunt: Despite pressure from population increase record of how many of its decisions have been subject and resource constraints a broad range of rehabilitation to judicial review and the outcome of those reviews, services and interventions continue to be delivered and however Treasury Solicitors have represented the Ministry staff across prisons and probation are working with of Justice in judicial review proceedings for each year as partners to reduce reoffending and make our communities per the following table. The outcomes of those reviews safer. are not recorded centrally and cannot be provided While we are committed to evidence-based without incurring disproportionate costs. commissioning to ensure that resources are targeted as effectively as possible to continue to deliver improved Number outcomes for offenders and victims, my assessment is 2007-08 721 that a lower level of prison population would make the 2008-09 892 available rehabilitation programmes more effective. 2009-10 1,279 2010-11 1,388 2010-11 (April to June) 820 Prisons: Private Sector Magistrates Courts: Rural Areas

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) which areas are defined rural for the Justice what factors arose between the publication of purposes of resource allocation for magistrates’ court the Principles of Competition document in November services; and whether he plans to review those areas; 2009 and that of Principles of Competition document [78632] in August 2010 which led to an increase in add on costs for the competition for HMP Birmingham, Buckley (2) what criteria his Department uses to determine Hall, Featherstone 2 and Wellingborough. [78810] whether areas should receive additional resources for magistrates’ court services in recognition of the distance between workplaces. [78633] Mr Blunt: The main difference between the November 2009 and August 2010 versions of the Principles of Mr Djanogly: For the purposes of resource allocation Competition is that the former version set out the for magistrates court services there is no set definition general principles as to how mark-ups would be applied of rural areas. Resources are allocated on the principle rather than the specific amounts that appear in the later of work load. version. For example, the November 2009 version provides The Courts Estates Reforms Programme has been a formula that would be used to calculate the allocation established to review the condition and utilisation of of indirect costs whereas the August 2010 version states HM Courts and Tribunals Service estate. The programme a specific percentage of 6.5%. The August version was has proposed some magistrate courts that could be necessary both to provide this specific detail and to use closed, resulting in improved utilisation across other the most up-to-date figures available prior to bidders magistrates courts in England and Wales, while maintaining completing their pricing submissions. access to justice in the remaining courts left open. If magistrates work load is conducted in a more rural court location, part of the allocation recognises funding for magistrates travel expenses. Additional resources for Reoffenders funding expense are triggered by distance.

Offenders: Ex-servicemen Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of offenders leaving prison re-offended within (a) one, (b) two and (c) three years of release in Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice the latest period for which figures are available. [78781] what information his Department holds on the number of people (a) in prison, (b) on parole and (c) subject to a community order who (i) had formerly been and Mr Blunt: The proven re-offending rate for adults (ii) are members of the armed forces. [78601] who re-offended within one year of their release from prison between January and December 2009 is 46.8%. Mr Blunt: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I Proven re-offending is defined as any offence committed gave on 25 October 2011, Official Report, column 155W, in a one year follow-up period and receiving a court to the hon. Member for Wigan (Lisa Nandy). No conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one information is held centrally by the Ministry of Justice year follow up. Following this one year period, a further on those who might be current serving members of the six months is allowed for cases to progress through the armed forces. courts. Offenders: Rehabilitation In response to a consultation in late 2010 and early 2011 by the Ministry of Justice, proven re-offending Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice rates using a two year follow up period will be published what assessment he has made of the effect of the level in the next Compendium of Re-offending in May 2012. of the prison population on the effectiveness of Proven re-offending rates using a three year follow up rehabilitation programmes in prisons. [78780] period are not available. 35W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 36W

Reparation by Offenders Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in England and Wales. Other than where specified in the what assessment he has made of the communication statute this information does not include the circumstances needs of defendants or witnesses during the restorative of each case. It is therefore not possible to identify the justice process; and what steps he is taking to support defendant’s occupation (such as scrap metal merchants) such needs. [78591] from this centrally held data. Charging information is not collated centrally by the Mr Blunt: We have not undertaken a specific assessment Ministry of Justice. of the communication needs of defendants or witnesses involved in restorative justice processes. However, in cases in which restorative justice is undertaken either following, or prior to sentencing, trained practitioners will assess the ability for both SCOTLAND parties to fully and willingly participate in the process and provide support and reasonable adjustments to ensure processes can proceed where appropriate. Adam Werritty In addition, in all cases which proceed to court (including those involving restorative justice pre or post-sentence), Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for appropriate support services are available at court to Scotland whether (a) he, (b) officials of his Department defendants or witnesses with communication needs. For and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Mr example, the provision of foreign language interpreters, Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010; and British Sign Language interpreters, hearing loop systems how many such meetings took place (i) on his Department’s and Braille signage. Visits to courts are also available to premises and (ii) elsewhere. [78864] witnesses to enable them to familiarise themselves prior to court hearings. In accordance with legislation (Youth David Mundell: There have been no such meetings Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999), intermediaries with Mr Adam Werritty. are also available to those assessed as requiring assistance in their communication. Court staff, judiciary, prison and probation officers receive equality and diversity Departmental Freedom of Information training to adequately support those people with communication needs. Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for A witness would be unlikely to be involved in restorative Scotland how many requests under the Freedom of justice unless they were also the victim of the crime or Information Act 2000 his Department has received in significantly affected in some way by the crime committed, each month since May 2010; how many responses given as restorative justice involves offenders making direct in each such month disclosed (a) the full information amends to the person or persons affected as a consequence requested, (b) part of the information requested, with of their actions. some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses Terrorism: British Nationals Abroad were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no what plans he has to implement the provisions of the substantive response has yet been issued. [78906] Crime and Security Act 2010 relating to compensation for victims of terrorism overseas; and if he will make a David Mundell: Statistics on handling of requests for statement. [78758] information under the Freedom of Information Act by over 40 central Government bodies, including all Departments of State are available at: Mr Blunt: The issue of compensation for victims of http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/ terrorism overseas is being considered alongside the implementation-editions.htm Government’s review of victims’ services and compensation, at the conclusion of which we will publish a consultation The annual statistics cover the implementation and document. We plan to make an announcement on victims operation of the Act 2000 in central Government. The of terrorism overseas at the same time as we launch the publication draws together the quarterly statistics for consultation. the year and analyses the longer term trends. Figures are derived from manual returns submitted by participating bodies, and cover timeliness of responses, outcomes of requests, and use of the appeal process. Theft: Metals The following table does not include figures beyond June 2011 as to do so would pre-empt the Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for publication of statistics for quarters three and four of Justice how many scrap metal merchants have been 2011. Statistics on the time taken to respond to cases charged and convicted with receiving stolen goods in over 20 working days for 2011 will be published in the each of the last two years. [79202] annual report. 37W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 38W

Responses issued In respect of requests received each month (i) (A) (i) (B) (ii) No substantive Holding substantive response issued response issued response issued (iii) No FOI within 20 within 20 within 40 substantive requests (a) Granted (b) Partly (c) Fully working days of working days of working days of response has Month received in full withheld withheld receipt receipt receipt yet been issued

2010 May93118100 June 16 8 1 2 13 2 1 0 July 16 6 2 2 14 0 2 0 August 6 6 0 06000 September 12 3 0 7 12 0 0 0 October 20 5 0 12 20 0 0 0 November 23 9 7 1 19 4 0 0 December 4 ? 0 04000

2011 January 3 2 0 0 3 0 1— 1— February 13 8 3 0 12 1 1— 1— March 2 1 0 0 2 0 1— 1— April 12 7 3 0 10 2 1— 1— May10610901— 1— June 32 13 4 2 30 2 1— 1— 1 Not yet published

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Outcomes Scotland in respect of how many responses to requests (d) for information received by his Department under the (a) S43 (b) (c) Vexatious or Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercial Information Exceeds repeated commercially sensitive information, (b) information interests not held £600 limit requests not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) August 0 0 0 0 vexatious or repeated requests has been given in September 0 2 0 0 [78907] response since January 2010. October 0 3 0 0 November 0 8 0 0 David Mundell: Statistics on handling of requests for December 0 1 0 0 information under the Freedom of Information Act by over 40 central Government bodies, including all 2011 Departments of State are available at: January 0 0 0 0 http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/ February 0 2 0 0 implementation.htm March 0 1 0 0 The annual statistics cover the implementation and April 0 0 0 0 operation of the Act 2000 in central Government. The May 0 2 0 0 publication draws together the quarterly statistics for June0720 the year and analyses the longer-term trends. Figures are derived from manual returns submitted by participating bodies, and cover timeliness of responses, outcomes of Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for requests and use of the appeal process. Scotland which Minister in his Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the The following table does not include figures beyond Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to June 2011 as to do so would pre-empt the publication of responses to requests for information made under the statistics for quarters 3 and 4 of 2011. Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter Outcomes of the request fall within the ministerial responsibilities (d) of the Minister with lead responsibility. [78908] (a) S43 (b) (c) Vexatious or commercial Information Exceeds repeated interests not held £600 limit requests David Mundell: Scotland Office officials would normally 2010 determine whether exemptions to the Freedom of January 0 3 0 0 Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to February 0 3 1 0 requests for information under the Act. However, the March 0 2 1 0 exemption under section 36, prejudice to the effective April0100conduct of public affairs, can only apply if it is the May 0 4 0 0 reasonable opinion of a qualified person that the exemption June0300applies. In relation to information held by the Scotland July0310Office, the qualified person must be a Minister. This is normally the Secretary of State for Scotland, the right 39W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 40W hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk Tim Loughton [holding answer 3 November 2011]: (Michael Moore), but either Minister may act as the Data from the Adoption Register shows that almost all qualified person regardless of where responsibility for local authorities in England use the register to find the subject matter of the request lies. families for children in need of adoption. The challenge is to ensure that all local authorities refer all relevant children in need of adoption and approved prospective adopters to the register in good time. EDUCATION In January I approved funding for a one-year pilot Adoption project, led by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering, to gain a better understanding of how the Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State register is being used, and how matching decisions are for Education what the (a) proportion and (b) number made at local level in relation to specific children. of failed adoption placements were in each local authority Findings from this project will inform my thinking on area in England in each of the last five years. [77680] how the role of the register might be developed.

Tim Loughton [holding answer 31 October 2011]: Information on the number of adoptive placements Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State which fail following the granting on an adoption order for Education what funding his Department has is not collected centrally. provided to the British Association for Adoption and Fostering to promote adoption in each of the last five Information is available on the outcomes of children years; and how much his Department plans to provide placed for adoption at 31 March 2007. This is published for this purpose in each year of the Comprehensive as part of the Adoption and Special Guardianship data Spending Review period. [78229] pack. This shows that 5% of children placed for adoption at 31 March 2007 had not been adopted three years later. The Adoption and Special Guardianship data Tim Loughton [holding answer 3 November 2011]: pack can be found at: The Department for Education is funding the British http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/ Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) for families/adoption/a0076713/datapack two years from 1 April 2011. The grant activities include To produce this information for years other than raising the profile and awareness of adoption. 2007 would incur disproportionate cost. Due to the low £324,000 has been awarded for the first year. An numbers of children involved information at local authority indicative grant of £299,000 for 2012-13 is subject to level could not be produced. parliamentary approval and successful delivery by BAAF of agreed grant funded activities. Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department has The spending review 2010 is due to be examined at provided to (a) the Coram Foundation and (b) the mid-point. We have yet to allocate funding beyond Barnardo’s to support local authorities in improving 2012-13 (even on an indicative basis) as to do so could their adoption outcomes in each of the last five years; prejudice the outcomes of that review. and how much his Department plans to provide to each In addition to funding for the Adoption Register and organisation for these purposes in each year of the Independent Review Mechanism, BAAF has received comprehensive spending review period. [78227] adoption-related funding from the Department for Education (and its predecessor Department) in each of Tim Loughton [holding answer 3 November 2011]: the last five years as set out in the following table. Some The Department for Education is funding Barnardo’s of this funding was for raising the profile and awareness in partnership with the Coram Foundation for two of adoption. years from 1 April 2011 to engage with 24 local authorities to help them improve adoption outcomes for children £ and the local authorities’ adoption services. 2006-07 240,000 £291,000 has been awarded for the first year. An 2007-08 270,571 indicative grant, also of £291,000 for 2012-13 is subject to parliamentary approval and successful delivery by 2008-09 278,088 Barnado’s and the Coram Foundation of agreed grant 2009-10 285,831 funded activities. 2010-11 285,831 The spending review 2010 is due to be examined at the mid-point. We have yet to allocate funding beyond John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for 2012-13 (even on an indicative basis) as to do so could Education (1) what statistical assessment he has undertaken prejudice the outcomes of that review. to inform the Government’s strategy on adoption from Neither organisation has received funding from the care; [78480] Department for Education (or its predecessor Department) in the five years prior to 2011 to support local authorities (2) what target he has set for the number of additional improve their adoption outcomes. adoptions from care to satisfy the Government’s objective of more children in care being adopted; [78486] Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State (3) what the evidential basis is for the Government’s for Education which local authorities he assesses as view that children currently leaving care to residency needing to make more effective use of the Adoption orders and special guardianship orders should instead Register. [78228] be adopted. [78479] 41W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 42W

Tim Loughton: The Department’s data on adoption http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/statistics/ show significant local variations in the number of adoptions statistics-by-topic/childrenandfamilies/a00196857/children- from care and in the timeliness of adoptive placements. looked-after-by-las-in-england The new Children in Care and Adoption Performance Although Table E4 will be at national level in this Tables help local authorities to compare their performance publication we will also place a local authority level with other authorities and identify where improvements table in the House Libraries. are urgently needed. They do not include targets. I want Children in Care to see more children in care adopted where this is in their best interests, and I want to speed up the system so Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State that they are adopted at a younger age. However, the for Education how many and what proportion of care child’s welfare must always be the paramount consideration leavers from each local authority in England (a) were for local authorities when considering the most appropriate not in education, employment or training, (b) had route to permanence for a child who cannot live with commenced an apprenticeship and (c) entered higher his or her birth parents. In some cases, a special guardianship education in each of the last five years. [77819] order or a residence order may be more appropriate than adoption, for example where an older child does Tim Loughton: Information on the activity of care not wish to sever their legal ties with their birth parents. leavers from each local authority in England in each of the last five years is contained in the Statistical First Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State Release, Children Looked After by Local Authorities in for Education what proportion of looked-after England (including adoption and care leavers)—year children were (a) identified for adoption and (b) ending 31 March 2011. This was published on 28 September placed for adoption by each local authority in England 2011, information on the activity of care leavers can be in each of the last five years. [77681] found in table LAF1, a coy of this has been placed in the House Libraries. The information can also be found Tim Loughton [holding answer 31 October 2011]: under the Excel link “Local Authority summary tables” Information on the number of children for whom the on the release’s web page at decision has been made that they should be placed for http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001026/ adoption was published in 2010 as Table E4 of the index.shtml Statistical First Release, Children Looked After by Local Table LAF1 shows the number and proportion of Authorities in England (including adoption and care children who are (a) not in education, employment or leavers)—year ending 31 March 2010. Table E4 shows training and (c) in higher education. Information on information at national level. This information was apprenticeships (b) is not collected for care leavers. collected for the first time in 2009. It is available via the Class Sizes Release’s web page at: http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000960/ Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for index.shtml Education (1) what the ratio of pupils to all full-time Information on the percentage of children placed for equivalent staff was in primary schools in (a) 1981, adoption in each local authority area was published as (b) 1997 and (c) the most recent year for which data table LAA3 of the same publication. are available; [78284] This information will be updated for 2011 on 30 (2) what the pupil-teacher ratio was in (a) primary November 2011. It will take the form of two additional and (b) secondary schools in (i) 1981, (ii) 1997 and (iii) tables, Table E4: Children for whom the local authority the most recent year for which figures are available; has reversed the decision that the child should be placed [78326] for adoption during the year ending 31 March, and (3) what the average pupil to teacher ratio was in Table LAA3: Children looked after at 31 March by secondary schools in England in 1981. [79361] placement, by local authority. These will follow the recent Statistical release, Children Looked After by Mr Gibb: The following table provides the pupil:teacher Local Authorities in England (including adoption and and pupil:adult ratios in local authority maintained care leavers)—year ending 31 March 2011. The tables primary and secondary schools in England for 1981, will be available on-the Release’s web page at: 1997 and 2010.

Pupil:teacher ratios1, 2 in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools. Years: January 19813, 19973, 20103 and November 20104. Coverage: England Pupil:teacher ratio Pupil:adult ratio Primary Secondary Primary Secondary

January 1981 22.6 16.6 n/a n/a January 1997 23.4 16.7 17.9 14.5 January 2010 21.3 15.7 11.4 10.4 November 20105 20.9 15.6 n/a n/a n/a = Not available. 1 The within-school PTR is calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll in schools by the total FTE number of qualified teachers regularly employed in schools. 2 For statistical purposes only, pupils who do not attend both morning and afternoon at least five days a week are regarded as part-time. Each part-time pupil is treated as 0.5 FTE. 3 Source—School Census. 4 Source—PTRs: School Census (Pupils), School Workforce Census (FTE qualified teachers). PARS: School Census (Pupils and FTE all teachers and support staff employed in schools excluding administrative and clerical staff). 5 November 2010 figures are calculated using the most current figures eg January 2011 pupil numbers and November 2010 teacher numbers. Previous years are calculated using January figures for both pupils and teachers. 43W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 44W

Departmental Consultants (2) what level of security vetting is required for (a) grade six and seven, or equivalent, press officers and Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (b) ministerial private secretaries in his Department; how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on [77896] consultancy contracts in his Department; and if he will (3) what level of security vetting is required for (a) make a statement. [77500] special advisers and (b) Ministerial-appointed policy advisers in his Department; and if he will list each Tim Loughton [holding answer 31 October 2011]: To person who has held these posts since May 2010. [77897] get information on the number of full-time equivalent staff employed on consultancy contracts in the Department Tim Loughton: Information on levels of security vetting could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, is available in HMG Personnel Security Controls booklet I can tell you that as a result of spending controls on the Cabinet Office website: introduced into the Department in 2010, consultancy http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg- spend fell by 76% in the first six months of 2011/12 personnel-security-controls compared to the same period in 2010/11 and continues This booklet describes the circumstances in which a to fall. post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting checks. It would not be appropriate to Departmental Lost Property confirm which specific posts within a department are the subject of vetting, as this could highlight who Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for within a department has access to sensitive material and Education whether his Department has lost any (a) be used for targeting purposes. computers, (b) mobile phones, (c) BlackBerrys and The names of special advisers are published quarterly (d) other IT equipment since May 2010; and if he will by Cabinet Office and can be found at the following make a statement. [77410] link: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special- Tim Loughton: A breakdown of reported lost or adviser-data-releases stolen IT equipment from the Department for Education in the 18 month period from 1 May 2010 to 27 October Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for 2011 is provided as follows. Figures for the previous 18 Education how many people were in possession of a months are also given for comparison. security pass for his main departmental headquarters, including multi-site headquarters and not including From 1 May 2010 to 27 From 1 January 2009 to staff or contractors, in each month since May 2010. October 2011 30 April 2010 [77899] Lost Stolen Total Lost Stolen Total Tim Loughton: The Department for Education confirms Laptop 0 772 57 computers that no security passes have been allocated at its main Mobile 3 031 01headquarter buildings in Darlington, London, Runcorn phone or Sheffield to non-DFE staff or contractors for the BlackBerry 11 8 19 14 9 23 period from May 2010 to October 2011. Memory 10010303 Stick English Baccalaureate Signify 4 040 00 Token Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Total 28 15 43 20 14 34 Education what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the introduction of the English Baccalaureate Departmental Press: Subscriptions on the take-up of subjects not included in its scope. [78638]

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education Mr Gibb: The Department has commissioned research how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals on the impact of the English Baccalaureate which suggests and trade profession magazines in 2010-11. [74998] that schools and pupils are making sensible GCSE subject choices. The survey, carried out with nearly 700 Tim Loughton: Based on its financial systems, the schools, suggests that English Baccalaureate subjects Department spent £67,365 on newspapers periodicals are being opened up to many more pupils, reversing and trade professions magazines in 2010-11. This is a declines in entries to languages, history and geography. significant reduction when compared to spend of £92,917 It also indicates that more than half of the pupils who in 2009-10, £123,951 in 2008-09 and £123,836 in 2007-08. were starting key stage 4 from September have chosen to follow a set of subjects which will not lead to the Departmental Security English Baccalaureate. We will continue to monitor the impact of the English Baccalaureate on other subjects, Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for including through review of GCSE entries in 2012. Education (1) what level of security vetting is required We will also be opening up access to datasets which for the post of (a) head of communications, (b) will enable parents and others to carry out their own deputy head of communications and (c) head of press assessment of schools’ success in the areas they are office in his Department; and if he will list each person interested in; this will allow them to monitor performance who has held these posts since May 2010; [77895] in subjects not included in the English Baccalaureate. 45W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 46W

English Baccalaureate: Chinese Language Pupils: Bullying

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether Chinese will be included as a Education with reference to page 8 of his Department’s Modern Foreign Language option in the English guidance, Preventing and Tackling Bullying Advice for Baccalaureate. [77799] School Leaders, staff and Governing Bodies, when he plans to update the website to provide links to further Mr Gibb: All full course GCSEs and AS Levels in information and organisations on transgender and Chinese which are regulated by Ofqual and currently other issues; and if he will add the Gender Identity available can be taken by pupils as part of the English Research and Education Society to the organisations Baccalaureate. These qualifications are: listed under LGBT in the guidance and insert a link to the society’s guidance on assisting schools to combat AQA Level 1/Level 2 GCSE in Chinese (Mandarin) (500/4491/6) transphobic bullying. [77636] Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE in Chinese (500/4672/X) Edexcel Level 3 Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Chinese (500/2666/5). Mr Gibb: This Government are committed to tackling bullying of all forms, particularly prejudice-based bullying. GCSE We want to support schools to deal effectively with bullying, while also reducing bureaucratic burdens and the amount of guidance from central Government. One Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for of the aims of the anti-bullying advice is to signpost Education in how many secondary schools over 80 per schools to key specialist organisations who could provide cent. of children achieved at least five GCSEs at A* to further advice and support. In doing so, we cannot list C, including English and mathematics. [75254] every organisation. We have listed those that we believe will be useful for the greatest number of schools. Mr Gibb: In 2010, there were 576 secondary schools Transphobic bullying is an issue which directly affects a in which over 80% of pupils at the end of key stage 4 relatively small number of schools, so we have not achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A* to C or included any organisations which specialise in that issue. equivalent including English and mathematics. This GIRES is, however, a member of the Anti-Bullying includes both state-funded and independent secondary Alliance—an umbrella organisation listed in our guidance. schools. Only iGCSEs that have been approved for use If schools identify transgender-related bullying issues, in maintained schools are included in this measure. the ABA can signpost them in turn to GIRES or Schools with 10 or fewer pupils at the end of key another specialist transgender organisation. stage 4 are excluded. Source: Schools: Assessments Secondary School Performance Tables. Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Music: Education Education pursuant to the answers of 5 September 2011, Official Report, column 315W,on schools: assessment, 20 July 2001, official report, column 2015W, on CSE Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for and 20 July 2011, Official Report, column 1024W, on Education what steps his Department has taken GCE O-level, what information his Department holds following the review of music education to (a) on (a) subjects studied and (b) examinations taken in maximise the benefits of music education in schools secondary schools prior to the introduction of GCSEs. and (b) support schools to manage budgets for music [72945] education and maximise value for money since March 2011. [78989] Mr Gibb: Until 1988, the attainment of school leavers was assessed via a survey which was sent to all secondary Mr Gibb: We will shortly publish a National Plan for schools in England with pupils of school leaving age Music Education, which will reform the delivery and (excluding special schools, independent schools and funding of music education. It will ensure that all pupils international schools). The results were published in the have the opportunity to learn an instrument, learn to report ″Statistics of Education: School Leavers, CSE sing, have opportunities to play in ensembles and have and GCE″. access to musical progression routes regardless of where These reports contain a range of statistics covering they live and their family circumstances. The needs of examination attempts and achievements by gender, type the pupil will be at the heart of the plan. Through it, the of school and subject groupings; and the destinations of Government will signal their commitment to ensuring school leavers. These reports are available in the House that all pupils have access to high quality music education. Libraries.

New Schools Network Schools: Dogs

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for how many employees of his Department have previously Education pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2011, worked for New Schools Network. [72315] Official Report, column 1174W, on schools: dogs, whether his Department has a policy on allowing dogs Tim Loughton: The Department does not keep a into school classrooms where children or teachers with record of its employee’s previous employment history. allergic conditions may be present. [77525] 47W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 48W

Mr Gibb: Allowing, or disallowing, dogs into classrooms in schools including industry bodies such as the British or, indeed, any parts of a school where pupils or staff Educational Suppliers Association and Intellect, individual with allergies may be present, is for schools to determine. companies, school leaders, and head teacher unions. The Department for Education does not have a specific policy on this. There could be good reasons to have Social Enterprises dogs or other animals in school, for instance to support the teaching of biology, the study of life and living Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education organisms. As I stated in my answer of 21 October what discussions he has had about promoting social 2011, Official Report, column 1174W, we would expect enterprises within his Department’s area of responsibility schools to take common sense steps to protect the in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a health and safety of all in the school. Detailed advice statement. [77023] on the care of animals in school and of people who may Sarah Teather [holding answer 27 October 2011]: come into contact with them is provided by the Consortium The information requested is not collated centrally and of Local Authorities Provision of Science Services via to collect it would incur disproportionate cost. However, their helpline on 01895 251496 or the following website: this Department supports social enterprises in a range http://www.cleapss.org.uk/ of ways: for example, we are funding our voluntary sector strategic partners, which include Social Enterprise Schools: ICT UK as consortia members, to build capacity in the sector and to strengthen a social enterprise approach. : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to promote the Teachers use of new technology in schools to assist with Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for teaching and learning. [77421] Education (1) what estimate he has made of the turnover of teaching staff in maintained secondary schools with Mr Gibb: Schools are best placed to make decisions (a) high numbers of children eligible for free school on how to use technology to support good teaching and meals and (b) low numbers of children eligible for free help raise educational standards. The role of Government school meals; [78283] is to encourage schools to take better advantage of opportunities presented by digital technologies to engage (2) what proportion of teachers in maintained pupils, improve teaching and deliver education more secondary schools with (a) more than 20 per cent. and effectively, but not seek to micromanage how they do (b) fewer than 10 per cent. of children eligible for free this. The Department is already working to ensure school meals hold a degree in each degree class. [78334] schools achieve value for money when purchasing Mr Gibb: The information requested is not collected technology through the development of procurement centrally. frameworks, national pricing agreements and other mechanisms. We are also working with industry to Teachers: Pensions agree data standards for educational systems. Information and communications technology within the national Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for curriculum will be considered as part of the national Education for what reason his Department has not curriculum review carried out a valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme since 2007; what legal requirement there is to carry out Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for such a valuation; and on what his Department’s estimate Education what funds are available to schools that wish of the affordability of such a scheme can be made in the to invest in new technology to assist with teaching and absence of a recent valuation. [77583] learning. [77422] Mr Gibb: The Government put valuations of the Mr Gibb: Schools are best placed to make decisions public service pension schemes on hold while the about how to use the resources available to them—including consultation on the discount rate used to calculate technology. They have the freedom to select and purchase contribution rates was taking place. The outcome of the technology and services to meet their needs from their consultation was announced in Budget 2011, but valuations revenue funding under the Dedicated Schools Grant remain on hold. Valuations are dependent on assumptions and their Devolved Formula Capital funding. The about the value of future costs, design of benefits and Department provides support for achieving best value other factors. Many of these are currently under review in purchasing technology through its national procurement as part of the Government’s proposed reforms of the arrangements. public sector pension schemes. The Teachers’ Pensions Regulations 2010 require the scheme’s actuary to carry Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education out a valuation of the scheme at intervals of no more what discussions he has had with representatives of (a) than four years but the actuary cannot do so until the schools and (b) the technology sector on opportunities Department and HM Treasury have set out the funding for schools to invest in new technologies to assist with methodology, which will not be determined until the teaching and learning. [77423] future structure of the pension scheme is clear. Although valuations have not been carried out for Mr Gibb: The Secretary of State for Education, my any public sector schemes, the costs of the Government’s right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael proposed reforms of public sector pension schemes Gove), and Ministers regularly meet with industry and have been calculated by the Government Actuary’s school representatives. The Department has held a number Department using data and assumptions that have been of meetings with interested parties around technology shared and discussed with unions. 49W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 50W

