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20 Oct 2010 : Column 782W—continued
General Practitioners: Buildings
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he plans to take of the (a) age and (b) size of GP-owned premises in his proposals for the future funding of such premises. [18207]
Mr Simon Burns: Primary care trusts currently have responsibility for managing the delivery of general practitioner services, including taking account of the age, size and suitability of premises from which general practitioners (GPs) make their services available to patients. The arrangements for reimbursement of GP premises costs are set out in "The NHS Premises Costs Directions 2004", which has already been placed in the Library. Following the establishment of the NHS Commissioning Board, it will take on responsibility for contracting with GPs and for funding those arrangements under the GP contract arrangements applying at that time.
Health Services: Brighton
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what financial support his Department has provided to (a) Brighton and Hove City Council and (b) NHS services in Brighton and Hove for the support of carers in the latest period for which figures are available; [18173]
(2) what assessment he has made of the role (a) the Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove and (b) other voluntary organisations have in supporting carers. [18174]
Paul Burstow: Brighton and Hove city council received £1.102 million in 2008-09, £1.167 million in 2009-10 and £1.132 million in 2010-11 for the carers element of their area based grant.
The previous Government made £150 million available within primary care trust allocations in 2009-11 (£50 million in 2009-10 and £100 million in 2010-11) to enable them to provide breaks for carers. The money was not ring-fenced and no mechanisms were put in place to ensure that the money was spent on carers.
No assessment has been made of the role that the Carers Centre for Brighton and Hove, or other voluntary organisations, have in supporting carers.
Maternity Services
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which each strategic health authority has fulfilled the requirements of its local maternity workforce plan (a) in general and (b) in respect of the size of the midwifery workforce. [17590]
Anne Milton: Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are considering the number of maternity staff needed to deliver safe maternity services and extend choice.
A national assessment will be made as part of the operating framework assurance process.
The following table outlines the midwifery workforce in each SHA for each of the last three years.
| Midwives in England | |||
| Headcount | |||
| SHA | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Source: NHS Information Centre | |||
The following table shows the total number of obstetricians and gynaecologists in each SHA for each of the last three years.
| England | |||
| Headcount | |||
| SHA | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Source: NHS Information centre | |||
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 Human Genetics Commission; 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. [18144]
Anne Milton: The Human Genetics Commission does not employ staff and therefore there will be no redundancies or associated redundancy costs. The secretariat for the Human Genetics Commission has been provided by departmental officials and staff seconded to the Department. A secretariat function will continue to be provided for the reconstituted committee of experts.
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 Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection; 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. [18147]
Anne Milton:
The Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection does not employ staff, therefore there will be no redundancies or associated redundancy costs. The secretariat for the
committee is provided by the Health Protection Agency. A secretariat function will continue to be provided for the reconstituted committee of experts.
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 Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens; 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. [18148]
Anne Milton: The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens does not employ staff, therefore there will be no redundancies or associated redundancy costs. The secretariat for the committee is provided by the Health Protection Agency. A secretariat function will continue to be provided for the reconstituted committee of experts.
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 Health Protection Agency are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18297]
Anne Milton: The functions of the Health Protection Agency are to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards. All of the Health Protection Agency's functions will be retained. The Health Protection Agency will be abolished as a statutory organisation and its functions will be transferred to the new public health service.
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 Gene Therapy Advisory Committee are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18298]
Anne Milton: The Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC) oversees the ethical conduct of stem cell and gene therapy clinical trials in the United Kingdom and previously provided advice to Ministers on gene and stem cell therapies.
Following the advisory non-departmental public bodies (ANDPBs) review it has been decided that GTAC no longer needs to report and provide advice directly to Ministers. The review concluded that its Research Ethics Committee statutory functions would be transferred to the National Research Ethics Service.
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 Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18299]
Anne Milton:
The remit of the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV is to provide advice and monitor progress on the implementation of the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV published
in 2001, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library. The group is to be abolished and replaced by a stakeholder advisory group on sexual health. This group will provide advice to departmental officials rather than direct to Ministers. Terms of reference for the group have yet to be agreed.
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, (1) how many staff are employed by the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants; 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; [18143]
(2) how many staff are employed by the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment; 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; [18153]
(3) how many staff are employed by the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment; 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. [18155]
Anne Milton: The Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment, the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants and the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment do not employ staff, therefore there will be no redundancies or associated redundancy costs. The secretariats for the committees are provided by the Health Protection Agency. A secretariat function will continue to be provided for the reconstituted committees of experts.
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 Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs; 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. [18149]
Anne Milton: The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs does 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.
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 Advisory Group on
Hepatitis; 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. [18150]
Anne Milton: The Advisory Group on Hepatitis do not employ staff, therefore there will be no redundancies or associated redundancy costs. The secretariat for the committee is provided by the Health Protection Agency. A secretariat function will continue to be provided for the reconstituted committee of experts.
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 Alcohol Education and Research Council; 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. [18151]
Anne Milton: The Alcohol Education Research Council (AERC) employs three staff.
The reforms to the AERC were announced in the report of the arm's length bodies review, published in July 2010. As set out in the review, the AERC will be abolished as a non-departmental public body and remain as a charity.
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 Appointments Commission; 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. [18152]
Mr Simon Burns: The Appointments Commission currently employs 54 members of staff. It is not yet clear how many, if any, staff will be transferred to the Department or another Government organisation. It is anticipated that the number of staff will reduce by approximately half in March 2011, with all remaining staff being made redundant in March 2012, with the exception of any moving to another employer.
It is estimated that redundancy payments may total between £1.75 million and £1.82 million over the two-stage redundancy period.
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 Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment; 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. [18154]
Anne Milton:
The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment does not employ staff, therefore there will be no redundancies or associated redundancy costs arising from its reconstitution as a
Departmental Committee of Experts. The secretariat for the committee is currently provided by the Health Protection Agency. A secretariat function will continue to be provided for the reconstituted committee.
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 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence; 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. [18157]
Anne Milton: The reforms to the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence were announced in the report of the arm's length bodies review, published in July 2010. During 2009-10, the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence employed an average of 18.7 full-time and part-time staff, including temporary staff (annual report and accounts 2009-10). We do not expect that any staff will be transferred out of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence or made redundant as a result of these reforms.
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 Expert Advisory Group on AIDS; 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. [18158]
Anne Milton: The Expert Advisory Group on AIDS does not employ staff, therefore there will be no redundancies or associated redundancy costs. The secretariat for the committee is provided by the Health Protection Agency. A secretariat function will continue to be provided for the reconstituted committee of experts.
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 Gene Therapy Advisory Committee; 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. [18159]
Anne Milton: The Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC) does not employee any staff, therefore there will be no redundancies or associated redundancy costs. One post in the secretariat supporting GTAC was transferred from the Department to the National Research Ethics Service.
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 Genetics and Insurance Committee; 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. [18161]
Anne Milton: The Department's intention to abolish the Genetics and Insurance Committee was announced in 2009 by the previous Government. The committee has not met since October 2008. The committee did not employ staff and therefore there were no redundancies or associated redundancy costs. The Genetics and Insurance Committee secretariat was provided by departmental officials.
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 Health Protection Agency; 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. [18162]
Anne Milton: The reforms to the Health Protection Agency were announced in the report of the arm's-length bodies review, published in July 2010. As at 31 March 2010, the Health Protection Agency employed 3,791 staff (average number of full-time equivalent staff). Further work is required to plan for implementation of the reforms.
The Department is working with individual arm's length bodies to support delivery of the transitional changes required. It is too early at this stage to set out what the full impact of the review will be in terms of impact on staff and the costs of redundancies.
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 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; 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. [18164]
Anne Milton: The reforms to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority were announced in the report of the Department's arm's length bodies review, published in July 2010. As of 13 October 2010 there were 83 staff in post. Further work is required to plan for implementation of the reforms before estimates of staff transfers and redundancies can be made and of the costs involved.
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 Human Tissue Authority; 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. [18165]
Anne Milton:
The reforms to the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) were announced in the report of the Department's arm's length bodies review, published in July 2010. The HTA has a staffing complement of 67 full-time equivalent members of staff. As of 15 October 2010, there were 45 staff in post. Further work is
required to plan for implementation of the reforms before estimates of staff transfers and redundancies can be made and of the costs involved.
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 Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV; 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. [18166]
Anne Milton: The Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV does not employ staff and therefore there will be no staff transfers either to the Department or to the new Stakeholder Advisory Group. Any costs associated with the closure of the Independent Advisory Group are currently being assessed.
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 Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations; 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. [18169]
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 Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18313]
Anne Milton: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is tasked with advising Government on matters relating to the provision of vaccination and immunisation services. On 14 October it was announced that the JCVI will no longer be classified by the Cabinet Office as an advisory non-departmental public body. The function of the JCVI will remain unchanged, following its reconstitution into a Department/public health service committee of experts. None of the JCVI's functions will be transferred to other bodies.
The JCVI does 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.
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 Genetics and Insurance Committee are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18293]
Anne Milton: The Department's intention to abolish the Genetics and Insurance Committee (GAIC) was announced in 2009. The Committee last met in October 2008. The Committee's functions were:
to develop and publish criteria for the evaluation of specific genetic tests, their application to particular conditions and their reliability and relevance to particular types of insurance;
to evaluate particular tests against those criteria and to bring to public knowledge its findings;
to report to Health, Treasury, and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Ministers on proposals received by GAIC from insurance providers and the subsequent level of compliance by the industry with the recommendations of GAIC;
to provide independent wide ranging oversight of how insurers are using genetic tests, specifically:
to provide independent scrutiny of compliance with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) Code of Practice and the terms of the concordat and moratorium agreed in 2005 on the use of genetic test results by insurance companies;
to deal with complaints from insurance applicants about the way an insurance company has dealt with their application under the moratorium, where such complaints have not been resolved to the satisfaction of the applicant by either their insurance company in the first instance or by the ABI; and
to report annually to Health, Treasury, and DTI Ministers on compliance by insurers with the ABI Code of Practice, the concordat and the moratorium.
The GAIC's functions were transferred to a subgroup of the Human Genetics Commission-the Monitoring Group for Genetics and Insurance. Approval of genetic tests for use in insurance will be carried out by an ad-hoc Genetics and Insurance Applications Panel. Proposals relating to the exact remit and constitution of the new arrangements are currently being developed.
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 Expert Advisory Group on Aids are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18294]
Anne Milton: The function of the Expert Advisory Group on AIDS is to provide advice on such matters relating to HIV/AIDS as may be referred to it by the Chief Medical Officers of the Health Departments of the United Kingdom.
The function of the Expert Advisory Group on AIDS will remain unchanged, following its reconstitution into a Departmental/Public Health Service Committee of Experts.
Once the change is enacted the Expert Advisory Group on AIDS will continue to be responsible for the function but as a Departmental/Public Health Service Committee of Experts.
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 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18296]
Anne Milton:
The functions of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence are set out in the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (as amended). All of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence's current functions are to be retained and we
propose to extend its remit to enable it to set standards for and to quality assure voluntary registers of health and social care workers.
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 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18301]
Anne Milton: As set out in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended, (the 1990 Act) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's statutory functions are:
the licensing and monitoring of establishments: (i) providing treatments involving the creation of embryos outside the body and treatment involving the use of donated gametes or embryos, (ii) establishments providing fertility related services involving the donation, procurement, testing, processing, preservation, storage or distribution of gametes and embryos and (iii) centres carrying out research involving the use of human embryos;
to keep under review information about embryos, the subsequent development of embryos and the provision of treatment services and other activities governed by the 1990 Act, giving advice to the Secretary of State for Health on these matters if asked to do so;
to publicise the services it provides to the public and those provided by licence holders;
to provide advice and information to licensed establishments, patients and gamete/embryo donors;
to maintain a statement of the general principles it considers should be followed in carrying out activities under the 1990 Act and any functions related to those activities;
to maintain and promote compliance with a code of practice giving licensed establishments guidance on the proper conduct of licensed activities; and
to maintain a register of all licensed treatment cycles carried out in the United Kingdom, with details of donors, patients and any resulting offspring and provide them with information as requested.
As indicated in the report of the Department's arm's length bodies review, published on 26 July 2010, it is proposed that these functions will be transferred to other bodies by the end of the current Parliament.
We will examine in detail the practicalities and legal implications of how to divide the functions between the Care Quality Commission, any new research regulator and the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
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 the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18302]
Anne Milton:
The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs advises United Kingdom Health Departments on the most appropriate ways to ensure the safety of blood, cells, tissues and organs for transfusion/transplantation. Its remit includes providing advice on the microbiological safety of gametes and stem cells, in liaison with the relevant regulatory authorities.
The Committee provides independent advice on risk management for UK Health Departments to consider.
The function of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs will remain unchanged, following its reconstitution into a Departmental Committee of Experts and will continue to be responsible for these 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 Advisory Group on Hepatitis are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18303]
Anne Milton: The function of the Advisory Group on Hepatitis is to advise the Chief Medical Officers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on appropriate policies for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis in the community and in health care settings, but excluding advice on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation, and of health care equipment.
The function of the Advisory Group on Hepatitis will remain unchanged, following its reconstitution into a Departmental/Public Health Service Committee of Experts.
Once the change is enacted the Advisory Group on Hepatitis will continue to be responsible for the function but as a Departmental/Public Health Service Committee of Experts.
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the statement of 14 October 2010, Official Report, columns 505-06, on public bodies reform, what the functions of the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions; [18307]
(2) pursuant to the statement of 14 October 2010, Official Report, columns 505-06, on public bodies reform, what the functions of the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions; [18309]
(3) pursuant to the statement of 14 October 2010, Official Report, columns 505-06, on public bodies reform, what the functions of the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18310]
Anne Milton: The function of the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COM) and the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC) is to provide advice to Government Departments and Agencies on the potential mutagenicity and carcinogenicity, respectively, of chemicals, from natural products to new synthetic chemicals used in pesticides or pharmaceuticals.
The function of the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) is to provide advice to Government Departments and Agencies on all matters concerning the potential toxicity and effects upon health of air pollutants. The functions of COM, COMEAP and COC will remain unchanged, following their reconstitution into departmental committees of experts. Once the change is effected COM, COMEAP and COC will continue to undertake their function but as departmental committees of experts.
