Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 16 September 2010
Scotland
BAE Systems
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he was informed that the Ministry of Defence had asked BAE Systems to consider the implications of reducing the number of aircraft carriers from two to one or zero. [15674]
Michael Moore: The Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) includes an examination of all major equipment and support contracts. The Government need to ensure the future programme is both coherent with future defence needs and affordable. I am in regular contact with colleagues on the progress of the SDSR.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he met the Secretary of State for Defence to discuss the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers following the confirmation by BAE that it had been asked by the Ministry of Defence to consider the possibility of cancelling one or both ships. [15675]
Michael Moore: I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on all matters relating to the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), including the future of the Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carriers. I will continue to engage with both Cabinet colleagues and Scottish stakeholders throughout the SDSR process, in order to best represent the strategic and economic benefits that flow from Scotland's defence installations and associated industries.
Departmental Redundancy Pay
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what severance payments have been paid to (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department who left office after the last general election. [15486]
David Mundell: The information is as follows:
(a) I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 55W, which lists the total severance payments made to Ministers from each Department who left office following the general election.
(b) The Government publish annually the total cost of special advisers in the form of a written ministerial statement by the Prime Minister. The total cost of severance paid out to special advisers who left office after the last general election will be published in due course.
Departmental Welfare Milk
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he had discussions with (a) the Department of Health and (b) the Prime Minister or his officials on the proposal to end the nursery milk scheme; [14248]
(2) when his Department was first informed of the proposal by the Department of Health to end the nursery milk scheme; and whether his Department received a copy of the letter from the Health Minister to the Scottish Executive on the proposal. [14246]
Michael Moore: The Prime Minister signalled his disapproval of this proposal on August 8, which will not now be implemented.
Housing Benefit
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2010, Official Report, columns 617-18W, on housing benefit, which (a) housing association, (b) local authorities and (c) non-governmental organisations he met during July and August 2010 to discuss the effects of the proposed changes in housing benefit; and on what date each meeting was held. [15684]
Michael Moore: Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and voluntary sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Official Visits
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2010, Official Report, column 618W, on official visits, which local authority areas (a) he and (b) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland visited during August 2010. [15682]
Michael Moore: Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Ports: Police
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2010, Official Report, column 618W, on ports: police, whether he has discussed the removal of UK Border Agency funding for three police posts at Stranraer port of arrival in his regular meetings with ministerial colleagues; how many such meetings have taken place since his appointment; on what dates the meetings took place; and which ministerial colleagues were present. [15777]
Michael Moore: I have both written to, and spoken with, the Minister of State for Immigration to raise this issue. As was the case with the previous Administration, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such ministerial meetings.
Mr Russell Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2010, Official Report, column 618W, on ports: police, how many (a) oral and (b) written representations (i) he
and (ii) the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland has made to the Home Office on the withdrawal of funding for three police posts at Stranraer port. [15781]
Michael Moore: I have both written to, and spoken with, the Minister of State for Immigration to raise this issue. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will be meeting personally with representatives from relevant authorities in the coming weeks.
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2010, Official Report, column 618W, on ports: police, whether (a) he and (b) the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland plans to visit Stranraer port in the next three months. [15782]
Michael Moore: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I have plans to visit many areas of Scotland in the course of our duties in the next three months. We are continually engaging with the relevant people on this matter.
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2010, Official Report, column 618W, on ports: police, how many meetings he has had on the decision to withdraw UK Border Agency funding for police posts at Stranraer with (a) the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, (b) the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (c) other Home Office Ministers, (d) the UK Border Agency, (e) Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary and (f) Ministers in the Scottish Executive. [15783]
Michael Moore: Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a wide range of corporate partners to discuss issues which affect Scotland. I last met with the Minister of State for Immigration last week and we discussed the issue of the policing of Scottish ports.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agricultural Wages Board
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which external organisations she consulted prior to taking the decision to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB); and what consultation she plans to undertake on the arrangements to be put in place after the abolition of the AWB. [15745]
Mr Paice: There were no specific discussions with external organisations prior to the announcement by the Secretary of State, but views within the industry on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) have been well known for many years, in particular those of the National Farmers' Union and Unite which represent employers and workers on the AWB. The abolition of the board will require amendments to primary legislation and therefore will be subject to proper parliamentary scrutiny and debate.
We intend to discuss with interested parties practical approaches to wage-setting in agriculture in the absence of the agricultural minimum wage and how workers can be best informed of their contractual rights after the AWB has been abolished.
Agriculture: Subsidies
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the monetary value of the contribution to the agricultural economy of (a) the EU Single Payment scheme and (b) countryside stewardship and other environmental schemes relating to farming practices funded by her Department. [15534]
Mr Paice: Around £1.87 billion was paid to farmers in England under the 2009 single payment scheme. Around £350 million was paid out under the agri-environment schemes funded by DEFRA in 2009-10.
Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions each Minister in her Department has met her Department's chief scientific officer since 6 May 2010. [15435]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA Ministers meet with the chief scientific adviser (or when on leave an appointed deputy) on a regular, usually weekly, basis in the normal course of business in both policy formulation and departmental management. There would be a disproportionate cost to work out every specific occasion/time which each of the Ministers met the departmental scientific adviser between 6 May and today.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in the Department in each of the last three years. [13477]
Richard Benyon: There is no central combined record of the cost of hospitality for events hosted by Ministers and paid for from central budgets or any hospitality costs associated with other departmental activities at which Ministers may have been involved. To identify such instances and the apportionment of any costs to the level of ministerial involvement would incur disproportionate cost.
Departmental Public Consultation
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to increase the involvement of young members of the public in the making of decisions that affect them by (a) Ministers in her Department, (b) officials in her Department and (c) public bodies which fall within her Department's area of responsibility. [12268]
Richard Benyon: The Department, and our network of delivery bodies and agencies, are committed to involving those affected by our policies in their design and development. This includes young people, schools, and student and other representative bodies.
The Department's Consumer Representatives Group includes young people's representatives and feeds into decisions on key policy areas. As part of citizen engagement
under the Big Society, we will look to ensure that staff in core DEFRA, and our delivery bodies, increase networking opportunities with young members of the public. We also have specific projects with young people, to promote environmental behaviours and gain their insights. The Greener Living Fund works with civil society partners to engage their members and communities in living more sustainable lifestyles. This includes a project working with the National Union of Students to develop and deliver activity to encourage students to adopt more environmentally friendly behaviours.
We will continue to look for the best ways to work in partnership with all those affected by our policies and services so that our essential objectives are met.
Kosher Meat: EU Action
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will meet representatives of the Jewish community to discuss the effect on that community of proposed EU regulations on labelling kosher meat; and if she will make a statement. [15754]
Mr Paice: The Government are still considering their position in relation to the recent vote in the European Parliament on the provision of food information to consumers and the proposed requirement to indicate the method of slaughter where an animal has been slaughtered without prior stunning. Currently, there is no statutory obligation to indicate the method of slaughter on meat labels. However, the EU Commission is looking at the introduction of standardised welfare indicators and an EU wide welfare labelling scheme, although it is not yet clear how religious slaughter practices will be reflected in any new arrangements. We will ensure full consultation, including with religious groups, on any proposals that may emerge.
Lighting: Climate Change
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the contribution of energy-efficient light bulbs to reducing climate change. [15517]
Mr Paice: The public consultation on saving energy through better products and appliances is the latest analysis and assessment for a range of energy-using products and appliances. This was published by DEFRA on 17 December 2009 and included an assessment of CO2 savings from more energy efficient domestic (Annex 5) and non-domestic (Annex 10) lighting.
The consultation document is available at:
Special Protection Areas: Dungeness
Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the advice her Department has received from Natural England on extension of the Dungeness Special Protection Area. [15537]
Richard Benyon: A copy of Natural England's initial formal advice on the extensions of the Dungeness Special Protection Area (SPA), which is subject to consultation, will be placed in the Library shortly.
Stray Dogs
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost to local authorities was of dealing with stray dogs in each of the last five years. [14209]
Mr Paice: DEFRA does not hold this information, which is kept by each individual local authority and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost to the Department.
Unadopted Drains
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to bring forward proposals to require water companies to take responsibility for unadopted drains. [15617]
Richard Benyon: We published draft regulations for consultation on 26 August, with a view to transferring private sewers and lateral drains that drain to the public sewerage system into the ownership of the statutory sewerage companies in England from October 2011. The consultation paper sets out the Government's intentions and provides an opportunity for interested parties to respond with their views on the accompanying draft regulations.
Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental Redundancy Pay
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what severance payments have been paid to (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department who left office after the last general election. [15484]
John Penrose: On severance payments made to Ministers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 55W.
The total cost of special advisers is published annually in the form of a written ministerial statement by the Prime Minister.
Gay Games: Greater London
Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what discussions his Department has had with the organisers of the bid for the Gay Games in 2018 on availability of Olympic facilities for use should London host the games; [15669]
(2) what support his Department has offered the organisers of the bid for London to host the Gay Games in 2018; and what further support it intends to provide. [15670]
Hugh Robertson: I have recently offered my support to the possibility of the Gay Games coming to London in 2018 in a letter to the co-ordinator of the bid, Jonathan Harbourne.
The coalition Government are committed to the promotion of sport at all levels, for any gender or sexual orientation-from the Olympics, through to grassroots, community, clubs and local competitions.
This Department has not discussed the availability of Olympic facilities with the organisers of the bid for the 2018 Gay Games in London. The Olympic Park Legacy Company and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority will have responsibility for the Olympic facilities post 2012 and the organisers will therefore need to discuss availability with them.
Horserace Betting Levy Board: Legal Costs
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much the Horserace Betting Levy Board has spent on external legal advice in each of the last five years. [15708]
John Penrose: The Department does not collate this information for its arm's length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of the Horserace Betting Levy Board to write to my hon. Friend.
Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Redundancy Pay
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what severance payments have been paid to (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department who left office after the last general election. [15488]
Mr Paterson: The Department paid its outgoing Minister £10,162 and special adviser £28,520 in severance payments after the last general election in accordance with section 5 of the Ministerial and other Pensions Salaries Act 1991, and the provisions set out in the model contract for special advisers.
The previous Secretary of State was unsalaried and did not receive a severance payment.
Wales
Departmental Communication
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what instructions have been issued by the private office of each Minister in her Department on the preparation of briefing, speeches and replies to official correspondence. [9668]
Mr David Jones: Wales Office officials refer to a standardised template when preparing briefing, speeches and replies to official correspondence.
Departmental Pay
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in her Department in 2009-10. [9999]
Mr David Jones: In total, £2,537,337.87 was paid as remuneration to civil servants by the Wales Office in 2009-10. This includes pay, employer pension contributions and national insurance payments, as well as any taxable benefits and non-consolidated performance related payments.
Departmental Redundancy Pay
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what severance payments have been paid to (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in her Department who left office after the last general election. [15487]
Mr David Jones: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the response by my hon. Friend the Paymaster General to the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 55W, which lists the total severance payments made to Ministers from each Department who left office following the general election.
The Government publish annually the total cost of special advisers in the form of a written ministerial statement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. The total cost of severance paid out to special advisers who left office after the last general election will be published in due course.
Future Jobs Fund
Mr David: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on the operation of the Future Jobs Fund in Wales. [15907]
Mr David Jones: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on helping people back into work in Wales.
Our focus is on getting people back into permanent employment rather than providing temporary publicly-funded work placements. The Single Work Programme will replace existing back to work programmes including the future jobs fund.
Police: Elections
Mr David: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what discussions she has had with the police authorities in Wales on the introduction of directly-elected police commissioners; [15318]
(2) what discussions she has had with the Welsh Local Government Association on the introduction of directly-elected police commissioners in Wales. [15319]
Mr David Jones: I have met with police authorities in Wales and the Welsh Local Government Association to discuss the introduction of directly-elected Police and Crime Commissioners, and will continue to meet with them and other stakeholders.
Health
Autism: Children
Gavin Barwell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve mental health services for children with autism; and whether he intends to produce a strategy document for children with autism similar to his Department's Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives strategy for adults with autism. [15378]
Mr Burstow: We are committed to fulfilling the requirements of the Autism Act 2009 with the aim of addressing the disadvantages that children, young people and adults with autism can experience. We have also commissioned the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to produce clinical guidelines on autism in adults and children.
Staff working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) should have the necessary values, competencies, skills, and ongoing training to enable them to recognise and respond to the identified needs of children, including those with autism. Departmental officials are looking at what might need to be done to ensure CAMHS offer proper support to those with autism spectrum disorders.
Earlier this month we announced that we are developing a cross-Government mental health strategy. This will cover children and young people as well as adults and older people. The identification and treatment of children and young people with mental health problems is particularly important as half of all lifetime mental health problems begin by age 14. The new strategy will set the direction for service improvement for all children and young people experiencing poor mental health.
Bone Cancer: Medical Treatments
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of NHS patient access to ultra orphan treatments for rare forms of bone cancer. [15311]
Mr Burstow: The Department has made no such assessment. We want to improve health outcomes for all cancer patients, including those with rare bone cancer, by ensuring fast access to high quality treatment. We are also committed to increasing access to cancer drugs through the Cancer Drugs Fund and the additional £50 million funding announced in July 2010.
Broadmoor Hospital
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how frequently prisoners in Broadmoor are assessed for their suitability to return to a prison environment. [15605]
Mr Burstow: Prisoners are transferred to high security hospitals for treatment under the Mental Health Act (1983 amended in 2007). Decisions relating to a patient's treatment and any recommendation made to the Ministry of Justice about when it is clinically appropriate to return a patient to prison are for the patient's responsible clinician at the hospital. The timing of assessments is a clinical decision dependent on the patient's condition.
Cancer: Drugs
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether funding may be provided from the interim Cancer Drugs Fund for drugs which are in the process of appraisal by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. [15743]
Mr Simon Burns: Regional panels, led by clinical experts, will decide on the use of the additional funding made available to the national health service in 2010-11 to support improved access to cancer drugs.
Cancer: Medical Treatments
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his policy is on ensuring that cancer treatment takes place as close to a patient's home as practicable; [14992]
(2) what his policy is on the establishment by major NHS cancer centres of satellite radiotherapy centres in order to deliver treatment closer to a patient's home; and if he will make a statement; [14993]
(3) if he will issue guidelines on the maximum distance patients should expect to travel to receive regular cancer treatments such as radiotherapy; and if he will make a statement. [14994]
Mr Burstow: The White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS", published on 12 July, explained the Government's intention to create an NHS that is more responsive to patients' needs and achieves better outcomes, including cancer outcomes, that are among the best in the world.
We know that most cancer patients want to receive as much of their care as possible close to home, and the White Paper set out how we will hold the NHS Commissioning Board to account for delivering better health outcomes through a national NHS Outcomes Framework. A full consultation and engagement process to develop the NHS Outcomes Framework is now under way and will close on 11 October 2010.
Ministers have asked National Cancer Director, Professor Sir Mike Richards, to lead a review of the "Cancer Reform Strategy" (CRS). The review will align the cancer strategy with the White Paper; set the direction for the next five years, taking account of progress since the CRS was published in December 2007; and show how outcomes can be improved.
As part of the review, we are considering what support commissioners will need to continue to provide patient centred services in the most appropriate setting. We aim to publish an updated strategy in the winter.
In its 2007 report, "Radiotherapy: developing a world class service for England", the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group (NRAG) provided clear guidance and recommendations about access to radiotherapy to help commissioners, including the need for establishing satellite centres. A copy of this report has already been placed in the Library.
Since the publication of the NRAG report and the CRS, the National Cancer Action Team has maintained a national overview of radiotherapy service location plans to advise providers and commissioners on geographical spread and travel times.
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what expenditure Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust incurred on the production of the last nine editions of its quarterly newsletter, Engage; [15135]
(2) how much Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust spent on the production of its Annual Report for 2009-10. [15136]
Mr Simon Burns: This is a matter for the chair of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. We have written to David Eva informing him of the hon. Member's inquiry. He will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
Compulsorily Detained Mental Patients
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of suspects arrested in (a) England and Wales and (b) the metropolitan borough of Dudley were diverted to (i) a place of safety and (ii) mental health services in the latest period for which figures are available; [15630]
(2) what proportion of people in (a) England and Wales and (b) the metropolitan borough of Dudley who were taken to a place of safety under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 went on to receive treatment from mental health services in the latest period for which figures are available. [15631]
Mr Burstow: This information is not collected centrally.
Dementia
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2010, Official Report, column 566W, on dementia: health services, how many National Dementia Strategy regional roadshows there have been; and at what location each such roadshow was held. [14802]
Mr Burstow: The Department has decided to hold a National Dementia Conference on 26 October in place of the regional roadshows that were proposed previously. The conference will bring together the Dementia Champions, the national director of Dementia and other key stakeholders.
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of cognitive stimulation therapy as a treatment for dementia; [14799]
(2) what discussions he has had with (a) GPs, (b) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, (c) primary care trusts, (d) the Care Quality Commission and (e) Age Concern on increasing the use of cognitive stimulation therapy as a treatment for dementia; [14800]
(3) whether he has made an estimate of the number of primary care trusts which commissioned cognitive stimulation therapy for those with dementia classified as mild to moderate. [14801]
Mr Burstow: The Government believe that it is important that a range of interventions for people with dementia are developed and more research in this area is needed to take this forward. With regard to individual therapies, it is for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to address matters relating to assessments of the clinical effectiveness of various therapies and their use.
The Department has not made a separate assessment of the effectiveness of cognitive simulation therapy as a treatment and no discussions have been held with general practitioners, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, primary care trusts, the Care Quality Commission and Age UK on increasing the use of cognitive stimulation therapy as a treatment for dementia. Furthermore, there has been no estimation of the number of primary care trusts which commissioned cognitive stimulation therapy for those with dementia classified as mild to moderate.
Dental Services
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the reform of NHS dentistry; and if he will make a statement. [14552]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government's coalition programme includes a commitment to the introduction of a new dentistry contract that will focus on achieving good dental health and increasing access to national health service dentistry. Proposals will be developed and piloted in consultation with the dental profession, patients and the NHS. We intend to publish pilot proposals by December 2010.
Departmental Redundancy Pay
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what severance payments have been paid to (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department who left office after the last general election. [14925]
Mr Simon Burns: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office gave the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 55W.
The total cost of special advisers is published annually in the form of a written ministerial statement by the Prime Minister. The total cost of severance paid out to special advisers who left office after the last general election will be published in due course.
Drugs: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Peterborough city council area were in receipt of supervised methadone treatment in each quarter since 2005; and if he will make a statement. [15381]
Anne Milton: Information is not available in the format requested.
Methadone is prescribed for a variety of clinical conditions, including the treatment of opioid (heroin) dependency, chronic pain and cough in terminal illness.
The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System collects information on the number of people receiving substitute prescribing interventions for substance misuse in England, but does not distinguish between methadone and the other drugs such as buprenorphine which are also recommended for that purpose by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence nor does it distinguish between supervised and unsupervised treatment.
The following table shows the numbers of adults in structured drug treatment (prescribing) in Peterborough between 2005-06 and 2008-09:
| Structured drug treatment (prescribing) | |
| Number | |
| Notes: The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System operated by the NTA records the type of treatment interventions each person receives, e.g. 'specialist prescribing' (from a specialist drug service) and VGP prescribing' (from their general practitioner). It does not record the medication prescribed. Source: The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) operated by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) | |
Epilepsy
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of (a) care trusts and (b) healthcare trusts in meeting the needs of patients with epilepsy; and if he will make a statement; [14443]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that healthcare bodies implement the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommendation that epilepsy specialist nurses should be an integral part of the network of care of individuals with epilepsy in its guideline on the diagnosis and management of the epilepsies in adults and children in primary and secondary care; [14444]
(3) what steps his Department is taking to (a) improve preventative care for patients with epilepsy and (b) reduce the costs of hospital admissions of patients with epilepsy. [14445]
Mr Burstow: The Department is funding the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to undertake a national clinical audit of the healthcare for children and young people with suspected epileptic seizures. The audit will collect data on the percentage of children with epilepsy with evidence of input by a paediatrician with expertise in epilepsy, and the percentage of children with epilepsy with evidence of input by, or referral to, an epilepsy specialist nurse. Early adopter sites have been able to submit data since January 2010. Other units will be invited to submit data from May 2011.
It is the responsibility of local health commissioners to ensure that they commission local services to meet the needs of their population. This includes ensuring that all relevant guidelines, including those issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, are able to be implemented where deemed appropriate.
In future, outcomes, which the national health service will be expected to achieve, will be set via the NHS Outcomes Framework, and the NHS Commissioning
Board will hold general practitioner (GP) commissioners to account for delivery through the framework.
The Quality and Outcomes Framework gives GPs an incentive to identify, treat and help patients manage their epilepsy. The new contracts will have a big impact on the quality and accessibility of primary care services, and help improve preventative care and reduce hospital admissions for those living with epilepsy.
Fats: Health Hazards
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2010, Official Report, column 172, whether he plans to introduce legislation to eliminate trans fat in food. [15226]
Anne Milton: We have no plans currently to introduce legislation to eliminate artificial trans fats in foods.
Voluntary industry-led action has already successfully reduced people's average intakes to well within public health recommendations and the Government are encouraging industry to continue to eliminate artificial trans fats in food.
HIV Infection: Health Services
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of levels of demand for outpatient services for people living with HIV and AIDS in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [13834]
Anne Milton: The information requested is provided in the following table.
| Actual and estimated number of HIV-infected individuals seen for HIV care in national health service facilities in the United Kingdom: 2005-11 | |
| Number of HIV-infected individuals seen for HIV care | |
| Notes: 1. HIV-infected individuals include those who were diagnosed with an AIDS-defining illness. 2. HIV-infected individuals include those who were seen for HIV care in both in-patient and out-patient services. 3. The estimated numbers of diagnosed HIV-infected individuals receiving care in 2010 and 2011 (rounded to the nearest 100) have been extrapolated from the number of individuals seen for HIV care in the previous five years. Between 2005 and 2009, the annual increase in the numbers of individuals seen for HIV care has been between 4,200 and 5,000 and the average annual increase has been used to estimate the numbers that will be seen in 2010 and 2011. | |
Medical Treatments
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the evidence provided in Appendix A of the Interventional Procedures Guidance Overview Document prepared by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is used by the Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee to determine the safety of a product; [15337]
(2) how many studies the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence analyses as part of the process for developing Interventional Procedures Guidance; and whether there is a limit on the number of studies which can be analysed as part of that process. [15013]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not held by the Department. I have asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to respond directly to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Mount Vernon Hospital: Cancer
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate average journey times for patients resident in Stevenage and North East Hertfordshire receiving cancer treatment at Mount Vernon Hospital. [14995]
Mr Burstow: The Department has no plans to make such estimates. However, my hon. Friend may wish to contact the Hertfordshire primary care trust direct for more information.
Orphan Drugs
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanism the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services will use to consider ultra orphan drug treatments for use within the NHS; and what the duration of the review process is likely to be. [15377]
Mr Simon Burns: In the majority of cases, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) will continue to appraise new drugs. However, for a small number of drugs where the patient population base is too small for NICE to carry out an appraisal, NICE may send the drug to the Advisory Group for National Specialised commissioning (AGNSS) for consideration. AGNSS will consider the processes and methods to apply when looking at drugs for the treatment of vary rare conditions at its first meeting in late September 2010 and will publish its agreed processes and time frame on the specialised services website at:
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on (a) prescription charges, (b) the Prescription Pricing Authority and (c) the NHS Choices website. [14775]
Mr Simon Burns: I refer the hon. Member to the written answers I gave her on 13 September 2010, Official Report, column 781W and 14 September 2010, Official Report, column 1022W.
Primary Care Trusts
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the merits of a pilot scheme to end primary care trusts and implement GP-led commissioning before 2013; and if he will make a statement. [15229]
Mr Simon Burns: We want implementation to be bottom-up, with general practitioner (GP) consortia taking on their new responsibilities as rapidly as possible.
During 2010-11 we expect GP consortia to begin to form on a shadow basis, building on practice-based commissioning consortia, where they wish, and, where they are ready to do so, begin to take on some responsibilities from primary care trusts (PCTs).
PCTs will have an important task over the next two years in supporting GP practices to prepare for the new arrangements, including identifying the likely future shape of consortia and enabling them to start taking increasing responsibility for making commissioning decisions on behalf of PCTs.
Spinal Injuries
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government plan to establish centres of excellence for the treatment of spinal problems or injuries; and if he will make a statement. [14902]
Mr Simon Burns: There are eight centres in England which provide specialised care and treatment for patients with spinal cord injuries. There are no plans to establish any further specialised centres at this stage.
Tobacco: Retail Trade
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate the level of revenue losses for local authorities arising from the closure of retail outlets as a result of a tobacco display ban; [14988]
(2) if he will estimate the effect of a tobacco display ban on the number of retail outlets in (a) England, (b) Sussex, (c) Brighton and Hove and (d) Hove constituency. [14989]
Anne Milton: We are not aware of any evidence that removing tobacco displays will affect the number of retail outlets. However, we will continue to consider any evidence that emerges about the effects of the legislation in other countries.
Defence
Departmental Redundancy Pay
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what severance payments have been paid to (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department who left office after the last general election. [14929]
Dr Fox: Information on the severance payments made to individual Ministers and special advisers is protected under the Data Protection Act 1998. However, the total severance paid by the Ministry of Defence to former Ministers who left office after the last general election was £55,546. The figure was contained in our answer given on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 55W, to the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart).
The Government publish annually the total cost of special advisers in the form of a written ministerial statement by the Prime Minister. Cabinet Office advise
that the total cost of severance paid out to special advisers who left office after the last general election will be published in due course.
Gibraltar: Armed Forces
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy personnel there are in Gibraltar. [14675]
Nick Harvey: The strength of UK Regular Service personnel as at 1 July 2010 stationed in Gibraltar are shown in the following table:
| Service | Total number |
These figures may vary as personnel change location or are deployed on operations.
In addition, there are 220 regular members of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, which is locally raised.
A copy of the Defence Analytical Services and Advice publication TSP 10 (UK Regular Forces Stationed Location) has been placed in the Library of the House.
Parachute Regiment
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his policy that all of those serving in the Parachute Regiment should be trained as parachutists; and if he will make a statement. [14807]
Nick Harvey: It is the Government's policy that all Parachute Regiment soldiers are trained as parachutists.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of each battalion of the Parachute Regiment qualified as parachutists in each of the last five years; and how many members of that Regiment he expects to be trained in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011. [14809]
Nick Harvey: The number of those members of the Parachute Regiment who qualified as parachutists in each of the last five years are shown in the following table:
| Unit | ||
| 2 Para | 3 Para | |
The number of those members of the Parachute Regiment expected to qualify as parachutists in 2010 and 2011 are shown in the following table:
| Unit | ||
| 2 Para | 3 Para | |
| (1) Based on current planning assumptions | ||
I am withholding the information for 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which external organisations the Strategic Security and Defence Review has consulted to date. [14751]
Dr Fox [holding answer 16 September 2010]: The Ministry of Defence has engaged a wide variety of external organisations, including NATO, principal UK and international think tanks and academic institutes, trades unions, NGOs, industry organisations, and service veterans' and families' organisations.
Trident
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish studies (a) commissioned and (b) undertaken by his Department on the (i) financial cost and (ii) potential savings associated with the development of alternatives to the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system in advance of the publication of the value for money review of Trident; and if he will make a statement. [15294]
Nick Harvey: The 2006 White Paper 'The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent' (Cm 6994) set out the four generic deterrent options (silo, aircraft, ship and submarine) that have been subjected to detailed assessment. It concluded that a deterrent based on surface ships was assessed to be no cheaper than a submarine based deterrent but more vulnerable to attack. Deterrents based on silos or large aircraft were significantly more expensive and also much more vulnerable to attack.
The coalition Government are committed to retaining a minimum credible nuclear deterrent based on Trident. The value for money review is to ensure that plans to maintain this capability are being taken forward in the most cost-effective manner possible.
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish studies (a) commissioned and (b) undertaken by his Department on the (i) financial costs and (ii) potential savings associated with an extension of the life of the Vanguard submarines beyond five years, in advance of the publication of the value for money review of Trident; and if he will make a statement. [15295]
Nick Harvey:
The value for money review was tasked with examining the programme timetable for the introduction into service of the next generation ballistic missile submarines. It will be considered by the National Security Council. The Council's conclusions will inform
the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the comprehensive spending review, which will be published in the autumn.
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has conducted a review of the UK's policy of maintaining Trident nuclear submarines on continuous at-sea deterrent patrol; and if he will make a statement. [15296]
Nick Harvey: The Trident value for money review covers value for money, not policy. Against that background, implementing continuous at-sea deterrence has always been a matter of acceptable operational risk. The review will test the balance between these risks and the cost of maintaining a continuous at-sea deterrence posture.
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish studies undertaken by his Department on the potential savings associated with taking Trident submarines off continuous at-sea deterrent patrols, in advance of the publication of the value for money review of Trident; and if he will make a statement. [15297]
Nick Harvey: The Trident Value for Money review covers value for money, not policy. Against that background, implementing continuous at-sea deterrence has always been a matter of acceptable operational risk. The review will test the balance between these risks and the cost of maintaining a continuous at-sea deterrence posture.
The review will be considered by the National Security Council. The Council's conclusions will inform the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the comprehensive spending review, which will be published in the autumn.
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to present to Parliament the annual Trident cost report to update the 2006 White Paper estimate of the capital costs of building a replacement for the Trident nuclear weapons system and the cost of operating a successor system; whether this will be a separate report from the Trident value for money review; and if he will make a statement. [15330]
Nick Harvey: We are currently planning for Initial Gate decision towards the end of 2010. A report will be published after the Initial Gate decision and, while it will be informed by the Trident Value for Money review, it will be a separate report.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with which countries the UK is collaborating in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles. [14705]
Peter Luff: The UK does not currently have any collaborative programmes running in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). We are currently undertaking separate but parallel bilateral studies involving UK industry and industries in France and Italy to explore the feasibility for collaboration with either country. We do however have joint research programmes on UAVs with the US, France, Germany, Sweden, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Deputy Prime Minister
Electoral Register
Graham Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made on the introduction of individual voter registration. [14556]
Mr Harper: On 15 September 2010, Official Report, columns 883-85, I made a statement to the House outlining the Government's proposed approach to speeding up the implementation of individual electoral registration. As I said in that statement, we plan to legislate to introduce individual registration during the lifetime of this Parliament, in 2014, I also announced that we will be trialling data matching during 2011-that is comparing the electoral register with other public databases to find the people missing from the register. The aim is to tackle under registration among specific groups and ensure that every opportunity is available to those currently not on the electoral register.
Communities and Local Government
Ahmadiyya: Discrimination
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to tackle discrimination against Ahmadiyya Muslims in the UK. [15549]
Andrew Stunell: CLG officials have met representatives of the Ahmadiyya community on a number of occasions to discuss issues of concern including harassment of the Ahmadiyya and issues of discrimination.
Current legislation and the Equality Act 2010 which replaces it both protect people from discrimination because of their religion or belief. In addition, the UK is a signatory to the European convention on human rights and article 9 provides the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Connaught
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contracts between his Department and Connaught plc have been cancelled since May 2010. [15591]
Grant Shapps: The Department has not cancelled any contracts with Connaught plc since May 2010.
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to provide support to tenants of housing associations affected by the entry into administration of Connaught plc. [15592]
Grant Shapps: Housing associations are well aware of the risk of a contractor ceasing to trade and most have contingencies in place to ensure that they can continue to deliver the services expected by their tenants. The National Housing Federation are monitoring the situation closely to assess the impact on tenants and landlords since Connaught plc ceased trading.
Departmental Public Bodies
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to retain arm's length management organisations with their existing functions. [14967]
Grant Shapps: It is for councils to decide locally in consultation with their tenants on the housing management functions that are delegated to their arm's length management organisations (ALMOs).
Fire Services
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the merits of proposals for the regionalisation of the control centres; and if he will make a statement. [15158]
Robert Neill: The Government are becoming increasingly concerned at the inability of EADS to deliver on its contractual obligations to a sufficient quality and time and we have made this clear to them in no uncertain terms.
FiReControl, as with all Government projects, is being reviewed, to ensure value for money for the taxpayer. We are not going to provide additional public funding to bail out this contract.
The Government are committed to ensuring value-for-money for the taxpayer, improving resilience and stopping the forced regionalisation of the fire service.
Local Government
John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has for the creation of single member wards for local authorities. [14345]
Robert Neill: We have no plans to impose single member wards for councils. Councils' electoral arrangements are matters for the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England, which may undertake an electoral review with the intention to provide, as far as is practical, single member wards following a request from the council concerned. Single member wards can help enhance democratic accountability, but this should be a matter for local determination.
Local Government Finance
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on council tax precepts for parish councils in 2011-12. [15533]
Robert Neill: In 2011-12, parish councils will continue to be entitled to set precepts, and the Government do not intend to seek powers to limit the amount of those precepts in that year. The Government expect town and parish councils to budget prudently to take account of views of local people on how their money is spent.
Local Government: Greater Manchester
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has assessed the merits of a directly-elected mayoral model for the proposed Greater Manchester Combined Authority. [15540]
Robert Neill: Our policy, as set out in the draft Structural Reform Plan published by my Department on 8 July, is 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.
Multiple Occupation
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) registered and (b) unregistered houses in multiple occupation (i) nationally and (ii) in Milton Keynes. [15608]
Andrew Stunell: The most recent estimate of the number of licensable houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) is from the Building Research Establishment report published by Communities and Local Government in January 2010. The report estimates that up to about 56,000 HMOs may be subject to mandatory licensing.
There is no statutory requirement for local authorities to provide Communities and Local Government with data on the number of licensed and unlicensed HMOs. However, some local authorities voluntarily supply data on the number of licensed HMOs through Communities and Local Government's Register of Licensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (ROLHMO). A copy of the most recent details of licensed HMOs obtained through this Register, including those of Milton Keynes Council, have been placed in the Library of the House.
The figures are as reported by local authorities to Communities and Local Government. There are concerns about the quality and robustness of the data. Definitive numbers of licensed HMOs are available directly from the registers held by local authorities.
Multiple Occupation: Fires
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of deaths attributable to a fire in an unregistered house in multiple occupation in each of the last five years. [15609]
Robert Neill: Fire incident records have only had the facility of a separate category for households in multiple occupation since the introduction of the Incident Recording System, which went live nationally on 1 April 2009. Fire incident data are currently available to the end of March 2010, hence the numbers of fatalities recorded by Fire and Rescue Service personnel to be in households in multiple occupation by licence status are shown in the table for 2009-10.
| Fatalities attributable to fire in households in multiple occupation by licence status, England, 2009-10 | |
| License status | Fatal casualties |
| Source: Incident Recording System, Communities and Local Government | |
Renewable Energy: Heating
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether calculation of the carbon footprint of heat pumps for the purposes of (a) Building Regulations, (b) Standard Assessment Procedure 2009 and (c) the Code for Sustainable Homes includes provision for consumption and leakage of hydrofluorocarbons. [15419]
Andrew Stunell: None of the calculations of the carbon footprint of heat pumps for the purposes of the Building Regulations, SAP 2009 or the Code for Sustainable Homes include provision for the consumption and leakage of hydrofluorocarbons.
Prime Minister
Appointments Commission
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Prime Minister how public appointments will be made following the decision to close the Appointments Commission. [15688]
The Prime Minister: Public appointments will continue to be made by Departments on merit following fair and open competition and, where appropriate, in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers
Dr Huppert: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has met the chief scientific adviser since 6 May 2010. [15352]
The Prime Minister: I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues, officials and others.
Gordon Brown: Redundancy Pay
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister what severance payment was made to (a) the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath (Mr. Brown) and (b) each of his special advisers on leaving office after the last general election. [14663]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 5 July 2010, Official Report , column 55W. The total cost of severance paid out to special advisers who left office after the last general election will be published in due course.
Work and Pensions
Atos Healthcare
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what contracts his Department has signed with Atos to carry out the retesting and transition of incapacity benefit claimants to employment and support allowance; what the monetary value of each contract is; and what changes have been made to such arrangements since the present administration took office. [15746]
Chris Grayling: I have given approval for the retesting and transition of incapacity benefit claimants to employment and support allowance to be added to the existing medical services contract with Atos Healthcare up to 31 August 2012 at a cost of £59 million. There have been no changes made to such arrangements since the present administration took office.
Departmental Motor Vehicles
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual expenditure on vehicles of (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which he is responsible in each English region was in the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is in each case for 2010-11. [12447]
Chris Grayling: Total vehicle expenditure for DWP, Executive agencies and its non-departmental public bodies is provided in the following tables.
| Vehicle spot hire | |||
| £ | |||
| 2007-08( 1) | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|
Pension Ombudsman/Pension Protection Delivery Fund Ombudsman | |||
In relation to planned expenditure for 2010-11, all areas of DWP intend to reduce third party costs against the 2009-10 baseline, either through contract renegotiation, demand management or collaboration with other Departments to generate economies of scale.
The DWP are unable to provide the information by English region as the contracts cover the whole of the UK and DWP would incur disproportionate costs to obtain the data by region.
Departmental Redundancy Pay
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what severance payments have been paid to (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department who left office after the last general election. [14928]
Chris Grayling: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 55W.
Employment and Support Allowance
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what resources his Department has allocated to support the retesting and transition of incapacity benefit claimants to employment and support allowance over the next three years. [15747]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is unavailable.
We are planning to evaluate the administrative resource costs to support the retesting and transition of incapacity benefit claimants to employment and support allowance over the next three years. Until we have more complete information following national implementation we will be unable to provide a standard administrative resource cost figure, we expect to have this information around the second to third quarter of next year.
Employment Schemes: Washington Tyne and Wear
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people in Washington and Sunderland West constituency were employed under the Recruitment Subsidy scheme in each month since it began; [14296]
(2) whether he plans to put in place measures to prevent any adverse effect on the employment market of the removal of the Recruitment Subsidy; [14297]
(3) what consultation took place with (a) employers and (b) Jobcentre Plus officials before the removal of the Recruitment Subsidy; [14298]
(4) what impact assessment his Department has undertaken on the effects of the removal of the Recruitment Subsidy. [14299]
Chris Grayling: The recruitment subsidy was part of the six-month offer introduced as a temporary recession measure, by the previous Government, to run from April 2009 to March 2011.
The subsidy was not popular and was poor value for money. From April 2009 until April 2010 only around 34,000 subsidies were claimed yet during this time some 700,000 jobseekers that would have been eligible left jobseekers allowance. Even where the subsidies had been claimed, feedback from employers suggests they have not influenced employer decisions about who to recruit.
The decision to end the subsidy was taken on the basis of the available evidence and experience including that of Jobcentre Plus. Employers in regular contact with Jobcentre Plus were alerted as soon as plans to end the subsidy were announced.
Data on the subsidy are not available at constituency level. An equality impact assessment of the withdrawal of the subsidy has been prepared and will be published shortly.
EU Law
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in his Department work (a) full-time and (b) for most of their time on the negotiation, implementation or administration of EU legislation and consequent policies. [13778]
Chris Grayling: The EU is relevant to a wide range of policy and operational areas in the Department for Work and Pensions. I estimate that approximately 320 officials work wholly or mainly on EU related matters.
Health and Safety Executive
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the running costs of the Health and Safety Executive were in each of the last five years. [13707]
Chris Grayling: The answer is provided in the table.
| Health and Safety Executive (HSE) | |
| Financial year | Net operating cost (£ million ) |
| Source: HSE's Annual Report and Accounts using the "restated" column, i.e. adjusted where necessary, to reflect organisational change and the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, for comparative purposes. | |
HSE's budget for 2011-10 to 2014-15 is under review, as are the budgets for all Departments and public bodies, as part of the Spending Review 2010.
Incapacity Benefit: Medical Examinations
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people will undergo the incapacity benefit migration process at Aberdeen during the incapacity benefit reassessment trial; and of these how many receive (a) short-term (lower) rate, (b) short-term (higher) rate and (c) long-term rate. [13496]
Chris Grayling: 850 people currently claiming incapacity benefits in Aberdeen and the surrounding areas whose cases are dealt with by Aberdeen Benefit Delivery Centre will be reassessed under the incapacity benefit reassessment trial. These 850 people will be selected from all incapacity benefits customers whose cases are dealt with by Aberdeen Benefit Delivery Centre.
We are unable to say what rate of incapacity benefit these customers receive as we have not yet selected the customers to be reassessed under the Aberdeen reassessment trial.
Customers will be selected for the trial if they are due to have a personal capability assessment as a part of their ongoing incapacity benefits claim. Some customers, such as those reaching state pension age before March 2014, will be excluded from the reassessment; others may move off incapacity benefits before the reassessment trial begins in October.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated average time will be to process incapacity benefit reassessments being trialled at Aberdeen; and what the average processing time was in Aberdeen in the latest period for which figures are available. [13497]
Chris Grayling: After an initial award of ESA has been made, the customer is sent an ESA50 medical questionnaire, which they have 28 days to complete. The customer is then invited to a work capability assessment at a medical examination centre. This takes place within the first 13 weeks of the claim. After the customer has attended the work capability assessment, a Jobcentre Plus decision maker decides whether they are fit for work and therefore not entitled to ESA, entitled to the work related activity component of ESA, or entitled to the support component of ESA. From the date the ESA50 is issued to the final decision being made takes on average 42 days.
The target time for reassessment of incapacity benefits customers during the Aberdeen reassessment trial is 42 days. This period runs from the date the ESA50 is issued to the customer to date of the decision to find the customer fit for work, entitled to the work related activity component, or entitled to the support component.
Before the ESA50 is issued, the customer will be telephoned by a member of staff from Jobcentre Plus to give information and advice about the reassessment process. This contact is not included in the target of 42 days for the reassessment process.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether all incapacity benefit claimants will be asked to undergo a medical examination as part of the reassessment programme being trialled in Aberdeen. [13498]
Chris Grayling: Beginning with the trial in the Aberdeen and Burnley areas, customers who currently receive incapacity benefits will be reassessed to determine entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA).
Those customers who are the most severely disabled or who are terminally ill will automatically be considered to have limited capability for work. Conditions which mean a customer will be automatically considered to have limited capability for work include:
terminal illness with a reasonable expectation of death within six months;
receiving or recovering from certain forms of chemotherapy;
pregnancy, where there is risk of harm to mother or child.
These customers will not need to attend a work capability assessment to determine their entitlement.
For customers who do not fulfil these conditions, entitlement to ESA is determined by a work capability assessment. Customers will be sent a medical questionnaire, the ESA50, by Atos Healthcare (our health services contractor) to complete and return. The contents of the ESA50 and any other evidence will be used to decide if the customer needs to attend a work capability assessment. If they need to attend an assessment, Atos Healthcare will call them to arrange an appointment. The work capability assessment is the main assessment for employment and support allowance. The assessment will concentrate on what people can do, rather than only focussing on what they can't.
Jobcentre Plus: Manpower
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people Jobcentre Plus has employed (a) in total, (b) on fixed-term contracts and (c) on permanent contracts in each month since January 2010; [13391]
(2) how many Jobcentre Plus staff have (a) not had a fixed-term contract renewed and (b) been made redundant in each month since January 2010. [13392]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking how many people Jobcentre Plus has employed (a) in total, (b) on fixed-term contracts and (c) on permanent contracts in each month since January 2010; and how many Jobcentre Plus staff have (a) not had a fixed-term contract renewed and (b) been made redundant in each month since January 2010. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The table below sets out the numbers employed in Jobcentre Plus in each month since January 2010 to March 2010, which is the latest point for which staffing data are published, broken down by permanent and fixed term contracts. Numbers quoted are in Full Time Equivalents.
| Contract Type | January 2010 | February 2010 | March 2010 |
The increase in permanent headcount between February and March reflects the inward transfer of 316 full time equivalent staff from the Pensions, Disability and Carer's Service.
No Jobcentre Plus staff have been made redundant since January 2010.
The table below gives details of the number of people on Fixed Term Appointments (FTAs) that have not had their contracts renewed for each month since January 2010 to March 2010.
Please note that this will include some people who have already had their contract
end date extended, but then leave on their new contract end date without further extension. The figures exclude people that have left before the end of their contract for various reasons, such as dismissal for poor performance and resignation.
Numbers quoted are in Full Time Equivalents.
| January 2010 | February 2010 | March 2010 | |
|
Number of people on fixed term appointments leaving when contracts end. |
I hope this is helpful.
Jobcentre Plus: Overtime
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many hours of overtime were recorded by Jobcentre Plus staff in (a) the South West and (b) nationally in each of the last 12 months. [14088]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many hours of overtime were recorded by Jobcentre Plus staff in (a) the South West and (b) nationally in each of the last 12 months. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The table shows for the South West region and Jobcentre Plus as a whole the number of hours overtime paid between April 2009 and March 2010. This is the latest 12 month period for which staffing data have been published. This information has been extracted from the DWP Resource Management system.
| Month | Total Jobcentre Plus | South West |
Members: Correspondence
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to the letter of 16 July 2010 from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan on her constituent, Mr Fraser of Turriff. [15449]
Chris Grayling: I replied to the hon. Member on 14 September 2010.
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what security information is required of hon. and right hon. Members and their caseworkers when making telephone inquiries to his Department and its agencies on behalf of their constituents. [15680]
Steve Webb: The Department is required by the Data Protection Act to implement appropriate security controls so as to protect personal data.
Therefore when any telephone inquiry is made by a third party (including elected Members of this House or their staff seeking to assist constituents), officials are required to obtain identification details about the inquirer and the individual who is the subject of the inquiry. When the call is returned, DWP employees will further validate the identity of the inquirer. This is so as to satisfy the Department that the representative's credentials can be confirmed, that the consent of the individual has been obtained, and that the inquiry is legitimate.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Hartlepool of 26 July 2010 on the case of Ms Vivienne Gilman. [15681]
Chris Grayling: The Jobcentre Plus Human Resources Director replied to the hon. Member on behalf of the Secretary of State on 14 September 2010.
Pensions: Tyne and Wear
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the estimated average weekly income is of those receiving state pension entitlements in Washington and Sunderland West constituency; [14574]
(2) how many people receive state pension entitlements in Washington and Sunderland West constituency. [14575]
Steve Webb: Information on the average total weekly income of those receiving state pension entitlements is not available at regional level. However, the average weekly state pension amount paid to recipients in Washington and Sunderland West constituency is £106.38.
The document 'Caseloads for selected benefits by 2010 Parliamentary Constituencies, February 2010' is available in the Library and includes figures for state pension.
Note:
Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010.
Source:
Average weekly amount-DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study-February 2010.
Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether, under his proposals for medical examinations for claimants of disability benefits, evidence will be accepted from the claimant's (a) occupational therapist, (b) speech therapist, (c) physiotherapist, (d) orthopaedic consultant and (e) any other relevant therapist or consultant at relevant hearings; [15657]
(2) whether, under his proposals for medical examinations for claimants of disability benefits, where claimants are unable to communicate their answers to questions, their carer or guardian will be allowed to do so on their behalf; [15676]
(3) what provisions will be in place under his proposals for medical examinations for claimants of disability benefits for exemptions relating to claimants who have been profoundly disabled from birth and who have no expectation of improvement in their condition; [15677]
(4) whether, under his proposals for medical examinations for claimants of disability benefits, claimants will be allowed to be accompanied by their carers, doctors or another care professional familiar to them at the examination. [15678]
Maria Miller: In response to the Member's questions, this answer separately references both disability living allowance (DLA) and the employment and support allowance.
First with respect to DLA, the Chancellor announced in the Emergency Budget that the Government will introduce a new, objective assessment for DLA from 2013-14. The new assessment will be transparent, objective and simple.
The Department is currently in the process of developing options for the new assessment in consultation with an independent group of experts comprising of disabled people, relevant health professionals and others with expertise in this area. As part of this process we will consider what evidence will be required to support that new assessment and how that evidence will be gathered.
We will begin a consultation process on our plans to reform DLA, Later this year, ensuring disabled people and representative organisations are involved.
With regard to the employment and support allowance and the associated work capability assessment (WCA), that assesses entitlement to the benefit, we will continue with the current practice of carrying out medical assessments for the purpose of determining entitlement to the benefit. The Government have a statutory commitment to carry out an independent review of the WCA every year for the first five years of operation.
Any evidence provided by either the customer, their representatives or healthcare professional will be given consideration and will be taken into account as part of the decision making process. Additionally, a customer is welcome to bring a representative of their choice to their medical assessment. There are also existing arrangements for a third person to claim and act for a customer who is unable to act or communicate on their own behalf. Medical assessments will continue to take account of the severity of a customer's condition or disablement, as well as the expectation of improvement or a worsening of that condition.
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