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for 1% of the value of the paybill, would opt-out of all the Education what assessment he has made of the number public service schemes as a result of the proposed of teachers likely to opt out of the Teachers’ Pension increase in pension contributions. scheme, if contributions rise to 9.8% of salary; what A consultation on the proposed increase to contributions estimate he has made of the proportion of contributors for members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme in 2012-13 to that scheme who must continue to participate in was recently concluded and the Department is considering order to prevent it ceasing to be viable; and if he will all responses received prior to the deadline. The Government make a statement. [77584] are committed to implementing the contributions increase in a way which will protect the lower paid from the full Mr Gibb: At the spending review, the Office for impact of the changes and will therefore reduce the risk Budget Responsibility assumed that some additional of increased opt-outs from the scheme. members, amounting to 1% of the value of the paybill, would opt-out of all the public service schemes as a Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for result of the proposed increase in pension contributions. Education when he plans to publish a valuation of the The Department is currently considering responses Teachers’ Pension Scheme. [77783] to its consultation on the proposed increase to contributions for members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), Mr Gibb [holding answer 1 November 2011]: The which sought views of consultees on how the contributions Government put valuations of the public service pension increase could be implemented in a way that delivered schemes on hold while the consultation on the discount the Government’s commitment to minimise the number rate used to calculate contribution rates was taking of teachers opting out of the scheme. The Government place. The outcome of the consultation was announced believe that the rate of opt-out from the TPS will in Budget 2011, however, valuations remain on hold. remain very low following the increase in pension Valuations are dependent on assumptions about the contributions and that it will not threaten the viability value of future costs, design of benefits and other of the scheme. factors. Many of these are currently under review as part of discussions on implementing Lord Hutton’s Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for proposals. A decision on when to undertake the next Education what the evidential basis is for his Department’s valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme will be taken assessment that the Teachers’ Pension Scheme has become in due course. unaffordable since the 2007 settlement. [77585] Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Gibb: The Independent Public Service Pensions Education when he expects the valuation of the Commission, chaired by Lord Hutton, was invited by Teachers’ Pension Scheme to be published. [79148] the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), and the Chief Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education Secretary to the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the if he will undertake and publish a full economic valuation Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme; and if he will make a (Danny Alexander), to conduct a fundamental structural statement. [78762] review of public service pension provision and to make recommendations on pension arrangements that are Mr Gibb: The Government put valuations of the sustainable and affordable in the long term, fair to both public service pension schemes on hold while the the public service work force and the taxpayer and consultation on the discount rate used to calculate consistent with the fiscal challenges ahead, while protecting contribution rates was taking place. The outcome of the accrued rights. consultation was announced in Budget 2011, but valuations remain on hold. Valuations are dependent on assumptions In making his recommendations on pension reform, about the value of future costs, design of benefits and Lord Hutton considered the reforms already made to other factors. Many of these are currently under review the public service pension schemes—in 2007 in the case as part of the Government’s proposed reforms of the of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme—and while he public sector pension schemes. A decision on when to acknowledged that savings had been achieved, he pointed undertake the next valuation of the Teachers’ Pension out that the cost of public service pensions had increased Scheme will be taken in due course. by around a third because of longer life expectancy over the last 50 years. As a result, cash expenditure on paying pensions to public service pensioners had increased to £32 billion over the last decade. Against this background, Lord Hutton concluded that there is a clear case for HOME DEPARTMENT further reform of public service pension schemes, including the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Knife Crime

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for 22. Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of the Home Department what recent assessment she has teachers who will cease making pension contributions made of the level of knife crime. [78460] following the planned increase in contributions. [77693] Nick Herbert: In the 12 months to June 2011, data Mr Gibb [holding answer 31 October 2011]: At the collected by police forces in England and Wales indicate spending review, the Office for Budget Responsibility that 7% of relevant violent offences involved the use of estimated that some additional members, amounting to a knife or a sharp instrument. 51W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 52W

Net Migration James Brokenshire: We have no plans to decriminalise cannabis or any other drug subject to control under the 23. Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. the Home Department what progress she is making in reducing net migration. [78461] Civil Disorder

Damian Green: We are committed to reducing net migration to the levels of the 1990s—tens of thousands, Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the (a) (b) not hundreds of thousands. Home Department how many level 1 and level 2 trained public order officers were available to the We have already introduced an annual limit on the Metropolitan police in each year from 1999 to the number of non-EU workers; overhauled the student latest year for which figures are available. [78157] route; and increased enforcement activity. As the right hon. Gentleman recognised in an article Nick Herbert: Information on the number of level 1 last week, the next steps are to break the link between and level 2 public order trained police officers is not temporary and permanent migration by restricting collected centrally by the Home Office. Level 1 and level settlement rights and to tighten rules on family migration. 2 training is a local resource management issue for chief Anti-Semitism constables working with their police authorities and, from November 2012, their elected police and crime commissioners (PCCs). Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to combat anti-Semitism since July 2010; and if Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested she will make a statement. [R] [78749] at the scene and (b) arrested at a later stage in connection Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply. with the public disorder of August 2011. [78204] The cross-Government working group on anti-Semitism co-ordinates all Government’s work on this issue. The Nick Herbert: This information is not held centrally. Government’s latest response is the ‘Three Years on Progress Report’, copies of which are available in the Deportation: Offenders Library of the House. More recently the working group has focused on Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the addressing hate material on the internet and anti-Semitism Home Department with reference to the report by the and political tensions on campus. Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency entitled A thematic inspection of how the UK Border Agency Antisocial Behaviour manages foreign national prisoners, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of immigration detainees Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for held for over 12 months. [78793] the Home Department when she plans to publish her Department’s response to its consultation, More Damian Green: The majority of immigration detainees effective responses to antisocial behaviour. [78397] held for more than 12 months are foreign national offenders who are liable to be deported from the United James Brokenshire: The Home Office has received Kingdom. There is no presumption to detain in such over 1,000 written responses to the consultation from cases and our powers only allow us to detain for as long the police and other front-line professionals, members as there is a realistic prospect of removal within a of the judiciary, local authorities, interest groups and reasonable timescale. Our policy does however take into members of the public. We want to ensure that our account the imperative to protect the public from foreign proposals reflect that wealth of knowledge and expertise, nationals who have offended in the UK and are liable to and will publish our response in due course. deportation. For this reason, proximity of removal, risk of reoffending (based on National Offender Management Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Service assessments) and risk of absconding are all the Home Department what representations she has taken into account at the point at which the detention received from police constables on increasing police decision is made. powers to deal with individuals who are causing antisocial behaviour. [78398] The courts have found that it may be lawful to prolong detention in cases where there is a risk to the James Brokenshire: The Home Office regularly receives public, a risk of the person absconding, or where the representations from police constables and other front-line individual’s own lack of co-operation is a determinative professionals on the need for more effective powers to factor preventing removal. We do however review detention tackle antisocial behaviour. every 28 days to assess whether it remains lawful and appropriate. Cannabis We have also put in place a package of measures to improve the quality of detention decisions and Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for documentation. For example a training package has the Home Department whether she has any plans to been designed for caseworkers, focusing on the legal decriminalise high THC cannabis (a) use and (b) powers and purpose of detention, progression of cases production; and if she will make a statement. [78773] between reviews and the personal responsibilities of 53W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 54W case owners. The detention review template and guidance and (b) the UK Human Trafficking Centre’s victim have also been revised to better support caseworkers in helpline in October 2011. [78546] making evidence-based detention decisions and demonstrating progress since the last detention review. Nick Herbert: The Metropolitan police’s trafficking A review of authority levels for the detention and victim helpline received one call in October 2011. release of foreign national offenders is also under way. The UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) does not have a victim helpline. The public number for the E-mail UKHTC is for all inquiries, referrals to the National Referral Mechanism and operational and tactical advice Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the on any human trafficking related matters. A 24/7 tactical Home Department whether any (a) Ministers, (b) advice capability is also available from this number. officials and (c) special advisers in her Department use private e-mail accounts for the conduct of government Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home business. [73209] Department what steps she has taken to provide safe homes for (a) adult and (b) child victims of human Damian Green: The Ministerial Code, the Code of trafficking. [78841] Conduct for Special Advisers, and the Civil Service Code set out how Ministers, officials and special advisers Damian Green: We have introduced a new model for should conduct government business. supporting adult victims of human trafficking in England and Wales, which provides accommodation and support Entry Clearances tailored to the needs of individual victims. In its capacity as prime contractor under this new model, the Salvation Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Army has contracted with various organisations to Home Department what her policy is on the deliver a range of support to meet the diverse needs of transferability between companies of work permits for victims. This provision includes safe houses across England immigrants from outside the EU. [78249] and Wales. Local authorities have a statutory duty under the Children Act to safeguard and promote the Damian Green: The work permit scheme closed to welfare of any child in need. Each child in local authority new employees in 2008. Since November 2008, migrants care is allocated a social worker who assesses their wishing to work here must be issued with a Certificate needs and draws up a care plan which sets out how the of Sponsorship (CoS) by an employer who is registered authority intends to respond to the full range of the with the UK Border Agency as a sponsor under tiers 2 child’s needs. or 5 of the points based system. CoS cannot be transferred For children who may have been trafficked, the social between companies. worker’s assessment should identify the child’s vulnerability Migrants from outside the EU with permission to to the continuing control of his or her traffickers. The work either under the previous work permit system or local authority should then place the child with a carer under tier 2 or 5 are able to change employer providing (foster or residential) who has the necessary skills and the new employer is registered as a sponsor with the UK experience to support them in a safe environment. Border Agency, is willing to issue the migrant with a Human Trafficking: Northern Ireland CoS and any necessary resident labour market test has been undertaken. The migrant must apply for, and be granted, leave to remain before starting the new job. Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with Forensic Science Service the Northern Ireland Executive on separated and trafficked children in Northern Ireland. [78233] John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Damian Green: We work closely with the Northern Home Department what assessment she has made of Ireland Executive to ensure a joined up approach to the effect of the closure of the Forensic Science Service tackling human trafficking across the UK. The Northern on the provision of forensic science services. [78443] Ireland Executive is a member of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on human trafficking which brings James Brokenshire: The orderly wind-down of the together the devolved Administrations and key departments Forensic Science Service (FSS) has enabled a significant across government. The group provides oversight of the proportion of their work to be safely transferred to UK’s anti-trafficking work, including implementation alternative forensic service providers and the transition of the Government’s human trafficking strategy and its is on schedule to complete by 31 March 2012. associated actions in relation to trafficked children. We remain confident that the orderly wind-down of FSS will ensure the police, and the criminal justice Members: Correspondence system as a whole, continue to have the forensics capability that they need to protect the public and bring criminals Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the to justice. Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 19 September Human Trafficking 2011 to the Prime Minister, transferred to her Department for answer, reference M17334/11. [78732] Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many calls were received by James Brokenshire: I wrote to the hon. Member on (a) the Metropolitan police’s trafficking victim helpline 1 November 2011. 55W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 56W

Nature Conservation: Crime informed by an Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) exercise to map gangs and gang violence in Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for forces across the country. The areas participating in the the Home Department what mandate the National programme will be identified by the end of the year. Crime Agency will have to deal with wildlife crime. [78384] TRANSPORT James Brokenshire: The National Crime Agency (NCA) Plan sets out the Government’s plan for the scope and Airports: Weather functionality of the NCA. The NCA Plan can be found at: Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/crime/nca- Transport what assessment her Department has made creation-plan of airport operators’ preparedness for extreme winter weather conditions. [76502] Police: Olympic Games 2012 Mrs Villiers: The Government have engaged with Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for airport operators to discuss the lessons learned from the Home Department whether police officers from last winter’s severe weather and the measures they have forces outside London will be allowed to wear their own put in place to improve their response to future similar constabulary uniforms when policing for the London events. The Civil Aviation Authority is monitoring airport 2012 Olympics. [78386] operators’ progress in improving their resilience.

Nick Herbert [holding answer 3 November 2011]: Aviation: Security General patrol officers serving outside their local force area under mutual aid arrangements will normally wear Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for their normal uniform issued by their own force. Officers Transport when she plans to publish the final Code of who are being used for more specialist roles will wear Practice for the Acceptable Use of Advanced Imaging the appropriate clothing for that role. There are no Technology (Body Scanners) in an Aviation Security plans to change these arrangements specifically for the Environment; and whether the code will include policing of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic guidance on whether passengers should be allowed to games. submit themselves to other forms of enhanced search if they object to the use of a full body scanner. [77635] Seized Articles: Landfill Mrs Villiers: In addition to the analysis of the responses Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the to the public consultation, there is a parallel European Home Department what assessment her Department legislative process which we need to take into consideration has made of the quantity of goods confiscated by before our final response to the consultation is published. The Government’s security scanner policy is still under police forces that end up in landfill. [77999] consideration and we will publish the responses to the Nick Herbert: The Department has made no such consultation and the final code of practice in due assessment. course. Departmental Procurement Young Offenders: Wales Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the what steps her Department is taking to ensure that its Home Department what recent discussions she has had procurement can support domestic (a) transport with Welsh Government Ministers on (a) gangs and manufacturing industry and (b) supply chains. [75182] youth violence and (b) youth crime in Wales. [78619] Norman Baker: An assessment of public procurement James Brokenshire: I have not had any recent discussions tendering is being undertaken as part of the Growth with Welsh Government Ministers specifically on gangs, Review, which will inform how the Department can youth violence or youth crime. The focus of recent work support the domestic transport manufacturing industry has been with areas in England who face the greatest and the domestic supply chains. It is intended that the problems. The Government will ensure that any good outcome of this assessment will be announced at the practice identified is shared across England and Wales. end of November. Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Harbour Authorities Home Department pursuant to the oral statement of 1 November 2011, on gang-related violence, which areas Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for in Wales she proposes will receive funding to tackle Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2011, gang and youth violence; and what the overall budget is Official Report, column 979W, on harbour authorities, that will be devolved to the Welsh Government for this what steps her Department takes to assess the performance specific purpose. [78730] of competent harbour authorities; and what process her Department would follow in the event that a competent James Brokenshire: The areas will be selected using a harbour authority is found to have failed to maintain combination of serious violence measures and local the standards required under section 3 (2) of the Pilotage intelligence about gang problems. The selection is being Act 1987. [77949] 57W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 58W

Mike Penning: None. Competent harbour authorities Mrs Villiers [holding answer 3 November 2011]: The are responsible for their own performance in determining Department participated in a recent cross-industry research the qualifications for persons that they authorise to act project that assessed the costs and benefits of replacing as pilots within their operational area. the 750V DC third rail electrified system with a 25kV AC overhead system. A summary of the research results Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for is available at: Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2011, www.rssb.co.uk/sitecollectiondocuments/pdf/reports/research/ Official Report, column 978W, on harbour authorities, T950_rb_final.pdf what meetings have been held with each competent The research concluded that converting the third rail harbour authority since May 2010; and what the network to an overhead system would deliver a range of purpose was of each meeting between her Department benefits. These include lower running costs, greater and representatives of competent harbour authorities. resilience to snow and ice, increased train performance [77950] and the capacity to run more services. However, the cost of such a conversion would be significant, at around Mike Penning: There are roundly 130 competent harbour £3-4 billion. Network Rail is now taking forward a authorities with whom Ministers and officials might more detailed assessment of the costs and benefits. meet in the normal course of departmental business. Therefore, I regret that the information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Rescue Services: Contracts

Motorways: Accidents Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to finalise the contract for Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport search and rescue helicopters; and if she will make a what estimate the Transport Research Laboratory has statement. [78498] provided to her Department’s Road Safety Division of the likely change in the number of (a) lives lost, (b) Mike Penning: We are considering a range of potential serious and (c) slight casualties which would result procurement options to meet future requirements for from increasing the motorway speed limit to 80 mph helicopter search and rescue in the UK, and intend to and improving compliance using average speed cameras make a statement on the matter before the end of the in the last three years. [71937] year.

Mike Penning [holding answer 15 September 2011]: Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) published what recent discussions she has had with ministerial their report ‘An evaluation of options for road safety colleagues on potential long-term procurement options beyond 2010’ in 2009 on their website at: for search and rescue helicopters; and if she will make a http://www.trl.co.uk/online_store/reports_publications/ statement. [78499] trl_reports/cat_road_user_safety/report_an_evaluation _of_options_for_road_safety_beyond_2010.htm Mike Penning: Discussions between the Department The Department is currently conducting a more for Transport and the Ministry of Defence are ongoing sophisticated and comprehensive analysis of all the regarding a range of potential options to meet future principal effects of raising the motorway speed limit requirements for helicopter search and rescue in the and will include these estimates as part of the UK. We intend to make a statement on the matter documentation for the consultation planned for later before the end of the year. this year. Roads: Accidents Ports Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for for Transport whether officials in her Department have Transport for what reasons she no longer issues statements had recent discussions with (a) the Home Office and when she appoints trust port board members or authorises (b) the Highways Agency on reducing the time taken an extension in terms for such members; and if she will to clear major roads following an incident; and if she make it her policy to publish such appointments until will make a statement. [76534] such time as the trust port concerned ceases to be her responsibility. [74152] Mike Penning [holding answer 24 October 2011]: Mike Penning: Trust ports are independent statutory Officials from the Department for Transport have held bodies and the Secretary of State for Transport, my recent discussions, on reducing the time taken to clear right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine motorways following an incident, with the Home Office, Greening), has the right to appoint board members to a the Highways Agency and representatives of the emergency number of trust ports. It is for the individual trust port services. to publicise such appointments. Shipping: Oil Railways: Electricity Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ship-to-ship transfers have taken Transport what work her Department has undertaken place within territorial waters (a) off the Southwold on the costs and benefits of replacing third rail systems coast and (b) in any other harbour in the last 12 with overhead electrical systems. [78346] months. [76886] 59W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 60W

Mike Penning: The total number of ship-to-ship transfers Community Transport Association (CTA), a representative that have taken place off the Southwold coast in the last body. This partnership has led to a four-year funding 12 months (from 24 October 2010 to 24 October 2011) agreement which will see us working together to build was 153. capacity in the sector and promote a more sustainable Ship-to-ship transfers are routinely carried out in business model. UK ports and harbours which have a suitable oil pollution For example, the Department part funds the CTA’s emergency plan under the terms of the Merchant Shipping Rural Social Enterprise Programme, which is helping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation eight community transport organisations in rural areas Convention) Regulations 1998. The Maritime and to become social enterprises. The learning from this will Coastguard Agency does not collate statistics on that help the wider sector become more sustainable and less activity. reliant on grant funding. In March this year, I announced an additional £10 Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for million funding package, which has been distributed to Transport whether her Department has reviewed its oil rural local authorities, with the aim of kick-starting and recovery plans in the light of the recent oil spill from supporting community transport. the Rena off New Zealand. [76885]

Mike Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will shortly commence a review of the UK’s National WORK AND PENSIONS Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations (NCP). This periodic review Departmental Legal Opinion will involve full consultation with UK interested parties, and will take account of lessons learnt from previous Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for incidents in the UK and elsewhere. Work and Pensions how many officials in his Shipping: Safety Department were working in its legal section in June 2011; and how many staff were working in the legal departments of his Department’s agencies and non- Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for departmental bodies. [78089] Transport what assessment she has made of the potential effects of a temporary disabling of the global Chris Grayling: Legal Services in the Department for positioning system on fishing vessels, merchant vessels Work and Pensions provide legal advice and services to and recreational boats. [74175] the Department and the Department of Health, for which they are fully reimbursed. Mike Penning [holding answer 13 October 2011]: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has co-operated The total number of officials working in the Legal with Government Departments and the Trinity House Services in June 2011 was 335 individuals (309.46 full-time Lighthouse Service in the conduct of trials to determine equivalent staff). Of these 86 individuals (78.83 full-time the effects of Global Positioning System (GPS) jamming. equivalent) provide services to the Department of Health. It was found that simple and widely available jammers The number of officials working in non-departmental can disrupt the very low strength GPS signals received bodies is 67 individuals (65.36 full-time equivalent). in surface vessels. The loss or denial of GPS signals is normally shown to the mariner through an alarm on Departmental Orders and Regulations the equipment in use. Losing GPS position information means that the mariner must use the other means Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for available to them to determine their position. These Work and Pensions how many (a) statutory instruments, means vary by vessel location and the equipment carried. (b) ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary However, the Department for Transport and the MCA legislation were issued by his Department in (i) 1990, have not made any specific assessments of the potential (ii) 1995, (iii) each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date. effects of a temporary disabling of GPS on fishing [78114] vessels, merchant vessels and recreational boats in Scottish waters. Chris Grayling: The answer to (a) and (b) is contained in the following table. Orders made by statutory instrument Operationally, if the jamming authority informs the have been counted separately. Department of the temporary disabling of GPS, the information is passed to Her Majesty’s Coastguard Of which: included who arrange for the UK Hydrographic Office to issue SIs issued Orders: the appropriate radio navigation warnings to seafarers. 1990 81 14 Social Enterprises 1995 80 20 1999 89 24 Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for 2000 106 20 Transport what discussions she has had on promoting 2001 107 34 social enterprises in the area for which her Department 2002 99 28 is responsible in each month since May 2010; and if she 2003 95 23 will make a statement. [77328] 2004 73 17 2005 164 35 Norman Baker: Ministers and officials frequently engage 2006 113 36 with the community transport sector, including the 61W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 62W

Employment and Support Allowance Of which: included SIs issued Orders: Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for 2007 87 31 Work and Pensions how many letters on possible 2008 118 42 changes to employment and support allowance his 2009 94 40 Department has sent out; and at what cost to the public 2010 106 35 purse. [78547] 2011 (to date) 61 24 Chris Grayling: From 19 September 2011, over a No records exist of secondary legislation made other period of four weeks, the Department issued around than by statutory instrument for the years 1990, 1995, 115,000 letters to existing claimants in receipt of 1999 to date. It is believed that such pieces of secondary contribution based employment and support allowance legislation would have been few in number. in the Work Related Activity Group. Activity is still ongoing to answer claimant queries resulting from this notification therefore we do not have the total costs at Departmental Security present but these will be made available by the end of November.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work : To ask the Secretary of State for and Pensions (1) what level of security vetting is Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit and required for the post of (a) head of communications, employment and support allowance claimants there (b) deputy head of communications and (c) head of were in South West Bedfordshire constituency on the press office in his Department; and if he will list each most recent date for which figures are available. [78733] person who has held these posts since May 2010; [77850] Maria Miller: The information requested is given as (2) what level of security vetting is required for (a) follows. grade six and seven, or equivalent, press officers and Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance (IB/SDA) and (b) ministerial private secretaries in his Department; employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants in south west [77851] Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency, February 2011 South West Bedfordshire (3) what level of security vetting is required for (a) parliamentary constituency special advisers and (b) ministerial-appointed policy advisers in his Department; and if he will list each IB/SDA 2,180 person who has held these posts since May 2010; ESA 830 [77852] Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. (4) what company or Government service is used to 2, Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment and support allowance undertake security vetting at (a) counter terrorist from October 2008. check, (b) security check and (c) developed vetting 3. Data includes claimants receiving credits only. 4. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament 2010. level in his Department. [77853] 5. These data are available on the Department’s Tabulation Tool at the following link: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html Chris Grayling: I refer the hon. Member to the booklet Source: “HMG Personnel Security Controls”, available from DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal the Cabinet Office website: Study. http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg- personnel-security-controls Jobcentre Plus: Merseyside This booklet describes the circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work security vetting checks. It would not be appropriate and Pensions whether he plans to reduce Jobcentre (a) for me to confirm which specific posts are the subject staff and (b) offices in Merseyside. [79142] of vetting, as this could highlight who has access to sensitive material and this could be used for targeting Chris Grayling: Focusing specifically on the Jobcentre purposes. part of DWP operations delivering local services, we announced last week our plans to close 19 small Jobcentres A list of all special advisers is published quarterly by in the vicinity of other Jobcentres that were offering a the Cabinet Office and is also available on the Cabinet full range of services, this did not include any Jobcentres Office website: in Merseyside. The spending review 2010 announced http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special- that DWP would deliver 26% savings in real terms from adviser-data-releases its core budget over the four year period to 2015. Operational parts of DWP, including the Jobcentre In addition, DWP has appointed two temporary civil network across the country and in Merseyside, will servants as expert policy advisers. contribute to these savings by driving up efficiency in All appropriate clearances for permanent civil servants, the way it works through more use of its online services special advisers and expert policy advisers are undertaken and implementing ideas that help improve processes in partnership with Defence Business Services National and productivity. Where this results in the need to Security Vetting, formerly know as the Defence Vetting reduce jobs we will do this through normal turnover Agency. where possible. There are no plans above this to reduce 63W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 64W staffing levels in Merseyside but as with other parts of There are also a range of benefits that are related to the country we will continue to review workloads and entitlement to disability living allowance or attendance staffing levels which may result in the need for staff to allowance. I have placed this information in the House be flexible in how we deliver services to customers. of Commons Library.

PAYE: Universal Credit Social Security Benefits Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the Work and Pensions whether real time PAYE information number of people he expects to be affected by the will be collected from every firm employing staff in each introduction of a cap on the overall level of benefits in local authority area prior to universal credit being each (a) nation, (b) region, (c) local authority area rolled out as part of the third phase in his planned and (d) parliamentary constituency. [77998] transition. [79272] Chris Grayling: We published an impact assessment Chris Grayling: Practically all employers who administer for the introduction of the benefit cap on 16 February PAYE will be on RTI by October 2013. Details of the 2011. It can be found on the Department’s website at: migration of employers to Real Time Information (RTI) http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/household-benefit-cap-wr2011- are not based on local authorities or regions. ia.pdf Employer migration focuses primarily on large employers It estimates that, if the benefit cap were applied in full, first to achieve highest volumes. In universal credit we around 50,000 households in Great Britain will have are working closely with HMRC to understand how their benefits reduced by the policy. Sample sizes are they will bring employers in to RTI and as their alignment too small to yield reliable results for areas smaller than and on boarding progresses we will work together to the overall impacts for Great Britain. make the best use of RTI automation opportunities to calculate universal credit. Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of Pensions: Teachers the causes of the change in the level of benefit off-flow since May 2011; and whether he expects the level to return to its previous level. [78627] Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the Chris Grayling: Published figures for outflows from effect of his planned change of indexation from benefits since May 2011 are currently available only for the retail prices index to the consumer prices index on the claimant count (jobseeker’s allowance) which have the value of the Teachers’ Pension scheme; what his followed a broadly flat trend. We continually assess all policy is on the continued application of the triple lock the departments employment programmes to ensure commitment to the annual updating of the basic state that they are working effectively. pension; and if he will make a statement. [77586] Unemployment Steve Webb: Next year’s proposed benefit rates will be announced to Parliament by ministerial statement Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work later in the autumn. and Pensions what assessment he has made of the level Her Majesty’s Treasury has responsibility for the of long-term unemployment in (a) England, (b) the policy and reform of public service pensions. West Midlands and (c) Dudley borough. [78300] The Government remain committed to the triple guarantee to increase the basic state pension the higher Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply. of growth in average earnings, prices (CPI) or 2.5% The information requested falls within the responsibility each year. This will help provide a more solid financial of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority foundation for pensioners from the state. to reply. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011: Social Security Benefits: Disability As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what assessment he has made of the level of long-term unemployment Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Dudley Borough. and Pensions what benefits are available to support (78300) severely disabled people living independently. [78612] The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey Maria Miller: Disability living allowance or attendance following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. allowance are non-means tested social security benefits However, estimates of long-term unemployment for Dudley Borough which can support severely disabled people living are unavailable. independently depending on the conditions of entitlement As an alternative, in Table 1, we have provided the number of being satisfied. persons claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), for over 52 weeks. For consistency reasons we have also supplied data for the West Severely disabled people also have access to the means- Midlands and England on this basis. tested income replacement benefits such as employment National and local area estimates for many labour market and support allowance, income support, incapacity benefit statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant or job-seeker’s allowance, subject to the requirements count are available on the NOMIS website at: of the benefits being met. http://www.nomisweb.co.uk 65W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 66W

Table 1: Number of people1 claiming jobseeker’s allowance for Chris Grayling: Defining entitlement to certain passported 12 months or more resident in England, West Midlands and Dudley benefits is the responsibility of other Government borough in September 2011 Departments and devolved Administrations. Number The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) has England 200,930 been commissioned to carry out an independent review West Midlands 30,250 on passported benefits on behalf of the Government. Dudley borough 2,410 This review is still taking place and the Committee has 1 Computerised claims only. These account for approximately 99.7% been asked to report by the end of January 2012. The of all claims. Department will publish the final report alongside our Note: response in April. Data rounded to nearest 5 Source: Free school meals are the responsibility for the Jobcentre Plus administrative system Department for Education, the Scottish Government Universal Credit and the Welsh Government. In England, the Department for Education is already considering the options for new eligibility criteria and working with a number of Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for stakeholders. Department of Education Ministers will Work and Pensions how he plans to determine which consult on free school meal eligibility proposals in 2012, former recipients of working tax credit will receive in good time to take decisions to meet our overall universal credit before April 2014. [78629] timetable to introduce universal credit by October 2013. Chris Grayling: Where a claimant is no longer entitled to working tax credit from October 2013 and before Work Capability Assessment April 2014 they will either naturally move onto universal credit or on to one of the old benefits which is being Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for replaced by universal credit, where they meet the condition Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of of entitlement. The benefit onto which a claimant transfers the effect of reducing the time allowed to return an will depend on the precise plans to phase the introduction ESA50 form on the ability of claimants to gather and of universal credit from October 2013 and these will be submit additional medical evidence to support their announced in the spring of 2012. claim; [78206] (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for reducing the time allowed to return an ESA50 form on Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the the ability of (a) claimants with mental health disorders, potential effects of the introduction of universal credit cognitive problems or learning difficulties and (b) other on the number of disabled children living in poverty. claimants to return the form on time; [78207] [78630] (3) with reference to Section 9 of the Social Security Chris Grayling: Based on modelling using the (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2011, Department for Work and Pension’s Policy Simulation what the reasons are for the reduction of the amount of Model, it is estimated that universal credit will reduce time allowed to claimants to return an ESA50 form. the number of disabled children living in poverty. The [78258] reduction is estimated to be less than 50,000. This estimate should be treated with caution, due to Chris Grayling: From 31 October 2011, the time the small sample size of this group in the Family Resources limits for returning the questionnaire (ESA50) were Survey. reduced from 42 days to 28 days overall. This is because the time scales were based on those for incapacity Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for benefit, which included an additional 14 days for claimants Work and Pensions under what budget headings has to contact their GPs to make an appointment. This is funding for the introduction of universal credit been not needed for employment and support allowance allocated in each year of the Comprehensive Spending claims and the Government believes that it is therefore Review period. [78631] reasonable reduce the time scales for returning the form from 28 days to 21 days, and the time for reminders to Chris Grayling: The 2010 spending review settlement seven days from 14, which makes an overall total of included funding of £2 billion for the period 2011-12 to 28 days. We would not wish for this to impinge on a 2014-15. This is intended to meet all the costs of introducing claimant’s ability to provide further evidence to support universal credit including any increases in benefit their claim as they will still be required to complete the expenditure, additional benefit administration costs in remaining Work Capability Assessment process, of which, the transition period, the costs of IT development and the return of ESA50 is just the start. implementation, communications, staff training and We recognise concerns about the effects on vulnerable programme management. people, especially those with mental health problems. As a consequence we are retaining all existing safeguards Universal Credit: Free School Meals for those claimants who demonstrate that they had good cause for failing to return the questionnaire on Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for time. Decision Makers must consider the claimant’s Work and Pensions what progress he has made in state of health, nature of disability and whether they determining which families will be eligible for free were in Great Britain before deciding if the claimant school meals after the introduction of universal credit; has good cause for not completing the questionnaire on and if he will make a statement. [78628] time. 67W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 68W

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for LEADER OF THE HOUSE Work and Pensions what the average waiting time was in each Jobcentre district for a work capability assessment Queen’s Messages in the case of (a) people not previously claiming benefit after submitting a new application for employment and Mr Winnick: To ask the Leader of the House if he support allowance and (b) existing recipients of incapacity will bring forward proposals for messages from Her benefit, after receiving notification of re-assessment. Majesty the Queen to be notified to the House by Mr [79041] Speaker. [78782]

Chris Grayling: The information is not available. Sir George Young: No.

