| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
7 Dec 2010 : Column 161W—continued
Departmental Conferences
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken since his appointment to reduce expenditure on conferences from budgets within his responsibility. [28367]
Chris Grayling: The Department revised its internal policies and guidance in July 2010 with the clear intention of reducing costs. The use of an external venue for any business meeting, including conferences, should now be exceptional and requires the advance approval of a member of the senior civil service.
Compared to the same period last year, spend for the period April to October 2010 reduced by approximately 66%.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from which local authorities he has received representations on the mobility element of disability living allowance since June 2010; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence with each such local authority. [26251]
Maria Miller: A search of the available data in the Department's ministerial correspondence system has not identified any correspondence addressed to Ministers from local authorities on the mobility element of disability living allowance during the period specified.
An official at Dudley metropolitan borough council has written to officials at the Department for Work and Pensions on this issue.
Employment and Support Allowance: Scotland
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how long on average it has taken for an appeal against refusal of a claim for employment and support allowance to be heard in Scotland since the inception of that allowance. [28344]
Maria Miller: For appeals heard relating to employment and support allowance claims in Scotland, the average time from the Department of Work and Pensions decision to the hearing with the Tribunals Service is around six months.
There is some uncertainty around these timings, as for any given cohort of employment and support allowance claims there will be a number of uncleared cases in the
system. The average time from the Department of Work and Pensions decision to the Tribunals Service hearing may therefore change as more appeals are processed.
Employment: Disability
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department plans to extend autism awareness training to all disability employment advisers working in Jobcentre Plus centres. [29326]
Maria Miller: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about plans to extend autism awareness training to all disability employment advisers working in Jobcentre Plus centres. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
All Jobcentre Plus advisers receive training to enable them to support disabled people. As part of their training advisers are introduced to Employment and Health Condition Guide notes including background information on a number of conditions, including autism. These guide notes include the implications for work related interviews and employment, the identification of job goals and work solutions and how to use questioning techniques in order to best support autistic customers' job search and return to work. Disability Employment Advisers receive further levels of skills training appropriate to their customers, including skills practice in interviewing an autistic person, to reinforce learning points.
Jobcentre Plus maintains contact with stakeholders and welcomes feedback that helps to improve the quality of the service it offers. Jobcentre Plus maintains regular contact with the National Autistic Society (NAS) who have provided a range of information including contact centre scripts and adviser training details. Jobcentre Plus also chairs a Hidden Impairments National Group with representatives from organisations supporting customers including those with autism. Representatives from both NAS and Autism Plus are members of this group. This group are in the process of developing "e-cards", quickly and easily accessible, intranet based information. The "e-cards" will be available to all Jobcentre Plus staff via the intranet and will contain examples of the difficulties customers with hidden impairments may have in their daily lives as a consequence of their particular condition. These "e-cards" will outline the most appropriate reasonable adjustments Jobcentre Plus advisers can make for customers with hidden impairments and enable our staff to support these customers so that they can more easily access appropriate services.
Last year Jobcentre Plus engaged with two autism telephone tutorials held by the Employers Forum on Disability at which Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers actively participated. Events such as these help to develop an even greater understanding of autism and the issues related to employment.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date the call for evidence on specialist disability employment support will close. [29327]
Maria Miller: The call for evidence for the review of specialist disability employment support will close on 28 February 2011.
Equality: Disability
Margaret Curran:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the oral answer of 18 October 2010, Official Report, column 618, on
equality (disabled people), when he expects to publish the equality impact assessment in respect of the effects of the Comprehensive Spending Review on disabled people. [29215]
Maria Miller: Throughout the spending review process, HM Treasury has looked closely at the impact that decisions may have on different groups in society-and published an 'Overview of the Equalities Impacts of the Spending Review' on 20 October alongside the spending review announcements.
We also now have a full summary of the changes which affect disabled people on the Department for Work and Pension's website at:
Within the Department for Work and Pensions, all Budget and spending review measures will be equality impact assessed. Where the detail of policies is still being developed we will publish equality impact assessments at the most appropriate time, for example alongside the Welfare Reform Bill. Some policies, such as changes to the disability living allowance assessment, will be subject to consultation and, therefore, the equality impact assessment will be published at a later date, when policies are finalised. The equality impacts of Budget changes have been published where detail of the policy has been finalised, and can be found on this Department's website at:
Health and Safety Executive
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effects of his proposed changes to the Health and Safety Executive on (a) workplace, (b) emergency worker and (c) firefighter safety; and what recent discussions on firefighter safety he has had with Ministerial colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government. [28547]
Chris Grayling: I am currently considering the proposals of HSE for delivering a renewed and effective health and safety regulatory service in the light of the challenges of reduced Government funding, in line with most other parts of the public sector, and also the recommendations made by Lord Young of Graffham in his report 'Common Sense, Common Safety', which the Government have accepted. At their heart will be the principle that those workplaces presenting low risks and good standards of compliance with health and safety laws should receive less inspection from the regulators. We will look to widen cost recovery in relation to businesses with a level of risk justifying a higher level of regulatory intervention or where material fault is found and enforcement action is necessary. We now have the opportunity to both reduce bureaucracy for business and put the emphasis back on addressing real risks and preventing death, injury and diseases to those at work and those affected by work-related activities.
With regard to the police and fire services the Government have accepted Lord Young's recommendations. The Health and Safety Executive is consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service regarding guidance for regulators on the application of the Health
and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to ensure that it is consistent with, and reflects the principles, already agreed with the two services, as set out in HSE's high level statements 'Striking the balance between operational and health and safety duties in the Police Service' and 'Striking the balance between operational and health and safety duties in the Fire and Rescue Service'.
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effects of his proposed changes to the Health and Safety Executive on standards in recording of (a) injuries and (b) fatalities in the work place. [28548]
Chris Grayling: The Health and Safety Executive will conduct a formal consultation on any proposals to amend the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), that place a duty on employers and others to report work related injuries to health and safety enforcing authorities. An impact assessment that will consider the costs and benefits of any proposed change will accompany any proposals.
Housing Benefit
Miss Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made an estimate of the number of households in Scotland which will be affected by the proposed capping of household benefits from 2013. [27178]
Chris Grayling: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow East (Margaret Curran) on 13 October 2010, Official Report, columns 345-46W.
