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7 July 2010 : Column 330W—continued
Pensioners: Ashton-in-Makerfield
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receive (a) the basic state pension and (b) pension credit in Makerfield constituency. [6051]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the following table.
| Parliamentary constituency: Makerfield | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State pension figures are for the total state pension caseload. Around 1% of state pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic state pension, but are receiving additional state pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 3. Basic state pension only figures are not available by current 2010 parliamentary constituencies. 4. Pension credit household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Individual beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 5. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at November 2009 | |
Pensioners: Bishop Auckland
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in (a) Bishop Auckland and (b) Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency receive (i) the basic state pension and (ii) pension credit. [5092]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the table.
Pensioners: Enfield
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners resident in (a) the London borough of Enfield and (b) Enfield North constituency are in receipt of (i) the basic state pension and (ii) pension credit. [5591]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the table.
| Area | State pension recipients | Pension credit individual beneficiaries | Pension credit household recipients |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State pension figures are for the total state pension caseload. Around 1% of state pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic state pension, but are receiving additional state pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 3. Basic state pension only figures are not available by current 2010 parliamentary constituencies. 4. Pension credit household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Individual beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 5. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent data as at November 2009 | |||
Pensioners: Greater Manchester
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receive (a) the basic state pension and (b) pension credit in Stretford and Urmston constituency. [5844]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the table.
Pensioners: Houghton-le-Spring
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receive (a) the basic state pension and (b) pension credit in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency. [5900]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the table.
| Houghton and Sunderland South parliamentary constituency | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State pension figures are for the total State Pension caseload. Around 1% of state pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic state pension, but are receiving additional state pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 3. Basic state pension only figures are not available by current 2010 parliamentary constituencies. 4. Pension credit household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Individual beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 5. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at November 2009. | |
Pensioners: Hull
Diana R. Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Kingston upon Hull North constituency receive (a) the basic state pension and (b) pension credit. [6521]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the table.
Pensioners: Lancashire
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receive (a) the basic state pension and (b) pension credit in West Lancashire constituency. [5625]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the table.
| Parliamentary constituency | State pension recipients | Pension credit individual beneficiaries | Pension credit household recipients |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State Pension figures are for the total state pension caseload. Around 1% of. state pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic state pension, but are receiving additional state pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 3. Basic state pension only figures are not available by current 2010 parliamentary constituencies. 4. Pension credit household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Individual beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 5. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent data as at November 2009 | |||
Pensioners: Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend the terms of reference of his Department's review into public sector pensions to include the pension arrangements of Government special advisers. [5760]
Danny Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
Special advisers working for the Government are members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, and this scheme falls within the scope of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission.
Pensioners: Motherwell
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency are in receipt of (a) the basic state pension and (b) pension credit. [6531]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the table.
| Motherwell and Wishaw parliamentary constituency | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State pension figures are for the total state pension caseload. Around 1% of state pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic state pension, but are receiving additional state pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 3. Basic state pension only figures are not available by current 2010 parliamentary constituencies. 4. Pension credit household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Individual beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 5. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at November 2009 | |
Pensioners: Worsley
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receive (a) the basic state pension and (b) pension credit in Worsley and Eccles South constituency. [6092]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the table.
| Parliamentary constituency | State pension recipients | Pension credit individual beneficiaries | Pension credit household recipients |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State pension figures are for the total state pension caseload. Around 1% of state pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic state pension, but are receiving additional state pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 3. Basic state pension only figures are not available by current 2010 parliamentary constituencies. 4. Pension credit household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Individual beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 5. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at November 2009 | |||
Pensions Act 2008
Mr Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made an assessment of the suitability of August as the month during which the implementation date for the Pensions Act 2008 falls. [6075]
Steve Webb: The Pensions Act 2008 will be implemented from October 2012, with employers being brought under the duties gradually, over a four-year period. Employers are due to be brought within the scope of the employer duties in a series of monthly stages, starting with the largest firms, with the majority of the smallest companies being brought in from August 2014.
Staging is essential to ensure the reforms are implemented safely and fairly. Following extensive work with our delivery partners, we have determined that staging in multiple tranches over four years strikes the right balance between managing operational risks and getting people into saving quickly.
We consulted widely on our implementation approach and have discussed whether to avoid staging during certain times of year, to reduce burdens on businesses. Based on advice from stakeholders, we have ensured that employers will not be staged in during December.
In addition, to provide maximum flexibility, employers scheduled for the month of August will be free to bring their date forward to an alternative month, provided this is not before October 2012.
Social Security Benefits
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the distributional effects of the proposed changes in welfare benefits by income decile of the population in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) Wales, (e) England and (f) each English region in each year from 2010-11 to 2015-16; and if he will make a statement. [4971]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
This Government have published for the first time estimates of the distributional impact of announced tax and benefit measures.
Estimates of the distributional impact of tax credit and benefits changes implemented in 2012-13 at the UK level are set out in annex A of the Budget document:
"Budget 2010: Data sources" provides a full list of modelled measures:
Estimates for 2010-11 are not available as the tax credit and benefit measures that we are able to model have an impact from 2011-12 onward.
Looking at the impact of welfare benefits changes in 2011-12 would only show a partial effect as it is only in 2012-13 that tax credit changes will be fully implemented. Estimates post 2012-13 are not available due to greater uncertainty surrounding longer term economic forecasts underpinning the modelling.
Estimates of changes in welfare benefits by income decile are only available at UK level as lower geographical disaggregations do not provide sufficiently robust results.
Social Security Benefits: Lewisham
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of (a) disability living allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) employment and support allowance in Lewisham East constituency. [6582]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows:
| Employment support allowance claimants, incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, and disability living allowance: November 2009 | |||
| Parliamentary constituency | ESA | IB/SDA | DLA |
| Notes: 1. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance (ESA) from October 2008. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, some additional disclosure has been applied. 3. Caseload for DLA show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 4. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 5. IB/SDA 'Claimants' include people in receipt of benefit and also those who fail the contributions conditions but receive a national insurance credit, i.e. 'credits only cases'. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data. | |||
Unemployment: Older Workers
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to tackle unemployment among those over 50 years old; and if he will make a statement. [5420]
Chris Grayling: We have announced plans for radical reforms of the welfare to work system and the implementation of the Work programme. The Work programme will be an integrated package of support providing personalised help for people who find themselves out of work regardless of the benefit they claim. This is being designed to meet the needs of jobseekers of all ages including people aged over 50.
We aim to have the new Work programme in place nationally by the summer of 2011.
Alongside the core Work programme we will introduce a series of support measures such as, help for business start ups, Work clubs, and specialised pre-employment training and work placements.
Recognising the particular issues some older jobseekers face, we have produced good practice and support materials to help advisers and providers working with customers aged over 50 who are seeking work.
Energy and Climate Change
Climate Change: International Cooperation
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to secure a legally binding international treaty on climate change. [6507]
Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to seeking an ambitious global deal to tackle climate change. The Government are playing their full part in the international negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
By the time of the Climate Change Conference in Cancun in November this year, we aim to make substantial progress towards agreement on the key elements of a legally binding international agreement.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on proposals for a legally binding international treaty on climate change. [6508]
Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to reaching an international deal to reduce emissions and we are committed to working with other Governments and international interlocutors to achieve this.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already had a number of meetings and made telephone calls to a number of countries. Most recently he met with counterparts in the margins of the Major Economies Forum in Rome (30 June-1 July).
Departmental Buildings
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many buildings his Department occupies in (a) London and (b) the UK. [6855]
Gregory Barker: The Department fully occupies one building in London (3 Whitehall Place) and part-occupies one building in Aberdeen (Atholl House, Guild Street).
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to reduce the level of his Department's carbon emissions by 10% in the next 12 months. [6511]
Gregory Barker: On 14 May 2010, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced, during a visit to DECC's London headquarters, a commitment to reduce central Government emissions by 10% in the next 12 months. DECC will play its full part by reducing its emissions from electricity and gas use on its estate by at least 10% over this period, on top of the 20% CO2 reduction secured in the 2009-10 financial year.
The measures the Department intends to take include changes to lighting, heating and cooling systems and a staff engagement programme to encourage behaviour change to reduce energy use further. The Department regularly reports progress on energy efficiency on its website, where a real-time energy monitor is also available that provides live information updated every five seconds on electricity and gas use.
Departmental Official Photographs
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent on official photographs of Ministers since the formation of the present administration. [6441]
Gregory Barker: The total spent by DECC on official photographs of Ministers since the formation of the Government is £39.
Fuel Poverty: Richmond Park
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of households in Richmond Park constituency are in fuel poverty. [6932]
Gregory Barker: The most recently available sub-regional split of fuel poverty relates to 2006, and shows that there were 3,300 households in the Richmond Park constituency that were classified as living in fuel poverty. This is equivalent to 6.9% of all households in the Richmond Park constituency.
Green Investment Bank
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received on the creation of a green investment bank. [6510]
Gregory Barker: The Government will put forward detailed proposals on the creation of a green investment bank following the spending review.
A wide range of options for the scope and structure of the green investment bank are being considered. The Government have received a number of representations in this respect, including the findings and recommendations of the review undertaken by Bob Wigley and his panel, which was published last month.
Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change planning session in October 2010 will be conducted under the terms of the Aarhus Convention. [5381]
Gregory Barker: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) conducts its meetings in accordance with its own rules of procedure which are available on its website. Not all of the IPCC member states are party to the convention and we cannot comment on whether the IPCC's planning session will be conducted under the terms of the Aarhus Convention, although all papers from the meeting will be made available on the IPCC website. However, the UK is a party to the convention and we will continue encouraging the IPCC to continue to be as open in terms of its processes and procedures as possible.