Work Programme FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Adam Werritty Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of different Work programme providers Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State being able to compare each other’s performance. [77963] for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he has and (b) his officials have met Mr Adam Werritty in Chris Grayling: Work programme providers are required an official capacity; and whether any such meetings by contract not to share data with other organisations took place (i) in a building within the Government prior to the date of publication of Official Statistics. estate and (ii) elsewhere. [78281] This clause in the contracts is essential in order to Mr Hague: The information requested is: (a) no; (b) protect the integrity of data and in doing so comply yes, there was some limited contact both on and off with UK Statistics Authority legislation. Government premises. As a minimum, we currently expect to publish referral figures from spring 2012 and job outcome figures from Algeria: Christianity autumn 2012. Data will, subject to its availability and quality, be presented by: age; gender; ethnicity; disability; Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for provider; local authority; parliamentary constituency; Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his and contract package area. Department has received on (a) the level of religious freedom for Christians in Algeria and (b) the effect of Driving up performance between providers is imperative Ordinance 06-03 on freedom to worship; and whether to the success of the Work programme. From 2013 the he raised these matters during his recent visit to that best performing provider for each claimant group in a country. [78234] contract package area will receive more new referrals from that claimant group and the weakest will receive Alistair Burt: We monitor religious freedoms in the fewer, subject to a minimum performance gap. The middle east and north Africa closely. We are aware that publication of data will help ensure this is undertaken the Algerian authorities have closed some places of in a clear and transparent way. worship which had not been registered under Ordinance 06-03, including those of Christian groups, since the Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for regulations governing religion in Algeria came into Work and Pensions how many (a) Tier 1 and (b) Tier 2 effect in May 2007. I discussed the situation with a subcontractors from the voluntary and community sector delegation of Algerian Christians when I met them on were named in the bids submitted by organisations 26 October and they confirmed our understanding that which are now work programme prime providers. Church representatives, Ministry of Religious Affairs [79042] and Ministry of Interior officials are taking part in working sessions to discuss the implementation of the Chris Grayling: At the initial round of bidding DWP laws. received 177 bids for the Work programme competition. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 40 of these bids were successful and there were 1,404 Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond supply chain opportunities. (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed the importance of reform with the Algerian authorities during his recent visit, Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for although did not raise religious freedoms specifically. In Work and Pensions how many (a) Tier 1 and (b) Tier 2 relation to freedom of religion, our embassy in Algeria subcontractors currently contracted by work programme is keeping a number of current cases under review. prime providers are from the voluntary and community Where there are opportunities to raise the issue with the sector. [79043] host government, we will do so. The subject of individual freedoms and human rights was also discussed with the Algerian authorities at the EU/Algerian political dialogue, Chris Grayling: An exact number of tier 1 and tier 2 which had its first meeting recently. subcontractors is inaccurate as soon as it is published. DWP does not hold exact numbers but stock takes at Charities points in time. The most recent stock take of the position regarding tier 1 and tier 2 Work programme Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for supply chains found comparatively few changes from Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grants his those listed in the initial bids with the voluntary sector Department made to charitable organisations in each maintaining the highest share at around 46%. of the last five years. [79077] 69W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 70W

Mr Lidington: I refer to the answer given by the Departmental NDPBs Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), on 23 March 2011, Official Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials Report, column 1154W, to the hon. Member for the were (a) directly and (b) otherwise employed by non- Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane). departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible (i) in 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on the most recent date for which figures Departmental Assets are available. [78121]

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Mr Jeremy Browne: None. The employees of the and Commonwealth Affairs what assets with a value of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)’s non- £250,000 or more his Department has bought since departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are not civil servants. May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77358] Departmental Pay Mr Lidington: In this period, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) added to the fixed asset Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for register 34 completed projects costing more than £250,000 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many each, at total cost of £74.48 million. This relates to officials in his Department and the bodies for which he investment in buildings in our network of nearly 270 is responsible earned more than (a) £65,000, (b) posts overseas as well as our offices in the UK, as well £95,000, (c) £140,000 and (d) £175,000 in the last year as information technology projects that will deliver for which figures are available. [78047] savings and better services to the FCO and other Government Departments. The FCO made disposals Mr Jeremy Browne: The following table details the amounting to a total value of £31.62 million during this number of civil servants employed by the Foreign and period. Further details on our fixed assets are published Commonwealth Office who in the last financial year in the FCO’s annual report and accounts which are (2010-11) earned salaries within the ranges specified: presented to Parliament each year. Number

(a) £65,000 to £94,999 258 Departmental Libraries (b) £95,000 to £139,999 35 (c) £140,000 to £174,999 2 Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State (d) Over £175,000 2 for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on its library in each year since 1995; Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for and how many books were issued from the library in Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many each such year. [78282] officials in his Department received a pay rise other than by promotion in the last two years; and what the Mr Hague: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office average increase was in each such year. [78125] (FCO) ceased hard copy library and information services on 31 March 2008 with the exception of a small legal Mr Jeremy Browne: No senior civil servant in the library which remains for reference and research use by Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a pay its legal advisers. The Department did not maintain a rise, other than through promotion, since the pay freeze central record of the library’s expenditure and it would came into effect from 1 April 2010. incur disproportionate cost to establish such historical Civil servants below the senior civil service are subject data. It did not keep historical data about book issues. to a pay freeze with effect from 1 April 2011. Under A new electronic library was introduced in 2010 to HM Treasury rules, staff whose full-time equivalent provide information services via the desktop throughout salary is less than £21,000 are entitled to receive a the global network, including access to electronic books. payment of at least £250 during the pay freeze. In line with this, 656 staff received an average increase of £337 Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State with effect from 1 April 2011. for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Prior to the pay freeze, with effect from 1 April 2010, representations he has received on the Foreign and 3,715 staff below the senior civil service received a pay Commonwealth Office Library since May 2010; and if rise relating to 2009-10 performance. The average increase he will place a copy of any such representations in the was £1,092. House of Commons Library. [78544] Departmental Telephone Services Mr Hague: Since May 2010 I have received 15 representations about the Foreign and Commonwealth Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Office library consisting of MP and member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding public letters, freedom of information requests, written his Department allocated to each telephone helpline parliamentary questions and public correspondence. funded by his Department in 2011-12; what the purpose I will arrange to place a list of these representations is of each such helpline; and how many calls each in the Library of the House. helpline received in each of the last five years. [77989] 71W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 72W

Mr Jeremy Browne: Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) served by the regional passport processing centre in consular staff in London and overseas regularly answer Dusseldorf and from 15 July until 31 August for customers phone calls from British nationals seeking our help, served by the processing centre in Washington because including through our 24-hour Global Response Centre. of delays in passport production. The cost of the temporary Consular Directorate also provides the following telephone free service was £29,610. The number of calls received: helplines: 1 June to 31 December 2009: 74,109 Travel advice telephone line 1 January to 31 December 2010: 144,901 This service offers access to the FCO’s travel advice 1 January to 28 October 2011: 115,768. to those who are unable to view it online, or who wish to Consular Directorate provides specific telephone numbers inquire in person. The service is currently provided by a for certain customers requiring FCO support. These are commercial partner and we have budgeted £ 190,000 for regular FCO phone lines manned by Consular staff 2011-12. We continue to improve our online travel during normal working at no additional cost. advice, and hope to reduce this cost by making online The Child Abduction Section helpline advice easier to use. The number of calls received in the past five years: This helpline was established to answer urgent questions from British nationals involved in a parental child abduction, 2006-07: 63,987 residence or contact dispute overseas. The number of 2007-08: 58,486 new cases are recorded, rather than the number of calls. 2008-09: 113,904 The Forced Marriage Unit helpline 2009-10: 131,988 This helpline offers support to British nationals overseas 2010-11: 114,827. and anyone in the UK who is worried about being Overseas crises forced into a marriage. This is a joint initiative with the In a crisis affecting British nationals overseas the Home Office. We do not record the number of calls FCO may activate a call handling capacity to take calls received, but record the number of unique reports of from affected members of the public, either in-house or potential forced marriage cases. outsourced to a commercial partner or the police. This There is also a helpline for Members of Parliament depends on the scale and nature of the incident. These wishing to speak to a member of Consular Directorate call handlers usually respond to calls to a dedicated about constituency cases. The number of calls is not emergency hotline number. Funding for operational recorded. costs is not allocated in advance, but these costs can be claimed from the Treasury-held Emergency Disaster Departmental Work Experience Reserve should the total costs of our crisis response surpass £150,000. To establish accurate figures and costs for each of the last five years would incur Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for disproportionate cost. Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many unpaid Legalisation; and births, deaths and marriages inquiries and expenses-only internships (a) his Department and (b) each public body for which he is responsible employed This service is currently being provided by a commercial in the last 12 months for which figures are available. partner, to enable the Legalisation Office staff to process [78367] documents as efficiently as possible and ensure calls are always answered promptly. Included in the passport Mr Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth telephone inquiry line, Careline Office (FCO) has not taken on any unpaid or expense-only provided a telephone inquiry service for the Legalisation interns over the last 12 months in the UK. It has, Office from February 2010. When the passport contract however, taken on 52 paid interns in the UK in the last moved to the Identity and Passport Service, a one-year 12 months through a number of publicly advertised short-term extension of contract was established with schemes. Careline (from 1 June 2011) to handle legalisation inquiries. In the last 12 months, the British Council’s UK Within the same contract, Careline handles telephone offices have employed 15 interns on either an unpaid/ inquiries from British nationals looking to register a expenses-only basis. birth or death or with questions about getting married or arranging a civil partnership overseas. The budget The Westminster Foundation for Democracy has had for 2011-12 is £80,000. The number of calls received: three short-term expenses-only internships over the last 12 months. Information can be found at: February to December 2010: 22,424 legalisation inquiries http://www.wfd.org/who-we-are/internships.aspx January to October 2011: 27,938 legalisation inquiries and 1,233 calls for births, marriages and deaths inquiries. There were no other unpaid or expenses-only internships in the FCO’s other arm’s length bodies. Passport inquiry line Between 1 June 2009 and 1 April 2011, Consular EU Aid Directorate employed Careline, a UK based company, to provide a telephone inquiry and tracking service for customers applying for passports overseas. Careline Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for continue to provide this service but the contract is now Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is managed by the Identity and Passport Service, an executive on having a separate budget line for European Commission agency of the Home Office. The FCO do not pay for humanitarian aid in the Multi-Annual Financial this service; customers are charged direct by Careline. Framework. [78002] Exceptionally, the FCO covered the cost of calls to Careline, from 15 July to 31 July 2011 for customers Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply. 73W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 74W

The Humanitarian Aid Instrument (HAI) is the main at official level. The FCO will continue to do this in a budget line for humanitarian activities in the European measured and fair manner until each unresolved case is Union (EU) budget. The Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR), concluded. There are currently 64 unresolved death meanwhile, is the part of the EU budget used to respond cases. to crises in non-EU countries which were not accounted for when the budget was drawn up—allowing the EU to Nigeria: Human Rights respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign These instruments fund the work of the Commission’s and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations humanitarian agency, European Community Humanitarian he has received on human rights in Nigeria. [78477] Office (ECHO)—responsible for responding to the needs of the most vulnerable people immediately after a disaster. Mr Jeremy Browne: We have received representations The UK’s Multilateral Aid Review (MAR) rated the concerning inter-communal violence in Plateau State. agency highly, with very good value for money; closely The British high commission has raised our concerns matching the UK’s own humanitarian objectives. ECHO’S about the ongoing conflict which has affected both separate budget line is an important factor in enabling it Christian and Muslim communities in Plateau State to deliver effectively, giving it greater scope to provide and urged the Nigerian Federal and state governments, long-term and predictable funding to at-risk areas as traditional rulers and religious leaders to work together well as the ability to hold funds in reserve for response to address the root social, economic and political issues. to unforeseen disasters and humanitarian crises. We are also aware of a proposed Bill to prohibit European Union: Powers marriage between persons of the same gender, currently being debated by the Nigerian Senate. In a recent meeting Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for with the Chair of the Senate committee on human Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the rights, the EU Delegation in Nigeria lobbied against the answer of 15 September 2011, Official Report, column introduction of the Bill. We supported that action and 1322W, on Croatia: EU Enlargement, if he will make it will continue to closely monitor developments on the Bill. his policy to seek to repatriate social and employment Palestinians: Prisoners powers from the European Union during negotiations on Croatia’s accession treaty. [77777] Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent Mr Lidington: The UK is a firm supporter of EU reports he has received on the conditions of detention enlargement and we look forward to Croatia’s accession of Palestinian children in prison in Israel. [78822] to the EU. The treaty concerning Croatian accession, which will be adopted in accordance with Article 49 Alistair Burt: As I stated in the House on 25 October TEU is due to be signed by the EU member states and 2011, Official Report, column 166, we receive regular by Croatia in December 2011, and the current target reports about the detention of Palestinian children from date for accession is 1 July 2013. Article 49 TEU deals a non-governmental organisation, Defence for Children specifically with accession agreements, which set out the International. conditions of admission of the acceding state and We remain concerned about the detention of children adjustments to the treaties which that admission entails. in military jails and the prosecution of children through Article 49 cannot be used to alter the balance of power military courts. or competences between existing member states and the EU. Accession treaties deal with the transfer of power During my visit in June, I raised this matter directly and competence from the acceding state to the EU. with the Minister responsible, indicating the UK’s concerns about both the detention and the treatment of children. India: British Nationals Abroad The Israelis have recently raised the age of criminal responsibility in the territories from 16 to 18, so it is the Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign same as for Israeli children. Nonetheless, I know that and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has the Israeli Government do take seriously the fact that received on British nationals dying in India. [78040] children are detained in circumstances that cause concern to NGOs and UNICEF, and we will continue to press Mr Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth them on this. Office (FCO) receives regular reports of cases involving Palestinians: UNESCO British nationals dying in India. The FCO, through our network of diplomatic representations in India and our Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for consular department in London, offers assistance and Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the UK advice when required to the families and friends of voted on the admission of Palestine to UNESCO. British nationals. This includes providing information [78543] on available local burial and cremation procedures, about companies that can assist with international Alistair Burt: The UK abstained on the Palestinian repatriation, help in liaising with the local authorities application to join UNESCO. The principal basis for on a range of matters including family wishes for funeral this decision was because we believe that the UN Security arrangements and, through Victim Support, support Council should conclude its careful consideration of for bereaved relatives in the UK. the Palestinian application to the UN, before other UN The FCO regularly raises unresolved cases with the specialised agencies or other international organisations Government of India, including in July when I called consider separate applications. We do not want to prejudge on Indian Home Secretary Chidambaram and since then the ongoing discussions in New York. 75W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 76W

Serbia: EU Enlargement DEFENCE

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Adam Werritty Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of Serbia’s bid for EU John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence membership; and if he will make a statement. [77804] (1) whether officials of his Department provided any advice to the Minister for International Security Strategy Mr Lidington: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of in advance of his meeting with Mr Adam Werritty and 1 November 2011 to the hon. Member for Islwyn (Chris Mr Stephen Crouch on 27 September 2011; [78858] Evans), Official Report, column 584W. (2) whether the Minister for International Security Strategy’s meeting with Mr Adam Werritty and Mr Stephen Crouch on 27 September 2011 was arranged by Turkey: Earthquakes his diary secretary; [78859] (3) whether any official of his Department attended Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign the Minister for International Security Strategy’s meeting and Commonwealth Affairs what support his with Mr Adam Werritty and Mr Stephen Crouch on 27 Department is providing to the Turkish authorities September 2011; and whether minutes of that meeting following the recent earthquake in that country; and if were taken. [78860] he will make a statement. [78305] Mr Gerald Howarth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Defence, my Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply. right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and In response to a specific request from the Turkish Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 24 October 2011, Official Government, the UK Government have provided 1,144 Report, columns 30-31W,to the hon. Member for North protective winter tents to house 5,500 people who are Durham (Mr Jones) and the hon. Member for Wrexham without shelter. The Turkish Government have not (Ian Lucas). requested food, medicines, blankets, heaters or additional The meeting with Adam Werritty and Stephen Crouch relief commodities. The UK Government will continue on 27 September was not organised by my Ministry of to monitor the situation in the affected region. Defence diary secretary, officials did not provide any advice in advance and no record was taken. UNESCO: Finance Armed Forces: Cadets

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Defence (1) how many cadets were enrolled in the Department allocated to UNESCO in each year from Sussex Air Cadets in each of the last five years; and 2000 to 2011. [78576] how much funding per cadet his Department provided to the Sussex Air Cadets in each of the last five years; Mr Jeremy Browne: The Department for International [77312] Development (DFID) pays the UK’s assessed contributions (2) how many cadets were enrolled in the Sussex Sea to UNESCO. Cadets in each of the last five years; and how much The figures for the assessed contribution from 2000 funding per cadet his Department provided to the to 2011 are as follows: Sussex Sea Cadets in each of the last five years; [77313] (3) how many cadets were enrolled in the Sussex £ million Army Cadet Force in each of the last five years; and 2000 112.032 how much funding per cadet his Department provided 2001 113.493 to the Sussex Army Cadet Force in each of the last five years. [77314] 2002 12.018 2003 11.149 2004 10.597 Mr Robathan [holding answer 31 October 2011]: The 2005 11.114 number of cadets in each of the service cadet forces in 2006 10.716 Sussex fluctuates throughout the year; we have therefore provided a snapshot as at a point each year, which 2007 14.100 varies for each service. 2008 13.145 2009 10.013 As at 1 September 2011 unless 2010 14.933 shown otherwise Total number of Sea Cadets 2011 14.482 1 Figures taken from Statistics on International Development, remaining 31 March 2006 367 figures from ARIES. 2007 432 2008 433 The UK has benefitted from rebates in the second 2009 450 year of the biennium as a result of early payment of its 2010 476 contribution. Rebates amounted to £330,000 in 2004-05; 2011 450 £1,083,000 in 2006-07 and £700,000 in 2008-09. 77W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 78W

Mr Robathan: 96% of service family accommodation Total number of Army Cadets as at 1 September Number enrolled (SFA) properties in the UK are already at the top two 2011 annually standards (of four) for condition. £100 million will be spent upgrading properties to the top standard by 2013. 2007 922 397 From 2003-13, a total of £1.4 billion will have been 2008 1,042 423 spent delivering 60,000 new or improved single living 2009 935 454 accommodation (SLA) bed-spaces. 2010 1,114 471 2011 1,196 362 Armed Forces: Mental Health

As at 30 September 2011 Total number of Air Cadets Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for 2006 820 Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 512W, on armed forces: mental 2007 799 health, what recent progress he has made on implementing 2008 789 the recommendation of the report by the hon. Member 2009 835 for South West Wiltshire that a member of the armed 2010 805 forces whose requirement for a specialist opinion is 2011 823 identified at the time of discharge should be able to It is not possible to provide information on the funding obtain it and any follow-on treatment in a military per cadet as it is not calculated or held in the format department of community mental health for the next requested. Details of the funding to units in Sussex six months. [78539] provided from the grant in aid provided by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) over the past five financial years are Mr Robathan: The policy is now in place and operational, shown in the following tables for each of the services and has been formally promulgated in Annex A to where this information is available. Section 11.0 of Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950 Leaflet 2-7-2 (Veterans and Mental Healthcare Provision Financial year Sea Cadet funding (£) in Departments of Community Mental Health). A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. 2006-07 69,224.01 2007-08 70,428.28 Armed Forces: Recruitment 2008-09 57,446.84 2009-10 47,041.94 Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State 2010-11 40,297.35 for Defence what the average waiting time was to join 2011-12 to date 26,114.43 the Army in each of the last two years. [78294]

Financial year Army Cadet funding (£) Mr Robathan: It is not possible to provide an average waiting time for those who apply to join the Army as 2007-08 252,059.00 each individual application is unique and varies considerably 2008-09 268,286.00 depending on whether the applicant is applying to enlist 2009-10 302,880.00 as an officer or soldier, regular or Territorial Army. This 2010-11 312,757.00 information is not held centrally and could be provided 2011-12 to date 186,638.00 only at disproportionate cost. The Army aims to process applications as quickly These figures represent funding for cadet activities and efficiently as possible. Many factors can influence such as ammunition, rations, transport, paid training the length of time taken including medical issues, fitness days and travel and subsistence. This does not cover the levels, security clearance and the availability of places at cost of salaries and pensions of permanent staff employed selection centres and training establishments plus, vacancies in the cadet forces, nor other support costs, such as in chosen trades. buildings maintenance, which are accounted for centrally. For the Air Cadet units in Sussex, it is not possible to Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for provide information on the funding per cadet as it is not Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2010, held in the format requested. A recent internal study Official Report, column 211W,on armed forces: recruitment, calculated that the total average cost of one Air Training how many people were recruited to each of the armed Corps cadet was £1,086 per year, but this is not calculated forces at each recruitment centre in each year since on the same basis as the grant figures given above. 2009-10. [78536] The Sea Cadets are funded differently to the Army and Air Cadets. Unlike the other MOD sponsored Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer cadet forces, the Sea Cadets are a charity and raise 45% I gave to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan of their funding themselves from outside the MOD. (Dr Whiteford) on 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 987W. Armed Forces: Housing Armed Forces: Training Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) service family accommodation Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for and (b) single living accommodation has been identified Defence what proportion of Army recruits currently in as requiring refurbishment; and if he will make a statement. Phase One or Phase Two training are not deployable [78271] due to their age. [79216] 79W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 80W

Mr Robathan: There are no Army recruits currently Outflow from UK armed forces of those under 18 as a proportion of all in Phase One and Phase Two training who are not service leavers deployable due to their age. This is because no Army Percentage recruit is deployable until they have completed Phase Financial year One and Phase Two training regardless of their age. 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 On completion of Phase One and Phase Two training, All services 7.6 7.1 8.1 4.5 individuals will not be deployed if they are under the Naval 5.7 5.6 5.6 2.2 age of 18. service Army 10.0 9.1 10.0 6.3 Armed Forces: Young People RAF 1.2 2.6 3.6 0.7 Outflow from UK armed forces of those who enlisted while under 18 as Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for a proportion of all service leavers Defence what the minimum age is for training with (a) Percentage live ammunition, (b) guns, (c) bayonets and (d) other Financial year weapons. [78046] 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Mr Robathan [holding answer 2 November 2011]: All services 37.9 36.6 34.4 34.0 The armed forces recruit from age 16. All new recruits Naval 33.6 33.2 29.3 27.1 service undertake live weapon training during their phase 1 Army 41.5 40.6 37.9 37.9 training. The use of bayonets is not universal across the services but training will begin, regardless of age, when RAF 27.0 27.4 26.6 27.3 recruits join those branches that do make use of bayonets, for example, the infantry or RAF Regiment. The guidelines Departmental Freedom of Information governing the use of live weapons during phase 1 and 2 training are stringent in considering accident prevention Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for and physical security and no training is undertaken Defence how many requests made under the Freedom without strict supervision. of Information Act 2000 to his Department on or after 7 May 2010 remain unanswered after 30 working days. Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for [78538] Defence what proportion of armed forces veterans in prison enlisted under the age of 18. [78141] Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Robathan [holding answer 2 November 2011]: Defence (1) how many requests under the Freedom of This information is not held centrally and could be Information Act 2000 his Department has received in provided only at disproportionate cost. each month since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the full information Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for requested, (b) part of the information requested, with Defence if he will make it his policy to prohibit the some information withheld under exemptions in the participation in hostilities of soldiers aged under 18 in Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such any circumstances. [78261] month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of Mr Robathan [holding answer 3 November 2011]: receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within Our policy remains that no service personnel under the 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no age of 18 are deployed on operations which would substantive response has yet been issued; [78879] result in them becoming engaged in, or exposed, to hostilities. I see no need to take further action. (2) in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his Department under the Freedom Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially Defence what proportion of (a) compulsory and (b) sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) voluntary discharges from the (i) Army, (ii) Navy and information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or (iii) RAF (A) were under the age of 18 and (B) had repeated requests has been given in response since January enlisted while under the age of 18 in each of the last 2010. [78880] five years. [78311] Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) publishes Mr Robathan [holding answer 3 November 2011]: statistics on the handling of requests for information The information requested is not held centrally in a under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by over 40 format that would allow for the differentiation between central Government bodies. These include the Ministry compulsory and voluntary outflow. However, the of Defence (MOD), which receives approximately 3,000 proportion of personnel under the age of 18 leaving the requests each year. This information is available on the services and the proportion of leavers who enlisted Ministry of Justice and the National Archive websites, while under the age of 18, against the total number at the following addresses: leaving the services, are presented in the following tables. http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/ Information is not available before 2007-08 as the joint implementation-editions.htm personnel administration system, from which the http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:// information presented was sourced, was not fully www.justice .gov.uk/publications/freedomofinformationquarterly operational before that time. -archive.htm 81W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 82W

Statistics for the whole of 2011 will be collated and The ministerial orders referred to are orders made by published in due course. the Secretary of State for Defence under the Reserve The MOD and MOJ do not collect data on the Forces Act 1996 to call-out members of the reserve forces. number of ‘holding responses’ sent to requesters, only Departmental Security on the timeliness of substantive responses for both instances when a public interest test has or has not been applied. Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what company or Government service is used to undertake Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence security vetting at (a) counter-terrorist check, (b) security which Minister in his Department is responsible for check and (c) developed vetting level in his Department. determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of [77883] Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which Mr Robathan: Defence Business Services, National other Minister is responsible for making such Security Vetting (previously known as the Defence Vetting determinations should the subject matter of the request Agency). fall within the Ministerial responsibilities of the Minister Departmental Work Experience with lead responsibility. [78881]

Mr Robathan: Ministry of Defence officials would Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for normally determine whether exemptions to the Freedom Defence how many unpaid and expenses-only internships of Information (FOI) Act 2000 should apply to responses (a) his Department and (b) each public body for which to requests for information under the Act. he is responsible employed in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [78380] There are 23 FOI exemptions. One of these, Section 36 prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs, Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) offers can only apply if it is the reasonable opinion of a a number of summer diversity internships for qualified person that the exemption applies. The Act undergraduates each year. Full information on this states that in relation to information held by Government, scheme is at: the qualified person must be a Minister. A ministerial submission is produced by the lead business area and www.civilservice.gov.uk/faststream submitted to the Minister with responsibility for the Information on other internships that may have been topic that the FOI covers. In addition, any FOI received offered by the MOD or its arm’s length bodies is not from an MP or their support staff, must receive a held centrally and could be provided only at response from a Minister. Again, this is the Minister disproportionate cost. with responsibility for the topic that the FOI covers. Drummore Harbour: Land Departmental Regulation Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the sale price was of his Department’s Defence how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) land holding interest at Drummore Harbour; and what ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary conditions were attached to the sale. [79048] legislation were issued by his Department in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date. Mr Robathan: The harbour pier wall and high water [78108] foreshore at Drummore Harbour was sold by the Ministry of Defence in 2004 for £1,000. No specific conditions Mr Robathan: The information requested for the were attached to the sale. years in question is set out in the following table: European Fighter Aircraft

Number Statutory Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State instruments Ministerial orders for Defence what alterations will be required to existing range complexes following the proposed transfer of the 1990 9 — Typhoon force from RAF Leuchars to RAF 1995 4 — Lossiemouth. [78614] 1999 8 1 2000 21 2 Mr Robathan: Detailed planning continues, but there 2001 6 3 are no changes currently planned to existing range 2002 9 3 complexes resulting from the future transfer of the 2003 8 4 Typhoon force from RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth. 2004 10 5 2005 26 5 Legal Opinion 2006 24 5 2007 18 5 Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for 2008 22 6 Defence how many officials in his Department were 2009 60 6 working in its legal section in June 2011; and how many 2010 5 4 staff were working in the legal departments of his 2011 (to date) 11 2 Department’s agencies and non-departmental bodies. [78085] 83W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 84W

Mr Robathan: In June 2011, the Ministry of Defence World War I: Anniversaries (MOD) employed the following numbers of officials, including support staff, in the five different legal sections Mr Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for within the Department: Defence what plans his Department has to mark the Central Legal Services, MOD—100, of whom 78 are legally 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. qualified [76063] Army Legal Services—141, of whom 99 are legally qualified RAF Legal Services—54, of whom 42 are legally qualified Mr Robathan [holding answer 21 October 2011]: Navy Legal Services—40, of whom 16 are legally qualified Traditionally, we mark the anniversary of the conclusion of a conflict rather than its beginning. So the main The Service Prosecuting Authority—73, of whom 39 are legally qualified commemorations will be on the centenary of the end of the First World War in 1918. However, given the importance These figures do not include locally hired civilians of the centenary of World War I, a number of anniversaries who are employed in overseas locations. With regard to of key events from 2014 to 2018, including the beginning the MOD’s agencies and Trading Funds, at 1 June 2011, of the war, will be marked in an appropriate way. The the UK Hydrographic Office had one in-house lawyer. Prime Minister has asked my hon. Friend the Member for Officers South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) to act as his special representative and co-ordinator for World War I Commemorations. Dr Murrison will work with Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence international partners to ensure that the UK plays a full (1) how many officers of captain rank or above there and active role; and will co-ordinate the cross-Whitehall are in (a) the Navy and (b) his Department; [78008] effort in respect of the commemorations. (2) how many generals there are in (a) the Army and (b) his Department; [78011] (3) how many admirals there are in (a) the Royal CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Navy and (b) his Department; [78012] Adam Werritty (4) how many officers of major rank and above there are in (a) the Army and (b) his Department. [78013] Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether (a) he, Mr Robathan: The following tables provide information (b) officials of his Department and (c) special advisers on the total number of officers in the Royal Navy and in his Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on Army holding the rank of Admiral, their Army equivalent, official business since May 2010; and how many such and below as at 1 April 2011: meetings took place (i) on his Department’s premises Royal Navy and (ii) elsewhere. [78862] Total John Penrose: This Department’s Ministers, officials Admiral 2 and special advisers have not met Adam Werritty on Vice Admiral 7 official business since May 2010. Rear Admiral 33 Commodore 80 American Football Captain 300 Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Army Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has Total made of the effect on grass roots participation in sports of the NFL playing two regular season American General 6 football games in the UK. [78240] Lieutenant General 9 Major General 43 Hugh Robertson: The Department has made no such Brigadier 170 assessment. Sport England record the levels of once a Colonel 580 month participation in American Football, which can Lieutenant Colonel 1,780 be found in the following table, however there has been Major 4,700 no significant change since 2007-08.

