Daily Report Tuesday, 24 May 2016 CONTENTS - …qnadailyreport.blob.core.windows.net/qnadailyreportxml/Written... · Capital Gains Tax 8 ... Tax Allowances: Personal Pensions 11

Daily Report Tuesday, 24 May 2016

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 24 May 2016 and the information is correct at the time of publication (06:31 P.M., 24 May 2016). For the latest information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements, please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/

CONTENTS ANSWERS 4

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS 4

Apprentices: Taxation 4

Apprentices: Yorkshire and the Humber 4

Higher Education: Males 4

Higher Education: Private Sector 5

Technology: Education 5

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership 6

CABINET OFFICE 7

Census: Armed Forces 7

Census: Sikhs 7

Divorce 7

EU Grants and Loans 7

Lobbying 8

TREASURY 8

Capital Gains Tax 8

Individual Savings Accounts: Pensions 9

Iron and Steel: Non-domestic Rates 9

Mossack Fonseca 10

Revenue and Customs: Finance 10

State Retirement Pensions 11

Tax Allowances: Personal Pensions 11

Tax Avoidance 11

Taxation: Tanzania 12

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 12

Business: Urban Areas 12

Floods: Northamptonshire 13

Housing Benefit 13

Local Government: Pensions 13

Mayors 14

Planning: Lancashire 14

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT 14

Arts 14

BBC: Archives 15

BBC: Art Works 15

BBC: Political Impartiality 15

BBC: Public Participation 16

BBC: Video on Demand 16

Broadband 16

Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press Inquiry 17

Exercise 17

Mass Media: Legal Costs 17

Mass Media: Regulation 18

Tickets: Sales 18

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

2 Tuesday, 24 May 2016 Daily Report

DEFENCE 18

Amphibious Vehicles 18

Armed Forces 19

Armed Forces: Baltic States 19

Armed Forces: Germany 20

Armed Forces: Training 20

Knightsbridge Barracks 20

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Libya 21

EDUCATION 21

Academies: Admissions 21

Children: Carers 21

Children: Literacy 22

Free Schools 23

Science: GCE A-level 23

Science: Teachers 23

Secondary Education: Temporary Employment 24

Sex and Relationship Education 24

Special Educational Needs 24

Teachers: Training 25

Teachers: Veterans 25

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE 26

Climate Change: EU Grants and Loans 26

Energy: VAT 26

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS 27

Food: Labelling 27

Pigmeat: China 27

Pollinators 27

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 27

Agriculture and Fisheries Council 27

Canada: Fires 28

India: Foreign Relations 28

Israel: Palestinians 29

Malawi: Minority Groups 29

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty 29

UK Membership of EU 30

HEALTH 31

Asthma 31

Autism: Diagnosis 32

Cancer: Drugs 32

Care Homes 32

Care Homes: Evictions 33

Care Homes: Human Rights 34

Clinical Psychologists 34

Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Diagnosis 34

Health Services: Learning Disability 35

Heart Diseases: Young People 37

Hyperactivity: Diagnosis 37

Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service 37

Medical Records: Disclosure of Information 38

Medical Treatments 39

Minoxidil 39

Muscular Dystrophy: Drugs 39

Nurses: Temporary Employment 40

Prescriptions: Older People 40

Psoriasis: Males 41

Smoking 41

Tobacco 41

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 42

HOME OFFICE 42

Asylum: Calais 42

Tuesday, 24 May 2016 Daily Report 3

Asylum: Greece 42

Cross Border Cooperation: EU Countries 43

Domestic Violence 43

European Arrest Warrants 44

Immigration Officers: Greece 44

UK Membership of EU 44

Visas: Latvia 45

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 45

Developing Countries: Education 45

JUSTICE 47

Bill of Rights 47

Courts: Video Conferencing 47

Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges 47

Family Courts: Domestic Violence 47

Missing Persons: Guardianship 48

Offenders: Crimes of Violence 48

Pre-sentence Reports 49

Prisoners' Release 49

Probate 49

TRANSPORT 50

M6 50

Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Surveying 50

Motorcycles: Safety 50

Transport: Yorkshire and the Humber 51

WALES 51

Sports: Wales 51

WORK AND PENSIONS 52

Children: Maintenance 52

Employment and Support Allowance: Inflammatory Bowel Disease 53

Employment Schemes 53

Industrial Health and Safety 54

State Retirement Pensions 54

Universal Credit: Blackpool South 54

Universal Credit: Northampton 54

Work Capability Assessment 55

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 56

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS 56

Pre-Competitiveness Council 56

Notes:

Questions marked thus [R] indicate that a relevant interest has been declared. Questions with identification numbers of 900000 or greater indicate that the question was originally tabled as an oral question and has since been unstarred.

4 Daily Report Tuesday, 24 May 2016 ANSWERS

ANSWERS

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices: Taxation

Peter Kyle: [37478]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when officials of his Department last met representatives of the devolved administrations to discuss (a) how the apprenticeship levy will operate and (b) the proportion of the apprenticeship levy that each of the devolved administrations will receive.

Nick Boles: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: The digital apprenticeship service will support the English apprenticeship system from April 2017 and my officials engage regularly with their devolved administration counterparts to discuss the implementation of the apprenticeship levy and the new digital service.

Apprenticeships are a devolved policy and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will continue to determine their arrangements for supporting employers to access and pay for apprenticeships.

Discussions are continuing with the devolved administration on funding arrangements.

Apprentices: Yorkshire and the Humber

Rachel Reeves: [37706]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprenticeships have been created in Yorkshire since May 2015.

Nick Boles: There have been 45,900 apprenticeship starts reported to date since May 2015 in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Information on apprenticeship starts by geography is published as a supplementary table (first link) to a Statistical First Release (second link).

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/509995/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.XLS

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-held

Higher Education: Males

Jim Shannon: [37298]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to increase the proportion of men going to university.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-05-18/37478







Daily Report Tuesday, 24 May 2016 ANSWERS 5

Joseph Johnson: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone with the potential has the opportunity to benefit from higher education, irrespective of their background or gender.

In the last academic year we saw record numbers of applicants and entrants to higher education, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In our recent guidance to the Director of Fair Access, we asked him to include among his areas of focus support for white working class boys who are among the groups with the lowest participation rates. Universities expect to spend more than £745 million through access agreements agreed with the Director of Fair Access on measures to improve access and success for students from disadvantaged backgrounds - up significantly from £404 million in 2009.

Higher Education: Private Sector

Peter Kyle: [37671]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many full-time students in receipt of a student loan completed undergraduate qualifications between 2011 and 2015 at alternative providers of higher education.

Joseph Johnson: The Student Loans Company (SLC) publishes information on the number of full-time students in receipt of loans for tuition fees and living costs at alternative providers. Statistics on the loans issued by the SLC are available at the link:

http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded.aspx

All alternative providers with courses designated for student support are now required to complete an annual data return to the Higher Education Statistical Authority (HESA). Data on enrolments and qualifications obtained by students on designated courses of Higher Education at alternative providers in England have been collected by HESA since 2014/15. The first release of these statistics is scheduled for 15 th June and will be available via the link:

https://hesa.ac.uk/publication-schedule

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills monitors the performance of alternative providers, to ensure both quality and value for money. The Government’s recent White Paper, “Success as a Knowledge Economy”, will further reinforce our focus on quality, value for money and teaching excellence, ensuring that all students have access to the information they need in order to choose their university course.

Technology: Education

Peter Kyle: [37233]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much of the adult skills budget, excluding apprenticeships, was spent on engineering and manufacturing


http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded.aspx

https://hesa.ac.uk/publication-schedule



technologies courses at (a) level 2, (b) level 3, (c) level 4, and (d) level 5-6 in the last financial year for which data is available.

Nick Boles: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: Table 1 shows estimated funding values for Adult Skills Budget provision (excluding Apprenticeships) in the Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies sector subject area, by level, in the 2014-15 financial year.

Figures for estimated funding come from the Individualised Learner Record and provide an indication of the level of government funding. They should not be treated as actual spend, since spending is not reported by sector subject area.

TABLE 1: ESTIMATED ADULT SKILLS BUDGET FUNDING FOR NON-APPRENTICESHIP PROVISION IN

ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES BY LEVEL, 2014-15

Level Estimated Funding (£100,000's)

Level 2 500

Level 3 149

Level 4 1

Level 5 and 6 0

Notes:

1) Figures show estimated (notional) funding and should not be treated as actual spend.

2) Figures do not include estimated (notional) funding for LEOP, EOP or learners with an advanced learning loan which is not available.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Julie Elliott: [37703]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Answers of 16 February 2016 to Question 26010 and 11 April 2016 to Question 32109, when he plans to establish a reading room for hon. Members to access Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership documents.

Anna Soubry: The next round of negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will take place in July. The UK reading room will be open in time to access documents related to this round.



CABINET OFFICE

Census: Armed Forces

Steve McCabe: [37273]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether questions about the armed forces community will be included in the next national census; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

Attachments:

1. Referral Letter [UKSA Response to 37273.pdf]

Census: Sikhs

David Mackintosh: [37073]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make representations to the Office for National Statistics on including a separate ethnicity box for Sikh in the (a) 2021 census and (b) 2017 test questionnaire.


Attachments:

1. Referral Letter [UKSA response to 37073.pdf]

Divorce


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many divorces between people aged 30 and under took place in the UK in each of the last five years.


Attachments:

1. Referral Letter [UKSA Response to 37299 (1).pdf]

EU Grants and Loans

Jack Dromey: [37457]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what level of funding was awarded to the UK from the DAPHNE and Progress programmes in each year to 2014; to which Departments this funding was awarded; and which regions received action grants under which headings.

Matthew Hancock: This information is not held centrally.






Lobbying

Barry Gardiner: [37054]

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's news story of 27 April 2016, Update on a new clause to be inserted into grant agreements, what guidance his Department has given to departments which have already inserted an anti-lobbying clause into grant agreements made with organisations since the start of the current financial year.

