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17 Jan 2011 : Column 527W—continued
International Development
China: Overseas Aid
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects his Department's bilateral aid programmes in China to end. [34159]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development's bilateral aid programmes in China will end in March 2011.
Civil Society Challenge Fund
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2010, Official Report, column 209W, on the Civil Society Challenge Fund, which trade unions received funding from the Fund in 2009-10; and how much funding each such union received. [33877]
Mr O'Brien: Details of funding to trade unions through the Civil Society Challenge Fund for 2009-10 are available in the Library of the House.
The Department for International Development (DFID) is reviewing all of its aid programmes, including aid channelled through trade unions, to ensure that it makes a real difference to the world's poorest people.
Developing Countries: Children
Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to increase the priority given to programmes relating to children within his Department's work; and if he will appoint an individual to champion children within his Department. [31513]
Mr O'Brien:
The UK Government recognise the importance of focusing on the rights of women, children and disabled people to access services for achievement of the millennium development goals (MDGs). The Department for International Development's (DFID) Business Plan 2011-15 prioritises support for the MDGs and includes specific objectives to increase access to education and reduce infant mortality. However, all of
the MDGs have an impact on children. There are no current plans to appoint an individual to champion children within DFID as considerations for the rights and issues surrounding child poverty are already addressed in all aspects of the Department's work.
DFID is currently reviewing its aid programmes to ensure we continue to fund the most effective means of achieving the MDGs. The review will conclude in February 2011.
Developing Countries: Climate Change
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to encourage multilateral development banks to provide further support for investment and lending for the purpose of mitigating climate change. [32966]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: We will continue to use our Board position to encourage the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to increase their lending in areas important for climate change, such as renewable energy and forestry. We also regularly engage at a technical level with the MDBs to support the development of their climate and energy strategies.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment his Department has made of the effects of climate change on agriculture and food security in developing countries. [33125]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has supported a number of recent studies which have helped to define the likely impact of climate change on agriculture and food security in developing countries. In 2010, a DFID-supported assessment by the World Bank found that climate change would significantly affect crops yields, especially irrigated and rain-fed cereals, and that south Asia would see the greatest fall in production.
DFID is supporting a major new programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security implemented by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. By 2020, the research aims to help reduce poverty and malnutrition in target areas, while enabling farmers in developing countries to contribute to climate change mitigation by enhancing carbon storage or reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
DFID and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have co-sponsored research by the UK Government Office for Science Foresight programme on the Future of Global Food and Farming. This research has including modelling of the impact of major climate shocks on global food supply and food prices. The final report will be published on the 25 January 2011.
Developing Countries: Food
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the operation of commodity index funds on food supply in the developing world. [33423]
Mr O'Brien: Commodity index funds have become popular vehicles for speculation and investment in commodity markets in recent years. It is difficult to be definitive about the role of speculation in agricultural price spikes. Food supply and prices in developing countries are affected by a number of factors including global energy prices, global stock levels, the size of harvests, changes in exchange rates and national agricultural trade and marketing policies. On balance we are sceptical about the degree to which speculation played a significant causal role in 2007-08. The Government continue to monitor relevant research in this area with interest.
Nigeria: Education
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions his Department has held with the Nigerian Government on UK support for the Nigerian education sector; and if he will make a statement. [33116]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has regular discussions with Nigeria's Federal and State Governments on support for the education sector. Our approach to education is to strengthen the management of the sector as a whole, together with activities targeted directly at schools and students. As I saw for myself on my recent visit DFID has contributed to a number of gains in education in Nigeria including improving access to nearly 800 schools to help increase the number of girls in school; helping nearly 2,000 women from rural areas of northern Nigeria to undertake teacher training; and providing training to improve the management of 2,000 schools.
Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department provides funding to diaspora organisations based in the UK. [33317]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 10 January 2010, Official Report, column 62W, on Overseas Aid.
