| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
6 Sep 2010 : Column 264W—continued
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
Mrs Hodgson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has changed its
terminology for certain technology appraisal decisions from partially recommended to optimised; and if he will make a statement. [11888]
Mr Simon Burns: The choice of terminology is a matter for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as an independent body. However, we understand that NICE concluded that the term "optimised" more appropriately reflected the nature of the technology appraisal recommendations in question.
Nerve Damage
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by his Department on research on repairing nerve damage in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [12408]
Mr Simon Burns: Estimated expenditure by the Department on research relating to nerve repair is shown in the table.
| £ million | |
This expenditure was made through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centres established in April 2007. In previous years, the main part of the Department's total expenditure on health research was devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. Details of individual research projects including some relating to nerve repair are available on the National Research Register Archive at:
NHS
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with local health trusts on levels of jobs and services in NHS facilities; and if he will make a statement. [12782]
Mr Simon Burns: Local national health service organisations, with their knowledge of the health care needs of their local populations, are best placed to determine the work force and services required to deliver safe patient care within their available resources.
The Government have announced proposals to abolish arm's-length bodies that do not need to exist, streamline the functions of those that do, and transfer functions that can be better delivered by other organisations. On 26 July 2010, the Department published a review on the 18 arm's-length bodies, which can be found on the Department's website at the following link:
In addition; a copy of the report entitled "Liberating the NHS: Report of the arm's-length bodies review" has been placed in the Library.
NHS Constitution
Mr Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the implementation of proposals in the NHS White Paper requires amendment of the NHS Constitution. [12026]
Mr Simon Burns: The White Paper, "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS", emphasises the Government's commitment to uphold the NHS Constitution. The Government are currently consulting on the detailed implementation of the reforms in the White Paper. It may be necessary to amend the NHS Constitution and, if so, the Government will consult on proposals, in line with the requirements of the Health Act 2009.
NHS: Accountancy
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the costs that will be incurred in establishing the monitoring arrangements to ensure accountability in the new system for management of health general practices. [11638]
Mr Simon Burns: The White Paper 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS' laid out proposals for fundamental changes to the ways that the national health service is structured and run. The precise costs of the transition to the new system, and of running the new organisation, will not be known until the new organisations that will underpin the new system have been designed in more detail. A number of consultations on how the new organisations should be designed have been published, and once the results of this are known we will publish the costs of the new system in an impact assessment.
NHS: Finance
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken on the cost of commissioning in the NHS; and what the percentage of the NHS budget this represented in each year since 1997. [9775]
Mr Simon Burns: At present, commissioning of national health service services is predominantly carried out by primary care trusts (PCTs). However, PCTs' accounts do not separately identify all the costs associated with their commissioning activities.
The White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" sets out the Government's proposals for NHS health care services to be commissioned in future by general practitioner (GP) consortia, supported by an independent NHS Commissioning Board. Our proposals for GP commissioning include setting a maximum allowance for management costs. The Department is committed to ensuring that there is in future a consistent way of classifying and recording management costs, both for GP commissioning consortia and for the NHS Commissioning Board.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he made in advance of publishing the Health White Paper of the projected cost to the public purse of the planned changes in NHS fund management; what evidence he obtained on the projected cost; and from what budget he plans to meet these transitional costs. [11637]
Mr Simon Burns:
The White Paper 'Equity and Excellence Liberating the NHS' laid out proposals for fundamental changes to the ways that the national health service is structured and run. The precise costs of the transition to the new system, and of running the
new organisation, will not be known until the new organisations that will underpin the new system have been designed in more detail. A number of consultations on how the new organisations should be designed have been published, and once the results of this are known we will publish the costs of the new system in an impact assessment. We anticipate that the costs of the transition to the new system will be met from within the Department's departmental expenditure limit.
NHS: Innovation
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for the future of NHS Innovations; who will be responsible for innovation within the NHS at (a) local and (b) national level after the implementation of changes proposed in his Department's White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [12781]
Mr Simon Burns: Responsibility for commissioning the services provided by the nine innovation hubs (NHS Innovations) and to promote innovation in the national health service currently rests with strategic health authorities, which will continue until March 2012.
The White Paper, 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS' sets a clear direction with a focus on greater decentralisation and freedoms for NHS trusts, more responsibility for general practitioners, patients and society.
In light of this, the Department and strategic health authorities are considering the requirements to support innovation in the future health and social care landscape.
NHS: Per Capita Costs
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of funding per head from the NHS for residents in the London boroughs of (a) Bexley, (b) Greenwich, (c) Bromley and (d) Lewisham in the latest period in which figures are available. [11555]
Mr Simon Burns: Information is not collected in the format requested.
The Department of Health currently allocates revenue funding not to boroughs but directly to primary care trusts (PCTs) or, in some areas, care trusts.
The following table sets out revenue allocations per-head made to Bexley Care Trust, Greenwich Teaching PCT, Bromley PCT and Lewisham PCT in 2010-11, the most recent year for which figures are available.
| 2010-11 | |
| Per-head allocation (£) | |
| Source: Financial Planning and Allocations Division, Department of Health. | |
NHS: Reorganisation
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost to the public purse is of planned NHS reorganisation in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [12120]
Mr Simon Burns: The White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" laid out proposals for fundamental changes to the ways that the national health service is structured and run. The precise costs of the transition to the new system will not be known until the new organisations that will underpin the new system have been designed in more detail.