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 Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18308]
Anne Milton: The functions of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment are to assess and advise Government and the devolved authorities on the health effects of natural and man-made radiation and to assess the adequacy of the available data and the need for further research. The functions of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment will remain unchanged, following its reconstitution as a departmental committee of experts.
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 Appointments Commission are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18314]
Mr Simon Burns: The Appointments Commission is responsible, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health, for appointing chairs and non-executive members of local national health service bodies and the majority of the Department's national bodies. The Appointments Commission also delivers a range of other supporting functions.
The majority of the Appointments Commission's work and functions will cease to exist in the future as there will be no local and fewer national public appointments. As part of the transition to abolition, the Department is currently working with the Appointments Commission on considering which functions may continue.
Remaining national appointments will be undertaken by the Department, in-line with other Government Departments.
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 Alcohol Education and Research Council are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18315]
Anne Milton: The Alcohol Education and Research Council (AERC) was established as an Executive non-departmental public body via the Licensing (Alcohol Education and Research) Act 1981.
The AERC has charitable status and administers a fund of around £8 million to support research into the prevention of alcohol-related harm. The Department does not provide funding for this arm's length body.
As set out in the Department's report of the Arm's Length Bodies Review, the AERC will be abolished as a non-departmental public body and remain as a charity.
Respiratory Diseases
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital bed days were accounted for by patients with (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) all respiratory diseases in (i) Bolton South East constituency and (ii) England in the latest period for which figures are available. [18132]
Mr Simon Burns: The most recent 'National Statistics' certified Hospital Episode Statistics data are for 2008-09; the following numbers are only available at the level of Bolton Primary Care Trust (PCT), rather than Bolton South East constituency. For patients treated in Bolton PCT, regardless of place of residence, there were 6,079 bed days with a primary diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (defined as ICD-10 codes J40 to J44 inclusive). For patients resident in Bolton PCT, but treated anywhere in the English national health service, there were 4,808 bed days with a primary diagnosis of COPD. Overall, in the English NHS, there were 878,218 bed days for this primary diagnosis in 2008-09.
For patients with a primary diagnosis of respiratory disease (defined as ICD-10 codes J00 to J99 inclusive), there were 27,474 bed days for patients treated in Bolton PCT, or 23,141 bed days for patients resident in Bolton PCT. Overall, there were 4,249,216 bed days for these primary diagnoses in 2008-09.
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital admissions there were for (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) all respiratory diseases in (i) Bolton South East constituency and (ii) England in the latest period for which figures are available. [18133]
Mr Simon Burns: The most recent 'National Statistics' certified Hospital Episode Statistics data are for 2008-09; the following numbers are only available at the level of Bolton Primary Care Trust (PCT), rather than Bolton South East constituency. For patients treated in Bolton PCT, regardless of place of residence, there were 809 first admission episodes with a primary diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (defined as ICD-10 codes J40 to J44 inclusive). For patients resident in Bolton PCT, but treated anywhere in the English national health service, there were 651 first admission episodes with a primary diagnosis of COPD. Overall, in the English NHS, there were 119,317 first admission episodes for this primary diagnosis in 2008-09.
For patients with a primary diagnosis of respiratory disease (defined as ICD-10 codes J00 to J99 inclusive), there were 5,518 first admission episodes for patients treated in Bolton PCT, or 4,816 first admission episodes for patients resident in Bolton PCT. Overall, there were 757,003 first admission episodes for these primary diagnoses in 2008-09.
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to include a lung function test within the NHS Health Check. [18135]
Mr Simon Burns: The purpose of the NHS Health Check programme is to identify an individual's risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. The tests used in the NHS Health Check are based on economic modelling undertaken by the Department to ensure it is clinically effective and cost-effective. We continue to keep the components of the NHS Health Check under review as new evidence emerges.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Children
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged (a) 11 and (b) 12 years were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in each of the last five years; if he will make it his policy routinely to publish figures on the number of STI diagnoses among under-12s in future years; and if he will make a statement. [17859]
Anne Milton: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) paper entitled 'Review of the Dissemination of Health Statistics-Confidentiality Guidance', which conforms with departmental policy on data publication, has been adopted to enable the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to provide surveillance information without jeopardising patient confidentiality. When publishing information on sensitive clinical conditions such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), public health interests must be balanced against patient confidentiality and data protection obligations. The HPA aims to consistently apply the principles and uniform standards of the ONS/Department of Health guidance when publishing information.
Information on STIs is among the most sensitive data the HPA collects. Where a cell in a table has a number less than five, the risk of indirect ascertainment of the identity of those affected is assessed. Diagnoses of STIs in those aged under 15 years are not published by single year of age because the small numbers concerned, together with the additional information of the exact year of age, pose too great a risk of deductive disclosure. Therefore, only aggregate information on STI diagnoses in those aged under 15 years is presented in HPA publications and there are no plans to review this policy.
Information on the number of selected STIs for those diagnosed in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics and in the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) in England, in those under the age of 15, 2005-09, is given in the following table.
Suicide: Armed Forces
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider the merits of introducing a comprehensive mental health education programme to address the vulnerability to suicide of those leaving the armed forces. [17963]
Paul Burstow: My hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) recently submitted a report on the mental health of service people and veterans which was commissioned by the Prime Minister and has been welcomed by the Government. Officials from the Department of Health and Ministry of Defence are currently working on implementing these proposals.
Tobacco: Sales
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations in opposition to the proposed prohibition on tobacco displays his Department has received since 28 July 2010. [17391]
Anne Milton: Many representations have been made by interested parties on both sides of this argument by letter and e-mail, in meetings and by other methods, ever since the Department began consultations in May 2008. These have continued and the Department has received over 6,000 items of official correspondence mentioning tobacco displays since 28 July 2010. The majority of these come from a postcard campaign by the Association of Convenience Stores launched on 9 August 2010 opposing the new legislation.
It is not possible to provide a definitive total of all representations, however made, or an accurate breakdown of whether they oppose or support the prohibition of tobacco displays.
Transplant Surgery: Health Services
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the provision of healthcare for transplant patients, with particular reference to the (a) financial and (b) health effects on such patients of prescription charges. [16926]
Anne Milton: In the period 12 May 2010 to 8 October 2010, the Department had received around 280 written representations about prescription charges from hon. Members (including the hon. Lady's question), Noble Lords and members of the public. Some of these may have concerned transplant patients.
Deputy Prime Minister
Civil Servants: Pensions
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many former civil servants who had left service between 1 June 1972 and 1 October 2002 but who had fallen ill before attaining the age of 60 received a lump sum under the Civil Service Pension Scheme in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009. [17768]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply.
The Civil Service Pension Scheme medical adviser supported 179 former scheme member applications for early payment of deferred benefits in 2008-09 and 137 in 2009-10. As well as a pension lump sum they would also have begun receiving their ongoing civil service pension. These former members would have left employment on or after 1 June 1972.
Cabinet Office
Third Sector Compact
11. Lindsay Roy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans his Department has for the future of the compact on relations between Government and the third sector in England. [18058]
Mr Hurd: The Compact is an important framework for the relationship between the state and the sector.
The Prime Minister has made it clear that we need to strengthen it. That work is currently being undertaken with Compact Voice. The intention is to bring it up to date, make it sharper and increase the transparency and accountability around implementation.
National Citizen Service
12. Stella Creasy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the cost of providing a national citizen service place for every 16-year-old by 2015. [18059]
Mr Hurd:
Over the next two years we intend to test a range of different approaches for delivering National Citizen Service. Doing so will help us to identify the most cost-effective way to deliver a high-quality National Citizen Service experience to 16-year olds. We will have
a clearer idea of the likely costs of a wider roll-out of National Citizen Service once we have evaluated the two year pilot phase.
Voluntary and Community Sector
14. Mr Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his policy is on increasing the resources to be allocated to the voluntary and community sector. [18061]
Mr Hurd: One of the priorities in the Office for Civil Society is to help get more resources into the sector-both time and money. Last Thursday we published "Building a Stronger Civil Society" a strategy for the voluntary, community and a social enterprise sector. Specific plans are subject to the spending review which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer today.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
15. Neil Carmichael: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent progress has been made on his Department's review of non-departmental public bodies. [18062]
Mr Maude: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today.
Mr Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department he plans to (a) abolish, (b) retain, (c) retain with modifications, (d) merge with other bodies and (e) retain pending further consideration; and if he will make a statement. [17366]
Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made to the House on 14 October 2010, Official Report, columns 26-28WS.
Cancer
Mr Baron: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what the mortality 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; [17163]
(2) what the incidence was of 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; [17164]
(3) how many 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 were diagnosed with each type of cancer in (i) each cancer network, (ii) each primary care trust and (iii) England in each of the last five years. [17165]
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 questions asking:
1. What the mortality rate was for each type of cancer in people aged (a) 49 years and under, (b) 50 to 59 years, (e) 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. [017163]
2. What the incidence was of 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. [017164]
3. How many 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 were diagnosed with each type of cancer in (i) each cancer network, (ii) each primary care trust and (iii) England in each of the last five years. [017165]
The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2007, while the latest figures for mortality are for the year 2009. However, since the latest available population estimates for primary care organisations and cancer networks (required to calculate rates) are for the year 2008, all mortality rates have been provided up to 2008.
Question 2 above requests figures on 'incidence... [for] each type of cancer', which is the same as 'how many people... were diagnosed' (question 3). Question 2 has the therefore been interpreted as meaning incidence rates.
To supply mortality rates, incidence rates and incidence numbers for all types of cancer for (i) each cancer network, (ii) each primary care organisation and (iii) England in each of the last five years could only be done at disproportionate cost. Therefore, figures have been provided for the four most commonly diagnosed cancers: breast (women), colorectal (bowel), lung and prostate.
Age-specific rates have been provided for England, using the age groups as specified in the questions above. Age-standardised rates have been provided for cancer networks and primary care organisations, since numbers were too low to calculate cancer-specific, age-specific rates for all age groups, for all areas.
Table 1 (i) provides the age-standardised mortality rate for breast (women), colorectal, lung and prostate cancer, for each cancer network in England, for the years 2004 to 2008.
Table 1 (ii) provides the age-standardised mortality rate for breast (women), colorectal. lung and prostate cancer, for each primary care organisation in England, for the years 2004 to 2008.
Table 1 (iii) provides the age-specific mortality rate for breast (women), colorectal, lung and prostate cancer, for persons aged (a) 49 years and under , (b) 50 to 59 years, (c) 60 to 69 years, (d) 70 to 79 years and (e) over 60 years , for England, for the years 2004 to 2006.
Table 2 (i) provides the age-standardised incidence rate for breast (women), colorectal, lung and prostate cancer, for each cancer network in England, for the years 2003 to 2007.
Table 2 (ii) provides the age-standardised incidence rate for breast (women), colorectal, lung and prostate cancer, for each primary care organisation in England, for the years 2003 to 2007.
Table 2 (iii) provides the age-specific incidence rate for breast (women), colorectal, lung and prostate cancer, for persons aged (a) 49 years and under, (b) 50 to 59 years, (c) 60 to 69 years, (d) 70 to 79 years and (e) over 60 years , for England, for the years 2003 to 2007.
Table 3 (i) provides the number of newly diagnosed breast (women), colorectal, lung and prostate cancers, for each cancer network in England, for the years 2003 to 2007.
Table 3 (ii) provides the number of newly diagnosed breast (women), colorectal, lung and prostate cancers, for each primary care organisation in England, for the years 2003 to 2007.
Table 3 (iii) provides the number of newly diagnosed breast (women), colorectal, lung and prostate cancers, for persons aged (a) 49 years and under, (b) 50 to 59 years, (c) 60 to 69 years , (d) 70 to 79 years and (e) over 60 years , for England, for the years 2003 to 2007.
Copies of all tables have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
General Election 2010: Fraud
Mr Spellar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what evidence his Department has collected on the extent of alleged electoral fraud at the May 2010 general election. [17516]
Mr Harper: The Cabinet Office does not collect information on the extent of fraud but the Electoral Commission and the Association of Chief Police Officers undertake systematic monitoring of allegations of electoral malpractice reported to the police during the election period. Cabinet Office officials also attend meetings of relevant stakeholders hosted by the Electoral Commission to discuss issues related to electoral integrity.
The Electoral Commission has indicated that it will publish the verified data arising from this process, and analysis on the extent and nature of electoral malpractice reported during 2010 (including the May UK general election), in January 2011.
Older People
Mr Amess: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) male and (b) female centenarians there were in England and Wales in each year from 1980 to 2005. [17418]
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 how many (a) male and (b) female centenarians there were in England and Wales in each year from 1980 to 2005 (017418).
Estimates of the number of centenarians are published by the Office for National Statistics for England and Wales combined. The table below gives the requested information.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Contracts
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which companies, other than Calyx (UK), responded to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority's invitation to tender for the provision of infrastructure and enterprise software support; and what criteria were used to determine which respondee was awarded the contract. [17618]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald to Ian Liddell-Grainger:
As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for information on the companies who responded to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority's invitation to tender for the provision of infrastructure and enterprise software support; and what criteria were used to determine which respondee was awarded the contract. (17618)
The companies that responded to the invitation to tender for the provision of infrastructure and enterprise software support were:
Computacenter (UK) Ltd
Insight Direct (UK) Ltd
Probrand Ltd
Calyx (UK) Ltd formed part of the Insight Direct (UK) Ltd tender.
Information on the assessment criteria applied during this process has already been provided in our answer given in respect of a previous question on 12 October 2010, Official Report, column 258W.
Manpower: Parliamentary Standards Authority
Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many (a) permanent and (b) temporary staff the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority employs in each pay band. [17890]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald to Helen Jones:
As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) permanent and (b) temporary staff the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority employs in each pay band. 17890
The number of permanent, fixed term and temporary full time equivalent staff employed in each IPSA salary range as of 14 October 2010 is shown below. Temporary staff have been assigned to the salary grade of the position in which they are working.
| Job grade | Permanent | Fixed term | Temporary (incl. secondees) |
Justice
Courts: Bedfordshire
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding his Department allocated to HM Courts Service in Bedfordshire in 2009-10; and what estimate he has made of the level of funding for that service in Bedfordshire in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [18025]
Mr Djanogly: Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) allocated £7.41 million in Bedfordshire in 2009-10 and the latest estimate of the budget for 2010-11 is £7.08 million. This reduction of 4% in the allocation in 2010-11 is consistent with the reductions across HMCS as a result of efficiencies.
The estimate for 2011-12 will not be available until the announcement of the outcome of the spending review and the subsequent work in identifying the breakdown of this settlement across the rest of Her Majesty's Courts Service.
Crime: Victims
Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what arrangements are in place to inform (a) victims of crime, (b) their families and (c) police officers about family and victim impact statements. [18008]
Mr Blunt: Victim Impact Statements are now officially known as Victim Personal Statements. All victims of crime or, in cases of homicide, the family of the victim are eligible to make a VPS. The present method of providing a leaflet to inform victims of the Victim Personal Statement is currently being reviewed, but the relevant information and the offer to make a statement can still be provided by the police.
Bereaved families of homicide victims are also offered the opportunity to make a Victim Personal Statement under the Crown Prosecution Service's Victim Focus Scheme. Families can meet with prosecutors, who will explain the purpose of the statement.
Ensuring that police officers offer victims or their families the opportunity to make a Victim Personal Statement is the responsibility of individual police forces, many of which have local policies in place. In October 2009, the former Office of Criminal Justice Reform released national guidance called 'Victim Personal Statements: A guide for police officers, investigators and criminal justice practitioners'.
Domestic Violence: Rape
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to review guidelines on grant of pre-trial bail to those accused of (a) serious domestic violence and (b) rape of a partner. [17916]
Mr Blunt: The decision whether to grant bail is a matter for the discretion of the court and the Ministry of Justice does not issue guidance. However, the Crown Prosecution Service issues guidance to Crown Prosecutors on prosecuting cases of domestic violence and rape, and this includes advice on how prosecutors should approach the question of bail. The guidance makes clear that the primary concern of the CPS in such cases is the protection of the victim and any children that may be involved. It emphasises the need to gather as much information as possible on the needs and views of victims where the CPS is deciding whether to oppose bail or is recommending conditions to be imposed on a defendant before release. The CPS keeps its guidance under constant review.
Legal Aid
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of the legal aid budget in (a) England and Wales and (b) Wales was spent on the 10 per cent. of cases which resulted in the greatest cost to the public purse in the latest period for which figures are available. [17876]
Mr Djanogly: The answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost as the Legal Services Commission would need to collate and manually check a significant amount of information from various sources.
Probation: Training
Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on training probation officers in 2009-10. [17957]
Mr Blunt: The cost of providing training for trainee probation officers to qualify as probation officers in the period April 2009 to March 2010 was £26,998,207. These costs include the trainee salary, pension contribution and the university administration cost.
Regional Offender Managers
Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of employing and training Probation Service offender managers in (a) England and Wales and (b) each probation area in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [17955]
Mr Blunt: For the period April 2009-March 2010 the estimated cost of employing all qualified probation officers/offender managers in probation areas and Trusts in England and Wales was £152,282,756.
The estimated cost of the training leading to qualification as probation officers/offender managers was £26,998,207 (consisting trainee allowance of £24,526,100 and higher education costs of £2,472,107).
The estimated costs, for each probation area/trust and region, for the period April 2009-March 2010, are provided in the following table.
Young Offenders: Reoffenders
Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of young offenders re-offended within one year of being released from custody in the latest period for which figures are available. [18398]
Mr Blunt: The latest reoffending rate for young people (those aged between 10 and 17) released from custody in England and Wales in the first quarter of 2008 is 74.3%.
Reoffending rates for young people are based on whether an offender has been convicted at court or received an out-of-court disposal for an offence in the year following release from custody.
Wales
National Assembly for Wales
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with (a) ministerial colleagues, (b) the Welsh Assembly Government and (c) the Boundary Commission for Wales on reviewing the boundaries of National Assembly for Wales constituencies; and what implications the outcome of the referendum on further powers for the National Assembly for Wales will have on the outcomes of that review. [17910]
Mr Harper: I have been asked to reply.
Clause 11 of the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Bill breaks the link between Assembly constituencies and parliamentary constituencies in Wales, so that fewer parliamentary constituencies in future would not reduce the size of the Assembly.
The Government intends to bring forward legislation at an appropriate time to establish the mechanism to review and alter Assembly constituencies. In the meantime, the Bill includes transitional provisions so that the Boundary Commission for Wales can decide whether to complete its current reviews.
I have discussed the effects of the clause with the Secretary of State for Wales and the First Minister of Wales. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales has discussed future reviews of Assembly constituency boundaries with the Boundary Commission for Wales.
The Government does not anticipate the outcome of the referendum on full law-making powers for the National Assembly for Wales affecting future reviews of Assembly constituency boundaries.
Treasury
Child Benefit
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was allocated to expenditure on child benefit in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and how much he has allocated in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14. [11889]
Justine Greening: Child benefit expenditure is demand-led, and while Parliament votes on the allocation in the latest year, there is no set allocation for future years.
Departmental Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period his Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque. [16172]
Justine Greening: The average cost of processing an invoice to the Treasury in 2008-09, including staff costs and a proportionate share of relevant overheads, was £10.10. Within that period, 99.2% of invoices were paid electronically with the balance of 0.8% being paid by cheque.
Departmental Consultants
Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible in each year since 2005. [12450]
Justine Greening: Details of spending on external consultants for the Treasury and the Debt Management Office is shown in table 5 of Annex A to the Treasury's 2009-10 resource accounts, which is available from
The Asset Protection Agency, which was set up on 7 December 2009 spent £1,856,000 in 2009-10 on external consultants. There was no such spending by the Royal Mint Advisory Committee.
Departmental Drinking Water
Nick de Bois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on bottled water in each year since 2008. [16878]
Justine Greening: Since June 2008, meetings at the Treasury's 1 Horse Guards Road building have been supplied with in-house bottled filtered water, rather than bottled water sourced from outside suppliers. Spending from June 2008 until the end of the 2008-09 financial year was £27,000 and for 2009-10 it was £39,000. Spending in the first six months of 2010-11 of £8,000 was significantly below the equivalent period in the previous year. It is not possible to separately identify costs of bottled water prior to June 2008 as this formed part of the cost of meeting refreshments that included teas and coffees, bottled water and biscuits.
Departmental Equality
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether his Department undertook an equalities impact assessment in respect of the measures proposed in the June 2010 Budget; and if he will make a statement; [11575]
(2) if he will publish the equality impact assessment his Department made of the measures in the June 2010 Budget; and if he will make a statement. [12560]
Mr Gauke [holding answers 27 July and 6 September 2010]: The Budget is an overall statement of economic policy, containing a whole range of measures. Therefore, it is not possible to make an overall assessment of the Budget.
Instead, Departments consider the equality impact of their policies as they are developed and implemented. Policy teams will continue to consider the impact of the individual budget measures on gender, race and disability as they further develop and implement the policies. This is in line with their legal obligations and will build on what they have done already.
Departmental Pensions
Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of pension contributions incurred by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each region of England and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2010-11. [12449]
Justine Greening: The information available on pension spending in the past three years and forecast spending for 2010-11 is shown in the following table.
| £000 | |||
| HM Treasury | Debt Management Office | Asset Protection Agency | |
| (1) This figure has been restated since publication of DMO's 2008-09 accounts reflecting the adoption of IAS 19 staff benefits. | |||
The Department's accounting systems do not identify pension payments by region.
The Royal Mint Advisory Committee has not made any pension payments in the past three years and has no plans to make any payments in 2010-11.
Departmental Security
Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the reasons are for the change in the amount of expenditure by his Department on security between (a) 2004-05 and 2005-06 and (b) 2005-06 and 2006-07. [13354]
Justine Greening: Spending in 2005-06 on security was higher than usual mainly due to a contribution of £240,000 by the Treasury to the Government Secure Zone (GSZ) project. The GSZ designates that area of central London containing major Government and public buildings and the programme consisted of a linked series of projects to enhance security within the zone.
Departmental Training
Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what training has been provided for Ministers in his Department since the formation of the present administration; and at what cost. [6452]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 3 June 2010, Official Report column 51-52W. The National School of Government is funded through its Core Learning programme to deliver induction and other training to Ministers, and there is no separate charge to Departments.
HM Treasury Ministers have not received training from any other providers.
Doctors: Vetting
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the savings likely to be made consequent on reducing the number of Criminal Record Bureau checks for junior doctors, as referred to in his Department's Spending Challenge. [16645]
Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply.
Our estimate is that the potential scale of the annual savings from national health service trusts reducing the number of unnecessary Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks on junior doctors would be up to £1 million per year.
This figure is an estimate based on the number of registrars and doctors in training and the current cost of a CRB check. Other potential savings could also arise from indirect costs (e.g. administrative time associated with processing forms etc).
The Home Secretary announced on 15 June that the CRB checking regime would be reviewed. The terms of reference for the review will be announced shortly.
Employment
John Healey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Department has made of employment growth in each (a) region and (b) sector in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15. [12183]
Justine Greening: HM Treasury has not made an estimate of employment by sector, broken down by region in the coming years.
The Office for Budget Responsibility's Budget 2010 forecast shows that total unemployment will come down from 8.1% this year, falling in every year to 6.1% in 2015. The OBR forecast is for total employment to rise by 1.3 million by 2015-16.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for pilot schemes to reduce fuel prices (a) on the Isle of Arran and (b) in other remote rural areas. [17456]
Justine Greening: The Government intend to introduce a pilot scheme that will deliver a maximum of 5 pence per litre duty discount on petrol and diesel in remote rural areas. The Government are considering the exact scope of the pilots and at present has announced its intention to include the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, and the Isles of Scilly. The Government will report back to the House, in due course, prior to submitting a formal proposal on the scope and design of the scheme to the European Commission.
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