Officers of the armed forces can serve in a variety of Volume of once a month appointments both in the United Kingdom and overseas, Date participation but continue to be employed by the Ministry of Defence. Reductions are expected across the senior ranks in the October 2007 to October 2008 37,800 light of the independent report by Lord Levene which October 2008 to October 2009 30,600 considered the way in which the Ministry of Defence is October 2009 to October 2010 38,500 structured and managed. The reduction in number of April 2010 to April 2011 31,800 senior staff will impact most significantly on non-command appointments. Arts Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) publish Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Defence Statistics annually on their website: Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has www.dasa.mod.uk made to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Economic This includes the United Kingdom Regular Armed Affairs on finances for businesses in the creative industries. Forces by rank structure. [78217] 85W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 86W

Mr Vaizey [holding answer 3 November 2011]: A Departmental Work Experience wide range of issues are discussed at the Cabinet Sub- Committee on Economic Affairs, including different Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for ways the Government can support the Creative Industries. Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many unpaid and expenses-only internships (a) his Department and Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, (b) each public body for which he is responsible Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to employed in the last 12 months for which figures are increase access to finance by small and medium-sized available. [78375] enterprises in the creative industries. [78315] John Penrose: The Department has employed two Mr Vaizey [holding answer 3 November 2011]: I refer unpaid interns in the last 12 months as part of the the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Whitehall Diversity Internship programme. Both had Minister for Sport and the Olympics, my hon. Friend placements in our private offices and the Government the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Hugh Olympic Executive. Robertson), on 25 October 2011, Official Report, column We do not hold central records for our arm’s length 164W. bodies. I have therefore asked their chief executives to write directly to the Member for Liverpool Wavertree. Arts Council England Copies will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Freeview Services Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what funding Arts Council England plans to provide for jazz in the North East in 2012-13 and in subsequent years. [79144] Mr Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the (a) policing and (b) mitigation Mr Vaizey: Arts Council England (ACE) is committed of interference with Freeview digital terrestrial services to working with the jazz sector to enhance opportunities that may arise from the introduction of 4G mobile for artists, promoters and audiences. The three ACE technology. [78482] regularly funded jazz agencies in the North were unsuccessful in their recent National Portfolio applications, Mr Vaizey: My officials are in constant dialogue with decisions for which were based on an assessment of the Ofcom on both the policy implications and technical strength of those applications. measures associated with these issues. We expect decisions ACE continues to support and encourage applications on the mitigation process to be made by the end of this for funding from north eastern emerging jazz artists, year. touring groups, jazz festivals, new commissions and other jazz activity under the open access Grants for the Mobile Phones Arts programme. ACE representatives recently met with the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, and they will continue to discuss future funding possibilities. Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what factors he will take into consideration when allocating the recently announced Departmental Freedom of Information £150 million in funding for mobile telephone masts; [78476] Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, (2) whether the £150 million in funding for mobile Olympics, Media and Sport which Minister in his telephone masts will be limited to deployment of (a) Department is responsible for determining whether 2G, (b) 3G or (c) 4G mobile technologies. [78496] exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information Mr Vaizey: The principal consideration when considering under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible the optimal use of the £150 million for mobile masts for making such determinations should the subject matter will be to fill in not-spots in the national 2G mobile of the request fall within the ministerial responsibilities coverage and raise the coverage level to 99%. However of the Minister with lead responsibility. [78890] when decisions are being made on locations and mast types, consideration will be given to the requirements of John Penrose: Departmental officials would normally hosting other technologies such as 3G and eventually determine whether exemptions to the Freedom of 4G on the new structures. Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to Museums and Galleries requests for information under the Act. However, the exemption under section 36 (prejudice Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, to the effective conduct of public affairs) can only apply Olympics, Media and Sport how many people volunteered if it is the reasonable opinion of a qualified person (QP) in (a) theatres, (b) museums, (c) art galleries and (d) that the exemption applies. In relation to information national heritage sites in the latest period for which held by Government, the QP must be a Minister. figures are available. [77946] It is departmental policy that the decision as to whether section 36 is applicable will be made by the Mr Vaizey: From July 2010 to June 2011, 23.8% of Minister who has the policy responsibility for the subject people had volunteered in the last 12 months. Of these, of the request. 14.2% had volunteered within the Department’s arts 87W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 88W

(including theatre), museums and galleries (combined) John Penrose: My Department does not hold the and heritage sectors. The estimated numbers of volunteers breakdown as requested. The Gambling Act 2005 requires in each of these sectors are shown in the following table: that as a minimum a society lottery needs to apply 20% of the proceeds of each lottery to their good cause. We Percentage Estimated number of understand that the health lottery has publicly stated volunteers that it expects 20.3% of proceeds will be allocated to Volunteers in last 12 23.8 10,027,640 health related causes with the remaining proceeds being months split between prizes and expenses. Society lotteries are not subject to lottery duty, and DCMS Ministers have not discussed this issue with Treasury Ministers. Decisions Sector in this area are, of course, for the Chancellor of the Arts 8.3 831,491 Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton Museums/galleries 1.5 148,913 (Mr Osborne), and the Treasury keeps taxation policy Heritage 4.4 437,818 under constant review. Source: Taking Part Survey The Gambling Commission’s “Industry statistics, 2009/10” Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/pdf/Gambling%20 Olympics, Media and Sport what the cost to the public Industry%20Statistics%202009%202010%20update%20- purse was of upkeep of (a) theatres, (b) museums, (c) %20July%202011.pdf art galleries and (d) national heritage sites in each show that in the period October 2009 to September region of England in each of the last 10 years. [77947] 2010 total proceeds (ticket sales) in society lotteries (both lotteries run by external lottery managers and Mr Vaizey: The Department does not hold disaggregated directly by the societies) were £200 million this represents figures on the amount of money spent on the upkeep of an increase of 9% on the previous 12 months. The ticket regionally based theatres, museums, art galleries and sales were apportioned as follows: 18% to prizes; 51% to heritage sites. To provide this would incur disproportionate purposes of promoting society, and 31% to expenses. costs. The National Lottery Commission advise that the national lottery, on average, is apportioned as follows: 50% to prizes; 28% to good causes; 12% to lottery duty; 5% to Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, retailers; 4.5% to expenses and up to 0.5% profit to the Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has operator depending on performance. made of the effect of reductions in funding on (a) theatres, (b) museums, (c) art galleries and (d) national heritage sites in each region of England over National Planning Policy Framework the Comprehensive Spending Review period. [78009] Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Vaizey: At the time of the spending review, the Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and representations his Department received on the draft Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South National Planning Policy Framework; and if he will list West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and I were keen to ensure the any such representations. [77791] sustainability of our key cultural assets by limiting cuts to museums, heritage sites, and frontline arts organisations John Penrose: This Department has received a number to 15% over the four year period. This has enabled of representations from a range of groups on the draft national and regional organisations to put in place National Planning Policy Framework. We have encouraged effective plans to meet the required savings. all of these bodies to contribute to the consultation exercise being run by the Department for Communities Both English Heritage and Arts Council England and Local Government which closed on 17 October 2011. continue to work closely with organisations they fund, to achieve efficiency, raise philanthropy, explore commercial opportunities and ensure the cultural regional offer Radio Frequencies remains excellent. This Department’s Ministers meet with the chief executives of both organisations regularly Mr Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, to discuss progress and any concerns. Olympics, Media and Sport if he will ensure that universal broadband access at a minimum of 2MB/s is National Lottery: Tickets a priority following the sale of 800, 700 and 600 MHz spectrum. [78481]

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Mr Vaizey: Ofcom’s current coverage proposal for Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what assessment his the combined auction of the spectrum at 800 MHz and Department has made of the proportion of the health 2600 MHz includes providing a service of not less than lottery ticket price that goes to (a) good causes, (b) 2 Mbps to 95% of the population. It is the Government’s administration costs, (c) tax and (d) profit; and what stated aim to ensure that broadband for all would be proportion of ticket prices for (i) traditional society available at 2 Mbps by 2015. Consideration of the lotteries and (ii) the national lottery goes to such future of the 700MHz band is at a very early stage. categories; [79052] Ofcom published a call for input into the future of the (2) what discussions his Department has had with band earlier this year and intends to consult on this in the Treasury on the tax regimes applying to different the near future. Ofcom are currently considering how types of lottery; and if he will make a statement. [79053] and when to make spectrum at 600 MHz available, 89W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 90W although this spectrum could be used for broadcast for interpreters to move between the video relay studio rather than telecommunications services. and field interpreting, so the figure required is likely to be significantly higher. Radio: Licensing Sports: Schools Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for he has made of the effectiveness of the Ofcom licence Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress his application process for radio stations. [78203] Department made in recruiting School Games Organisers; how many are in post; and if he will make a Mr Vaizey: Ofcom works independently of Government, statement. [78415] and Ministers do not make assessments of the effectiveness of their licensing process for radio stations. However, Hugh Robertson: Sport England has now awarded all of Ofcom’s licensing processes are conducted in line grant funding to 424 of the 450 schools which will host with the relevant statutory provisions. the School Games organisers. We expect all organisers to be in post by the end of December 2011.

Sign Language Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many schools Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, are currently participating in School Games; how many Olympics, Media and Sport what research his will participate in competitions at each level prior to Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated the London 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a on the number of sign language users in the UK who statement. [78416] use (i) British Sign Language and (ii) an alternative form of sign language as their primary means of Hugh Robertson: On 1 November 2011, a total of communication. [78588] 8,541 schools had registered to be part of the School Games during the school year 2011-12. Schools will Mr Vaizey: This Department (DCMS) has not report back on their participation in the School Games commissioned any research into the number of users of at the end of the school year. British Sign Language (BSL), or other alternative forms of sign language, in the UK. DCMS understands that Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the number of users is not formally recorded. In undertaking Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has its review of relay service provision in the UK, Ofcom, to continue funding for School Games beyond the end the independent national telecoms regulator, has drawn of 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [78417] on a number of sources of data and quotes the figure of 50,000 BSL users (source: Council for the Advancement Hugh Robertson: My Department is funding School of Communication with Deaf People, now known as Games until 2014-15. Over the period 2010-11 to 2014-15, Signature). The Council does not indicate how many of £130.9 million Exchequer and lottery funding will be these people use BSL as their primary means of invested to support the programme. communication. Tickets: Touting Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what research his Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to tackle into the potential growth in the number of British Sign ticket touting for sporting events. [78567] Language interpreters as a result of the introduction of (i) restricted and (ii) unrestricted video relay services. Hugh Robertson: The Government have no current [78589] plans to extend existing legislation, covering the resale of tickets. Mr Vaizey: This Department has not commissioned any research into the potential growth in the numbers UK Sport: Sport England of British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters which might arise as a consequence of the introduction of commercially Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for available video relay services, restricted or otherwise, in Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment the UK. According to the UK register of Sign Language he has made of the performance of UK Sport in the Interpreters there are 682 interpreters qualified at the preparation of elite athletes for the London 2012 appropriate level for commercial video relay provision Olympics; and if he will make a statement. [78409] (‘Member of the Register’ level), up from 519 since Ofcom, the independent national telecoms regulator, Hugh Robertson: I will place copies of the Department’s published its consultation on relay service provision in 2011-12 funding agreement with UK Sport in the House the UK at the end of July. The register is a public Libraries. This sets out the key performance indicators document available at: against which UK Sport’s performance will be judged http://portal.nrcpd.org.uk/search/ at the end of the financial year. During the year my Independent contributions submitted in response to officials conduct quarterly performance review meetings Ofcom’s consultation estimate the number of interpreters to determine progress towards these performance indicators needed to deliver an unrestricted video relay service was and at the end of the reporting year I will conduct an 2,053 full-time equivalents. However, it is good practice annual performance review. Nevertheless, at this stage 91W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 92W of the London cycle, both ourselves and UK Sport are Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, confident that our Olympic and Paralympic teams will Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to ensure meet their London 2012 target of top four and second that support for elite athletes in preparation for the Rio respectively in the medal tables at London 2012, winning 2016 Olympics continues following the merger of UK more medals in more sports. Sport and Sport England; and if he will make a statement. [78414] Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment Hugh Robertson: It is anticipated that performance he has made of the performance of Sport England in support functions currently undertaken by UK Sport increasing participation in sport; and if he will make a will be maintained in any new structure. This will ensure statement. [78410] no loss of momentum in performance support through to Rio. In addition, UK Sport intends to make funding Hugh Robertson: I will place copies of the Department’s awards to Olympic and Paralympic sports for the Rio 2011-12 funding agreement with Sport England in the cycle in December 2012, before any changes take place. House Libraries. This sets out the key performance indicators against which Sport England’s performance will be judged at the end of the financial year. During the year my officials conduct quarterly performance TREASURY review meetings to determine progress towards these Banks: Finance performance indicators and at the end of the reporting year I will conduct an annual performance review. Mr Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the We are determined to get more people playing sport Exchequer what estimate he made of the value of (a) as a legacy from London 2012 and we will continue to RBS and (b) Lloyds Banking Group on (i) 7 May 2010 hold national governing bodies to account for the delivery and (ii) 1 November 2011. [78861] of their whole sport plans. I am confident that with the inspiration of the games in 2012, and a new approach Mr Hoban: The Government does not routinely value with a clearer expectation of concrete results in return either RBS or Lloyds Banking Group (LBG). This for Government investment, we will see the benefit at information is already publicly available from a wide grassroots level. variety of sources. Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for The Government does, however estimate the value of Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what savings to its shareholdings in these banks. The most recent official the public purse he expects to achieve from the merger estimate of the value of the Government’s shareholdings of UK Sport and Sport England; and if he will make a in RBS and LBG is contained in the Treasury’s resource statement. [78411] accounts for 2010-11 which show the value of these holdings as at the end of March 2011 was £55.3 billion. Hugh Robertson: We are currently considering the The OBR also publish the estimate of the expected merger of UK Sport and Sport England. Final decisions, net overall cost of the financial sector interventions, including the structure and governance of the new which includes details of the value of the Government’s organisation, have not yet been taken. As such, precise shareholdings in RBS and Lloyds. The next publication figures on savings cannot be provided at this stage. of this estimate will be on 29 November as part of their Economic and Fiscal Outlook. Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how spending on Biofuels participation in sport and elite sports performance will be monitored following the merger of UK Sport and Caroline Nokes: To ask the Chancellor of the Sport England; and if he will make a statement. Exchequer what fiscal steps he is taking to support the [78412] growth of the sustainable biodiesel industry. [78552]

Hugh Robertson: This is still under consideration but Miss Chloe Smith: The Government support biofuels, we expect that the monitoring of spending will be including biodiesel, through the renewable transport broadly similar to the current arrangements. However, fuel obligation administered by the Department for as part of the CSR settlement, both UK Sport and Transport. As part of its consultation on implementing Sport England were told to reduce their expenditure on the transport elements of the renewable energy directive, administration by 50%. the Department for Transport has proposed providing twice the financial support to sustainable waste-derived Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, biofuels as will be provided to conventional biofuels. Olympics, Media and Sport how the performance of Under this double certification arrangement a litre of the body formed from the merger of UK Sport and biofuel from wastes would currently yield around 40 pence Sport England will be measured against the performance per litre. of its predecessors; and if he will make a statement. [78413] Business: Loans

Hugh Robertson: This is still under consideration. In : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer general, the Department manages the performance of what assessment he has made of the effect on lending its public bodies through funding agreements, containing of the recent increase in the London Interbank Offered key performance indicators. Rate. [79017] 93W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 94W

Mr Hoban: Money market rates have seen some upward The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) publishes counts pressure in recent months, reflecting concerns regarding of dwellings by council tax band for each local authority the euro area crisis. Banks in the UK have gone into this in England and Wales on a quarterly basis. Figures for period of market difficulty in a much better position the end of September 2011 can be found on the VOA than the previous crisis on both capital and liquidity. website in the following location: The Bank of England has reported that credit availability http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/statisticalReleases/131011 in Q3 2011 remained broadly unchanged for businesses _CouncilTaxValuationListSummary.html and increased slightly for households. We will continue This publication will next be updated in January 2012 to monitor this closely as market volatility persists. to include statistics for end December 2011. Child Benefit Departmental Billing Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of child Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer benefit recipients with (a) one, (b) two and (c) three or what the average cost to his Department was of processing more children who are resident outside the UK. [78330] the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices Mr Gauke: The main purpose of child benefit is settled in that period his Department paid (a) electronically to support families living in the UK. Consequently, the and (b) by cheque. [74980] general rules for this benefit do not provide for it to be paid in respect of children who are resident outside this Miss Chloe Smith: The average cost of processing an country. invoice for the Treasury Group in 2010-11 was £6.00. Of However, child benefit is a family benefit under EC the 11,920 invoices settled in that period, 99.7% were Regulation 883/2004 on social security co-ordination settled electronically and 0.3% by cheque. and I therefore refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 6 September 2011, Official Report, columns 400-401W, Departmental Buildings to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr Jackson). Information about the number of children each claimant receives child benefit for would be available only at Dr Whiteford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer disproportionate cost. what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects his Department plans in the (i) current and (ii) next financial Commodity Markets: Food year; and what the cost of each such project will be. [74374] Dr Huppert: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the conclusion in the OECD Agricultural Miss Chloe Smith: HM Treasury is currently taking Outlook 2011-20 report on the relationship between forward a space consolidation project in 1 Horse Guards speculative activity in futures markets and the price of road to halve the amount of space the Treasury uses. agricultural goods. [78943] The project will increase the occupancy of the building and provide a modern, efficient and effective workplace. Mr Hoban: The analysis presented in the OECD I will write to the hon. Member with costs for the Agricultural Outlook 2011-20 report is consistent with project once a contract is awarded and deposit a copy of the Government’s view that speculation in agricultural the letter in the Library of the House. futures and options markets is unlikely to have been a significant causal factor in recent agricultural price spikes. Departmental Freedom of Information Council Tax: Swindon Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the how many requests under the Freedom of Information Exchequer how many properties in Swindon were in Act 2000 his Department has received in each month each council tax band in the latest period for which since May 2010; how many responses given in each such figures are available. [78391] month disclosed (a) the full information requested, (b) part of the information requested, with some information Mr Gauke: The number of dwellings in each council withheld under exemptions in the Act and (c) none of tax band in Swindon unitary authority, as at 30 September the information requested; and in respect of how many 2011, are shown in the following table: requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working Council tax band Number of dwellings days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt A 13,990 and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued. B 26,230 [78918] C 22,850 D 15,310 E 7,880 Miss Chloe Smith: Statistics on the Treasury’s F 2,970 performance under the Freedom of Information Act G 1,240 are published quarterly by the Ministry of Justice, with H60annual reports being placed in the House Library. These Total 90,520 publications are available at: Note: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/ Totals may not sum due to rounding. implementation-editions.htm 95W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 96W

The data published complies with the reporting No additional London living allowances or weightings requirements for central Government Departments which are paid although the Department does have a London were agreed by Parliament. The figures are available rate of basic pay which is higher than the rate paid to both as quarterly and annual statistics. Information has staff employed outside London. been published up to the second quarter of 2011. Future publications will be made by the Ministry of Justice. Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer received a pay rise other than by promotion in the last in respect of how many responses to requests for two years; and what the average increase was in each information received by his Department under the Freedom such year. [78127] of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) Miss Chloe Smith: The two year public sector pay information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or freeze announced in the emergency Budget on 21 June repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010 applied to HM Treasury in 2010 and 2011. Under 2010. [78919] the terms of the freeze, those earning a full-time equivalent salary of less than £21,000 were to receive an annual Miss Chloe Smith: Statistics on the Treasury’s salary increase of at least £250. This was the only basis performance under the Freedom of Information Act for civil servants in HM Treasury to receive a pay rise are published quarterly by the Ministry of Justice, with other than promotion in the last two years. The number annual reports being placed in the House Library. These of staff affected and the average increase is shown in the publications are available at: following table. http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/ implementation-editions.htm Average increase Number of staff (percentage) The data published complies with the reporting requirements for central government departments which 2010 145 1.3 were agreed by Parliament, and the figures are available 2011 94 1.3 as quarterly or annual statistics. Information has been published up to the second quarter of 2011. The reports Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the contain the data sought in parts a), b), c) and d) of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department question. received a bonus in each year since 2007. [78135]

Departmental NDBPs Miss Chloe Smith: Non consolidated bonus payments are made to staff who have performed exceptionally Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the well in two circumstances in their role. These are: Exchequer how many officials were (a) directly and 1. Non-consolidated bonus payments linked to the annual staff (b) otherwise employed by non-departmental public appraisal report; bodies for which his Department is responsible (i) in 2. Special bonuses paid to staff in year to recognise specific 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on contributions or pieces of work. the most recent date for which figures are available. Non-consolidated bonus payments are paid in the [78116] year following the year for which performance is appraised. So, payments made in 2011-12 are made in respect of Miss Chloe Smith: HM Treasury currently has two the 2010-11 appraisal year. NDPBs. The Royal Mint Advisory Committee became The number of civil servants receiving a non-consolidated the Treasury’s responsibility in January 2010 and does bonus under either of the categories above in the years not employ any civil servants. The Office of Budget since 2007 is shown in the following table: Responsibility was established in April 2011 and employed 17 civil servants at the. end of September 2011. HM Performance year Payment year Number of staff Treasury has not been responsible for any other NDPBs since 2000. 2006-07 2007-08 717 2007-08 2008-09 696 Departmental Pay 2008-09 2009-10 1,073 2009-10 2010-11 541

Mr Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Departmental Work Experience he will estimate the total monetary value of London weightings and London living allowances for staff in his Department. [74918] Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many unpaid and expenses-only Miss Chloe Smith: HM Treasury pays members of internships (a) his Department and (b) each public senior civil service payband 1 a London allowance of body for which he is responsible employed in the last 12 £2,000 per annum. The total cost of the allowance in months for which figures are available. [78366] 2010-11 was £151,000. Staff below the senior civil service do not receive a London allowance. These payments Miss Chloe Smith: In the last 12 months there have reflect the need to compete with other London-based been fewer than five unpaid and expense only interns organisations to attract suitable senior staff. employed by HMT and arm’s length bodies. 97W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 98W

Diesel Fuel: Agriculture Green Investment Bank

Mr Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will examine the merits of an exemption for the pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2011, Official use of red diesel in farm vehicles belonging to farmers Report, column 308W, on the Green Investment Bank, who are requested by county and parish councils to in the event that the £2 billion target is not reached from volunteer to assist with gritting rural roads; [78698] the sale of assets whether the Government plan to fund (2) what discussions he has had with HM Revenue the shortfall from general taxation. [78788] and Customs on its review of enforcement policies in respect of the unpaid one-off use of red diesel in farm Miss Chloe Smith: The Government’s plan is to provide vehicles for the purposes solely for the benefit of the £2 billion from asset sales towards the Green Investment community. [78699] Bank. They are confident that the sales they are considering will be sufficient. Miss Chloe Smith: Ministers have asked HMRC to conduct an internal review of policy on the use of Individual Savings Accounts: Stocks and Shares rebated fuel in agricultural vehicles. As part of that review, HMRC will consider instances of unremunerated Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the voluntary work. Exchequer if he will take steps to allow shares listed on the Alternative Investment Market to be held within an Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation individual savings account. [79012]

Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Mr Hoban: ISAs are the Government’s main non- Exchequer how many payments have been made under pensions savings incentive, and act as a mainstream the Equitable Life Payment Scheme up to 31 October savings product held by over 23 million people. The 2011. [78639] Government believes that ISAs are a trusted brand, and that it is important that this is maintained. Mr Hoban: The scheme will be publishing a report in The Government therefore does not intend to allow due course on the volumes and values of payments shares listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM)- made. which generally carry a higher level of investment risk, and can be less liquid - to be qualifying investments for Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the ISAs. Exchequer how many (a) officials in his Department The Government agrees that it is important that and (b) other staff are employed in administering the small and growing companies are supported, and companies Equitable Life Payment Scheme. [78640] listed on AIM can benefit from other incentive schemes, such as investments made through the Enterprise Investment Mr Hoban: The Equitable Life Payment scheme is scheme and Venture Capital Trusts. being delivered by NS&I on the Treasury’s behalf and there are 186 people currently administering the scheme. Learning Disability

Excise Duties: Fuels Mr Leech: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet representatives of the learning disability sector to discuss implementation of the steps to Mr MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the provide services for people with a learning disability Exchequer on what date he plans to implement the following the outcome of the Dilnot Commission. rural fuel duty discount scheme. [78616] [78324]

Miss Chloe Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the Miss Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and officials answer given on 24 October 2011, Official Report, column meet with and receive representations from a wide 20W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Carmarthen range of stakeholders including the learning disability West and South Pembrokeshire (Simon Hart). The sector as part of the usual policymaking process. Government plan to implement the rural fuel discount scheme as soon as possible following EU level agreement. The Government welcome the work of the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support, chaired by Andrew Dilnot, and its final report. The Government are currently Excise Duties: National Lottery considering these proposals, and plan to publish a response to the Commission’s report alongside a social Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer care White Paper in the spring. what assessment his Department has made of the effect To inform that response, the Department of Health of the Health Lottery on lottery duty receipts; and if has launched “Caring for our future: shared ambitions he will make a statement. [79054] for care and support”, and plans to engage with people who use care and support services, carers, local councils, Miss Chloe Smith: The health lottery was launched care providers and the voluntary sector about the priorities on 29 September 2011. Several months of data would for improving care and support. Representatives of the be required to determine the effect of the health lottery learning disability sector are actively contributing to on lottery duty receipts. these discussions. 99W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 100W

