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  • Ian Lavery – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Ian Lavery – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2014-04-29.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place in the Library a copy of the business case for the outsourcing of compliance checks on tax credits claims.

    Nicky Morgan

    From April to July 2013, HMRC carried out a trial to test whether it would be feasible to increase the number of compliance checks on tax credits claims, through the use of private sector resource. HMRC will publish the evaluation of the trial and the customer research report in due course.

    It is not appropriate to place the business case in the public domain given the commercial sensitivities and the risk of prejudice to HMRC’s ability to tackle tax credits error and fraud.

    In terms of the external costs of the trial, I refer the Hon Member to the Thirty-Fourth Report of the Committee of Public Accounts [2013/14] into HMRC Tax Collection: Annual Report & Accounts 2012–13, which may be found at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmpubacc/666/66602.htm. All internal HMRC operating costs are published annually in the HMRC Annual Report and Accounts.

    “

  • Andrew Percy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andrew Percy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to roll out mobile telephone blocking technology across HM prisons estate.

    Jeremy Wright

    The National Offender Management Service is committed to addressing the risks that mobile phones present in prisons. Part of its response is to deploy technology in prisons that prevents mobile phones from working.

    In 2012 the government enacted the Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Act 2012. The Act places the use of mobile phone signal interference technology in prisons on a clear legal footing, enabling maximum use of such technology and to enable private prisons to use it.

    A number of prisons are equipped with ‘fixed’ (as opposed to ‘portable’) signal interference technology. Since 21 October 2013 around 300 short-range portable blockers have been deployed to 88 public sector prisons.

  • Andrew Percy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andrew Percy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the level of illegal use of cellular devices in UK prisons; and if he will make a statement.

    Jeremy Wright

    The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) takes the issue of mobile phones in prisons very seriously and is committed to addressing the risks they present to both the security of prisons and the safety of the public.

    NOMS has implemented a multi-layer approach: to minimise the number of mobile phones entering prisons, to find phones that do get in and to disrupt mobile phones that cannot be found. A range of technology has been rolled out to prisons to strengthen searching and security, including portable mobile phone signal detectors, Body Orifice Security Scanners (BOSS chairs), high sensitivity metal detecting wands and short range portable mobile phone blockers.

    In 2012 prisons reported 7,301 seizures* of mobile phones and/or SIM cards. All figures provided 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.

    *One seizure may constitute a handset containing one SIM card or media card, a handset only, or a SIM card only.

  • Andrew Percy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andrew Percy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cellular devices have been confiscated from prisons in each of the last five years by establishment.

    Jeremy Wright

    Since April 2010, prisons have been asked to send all unauthorised phones and SIM cards found to a central unit for interrogation, or to notify the unit if an unauthorised phone or SIM card has been found but not sent for analysis. Data prior to April 2010 is not held centrally and data for 2013 and 2014 is being verified and is not yet available.

    The table below shows the number seizures of mobile phones and/or SIM cards reported by each prison between April 2010 and December 2012. One seizure may constitute a handset containing one SIM card or media card, a handset only, or a SIM card only.

    ESTABLISHMENT

    2010

    2011

    2012

    ACKLINGTON

    54

    28

    ALBANY

    3

    4

    ALTCOURSE (C)

    790

    609

    534

    ASHFIELD(C)

    1

    2

    2

    ASHWELL

    2

    7

    ASKHAM GRANGE

    2

    AYLESBURY

    278

    97

    29

    BEDFORD

    27

    55

    29

    BELMARSH

    15

    25

    9

    BIRMINGHAM

    248

    537

    302

    BLANTYRE HOUSE

    19

    12

    4

    BLUNDESTON

    27

    1

    11

    BRINSFORD

    12

    76

    45

    BRISTOL

    54

    33

    26

    BRIXTON

    46

    67

    28

    BRONZEFIELD(C)

