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19 Oct 2010 : Column 676W—continued
Schools: Counselling
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will encourage secondary schools to appoint counsellors for pupils recommended by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. [12533]
Sarah Teather: When health and local authority commissioners are planning services to meet the mental health needs of children and young people locally they will want to consider the right way to engage with schools so as to get the best possible services to children and families. Schools are also able to use their own budgets to provide services to meet the needs of pupils, including services to support pupils' emotional well-being and mental health.
The national Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS) programme was developed to test the effectiveness of evidence-based mental health support in schools for those children, young people and their families who need it. Schools delivering TaMHS commission a range
of services procured from voluntary and charitable (as well as statutory) organisations to meet the particular needs of their pupils, including counselling support for children struggling to cope following family breakdown or bereavement. The learning from TaMHS on effective commissioning of emotional well-being and mental health support and joint working with CAMHS-child and adolescent mental health services-is being shared across schools this year.
While programmes such as TaMHS have been testing what works in developing school-based mental health support, any decision about whether to commission these services remains at the school's discretion.
Treasury
Corporation Tax: Northern Ireland
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was collected in corporation tax from companies trading in Northern Ireland in the latest year for which figures are available. [18040]
Mr Gauke: An indicative estimate of the amount of corporation tax collected from companies trading in Northern Ireland will be published by HM Treasury as part of a forthcoming consultation document on rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy.
Crown Currency Exchange
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority on the regulation of Crown Currency Exchange; whether compensation will be available to people affected by the entry into administration of Crown Currency Exchange; and if he will make a statement. [18259]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) does not regulate retail foreign currency exchange services such as Crown Currency Exchange.
Payments made to Crown Currency Exchange were not therefore protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
The Government will look at this case to see what lessons can be learned for the future.
Departmental Manpower
Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the future number of staff of his Department engaged in reducing tax avoidance and evasion; and if he will make a statement. [16633]
Mr Gauke: HMRC's future staffing levels will be dependent on the implementation of the Department's spending review settlement, which will be announced on 20 October.
The Chief Secretary's announcement that the Government will invest £900 million in HM Revenue and Customs to tackle avoidance, evasion and fraud demonstrates the Government's commitment to deliver a spending review focused on both fairness and deficit reduction.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter of 1 September from the right hon. Member for Warley regarding Sandwell Homes. [17518]
Danny Alexander: I have replied to the right hon. member.
PAYE
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many incorrect PAYE codes have been issued by HM Revenue and Customs to taxpayers in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the amount of tax (a) overcharged and (b) undercharged as a result of tax code errors in the last 12 months. [13336]
Mr Gauke: The exact percentage of incorrect coding notices issued is not known. In any year a small percentage of codes are always incorrect as they do not reflect changes in an individual's circumstances. That is why HMRC send out coding notices well in advance of the start of the new tax year so that customers can review them and report any changes to HMRC.
The overwhelming majority of PAYE cases (more than 40 million) are correct, so most people have paid the right amount of tax. HMRC estimates that 4.3 million taxpayers will receive repayments for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10, while an estimated 1.4 million will be sent calculations advising that they have underpaid. HMRC estimates the total underpayments for tax years 2008-09 and 2009-10 at £2 billion while the overpayments are worth about £1.8 billion.
Lorely Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many HM Revenue and Customs' Pay As You Earn customer reviews from tax years (a) 2005-06, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2003-04, (d) 2002-03 and (e) 2001-02 are outstanding; [15372]
(2) with reference to the answer of 25 June 2007, Official Report, column 388W, on Pay As You Earn, how many of HM Revenue and Customs' outstanding Pay As You Earn customer reviews (open cases) at the end of March 2007 related to the tax year (a) 2006-07, (b) 2005-06, (c) 2004-05, (d) 2003-04 and (e) 2002-03; [15373]
(3) with reference to paragraph 6.21 of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) 2008-09 Accounts, how many of HMRCs' outstanding Pay As You Earn customer reviews (open cases) at the end of March 2008 related to the tax year (a) 2007-08, (b) 2006-07, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2004-05 and (e) 2003-04; [15374]
(4) with reference to paragraph 6.28 of HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) 2008-09 Accounts, how many of HMRCs' outstanding Pay As You Earn customer reviews (open cases) at the end of March 2009 related to the tax year (a) 2008-09, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2006-07, (d) 2005-06 and (e) 2004-05. [15375]
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many outstanding PAYE cases there are in respect of each tax year since 2000-01; and how much remains (a) underpaid and (b) overpaid in respect of such cases in each such year; [15811]
(2) whether HM Revenue and Customs is (a) proceeding against and (b) intending to proceed against taxpayers for underpayments of PAYE for each tax year from 2000-01 to 2007-08; [15812]
(3) how many PAYE taxpayers have (a) underpaid and (b) overpaid tax in each tax year since 2000-01. [15814]
Mr Gauke: PAYE 'open cases' arose under the previous PAYE computer system when HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was unable to match the pay and tax details submitted by their employer on form P14 to an individual's tax record or a match was made but the pay and tax did not reconcile and further work was needed to establish the correct tax position. The term 'open case' refers to tax years 2007-08 and earlier.
This was and still is a normal part of the PAYE process although the process has been largely automated since the introduction of the National Insurance and PAYE Service (NPS) in 2009.
The following table details the approximate number of PAYE 'open cases' broken down by tax year as at the end of March 2007, March 2008, March 2009 along with the number currently outstanding.
| Open cases | ||||
| Million | ||||
| Tax year | As at March 2007 | As at March 2008 | As at March 2009 | As at 2010 |
| (1) The number of 'open cases' can only be determined after the end of the tax year | ||||
Earlier analysis suggested that around half the cases currently open were likely to lead to either an under or overpayment of tax and that in aggregate these might lead to repayments and recoveries of the order of £3.0 billion and £1.4 billion respectively. However the amount of tax under or overpaid cannot be established until each 'open case' has been worked.
HMRC is setting in place a programme to complete the clearance of open cases, with a view for their clearance by the end of 2012.
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place for individuals to appeal against assessments made by HM Revenue and Customs on liability for the underpayment of PAYE tax as a result of recent miscalculations of liability. [15459]
Mr Gauke: Pay As You Earn (PAYE) calculations (P800s) issued to individuals are based on information held by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). P800s set out HMRC's information about income received and tax paid for the relevant period, together with a calculation of any further tax or repayment due. They are not assessments and do not create a legal debt: they tell customers what HMRC thinks is the correct tax position. Individuals who think the calculation is incorrect in any way should contact HMRC in the first instance. The notes which accompany the P800 explain how to get in touch with HMRC.
