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2 Dec 2010 : Column 993W—continued
Armed Forces: Cadets
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of the (a) Air Cadets, (b) Sea Cadets and (c) Combined Cadet Forces there were on the latest date for which figures are available; [26856]
(2) how many members of the Combined Cadet Forces there were on the latest date for which figures are available. [26876]
Mr Robathan: Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) publish the United Kingdom Defence Statistics each year. This is available in the Library of the House and Chapter 2 contains the number of cadets connected with each service since 1997.
The following table gives information on the number of cadets in the Combined Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps at 1 April 2010 to the nearest thousand:
| Number | |
Armed Forces: Health Services
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current shortfall is in respect of each rank of reservist medical personnel; and if he will make a statement. [27574]
Nick Harvey: A breakdown of Defence Medical Services (DMS) reserve medical personnel manning levels are provided in the following tables. While shortfalls exist in some specialties the DMS continue to meet all operational requirements placed on them. Medical support to deployed operations is absolutely vital and there is no question of British forces deploying on military operations without the appropriate medical support.
The reserve forces play a vital role in both overseas operations and in the defence of the UK. Their primary role is to provide additional capability, particularly when our regular forces are operating at maximum effort. The reserve forces are an integral part of the UK's military capability for a wide variety of different types of operations.
The total number of reserve personnel required by the DMS is neither calculated nor held by rank; therefore shortfall is shown by specialty only, as at 1 June 2010.
| Defence Dental Reserves | |||
| Job/specialty | Requirement | Trained strength | Shortfall |
| Medical Support Staff Reserves | |||
| Job/specialty | Requirement | Trained Strength | Shortfall |
|
Medical Assistants/Combat Medical Technicians/ CMT Paramedics | |||
| Consultant Reserves | |||
| Job/specialty | Requirement | Trained Strength | shortfall |
Armed Forces: Injuries
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department has allocated for the treatment of seriously injured personnel in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [28234]
Nick Harvey: Funding for the treatment of wounded personnel has been, and will continue to be, made available to match clinical requirements. Expenditure attributable to those injured as a result of operations cannot be separately identified. For example, costs for the Defence Medical and Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court cover the treatment of all seen there, regardless of the reason for their injury.
The strategic defence and security review announced that the provision of health care to service personnel will be enhanced by an extra £20 million per annum in the spending review years of 2011-12 to 2014-15. This will be used to pay for additional medical staff and to deliver better mental health care facilities.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department allocated for the treatment of seriously injured personnel in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [28235]
Nick Harvey: Funding for the treatment of wounded personnel has been, and will continue to be, made available to match clinical requirements. Expenditure attributable to those seriously injured as a result of operations cannot be identified. For example, costs for the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court cover the treatment of all seen there regardless of the reason for their injury. Expenditure attributable to all those injured on operations is currently claimed back from the Treasury. In 2008-09, the amount reclaimed was £18.2 million. In 2009-10, the amount reclaimed was £20.1 million.
Armed Forces: Training
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which compulsory training schemes armed forces personnel must complete in order to be designated as fit for combat; [26307]
(2) which optional training schemes are available to armed forces personnel in advance of becoming fit for combat. [26308]
Nick Harvey: All personnel receive the appropriate training prior to deployment. This includes pre-deployment training specific to the role they are expected to undertake. The quantity and nature of this training varies between individuals and units depending on existing skill levels and the function to be filled on deployment but will build on existing military skills obtained from recruit training, trade training and ongoing development training relevant to their particular service and specialisation.
Army
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the required complement of infantry battalions is represented by their present strength. [25680]
Mr Robathan: The question has been interpreted to refer to the required number ("establishment") and the actual number ("strength") of personnel in the Infantry battalions. The figures provided are peacetime establishment numbers but it should be noted that a battalion deploying on operations will be augmented by further Infantry and specialist personnel, as required, to ensure that it has the strength required for its operational role. Such adjustments are not included in the table because of their temporary nature.
The strength figures given are for Infantry-trained officers and soldiers serving at regimental duty. They do not include Infantry-trained personnel in other posts-for instance, those serving in higher headquarters, in Ministry of Defence Centre, in Defence Equipment and Support, or in other non-Regimental posts. The strength numbers will fluctuate up and down on a daily basis as, for example, personnel move from training into the battalions or as personnel complete their service and leave.
The figures shown in the following tables contain similar variations to previous answers provided on this subject, and do not display any new or unexpected trends; the figures requested for the Infantry battalions are correct as of 1 October 2010:
| Division | Unit | Establishment | Actual strength |
| (1) 4 Scots has been re-roled from Armoured Infantry Battalion to Light Role Infantry Battalion, requiring 72 fewer posts. Establishment liability is yet to be amended. | |||
In addition to the battalions shown, there are three incremental Guards companies whose primary role is public duties but which can also be used to augment the other Guards battalions as required:
| Unit | Peacetime Establishment | Actual Strength |
It is not our policy to release corresponding data for 1(st) Battalion the Parachute Regiment.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of staff are employed in the ministerial correspondence section of his Department. [27127]
Mr Robathan: There are eight permanent members of staff working in the Ministry Of Defence's Ministerial Correspondence Unit.