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proposed changes in the conduct of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessments and procedures he plans to support at the IPCC plenary session in October 2010. [5382]
Gregory Barker: We have been asked to comment on the current rules of procedure for election of the IPCC bureau and any task force bureau and this will be discussed at plenary in October. Apart from this, we currently have no plans to propose changes to the IPCC at the meeting. The October meeting will consider the outcomes of the IAC review and we will consider what implications this has for the IPCC within that meeting.
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the name is of each representative of the Government who will attend the plenary session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in October 2010. [5383]
Gregory Barker: The UK delegation to the IPCC plenary session in October has not yet been selected.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to increase the feed-in tariff to a rate of 41p per kilowatt in relation to photovoltaic panels. [5023]
Gregory Barker: A generation tariff rate of 41.3p/kWh is paid for solar photovoltaic installations of 4 kW or less in capacity. This would equate to a typical domestic sized installation which would also benefit from the additional export tariff rate of 3p/kWh.
The table of tariffs, available from our website at:
and reproduced as follows, details the rates, banded by scale, for eligible technologies.
| Table of tariffs up to 2013 | |||||
| Tariff level for new installations in period (p/kWh)( 1) | |||||
| Technology | Scale | Year 1: 1 April 2010-31 March 2011 | Year 2: 1 April 2011-31 March 20 12 | Year 3: 1 April 2012- 31 March 2013 | Tariff lifetime (years) |
| (1 )Tariffs will be inflated annually. | |||||
Taxation: Carbon Emissions
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect of the measures in the June 2010 Budget on funding for transition to a low-carbon future. [6498]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
The June Budget set the overall spending envelope for Government, consistent with reducing the deficit, and meeting the fiscal mandate of achieving cyclically adjusted current balance by the end of the rolling, five- year forecast period. The allocation of this spending across Government's priorities will be decided in the course of the Spending Review, to be concluded on 20 October.
Wind Power
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on wind farms. [5849]
Charles Hendry: The Government are committed to the development of wind energy in the UK. As an island nation we have outstanding wind resources and wind energy is an indigenous source of energy which is needed to meet our renewable energy and climate change goals. The wind industry can be a key player in creating the investment, exports and jobs we need to bring back economic prosperity, and the UK is already a world leader in offshore wind.
We also want communities and individuals to benefit from the increase in renewable energy, including wind power, and to own a stake in our collective low carbon future. This is why we committed in the coalition programme for Government to encouraging more community-owned renewable energy and allowing communities that host renewable energy projects to keep the additional business rates they generate.
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the effects of wind turbines on the health of nearby residents. [6215]
Charles Hendry: The planning process requires developers and planners to evaluate the likely impact of issues such as noise and shadow flicker from wind turbines on local residents and those working in the vicinity. Planning authorities can and do refuse planning permission for proposed wind farms where there are likely to be significant impacts which cannot be acceptably mitigated.
A study was commissioned in 2007 into a noise phenomenon known as aerodynamic modulation (AM), which it is was thought could be a cause of noise
disturbance for nearby residents. The study found that the incidence of AM resulting from wind farms in the UK is low. Out of the 133 wind farms in operation at the time, there were four cases where AM appeared to be a factor. Complaints have subsided for three out of these four sites.
Health
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce the incidence of alcohol abuse. [5868]
Anne Milton: Alcohol is a major public health issue. We are determined to ensure effective commissioning of national health service services, with a focus on prevention and good outcomes from treatment, including treatment for alcohol abuse.
We are committed to banning the sale of alcohol below cost, to reviewing alcohol taxation and pricing to ensure it tackles binge drinking without unfairly penalising responsible drinkers, pubs and important local industries. We are committed to introducing a tougher licensing regime.
We will set out our plans in more detail through announcements in the coming months.
Benzodiazepines and Antidepressants
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions of (a) individual benzodiazepine drugs and (b) antidepressants were dispensed in the community in 2009. [5531]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
| Benzodiazepine prescription items classified as hypnotics and anxiolytics in sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 of the British National Formulary (BNF) and dispensed in the community in England in 2009 | |
| BNF chemical name | Prescription items ( T housand) |
| (1) Less than 50 prescription items dispensed Source: Prescription Cost Analysis | |
| Benzodiazepine prescription items classified as antiepileptic drugs in sections 4.8.1 and 4.8.2 of the British National Formulary (BNF) and dispensed in the community in England in 2009 | |
| BNF chemical name | Prescription items ( T housand) |
| Source: Prescription Cost Analysis | |
| Benzodiazepine prescription items classified as sedative and analgesic peri-operative drugs in section 15.1.4 of the British National Formulary (BNF) and dispensed in the community in England in 2009 | |
| BNF chemical name | Prescription items ( T housand) |
| Source: Prescription Cost Analysis | |
| Antidepressant prescription items classified in section 4.3 of the British National Formulary (BNF) and dispensed in the community in England 2009 | |
| BNF chemical name | Prescription items ( T housand) |
| (1) Less than 50 prescription items dispensed Source: Prescription Cost Analysis | |
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which Ministers in his Department have used an allocated ministerial car to travel between his Department and the House of Commons on each day since 21 May 2010. [5549]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not recorded by the Department. However, Ministers based at Richmond house regularly walk to the House.