Personal Savings Chart A.6 of Budget 2011 shows the Government’s best estimate of the overall impact of reforms on Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the households, including changes to public services. Due Exchequer if he will discuss with financial institutions to data limitations analysis is shown at a quintile level the competitiveness of their savings products and the to limit the number of assumptions that have been incentives which they offer to savers. [78621] made. Income deciles are calculated by ordering households Mr Hoban: The Government understand the difficulties by their income and dividing them into 10 equally sized faced by savers in the current climate, and recognise the groups. As households with more individuals require importance of a competitive market for savings products. higher levels of household income and expenditure to Treasury Ministers regularly meet with representatives achieve the same standard of living, an internationally of financial institutions, and discuss the products offered standard process of adjustment called equalisation is to savers where it is appropriate to do so. used to ensure households are compared on an equal basis. Further details on this can be found in the Data Private Sector: Pay Sources document accompanying Budget 2011. The following table sets out the lower bounds for equivalised Mr Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer income deciles used at Budget 2011. Note these estimates what his policy is on high salaries, bonuses and pension have been rounded to the nearest £1,000. arrangements paid to prominent figures in the private As this is equivalised income, the ranges below do not sector. [78731] show net (or gross) incomes for households within the bands. Rather for a particular decile they contain a Mr Davey: I have been asked to reply wider range of net incomes, some of which will lie The Government believe that executive remuneration outside of the bands themselves. For example, a household that is well structured and rewards senior executives with a combined net income of £25,000 containing a who contribute to long-term success is an important couple and two children aged seven and 15 years old way of promoting sustainability and growth. However, would have an equivalised net income of around £16,340. there are concerns about the disconnect between how This is calculated as follows: our largest listed companies perform and the rewards Factor: 0.67 + 0.33 + 0.20 + 0.33 = 1.53. that are on offer and this is not sustainable. Equivalised net income: £25,000/1.53 = £16,340. On 19 September, the Department for Business, Given this, it is not valid to interpret the bands as net Innovation and Skills published a discussion paper on (or gross) incomes or make statements on the impacts executive remuneration. The paper explores the link of policies using that interpretation. between executive pay and company performance and invites views on how this link can be strengthened. Income decile £ Submissions are being sought by 25 November, after which the Government will consider their response. 2 13,000 3 16,000 Taxation 4 18,000 5 20,000 Mr Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 6 23,000 (1) what estimate he has made of the effects of each of 7 26,000 the tax changes made by his Department for the purpose 8 31,000 of reducing the deficit on each income decile since May 9 37,000 2010; and what the average annual effect per capita is of 10 48,000 such changes on persons in each of those deciles; [75653] VAT: Medical Treatments (2) what proportion of planned reductions in (a) public expenditure and (b) benefits he estimates will be borne by each income decile; and what the minimum Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer annual income is of each decile group. [75695] what recent representations he has received on the inability of NHS trusts to recover VAT on medical treatments Mr Gauke [holding answer 20 October 2011]: It is the compared to the ability of dispensing pharmacists to do impact of the tax and benefit system as a whole that is so; and what representations he has received from patients important for households. Over the last three fiscal and pharmacists on collection of prescriptions from events the Government have published detailed analysis their local pharmacists which are taken into hospitals of the distributional impacts of reforms for tax, tax to be administered. [78844] credit and benefit changes, and has shown the cumulative impacts of these reforms on households. Charts A.2 Mr Gauke: The Government keep all tax matters and A.3 of Budget 2011 show the most recent analysis under review. The general principles are that the provision by income decile, and present estimates in cash terms of free health care and the dispensing of medication by and as a percentage of net income. This analysis shows an NHS hospital are not treated as being a ″business″ that, when looking at the cumulative impact of reforms activity for VAT purposes. Consequently, the NHS is introduced by this Government, it is clear that the top unable to recover from HMRC the VAT it incurs on decile contributes the most to the fiscal consolidation, drugs. However, the funding that NHS bodies receive both in absolute terms and as a percentage of net from the Department of Health takes account of this income. irrecoverable VAT. 101W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 102W

The dispensing of drugs by a pharmacist is a business Business: Employment Tribunals activity for VAT purposes and is zero-rated provided that the drugs are dispensed for the personal use of the Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, patient on the prescription of an appropriate practitioner. Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of In these circumstances the pharmacist will be able to the findings of the British Chambers of Commerce recover from HMRC the VAT they have been charged Workforce Survey: Small Businesses, on the frequency on the purchase of the drugs. with which small businesses face the prospect of employment tribunals. [78497] Working Tax Credit: Older Workers Mr Davey: We are aware from the Survey of Employment Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer Tribunal Applications 2008, published by the Department, how many people working (a) between 16 and 29 that 36% of employment tribunal claims related to hours per week and (b) over 30 hours per week in (i) organisations with less than 50 employees. England, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) Dudley The Government understand that small businesses borough are in receipt of the working tax credit 50+ are likely to feel the impact of employment laws more return to work payment. [78332] than larger businesses, so is considering whether more needs to be done to discourage unmeritorious claims, as Mr Gauke: The following table provides the requested part of proposals to encourage employers and employees information for 2009-10—the latest finalised year for to settle disputes before they get to tribunal. We will which data is available. publish the Government response to the recent consultation Average number of households in receipt of the 50+ return to work on Resolving Workplace Disputes in the coming weeks. elements (2009-10) Discussions with key stakeholders, including business Dudley West organisations, were ongoing throughout the consultation Borough Midlands England period. Between 16 and 29 hours 20 525 5,139 Business: Entry Clearances Over 30 hours per week 39 760 6,528 Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 September 2011, Official Report, column 1343W, BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS on business: entry clearances, from which organisations he has received representations about the impact of the Tier 2 limit on business forward planning. [78288] Adam Werritty Mr Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for and Skills has ongoing contact with business representatives Business, Innovation and Skills whether (a) he, (b) from across all sectors on a range of issues including officials of his Department and (c) special advisers in migration. his Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on official Since June 2011 we have had representations about business since May 2010; and how many such meetings the impact of the tier 2 limit on business forward took place (i) on his Department’s premises and (ii) planning from one company in the IT industry and one elsewhere. [78870] company in the manufacturing sector. Mr Davey: No Ministers, special advisers or the Business: Surveys Permanent Secretary have had any meetings with Mr Adam Werritty. Disproportionate costs would be incurred Mr Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, in checking whether any officials had ever met him but Innovation and Skills whether he has made an assessment it is considered unlikely. of the findings of the British Chambers of Commerce report entitled, Workforce Survey—Small Businesses Basic Skills relating to small business owners’ perception of the flexibility of the UK labour market compared to that of Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, other EU member states and the US. [79022] Innovation and Skills what plans his Department has to improve adult literacy and numeracy. [78768] Mr Davey: We have examined as far as possible all of the comparable international evidence on labour market Mr Hayes: The Government are continuing to fund flexibility. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation courses for adults who lack basic literacy and numeracy and Development (OECD) Jobs Study Review of 2006 skills, so that they can get the skills they need to summarises most of this evidence in ‘Boosting jobs and function in society, progress onto further training and income—policy lessons from reassessing the OECD employment, and to operate more productively in work. Jobs Strategy’ and I draw attention to some of the following conclusions in it: Following the publication of “Skills for Sustainable Growth”, the Department for Business, Innovation and “The experience over the past two decades shows that there is no single combination of policies and institutions to achieve and Skills (BIS) has been undertaking a review of literacy maintain good labour market performance. For example, it is not and numeracy provision for adults in order to improve necessary that all individual policies are aimed at strong labour economic and personal returns through making this market performance, provided that adverse stances in some policy provision more effective. areas are more than compensated for by favourable settings in 103W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 104W other areas, e.g. by exploiting policy interactions. This allows Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, some scope to tailor policy packages to suit national preferences Innovation and Skills what plans he has for scrutiny of with respect to equity, risk-taking and other objectives. However, the anti-counterfeiting trade agreement. [78607] in practice there are few feasible policy combinations to achieve satisfactory employment outcomes.” Mr Davey: The European Commission’s proposals The study also identified the UK as a ‘successful for the signing and agreement of the Anti-Counterfeiting employment performer’ and suggested that it fell into a Trade Agreement were submitted to the House of group of countries that are ‘market reliant’ which include Commons and House of Lords EU Select Committees light employment protection in its policy package. Australia, for parliamentary scrutiny on 14 July 2011. The proposals Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland and cleared scrutiny in the House of Commons on 9 September the United States are the other countries identified in 2011 and in the House of Lords on 14 October 2011. this group by the OECD. The OECD also identified another group of countries Departmental Advertising as ‘successful performers’ with different but successful policy packages. These include Austria, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department The Government, through their employment law and has spent on advertising job vacancies since May 2010. growth reviews, aim to build upon this and foster greater [75647] employment and growth. Mr Davey: Since May 2010, the Department has Common and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 recorded spend of £11,819 against the specific ledger code for the direct advertising of job vacancies. Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for The Department does not separately identify advertising Business, Innovation and Skills if his Department has costs which form part of a departmental or cross- any plans to review the operation of the Common and Government recruitment campaign, therefore, cannot Leasehold Reform Act 2002. [77723] provide any additional response without incurring disproportionate costs. Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply. Departmental Data Protection Part 1 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 created commonhold as a freehold alternative to long leasehold ownership for flats and other Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for interdependent properties. The Ministry of Justice is Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer responsible for this Part of the Act. Part 2 of the Act of 25 October 2011, Official Report, columns 221-22W, introduced new rights and protections for residential on departmental data protection, for what reasons a leaseholders and is the responsibility of the Department bookkeeper was provided with access to a Minister’s for Communities and Local Government. diary; and if he will name the Minister and bookkeeper concerned. [78613] The Government have no plans to review the Act but existing regulations in the leasehold sector are being Vince Cable: The Minister’s diary contains both their scrutinised as part of the major cross-government exercise official and personal engagements. Sending it to the known as the ’Red Tape Challenge’. Minister’s bookkeeper retrospectively enables them to keep track of the Minister’s affairs. Construction Departmental Lost Property Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, his Department has taken to support the construction Innovation and Skills whether his Department has lost industry. [78358] any (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment since May 2010; and if he Mr Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I will make a statement. [77352] gave on 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 463W. Mr Davey: Central records show the following items Counterfeit Manufacturing: Trade Agreements lost or stolen since May 2010: (a) Computers: seven (b) Mobiles: No central records available Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, (c) BlackBerrys: 49 Innovation and Skills what his proposed timetable is for signing and ratifying the anti-counterfeiting trade (d) Other IT: three (3G cards). agreement. [78606] Departmental Pay Mr Davey: The Government are considering their position following the recent parliamentary scrutiny Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, clearance of the European Commission’s proposals for Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the total monetary the signing and agreement of the Anti-Counterfeiting value of London weightings and London living allowances Trade Agreement (ACTA). for staff in his Department. [74912] 105W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 106W

Mr Davey: The total monetary value of London Mr Davey: BIS, including UK Trade and Investment, weightings and London living allowances is approximately has advertised 100% (15 of its 15) Official Journal of £10,581,415 per annum, based on current staff numbers. the European Union (OJEU) contract requirements on This figure is an estimate based on the current weighting Contracts Finder since the website’s inception. Of these element of £3,500 which is included in our London pay seven were core-BIS contracts and eight were UKTI rates and pension and employer-related national insurance contracts. contributions. To obtain an accurate figure for pension BIS and UKTI policy is to procure through existing and national insurance costs would involve checking frameworks where they exist. Such advertisements are individual records and would entail disproportionate not required to be published on Contracts Finder. costs. Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many civil Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for servants in his Department received a pay rise other Business, Innovation and Skills what plans his Department than by promotion in the last two years; and what the has to increase the number of small suppliers through average increase was in each such year. [76592] its procurement processes. [74637] Mr Davey: The following table shows the number of Mr Davey: BIS is fully committed to supporting the civil servants in the Department of Business, Innovation raft of initiatives announced by the Prime Minister on of Skills (BIS) who received an increase in salary other 11 February 2011 at the Small Business summit. We are than by promotion in 2010 and 2011. currently working with Cabinet Office colleagues on Average increase optimising opportunities through procurement processes. Number of “Value for money” is the deciding factor when we staff receiving award contracts competitively but, given our wider a salary responsibility, we strongly encourage small and SME increase Percentage Amount (£) businesses to bid for departmental contracts they believe 2010-11 11,905 2.4 888 they could fulfil. 2011-12 21,492 2.3 857 Details of practical actions include: 1 The figures above include civil servants working for BIS who Ongoing use of the ‘Contracts Finder’ website launched received the annual pay award as of 1 August. There may be other in February. Contracts Finder is a free facility for small instances where individuals may have received a pay increase at different times in the each of the above years due to completion of and SME businesses to find online public sector their probationary period or a late payment of the annual pay award procurement and subcontracting opportunities above due to a return to BIS payroll from absence. This information is not £10,000 in a single location. held centrally so to provide this additional information would entail disproportionate cost. Prompt payment targets. Prompt payment is vital to 2 This is not the final figure for 2011-12 as there as a small number of businesses and is of particular importance to small outstanding payments due to be processed this year. businesses and SMEs. To support our suppliers, the BIS entered the two-year pay freeze for civil service Department aims to pay all invoices within five working staff in 2010. Under the pay freeze guidance staff on days. In the period April to September this year, an full-time equivalent earnings of under £21,000 a year average of 94.6% of all invoices were paid within this are eligible for a pay increase of at least £250. target period. Progression payments have also been made to a For suitable contracts, BIS aims going forward to proportion of BIS staff outside the senior civil service notify its tendering requirements in advance by use of a in both 2010 and 2011 where they have a contractual prior information notice (PIN) for its Official Journal of entitlement. the European Union (OJEU) procurements. This will provide a greater degree of notice to the market, enabling small businesses and SMEs to be better placed to bid as Departmental Press: Subscriptions either prime or subcontractors. BIS is currently running an ‘Open’ OJEU procurement Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, exercise in close co-ordination with the Cabinet Office Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent team responsible for SME issues. The Open procedure on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines does not utilise a pre-qualification stage, reducing the in 2010-11. [74994] administrative burden for bidders, including SMEs, when bidding for Government opportunities. We are looking Mr Davey: In 2010-11, the Department spent a total to commence another two Open procedures within the of £60,308 on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession next three months. magazines. To support small and SME businesses build skills and capacity and to support such businesses access Departmental Procurement public procurement opportunities more generally, BIS has designed, with input from across both the public Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for and private sectors, a free online public procurement Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of training course ″Winning the Contract″ available on the procurement contracts offered by his Department have Businesslink website at: been advertised on the Contracts Finder website since http://www1.learndirect-business.com/business-courses/ the website’s inception. [67224] winning-the-contract 107W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 108W

The course is a free, nationally available resource introducing two new online services; a dedicated ″My New which aims to make the public procurement process Business″ area developed by experts to provide training, tools and more transparent and more accessible to small businesses. checklists for those looking to start a business; and the new Growth and Improvement Service which will provide new tools to Departmental Publications help businesses understand the issues they face, plus a business support and an events finder tool so businesses can find out what is available to them locally. Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Establishing a national helpline to help people find what they Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to need on the web and for those who cannot access the web. publish his Department’s strategy for innovation. Encouraging businesses to seek a business mentor to help them [75807] develop their business and encouraging mentoring organisations to offer access to their mentors through a mentoring portal: Mr Willetts: The Department intends to publish its www.mentorsme.co.uk Innovation and Research Strategy later this year. Setting up a new Business Coaching for Growth (BCG) Programme Departmental Written Questions to enable small businesses with high growth potential to realise their potential. Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Further Education Business, Innovation and Skills how many questions for written answer on a named day were submitted to Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for his Department between 10 May 2010 and 31 October Business, Innovation and Skills what financial support 2011; and how many were answered within the is available to adult learners undertaking non-science, specified time period. [78794] technology, engineering and medical access to higher education courses in further education colleges. [77361] Mr Davey: The Department aims to answer named day questions on the date specified by the Member. Mr Hayes: Further education colleges receive Where it is not possible to provide a full answer within discretionary learner support (DLS) funding for the the usual deadline, the Department believes it will usually purpose of helping those adult learners who are in most be preferable to provide an answer a few days late than need of financial support to enter and remain in study. to provide an incomplete answer. During the period 10 In 2011/12, colleges have been allocated DLS funding May 2010-31 October 2011 a total of 1,469 named day amounting to approximately £101 million. The parliamentary questions were due for answer of which responsibility for making awards from DLS funding sits 969 (66%) received a substantive reply on the date with colleges, who are best placed to assess the needs of requested by the Member. their learners. The figures have been drawn from the Department’s Higher Education database which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Franchises Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that higher education institutions charging in Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for excess of £6,000 per annum for tuition from September Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his 2012 are sharing best practice on widening participation. Department is taking to promote franchising as a [77801] business model. [78269] Mr Willetts: Institutions intending to charge more Mr Prisk: Detailed guidance on franchising has been than the £6,000 basic amount for tuition must first published on the following website: demonstrate to the independent Director of Fair Access what more they will do to attract students from www.businesslink.gov.uk disadvantaged backgrounds. These plans are finalised in partnership with the British Franchising Association. in approved Access Agreements. More specific guidance on franchising for new businesses The powers of the director of fair access were established and those thinking of starting a business will appear on by the Higher Education Act 2004 and include a power the new My New Business area of the site when launched to identify good practice in connection with access to on 14 November 2011. A new syndication offer will also higher education and to give advice about such practice. be launched on 25 November that will enable third party organisations to reuse all content on the Business Ministers at the Department for Business, Innovation Link website free of charge, including content relating and Skills wrote to the director of fair access on 10 February to franchising. 2011 setting out the Government’s expectations about how he should approach the approval and monitoring We are transforming the way that we enable people to of new access agreements. The guidance set out significantly receive the information, advice and guidance they need increased expectations for the priority that institutions to start and grow their business. Our new approach to should give to fair access and widening participation. In Government services and advice for business is based particular we identified the effectiveness of collaborative on: digital services which provide high quality information working on widening participation, recognising that and advice, accessible when businesses need them; and many institutions were already doing this and that face to face advice provided by business people for access agreements should build on that work. We also business people, not by the public sector. highlighted that such collaboration also encourages the We are: sharing of good practice. The director mirrored Revamping the Business Link website: Governments’ advice in his own guidance to the sector www.businesslink.gov.uk in March on how to develop access agreements. 109W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 110W

The Government have committed through the recent Mr Willetts: The information is in the following table White Paper ’Students at the Heart of the System’ (June and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges 2011) to strengthen the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), Admissions Service (UCAS). so that it can provide more active and energetic challenge Applicants to UCAS as at October 15 by parliamentary constituency/ and support to universities and colleges. We will want to region work with the director on the size and structure of Admission cycle OFFA but will make significantly more resources available, Area of domicile 2010-112 2011-123 increasing capacity up to around four times its original level. This would equip OFFA to use fully its powers to Middlesbrough South and East 74 68 monitor and review access agreements and identify and Cleveland constituency1 promote best, evidence-based practice. The borough of Middlesbrough 54 31 The borough of Redcar and 53 45 Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Cleveland Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of The Tees Valley 410 322 the potential effects on the international reputation of The north-east 1,827 1,558 British universities of his proposal to grant degree 1 Parliamentary constituency has been identified using the home postcode regardless of declared area of permanent residence. awarding powers to institutions which do not provide 2 Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011. teaching or research. [78637] 3 Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012. Mr Willetts: The aim of the Government’s proposals UCAS have stated year-on-year changes for all courses for higher education reform, including the proposal to at this early stage in the cycle are often different from decouple degree awarding powers from teaching, is to the position later in the cycle, and that it is too early in drive greater diversity and competition to improve the the cycle to extrapolate applicant volumes forward. The range and quality of provision available to students main deadline for the majority of UCAS courses is 15 while safeguarding the strong international reputation January. of English universities. Any organisation, including non- teaching bodies, wishing to acquire taught degree awarding Insolvency powers will, as now, have to meet specific criteria to determine if it is fit to exercise the powers being sought. Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for We are currently reviewing the degree awarding powers Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses criteria as part of those reforms but believe that broadly were (a) liquidated and (b) put into administration in the same principles as set out in the current criteria can each year between 2000-01 and 2010-11. [78751] and should apply and that the key principles will be applicable to non-teaching bodies as well. Mr Davey: Official statistics are published around calendar years, and figures for (a) compulsory and Higher Education Funding Council creditors’ voluntary liquidations and (b) administrations are presented in the Quarterly Insolvency Statistics, the Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, latest publication of which covers 2001 to 2010 and can Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 25 be found on the Insolvency Service website here: October 2011, Official Report, columns 215-6W, on the http://www.insolvencydirect.bis.gov.uk/otherinformation/ Higher Education Funding Council, when he expects statistics/201108/index.htm data on future funding for (a) postgraduate research, Tables 1, 4 and 6 cover liquidations in England and (b) postgraduate taught masters and (c) PhD student Wales (E&W), Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively; numbers for (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15 to tables 3 and 5 cover administrations in E&W and Scotland, be available; and if he will make a statement. [77508] respectively. Official statistics for administrations in Northern Ireland are not available. Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Funding Council Annual figures for 2011 will be available from 3 February for England (HEFCE) receives notification from the 2012, and historic data are also published covering Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) years before 2001. of its overall budget allocation in advance of each new financial year. HEFCE will announce its funding allocations, including for postgraduate provision, for Insolvency Service: Regulation the relevant academic year once it has considered any guidance provided by BIS on the use of its annual Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, grant. Innovation and Skills what plans his Department has to review the regulation of the Insolvency Service. Higher Education: Admissions [79256]

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Davey: At present operation of The Insolvency Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS Service is regulated through the requirement to produce, applications have been submitted by residents of (a) and lay in Parliament, an annual corporate plan, as well Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, as annual fees orders, which sets the fees charged by (b) the borough of Middlesbrough, (c) the borough of official receivers for their work in dealing with bankruptcy Redcar and Cleveland, (d) the Tees Valley and (e) the and insolvency case administration. For The Services’ north-east in the 2011-12 admissions cycle to date; and work in company investigation and enforcement, and how many such applications had been submitted on the redundancy payments, funding is set through allocations same date in the 2010-11 admissions cycle. [77543] made from BIS and HMRC respectively and the level of 111W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 112W this allocation is made in response to submissions from Mr Prisk [holding answer 3 November 2011]: It is not The Service to each Department, as part of their wider possible to provide final information on the monetary budget setting. value of each winning bids to the second round of the For all areas of The Service, the corporate plan sets Regional Growth Fund (RGF) in each region as the out its vision for delivering services, with particular offer of a grant is conditional and will be finalised once emphasis on its plans and targets for the coming year. contracts are signed. However, a list of successful second The plan is reviewed by BIS to ensure that its goals are round of RGF bidders by region is available on the BIS realistic and that targets are achievable within the resources website: available, and yet are set at a level to stretch the organisation http://www.bis.gov.uk/RGF and not allow complacency. Performance against the targets and budgets thus set Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for is reported to the Minister on a quarterly basis. Business, Innovation and Skills (1) which (a) Ministers and (b) Departments were represented at meetings There are no plans to make substantive changes to held by the ministerial group chaired by the Deputy this reporting process. Prime Minister to consider recommended bids for the Nanotechnology second round of the Regional Growth Fund put forward by its Independent Advisory Panel; [79282] Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for (2) how many meetings were held by the Ministerial Business, Innovation and Skills what the status is of the Group under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime UK Nanotechnologies Strategy published in March 2010. Minister to consider recommended bids for the second [78387] round of the Regional Growth Fund; and on what dates such meetings took place. [79281] Mr Willetts [holding answer 3 November 2011]: The UK Nanotechnologies Strategy of March 2010 has Mr Prisk: The ministerial group has met a number of been a useful source of views and input that has informed times to consider all bids submitted in both rounds and our thinking on nanotechnology, which has evolved, the independent panel recommendations; all the relevant and is underpinned by the view that nano-scale technologies Departments were represented. should be thought of on a case-by-case basis given the Regional Growth Fund: Job Creation wide range of materials and processes with diverse properties, benefits and implications for health and the Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for environment. Business, Innovation and Skills what methodology his Together with Lord Taylor of Holbeach, I recently Department used to calculate the figures for indirect held a roundtable discussion to inform our thinking on job creation from the winning bids announced from the how Government can in the future help industry have second round of the Regional Growth Fund. [78403] confidence to invest in successful and responsible commercialisation and for consumers to be confident Mr Prisk [holding answer 3 November 2011]: All of that the manufacture, integration, use and subsequent the figures for indirect job creation from the winning disposal of nano-enabled products will not have adverse bids announced from the second round of the Regional impacts on their health or the wider environment. Growth Fund on 31 October 2011 were taken directly We are currently reflecting on the outcomes of this from the bids submitted from successful bidders. Where discussion, but the Government are committed to enabling direct or indirect jobs were incorrectly classified, jobs the successful and responsible commercialisation of were put under the correct heading. Progress towards nano-scale technologies, and these technologies, remain the Job Target specified in the Grant Offer Letter will be an important strand of activity across a number of monitored quarterly. Government Departments and partner bodies such as the Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board. Shareholders Non-governmental Organisations Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, of 1 November 2011, Official Report, column 590W, on Innovation and Skills how much direct funding over companies, if he will bring forward proposals to £100,000 his Department provided to non-governmental encourage active shareholder participation in annual organisations in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how general meetings for the purposes of scrutinising (a) much funding he plans to provide to such organisations executive remuneration, (b) corporate performance in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15; and if he and (c) related shareholder value. [79210] will make a statement. [78505] Mr Davey: On 19 September, the Department for Mr Davey: The information is not collected centrally Business, Innovation and Skills published a discussion and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. paper on executive remuneration in large listed companies. The paper explores the link between executive pay and Regional Growth Fund company performance and invites views on how this link can be strengthened. It includes a range of proposals Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for designed to empower shareholders with the tools and Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary information they need to be active company owners. value is of the winning bids to the second round of the Submissions are being sought by 25 November, after Regional Growth Fund in each region. [78405] which the Government will consider their response. 113W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 114W

Students: Fees and Charges CABINET OFFICE Charities Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has conducted an equality impact assessment of the proposed changes Dr Whiteford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet to further education fee structures with regards to access Office what grants his Department made to charitable to higher education courses. [79225] organisations in each of the last five years. [79068]

Mr Hayes: The Department for Business, Innovation Mr Hurd: The Cabinet Office began its programme of and Skills recently conducted a public consultation on grants to charitable organisations from 2007-08. A list further education (FE) loans, as part of a wider consultation of direct grants to organisations for 2007-08, 2008-09 on FE strategy called ‘New Challenges, New Chances’. and 2009-10 (not including funds passed to arm’s length The consultation on FE loans asked for views on whether bodies to distribute as grant funding on behalf of the the introduction of loans would create any particular Cabinet Office) has been placed in the Library of the barriers to those wanting to access learning. The House. For grants in 2010-11, I refer the hon. Gentleman Department has also commissioned research on the to the answer I gave on 17 October 2011, Official potential impact of FE loans. Responses to the public Report, column 733W. consultation and the findings of the research will be Civil Servants: European Union used to inform an equality impact assessment of the FE loans policy, to be published in April 2012. Martin Horwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Student Loans Company Office how many and what proportion of civil servants in the UK work primarily on EU matters (a) in each Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Government Department and (b) at civil service grade; Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his and if he will make a statement. [78603] Department has had with the Student Loans Company on improving its customer service since May 2010. Mr Maude: Information on the numbers of civil [77615] servants in the UK working primarily on EU matters is not held centrally. In the Cabinet Office, 32 staff in the Mr Willetts: The Department is committed to supporting European and Global Issues Secretariat are employed the Student Loans Company (SLC) in its efforts to specifically on work that covers both European and deliver a more successful Student Finance England wider global affairs, 1.9% of the core Cabinet Office service and to ensure students and their families get the staff complement. This includes staff at the following service they need. grades: The Department’s officials have regular discussions 1 x Perm Sec with SLC to review its performance and efficiency, 1 x Director (SCS2) including the Student Finance England service. 3 x Deputy Director (SCS1) Students: Loans 15 x Band A (Grade 6/7) 4 x Band B2(HEO/SEO) Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, 2 x BandB1 (EO) Innovation and Skills what plans he has to tackle delays 6 x Band C (AA/AO) in processing student loan applications experienced by Death: Pancreatic Cancer some new students. [76749]