If they are not able to reach agreement and think HMRC's calculations are wrong, customers have a right to appeal against any subsequent assessment or other legal action taken by HMRC. They also have a statutory right to ask for an internal review of that decision. Internal review offers customers the opportunity to have disputed tax decisions considered by a person who was not involved in the original decision, with a view to resolving the case without the need to go to a tribunal. Customers who have a review retain their right to take their appeal to an independent tribunal if they wish.
The notes accompanying the P800 also explain what people should do in cases where they do not challenge the figures or the legal basis of HMRC's calculation, but think that HMRC should not collect the tax from them. If customers think they should not pay they should make a claim to HMRC in the first instance. If they remain unsatisfied they have the option of making a complaint about the service they have received from HMRC. If they are not satisfied with HMRC's response to the complaint they can take their case to the independent Adjudicator's Office or the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an assessment has been made of the likely effects of the miscalculation of tax liabilities under the PAYE system on recipients of means-tested in-work social security benefits. [15583]
Mr Gauke: It is a normal part of the PAYE cycle that changes in circumstances that cannot be reflected in in-year tax deductions need to be reconciled annually. This is not a miscalculation but is a feature of the way the current PAYE system is designed. PAYE works well for the majority of people but because the processes remain fundamentally unchanged since they were introduced in 1944 there are limitations. The coalition Government are looking at how to reform PAYE further and make it more efficient.
For information on the impact on recipients of social security benefits if income after tax is changed, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State for Pensions on 11 October 2010, Official Report, columns 244-245W to the right hon. Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms).
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many PAYE taxpayers owed less than £300 and had their debts written off by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and what the total sum so owed was in each such year. [15813]
Mr Gauke: HMRC estimates the cost of increasing the PAYE tolerance to £300 for 2008-09 and 2009-10 tax years is £160 million, affecting 900,000 taxpayers. HMRC is unable to provide a breakdown of the total sum owed for each year.
Taxation
Mr Meacher:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amounts forgone by the Exchequer in tax reliefs or allowances in the latest period for which figures are available; in respect of which tax reliefs or allowances the largest sums were forgone; what the sums were in each case;
and how much of the sums forgone was attributable to reliefs or allowances granted to (a) ordinary rate taxpayers, (b) higher rate taxpayers and (c) the top (i) 10 per cent., (ii) five per cent., (iii) one per cent. and (iv) 0.1 per cent. of tax payers. [18029]
Mr Gauke: Estimates for principal tax expenditure and structural reliefs are contained in Table 1.5 "Estimated costs of the principal tax expenditure and structural reliefs", which can be found on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
Estimates of the relief value of Personal Allowance and Age-related Personal Allowances for 2009-10 is shown in the following table.
| £ million | ||
| Personal allowance | Age-related personal allowance | |
Estimates are based upon the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes and are uprated to 2009-10 using June 2010 Budget economic assumptions.
Detailed breakdowns by taxpayer status or income for other principal tax expenditure and structural reliefs are not available.
VAT
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect on church repairs of the recovery of VAT on maintenance costs; and if he will make a statement. [17655]
Mr Gauke: VAT is chargeable on all works of repair or maintenance to churches, as with other buildings. Under normal VAT rules, such tax is not recoverable unless it is a business expense. No assessment has therefore been made of the effect of VAT recovery on church repairs.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Claims: Errors
Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many errors by staff of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in processing claims have been recorded since its inception. [15724]
Mr Charles Walker: For clarity, future answers will indicate where an issue is the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and not of the Speaker's Committee.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald to Bob Russell:
As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many errors have been recorded since IPSA began operations. (15724)
MPs whose claims for reimbursement are not paid by IPSA are able to request a review on the grounds that the rules have been applied incorrectly, or that IPSA has made an administrative error. Since 7 May 2010, IPSA has concluded that the decision not to pay was incorrectly determined in 19 instances.
Members: Allowances
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how much was owed to hon. and right hon. Members in unpaid expense claims by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (a) on the most recent date for which figures are available and (b) in each month since 6 May 2010. [14631]
Mr Charles Walker: For clarity, future answers will indicate where an issue is the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and not of the Speaker's Committee.
The information requested falls with the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how much was owed in unpaid expense claims. (14631)
In this context, the question 'how much was owed...' can be interpreted as both expense claims submitted but not yet paid by the end of the month and expense claims approved for payment but not yet paid by the end of the month. Figures for both interpretations are provided in the following tables.
| Table 1: Value of expense claims submitted but not yet paid by the end of each month. | |
| Claims submitted | Value (£) |
| Table 2: Value of expense claims approved but not yet paid by the end of each month. | |
| Claims approved | Value (£) |
Members: Correspondence
Mr Chope: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, when the Chairman of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority plans to reply to the letter to him of 13 July 2010 from the office of the hon. Member for Christchurch. [14924]
Mr Charles Walker: It has not been possible for IPSA to provide a response to this question by the named day. IPSA will respond as soon as possible.
For clarity, future answers will indicate where an issue is the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and not of the Speaker's Committee.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Substantive answer from Andrew McDonald to Christopher Chope:
As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on correspondence. (14924)
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority does not intend to comment publicly on individual correspondence with MPs. At present, IPSA aims to respond to all emails and letters within 5 working days.
Members: Telephone Services
Luciana Berger: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority's (IPSA) most recent estimate is of the average waiting time for hon. Members who call the IPSA enquiry line. [16029]
Mr Charles Walker: For clarity, future answers will indicate where an issue is the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and not of the Speaker's Committee.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald to Luciana Berger:
As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the average waiting time for callers to the IPSA enquiry line. (16029)
During the month of September, the average call waiting time on the IPSA enquiry line was six minutes and fifty-seven seconds.
Cabinet Office
Cancer
Mr Baron: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the one year cancer survival rate was for each type of cancer in people aged (a) 49 years and under, (b) 50 to 59 years, (c) 60 to 69 years, (d) 70 to 79 years and (e) over 80 years in (i) each cancer network, (ii) each primary care trust and (iii) England in each of the last five years. [17162]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated October 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the one year cancer survival rate was for each type of cancer in people aged (a) 49 years and under, (b) 50 to 59 years, (c) 60 to 69 years, (d) 70 to 79 years and (e) over 80 years in (i) each cancer network, (ii) each primary care trust and (iii) England in each of the last five years. [017162]
ONS publish one-year cancer survival rates for adults (aged 15-99). Survival is calculated from the date of diagnosis.
