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91829

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Secure Colleges
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what healthcare provision is planned for secure colleges; and who will provide it.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL1887
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>NHS England is responsible for commissioning all healthcare services for people in detention (including youth custodial establishments) in England and this will include healthcare provision for the Secure College Pathfinder.</p><p> </p><p>There will then be competition for a healthcare provider for the Secure College Pathfinder in 2015. The priority will be to secure a provider who has the expertise and experience to provide young people in custody with appropriate services to meet the specific needs of this cohort of children so they can access and receive the same quality and range of healthcare services as provided in the wider community.</p><p> </p><p>The healthcare provision at the Secure College Pathfinder will be commissioned following a Health and Well-Being Needs Assessment and in line with the Intercollegiate Healthcare Standards (June 2013).</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 21/10/2014 14:20:00 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

91846

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Council Tax
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what factors caused the reduced collection rate of Council Tax in England in 2013–14.
tabling member printed	Baroness King of Bow
uin	HL1904
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2014 answer text <p>Council tax collection rates have not substantially changed, as illustrated by this table, which lists average collection rates over the last ten years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><em>Average collection rate in England</em></p></td><td><p><em>%</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004-05</p></td><td><p>96.6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005-06</p></td><td><p>96.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006-07</p></td><td><p>96.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007-08</p></td><td><p>97.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>97.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>97.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>97.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>97.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>97.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>97.0</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There were a number of factors which may have influenced the collection rates in 2013-14, which are explained in the statistical release published in July, which I have placed in the Library of the House. Historical figures can also be found on Table 4 of the release on the level of arrears.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I also have placed in the Library a table showing the total council tax arrears as of 31 March 2014 for each billing authority in England; to assist public scrutiny, the table also includes total arrears per dwelling and the in-year council tax collection rate. The worst council in England is Liverpool with £450 of arrears per dwelling; the best is Amber Valley with just £14 per dwelling.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department’s best practice document, “50 ways to save”, listed improving council tax collection rates and reducing arrears as a key way of making sensible savings to help keep overall council tax bills down and protect frontline services. Every penny of council tax that is not collected means a higher council tax for the law-abiding citizen who does pay on time.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is important that councils are sympathetic to those in genuine hardship, are proportionate in enforcement and do not overuse bailiffs (and we have published guidance for councils to stop unjustified, aggressive collection practices). However, these figures show that there is a significant potential source of income which councils across the country could use to support frontline service or freeze council tax bills next year.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon attachment 1 file name Council_tax_collection_rate_Statistics July2014 PQ 350200-01.pdf title council Tax Stats Release July 2014 2 file name Total arrears Arrears per Dwellings and collection rates PQ350200-01.xlsx title council tax arrears grouped question UIN HL1905 question first answered 22/10/2014 16:49:26 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	143 label Biography information for Baroness King of Bow

91847

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Council Tax
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the average Council Tax arrears per dwelling in England in each year since 2010.
tabling member printed	Baroness King of Bow
uin	HL1905
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2014 answer text <p>Council tax collection rates have not substantially changed, as illustrated by this table, which lists average collection rates over the last ten years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><em>Average collection rate in England</em></p></td><td><p><em>%</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004-05</p></td><td><p>96.6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005-06</p></td><td><p>96.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006-07</p></td><td><p>96.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007-08</p></td><td><p>97.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>97.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>97.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>97.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>97.3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>97.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>97.0</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There were a number of factors which may have influenced the collection rates in 2013-14, which are explained in the statistical release published in July, which I have placed in the Library of the House. Historical figures can also be found on Table 4 of the release on the level of arrears.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I also have placed in the Library a table showing the total council tax arrears as of 31 March 2014 for each billing authority in England; to assist public scrutiny, the table also includes total arrears per dwelling and the in-year council tax collection rate. The worst council in England is Liverpool with £450 of arrears per dwelling; the best is Amber Valley with just £14 per dwelling.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department’s best practice document, “50 ways to save”, listed improving council tax collection rates and reducing arrears as a key way of making sensible savings to help keep overall council tax bills down and protect frontline services. Every penny of council tax that is not collected means a higher council tax for the law-abiding citizen who does pay on time.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is important that councils are sympathetic to those in genuine hardship, are proportionate in enforcement and do not overuse bailiffs (and we have published guidance for councils to stop unjustified, aggressive collection practices). However, these figures show that there is a significant potential source of income which councils across the country could use to support frontline service or freeze council tax bills next year.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon attachment 1 file name Council_tax_collection_rate_Statistics July2014 PQ 350200-01.pdf title council Tax Stats Release July 2014 2 file name Total arrears Arrears per Dwellings and collection rates PQ350200-01.xlsx title council tax arrears grouped question UIN HL1904 question first answered 22/10/2014 16:49:29 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	143 label Biography information for Baroness King of Bow