A number of consultations on how the new organisations should be designed have been published, and once the results of this are known we will publish the costs of the new system in an impact assessment.
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he has allocated to meet the costs of redundancies resulting from the proposed restructuring of healthcare provision. [12121]
Mr Simon Burns: The White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" laid out proposals for fundamental changes to the ways that the national health service is structured and run. The precise costs of the transition to the new system, including the costs of any redundancies, will not be known until the new organisations that will underpin the new system have been designed in more detail.
A number of consultations on how the new organisations should be designed have been published, and once the results of this are known we will publish the costs of the new system in an impact assessment. However, we have made it clear that the running costs of the new system will be lower than the running costs of the current system.
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation his Department has had with service users and carers on the proposals in the White Paper, Liberating the NHS. [12122]
Mr Simon Burns: The manifestos of both parties of the coalition contained clear plans for the national health service. By publishing a strategy in the White Paper, and providing clear leadership and purpose for the NHS, the Government have initiated a full engagement process with all external partners, including service users and carers, on the detail of how best to implement these changes. A number of supporting consultation documents have been published providing further detail and opportunity for engagement.
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional payment local authorities will receive to carry out the new functions described on page 49 of his Department's White Paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS. [12286]
Mr Simon Burns: "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" outlines an enhanced role for local authorities in relation to health improvement, joint commissioning and local voice.
Primary care trust responsibilities for local health improvement will transfer to local authorities, who will employ the director of public health, jointly appointed with the new public health service. The Department will create a ring-fenced public health budget and, within this, local directors of public health will be responsible for health improvement funds allocated according to
relative population health need. The local ring-fenced public health budget will be based on current identifiable expenditure. The allocation formula for those funds will include a new "health premium" designed to promote action to improve population-wide health and reduce health inequalities. Work is currently under way to determine baseline spending and the details of how local ring-fenced public health budgets will be determined. Further details will be made available in due course.
Local authorities will be given the new function of joining up the commissioning of local national health service services, social care and health improvement. They will also be responsible for funding local HealthWatch organisations, as local consumer champions, building on the current role of local involvement networks (LINks). The Government are currently consulting on whether local HealthWatch should also take on the wider role of providing NHS complaints advocacy services and supporting individuals to exercise choice. The Government are considering what funding needs to be transferred to local authorities to reflect these new functions.
Nutrition
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 20 July 2010, Official Report, column 12WS, on machinery of government changes, on which date responsibility for nutrition policy will transfer from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to his Department; and whether current FSA programmes will continue until transfer. [12618]
Anne Milton: The date of transfer of responsibility for nutrition policy for England from the Food Standards Agency to the Department has yet to be determined.
Current nutrition policy programmes will continue in the Food Standards Agency until transfer.
Organs: Donors
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the number of (a) UK citizens who went abroad to find human organs for transplant and (b) human organs trafficked into the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [10770]
Anne Milton: Statistics on organ transplants which are carried out outside the United Kingdom are not available. The trafficking of human organs is illegal in the UK under the Human Tissue Act 2004 and Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006.
There is no comprehensive source of data on the scale of this illegal activity.
Out of Area Treatment: Wales
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Welsh Assembly Government on the operation of cross-border co-operation arrangements delivering health care following his proposed structural changes in England. [11639]
Anne Milton: Since the election, there have been no formal discussions between the Secretary of State for Health and the Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services; a meeting is being planned for later this year.
Pain: Vaccination
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when chymopain injections ceased to be licensed for use in the UK. [12775]
Mr Simon Burns: The fast licence for Chymodiactin Injection, containing chymopapain, was cancelled on 19 November 2003.
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) formal complaints have been made and (b) legal proceedings issued in respect of complications arising from or following the administration of a chymopain injection in the last five years. [12776]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Pulmonary Embolism
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information he has received on the number of providers regularly undertaking root cause analysis on all confirmed cases of hospital-acquired pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis in the last 12 months; [12317]
(2) what information he has received on the number of providers regularly undertaking local audits on the percentage of people risk-assessed for venous thromboembolism who receive the appropriate prophylaxis in the last 12 months. [12318]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally. From 1 April 2010, the NHS standard contract for acute services requires providers to report to their lead commissioner on local audits of the percentage of patients risk-assessed for venous thromboembolism, who receive the appropriate prophylaxis, and report to their lead commissioner on root cause analysis of all confirmed cases of hospital acquired pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.
Smoking
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the number of people who were smokers (a) before the introduction of the smoking ban in public places and (b) on the latest date for which information is available. [10315]
Anne Milton: Smokefree legislation came into effect on 1 July 2007. Smoking prevalence in England in 2006 was 22%, and the latest figure is 21% in 2008. Both figures are from the Office for National Statistics report on smoking prevalence is published in 'General Lifestyle Survey 2008: Smoking and drinking among adults, 2008', which has already been placed in the Library.
The primary aim of smokefree legislation is to provide protection from the hazards of exposure to second hand smoke in enclosed work and public places.
The Government are continuing their work on tobacco control, which includes developing and monitoring the evidence base, in the context of a focus on public health.