European Fighter Aircraft
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the date on which the RAF Typhoon will take over responsibility for Quick Reaction Alert from the RAF Tornado. [27578]
Nick Harvey: Typhoon already undertakes Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duties at RAF Coningsby and in the Falkland Islands. On current plans Typhoon will begin to take up QRA duties at RAF Leuchars, in conjunction with Tornado F3, during December 2010 and will take over complete responsibility in April 2011 when Tornado F3 retires from service.
Ex-servicemen: Higher Education
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing support for ex-service personnel to study at university over the period of the comprehensive spending review. [26861]
Mr Robathan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for Universities and Science gave to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones) on 2 November 2010, Official Report, column 687W.
Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Government spent on contesting the civil action by nuclear test veterans at the War Pensions Tribunal. [26801]
Mr Robathan: To date the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been notified of bills totalling some £150,000 (including VAT) for work associated with defending the civil action.
This figure does not include the cost of any associated MOD staff effort.
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans who were present at UK nuclear tests in 1957 and 1958 have successfully applied under the War Pension Scheme for (a) a pension and (b) other funds. [26901]
Mr Robathan: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The War Pensions Computer System, which has recorded various statistical data relating to claims and appeals since 1995, does not have the facility to uniquely identify people who participated in nuclear tests and who have claimed a war pension or gratuity.
Compensation in the form of a War Pension is available to all former members of the armed forces who suffer disablement which is attributable to service prior to 6 April 2005 including nuclear test veterans. The causal link may be with any part of their service. There are currently some 180,000 war pensions in payment.
Football: World Cup 2010
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on entertainment activities related to the 2010 FIFA World cup. [27365]
Mr Robathan: We have identified no records of entertainment provided at public expense in relation to FIFA 2010 World cup activities. The provision of entertainment in support of sporting and other cultural activities is permitted only in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear defence benefit.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Rolls-Royce on the likely effects on the level of employment of his decision to procure the non-short take-off and vertical landing variant of the joint strike fighter. [27279]
Peter Luff [holding answer 29 November 2010]: Our decision to procure the carrier variant (CV) of the joint strike fighter (JSF) was based on improved capability and reduced through life costs. I have not had any such discussions with Rolls-Royce regarding the likely effects on the level of employment following this decision. UK industry will benefit from producing CV specific elements and Rolls-Royce will continue to benefit from orders of JSF short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant from the US Marine Corps and other international partners. I also continue to engage with the US Administration on the benefits of an alternative engine-the F136 made by Rolls-Royce and General Electric-to the JSF programme as a whole.
Military Aircraft
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Harrier and (b) Tornado force elements his Department maintains at readiness. [26877]
Nick Harvey: I am withholding this information as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability and effectiveness of the armed forces.
Military Bases
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband) has participated in a visit to a Ministry of Defence facility in each of the last five years; [26857]
(2) on how many occasions the right hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Mr Murphy) has participated in a visit to a Ministry of Defence facility in each of the last five years. [26858]
Mr Robathan: The number of visits undertaken by Members of Parliament to defence establishments is not recorded.
Nimrod Aircraft
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the effects on marine patrol aircraft capability of his decision not to bring the Nimrod MRA4 into service. [23467]
Peter Luff: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is an Executive agency of the Department for Transport and strategic discussions would take place at departmental level. I can confirm that Ministry of Defence officials have been and continue to be in discussion with officials from the Department for Transport on this and related issues.
Public Expenditure
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much additional funding he plans to allocate to the 24 hour support telephone line for veterans as part of the comprehensive spending review settlement for his Department in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15. [26295]
Paul Burstow: I have been asked to reply.
The Combat Stress veterans mental health helpline is currently being reconfigured to be a single national number with 24 hour access. This work is being undertaken by Combat Stress in partnership with the Department, and is one of the recommendations contained in the review "Fighting Fit" recently completed by my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison). A sum of £1.8 million per year has been granted to support implementation and evaluation of these initiatives during the spending review period. The cost of the 24 hour helpline, including linking it to other services in development, is yet to be determined.
Deputy Prime Minister
Alternative Vote: Referendums
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to put in place arrangements to take account of circumstances in which a local government by-election takes place on the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament and the proposed referendum on the alternative vote. [27695]
Mr Harper: Clause 4 of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill ("PVSC Bill") provides that the referendum on the voting system will be combined with the following polls which are scheduled to take place on 5 May:
Elections to the Welsh Assembly
Elections to the Scottish Parliament
Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly
Local elections in England
Local elections in Northern Ireland
Mayoral elections (in four local authorities in England (Bedford, Middlesbrough, Mansfield and Torbay))
Parish elections in England
In addition, we are aware that it is likely that there will be some local mayoral referendums in England on 5 May which will be run on the same boundaries as the referendum on the voting system and local elections. We have included provisions in the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill to allow for these polls to also be combined with the referendum.
Any other unscheduled polls, for example a local government by-election in Scotland, can still take place on 5 May but would not be combined with any of the aforementioned polls. In effect, this would mean that separate polling stations would be required for the poll and that some other elements such as notices and forms would not be combined. Since such polls will be run on separate boundaries this will avoid practical difficulties for electoral administrators.