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of his Department's budget he plans to allocate to (a) pensioners, (b) physically and mentally disabled people and (c) carers for assistance with housing in each year of the Spending Review period following the implementation of his proposals for spending reductions in respect of housing benefit; and if he will make a statement. [27228]
Steve Webb: Decisions on who is awarded discretionary housing payments are for local authorities.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Department of Health has (a) produced and (b) contributed to the production of an assessment of the likely effects on the health of vulnerable groups of the implementation of the Government's proposed housing benefit changes; and if he will make a statement. [28198]
Steve Webb: The Department for Health has been involved in assessing the impact of the changes we are making to housing benefit from April 2011 and has contributed to the impact assessment that we published on 30 November 2010. The assessment is available on the Department for Work and Pensions website:
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to announce his proposals for reform of housing benefit payments to pensioners. [28208]
Steve Webb: The Welfare Reform Bill, which we plan to introduce in early 2011, will include detail of the provision for housing support for pensioners.
Innovation
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what structures his Department has established to encourage innovation among its staff. [29214]
Chris Grayling: The Department has established The DWP Lean Project and Innovation Team to encourage innovation among its staff.
Through the DWP Lean Project, which began in 2006, we are using lean tools and techniques in order to capture ideas from our frontline staff, to bring about innovative improvements in the way we work and manage our business.
More recently, BIS has been looking at how to make the public sector more innovative and as such have sponsored The key programme which is being delivered by DWP to develop a set of on-line innovation tools. These tools are being developed for use across the public sector to build innovation capability, in the interests of gaining efficiency savings, reducing duplication, stimulating the wider economy and encouraging innovation through competition and innovative procurement. The three component tools being developed are:
'Idea Street' to capture staff ideas
Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)-an automated pre-commercial procurement tool to provide more flexibility in developing innovation
'SPARK'-a collaborative showcase platform and central public sector repository of innovative projects and products.
Within DWP we are taking a 'crowdsourcing' approach to encourage innovation amongst the Depts. staff. This involves using the 'Ideas Street' platform to set innovation challenges and engage with frontline staff to generate ideas around the challenges they face. The 'Idea Street' allows the 'crowd' to comment, develop and vote on the ideas. This process results in only the good ideas with support and approval ratings being put before a panel of experts who determine whether to develop a business case for approval by the change committee. A number of challenges are already in place for example:
JCP Paper Reduction programme
LEAN team
PDCS "Are We Spending Wisely?" initiative
Corporate IT cost reductions
This is intended to increase the breadth of challenges across the Department.
Jobcentre Plus: Buildings
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost per square metre is of jobcentre premises rented by (a) Trillium and (b) his Department. [28868]
Chris Grayling [holding answer 6 December 2010]: The (national) average cost per square metre for Jobcentre Plus premises is £373.29, which includes rent, business rates and other components that make up the unitary charge paid by the Department to Telereal Trillium for the provision of fully fitted and serviced accommodation. The average for London is £483.48.
Jobcentre Plus: Disability
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training disability employment advisers are required to undertake as a condition of their role in Jobcentre Plus; and who provides that training. [27727]
Maria Miller: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what disability employment advisers are required to undertake as a condition of their role in Jobcentre Plus; and who provides that training. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to Darra Singh as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. As Darra Singh is currently unavailable, I am replying in his absence.
Disability Employment Advisers (DEA) are responsible for providing support to customers who, due to their disability or health condition, may need additional help in finding and retaining work and supporting development. This is a specialist role.
In terms of training, the DEA initially completes 96 hours of induction and foundation learning which provides an introduction to their working environment, generic knowledge of customer service, diversity and equality policies and an introduction to accessing information via the DWP intranet.
This would be followed by 205 hours of learning specific to the Personal Adviser (PA) job role consisting of Adviser Skills learning, with a core series of Adviser Skills workshops and periods of supported workplace consolidation, to enable the advisers to effectively interview customers, diagnose their needs, identify challenges to work and solutions to support customers. The workshops provide advisers with other knowledge and procedural learning to complement their skills such as identifying local labour market information and job search skills.
Following the standard PA learning programme the DEA will go on to complete an additional 59 hours of specialist learning to support customers with severe health conditions.
This DEA learning has been designed by the Jobcentre Plus Learning Division with input from specialist DWP Work Psychologists. In addition, for specific elements of the learning there has been liaison with external organisations such as Mencap, to help advisers understand the needs of customers with mental health issues. Trainers delivering DEA learning materials in addition to being skilled learning professionals will have also attended events with DWP Work Psychologists to ensure that they are fully able to deliver this specialised learning.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus disability employment advisers there are (a) in Bristol, (b) in the South West and (c) nationally. [27728]
Maria Miller: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many Jobcentre Plus disability employment advisers there are in a) Bristol; b) in the South West; and c) nationally. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to Darra Singh as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. As Darra Singh is currently not available, I am replying in his absence.
The information in the following table is set out in full time equivalents. This is the latest published data as at June 2010.
| Numbers of disability employment advisers | |
This data is drawn from an internal Departmental system used to monitor staff deployment trends.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households at risk of repossession as a result of changes to mortgage interest support provided by his Department; and if he will estimate the cost to local authorities arising from such repossessions. [28062]
Steve Webb: The Department does not capture information on reasons for ending a benefit claim, including support for mortgage interest, so does not capture the number of claimants who no longer receive support for mortgage interest payments because they have been repossessed.
The Department is in the process of developing a model to estimate the impact of changes to support for mortgage interest on the number of repossessions. However any estimates will always be limited since detailed case-by-case information, such as arrears at the start of a claim, is not collected by the Department. Furthermore, the relationship between arrears and continued home ownership is a complex one dependant on more than the level of Support for Mortgage Interest payable. The Department will consider whether the results can be used publicly once this is work is complete.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders has told the Department that it expects lenders to continue to exercise forbearance where it is fair to do so for the borrower, and the borrower has a chance of paying off any arrears in the future. The Council of Mortgage Lenders thinks that where arrears levels increase for some borrowers as a result of the change in the standard interest rate this does not translate into an immediate possession risk.
Information on the cost to local authorities arising from repossessions is not available.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms will be in place to assist those receiving mortgage interest support who (a) are receiving less than 70 per cent. of their mortgage interest costs and (b) have not been able to enter into a forbearance agreement with their mortgage lender under his Department's proposals. [28196]
Steve Webb: The Council of Mortgage Lenders has told the Department that it expects lenders to continue to exercise forbearance where it is fair to do so for the borrower, and the borrower has a chance of paying off any arrears in the future. The Council of Mortgage Lenders thinks that where arrears levels increase for some borrowers as a result of the change in the standard interest rate this does not translate into an immediate possession risk.
Under the Pre-Action Protocol, lenders must prove they have considered all other options before trying to repossess a property. For example, they may agree to
change or lengthen the term of the loan; accept reduced payments in the short term or add the debt to the amount borrowed.
Customers facing repossession who cannot meet their mortgage payments may be able to use the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.
The Government are continuing to explore with mortgage lenders the scope for them to "freeze" benefit claimants' mortgage accounts and apply a standard interest rate for a fixed period.
Poverty: Children
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children he expects to be living in poverty in each of the next five years. [24214]
Maria Miller: The Government have not forecast how many children they expect to be in poverty each year. Child poverty is dependent on a number of factors which are difficult to reliably predict. However, we have published analysis to show that the measures that can be robustly assessed from the spending review and June Budget will not lead to a measurable increase in child poverty over the next two years. Furthermore, the Government expect the impact of universal credit to lift 350,000 children out of poverty by 2018.
The Government remain committed to their goal of ending child poverty by 2020.
Remploy: Clydebank
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the outcomes of the review of Remploy on the operation of the Remploy frontline textiles facility in Clydebank. [28125]
Maria Miller: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas) on 26 October 2010, Official Report, column 195W.
Social Security Benefits
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans there are for staff of (a) HM Revenue and Customs administering tax credits and (b) local government staff administering housing benefit after the implementation of the proposed universal credit; and if he will make a statement. [26259]
Steve Webb: Over time, the financial support currently delivered by HMRC and local authorities through tax credits and housing benefit will be replaced by universal credit. This process will not be completed until universal credit is fully in place, around four years after implementation begins in 2013. The extent of the changes and efficiencies will depend on the eventual design of universal credit and its delivery.
I am working closely with my the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Gauke) to ensure a smooth transition to universal credit for both DWP and HMRC. My Department is also working with representatives from the local authority associations on the implications of universal credit for local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households which are entitled to (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit are also entitled to tax credits. [26261]
Steve Webb: Information on housing benefit and council tax recipients who are also entitled to tax credits is not available.
The Department does collect information on income from tax credits on the housing benefit/council tax benefit data source (Single Housing Benefit Extract)
but to assess the completeness of recording and quality assure the figures would incur disproportionate cost.
Estimates of the size of the entitled population for housing benefit and council tax benefit can be obtained from the National Statistics series 'Income Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-Up'. The most recent results refer to 2008-09 which were published in June 2010, and are shown in the following table. Estimates of those who are entitled but not receiving are based on the Family Resources Survey and are presented as ranges to account for the inherent uncertainty in survey data.
| Thousand | ||||||
| Entitled non-recipients | Entitled population | |||||
| Recipients | Lower | Upper | Lower | Upper | ||
| Source: Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up 2008-09. | ||||||
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the likely change in levels of benefit take-up following the introduction of the universal credit in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15. [26642]
Steve Webb: We expect universal credit to improve take-up in two ways. First, universal credit will be much simpler than the existing arrangements, so it will be easier for people to understand whether they have an entitlement. Secondly, universal credit replaces support that is currently provided through a number of different benefits and tax credits. Under the current system people need to claim separately for these different benefits whereas in universal credit this support will be available through a single claim.
Departmental estimates suggest that once universal credit has been fully implemented over 80% of people will take-up their full entitlement to universal credit, which translates to over 90% of overall potential universal credit expenditure.
This is a significant improvement on take-up under the current system:
| Benefit/Tax Credit | Caseload take-up rate |
|
Income support and income-related employment and support allowance | |
After the introduction of universal credit there will be a number of years of transition as existing cases migrate to the new system. The information requested could not be estimated for this transition period without incurring a disproportionate cost.
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the household benefit cap to be implemented in 2013 is to apply to households in temporary accommodation. [29026]
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether households in temporary accommodation and in receipt of local housing allowance will be affected by the proposed upper limit on benefit entitlement. [25093]
Steve Webb: The current assumption is that the upper limit on benefit entitlement will apply to all housing benefit recipients, including those in non-mainstream accommodation such as temporary accommodation.
Welfare State: Public Expenditure
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the amount of public expenditure allocated to welfare in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014. [27324]
Chris Grayling: The Office for Budget Responsibility published benefit forecasts on 29 November.
The information is available in table 1.4 at
Detailed benefit expenditure tables are in preparation and will be published in due course at:
Winter Fuel Payments
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects winter fuel payments to be made in respect of winter 2010-11. [28620]
Steve Webb: In respect of winter 2010-11, the despatch of winter fuel payments began on 8 November 2010 and will continue until June 2011. Customers who are not in receipt of a benefit and who do not, therefore, automatically qualify for a winter fuel payment, have until 30 March 2011 to make their claim. This means that we will not be able to provide exact numbers until the end of June 2011.
However, most payments, including those for customers who automatically qualify, will be made by the end of December 2010. Approximately 11 million payments have been issued to date.
For winter 2009-10 12.8 million payments were made and 99.9% of customers who automatically qualify for a winter fuel payment, received their payments by 31 December 2009.
Health
Compulsory Redundancy: NHS
19. Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely effect on the number of posts and compulsory redundancies in the NHS of the outcomes of the spending review. [28716]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government have fulfilled their commitment to give the NHS a real-terms increase in funding each year. However, the NHS must make up to £20 billion of efficiency savings by 2014, through reducing bureaucracy and working differently. Every penny saved will be reinvested to support better outcomes for patients, with NHS trusts and foundation trusts making decisions regarding their own staff, based on the services needed locally and informed by sound clinical advice and patient choice.
NHS Funding
20. Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the NHS Confederation on the effects on NHS services of reductions in local government funding. [28717]
Mr Lansley: I have regular discussions with key national stakeholders, including the NHS Confederation, at which a full range of topics are discussed.
NHS Reorganisation
21. Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Royal College of General Practitioners on his proposals for reorganisation of the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [28718]
Mr Lansley: I have regular discussions with key national organisations, including the Royal College of General Practitioners, relating to the Government's long-term vision for the NHS.
Community Contract Tendering
22. Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the operation of the tendering process for NHS community contracts; and if he will make a statement. [28719]
Mr Simon Burns: The tendering of community services is a matter for local commissioners.
We have published clear guidance to primary care trusts which they are required to follow when using procurement to improve services for patients.
Newark Hospital
23. Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future provision of services at Newark hospital. [28720]
Mr Simon Burns: This is a matter for the local NHS. This Government believe decisions about changes to health services must be led locally by clinicians and patients, not decided by managers behind closed doors or centrally imposed by politicians.
Elective Surgery
24. Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely average waiting time for elective surgery as at 31 March 2011. [28721]
Mr Simon Burns: The national health service needs to deliver the best care for patients-the right treatment at the right time in the right place.
Clinical priority will remain the main determinant of when patients should be treated.
Dementia
25 .Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what priority is given to the allocation of funding from his Department's research budget for research which may lead to improvements in the detection and treatment of dementia. [28722]
Paul Burstow: Dementia devastates the lives of thousands of people in this country. The coalition's programme for government specifically noted our intention to prioritise dementia research-recognising the key role of research in developing improved detection and treatment options. The recent spending review confirmed that the Department of Health will increase spending on health research in real terms.
Aortic Aneurysm: Screening
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been screened for abnormal aortic aneurysms in each NHS hospital since 2000. [28163]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not hold this data centrally. However, since the phased introduction of the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme in 2009, 37,227 men have been screened to date. Full national roll out of the screening programme is expected to be completed by the end of 2012-13.
The following table shows the number of men screened in programmes that are currently offering screening to men aged 65 for AAA:
| Current provider | Total subjects |
| Source: Data provided by the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme | |
Blood: Hepatitis
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham of 2 November 2010, Official Report, column 761W, on contaminated blood products: compensation, on what date he plans to report the outcome of the review of payments for hepatitis C infection. [28820]
Anne Milton: We expect the review to be completed before Christmas 2010, but a date for announcing the outcome of the review is yet to be agreed.
Dental Services
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment the Secretary of State has made of the adequacy of provision of dentistry services on the NHS. [28578]
Mr Simon Burns: Primary care trusts are currently responsible for commissioning sufficient primary care dentistry to meet local demand. Under the proposals set out in the White Paper "Equity and Excellence Liberating the NHS", the NHS Commissioning Board would, subject to the outcome of consultation and parliamentary approval, take on responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry and, if locally required, increasing those services to meet demand.
The latest statistics on access to national health service dentistry show that in the 24 months up to 30 September 2010, 28.7 million individuals saw an NHS dentist (55.8% of the population), an increase of 242,000 since May 2010. The GP Patient survey for April-June 2010 found that 93% of people who tried to make an appointment with an NHS dentist in the previous two years said they had been successful.
Departmental Conferences
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken since his appointment to reduce expenditure on conferences from budgets within his responsibility. [28358]
Mr Simon Burns: The Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced a package of departmental measures in May that are designed to deliver efficiency savings of some £6 billion in the current financial year. These measures include a freeze on communications, marketing and advertising, the definition of which includes expenditure on conferences.
In response to the introduction of these measures the Department of Health has implemented a range of controls which includes the establishment of a 'Communications Control Panel' which scrutinises business cases from within the Department and its arm's length bodies. Beyond delegated limits, Cabinet Office approval has to be sought.
For this financial year we are forecasting a reduction of £90 million in expenditure on communications, advertising and marketing of which conferences form part.
Departmental Management Consultants
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on management consultancy in respect of the (a) cancer pathways and (b) world class commissioning programme. [29155]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not directly funded management consultancy in respect of the cancer pathways. The National Cancer Action Team and NHS Improvement are taking forward projects relating to national cancer pathways, and this work may include the use of management consultants where appropriate. Information relating to such expenditure is not held centrally.
During financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10 the Department spent £10,243,701.51 (including VAT) on management consultancy in respect of world class commissioning. The current Government are not continuing with this programme.
Departmental Overtime
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on overtime for staff working within his private office in each of the last five years. [28563]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested would be available only at disproportionate cost.
Since 2008 an allowance has been paid to junior private office staff in lieu of overtime payments. The number of staff in the Secretary of State's private office has varied over that time and has not been recorded centrally. However it is currently lower than in recent years. Since August 2010 this information has been recorded centrally. Currently nine junior staff receive a total of £58,519 per annum as a private office allowance.
Departmental Publications
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on printing (a) Command Papers, (b) papers laid before Parliament by Act, (c) consultation documents and (d) other papers in each of the last 10 years. [28379]
Mr Simon Burns: The requested information is not held centrally and could be identified only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Written Questions
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the number of questions to his Department tabled in the (a) House of Commons and (b) House of Lords that remained unanswered after 10 working days as a result of observation of guidance on the timing of answers to similar questions tabled to more than one Department in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [28496]
Mr Simon Burns: Guidance to Departments states that they should not delay preparing an answer to a parliamentary question until 'round robin' advice is provided and should not miss the targets for similar reasons. We do not record details of the reasons for delays in answering particular questions but from the start of this session until 19 November we have answered 98% of named day questions on the date specified, 95% of Commons ordinary questions within five sitting days and 90% of Lords written questions within 10 working days.
NHS Commissioning Board
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 November 2010, Official Report, column 765W, on commissioning of National Specialised Services, by what process he plans to determine which specialised services he will ask the NHS Commissioning Board to commission; what criteria relating to those services he plans to use in making his decisions; and whether he plans to undertake consultation to inform his decisions. [28613]
Mr Simon Burns: Issues around the identification of services which the National Health Service Commissioning Board will commission will be taken forward as part of the detailed design work for the board.
Savernake Hospital: PFI
Claire Perry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the total running costs for
Savernake hospital was paid to the private finance initiative provider in each year from 2005 to 2009; and what percentage of the total running costs are expected to be paid to the private finance initiative provider in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011. [28314]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. However, data for net operating expenses for Wiltshire primary care trust (PCT) in respect of its private finance initiative (PFI) scheme for Savernake hospital is set out in the following table.
Data is not held centrally for 2010-11 or 2011-12.
| Wiltshire PCT: Proportion of total net operating costs relating to PFI | |
| Percentage of total revenue expenditure relating to PFI | |
| Notes: 1. The percentages provided represent the net operating expenses in respect of PFI schemes as a proportion of total net operating costs. 2. 2005-06 to 2008-09 figures compiled under UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. 3. 2009-10 figures were compiled under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) under which PFI costs in the audited summarisation schedules of trusts are split between capital repayments and revenue expenditure elements, which does not make a precise like for like comparison with earlier years in this table possible. However, an estimate of the PFI unitary payment for 2009-10 is held centrally by the Department as well as the audited outturn for the net operating costs for the PCT for this year; an estimated percentage figure for this year has therefore been calculated using these two figures. Source: Audited summarisation schedules of the PCT for 2005-06 to 2009-10. | |
South London Healthcare NHS Trust: Manpower
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department holds information on the proportion of staff employed by South London Healthcare NHS Trust who are (a) non-medical staff, (b) administrators, (c) managers and (d) senior managers. [28446]
Mr Simon Burns: Information is not collected in the format requested.
The following table provides the numbers of national health service staff employed in the South London Healthcare NHS Trust by main staff groups as at 30 September 2009.
Southern Cross Healthcare
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with Southern Cross Healthcare on the continuation of contracts with local authorities for the provision of care for residents. [28688]
Paul Burstow: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 2 December 2010, Official Report, column 1014W.
Stem Cells: Research
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department has provided for stem cell research projects since 2009; and if he will make a statement. [29165]
Mr Simon Burns: The latest available figures are for the financial year 2009-10.
Total spend on stem cell research in the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Units and Biomedical Research Centres in financial year 2009-10 was £2,745,516.
Communities and Local Government
Audit Commission: Redundancy Pay
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2010, Official Report, column 654W, on redundancy: Audit Commission, what the cost to the public purse was of each payment to the Director of Communications and Public Reporting of the Audit Commission on his departure from post on grounds of redundancy; how many other directors have left on similar terms in the last three years; and at what cost. [29357]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 7 December 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question outlined above has been passed to me to reply.
My response to your earlier Parliamentary Question (Answer of 3 December 2010, Official Report, column 1055W) explained that the Audit Commission's former Managing Director for Communications and Public Reporting received a redundancy payment of £10,178.54 gross, plus eight weeks payment in lieu of notice of £20,357.08 gross.
The cost to the public purse was therefore £10,178.54, plus £20,357.08
There were no other costs to the public purse in relation to this.
No other Directors have left the Commission in similar terms in the last three years.
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department and its predecessors spent on press cuttings services in each year since 1997. [28156]
Robert Neill: The Department does not retain spend data relating to press cuttings services for the full period in question.
The Department's accounting system records the following expenditure data for the last two complete financial years and expenditure to date in 2010-11 by the Communication Directorate:
| Organisation | 2008 -09 | 2009 -10 | ( 1) 2010-11 |
| (1) Spend to date | |||
For information related to spend on press cuttings services in 2005-2008, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my right hon. Friend the right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt) on 29 October 2008, Official Report, 1138W.
In September 2010 the regional cuttings service was cancelled and the national cuttings service moved to an electronic only format with a limited list of recipients. Neither DCLG Ministers nor officials in the Department now receive hard copy press cuttings. Ministers have taken the view that an excessive and unnecessary amount of taxpayers' money was being spent on press cuttings.
The Department estimates that the cancellation of the regional cuttings service and streamlining of the national cuttings service will save approximately £16,000 and £19,000 respectively in the remainder of this financial year.
Departmental Travel
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on grey fleet in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [28840]
Robert Neill: The information is as follows:
| Annual cost (£)( 1) | |
| (1 )Annual cost includes mileage expense in passenger and luggage allowance | |
EU Grants and Loans
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the delivery of the North East England 2007-2013 European Regional Development Fund Competitiveness programme after March 2011. [29081]
Robert Neill: I have worked closely with my colleagues on the future delivery of economic development and the European Regional Development Fund. My Department is the Managing Authority for English European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programmes and is therefore responsible for the delivery of the North East ERDF programme after 2011. My officials have been holding ongoing discussions with their colleagues in the Department for Business Innovation and Skills about the arrangements for transferring the intermediate body functions from the Regional Development Agencies.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department is to receive all outstanding funds from the current European Regional Development Fund. [29265]
Robert Neill: Yes, we expect to receive and spend all the funds that have been allocated to England from the European Regional Development Fund during the current 2007-13 programming period.
Fire Services
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 8 November 2010, Official Report, column 2WS, on the fire and rescue service, which disruptions to fire and rescue services would trigger a business continuity plan; and what estimate he has made of the average cost to (a) metropolitan, (b) combined and (c) shire fire authorities of developing and implementing such a plan. [28543]
Robert Neill: Fire and rescue authorities, as Category 1 responders under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, have a statutory duty to have business continuity management plans in place for emergencies. A range of disruptions could result in fire and rescue authorities triggering business continuity plans. In their recent report, 'Business Continuity in the Fire and Rescue Service', the Audit Commission identified a number of possible causes of disruption including extreme weather, industrial action, a flu pandemic, information communications technology failures, power cuts and fires.
I have made no estimate of the average cost of making business continuity arrangements to fire and rescue services.
Homelessness: Milton Keynes
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the number of people who are homeless in Milton Keynes. [28641]
Grant Shapps: Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly PIE returns. Summary information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the CLG website:
Data collected include the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available and this information is also collected.
Information is also collected on rough sleeping. Since 1998, only councils in areas with a known, or suspected, rough sleeping problem were required to conduct an official rough sleeper count-which meant that only 70 councils submitted information to central Government. Figures published in July 2010 showed that under this previous method, on any given night there were 440 rough sleepers in England. However,
when the remaining 256 councils provided estimates of the scale of the problem in their areas, this added a further estimated 807 rough sleepers-taking the national total to 1,247 rough sleepers on any given night.
Under new guidance all councils across England will now provide information on rough sleeping. This move follows consultation with homelessness charities and councils and is aimed at getting a clearer picture of the scale of the problem in each area so more targeted support can be provided to some of the most vulnerable in society.
Rough sleeping figures are published by the Department on the CLG website:
Housing: Construction
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect of the High Court ruling on regional housing targets on his Department's instruction to councils that they should no longer take account of such targets when considering individual planning applications. [28302]
Greg Clark: I am placing in the Library a copy of the advice that we have published on my Department's website on the status of the Chief Planner's letter to local authorities.
Housing: Insulation
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 27 July 2010, Official Report, column 888W, on insulation: housing, what monitoring he plans to undertake to assess whether his expectation that home insulation measures will continue to play a central role under the Government's new Green Deal programme is met. [28663]
Charles Hendry: I have been asked to reply.
Through the Energy Bill, we will seek the powers to enable us to require regular reporting on the measures, including insulation, delivered under the Green Deal and a new Energy Company Obligation.
Listed Buildings: Theatres
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to protect listed theatre buildings from unscrupulous developers. [28827]
Robert Neill: The protection of listed buildings, including theatres, is a matter for local planning authorities. The Theatres Trust is consulted on any applications for planning permission affecting a theatre.
A listed building may not be demolished, or altered in a way that would affect its special architectural or historic interest, without the consent of the local planning authority. Failure to obtain consent is an offence carrying a maximum penalty of six months'
imprisonment or a £20,000 fine, or both, on summary conviction, or of two years' imprisonment or an unlimited fine, or both, on conviction on indictment.
Local planning authorities may also issue a listed building enforcement notice if any works that require consent are being or have been undertaken without consent. The notice may require the restoration of the building, mitigation of the effects of the works or compliance with any listed building consent that may be in force. Failure to comply with a listed building enforcement notice is an offence carrying a maximum penalty of a £20,000 fine on summary conviction, or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment. The local planning authority also has the power to take the steps required by the enforcement notice if it has not been complied with in the time allowed and to recover their expenses from the owner.
Local authorities have powers to serve a repairs notice on an owner who fails to take reasonable steps to preserve a listed building. If the notice is not complied with, compulsory purchase powers are available to enable the authority to secure the building's preservation.
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an estimate of the gross domestic product that would be generated as a result of the activity of local enterprise partnerships. [28783]
Robert Neill: The recent Local Growth: realising every place's potential White Paper explained that local enterprise partnerships are one of several policies that we are promoting in terms of a new approach to local growth. It states that the Government will judge its overarching economic policy on whether it delivers strong, sustainable and balanced growth of income and employment over the long-term.
Individual partnerships will be directly accountable to their local communities as to how they achieve their local economies priorities. Therefore, the Government will not be estimating the amount of additional gross domestic product that would be generated as a result of the creation of local enterprise partnerships.
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for collaboration between local authorities and businesses within different local enterprise partnerships. [28784]
Robert Neill:
As set out in the Local Growth White Paper published on 28 October, Government wish to encourage cooperation between local enterprise partnerships where this would result in a more efficient use of resources and secure a better outcome than operating in isolation. This cooperation need not be restricted to neighbouring partnerships and will be particularly important where partnerships share a common interest, such as the need to support important industrial clusters. The aerospace industry, for example, has important clusters in both the north west and the south west of England. The Government will also encourage groups of partnerships which
contain key sector clusters to work collaboratively with the relevant national industry bodies. Likewise it will encourage collaboration around particular themes, for example, tourism.
Local Government Finance
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether it is the policy of the Audit Commission that local authorities should hold no more than five per cent. of their income in reserves. [29042]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 6 December 2010, Official Report, column 56W.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 7 December 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The Audit Commission does not have such a policy. It is the responsibility of the individual authority to determine its own policies on reserves, and it would be inappropriate for either the Commission itself, or the independent auditors it appoints, to recommend to a local authority the level of reserves that it should hold.
In addition each authority's chief financial officer (the officer with specific responsibility for financial matters under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972) is required to report if there are concerns about the robustness of the estimates made for the calculations and adequacy of the proposed financial reserves.
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has issued professional guidance on this matter in its Local Authority Accounting Panel (LAAP) Bulletin 77, 'Local Authority Reserves and Balances', which was issued in November 2008.
Under section 5(1)(e) of the Audit Commission Act, auditors have a duty to satisfy themselves that each local authority has made proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources. Auditors are required to do so by reference to criteria specified by the Commission.
For 2010/11, the specified criteria include whether the authority has proper arrangements for securing financial resilience, and so the auditor will consider whether the authority has arrangements for determining its policies on reserves. This will include considering whether the authority has robust financial systems and processes to manage effectively financial risks and opportunities and to secure a stable financial position that enables it to continue to operate for the foreseeable future.
Local Government: Publicity
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provision his proposed revision to the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity will make in respect of unnecessary expenditure on publicity by local authorities. [27201]
Robert Neill: A principal purpose of the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity is to ensure that local authority publicity is value for money for the taxpayer, and the revisions we are proposing to the code are to primarily to ensure that the present wasteful expenditure on lobbyists and local authority newspapers is ended.
These changes will strengthen local democracy by preventing unfair competition to an independent local press, and stopping the corrosive practice of shadowy lobbyist using public funds to lobby for special favours and more regulation.
Tenancy Deposit Schemes
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. [27233]
Grant Shapps: Over 2 million deposits worth £1.88 billion are currently protected in one of the three tenancy deposit protection schemes. Although some landlords continue to have reservations, the majority have found access to a free adjudication service under the schemes helpful in resolving disputes. At the same time, tenants welcome the increased security the schemes offer to their money. In view of this, the Government are committed to ensuring that tenancy deposit protection continues in future. In this context, we will be taking steps to put in place new insurance schemes when the existing agreements expire in 2013. The current custodial scheme will be in place to 2016.
Travellers: Caravan Sites
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will direct the Planning Inspectorate to take no further action on appeals in relation to Gypsy and Traveller sites until the outcome of the review of his Department's planning circular ODPM 01/2006 is implemented. [29029]
Robert Neill: We want to move expeditiously but subject to proper process in relation to our intention to withdraw Circular 01/2006.
The Planning Inspectorate does not routinely place appeals into abeyance because of prospective policy changes. If someone wishes a particular appeal to be placed in abeyance then they should write to the Planning Inspectorate. The Planning Inspectorate will then review the case to see if abeyance is appropriate.
Circular 01/2006 is currently extant but decision makers are entitled to have regard to the fact that it is proposed to withdraw it.
Written Questions
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of questions to his Department tabled in the (a) House of Commons and (b) House of Lords that remained unanswered after 10 working days as a result of observation of guidance on the timing of answers to similar questions tabled to more than one Department in the latest period for which figures are available. [28493]
Robert Neill: Guidance on the handling of similar questions tabled to more than one Department ("round robin" parliamentary questions) is provided to Departments in a "Guide to Parliamentary Work" on the Cabinet Office website at:
In the 2010-11 Session, five "round robin" questions tabled in the House of Commons to my Department have been answered after 10 working days. There have been no such cases in the House of Lords.
Justice
Arrest Warrants
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of the comments received from (a) individuals, (b) organisations and (c) foreign governments on his Department's note of 20 March 2010 on arrest warrants-universal jurisdiction. [28340]
Mr Blunt: Copies of the paper "Arrest warrants-universal jurisdiction" and comments on it have been placed in the Library.
Assisted Prison Visits Unit
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what expenditure his Department incurred on the Assisted Prison Visits Unit in each of the last five years. [28943]
Mr Blunt: Expenditure on assisted prison visits for each of the last five years is shown in the following table.
| £ | ||
| APVS | Administration costs | |
The Assisted Prison Visits Unit comprises the Assisted Prison Visits scheme (APVS), the NOMS Prisoner Location Service (PLS) and the NOMS Victim helpline (VH).
Association of British Insurers
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) on what dates (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have had discussions with representatives of the Association of British Insurers since his appointment; [28967]
(2) what representations on civil justice issues he has received from the Association of British Insurers since his appointment (a) prior to and (b) since the publication of the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper. [28968]
Mr Djanogly: I met with representatives of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) on 29 July. My officials have held various discussions with the ABI as with other parties representing claimant and defendant interests in order to seek data and other information in relation to the consultation 'Proposals for Reform of Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations', published on 15 November 2010.
Civil Proceedings: Legal Costs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the (a) total and (b) average annual amount that claimants who do not have to contribute towards the costs of their claims would have to contribute following implementation of the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [28879]
(2) what estimate he has made of the annual number of claimants who do not have to contribute towards the costs of their claims and would have to do so as the consequence of implementation of the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; and what estimate he has made of the number of such claimants who would consequently be deterred from bringing claims; [28880]
(3) what estimate he has made of the annual number of clinical negligence cases dealt with under (a) fast-track and (b) multi-track procedures which qualified for funding through legal aid under existing criteria in the last 12 months which would not so qualify under the proposals in the Legal Aid Green Paper; [28949]
(4) what assessment he has made of the likely effect on provision of legal advice for (a) clinical negligence, (b) personal injury cases and (c) small business disputes of the proposals in (i) the Legal Aid Green Paper and (ii) the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [28970]
(5) with reference to the impact assessment on the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper, what estimate he has made of the likely monetary benefit to the liability insurance industry arising from reduced (a) costs and (b) damages payments attributable to implementation of the Green Paper proposals; [28974]
(6) with reference to the impact assessment for the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper, what estimate he has made of the average change in (a) damages awarded to claimants and (b) costs claimed by lawyers of claimants; [28975]
(7) what assessment he has made of the consequences for (a) the viability of after-the-event insurance and (b) the effect on civil litigation of a reduction in the use of after-the-event insurance of implementation of the proposals for qualified one way costs shifting in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [28980]
(8) what assessment he has made of the likely effect on levels of premiums for after-the-event insurance if recoverability is limited to liability disputed cases in the post protocol period under the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [28981]
(9) what estimate he has made of the likely cost per case to a claimant of obtaining independent legal advice on a damages-based agreement under his proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [29032]
(10) what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse of operating a regulatory system for the damages-based agreements proposed in his Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [29033]
(11) what estimate he has made of the likely average reduction in court costs attributable to the proportionality test proposed in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [29035]
(12) what estimate he has made of the likely monetary value of the uplift of 10 per cent. on general damages as proposed in his Department's Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper in respect of an average (a) employers' liability and (b) road traffic fast-track personal injury claim. [29088]
Mr Djanogly: A set of impact assessments were published alongside both 'Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales' and 'Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations', which include a preliminary assessment of the impact of individual proposals. The preliminary impact assessments can be found at:
and respondents are invited to comment on the preliminary impacts identified.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what maximum guideline hourly rate he proposes following implementation of the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper. [28881]
Mr Djanogly: Guideline hourly rates are set by the Master of the Rolls taking account of advice received from the Advisory Committee on Civil Costs. I have to date made no assessment of Lord Justice Jackson's recommendations in relation to the setting of guideline hourly rates.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what estimate he has made of the annual number of claims brought by small businesses against larger suppliers or customers (a) under conditional fee agreements and (b) supported by after-the-event insurance; [28887]
(2) what estimate he has made of the annual number of claims brought by individual claimants in cases other than those of personal injury (a) under conditional fee agreements and (b) with the support of after-the-event insurance; [28897]
(3) how much has been recovered through benefit recoupment from personal injury claims (a) in total and (b) in respect of (i) road traffic accident, (ii) employers (A) disease and (B) other liability cases, (iii) occupiers' liability, (iv) other public liability and (v) clinical negligence cases in each of the last three years; [28927]
(4) what estimate he has made of the change in the level of Exchequer revenue from value added tax receipts consequent on the implementation of the proposals in the (a) Legal Aid and (b) Civil Litigation Funding Green Papers; [28928]
(5) what estimate he has made of the annual number of occupational disease cases brought under (a) fast-track and (b) multi-track arrangements and (i) pursued under conditional fee agreements and (ii) covered by after-the-event insurance that will not be brought as a result of implementation of his proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [28950]
(6) what estimate he has made of the likely irreducible minimum level of disbursement in a fast-track road traffic accident claim in respect of (a) medical evidence, (b) police report and (c) court fees under the proposals his Department's Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [29089]
(7) whether he has made an estimate of the likely effect on the number of law firms which handle personal injury claims of the implementation of the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [29094]
(8) whether he has made an assessment of the likely effects on the legal services provided by (a) trade unions and (b) membership organisations of the implementation of his proposal to end collective conditional fee agreements; [29095]
(9) how many and what proportion of the cases which resulted in recoupment of benefits were (a) funded under conditional fee agreements and (b) underwritten by after the event insurance; [29098]
(10) what estimate he has made of the change in revenue accruing to the Department for Work and Pensions from benefit recoupment consequent on the implementation of the proposals in the (a) Legal Aid and (b) Civil Litigation Funding Green Papers. [29099]
Mr Djanogly: No assessment has been made in relation to the above areas. The preliminary impact assessments for "Proposals for Reform of Legal Aid", and "Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales" can be found at:
and respondents are invited to comment on the preliminary impacts identified.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) if he will estimate the annual number of employer's liability accident cases brought under (a) fast-track and (b) multi-track arrangements which qualify for (i) conditional fee agreements and (ii) after-the-event insurance support that would not be brought as a result of his proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [28951]
(2) if he will estimate the annual number of occupier and public liability accident cases under (a) fast-track and (b) multi-track arrangements which qualify for (i) conditional fee agreements and (ii) after-the-event insurance support through legal aid that would not be brought as a result of his proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [28952]
(3) if he will estimate the annual number of road traffic accident cases under (a) fast-track and (b) multi-track arrangements which qualify for (i) conditional fee agreements and (ii) after-the-event insurance support through legal aid that would not be brought as a result of his proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [28953]
(4) what estimate he has made of the number of cases of injuries of maximum severity pursued under multi-track arrangements supported by after-the-event insurance that will not be brought after implementation of the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [28954]
(5) if he will estimate the annual number of clinical negligence cases under (a) fast-track and (b) multi-track arrangements which qualify for (i) conditional fee agreement funding through legal aid and (ii) after-the-event insurance support that would not be brought as a result of his proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper. [28955]
Mr Djanogly: It is not possible to make a detailed estimate in these areas, as this will depend, in part, on the individual decisions of claimants, defendants, lawyers and insurers on a case-by-case basis. The preliminary impact assessments can be found at:
and respondents are invited to comment on the preliminary impacts identified.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what assessment he has made of the likely (a) extent, (b) availability and (c) cost of the (i) stand-alone and (ii) general before-the-event insurance proposed in his Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper to families of (A) average income and (B) below-average income; [28976]
(2) what assessment he has made of the likely restrictions on liability to a policy holder (a) generally and (b) for legal costs in the before-the-event insurance policies proposed as alternative sources of legal funding in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper. [28977]
Mr Djanogly: The consultation paper 'Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations' does not propose any specific action in relation to before the event insurance, other than that the Government support Lord Justice Jackson's encouragement of the expansion of the before the event insurance market. For this reason, no specific assessment has been made.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what level of means he proposes as that which will entitle (a) a claimant to benefit from and (b) a defendant to avoid the qualified one way costs shifting proposed in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper; [28978]
(2) at what rate he proposes to fix success fees for each type of case to which such fees will apply. [29092]
Mr Djanogly: The consultation paper, 'Proposals for Reform of Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations', published on 15 November 2010, sets out proposals on qualified one way costs shifting and conditional fee agreement success fees and we await responses in order to be able to take a view on the way forward on these issues.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much he expects to recover annually from interest on solicitors' client accounts in (a) cash terms and (b) as a proportion of the legal aid budget as the consequence of implementation of the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper. [28982]
Mr Djanogly: As stated in the Green Paper, it has not been possible to quantify the level of income such a scheme might generate, as there are no centrally collected data on the sums of money currently held in such accounts in England and Wales.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with the judiciary on potential changes to the number of litigants-in-person arising from the implementation of the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper. [29034]
Mr Djanogly: The Secretary of State for Justice and I have discussed the proposals in our consultation paper, 'Proposals for Reform of Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations', published on 15 November 2010, with the senior judiciary on a number of occasions.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of compliance of the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper with Articles 6 and 14 of the European convention on human rights on the rights of people with injuries of maximum severity. [29086]
Mr Djanogly: I believe that Lord Justice Jackson's proposals are compatible with the convention rights, and the consultation paper, 'Proposals for Reform of Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations', published on 15 November 2010, seeks views on potential impacts on claimants in catastrophic injury cases.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on the evidential basis for the inclusion of the provision for (a) recoverability of conditional fee agreement success fees and (b) after-the-event insurance premiums in the Access to Justice Act 1999. [29087]
Mr Djanogly: The Department is not aware of any such information other than is already in the public domain.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has had discussions with after-the-event insurers on the financial liability of the proposal in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper for recovery of after-the-event premiums for disbursements. [29090]
Mr Djanogly: I held a roundtable on 2 December 2010 with relevant parties representing claimant and defendant interests on our consultation paper, 'Proposals for Reform of Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations', published on 15 November 2010, including two representatives of after the event insurers. My officials held a number of meetings over the summer with 14 representatives of after the event insurers in order to seek data and other information in relation to the consultation.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of access to justice of the implementation of (a) conditional fee agreement and (b) after-the-event insurance policies under the Access to Justice Act 1999. [29091]
Mr Djanogly: The Government's assessment of the effect of the CFA reforms introduced by the Access to Justice Act 1999 is set out in the consultation paper 'Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations'. Preliminary impact assessments were published alongside the consultation paper, they can be found at:
and respondents are invited to comment on the preliminary impacts indentified.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the extent of the use of (i) conditional fee agreements and (ii) after the event insurance prior to the implementation of the Access to Justice Act 1999. [29093]
Community Orders
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of community payback sentences in each probation board area was completed in each of the last five years. [29115]
Mr Blunt: Community payback completion rates have been part of the formal suite of performance indicators and management information for NOMS since April 2007. The figures for each probation board for the three years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 are set out in the following table.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |