Following consideration of representations from outside experts and representative bodies, and with a broad cross section of the sector through consultation, we have accepted that it is appropriate to apply judgemental sparsity top-ups to a number of the Relative Needs Formulae as set out in the Formula Funding document approved as part of this year's Local Government Finance settlement. These changes give a lower reduction of per capita funding for predominantly rural authorities than for predominantly urban authorities in every authority class compared with last year's settlement.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Glen Watson, dated July 2013:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on what the fertility rate was in (a) England, (b) each region of England and (c) each local authority areas in each year since 2001 [163341].

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the most useful measure of an area's fertility level. The TFR is the average number of live children that a group of women would each bear if they experienced the age-specific fertility rates of the calendar year in question throughout their childbearing lifespan.

ONS publishes TFRs by area of usual residence for regions and local authorities in England and Wales. Birth statistics are produced to boundaries in place during the year the birth occurred. This approach means that changes in boundaries can affect the comparability of statistics over time.

Published tables for 2001-2011 have been collated in the spreadsheet.

Fertility rates for 2001-2007 were published in Key Population and Vital Statistics publication available at

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/kpvs/key-population-and-vital-statistics/index.html

Figures for 2001 are available in table 4.2 while figures for 2002-2008 are available in table 4.1a.

Fertility rates for 2008-2011 are published in table 4 at:

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/birth-summary-tables--england-and-wales/index.html

Figures for 2012 will be published on 10 July 2013.

Total fertility rates for 2011 have been calculated using mid-2011 population estimates based on the 2011 Census. Total fertility rates for 2001-2010 use mid-year population estimates based on the 2001 Census. Consequently rates for 2002-2010 do not take account of population estimate revisions which have taken place since publication.

A copy of the tables will be placed in the Library of the House.

The Government intends to publish a summary of the responses received to the 2012 consultation on alcohol fraud, and announce what action it intends to take to address fraud, in the near future.

The Government intends to publish a summary of the responses received to the 2012 consultation on alcohol fraud, and announce what action it intends to take to address fraud, in the near future.

The Government intends to publish a summary of the responses received to the 2012 consultation on alcohol fraud, and announce what action it intends to take to address fraud, in the near future.

I am very conscious of the vital role that buses play in supporting local communities. They are the backbone of our public transport system and crucial to a healthy, growing economy. This is recognised by the fact that we were able to protect existing levels of Government support for buses as part of the spending decisions announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday.

Population density and sparsity feature within a number of the Relative Needs Formulae used in settlement calculations. Detail of the methodology used for Relative Needs Formulae is available in the formula funding document presented as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2013-14 and is available at:

www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1314/calcffs.pdf

The formula for the environmental, cultural and protective services block covers the calculation of a number of services. Formula grant and Revenue Support Grant are unhypothecated block grants and it is therefore not possible to set out how much funding is provided for any particular service.

Population density and sparsity feature within a number of the Relative Needs Formulae used in settlement calculations. Detail of the methodology used for Relative Needs Formulae is available in the formula funding document presented as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2013-14 and is available at:

www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1314/calcffs.pdf

The formula for the environmental, cultural and protective services block covers the calculation of a number of services. Formula grant and Revenue Support Grant are unhypothecated block grants and it is therefore not possible to set out how much funding is provided for any particular service.

The Government does not intend to place any specific restrictions on a future owner of Royal Mail with regards to its assets.

A decision by Royal Mail to sell any of its assets would need to meet the directors' duty to act in the best interests of the company.

Our intention is to give Royal Mail real commercial freedom and future access to private sector capital by selling shares in Royal Mail this financial year—2013/14. Placing restrictions on GLS or other matters would not be consistent with that policy.

GLS is a profitable part of the Royal Mail business and a contributor to its results. Any decisions on its future, after a sale, would be taken in that context and would be a matter for Royal Mail.

Officials are in regular contact with UK suppliers of biodiesel, including through stakeholder workshops run by the Department's RTFO Unit which administers the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO).

We amended the RTFO in December 2011 to provide extra support to waste-derived biofuels through the award of two Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) per litre of waste-derived biofuel.

Later this year we will assess the available data and other evidence regarding the impact of these, and other changes made to the RTFO, in a post implementation review.

As part of that exercise we will shortly be asking suppliers for input to inform the review, including on the effects of double counting. We expect to publish a draft version of the review in the autumn.

Officials are in regular contact with UK suppliers of biodiesel, including through stakeholder workshops run by the Department's RTFO Unit which administers the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO).

We amended the RTFO in December 2011 to provide extra support to waste-derived biofuels through the award of two Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) per litre of waste-derived biofuel.

Later this year we will assess the available data and other evidence regarding the impact of these, and other changes made to the RTFO, in a post implementation review.

As part of that exercise we will shortly be asking suppliers for input to inform the review, including on the effects of double counting. We expect to publish a draft version of the review in the autumn.

Officials are in regular contact with UK suppliers of biodiesel, including through stakeholder workshops run by the Department's RTFO Unit which administers the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO).

We amended the RTFO in December 2011 to provide extra support to waste-derived biofuels through the award of two Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) per litre of waste-derived biofuel.

Later this year we will assess the available data and other evidence regarding the impact of these, and other changes made to the RTFO, in a post implementation review.

As part of that exercise we will shortly be asking suppliers for input to inform the review, including on the effects of double counting. We expect to publish a draft version of the review in the autumn.

[holding answer 21 May 2013]: In Cornwall, since 2008, no planning applications for a wind turbine have been overturned on appeal by the Secretary of State.

In England, since 2008, 11 planning applications for wind turbines have been overturned on appeal by the Secretary of State.

Provision at the National Farriery Training Association has been suspended as a consequence of Ofsted's judgment that this was inadequate.

I have asked the Skills Funding Agency to follow its intervention policy to deal to the issues raised by Ofsted. In addition, the agency is working closely with the Farrier's Registration Council and the National Farriery Training Association to put in place an alternative model of delivery that addresses the immediate concerns raised by Ofsted, and will allow apprentices to start in autumn 2013.

Senior staff from the agency are meeting with the Chair of the Farrier's Registration Council to explore this model in the next few days.

Our records show the Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has met representatives from trade unions on five separate occasions where teachers' pay—although not necessarily the 2013 School Teachers' Pay and Conditions document (STPCD)—was discussed. Ministers within the Department met trade union representatives on two occasions where teachers' pay was discussed. The Secretary of State and Ministers have met representatives from trade unions on numerous other occasions for general discussions, during which teachers' pay may have been raised.

During 2013, as part of the consultation on the 2013 STPCD, officials from the Department met statutory consultees of the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB), who include representatives of teaching organisations and trade unions, on nine occasions. Since publication of the document six meetings have been held with statutory consultees about implementation of the 2013 STPCD.

In 2013 the Secretary of State has had one meeting with a union general secretary at which the teachers' pensions scheme (TPS) was discussed. A further five meetings with unions and teaching organisations have also taken place during this period where issues related to TPS may have been discussed but were not specifically tabled for discussion.

I have met trade union representatives on five occasions, none specifically to discuss TPS.

During this period officials have had a total of 13 meetings with trade unions at which the TPS was discussed. This has included seven meetings with union officials to discuss the detailed implementation of the reformed TPS.

All current learners training with the National Farriery Training Association will be funded to complete their qualification. The Skills Funding Agency is in active discussion with the Farriers Registration Council and colleges that deliver farrier training to secure provision through alternative delivery that ensures high quality training and apprentice safety and welfare.

The Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications is under review by the European Commission and includes amendments relating to the training of midwives. The Department is working closely with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office during negotiations, which are set to conclude from mid-2013. The United Kingdom has been an active member of the European Council Working Groups to develop the proposals, and the Department has worked closely with the key national groups affected by the issue.

The drawback paid by alcohol tax type for the requested periods is as follows:

The most recent estimate of the level of drawback-related fraud available is 2009. In 2009 HMRC estimated the level to be approximately £25 million per annum. HMRC have a number of policies, and undertake enforcement and compliance activity, to tackle drawback-related fraud.

The methodology for estimating the level of drawback related fraud was published in HMRC's Impact Assessment on “withdrawing warehousing for

export for claimants of drawback” dated 22 April 2009 published alongside the Budget that year. It is available at:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2009/110