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21 Oct 2010 : Column 843W—continued
Dental Services
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to discuss developing new commissioning arrangements for NHS dentistry with representatives of the dental profession. [18223]
Mr Simon Burns: We have set up a national steering group to advise us on developing proposals for a new dental contract. Representatives from the British Dental Association are a key part of this group.
Dr Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has had with local authorities on their role in ensuring that NHS dental services meet the needs of their users; [18228]
(2) what role health and wellbeing boards will have in ensuring that NHS dental services meet the needs of their users. [18230]
Mr Simon Burns: Oral health needs assessments and the epidemiological surveys on which they are based are public health functions, which are normally led by consultants in dental public health employed by primary care trusts (PCTs). The White Paper 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS' refers to the creation of a new public health service, to integrate and streamline existing health improvement. It also indicates that PCT responsibilities for local health improvement will transfer to local authorities, who will employ the Director of Public Health jointly appointed with the public health service. We will be publishing a White Paper on public health later this year, which will cover the transitional arrangements, required to implement these changes. Health and well-being boards within local authorities will be ideally placed to provide feedback on the quality and accessibility of national health service dental services in their areas.
Dental Services: Fees and Charges
Dr Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he expects Monitor to have in setting tariffs for dentistry. [18225]
Mr Simon Burns: Monitor will not regulate nor set prices for general dental services. Our current proposals, which are being further developed and will be subject to parliamentary approval, are that the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for setting tariff structures and Monitor, as the economic regulator will be responsible for setting price levels. This will include dental services provided in hospitals, which currently receive a mandatory tariff. In all aspects of price setting, they will be expected to work collaboratively for the benefit of patients and taxpayers.
Departmental Equality
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to publish equality impact assessments undertaken by his Department as part of the comprehensive spending review; and if he will make a statement. [18193]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department is taking equality into account in its work around the spending review. Equality impact assessments or other information on equalities will be published where relevant to individual policies as proposals are developed.
General Practitioners: Registration
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to introduce a professional registration scheme for practitioners of traditional forms of medicine that do not require full medical training. [18652]
Anne Milton:
The Department consulted on whether, and if so how, to regulate acupuncture, herbal medicine
and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in 2009. The Government are currently considering their overall strategy on professional regulation, including whether to establish a registration scheme for practitioners of these traditional forms of medicine.
Health Services: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to help reduce health inequalities in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency. [17688]
Anne Milton: It is the responsibility of the local national health service to take practical steps to reduce health inequalities for the benefit of local residents.
The Government have made it clear that tackling health inequalities is a priority. The NHS has a critical role to play in reducing health inequalities that affect disadvantaged people, and the White Paper, 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS', published on 12 July 2010, will create an explicit NHS duty to tackling inequalities in access to NHS health care and the outcomes for that care.
Later this year we will publish a White Paper setting out further details of the new Public Health Service (PHS) and our programme for public health. Primary care trust responsibilities for local health improvement will transfer to local authorities, who will employ the Director of Public Health jointly appointed with the PHS.
Hospitals: Consultants
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS consultants have received bonuses of £35,000 or more in each of the last five years. [17893]
Mr Simon Burns: The cumulative number of consultants in receipt of an award with a cash value of £35,000 or more in the last five years is shown in the following table:
| Award year | Number of consultants |
| Notes: 1. The figures above show all consultants in receipt of an award with a full-time cash value over £35,000. Awards are paid pro rata. 2. The significant increase in 2009 is due to the cash value of bronze/level nine awards increasing above the £35,000 threshold. However, prior to the link to the national health service electronic staff record in January 2010, the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards did not hold verified data on consultants holding level nine awards funded by their employers (local employer based awards). The actual total figure for 2009 will be higher than shown. 3. The new verified level nine data are included in 2010, which explains the significant increase for that year. 4. On 20 August 2010 the Secretary of State for Health announced a United Kingdom wide review of compensation levels, incentives and the Clinical Excellence and Distinction Award Schemes for NHS consultants. The review is being led by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB). The DDRB has been asked to submit recommendations to UK Ministers by July 2011. | |
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been paid to NHS consultants in bonuses in each of the last five years. [17974]
Mr Simon Burns: The total national health service spend in England for national clinical excellence and distinction awards for the last financial years for which figures are available is shown in the following table.
| Financial year | Spend (£ million) |
| Notes: 1. The information above does not include information on local clinical excellence awards (employer based awards) which are paid by trusts. This information is not held centrally. 2. The information above does not include national clinical excellence awards that are paid from central funds to consultants holding an NHS contract and employed in the Department or arm's length bodies. 3. The reduction in expenditure in 2008-09 reflected a scrutiny exercise which identified a number of consultants who had retired without notifying the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (any excess payments in 2007-08 were to trusts only and those monies were available for patient care. No consultants received payment to which they were not entitled). 4. On 20 August 2010 the Secretary of State for Health announced a United Kingdom wide review of compensation levels, incentives and the Clinical Excellence and Distinction Award Schemes for NHS consultants. The review is being led by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration (DDRB). The DDRB has been asked to submit recommendations to UK Ministers by July 2011. | |
NHS: Complaints
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to review the adequacy of the complaints procedures in the NHS. [18698]
Mr Simon Burns: There are currently no plans to review the NHS complaints arrangements.
NHS: Freedom of Information
Dr Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which types of clinical service providers funded from the public purse are not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [17975]
Mr Simon Burns: Sections 3 to 7 and schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 set out the public authorities that are subject to its provisions.
Examples of clinical service providers that receive funds from the public purse that are not subject to the provisions of the Act would include private companies, social enterprises and charities contracted by national health service organisations to provide clinical services for NHS patients.
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 General Social Care 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. [18160]
Paul Burstow: The reforms to the General Social Care Council (GSCC) were announced in the report of the arm's length bodies review, published in July 2010. The GSCC's annual report and accounts for 2009-10 state they employ 239 staff. We do not expect any staff to transfer to the Department of Health.
Cabinet Office guidance confirms that Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE)-like provisions will apply where GSCC staff are engaged in functions which are transferring to the Health Professions Council (HPC). Discussions are ongoing between GSCC and HPC about how the TUPE-like principles will be applied to individuals. Until these details are determined, we are unable to estimate what the cost of any redundancies will be, to the public purse.
Further information will be published in the impact assessment that will accompany the publication of the Health Bill.
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 National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care; 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. [18170]
Mr Simon Burns: The National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care (NIGB) does not employ staff, and there will therefore be no redundancies or associated redundancy costs. Secretariat and other staff support for the board is currently provided by the Department.
It is anticipated that the statutory functions of the NIGB will transfer to the Care Quality Commission, and that other advice the board currently provides will in future come from within the Department, or other bodies. Staff support will continue to be provided under the new arrangements.
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 National Joint Registry Steering 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. [18171]
Mr Simon Burns: The National Joint Registry Steering Committee does not employ staff, therefore there will be no redundancies or associated redundancy costs. The Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership provides the secretariat for the committee and will continue to provide that function 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 Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18305]
Mr Simon Burns: The Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS) advises prescribers on the circumstances in which it would be reasonable to prescribe particular non-medicinal products on the national health service. Its advice mainly relates to foods such as enteral feeds and foods which are specially formulated to be suitable for use by people with given medical conditions, but also covers some non-food products such as sun blocks. ACBS advice takes the form of its "recommended list" which is published as Part XV of the Drug Tariff.