Interim Electoral Management Board for Scotland
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the merits of establishing the Interim Electoral Management Board for Scotland on a statutory basis. [27694]
Mr Harper: The Scottish Government introduced the Local Electoral Administration (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament on 7 October 2010. The Bill includes provisions to allow for the Electoral Management Board to be established in statute as an independent body, comprising representatives of Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers. Its convenor will have a statutory power of direction over Returning Officers who are in charge of Scottish local government elections about the exercise of their functions in relation to these elections, and over Electoral Registration Officers about the exercise of their functions in relation to a particular local government election.
The Government introduced the Scotland Bill in Parliament on 30 November. The Bill includes provisions to devolve responsibility for the administration of the Scottish Parliament elections to the Scottish Government in accordance with the recommendations of the Calman Commission. It will be then for the Scottish Government to decide whether they wish to put the Interim Electoral Management Board on a statutory basis for those elections.
For European parliamentary elections a Regional Returning Officer (RRO) is appointed. The RRO has a power of direction over the local Returning Officers in his or her region. There are no plans at this stage to bring forward legislation to put the Interim Management Board for Scotland on a statutory basis in respect of UK parliamentary or European elections. However, we will keep the position under review.
Returning Officers
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements his Department plans to put in place to co-ordinate the work of (a) returning officers and (b) chief returning officers for elections in (i) 2011 and (ii) subsequent years. [27690]
Mr Harper: Returning Officers are statutorily independent in the performance of their functions. The Electoral Commission has issued performance standards for Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers in Great Britain. In Northern Ireland, elections are delivered by the Chief Electoral Officer. In Scotland, the Interim Electoral Management Board provides co-ordination and planning for elections.
Under the proposals in the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, statutory elections which are scheduled to take place on 5 May 2011 will be combined with the referendum on the voting system.
The Electoral Commission has established and chairs a Steering Group to co-ordinate and monitor the planning and delivery of the referendum on further powers for the National Assembly for Wales, the referendum on the voting system and the elections which are set to take place in the spring of 2011.
The Steering Group includes the Chief Counting Officer for both referendums, and the 12 senior Returning Officers, including the Convenor of the Electoral Management Board in Scotland and the Chief Electoral Officer in Northern Ireland and, in the case of the March referendum in Wales, the Deputy Chief Counting Officer, who will be appointed as Regional Counting Officers for the referendum on the voting system. Officials from the Cabinet Office, the Scotland Office, Wales Office, and Northern Ireland Office, Welsh Assembly Government and representatives from the Association of Electoral Administrators are represented on the Steering Group.
The Group has met every month since September 2010 and will continue to meet monthly until after the May 2011 elections and referendum. We will work with the Electoral Commission and members of the Steering Group to review and agree the co-ordination arrangements which need to be put in place for subsequent years.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research
Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of expenditure from the public purse on biomedical research relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis in each of the last 10 years. [28078]
Mr Willetts: The Medical Research Council is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The selection of projects for funding by MRC is determined through peer review.
"Biomedical" is not a category the MRC would normally use to classify research in its portfolio. In the last 10 years, MRC expenditure on research relating to CFS/ME was as follows:
| £ | |
Projects included within these figures are as follows:
Professor R K Morriss, university of Liverpool-Exploratory RCT of training general practitioners to manage patients with persistent medically unexplained symptoms (MUS).
Professor P White, Queen Mary College, London-The PACE trial; A RCT of CBT, graded exercise, adaptive pacing and usual medical care for the chronic fatigue syndrome.
Dr A Wearden, university of Manchester-Randomised controlled trial of nurse-led self-help treatment for primary care patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Dr K Bhui, Queen Mary College, London-Chronic Fatigue and Ethnicity.
Professor F H Creed, university of Manchester-The feasibility of a population-based study of CFS, IBS and CWP.
Dr C Clark, Queen Mary College, London-General and specific risk markers and preventive factors for chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndromes.
Further information about most of these projects can be found on the MRC's online research portfolio at:
Higher Education: Vocational Guidance
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department plans to take to improve careers advice for students (a) choosing higher education courses and (b) during higher education courses. [27968]
Mr Hayes: The Coalition Government are committed to improving the quality of careers advice for students making decisions about education and training. We will establish an all-age careers service in England from April 2012. Careers advisers in the service will have access to clear information about higher education courses and sources of funding. We are also working with the Careers Profession Alliance to ensure that careers advisers have the up to date knowledge and skills they need to advise on career prospects, including for STEM subjects-science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Schools will be under a legal duty to secure independent, impartial licensed careers guidance for their students, either from the all-age careers service or from the open market. Higher Education Institutions will continue to provide careers guidance for their students through in-house arrangements. But we will encourage use of the all-age service, and that its quality standards should be widely applied.
Improving information for prospective students is also a key part of our future plans for higher education. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is consulting on proposals that higher education institutions should publish, from September 2012, a standard set of 16 key information items, for each course, on their websites. The information is based on what research shows that students want: information about costs, previous student satisfaction, employment outcomes and number of contact hours.
New Businesses: Advisory Services
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve access to advice for new businesses. [27289]
Mr Prisk: The Government are taking measures to modernise how support, information and advice is provided to businesses, as set out in the White Paper "Local Growth-realising every place's potential" which was published on 28 October. The new business improvement landscape will deliver a streamlined, more efficient system of providing information and guidance alongside the private sector, to people in both new and established businesses. It will include:
An improved national website supported by a national contact centre, to provide information and advice.
A highly connected network of 'growth hubs' designed to accelerate business growth.
A national mentoring network to improve access to mentoring provision for both mentors and those looking for mentoring support, as announced on 15 November.
A streamlined portfolio of business improvement products to focus Government funding on where it can best improve economic growth, to be launched by my Department by April 2011.
In addition, my officials are working with the Department for Work and Pensions, which will be providing help locally to unemployed people who want to start a business through the new enterprise allowance which will enable people to retain an equivalent sum to the jobseeker's allowance for a period whilst they start up and also provide them with access to a mentor and small loan if they require capital to start.
I also will be working towards removing any qualification barriers that prevent small firms from accessing Government contracts.
New Businesses: Bradford
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future of his Department's provision of support for business start-ups in the Bradford area. [27290]
Mr Prisk: The Department is establishing Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) as set out in the White Paper "Local Growth-realising every place's potential". In Bradford this will be covered by a new LEP for the Leeds city region. This will involve local business and civic leaders working together to drive economic growth and create new jobs in their communities.
The new LEP for the Leeds city region will be able to draw on the resources available at a national level which will deliver a streamlined, more efficient system of providing information and guidance alongside the private sector, to people in both new and established businesses. This will include:
An improved national website supported by a national contact centre, to provide information and advice.
A highly connected network of 'growth hubs' designed to accelerate business growth.
A national mentoring network to improve access to mentoring provision for both mentors and those looking for mentoring support, as announced on 15 November.
A streamlined portfolio of business improvement products to focus Government funding on where it can best improve economic growth, to be launched by my Department by April 2011.
In addition, my officials are working with the Department for Work who will be providing help locally to unemployed people who want to start a business through the new enterprise allowance which will enable people to retain an equivalent sum to the jobseeker's allowance for a period while they start up and also provide them with access to a mentor and small loan if they require capital to start.
Regional Development Agencies: Assets
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the monetary value of the Regional Development Agency assets he expects to be managed by (a) his Department and (b) the Department of Communities and Local Government under the proposals in paragraph 2.44 of the Local Growth White Paper. [28172]
Mr Prisk: This Department and the Department for Communities and Local Government are working closely together to finalise the arrangements for the management of RDA assets and liabilities between the two Departments. The monetary value of the assets managed by each Department cannot be assessed until this division of assets and liabilities has been completed.
Royal Mail
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Communication Workers Union on the future of Royal Mail. [28330]
Mr Davey: BIS Ministers and officials have held several meetings with representatives of the CWU to discuss the Government's policy on Royal Mail and the provisions in the Postal Services Bill. The meetings were as follows:
| Date | |
A further meeting between the CWU and myself has been arranged for 16 December 2010.
SG First Minister
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2010, Official Report, column 888W, on the Scottish Government First Minister, how many (a) civil servants, (b) special advisers and (c) press officers accompanied him to the meeting on 1 June 2010; which (i) Ministers in the Scottish Government, (ii) other Members of the Scottish Parliament, (iii) Scottish Government officials and (iv) political advisers attended the meeting; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the meeting attributable to his Department. [26916]
Mr Davey: Other attendees were Tavish Scott MSP, along with a senior economist from the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the Scottish Government, and the Secretary of State and Scottish Government First Minister's private secretaries. It is not possible to isolate the costs of this meeting from the rest of the visit.
Student Loans Company: Correspondence
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a response to his faxed letter of 9 November 2010 to the chief executive of the Student Loans Company regarding a constituent; and for what reasons no acknowledgement was sent. [27944]
Mr Davey: The hon. Gentleman's office was contacted 30 November 2010. They have been advised that the customer was contacted last week with a resolution to her complaint. A response to the MP's letter has been prepared and was issued on 30 November 2010 by Ed Lester.
Since 22 November 2010 all chief executive correspondence parliamentary or otherwise, is acknowledged on the date of receipt. The letter from David Winnick's office was received prior to this change in process.
Students: Fees and Charges
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to take steps following the implementation of the proposed increase in tuition fees to ensure that students have sufficient access to debt management advice after graduation. [27112]
Mr Willetts: Repayment of student loans is income contingent, and graduates will not need to make any repayments until their income is above £21,000. If their loan is not repaid after 30 years, the remaining balance will be written off.
While studying, students have access to the National Association of Student Money Advisers (NASMA) whose aim is to ensure that students have access to accurate and current information about how to manage their finances and avoid unnecessary debt. We have no plans to introduce specific debt management advice for graduates.
Sunday Trading
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the possible effects on (a) parental involvement in children's education and (b) parent-child contact time of easing or removing restrictions on Sunday trading; and if he will make a statement. [28004]
Mr Davey: The Government have no plans to change Sunday trading laws and have no plans to conduct research of the type suggested.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) faith groups, (b) business leaders and (c) others on Sunday trading; and if he will make a statement. [28015]
Mr Davey: I have had no discussions with either faith groups or business leaders on Sunday trading hours.
This Department has received a small amount of correspondence on this issue since the Election, both for and against relaxation of the law.
Teachers: Training
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of teacher training colleges on specialist training of teachers in online teaching strategies. [21905]
Mr Gibb: I have been asked to reply.
I have had no such discussions, but I am aware that the Online Learning Task Force established by HEFCE is due to make recommendations soon about the development of excellence in online education. On receipt of these I will be able to consider what implications there might be for teacher training.
Health
Ambulance Services: East Midlands
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many East Midlands Ambulance Service emergency journeys were made to (a) Doncaster Royal Infirmary and (b) hospitals in Sheffield in each of the last five years. [27998]
Paul Burstow: The information requested is not held centrally. This information may be available directly from East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
Atos Healthcare
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2010, Official Report, column 170W, on Atos Healthcare, what the reasons are for the difference between the figure recorded as paid to Atos in 2009-10 provided in the answer and that provided to Kable in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [27732]
Paul Burstow: Atos Origin is a large international company with several different business arms. The figures recorded in the answer of 8 November 2010, Official Report, column 170W, relate to payments since 1 July 2008, for the provision to the Department by Atos Healthcare, a separate trading arm of Atos Origin, of occupational health services. The figures contained in the freedom of information reply relate to payments made between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010 to Atos Consulting Ltd and Atos Origin IT Services UK Ltd for work on behalf of NHS Connecting for Health, a part of the Department's informatics directorate.
Bassetlaw Hospital: Post-mortems
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many post mortems were carried out at Bassetlaw hospital in each of the last five years. [27997]
Anne Milton: This information is not collected centrally. This information may be available directly from Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust.
Blood: Donors
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that the supply of donated blood is free from pathogens; and if he will make a statement; [26934]
(2) whether his Department plans to develop a strategy to reduce risk posed by known and unknown pathogens to the security of the UK blood supply. [26942]
Anne Milton: The UK blood services must comply with the Blood Safety and Quality Regulation (2005), as amended. The principal measure to protect patients against transfusion-transmitted infections is the careful selection of blood donors, supplemented by specific testing for transfusion-transmitted infections.
There are well established systems in place within the UK blood services to identify, assess and respond to threats to the UK blood supply posed by known and emerging pathogens that may be transmitted by transfusion. The independent expert Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) and the National Expert Panel on New and Emerging Infections (NEPNEI) also monitor developments nationally and internationally, and provide advice to the Department and to the blood services.
A number of safety measures are in place to reduce the risk of transmission of Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) as there is no specific test available for screening of donors. These include lifetime deferral from donation by people who have been advised they may be at increased risk from vCJD and by those previously transfused; leucodepletion of all donated blood; the use of non-UK plasma for production of plasma products such as clotting factors; and importation of fresh frozen plasma for treatment of children under 16.
Clostridium: Death
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) deaths from and (b) cases of (i) clostridium difficile and (ii) MRSA there have been in each region in each of the last three years. [26595]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) deaths from and (b) cases of (i) Clostridium difficile and (ii) MRSA there have been in each region in each of the last three years. (26595)
Table 1 attached provides (a) the number of deaths where (i) Clostridium difficile ( C. difficile) and (ii) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor, in each government office region in England, for the years 2007 to 2009 (the latest year available).
It should be noted that these figures include all deaths where C. difficile or MRSA was mentioned on the death certificate, either as an underlying cause or contributory factor. Those who die with
C. difficile or MRSA are usually patients who are already very ill, and it is their existing illness which is often designated as the underlying cause of death.
The number of deaths involving MRSA and C. difficile registered in England and Wales each year by sex and age are published annually on the National Statistics website:
MRSA:
C. difficile:
Figures for C. difficile and MRSA infections are published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). Table 2 attached provides (b) the number of (i) C. difficile infections in people aged 2 years and over and (ii) MRSA bloodstream infections in acute NHS trusts by government office region in England for the last three financial years 2007/08 to 2009/10 (the latest year available).
The HPA publishes regular reports about antimicrobial surveillance, healthcare associated infections and their consequences for human health in the UK, these are available on the HPA website:
| Table 1. Number of deaths where methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)( 1) and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)( 2) was mentioned on the death certificate, government office regions in England , 2007- 09( 3)( ,)( 4) | ||||||
| Deaths (persons) | ||||||
| MRSA | C. difficile | |||||
| Government office region | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| (1) Identified using the methodology described in Office for National Statistics: Statistical Bulletin: Deaths involving MRSA: England and Wales, 2009. Available at: www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/mrsa0810.pdf (2) Identified using the methodology described in Office for National Statistics: Statistical Bulletin: Deaths involving Clostridium difficile: England and Wales, 2009. Available at: www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/cdif0810.pdf (3) Based on boundaries as of 2010. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. | ||||||
| Table 2. Number of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)( 1) bloodstream infections and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)( 2) infections in acute NHS trusts by government office region in England, 2007-09( 3,4) | ||||||
| Infections | ||||||
| MRSA | C . difficile | |||||
| Government office region | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| (1 )Figures for the number of infections are provided by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). Infections are identified using the methodology described in the HPA report: Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance: 2009/10. Available at: www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1281954479045 (2) The number of Clostridium difficile infections is given for people aged two years and over. (3) Based on HPA regions which are equivalent to Government office regions. (4) Figures are for infections in each financial year. | ||||||
General Practitioners
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he proposes to place an obligation on the proposed GP consortiums to deliver an integrated continence service. [28079]
Paul Burstow: The White Paper "Liberating the NHS" set out our proposals to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortiums of general practitioner (GP) practices.