    34

    12

    3

    BUCKLEY HALL

    11

    22

    149

    BULLINGDON

    42

    16

    6

    BULLWOOD HALL

    1

    8

    15

    BURE

    5

    1

    CAMP HILL

    98

    52

    22

    CANTERBURY

    22

    10

    21

    CARDIFF

    19

    36

    7

    CASTINGTON

    10

    11

    CHANNINGS WOOD

    64

    63

    15

    CHELMSFORD

    42

    38

    11

    COLDINGLEY

    37

    52

    42

    COOKHAM WOOD

    6

    1

    1

    DARTMOOR

    27

    16

    2

    DEERBOLT

    3

    15

    2

    DONCASTER(C)

    15

    6

    24

    DORCHESTER

    20

    14

    8

    DOVEGATE (C)

    5

    24

    15

    DOVER

    14

    21

    10

    DOWNVIEW

    5

    5

    2

    DRAKE HALL

    10

    2

    3

    DURHAM

    24

    41

    23

    EAST SUTTON PARK

    1

    5

    4

    EASTWOOD PARK

    3

    9

    1

    EDMUNDS HILL

    25

    22

    ELMLEY

    45

    47

    53

    ERLESTOKE

    62

    176

    137

    EVERTHORPE

    50

    32

    26

    EXETER

    14

    21

    15

    FEATHERSTONE

    39

    29

    133

    FELTHAM

    84

    65

    45

    FORD

    61

    250

    200

    FOREST BANK (C)

    122

    37

    105

    FOSTON HALL

    1

    2

    FRANKLAND

    6

    2

    7

    FULL SUTTON

    10

    4

    9

    GARTH

    76

    32

    39

    GARTREE

    14

    22

    65

    GLEN PARVA

    2

    4

    8

    GLOUCESTER

    1

    4

    3

    GRENDON

    17

    10

    3

    GUYS MARSH

    77

    182

    175

    HASLAR

    2

    HATFIELD

    10

    58

    154

    HAVERIGG

    107

    134

    291

    HEWELL

    76

    289

    335

    HIGHDOWN

    23

    68

    49

    HIGHPOINT

    80

    55

    180

    HINDLEY

    1

    4

    6

    HOLLESLEY BAY

    193

    129

    90

    HOLLOWAY

    7

    7

    10

    HOLME HOUSE

    18

    15

    5

    HULL

    23

    25

    13

    HUNTERCOMBE

    2

    36

    9

    ISIS

    8

    52

    39

    KENNET

    4

    5

    9

    KINGSTON

    6

    KIRKHAM

    273

    390

    493

    KIRKLEVINGTON GRANGE

    13

    15

    19

    LANCASTER CASTLE

    18

    LANCASTER FARMS

    89

    79

    25

    LATCHMERE HOUSE

    69

    40

    LEEDS

    53

    59

    27

    LEICESTER

    27

    26

    15

    LEWES

    38

    46

    30

    LEYHILL

    83

    27

    30

    LINCOLN

    28

    33

    4

    LINDHOLME

    164

    96

    145

    LITTLEHEY

    13

    34

    4

    LIVERPOOL

    138

    118

    88

    LONG LARTIN

    12

    31

    77

    LOW NEWTON

    3

    LOWDHAM GRANGE (C)

    27

    10

    26

    MAIDSTONE

    6

    34

    22

    MANCHESTER

    41

    36

    23

    MOORLAND

    111

    65

    13

    MOORLAND OPEN

    10

    MORTON HALL

    4

    5

    MOUNT

    86

    78

    182

    NEW HALL

    2

    1

    NORTH SEA CAMP

    86

    63

    67

    NORTHALLERTON

    7

    3

    NORTHUMBERLAND

    9

    15

    109

    NORWICH

    30

    15

    11

    NOTTINGHAM

    11

    38

    17

    OAKWOOD

    33

    ONLEY

    53

    68

    65

    PARC(C)

    32

    79

    16

    PARKHURST

    6

    8

    20

    PENTONVILLE

    207

    199

    124

    PETERBOROUGH(C)