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will undertake a review of all aspects of the ban on smoking in public places before bringing forward proposals to change the scope of that ban. [10860]
Anne Milton: We have no plans to change the scope of the existing law on smokefree public places and workplaces.
Smoking: Cars
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations his Department has received on the prohibition of smoking in cars carrying children; and if he will make a statement. [11865]
Anne Milton: The Department regularly receives correspondence from members of the public, health professionals and academics calling for the complete prohibition of smoking in cars carrying children because of the evidence of the damage to the health that results from exposure of children to second hand smoke in a confined space.
We are considering how best to tackle this issue in the context of our focus on public health. In the meantime we would strongly urge all smokers to stop smoking in the presence of children.
Strokes: Health Services
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to ensure that (a) community-based stroke physiotherapy services improve and (b) progress in post-hospital support for stroke survivors matches that being made in hospital care. [12098]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department recognises that improvements in rehabilitation and long-term care for stroke survivors have been slower than in other parts of the pathway. We have made it, therefore, a key area for improvement in our accelerating stroke improvement work. This aims to deliver further, faster progress in improving stroke services in the current financial year.
Sunbeds: Young People
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timetable he has set for bringing into force each of the powers to protect young people from sunbeds provided for in the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010. [12557]
Anne Milton: The Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 (the Act) comes into force on 8 April 2011. The purpose of the Act is to prevent people under the age of 18 from using sunbeds on commercial premises, by making it an offence for sunbed operators to allow people under the age of 18 access to sunbeds on their premises.
We are currently considering the regulation making powers contained in the Act. At this time, no decisions have been taken on these powers and no timetable has been set.
Surgery
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) heart and (b) other operations were carried out in the NHS in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 1996-97. [12672]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is in the following table:
| A count of finished consultant episodes( 1) where there was a main or secondary procedure or intervention( 2) of (a) the heart and (b) all procedures and inventions for 2008-09 and 1996-97( 3) Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | ||
| Procedure group | 2008-09 | 1996-97 |
| (1) Finished Consultant Episode (FCE) A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. (2) Number of episodes with a (named) main or secondary procedure The number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 (12 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and four prior to 2002-03) procedure fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one procedure field of the record. Note that more procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. For example, patients under-going a 'cataract operation' would tend to have at least two procedures-removal of the faulty lens and the fitting of a new one-counted in a single episode. Operations have been defined using the following codes: Heart Procedures and Interventions OPCS K01-K78 All Procedures and Interventions 2008-09 OPCS 4.4 - A01-O10, O15-X97, 1996-97 OPCS 4.2 A01 - X59 (3) Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Note: It should be noted that the count of 'heart procedures and interventions' cannot be subtracted from the count of 'all procedures and interventions' to get a count of 'other non-heart procedures and interventions' as some patients will have a heart and non-heart procedure in the same episode of care. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care | ||
Swine Flu
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate his Department has made of the number of deaths in England where influenza A (H1N1) was (a) the primary cause and (b) a contributory factor in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [11620]
(2) whether his Department has received an estimate by the World Health Organisation on the likely number of (a) infections and (b) deaths resulting from influenza A (H1N1) in England since June 2009. [11621]
Anne Milton: The most recently available estimate for deaths in England related to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) was 363. A confirmed death was defined as related to pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza if recorded on any part of the death certificate or confirmed on laboratory testing, either before or after death. This number therefore includes deaths where influenza A (H1N1) was the primary cause or a contributory factor.
In December 2009 an analysis of available data from death certificates was performed. The resulting paper was co-authored by England's Chief Medical Officer and published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on 10 December 2009. Of the 138 deaths recorded by that date, pandemic A/H1N1 was shown to have led directly to death (part one of the death certificate) in 74 cases,
and recorded as contributing to death in 23 cases (part two of the death certificate). Another 30 positive (microbiological) tests for pandemic A/H1N1 had not been recorded on death certificates, while 11 death certificates were still to be issued in cases where a positive test had been found. Re-analysis of death certificates has not been performed since this time and it is therefore not possible to provide any updated estimates. It would be expected that these proportions would remain roughly similar when applied to the larger deaths cohort. The figures and full analysis can be found on the BMJ website at:
The Health Protection Agency have confirmed that the United Kingdom (including England) was not sent any estimates by the World Health Organisation on the likely number of infections and deaths resulting from influenza A (H1N1).
Taxis
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on taxi fares in each year since 1997. [12991]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has spent the following on its central contracts for taxis since April 2004:
| £ | ||||
| Addison Lee | Green Cars | Computer Cabs | Total | |
| (1) The Green Cars contract commenced in September 2008 | ||||
The central contracts with Addison Lee and Green Cars terminated on 31 October 2009. The central contract with Computer Cabs began on 1 November 2009 and is currently in use by staff for whom a reasonable adjustment is required.
The figures supplied above, go back six years in accordance with the Retention Schedule, which is informed by the National Archives 'Records Management Retention Scheduling-Employee Personnel Records' (page 6, 'Travel and Subsistence-claims and authorisation'-retention period of six years).
In addition to the central contracts there is a local contract between the Department's Communications Directorate and CityFleet. This began in February 2010 and up to the end of the financial year 2009-10 cost £218.69.
Other taxi fares may be claimed via staff expenses. Since July 2008, when the Department's Business Management System was launched the figures are as follows:
| Total (£) | |
The Department's accounting system in operation before July 2008, known as VISTA, did not have a specific sub code for taxis and so a figure cannot be supplied without scrutinizing individual claims at disproportionate cost.
Thromboembolism
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce compulsory education on the prevention of venous thromboembolism into the education syllabus for medical undergraduates, nurses and allied health professionals. [12319]
Mr Simon Burns: The General Medical Council is the regulator for all stages of medical training. Venous thromboembolism prevention is currently included as an element of the patient safety aspects of curricula at undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional education programmes, through ongoing work with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, and in discussion with the General Medical Council.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking jointly with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges to develop a national drug chart which includes risk assessment for venous thromboembolism and the provision of appropriate prophylaxis. [12320]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has had discussions with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges on the use of prompts for venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment and prophylaxis on hospital drug charts. We are currently considering appropriate support for this intervention and for building similar prompts into hospital electronic prescribing and drug administration systems. The Department will continue to work with medical, nursing and pharmacy leadership bodies to seek their support for successful implementation of VTE prevention strategies.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role the Care Quality Commission will have in monitoring compliance with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence quality standards on venous thromboembolism as part of their national indicators and assessment requirements for 2010-11. [12321]
Mr Simon Burns: None. The indicators to be used by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in any assessment for 2010-11 are as described in the Revision to the Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2010-11 which was published on 21 June 2010. A copy is in the Library. Through its registration function the CQC will also ensure that national health service providers meet essential levels of quality and safety.
The first three National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Quality Standards, covering stroke, dementia and VTE prevention, were launched on 30 June. The Government's recent White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" made clear that quality standards should become a central underpinning element of the whole quality improvement system for the NHS, and a key tool at the disposal of
the proposed new NHS Commissioning Board and local commissioners. NICE quality standards will also support the proposed NHS outcomes framework. We launched a full public consultation on proposals for the framework on 19 July 2010, which can be found on the Department's website at:
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of hospitals achieved the nationally defined CQUIN goal on the reduction of venous thromboembolism of risk assessing 90 per cent. of hospital inpatients using the national risk assessment tool. [12322]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not collect specific data on the achievement of goals agreed through the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) framework. Assessing and rewarding achievement of both locally and nationally defined CQUIN goals is the responsibility of local commissioners as part of their contractual relationship with providers. However, in 2010-11 providers must demonstrate achievement of the national CQUIN goal on reducing venous-thromboembolism (VTE) through a national data collection on VTE risk assessment, which started in June 2010. Providers are required to submit their first data return for June no later than 28 July 2010. We will be reviewing the quality of this data with a view to later publication.
For the national CQUIN goal on VTE, the period over which commissioners will assess achievement during 2010-11 is a matter for local negotiation between commissioners and providers, although published guidance states that achievement of the 90% must be over at least a full quarter to earn the related CQUIN payment. From the CQUIN schemes the Department has seen so far, it seems that many providers are aiming to achieve the goal during the last quarter of 2010-11.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of hospitals returned the CQUIN mandatory data collection forms on the nationally defined goal of reducing the incidence of venous thromboembolism by the deadline of 1 June 2010. [12323]
Mr Simon Burns: The mandatory venous thromboembolism risk assessment data collection required from providers of acute national health service services commenced on 1 June 2010. Providers are required to submit their first data return for June no later than 28 July 2010. We will be reviewing the quality of this data with a view to later publication.
Tobacco: Sales
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger) of 19 July 2010, Official Report, column 96W, on tobacco: sales, what recent discussions he has had on the implementation of the provisions in the Health Act 2009 in respect of the prohibition of sales of tobacco products from vending machines from 1 October 2011. [12084]
Anne Milton:
We continue to consider how best to tackle smoking prevalence in the context of our focus
on public health. To date no cross-Government discussions have taken place in respect of tobacco sales from vending machines.
Trade Unions
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has paid to trade unions in each year since 1997; and what estimate he has made of the monetary value of facilities provided by his Department for use by trade unions in each year since 1997. [11694]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has well established and constructive industrial relations arrangements. The granting of reasonable facilities and facility time by the Department make an important contribution to the success of the organisation.
It is not possible to make an estimate of the value of total facilities provided by the Department for use by trade unions for each year. The Facilities Agreement sets out what facilities are made available to trades unions. These include office accommodation, access to conference rooms, office furniture, telephones and information technology. Trade unions also have access to typing and reprographic services.
In 2009-10 the notional cost of accommodation in Skipton House, London was £20,620 per annum. In Quarry House, Leeds the notional cost of space provided was £17,109 per annum.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paid manpower hours civil servants in his Department spent on trade union-related duties and activities in each year since 1997. [11695]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has well established and constructive industrial relations arrangements. These have been in place for many years and do involve funded facility time.
The Department employs staff who have dedicated accredited union-related duties. These representatives are generally full-time roles. Our records back to 1997 do not include information about the hours worked for each member of staff.
According to our records the number of staff in each year who had "full-time" or "significant time" dedicated to union duties is set out in the following table.
| Headcount | |
| (1 )Based on year to date | |
Other accredited representatives, funded locally by directorates, spend limited time (less than 5% of their time) on union duties. To establish the hours involved would incur disproportionate cost.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants in his Department spent the equivalent of (a) five days or fewer, (b) five to 10 days, (c) 10 to 15 days, (d) 15 to 20 days, (e) 20 to 25 days and (f) 25 days or more on trade union-related activities or duties while being paid salaries from the public purse in each year since 1997. [11696]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has well established and constructive industrial relations arrangements. These have been in place for many years and do involve funded facility time.
It is not possible to provide the information in the ranges requested because the Department's records on union activities are not held in this form.
The Department employs staff who have dedicated, accredited union-related duties. These representatives generally do so in full-time roles. Central records do not include information about the hours worked by each member of staff.
The following table sets out how many staff in each year who had "full-time" or "significant time" dedicated to union duties, spending 25 days or more on union-related duties.
| Headcount | |
| (1) Based on year to date | |
Other accredited representatives, funded locally by directorates, spend limited time (less than 5% of their time) on union duties. To establish the hours involved would incur disproportionate cost.
Wines
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on wine in each year since 1997. [12828]
Mr Simon Burns: Any expenditure on alcohol is held by individual teams and it would incur disproportionate cost to collate this information. The Department's Code of Business Conduct requires that the provision of alcohol as an element of hospitality must be limited and reasonable, and that any hospitality provided should be modest and necessary for the effective conduct of departmental business.
This is in accordance with the principles of the Treasury guidance 'Managing Public Money' and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Cabinet Office
British Constitution
Paul Murphy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he plans to meet the First Minister of (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales to discuss the Government's proposed constitutional reforms. [11750]
Mr Maude: The Deputy Prime Minister has responsibility for political and constitutional reform. I therefore have no plan to meet the First Ministers of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to discuss constitutional reform.
Business
Richard Fuller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of small businesses started between 2000 and 2005 in (a) Bedford constituency, (b) the East of England and (c) the UK were still trading in 2010. [11308]
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 proportion of small businesses started between 2000 and 2005 in (a) Bedford constituency, (b) the Hast of England and (c) the UK were still trading in 2010. [11308]
Annual statistics on business births, deaths and actives are available for 2002 onwards from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
Information on business survival is available from 2003. The table below contains the information available on small enterprise births in Bedford, the East of England and the UK for the years 2003 to 2005, along with the number that survived into 2008, the latest period for which data are available.
| Small Enterprise Births 2003-05 and survival into 2008 for Bedford, East of England and the UK | |||||||||
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |||||||
| Births | Survival into 2008 | % | Births | Survival into 2008 | % | Births | Survival into 2008 | % | |
| Note: Small enterprises are defined as 0-49 employment. | |||||||||
Business: Leeds
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many small businesses in Leeds North West constituency had a turnover of (a) between £70,000 and £100,000 and (b) over £100,000 in the most recent year for which figures are available. [12248]
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 Leeds North West constituency had a turnover of (a) between £70.000 and £100,000
and (b) over £100,000 in the most recent year for which figures are available. [12248]
Annual statistics on business counts are available from the ONS release UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at
The attached table contains data from 2009 and shows the count of small VAT and/or PAYE based enterprises in Leeds North West constituency by employee and turnover size band.
| Count of VAT or PAYE based enterprises with 0-50 employment by turnover size | ||
| Turnover size band (£000s) | ||
| 70-99 | 100 + | |
| Note: A small business is defined as an enterprise with less than 50 employment. | ||
Census
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what mechanisms will be used to collate and analyse data on the population of local authority areas after the 2011 Census. [12374]
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 August 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what mechanisms will be used to collate and analyse data on the population of local authority areas after the proposed ending of the Census. (12374)
The National Statistician, together with the Registrars General in Scotland and Northern Ireland, has set up the Beyond 2011 Project which will consider a range of options for the production of population statistics beyond the 2011 Census. It is too early to predict the outcome of that work but a decision on the way forward will not be made without consultation with a wide range of users, including Local Authorities, on their requirements.
Census: Local Government
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many local authorities have appointed a census liaison manager in respect of the 2011 Census. [11725]
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 the Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many local authorities have appointed a census liaison manager in respect of the 2011 Census. (11725)
So far 350 local authorities in England and Wales have appointed a census liaison manager. This figure includes 18 county councils. Some authorities have also appointed assistant census liaison managers.
We are working in partnership with local authorities in the planning of the 2011 Census and we are in discussion with those authorities yet to appoint liaison managers.
Civil Servants: Bedford
Richard Fuller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants are employed by each (a) Government department, (b) executive agency and (c) other employer in Bedford constituency. [11280]
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 civil servants are employed by each (a) Government department, (b) executive agency and (c) other employer in Bedford constituency. (11280)
In order to provide the information requested for the number of civil servants employed by each department, executive agency and other employer in Bedford, ad hoc analysis has been undertaken. This analysis is based on Civil Service Statistics 2009, the latest data available.
The requested data for Bedford are attached at Annex A.
Civil Servants: Denton
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants are employed by (a) Government departments, (b) executive agencies and (c) other Government employers in Denton and Reddish constituency. [12004]
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 civil servants are employed by (a) Government departments, (b) executive agencies and (c) other Government employers in Denton and Reddish constituency. (012004)
Civil Service Statistics are published annually by the Office for National Statistics on the National Statistics website. The latest published statistics are for March 2009:
However, the numbers of civil servants employed by Government departments, executive agencies and other Government employers by constituency are generally not available. I am afraid, therefore, that figures for Denton and Reddish constituency cannot be provided.
Deaths: Smoking
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people died from smoking-related illnesses in Peterborough constituency in each year since 2001. [11394]
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 question asking how many people died from smoking-related illnesses in Peterborough constituency in each year since 2001. (11394)
Deaths due to smoking-related illness cannot be directly estimated, as smoking status is not included on the death certificate. However, research published the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care in September 2009 estimated that 83,900 deaths were attributable to smoking in England in 2008(1). These figures are not available at constituency level.
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:
(1) The Health and Social Care Information Centre (2009) Statistics on Smoking: England, 2009. Available at:
Departmental Assets
Mr Weir: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which former (a) buildings and (b) land owned by (i) his Department and (ii) (A) non-departmental public bodies and (B) agencies for which his Department is responsible have been sold since May 2005; what the sale price of each was at the time of sale; and to which body the funds from the sale accrued in each case. [12352]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office has sold one building and no land since May 2005. The building was 49-53 Parliament Street, London SW1 and was sold in March 2010 for £5.37 million. The proceeds were retained by the Cabinet Office.
Departmental Communication
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what instructions have been issued by the private office of each Minister in his Department on the preparation of briefing, speeches and replies to official correspondence. [9670]
Mr Maude: Guidance on the handling of official correspondence; preparation of submissions and briefing is available on my Department's intranet. I am placing copies in the Libraries of the House.
Departmental Manpower
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials in his Department have responsibility for devolution policy. [11883]
Mr Maude: My right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, has responsibility for devolution policy and is supported in this by a team of three officials who are also responsible for managing the UK's interests in relation to the British-Irish Council. The Cabinet Secretariat, also part of the Cabinet Office, supports inter-administration relationships through the Joint Ministerial Committee process.
Electoral Register
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office in respect of which 100 constituencies whose boundaries did not change between February 2000 and February 2010 the size of the electorate had the greatest reduction. [10818]
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 question asking in respect of which 100 constituencies whose boundaries did not change between February 2000 and February 2010 the size of the electorate fell by the highest number of electors in that period. (10818)
There were 70 constituencies that had boundaries that did not change between February 2000 and December 2009. The attached table shows the 20 constituencies out of these 70 where the size of the electorate fell over the same period. This is the latest year for which figures are available.
The constituencies shown are for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. All Westminster parliamentary constituency boundaries in Scotland were revised in 2004.
| Number of people registered to vote in parliamentary elections | |||
| Total electors 16 February 2000 | Total electors 1 December 2009 | Difference | |
| Source: Office for National Statistics, Boundary Commission for England, General Register Office for Scotland, Boundary Commission for Wales and Electoral Office for Northern Ireland. | |||
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were registered to vote in each ward in each UK parliamentary constituency in each year since 1997. [10819]
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 question asking how many people were registered to vote in each ward in each UK parliamentary constituency in each year since 1997. (10819)
ONS does not have the electoral information that is needed at ward level to provide an answer to this question. UK ward level figures are not collected on a consistent basis and are not currently in a format that can be used to compile the data requested.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the voter registration rate for (a) black and ethnic minority persons, (b) young people aged between 17 and 24 years and (c) persons living in private rented accommodation was in each of the last five years. [10948]
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 question asking what the voter registration rates for (a) black ethnic minority persons, (b) young people aged between 17 and 24 years and (c) persons living in private rented accommodation were in each of the last five years. (10948)
ONS does not hold the information requested, ONS collate and publish data on the number of people registered to vote in local and European government, and parliamentary elections. These data do not include information on the ethnicity, age or tenure of those people registered to vote.
Employment: Manufacturing Industries
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his most recent estimate is of the level of manufacturing employment. [12931]
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 August 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what is the most recent estimate of the level of manufacturing employment. (12931)
The most recent estimate for the number of workforce jobs in the manufacturing sector is 2.53 million, for March 2010. This figure is seasonally adjusted.
Government Departments: MITIE Group
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contracts each Government department (a) holds with Management Incentive Through Investment Equity Group plc and (b) held with the company in each year since 1990; what the length of each such contract was; and what payments have been made under each such contract. [12559]
Mr Maude: Data on MITIE's contracts with Central Government for each year since 1990 are not available centrally. From 1 January 2011, the Government will publish details of all new contracts with its suppliers.
Immigration
Mr Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people have migrated to the UK who were not UK citizens or citizens of another EU member state in (a) each year since 1997 and (b) each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available. [10583]
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 the number of immigrants who were non-UK or non-EU citizens (a) each year since 1997 and (b) each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available. (10583)
The annual data that have been provided to answer part (a) are from Long-Term International Migration (LTIM) estimates which are derived from several data sources. The International Passenger Survey (IPS) migrant data provides the foundation of the LTIM estimates with adjustments for asylum seekers, people whose intentions change with regard to their length of stay, and for international migration to and from Northern Ireland.
ONS publish rolling annual estimates each quarter based solely on the IPS. These estimates have been used to answer part (b).
These migration estimates cover those entering with the intention of living in the destination country for periods of twelve months or more. They will therefore exclude those entering the UK for less than twelve months.
These estimates are of numbers of moves each period rather than numbers of people. For instance, an individual could enter in one year, leave just over a year later and then enter again a year after that. They would appear twice in the table for (a).
Industrial Disputes
Sajid Javid: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many cases of industrial action have been recorded in each year since 1990; how many (a) workers took part and (b) working days were lost in each case; and if he will make a statement. [12958]
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 August 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many cases of industrial action have been recorded in each year since 1990; how many (a) workers took part and (b) working days were lost in each case; and if he will make a statement. (012958)
The Office for National Statistics compiles monthly labour disputes statistics for the UK. They exclude disputes which do not result in a stoppage of work and stoppages involving fewer than ten workers or lasting less than one day, unless the total number of working days lost in the dispute is 100 or more.
The table below provides estimates of the number of stoppages, workers involved and working days lost each year in the United Kingdom from 1990 to 2009.
| Estimates of number of stoppages, workers involved, working days lost in the United Kingdom, 1990 to 2009 | |||
| Number of stoppages | Number of workers involved (thousand) | Working days lost (thousand) | |
Jobseeker's Allowance
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people receiving jobseeker's allowance have been receiving it for over 12 months. [11418]
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 receiving jobseekers allowance have been receiving it for over 12 months. (11418)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system. The data that you have requested is already published and can be accessed via the ONS website at
within the Labour Market Statistical Bulletin, table 11(1).
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are also available on the NOMIS website at
Leukaemia
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate his Department has made of the survival rate for (a) adults and (b) children diagnosed with leukaemia (i) one year, (ii) two years and (iii) five years after remission. [12652]
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 question asking what recent estimate has been made of the survival rate for (a) adults and (b) children diagnosed with leukaemia (i) one year, (ii) two years and (iii) five years after remission. (12652)
ONS publish one and five-year cancer survival rates for adults (aged 15-99). Survival is calculated from the date of diagnosis. The equivalent information is not available for children.
The latest figures are for persons diagnosed in 2003-2007 and followed up to 2008. They are shown in table 1.
| Table 1. One- and five-year age-standardised( 1) relative cancer survival rates (per cent)( 2,3) for leukaemia, England | ||
| Percentage | ||
| One-year survival | Five-year survival | |
| (1) As cancer survival varies with the age at diagnosis, the relative rates for all ages (15-99) have been age-standardised to control for changes in the age profile of cancer patients over time, thus making them comparable with previously published figures (2) Leukaemia is defined as C91-C95, in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth edition (ICD-IO). (3) Adult patients aged 15-99. | ||
Justin Tomlinson:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) children and (b) adults (i) in total and (ii) in each primary care trust area have been
diagnosed with leukaemia in the UK in each year since 1997; and how many children have died from leukaemia in each of those years. [12653]
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 August 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) children and (b) adults (i) in total and (ii) in each primary care trust area have been diagnosed with leukaemia in the UK in each year since 1997; and how many children have died from leukaemia in each of those years. [12653]
The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of leukaemia (incidence) are for the year 2007. Please note that these numbers may not be the same as the number of people diagnosed with cancer, because one person may be diagnosed with more than one cancer.
The tables provide:
1) The number of newly diagnosed cases of leukaemia for (a) children aged under 16 years and (b) adults aged 16 years and over (i) in total in the UK for each year from 1997 to 2007 (Table 1) and the number of (a) children aged under 16 years in each (ii) primary care organisation in England for the years 1997 to 2007 combined (Table 2), and (b) adults aged 16 years and over in each (ii) primary care organisation in England for each year from 1997 to 2007 (Table 3).
2) The number of deaths where leukaemia was the underlying cause for (a) children aged under 16 years in the UK for the years 1997 to 2009 (Table 4), and (ii) each primary care organisation in England for the years 1997 to 2009 combined (Table 5).
The number of childhood leukaemia cases (Table 2) and deaths (Table 5) in each primary care organisation have not been given for individual years so that potentially identifiable data are not revealed.
A copy of Tables 2, 3 and 5 have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Lone Parents: Rutherglen
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency. [11885]
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 asking how many lone parents there are in Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency. (11885)
The number and type of families in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates are provided for lone parent families which include at least one child aged under 16.
The latest available figure is for 2008 and is shown in the table below. This is based on the 2008 parliamentary constituency boundary and there have been no boundary changes since 2008 in the area requested.
| Geographical area | Number of lone parent families-with at least one child under 16 (thousands) |
| Source: APS January to December 2008 | |
Low Incomes: East of England
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many children in each constituency in the East of England live in households with below 60% of the median net disposable household income before housing costs. [11910]
Maria Miller: I have been asked to reply.
Estimates of the number and proportion of children living in poverty are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household income adjusted (or "equivalised") for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living.
As they are based on survey data, child poverty estimates published in HBAI only allow breakdowns to Government office region and analysis by parliamentary constituency is not possible. However, figures for East of England are set out in the following table.
| Number and percentage of children living in households with less than 60% of contemporary median household income for the East of England, before housing costs | ||
| Period | Number (million) | Percentage |
| Notes: 1. These statistics are based on the Households Below Average Income series, sourced from the Family Resources Survey. 2. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. 3. The reference period for Households Below Average Income figures are single financial years. Three survey years have been combined as regional single year estimates are subject to volatility. 4. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication "Households Below Average Income" (HBAI) series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or "equivalised") for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 5. For the Households Below Average Income series, incomes have been equivalised using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) modified equivalisation factors. 6. Numbers of adults and children in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP. | ||
Measures of income poverty at constituency level are available with National Indicator 116. This indicator shows the number and proportion of children living in families in receipt of child tax credit whose reported income is less than 60% of the median income or in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance.
Due to methodological differences to the HBAI publication, these small area estimates are not directly comparable with national or regional figures. Nl 116 does not necessarily capture all those, or only those, children living in households below the 60% of median threshold.
Published data for the East of England constituencies for August 2007 and August 2006 can be found at:
Income measures do not necessarily capture all aspects of poverty or inequality facing children and their families and the Government are committed to tackling the causes of poverty and not just treating the symptoms. We must tackle the root causes of how people get trapped in poverty, breaking the cycle of disadvantage and dependency culture to stimulate social mobility.
The right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr Frank Field) has been asked to lead an independent review of poverty and life chances including examining the case for reforms to poverty measures, in particular for the
inclusion of non-financial elements. The review will explore whether there are measures that can improve the way poverty is tackled, ensuring we focus on the root causes and the paths into poverty as well as looking at the non-financial side.
NDPBs
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on public bodies to be abolished under the provisions of the proposed Public Bodies (Reform) Bill; and whether he has decided that any particular public bodies should not be abolished as a result of those discussions; [12502]
(2) what estimate has been made of the proportion of public bodies which will be abolished as a result of implementation of the provisions of the proposed Public Bodies (Reform) Bill if passed; [12505]
(3) which public bodies within the responsibility of each Department (a) perform a technical function, (b) require political impartiality and (c) act independently to establish facts. [12509]
Mr Maude: The Government are committed to reducing the number of public bodies to increase accountability and reduce costs. To this end, I am working with ministerial colleagues to assess the public bodies that fall within their areas of responsibility against three tests: do they perform a technical function; do they require political impartiality; or do they act independently to establish facts.
This assessment is still underway. We expect to publish the outcome by the autumn, and plan to introduce the Bill in October.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate has been made of the reduction in public expenditure which will arise from implementation of the provisions of the proposed Public Bodies (Reform) Bill. [12504]
Mr Maude: The primary aim of the planned Public Bodies (Reform) Bill is to increase the accountability of public bodies, but we also expect that abolitions and mergers arising from the Bill will create savings in future years and departments will be incorporating initial savings into their spending review plans. No estimate has yet been made of the level of savings expected.
New Businesses
Richard Fuller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new businesses have been started in (a) Bedford constituency, (b) the East of England and (c) the UK in each year since 2000. [11309]
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 new businesses have been started in (a) Bedford constituency, (b) the East of England and (c) the UK in each year since 2000. [11309]
Annual statistics on business births, deaths and actives arc available for 2002 onwards from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
The table below contains the latest statistics available on enterprise births in Bedford, the East of England and the UK for the years 2002 to 2008.
| Enterprise Births 2002-08 for Bedford, East of England and the UK | |||||||
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
Personal Income
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average income of (a) households and (b) single-parent households was in (i) England, (ii) Yorkshire and (iii) Leeds in the most recent year for which figures are available. [12247]
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 August 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question, asking what the average income of (a) households and (b) single-parent households was in (i) England, (ii) Yorkshire and (iii) Leeds in the most recent year for which figures are available. (012247)
Table 1 shows the estimated average net weekly equivalised household income in England, and Yorkshire and the Humber (both before and after housing costs) for the years 2006/07 to 2008/09 (as a three-year average) at 2008/09 prices, and similar income estimates for Leeds for 2007/08, at 2008/09 prices. These estimates are the latest available. Estimates for single-parent households for Leeds are not available.
The estimates provided for England, and Yorkshire and the Humber, are based on data from the Households Below Average Income series produced by the Department for Work and Pensions, and small area statistics for Leeds produced by the ONS.
These estimates, as with any involving sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
| Table 1: Average net weekly equivalised( 1) household income( 2) for all households and single-parent households( 3) , Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber, and England, 2006-07 to 2008-09( 4, 5) | ||||||||
| £ per week | ||||||||
| All households | Single-parent households | |||||||
| Median | Mean | Median | Mean | |||||
| Before housing costs | After housing costs | Before housing costs | After housing costs | Before housing costs | After housing costs | Before housing costs | After housing costs | |
| (1 )Data are based on OECD equivalisation factors which account for variation in household size and composition between survey years. (2 )Incomes are presented net of income tax payments, national insurance contributions and council tax. (3 )Single-parent households have been defined as households where there is at least one family consisting of one adult and at least one dependent child. (4 )Estimates for England, and Yorkshire and the Humber are presented as three-year averages in 2008-09 prices. Estimates for Leeds are for 2007-08 in 2008-09 prices. (5 )Housing costs include rent (gross of housing benefit), water charges, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance, ground rent and service charges. Source: Department for Work and Pensions and Office for National Statistics. | ||||||||
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |