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14 Sep 2010 : Column 1017W—continued


NHS: Negligence

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been paid out in respect of (a) settled claims and (b) settled claims arising from
14 Sep 2010 : Column 1018W
maternity care under the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts. [13939]

Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) supplied the information requested in the following table. Before April 2002, the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) operated 'excess' levels where trusts, rather than the NHSLA, handled and settled claims below the excess level. These data do not include those claims.

Damages paid on all closed( 1) CNST claims and CNST claims settled as a periodical payment( 2) as at 31 August 2010
£
Type of settlement Damages paid Outstanding damages Total damages

All claims:

Non-periodical payments

1,727,050,445

0

1,727,050,445

Periodical payments

580,814,825

698,151,389

1,278,966,214

Total

2,307,865,270

698,151,389

3,006,016,659

Obstetric claims:

Non-periodical payments

498,303,176

0

498,303,176

Periodical payments

398,946,088

482,031,956

880,978,044

Total

897,249,264

482,031,956

1,379,281,220

(1) Closed claims are claims where final payment has been made.
(2 )Periodical payments are claims where ongoing payments are made to the claimant

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the 100 largest settled claims awarded under the Clinical Negligence Scheme to date are; how much was paid in each case; and which of these claims arose from maternity care. [13940]

Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Litigation Authority provided the information requested in the following table.


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14 Sep 2010 : Column 1020W

14 Sep 2010 : Column 1021W

14 Sep 2010 : Column 1022W
100 largest clinical negligence scheme for trust claims closed( 1) or settled as periodical payment( 2) as at 31 August 2010
Number Status Damages paid (£) Outstanding damages (£) Total damages (£) Obstetric claim

1

Periodical Payments

9,607,021

2,792,979

12,400,000

Yes

2

Periodical Payments

5,000,000

4,960,000

9,960,000

Yes

3

Periodical Payments

4,153,811

4,846,189

9,000,000

No

4

Periodical Payments

2,460,141

6,339,859

8,800,000

No

5

Periodical Payments

3,814,454

4,743,546

8,558,000

Yes

6

Periodical Payments

3,304,750

4,895,250

8,200,000

Yes

7

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

3,775,498

4,224,502

8,000,000

Yes

8

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,955,753

5,044,247

8,000,000

Yes

9

Periodical Payments and Indemnity Given

3,656,775

4,283,225

7,940,000

Yes

10

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

3,369,863

4,380,137

7,750,000

Yes

11

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

3,145,000

4,555,000

7,700,000

Yes

12

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

3,314,633

4,267,367

7,582,000

Yes

13

Periodical Payments

2,940,591

4,597,847

7,538,438

No

14

Periodical Payments and Indemnity Given

3,214,877

4,285,123

7,500,000

Yes

15

Periodical Payments

2,402,117

4,897,883

7,300,000

No

16

Periodical Payments

2,375,000

4,875,000

7,250,000

Yes

17

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

3,350,000

3,900,000

7,250,000

Yes

18

Periodical Payments

2,631,000

4,527,000

7,158,000

Yes

19

Periodical Payments

3,117,659

3,929,341

7,047,000

Yes

20

Periodical Payments

1,450,000

5,550,000

7,000,000

Yes

21

Periodical Payments

2,400,000

4,600,000

7,000,000

Yes

22

Periodical Payments

2,613,250

4,151,750

6,765,000

Yes

23

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,575,736

4,174,264

6,750,000

Yes

24

Periodical Payments

3,361,086

3,280,914

6,642,000

Yes

25

Settled-Damages Paid

6,632,844

0

6,632,844

Yes

26

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

3,240,799

3,389,201

6,630,000

Yes

27

Periodical Payments

2,819,350

3,780,650

6,600,000

Yes

28

Periodical Payments

2,800,000

3,700,000

6,500,000

Yes

29

Periodical Payments

2,480,000

4,020,000

6,500,000

Yes

30

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,573,093

3,893,200

6,466,293

No

31

Periodical Payments

3,008,838

3,391,162

6,400,000

Yes

32

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

3,015,213

3,233,632

6,248,845

No

33

Periodical Payments

2,472,000

3,728,000

6,200,000

Yes

34

Periodical Payments

2,405,479

3,794,521

6,200,000

Yes

35

Periodical Payments

2,673,338

3,459,662

6,133,000

Yes

36

Periodical Payments

2,000,000

4,013,555

6,013,555

Yes

37

Periodical Payments

2,631,575

3,368,425

6,000,000

No

38

Periodical Payments

2,549,613

3,450,387

6,000,000

Yes

39

Periodical Payments

2,737,417

3,262,583

6,000,000

Yes

40

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

1,855,088

4,144,912

6,000,000

Yes

41

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,600,772

3,399,228

6,000,000

No

42

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,140,055

3,763,529

5,903,584

Yes

43

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

1,503,055

4,352,695

5,855,750

Yes

44

Periodical Payments

2,364,770

3,435,230

5,800,000

Yes

45

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

1,583,524

4,216,476

5,800,000

No

46

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,085,712

3,714,288

5,800,000

No

47

Settled-Damages Paid

5,799,919

0

5,799,919

Yes

48

Settled-Damages Paid

5,793,781

0

5,793,781

Yes

49

Periodical Payments

2,857,980

2,928,020

5,786,000

Yes

50

Periodical Payments

2,040,000

3,710,000

5,750,000

Yes

51

Periodical Payments and Indemnity Given

2,761,906

2,988,094

5,750,000

Yes

52

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,221,420

3,528,580

5,750,000

No

53

Settled-Damages Paid

5,750,000

0

5,750,000

Yes

54

Settled-Damages Paid

5,749,111

0

5,749,111

No

55

Periodical Payments

2,195,118

3,504,882

5,700,000

Yes

56

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,051,362

3,648,638

5,700,000

Yes

57

Settled-Damages Paid

5,620,290

0

5,620,290

Yes

58

Periodical Payments

2,216,550

3,383,450

5,600,000

Yes

59

Periodical Payments

2,340,000

3,260,000

5,600,000

No

60

Settled-Damages Paid

5,555,000

0

5,555,000

Yes

61

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

1,986,348

3,513,652

5,500,000

Yes

62

Settled-Damages Paid

5,500,000

0

5,500,000

Yes

63

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,036,063

3,422,309

5,458,372

No

64

Periodical Payments

2,152,913

3,247,087

5,400,000

Yes

65

Settled-Damages Paid

5,375,148

0

5,375,148

Yes

66

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,400,000

2,950,000

5,350,000

Yes

67

Periodical Payments

2,356,490

2,970,794

5,327,284

Yes

68

Periodical Payments

2,614,364

2,685,636

5,300,000

Yes

69

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

1,356,181

3,903,819

5,260,000

Yes

70

Periodical Payments

2,624,557

2,632,669

5,257,226

Yes

71

Periodical Payments

2,436,230

2,763,770

5,200,000

Yes

72

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

1,913,000

3,229,395

5,142,395

Yes

73

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,325,760

2,810,568

5,136,328

Yes

74

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,010,000

3,115,000

5,125,000

Yes

75

Settled-Damages Paid

5,007,137

0

5,007,137

No

76

Settled-Damages Paid

5,000,000

0

5,000,000

Yes

77

Periodical Payments

1,888,357

3,111,643

5,000,000

Yes

78

Periodical Payments

1,430,000

3,570,000

5,000,000

No

79

Periodical Payments and Indemnity Given

1,955,660

3,044,340

5,000,000

No

80

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,397,539

2,602,461

5,000,000

No

81

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,370,411

2,629,590

5,000,000

Yes

82

Periodical Payments with Reverse Indemnity

2,542,272

2,357,728

4,900,000

Yes

83

Periodical Payments

2,200,000

2,650,000

4,850,000

Yes

84

Settled-Damages Paid

4,850,000

0

4,850,000

Yes

85

Periodical Payments

1,816,563

3,004,535

4,821,098

Yes

86

Settled-Damages Paid

4,817,988

0

4,817,988

Yes

87

Periodical Payments

2,000,000

2,805,720

4,805,720

Yes

88

Periodical Payments

2,233,846

2,566,154

4,800,000

Yes

89

Periodical Payments

2,037,500

2,742,500

4,780,000

Yes

90

Periodical Payments

1,750,715

2,999,285

4,750,000

Yes

91

Periodical Payments

1,889,572

2,860,428

4,750,000

Yes

92

Settled-Damages Paid

4,750,000

0

4,750,000

Yes

93

Periodical Payments

1,856,929

2,856,071

4,713,000

Yes

94

Periodical Payments

2,135,833

2,561,686

4,697,519

No

95

Periodical Payments

2,280,928

2,389,072

4,670,000

Yes

96

Periodical Payments

2,123,326

2,543,833

4,667,159

No

97

Periodical Payments and Indemnity Given

2,120,016

2,542,305

4,662,321

Yes

98

Periodical Payments

1,300,000

3,350,000

4,650,000

No

99

Periodical Payments

1,383,960

3,255,080

4,639,040

Yes

100

Periodical Payments

2,535,376

2,077,134

4,612,510

Yes

(1) Closed claims are claims where final payment has been made.
(2) Periodical payments are claims where ongoing payments are made to the claimant.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent discussions he has had with (a) Ministers and officials in his Department and (b) representatives of the private and voluntary sectors on prescription charges; [13415]

(2) what recent discussions he has had with (a) Ministers and officials in his Department and (b) representatives of the private and voluntary sectors on the Prescription Pricing Authority. [13416]

Mr Simon Burns: In the period 12 May 2010 to 9 September 2010, there were four discussions with ministerial colleagues and officials in the Department concerning prescription charges and none concerning NHS Prescription Services (formerly the Prescription Pricing Authority). In the same period, Ministers had one discussion with representatives from the private and voluntary sectors on prescription charges but had none concerning the NHS Prescription Services.

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which long-term illnesses qualify people for free prescriptions; whether he plans to amend this list; and if he will make a statement. [14433]

Mr Simon Burns: The list of medical exemptions is contained in SI 2000, No. 620, as amended. In England, a person is entitled to apply for a medical exemption certificate if they suffer from:

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 on 20 October.

School Milk

Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the effects of the nursery milk scheme on the health of children under five years; [13593]

(2) what arrangements his Department plans to put in place to mark World School Milk day; [13612]

(3) what recent assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of ending the nursery milk scheme on children from low-income families; [13613]

(4) what recent representations his Department has received from the dairy sector on proposals to end the nursery milk scheme; [13615]

(5) what evidence his Department took into account in its assessment that the nursery milk scheme was not effective; [13616]

(6) if he will place in the Library a copy of each response received from devolved Administrations on proposals to abolish the nursery milk scheme. [13617]

Anne Milton: The Department has no plans to end the nursery milk scheme or to mark World School Milk day. Dairy UK wrote to Ministers on 4 August 2010.

The Department is unaware of any external studies undertaken on the effectiveness of the nursery milk scheme. It is well known that milk is a source of important
14 Sep 2010 : Column 1023W
nutrients (such as calcium) as part of a balanced varied diet for young children, and we are continuing with the scheme.

A response was sent by the Scottish Government on 6 August 2010 to the Department. The Department received no other correspondence from the devolved Administrations. It is not usual practice to place copies of inter-ministerial correspondence in the Library.

Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the future funding of the nursery milk scheme will be included in the Spending Review. [13594]

Anne Milton: The Department has no plans to end the nursery milk scheme.

Smoking

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many jobs in smoke-free partnerships are funded directly or indirectly by his Department; at what cost to the public purse; and if he will make a statement. [14461]

Anne Milton: This information is not held centrally.

There is no standard template for funding because these partnerships have grown up over the years to reflect the public health priorities in the particular areas which they serve. Smoking is a major cause of early death and disease and we will make clear our priorities in this area in the public health White Paper later this year.

Smoke-free partnerships vary in composition but they have in common close co-operation at the local and regional levels between national health service, local government, other Government Departments such as HM Revenue and Customs, voluntary sector groups and private sector organisations with an interest in tackling smoking.

They have developed as a result of local initiatives to prioritise activity on smoking in those regions which have the highest prevalence and the greatest health burden resulting from smoking. They originally grew out of initiatives in the early 1990s when the White Paper on the health of the nation published in July 1992 encouraged activity at this level. They have evolved into their existing form during the last 10 years. The smoke-free partnership in the south-west has only been operating for the last two years and has the highest level of funding from its agreement with the primary care trusts (PCTs) in the region.

Levels of funding and sources of funding for the partnerships has changed over the years. There have been some years especially between 2004 and 2009 when central funding was made available. In those regions with smoke-free partnerships this central funding would have been added to the funds raised locally.

Those regions which do not have a smoke-free partnership have in recent years been more heavily dependent on central funding and on the activities of the Regional Tobacco Policy Manager. With the changes brought about in response to the current financial situation some regions have dispensed with their Regional Tobacco Policy Managers. The levels of activity on smoking issues therefore varies considerably.


14 Sep 2010 : Column 1024W

The regions with smoke-free partnerships are currently principally funded from agreements developed with PCTs. Changes in the NHS (as set out in the recently published NHS White Paper) and the ending of PCTs will result in further changes in the immediate future.

The publication of the public health White Paper later this year and the development of the public health service in line with the Government's new priorities will also impact on the smoke-free partnerships, their future work and funding. Whether previous funding arrangements remain appropriate for the future is an issue, which will have to be considered in due course both at national level and by their funders at local and regional level.

Spinal Injuries

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average annual cost to the NHS of treating spinal problems. [14263]

Mr Simon Burns: Based on returns submitted in reference costs, the estimated cost to the national health service of secondary care relating to spinal surgery and spinal disorders in 2008-09 was £417 million. This does not represent the total cost because it excludes general practitioner consultations, out-patient attendances, prescribing and other costs related to the treatment of spinal problems, which cannot be separately identified.

Tuberculosis: Health Services

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much was spent from the public purse on the treatment of (a) multi drug-resistant and (b) extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in each of the last five years; [13519]

(2) what the average cost of treating a patient with (a) drug responsive, (b) multi drug-resistant and (c) extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis was in the latest period for which figures are available. [13520]

Anne Milton: The available information on prescription of drugs for tuberculosis (TB) does not allow identification of the particular diagnosis made in individual patients, as there may be overlap between the drugs used to treat multi drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) or extremely drug- resistant TB (XDR-TB). It is also likely that patients with drug-resistant TB will receive other drugs that are also used to treat other conditions, and it is not possible to identify what proportion of the use of such drugs would be for such patients.

Information on expenditure on drugs prescribed to treat TB is shown in the table.


14 Sep 2010 : Column 1025W
Net ingredient cost (£000)
Calendar year Prescription cost analysis database Hospital prescribing database Combined total

2005

1,894.2

4,509.8

6,404.1

2006

2,105.7

4,526.0

6,631.6

2007

2,310.9

4,710.0

7,020.9

2008

2,106.3

5,463.7

7,570.0

2009

1,748.1

5,356.4

7,104.5

Notes:
1. Net ingredient cost (NIC) is the basic cost of a drug. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees, prescription charges income or other costs such as staff time.
2. The table shows the NIC of drugs classified by Prescription Services as being for the treatment of tuberculosis from the prescription cost analysis database, which covers prescriptions dispensed in the community. Data for the same drugs have been extracted from the Hospital Pharmacy Audit Index, which provides an estimate of the cost of drugs used in hospitals. The cost of drugs for hospital use is not necessarily the actual price paid but is the cost of the drugs issued priced using the price lists that apply to prescribing.
3. Hospital dispensing information is provided by IMS
www.imshealth.com
Source:
The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

A study has estimated that the average costs of managing a case of pulmonary drug sensitive TB or MDR-TB are about £6,000 and £60,000 respectively.(1) Costs of treating XDR-TB are likely to be higher than for MDR-TB, as the cost of drugs may be more expensive, the course of treatment may be longer and other related costs such as for in-patient and out-patient care may be greater.

Communities and Local Government

Audit Commission: Handbooks

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the Audit Commission's staff handbook. [15078]

Robert Neill: A copy of the Audit Commission's terms and conditions document has been placed in the Library of the House.

Please note that although this is the current document some changes have been made to the Commission's car scheme in response to the announcement to disband the Commission. All current orders have been cancelled and no new orders will be made. Drivers have been asked to use their current car beyond the normal lease end and any cars returned by redundant staff are being reallocated.

Audit Commission: Labour Party

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons the Audit Commission made a payment of £10,143.44 to the Labour Party in 2009-10. [15061]

Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.

Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 14 September 2010:


14 Sep 2010 : Column 1026W

Audit Commission: Plants

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on pot plants by the Audit Commission in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [15067]

Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.

Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 14 September 2010:

Audit Commission: Public Relations

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many communications, marketing and press staff are employed by the Audit Commission; and at what cost in the latest period for which figures are available. [15051]

Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.

Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 14 September 2010:

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent by the Audit Commission under its contract with Connect Public Affairs. [15060]

Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and 1 have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.

Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 14 September 2010:


14 Sep 2010 : Column 1027W

Audit Commission: Smith Institute

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether directors of the Audit Commission have had meetings with representatives of the Smith Institute in the last 18 months. [15064]

Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.

Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 14 September 2010:

Departmental Official Hospitality

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in the Department in each of the last three years. [13473]

Robert Neill: For information in respect of 2008-09 and 2009-10, I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statements made on 21 July 2009, Official Report, column 118WS and on 27 July 2010, Official Report, column 82WS.

Information for earlier years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Plants

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on pot plants by his Department in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [15065]

Robert Neill: The following table identifies how much Communities and Local Government spent on the maintenance of existing pot plants since 2004, including details of the (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 spend:

Contract year Cost (£)

July 2004 to June 2005

5,555.88

July 2005 to June 2006

5,555.88

July 2006 to June 2007

6,634.32

July 2007 to June 2008

6,634.32

July 2008 to June 2009

6,634.32

July 2009 to June 2010

6,454.58

July 2010 to September 2010

1,388.97

Total

38,858.27


In July 2004, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister signed a contract with Mitie for maintenance of internal plants in Eland House. In July 2010, the Department gave due notice that this contract will be terminated; the contract will formally end in September 2010.

The pot plants are owned by the Department, rather than leased. When the contract ends, as suggested by staff in feedback on departmental cost savings, the
14 Sep 2010 : Column 1028W
plants will be looked after by departmental staff on a voluntary basis. No new pot plants have been procured since May 2010. A copy of the relevant section of the 2004 contract on internal planting has been placed in the Library of the House.

Fire Services: Kent

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with the Kent and Medway fire and rescue authority on plans to regionalise fire service control rooms. [15159]

Robert Neill: In August I visited Kent and Medway fire and rescue authority and discussed the FiReControl project as one element of a wider discussion on fire related issues.

Homelessness

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to enable local authorities to assist those in priority groups as defined by the Homelessness Act 2002 into housing in the private rented sector in respect of which the lease is less than 10 years in duration. [15326]

Grant Shapps: Local housing authorities are already able to assist people in the statutory priority need groups who have been accepted as unintentionally homeless by providing them with accommodation leased from a private sector landlord for a period less than 10 years. At the end of June there were around 50,000 households being assisted under the homelessness legislation in temporary accommodation, of which around 61% were in accommodation leased from a private sector landlord. Authorities can also arrange for people in the statutory priority need groups who are unintentionally homeless to be offered assured shorthold tenancies in the private rented sector. Where the applicant makes an informed decision to accept such an offer, the homelessness duty comes to an end.

Housing Associations

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to (a) reduce the number of housing associations operating in individual local authority areas and (b) ensure that housing associations are based in the areas they serve. [14818]

Grant Shapps: Housing associations are private sector bodies. The Secretary of State has no locus in limiting the number of associations operating within a local authority area or in insisting that they are only based in the areas which they own or manage property.

Housing Associations: Pay

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on the salaries paid to chief executives and other senior officials of housing associations; and if he will make a statement. [14811]


14 Sep 2010 : Column 1029W

Grant Shapps: Housing associations are obliged by law to publish the salary of their highest paid director in their annual report. We expect housing associations to show restraint when setting or renegotiating remuneration packages for their senior staff. As a Department we will seek to proactively highlight the pay of housing association directors and will invite the NHF to help to highlight excessive housing association executive pay to drive down costs.

Local Authorities: Public Relations

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will encourage local authorities to cease to employ external public relations companies; and if he will make a statement. [14816]

Robert Neill: I will shortly be consulting on strengthening the statutory Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity so as to stop taxpayers' money being spent on private lobbying contractors, used by local authorities to persuade the public to take a particular view on specific policies.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consultations are taking place on proposals for local enterprise partnerships. [14083]

Robert Neill: The closing date for submitting local enterprise partnership proposals to the Government was 6 September 2010. I am pleased to confirm that Government received 57 proposals from groups of councils and businesses from across the country. A joint press notice is available on the CLG and BIS websites.

These will be locally owned partnerships, in contrast to the top-down prescriptive approach taken previously by the arbitrary boundaries of regional development agencies. As such it will be up to local areas to assemble partnerships proposals and consult appropriately.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the deadline is for submissions to be made to his Department for consultations on local enterprise partnerships. [14084]

Robert Neill: The closing day for submitting local enterprise partnership proposals to the Government was 6 September 2010. I am pleased to confirm that Government received 57 proposals from groups of councils and businesses from across the country. A joint press notice is available on the CLG and BIS websites.

Ministers have been impressed by many of the proposals which reflect the importance of allowing local areas to determine their own economic development and drive private sector job growth-unconstrained by arbitrary boundaries of regional development agencies and the top-down prescriptive approach taken previously.

Local Government

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the total number of statutory duties required of local councils in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [13566]


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Robert Neill: No estimate has been made. We are committed to reducing top-down burdens on local authorities from legislation, guidance and other forms of prescription.

Local Strategic Partnerships

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the future of local strategic partnerships; and if he will make a statement. [14465]

Robert Neill: Local strategic partnerships are non-statutory groups of local organisations, led by local authorities, coming together voluntarily to work in partnership. Decisions on their future, including composition, accountability and structures, are entirely a matter for local areas themselves.

Mayors: Conduct

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Northampton North of 22 July 2010, Official Report, column 487W, on mayors, whether he plans to propose a power for electors to recall an elected mayor. [13784]

Robert Neill: Our plans, as set out in the Structural Reform Plan, published by my Department on 8 July, are to legislate through the localism Bill for directly elected mayors to enable the largest 12 cities in England to have mayors from 2012, subject to confirmatory referendums and full scrutiny by elected councillors.

Museums and Galleries: Fees and Charges

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the merits of the relaxation by the Arts Council of free entry conditions on capital grants to local authorities to permit the charging of admission to (a) art galleries and (b) other arts venues. [14411]

Robert Neill: This coalition Government have already reduced ring-fencing on grants to local authorities by £1.2 billion in 2010-11 and, in the context of the current spending review, will look to reduce ring-fencing even further. This will increase local authorities' freedom and the flexibility to allocate funding more appropriately to their local conditions and priorities.

Ordnance Survey: Public Sector

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the public sector mapping agreement supersedes previous agreements between Ordnance Survey and individual local authorities. [14749]

Robert Neill: The public sector mapping agreement (PSMA) will supersede previous agreements between Ordnance Survey and local authorities only where those were part of the current local government mapping services agreement (MSA), which is due to expire on 31 March 2011.


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In addition to the MSA, Ordnance Survey has agreements with some individual local authorities for the licensing of data, or usage, not covered by the MSA. It is expected that this type of arrangement will continue outside the PSMA, if local authorities have needs for mapping data not covered by the PSMA.

Renewable Energy: Planning Permission

Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2010, Official Report, column 532W, on renewable energy: planning permission, when key decisions and the way forward on amending the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 for small-scale wind turbines and air source heat pumps will be announced. [15394]

Robert Neill: The Government are committed to amending the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 to introduce permitted development rights for small-scale wind turbines and air source heat pumps, as part of our agenda to support renewable energy and low-carbon technologies. There are a number of technical and practical issues that we are considering. We are aiming to resolve these, and to make key announcements and legislative changes as soon as possible.

Repossession Orders: Wiltshire

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties in North Swindon constituency were repossessed in each of the last five years. [14792]

Grant Shapps: There are two independent sources of data on actual numbers of mortgage possessions: The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) and the Financial Services Authority (FSA). However both are only available for the United Kingdom as a whole.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders latest press release on repossessions is on their website at:


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The Financial Services Authority data are available on their website at:

Social Rented Housing

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to consult tenants groups on the future of secure tenancies in social rented housing. [13838]

Andrew Stunell: The Government are absolutely committed to protecting the security of tenure and rights of those currently living in social housing. With a record 5 million people on social housing waiting lists it is right that we should look at ways of improving the system for new tenancies, and consider how best to help the most vulnerable in our society. How we make best use of our social housing should be a matter for open debate and discussion, and we welcome the views of tenant groups as part of this. On 4 August, we announced our plans for a National Affordable Home Swap Scheme, which will allow social tenants to move-such as for family or employment reasons-without losing their footing on the social housing ladder, so increasing the tenure rights and opportunities of those in social housing.

Tyres

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies take into account rolling resistance as a performance criterion when purchasing tyres. [13551]

Robert Neill: The Department does not directly purchase tyres.

Fire Service College does not take account of rolling resistance when purchasing vehicle tyres. Its purchasing criteria are based on best value for money.

Planning Inspectorate and Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre do not purchase tyres.


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