The latest one-year survival figures available for (i) cancer networks in England, for six common cancers are for patients diagnosed in 1991-2006 and followed up to 2007. These are available on the National Statistics website at:
The results are divided into three periods: 1991 - 1995, 1996 - 2000 and 2001 - 2006.
The latest one-year survival figures available for (i) primary care trusts in England, based on a cancer survival index for all cancers combined are for patients diagnosed during 1996-2006 and followed up to the end of 2007. These are available on the National Statistics website at:
Figures are presented for each of the 11 years from 1996 - 2006, for all adults (persons aged 15-99 years), persons aged 55 - 64 years and persons aged 75 - 99 years.
The latest one-year survival figures available for (iii) England, for 21 common cancers are for patients diagnosed in 2003-2007 and followed up to the end of 2008. These are available on the National Statistics website at:
Comparable survival rates for England for each preceding five year period back to 1998-2001 and followed up to 2003 can also be downloaded from this link.
Charities: Surveys
Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the most recent national survey of charities and social enterprises; when the last such survey was conducted; and if he will make a statement. [17748]
Mr Hurd: The National Survey of Charities and Social Enterprises is vital in providing detailed information on the state of the sector at a local level and provides communities, the sector and local and national government with the information needed to support evidence-based decision making in response to public spending reductions and drive forward real change in local areas.
The National Survey of Charities and Social Enterprises was first conducted in autumn 2008, and fieldwork is currently under way for the second wave of the survey, with results due in early 2011.
The total net cost of developing and conducting the survey in 2008 and 2010 is £1,465,876.63. The contract for this work was competitively tendered in the Official Journal of the European Union and awarded to the strongest bidder on the basis of the best value tender.
Childbirth
Mr Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) live births and (b) stillbirths there were in each region of England in each year since 2007. [17591]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated October 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) live births and (b) stillbirths there were in each region of England in each year since 2007. (017591)
The table below shows the numbers of live births and stillbirths in each Government Office Region of England in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
| Number of live births and stillbirths in each Government Office Region of England: 2007, 2008 and 2009 | ||||||
| Area of usual residence | Live births | Stillbirths | ||||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
The final 2009 data in the table above were published in September 2010 and are available at:
-see Tables 5 and 6. The data for 2007 and 2008 can be found in FM1 Birth Statistics no. 36 and 37 - see tables 7.1 and 7.6:
Civil Servants: Awards
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether there is any cost to the public purse of holding the annual Civil Service awards. [16829]
Mr Maude: The annual Civil Service Awards were introduced in 2006. The Cabinet Office does not hold information on the costs of the awards as these are met by the private publishing company Dods and its associated sponsors. The Cabinet Office has never paid for venue hire, speakers, refreshments or others costs associated with these awards.
This year, the fifth anniversary of the awards, the ceremony will take place at Buckingham Palace. As in previous years, Dods and its associated sponsors will cover the costs of the ceremony. The awards ceremony will be followed by a reception given by Her Majesty the Queen and the costs for this, in common with other receptions given by Her Majesty for official occasions, will be met from the civil list.
Departmental Drinking Water
Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department has spent on bottled water in each year since 2008. [16879]
Mr Maude: This information is not separately identified and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Manpower
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials his Department has appointed on fixed-term contracts since 7 May 2010. [16785]
Mr Maude: Since 7 May to 11 October 2010, the Cabinet Office has made 26 fixed-term appointments.
Employment: Chester
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of the working population of City of Chester constituency is employed by the (a) public and (b) private sector. [17355]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated October 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of the working population of City of Chester constituency is employed by the (a) public and (b) private sector. (17355)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics for public sector employment from the Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (QPSES) and external sources, as this provides a more accurate classification between the public and private sectors. However these figures are not available for parliamentary constituencies.
The ONS compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. Individuals are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the APS. Consequently, the classification of an individual's sector may differ from how they would be classified in QPSES statistics.
In the 12 month period April 2009 to March 2010, 71 per cent of the working population of the City of Chester constituency were employed by the private sector with the remaining 29 per cent employed in the public sector.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
Government Departments: Procurement
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what exemptions from single tendering processes are allowed to Departments awarding contracts to external organisations. [15959]
Mr Maude:
Government procurement policy requires that contracts be awarded to achieve value for money, through fair and open competition, in compliance with
EU treaty principles and, where applicable, UK regulations implementing the EU procurement directives.
Single tendering is allowed only in specific circumstances, for which I would refer the hon. Member to sections 6 and 14 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006:
In addition to these exemptions, very low-value ad hoc purchasing may sometimes be undertaken without specific competition, if it is more cost-effective to do so.
Government Departments: Work Experience
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps have been taken to broaden access to internships to under-represented minorities across Government departments; and if he will make a statement. [17534]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office is currently appraising options to enable all Departments to provide internships, mindful of the requirement to provide such schemes cost-effectively.
National Citizen Service
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what process he plans to follow to determine the skills to be offered under the National Citizen Service; and how civil society organisations can contribute to that process. [17961]
Mr Hurd: A commissioning process to select providers for National Citizen Service pilot schemes in summer 2011 was opened on 2 August. We expect to announce successful bidders shortly.
The Government are committed to ensuring that National Citizen Service is a challenging and enjoyable experience for young people which equips them with skills to make a difference in their communities. It will be for NCS providers to define the precise activities young people will undertake on their schemes, within the parameters set out in the specification documents. As the programme progresses, my Department will continue to work with NCS providers on developing the content for training and skills development activities.
Older People
Mr Amess:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2010, Official Report, column 1222, on older people, for what reason estimates are not produced for the number of centenarians in each constituency and region; if he will
make it his policy to produce such estimates for each health authority area; and if he will make a statement. [17417]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated October 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Minister for the Cabinet Office asking for what reason estimates are not produced for the number of centenarians in each constituency and region; if he will make it his policy to produce such estimates for each health authority area; and if he will make a statement. (017417).
The Office for National Statistics publishes a mid-year population estimate for the age group 85 and over by constituencies, and age 90 and over by regions. They also publish estimates of the very elderly (including centenarians) for England and Wales combined.