GP consortiums will have responsibilities for commissioning a comprehensive range of services that meets the needs of their local populations.
We propose that GP consortia will be responsible for commissioning the great majority of national health service services. We will expect consortiums to involve relevant health and social care professionals from all sectors in helping design care pathways or care packages that achieve more integrated delivery of care, higher quality, and more efficient use of NHS resources. This will create an effective dialogue across all health, and where appropriate, social care, professionals.
Influenza: Young People
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect on young children of influenza vaccinations. [27820]
Anne Milton: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) reviews all relevant evidence on seasonal influenza vaccines, and all other vaccines used in the United Kingdom, in order to ensure its advice is based on current scientific and medical evidence. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) monitors reports on the safety of all medicines, including vaccines, through its Yellow Card Reporting system.
The Health Protection Agency is conducting a comprehensive assessment of the impact, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the UK's influenza vaccination programme and possible extensions to it, including the routine vaccination of all children. This assessment was requested in February 2010 by the JCVI and the Department. The study is expected to complete during 2011 and will then be considered by JCVI.
The Department commissioned a Health Technology Assessment in August 2009 to compare the immunogenicity of the two H1N1 swine influenza vaccines, and any local or systemic symptoms after vaccination, in children aged six months to 12 years. Early data from this study informed JCVI advice on the H1N1 swine influenza vaccination programme. The study was conducted through the National Institute for Health Research Evaluation Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC) and the report has been published at:
The report has been placed in the Library.
In the current seasonal influenza vaccination programme, vaccination is recommended for children aged six months and older with certain medical conditions that put them at increased risk of complications from influenza.
Marijuana
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of marijuana on the body's immune functions. [27821]
Anne Milton: The National Addiction Centre at King's College London produced, on behalf of the Department, 'Dangerousness of Drugs' (2003) which looked at the health harms of drugs and concluded that the effect of cannabis on the immune system was not known. The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse is in the process of commissioning an update of this document.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs looked at the evidence of harms caused by cannabis use in a number of reports since 2002. These have not identified effects on the immune system.
Maternity Services
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the implementation of (a) Maternity Matters, (b) the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, (c) the recommendations of the Prime Minister's Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery and (d) Midwifery 2020. [27730]
Anne Milton: "Maternity Matters, Choice, access and continuity of care in a safe service-and the National Service Framework (NSF) for children, young people and maternity services" set out the previous Administration's commitment to improve heath services for women and their children. We set out our long-term vision for the future of the national health service in the White Paper, "Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS". By focusing on health outcomes and developing provider maternity networks, bringing together all the maternity services a mother may need, we will deliver high quality maternity services where women are able to make safe, informed choices a reality throughout pregnancy, birth and postnatally. "Maternity Matters" and the "NSF" have helped the NHS to lay the foundations for some of this work.
In October, we published a consultation document, "Liberating the NHS: Greater choice and control. A consultation on proposals", seeking views on a range of choice issues, including which maternity choices users would like to see in place and which of these are most important. The consultation closes on 14 January 2011 and we encourage anyone with an interest in maternity services to respond.
Ministers and policy officials are considering the recommendations of "Front Line Care: Report by the Prime Minister's Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England" which was published in March 2010 in the light of the new Government's plans. A response will be issued in due course.
Ministers welcomed the vision of midwifery services and key messages laid out in the final report of the Midwifery 2020 programme "Midwifery 2020: Delivering expectations" published in September 2010. Decisions about implementation of Midwifery 2020 are a matter for local decision-makers.
Mental Health Services
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what mechanisms are in place to ensure that secure private mental health hospitals treating NHS patients refer or discharge patients as soon as they are ready to be moved to a different institution or discharged; and if he will make a statement; [27800]
(2) what mechanisms are in place to ensure that mental health patients in NHS hospitals are discharged back into the community as soon as they are ready; and if he will make a statement; [27801]
(3) what the Government's policy is on discharging mental health patients from high security institutions; and if he will make a statement. [27802]
Paul Burstow: It is for clinicians to decide whether in-patients are fit to be discharged from hospital. It is for commissioners of the national health service, whether provided by NHS or independent providers, to put in place arrangements to ensure that patients with mental health problems do not remain in a hospital longer than is appropriate.
Patients should be treated in conditions of security appropriate to the particular circumstances of their case. If they no longer require treatment in conditions of a particular level of security, their treatment should be moved to a more appropriate location as soon as the arrangements necessary for their continued treatment can be made.
National Nomenclature Review Panel
Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who established the National Nomenclature Review Panel; when it was established; who the (a) members are and (b) chair is of that panel; what timetable has been set for the outcomes of the work of that panel; to whom that panel will report; and whether its report will be published. [27740]
Anne Milton: There is no National Nomenclature Review Panel. Some work is being carried out by NHS North West and NHS South West to create a common offer to ease navigation of the urgent and emergency care system for patients. The objective is to identify an evidence-based classification for safe levels of urgent and emergency care. The analysis is clinically guided by Sir John Oldham and Professor Matthew Cooke, National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care. This work is not about standardising the services offered locally; rather it is to standardise the definitions of these services to help commissioners and create clarity for patients.
NHS Walk-in Centres: Closures
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS walk-in centres closed in (a) Manchester, (b) Salford, (c) Greater Manchester, (d) the North West and (e) England in the last six months. [27948]
Paul Burstow: Decisions about the provision of walk-in services in primary care are an individual decision local primary care trusts (PCTs) and routine information on the provision of such services in the national health service is not monitored by the Department. However, we are aware of only one general practitioner-led walk in centre that has been decommissioned recently, in Stockport, although we are aware that a number of other PCTs may be carrying out service reviews that could result in service reconfigurations.
NHS: Redundancy Pay
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the largest single severance package agreed by hospital trusts in Leicester was in the last five years; and on what grounds it was agreed. [28090]
Anne Milton: The Department started collecting severance payment information during the 2008-09 financial year so cannot go back five years. The largest single severance package agreed by hospital trusts in Leicester since then was in 2009 for £25,000 at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. It was agreed on grounds of good value for money.
Prescription Drugs: Imports
Mr Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which bodies are responsible for enforcing legal requirements in respect of the importation of prescription drugs; and whether he plans to review legislation in this area. [25827]
Anne Milton: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) an executive agency of the Department, regulates medicines for human use in the United Kingdom through the Medicines Act 1968 and other supporting regulations.
Offences under medicines legislation are criminal. The MHRA has powers to take action against manufacturers, which includes the activity of import from a third country (non European economic area member state) and distributors that fail to meet the provisions of medicines legislation and appropriate standards. The MHRA will take regulatory action where breaches are identified. This may take the form of revoking licences or the instigation of criminal proceedings and bring a criminal prosecution if and when necessary.
The MHRA completed its last review of the licensing arrangements for pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesale distributors of medicines for human use in October 2005.
A further review of the supply chain of medicines of human use in the UK is currently being conducted. This further review will take account of the outcome of the European Commission's own proposal for preventing counterfeit medicines entering the supply chain.
If the prescription medicine for importation is also a controlled drug, importers also require a licence from the Home Office, under misuse of drugs legislation.
Southern Cross Healthcare
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with Southern Cross Healthcare on continuing provision for residents of that company's care homes. [27985]
Paul Burstow: The responsibility for providing or arranging publicly supported residential accommodation under section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948 rests with councils with adult social services (CASSRs), not the Department.
Any discussions regarding continuing provision for residents of care homes should take place between care providers and CASSRs.
Wheelchairs
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the adequacy of availability of electric wheelchairs to disabled people. [27966]
Paul Burstow: The provision of wheelchair services is currently the responsibility of primary care trusts. They allocate wheelchairs to individuals, including electric wheelchairs, on the basis of locally developed eligibility criteria which consider individuals' needs and local resources.
We recognise that current wheelchair provision is not as good as it could be. That is why the Department is currently exploring how to improve the commissioning approach so that it facilitates the provision of efficient, comprehensive and responsive wheelchair and seating services focussed on the health, social and lifestyle needs of the service user.
The work is being developed in partnership with the national health service, third sector organisations, service users and other key stakeholders. Two pilot sites in the South West and East of England are currently gathering information and views on the best commissioning model for wheelchair services and exploring opportunities for improved procurement and delivery in the services.
Timber
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the compliance of (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's criteria for sourcing sustainable timber. [27844]
Paul Burstow: Neither the Department, its agencies nor its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) have made a specific assessment of compliance with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's criteria for sourcing sustainable timber.
However, the Department and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have conducted assessments of compliance with the Government's timber procurement policy and no instances of non-compliance were identified. The Department has not assessed the compliance of its NDPBs with this policy.
Wycombe Hospital
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the running costs of Wycombe hospital was paid to the private finance initiative (PFI) provider in each year from 2000 to 2009; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of running costs that will be paid to the PFI provider in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011. [27814]
Paul Burstow: Information is not available in the format requested. Information is collected by trust, not by individual hospital. Wycombe hospital is part of Buckinghamshire Healthcare National Health Service Trust, which has two private finance initiative (PFI) schemes: one covering the rationalisation of acute services at Wycombe hospital and Amersham hospital that opened in October 2000, and one covering the partial redevelopment of Stoke Mandeville hospital that opened in April 2006.
Data for the proportion of total operating expenses by Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in respect of its PFI schemes are set out in the following table.
Data are not held centrally for 2010-11 or 2011-12.
Cabinet Office
BBC
John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2010, Official Report, column 138W, on the BBC, whether (a) he, (b) civil servants and (c) Cabinet Office special advisers have had meetings with the director-general of the BBC since 1 August 2010. [27041]
Mr Maude: Details of Cabinet Office Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis. Information for the period 13 May to 31 July can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website at:
Information for 1 August to 30 September will be published shortly.
No Cabinet Office special advisers have had meetings with the director-general of the BBC.
Records of civil servants' meetings are not held centrally.
Charities: Student Unions
Conor Burns: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) whether any student unions were not registered as charities in the latest period for which figures are available; [28184]
(2) which students' unions are registered as charities. [28185]
Mr Hurd: This is a matter for the Charity Commission. I have, therefore, asked the chief executive of the Commission to reply.
Letter from Sam Young, dated 30 November 2010:
As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Questions on whether any students' unions were not registered as charities in the latest period for which figures are available, and which students' unions are registered as charities.
As you may know, the Charities Act 2006 aimed to ensure that all organisations with charitable status are subject to the same accountability requirements. This entails some changes to the way that "exempt charities" will be regulated. Exempt charities for which no suitable principal regulator can be identified will lose their exempt status and become excepted. This means they will fall fully within the supervision of the Charity Commission, but initially only those charities with an annual income of over £100,000 will have to register. Students' unions which are capable of being charitable fall within this category.
This part of the Charities Act 2006 came into force on 1 June 2010. There is a large volume of work involved for all concerned and we recognise that it is not practical for all the charities affected to register immediately. We have worked with the National Union of Students to produce a model governing document for students' unions, which helps to simplify and streamline the registration process.
In answer to your first question on whether any students' unions were not registered as charities in the latest period for which figures are available, I should be clear that we have not refused any applications for charitable registrations from students' unions. However there will be some unions which are not required to register with us, and others which are not yet ready to apply.
In answer to your second question on which students' unions are registered as charities, since 1 June 2010 we have registered 24 students' unions, as follows:
Students' union of Bath Spa University
Students' union of Brighton University
Students' union of Cambridge University
Students' union of Cardiff University
Students' union of De Montfort University
Students' union of Exeter University
Students' union of Huddersfield University
Students' union of University of Kent
Students' union of University of Keele
Students' union of King's College London
Students' union of Lancaster University
Students' union of Leeds University
Students' union of Leicester University
Students' union of Lincoln University
Students' union of Liverpool Guild of Students
Students' union of Newcastle University
Students' union of Northumbria, University of
Students' union of University of Nottingham
Students' union of University of Portsmouth
Students' union of Salford University
Students' union of University of Teesside
Students' union of Warwick University
Students' union of Wolverhampton University
Students' union of York St John University
As of today's date, we have also received applications from 11 further unions, as follows, which we are currently assessing and processing:
Students' union of Coventry University
Students' union of Hull University
Students' union of Leeds Met University
Students' union of Liverpool University
Students' union of Middlesex University
Students' union of Oxford University
Students' union of Roehampton University
Students' union of University of Essex
Students' union of University of Bristol
Students' union of Trinity St. Davids Co
Students' union of University of West London
We are anticipating no more than 120 registration applications from students' unions. We are satisfied that good progress is being made in implementing this part of the Charities Act 2006.
I hope this is helpful.
Electronic Government
Tony Baldry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the average cost per transaction of transacting public registration services (a) manually and (b) online. [26279]
Mr Maude: Although we do not hold average figures for Government, research by PricewaterhouseCoopers-commissioned by Martha Lane Fox, UK Digital Champion and published in the Economic Case for Digital Inclusion in October 2009-suggests average costs per transaction of £10.53 for face-to-face, £3.39 for telephone, £12.10 for post and £0.08p online.
Employment
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of the working population of (a) North Tyneside, (b) the North East, (c) England, (d) London and (e) the South East is employed in the (i) public and (ii) private sector. [27634]
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 November 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of the working population of (a) North Tyneside, (b) the North East, (c) England, (d) London and (e) the South East is employed in the (i) public and (ii) private sector (027634).
The Office for National Statistics' (ONS) preferred source of statistics for public sector employment is the Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (QPSES) and external sources, however, figures from this source are not available for local authority and parliamentary constituencies.
Alternatively public sector employment statistics for local areas can be calculated from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Individuals in the APS are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the survey. Consequently, the classification of an individual's sector may differ from how they would be classified in QPSES statistics. Therefore the estimates for the North East, England, London and the South East are not consistent with those published in the Public Sector Employment Statistical Bulletin, but are consistent with the estimates for North Tyneside.
Table 1 shows the levels and proportions of the resident population employed in the private and public sector in (a) North Tyneside, (b) the North East, (c) England, (d) London and (e) the South East. Data has been provided for the most recent APS period, April 2009 to March 2010.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
| Table 1: Levels and proportions of the resident population of England, North East, North Tyneside local authority, North Tyneside parliamentary constituency, London and the South East employed in (i) public and (ii) private sector | ||||
| April 2009 to March 2010 | ||||
| Level (thousand) | Proportion (percentage) | |||
| Public | Private | Public | Private | |
| Note: Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV-for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey | ||||
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