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26 July 2010 : Column 825W—continued
Departmental Official Hospitality
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on hospitality in each year since 1997. [7447]
Mr Simon Burns: Information on hospitality in the Department is not available before 2004.
Hospitality expenditure is recorded in relation to catering provided for meetings and events. The Department orders the majority of hospitality through the central catering contract, which is used for Richmond house, Skipton house, Wellington house and New Kings Beam house but excludes Quarry house. Hospitality expenditure from 2004 to 2010 for the Department is as follows:
| Expenditure on hospitality (£) | |
Comprehensive information on hospitality for NHS Connecting for Health and a number of our other bodies and executive agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Limited information is available from 2002 to 2010 for the Appointments Commission, Care Quality Commission, Health Protection Agency and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. Total expenditure on hospitality by these organisations is shown in the following table:
| Expenditure on hospitality (£) | |
Departmental Utilities
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies spent on (i) electricity, (ii) water, (iii) heating and (iv) telephone services in each year since 1997. [7591]
Mr Simon Burns: Information on electricity, water and heating expenditure in the Department is not available before 1999. Information on telephone services expenditure in the Department is not available before 2000.
Information for electricity, water and heating expenditure is collected centrally for a number of the Department's buildings, which are managed, centrally by the Department and NHS Connecting for Health (Connecting for Health was formed in 2005). The figures include Richmond house, Skipton house, Wellington house, Hannibal house (building vacated September 2005), and Eileen house (building vacated July 2005), Hexagon house, Prospect house, Vantage house, 1 Whitehall, Princes Exchange and 8 and 9 Hi Tech Village. Costs for other buildings are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Expenditure on electricity, water and heating from 1999 to 2010 and on telephone services from 2000 to 2010 for the Department (including NHS Connecting for Health) was as follows:
| £ | ||||
| Electricity | Water | Heating | Telephone services | |
| (1) Not available. | ||||
Comprehensive information on electricity, water, heating and telephone services from all of the Department's non-departmental bodies and executive agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Limited information from 2001 to 2010 has been obtained from the General Social Care Council, Care Quality Commission, Health Protection Agency, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Monitor, Appointments Commission and the Human Tissue Authority. Total expenditure for electricity, water, heating and telephone services for these bodies is as follows:
| Electricity | Water | Heating | Telephone services | |
| (1 )Not available. | ||||
Direct Payments
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his plans are for the future of direct payments; and how much funding will be made available to local authorities to enable them to make such payments in 2010-11. [10616]
Mr Burstow: It is this Government's policy to extend the greater roll out of personal budgets, including direct payments, to give people and their carers more control and purchasing power.
Direct payments are paid in lieu of local authority services, there is therefore no separate budget for direct payments and individual local authorities would make such payments from their core funding. In light of demographic changes, we would expect an increasing number of people receiving social care to choose to receive a personal budget in the form of a direct payment.
Euthanasia
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2010, Official Report, columns 889-90W, on the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill, if he place in the Library a copy of each document in his Department's file on (a) the Patient (Assisted Dying) Bill [Lords] of Session 2002-03 and (b) the Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill [Lords]; and if he will make a statement. [10612]
Anne Milton: I have asked departmental officials to retrieve and examine the documentation requested by my hon. Friend the Member for Southend West (Mr Amess). Once this has been done I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
Foetal Tissue
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what organisation is responsible for overseeing the transferral of foetal tissue from clinics to researchers; what official reports have been published on this subject in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [10405]
Anne Milton: Responsibility for transferring foetal tissue to researchers lies with the organisation that supplies the tissue to the researcher. No official reports have been published on this subject in the last five years.
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foetal tissue banks are in operation; what commercial arrangements exist between clinics and foetal tissue banks or those conducting research; and if he will make a statement. [10406]
Anne Milton: Information on the number of foetal tissue banks in operation, or on the arrangements between clinics and foetal tissue banks or those conducting research, is not collected centrally.
The Human Tissue Act 2004 requires that the storage of human tissue for research, and other "scheduled purposes" is licensed. The regulator responsible for licensing is the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). However, the HTA does not have a category of "foetal tissue bank" and so could not give reliable figures for foetal tissue banks in operation. It has published a series of Codes of Practice on key activities involving human tissue, including consent (Code of Practice 1) and research (Code of Practice 9).
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many research projects are underway nationally involving foetal tissue; how much public money is being spent on these projects; and if he will make a statement. [10408]
Anne Milton: This information is not collected centrally.
Food
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with which food and food-related companies and trade associations (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have had discussions since taking office. [10971]
Anne Milton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health met with Unilever on 21 July 2010.
Food Standards Agency
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the staff (a) turnover and (b) absentee rate was at each office of the Food Standards Agency in each of the last five years. [9711]
Anne Milton: The staff turnover rate for staff located at each office of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) over the last three financial years was as follows:
| Percentage | ||||
| London | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | |
The absentee rate for staff located at each office of the FSA over the last three financial years was as follows:
| London | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | |
| Notes: 1. The response provided is in relation to the FSA. The table does not include staff numbers for the Meat Hygiene Service, an Executive agency of the FSA. 2. The information provided is based on Cabinet Office reporting requirements, and reflects the data provided by the agency for the last three financial years. 'Absentee rate' is calculated on the basis of average working days lost (AWDL) per employee, as per Cabinet Office reporting requirements. Data prior to 2007-08 were calculated on a calendar days' lost basis, and the equivalent AWDL rates could not be produced within the timeframe for response. | ||||
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department working on nutrition have experience of working in the food industry on nutritional matters. [10208]
Anne Milton: The information requested is not held.
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many meetings with Food Standards Agency officials he has had since his appointment; [10237]
(2) what meetings he has had with board members of the Food Standards Agency since his appointment. [10238]
Anne Milton: I met with the following members of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on Monday 19 July:
Lord Rooker (chairman);
Tim Smith (chief executive);
Margaret Gilmour (FSA executive board member); and
Chrissie Tsampazi (private secretary).
A visit to the FSA to meet staff has also been arranged.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what efficiency savings were made by the Food Standards Agency in each of the last three years. [10392]
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what efficiency savings have been made by the Food Standards Agency in the last three years for which figures are available. [10410]
Anne Milton:
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has made significant steps towards improving value for
money and has reduced gross cost in the last three years by 11% (£24 million) from £221 million in 2007-08 to £197 million in 2009-10.
This has been driven primarily by modernisation of the FSA's executive agency, the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) implemented over the last three years, reducing MHS's expenditure by 22% (£19 million) from £87 million to £68 million and headcount by 23% (426) from 1,860 to 1,434. The FSA has also undergone a significant internal restructuring to improve effectiveness and delivered savings of £5 million.
The MHS was dissolved and merged with the FSA to create a more effective and efficient FSA Operations Group in April 2010. This is expected to save more than £2 million per year ongoing.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many food incidents were dealt with by the Food Standards Agency in each of the last five years. [10393]
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many food incidents were dealt with by the Food Standards Agency in each of the last five years. [10411]
Anne Milton: The number of food incidents dealt with by the Food Standards Agency in each of the last five years is as follows:
| Number of incidents | |
Further details of incidents dealt with by the agency over the last five years can be obtained from the "Annual Report of Incidents", which is available from the agency's website at:
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance the Food Standards Agency provides to local authority food safety enforcement work. [10394]
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support the Food Standards Agency gives to local authority food safety enforcement work. [10412]
Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) provides grant funding to local authorities (LAs) to assist targeted food safety enforcement work. This includes the imported food and feed sampling programmes; the "fighting fund" to assist LAs in their work tackling significant food fraud; funding for LAs for preparatory work necessary for the successful local launch of the national "Food Hygiene Rating Scheme" (FHRS); and funding for Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) to support small caterers and retailers to comply with the requirement for a food safety management system.
The FSA assists LAs through delivery of training to enforcement officers to update their knowledge and skills and to facilitate consistent enforcement. This includes training courses for the implementation of SFBB; for LAs adopting the FHRS; for enforcement officers dealing with food fraud investigations; for imported food law enforcement; auditing of food safety management systems in food premises; and food and feed standards enforcement.
The FSA also provides assistance to LAs in the form of guidance and advice on food law enforcement and a number of online resources. Additional assistance is available to LAs from the Food Fraud Advisory Unit that provides an advisory resource for LAs carrying out investigations into food fraud.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the location is of each Food Standards Agency office in the UK; and how many staff work at each office; [10396]
(2) what proportion of the staff of the Food Standards Agency take part in front-line food safety operations. [10397]
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) at what locations staff of the Food Standards Agency are employed; [10413]
(2) how many and what proportion of staff of the Food Standards Agency are involved in front-line food safety operations. [10414]
Anne Milton: For the financial year 2009-10, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) employed 1,741 staff, including staff working for the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), an executive agency of the FSA, which was integrated into the FSA in April 2010. 814 of the staff worked in front-line food safety operations, this equating to 46.8% of the total staff employed by the FSA. The front-line staff predominantly carry out food safety inspections and enforcement in approved meat premises.
The average number of staff located at each FSA office, including those based at the time MHS office in York, was as follows:
| 2009-10 | |
| FSA office | Average number of staff |
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the use of scientific evidence by the Food Standards Agency in formulating policy on (a) food safety and (b) nutrition. [10969]
Anne Milton: The Department has not assessed the use of science by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in developing policy but recognise that science is at the core of the agency's business. The Government's chief scientific adviser has assessed the use of science by the FSA, and in a review published in April 2009, considered the agency's use of science to be good and that it has come to decisions which are largely supported by the scientific community. The review also felt that further improvements could be made.
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will adopt for his Department the practice of the Food Standards Agency to make all policy decisions in meetings open to the public. [10970]
Anne Milton: The Department does not have the same status as the Food Standards Agency (FSA). We do not hold board meetings in the way that the FSA does as a non-ministerial government department.
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the policy of the Food Standards Agency is on the voluntary approach to improving the nutritional benefit of processed foods. [10972]
Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) promotes the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet. Processed foods can form part of a healthy balanced diet and it is the overall balance of the diet which is more important than the nutrient content of individual foods. A varied diet containing relatively low levels of salt and saturated fat, which includes plenty of fruit and vegetables and starchy foods, should provide all the nutrients that a healthy individual requires.
The FSA has been working with the food industry to voluntarily encourage reformulation of products to reduce the levels of salt, saturated fat, sugar and portion size providing consumers with a wide range of healthier options.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which functions of the Food Standards Agency he plans to transfer to (a) the Department of Health, (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (c) another Government Department or agency. [11608]
Anne Milton: I refer the right hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20 July 2010, Official Report, column 12WS.
Food: Advertising
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations his Department has received on the marketing, advertising and promotion of food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar in non-broadcast media. [10350]
Food: Labelling
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2010, Official Report, column 704W, on food labelling, what steps he plans to take to encourage industry to voluntarily declare the trans fat content of food products. [10336]
Anne Milton: Voluntary action by the food industry to reformulate food products and remove hydrogenated vegetable oils and fats from foods is reducing average dietary intake of trans fatty acids. The Government will support provisions in the proposed food labelling legislation currently under negotiation in Europe which would allow industry to voluntarily label their products to reflect their efforts in reducing trans fat content.
General Practitioners
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral statement of 12 July 2010, Official Report, columns 661-63, on the NHS White Paper, what conditions there will be on borrowing by GP consortia. [10163]
Mr Simon Burns: The White Paper, "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" published on 12 July 2010, has set out our proposals for transforming the quality of commissioning by devolving decision-making to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices.
"Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for patients" published on 22 July sets out further information on the intended arrangements for GP commissioning, providing the basis for fuller engagement with primary care professionals and the public. The details of the financial regime will be worked up as part of the consultation process.
Dr Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of doctors working in GP practices in England are partners in the practice where they work. [10450]
Mr Simon Burns: As at 30 September 2009, there were 35,719 general practitioners (GPs) (excluding GP registrars and retainers) in England. Of these, 28,607 (79.6%) were partners in the practice they worked in.
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will have responsibility for ensuring the (a) comprehensive provision and (b) consistency of standards of mental health services under his proposals to transfer responsibility for NHS commissioning to GPs. [10910]
Mr Burstow: The White Paper, "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS", published on 12 July, sets out our intention to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices. To support GP consortia in their commissioning decisions, we will also create an independent NHS Commissioning Board.
"Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for patients" published on 22 July provides further information on the intended arrangements for GP commissioning and the role of the NHS Commissioning Board. GP consortia will be responsible for commissioning the majority of NHS services, including mental health, for patients. However, with the local authority also taking a convening role, leading the joint strategic needs assessment and promoting joined up commissioning, this will provide the opportunity for local areas to further integrate mental health services.
The NHS Commissioning Board will provide a framework to support GP consortia in commissioning services, including setting commissioning guidelines on the basis of clinically approved quality standards developed with advice from NICE. The board will also be responsible for holding consortia to account for the outcomes they achieve as commissioners.
Mr Blunkett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has estimated the number of GPs presently
engaged in direct care of patients who will be required to work full-time on the delivery of his proposed new consortia for commissioning; and if he will make a statement. [10964]
Mr Simon Burns: The White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" sets out our proposals to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices.
"Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for patients" published on 22 July, provides further details on the intended arrangements for GP commissioning, providing the basis for fuller consultation and engagement with primary care professionals, patients and the public.
Under the proposed model not all GPs have to be actively involved in every aspect of commissioning. Their predominant focus will continue to be on providing high-quality primary care to their patients. It is likely to be a smaller group of primary care practitioners who will lead the consortium and play an active role in the clinical design of local services.
GP consortia will have the freedom to decide what commissioning activities they undertake for themselves and for what activities (such as demographic analysis, contract negotiation, performance monitoring and aspects of financial management) they may choose to buy in support from external organisations, including local authorities, private and voluntary sector bodies.
Health Services: Standards
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2010, Official Report, column 408W, on NHS standards, for what reason there are no plans to publish the world-class commissioning datasets nationally. [10006]
Mr Simon Burns: The data used in the world class commissioning assurance process was drawn from existing sources. There are no plans to bring these sources together for national publication.
The White Paper, "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS", published on 12 July 2010, has also set out our proposals for transforming the quality of commissioning by devolving decision making to local consortia of general practitioner practices.
Health Services: Wales
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the implications are for Wales of the proposals relating to non-devolved health-care matters contained in the NHS White Paper. [10764]
Mr Simon Burns: The NHS White Paper "Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS" applies only to the national health service in England.
Devolved Administrations and the Wales Office/Scotland Office/Northern Ireland Office are being consulted where the policies in the Bill have incidental or consequential implications for the devolved areas (for example, changes to arm's length bodies with remits which extend beyond England).
Hearing Impairment
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to increase public awareness of hearing damage arising from listening to (a) music at live events and (b) personal audio and other media devices. [10957]
Mr Burstow: The Department, advised by the Health Protection Agency, keeps under review the risks to health which may be attributed to various kinds of noise. We have no plans at present for an information campaign on the risks to the hearing posed by the use of personal music players but I will ask officials to talk to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People and to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to explore options.
Hospitals: Admissions
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many hospitalisations involving gun wounds there were in (a) the London borough of Lambeth, (b) London and (c) England in (i) each year from 2005 to 2009 and (ii) 2010 so far; [10719]
(2) how many hospitalisations involving knife wounds there were in (a) the London borough of Lambeth, (b) London and (c) England in (i) each year from 2005 to 2009 and (ii) 2010 so far; [10720]
(3) how many hospitalisations of individuals living in Streatham constituency involving knife wounds (a) there were in each year from 2005 to 2009 and (b) there have been in 2010; [10721]
(4) how many hospitalisations of individuals living in Streatham constituency involving gun wounds (a) there were in each year from 2005 to 2009 and (b) there have been in 2010. [10722]
Anne Milton: The number of finished admission episodes where the external cause codes were knife wound and gunshot wound have been provided. This information has been broken down by England, London SHA and Lambeth primary care trust of residence, 2005-06 to 2008-09 and 2009-10 April to February provisional data. We have provided you with data for assaults as well as other hospitalisations by knife and gun wound (see clinical codes footnote for clarification of ICD-10 external cause codes used).
We are unable to provide data on hospitalisation in the London borough of Lambeth or for individuals living in Streatham constituency area as we do not hold information at these geographic levels.
| Number of finished admission episodes( 1) where the external cause code was knife wound or gunshot wound( 2) , in England, London SHA and Lambeth PCT of residence( 3) , 2005-06 to 2008-09 and 2009-10 April to February provisional data( 4) , activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | ||||
| England | ||||
| Knife wound (assault) | Gun wound (assault) | Knife wound (other) | Gun wound (other) | |
| London SHA( 5) | ||||
| Knife wound (assault) | Gun wound (assault) | Knife wound (other) | Gun wound (other) | |
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of staff time at accident and emergency departments in each strategic health authority area spent on treating victims of domestic violence; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of such activity in each of the last 10 years. [11782]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not collect this information centrally; with no estimate being made on the proportion of staff time spent or the cost of accident and emergency departments treating victims of domestic violence.
The way in which the national health service manages the treatment of its patients, including victims of domestic violence, is a local operational matter. What is important is that high-quality urgent and emergency care services are provided that are both clinically appropriate and responsive to the needs of the patient.
IVF
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has for the future level of provision of IVF treatment by the NHS under his proposals for changes to the structure of the NHS; [10355]
(2) what plans he has for the determination of criteria for the provision of IVF treatment by the NHS under his proposals for changes to the structure of the NHS; [10356]
(3) how many patients have received NHS funding for IVF and IUI treatment in the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley area in each of the last five years; and how many of those patients received funding for more than one course of treatment. [10357]
Anne Milton: It is for local commissioners, currently primary care trusts, to determine how best to meet the health needs of their local population. In respect of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and other fertility treatments and services, there are no plans to move away from local determination in the future.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides guidelines for the national health service on treatments that should be funded. The NICE fertility guidelines recommend that women aged between 23 and 39, if they fulfil the criteria, should be offered three cycles of IVF treatment funded by the NHS. NICE has just commenced a review of these guidelines and it is intended that the review will be completed in October 2012.
In June 2009, the Department published a commissioning aid to help the NHS to assess need locally for fertility treatment, learn about infertility treatment techniques and monitor uptake of services. The Department also supported the patient interest group, Infertility Network UK, to develop standardised access criteria as a guide for those commissioning NHS fertility services.
Information is not collected centrally on the number of patients who have received NHS funded fertility treatments in the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley areas.
Kidney Patients
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many kidney disease patients are receiving home dialysis in (a) England and (b) South Swindon; [10769]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) home and (b) hospital dialysis for kidney disease patients in the latest period for which figures are available. [11013]
Mr Simon Burns: The average annual cost of hospital haemodialysis, calculated from reference costs published in July 2009, is £28,860, peritoneal dialysis £20,805 and home haemodialysis £17,264. This assumes that people on home haemodialysis receive four sessions of dialysis per week compared with thrice weekly dialysis in hospital.
Information about the number of kidney disease patients who are receiving home dialysis is not available in the format requested. Data collected by the UK Renal Registry show that in December 2008 there were 3,564 people in England on peritoneal dialysis at home and 441 people in England on home haemodialysis. In the Swindon primary care trust area there were 19 people on peritoneal dialysis and one person on home haemodialysis.
Maternity Services: Standards
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve standards of post-natal care. [10761]
Anne Milton:
The Department has supported four royal colleges (the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Royal College of Anaesthetists) to develop a single integrated set of clinical standards covering the care pathway from pre-pregnancy to parenthood (June 2008). This gives the commissioners specific standards to use to negotiate
service provision and helps to ensure the development of high quality maternity care, including post-natal care.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published clinical guidelines on post-natal care which sets out the core care that women and babies should be offered during the first six to eight weeks after the birth. Every mother and baby will have an individual plan of care which may include additional care to that in the core guidance.
The Government aim to offer a better experience for women and their partners, with more scope to them to exercise choice across wider range of settings and services and with wider options through the crucial ante and post-natal periods. The Government are working to provide a real choice in maternity services, enabling women-centred care, and an experience that is as normal as possible and provides parents with confidence about the transition to parenthood.
White Paper 'Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS' sets out Government's strategy for the national health service-with intention to create an NHS which is much more responsive to patients, achieves better outcomes with increased autonomy and clear accountability at every level. With regard to maternity Government will extend maternity choice (although recognising that not all choices will be appropriate or safe for all women) and help make safe, informed choices throughout pregnancy and childbirth by developing new provider networks.
We recognise the important role that health visitors can play in the early years and announced in the coalition agreement that we will fund an extra 4,200 Sure Start health visitors. Health visitors provide the link between Sure Start children's centres and the NHS. They will need to work across general practice and children's centres, working closely with maternity services and other agencies concerned with children and families.
Medical Records: Databases
Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2010, Official Report, column 481W, on NHS: databases, if he will collect data on the number of occasions on which information relating to a patient has been requested by a doctor other than the doctor with whom the patient is registered as part of the summary care records scheme. [10758]
Mr Simon Burns: We have no current plans to do so.
Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he took into account in his assessment of the need for a centralised summary care records database. [10796]
Mr Simon Burns: We believe there is a need for both patients and clinicians to be able to access patient records in an electronic form. This is part of our thinking about making information transparent and available, while involving patients in decisions about their health care. The experience in Scotland, which has had an electronic summary similar to the summary care record (SCR) operating for a number of years, shows the continuing benefits it provides to patients receiving emergency and out-of-hours care.
However, effective use of the SCR depends on patients and doctors feeling an ownership of the records. We believe the current processes that are in place need to be reviewed to ensure that both the information that patients receive, and the process by which they opt-out, are as clear and simple as possible. In addition, should patients choose to optout they must be able to do so as early in the process as is feasible. Foremost in our minds is the need to ensure the security of the data contained in the record.
We intend to review the content of the record and consider whether we can improve the process whereby patients can optout. Strategic health authorities have been informed that no further information letters should be sent out to patients about the SCR until after the review has concluded.
Mental Health Services
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his proposals to increase provision for psychological therapies will include therapies for people affected by severe mental illness; and if he will make a statement. [10751]
Mr Burstow: The Government set out in "The Coalition: our programme for government" a commitment to ensure greater access to talking therapies to reduce long-term costs for the national health service. This is a clear public health priority for us and we are currently working to identify how best to take it forward.
Revised National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on schizophrenia was published in March 2009. This outlines the best way to treat and manage adults with schizophrenia in primary and secondary care. The guidance recommends that treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy should be offered to all people with schizophrenia.
Psychological therapies can be a key element of the treatment of people with severe and enduring mental health conditions, particularly when these conditions are experienced alongside depression and anxiety disorders. In these cases, the delivery of cognitive behavioural therapy and other NICE-compliant therapies is the recommended treatment.
Services for these clients are largely provided by psychology departments in specialist mental health trusts. The implementation of Improving access to Psychological Therapies services for people in community settings with mild to moderate conditions can reduce the number of referrals to specialist mental health trusts and enable them to focus on providing services to those with severe and enduring mental illness.
General practitioners or consultant psychiatrists can prescribe any medicine or treatment which they consider to be necessary for treating NHS patients, including NICE-approved treatments, provided that the local primary care trust or NHS trust agree to supply it on the NHS. Clinicians are responsible for deciding on the most appropriate form of treatment for their patients, and in doing so they are expected to take NICE guidance fully into account. The Department does not become involved in making clinical decisions.
Muscular Dystrophy
Diana R. Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will assess the effects of implementing the recommendations set out in International Standards of Care for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy on NHS patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; [10360]
(2) what steps his Department takes to ensure the provision of care to (a) children and (b) young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such provision; what information his Department for benchmarking purposes holds on the provision of such services in Denmark; and if he will publish a national framework on standards of care provision for those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [10376]
Mr Burstow: It is the responsibility of health and care professionals, working in conjunction with patients and their families, to arrange the most appropriate health and social care for those living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The National Service Framework for long-term conditions (the NSF) provides an overview how this care should be provided. The 11 quality requirements of the NSF are compatible with more condition specific standards of care, such as the international TREAT-NMD recommendations for DMD. We have made no assessment of the effectiveness of the provision of care for those with DMD.
We have no plans to publish a national strategy for the care of DMD. The NSF's quality requirements apply equally to DMD as they do for any other neuromuscular condition. The NSF covers all aspects of care from assessment, through diagnosis, information/education, treatment and support, to end of life decisions and palliative care. We have no plans to assess the effects of implementing the recommendations set out in international standards of care for those living with DMD.
Diana R. Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to provide ring-fenced funding for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy to the MDEX consortium. [10375]
Mr Burstow: The usual practice of the Department's National Institute for Health Research and of the Medical Research Council (MRC) is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. Both organisations welcome applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals submitted.
The researchers who lead the consortium have received funding from the Department and the MRC. They are aware of the public funding routes open to them and how to apply for support for any proposals for further research.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether interested parties will be included in the process to produce interventional procedures guidance by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; [10176]
(2) what mechanism is in place for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to develop guidance on interventional procedures. [10181]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested can be found in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) interventional procedures methods and process guides, which are available on the NICE website at:
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on how many interventional procedures the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have published guidance as a (a) novel and (b) reviewed procedure; [10177]
(2) how many times guidance by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on interventional procedures has been challenged by resolution requests to date; [10178]
(3) what percentage of resolution requests from the development of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) interventional procedures guidance have asked NICE for a complete reassessment of the procedure; [10179]
(4) whether a mechanism is in place for the peer review of overview documents produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence intellectual property programme teams; [10180]
(5) how much time on average members of the Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee spent on analysing the overview document prior to drafting provisional recommendations in the latest period for which figures are available. [10182]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not held by the Department. I have asked the chief executive of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to write to the hon. Member with this information.
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) by what mechanisms draft guidance already published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Medical Technology Advisory Committee will be amended to take into account the consultation on process and methods guides for the evaluation pathway due to end on 10 September 2010; [10434]
(2) whether his Department had discussions with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on the Medical Technology Advisory Committee's publication of draft guidance before the consultation on process and methods guides for the evaluation pathway has been completed. [10435]
Mr Simon Burns: The operation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) Medical Technology Advisory Committee, its draft medical technologies guidance and its consultation on its methods and processes guides, are matters for NICE.
The Department understands that the draft medical technologies guidance currently out for public consultation will be revised by NICE in light of comments received.
The final methods and processes guides will be finalised following a separate consultation, which is also currently taking place.
If any major inconsistencies were to emerge as a result of these two consultation exercises, NICE has the option to review the draft medical technologies guidance. NICE'S board will be responsible for the final sign-off of the methods and processes guides and is ultimately responsible for signing off medical technologies guidance.
NHS Commissioning Board
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the selection process will be for the members of the NHS Commissioning Board. [9871]
Mr Simon Burns: We intend to introduce legislation to establish the NHS Commissioning Board later this year. The Health Bill will set out further details about the membership of the Board and the process for making appointments.
NHS Foundation Trusts: Membership
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether foundation trust board members may be appointed on an unpaid basis; and if he will make a statement. [10775]
Mr Simon Burns: Under schedule 7, paragraph 18 of the National Health Service Act 2006 it is for each NHS foundation trust (NHSFT) to determine the remuneration for each of the members of its board of directors, both executive and non-executive. Therefore it may be the case that an NHSFT may agree to appoint an unpaid director.
NHS: Essex
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the salary bill for (a) administrative staff and (b) managers in each NHS trust in Essex was in each year since 1997; and what proportion of the total salary bill in each trust that figure represents. [10156]
Anne Milton: This information has been placed in the Library. The Department holds accounts information at organisation level for seven years, therefore 2002-03 is the earliest period for which figures are available.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the debt of each NHS trust in Essex is. [10157]
Anne Milton: Information on the total amount owed by national health service trusts in Essex in respect of bank overdrafts, current and long-term loans, obligations under finance leases and private finance initiative (PFI) arrangements, is shown in the following table.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what administrative and management costs each NHS trust in Essex incurred in each year since 1997; and what proportion of each trust's total expenditure on such costs this figure represents. [10161]
Anne Milton: The information requested has been placed in the Library. The Department holds accounts information at organisation level for seven years, therefore 2002-03 is the earliest period for which figures are available.
NHS: Finance
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to achieve the proposed £20 billion efficiency savings in the NHS. [9870]
Mr Simon Burns: "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" (Cm 7881) set out our commitment of releasing up to £20 billion of efficiency savings by 2014, which will be reinvested to support improvements in quality and outcomes. The Department is working with national health service organisations through the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention initiative to identify how efficiencies can be driven and services redesigned to achieve the twin aims of improved quality and efficiency.
In order to divert more resources to the front-line, NHS management costs will be reduced by more than 45%. The costs of bureaucracy will be further reduced by radically reducing the NHS functions of the Department and reducing the number of its arm's length bodies by at least one third.
Work has also started on implementing efficiency improvements in front-line care, for example by improving care for stroke patients, the 'productive ward' programme, increased self-care and the use of new technologies for people with long-term conditions.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral statement of 12 July 2010, Official Report, columns 661-63, on the NHS White Paper, what plans he has for the debt held by (a) strategic health authorities and (b) primary care trusts. [10160]
Mr Simon Burns:
The White Paper, "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" published on 12 July 2010, has set out the Government's proposals for transforming the quality of commissioning by devolving
decision making to local consortia of general practitioner practices. "Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for patients", published on 22 July, provides further information on the intended arrangements; and the details of the financial regime will be worked up in light of the consultation process.
NHS: Public Sector
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he took in formulating his proposals to change NHS commissioning of the likely effects on the prospects for delivery of the Total Place programme of the implementation of those proposals. [10909]
Mr Simon Burns: On 22 July the Government published two documents: 'Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for Patients', and 'Liberating the NHS: Local Democratic Legitimacy in Health', setting out our proposals in more detail. These will provide the basis for fuller consultation and engagement with primary care professionals, including general practitioners (GPs), patients and the public. We will then bring forward legislation in the forthcoming Health Bill.
We anticipate that local authorities will have a lead role in determining the strategy and allocation of any local application of Total Place concepts under the new arrangements.
Working alongside other partners, in particular GPs, local authorities will have a new role contributing to effective joint action to promote the health and well-being of local communities.
In addition to taking these steps to ensure that integrated working is at the heart of a local service delivery, the Government will work with the Local Government Association to understand the potential benefits of place-based budgets through the spending review period.
Nutrition: Pregnant Women
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether his Department has received advice from the Government chief scientific adviser on the effect on lifetime mental and physical health of maternal nutrition in the last 12 months; [11155]
(2) whether his Department has received advice from the Government chief scientific adviser on the effect on lifetime mental and physical health of maternal nutrition in the last 12 months. [11156]
Anne Milton: The Department has not received advice from the Government chief scientific adviser on the effect on lifetime mental and physical health of maternal nutrition in the last 12 months.
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions the adequacy of out-of-work benefits in providing for a healthy diet for women (a) before and (b) during pregnancy. [11157]
Anne Milton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health regularly meets with his ministerial colleagues to discuss a variety of issues.
The Department has an existing statutory scheme, Healthy Start, that offers a means-tested nutritional
safety net to pregnant women and very young children in very low-income unemployed families in a way that encourages breastfeeding and healthy eating. Healthy Start provides vouchers that can be put towards the cost of milk, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and infant formula milk at any participating retailer. Babies supported by the scheme get two £3.10 vouchers per week, and pregnant women and other children under four get one £3.10 voucher a week.
Palliative Care
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the quality of palliative care in England. [10351]
Mr Burstow: The Department is due to publish the second end-of-life care Strategy annual report from Professor Sir Mike Richards, National Clinical Director for end-of-life care. The report will acknowledge the progress made to date since publication of the strategy in 2008 as well as highlighting the challenges ahead to help improve end-of-life care for all adults in England.
Pregnancy: Death
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women aged (a) 14 to 16, (b) 17 to 21, (c) 22 to 24, (d) 25 to 30, (e) 31 to 35 and (f) 36 to 40 years old died from pregnancy-related diseases in each year since 1980. [10550]
Anne Milton: This information is not available centrally in the form requested. The following table sets out registered deaths in the United Kingdom with the underlying cause classified as maternal deaths.
| Registered deaths with underlying cause given as a maternal death (ICD9 630-676, ICD10 O00-099) | |
| Triennium | Number |
| Note: The figures were produced by the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) in its triennial publication 'Saving Mothers Lives' (previously known as 'Why Mothers Die'). The conditions included ICD9 630-679 and ICD10 O00-099, codes which are "complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium". Source: Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. | |
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government plan to make changes to the criteria for eligibility for free prescriptions following the report from Professor Gilmore; and if he will make a statement. [11503]
Mr Simon Burns:
Decisions on any future changes to the system of prescription charges and exemptions in
England would need to be taken in the context of the next spending review, which is due to report in the autumn. In the meantime, there are no plans to make any changes to the current list of conditions which are exempt from prescription charges.
Primary Care Trusts
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will have responsibility for (a) strategic planning in the NHS and (b) reducing health inequalities under his proposals to end primary care trusts. [10922]
Mr Simon Burns: The White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS", published on 12 July, set out the Government's plans for devolving power and responsibility for commissioning national health service services. The majority of NHS services will be commissioned in future by local general practitioners' (GP) consortia, which will be held to account by an independent NHS Commissioning Board.
Strategic planning will take place at a number of levels. The White Paper states that the Secretary of State will maintain responsibility for setting the legislative and policy framework, including developing and publishing national service strategies that will enable the roles of NHS, public health and social care services to be better co-ordinated. The NHS Commissioning Board will develop commissioning guidelines which promote joint working across health, public health and social care, to support GP consortia in commissioning services locally.
Local authorities will lead the joint strategic needs assessment locally, to ensure coherent and co-ordinated commissioning strategies, working together with commissioners of NHS services. Groups of GP consortia will have the freedom to pool their resources to fund services for their collective populations, and to commission in partnership with local authorities to meet common objectives.
The NHS Commissioning Board will have a duty to promote equality and tackle inequalities in health-care access and outcomes. GP consortia will also have a duty to promote equality. The new public health service will also have an important role through the ring-fenced public health budget, to include a new "health premium" designed to promote action to improve population-wide health and reduce health inequalities.
Self-harm
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take steps to ensure that the websites of (a) his Department and (b) NHS Direct include accessible, accurate and user-friendly information for (i) service users, (ii) carers, (iii) family members and (iv) professionals on the (A) signs and symptoms of those who exhibit evidence of self-harm and (B) signs of risk of self-harm in the future; and if he will make a statement; [10645]
(2) if he will take steps to ensure that the websites of (a) his Department and (b) NHS Direct include accessible, accurate and user-friendly information for (i) service users, (ii) carers, (iii) family members and (iv) professionals on the (A) signs and (B) prevention of suicide; and if he will make a statement; [10646]
Mr Burstow: All information available on:
meets with the requirements for accessibility set by the Central Office of Information. All public sector websites must conform to these guidelines from the point of publication. More information on this is available at:
The advice that NHS Direct provides through its web and telephone services complies with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on suicide and self-harm. NHS Direct involves patient groups, service users, health care professionals and third sector organisations such as the Princess Trust for Carers in the development and regular review of its services. Also, all front-line NHS Direct staff are also trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of depression, self harm and suicide.
dedicates significant sections of the website to providing citizens with information on both suicide and self-harm. All information is presented with accessibility in mind and is national health service accredited as evidence based.
Streptococcus: Babies
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to prevent group B streptococcal infections in newborn babies. [10322]
Anne Milton: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has a Green-top guideline, Prevention of Early onset Group B Streptococcal Disease, which provides guidance for obstetricians midwives and neonatologists on the prevention of early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal (GBS) disease. RCOG also produced parallel patient information, Preventing GBS infection in newborn babies (information for you), for women and their families who are expecting a baby or are planning to get pregnant. Advice from that guidance features on the NHS Choices website and in the pregnancy book, currently given out to all pregnant women in England.
Suicide
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people who have presented at hospital accident and emergency departments having attempted suicide and who have been able to access clinically trained psychiatric staff at the accident and emergency department; and if he will make a statement; [10649]
(2) what mechanism is in place to ensure that the risk assessment of those who present at hospital accident and emergency departments as a result of attempted suicide is (a) evidence-based and (b) clinically approved; and if he will make a statement; [10650]
(3) what mechanism is in place to ensure that the risk assessment of those who present at hospital accident and emergency departments as a result of self-harm is (a) evidence-based and (b) clinically approved; and if he will make a statement. [10651]
Mr Burstow: The National Health Service Information Centre for health and social care's current mandated method of capturing treatments or investigations during an accident and emergency (A&E) attendance is the use of the code list stored in the Accident and Emergency Attendance Commissioning Dataset. This is a list of numbers associated to a particular treatment or investigation. Diagnosis, investigation, and treatment data in A&E is not sufficiently complete to perform analysis yet.
Primary care trusts have a responsibility to ensure that appropriate services are provided to their populations, including mental health services. Providing appropriate resources to meet local demand and ensuring that risk assessments are made of those who present at A&E as a result of self-harm or suicide attempts is therefore a matter for the NHS to manage locally.
Clinical and non-clinical staff who have contact with people who self-harm or attempt suicide in any setting should be provided with appropriate training to equip them to understand and care for people who have self-harmed or attempted suicide.
The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence guideline on self-harm covers:
the care people who harm themselves can expect to receive from health care professionals in hospital and out of hospital;
the information they can expect to receive;
what they can expect from treatment; and
what kinds of services best help people who harm themselves.
These guidelines are issued to clinical staff.
Swine Flu
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the decision to implement a mass vaccination policy to protect against influenza A(H1N1); [9828]
(2) what assessment he has made of the proportionality of the measures taken by his Department in response to the perceived level of risks from influenza A(H1N1); [9829]
(3) what steps he plans to take to increase levels of public understanding about the characteristics of pandemics; [9830]
(4) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's communications with the public and the press on the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. [9831]
Anne Milton: I understand that the decision to implement a mass vaccination strategy was taken in accordance with the best available scientific advice provided by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
The four nations commissioned an independent review into the United Kingdom response to the 2009 influenza pandemic, chaired by Dame Deidre Hine, which issued its report on 1 July 2010. Dame Deirdre concluded that the preparations for a pandemic were "soundly based in terms of value for money" and the response to swine flu was "proportionate and effective". This publication can be found at:
Dame Deidre also reviewed the effectiveness of the Government's communications and concluded that there was
"strong evidence that the government's communication strategy was successful in building public awareness of pandemic influenza".
It did however recommend that we explore increasing public awareness of the characteristics of a pandemic.
The Department and Cabinet Office are currently reviewing the national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic (2007), and the Government will take these recommendations into consideration in planning for the future to ensure that we remain one of the best prepared countries in the world for any future pandemic.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Advanced Manufacturing Park
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who will have responsibility for the funding of the Advanced Manufacturing Park after the abolition of Yorkshire Forward. [10911]
Mr Prisk: The future of Yorkshire Forward's stake in the Advanced Manufacturing Park will be considered alongside other RDA commitments and assets as part of a transition plan leading up to the RDA's abolition. The forthcoming spending review will inform future funding allocations.
Agriculture: Research
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research projects on (a) soil science, (b) traditional plant breeding, (c) crop agronomy, (d) plant physiology, (e) plant pathology, (f) environmental microbiology, (g) weed science, (h) entomology, (i) crop irrigation, (j) nitrogen fixation, (k) soil phosphorous, (l) soil erosion, (m) pollinating insects and (n) integrated pest management have been funded by (i) each research council and (ii) the Science and Technology Facilities Council since 1997; what the (A) research topic, (B) start date, (C) cost and (D) project code was of each such project; which the lead institution was in each case; and what such projects have been completed to date. [8038]
Mr Willetts: The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has undertaken research into areas (a) to (n), but the cost of collating all of the information in the form requested would be disproportionate.
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has funded two projects on integrated pest management. Copies of the details have been placed in the Library.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) funded a project on soil science. We will place details of the project funded by the MRC in the Libraries of the House.
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has funded 13 projects, copies of the details have been placed in the Library. In addition NERC allocated £6 million to the Global Nitrogen Enrichment programme (GANE), funded jointly with SEERAD and the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which may have included research in this area.
NERC has also provided funding for soil erosion via its research centre the British Geological Survey (BGS), copies of the details have been placed in the Library.
In addition NERC has supported insect pollination via the Insect Pollinators Initiative, which is supported by BBSRC, DEFRA, the Scottish Government and the Wellcome Trust with a total budget of up to £10 million (this includes BBSRC £2.55 million, NERC £1.55 million, Scottish Government £0.55 million, Wellcome Trust £2.5 million and DEFRA £2.55 million).
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) did not fund any projects of the type listed.
Apprentices: Employment
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he made of the proportion of former apprentices who found employment within a year of completing an apprenticeship in the latest period for which figures are available. [11227]
Mr Hayes: An apprenticeship is a work-based programme and an apprentice must have a job or a work placement as a condition of completing their apprenticeship framework. Many will already be in permanent employment prior to the end of their apprenticeship. Management information on the subsequent employment of apprentices is not available.
We collect information about the destinations of learners into learning and employment through the Framework for Excellence (FfE), which will provide prospective learners and employers with performance information to help inform the choices they make about learning and training. We intend to include learner destination information at provider level when we publish FfE data as official statistics later this year.
Apprentices: Per Capita Costs
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average cost to the public purse was of an apprenticeship place in the latest period for which figures are available. [11225]
Mr Hayes: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education allocate funding to the Skills Funding Agency for the provision of apprenticeships in England. Spending on 16-18 and adult apprenticeships for 2008-09 financial years is given in the following table.
| Apprenticeship expenditure 2008-09-England | |
| £ million | |
| Source: LSC Annual Report and Accounts for 2008-09. | |
It is not possible to provide a meaningful average cost to the public purse of an apprenticeship. The public cost of delivering an apprenticeship varies significantly
depending on the industry in which the apprenticeship framework is being delivered; length of stay on the programme; whether the framework is at level 2 or 3; and whether the participant is in the 16-18, 19-25 or 25+ age group.
For example the SFA estimates that it costs £2,749 to deliver a level 2 adult apprenticeship framework in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools and £4,083 to deliver the level 3 equivalent framework. Between industries the difference in estimated costs can be more marked. SFA estimate that the cost of delivering a level 3 adult apprenticeship in clock and watch repair is £13,409 but the cost of an adult apprenticeship at the same level in business and administration is £3,327.
Business: Government Assistance
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in Bedford constituency have received loans from the enterprise finance guarantee scheme in the last 12 months. [11427]
Mr Prisk: The enterprise finance guarantee came into operation in January 2009. As of 21 July 2010, in the Bedford constituency 16 businesses have drawn down loans totalling £1.22 million.
Business: Regulation
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will introduce a one-in, two-out policy to reduce the number of regulations on business. [8360]
Mr Prisk: The Government are introducing a One-in, One-out rule to cap the cost of regulation to business.
I am satisfied that the one-in, one-out rule as it currently stands will start to bring about the radical change required to the culture of regulation in Whitehall.
While regulation is necessary to protect consumers, employees and the environment, Government should ensure that all regulation is proportionate and targeted.
Cairn Energy
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Government of Greenland on the plans of Cairn Energy or its subsidiary Capricorn Oil Limited to drill for oil off the coast of Greenland. [11903]
Mr Prisk: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Government of Greenland on this matter.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had with the chief executive of (a) Cairn Energy and (b) other representatives of Cairn Energy or its subsidiary Capricorn Oil Ltd on its plans to drill for oil off the coast of Greenland since July 2009; and if he will publish the minutes of those meetings. [11914]
Mr Prisk:
The body within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills that deals with the UK oil and
gas industry and its international interests is the energy team of UK Trade and Investment, which has had no discussions with Cairn Energy or Capricorn Oil Ltd on this matter in the period since July 2009.
Copyright: Music
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to bring forward proposals to extend the period for which musicians may receive royalties for their recordings. [9890]
Mr Davey: Policy responsibility for intellectual property rests with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The lengths of copyright term (which determines the period over which musicians receive royalties), are harmonised across the EU, and the Government have no plans to put forward their own proposals.
Corus: Resignations
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2010, Official Report, columns 522-3, what communications (a) he and (b) his Department has had with (i) Tata Steel Europe and (ii) Corus Europe consequent on the resignation of Kirby Adams as Chief Executive of Corus. [9453]
Mr Prisk: There has been no specific contact with Corus and Tata Steel Europe regarding the announcement that Kirby Adams will be stepping down from his role as chief executive. The Department has a constructive working relationship with Corus and Tata Steel Europe which I am sure will continue under Mr Adams' successor, Dr Karl-Ulrich Kohler when he takes up post on 1 October 2010.
Credit: Regulation
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will commission research into the effects of imposing a cap on the rate of interest chargeable by lenders in the pawnbroking, payday loans and home credit markets. [10725]
Mr Davey: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has recently completed a review of high cost credit products, including pawnbroking, payday loans and home collected credit. As part of this review, the OFT considered the possible introduction of price controls for high-cost credit. The review concluded that price controls would not be a suitable solution to the concerns that the OFT identified in the sector.
I recently announced a joint BIS and HM Treasury review of consumer credit and personal insolvency and this Department will be issuing a formal call for evidence following the summer recess. Among other things, the call for evidence will give industry and consumer groups the opportunity to provide evidence on how they think the findings and recommendations of the OFT review should be taken forward, including their findings on interest rate caps.
Departmental Billing
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the time taken by contractors employed by it to pay the invoices of their sub-contractors under prompt payment arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [9245]
Mr Davey: The Department does not hold any central information on the time taken by contractors (tier one suppliers) to pay their sub-contractors (tier two suppliers). However, we are working closely with tier one suppliers to ensure that tier two suppliers receive payment promptly by:
reviewing payment performance as part of the standard contract management process;
ensuring tier one suppliers include in the relevant contract a provision which requires the tier one supplier to pay the tier two supplier within 30 days; and
enabling tier two suppliers to report any concerns they feel have not been adequately addressed direct to the Department or via the Office of Government Commerce's supplier feedback process.
BIS remains committed to pay its own invoices within five working days and continues to work closely with its suppliers to ensure that the benefits are felt by all in the supply chain.
Departmental Consultants
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what budget his Department has allocated for consultancy in 2010-11. [5930]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has allocated a budget of £7,359,000 for consultancy in 2010-11.
Departmental ICT
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on information and communication technology in each year since 1997. [7330]
Mr Davey: The ICT expenditure for the Department can be summarised as follows:
I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office, the Intellectual Property Office and the Skills Funding Agency and they will respond to my hon. Friend directly.
Information for the non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 12 July 2010:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills asking about expenditure on information and communication technology in each year since 1997.
Information on such expenditure prior to 2001 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Since 2001, the National Measurement Office and its predecessor, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, spent the following on information and communication technology:
| Spend on ICT (£) | |
Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 13 July 2010:
I am replying on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July (UIN 7330), to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, concerning spend on information and communication technology in the Department and its agencies.
The Skills Funding Agency was set up as an agency of BIS on 1 April 2010. Since that date we have spent £4,718,000 on information and communication technology costs.
Letter from John Alty, dated 8 July 2010:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 06th July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Intellectual Property Office spent the following amounts on information and communication technology.
| £000 | |
Figures for earlier years are not available in the timescales.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 14 July 2010:
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question how much (a) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies has spent on information and communication technology in each year since 1997.
The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has no accounting records on this expenditure for the years 1997 to 2003, as these records are kept for 7 years.
The expenditure for the financial years 2003/04 to 2009/10 are shown in the table below:
| Financial year | ICT spend (£) |
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July 2010, UIN 7330 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Companies House's financial records do not go back as far as 1997. The amount Companies House has spent on Information and Communication Technology for each year for which figures are available are as follows:
| Year | £ |
These figures exclude capital expenditure.
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