91853

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Military Aircraft
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in each year since 2007–8, what were the total (1) planned, and (2) actual, usage hours for (a) the C-17 Globemaster, (b) the C-130K Hercules, (c) the C-130J Hercules, (d) the Tristar, and (e) the VC-10, aircraft.
tabling member printed	Lord Moonie
uin	HL1911
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2014 answer text <p>The planned and actual flying hours for financial years 2009-10 onwards are provided in the table below. Figures for the C-130 Hercules reflect the total fleet flying hours irrespective of aircraft Mark as this data is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td>2009-10</td><td>2010-11</td><td>2011-12</td><td>2012-13</td><td>2013-14</td></tr><tr><td>C-17 Planned</td><td>7,800</td><td>8,300</td><td>8,800</td><td>9,580</td><td>10,140</td></tr><tr><td>Actual</td><td>8,320</td><td>8,790</td><td>8,370</td><td>8,230</td><td>8,660</td></tr><tr><td>C-130 Planned</td><td>28,720</td><td>28,060</td><td>26,080</td><td>24,440</td><td>22,150</td></tr><tr><td>Actual</td><td>20,650</td><td>17,970</td><td>16,920</td><td>16,110</td><td>13,850</td></tr><tr><td>Tristar Planned</td><td>11,560</td><td>9,830</td><td>6,000</td><td>6,000</td><td>6,000</td></tr><tr><td>Actual</td><td>6,550</td><td>5,470</td><td>5,820</td><td>5,510</td><td>4,270</td></tr><tr><td>VC-10 Planned</td><td>6,480</td><td>6,480</td><td>4,480</td><td>4,480</td><td>670</td></tr><tr><td>Actual</td><td>7,370</td><td>6,110</td><td>5,360</td><td>2,430</td><td>550</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.</p><p> </p><p>For 2007-08 and 2008-09 I refer the noble Lord to the previous answers given on 15 June 2009 (Official Report, column 8W), 14 May 2009 (Official Report, column 13MC) and 27 April (Official Report, column 1023W).</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Astor of Hever question first answered 22/10/2014 16:26:03 answering member 3428 label Biography information for Lord Astor of Hever
tabling member	621 label Biography information for Lord Moonie

91894

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Business: China
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Chinese government about innovation, manufacturing and investment.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	209377
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>Innovation is a key priority for the UK and Chinese Governments and both are committed to strengthening the UK/China trade and investment relationship. To that end, this Department has held regular discussions on these issues with the Chinese government, including on opportunities in the manufacturing sector. Innovation and investment were discussed at all UK-China high level dialogues in 2014, most recently at the Economic and Financial Dialogue and Bilateral Investment Conference held in London in September 2014, at the UK-China Summit in June 2014 and at the 11<sup>th</sup> Joint Economic and Trade Commission in Beijing in May 2014.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 28/10/2014 16:06:56 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

91915

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Non-domestic Rates: Yorkshire and the Humber
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many businesses in (a) Barnsley East constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber have qualified for the full business rates discount to date.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
tabling member printed	Michael Dugher
uin	209387
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>We have introduced a £1 billion business rate support package for 2014-15 including:</p><p> </p><p>– a 2% cap in the Retail Price Index increase in the small business rates multiplier;</p><p>– a retail discount of £1,000 for around 300,000 shops, pubs and restaurants with rateable values below £50,000;</p><p>– a 12 month extension of small business rate relief doubling, benefitting over half a million businesses;</p><p>– a 50 per cent discount for new occupants of long-term vacant shops, and;</p><p>– allowing ratepayers to pay bills over 12 instalments.</p><p> </p><p>As outlined in the Written Ministerial Statement of 18 September 2012, Official Report, Column 32WS, the Department no longer publishes statistics by government office region. Additionally, the Department does not collect data on a constituency basis, but Barnsley East constituency lies entirely within the Barnsley Metropolitan District. Table 1 shows, where available, the estimated number of properties that will benefit from each of the reliefs introduced or extended in 2014-15 in Barnsley Metropolitan District, as well as the amount of relief awarded:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><p><strong>Table 1</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>Item</em></p></td><td><p><em>Estimated number of properties in the Barnsley Metropolitan District that will benefit from these reliefs </em></p><p><em>(units)</em></p></td><td><p><em>Amount of Relief Awarded</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><em>(£thousands)</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2% RPI Cap on Small Business Rates Multiplier</p></td><td><p>6,597</p></td><td><p>N/A</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>12 month extension of small business rate relief doubling, of which:</p></td><td><p>2,650</p></td><td rowspan="3"><p> </p><p>4,458<sup>1</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em> - 100% relief</em></p></td><td><p>2,026</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em> - Tapering</em></p></td><td><p>624</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Long Term Empty Reoccupation Relief</p></td><td><p>N/A</p></td><td><p>43</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Retail Rate Relief</p></td><td><p>740</p></td><td><p>738</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p>All data is from the 2014-15 NNDR1 (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rates-collected-by-local-councils-in-england-forecast-for-2014-to-2015" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/non-domestic-rates-collected-by-local-councils-in-england-forecast-for-2014-to-2015</a>), except for retail rate relief data which is available from the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/353101/Estimated_number_of_properties_that_will_receive__1000_business_rates_relief.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/353101/Estimated_number_of_properties_that_will_receive__1000_business_rates_relief.pdf</a></p><p><sup>1</sup>This is the total amount of small business rates relief awarded. The breakdown for the amount awarded to properties receiving 100% and tapering relief is not available.</p><p>N/A – data not available.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 28/10/2014 16:04:39 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
tabling member	3916 label Biography information for Michael Dugher

91933

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence: Procurement
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's communication to industry of its future requirements.
tabling member constituency	Mid Worcestershire
tabling member printed	Sir Peter Luff
uin	209332
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2014 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with defence companies through several forums to ensure the best possible access to its future requirements. The Department engages key suppliers, defence trade associations and SMEs through regular meetings of the Defence Suppliers Forum, the SME Forum and their respective sub-committees. In addition, under the delegated model of defence transformation, each of the Commands have regular interface through their equipment capability teams with relevant industry to apprise them of broad capability issues.</p><p> </p><p>We hold regular industry days focused on particular projects and programmes which allow the department and domains an opportunity to discuss future requirements directly with a wide range of suppliers, including Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. This includes regular events organised by Front Line Commands to share information with industry about future requirements such as the Air Environment Capability Strategy day held in May 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The MOD uses the MOD Defence Contracts Online portal and, where appropriate, the Contracts Finder portal, to advertise all its publishable tenders and contract opportunities valued in excess of £10,000. Access to the portals are free of charge.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne question first answered 23/10/2014 15:37:52 answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne previous answer version 22731 answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne
tabling member	268 label Biography information for Sir Peter Luff

91940

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Peacekeeping Operations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK plans to (a) bid to fill any of the nine gender adviser positions that are part of the Afghanistan Operation Resolute Support Force structure and (b) appoint an O7 rank or above to lead the Gender Advisory Unit; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	209500
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2014 answer text <p>The UK does not have any current plans to do so.</p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois question first answered 22/10/2014 16:25:20 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois previous answer version 22749 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

91947

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any UK Reapers or personnel from the UK Reaper Force Squadron have moved from Afghanistan to Qatar or another location in the Gulf in the last year.
tabling member constituency	West Bromwich East
tabling member printed	Mr Tom Watson
uin	209545
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made in the House on 16 October 2014 (Official Report, column 35WS) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon).</p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois question first answered 27/10/2014 16:36:10 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois attachment 1 file name 16 October 2014.doc UK Operations Against ISIL.doc title Hansard Extract 16 October 2014 previous answer version 22750 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
tabling member	1463 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest

92032

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisons: Drugs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of confiscation of (a) mephedrone, (b) BZP, (c) spice and (d) ketamine there were in prisons in England and Wales in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Tooting
tabling member printed	Sadiq Khan
uin	209374
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) takes the issue of all contraband in prisons extremely seriously and deploys a comprehensive range of robust searching and security measures to detect items of contraband both at the point of entry to the prison and concealed within the prison. We do not tolerate drugs in prison and anyone caught with them will be punished and could face further prosecution.</p><p> </p><p>The success of NOMS Drug Strategy is illustrated by the reduction of drug misuse - as measured by the random mandatory drug testing programme - which has declined by 17.0 percentage points over the past 17 years (positive rates were 24.4% in 1996/7 and 7.4% in 2013/14) despite the fact that more drugs are being tested for.</p><p> </p><p>New psychoactive substances (NPS) are a recent issue affecting many parts of society, both here and abroad, including our prisons. NOMS is working with its partners to develop methods for testing for NPS and preventing them from entering establishments. Work is also taking place to increase levels of understanding about the risks that NPS present to offenders, with a view to providing them and those who work with them in prisons and the community with appropriate information, guidance and support.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recently introduced an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill to expand prisons' powers to test prisoners for non-controlled drugs. This would allow prison staff to conduct mandatory drug tests on prisoners for non-controlled drugs, such as new psychoactive substances and medicines, if the required tests were available.</p><p> </p><p>All figures in this answer have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. The data has been extracted by searching for the exact terms given in the question and not any slang or alternative spellings. The data are not subject to audit.</p><p> </p><p>The table below gives the number of seizures in prisons in England and Wales in the timeframe requested of Mephedrone, BZP, Spice and Ketamine, and described exactly as such on the database.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>2010</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014 to 31 July</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mephedrone</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>BZP</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Spice</p></td><td><p>15</p></td><td><p>86</p></td><td><p>133</p></td><td><p>262</p></td><td><p>430</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ketamine</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>TOTAL</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>90</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>138</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>267</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>436</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The term “Legal Highs” represents hundreds of different substances of which spice is just one. To try to calculate the instances of all such substances being confiscated would therefore only be possible at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 21/10/2014 10:53:54 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	1577 label Biography information for Sadiq Khan