Mr Willetts: The Student Loans Company (SLC) is Mr Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office responsible for administering the student finance service how many (a) males and (b) females aged (i) between on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation 14 to 16, (ii) between 17 and 21, (iii) between 22 and 24, and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for (iv) between 25 and 30, (v) between 31 and 35, (vi) Twickenham (Vince Cable). By 14 October 2011, SLC between 36 and 40 and (vii) over 41 years died from had received 1,001,000 eligible applications for core pancreatic cancer in each health authority area in each financial support from English-domiciled students for year since 1990. [78679] the 2011/12 academic year, of which 904,000 (90%) had been prepared for payment to be made once attendance Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the on the course had been confirmed by the university or responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have college. asked the authority to reply. SLC is committed to continuously improving its Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011: performance and is implementing a number of measures As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I to improve the quality of service it delivers. This includes have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many improved training for staff, simpler web-based information, (a) males and (b) females aged (i) between 14 to 16, (ii) between 17 and 21, (iii) between 22 and 24, (iv) between 25 and 30, (v) advice and guidance, and processing improvements, between 31 and 35, (vi) between 36 and 40 and (vii) over 41 years including to ICT based systems. This year SLC introduced died from pancreatic cancer in each health authority area in each an electronic link with Her Majesty’s Revenue and year since 1990, broken down by health authority. (78679) Customs to automatically verify household income, Tables 1 and 2 provide the number of deaths where pancreatic meaning that SLC was able to process the majority of cancer was the underlying cause of death for (a) males (Table 1) new students’ applications for means-tested support and (b) females (Table 2) aged (i) 14 to 40 years and (ii) 41 years without asking customers to send in financial evidence. and over, for primary care organisations in England and local 115W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 116W health boards in Wales, for 1990 to 2010 (the latest year available). Departmental Freedom of Information Figures for young age groups have been combined due to small numbers of events, in line with the ONS policy on protecting confidentiality within birth and death statistics. Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many requests under the Freedom of Copies of Tables 1 and 2 have been placed in the House of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in Commons Library. Table 3 attached provides the number of each month since May 2010; how many responses given deaths where pancreatic cancer was the underlying cause of death for (a) males and (b) females aged (i) 14 to 16 years, (ii) 17 to 21 in each such month disclosed (a) the full information years, (iii) 22 to 24 years, (iv) 25 to 30 years, (v) 31 to -35 years, (vi) requested, (b) part of the information requested, with 36 to 40 years and (vii) 41 years and over, in England and Wales, some information withheld under exemptions in the for 1990 to 2010. Act and (c) none of the information requested; and in Table 3. Number of deaths where the underlying cause was pancreatic cancer: by respect of how many requests received in each such sex and age group, England and Wales, 1990 to 20101, 2, 3 month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses Deaths (persons) were issued within 20 working days of the date of 14 to 17 to 22 to 25 to 31 to 36 to receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 16 21 24 30 35 40 41+ 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued; [78872] Males 1990 0 003672,866(2) in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his Department under the Freedom 1991 0 0034122,823 of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially 1992 0 0043182,815 sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) 1993 2 0024132,780information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or 1994 0 0014152,718repeated requests has been given in response since January 1995 0 0035132,717 2010; [78855] 1996 0 0126122,784 1997 1 0015172,743(3) which Minister in his Department is responsible 1998 0 0028192,769for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to 1999 0 0103202,767 requests for information made under the Act; and 2000 0 0029142,941which other Minister is responsible for making such 2001 0 0019222,822determinations should the subject matter of the request 2002 0 0004202,943fall within the ministerial responsibilities of the Minister 2003 0 0028183,028with lead responsibility. [78856] 2004 0 0015143,013 2005 0 0106143,072 Mr Maude: Quarterly and annual statistics on the 2006 0 1015143,237 handling of requests for information under the Freedom 2007 1 1034163,289of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) by central Government, 2008 0 0023123,359including the Cabinet Office, are available on the Ministry 2009 0 0025123,448of Justice website at: 2010 1 0023183,422 www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/ implementation.htm Females A breakdown of the information along the lines requested 1990 0 1205143,024could be provided only at disproportionate cost. 1991 0 0025102,973 The number of responses since January 2010 where 1992 0 1123172,998the Cabinet Office gave the following reasons in response 1993 0 0037122,954to requests for information under the FOIA are (a) 1994 0 110392,977commercial sensitivity: 47; (b) information not held: 1995 1 003493,017441; (c) information too costly to provide: 277; and (d) 1996 0 0134103,009vexatious or repeated requests: four. 1997 0 1024122,956 Cabinet Office officials normally determine whether 1998 0 0006102,947 the exemptions at part II of the FOIA should apply to 1999 0 0004133,089responses to requests for information received under 2000 0 0012103,084the FOIA. The exemption at section 36 of the FOIA 2001 0 010283,137(prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) can, 2002 0 0014173,156however, only apply if in the reasonable view of a 2003 0 000583,164‘qualified person’ disclosure of the information being 2004 0 1044113,243requested would have one of the specified prejudicial 2005 0 0021113,372effects. In the case of the Cabinet Office, the ‘qualified 2006 0 000363,305person’ is a Minister of the Crown. 2007 0 010383,514 2008 0 001373,535 Departmental Public Expenditure 2009 0 0004123,653 2010 0 0033143,596Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Office whether he receives any external funding for (a) Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 157 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C25. 2 Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. his ministerial office and (b) his advisers; and what the 3 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (i) source and (ii) amount is of any such funding. [77709] 117W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 118W

Mr Maude: The Minister for the Cabinet Office does Government Group, signalled local government support not receive external funding for: (a) his ministerial for the measures the Government announced on 11 office; or (b) his advisers. February, particularly the use of a shortened, simplified and standard set of core questions to be used in pre- Departmental Security qualification. Suicide Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which post in his Department is responsible for overseeing the security clearance vetting process for Liz Kendall: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet staff of (a) his Department and (b) 10 Downing Office what the rate of suicide per 100,000 population Street; how many staff report to this post; and at what was by sex in each (a) month, (b) quarter and (c) year civil service grades. [78034] since 2007-08 to date; and what the total number of suicides was in each such period. [78572] Mr Maude: The departmental security officer (DSO), a senior civil servant in the Cabinet Office, is responsible Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the for overseeing the national security vetting process for responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have Cabinet Office staff, including those in the Prime Minister’s asked the authority to reply. Office. Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011: Three members of staff are engaged on national As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I security vetting work and report to the DSO. have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what has been the rate of suicide per 100,000 population by sex in Public Sector: Procurement each (a) month, (b) quarter and (c) year since 2007-08 to date; and what the total number of suicides was in each such period. (78572) Julian Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Tables 1 to 3 provide the age-standardised rate per million Office what steps he is taking to encourage public population and the number of suicides for males and females sector organisations outside central Government to aged 15 years and over, in each (a) month (Table 1), (b) quarter reduce the use of pre-qualification questionnaires. (Table 2) and (c) year (Table 3), in England and Wales, for 2007 to [77658] 2009 (the latest year available). Rates have been provided per million population due to small Mr Maude: At an SME Strategic Supplier summit numbers of events in each month. held on 11 February, we announced a series of measures Annual mortality statistics are usually based on deaths registered to make it easier for SMEs to compete for Government in each calendar year (January to December) for timeliness. contracts, available at: However, figures provided in this Answer are based on suicides www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/government-opens-contracts- that occurred in each period until the end of 2009, which is more small-business appropriate for seasonal analyses. This also takes account of late registrations following coroner inquests. Therefore, figures may Public sector organisations outside central Government differ from the annual suicide data already published on the ONS are responsible for their own procurement decisions, website at: but many choose to follow central Government policies www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/suicides-in-the- and practices. Baroness Eaton, while chair of the Local united-kingdom/2009/index.html

Table 1. Age-standardised suicide rate per million population and number of suicides for persons aged 15 years and over: by sex and month, England and Wales, 2007 to 20091, 2, 3, 4 2007 2008 2009 Rate per million Number Rate per million Number Rate per million Number

Males January 13 279 14 308 15 316 February 12 256 12 256 11 237 March 12 250 13 292 12 251 April 14 297 13 289 13 295 May 14 294 14 309 14 303 June 14 298 13 288 12 264 July 13 269 14 314 12 265 August 12 255 12 263 12 264 September 11 237 12 260 11 253 October 10 215 12 255 11 244 November 9 193 9 189 10 228 December 9 200 11 245 9 203

Females January 4 86 4 85 4 99 February 4 98 4 104 3 80 March 3 79 4 98 3 79 April 4 87 4 87 3 72 May 4 84 5 106 3 78 119W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 120W

Table 1. Age-standardised suicide rate per million population and number of suicides for persons aged 15 years and over: by sex and month, England and Wales, 2007 to 20091, 2, 3, 4 2007 2008 2009 Rate per million Number Rate per million Number Rate per million Number

June 4 92 4 81 4 85 July 3 63 5 103 3 78 August 3 73 4 84 3 69 September 3 74 4 81 4 95 October 3 70 4 88 4 90 November 3 64 3 65 4 87 December 3 58 3 68 3 58 1 Age-standardised mortality rates per million population, standardised to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages. 2 Suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34. 3 Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. 4 Figures are for deaths which occurred in each month. Deaths were excluded where the month of occurrence was unknown. Table 2. Age-standardised suicide rate per million population and number of suicides for persons aged 15 years and over: by sex and quarter, England and Wales, 2007 to 20091, 2, 3, 4 Rate per million Number Rate per million Number Rate per million Number

Males January-March 36 785 39 856 37 804 April-June 41 889 40 886 39 862 July-September 35 761 39 837 36 782 October-December 28 608 32 689 31 675

Females January-March 11 263 13 287 11 258 April-June 12 263 12 274 10 235 July-September 9 210 12 268 11 242 October-December 8 192 9 221 10 235 1 Age-standardised mortality rates per million population, standardised to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages. 2 Suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34. 3 Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. 4 Figures are for deaths which occurred in each quarter. Deaths were excluded where the month of occurrence was unknown.

Table 3. Age-standardised suicide rate per million population and Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the number of suicides for persons aged 15 years and over: by sex, England 1, 2, 3,4 responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have and Wales, 2007 to 2009 asked the authority to reply. Rate per million Number Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011: Males As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I 2007 141 3,045 have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking 2008 150 3,270 how many people under the age of 25 years were (a) unemployed 2009 143 3,123 and (b) claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in each month since May 2010 by (i) region and (ii) constituency. (79153) Females The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey 2007 40 928 (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. 2008 46 1,050 Estimates of unemployment for the requested age group are not 2009 41 970 available for parliamentary constituencies. 1 Age-standardised mortality rates per million population, standardised Table 1 shows the levels of young people aged 16 to 24 years to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are who were unemployed and resident in each government office used to allow comparison between populations which may contain region for the 12 month periods ending March 2010 and March different proportions of people of different ages. 2 Suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, 2011 from the APS. Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34. As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject 3 Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. to a margin of uncertainty. 4 Figures are for deaths which occurred in each calendar year. Deaths were included where the month of occurrence was unknown. Tables 2&3 show, the number of young people aged 16 to 24 claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance resident in each government office region and constituency respectively in each month since Unemployment: Young People May 2010 up to the latest period available in September 2011. As the information requested is quite extensive, a copy has been Mr Byrne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office placed in the House of Commons Library. how many people under the age of 25 years were (a) National and local area estimates for many labour market unemployed and (b) claiming jobseekers’ allowance in statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant each month since May 2010 by (i) region and (ii) count are available on the NOMIS website at: constituency. [79153] http://www.nomisweb.co.uk 121W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 122W

Table 1. The number of people aged 16-24 unemployed in each region. 12 months to March 2010 12 months to March 2011

North-east 48,112 48,606 North-west 120,865 109,742 Yorkshire and The Humber 90,992 82,756 East midlands 65,511 63,755 West midlands 89,943 86,842 East 75,969 68,001 London 114,921 109,389 South-east 108,208 98,166 South-west 66,917 59,658 Wales 49,377 49,197 Scotland 70,855 84,700 Northern Ireland 21,342 22,346 Source: Annual Population Survey

Voluntary Work: Young People Individual fundraising target or Refundable Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the NCS pilot provider name fee (£) deposit (£) Cabinet Office which National Citizen Service pilot Your Consortium n/a n/a projects operating in summer 2012 will charge 1 Small deposit, to be confirmed participants to participate; and how much each such project plans to charge each participant. [79008] Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Mr Hurd: Approximately half of the National Citizen Cabinet Office in which locations he proposes that Service pilot projects in 2012 are trialling the use of National Citizen Service pilots will operate in summer small individual fundraising targets for young people, 2012. [79010] refundable deposits or fees in order to promote young people’s commitment to the programme. All pilots have Mr Hurd: National Citizen Service pilots will take measures in place including bursaries and waivers to place in 95% of upper tier local authority areas in ensure that ability to pay is never a barrier to participation England in 2012. A full list of locations and providers in the programme. will be published shortly on the Cabinet Office website.

Individual fundraising target or Refundable Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the NCS pilot provider name fee (£) deposit (£) Cabinet Office how many (a) looked-after children and (b) care leavers participated in each National Academy of Youth 25 n/a Citizen Service pilot in summer 2011. [79011] Bolton Lads and Girls Club 30 n/a Catch22 n/a n/a Changemakers 30 — Mr Hurd: Detailed figures across all 2011 pilots are Connexions Cumbria Ltd n/a n/a not currently available but the largest NCS provider, Engage4Life Consortium n/a n/a The Challenge Network, which delivered over 3,100 Envision n/a 20 places in 2011, reports that 3% of its participants had Football League Trust 50 n/a been looked-after children, indicating that participation Future Foundations Training 50 n/a among young people from this background was significantly Ltd higher than their prevalence in the population as a Fylde Coast YMCA n/a n/a whole. National Citizen Service is open to young people Global Action Plan 50 n/a aged 15 to 16 in the summer after year 11. Groundwork UK 50 n/a Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade n/a 50 Lincolnshire and Rutland n/a n/a Education Business Partnership Luton Culture n/a n/a DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER National Youth Agency n/a n/a New College Nottingham 80 n/a Oxfordshire County Council n/a n/a Partnership Network 50 1— Lobbying Petroc n/a 1— Safe in Tees Valley Ltd n/a n/a Jon Trickett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what Salford Foundation n/a n/a recent (a) representations he has received and (b) Sefton CVS n/a n/a meetings he has had with lobbying firms about The Challenge Network 35 n/a lobbying transparency. [78678] Transitions Plus UK n/a n/a v. The National Young n/a n/a Volunteers’ Service The Deputy Prime Minister: Ihavereceivedno Young Devon Consortium 50 n/a representations, nor had any meetings with lobbying Young Lives n/a n/a firms about lobbying transparency. 123W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 124W

ATTORNEY-GENERAL (3) whether draft answers to parliamentary questions Departmental Written Questions prepared by officials in the Law Officers’ Departments are cleared by special advisers (a) before and (b) after Jon Trickett: To ask the Attorney-General (1) how the relevant Minister. [79591] many parliamentary questions for written answer on a named day by the Law Officers’ Departments were answered (a) on time, (b) five days late, (c) 10 days The Attorney-General: Since May 2010, the late, (d) 20 days late and (e) over 30 days late in each Attorney-General’s Office has answered approximately 86% of the ordinary written questions it has received month since May 2010; [79589] within a sitting week of being tabled. Of the ones that (2) how many parliamentary questions for (a) ordinary were answered later than this, none remained written answer and (b) written answer on a named day unanswered for a period of two months or longer. by the Law Officers’ Departments have remained unanswered for a period of two months since May The information requested on questions for named 2010; [79590] day answer is contained in the following table.

AGO parliamentary questions for answer on a named day Over Answered on time Five sitting days late 10 sitting days late 20 sitting days late 30 sitting days late

2010 May0 000 0 June 8 0 0 0 0 July1 000 0 August 0 0 0 0 0 September 0 1 0 0 0 October 9 0 0 0 0 November 10 2 0 1 0 December 6 0 1 0 0

2011 January 3 0 0 0 0 February 3 0 0 0 0 March4 000 0 April 2 0 0 0 0 May2 000 0 June 3 .0 1 0 0 July 9 0 ’ 0 0 0 August 0 0 0 0 0 September 2 0 0 0 0 October 4 1 0 0 0 Total 66 4 2 1 0

The Law Officers’ Departments do not employ any (2) how many meetings at 10 Downing street Lord special advisers. Young of Graffham attended between November 2010 and October 2011; and (a) what the purpose was and (b) who attended each such meeting. [78615] PRIME MINISTER The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow North Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting West (John Robertson) on 3 November 2011, Official Report, column 730W. Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister how many of his (a) officials and (b) special advisers Ministerial Policy Advisers accompanied him on his recent visit to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. [78276] Jon Trickett: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many special advisers in Pay Band Two have a salary The Prime Minister: As set out in the Ministerial (a) between £55,000 and £58,000 and (b) between Code, details of my overseas travel are published £58,000 and £58,199; and in which Department each quarterly. such adviser is based; [78670] (2) pursuant to the written ministerial statement of Lord Young of Graffham 19 July 2011, Official Report, columns 110-13WS, on special advisers, what the name is of each special Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Prime Minister (1) adviser in post on the most recent date for which whether Lord Young has an office in No. 10 Downing information is available; and what the pay band or street; and if he will make a statement; [78504] actual salary of the adviser is. [78832] 125W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 126W

The Prime Minister: An updated list of special Carers’ grant allocated to Suffolk county council since 1999 advisers, and their pay bands, is published quarterly. £ This is available on the Cabinet Office website 2003-04 1,164,000 http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special- 2004-05 1,450,000 adviser-data-releases 2005-06 2,156,000 2006-07 2,216,000 2007-08 2,264,000 HEALTH 2008-09 2,859,000 Ambulances 2009-10 3,082,000 2010-11 3,310,000 Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Note: pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2011, Official Figures rounded to nearest 1,000 Report, column 192W, on ambulances, what assessment Dental Services: Schools he has made of the involvement of the UK vehicle industry in the new emergency ambulance design. [78564] Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reintroduce national Mr Simon Burns: The design of new emergency school dental checks. [78617] ambulance vehicles has been undertaken by the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at the Royal College of Art, Mr Simon Burns: We are committed to improving in conjunction with NHS London as a research partner, the oral health of school children but have decided and with other stakeholders. The design process remains against the reintroduction of school screening checks. at prototype. In 2006, the National Screening Committee (NSC) Care Homes advised that the routine dental screening of children in primary schools was ineffective in improving children’s Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health oral health. The NSC found that children, who were what contingency plans he has put in place in the event identified as requiring treatment, were not accessing a of the future financial failure of care home providers. general dental practice where it could be provided. [78728] Departmental Legal Opinion Paul Burstow: There are existing mechanisms for overseeing social care providers. Care home operators Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for must be registered by the Care Quality Commission. Health (1) how many times his Department sought Local authorities have legal duties to provide residential legal advice from external counsel in (a) 2007, (b) accommodation for people in need of care and attention 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011; which is not otherwise available to them, as set out in [78058] Section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948. In the light of the recent experience of Southern (2) what the cost was of (a) internal and (b) external Cross, the Department has published a discussion legal advice commissioned by his Department in the paper, “Oversight of the Social Care Market”, a copy first six months of 2011; [78069] of which has been placed in the Library, to explore how (3) how many times his Department’s legal section best to ensure service continuity in social care. The provided legal advice to Ministers in (a) 2007, (b) discussion paper invites views on the issue by 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011; 2 December 2011. [78074] Carers’ Benefits: Suffolk (4) how many officials in his Department were working in its legal section in June 2011; and how many staff Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health were working in the legal departments of his Department’s (a) how much and (b) what proportion of expenditure agencies and non-departmental bodies; [78082] was spent by NHS Suffolk on the carers grant in each (5) how much his Department spent on (a) legal year since 1997. [78274] advice and (b) instructing counsel in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) the first six months of 2011; how Paul Burstow: The carers’ grant is paid to local many times (A) his Department was taken to court and authorities, not to the national health service. Since (B) a decision taken by his Department was subject to a 2010-11 the funding has been paid to councils through judicial review; and what the outcome was of each such the local government revenue support grant. (1) case and (2) review. [78090] The following table shows the carers’ grant allocated to Suffolk county council each year since the grant was Mr Simon Burns: Information on how many times set up in 1999: the Department has sought legal advice from external Carers’ grant allocated to Suffolk county council since 1999 counsel, how many times the legal advice has been £ provided to Ministers, and how many times the Department has been taken to Court or the subject of a judicial 1999-2000 251,000 review, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. 2000-01 580,000 To gather it would involve a retrieval of non-electronic 2001-02 810,000 files and then a search over a three and a half year 2002-03 984,000 period by legally qualified personnel. 127W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 128W

The Department made payments of £3,287,741 to How many staff were working in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Treasury Agency/non-departmental bodies legal departments in June 2011 Solicitors and other Government Departments for internal legal advice for the first six calendar months of 2011. Council for Healthcare Regulatory 0 Excellence This may include payments to barristers commissioned General Social Care Council 6 by DWP on behalf of the Department. Health Protection Agency 3 The Department made payments of £4,622,309 to Human Fertilisation and 2.5 external commercial legal advisers in the same period. Embryology Authority This may exclude some payments to barristers that are Human Tissue Authority 1 commissioned by DWP and included in the payments Monitor 6.6 to DWP. Medicines and Healthcare Products 6 Regulatory Agency1 Figures for departmental expenditure on legal advice 1 Denotes executive agency can be provided from July 2008 onwards as this was the Internal legal advice for the Department is obtained point when the Department’s Central Procurements through a service level agreement (SLA) which the Database became operational; to provide figures for Department has with the DWP (i.e. from legal staff earlier periods would involve a file search and thus directly employed by DWP). Within DWP, 78.83 full-time disproportionate cost. This information is presented equivalent staff provide services to the Department of here and includes expenditure with external commercial Health. advisers; (DWP) Treasury Solicitors and other Government Departments. The database is unable to provide information Departmental NDPBs separately regarding payments to counsel: 2008 July to December: £4,455,488.39 Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials were (a) directly and (b) 2009: £9,411,355.43 otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies 2010: £13,365,283.46 for which his Department is responsible (i) in 2000, (ii) 2011 January to June: £7,910,050.254. in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on the most The following table shows how many staff were working recent date for which figures are available. [78115] in the legal departments of the Department’s agencies and non-departmental bodies: Mr Simon Burns: The Department’s non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) do not employ civil servants How many staff were working in the directly. Agency/non-departmental bodies legal departments in June 2011 The following table shows how many civil servants Alcohol Education and Research 0 were otherwise employed by the Departments non- Council departmental public bodies in 2000, 2005, 2007, 2010 Appointments Commission 0 and on the most recent date for which figures are Care Quality Commission 25.8 available.

Number Civil servants “otherwise employed” On the most recent date for which figures are NDPB 2000 2005 2007 2010 available

Alcohol Education and Research Council 0 0 0 0 0 Appointments Commission n/a n/a 8 0 0 Care Quality Commission n/a n/a n/a 4 1 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence n/a n/a n/a 0 0 General Social Care Council n/a 0 1 0 0 Health Protection Agency 0 1 1 1 0 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 0 1 2 3 0 Human Tissue Authority n/a 3 2 13 21.5 Monitor n/a 1 1 0 0 1 Outgoing/incoming chief executive officer’s mid-year. 2 Secondee ceased secondment end of September 2011.

Departmental Orders and Regulations www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi Statutory instruments (including orders and regulations) made by the Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Department of Health Health how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) ministerial Number orders and (c) other pieces of secondary legislation 1999 177 were issued by his Department in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) 2000 214 each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date. [78112] 2001 402 2002 389 Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not have a 2003 189 record of statutory instruments made in 1990 or 1995. 2004 162 However, all statutory instruments are a matter of public 2005 139 record and can be viewed at: 129W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 130W

Statutory instruments (including orders and regulations) made by the Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Department of Health Health how many officials in his Department received a Number bonus in each year since 2007. [78134] 2006 135 2007 101 Mr Simon Burns: The number of civil servants receiving 2008 131 non-consolidated performance-related pay (NCPRP) in 2009 102 the financial years since 2007 is given in the following 2010 114 table. 2011 (January to October) 68 Financial year Number receiving NCPRP The Department also issues directions from the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member 2011-121 702 for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley). These can be 2010-11 1,033 viewed at: 2009-10 1,162 2008-09 1,264 www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Legislation/ 2007-08 754 Directionsfromthesecretaryofstate/index.htm 1 To 30 September 2011 Departmental Pay Departmental Research

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in his Department and the Health what his Department’s research and development bodies for which he is responsible earned more than (a) budget was in each of the last five years; and what that £65,000, (b) £95,000, (c) £140,000 and (d) £175,000 in budget will be for each year of the spending review the last year for which figures are available. [78048] period. [78776]

Mr Simon Burns: The information requested for the Mr Simon Burns: Expenditure from the Department’s Department of Health (DH) and the Medicines and central research and development revenue budgets in Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the years from 2006-07 to 2010-11 is shown in the given in the following table. Earnings include base pay, following table: allowances, non-consolidated performance pay and overtime payments. £ million

2006-07 690 Number of Number of Number of staff 2007-08 763 staff staff earning 2008-09 825 earning earning more than Number of 2009-10 885 more than more than £140,000 staff £65,000 and £95,000 and and less earning 2010-11 960 less than less than. than more than Organisation £95,000 £140,000 £175,000 £175,000 The Department’s revenue allocations for research and development for each year of the spending review DH 288 54 15 7 period are shown in the following table: MHRA 134 18 0 0 No civil servants are employed in the other bodies for £ million which the Department is responsible. 2011-12 1,004 2012-13 1,030 Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for 2013-14 1,059 Health how many officials in his Department received a 2014-15 1,089 pay rise other than by promotion in the last two years; and what the average increase was in each such year. Departmental Work Experience [78126]

Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is given Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for in the following table: Health how many unpaid and expenses-only internships (a) his Department and (b) each public body for which Number of staff he is responsible employed in the last 12 months for Financial receiving a pay Total base pay Average increase which figures are available. [78370] year increase increase (£) (£)

2010-11 2,425 3,686,616 1,396 Mr Simon Burns: Information about unpaid and 2011-12 84 60,662 25 expenses-only internships is not collected centrally. These are arranged by directorates locally. It would incur The Department entered the two-year pay freeze for disproportionate costs to collect the information requested. grades administration officer to grade 6 in 2011-12 with The Department of Health took part in the civil 2010-11 being the final year of a three year settlement. service Whitehall Internship Scheme from 25 July to Base pay for senior civil servants was frozen in both 5 August 2011, as part of the Government’s social years. mobility strategy. The scheme was developed in response The exceptions to the pay freeze are staff on full-time to a pledge in the coalition agreement to provide internships equivalent earnings of under £21,000 a year who received in every Whitehall Department for people from under- an increase of £250 in 2011-12. represented groups. The Department of Health provided 131W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 132W opportunities for three people of school leaving age to We understand that the Minister of State for Justice, work in our Whitehall office, giving them meaningful my noble Friend Lord McNally, raised the implementation work experience and an insight into the civil service. of the food supplements directive and the nutrition and The programme was a fully funded residential placement health claims regulation with the authorities in Jersey paid for by the Cabinet Office working directly in and Guernsey. There have also been regular discussions association with the Social Mobility Foundation. Expenses at official level. The Ministry of Justice has received were met centrally. information from both Crown dependencies that they Of the Department’s 19 arm’s length bodies (ALBs), are taking the necessary steps to implement these European only five have employed unpaid or expenses-only internships Union regulations at the earliest opportunity. in the last 12 months for which figures are available, as General Practitioners shown in the following table:

Number of Number of Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health unpaid expenses-only (1) what discussions he has had with the Chair-elect of ALB internships internships the NHS Commissioning Board on his participation in (a) discussions and (b) decisions with an effect on Council for Healthcare 04 GPs; [78835] Regulatory Excellence General Social Care 01(2) whether he has discussed with the Chair-elect of Council the NHS Commissioning Board (a) good governance National Institute for 60of the Board and (b) handling of conflicts of interests Health and Clinical in relation to GP contracts. [78836] Excellence NHS Blood and Transplant 0 2 Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Health, Medicines and Healthcare 60my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire Products Regulatory 1 (Mr Lansley), has not discussed these issues with Professor Agency Grant. 1 Denotes executive agency The Department will shortly publish a Framework Diamorphine Agreement with the NHS Commissioning Board Authority. This will include a requirement for executive and non- Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health executive board members to operate within the corporate with reference to the 2010 Drug Strategy, Reducing governance guidelines set out by HM Treasury and the Demand, Restricting Supply, Building Recovery and Cabinet Office. It will also indicate that all staff and the National Treatment Agency Action Plan 2011-12, board members of the authority are to comply with the what progress has been made on the commitment to Cabinet Office’s model code of conduct for staff of explore the wider prescribing of diamorphine based on non-departmental public bodies, which includes guidance the Randomised Injectable Opioid Treatment Trial on conflicts of interest. conducted by the National Addiction Centre. [78792] General Practitioners: Telephone Services Anne Milton: Funding to take forward this commitment in the drug strategy has been identified for the period Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for up until March 2015. The Department is organising a Health how many GP surgeries in (a) England, (b) the workshop to facilitate the exchange of information. west midlands and (c) Coventry continue to use telephone numbers that charge patients more than the equivalent Dietary Supplements: Channel Islands cost of calling a geographical number to contact the NHS. [79205] Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether Ministers in his Department have any plans Mr Simon Burns: The Department has made no to visit the Channel Islands to discuss the implementation assessment of the proportion of general practitioner of the EU food supplements directive and the nutrition surgeries in England that use telephone numbers that and health claims regulations; [78774] charge patients more than the equivalent cost of calling (2) whether he has had discussions with representatives a geographical number to contact the national health of the Government of (a) Jersey and (b) Guernsey on service. their proposed timetable for implementing the EU food The Department issued guidance and directions to supplements directive and the nutrition and health claims national health service bodies in December 2009 on the regulations; and if he will make a statement; [78775] cost of telephone calls, which prohibit the use of telephone (3) whether he has received any information from numbers which charge the patient more than the equivalent representatives of the Jersey and Guernsey governments cost of calling a geographical number to contact the on the implementation of the (a) food supplements national health service. It is currently the responsibility directive and (b) nutrition and health regulations in of primary care trusts to ensure that local practices are their respective states; and if he will make a statement. compliant with the directions and guidance. [79050] Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Anne Milton: As policy responsibility for the Crown Health what steps he is taking to ensure that GP surgeries dependencies lies with the Ministry of Justice, Health adhere to the amended general medical services regulations Ministers have not had discussions with the authorities on the use of telephone numbers that charge patients in Jersey and Guernsey and have no plans to visit either more than the equivalent cost of calling a geographical Crown dependency on this issue at this time. number to contact the NHS. [79206] 133W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 134W

Mr Simon Burns: It is currently the responsibility of This information can be shared with the CQC’s compliance primary care trusts to ensure that that general practitioner inspectors, which will help to focus the inspection on surgeries adhere to the amended General Medical Services specific concerns and thereby help the CQC to hold Regulations on the use of telephone numbers that charge local services to account. Local HealthWatch will also patients more than the equivalent cost of calling a be the champion for public and patients, service users geographical number to contact the national health and carers in health and social care services. HealthWatch service. England will be able to use information from local HealthWatch, and elsewhere, to form a national picture Hair Dyes: Chemicals of services. Locally and nationally, HealthWatch will have a remit to make recommendations about how Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health services could or should be improved. what information he holds on the number of injuries The Department supports the “Partnership on dignity caused by para-phenylenediamine in hair dye products in care”, which has been established by the NHS in each of the last five years. [79044] Confederation, Age UK and the Local Government Group. The Partnership aims to help drive improvements Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not in the levels of care provided to older people in hospitals held centrally. However, the Medicines and Healthcare and care homes and has an independent commission products Regulatory Agency has advised that as of 4 which is currently taking evidence. November 2011, it had received one suspected adverse drug reaction report in the United Kingdom associated : To ask the Secretary of State for with paraphenylenediamine. This report concerned a Health how many complaints were recorded relating to multi-constituent product for which the other ingredient inadequate care of elderly patients in NHS facilities in is ’Henna’. The reaction reported was ’skin reaction’. (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and (e) 2011. [78308] Health Services: Older People Mr Simon Burns: This information is not collected Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for centrally. Health what steps his Department is taking to improve care for elderly patients in the NHS. [78241] Hospitals: Accountability Paul Burstow: The Department commissioned the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to undertake the Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for dignity and nutrition inspection (DANI) programme Health what steps his Department is taking to increase and its final national report was published last month. the accountability of management staff in NHS hospitals. [78242] There are a number of steps the Department is taking to improve care for elderly patients in the national Anne Milton: “Enabling Excellence: Autonomy and health service including: Accountability for Healthcare Workers, Social Workers There are a number of National Institute for Health and and Social Care Workers”(Command Paper 8008, February Clinical Excellence quality standards commissioned by the Department 2011) recognised the strong concerns about senior managers that are either in place or are being developed for a range of who have let people down appearing to avoid significant conditions and pathways affecting older people including incontinence, nutrition support in adults, patient experience in adult NHS consequences for their actions and that a stronger assurance services, delirium, dementia, osteoarthritis and falls in a care mechanism is needed. setting. While the precise nature of this mechanism will need One of the eight high impact actions developed for nursing to be discussed further, on 6 July 2011, the Department relates to keeping people nourished and getting better, and aims commissioned the Council for Healthcare Regulatory to stop unintentional weight loss and dehydration in patients. Excellence to lead work to agree consistent standards of This action is taken locally with initiatives such as red trays to competence and behaviour for senior national health identify patients who need help with eating and drinking and better management of charts. service leaders. Since April 2010, it has been a requirement of a hospital’s This Government are also committed to developing continuing registration with the CQC that service users are protected and supporting staff to deliver effective and efficient from the risks of dehydration and inadequate nutrition. running of the NHS. The new NHS Leadership Academy, Within the NHS Operating Framework and the NHS Outcomes which was announced on 5 July 2011, is being developed Framework, there are a number of indicators to support better to equip future leaders with the skills needed to create a care for older people. These include dementia care, hospital more productive, personalised service and encourage acquired infections, emergency readmission rates, improving recovery collaboration across disciplines. from fragility fractures and helping older people to recover their independence after illness or injury. Hospitals: Food The Department is also funding national audits of falls and bone health, dementia, continence and hip fracture. Local involvement networks in each local authority Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for area are able to enter and view services to obtain the Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to views and experiences of patients, service users and ensure elderly patients in NHS facilities receive their families about their experiences of care and treatment adequate hydration and nourishment; [78243] at the time they are receiving it. Subject to the passage (2) what consideration his Department has given to of the Health and Social Care Bill, local HealthWatch the introduction of a universal red tray system in NHS organisations will continue this enter and view activity. hospitals. [78309] 135W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 136W

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for NHS pensions scheme liability table Health with reference to the report by the Care Quality £ billion Commission on the dignity and nutrition inspection 1998-99 67.20 programme of 13 October 2011, what steps his 1999-2000 72.20 Department is taking to improve nutritional care in 2000-01 75.00 acute health care settings. [79294] 2001-02 86.80 2002-03 94.61 Anne Milton: All providers of regulated activities, 2003-04 104.26 including hospitals and care homes, are required by law 2004-05 131.34 to have policies in place that protect people from the 2005-06 165.40 risks of inadequate nutrition and dehydration. The 2006-07 218.00 Care Quality Commission assesses and monitors 2007-08 212.50 compliance with this requirement as part of the process 2008-09 199.50 of inspection and regulation. 2009-10 287.60 It is for health and social care providers to develop 2010-11 257.70 local nutrition and hydration policies. There are a number of best practice resources and guidelines available to help providers do this. These include the National Institute Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guideline to what the average annual pension is of a retired member help the national health service identify patients who of the NHS Pension Scheme with 30 years of continuous are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, and the service; and what estimate he has made of the average “Essence of Care” benchmarking system which includes annual pension of such a person following the proposed “food and drink”. linkage to the consumer prices index. [78796] Providers are free to introduce the ‘red tray’ scheme, Mr Simon Burns: The Government Actuary’s wherein patients at risk of poor nutrition are identified Department estimates that in 2008, the pension of an for special attention. This initiative came from an Essence NHS Pension Scheme member with 30 years continuous of Care action plan, and has been adopted by many service will retire with an average pension of approximately hospital wards across the country. £15,000. This is based on currently contributing members While national initiatives can stimulate thinking and rather than those in receipt of benefits. The average offer guidance on best practice, local nurse leaders, pension of a retired NSH Scheme member with 30 including community team leaders, ward sisters and years continuous service is not currently available. matrons, are key to setting and maintaining excellent The proposed linkage to the Consumer Price Index standards of hydration and nutritional care in their (CPI) instead of the Retail Price Index (RPI) applies to clinical areas. the indexation of pensions in payment. This change does NHS: Aviation not affect pension benefits until a member draws their pension—at which stage the pension will be uprated in line with inflation over the year to the previous September. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS paid to each airport in the UK for The difference between RPI and CPI varies from year costs associated with medical landing flights in each of to year. In September 2010 CPI was 1.5% lower than the last three years; how many such landings took place RPI. Based on the example above, this would have at each airport; and if he will make a statement. made £225 difference per annum from April 2011 onwards. [78325] Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not Health what comparative assessment he has made of collected centrally by the Department. The hon. Member the pension that (a) a member of the NHS Pension may wish to contact individual strategic health authorities Scheme and (b) a private sector worker on a similar to confirm whether any costs have been incurred. salary could expect to receive after 30 years of continuous employment. [78797] NHS: Pensions Mr Simon Burns: The Government Actuary’s Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Department (GAD) has estimated based on 2008 data, Health what the total liability was of the NHS Pension that the average annual pension of an NHS pension Scheme in each year between 1997-98 and 2009-10. scheme member with 30 years service would be [78795] approximately £15,000. GAD estimates that a member in a private sector Mr Simon Burns: The total liability of the NHS ‘defined contribution’ pension scheme would have to Pension Scheme in each year between 1997-98 and build up a pension pot of around £450,000 at age 65 to 2009-10 was as shown in the table. match this figure. It is estimated that this would require The significant changes between some years in the pension contributions of around 30 to 40% of pay, liability levels shown are not due to significant changes depending on what investment returns might be achieved. in the size of prospective pension payments due from This assessment would not apply to private sector the NHS Pension Scheme. They have occurred due to workers with access to defined benefit pension schemes, changes in the discount rate used to convert these future where the pension entitlement upon retirement is calculated payments into a one-off sum, when calculating the based on factors such as member salary or pensionable schemes liabilities. service. 137W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 138W

NHS: Reorganisation period for which figures are available; and what the total cost was of NHS healthcare in each such area in Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health that period. [78390] in which cluster each (a) strategic health authority and (b) primary care trust has been grouped as part of his Anne Milton: The information is not available in the reorganisation of the NHS. [78147] format requested. Such information as is available is in Mr Simon Burns: The 10 strategic health authorities the following table. (SHAS) have been grouped together into four SHA A count of finished consultant episodes with a primary or secondary diagnosis of clusters; NHS North of England; NHS South of England; obesity for selected primary care trusts (PCTs) of responsibility; 2010-11 NHS Midlands and East of England and NHS London. PCT Total episodes The four SHA clusters collectively consist of 50 primary Swindon PCT 840 care trust (PCT) clusters, which consist of 151 PCTs Wiltshire PCT 1,758 across England. Notes: 1. Finished consultant episode (FCE): A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a A list that outlines the grouping of each SHA in the continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one four SHA clusters respectively, the PCT clusters that healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. fall into each SHA and the individual PCTs that fall Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different into each PCT cluster has been placed in the Library. stays in the same year. 2. Number of episodes in which the patient had a (named) primary or secondary Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health diagnosis: The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 how many NHS clusters have published transition from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary plans for public health services that will be transferred diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is to local authorities in April 2013. [78160] only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record. The ICD-code used to identify obesity is E66. 3. PCT/SHA data quality: In July 2006, the NHS reorganised strategic health Anne Milton: The four strategic health authority (SHA) authorities (SHA) and primary care trusts (PCT) in England from 28 SHAs cluster directors of public health have been charged into 10, and from 303 PCTs into 152. As a result data from 2006-07 onwards is not directly comparable with previous years. Data has been presented for those with leading public health transitions at the local level. SHA/PCTs which have valid data for the breakdown presented here. As a result Primary care trusts and local government are responsible some SHA/PCTs may be missing from the list provided. for planning the transition of public health responsibilities, 4. Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and PCTs in England and from some independent sector organisations for and are in the process of developing local plans. Local activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for transition plans are required to be submitted to SHA health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage clusters by 31 March 2012. The Department is not submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. aware of any plans being published to date. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and Obesity: Health Services social care.

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for The amount spent on healthcare services by Swindon Health what the cost to the NHS in (a) Swindon and PCT and Wiltshire PCT in 2010-11, which is the latest (b) Wiltshire was of obesity-related illness in the latest period for which figures are available, is given as follows:

£000 Organisation Primary healthcare Secondary healthcare Other healthcare Total healthcare

Swindon PCT 78,907 225,739 1,031 305,677 Wiltshire PCT 168,423 503,919 164 672,506 Notes: 1. The figures represent the total primary, secondary and other healthcare purchased and provided for the PCTs’ resident populations. Expenditure on primary dental and general ophthalmic services is also included, but these are not on the basis of resident populations, since these costs are not directly attributedtoPCTsonthe basis of a patient’s place of residence. 2. ’Other healthcare’ as defined in the audited summarisation schedules relates to grants to other bodies for health related capital projects under joint working arrangements. Source: Audited summarisation schedules of Swindon PCT and Wiltshire PCT.

Pancreatic Cancer the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pancreatic Cancer; what response he gave; and if he will make a statement. Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health [78740] (1) what recent estimate he has made of the number of lives that could be saved by the early diagnosis of Paul Burstow: “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for pancreatic cancer; and if he will make a statement; Cancer”, published on 12 January 2011, sets out our [78677] ambition to bring England’s cancer survival rates in line (2) what recent assessment he has made for benchmarking with the European average by 2014-15. Research has purposes of survival rates from pancreatic cancer in (a) shown that to match the European average we need to the UK, (b) the US, (c) Canada, (d) Australia and (e) save 5,000 additional lives per year. each other EU member state; and if he will make a This research also shows that if England’s survival statement; [78739] rates were as good as the best in Europe we would save (3) what recent (a) representations he has received 10,000 additional lives per year. This figure has also from and (b) discussions he has had with members of been broken down by tumour site and we estimate that 139W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 140W we would save 75 additional lives each year if we Paul Burstow: ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for matched the best European survival rate for pancreatic Cancer’ (January 2011) set out that the UK National cancer. Screening Committee has asked the Prostate Cancer We do not know what proportion of this figure of 75 Advisory Group (PCAG) to explore options for making lives could be saved through earlier diagnosis of pancreatic the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme cancer, but we believe achieving earlier diagnosis of (PCRMP) information more accessible to men. This is cancer is key to improving survival rates for many to ensure that men are well informed about the signs cancers. We will not be able to deliver on our ambition and symptoms of prostate cancer and empowered to to deliver improved survival rates by focusing solely on request a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test if they the more common cancers and the strategy sets out our want one. commitment to work with a number of rarer cancer-focused To raise awareness of the information among general charities to assess what more can be done to encourage practitioners (GPs), PCAG is in correspondence with appropriate referrals to secondary care for earlier diagnosis. the Royal College of General Practitioners about the The other key factor likely to influence survival rates for information on prostate cancer included in the formal pancreatic cancer is ensuring that all patients have education of GPs. PCAG is also developing key messages access to the appropriate treatment. that every GP should know about prostate cancer which Departmental officials have already met with a number will be disseminated widely once finalised, including via of these charities, including a pancreatic cancer charity, Prostate Action’s GP network. In addition, the PCRMP with the aim of identifying some of the barriers to early Scientific Reference Group are supporting further work diagnosis. Pancreatic Cancer UK has recently requested on measuring the levels of PSA testing, which is building to meet me to discuss its Campaign for Hope and in questions around GP knowledge and education about related issues. My office is currently setting that meeting the programme. We are also aware of work being developed up and I understand that the charity will also be inviting by The Prostate Cancer Charity’s Testing Choices some parliamentary colleagues. As I understand, there campaign. is no All Party Parliamentary Group for Pancreatic Rare Diseases Cancer. Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Trust: Finance Health when the chief medical officer will next report on progress made in the field of rare diseases. [78385] Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to assist Peterborough Mr Simon Burns: The chief medical officer (CMO) is and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to not expected to produce an update on progress in the eliminate its financial deficit in the current financial field of rare diseases. Action is being taken forward at year; and if he will make a statement. [79047] official level, in conjunction with the devolved Administrations, to produce a United Kingdom plan Mr Simon Burns: This is a matter for the national on rare disease in response to EC Recommendation health service locally. However, we are advised that 2009/C 151/029. The UK plan on rare disease will NHS Peterborough is working closely with Peterborough include a number of measures that should help to and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to help address the issues highlighted in the CMO’s annual support it to address its financial issues while providing report 2009. quality, safe services for all the people of Peterborough. Skin Cancer The hon. Member may wish to contact the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust directly. Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Prescription Drugs Health what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of malignant melanoma. [79036] Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in introducing the Anne Milton: In 2011-12, the Department has been innovation pass in the NHS. [78786] funding SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention campaign, to provide information and advice to the Mr Simon Burns: The Innovation Pass was an initiative public. This involves a number of activities focusing on announced in the previous Government’s Office for sun safety and appropriate sunbed use. Life Sciences (OLS) blueprint with funding of up to £25 The Department has also published implementation million for 2010-11. The Innovation Pass was suspended guidance for local authorities on the Sunbeds (Regulation) in July 2010 and we have no plans to reinstate the Pass Act 2010 and information for Sunbed Businesses. The at this time. The Cancer Drugs Fund, which is providing purpose of the Act is to prevent those under 18 years £200 million funding per year over the period 2011-12 from being allowed to use sunbeds in commercial premises. to 2013-14, demonstrates our commitment to improving patient access to innovative medicines. Skin Cancer: Cornwall

Prostate Cancer: Health Services Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence rate for malignant melanoma Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health was in Cornwall in each year since 2005. [79035] what steps he is taking to increase GPs’ awareness of the information contained in the NHS Prostate Cancer Paul Burstow: The information requested is not held Risk Management Programme. [78205] centrally by the Department. 141W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 142W

Skin Cancer: Drugs Paul Burstow: The information requested has been placed in the Library. Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the National Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence about its what meetings he has had with new operators of draft guidance on Ipilimumab (Yervoy) for the treatment former Southern Cross care homes; and whether the of previously treated unresectable stage III or IV malignant meetings included a discussion on the operator’s melanoma; and what representations he has received financial stability. [78729] from patient groups on the draft guidance. [79037] Paul Burstow: It is for the Care Quality Commission Mr Simon Burns: We have had no such discussions (CQC) to register providers of adult social care services, with the National Institute for Health and Clinical including care homes. The registration process for care Excellence (NICE). providers with the CQC requires that they declare their From 14 October to 3 November 2011, we have organisation takes all reasonable steps to remain financially received 28 representations from hon. Members (including viable. Where the CQC has concerns regarding a the hon. Member’s question) and members of the public declaration, it will ask further questions to determine regarding NICE’s draft guidance, including a joint whether the provider is compliant with Regulation 13 of representation from two patient groups. the CQC (Registration) Regulations 2009, which requires providers to ensure the ″financial viability″ of their enterprise, before deciding whether to register them. Southern Cross Healthcare The Department’s Ministers have not met with new operators of former Southern Cross care homes to Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health discuss this matter. Departmental officials will meet what assessment he has made of the financial stability with providers to do so as the need arises. of operators running former Southern Cross care homes. [78833] Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library all correspondence Paul Burstow: It is for the Care Quality Commission that has taken place between the Minister of State for (CQC) to register providers of adult social care services, Social Care and Southern Cross Healthcare Group including care homes. since May 2010. [78798] The registration process for care providers with the CQC requires that they declare their organisation takes Paul Burstow: The chief executive officer (CEO), all reasonable steps to remain financially viable. Where Jamie Buchan, of Southern Cross Healthcare first wrote the CQC has concerns regarding a declaration, it will to me on 3 August to introduce himself and to request a ask further questions to determine whether the provider meeting to discuss the United Kingdom care sector as a is compliant with Regulation 13 of the CQC (Registration) whole and Southern Cross’s role within it. This letter Regulations 2009, which requires providers to ensure did not warn that Southern Cross faced immediate the “financial viability”of their enterprise, before deciding financial difficulties; rather, the letter explained the whether to register them. pressure that a difficult settlement from the forthcoming Once registered, there is a statutory obligation, under comprehensive spending review (CSR) would place on Regulation 15 of the CQC (Registration) Regulations Southern Cross’s business model, and it explained the 2009, that providers notify the CQC of changes which improvements that the company’s board planned to will affect their registration. This includes the appointment make to its services. The same letter was received separately by a provider of a receiver, liquidator or provisional from the CEO’s personal assistant on 30 July, and a liquidator. departmental official responded, declining the request The Government are, however, keen to learn lessons for a meeting, on 19 August. from Southern Cross; and are currently looking at The CEO wrote again to me on 24 September 2010, whether further oversight of the social care market is referring to the possible implications of the CSR settlement required in the future. To inform this work, the Department for the care home sector in general. The letter did not recently published a discussion paper outlining some raise concerns over the future viability of the company’s key questions on this issue. This can be found on the business model. I responded to this letter on 14 October. Caring for our Future website at: The Government recognises the pressures on the http://caringforourfuture.dh.gov.uk/ social care system in this challenging financial climate. That is why on 20 October 2010 the spending review Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health announced the allocation of an additional £7.2 billion how many former Southern Cross care homes have not to support the delivery of social care in the four years to yet been transferred to new operators. [78834] 2014-15, in addition to ensuring that existing Department of Health grants for social care rise in line with inflation Paul Burstow: Of the 591 homes originally operated to £1.4 billion by 2014-15. by Southern Cross, 20 care homes in England remain to The CEO wrote to David Behan, Director General transfer to new operators. We expect these to be transferred for Social Care at the Department of Health, on 14 October. on 14 November 2011. This letter was the first occasion on which Jamie Buchan alerted the Department to the possibility of the imminent Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health financial difficulties. David Behan met with Jamie Buchan who the new operator is of each former Southern Cross on 8 November and since that point, negotiations have care home. [78727] continued between Southern Cross and senior departmental 143W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 144W officials. Ministers have liaised closely with officials in The Government have made clear that the UK supports order to be kept fully informed of the situation and they EU requirements for extractives companies to ensure have provided clear steers at every stage of negotiations. that they disclose the payments they make to Governments, On 15 March 2011, the CEO wrote to update Ministers matching the standards recently set by the Dodd Frank on the company’s position, further to the announcement Act in the US. to the stock exchange of 14 March and to set out the Afghanistan: Females company’s commitment to improve the quality of services. This letter was also sent to the Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire Katy Clark: Toask the Secretary of State for International (Mr Lansley), who replied on behalf of the Department Development whether his Department provides financial on 23 March 2011. support to any women’s organisations in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [78548] Copies of the above correspondence have been placed in the Library. Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government place Tuberculosis women at the heart of our development agenda. The Department for International Development (DFID) Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for takes careful account of the impact on women and girls Health what consideration he has given to implementing in the design and implementation of all its projects and the consolidated action plan to prevent and combat programmes multi-drug-resistant and extremely drug-resistant DFID’s global Civil Society Challenge Fund is tuberculosis in the World Health Organisation European supporting Womankind and the International Planned Region; and what representations his Department has Parenthood Foundation to address the human rights made to the European Commission to ensure sufficient and practical needs of women and girls in Afghanistan financial resources are available to facilitate the Action and elsewhere. DFID is also supporting Zardozi’, a Plan’s implementation. [78843] local Afghan partner, which helps women tailors and cloth merchants sell their products to markets, working Anne Milton: The United Kingdom contributed to through female agents. This programme has worked the development of the action plan to prevent and with more than 2,000 Afghan women to date and its combat multi-drug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug- reach is to be extended. resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB) in the World Health During my recent visit to Afghanistan I launched a Organisation European Region, including the formulation major new civil society programme that will provide of a monitoring framework. grants to Afghan organisations to help them hold their The Health Protection Agency, through its National government to account. The programme will have a Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory, is leading the strong focus on women’s rights and it is hoped that European network of national reference laboratories many women’s organisations will directly benefit from assuring the quality of diagnosis for drug-resistant TB this programme. and supporting national expertise for the public health and clinical management of MDR and XDR TB. It is Burma: Children also with partners within the European Union developing a clinical/diagnostic trial network. Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for There are already measures in place in this country to International Development what funding his Department tackle MDR and XDR TB, which are relatively uncommon. provides for humanitarian and psychological support These measures are in line with the action plan. for former child soldiers from Burma. [78825] We have not made any representations to the European Commission about resourcing of implementation of Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK provides significant the action plan’s recommendations. core funding to UNICEF who deliver programmes of rehabilitation, reintegration, family-tracing and other support to former child soldiers in Burma. Further details of DFID’s work in Burma can be found in the INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT DFID Burma Operational Plan, available on the DFID Accountancy: EU Law website at: www.dfid.gov.uk Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what bilateral meetings his Burma: Overseas Aid Department had with development agencies of other EU member states in relation to proposed changes to Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the European accountancy directives and transparency International Development how his Department evaluates directive. [78814] the ability of recipient organisations in Burma to meet project objectives and to account properly for aid funds. Mr Duncan: The Department for International [78322] Development, Treasury and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are considering the European Mr Andrew Mitchell: In Burma as in all other countries, Commission’s detailed proposals for changes to the DFID officials rigorously review the evidence provided transparency directive and accounting directive to introduce by organisations when they bid for funds. Proposals are mandatory reporting requirements for companies in the assessed against criteria such as: extractive industries and will be discussing them with the credibility of the link between the planned activities and relevant partners and other stakeholders in due course. the results to be achieved; 145W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 146W

the strength of results monitoring plans; example of this new approach is the publication of experience the organisation has of delivering similar projects CDC’s high-level Business Plan at the end of May this successfully; and year. the cost-effectiveness of the proposed work. During implementation DFID projects are routinely Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for scrutinised to assess whether objectives are on track. International Development what steps have been taken They are also evaluated after implementation to assess to improve the transparency of CDC. [78829] whether objectives have been met, and to ensure lesson learning. All DFID projects need to be accessible to Mr Andrew Mitchell: CDC has reviewed its transparency credible audit teams to certify that aid funds are being and disclosure policy and now publishes significantly properly accounted for. more operational and corporate information than in the past. Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for The new disclosure policy, information about the International Development for what reason his Department fund managers CDC works with, the funds CDC invests did not approve a grant application from the Kachin in and the businesses receiving CDC investment, together Women’s Association, Thailand, for funding for support with country and sector information is available on for people internally displaced by conflict in Kachin CDC’s website: state, Burma. [78826] www.cdcgroup.com along with corporate information about CDC. Mr Andrew Mitchell: Department for International Development officials reviewed the grant application Departmental Freedom of Information from the Kachin Women’sAssociation—Thailand (KWAT) alongside other organisations offering programmes to Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for support people internally displaced by conflict in Kachin International Development how many requests under state, Burma. After careful consideration officials decided the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department that significant work would have been needed to strengthen has received in each month since May 2010; how many the design of KWAT’s proposal for us to be able to fund responses given in each such month disclosed (a) the it. Officials therefore decided the most effective way to full information requested, (b) part of the information reach the largest number of IDPs quickly would be to requested, with some information withheld under increase our existing support to those organisations exemptions in the Act and (c) none of the information that had ongoing programmes which could be scaled-up, requested; and in respect of how many requests rather than designing and approving new programmes received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) as would have been necessary in order to support KWAT. holding responses were issued within 20 working days CDC of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued. Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for [78885] International Development when CDC plans to start publishing information on the projects it supports. Mr Andrew Mitchell: The number of requests under [78827] the Freedom of Information Act received by DFID on a monthly basis from May 2010 to June 2011 can be Mr Andrew Mitchell: CDC is already publishing full found in the following table (statistics for the third lists of the fund managers it works with, the funds it quarter of 2011 are not yet available). Information on invests in and the businesses in which its capital is at the individual outcomes of these requests on a monthly work. basis could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. CDC also publishes each year its annual report and Full statistics reporting the information sought on a accounts and a separate annual review which examines quarterly and annual basis are reported by DFID to the the development impact of CDC’s work. Ministry of Justice and are published by that Department. All of these documents are available to the public on There is no provision under the Freedom of Information CDC’s website: Act 2000 for holding responses. www.cdcgroup.com Number of requests received

CDC: Disclosure of Information 2010 May 38 Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for June 35 International Development what assessment he has July 39 made of the contribution of the publication of forward August 37 strategies to the transparency of CDC. [78828] September 42 October 29 Mr Andrew Mitchell: CDC has taken on board the November 37 criticisms made about its lack of transparency. Its new December 19 Disclosure Policy puts CDC among the leaders in the Development Finance Institution sector for publication 2011 of and accessibility to substantially more amounts of January 38 information about where the money goes, who actually February 32 manages it and what results are achieved. A notable 147W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 148W

Mr Duncan: The Department for International Number of requests received Development (DFID) has not received any applications March 41 from DFID employees to run services that this Department April 32 is responsible for. May 37 June 45 Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 1 Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for November 2011, Official Report, column 580W, on International Development in respect of how many departmental meetings, when the list will be updated to responses to requests for information received by his cover the period since March 2010. [79009] Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, Mr Andrew Mitchell: Details of all Ministers external (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to meetings are available on the DFID website: provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Our-organisation1/ given in response since January 2010. [78886] Ministers/ and have been published up to and including March Mr Andrew Mitchell: The information sought is published 2011. Details of external meetings from April 2011 will by the Ministry of Justice on an annual basis. The total be published shortly. All Departments publish the returns figures published in respect of requests made to DFID at the same time. from January 2010 until June 2011 are as follows (figures are not yet available for the third quarter of 2011): (a) Commercially sensitive—34 Departmental Security (b) Information not held—35 (c) Cost limit—93 Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for (d) Vexatious requests—9 International Development what level of security vetting is required for (a) special advisers and (b) ministerial- Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for appointed policy advisers in his Department; and if he International Development which Minister in his will list each person who has held these posts since May Department is responsible for determining whether 2010. [77892] exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible Mr Duncan: The booklet HMG Personnel Security for making such determinations should the subject matter Controls describes the circumstances in which a post of the request fall within the Ministerial responsibilities may require the holder to be the subject of national of the Minister with lead responsibility. [78887] security vetting checks. It is available from the Cabinet Office website at: Mr Andrew Mitchell: Departmental officials determine www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information as is the quarterly publication of the list of special Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for advisers which is also available in the Library of the information under the Act. House. The exemption under section 36 (prejudice to the There are no other ministerial-appointed policy advisers effective conduct of public affairs) can only apply if it is in the Department for International Development (DFID). the reasonable opinion of a qualified person that the exemption applies. In relation to information held by Government, the qualified person must be a Minister. Developing Countries: Waste Disposal In DFID I am the qualified person.

Departmental Public Expenditure Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what agreements are in place between the UK and other governments to co-operate Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for to end the export of electronic waste to developing International Development whether he receives any external countries. [76121] funding for (a) his ministerial office and (b) his advisers; and what the (i) source and (ii) amount is of any such Mr Duncan: Under the waste electrical and electronic funding. [78015] equipment (WEEE) directive, the UK is working with Mr Andrew Mitchell: No, I do not receive any external EU member states to prevent the illegal export of funding for my ministerial office or my advisers. electronic waste to developing countries. Under the WEEE directive, it is illegal to export hazardous e-waste from the UK for disposal in developing countries. The Departmental Responsibilities UK has a national intelligence team and a national environmental crime team. As part of their remit, these Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for teams are required to prevent the illegal export of International Development how many applications from e-waste. They use an intelligence-led approach to target employees to run services for which his Department is the most prolific, serious and organised illegal waste directly responsible he has received since May 2010; and exporters. This has led to a 98% success rate of finding if he will make a statement. [77603] electrical waste when stopping targeted shipping containers. 149W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 150W

East Africa: Droughts In Uganda, we shall be increasing opportunities in northern Uganda for 13,000 children with disabilities Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of and through vocational training for 160,000 young people. State for International Development what estimate he Two programmes through the Girls’ Education Movement has made of the funding required to alleviate the aim to enable girls who drop out of primary school to famine in the Horn of Africa. [78501] resume their studies and provide 1,000 bursaries for girls to attend secondary school. Mr Andrew Mitchell: The current declaration of famine Famine: International Co-operation by the United Nations is limited to specific areas of Southern Somalia. The 2011 United Nations (UN) Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Consolidated Appeal for Somalia outlines humanitarian Development what his policy is on the adoption by the funding requirements of US$983 million and is nearly UN of the Charter to End Extreme Hunger. [78248] 80% funded. Other organisations who issue their own appeals (notably the Red Cross movement) have raised Mr Andrew Mitchell: I am fully supportive of the most of what they have asked for. Instability and lack of Charter to End Extreme Hunger’s aim to reduce the humanitarian access are now more significant constrains likelihood of crises such as that currently taking hold in to humanitarian delivery in Somalia than a lack of the horn of Africa taking place in the future. In at-risk funding. areas such as this, the Government have committed in Other countries in the Horn of Africa which are their Humanitarian Policy to support strengthened warning affected by drought, but not famine, include Kenya, systems and contingency plans and to build resilience to with a UN humanitarian appeal (including for refugee disasters. Already, in Ethiopia we are helping 7.8 million support) of $741 million (68% funded); Ethiopia, with people to break their need for emergency food programmes a UN appeal for the drought of $398 million (73% by providing support before food insecurity reaches funded) and for refugees of $246 million (51% funded); famine levels. and Djibouti with a UN appeal of $33 million (53% I have recently written to the non-governmental funded). organisations behind the charter to assure them of my Regularly updated information on the funding situation support for their aims and express appreciation for their for the Horn of Africa (and other emergencies) can be vital work. I know that Valerie Amos, the UN’s emergency seen on the UN’s Financial Tracking Service website: relief co-ordinator, has been similarly positive about the http://fts.unocha.org/ charter. Horn of Africa: Famine East Africa: Education Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to International Development what steps his Department encourage other (a) nations and (b) international is taking to help improve educational opportunities in organisations to assist in meeting any funding shortfall East Africa. [78478] in famine relief for East Africa. [78816]

Mr Duncan: Our support for education in east Africa Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK has been at the forefront is designed to improve access with a particular focus on of the world’s response to the crisis in the Horn of improving opportunities for girls to complete primary Africa. While UK lobbying has helped to attract significant school and go on to secondary education. financial support to humanitarian appeals, there remains In Kenya, we plan to increase support for state schools a shortfall of approximately US$609 million. in the arid north eastern parts of the country where Over the summer I have spoken with a number of my enrolment is low, and to support the development of international counterparts about the crisis in the Horn; low cost private schools in more densely populated a central message I have pushed is the need for generous urban communities. We shall be increasing opportunities and sustained support to relief and recovery efforts. for girls to complete primary and go on to secondary Specifically I have held discussions with the United school in a number of different ways, such as improving Nation’s Emergency Relief Coordinator, Baroness Amos, the school environment and providing better incentives and with Josette Sheeran of the World Food Programme. for girls to stay on in school through scholarships and In addition I have also spoken with Dr Rajiv Shah from cash transfers for their families. By 2014-15 we shall be the United States Agency for International Development; supporting at least 300,000 students at primary level (of Ben Knapen, the Netherlands’ Development Minster; whom 160,000 will be girls) and at least 600 secondary Dirk Niebel, Germany’s Minister for Economic school students, two thirds of whom will be girls. Cooperation and Development; Gunilla Carlsson, Minister In Tanzania, we shall have a similar emphasis on for International Development Cooperation of Sweden; increasing girls’ enrolment at primary level and transition Henri de Raincourt, France’s Development Minister; to secondary education through enhancing the quality and Franco Frattini, Italy’s Foreign Minister. of education, improving water and sanitation in schools During July I pressed development ministers and and ensuring better literacy and numeracy. We shall be officials including Denmark’s State Secretary for supporting a pilot programme to improve girls’ safety development policy, Ib Petersen; European Commissioner and tackle gender-based violence in school. By 2014-15 for Development, Andris Piebalgs; Deputy Director we plan to support at least 300,000 students at primary General and Minister of Foreign Affairs for France, level and 85,000 students at secondary level (of whom George Serre; Minister of the Environment and 50% will be girls). International Development of Norway, Erik Solheim; 151W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 152W

Japanese President, Sadako Ogata; President of Institute International Assistance for Liberty and Democracy, Hernando de Soto; Deputy Administrator of USAID, Donald Steinberg; Secretary Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for General of UNCTAD, Supachai Panitchpakdi; Chair International Development what assessment he has of Development Assistance Committee France, Brian made of progress towards achieving the millennium Atwood; Director-General of Ausaid Australia, Peter development goals (a) to eradicate extreme poverty Baxter; President of CIDA Canada, Margaret Briggs; and hunger by 2015, (b) to achieve universal primary Director General of International Cooperation, the education by 2015, (c) to promote gender equality and Netherlands, YokaBrandt; Vice Minister for Development empower women and (d) to reduce child mortality. Policy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International [79006] Cooperation Korea, Tae-Yul Cho; Director General Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Mr Andrew Mitchell: DFID’s Annual Report includes Switzerland, Martin Dahinden; Associate Administrator information on global progress towards the millennium UNDP, Rebeca Grynspan; Secretary General OECD, development goals, as well as progress in DFID’s priority Angel Gurria; State Secretary for International countries. Information on global progress can be found Development Cooperation Sweden, Anna Helquist; Political within chapter 2, with progress in DFID’s priority Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norway, Hege countries included within chapter 3. Hertzberg; Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Eco-Cooperation Development Germany, Gudrun A link to DFID’s Annual Report for 2010-11 is Kopp; Executive Director UNICEF, Anthony Lake; included as follows: Managing Director of Public Policy, Bill Gates Foundation, http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/How-we-measure-progress/ Geoff Lamb; Managing Director of World Bank, Annual-report/ Mahmoud Mohieldin; Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, and Foreign Minister, George Saitoti; Somali Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Government; senior officials from the United Nations International Development what recent assessment he (UN) including Baroness Amos of the Office for the has made of the UK’s contribution to achieving the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; Josette Sheeran Millennium Development Goals. [79007] of the World Food Programme; Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees; and Tony Lake Mr Andrew Mitchell: DFID’s Annual Report includes of the UN Children’s Fund. information on global progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, as well as progress in DFID’s The Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the priority countries. Information on global progress can Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth be found within Chapter 2, with progress in DFID’s Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr priority countries included within chapter 3. Hague), and the Under-Secretary of State for International A link to DFID’s Annual Report for 2010-11 is Development, the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr included as follows: O’Brien), have also discussed the crisis affecting the Horn of Africa with a number of their counterparts. http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/How-we-measure-progress/ Annual-report/

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Overseas Aid International Development what his policy is on helping to meet any funding shortfalls experienced by non- Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for governmental organisations operating in East Africa. International Development what recent representations [78817] he has received on steps to increase public awareness and understanding of UK aid spending. [78808]

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK is currently the second Mr Duncan: Between January and June 2011 the largest bilateral humanitarian donor to the Horn of Department for International Development conducted Africa drought crisis, behind the United States, having a comprehensive external review into the use of aid committed £128.44 million since 1 July. Much of this funds in the UK to promote awareness of global poverty. funding has been provided to NGOs such as Save the This review, completed by the Central Office for Children UK, Oxfam GB, Concern, Care International Information, consulted a wide array of stakeholders. UK and Action Against Hunger UK. The report, with a list of the stakeholders consulted, is The UK is committed to encouraging other countries available at: to support relief operations and lobbying others remains http://www.dfid.gov.uk/development-awareness-review a key component of the UK’s response. On this issue, over the summer, I have spoken many times to development Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for ministers from other countries such as the United Sates International Development what assessment he has of America, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Sweden, made of the joint statement made by UK development Italy, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Australia and Japan; non-governmental organisations in advance of the as have the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness entitled the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Aid effectiveness in contexts of poor governance, Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) conflict and fragility. [79286] (Mr Hague). The UK will maintain the pressure on other donors to support life-saving humanitarian activities Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK broadly agrees with the and resilience building activities carried out by NGOs priorities in the joint statement made by UK development and others in the Horn of Africa. non-governmental organisations in advance of the Fourth 153W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 154W

High Level Forum (HLF4). The Government’s priorities The UK will enable at least 10 million more women for HLF4 are improving aid effectiveness in fragile and to use modern methods of family planning by 2015, so conflict affected states improving results and the that women can decide for themselves whether, when transparency of development assistance. and how many children to have. Britain will also directly The UK plans to support, with others, a new deal for contribute to preventing more than five million unintended fragile and conflict affected states at HLF4. The New pregnancies. Progress against these commitments will Deal, which has been led by fragile states themselves, be made publically available through DFID’s annual working in partnership with donors, and a large group report. of civil society organisations including many UK NGOs, DFID’s annual report includes information on global comprises a set of new goals and commitments to progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, deliver legitimate, inclusive politics and build better as well as progress in DFID’s priority countries. Information security, justice and economic foundations. on global progress can be found within chapter 2, with progress in DFID’s priority countries included within chapter 3. Overseas Aid: Developing Countries DFID’s annual report for 2010-11 can be found at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/How-we-measure-progress/ Annual-report/ Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) funding and (b) programmes for Somalia: Cholera climate change adaptation and mitigation prioritise the needs of (i) children and (ii) other vulnerable people in Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for developing countries. [78820] International Development what steps his Department is taking to help restrict the spread of cholera in Somalia. [78824] Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government have launched the International Climate Fund (ICF) to help reduce poverty and tackle climate change in developing Mr Andrew Mitchell: In south-central Somalia, DFID countries. Our adaptation funding will be focused on is supporting the efforts of the United Nations Childrens the poorest countries in the sectors that are most important Fund, OXFAM and Action Against Hunger to provide to poor people’s livelihoods and vulnerable to climate clean water to 500,000 people and construct over 2,000 change. For example, the ICF will reduce the vulnerability latrines. DFID and other donors are also supporting of poor people to climate-related shocks by funding partner programmes to upgrade water and sanitation better early warning systems, building cyclone shelters, facilities in health centres, promote good hygiene and and setting up insurance schemes to protect farmers sanitation practice to prevent diarrhoea and cholera, and families from losses. and do clean up campaigns in high risk areas. With donor support, UNICEF has also engaged world experts The UK Government are also developing programmes from the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease to support clean energy solutions for poor people who Research Bangladesh to train staff and treat cholera are not currently connected to the national electricity cases in 17 hospitals. grid, reducing their vulnerability to external fuel prices and the need to collect traditional sources of fuel. This In Somaliland, diarrhoeal disease prevention kits, provides more time for economic activities and has a funded by DFID, are provided through social franchising significant impact on maternal and child health. We are networks in 79 private pharmacies. Over 1.2 million continually analysing and tracking the impact and water tablets have been purchased and messages on application of climate financing to ensure that the prevention have been given to over 4,000 women over voices of poor and vulnerable people, and their the last year. representatives are heard, and taken into account, in the selection and design of programmes. Somalia: Overseas Aid

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Population International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that aid is reaching those most in need in (a) Somalia and (b) regions of Southern Somalia under Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for the effective control of al-Shabaab. [78818] International Development what assessment he has made of the likelihood of the Government meeting its Mr Andrew Mitchell: Since July, the UK Government commitment to achieving the (a) trends in global have allocated £57 million to support humanitarian aid population and (b) Millennium Development Goals by in Somalia, the vast majority of it in Southern Somalia 2015. [78819] where people are most in need. To date UK aid has provided 247,000 people with food assistance, treated Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Government have made no some 7,500 severely malnourished children, vaccinated commitment to meeting the global trends in population. 500,000 children against measles and supplied 400,000 We are however committed to giving women control doses of drugs to treat malaria. I have also pressed over their lives and their bodies. We know that when other countries to pay their share. The 2011 UN women are given the choice they choose to have smaller Consolidated Appeal for Somalia is nearly 80% funded—the families; they choose to have more for their children not best funded appeal globally, Nonetheless, huge needs more children. remain unmet. 155W Written Answers7 NOVEMBER 2011 Written Answers 156W

The Department for International Development (DFID) Turkey: Earthquakes humanitarian support is guided by core humanitarian principles, including impartiality.Aid is therefore prioritised Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for International to reach those in greatest need. In Somalia most of the Development what support his Department is providing people suffering from famine are in areas under the to Turkish authorities following the recent earthquake; control of Al Shabaab. DFID works with trusted and and whether his Department is providing (a) food, (b) experienced United Nations, Red Cross and international medicines, (c) blankets and tents and (d) heaters; and non-governmental humanitarian organisations who have if he will make a statement. [78235] managed to maintain some access to vulnerable people in Al Shabaab-held areas. DFID partners put in place Mr Duncan: In response to a specific request from the robust systems to minimise the risks, and ensure aid Turkish Government, the UK Government have provided reaches those most in need. 1,144 protective winter tents to house 5,500 people who We are discussing with other actors, including the are without shelter. The Turkish Government have not Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, whether they can requested food, medicines, blankets, heaters or additional encourage Al Shabaab to ease access constraints for all relief commodities. The UK Government will continue humanitarian actors. to monitor the situation in the affected region. ORAL ANSWERS

Monday 7 November 2011

Col. No. Col. No. HOME DEPARTMENT ...... 1 HOME DEPARTMENT—continued Alcohol-related Antisocial Behaviour ...... 10 Police Authority Funding...... 17 Antisocial Behaviour...... 10 Police Forces (Collaboration)...... 6 Family Migration Route...... 8 Police Funding Settlement ...... 15 Foreign Students ...... 1 Police Officer Numbers ...... 16 Gangs ...... 3 Public Disorder (Tottenham) ...... 14 Gangs (London) ...... 14 Topical Questions ...... 17 Illegal Immigration (Olympics) ...... 11 UK Border Agency ...... 13 Knife Crime ...... 5 WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS

Monday 7 November 2011

Col. No. Col. No. BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 1WS HOME DEPARTMENT—continued Bankruptcy and Company Winding Up...... 1WS Strengthening Women’s Voices in Government...... 6WS

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.. 9WS TRANSPORT ...... 7WS Infrastructure...... 9WS Renewable Energy Directive...... 7WS

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL TREASURY ...... 1WS AFFAIRS...... 3WS ECOFIN...... 1WS Agriculture and Fisheries Council...... 3WS WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 10WS HOME DEPARTMENT...... 6WS Pension Protection System (Administration Immigration Rules ...... 6WS Levies) ...... 10WS WRITTEN ANSWERS

Monday 7 November 2011

Col. No. Col. No. ATTORNEY-GENERAL ...... 123W BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS—continued Departmental Written Questions...... 123W Shareholders ...... 112W Student Loans Company ...... 113W BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS ...... 101W Students: Fees and Charges...... 113W Adam Werritty...... 101W Students: Loans ...... 113W Basic Skills...... 101W Business: Employment Tribunals ...... 102W CABINET OFFICE...... 114W Business: Entry Clearances ...... 102W Charities ...... 114W Business: Surveys ...... 102W Civil Servants: European Union...... 114W Common and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 ...... 103W Death: Pancreatic Cancer...... 114W Construction...... 103W Departmental Freedom of Information ...... 116W Counterfeit Manufacturing: Trade Agreements ..... 103W Departmental Public Expenditure...... 116W Departmental Advertising...... 104W Departmental Security ...... 117W Departmental Data Protection...... 104W Public Sector: Procurement...... 117W Departmental Lost Property ...... 104W Suicide ...... 118W Departmental Pay ...... 104W Unemployment: Young People...... 119W Departmental Press: Subscriptions ...... 105W Voluntary Work: Young People...... 121W Departmental Procurement...... 105W Departmental Publications ...... 107W COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT . 17W Departmental Written Questions ...... 107W Betting Shops: Licensing ...... 17W Franchises...... 107W Charities ...... 18W Further Education ...... 108W Community Relations ...... 18W Higher Education...... 108W Council Tax: Swindon...... 18W Higher Education: Admissions ...... 109W Departmental Freedom of Information ...... 19W Higher Education Funding Council...... 109W Departmental Responsibilities ...... 19W Insolvency...... 110W Departmental Security ...... 20W Insolvency Service: Regulation...... 110W Empty Property ...... 21W Nanotechnology ...... 111W Enterprise Zones...... 21W Non-governmental Organisations ...... 111W Housing: Construction...... 22W Regional Growth Fund ...... 111W Local Enterprise Partnerships: Worcestershire...... 22W Regional Growth Fund: Job Creation ...... 112W Local Government: Internet...... 22W Col. No. Col. No. COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT— EDUCATION—continued continued Social Enterprises...... 48W Local Government Ombudsman (Amendment) Teachers...... 48W Bill ...... 22W Teachers: Pensions ...... 48W Local Government: Pensions ...... 23W Manufacturing Industries: Non-Domestic Rates.... 23W ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE...... 1W Non-Domestic Rates...... 23W Biofuels: Electricity...... 1W Planning Permission: Milton Keynes ...... 23W Biofuels: Timber ...... 1W Planning: Skipton ...... 24W Departmental Responsibilities ...... 1W Race Relations ...... 24W Energy: Prices ...... 2W Social Enterprises...... 24W Natural Gas: Exploration ...... 2W Travellers: Caravan Sites ...... 25W Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs...... 2W Urban Areas: Finance...... 25W Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs...... 3W

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT ...... 84W ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL Adam Werritty...... 84W AFFAIRS...... 4W American Football...... 84W Animals: Disease Control ...... 4W Arts...... 84W Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control...... 4W Arts Council England ...... 85W Departmental Lost Property ...... 6W Departmental Freedom of Information ...... 85W Departmental Telephone Services ...... 7W Departmental Work Experience...... 86W Legal Opinion...... 9W Freeview Services ...... 86W Lighting ...... 10W Mobile Phones ...... 86W Veterinary Laboratory Service: Newcastle upon Museums and Galleries...... 86W Tyne...... 10W National Lottery: Tickets...... 87W National Planning Policy Framework ...... 88W FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE..... 68W Radio Frequencies ...... 88W Adam Werritty...... 68W Radio: Licensing ...... 89W Algeria: Christianity ...... 68W Sign Language ...... 89W Charities ...... 68W Sports: Schools ...... 90W Departmental Assets...... 69W Tickets: Touting ...... 90W Departmental Libraries...... 69W UK Sport: Sport England ...... 90W Departmental NDPBs...... 70W Departmental Pay ...... 70W DEFENCE...... 76W Departmental Telephone Services ...... 70W Adam Werritty...... 76W Departmental Work Experience...... 72W Armed Forces: Cadets...... 76W EU Aid ...... 72W Armed Forces: Housing ...... 77W European Union: Powers ...... 73W Armed Forces: Mental Health ...... 78W India: British Nationals Abroad...... 73W Armed Forces: Recruitment ...... 78W Nigeria: Human Rights...... 74W Armed Forces: Training ...... 78W Palestinians: Prisoners ...... 74W Armed Forces: Young People...... 79W Palestinians: UNESCO ...... 74W Departmental Freedom of Information ...... 80W Serbia: EU Enlargement ...... 75W Departmental Regulation...... 81W Turkey: Earthquakes...... 75W Departmental Security ...... 82W UNESCO: Finance ...... 75W Departmental Work Experience...... 82W Drummore Harbour: Land ...... 82W HEALTH...... 125W European Fighter Aircraft ...... 82W Ambulances ...... 125W Legal Opinion...... 82W Care Homes...... 125W Officers ...... 83W Carers’ Benefits: Suffolk ...... 125W World War I: Anniversaries...... 84W Dental Services: Schools...... 126W Departmental Legal Opinion...... 126W DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ...... 122W Departmental NDPBs...... 128W Lobbying...... 122W Departmental Orders and Regulations...... 127W Departmental Pay ...... 129W EDUCATION...... 39W Departmental Research...... 130W Adoption ...... 39W Departmental Work Experience...... 130W Children in Care...... 42W Diamorphine...... 131W Class Sizes...... 42W Dietary Supplements: Channel Islands ...... 131W Departmental Consultants...... 43W General Practitioners ...... 132W Departmental Lost Property ...... 43W General Practitioners: Telephone Services...... 132W Departmental Press: Subscriptions ...... 43W Hair Dyes: Chemicals ...... 133W Departmental Security ...... 43W Health Services: Older People ...... 133W English Baccalaureate ...... 44W Hospitals: Accountability ...... 134W English Baccalaureate: Chinese Language ...... 45W Hospitals: Food ...... 134W GCSE ...... 45W NHS: Aviation ...... 135W Music: Education...... 45W NHS: Pensions...... 135W New Schools Network...... 45W NHS: Reorganisation...... 137W Pupils: Bullying...... 46W Obesity: Health Services ...... 137W Schools: Assessments ...... 46W Pancreatic Cancer ...... 137W Schools: Dogs ...... 46W Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Schools: ICT ...... 47W Foundation Trust: Finance ...... 139W Col. No. Col. No. HEALTH—continued JUSTICE—continued Prescription Drugs...... 139W Theft: Metals ...... 35W Prostate Cancer: Health Services...... 139W Rare Diseases...... 140W LEADER OF THE HOUSE...... 68W Skin Cancer ...... 140W Queen’s Messages ...... 68W Skin Cancer: Cornwall...... 140W Skin Cancer: Drugs...... 141W NORTHERN IRELAND ...... 15W Southern Cross Healthcare ...... 141W Adam Werritty...... 15W Tuberculosis...... 143W Departmental Manpower...... 16W Departmental Work Experience...... 16W HOME DEPARTMENT...... 50W Foreign Relations: Republic of Ireland ...... 16W Anti-Semitism...... 51W Legal Opinion...... 16W Antisocial Behaviour...... 51W Cannabis...... 51W PRIME MINISTER...... 123W Civil Disorder ...... 52W Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting... 123W Deportation: Offenders...... 52W Lord Young of Graffham ...... 123W E-mail ...... 53W Ministerial Policy Advisers ...... 124W Entry Clearances...... 53W Forensic Science Service...... 53W SCOTLAND...... 36W Human Trafficking ...... 53W Adam Werritty...... 36W Human Trafficking: Northern Ireland ...... 54W Departmental Freedom of Information ...... 36W Knife Crime ...... 50W Members: Correspondence ...... 54W TRANSPORT ...... 56W Nature Conservation: Crime ...... 55W Airports: Weather ...... 56W Net Migration...... 51W Aviation: Security...... 56W Police: Olympic Games 2012...... 55W Departmental Procurement...... 56W Seized Articles: Landfill ...... 55W Harbour Authorities ...... 56W Young Offenders: Wales...... 55W Motorways: Accidents ...... 57W Ports ...... 57W INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...... 143W Railways: Electricity...... 57W Accountancy: EU Law...... 143W Rescue Services: Contracts...... 58W Afghanistan: Females...... 144W Roads: Accidents ...... 58W Burma: Children ...... 144W Shipping: Oil...... 58W Burma: Overseas Aid ...... 144W Shipping: Safety...... 59W CDC ...... 145W Social Enterprises...... 59W CDC: Disclosure of Information ...... 145W Departmental Freedom of Information ...... 146W TREASURY ...... 92W Departmental Public Expenditure...... 147W Banks: Finance ...... 92W Departmental Responsibilities ...... 147W Biofuels...... 92W Departmental Security ...... 148W Business: Loans...... 92W Developing Countries: Waste Disposal ...... 148W Child Benefit...... 93W East Africa: Droughts...... 149W Commodity Markets: Food...... 93W East Africa: Education...... 149W Council Tax: Swindon...... 93W Famine: International Co-operation ...... 150W Departmental Billing ...... 94W Horn of Africa: Famine ...... 150W Departmental Buildings...... 94W International Assistance...... 152W Departmental Freedom of Information ...... 94W Overseas Aid...... 152W Departmental NDBPs...... 95W Overseas Aid: Developing Countries...... 153W Departmental Pay ...... 95W Population ...... 153W Departmental Work Experience...... 96W Somalia: Cholera ...... 154W Diesel Fuel: Agriculture ...... 97W Somalia: Overseas Aid ...... 154W Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation .. 97W Turkey: Earthquakes...... 156W Excise Duties: Fuels ...... 97W Excise Duties: National Lottery...... 97W JUSTICE...... 26W Green Investment Bank ...... 98W Adam Werritty...... 26W Individual Savings Accounts: Stocks and Shares.... 98W Birmingham Prison...... 26W Learning Disability ...... 98W Channel Islands ...... 26W Personal Savings ...... 99W Crown Courts: Teesside...... 27W Private Sector: Pay ...... 99W Departmental Manpower...... 27W Taxation...... 99W Departmental Responsibilities ...... 27W VAT: Medical Treatments...... 100W Departmental Work Experience...... 29W Working Tax Credit: Older Workers...... 101W Dogs Act 1871 ...... 29W Knives: Crime ...... 30W WALES...... 10W Legal Opinion...... 31W Charities ...... 10W Magistrates Courts: Rural Areas...... 33W Departmental Consultants...... 11W Offenders: Ex-servicemen...... 33W Departmental Freedom of Information ...... 11W Offenders: Rehabilitation ...... 33W Departmental Legal Opinion ...... 13W Prisons: Private Sector ...... 34W Departmental Manpower...... 14W Reoffenders...... 34W Departmental Pay ...... 14W Reparation by Offenders ...... 35W Departmental Regulation...... 14W Terrorism: British Nationals Abroad ...... 35W Departmental Responsibilities ...... 15W Col. No. Col. No. WALES—continued WORK AND PENSIONS—continued Departmental Work Experience...... 15W PAYE: Universal Credit ...... 63W Young Offenders ...... 15W Pensions: Teachers ...... 63W Social Security Benefits...... 64W WORK AND PENSIONS ...... 60W Social Security Benefits: Disability...... 63W Departmental Legal Opinion ...... 60W Unemployment ...... 64W Departmental Orders and Regulations...... 60W Universal Credit...... 65W Departmental Security ...... 61W Universal Credit: Free School Meals...... 65W Employment and Support Allowance ...... 62W Work Capability Assessment...... 66W Jobcentre Plus: Merseyside ...... 62W Work Programme...... 67W Members who wish to have the Daily Report of the Debates forwarded to them should give notice at the Vote Office. The Bound Volumes will also be sent to Members who similarly express their desire to have them. No proofs of the Daily Reports can be supplied, nor can corrections be made in the Weekly Edition. 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 14 November 2011

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CONTENTS

Monday 7 November 2011

List of Government and Principal Officers of the House

Oral Answers to Questions [Col. 1] [see index inside back page] Secretary of State for the Home Department

G20 [Col. 23] Statement—(Prime Minister)

UK Border Force [Col. 44] Statement—(Mrs May)

M5 Motorway Accident [Col. 62] Statement—(Justine Greening)

Localism Bill [Col. 77] Motion authorising expenditure Programme Motion (No. 3) Lords amendments considered

Petition [Col. 134]

Patient Security (Mental Health System) [Col. 135] Debate on motion for Adjournment

Written Ministerial Statements [Col. 1WS]

Written Answers to Questions [Col. 1W] [see index inside back page]