    141

    145

    60

    PORTLAND

    24

    6

    11

    PRESCOED

    2

    4

    PRESTON

    18

    15

    9

    RANBY

    90

    124

    300

    READING

    12

    25

    7

    RISLEY

    72

    12

    37

    ROCHESTER

    6

    10

    23

    RYE HILL(C)

    42

    79

    70

    SEND

    3

    12

    11

    SHEPTON MALLET

    3

    7

    4

    SHREWSBURY

    3

    SPRING HILL

    12

    13

    34

    STAFFORD

    12

    69

    14

    STANDFORD HILL

    150

    186

    127

    STOCKEN

    26

    12

    30

    STOKE HEATH

    8

    28

    19

    STYAL

    7

    7

    9

    SUDBURY

    72

    120

    124

    SWALESIDE

    100

    58

    107

    SWANSEA

    2

    1

    SWINFEN HALL

    32

    44

    14

    THAMESIDE

    8

    THORN CROSS

    74

    79

    84

    USK

    2

    1

    1

    VERNE

    67

    144

    161

    WAKEFIELD

    1

    2

    3

    WANDSWORTH

    157

    131

    119

    WARREN HILL

    5

    10

    5

    WAYLAND

    20

    30

    17

    WEALSTUN

    57

    145

    155

    WELLINGBOROUGH

    61

    195

    181

    WERRINGTON HOUSE

    12

    4

    9

    WETHERBY

    5

    3

    5

    WHATTON

    9

    1

    WHITEMOOR

    18

    28

    17

    WINCHESTER

    39

    3

    31

    WOLDS(C)

    104

    96

    44

    WOODHILL

    4

    58

    74

    WORMWOOD SCRUBS

    141

    267

    39

    WYMOTT

    58

    50

    11

    Total

    6756

    7789

    7301

    All figures provided 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.

  • Andrew Percy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andrew Percy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with mobile telephone operators on operators terminating accounts shown to be illegally active within the HM prison estate.

    Jeremy Wright

    On 5 March 2014, together with my hon Friend the member for Staffordshire Moorlands, I met with representatives from the major mobile phone network operators as part of a new government-industry working group to discuss ways to tackle illicit mobile phone use in prisons. Since that meeting, the National Offender Management Service is continuing to work with the networks to further explore options for disabling mobile phones proven to be operating in prisons.

  • John Healey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    John Healey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Healey on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what is the average (a) social rent and (b) Affordable Rent is for units funded under the Affordable Homes Programme in each region of the UK.

    Kris Hopkins

    The information is not centrally held in the form requested.

  • John Healey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    John Healey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Healey on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average housing benefit award is for housing benefit claimants paying Affordable Rent under the Affordable Homes Programme in each region of the UK.

    Kris Hopkins

    The information is not centrally held in the form requested.

  • Peter Luff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Peter Luff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Luff on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide an estimate of the costs of redoubling the section of the North Cotswold line between (a) Charlbury to Wolvercote Junction and (b) Evesham and Norton Junction.

    Stephen Hammond

    The provision of a cost estimate for further redoubling of the North Cotswold line would normally be sought from Network Rail only when a business case is identified for the extra benefits this enhancement would provide. No business case has yet been identified and so a cost estimate is not being sought. Network Rail is investigating the opportunities for line speed improvements on the route to reduce journey times.

  • Vernon Coaker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Vernon Coaker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of savings to the public purse arising from using Capita to administer personal independence payment assessments.

    Mike Penning

    Expenditure forecasts from the introduction of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are calculated on a national basis and it is therefore not possible to provide a breakdown in respect of areas where administration of PIP has been contracted to Capita.

  • Vernon Coaker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Vernon Coaker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the performance of Capita in fulfilling its contract to administer personal independence payments.

    Mike Penning

    I refer the right Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 January 2014, Official Report, column 58-59W, to the hon. Member for Edinburgh East (Sheila Gilmore).