Matthew Hancock: As I made clear in the House on 27 April, we are committed to protecting taxpayers' money from being wasted on government lobbying government. We are pausing the implementation of this clause into grant agreements, pending a review of the representations made.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's news story of 27 April 2016, Update on a new clause to be inserted into grant agreements, whether his Department plans to hold a formal consultation on the proposed anti-lobbying clause.


To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's news story of 27 April 2016, Update on a new clause to be inserted into grant agreements, how long his Department plans to spend on the review of representations received on the anti-lobbying clause; and whether his Department will continue to consider representations made after the date of that announcement.

Matthew Hancock: As I made clear in the House on 27 April, we are committed to protecting taxpayers' money from being wasted on government lobbying government. We are pausing the implementation of this clause into grant agreements, pending a review of the representations made.

TREASURY

Capital Gains Tax


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the potential effect of reductions in capital gains tax rates announced in the Budget 2016 on (a) the prevalence of converting income into capital gains and (b) income tax receipts.

Mr David Gauke: Budget 2016 announced reductions in the basic rate of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to 10% and the main rate to 20%, excluding gains on residential property and carried interest. The purpose of these changes is to encourage individuals to invest in companies, helping them to access the capital they need to expand and create jobs.






The estimated cost of this measure was published at Budget 2016 and provided in the table below:

Table 1: Total estimated Exchequer impact of Budget 2016 CGT basic and main rate reductions

2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21

£m -105 -630 -605 -670 -735

The costing in Table 1 includes an estimate of the impacts on CGT, Income Tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax receipts. The total estimated Exchequer cost accounts for behavioural responses, including greater realisation of gains, and increased incentive to take capital gains relative to income. This can include a wide range of behavioural changes. The impact on Income Tax is only one aspect of this costing.

No separate estimate was made of the impact on CGT receipts of converting income into capital gains. Finance Bill 2016 contains provisions to strengthen anti-avoidance rules to prevent opportunities for people to shift income to capital in order to gain a tax advantage, through making changes to the Transactions in Securities Rules and introducing a new Targeted Anti Avoidance Rule.

Individual Savings Accounts: Pensions

Ian Blackford: [37150]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on levels of pension saving of the introduction of the lifetime ISA.

Mr David Gauke: The Lifetime ISA is a complement to the existing pension system. It will provide savers with greater choice and flexibility in how they save for retirement.

From April 2017, people aged 18 to 40 will be able to save up to £4,000 each year into a Lifetime ISA and receive a 25% bonus from the Government.

Iron and Steel: Non-domestic Rates

Kevin Brennan: [37170]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will undertake a comparative assessment of levels of business rates applying to steel producers in the UK and in other EU member states.

Kevin Brennan: [37180]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the level of business rates on capital investment in the UK steel industry.

Mr David Gauke: The government concluded the Business Rates Review at Budget 2016. The government consulted with stakeholders, including the steel industry.





From April 2020, business rates for all businesses, including the steel industry, will be cut through a switch in the indexation of business rates from RPI to the main measure of inflation currently CPI.

The government has worked hard to deliver on the steel industry’s key asks. We (a) secured state aid approval to compensate for energy costs, (b) secured flexibility over EU emissions regulations, (c) published guidance so that the true value of UK steel can be taken into account in major procurement decisions, and (d) continue to tackle unfair trading practices at an EU and an international level

Mossack Fonseca

Paul Flynn: [37611]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will request that HM Revenue and Customs investigate the legality of the operations of those British Offshore entities registered with the Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama whose identity was made public by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on 9 May 2016.

Mr David Gauke: On April 10, The Prime Minister announced a new taskforce to obtain, analyse and take action on the information contained in the Panama Papers.

It is being jointly led by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) and draws on investigators, compliance specialists and analysts from HMRC, the NCA, the Serious Fraud Office and Financial Conduct Authority. The four organisations are working in close partnership to take rapid action on evidence of tax evasion and avoidance, economic crime, regulatory breaches and misconduct identified within the material.

The Prime Minister has committed to provide resources to ensure that the material is fully investigated, including initial new funding of up to £10 million to support the taskforce’s work.

Revenue and Customs: Finance

Tulip Siddiq: [37103]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Autumn Statement of 25 November 2015, Official Report, column 1361, if he will place in the Library an itemised breakdown of to which HM Revenue and Customs' projects and programmes he has allocated the additional £800 million announced in that statement.

Mr David Gauke Autumn Statement 2015 referenced £800 million allocated to HM Revenue and Customs at Summer Budget 2015 to tackle evasion and non-compliance.

The £800 million will fund the following projects:

Tax Credit Debt Recovery

Criminal Investigations




Wealthy: enhanced compliance

Tackling the hidden economy

Additional Compliance Resource: local compliance

Tackling illicit tobacco and alcohol

Large Business: enhanced compliance

Specialist Personal Tax: enhanced compliance

State Retirement Pensions


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the (a) potential effect on the triple lock pension policy and (b) the value of state pensions for people who retired before 6 April 2016 of a potential reduction in economic growth in the event of the UK voting to leave the EU.

Mr David Gauke: The Treasury has published its analysis of the impact that leaving the EU would have on GDP, CPI inflation and on average real wages in HM Treasury analysis: the immediate economic impact of leaving the EU.

Tax Allowances: Personal Pensions

Mr Gregory Campbell: [37403]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) average amount in tax relief paid per higher rate tax relief payer and (b) total amount of tax relief for personal pension payments was in (i) 2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15.

Mr David Gauke: Information on the cost of pensions tax relief is published in HM Revenue and Customs’ National Statistics table PEN6, available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/registered-pension-schemes-cost-of-tax-relief

Tax Avoidance

Rob Marris: [37181]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information HM Revenue and Customs holds on the number of people engaged in employment through an employment intermediary in each year since 2008.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs does not have details of the number of people engaged in employment through an employment intermediary. Employment intermediaries are required to deduct tax and National Insurance contributions from most people engaged in employment and tax returns are monitored, but no count is kept of the total numbers of workers.





Taxation: Tanzania

Helen Goodman: [37144]

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs is in discussions with Tanzania about a tax treaty between the UK and Tanzania.


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made in updating tax treaties between the UK and (a) Malawi, (b) Lesotho and (c) Ghana.


To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made in negotiating a tax treaty between the UK and Nepal.

Mr David Gauke: The UK is not currently involved in active treaty discussions with Tanzania.

Discussions with Malawi over a new tax treaty began some years ago, and substantive agreement has been reached at official level. The Government of Malawi have stated that they hope to be in a position to sign the new treaty in the near future.

The UK has negotiated a treaty with Lesotho and are currently seeking to arrange signature.

The UK is currently involved in negotiations with Ghana in agreeing a new tax treaty.

Nepal has approached the UK to begin negotiation of a tax treaty. We are seeking suitable dates for discussions.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Business: Urban Areas

Mark Menzies: [37419]

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to encourage businesses into high street premises in town and city centres.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Government has taken action to help high streets thrive through a range of targeted tax breaks, sensible planning changes and measures to ensure fairer parking for motorists. At Budget, we announced the biggest ever cut in business rates in England – worth £6.7 billion over the next five years, cutting business rates for all ratepayers, and meaning 600,000 of the smallest businesses won’t have to pay business rates again

We have also given over £18 million to fund successful initiatives such as “Love Your Local Market” and the “Great British High Street Competition”, and have recently announced a digital pilot programme in Gloucestershire, to support town centres and SMEs to compete in the digital era.






Floods: Northamptonshire

Alex Cunningham: [37084]

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 27 April 2016 to Question 34978, what resources his Department plans to allocate to local authorities in Northamptonshire to develop their capacity to deal with flash floods in the next three years.

James Wharton: The Government provides funding to lead local flood authorities to carry out their duties in relation to managing and co-ordinating local flood risk under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. Local flood risk includes surface water run off. Previously this was paid through a special grant by the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs. In 2016-17 this funding transferred into the Local Government Finance Settlement, which distributes Revenue Support Grant to local authorities.

Revenue Support Grant is an unringfenced grant. We have however protected the visibility of a number of named elements of funding within the Local Government Finance Settlement, including funding for lead local flood authorities, in order to signal the priority we attach to these issues and encourage local prioritisation.

This funding will be supplemented by a new section 31 grant to ensure that these elements of funding for lead local flood authorities are protected in real terms in each year of the Parliament. Ultimately it is up to each local authority to set its budget taking into account local priorities.

Housing Benefit

Mr David Lammy: [37243]

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the likely effect of the extension of right-to-buy and the sale of council properties on the total cost of housing benefit in each year to 2020.

Brandon Lewis: The voluntary Right to Buy will give 1.3 million housing association tenants the opportunity to purchase a home.

For every home sold through the voluntary Right to Buy or the sale of higher value vacant housing, at least one additional home will be built and for every higher value property sold in London, two will be built, increasing overall supply.

Local Government: Pensions

Toby Perkins: [37032]

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the pensions of people enrolled in pooled local government pension schemes are safeguarded in the event of a failed infrastructure project that received investment from that fund.





Mr Marcus Jones: Local government pension scheme benefits are set out in statute and are not linked to the investment performance of funds. However, those responsible for investment decisions should have regard to the need to achieve an appropriate balance between risk and return and act in the best interests of scheme members and local taxpayers.

Mayors


To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of metro-mayors since May 2015.

James Wharton: The Government considers that, where areas choose to introduce a directly-elected, region-wide Mayor as part of a devolution deal, this will provide a mechanism to strengthen local accountability and strategic leadership and drive local economic growth. No region-wide elected Mayors are yet in place under the provisions of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act; the first elections for the new Mayors are being planned for May 2017, subject to Parliamentary approval.

Planning: Lancashire

Mark Menzies: [37266]

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provided to Lancashire County Council on the formulation of its service planning areas.

Mr Marcus Jones: DCLG does not have a record of advice given to Lancashire County Council on the formulation of its service planning areas, or requests for such advice.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Thangam Debbonaire: [37354]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government about the effect on arts and culture of changes to local government funding from central government; and what further such discussions are planned on this issue.

Mr Edward Vaizey: DCMS and DCLG Ministers and officials regularly discuss matters of shared interest including arts, culture and public libraries.The Culture White Paper which was published in March reflects the close working between the two Departments.