Mid-year estimates of centenarians are not produced for local areas such as constituencies or health authority areas because the numbers are small and they are not robust at that level of detail. The Office for National Statistics does not have any plans to produce estimates of the number of centenarians for subnational areas.
Personal Income
Ian Swales: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average income of (a) a household and (b) a single parent household was in (i) England, (ii) the North East and (iii) Redcar constituency in the most recent year for which figures are available. [16539]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck dated October 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the average income of a household and (b) a single parent household was in (i) England, (ii) the North East and (iii) Redcar constituency in the most recent year for which figures are available. (016539)
Table 1 shows the estimated average net weekly equivalised household income in England, and the North East (both before and after housing costs) for the years 2006/07 to 2008/09 (as a three-year average, because regional single year estimates are subject to volatility) at 2008/09 prices, and similar income estimates for Redcar parliamentary constituency for 2007/08, at 2008/09 prices. These estimates are the latest available. Estimates for single-parent households for Redcar parliamentary constituency are not available.
The estimates provided for England, and the North East, are based on data from the Households Below Average Income series produced by the Department for Work and Pensions, and small area statistics for Redcar parliamentary constituency produced by the ONS.
These estimates, as with any involving sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
Public Houses: Urban Areas
Simon Hart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he has made an estimate of the number of public houses in urban areas which have closed in the last 12 months. [17872]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated October 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the number of pubs in urban areas which have closed in the last 12 months. [17872]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise deaths are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
However, ONS does not produce information on enterprise deaths split into urban and rural areas. The table below contains the latest statistics available, which show enterprise deaths in the UK in 2008 for public houses and bars.
| 2008 enterprise deaths in the UK for public houses and bars | |
Social Enterprises: Finance
Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what support his Department provides for people to (a) establish micro social enterprises and (b) connect with existing social enterprise networks. [17241]
Mr Hurd: Social enterprises of all sizes have an essential role to play in empowering individuals and communities to take control and create the big society. This Government are committed to supporting people to establish social enterprises, including micro social enterprises, by making it easier to run one, getting more resources into the sector, and making it easier for social enterprises to work with the state.
To help make it easier to set up and run a social enterprise, the joint Cabinet Office, Department for Business Innovation and Skills task force on cutting red tape is looking at how to reduce bureaucratic burdens and free up time and resources for social enterprises. To get more resources into the sector, the big society bank will be set up with money from dormant bank accounts to build a more sustainable way of financing organisations such as social enterprises, ready to play their part in the big society. And, to make it easier for social enterprises to work with the state and connect with existing social enterprise networks, the Office for Civil Society Strategic Partner's programme provides social enterprise support organisations with the resources they need to support their membership and to represent their voice to government.
Social Enterprises: Renewable Energy
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether funds from the Big Society Bank will be available to social enterprises which operate community-owned renewable energy schemes. [16588]
Mr Hurd: The Big Society Bank will be a wholesale institution with funds being used to assist or enable other organisations to give financial or other support to social enterprises, charities and voluntary and community organisations. The bank may invest in social enterprises which operate community-owned energy schemes, through investment intermediaries rather than directly.
Social Enterprises: West Midlands
Chris White: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many social enterprises were started in (a) Warwick and Leamington constituency, (b) Warwickshire and (c) the West Midlands in each year since 2000. [17430]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated October 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many new social enterprises were started in (a) Warwick and Leamington constituency, (b) Warwickshire and (c) the West Midlands in each year since 2000. [017430]
Information on social enterprises is not available. Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births are available by geographical area from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
Third Sector: Regulation
Richard Burden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what mechanisms are in place for monitoring compliance by individual local authorities with the provisions of the Compact on relations with the voluntary and community sector; [16591]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the Compact to encouraging good relations between local authorities and voluntary organisations in their areas. [16594]
Mr Hurd: The Compact, published in December 2009, is an agreement between central Government and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. Local Compacts, which are agreed locally between the local statutory sector and the local VCSE, make an important contribution to encouraging good relations between local authorities and voluntary organisations.
Compact Voice, supported by the Cabinet Office, offers practical help and guidance to local areas on how to get their Local Compacts working effectively. They also share best practice across England on how to improve partnerships between public bodies and the VCSE sector.
Local Compacts must remain a local priority, negotiated and agreed according to local needs. All 152 top-tier authorities have voluntarily agreed Local Compacts with their local VCSE sector.
Unemployment
Mr Iain Wright:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in (a) Hartlepool constituency, (b) the North East and (c) England had
been unemployed for more than six months in each of the last five years. [16622]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated October 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people in (a) Hartlepool constituency, (b) the North East and (c) England had been unemployed for more than six months in each of the last five years. (16622)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics in line with International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS).
Table 1 shows the number of persons who have been unemployed for more than 6 months in England and the North East, from the APS, for the 12 month periods ending December from 2005 to 2009 and for the 12 month period ending March 2010, which is the latest available estimate. However, due to the small sample size, no reliable estimate is available for the Hartlepool constituency.
As an alternative, in table 2, we have provided the number of persons claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for more than 6 months in the Hartlepool constituency, along with the numbers for England and the North East, for December of each year from 2005 to 2009.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
| Table 1: Number of persons unemployed for more than six months | |||
| Thousand | |||
| England | North East | Hartlepool | |
| n/a = Not available 1. Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality as follows. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV-for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220 Key Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness * 0 ≤ CV<5 Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20 Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes Source: Annual Population Survey | |||
Vacancies
Duncan Hames: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many of the 467,000 unfilled vacancies identified by the Office for National Statistics vacancy survey in the three months to August 2010 were (a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) temporary. [16729]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated October 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many of the 467,000 unfilled vacancies identified by the Office for National Statistics vacancy survey in the three months to August 2010 were (a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) temporary. (016729)
The Vacancy Survey asks businesses for the number of vacancies that they are actively seeking to fill from outside their organisation. However, it does not collect any information on whether these vacancies are full-time, part-time, permanent or temporary.
An alternative source of vacancy information is administrative data from Jobcentre Plus. This source has partial coverage, only collecting information on vacancies that are registered with Jobcentre Plus. In August 2010, Jobcentre Plus had 280,000 unfilled vacancies in their system, of which 75% were full-time and 25% part-time. Information is not available on how many of the vacancies related to permanent or temporary work.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
Health
Arthritis
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish on his Department's website links to information on the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis for patients and clinicians which has been drawn up by the Rheumatology Futures Project Group. [17966]
Paul Burstow: The Department will publish on its website a link to the information on the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis drawn up by the Rheumatology Futures Project Group. This will be accessible at:
Arthritis: Health Services
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the ability of GP consortia to commission rheumatoid arthritis services appropriately. [17388]
Mr Simon Burns: The White Paper 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS' set out our proposals to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices.