The ACBS also advises Ministers on the addition of particular non-medicinal products to Schedule 2 to the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc) Regulations 2004, the effect of which is to prohibit their prescribing by general practitioners on the NHS.
Following its reconstitution into a Departmental Committee of Experts, the ACBS will have continuing responsibility for this remit.
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 Borderline Substances; 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. [18145]
Mr Simon Burns: The Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances does not employ staff, so 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, (1) how many staff are employed by the Advisory Board on the Regulation of Homeopathic Products; 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; [18146]
(2) how many staff are employed by the Committee on the Safety of Devices; 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; [18156]
(3) how many staff are employed by the Herbal Medicines 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; [18163]
(4) how many staff are employed by the Independent Review Panel for the Classification of Borderline Products; 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; [18167]
(5) how many staff are employed by the Independent Review Panel on the Advertising of Medicines; 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. [18168]
Mr Simon Burns: There are no permanent staff associated with any of these bodies, and therefore there will be no transfers of staff to the Department necessary or costs to the public purse in relation to redundancy payments.
These bodies are all committees of scientific experts whose members attend meetings as and when required to carry out the specific function of that committee. Current terms of reference for each of these can be found on the website Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) website at:
The secretariat for these committees is supplied by the MHRA from its own staff.
Tom Blenkinsop: 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 estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of organisational changes required to implement the proposals to reform his Department's non-departmental public bodies; and whether the cost will be allocated to his Department's budget. [18199]
Mr Simon Burns: The Public Bodies Review has laid out proposals for a number of changes to public bodies, including the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority, and the Human Tissue Authority, which are the responsibility of the Department of Health. The Department is not yet able to produce robust costings of the changes arising from this re-organisation. This is because the precise costs of the transition will not be known until the operational detail of the changes is known.
The Government will shortly publish an Impact Assessment assessing the impact of the changes proposed in the Public Bodies (Reform) Bill.
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, (1) what the functions of the Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions; [18292]
(2) what the functions of the Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions; [18300]
(3) what the functions of the Independent Review Panel for the Classification of Borderline Products are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions; [18304]
(4) what the functions of the Independent Review Panel on the Advertising of Medicines are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions; [18306]
(5) what the functions of the Committee on the Safety of Devices are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18312]
Mr Simon Burns: The Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products was established in 1994 pursuant to the powers contained in section 4 of the Medicines Act 1968. Its terms of reference are:
to give advice on safety and quality in relation to any homeopathic medicinal product for human use, in respect of which a certificate of registration has been granted or applied for; and
to give advice on safety, quality and efficacy in relation to any homeopathic medicinal product for human use:
(i) for which a marketing authorisation has been granted or has been applied for, or
(ii) for which a licence of right has been granted.
This body will become a committee of scientific experts and will continue to undertake this role as an advisory committee to the Medicines and Healthcare Products regulatory Agency (MHRA). It has no permanent members of staff and the secretariat services are provided by the MHRA.
The Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee was established under the powers contained in section 4 of the Medicines Act 1968 and the Committee was formally created on 30 October 2005. The functions of the Committee are set out in the Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee Order 2005. The Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee advises on the safety, quality and efficacy, in relation to human use, of:
herbal medicinal products eligible for registration under the simplified traditional use Registration procedure established under European Directive 2004/24/EC; and
unlicensed herbal medicinal products (unless it is subject to an application for a marketing authorisation, product licence or a homoeopathic certificate of registration).
The Committee may also advise on the safety, quality and efficacy, in relation to human use, of herbal medicinal products which have a marketing authorisation, product licence or certificate of registration, or which are the subject of an application for such authorisation, licence or certificate, if Health Ministers or the licensing authority request such advice, or provide the Committee with information relating to that product.
This body will become a committee of scientific experts and will continue to undertake this role as an advisory committee to the MHRA. It has no permanent members of staff and the secretariat services are provided by the MHRA.
The role of the Independent Review Panel for the Classification of Borderline Products is:
to consider written and oral representations from companies against a provisional determination by the MHRA, on behalf of the Licensing Authority, that a product is a medicinal product; and
to advise the Licensing Authority whether or not the MHRA's provisional determination should be confirmed.
This body will become a committee of scientific experts and will continue to undertake this role as an advisory committee to the MHRA. A single committee has been appointed to undertake this role and the role of the Independent review Panel for Advertising of Medicines. It has no permanent members of staff and the secretariat services are provided by the MHRA.
The Independent Review Panel for Advertising of Medicines (IRPA) was established in 1999 as a result of a consultation in 1997 on the proposed amendments to the Advertising and Monitoring of Advertising Regulations 1994. The amendments were designed to increase the effectiveness of these regulations, a move which some saw as increasing the MHRA's regulatory powers. In response to these concerns the MHRA introduced a procedure allowing companies to make representations to an Independent Review Panel.
Where a company has requested a review, the findings of the Panel have to be taken into consideration before a final decision on a company promotion for a product can be made.
This body will become a committee of scientific experts and will continue to undertake this role as an advisory committee to the MHRA. A single committee has been appointed to undertake this role and the role of the Independent Review Panel for the Classification of Borderline Products. It has no permanent members of staff and the secretariat services are provided by the MHRA.
The functions of the Committee on the Safety of Devices are to:
take a strategic view of initiatives to make medical devices and their use safer and more effective;
offer advice on the development of device related policies;
advise on the format and targeting of the MHRA's communications with the Health Service; and
be part of the MHRA Quality Assurance System.
This body is a committee of scientific experts and will continue to undertake this role as an advisory committee to the MHRA. It has no permanent members of staff and the secretariat services are provided by the MHRA.
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 General Social Care Council are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18295]
Paul Burstow: The statutory functions of the General Social Care Council (GSCC) are those set out in the Care Standards Act 2000 and other enactments. The 2000 Act confers various functions on the GSCC, including requiring it to promote high standards of conduct and practice among social care workers in England; and high standards in their training. The GSCC must maintain and, from time to time, publish a register of social workers and visiting social workers from relevant European states. The GSCC also has the function to approve courses for persons who are or wish to become approved mental health professionals in England in accordance with rules made by it.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the GSCC's regulatory functions will be transferred to the Health Professions Council.
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 National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18317]
Mr Simon Burns: The National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care (NIGB) provides leadership and promotes consistent standards for information governance across health and social care. It considers ethical issues, the interpretation and application of the relevant law and policies, and provides advice on information governance matters at a national level.
It is anticipated that the statutory functions of the NIGB will transfer to the Care Quality Commission, and that other advice the Board currently provides will in future come from within the Department, or other bodies.
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 National Joint Registry Steering Committee are; which of these functions are to be retained; and which bodies he proposes to have responsibility for fulfilling these functions. [18318]
Mr Simon Burns: The National Joint Registry Steering Committee (NJRSC) is responsible for:
setting the National Joint Registry's (NJR) work programme and monitoring its progress.
providing advice to Ministers, orthopaedic units, hospitals and implant suppliers, where the information shows concerns about the performance of certain prostheses;
setting the cost of the levy, based on the contractual costs of running the Registry and the work programme agreed;
providing an annual report to Ministers on the performance of the NJR and, following ministerial agreement, to make publicly available;
establishing and monitoring codes of conduct for the contractor dealing with orthopaedic units within national health service trusts and independent health care providers, as well as the orthopaedic implant industry; and
facilitating, where appropriate, the use of the NJR data for research purposes.
The NJRSC's remit will remain unchanged following its reconstitution into a Departmental Committee of Experts. Once the change is enacted, the NJRSC will continue to be responsible for its remit but as a Departmental Committee of Experts.
Organs Transportation: Aviation
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent representations he has received on the use of aviation services for the transport of organs for donation; and if he will make a statement; [18349]
(2) which organisations provided aviation services for the purpose of transporting organs for transplant in the NHS in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; [18350]
(3)how much the NHS spent on aviation services for the purpose of transporting organs for transplant in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [18351]
Anne Milton: No representations on the use of aviation services for the transport of organs for donation have been received recently by the Secretary of State.
In 2008-09 and 2009-10 the organisations that have provided aviation services for the purpose of transporting organs for transplant in the national health service are:
Air Charter Scotland
Air Partner
FlyMeNow
IAS Medical
Sovereign.
When an organ becomes available for transplant it is the responsibility of the recipient hospital to arrange for the organ to be transported to them. They take the decision on whether they want to arrange the transport themselves (many hospitals already have their own transport contracts in place) or whether they would like NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to do it. If NHSBT is asked to organise the transport then the details will be passed to the West Midlands Ambulance Service for them to arrange collection and delivery of the organ between the relevant hospitals.
All payments for these services are made directly by recipient hospitals. In relation to how much the NHS spent on aviation services for the purpose of transporting organs for transplant, this information is not held centrally as payments are made directly by recipient hospitals to the aviation company providing the service.
Patient Choice Schemes
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to review the effectiveness of the operation of the Choose and Book system. [18697]
Mr Simon Burns: There are no plans to review the effectiveness of the Choose and Book system (beyond consideration as part of the re-procurement process). The Department is consulting on how to implement commitments set out in the White Paper to give patients greater choice and control. Further consideration of Choose and Book could be given in light of consultation responses.
Respiratory Diseases
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the stage at which chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is diagnosed in the UK; and what information it holds for benchmarking purposes on the stage of diagnosis in other EU member states. [18134]
Mr Simon Burns:
The information the Department holds on the stage at which chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is diagnosed was published as part of the Department's consultation on a strategy for services for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in England and is included in the consultation impact assessment. The
consultation documents have been placed in the Library and can be found on the Department's website at:
The Department does not hold information for benchmarking purposes on the stage of diagnosis in other European Union member states.
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) emergency hospital admissions and (b) inpatient bed days that could be saved by improving the rate of early diagnosis for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [18136]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department's strategy for services for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in England, which was published for consultation earlier this year, has been designed to reduce the costs and volumes of both admissions and bed days while improving patient outcomes, and has a major focus on prevention and identification. The consultation included publication of an impact assessment which included estimates of the impact of the strategy as a whole on the numbers and costs of emergency hospital admissions. No explicit estimates were made relating to in-patient bed days, or to the specific impact of improving the rate of early diagnosis of the disease. The consultation documents have already been placed in the Library, and can be found on the Department's website at:
Social Services: Learning Disability
Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 October 2010, Official Report, column 89W, on social services: learning disability, what timetable he has set for the implementation of the recommendations of the Raising Our Sights report. [18204]
Paul Burstow: A timetable has not yet been decided for implementation of the recommendations made in this report but we envisage that we should be in a position to give a formal departmental response by the end of the year.
Strokes
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of patients who suffered a transient ischaemic attack and were at high risk of stroke but were not admitted to a specialist stroke unit in the latest period for which figures are available. [18138]
Mr Simon Burns:
Evidence suggests that people at high risk of stroke after transient ischaemic attack can benefit from an 80% reduction in the likelihood of subsequent stroke if they are managed in a rapid-access high quality outpatient service, accessible seven days a week. Such a service needs to include access to carotid artery and brain imaging results within 24 hours of referral. The national stroke strategy suggests that an urgent assessment service provided by secondary care that allows same-day access for high-risk cases may best be achieved by allowing open-access for general practitioners, emergency department staff, paramedics
and other providers. The strategy also recognises that those at highest risk may justify immediate admission.
The Stroke Tier 1 Vital Sign collects information on the numbers of people at high risk of stroke who are assessed and treated within 24 hours of presenting to a health care professional with a potential transient ischaemic attack. The latest data, quarter one (April to June) of 2010-11, show that 56.2% of such patients were assessed and treated within 24 hours; this information has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
The expected position by March 2011, is that 60% should meet this standard.
The 2010 Stroke Sentinel Audit notes that fewer people with a transient ischaemic attack were in hospital in 2009-10 than in the previous audit. It also reports that a third of centres admit high-risk transient ischaemic attack patients but that, on the day of the audit, only 37% of transient ischaemic attack patients were being managed on a specialist stroke bed.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase access to psychological support in stroke units. [18203]
Mr Simon Burns: It is for primary care trusts locally to specify in their contracts the services to be provided for those in their local populations who experience a stroke.
The national stroke strategy sets out clear advice on the components of high quality stroke services and this includes the importance of psychological support across the care pathway. One of the quality statements in the recently published National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Stroke Quality Standard is that
"all patients after stroke are screened within 6 weeks of diagnosis using a validated tool, to identify mood disturbance and cognitive impairment".
The Stroke Improvement Programme (SIP) supports the national health service in the implementation of the stroke strategy. In the current year it is supporting the NHS in an Accelerating Stroke Improvement programme, which includes a focus on stroke survivors who have received psychological support for mood, behaviour or cognitive disturbance six months after stroke. SIP is developing:
a consensus statement about what psychological services for stroke should be, including a pathway for the provision of a service and information about screening tools;
a summary of the research evidence;
work force competencies in line with the Stroke Specific Education Framework, for those screening, referring or managing individuals with psychological support needs; and
a broad health economic assessment of the impact of psychological services for stroke.
Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010
Mrs Siân C. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he plans to take to inform (a) the public, (b) businesses and (c) local authorities of the provisions of the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010; [16328]
(2) what measures are in force to protect under 18-year-olds from the adverse health effects of sunbeds; [16329]
(3) when the provisions in the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 on (a) prevention of unstaffed sunbed salons and (b) provision of health information in sunbed salons will be implemented; [16330]
(4) what support and guidance will be given to local authorities to implement the provisions of the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010. [16381]
Anne Milton: The Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 comes into force on 8 April 2011.The purpose of the Act is to prevent people under the age of 18 from using sunbeds on commercial premises, by making it an offence for sunbed operators to allow people under the age of 18 access to sunbeds on their premises.
The Department is working on guidance for local authorities and sunbed businesses to assist with the implementation and enforcement of the Act.
The Act contains powers to make further regulations in relation to sunbed use. These include the power to ensure all sunbed use is supervised and the power to ensure that sunbed businesses provide prescribed health information to sunbed users. We are currently considering the regulation making powers contained in the Act. At this time, no decisions have been taken on these powers.
SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention and sun protection campaign, also provides information through its website and resources on the risks to health of sunbeds. In May 2009, the Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) published revised guidance on their website including information for sunbed businesses to provide to their customers on the risks to health of sunbed use. Both SunSmart and the HSE guidance are aimed at all age groups including those under 18 years.
Tobacco: Advertising
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that young people are not exposed to tobacco advertising and sponsorship at music festivals. [18850]
Anne Milton: The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002 (TAPA) controls the advertising and promotion of tobacco products. Tobacco products are defined in the Act as products "consisting wholly or partly of tobacco and intended to be smoked, sniffed, sucked or chewed".
Under the provisions in TAPA, tobacco products should not be advertised, apart from an A5-sized advertisement only at points of sale. Likewise, sponsorship linked to tobacco products is unlawful under TAPA. The provisions of TAPA cover music festivals.
Potential breaches of TAPA should be reported to local trading standards departments, as local authorities have enforcement responsibilities in this area.
Tobacco: Retail Trade
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the statutory regime governing the display of tobacco products in shops; when he plans to do so; and what assessment he has made of the effects of the current legislation on small business owners. [18533]
Anne Milton: The Government, in discussions across Whitehall, are developing options around the display of tobacco in shops that seek to ensure an appropriate balance between public health priorities and burdens on business.
An impact assessment showing the costs to retailers of the existing regulations, the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (Display)(England) Regulations 2010, was published as part of the Explanatory Memorandum to the regulations. This followed public consultation on earlier drafts of the impact assessment as part of the 2008 'Consultation on the future of tobacco control' and in the 2009 'Consultation on proposed tobacco control regulations for England (under the Health bill 2009)'.
Home Department
Asylum: Deportation
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers were evicted from domestic properties in Wolverhampton South West constituency before deportation from the UK in the last 12 months. [17993]
Damian Green: The Home Office does not keep records of evictions from domestic properties. However, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has contracts with various housing providers and will notify them when support is terminated for failed asylum seekers.
Between 1 October 2009 and 30 September 2010, 872 main applicants supported by the UKBA with addresses within the area of Wolverhampton South West had their support stopped following a final negative decision on their claim for asylum.
These applicants were located in accommodation provided by both local authority and private providers under contract to the UK Border Agency. 32 of these applicants have since been removed, with the remaining cases being actively pursued to removal.
All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.
Borders: Contracts
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the performance of each of her Department's contractors retained under the e-Borders programme; and if she will make a statement. [18249]
Damian Green [holding answer 19 October 2010]: There has been no recent assessment. The only company currently delivering e-Borders services to the Home Department is Raytheon Systems Limited under the exit management provisions of the e-Borders agreement that survive termination. Raytheon are continuing to deliver services, notwithstanding being terminated for material breach of contract, until such time as the Home Department can secure provision of replacement services by means of alternative contractors.
Crimes of Violence
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to implement the Government's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities set out in (a) Article 15 on freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, (b) Article 16 on freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse, (c) Article 18 on liberty of movement and nationality and (d) Article 22 on respect for privacy. [17886]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office takes the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) very seriously, recognising the commitment that Government have made to equality of rights for disabled people. The Department is currently further considering its responsibilities against the expectations of the convention (specific examples are provided as follows), and the UK report to the UN next year will describe how implementation is being achieved.
The coalition programme for Government included a specific commitment to
"promote better recording of hate crimes against disabled, homosexual and transgender people, which are frequently not centrally recorded".
In support of this commitment, and Article 16 of the UNCRPD, Home Office Ministers recently supported a proposal to extend the Annual Data Requirement (ADR)-a list of all requests made to all 43 police forces in England and Wales under the Home Secretary's statutory powers-to cover all five strands of 'monitored' hate crime including disability. It is intended these data will, subject to the technical consultation and checks on data quality, be collected from April 2011 and should be published in late 2012.
The Department is working to ensure that it enables persons with disabilities to enjoy their rights to liberty of movement, to freedom to choose their residence and to a nationality, on an equal basis with others, as set out in Article 18 of the UNCRPD, by means of its duties as specified in domestic legislation. A reservation for immigration functions was lodged when the UK ratified the convention to ensure that the convention did not inadvertently create new rights in a way that could undermine immigration control or our ability to protect public health. There is an ongoing government review to assess the continued need for this reservation.
Departmental Contracts
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contracts her Department has awarded to voluntary sector organisations in the last two years; and what the monetary value was of each such contract. [17249]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 13 October 2010]: The Home Department has not awarded any contract to voluntary sector organisations within the last two years.
Departmental Equality
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to publish equality impact assessments undertaken by her Department as part of the comprehensive spending review; and if she will make a statement. [18280]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 20 October 2010]: The Home Office has put in place measures to ensure we assess the impact of our distribution of the departmental allocation by the Treasury, for each of our policy responsibilities, through individual Equality Impact Assessment exercises. We will therefore be publishing information in stages over a period of some time, as decisions are developed and we have greater clarity on spending review implementation.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff her Department employs to consider (a) departmental and (b) national strategy; what output such staff are required to produce; and if she will make a statement. [15596]
Nick Herbert: There are central policy/strategy units in each of the four groups in the Home Office, and one with a remit across the whole Home Office. These units contribute to strategic policy and operational work across the Department, but such work is not restricted to these teams. As of the beginning of October 2010 the Crime and Policing strategy team has 10 people, the Office of Security and Counter Terrorism team has nine people, the UK Border Agency team has seven people, the Identity and Passport team has 3.5 people, and the central team has nine people. Full organograms for the Department were published on 15 October.
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) officials of her Department and (b) external advisers are working on her Department's review of terrorism legislation. [16979]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 13 September 2010]: As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced to Parliament on 13 July 2010, Official Report, columns 797-809, the review of counter-terrorism and security powers is being led by civil servants from the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism in my Department. It is being undertaken with the full involvement of the police, security and intelligence agencies, and other Government Departments including those in Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are six to seven full-time equivalent civil servants, the majority of whose time is being taken up working on the review. There are, of course, other civil servants and public servants (including in the police, security and intelligence agencies) who are contributing to the review but have not been included in the core group of civil servants working on the review.
Lord MacDonald of River Glaven is providing independent oversight.
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) officials of her Department and (b) external advisers are working on her Department's review of the US-UK Extradition Treaty. [17058]
Nick Herbert: Preparations for the review of the UK's extradition arrangements form part of the workload of two Home Office policy officials and one Home Office lawyer. The review will be conducted by a small panel of independent experts.
An announcement on who will undertake the review was made on 14 October 2011. The review will be chaired by Sir Scott Baker. He will be supported by two lawyers with expertise in extradition matters: David Perry QC and Anand Doobay.
Departmental Recruitment
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many senior civil service staff her Department recruited in each of the last three years; at what cost to the public purse that recruitment was undertaken in each such year; and if she will make a statement. [17369]
Nick Herbert: From 1 April 2008 to October 2010, the Home Office and its agencies recruited 32 senior civil servants from outside the civil service. Of these 32 appointments, 21 were from the private sector, and 11 were from the wider public sector. The remainder of the information is not readily available or held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the potential effects on police (a) staffing levels and (b) detection rates in Devon and Cornwall of expenditure reductions of (i) 10, (ii) 20 and (iii) 30 per cent. [18831]
Nick Herbert: My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, will place the Government's proposed allocations for individual forces, including Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, before Parliament in early December.
My right hon. Friend has been clear that the police service must play its part in reducing the deficit. Decisions about the number of police officers, police community support officers and other police staff engaged by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and how they are deployed within the force are a matter for the chief constable and the police authority.
DNA: Databases
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA profiles of individuals not convicted of any crime have been added to the national DNA database since 6 May 2010. [15536]
Nick Herbert: The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) obtains this information periodically, usually once per year, and to obtain it more frequently would incur disproportionate cost. The most recent figures available for England and Wales were obtained on 31 March 2010 and, therefore, the figures requested from 6 May 2010 to date are not available.
Dr Ejup Ganic
Mr Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports she received on the steps taken by Interpol between the issue of a diffusion notice relating to Dr Ejup Ganic in May 2009 and the arrest of Dr Ganic on 1 March 2010; and whether there is an outstanding red notice against Dr Ejup Ganic further to his discharge from proceedings in the UK. [16006]
Nick Herbert: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary received no reports concerning the steps taken by Interpol between the issuing of a red notice and Dr Ganic's provisional arrest, pending receipt of an extradition request, on 1 March 2010.
Interpol London can neither confirm nor deny whether the diffusion notice in respect of Dr Ganic is still extant.
Police: Finance
Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the average annual cost to a police authority of (a) recruiting a special constable, (b) reimbursing travel and expenses incurred by a special constable and (c) training a special constable. [17956]
Nick Herbert: The information requested is not held centrally.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each police force spent on (a) leisure and sporting activities and (b) promotional materials in each of the last three years. [18813]
Nick Herbert: The information requested is not held centrally.
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) civil servants and (b) external advisers are working on her Department's consultation on the use by local authorities of powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [16673]
Nick Herbert: The consultation on the use by local authorities of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 is part of a wider review. The equivalent of one full-time civil servant in the Home Office is working on the local authorities aspect, liaising closely with the Communities and Local Government Department and the Ministry of Justice as appropriate. No external adviser is involved in the work.
Surveillance
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make the unlawful use of (a) intrusive surveillance, (b) directed surveillance and (c) covert human intelligence sources a criminal offence. [18024]
Nick Herbert: We have no plans to do so. Covert surveillance and the use of covert human intelligence sources are authorised under Part II of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 ('RIPA'). Section 27 of RIPA makes it clear that activity regulated under Part II is lawful providing it is properly authorised and that the activity is conducted in accordance with the authorisation. Independent inspection and appeals mechanisms provide statutory oversight for these procedures.
The Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which investigates complaints about RIPA authorisations and conduct and has a wide range of remedies at its disposal. It may
quash any warrant or authorisation, order the destruction of relevant material, award compensation or make any other order as it sees fit.
Terrorism: Control Orders
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons imprisoned for terrorist offences have escaped from (a) control orders and (b) supervised release in each of the last five years. [15594]
Nick Herbert: In the last five years there have been no persons imprisoned for terrorist offences who have been unlawfully at large while subject to post-release supervision.
Seven individuals have absconded from control orders-two in 2006 and five in 2007. Given the national security sensitivities of these cases and the obligation to avoid publishing any information that could lead to the identification of an individual subject to an anonymity order, the information which can be provided about the individuals concerned has been given in a number of written ministerial statements.
I would refer my hon. Friend to written ministerial statements in relation to control orders published on 11 December 2006, 16 January 2007, 22 March 2007, 24 May 2007, 21 June 2007 (two statements), 17 September 2007 and 13 March 2008.
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of allocating local carbon budgets; and if he will make a statement. [18372]
Gregory Barker: Local authorities need to show strong leadership and accountability in cutting emissions from their own estates and operations and those arising within their areas, and have an important role in contributing to the UK's statutory carbon reduction targets.
We are currently exploring options for local carbon reduction and have an ongoing dialogue at all levels with the local authorities, the Local Government Group, Friends of the Earth and other interested parties to determine how to optimise the local authority contribution. We expect and will encourage local authorities to develop stretching ambitions on carbon emissions.
Circulator Pumps: Energy
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department plans to take steps to inform the public of the energy reductions and carbon savings consequent on the installation of energy efficiency circulators. [16763]
Gregory Barker:
Information on the benefits of more energy efficient circulators is available to the public through the series of Briefing Notes, BNM C01 to 05, that can be downloaded from Market Transformation Programme's website. A Guidance Note on Commission Regulation 641/2009, which specifies minimum performance
criteria for circulators, is also available from the Departmental for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Additionally, there is a significant amount of information in the public domain on the benefits of energy efficient circulators that supports the industry's A to G energy labelling scheme. We have no plans to supplement this information, particularly as Commission Regulation 641 will be in force by 2013.
Departmental Sick Leave
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many days his Department has lost to staff sickness in each year since his Department's inception; and what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of sickness absence in each such year. [18795]
Gregory Barker: DECC was created in October 2008. The Department encourages a culture where good attendance is expected and valued. However, it recognises that from time to time absences for medical reasons may be unavoidable. The Department aims to treat its staff who are ill with sympathy and fairness and where possible provide them with support which will enable them to recover their health and return to work.
In the period October 2008-March 2009 the Department lost 1,325 days to sickness at an estimated cost of £295,475.
In 2009-10 the Department lost 3,667 days to sickness at an estimated cost of £751,735.
Energy Bills
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will introduce measures to help fuel-poor and vulnerable energy consumers in meeting energy bills to come into effect when the Warm Front scheme ends. [18562]
Gregory Barker: DECC will fund a smaller, targeted Warm Front programme for the next two years with a budget of £110 million in 2011-12 and £100 million in 2012-13. From 2013, support for heating and insulation for the most vulnerable consumers will be delivered through the Green Deal for energy efficiency and a new obligation on energy companies.
In addition, from April 2011, energy suppliers will provide greater help with the financial costs of energy bills to more of the most vulnerable fuel-poor households, through Social Price Support-with total support of £250 million in 2011-12 rising to £310 million in 2014-15.
Energy Policy
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 18 October 2010, Official Report, columns 42-46WS, on energy policy, what estimate he has made of the maximum compensation payable to the Government for taking on financial risks or liabilities; and what mechanism he proposes to use to (a) define and (b) measure benefits arising from taking on such risks or liabilities. [18654]
Charles Hendry:
As the 18 October 2010 statement on "no subsidy for new nuclear power" made clear, we
are not ruling out action by the Government to take on financial risks or liabilities for which they are appropriately compensated or for which there are corresponding benefits. The Government would consider any potential measures in this area on a case-by-case basis, in line with the policy as set out in the statement.
Energy: Meters
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent progress his Department has made on plans for a national roll-out of domestic smart meters; and if he will make a statement. [18232]
Charles Hendry: The Department and Ofgem are currently consulting on a range of smart metering proposals. These are contained in the Smart Metering Implementation Programme Prospectus and a number of supporting documents published on 27 July 2010, and available at
In order to bring forward the start of roll-out and help deliver early benefits, the prospectus proposes a staged approach to implementation under which suppliers will start to install smart meters that meet the minimum requirements defined in common technical specifications ahead of a central data and communications entity being established. The prospectus also makes clear that my Department and Ofgem will look to the industry to examine the opportunities for realising more ambitious but achievable targets for the rate at which suppliers must install smart metering.
In order that further progress can be made as quickly as possible, the prospectus asked for consultation responses in two tranches, the first (including responses to questions on the staged approach to implementation) by 28 September and the second by 28 October.
Nuclear Power
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much support (a) his Department and its predecessor and (b) non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible have provided to the nuclear industry in the form of (i) full-time equivalent staff, (ii) facilities and (iii) research and development expenditures in each of the last 10 financial years; and if he will indicate in each such case which costs (A) arise from the UK's nuclear legacy and (B) are associated with possible new nuclear power stations. [17654]
Charles Hendry: The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not hold the information requested centrally and providing a breakdown of the support referred to would result in a disproportionate cost.
It is the Government's policy that there will be no public subsidy for nuclear new build. The Secretary of State made a statement to the House on 18 October setting out more detail on what this means.
Nuclear Power Stations: Insurance
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds for benchmarking purposes on the level of private insurance cover available to operators of nuclear installations in other countries. [18667]
Charles Hendry: We do not hold any specific information on the level of private insurance cover available to nuclear operators in other countries.
Renewable Energy
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he intends to classify as renewable heat pumps which fail to meet the required EU standard of coefficient of performance; and if he will make a statement. [17764]
Gregory Barker: Heat pumps that do not meet the required average seasonal performance factor, as defined in Annex VII of the use of energy from renewables sources Directive 2009/28/EC, will not count as renewable.
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of electricity generated in the UK was attributable to (a) wind power and (b) other sources in the latest period figures are available. [18270]
Charles Hendry [holding answer 19 October 2010]: July 2010 is the latest period for which figures are available. The proportion of electricity supplied by fuel type is given in the following table.
| Fuel type | Percentage net electricity supplied |
| (1) Net supply by pumped storage is negative. This has been deducted from the 'other' category so the figures sum to 100. Note: Monthly figures relate to electricity supplied by major power producers. | |
Renewable Energy: Heating
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy to proceed with the Renewable Heat Incentive only if it shows a positive net cost benefit and it passes a cost-effectiveness test. [17291]
Gregory Barker: This Government are fully committed to taking action on renewable heat; this is a crucial part of ensuring we meet our renewables targets, cutting carbon and ensuring energy security. All DECC policy proposals are subjected to a rigorous cost-benefit analysis and tested for cost-effectiveness as part of the policy making process.
The following table shows the latest estimates on the cost of abating each tonne of carbon dioxide under each of the renewable schemes:
Cost-effectiveness indicators are presented in 2009 prices. For RHI the indicator covers the period 2010 to 2045. For RO and FiTs the period covered is 2010 to 2030.
The Government are considering responses to the renewable heat incentive consultation and will set out detailed proposals on how to take forward action on renewable heat following the spending review. Further discussions of the costs, benefits and other features of the policy will be presented as part of the final impact assessment.
Wind Power
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which body is responsible for the decommissioning of wind farms at the end of their life; and what estimate he has made of the decommissioning cost per mast. [17912]
Charles Hendry: The owner of an onshore wind farm is responsible for decommissioning at the end of its life. The obligation to decommission is enforced by the relevant local planning authority in the case of onshore wind farms and the Department of Energy and Climate Change in the case of offshore wind farms.
The cost per mast of decommissioning a wind farm will vary depending on a number of factors including the size, location and physical structure of the turbine.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices: Businesses
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the number of apprenticeships offered by businesses. [18289]
Mr Hayes: Our intention is to boost the supply of genuine, high quality, employer-owned apprenticeship places, in particular at Level 3 and above which is why we have redirected £150 million in funding to create 50,000 additional apprenticeship places in 2010-11.
An advanced economy needs advanced skills, so we want to improve progression routes through apprenticeships into higher level skills and professional development. The coalition Government are committed to improving the quality of apprenticeships to make them better suited to the needs of employers and extend the opportunity they offer to more learners. Our future plans for apprenticeships will be set out in more detail in our skills strategy which we will publish this autumn.
Charity Research Support Fund
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future funding of the Charity Research Support Fund. [17992]
Mr Willetts: The Government recognise the significant contribution made by charitable funders of research. The charity support element of Quality Related research funding, provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, has recognised the public benefit arising from research funded by charities. I cannot pre-empt decisions on detailed allocations which will be made over the coming months.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will provide funding for research on the relationship between retrovirals and myalgic encephalomyelitis. [18037]
Mr Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. In keeping with the Haldane Principle, prioritisation of an individual Research Council's spending within its allocation is not a decision for Ministers. Such decisions are rightly left to those best placed to evaluate the scientific efficacy of proposed research.
The MRC is committed to supporting scientific research into all aspects of ME, including studies into the biological basis of the condition and evaluations of treatments. In 2009/10 the MRC spent £109,000 on research directly relating to ME.
Higher Education: Females
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of women studying in universities who would make repayments on student loans for 30 years or more after leaving higher education under the proposals in the Browne Review. [18188]
Mr Willetts: The Browne review proposes that student loan borrowers do not start to make repayments until their income rises above £21,000 per annum, at 9% of the excess, and with an interest rate rising to the retail prices index plus 2.2% for higher-earning graduates. It proposes that no student loan borrower makes repayments after 30 years, because any outstanding sum at that date would be written off. Based on projections of graduate earnings, and time out of the work force, we estimate that, if the Browne proposals were implemented, 75% of women leaving university with a student loan of £30,000 would benefit from such a write-off. A further 5-10% will have their balance written off during the 30 years due to death or disability. 15-20% will repay fully within the 30-year period.
Higher Education: Finance
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has made an assessment of the effects of a graduate tax on the number of people seeking to enter high-earning professions. [13348]
Mr Willetts:
The Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance, led by Lord Browne, has now delivered its recommendations to Government. We welcome this report which includes a
number of progressive proposals and which makes important recommendations about the structure and level of graduate contributions. In particular, Lord Browne makes it clear that a pure graduate tax is unworkable and is also unfair. While there is no specific assessment of the impact of a graduate tax on those seeking to enter high earning professions, the report shows that graduates would be faced by uncapped costs that could be several multiples of the cost of their degree.
Higher Education: Private Sector
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings (a) he, (b) the Minister of State for Higher Education, (c) other Ministers in his Department and (d) officials in his Department have had with (i) BPP and (ii) other private companies operating higher education institutions with degree-awarding powers since his appointment. [15410]
Mr Willetts: BPP University College of Professional Studies is the only private company conducting an institution with degree-awarding powers. The Secretary of State, the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning and I met with BPP University College of Professional Studies, as a part of a wider meeting with representatives of the higher education sector, on 12 July 2010. Officials have also had conversations with staff from BPP University College of Professional Studies as part of the normal course of business but I understand no formal meetings have taken place since the Government came to office.
Higher Education: Sunderland
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people resident in Sunderland entered university or higher education in (a) 1997 and (b) 2010. [18189]
Mr Willetts: In the 1997/98 academic year, there were 820 young (aged under 21) undergraduate entrants from Sunderland local authority to UK higher education institutions (universities and higher education colleges), excluding the Open University. In the 2008/09 academic year, the equivalent figure was 1,265.
This is the latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will become available from January 2011. Comparable local authority-level information on entrants to higher education courses at further education colleges is not available. Figures exclude the Open University due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time period specified. The Department has recently received updated parliamentary constituency data; therefore figures may not match those previously published.
Mail Services: VAT
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the number of (a) organisations which provide business mail services and (b) such organisations which supply (i) services which are exempt from value added tax and (ii) only those services which are standard rated for value added tax purposes. [18385]
Mr Davey: I understand this question to refer to postal operators in the UK.
At present there are around 51 licensed postal operators in the UK, including Royal Mail.
VAT is a matter for HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs. I am however advised that under current UK VAT legislative provisions, all postal services provided by Royal Mail, as the universal service provider, are treated as exempt, including stamped, bulk and express mail. All other postal service providers are, in principle, required to charge VAT at the standard rate. However, other postal operators who make use of Royal Mail's facilities to deliver post for the 'final mile', can take advantage of special VAT arrangements to treat this element-which accounts for a significant proportion of the onward charge to their customer-as a 'disbursement' and only charge and account for VAT on the remaining amount.
Royal Mail's exemption from VAT for postal services in the UK is currently the subject of legislative amendment as part of the Finance Bill which is progressing through Parliament. This follows a European Court of Justice decision which confirmed that Royal Mail, as the sole operator providing the universal postal service, is the only postal body in the UK eligible to exempt postal services from VAT. However, it also ruled that exemption does not apply to all Royal Mail's postal services and as such, those services which are either individually negotiated or not subject to price and regulatory control (such as Parcelforce and Mailmedia) will become liable to VAT at the standard rate. These changes are due to come into effect from 31 January 2011.
Manufacturing Industries: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to provide support for manufacturing industries in the West Midlands. [18287]
Mr Prisk: The Government are supporting the manufacturing industry, both nationally and in the West Midlands, by creating a stable business environment that will give businesses the confidence they need to plan and invest for the future. We are doing this by creating a more supportive tax environment, freeing up credit through the banking system, reducing regulation, maximising the flexibility of the labour market and focusing on training and apprenticeships. For example, we have already redirected £150 million to create up to 50,000 extra apprenticeships, which will be workplace-based and employer-led.
We are also restructuring the delivery landscape for economic development by replacing the regional development agencies (RDAs) with local enterprise partnerships which better reflect the natural economic geography of the areas that they serve. This will ensure a focussed, targeted delivery of policy/services in areas where it can have the most benefit. We believe this approach will provide the best support for manufacturing in the West Midlands by creating the conditions for local businesses to grow.
In the longer term, we are keen to ensure that we provide the right conditions in which manufacturing can grow, recognising the vital role it plays in the UK economy. To this end, later in the year we will be
launching a new approach to manufacturing that will highlight key ambitions, identify growth opportunities and set out a new framework of actions for both Government and industry.
Public Finance
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to publish equality impact assessments undertaken by his Department as part of the comprehensive spending review; and if he will make a statement. [18028]
Mr Davey [holding answer 19 October 2010]: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has been taking equality issues into account in its work towards the spending review. Information will be published as proposals are announced and developed.
The Department has also established an Equalities Impact Assessment Peer Review Group who will review the equalities impact assessments for the spending review once the granularity in terms of impact can be further incorporated.
Small Businesses: Company Accounts
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will introduce proposals to require small companies to submit audited accounts to Companies House for scrutiny. [18864]
Mr Davey: The Government have no plans to introduce proposals to require all small companies to produce audited accounts.
Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative: Financial Support
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how much matched (a) financial support and (b) non-financial support has been provided by employers in (i) City of Durham constituency and (ii) the North East to the Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative; [18282]
(2) what proportion of women participating in the Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative have achieved a qualification associated with participation (a) nationally, (b) from City of Durham constituency and (c) the North East; [18284]
(3) how many employers in City of Durham constituency have taken part in the Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative since its inception; [18285]
(4) how many employers in (a) City of Durham constituency, (b) the North East and (c) England have nominated more than one woman employee to participate in the Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative. [18283]
Mr Hayes: Information on the financial and non-financial support provided by employers for the Women and Work programme is retained for each project but is not collated at a constituency or regional level.
We estimate that around 4% of all learners that completed training nationally received a qualification through their participation in the programme. There is no breakdown at constituency or regional level.
Constituency level data is not available for the number of employers participating in the Women and Work programme. Since 2006 approximately 1,098 employers across England have participated in the programme of which 45% (495 employers) have put through more than one woman. For 241 of the employers out of the 495 total no region is specified. Based on the 254 employers for which the regional location is known there were 12 employers based in the North East of England.
Treasury
Revenue and Customs
Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs paid to external organisations for departmental services in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [18221]
Mr Gauke: The spend data held by HM Revenue and Customs does not separately identify spend on departmental services from other goods and can be disaggregated only at disproportionate cost.
Revenue and Customs: Compensation
Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued compensatory payments to people in respect of errors made by HMRC in each of the last 24 months for which figures are available; and what the monetary value was of such payments made in each such month. [18215]
Mr Gauke: Payments made under HMRC's ex gratia financial redress policy for 2008-09 and 2009-10 are published in the HMRC 2009 Annual Report and the HMRC Departmental Accounts for 2009-10. The information is reported on an annual basis and is available at:
Revenue and Customs: Complaints
Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints his Department received in respect of HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last 24 months for which figures are available. [18214]
Mr Gauke: Complaints information for 2008-09 and 2009-10 is published in the HMRC 2009 Annual Report and the HMRC Departmental Accounts for 2009-10. The information is reported on an annual basis and is available at:
Revenue and Customs: Manpower
Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff HM Revenue and Customs employed in each pay band at each grade on the latest date for which figures are available. [18218]
Mr Gauke: The number of staff employed at each pay band and grade on 30 September 2010 was as follows:
| Grade | Headcount | Full-time equivalent |
A two-year pay freeze applies to HMRC staff for grades below senior civil service (SCS) in 2011-12 and 2012-13. This affects everyone earning more than the full-time equivalent of £21,000 a year. A pay freeze is already in place for the SCS in 2010-11.
Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the future (a) structure and (b) staffing of HM Revenue and Customs; and if he will make a statement. [18219]
Mr Gauke: HMRC's future structure and staffing are dependent on implementation of its spending review settlement announced on 20 October. Further details on HMRC's spending review implementation plans will be published in due course.
Revenue and Customs: Pay
Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid in bonuses to staff of HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last three years. [18220]
Mr Gauke: HMRC operates two bonus arrangements:
performance bonuses tied to the annual performance for delegated grades and senior civil servants; and
a recognition bonus scheme for delegated grades which recognises exceptional in year performance.
| Total bonuses paid (£) | |
A two-year pay freeze applies to HMRC staff for grades below senior civil service (SCS) in 2011-12 and 2012-13. This affects everyone earning more than the full-time equivalent of £21,000 a year. As part of the freeze, the bonus pot for staff in delegated grades has been frozen as a percentage of paybill at the previous year's level. A pay freeze is already in place for the SCS in 2010-11.
Scotland
Higher Education: Finance
Ann McKechin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent (a) assessment he has made of and (b) discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the
financial implications for students resident in Scotland and studying in England of the proposal of the Browne review on higher education to raise the threshold for repayments to £21,000. [18863]
Michael Moore: Since taking office, I have had a number of discussions related to higher education with ministerial colleagues. The Browne review poses important questions which will require thorough debate and consultation, and the Government plan to publish a White Paper outlining detailed proposals in the winter.
Education
Academies
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether new academy schools will be subject to the same rules on governing bodies as schools which operate under existing legislation. [3174]
Mr Gibb: The academy governing body will be appointed by the academy trust. The process for governor elections is set out in the articles of association and agreed between the academy trust and the Secretary of State. The number of governors shall be not less than three but (unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution) shall not be subject to any maximum. Membership of the governing body however should include at least two parent governors and the principal.
Academies: Ealing
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the effect of an increase in the number of academy schools on the availability to other schools in the same areas of (a) educational psychology, (b) educational welfare, (c) behavioural support services, (d) school meals and free school meals assessment, (e) 14-to-16 practical learning options and (f) museum and library services. [9598]
Tim Loughton: Discussions are taking place with representatives of local authorities and academies to ensure that the funding available for education from 2011-12 onwards properly reflects the pressures schools will face.
Local areas are expected to decide how best to use their resources so that local priorities in terms of the needs of children and young people are met in the most coherent, efficient and cost effective way. Greater numbers of academy schools does not of itself force any reduction of education and children's services.
I should add that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education announced on 8 July 2010 the formation of a ministerial advisory group on the role of the local authority in relation to education and children's services. This group includes representatives of the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Children's Services and will provide a forum in which to explore a range of issues relating to the strategic role of local authorities and their working relationship with different types of school as the number of academies increases. The ministerial group is pursuing more detailed aspects of its work through a number of task and finish groups, one of which covers providing for vulnerable children.
Building Schools for the Future Programme
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the spending profile for the Building Schools for the Future programme is in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) each subsequent year in which the programme is operational. [12184]
Mr Gibb: Projecting the year-on-year phasing of capital grant payments can only be indicative until individual school projects reach financial close when total funding is confirmed and construction milestones (which inform grant payments to local authorities) are clearer.
The current estimate of the spending profile for the Building Schools for the Future programme is as outlined in the following table:
| £ billion | |
These figures represent capital grant only as PFI credits have already been allocated to all continuing BSF schemes. This profile is based on current estimated programme milestone dates and indicative funding levels and hence is subject to change.
Free Schools: Yorkshire and the Humber
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications in respect of his Department's proposed free schools have been received from groups in (a) Yorkshire and (b) Leeds. [12890]
Mr Gibb: As at 29 September 2010, the Department has received 18 proposals from groups in the Yorkshire region seeking to establish free schools. This includes three proposals received from groups within the Leeds local authority area.
School Leaving: Advisory Services
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what recent assessment for bench-marking purposes he has made of the adequacy of the provision of careers advice for school leavers in England compared to that in (a) the rest of the UK and (b) other EU countries; [13609]
(2) what his policy is on the provision of careers advice for those leaving compulsory education. [13610]
Mr Hayes:
The Government are currently reviewing the provision of careers guidance to young people and adults, as well as the provision of wider information, advice and guidance that helps young people to navigate the choices that they face in order to achieve success in work and life. Evidence suggests that Connexions services are not consistently providing high quality careers guidance to young people. In the most recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development comparisons of the proportion of 15 to 19-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), the UK
had the fifth highest rate of the 27 countries that supplied data. Relevant evidence from careers services both in the UK and worldwide will help to inform the future development of careers guidance services.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Departmental Operating Costs
Paul Flynn: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority if the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will bring forward proposals to reduce its running costs. [18608]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within 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 if the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will bring forward proposals to reduce its running costs. (18608)
Even before the Government brought forward its proposals for spending cuts across the public sector, our Board was clear that we should be looking to reduce costs by around 5% per annum. Sir Ian Kennedy, in evidence to the Speaker's Committee for IPSA, has said that we will take into account the Government's target of 25% over five years.
We will be bringing forward our proposals on running costs early next year. These proposals will take account of the additional functions we will be undertaking - not least, a review of MPs' pay and pensions in 2011/12.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Manpower
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority what benefits package is being offered to the new member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority's communications team. [17627]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within 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 what benefits package is being offered to the new member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority's communications team. 17627.
The benefits received by the Director of Communications are the same as those received by other IPSA staff, namely:
25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after five years' service
2.5 privilege days per year
opportunity to participate in Civil Service pension arrangements
the offer of an interest-free season ticket loan
sick pay
opportunity to participate in Benenden Healthcare.
Members: Allowances
Mr Wallace: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority if the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will consider the merits of reimbursing hon. Members for bank charges incurred as a result of delayed payment of claims by the authority; and if he will make a statement. [17341]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within 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 if we will consider the merits of reimbursing hon. Members for bank charges incurred as a result of delayed payment of claims by the Authority.
The MPs' Expenses Scheme does not allow for reimbursement of bank charges. However, if an MP unavoidably incurs a bank charge which he or she can show is a direct and exclusive result of a delay by IPSA in processing a claim, it will be considered for payment on an exceptional basis. Any such claim will be considered on its individual merits.
Cabinet Office
Employment
Mr Clappison: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of (a) UK nationals, (b) people born in the UK, (c) foreign nationals, (d) non-UK EU nationals and (e) non-EU nationals (i) aged over 16 years and (ii) of working age were in employment in the UK in the third quarter of 2010. [18844]
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 and what proportion of (a) UK nationals, (b) people born in the UK, (c) foreign nationals, (d) non-UK EU nationals and (e) non-EU nationals (i) aged over 16 years and (ii) of working age were in employment in the UK in the third quarter of 2010. (18844)
The requested information will not be available until the publication of the November 2010 Labour Market Statistical bulletin on 17 November 2010.
Unemployment: Wolverhampton
Paul Uppal: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many children were living in workless households in Wolverhampton South West constituency in (a) 2005, (b) 2007 and (c) 2010. [18005]
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 question concerning how many children were living in workless households in Wolverhampton South West constituency in (a) 2005, (b) 2007 and (c) 2010. (18005).
The figures requested come from the Annual Population Survey household datasets, for which 2010 is not yet available It is not possible to provide reliable estimates for Wolverhampton South West constituency because of small sample sizes. However, the attached table shows estimates for Wolverhampton local authority which has a larger sample size. The table provides information for 2005, 2007 and 2008, the last date for which information is available.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. This is captured in a confidence interval, defined by lower and upper bounds, such that the interval formed between the bounds would contain the true value for 95% of all possible samples.
| Children( 1 ) living in workless households( 2) in Wolverhampton local authority | |||
| Thousand | |||
| Wolverhampton local authority | Estimate | Lower bound( 3) | Upper bound( 3) |
| (1) Children refers to children under 16. (2) Households including at least one person aged 16-64. (3) 95% confidence interval which means that from all samples possible there would be 95% certainty that the true estimate would lie within the lower and upper bounds. Source: APS household dataset. | |||
Deputy Prime Minister
Departmental Rail Travel
Mr Winnick: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many times he has travelled (a) first and (b) standard class by train on official duties since 7 May 2010. [18606]
The Deputy Prime Minister: My travel is arranged in the most efficient and cost-effective way, using trains wherever possible. Such arrangements are made in accordance with the provisions for official travel set out in Chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code.
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