BBC: Archives

Chi Onwurah: [37672]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how the planned further opening of the BBC archive will be funded at the stage of (a) capture, (b) preservation, (c) cataloguing, (d) digitisation, (e) storage, (f) licensed use and (g) non-licensed use.


To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether public funding will be made available to support the maintenance of the BBC archive as a digital platform.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The BBC receives over £3.7 billion of public money each year through the licence fee. As set out in the Government's White Paper, ‘A BBC for the future: a Broadcaster of Distinction’, we encourage the BBC to do more to open up its archive and ensure that it can be used by the public and as wide a range of institutions and organisations as possible. How the BBC uses the public money it receives to achieve this is matter for the BBC.

BBC: Art Works

Liz McInnes: [37560]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make representations to the BBC on ensuring the Your Paintings archive is maintained as on online resource.

Mr Edward Vaizey: As set out in the Government's White Paper, A BBC for the future: a Broadcaster of Distinction, the government encourages the BBC to do more to open up its archive and ensure that it can be used by the public and as wide a range of institutions and organisations as possible. How the BBC presents its online content is matter for the BBC. Your Paintings is now available on artuk.org.

BBC: Political Impartiality

Craig Whittaker: [37600]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the proposals in his Department's White Paper, A BBC for the future, published in May 2016, what discussions he has had with the BBC on challenging a perceived culture of political bias at the corporation.

Mr Edward Vaizey: I have had discussions with the BBC throughout the Charter Review process. Under the plans in the White Paper, 'A BBC for the future: a broadcaster of distinction', the BBC's obligations for impartiality and accuracy will, for the first time, be regulated by an external body, Ofcom. The culture of the BBC will be a matter for the new unitary board in delivering its new mission 'To act in the public interest, serving all audiences with impartial, high-quality and distinctive media content and services that inform, educate and entertain.'






BBC: Public Participation


To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the potential cost of securing rights for content in relation to the creation of a BBC Ideas Service.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The BBC Ideas Service is an exciting proposal put forward by the BBC as part of a package of proposals for the next Charter period. It will be for the BBC to set out the detail of its plans for Ideas Service, including the cost of the service.

BBC: Video on Demand

Liz McInnes: [37562]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect on students living away from home of the closure of the iPlayer loophole.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government consulted on adding on-demand programme services to the TV licence framework as part of its Green Paper published in July last year. Under the new proposals, all individuals will need to be covered by a TV licence if they stream or download television programmes through on-demand services provided by the BBC (notably the iPlayer). If an individual has a licence already, then they are automatically covered to watch BBC on-demand services under the new proposals.

Broadband

Deidre Brock: [37184]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of when all exchange-only lines will have access to fibre broadband.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The vast majority of phone lines across the UK connect to the nearest telephone exchange via a street cabinet, which can be upgraded to deliver fibre broadband. Estimates are not available of the number of premises served by exchange only lines and therefore when they will all have access to fibre broadband. Exchange only lines present a greater engineering challenge to deliver fibre broadband than those connected via street cabinets but technical solutions are available; one solution is to rearrange the existing network, lay new cables to reroute lines to new cabinets - a technique developed as part of the BDUK Superfast Broadband Programme.

Deidre Brock: [37268]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of street level cabinets served by a fibre enabled exchange that are not planned to be upgraded for fibre broadband in commercially viable areas.






Mr Edward Vaizey: BT’s commercial deployment programme is still ongoing. We will not have access to information on the proportion of cabinets that remain to be upgraded in commercial areas until this is completed.

Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press Inquiry

Margaret Ferrier: [37523]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he made of the cost of Part Two of the Leveson Inquiry.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Criminal proceedings connected to the subject matter of the Leveson Inquiry, including the appeals process, have not yet completed. We have always been clear that these cases must conclude before we consider Part 2 of the Inquiry, including any estimate of cost.

Exercise

Mims Davies: [37694]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Sport England's (a) implementation of the strategy to tackle inactivity and (b) use of funding for that purpose.

David Evennett: Government is determined to tackle physical inactivity. Around one in two women and a third of men in England are damaging their health through a lack of physical activity.

In December 2015, Government published ‘Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation", which set out a new vision for a successful and active sporting nation, with a strong focus on reaching inactive people and helping them to get moving in ways that suit them.

Sport England's new strategy ‘Towards an Active Nation’, published on 19 May, is consistent with, and takes forward, the Government's vision and relevant recommendations from Sporting Future, including those on inactivity. It sets out the organisation's plans for tackling inactivity, including by tripling its current investment to over £250m over 4 years, making it the largest single national investor in tackling inactivity. As part of that it will create a new, dedicated fund of £120 million to tackle inactivity over the next four years, building on the insight gained from pilots of their Get Healthy Get Active fund.

Government will report annually on progress in implementing 'Sporting Future'.

Mass Media: Legal Costs


To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government plans to bring into force section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013.





Mr Edward Vaizey: No decision has been taken regarding commencement of section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013. The matter is still under consideration.

Mass Media: Regulation


To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the Government will hold an inquiry into regulation of non-print media.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Ofcom is the independent body that regulates TV, radio and video on demand services. The Broadcasting Code contains rules those TV and radio broadcasters must follow. There are separate rules for video on demand services which include TV catch up, online film services and libraries of archive content. Government considers this regulatory system is working well and has no plans to hold an inquiry.

Tickets: Sales

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: [37565]

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to lay the report relating to secondary ticketing before Parliament as required by section 94 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

David Evennett: My Rt. Hon Friends, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport intend to lay the report shortly.

DEFENCE

Amphibious Vehicles

Emily Thornberry: [37336]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the Government has to retain the Army's wide-wet gap crossing capability after the withdrawal from service of the UK's M3 Amphibious Rig vehicles in 2022.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total size was of the Government's fleet of M3 Amphibious Rig bridging vehicles in each of the last six years.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many equipment failure reports were recorded in relation to M3 Amphibious Rig Bridging Vehicles in each of the last six years.








To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the German Bundeswehr's M3 Amphibious Rig bridging vehicles were loaned to UK armed forces in each of the last six years.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the Government has to maintain its fleet of M3 Amphibious Rig bridging vehicles after the withdrawal of UK troops from Germany.

Mr Philip Dunne: 38 M3 Amphibious Rigs have been in service with the British Army in each of the last six years. No additional rigs have been loaned from the German Army during that time. The planned out of service date for the M3 amphibious rig is 2027; early work is under way to provide a wide wet gap crossing capability in future. No decisions have yet been made about future basing sites for the M3 Amphibious Rig.

The following table shows the number of recorded equipment failure reports (EFR) in each of the last six years.

CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH EFR RECORDED NO OF EFRS RECORDED IN CALENDAR YEAR

2010 16

2011 0

2012 5

2013 1

2014 4

2015 0

Armed Forces

Mrs Anne Main: [37641]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the armed forces on contingency plans in the event of the UK leaving the EU.

Michael Fallon: None.

Armed Forces: Baltic States


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) UK military personnel and (b) RAF Typhoons are currently deployed on NATO's Baltic air policing mission.






Mr Julian Brazier: 140 UK military personnel and four RAF Typhoon aircraft are currently deployed on NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission.

Armed Forces: Germany


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel from 75 Engineer Regiment were deployed to Germany on training operations in each of the last six years.

Penny Mordaunt: The following table shows the number of personnel from 75 Engineer Regiment who have deployed to train in Germany in each of the last six years.

YEAR NUMBER OF PERSONNEL

2010 0

2011 0

2012 0

2013 115

2014 136

2015 132

These figures do not include personnel from the Regiment who are permanently based in Germany.

Armed Forces: Training


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel from each branch of the armed forces took part in cold weather training in each of the last six years.

Penny Mordaunt: The UK Armed Forces conduct a wide range of training to operate in cold weather environments. Information on the full range of activities is not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Knightsbridge Barracks

Sir Nicholas Soames: [37330]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had about the future of the Knightsbridge Barracks.





Sir Nicholas Soames: [37331]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport about moving the Knightsbridge Barracks to an alternative location in the Royal Parks.

Mark Lancaster: The Secretary of State for Defence holds regular reviews of the Ministry of Defence estate, including the wider London Estate, in the context of the emerging Estate Optimisation work.

There have been no recent discussions between the Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport about moving Hyde Park Barracks (located in Knightsbridge) to an alternative location in the Royal Parks.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Libya

Tim Farron: [37708]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British military personnel have been embedded with US military personnel flying drones or planes over Libya in the last six months.

Penny Mordaunt: None.

EDUCATION

Academies: Admissions


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 18 April 2016 to Question 33136, who is responsible for seeking to direct the admission of children to academies.

Nick Gibb: If a local authority considers that an academy will best meet the needs of a child, and the academy refuses to admit the child, the local authority can ask the Secretary of State to intervene. The Secretary of State has the power under an academy’s funding agreement to direct the academy to admit a child. The Education Funding Agency issues directions on behalf of the Secretary of State.

Children: Carers

Mr Jim Cunningham: [37692]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of carers aged 16 and under looking after a relative in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.







To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the amount of financial support provided to young carers in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 166,000 young carers in 2011.

The Government has changed the law so that all young carers have been entitled to an assessment of their needs for support since April 2015, regardless of who they care for, what type of care they provide, or how much time they spend caring. Around 60%, of young carers are thought to be eligible for free school meals, and those who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years will attract pupil premium funding to the schools that they attend.

We do not specifically estimate the amount of financial support provided to young carers.

Children: Literacy

Tim Farron: [37707]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to minimise the difference between the number of words to which young children in low-income and high-income households are exposed.

Nick Gibb: No matter where they live or what their background, every child in this country deserves the opportunity to read, to read widely, and to read well. The Government wants all children to develop a wide vocabulary irrespective of their background. In August 2015, the Secretary of State launched a literacy campaign to make children in this country the most literate in Europe, in the next five years.

We placed phonics at the heart of the curriculum to give all young children the skills to decode words and provide the foundation for them to read fluently.

The National Curriculum framework sets a clear expectation that teachers develop pupils’ vocabulary, building on pupils’ current knowledge. This covers both general vocabulary development and the subject specific language that pupils need to be able to use to progress in, for example, mathematics and science.

Vocabulary development is emphasised and integrated throughout the programmes of study for English and linked to their reading, writing and spelling. Both the reading and writing domains of the English programmes of study emphasise the importance of building pupils’ vocabulary.

Reading widely and often, together with reading for pleasure is also reinforced throughout the programmes of study, and attention to the quantity and quality of reading will support vocabulary development.




We are working with The Reading Agency to set up book clubs in hundreds of primary schools across the country; we are supporting their work to enrol 8 year olds in libraries; and we support the voluntary sector’s ‘Read On. Get On’ campaign, which is playing a key role in raising literacy. Our ambition is that children can get to know the classics of English literature whether or not these books are on the bookshelves at home. In February 2016, Penguin Classics launched their ‘Classics in Schools’ initiative to give sets of 100 classics to schools at reduced cost.

Free Schools

Jess Phillips: [37380]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free schools were closed in each year since 2011.

Edward Timpson: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: Out of 308 free schools that have opened since 2011, four have closed. One free school closed in academic year 2013/14 and three closed in 2014/15.

Science: GCE A-level


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students took science A-levels in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The number of entries in A levels in individual Science[1] subjects in the last five years is published as part of the “A level and other level 3 results: 2014 to 2015 (revised)” statistical first release (SFR).[2]

[1] Includes Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Other Science and Computing

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/a-level-and-other-level-3-results-2014-to-2015-revised (“Subject time series tables: SFR03/2016” document)

Science: Teachers


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information she holds on the number of science graduates hired by secondary schools as teachers across the UK in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The information is not available in the format requested.

The number of science teachers in state funded secondary schools in England has increased between 2010 and 2014; from 56,700 to 57,300.

Last year, the Prime Minister announced that we would be spending up to £67m on teacher training and development in priority Science, Technology, Engineering and



https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/a-level-and-other-level-3-results-2014-to-2015-revised

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/a-level-and-other-level-3-results-2014-to-2015-revised



Mathematics (STEM) subjects. This includes training an additional 2,500 mathematics and physics teachers, and improving the subject knowledge of a further 15,000 non-specialist serving teachers in those subjects.

The NAO Report, following their inquiry into ‘Training New Teachers’, stated ‘The overall number of teachers has kept pace with changing pupil numbers, and the retention of newly qualified teachers has been stable’. The report is available from the following web link: https://www.nao.org.uk/report/training-new-teachers/

Secondary Education: Temporary Employment


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the total number of agency supplied staff supplied to secondary schools in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: Supply teachers provide a valuable role for schools, and schools themselves are best placed to make staffing decisions to reflect their individual needs. It is up to head teachers and governors to decide who is required for the job and this includes how best to cover absences.

The Department for Education collects details of all teachers working in state funded schools through the annual School Workforce Census. However, this census does not separately identify agency teachers from those employed by schools.

Sex and Relationship Education

Mr Roger Godsiff: [37561]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 11 May 2016 to Question 36565, when she plans to make the decision on whether to update the statutory guidance on sex and relationship education; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: As stated in my response to the Hon. Member’s previous question 36565, the Government believes that sex and relationship education is essential for children’s development and preparation for responsible adult life. We have received requests about updating the guidance which we will consider carefully.

Special Educational Needs

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: [37621]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) Statements of Special Educational Needs and (b) Education, Health and Care Plans were issued for each year from 2013; and how many such (i) statements and (ii) plans were issued in each of those years.

Edward Timpson: Information on the number of statements or Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans issued by local authorities in England based on the SEN2 return is available on GOV.UK

https://www.nao.org.uk/report/training-new-teachers/





in Table 2 of the Statistical First Release Statements of SEN and EHC plans: England 2015: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statements-of-sen-and-ehc-plans-england-2015

Data for January 2016 will be published on 26 May 2016.

Teachers: Training


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many successful applicants to the Schools Direct scheme there were in each of the last five years; and what the cost of that scheme was to her Department in each such year.

Nick Gibb: The School Direct scheme began as a pilot tuition fee based programme in the 2012/13 academic year. The programme was extended to include School Direct (salaried) programmes from the 2013/14 academic year.

The number of successful applicants (trainees who secured and took up a place) on School Direct programmes, and the associated cost (where available), from 2012/13 to 2014/15 are given in table 1:

ACADEMIC YEAR

NUMBER OF SCHOOL

DIRECT (TUITION FEE) TRAINEES

NUMBER OF SCHOOL

DIRECT (SALARIED) TRAINEES

COST OF TRAINING

BURSARIES FOR SD

(FEE) TRAINEES

COST OF SALARY

GRANTS FOR SD

(SALARIED) TRAINEES

2012/13 349 N/A Unavailable N/A

2013/14 4,203 2,473 Unavailable £40,320,214

2014/15 6,311[1] 2,759 £36,539,000 £43,031,709

Table 1: Number of School Direct trainees and associated costs from 2012/13 to 2014/15.

We are unable to provide the training bursary costs specific to School Direct only for trainees for 2012/13 and 2013/14, as the data captured did not make a distinction between core and school direct tuition fee places for the purpose of bursary funding.

Data for the 2015/16 academic year will not be available until after the end of the academic year when data submissions will be finalised and subsequently validated.

[1] Of the 6,311 tuition fee trainees in AY 2014/15, 4,264 received a bursary.

Teachers: Veterans


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) applicants to (b) successful applicants to and (c) successful graduates from the Troops to




Teachers scheme in each year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: For Cohort One (January 2014), 293 applications were received and 41 trainees began the programme.

For Cohort Two (September 2014), 196 applications were received and 52 trainees began the programme.

For Cohort Three (September 2015), 62 applications were received and 51 trainees began the programme.

For Cohort Four (September 2016), recruitment is still underway.

The first cohort of trainees completed the training programme in December 2015. 29 trainees completed the programme and achieved Qualified Teacher Status.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate Change: EU Grants and Loans


To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much EU funding the UK has received to tackle climate change in each of the last 10 years.

Amber Rudd: DECC does not hold this information centrally and to collate it would incur disproportionate costs.

Energy: VAT


To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effect of the European Court of Justice's ruling on VAT on energy-saving materials of 4 June 2015, on achievement of the UK's annual carbon emissions target.

Amber Rudd: We have made no such estimate of the effect of the ECJ ruling on VAT, since there has been no decision to amend VAT since the ECJ ruling. The reduced rate on 11 different types of energy saving materials remains in place and remains unchanged.

The Government is still considering the responses to the consultation on VAT on energy saving materials and will issue a response to that consultation in due course.




ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Food: Labelling


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether airlines are obliged to comply with the requirements of the EU Food Information for Consumers Regulations No. 1169/2011.

George Eustice: The Food Information for Consumers (FIC) Regulation (1169/2011) applies across the European Economic Area, including catering services that are provided by airlines when the departure takes place in a Member State. The requirements apply to packaged and unpackaged food served on airlines. In both cases information required by the regulations must be provided to the consumer, namely allergen information. Other food labelling rules may apply if departing from a non-EEA state.

Pigmeat: China

Graham Stuart: [37085]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to speed up the process enabling UK pig producers to export trotters to China.

George Eustice: Defra has submitted detailed information required by the Chinese authorities, which they are reviewing. The UK Agriculture, Food and Drink Counsellor, based in Beijing, has met with the Chinese authorities to raise the importance of this agreement and we continue to press for expeditious consideration of the UK application to allow exports of UK pigs’ trotters to commence as soon as possible.

Pollinators


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of the National Pollinator Strategy.

George Eustice: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given the hon. Member for Eastleigh, Johnny Mercer, on 4 February 2016, PQ UIN903446.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Dr Paul Monaghan: [905060]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, If he will make it his policy that the Scottish Government Minister with responsibility for fisheries will chair






meetings of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council when the UK holds the presidency of the Council of the EU in 2017.

Mr Philip Hammond: Foreign Policy is a reserved matter under the terms of the Devolution Settlements. A UK Minister will normally take the chair at Council meetings. In the absence of a UK Minister, arrangements are in place whereby a Minister of a devolved administration may take the Chair, subject to certain conditions. No detailed planning for EU Council meetings during the UK Presidency has yet taken place.

Canada: Fires

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: [37619]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the Government has offered to the Canadian government to help tackle the wildfire emergency in Alberta.

Mr Hugo Swire: On 7 May, The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) wrote to his Canadian counterpart, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to offer support to the Canadian efforts to tackle the fires. The British Army Training Unit at Suffield, Alberta, has offered assistance to the Alberta Provincial Government. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and I have repeated these messages to the Canadian Foreign Minister and the Canadian High Commissioner in London.

On 5 May the UK Space Agency was notified of a request by Canadian Authorities for imagery of the wildfires. This request was authorised and satellite imagery of the affected areas was released.

The Canadians have so far not requested any further assistance from the British Government, though the messages of support have been warmly received.

We will continue to liaise closely with our Canadian colleagues and stand ready to assist should they request our help.

India: Foreign Relations

Chris White: [905056]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the strength of diplomatic and economic relations between India and the UK.

Mr Hugo Swire: The UK and India have a broad and deep friendship symbolised by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit last month and Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United Kingdom in November 2015. The UK is the largest G20 investor in India and Indian companies invest more in the UK than the rest of the EU combined.




Israel: Palestinians

Hilary Benn: [37563]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the French government about its initiative to restart the Middle East peace process to advance a two-state solution.

Mr Philip Hammond: I have discussed the French initiative with the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, and with his envoy for the Middle East Peace Process, Pierre Vimont. We will continue to work closely with the French government to ensure that their initiative makes a constructive contribution that encourages the parties to resume negotiations.

Malawi: Minority Groups

Fiona Bruce: [37673]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on violence perpetrated against albino children in Malawi; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: We are concerned by reports of a rise in human rights violations against persons with albinism in Malawi. Our High Commissioner to Malawi discussed the issue during a meeting with the Malawian Foreign Minister on 27 April and also with United Nations Independent Expert on the rights of persons with Albinism Ms Ikponwosa Ero, during her visit to Malawi on 29 April. Malawian President Mutharika has condemned the attacks and ordered the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

UN research recorded a total of 66 incidents in the last 14 months, 40% related to exhuming graveyards to collect body parts and 24% the sale of body parts by perpetrators including traditional healers.

In a recent press conference he said attacks on albinos are barbaric and ordered security agencies to intensify actions against perpetrators. So far 69 suspects have been arrested, awaiting prosecution.

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 10 May 2016 to Question 36136, what additional financial contributions his Department has made to projects in support of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in each of the last six years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: In addition to the financial contribution the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has made directly to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, set out in answer to Question 36136, the FCO has supported a range of projects relating to the objectives of the treaty, these include conferences on issues related to the treaty, work in support of





making progress towards a Middle East Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone, and support for the universal ratification and implementation of International Atomic Energy Agency verification standards in nuclear non-proliferation. These projects total:

FY 10/11 = £139,084

FY 11/12 = £416,884.08

FY 12/13 = £580,895.57

FY 13/14 = £313,106.97

FY 14/15 = £325,297.80

FY 15/16 = £222,158.92

UK Membership of EU

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh: [905054]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the UK's international and diplomatic relations.

Mr Philip Hammond: The decision in the forthcoming referendum is one for the British people alone to make. In the nearly 2 years I have been Foreign Secretary, I have visited over 70 different countries in 6 continents – and in no single one of them have I been told that Britain’s influence would be greater if it were not a member of the EU. On the contrary whether in China, in the USA, in Australia, in Nigeria, Britain is seen as more influential because of its membership of the EU. We get two bites of the cherry: Britain’s is a strong and influential voice in its own right; but it is also the voice of a leading Member State of the world’s largest economic block. Membership of the EU does not diminish Britain’s influence; it enhances it – and I speak from personal experience.

Rachael Maskell: [905057]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on the UK's influence in the world of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Philip Hammond: I refer the Honourable Lady to my earlier answer in response to Question 16 (PQ905054.)


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on peace and stability in Europe and around the world of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Philip Hammond: As a leading member of the EU, the UK is a major influence on EU external policy and is able to shape the use of the EU’s available policy tools to enhance our security: for





example, sanctions policy in respect of Russia and Iran and capacity building support to the states of the Western Balkans. I am in no doubt that Britain’s leading role in this process greatly contributes to the effectiveness of EU policy initiatives and thus maintaining peace and stability in Europe and beyond. All of that would be lost if Britain were to leave the European Union. I am clear that Britain is stronger, safer more prosperous inside the EU than it would be outside.

Dan Jarvis: [905061]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on the UK's influence in the world of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Philip Hammond: The Government believes that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU. That way, the UK can play a leading role in one of the world’s largest organisations. Membership of the EU, like our membership of NATO and the UN, amplifies, not diminishes, the UK’s influence in the world.

HEALTH

Asthma

Ben Howlett: [37090]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the maximum distance recommended by NHS England is for people with severe asthma to travel to receive day-case treatment.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many specialist centres for asthma are recognised by NHS England.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what treatments are commissioned by specialist centres for severe asthma.

Jane Ellison: NHS England commissions severe asthma services in line with national specifications to ensure that patient numbers are sufficient to support safe, quality service provision. It is revising the severe asthma service specification which is expected to be published later in 2016.

Nationally there are 27 trusts that have identified themselves as providing severe asthma services.

NHS England does not specify travel distances for patients attending treatment for severe asthma.






Autism: Diagnosis


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average time taken for autism diagnosis was by age and gender at time of diagnosis for each year from 2013.

Alistair Burt: We do not centrally collect data from the National Health Service on waiting times for an assessment of autism.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guideline on autism diagnosis states that a diagnostic assessment should start within 12 weeks of referral.

NHS England and the Association of Directors of Social Services have undertaken a series of visits to clinical commissioning groups to identify best practice on diagnosis and support.

Cancer: Drugs

Andrew Gwynne: [37420]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent by the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2015-16; and how much that fund is estimated to spend in 2016-17.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that it expects to publish information on Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) expenditure for 2015-16 in Board Papers for NHS England’s Board meeting on 26 May 2016.

The budget allocated for the CDF for 2015-16 was £340 million and new financial control mechanisms, to be put in place from 1 July 2016, are intended to ensure that the CDF does not exceed its fixed £340 million budget in 2016-17.

Care Homes


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what statutory reasons (a) a resident of a care home may be evicted and (b) a relative of a person in a care home may be banned from visiting; and what evidence must be provided in each such case.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department's policy is on forced evictions from care homes.

Alistair Burt: It is for providers of care to decide if they are no longer able to meet a person’s needs, or whether, for example for reasons of safety, it might be appropriate for a person to be prevented from visiting a care home.






Such decisions should be taken according to individual circumstances and with regard to the terms of agreements and/or contracts between providers and purchasers or commissioners of care.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many relatives have been banned from visiting family members resident in local authority-funded care homes in each year since 2010.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times the Mental Capacity Act 2005 has been found to have been wrongly applied to exclude a relative of a resident from visiting a care home.

Alistair Burt: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Care Homes: Evictions


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures are in place to ensure that alternative accommodation is found for people evicted from a care home.

Alistair Burt: Should a person have to leave a care home, the Care Act requires the local authority to carry out an assessment of their needs. The local authority must decide if the person has eligible needs by considering the outcomes they wish to achieve, what their needs are and how these impact on their wellbeing.

Where a person is assessed as having eligible care and support needs – for example, for care and support, public assistance with the cost of care, help with arranging care or information and advice – those needs must be met by their local authority.

For a person placed in residential care by a local authority, the authority would continue to have a duty to meet their needs and to arrange alternative care services. Should a person be able to fund their own care but lack capacity to arrange it, the local authority has powers under the Act to meet their needs.

Statutory guidance issued under the Care Act sets out when a local authority should use these powers.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to extend the 28-day eviction notice period for care home residents.

Alistair Burt: There are no plans to bring forward legislative proposals to extend the 28 day eviction notice period for care home residents. Periods of notice for care home residents will depend on the terms of agreements and/or contracts between providers and purchasers or commissioners of care, which are for negotiation locally.






Care Homes: Human Rights


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce a human rights charter for care homes; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: There are no plans to introduce a human rights charter. Local authorities are public authorities and are subject to the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA). They must take account of the HRA in their contracting arrangements, including those with care providers.

The HRA applies to the relationship between individuals and public authorities and is not intended to apply directly to purely private arrangements. However, section 73 of the Care Act 2014 is explicit that care providers which are regulated by the Care Quality Commission in England, or by equivalent bodies in the rest of the United Kingdom, are exercising a public function for the purposes of the HRA when providing care and support, arranged or funded in whole or in part by local authorities.

Those purchasing care privately have rights of legal challenge against a provider via their contract or through criminal or tort law.

Clinical Psychologists

Oliver Colvile: [37447]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that the workforce requirements for the delivery of the NHS England transformation plan can be met with qualified clinical psychologists within the five-year timescale of the plan.

Alistair Burt: As set out in the independent Mental Health Taskforce report, Health Education England is working with NHS England, Public Health England, the Local Government Association and local authorities, professional bodies, charities, experts-by-experience and others to develop a costed, multi-disciplinary, five-year workforce strategy. This will focus on the future shape and skill mix of the workforce required to deliver both the Taskforce’s recommendations and the workforce recommendations set out in the Future in Mind strategy for improving children and young people’s mental health.

Health Education England will also consider the future requirements for training new clinical psychologists and psychotherapists as part of its workforce strategy. Health Education England published its commissioning and investment plan for 2016/17 which sets out plans to commission 526 training places for clinical psychologists in 2016/17 and 43 child psychotherapist places.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Diagnosis


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department plans to take steps to increase diagnosis rates of familial hypercholesterolemia.





Jane Ellison: NHS England and Public Health England (PHE) are working to raise the profile of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and break down the barriers to genetic testing.

NHS England’s national clinical director (NCD) for heart disease chairs an FH steering group which comprises representatives from relevant stakeholder organisations. This group, with funding from the British Heart Foundation (BHF), has established FH specialist nurses in many areas of England, aimed at increasing FH cascade testing so that more affected families can be identified. The NCD has worked closely with BHF in their appointment of the FH Nurses, and with the other major charity in this field - HEART-UK. Software to support cascade testing and provide a database for FH is available and will be increasingly used in England as FH services are established.

NHS England has also identified FH as a possible condition that it could focus on as part of the work looking into personalised medicine and how the National Health Service might make better use of increased genetic testing.

Furthermore, the Healthcare Public Health Team at PHE is working in collaboration with national and local partners and experts in the field through an FH Steering Group chaired by the National Clinical Director for Cardiology, and led by the BHF, to develop a systems approach to the detection and management of FH.

Health Services: Learning Disability

Jonathan Reynolds: [37697]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length of time is that a patient stays in an Assessment and Treatment Unit.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are currently being treated in Assessment and Treatment Units.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients currently in Assessment and Treatment Units have been diagnosed with autism.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost is to the NHS of keeping a patient in an Assessment and Treatment Unit.

Alistair Burt: At the end of April 2016 for inpatients with a learning disability and/or autism, the average length of stay was 1,095 days. The total number of inpatients was 2,565. 415 were diagnosed with autism only and 555 patients had a learning disability and autism (Learning Disability Services Monthly Statistics, April 2016).

The average weekly cost for inpatient care was £3,563 per week in September 2015 (Learning Disability Census: England 2015)






Both the Learning Disability Services Monthly Statistics and the Learning Disability Census provide data on people with learning disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder receiving inpatient care commissioned in England.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients currently in Assessment and Treatment Units have been detained in that unit under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Alistair Burt: The following table shows Patients in Assessment and Treatment units on 30 April 2016 by legal status.

Number of patients

% of patients

England 1,2,3

April 2016 April 2016

All patients

2,565 100%

Patients not subject to the Mental Health Act 1983

265 10%

Patients subject to the Mental Health Act 1983

2,300 90%

Of these patients - subject to the Mental Health Act 1983

Patients subject to Mental Health Act Part II

1,275 50%

Mental Health Act Part III with no restrictions

380 15%

Mental Health Act Part III with restrictions

610 24%

Other 35 1%

Data source: Health and Social Care Information Centre. Assuring Transformation

Notes:

1 The Assuring Transformation collection covers England, but includes patients whose care is commissioned in England and provided elsewhere in the United Kingdom. These figures represent the number of patients who are receiving inpatient care at the end of each month. Figures have not been revised with more recent information, but show the position at the end of each month as extracted from the system at that time. This is due to it not always being possible to back date key measures. As such figures here will not match those presented in table 1 which have been back-dated.

2 Numbers less than 5 have been replaced by '*' and other values have been rounded to the nearest 5 to minimise disclosure risks associated with small numbers. Please note



that rows will therefore not always add up to the total. Percentages have been calculated based on the non-rounded numbers.

3 "Mental Health Act legal status classification code" is a mandatory question in the Assuring Transformation collection. This question does not ask the start or end date of any legal status a patient may be subject to.

Heart Diseases: Young People


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Italian model of cardiac screening for young people involved in sport.

Jane Ellison: There are a number of questions relating to the effectiveness of the Italian programme that are not available in published literature. The screening programme had been asked previously to provide unpublished data and information but have not to date done so. I wrote to the Italian government again in February 2016 with no response received. Departmental officials will continue to follow this up.

The most recent review of risk of sudden cardiac death reviewed published evidence and literature relating to a variety of programmes including that in Italy;

http://legacy.screening.nhs.uk/suddencardiacdeath

Hyperactivity: Diagnosis


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the UK in each age group were diagnosed with ADHD in each of the last five years.

Alistair Burt: The information requested is not collected centrally.

There are no plans to collect this data. This may be because it can be difficult to diagnose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is very common for the core problems of ADHD in children to present together with other developmental impairments and/or mental health problems. There are many rather non-specific problems that are very common in ADHD, and can even be used, incorrectly, as grounds for the diagnosis. The problems associated with ADHD appear in different ways at different ages.

Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service

Karl McCartney: [37686]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what financial contributions the Government has made to the Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service (a) in total for each of the last five years that figures are available and (b) for the provision of drugs.


http://legacy.screening.nhs.uk/suddencardiacdeath




Ben Gummer: The Government has not made any direct financial contributions to the Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service (LIVES).

NHS England advises that Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is the lead National Health Service commissioner for LIVES. It commissions services through a block contract on a capitation basis and does not collect information about LIVES’ spending on the provision of drugs. The following table shows the amount the CCG spent on LIVES in the last three years.

LINCOLNSHIRE WEST CCG SPENDING ON LIVES, 2013/14 TO 2015/16

Year Total £000

2013/14 262,000

2014/15 307,399

2015/16 302,481

Source : Lincolnshire West CCG

Notes : CCGs were established in April 2013, replacing primary care trusts (PCTs). Information is not available about PCT spending on LIVES before April 2013.

Medical Records: Disclosure of Information

Julian Knight: [37056]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what obligations private hospitals and NHS foundation trusts have to share the medical records of patients who have used both services (a) in general and (b) when such trusts have referred patients to private hospitals.

George Freeman: We expect that all of the organisations involved in providing direct care to a National Health Service patient, irrespective of whether they are an NHS provider or a private sector provider under contract to the NHS, will share information that is relevant to the safe and timely provision of treatment and care.

The only exception should be if the patient objects to information about them being shared. This approach is consistent with the Caldicott Principles which state that “the duty to share data can be as important as the duty to protect confidentiality”. The duty to share information as described in Section 251B of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.



Medical Treatments

Greg Mulholland: [37680]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether purdah arrangements for the EU referendum apply to policy statements to be published by NHS England on the commissioning of treatments.

George Freeman: Whilst the pre-election guidance for the European Union referendum has yet to be published, it is not anticipated that it would prevent the routine publication of clinical commissioning policy statements which are a ‘business as usual’ function of NHS England.

The Cabinet Office publishes pre-election guidance for civil servants which also applies to NHS England and other arm’s length bodies. This can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/election-guidance-for-civil-servants

Minoxidil


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS plans to make minoxidil available to women who have lost their hair.

George Freeman: Minoxidil (Regaine) for the treatment of alopecia is available to purchase ‘over the counter’, without prescription.

Regaine cannot be prescribed in primary care as it is listed in Schedule 1 to the National Health Service (General Medical Service Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) Regulations 2004 (the ‘blacklist’).

However other minoxidil products are available for clinicians to prescribe if they consider them to be clinically appropriate for an individual patient.

Muscular Dystrophy: Drugs

Greg Mulholland: [37690]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, following the announcement on Twitter by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Life Sciences on 15 April 2016 that a Managed Access Agreement had been reached for the Translarna drug, for what reasons NICE granted a further eight weeks on 4 May 2016 for discussions to take place.

George Freeman: On 15 April 2016, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) announced in its final draft guidance that it was recommending Translarna (ataluren) for the treatment of children aged five and over with Duchenne muscular dystrophy caused by a nonsense mutation.

Translarna was recommended only when (a) the company provides it at a discounted price to the National Health Service under the patient access scheme agreed with the


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/election-guidance-for-civil-servants




Department and (b) that NHS England and the manufacturer, PTC Therapeutics, in conjunction with patient representatives, agree a managed access agreement setting out (i) the criteria for starting and stopping treatment, which individual patients would be required to agree, (ii) data collection to address considerable uncertainty in the evidence base and (iii) additional confidential financial controls between the company and NHS England.

On 4 May 2016, NICE announced that it was allowing extra time for further discussions on access arrangements for Translarna to take place before its final guidance is published. NHS England and PTC Therapeutics have been asked to reach agreement on the cost of the drug to the NHS by 7 July 2016.

Nurses: Temporary Employment

Justin Madders: [37684]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) year-to-date and (b) forecast out-turn spend is in each NHS (i) trust and (ii) foundation trust on total agency nursing costs, excluding outsourced bank, in 2015-16.

Justin Madders: [37685]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which NHS (a) trusts and (b) foundation trusts have reported that their planned agency nursing spend (i) will and (ii) will not exceed the ceiling trajectory set by Monitor.

Alistair Burt: Last year the Government introduced a series of tough financial controls to help the National Health Service tackle overspending on expensive agency staff. Although, it is not possible to provide the information requested by individual NHS trust or foundation trust, NHS Improvement has confirmed that a total of £3.64 billion was spent on agency and contract staff in 2015-16. This represents a saving of £300 million to the NHS, which had been on course to spend up to £4 billion prior to the controls being put in place.

NHS Improvement has also set each NHS trust and foundation trust an annual expenditure ceiling on the total amount that can be spent on agency staff in 2016-17. Again, it is not possible to provide the information requested by individual NHS trust or foundation trust; however all trusts have been allocated ceilings for 2016-17 and these will be monitored by NHS Improvement on a monthly basis going forwards.

Prescriptions: Older People

Karl McCartney: [37687]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Government spent on prescriptions for people over the age of 60 in full-time employment in each of the last five years that figures are available.

Alistair Burt: The information is not available as the employment status of patients is not collected.





Psoriasis: Males


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many men have been diagnosed with psoriasis in England in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: Information concerning the number of men diagnosed with psoriasis in each of the last five years is not collected. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence estimates that psoriasis affects around 2% of people in the United Kingdom.

Smoking


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the rate of smoking is in England among people over the age of 18.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the rate of smoking is in England for 15 year olds.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the prevalence of smoking among pregnant women.

Jane Ellison: In 2015, figures showed smoking prevalence rates in adults and 15 year olds in England to be at 18% and 8% respectively. The most recent quarterly information on prevalence of smoking among pregnant women, published in March, show this to be 10.6%.

Smoking prevalence is at its lowest ever level with official figures showing that the Government met each of the targets set out in its Tobacco Control Plan – Healthy Lives, Healthy People. A new Tobacco Control Plan is currently being developed.

Tobacco


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to publish a new tobacco control strategy in the next two months.

Jane Ellison: The Tobacco Control Plan is currently being developed and Ministers will decide on an appropriate publication date in due course.







WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Philip Davies: [37255]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which organisations will be represented in the UK delegation to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in India in 2016.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether Ministers of his Department plan to attend the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in India in 2016.

Jane Ellison: The United Kingdom will be represented at the 7th Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to be held in November 2016. The composition of the UK’s delegation has not yet been decided. The delegation will be led by the Department and there is no intention to include representatives from organisations outside of Her Majesty’s Government.

HOME OFFICE

Asylum: Calais

Susan Elan Jones: [37021]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether all children in Calais with valid family reunion claims and the first 300 of those children identified as most at risk will be re-located to the UK in time for the start of the new school year in September 2016.

James Brokenshire: Both Governments are clear that migrants in Calais in need of protection should claim asylum in France. The UK will consider requests to take responsibility of an asylum application made in France, where an asylum claim is lodged by a minor with close family connections in the UK and both governments are committed to ensuring such cases are prioritised. To assist the handling of these cases the UK and France have established a senior level standing committee, agreed single points of contact within respective Dublin Units and the UK seconded an asylum expert to the French administration to facilitate the improvement of all stages of the process of identifying, protecting and transferring relevant cases to the UK. Since February 2016 the UK has accepted over 30 requests from France under the Dublin Regulation to take charge of asylum seeking children on family grounds of which more than 20 have already been transferred to the UK.

Asylum: Greece


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many take charge requests under the family unity provision of the Dublin III Regulation the UK has received for transfer






from Greece in the last six months; how many such requests were accepted; and how many people so accepted have arrived in the UK.

James Brokenshire: Data on cases progressed under the Dublin III Regulation is recorded on the main immigration database. However, this data is not held in a way that allows it to be reported on automatically and is therefore not currently available.

Cross Border Cooperation: EU Countries

Mr Virendra Sharma: [37455]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the UK would lose access to the Prüm Convention in the event of a vote to leave the EU.

James Brokenshire: As set out in the Government’s White Paper on the process for withdrawing from the European Union, published on 29 February 2016, the rules for exiting the EU are set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union. The process that would be followed is unprecedented – no country has ever used Article 50. It would be a complex negotiation involving all 27 remaining EU Member States and the Commission.

Should the UK leave the EU, future collaboration in relation to the relevant EU Prüm measures would depend on the outcome of the negotiation. Two non-EU countries (Norway and Iceland) have concluded an agreement to access Prüm, although both are part of the border-free Schengen area. The agreements were concluded in 2010, but neither agreement has yet entered into force.

Domestic Violence


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish all of her Department's statistics on the incidents of (a) domestic violence and (b) dowry related abuse in the UK.

Karen Bradley: Statistics on domestic violence are published combining domestic violence and abuse through the Office for National Statistics who are responsible for the publication of crime statistics, including those of domestic violence and abuse. Detailed information on domestic violence and abuse from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) is published annually in their Focus on: Violence and Sexual Offences series. The most recent publication, for the year ending March 2015, is available here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/compendium/focusonviolentcrimeandsexualoffences/yearendingmarch2015

Additionally, since April 2015 the police have notified the Home Office where recorded offences are domestic abuse related. Figures from the police for April to September 2015 were also published in the statistical bulletin linked above (see Table 6.01). The publication also includes information on the number of domestic abuse incidents the police deal with, in Appendix Table 4.08. Some incidents are not subsequently recorded




as crimes as no crime as defined in law has taken place, so numbers will be higher than the number of domestic abuse crimes.

The increases seen in domestic abuse incidents recorded by the police over this time period is thought to reflect improvements in the identification and recording of these incidents by the police alongside increased willingness of victims to report such incidents to the police. The CSEW has not shown an increase in domestic abuse over this period.

The Home Office has not received specific information on dowry related abuse.

European Arrest Warrants


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the likelihood that the UK would lose access to use of the European Arrest Warrant in the event of a vote to leave the EU.

James Brokenshire: As set out in the Government’s White Paper on the process for withdrawing from the European Union, should the UK leave the EU, any arrangements for future cooperation under measures such as the European Arrest Warrant, would be curtailed. Aside from those States that are not in the EU but are in the Schengen border-free area, there are no precedents for non-Members being able to cooperate with these mechanisms. Even Switzerland, for example, does not have an equivalent to the European Arrest Warrant. Norway and Iceland are negotiating an agreement similar to the EAW, but that includes the option for countries to continue to refuse to surrender their own nationals. Negotiation of that deal started in 2001 and it has not yet entered into force.

Immigration Officers: Greece


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many immigration officials of her Department are based in refugee camps in Greece; and by what means refugees are expected to make contact with those officials.

James Brokenshire: As notified in my statement of 21 April, HCWS687, 75 UK personnel will be deployed to Greece to support implementation of the EU-Turkey Migration Agreement. They will work alongside the Greek Asylum Service to process cases through the admissibility procedure. They will also provide expert support to the Greek authorities on overall co-ordination of the response.

UK Membership of EU

Jack Dromey: [37564]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assurances she has had from EU partners that UK law enforcement agencies could still participate in the (a) European





Criminal Records Information System, (b) Schengen Information System, (c) Schengen Alert System, (d) European Arrest Warrant and (e) Europol in the event of a vote to leave the EU.

James Brokenshire: As set out in the Government’s White Paper on the process for withdrawing from the European Union, our arrangements for future cooperation under measures such as the European Arrest Warrant, the European Criminal Records Information System and the Schengen Information System would be brought into question. Aside from those States that are not in the EU but are in the Schengen border-free area, there are no precedents for non-Members being able to cooperate with these mechanisms fully outside the EU. We would also lose our status as a full member of Europol.

Visas: Latvia


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visas have been issued to Latvians who are categorised as non-citizens in each year since 2010.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not hold the specific information in the format requested. To obtain it would involve interrogating individual case records, at disproportionate cost.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries: Education

Chris Heaton-Harris: [37029]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to ensure that the Education Cannot Wait fund for education in emergencies is monitored to ensure that (a) the funds are used for the purposes for which they are allocated and (b) those funds achieve the expected outcomes.

Mr Nick Hurd: The UK has played a leading role in the development of Education Cannot Wait – a fund for education in emergencies, with the International Development Secretary announcing a £30million commitment to the fund as a founding donor at its launch at the World Humanitarian Summit on 23 May. The UK will continue to engage closely during Education Cannot Wait’s inception phase to ensure that the final design and results framework are underpinned by a transparent monitoring and evaluation system and robust financial reporting arrangements, to ensure that the UK and other donors have strong oversight of how funds are utilised and results achieved.

Mark Durkan: [37033]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will make a multi-year commitment which increases in real terms funding for education in humanitarian situations.





Mr Nick Hurd: The UK is committed to providing long-term support for education in emergencies and crises, and will continue to put contributions through the most effective channels based on their ability to deliver results. For example, following an initial £115million contribution to the No Lost Generation in Syria initiative, the UK has added a further £240million for education in Jordan and Lebanon over the next four years.

The UK has played a leading role in the development of the Education Cannot Wait fund, which is designed to attract multi-year additional funding for education in emergencies and protracted crises. The UK has recently announced a multi-year commitment of £30million to the Education Cannot Wait fund at the World Humanitarian Summit on 23 May, as a founding donor to this important initiative.

Tom Brake: [37332]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government plans to become a founding donor of the Education cannot wait fund for education in emergencies, at its launch at the World Humanitarian Summit.

Mr Nick Hurd: The UK has played a leading role in the development of the Education Cannot Wait fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, which was launched at the World Humanitarian Summit on 23rd May. The UK has committed to provide £30million in support over two years to the new fund as a founding donor, which was announced by the International Development Secretary at the fund’s launch.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure the Education Cannot Wait fund for education in emergencies focuses on the most marginalised children including girls and children with disabilities.

Mr Nick Hurd: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided on 23rd May to Question number 37287.


To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans the Government has to become a founding donor to the Education Cannot Wait fund for education in emergencies.

Mr Nick Hurd: The UK has played a leading role in the development of the Education Cannot Wait fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, which was launched at the World Humanitarian Summit on 23rd May. The UK has committed to provide £30million in support over two years to the new fund as a founding donor, which was announced by the International Development Secretary at the fund’s launch.





JUSTICE

Bill of Rights

Tim Farron: [37595]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to carry out an (a) impact and (b) equality assessment of the Government's policy of replacing the Human Rights Act 1998 with a British Bill of Rights.

Dominic Raab: We will set out our proposals for a Bill of Rights in due course. We will fully consult on our proposals.

Courts: Video Conferencing

Ann Coffey: [37400]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish the report evaluating the pilots of section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.

Mike Penning: Pre-trial cross-examination under Section 28 of the YJCEA 1999 was piloted in three Crown Court centres. A report will be published in due course.

Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges

Andy Slaughter: [37594]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish his Department's post-implementation review of tribunal fees.

Dominic Raab: Following public consultation, the government introduced fees in Employment Tribunals as a way of reducing the burden on the taxpayer and to encourage parties to seek alternative ways of resolving their disputes.

On 11 June 2015, we announced the start of the post-implementation review of the introduction of fees in the Employment Tribunals. The review will report in due course.

Family Courts: Domestic Violence

Bridget Phillipson: [37674]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of stopping survivors of domestic abuse from being cross-examined by their abusers in family court proceedings.


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect of the cross-examination of survivors of domestic abuse by their abusers on the ability of such survivors to provide their best evidence in family court proceedings.








To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will take steps to end the cross-examination of self-representing survivors of domestic abuse by their abusers in family court proceedings.

Caroline Dinenage: The family courts take the issue of domestic violence extremely seriously. The Child Arrangement Programme and Practice Direction 12J sets out a strong and clear framework for judges to apply to the management of difficult court room situations, to ensure they are handled sensitively for alleged victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable witnesses. All judges receive specific training on this framework and they can intervene to prevent inappropriate questions or have questions relayed. Practical protections, for example, protective screens, video links, separate waiting rooms and separate entrances are available where appropriate.

Missing Persons: Guardianship

Julian Sturdy: [37272]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on the guardianship of the property and affairs of missing people.

Dominic Raab: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton on 9 March 2016, which can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-03-01/29212/.

Offenders: Crimes of Violence


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of offenders were (a) remanded in custody and (b) released on court bail after being charged with an offence of (i) common assault, (ii) actual bodily harm, (iii) grievous bodily harm and (iv) assault in the latest year for which information is available.

Mike Penning: The number of defendants remanded in custody and released on court bail, at magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court, for the offences listed, in 2015, can be found in the prosecutions, convictions and remands data tool, at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2015

Aggregate remand figures (i.e. across both courts) cannot be provided because defendants committed to the Crown Court have separate remand decisions in both the magistrates’ and Crown courts. Defendants who have a remand decision made at both the Crown Court and magistrates' court would be counted twice in totals.







Pre-sentence Reports


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) fast and (b) standard delivery pre-sentence reports were prepared for offenders with each band number of previous convictions in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Andrew Selous: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners' Release


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 11 May 2016 to Question 36152, which religious festivals prisoners were released on temporary licence to attend in each year since 2011.

Andrew Selous: My officials are currently working to provide the information requested. I will write to you shortly.

Probate

Peter Dowd: [37182]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's consultation on fee proposals for grants of probate, whether the proposed fees will reflect the (a) actual cost of administration of the Probate Registries and (b) amount of time expended by staff in the Probate Registries.

Dominic Raab: The information requested can be found in the consultation document, published at: https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/fee-proposals-for-grants-of-probate/consult_view

Peter Dowd: [37183]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's consultation on fee proposals for grants of probate, what safeguards his Department plans to provide to enable applications to be filed for grants of probate in respect of estates which do not have sufficient liquid funds to enable payment of the fee before a grant has been issued.

Dominic Raab: The information requested can be found in the consultation document, published at: https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/fee-proposals-for-grants-of-probate/consult_view






TRANSPORT

M6

Fiona Bruce: [37704]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has received on (a) noise and dust and (b) other disruptions affecting local residents caused by current major road works on the M6; and whether he has considered taking steps to reduce that disruption to those residents by those works.

Andrew Jones: Since work commenced on the smart motorway upgrade on the M6 between junctions 16 and 19 in December 2015, a total of 4 representations from local residents have been made to Highways England in regards to noise from the construction work. These representations were also made to Cheshire East County Council, who made Highways England aware of them.

A further 4 representations have been made concerning an increase in traffic on the A50 to the east of the M6 due to vehicles choosing to divert on to the local road network to avoid the roadworks on the motorway. This concern was also raised with Highways England by Brereton Parish Council.

A number of measures are in place to reduce the disruption to local people including the use of temporary noise screens to minimise noise from excavation works near homes and dust suppression measures. Highways England are in regular communication by letter, email and newsletter with local people to keep them informed about up-coming works.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Surveying

Richard Burden: [37688]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the utilisation rate was for Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyors in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The averaged utilisation rate for marine surveyors for 2013-14 was 65%.

In December 2014 a new system was implemented within MCA and no figures are available yet through the replacement system.

Motorcycles: Safety

Lilian Greenwood: [37521]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding is allocated to motorcycling safety in his Department's budget for the current year.

Andrew Jones: Motorcycling safety is embedded within different areas including wider road safety policy, international vehicle standards and the THINK! road safety campaigns. As such there is not a separate budget allocation.





A significant role is also played by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which oversees the training and testing of motorcyclists.

Transport: Yorkshire and the Humber


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has invested in transport in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire since 5 February 2015.

Andrew Jones: Information on transport spend in Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire is not available for this period. The latest data from HM Treasury’s Country and Regional Analysis identifies Department for Transport investment of £898 million in Yorkshire and the Humber (which covers the same area) in 2014/15.

Over the period from 5 February 2015, Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire has benefitted from significant investment in transport schemes, for example £16.4m to support the Leeds Inner Ring Road essential maintenance scheme, £10.3m for the Leeds Rail Growth scheme for two new stations at Apperley Bridge (now open) and Kirkstall Forge (due to open in June), £10.3m for the Leeds Station Southern Access Scheme, and £18.1m from the Cycle City Ambition scheme to deliver a cycling ‘super highway between Leeds to Bradford (due for completion May 2016).

This month the Department for Transport informed Leeds Council that it was accepting the independent Planning Inspector’s decision, which said the Leeds Trolleybus system promoted by the council is not suitable for development, and not providing consent for their Trolleybus scheme to go ahead. We have however agreed in this instance that £173 million of DfT funding will be retained so the right public transport scheme in Leeds can be developed as quickly as possible.

WALES

Sports: Wales


To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of people in Wales are involved in regular sport.

Alun Cairns: Sport is a devolved matter in Wales and is therefore the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

However, the Sport Wales’ Active Adult Survey 2014 found that 72% of adults in Wales had participated in sport and physical recreation within the previous four weeks of being surveyed.

Furthermore, their School Sport Survey 2015 found that 48% of children in Wales were participating in sports three or more times a week.




WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many closed Child Support Agency cases with child maintenance arrears have been referred for arrears (a) cleansing and (b) validation between January and March 2016.

Priti Patel: (a) The table below shows the number of cases referred for arrears cleansing in each month from January 2016 until March 2016.

Month Jan-16 Feb-16 Mar-16

Number of cases referred for arrears cleansing 32,720 38,600 29,820

Notes

1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.

(b) There is no set separate validation procedure; it forms part of the cleansing process.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many former Child Support Agency (CSA) clients whose liability ended due to the CSA case closure process have been sent a notice of the validated child maintenance arrears balance in each month between January and March 2016.

Priti Patel: The table below shows the number of Arrears letters sent to the Parents with Care (PWC) as part of the case closure process in each month from January 2016 until March 2016.

Month Jan-16 Feb-16 Mar-16

Number of Arrears Letters sent to PWC 13,110 27,480 20,830

Notes

1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10

We have at our disposal a range of strong enforcement powers, intended to ensure as many parents as possible fulfil their financial responsibilities towards their children. We are using all of the powers available to us where it is appropriate to do so. These include deducting maintenance directly from earnings, deduction directly from bank accounts, instructing bailiffs to collect arrears or seize goods, forcing the sale of property, commitment to prison and disqualification from driving.





To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much Child Support Agency scheme arrears were being dealt with by the child maintenance service at 31 March 2016; and how many cases those arrears relate to.

Priti Patel: As at 31 March 2016 the total amount of 1993 and 2003 Child Support Agency scheme arrears held on the 2012 system and currently being handled by the Child Maintenance Service stood at £153.3 million. Figures for 31 March 2016 are draft and subject to audit.

Information on related case groups and break downs by scheme are not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

We have at our disposal a range of strong enforcement powers, intended to ensure as many parents as possible fulfil their financial responsibilities towards their children. We are using all of the powers available to us where it is appropriate to do so. These include deducting maintenance directly from earnings, deduction directly from bank accounts, instructing bailiffs to collect arrears or seize goods, forcing the sale of property, commitment to prison and disqualification from driving.

Employment and Support Allowance: Inflammatory Bowel Disease


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 18 April 2016 to Question 33135, on employment and support allowance: inflammatory bowel disease, how many new claimants there have been in this Parliament.

Priti Patel: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: The information provided in response to Question 33135 dated the 18 th of April is the latest data available.

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: [37112]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36333, on employment schemes, how much was spent on each of the programmes referred to in that Answer in the most recent financial year for which data is available.

Priti Patel: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: The most recent actual spend data available is for the financial year 2014-15, a breakdown of spend on the Employment Programmes listed in the answer to Question 36333 can be found in the attached table.

Attachments:

1. CEP Employment Programme Spend [37112 Table.docx]





Industrial Health and Safety

Nick Thomas-Symonds: [37593]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for workplace inspections by the Health and Safety Executive in the next four years.

Justin Tomlinson: HSE’s Spending Review 15 funding is based upon achieving growth in commercial income and delivery of planned efficiency savings which will enable HSE to seek to maintain current levels of its core regulatory activities including workplace inspections over the next four years.

State Retirement Pensions

Ian Blackford: [37321]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what account his Department is taking of future levels of healthy life expectancy in making decisions on future levels of pension age.

Justin Tomlinson: The Pensions Act 2014 provides a statutory framework, which commits future governments to regular and structured review of the State Pension age at least once every six years. The first review, due to report by May 2017 will take into account up to date life expectancy data and the findings of the independently led review.

Universal Credit: Blackpool South

Gordon Marsden: [37492]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants there were in Blackpool South constituency in (a) June 2015, (b) December 2015 and (c) the latest month for which figures are available.

Priti Patel: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: The information you have requested is available in the official Universal Credit statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics.

Universal Credit: Northampton


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the progress that has been made in the rollout of universal credit in Northampton.

Priti Patel: Universal Credit live service rolled out to Northampton Jobcentre Plus on 23 November 2015. Official Universal Credit statistics can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics.






Every jobcentre across the country is now delivering Universal Credit for single people. The full Universal Credit service begins its national expansion from May 2016.

Work Capability Assessment

Frank Field: [37213]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36280, how many people are waiting for a rearranged work capability assessment having had their initial appointment cancelled.

Priti Patel: [Holding answer 23 May 2016]: On 19 May 2016, there were a total of 28,420 people waiting to attend a rearranged work capability assessment having had their initial appointment cancelled of which 17,019 have a new appointment already allocated.


56 Daily Report Tuesday, 24 May 2016 WRITTEN STATEMENTS

WRITTEN STATEMENTS

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Pre-Competitiveness Council

Minister of State for Universities and Science (Joseph Johnson): [HCWS7]

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under Sceretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Minister for Intellectual Property (Baroness Neville-Rolfe) has today made the following statement.

The Competitiveness Council is taking place in Brussels on 26 th May -27 th May. I will be representing the UK on day one (internal market and industry) with Shan Morgan (Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU) representing the UK on day two (research and innovation)

The Dutch Presidency is seeking a new approach with the Telecoms Council and Internal Market discussion of Competitiveness Council being split over one day, with a joint lunch in-between. This is designed to bring greater coherence between the two Councils given their joint interests on the digital single market. Ed Vaizey will be representing the UK at the Telecoms Council which is the subject of a separate statement.

Day One

There are two legislative items on the agenda for the internal market and industry discussion. First the Commission will be seeking a general approach on the portability proposal, which is aimed at ensuring the cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market. Secondly there is the first reading of the proposal to amend the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services directive.

The non-legislative items on the agenda are the adoption and debate of two sets of Council Conclusions on better regulation and digitisation of industry. There is a presentation from the Commission, followed by an exchange of views on the competitiveness ‘check-up’ state of play of the real economy.

Other business items on the agenda are the first reading of the e-commerce package, readout from the recent Friends of Industry meeting in Warsaw, information from the Presidency on the quantum technology conference, information on high performance computing and big data enabled applications, and information from the Slovak Presidency on their upcoming EU Presidency priorities.

Our objectives for day one of the Competitiveness Council:

• To secure a general approach on the portability regulation that will ensure consumers benefit from access to digital content purchased in their home country when travelling within the Union, without introducing excessive burdens to businesses that supply such services; and

• To secure ambitious language in the Presidency conclusions that is in line with our better regulation priorities.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2016-05-24/HCWS7/

Daily Report Tuesday, 24 May 2016 WRITTEN STATEMENTS 57

Day Two

Day two will see the Minister for Universities and Science confirming three sets of Council Conclusions.

The negotiated conclusion on FP7 (7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development) and future outlook is in line with the UK position.

It recognises FP7 has contributed to the competitiveness of Europe’s industry and has strengthened scientific excellence.

The findings of the evaluation are an important consideration for the UK Presidency priorities, on the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020 and ideas for the next programme after that.

The UK supports the conclusions on research and innovation-friendly regulation as they emphasise the potential impact of EU policy-making on innovation.

The UK is content with the negotiated conclusion on Open Science as it is in line with UK Open Science Policy.

Under other business items there will be presentations on the 2016 ESFRI (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures) Roadmap, the work programme of the incoming Slovakian Presidency, and information from the Commission on the European Innovation Council.

Documents

Daily Report Tuesday, 24 May 2016 CONTENTS - …qnadailyreport.blob.core.windows.net/qnadailyreportxml/Written... · Capital Gains Tax 8 ... Tax Allowances: Personal Pensions 11