GPs play a crucial role in co-ordinating patient care and committing national health service resources through daily clinical decisions. Our proposals for this new model of commissioning draw on the regular contact that GPs have with patients and their more detailed understanding of patients' wider health care needs.
We propose that GP consortia will be responsible for commissioning the great majority of NHS services. We will expect consortiums to involve relevant health and social care professionals from all sectors in helping design care pathways or care packages that achieve more integrated delivery of care, higher quality, and more efficient use of NHS resources. This will create an effective dialogue across all health and, where appropriate, social care professionals.
To support GP consortiums in their commissioning decisions, we will also create an independent NHS Commissioning Board.
'Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for Patients' invited views on a number of areas of the commissioning agenda. The engagement exercise closed on 11 October and the Department is now analysing all of the contributions received.
Big Drink Debate
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff attended each Big Drink Debate event; and at what cost to the public purse. [17393]
Anne Milton: Attendance by national health service staff at events linked to regional Big Drink Debates was as follows:
London: One event was attended by six NHS staff.
West midlands: 16 events were attended by a total of 48 NHS staff.
North-west: One event was attended by 50 NHS staff.
North-east: Two events were attended by a total of 44 NHS staff.
South-east: Two events but NHS staff attended in their own time.
The Yorkshire and Humber and the east midlands regions also held events but do not hold records of NHS staff attendance. The east of England and south-west regions did not hold any Big Drink Debate events.
It is not possible to calculate the cost to the taxpayer of NHS staff attendance at these events.
Dementia
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funding his Department has allocated for expenditure on dementia services in 2010-11; and under what budgetary headings he expects such expenditure to be incurred; [17622]
(2) what recent assessment his Department has made of progress in the implementation of each objective of the National Dementia Strategy for England. [17660]
Paul Burstow: The Department does not break down primary care trust (PCT) allocations by policies, at either the national or local level. It is for PCTs to decide their priorities for investment locally. The revised NHS Operating Framework issued in June 2010 made clear that PCTs and their partners should publish how they are implementing the National Dementia Strategy to increase local accountability for prioritisation. This is to support a move away from central command to local determination.
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent discussions he has had with NHS trusts on the distribution of funding provided through the National Dementia Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [17632]
(2) how much the NHS has spent on dementia services in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [17633]
Paul Burstow: No discussions have taken place with national health service trusts specifically on the distribution of funding for dementia services. The Department does not break down primary care trust (PCT) allocations by policies, at either the national or local level. It is for PCTs to decide their priorities for investment locally. Information is not held centrally on expenditure on dementia services, either in Gloucestershire or England as a whole. However, the NHS Information Centre is currently undertaking an audit of dementia services in England, the results of which are expected to be available in November.
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he expects implementation of the National Dementia Strategy to include steps to improve the quality of care for people with alcohol-related dementia; [17634]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy on the quality of care provided for people diagnosed with alcohol-related dementia. [17763]
Paul Burstow: Implementation of the National Dementia Strategy should benefit all people with the condition, including those with alcohol-related dementia. The Strategy states that the risk of dementia may be reduced if we protect our general health, including drinking less alcohol. Information on the quality of care provided for people diagnosed with alcohol-related dementia is not collected centrally.
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department provided for medical research into dementia in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10; and what percentage of his Department's health research budget this represented in each such year. [17659]
Paul Burstow: The expenditure figures for the Department are shown in the following table.
| Estimated expenditure on dementia research | ||
| Proportion of total expenditure from research and development revenue budget (percentage) | £ million | |
Departmental Manpower
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are currently employed by his Department, broken down by (a) grade and (b) age; and how many were so employed in (i) 1980, (ii) 1983, (iii) 1987, (iv) 1992, (v) 1997, (vi) 2001 and (vii) 2005. [17359]
Mr Simon Burns: Information about how many staff are employed by the Department, broken down by grade and age, is included in the Civil Service Statistics published on the Cabinet Office's website at:
Departmental NDPBs
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the statement of 14 October 2010, Official Report, columns 505-06, on public bodies reform, what the functions of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18311]
Anne Milton: The functions of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) are outlined in the current terms of reference:
"To advise the Health and Safety Executive, and Ministers for the Department of Health and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and their counterparts under devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as required, on all aspects of hazards and risks to workers and others from exposure to pathogens".
All the functions of the ACDP will be retained and, following its reconstitution as a departmental committee of experts, ACDP will continue to be responsible for the fulfilling of those functions.
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the statement of 14 October 2010, Official Report, columns 505-06, on public bodies reform, what the functions of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18316]
Anne Milton: The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) provides advice to the Food Standards Agency and United Kingdom Health Departments as well as other Government agencies and Departments. Its remit includes matters concerning nutrient content of individual foods, advice on diet and the nutritional status of people. The remit/function of SACN will remain unchanged, following its reconstitution into a departmental committee of experts. Once the change is enacted SACN will continue to be responsible for the remit/function but as a departmental committee of experts.
Departmental Recruitment
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to recruit staff to senior Civil Service posts in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [17386]
Mr Simon Burns: A recruitment freeze is currently in place, which affects external recruitment into the civil service, with exemptions allowed for business critical and frontline posts so as not to jeopardise frontline delivery. The Fast Stream graduate programme is also exempt.
In addition to the recruitment freeze, staffing plans will not be finalised until after the spending review, when the impact on Departments will be made clearer.
As a result, there is only one planned senior recruitment in the pipeline and that is for the role of Chief Medical Officer. The appointment process will follow the protocol, drawn up by the Senior Leadership Committee and the Civil Service Commissioners, which outlines the process in which appointments to and within the Top 200 (the most senior posts in the civil service) are handled.
Diabetes: Young People
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to reduce the number of children and young people at high risk of potentially preventable complications of diabetes. [17959]
Paul Burstow: It is vital that children with diabetes get good quality clinical care and that health and education services work in partnership to ensure that children can be supported while living a full, active life.
NHS Diabetes, the national service improvement team for diabetes, has developed a commissioning toolkit, which will assist in the commissioning of local services for children and young people with diabetes. It has also established a Paediatric Diabetes Network in each of the strategic health authority (SHA) regions to drive improvements in the services delivered to children and young people with diabetes.
NHS Diabetes is also working on various projects to improve the care of children and young people with diabetes. They include:
producing materials for children and young people and their families to help educate them about managing the condition as it progresses. This work is still in the early stages of development, but is being built upon the developing evidence base from a number of relevant clinical studies;
the establishment of a Paediatric Diabetes Network in each of the SHA regions to drive improvements in the services delivered to children and young people with diabetes. The aim of the paediatric networks is to define a clear philosophy of care, which incorporates improving outcomes and quality of life for children and young people living with diabetes; and
running a task and finish group which is developing work on health care professional training and education; and children's, young people's and families' education. The health care professional work is being carried out with the royal colleges and others to influence standards and agree required competencies and new curriculums, which reflect good practice publishing a Commissioning Care Guide, this sets out the appropriate emotional and psychological care interventions for each facet of diabetes care. This is of particular relevance for children and young people to enable them tackle the challenges of their conditions and care for themselves effectively from day to day.
General Practitioners: Finance
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 September 2010, Official Report, columns 1110-11W, on general practitioners: finance, what funding formula the NHS Commissioning Board will use to allocate money to general practitioner consortia. [17988]
Mr Simon Burns: For 2013-14 onwards, the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for the fair and efficient use of resources in the national health service. The board will make allocations to general practitioner (GP) consortia on the basis of securing equivalent access to NHS services in all areas, relative to the prospective burden of disease and disability.
The detail of how resources are allocated to GP Consortia will be a matter for the Commissioning Board. However, the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation has been asked by the Secretary of State to continue to provide advice on the equitable distribution of NHS resources during the transition to the board.
Shadow allocations to GP Consortia will be published in late 2011 for 2012-13, and actual allocations for 2013-14 in late 2012.
Haematological Cancer
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of patients with a haematological cancer who receive chemotherapy (a) in total and (b) at home. [17754]
Paul Burstow: For 2008-09, the number of finished consultant episodes where the primary diagnosis was haematological cancer and where chemotherapy was provided was 96,505.
These data are for those treated in national health service hospitals or in the independent sector, commissioned by the NHS. This figure does not reflect an exact count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion.
Information for those who received treatment at home is not held centrally.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his most recent estimate is on the average length of hospital stay for people with haematological cancers after (a) elective and (b) emergency admissions; [17755]
(2) how many (a) admissions, (b) emergency admissions and (c) bed days there were for (i) all haematological cancers, (ii) all leukaemias, (iii) Hodgkin lymphoma, (iv) non-Hodgkin lymphoma, (v) myeloma, (vi) malignant immunoproliferative diseases and (vii) each other haematological cancer in each (A) primary care trust and (B) cancer network in the latest period for which figures are available. [17777]
Paul Burstow: Information on the average length of hospital stay for those with a primary diagnosis of haematological cancer for elective and emergency admissions during 2008-09 has been placed in the Library.
Information on the number of admissions, emergency admissions and bed days there were for all haematological cancers, all leukaemias, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, myeloma, malignant immunoproliferative diseases and each other haematological cancer in each primary care for 2008-09, the latest period for which figures are available, has been placed in the Library. This figure does not represent a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion. Information at cancer network level is not held centrally.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he made of the cost to the public purse of (a) surgical interventions, (b) complex radiotherapy, (c) chemotherapy and (d) stem cell transplants for patients with haematological cancers (i) in each primary care trust, (ii) in each cancer network and (iii) nationally in the latest year for which figures are available. [17756]
Paul Burstow: Information on the cost of surgical interventions, complex radiotherapy, chemotherapy and stem cell transplants for patients with haematological cancers, in each primary care trust (PCT), in each cancer network and nationally, cannot be provided in the format requested.
An estimate of the cost of treating haematological cancer for 2008-09, the most recent year for which figures are available, for each PCT, each cancer network and nationally, has been placed in the Library.
Expenditure on complex radiotherapy or chemotherapy is included within the cancer, other subcategory. This is because there is insufficient information within the coding to map these costs to a specific cancer subcategory.
Heart Diseases
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate his Department has made of the appropriate number of implantations of (a) pacemakers and (b) implantable cardiac defibrillators per million of population. [17527]
Mr Simon Burns:
The Department does not make any estimates of the appropriate number of implantations of pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators. It
is for local commissioners to decide what local services to fund depending on the priorities around their local population.
However, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's technology appraisal guidance on Implantable cardioverter defibrillators for arrhythmias (TA95) sets out current thinking on good practice in this area. A copy of this can be found at:
Insulin
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will assess the contribution of insulin pump therapy use to improving the quality of life of people with type 1 diabetes; [17894]
(2) if he will take steps to increase the level of use of insulin pumps as a treatment for type 1 diabetes. [17960]
Paul Burstow: For those people with diabetes who have been identified by their healthcare professional as being suitable for insulin pump therapy, we would not expect there to be any unnecessary delays in the provision of insulin pumps.
The National Clinical Director for Diabetes, Dr Rowan Hillson MBE is chairing a working group to specifically focus on the uptake of insulin pumps, which will meet shortly.
In July 2008, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued a review of its guidance on insulin pump therapy, which is supported by separate guidance on the commissioning of insulin pump services. Implementation of the NICE guidance is the responsibility of commissioners and/or providers.
While insulin pump therapy can make a difference to glycaemic control and quality of life in some people, it is not appropriate for everyone. Therefore, all decisions about insulin pump therapy and the means of delivering it must be made in consultation between the person with diabetes (and/or their parents or carer) and their healthcare professional.
It is not the role of the Department to assess the impact of medical technologies.
Midwives: Age
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the age profile is of midwives employed by the NHS. [17589]
Anne Milton: The age profile of midwives employed in the national health service in England is shown in the following table.
National Stroke Strategy
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to review progress on implementation of the National Stroke Strategy. [18240]
Mr Simon Burns: Progress with implementation of the stroke strategy is kept under regular review. The Department receives information, data and feedback from a number of independent sources such as the Stroke Sentinel Audit and the Stroke Improvement National Audit Programme. The national health service reports on a Tier 1 Vital Sign and all strategic health authorities monitor progress with implementation of the strategy. In addition, in February the National Audit Office published a comprehensive report on progress in improving stroke care following the launch of the stroke strategy in 2007.
NHS: Accountability
Dr Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statutory duties are placed upon local authority health overview and scrutiny committees; and which such duties they will retain in 2014. [16749]
Mr Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Act 2001 states that each local authority must have a committee that is able to undertake the health overview and scrutiny role. The role comprises of two elements:
(a) To be consulted by national health service bodies on any proposals for substantial developments of the health service in the area of a local authority, or for a substantial variation in the provision of such service; and
(b) To be able to take an overview, and then scrutinise health and well-being issues that are a priority to local people.
Following the recent consultation on the White Paper-Equity and Excellence-and the proposals contained in Local Democratic Legitimacy, and in light of feedback received, the Government are considering the way forward for health scrutiny and the balance of powers and duties on local authorities.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the statement of 14 October 2010, Official Report, columns 505-06, on public bodies reform, how many staff are employed by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition; how many such staff will be transferred to (a) his Department and (b) new bodies; how many such staff will be made redundant; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of redundancy payments for these staff. [18172]
Anne Milton: The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition do not employ staff, therefore there will be no redundancies or associated redundancy costs. The secretariat for the committee is provided by the Department. A secretariat function will continue to be provided for the reconstituted committee of experts.
Respiratory Diseases
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of regional variations in the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [18137]
Mr Simon Burns: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Gateshead (Ian Mearns) on 14 October 2010, Official Report, column 394W.
Smoking
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the exercise by local authorities of powers restricting smoking in public places. [17287]
Anne Milton: Local councils exercise power to restrict smoking in public places in accordance with the guidance for council regulatory officers-'Implementation of smokefree legislation in England', which was compiled by local government regulation (formerly LACORS), the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the Trading Standards Institute.
The evidence indicates that the exercise of these powers has been particularly successful in achieving the objectives of the legislation, compliance with the regulations and the protection of people from the harm done by second-hand tobacco smoke, with minimal burden on businesses. During 2006 and early 2007 the Department funded training for local authority officers and for businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector, to assist with the smooth implementation of the regulations. The training carried out by the CIEH was widely recognised at the time as making a significant contribution to the successful implementation of the smokefree law.
Social Services: Regulation
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to consult social workers on proposed changes to arrangements for their registrations. [17656]
Paul Burstow: The proposed changes to the arrangements for the registration of social workers were announced in July 2010 as part of the Department's arm's-length bodies review Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS. This review contains indicative timescales for implementation, which will require primary legislation and be subject to the legislative timetable.
More detailed plans will be developed in discussion with all interested parties, including the Social Work Reform Board. These plans will be determined by the need to maintain public protection, professional confidence and ensure that people are treated fairly and with respect.
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that the proposed new body for the regulation of social workers includes the term social work in its title. [17657]
Paul Burstow:
An oversight group has been established to support the transfer of General Social Care Council (GSCC) functions to the Health Professions Council (HPC). This group, which includes the chief executives
of both the GSCC and the HPC, has been asked to advise Ministers on an appropriate name for the new organisation.
The Social Work Reform Board and other key partners in the sector are being engaged in discussions about the transfer, including the name of the new body. However, it will ultimately be for Parliament to approve any proposed new name.
Strokes
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice is provided to carers and families of people who have had a stroke on (a) dietary requirements and (b) future stroke prevention following their discharge from hospital; and if he will make a statement. [17356]
Mr Simon Burns: The stroke strategy launched in December 2007, sets out 20 'quality markers' which outline the features of high quality stroke care. This includes what advice and support should be given to stroke survivors and their carers/families on the prevention of recurrent stroke through life-style interventions, such as the key components of a healthy diet, when they are discharged from hospital to the community.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department has commissioned on (a) strokes and (b) related conditions in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement; [17358]
(2) whether his Department has commissioned recent research on the repair and replacement of dead brain cells in people following a stroke; and if he will make a statement; [17378]
(3) what research his Department has commissioned on the (a) causes and (b) prevention of stroke since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [17413]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) clinical research network is currently providing national health service research infrastructure support to 161 studies in stroke and a range of studies on related conditions. Details can be found on the UK Clinical Research Network portfolio database at:
Records of individual NHS supported research projects collected up to September 2007, including details of projects on causes, prevention, and other aspects of stroke and on related conditions, are available on the archived national research register (NRR) at:
https://portal.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/NRRArchiveSearch.aspx
The NRR evolved out of a pilot project in 1998. Some of the records in the pilot referred to projects from the early 1990s and these were incorporated into the register.
Two of the NIHR's biomedical research centres are undertaking research relating to therapies for neurodegeneration following stroke.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken since 1990 to increase the standard of healthcare for people who have had a stroke; and if he will make a statement. [17379]
Mr Simon Burns: In line with advances in medicine and technology, the Department recognised the importance of improving stroke services and included specific milestones, targets and actions in the National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People launched in March 2001.
The national Stroke Strategy, launched in 2007, set out a comprehensive approach to the provision of stroke care with quality markers covering all aspects of stroke care from prevention and awareness through to long-term care in the community. It was accompanied by central funding over the three years 2008-09 to 2010-11 to support specific early aspects of implementation. Over the same period there was an annual increase in primary care trust allocations, among other things, to reflect the cost of implementing the strategy.
To implement the strategy, the Department established the Stroke Improvement Programme and 28 stroke care networks. They are currently delivering the Accelerating Stroke Improvement programme which aims to help local areas to continue to improve stroke care.
The coalition Government are committed to supporting continued improvement in stroke care and their long-term goal is to see stroke services in this country become among the best in the world.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what aftercare is provided on discharge from hospital to people who have had a stroke; and if he will make a statement. [17414]
Mr Simon Burns: The national stroke strategy launched in December 2007, sets out 20 'quality markers' which outline features of high quality stroke care across the pathway from prevention and awareness to life-long support in the community. A copy of the strategy has already been placed in the Library. Chapter 3, 'Life after stroke', sets out the wide range of support someone may need after a stroke. The range of support can include speech therapy, psychological support, physiotherapy, access to leisure, education, activities and work, accessible and aphasia-friendly information and support groups and help-lines.
A recent National Audit Office report on stroke services noted that more improvement was needed on the post-acute and longer-term-care part of the pathway. The Accelerating Stroke Improvement programme is therefore encouraging local areas to focus on improving arrangements for joint care plans, for six month and subsequent reviews and for access to psychological support. These measures offer opportunities for assessing the needs of stroke survivors and their carers. Meeting those needs more effectively will, over time, improve outcomes for people post-stroke.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he made of the number of (a) men and (b) women in each age group in each health authority area who had a stroke at each level of severity in each of the last three years. [17421]
Mr Simon Burns:
The data in the table, which has been placed in the Library, include the number of finished consultant episodes where there was a primary or secondary diagnosis of stroke. This has been broken down by gender for age groups 64 years and under; 65
to 75 years old and 76 years and above, and by strategic health authority of residence from 2006-07 to 2008-09.
Information is not collected centrally on the severity of stroke.
Note:
The data do not represent the number of different patients since a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. The data may in some years not total to the published finished consultant episodes for stroke since the data provided do not include episodes where the sex of the patient was not specified or not known. Patients who die before reaching hospital or who are not admitted to hospital are not counted in the data.
Tobacco: Sales
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to prevent children from viewing tobacco displays; and if he will make a statement. [17471]
Anne Milton: The Government are currently considering regulations, including the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (Display) (England) Regulations 2010, and developing options around the display of tobacco in shops that seek to ensure an appropriate balance between public health priorities and burdens on business.
Justice
Answers received for publication Monday 18 October 2010 .
Alternatives To Prison
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for future funding of the intensive alternative to custody programme for offenders in Derbyshire. [17183]
Mr Blunt: At present there are no plans to extend central funding for IAC beyond the end of the current financial year.
The Derbyshire scheme is 50% funded from the original pilot fund and 50% from the Regional Director of Offender Management. The pilot will end in Derbyshire once the capacity for commencements is reached. The target for this financial year is 80 commencements and approximately 50 have been achieved to date. Therefore, it is anticipated that the IAC pilot will have reached capacity in December 2010 after which time no further recommendations for IAC will be made to the Courts. This will allow existing IAC orders to be completed within the present funding arrangements.
Locally, options are being explored to maintain some key elements of IAC through partnership arrangements but the Probation Trust is not able to continue to provide IAC within existing resources.
Coroners and Justice Act 2009
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the implementation of section 155 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, with particular reference to the allocation of funds recovered under that provision; [16571]
(2) when he plans to bring into force section 155 and related provisions of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. [16572]
Mr Blunt: Part 7 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (Criminal Memoirs etc.) was commenced by the previous Administration on 6 April 2010 and applies throughout the United Kingdom. It created a civil scheme whereby the High Courts in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and the Court of Session in Scotland, can make certain offenders the subject of an "exploitation proceeds order". The offender may be ordered to pay the value of any benefit derived from the exploitation of material about the commission of serious offences to the relevant enforcement authority. Section 155(7) states that any sum received by an enforcement authority pursuant to an 'exploitation proceeds order' must be paid into the Consolidated Fund (or the Scottish Consolidated Fund where the scheme is operated in Scotland).
David Kelly Death Inquiry
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what dates (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have held meetings relating to the death of Dr David Kelly since his appointment; and who was present at each such meeting. [16696]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I have discussed matters relating to Dr David Kelly in a meeting with the hon Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Nicola Blackwood) on 21 July, Lord Hutton on 7 September and in routine meetings with the Attorney-General during which we discuss a range of issues. In order to support me on this matter, officials have met to discuss this issue as and when necessary.
Defamation: Legal Aid
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of civil legal aid which is spent on libel cases. [16832]
Mr Djanogly: Libel cases are out of scope and are therefore not covered by legal aid.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) officials of his Department and (b) external advisers are working on his Department's review of short sentences. [16671]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice is conducting a full assessment of sentencing to ensure that it is effective in deterring crime, protecting the public, punishing offenders and reducing reoffending.
A small team within the Ministry of Justice has been working on the assessment, including five people full-time. This team is formed by officials based in existing criminal policy teams within the Ministry of Justice. The team has been supported by other officials across the Ministry of Justice as part of their other duties.
There are no advisers external to Government working on the assessment of sentencing. We have been consulting
informally among a wide range of people and organisations, and we will publish proposals for public consultation in a Green Paper on rehabilitation and sentencing later this autumn.
Departmental Work Experience
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many interns his Department has engaged in the last 12 months; and how many were (a) unpaid, (b) remunerated with expenses only and (c) paid at the rate of the national minimum wage or above. [17219]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has engaged 25 interns in the last 12 months. Of these, 22 were paid at a salary of £22,755 pa (the entry level for the first management grade). Three were part-time students engaged through specific schemes run by their educational institutions as part of their studies. These were unpaid.
Pleural Plaques
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects his Department to begin making payments in respect of pleural plaques; and if he will make a statement. [16826]
Mr Djanogly: The extra-statutory scheme, which was set up to provide one-off payments of £5000 to individuals who had begun but not resolved a legal claim for compensation for pleural plaques at the time of the House of Lords judgment, opened for applications on 2 August 2010.
Further details about eligibility for the scheme and how to apply are available from:
https://pleuralplaques.justice.gov.uk
or by telephoning the helpline number on 0300 303 8150. Applications can be made through the website or by phone, and all applications must be received by 1 August 2011 to be eligible for payment under the scheme.
Prison Escapes
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what proportion of prisoners absconded from (a) Prescoed Prison, Usk and (b) each other open prison in 2009; [16596]
(2) how many of the prisoners who absconded from Prescoed Prison, Usk in the last six months had been convicted of crimes which included violent behaviour; [16597]
(3) how many prisoners have absconded from Prescoed Prison, Usk in the last six months. [16598]
Mr Blunt: The number of prisoners absconding from each open prison in 2009 is shown in the following table. It is not possible to represent this as a proportion without knowing the throughput of prisoners in each prison over the year period. Whilst figures on numbers of prisoners in a prison at any point in time are held centrally, data on throughput of prisoners are not held centrally and it would incur disproportionate cost to ask each open prison to calculate this figure.
There has been one abscond from HMP Prescoed/Usk relating to a prisoner convicted of violent crime between 1 March 2010 and 30 September 2010.
There have been two absconds from HMP Prescoed/Usk between 1 March 2010 and 30 September 2010.
The number of absconds has decreased year on year. In the financial year 2006-07 there were 555 absconds whilst in 2008-09 there were 363.
Recapture rates remain high at 96%. Figures for 2009-10 are due to be published later this year.
| Table: Absconds from prisons in England and Wales-January to December 2009 | |
| Establishment | Number of absconds |
| Note: These figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. | |
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