Departmental Property
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what property has been recorded as (a) lost and (b) stolen from the Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the replacement of that property. [5969]
Mr Simon Burns: The following table outlines information technology (IT) losses for financial year 2009-10 and is the latest information held. No losses of other departmental property have been reported. No distinction is made between items lost or stolen.
| IT Equipment Losses 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 | ||
| Items | Total items lost or stolen during the year | Total Monetary loss for the year (£) |
Departmental Public Expenditure
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on (a) refreshments and (b) furnishings in his private office in each year from 2005 to 2010. [5620]
Mr Simon Burns: Departmental records show that expenditure on refreshments and furnishings in the Secretary of State's office in the years requested is in the following table.
| £ | ||||||
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010( 1) | |
| (1) To the present. | ||||||
Fats: Health Hazards
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on proposals to ban industrially produced trans fatty acids. [5933]
Anne Milton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a number of representations from members of the public and also a wide-ranging report on the prevention of cardiovascular disease at a population level from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence.
Fluoride: Drinking Water
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistical information his Department holds on the effect on levels of health inequality of the addition of fluoride to the water supply since the commencement of the Water Act 2003. [6062]
Anne Milton: There have been no new fluoridation schemes since 2003. However, the potential that fluoridation offers for reducing inequalities in oral health is well illustrated by data from nationally coordinated surveys of child dental health, a copy of which has been placed in the Library and is available at:
By way of example, a survey conducted in 2007-08 shows five-year-old children in Sandwell, in the fluoridated west midlands, have on average 1.1 decayed, missing or filled tooth compared with an average of 2.4 in Blackburn, an area of a similar socio-economic profile in the north- west where the water is not fluoridated. Equally significant is information from the 2009 health profile for the west midlands, which covered a wide range of indices including life expectancy, infant deaths, violent crime and drug misuse. The profile shows that, of all the indices, only those for tooth decay and road injuries and deaths in the west midlands were below the national average. A copy of the profile has been placed in the Library and is available at:
Food: Advertising
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on restrictions on the scheduling of television advertising of food and drink with high levels of fat, salt or sugar. [5925]
Anne Milton: The television regulator Ofcom has placed scheduling restrictions on the broadcast advertising of foods high in fat, salt and sugar during children's programmes and programmes of particular appeal to children up to the age of 16.
We will consider this issue further as we develop our public health proposals.
Food: Labelling
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with representatives of the food industry on the effects of the provision of food label information on the (i) salt, (ii) sugar and (iii) fat content of foods on the ability of people to manage their (A) diabetes, (B) heart disease, (C) stroke, (D) obesity and (E) other chronic medical conditions; what recent representations he has received on those matters; what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on those matters; and if he will make a statement. [5462]
Anne Milton:
Ministers have not had any recent discussions with the food industry or representations on the provision of nutritional information on food labels. The Government are considering a number of schemes
at the moment. It is important that people have nutritional information on the pack of food they buy, so that they can make good choices about what they eat.
We will be having discussions with Ministers across government as we develop our public health proposals.
Officials regularly meet with food manufacturers, retailers and trade organisations to discuss a range of public health issues. This includes discussion about nutritional labelling.
Health Visitors: Waltham Forest
Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the health of residents of the London borough of Waltham Forest of implementing his proposed increase in the number of health visitors; and when he expects to allocate funding to support such an increase. [6544]
Anne Milton: Growing numbers of health visitors will mean extra support for children and families, especially at the start of life. The coalition agreement has made a commitment to increasing the number of health visitors.
Hospitals: Consultants
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on ending the system of merit awards to NHS consultants; and if he will make a statement. [6421]
Mr Simon Burns: From 2004, clinical excellence awards were made as a replacement for distinction awards. We are looking at these payments in the context of the Government's approach to public sector pay.
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS paid in merit awards to consultants in the last 12 months. [6422]
Mr Simon Burns: From 2004, clinical excellence awards were made as a replacement for distinction awards.
For the financial year 2009-10, the national health service paid £202.2 million to consultants for national clinical excellence awards and distinction awards.
We are looking at this type of payment in the context of the Government's approach to public sector pay.
Notes:
1. The information above does not include information on local clinical excellence awards (employer based awards) which are paid by trusts.
2. The information above does not include national clinical excellence awards that are paid from central funds to consultants holding a NHS contract and employed in the Department or arms length bodies.
Hospitals: Food
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to ban the sale of (a) tea and coffee with sugar and (b) cheddar cheese sandwiches in hospitals. [5340]
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust on the case of Mrs Rose Gibb. [5408]
Mr Simon Burns: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust on the case of Mrs Rose Gibb.
Mental Health Services
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to prevent people developing mental health problems. [6677]
Mr Burstow: We have already pledged £70 million in the current financial year to support the expansion of psychological therapies and are actively considering how best to make further progress. The focus will in particular be on services that, when delivered early, can help to minimise the severity of mental illness and help people move to recovery.
More generally, the national health service will be backed with increased real resources, although we recognise that there are still efficiencies to be made. However, we intend to make sure front-line services in the NHS as a whole are protected from cuts.
We also recognise the importance of promoting good public health and preventing ill-health. Mental illness is common, often debilitating, and closely linked to physical illness. Understanding and addressing the causes of mental ill-health will be central to our plans for public health.
NHS: ICT
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the cost of the Connecting for Health programme. [6108]
Mr Simon Burns: The National Programme for Information Technology (NPfIT) is currently forecast to cost some £12.052 billion to 2015-16. This figure derives from a 2008 National Audit Office estimate based on the then existing contracted costs and forecast central costs, at 2004-05 prices, adjusted to take account of £600 million of savings announced by the previous Government.
We will be revisiting NPfIT expenditure plans in the context of the forthcoming spending review.
NHS: Social Responsibility
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much and what proportion of the current NHS corporate social responsibility settlement has been transferred to social care. [5957]
Mr Burstow:
We understand the hon. Member is referring to the comprehensive spending review settlement. As set out in our latest Departmental Report (table A.2), transfers between the national health service and personal social services within the 2007 comprehensive spending review settlement are: £167 million in 2008-09,
£272 million in 2009-10, and £250 million in 2010-11. This represents 0.18%, 0.28% and 0.24% of the overall current NHS net revenue settlement.
NHS: Standards
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2010, Official Report, column 699, on NHS targets, if he will publish the representations on NHS targets he has received in the last seven weeks. [5830]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has received correspondence from hon. Members and the public about national health service targets and waiting times.
The Department does not routinely publish individual responses to correspondence as these may contain personal details, publication of which could lead to distress to the individuals concerned.
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how his Department will publish information on whether the quality measures for stroke, dementia and blood clots are met. [6292]
Mr Simon Burns: Quality standards are advice from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on high quality care. The first three quality standards for dementia, stroke and the prevention of venous thromboembolism were published on 30 June. Quality standards set out the structures and processes that the evidence suggests are most likely to deliver high quality care. The measures that accompany each of the statements within a quality standard support local monitoring, for example by commissioners.
Although some of the data underpinning the measures may be published as part of national data collections, our focus as a Government is on measuring the outcomes of the treatment and care provided to patients rather than processes involved. We intend to set out our vision for an outcomes framework for the national health service shortly.
NHS: Temporary Employment
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many temporary staff are employed by (a) his Department and (b) the NHS. [5488]
Mr Simon Burns: In the last full year, an average of 58.3 full-time equivalent temporary civil servants and an average of 865.8 full-time equivalent temporary workers (agency staff and contractors) worked in the Department.
For the national health service the workforce census does not distinguish staff by type of contract. However numbers of bank nursing staff can be shown. The bank staff figures exclude doctors and all other non-medical staff.
The total bank nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in England NHS hospital and community health services as at 30 September 2009 was 66,693.
Obesity
Mr Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made a recent estimate of the cost to the economy of illness, economic inactivity and premature
death associated with overweight and obesity; what recent discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with Ministerial colleagues on that matter; and if he will make a statement. [5400]
Anne Milton: In 2007, the Foresight team which is part of the Government Office for Science published 'Tackling Obesities: Future Choices'. The Foresight team estimated the cost of obesity and overweight to the national health service to be £4.2 billion per year. The cost to the economy was estimated to be £16 billion per year.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the rate of (a) obesity and (b) smoking among (i) males and (ii) females in each age group (A) in Southend, (B) in each borough in Essex, (C) in the Metropolitan Police area of London and (D) nationally. [5401]
Anne Milton: Information is not available in the format requested.
Information on the percentage of obese adults aged 16 and over in England is available in the 'Health Survey for England-2008 trend tables', Adult trend tables, Table 4. Information is provided for adults (Men and Women) aged 16 and over in England for the years 1993 to 2008. This publication has already been placed in the Library.
The proportion of adults aged 16 and over recorded as obese by strategic health authority area for 2008 is available in Table 7.3 on page 194 of the 'Health Survey for England-2008: physical activity and fitness'. This publication has been placed in the Library.
Information on prevalence of cigarette smoking by sex, country, and Government Office Region of England is contained within Table 1.11 of the General Lifestyle Survey 'Smoking and Drinking among adults, 2008', published by the Office for National Statistics. This publication has been placed in the Library.
Obesity: Children
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made in the number of children in each age group who were classified as (a) overweight and (b) obese (i) in Southend, (ii) in each borough in (A) Essex and (B) Kent, (iii) the Metropolitan Police area of London and (iv) nationally in each of the last five years. [5463]
Anne Milton: Information is not available in the format requested.
Information on the percentage of overweight and obese children in England is available in the "Health Survey for England-2008 trend tables", child trend tables, table 4. Information is provided for children aged two to 15 in England for the years 1995 to 2008. This publication has already been placed in the Library.
Information on the proportion of children aged two to 15 recorded as overweight and obese by strategic health authority area is available for 2008 in table 13.3 (P327) of the "Health Survey for England-2008: Physical activity and Fitness report". This publication has already been placed in the Library.
Further information on the proportion of children who are overweight and obese in England is collected through the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). Table A and table B of the following reports-"National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2008/09 School Year"; "National Child Measurement Programme 2007/08 School Year, Headline Results"; and "National Child Measurement Programme: 2006/07 School Year, Headline Results" show the prevalence of overweight and obese children aged four to five years and 10 to 11 years by primary care trust, and strategic health authority area. Copies of the publications have already been placed in the Library.
Smoking
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether his Department has made an assessment of whether the introduction of the smoking ban in July 2007 affected the incidence of smoking in homes in the presence of children; [5466]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of the smoking ban on public houses and private members' clubs; [5467]
(3) what plans he has to review the smoking ban; and what public consultation will be held as part of that review. [5468]
Anne Milton: From July 2007 and the implementation of smoke-free legislation, there has been consistently high rates of compliance and public support. Opinion surveys suggest that over eight in 10 people are in support of the law.
According to the Office for National Statistics publication 'Smoking-related Behaviours and Attitudes' in 2008-09, 69% of people said that smoking was not allowed at all in their home, since 2006 when 61% of people said this. A copy of this publication has already been placed in the Library. Research evidence from England and internationally also demonstrates that smoke-free legislation is effective in reducing exposure to second hand smoke (SHS) in adults and in children, and that there is no significant evidence that introducing smoke-free legislation for public places displaces smoking into the home.
Research evidence has shown that bar workers' exposure to SHS has reduced substantially and that the health of these workers has improved. (Semple, S. et al. (2010). 'UK smoke-free legislation: changes in PM 2.5 concentrations in bars in Scotland, England and Wales' in Ann.Occup.Hyg., 54, 3, pp.272-280).
The Government currently have no plans to review the legislation.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with (a) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and (b) public health organisations on the NICE recommendation that smoking in (i) cars and (ii) public areas used by children and young people under the age of 18 be prohibited. [5924]
Anne Milton: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has not made a recommendation that smoking be prohibited in these circumstances. Therefore, no discussions have taken place.
On 23 June 2010, NICE published public health guidance titled 'How to stop smoking in pregnancy and following childbirth'. For partners and others in the household who smoke, the guidance recommends not smoking around the pregnant woman, mother or baby. This includes not smoking in the house or car (recommendation 7). The NICE publication is available on the internet at:
Smoking: Young People
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research into the causes of smoking in young people his Department has evaluated; and if he will make a statement. [5492]
Anne Milton: Smoking by young people is a serious public health problem, and the Department keeps published research in this area under review.
In 2009, the Public Health Research Consortium (PHRC) published "A Review of Young People and Smoking in England". The PHRC reported that becoming a smoker is influenced by a range of factors at an individual, family, social, community and societal level. Young people are most at risk of becoming smokers if they grow up and move in social networks where smoking is accepted and perceived to have positive value within social relationships.
The PHRC report is available on the internet at:
We are currently considering how best to tackle this issue in the context of our focus on public health, and our priorities given the challenges facing public sector finances.
Social Services: Manpower
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely number of social workers that will be employed in the UK in 2010. [6514]
Mr Burstow: It is estimated that there are 79,000 social workers employed in England currently. The Department does not estimate the likely number of social workers that will be employed in the United Kingdom. It is for local social care employers to determine the number of social workers they need to employ in order to deliver the appropriate services in their community.
Treatment Centres
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of independent sector treatment centres' exclusion criteria on NHS teaching hospitals within the same or a neighbourhood NHS trust. [6030]
Mr Simon Burns: There has been no formal assessment of the effects of independent sector treatment centres' (ISTC) exclusion criteria on national health service teaching hospitals within the same or a neighbouring NHS trust.
Trainee clinical professionals are able to undertake training at ISTCs as part of their training placement
circuit. Independent sector organisations hosting training are subject to the same audit by relevant bodies as other NHS organisations.
Under Wave One of the ISTC programme, junior doctor training was only required where the case mix involved transferred activity. Under phase two of the ISTC programme, ISTCs provide new training opportunities across the entire clinical pathway, as appropriate to the case mix, for all clinical staff including junior doctors.
Training is assessed and agreed with ISTC providers by the relevant Deanery and educational institutions. Deaneries ensure that ISTC providers meet all of the accreditation requirements of the Post-graduate Medical Education Training Board (PMETB) and non-medical professional regulatory bodies.
Once a Deanery has approved an ISTC for educational placements, they enter into a training agreement with the respective provider. ISTCs are also represented on local education steering groups, run by their respective Deanery. These are mandatory requirements for all phase two ISTC contracts.
Tuberculosis
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to improve awareness of tuberculosis among (a) health professionals and (b) those most at risk. [5457]
Anne Milton: Increasing awareness of tuberculosis (TB) among health care professionals and groups most at risk of infection and providing accessible services are key factors in improving early diagnosis and treatment.
The Department is funding TB Alert (a United Kingdom charity) to work with groups most vulnerable to TB, and with primary care health professionals to help to build the capacity of local national health service organisations, the wider public sector and third sector organisations to run local awareness-raising programmes.
In addition, the Department is currently supporting a find and treat service in London to identify and treat cases of TB among people who are homeless or have other complex social needs. This service includes peer educators who raise awareness of TB among these groups and encourage them to get tested.
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the amendment of Articles 9 and 10 of the framework convention on tobacco control at the forthcoming conference of the parties to that convention; and if he will make a statement. [5365]
Anne Milton: Parties to the framework convention on tobacco control (FCTC) have undertaken to implement a range of effective and evidence-based tobacco control measures set out in the treaty, as well as to protect public health policy from tobacco industry influence. The articles of the FCTC, including articles 9 and 10 on the regulation of the contents of tobacco products and the regulation of tobacco product disclosures, are not being amended.
Cabinet Office
Business
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the five-year survival rate of small businesses was in (a) Great Yarmouth constituency, (b) the East of England and (c) the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [6170]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what the five year survival rate of small businesses was in (a) Great Yarmouth constituency, (b) the East of England and (c) the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [6170]
Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at
The table below contains the latest statistics available on small enterprise five year survival in Great Yarmouth parliamentary constituency, East of England and the United Kingdom.
| The c ount of births in 2003 and t he count and percentage of five- year survival for enterprises with less than 50 employment | |||
| Geography | 2003 births | Five-year survival | Five-year percentage |
A small business is defined as an enterprise with less than 50 employment.
Business: Great Yarmouth
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses (a) started up and (b) ceased in Great Yarmouth constituency in each of the last five years. [6083]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 7 July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many businesses (a) started up and (b) ceased in Great Yarmouth constituency in each of the last five years. [6083]
Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at www.statistics.gov.uk. The table below contains the latest statistics available on enterprise births and deaths in Great Yarmouth parliamentary constituency, the past five years.
| Enterprise births and deaths, 2004-08, Great Yarmouth parliamentary constituency | ||
| Births | Deaths | |
Business: Witham
Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many small businesses in Witham constituency generated a turnover of (a) between £70,000 to £100,000 and (b) over £100,000 in the latest period for which figures are available. [6725]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many small businesses in Witham constituency generated a turnover of (a) between £70,000 to £ 100,000 and (b) over £100,000 in the latest period for which figures are available. [6725]
Annual statistics on business counts are available from the ONS release UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at
Data are for enterprises with less than 50 employment and for the ward areas that cover the new constituency of Witham for the year 2009.
| Count of VAT and/or PAYE based enterprises with less than 50 employment for the area that covers the new constituency of Witham | |
| Turnover | Number of enterprises |
Charities: Disability
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the name is of the charity which was the subject of the report of the Charity Commission inquiry published on 10 June 2010 entitled Inquiry into a Charity which supports disabled people; what the name is of (a) its chief executive and (b) each of its trustees; and which two councils made a complaint against the charity. [5036]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply.
Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 30 June 2010:
As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on the inquiry report we published on 10 June 2010, in which we did not disclose the name of the charity involved or its chief executive, trustees or the complainants.
As you may know, the Charity Commission has powers to open a statutory inquiry under Section 8 of the Charities Act 1993. We only use these powers in the most serious of cases, instead dealing with most complaints and concerns through working with charity trustees to rectify problems and put charities back on the right track. For reasons of transparency and accountability, and in order to disseminate "lessons learnt" to the wider sector, it is our usual and established policy to publish a report at the conclusion of a statutory inquiry.
In the case in question, the legal advice was clear that, as a public body, the Commission's obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 prevent us from being able to disclose the identity of the charity or those connected to it. Regretfully, I cannot, therefore, answer your question directly. The decision not to name the charity is not in any way to absolve the trustees of any responsibility and, as you would expect, we continue to monitor the situation
carefully. Although this is not the first time we have decided not to identify a charity we have investigated, I should emphasise just how exceptional it is for us to take this step.
I hope this helps to explain our position. If you would like to discuss this further our Director of Legal Services and Compliance, Kenneth Dibble, would be happy to do so. Do contact my office to make arrangements.
I hope this is helpful.
Civil Servants: Great Yarmouth
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make an assessment of the merits of relocating central Government jobs to Great Yarmouth. [4717]
Danny Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
No such assessment has been made.
The location of public sector activity and plans for the Government's estate will be considered alongside other public spending issues over the course of the spending review.
Civil Servants: Networking
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his policy is on the attendance of civil servants at (a) the Chemistry Club, (b) the Climate Change Forum and (c) other networking events provided by private sector companies. [5217]
Mr Maude: Civil servant's attendance at events is governed by the requirements of the civil service code.
Deaths: Nutrition
Mr Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many deaths (a) in Southend, (b) in Essex and (c) nationally were attributed to an individual being (i) overweight and (ii) underweight in each of the last five years. [5402]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths (a) in Southend, (b) in Essex and (c) nationally were attributed to an individual being (i) overweight and (ii) underweight in each of the last five years. (5402)
The terms 'overweight' and 'underweight' are not normally used in the registration of deaths. Consequently, figures can only be provided for deaths recorded using the medically recognised terms 'obesity' and 'malnutrition' or 'effects of hunger'. The number of deaths so recorded is unlikely to be a complete or accurate reflection of the actual numbers of deaths which result, directly or indirectly, from being overweight or underweight.
The tables attached provide the number of deaths where (i) obesity was the underlying cause of death (Table 1) or was mentioned on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor (Table 2), and where (ii) malnutrition was the underlying cause of death (Table 3) or malnutrition and effects of hunger were mentioned on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor (Table 4), for (a) Southend-on-Sea unitary authority, (b) Essex county and (c) England and Wales, for the years 2005 to 2009 (the latest year available).
The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age and cause are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
| Table 1. Number of deaths where obesity was the underlying cause of death, Southend-on-Sea unitary authority, Essex county, and England and Wales, 2005 to 2009( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) | |||
| Deaths (persons) | |||
| Southend-on-Sea | Essex | England and Wales | |
| (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code E66 (obesity). (2) Based on boundaries as of 2010. (3) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (5) Figures for deaths registered in 2009 are provisional. | |||
| Table 2. Number of deaths where obesity was mentioned on the death certificate, Southend-on-Sea unitary authority, Essex county, and England and Wales, 2005 to 2009( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) | |||
| Deaths (persons) | |||
| Southend-on-Sea | Essex | England and Wales | |
| (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code E66 (obesity). Deaths were included where this cause was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor. Figures in Table 1 are therefore included in the figures in Table 2. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2010. (3) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (5) Figures for deaths registered in 2009 are provisional. | |||
| Table 3. Number of deaths where malnutrition was the underlying cause of death, Southend-on-Sea unitary authority, Essex county, and England and Wales, 2005 to 2000( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) | |||
| Deaths (persons) | |||
| Southend-on-Sea | Essex | England and Wales | |
| (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes E40-E46 (malnutrition). (2) Based on boundaries as of 2010. (3 )Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. (5 )Figures for deaths registered in 2009 are provisional. | |||
Departmental Directors
Mr Carswell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many candidates for the role of lead non-executive director his Department considered; and whether the role was (a) open to competition and (b) advertised; [6410]
(2) if he will publish the advice he received from the Cabinet Secretary on the process of appointment of the Government's lead non-executive director; [6411]
(3) what the (a) statutory and (b) prerogative basis is (i) for its appointment of a lead non-executive director for Government and (ii) the provision of advice to Ministers on the appointment of such directors to enhance boards of Government Departments; [6495]
(4) what criteria his Department used to determine the (a) qualities and (b) competencies required of the Government's lead non-executive director. [6499]
Mr Maude: The appointment of Lord Browne is a personal, non-statutory ministerial appointment made by the Minister for the Cabinet Office following interview by the Cabinet Secretary and Minister for the Cabinet Office. Lord Browne has been appointed on the basis of his long standing business experience. The appointment is unpaid and was not subject to open competition. .
Departmental Internet
Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library a copy of the tender document in respect of the Your Freedom website; how many companies tendered to build the website; and if he will make a statement. [6540]
The Deputy Prime Minister [holding answer 6 July 2010]: I have been asked to reply
The Your Freedom web project was commissioned through a single tender action using the Central Office of Information framework. This was because of the tight deadlines involved. There is no requirement to produce tender documentation for a single tender procurement.
Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff in his Department have been allocated to work on the Your Freedom project; and on what date he expects the project to be completed. [6541]
The Deputy Prime Minister [holding answer 6 July 2010]: I have been asked to reply.
Ten staff from the strategic communications, press office, digital and policy teams have worked on the Your Freedom project. None of these staff worked on the project full-time and no new staff have been recruited. The project is on going.
Departmental Lost Property
Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what property has been recorded as (a) lost and (b) stolen from the Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the replacement of that property. [5979]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office has recorded one BlackBerry and one mobile phone reported as either lost or stolen in the last 12 months. The estimated cost of their replacement is £475.
Departmental NDPBs
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the address is of the head office of each non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible. [5725]
Mr Maude: As at 30 June 2010, the Cabinet Office is responsible for 11 small advisory non-departmental public bodies and two executive bodies.
The head office addresses for the Non-Departmental Public Bodies are as shown in the following table:
Employment: Great Yarmouth
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in Great Yarmouth constituency are employed in the (a) public and (b) private sector. [5936]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people in Great Yarmouth constituency are employed in (a) public and (b) private sector. (5936)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
Individuals are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the APS. Consequently, the classification of an individual's sector may differ from how they would be classified in the National Accounts.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. For the twelve month period January to December 2009 it is estimated there were 33,000 people employed in the private sector in Great Yarmouth parliamentary constituency, however estimates for the number of people employed in the public sector are not considered reliable for statistical purposes.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
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