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what budgetary agreements have been made in respect of funding for his Department's programmes in Ghana in advance of the publication of the bilateral spending review; [33473]
(2) what budgetary guidance on (a) existing and (b) future spending programmes has been issued to his Department's office in Ghana since his appointment; [33474]
(3) what budgetary agreements have been made in respect of funding for his Department's programmes in Malawi in advance of the publication of the bilateral spending review; [33475]
(4) what budgetary guidance on (a) existing and (b) future spending programmes has been issued to his Department's office in Malawi since his appointment; [33476]
(6) what budgetary guidance on (a) existing and (b) future spending programmes has been issued to his Department's office in Tanzania since his appointment; [33478]
(5) what budgetary agreements have been made in respect of funding for his Department's programmes in Tanzania in advance of the publication of the bilateral spending review; [33477]
(7) what budgetary agreements have been made in respect of funding for his Department's programmes in Zambia in advance of the publication of the bilateral spending review; [33479]
(8) what budgetary guidance on (a) existing and (b) future spending programmes has been issued to his Department's office in Zambia since his appointment. [33480]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the right hon. and learned Member for Camberwell and Peckham (Ms Harman) on 16 December 2010, Official Report, column 919W, which outlines the action I have taken.
Sudan: Overseas Aid
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to protect from violence aid agencies operating in southern Sudan. [34134]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: In southern Sudan relations between aid workers, communities and the authorities are generally very good. This is an important element of the UN Mission's (UNMIS) security and protection agenda. The UK lobbied hard to ensure that an agreement was reached between UNMIS and NGO staff on the evacuation of NGO staff in emergency situations.
However, some abuses of aid workers by security forces are occurring. The UK is deeply concerned about any such abuses and I raised this issue with President Salva Kiir during my visit to southern Sudan in November 2010. UK Government officials in southern Sudan have also raised this issue with senior Government of southern Sudan Ministers on a regular basis. The UK will continue to keep this issue under review including through consultation with NGOs, UNMIS and the Government.
Tanzania: Overseas Aid
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has provided in development aid to Tanzania in each of the last five years; and what proportion of such aid was funded (a) centrally and (b) for specific projects. [33492]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID), through its country programme in Tanzania, has provided the following amounts in development aid to Tanzania over the last five years.
| Financial year | Aid given centrally as budget support (£000) | Proportion of programme given as budget support (%) | Project support (£000) | Proportion of programme given as project support (%) | Total programme (£000) |
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has provided in development aid to Tanzania for (a) democracy building, (b) training police and (c) strengthening the judiciary in each of the last five years. [33493]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID), through its country programme in Tanzania, has provided the following amount in development aid to Tanzania in these areas over the last five years.
| £000 | |||
| Financial year | (a) Democracy building( 1) | (b) Training police | (c) Strengthening the judiciary |
| (1 )Including support to Tanzania's 2010 general election. | |||
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to review the level of UK aid to Tanzania. [33494]
Mr Duncan: In June 2010 the Secretary of State for International Development announced a Bilateral Aid Review of all the Department for International Development's country programmes. The aid programme to Tanzania is included in that review, which will conclude in February 2011.
Cabinet Office
Average Earnings
Bob Russell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average annual wage was in (a) South Shields constituency, (b) Colchester constituency and (c) England in the latest period for which figures are available. [34370]
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 January 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average annual wage was in (a) South Shields constituency, (b) Colchester constituency and (c) England in the latest period for which figures are available. (34370)
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. Annual levels of earnings are estimated from the ASHE, and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, who have been in the same job for more than a year.
I attach a table showing the median gross annual earnings in 2010 for full-time employees in South Shields constituency, Colchester constituency and England.
| Median gross annual earnings for full-time employee jobs( 1) : 2010 | |
| Median (£) | |
| (1) Full-time employees on adult rates of pay who have been in the same job for more than a year. As at April 2010. Guide to quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV-for example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the average to be within the range 180 to 220. Key: CV <= 5% * CV > 5% and <=10% ** CV > 10% and <=20% Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics. | |
Big Society Bank
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to publish details of his Department's plans for the proposed Big Society Bank; and if he will make a statement. [32170]
Mr Hurd [holding answer 12 January 2011]: Government have stated their commitment to have some functions of the Big Society Bank established by April 2011, and expects it to start making investments from summer 2011 when dormant accounts are expected to be released. We will be announcing more details on the establishment of the bank in the new year.
Business: West Midlands
Chris White: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new businesses were created in (a) Warwick and Leamington constituency, (b) Warwickshire and (c) the West Midlands in each year since 2005. [33970]
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 January 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question
concerning how many new businesses were created in (a) Warwick and Leamington constituency, (b) Warwickshire and (c) the West Midlands in each year since 2005. [33970]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births, deaths and survivals are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
The table below contains the latest statistics available, which show enterprise births for Warwick and Leamington Constituency, Warwickshire County and the West Midlands from 2005 to 2009.
| Enterprise births for Warwick and Leamington constituency, Warwickshire county and the west midlands , 2005-09 | |||||
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
Census
Lyn Brown: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the 2011 Census captures accurate population data for areas with high levels of (a) ethnic and cultural diversity and (b) population change. [33175]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what steps are being taken to ensure that the 2011 Census captures accurate population data for areas with high levels of (a) ethnic and cultural diversity and (b) population change. (33175)
The objective of the 2011 Census is to provide high quality, value for money population statistics as required by key users, on a consistent and comparable basis, for small areas and small population groups.
In preparing for the 2011 Census, ONS recognised changes in society and technology that have taken place in the last 10 years (including increasing numbers of migrants, students, an ageing population, changing work patterns and complex living patterns). ONS has also addressed the key lessons learned from 2001, and the small number of localised concerns about 2001 Census population estimates.
New questions
Extensive research and testing has been undertaken in the development of new questions for the 2011 Census which reflect user demand for information about changes in society. There are six new questions including details of any second address which will demonstrate where people actually spend their time and use public services. This will improve the population counts in those local authority areas that have a high proportion of people who live in the area during the week for work, but who return to another residential address at weekends. Additional questions about national identity, intention of migrants to stay and citizenship will support a more detailed understanding of migration and population change.
Online completion
In 2011 there is an option to complete a questionnaire online for the first time, quickly and securely. This may particularly appeal to some harder to count groups such as young adults, students and the visually impaired.
Resources targeted towards harder to count areas
ONS is recruiting 35,000 field staff for the field operation. A high proportion of field staff has been allocated to those areas
that evidence shows are harder to enumerate, particularly inner city areas, and areas of high migration and population change. During the field operation, all questionnaire returns will be tracked and, where levels of response are low, additional field staff will be deployed to provide help on the doorstep and to collect the outstanding questionnaires. The amount of resource directed towards collecting outstanding questionnaires is three times greater than that in 2001 overall and four times greater in London and some other urban areas.
Recruitment of field staff
Recruitment of the field force has been outsourced to Capita, an organisation with expertise and experience of large scale recruitment. Good progress is being made, with high numbers and quality of applicants. We are working with local authorities and community groups to encourage applications for census jobs from ethnic minority populations or from candidates with specific language skills and with local knowledge of the areas in which they will work. We are looking to make full use of their language skills and the support they can provide for local communities groups. We specify that additional languages are desirable for all posts, and information about any staff with language skills will be provided to their field managers. This should enable them to manage their team on a local basis and move staff to any particular area where their language skills will be of most use. This approach worked well in the Census Rehearsal in 2009.
Community liaison
ONS is placing more emphasis on community engagement for the 2011 Census than in any previous census. Local area managers are promoting the census in their areas and engaging directly with local groups. As part of ONS's local engagement activity, a number of community panels have been set up to help develop community engagement plans for each target population group. These plans will be used by all area managers and community advisors to engage more effectively with the black and minority ethnic populations and other diverse communities, such as short-term migrants. ONS appointed 41 community advisors (with language skills) in August 2010, 24 of whom are working in London, to encourage the involvement of black and minority ethnic population groups in the 2011 Census. Community advisors will support the area managers in liaising with community groups representative of the target population groups.
Assistance in place to help people complete their questionnaires
ONS has set up a wide range of measures to help people during the 2011 Census. There is a telephone help centre and an online help website. By accessing these facilities, the public will be able to find out more information about the census, get answers to questions that they may have, or arrange for field staff to visit their homes to help them with their questionnaire or collect completed ones. Such assistance will be available in 56 different languages.
We are also working with a wide range of bodies including local authorities, community groups and charities to see how they can help us engage with those people who may need more help to complete their questionnaires, and to try and arrange events to help people complete their questionnaires. Such events are designed to compliment the different assistance already on offer to those people within communities who have difficulty in completing their census questionnaires. Such difficulties may arise because of disability, literacy or language issues. It is envisaged that such events will be run by volunteers trained to assist with the completion of questionnaires and to answer questions on the 2011 Census in general. Guidance on running such events, as well as training, has been prepared by ONS.
Publicity and community media
ONS is increasing publicity and communication with a wide range of stakeholders and the general public. ONS plans to use different methods depending on the audience needing to be targeted. There will be a national advertising campaign including TV, press, radio, and online advertising as well as billboards, and transport advertising (such as tube, bus etc). Publicity will also be tailored to reach many target population groups such as black and minority ethnic groups and young people. As London has a large concentration of these groups it will benefit, in particular, from this approach.
The publicity campaign will focus on the importance of the census in identifying the needs of different communities so that local and national government, and other service providers, can deliver what the community needs. The campaign puts this principle at the very centre of all communication and marketing.
Community Organisers
Tim Farron: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what account will be taken of individuals' previous experience of charitable and community work in the recruitment of Community Organisers to work as part of the Big Society initiative. [33182]
Mr Hurd: The overarching criteria for recruitment will be developed by the National Partner once appointed in partnership with the Cabinet Office.
Employment
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of the working population of (a) Wallasey constituency, (b) the Wirral borough council area, (c) the North West, (d) the South East and (e) the UK are (i) employed in the (A) public sector and (B) private sector and (ii) unemployed. [33864]
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 January 2011:
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) Wallasey constituency, (b) the Wirral Borough Council area, (c) the North West, (d) the South East and (e) the UK are (i) employed in (A) the public sector, (B) the private sector and (ii) unemployed. (033864)
Public sector employment statistics for local areas can be calculated from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Table 1 shows the levels and proportions of the working population employed in the private and public sector in (a) Wallasey, (b) the Wirral, (c) the North West, (d) the South East and (e) the UK. Data has been provided for the most recent APS period, July 2009 to June 2010.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
Table 2 shows the number and proportions of persons resident in (a) Wallasey, (b) the Wirral, (c) the North West, (d) the South East and (e) the UK claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for November 2010, the most recent period for which figures are available. JSA proportions are calculated using resident population aged 16-64.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
| Table 2: Number of persons claiming jobseeker's allowance resident in UK, North West, Wirral unitary authority, Wallasey parliamentary constituency and the South East | ||
| November 2010 | ||
| Level | Proportion (percentage) | |
| Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system | ||
Environment Protection: West Midlands
Chris White: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were employed in the environmental sector in (a) Warwickshire and (b) the West Midlands on the latest date for which figures are available. [33965]
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 January 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people were employed in the environmental sector in a) Warwickshire and b) the West Midlands on the latest date for which figures are available (33965).
ONS does not currently publish estimates for the number of people employed in the environmental sector.
Chris White: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses were created in the environmental sector in (a) Warwickshire and (b) the West Midlands in each year since 2005. [33966]
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 January 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many businesses were created in the environmental sector in (a) Warwickshire and (b) the West Midlands in each year since 2005. [33966]
ONS does not produce statistics on the number of businesses in the environmental sector. Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births, deaths and survivals are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
Government Departments: Shared Services
Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he has plans to encourage Government Departments to co-locate and share services to reduce their costs; and if he will make a statement. [32261]
Mr Maude: Increased sharing of services across Departments presents an opportunity for significant savings and improvements in service quality. The Government's Efficiency and Reform Group is working with Departments to accelerate their use of shared services for back office services, such as finance, HR and procurement so that significant economies of scale can be delivered.
Furthermore, the Government announced in the 2010 spending review that as a first step to introducing a more co-ordinated approach to property asset management in the public sector it would set up Property Vehicles for the Central London and Bristol office estate from 2011-12. The Government will announce further details in due course.
Manufacturing Industries: West Midlands
Chris White: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses in the manufacturing sector were created in (a) Warwickshire and (b) the West Midlands in each year since 2005. [33968]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many businesses in the manufacturing sector were created in (a) Warwickshire and (b) the West Midlands in each year since 2005. [33968]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births, deaths and survivals are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
The table below contains the latest statistics available, which show enterprise births in the Manufacturing sector for Warwickshire County and the West Midlands from 2005 to 2009.
| Enterprise births in Warwickshire county and the West Midlands for the manufacturing sector 2005-09 | ||
| Warwickshire | West Midlands | |
Public Sector: Procurement
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make an assessment of the merits of authorising suppliers on the Office of Government Commerce framework on a regional basis for the purpose of assisting small and medium-sized enterprises to tender for Government and local authority business in their regions. [27396]
Mr Maude: From March 2011 small businesses will be able to search for public sector procurement opportunities on the new 'Contracts Finder' facility. Not only will suppliers be able to set search parameters to enable them to search for regional and local opportunities but they will also get free e-mail alerts based on these preferences.
There are a number of buying organisations in the United Kingdom which purchase on behalf of contracting authorities and Buying Solutions, part of the Efficiency and Reform Group in Cabinet Office, is one of these. Regional supply is often a consideration in Buying Solutions frameworks. Examples include regional lots for NHS building and engineering maintenance and regional pricing for provision of administration and clerical staff. All suppliers on Buying Solutions frameworks can subcontract to regional SMEs if required.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps to (a) simplify and (b) standardise the pre-qualification procedure for small businesses wishing to tender for public contracts he is considering; and when he expects to announce the outcome of his consideration. [33510]
Mr Maude: We issued a simplified, standardised pre-qualification questionnaire last autumn, which since 1 December has been mandated to central Government Departments including their agents and agencies and all non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Further we are investigating ways in which suppliers can be enabled to tell us their pre-qualification data once. Announcements will be made on this work in due course.
Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will bring forward proposals to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to apply for Government contracts. [33519]
Mr Maude: I made a number of announcements on opening up public procurement for SMEs at the Small Business Summit on 1 November 2010. We are progressing those proposals as quickly as possible and we will be making announcements on further measures over the next few months.
Social Housing: Income
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the median household income was of a family in (a) the social rented sector, (b) the private rented sector and (c) owner-occupied accommodation in (i) the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area and (ii) Dumfries and Galloway constituency (A) before and (B) after housing costs in the latest period for which figures are available. [31539]
Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
We use Households Below Average Income data to provide estimates of median incomes. However, the sample size of this survey is not sufficient to provide estimates for low-level geographies such as those requested.
The following table shows the median equivalised disposable household income by tenure for Scotland, before and after housing costs.
| Median equivalised disposable household income, for families, by tenure for Scotland, three year average 2006-07 to 2008-09, before and after housing costs | ||
| Median equivalised disposable household income for families | ||
| Tenure type | BHC | AHC |
| Notes 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). These use disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for HBAI figures is single financial years. For countries and regions within the UK, three survey years have been combined as single year estimates are subject to volatility. 4. Incomes are presented in 2008-09 prices and have been rounded to the nearest pound sterling. 5. Families are defined as a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children, including same sex couples (civil partnerships and cohabitees) from January 2006. A household is made up of one of more families and is defined as a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal a day together or share the living accommodation (i.e. a living room). In line with the wording of the question, analysis has been carried out at the family level. Source: Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 2006/07 to 2008/09 | ||
Social Services: West Midlands
Chris White: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many social enterprises were created in the adult social care sector in (a) Warwickshire and (b) the West Midlands in each year since 2005. [33969]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many social enterprises were created in the adult social care sector in (a) Warwickshire and (b) the West Midlands in each year since 2005. [33969]
ONS does not produce statistics on the number of social enterprises. Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births, deaths and survivals are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
Unemployment
Amber Rudd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his most recent estimate is of the number and proportion of workless households in (a) Hastings, (b) Hastings and Rye constituency, (c) East Sussex and (d) England. [33699]
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 January 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what recent estimate has been made of the number and proportion of workless households in (a) Hastings, (b) Hastings and Rye constituency, (c) East Sussex, and (d) England (33699).
The figures in the table attached are from the Annual Population Survey (APS) household datasets. The latest data currently available is for 2009. The table shows estimates for England and East Sussex. Due to the specific nature of your request it is not possible to provide reliable estimates for Hastings and Rye constituency and Hastings unitary authority area because of small sample sizes.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty as different samples give different results. These estimates are such that there is 95 per cent certainty that from all samples possible they will lie within the lower and upper bounds.
| Number and proportion of workless households( 1) in East Sussex and England | ||||
| Estimate | Lower bound( 2) | Upper bound( 2) | ||
| (1) Households containing at least one person aged 16 to 64, where all individuals aged 16 or over are not in employment. (2) 95% confidence interval. Source: APS household dataset. | ||||
Unemployment: Richmond upon Thames
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the number of workless households in Richmond Park constituency. [32967]
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 January 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what recent estimate has been made of the number of workless households in Richmond Park constituency (32967).
The requested information is not available. Due to the specific detail of the request, it is not possible to provide estimates for the Richmond Park constituency because of insufficient sample sizes.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to answer Question 27396, tabled on 24 November 2010, on small and medium-sized enterprises and the OGC framework. [33149]
Mr Maude: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today.
Health
Arthritis: Health Services
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for the number of rheumatology specialist nurses in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [33095]
Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Information Centre Workforce Census records numbers of nurses working in some specialties. However, it does not record numbers of nurses working at rheumatology specialty level.
It is for local national health service organisations to recruit and train the staff best placed to serve their local population.
The expectation that the number of rheumatology specialist nurses is increasing is based on the rounded care model for rheumatoid arthritis which is built around a multi-disciplinary team approach. Multi-disciplinary teams within rheumatology services see some of the functions traditionally carried out by consultant rheumatologists appropriately transferred to other members of the team, such as specialist nurses.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guideline 79 'Rheumatoid arthritis: The management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults' makes the multi-disciplinary team, including a specialist nurse, a key priority for implementation.
Blood: Contamination
Dr Phillip Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the paper deposited in the Library consequent on the contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of 14 October 2010, Official Report, column 567, on what dates since 14 October 2010 Ministers or officials in his Department have had discussions on blood product contamination with their counterparts in the Republic of Ireland. [33335]
Anne Milton: There were exchanges of e-mail correspondence between departmental officials and officials in the Republic of Ireland regarding the HIV and Hepatitis C insurance scheme in the Republic of Ireland, on 26 and 27 October 2010, and 4 January 2011.
Now that the review is complete, departmental officials intend to make further contact with Irish officials to follow up points raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Bracknell (Dr Lee) in the backbench debate on 14 October 2010 and the subsequent meeting of 2 December with the hon. Member for Bracknell, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Cambridgeshire (Stephen Barclay) and my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol North West (Charlotte Leslie).
Dr Phillip Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 November 2010, Official Report, column 630W, on blood: contamination, how many patients in respect of whom freedom of information requests are outstanding because of patient confidentiality issues have been contacted by his Department to determine whether they wish to waive patient confidentiality in the interests of disclosure. [33383]
Anne Milton: There are currently no outstanding freedom of information requests on blood contamination. The Department has previously withheld five documents from the period 1975 to 1985 under section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act.
Two of these documents are curricula vitae. One is a list of names and curricula vitae. Two contain patient-identifiable information. As one of the patients concerned is dead, the Data Protection Act does not apply to one of the documents.
The Department is currently considering how to release the information contained within these two documents.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy to (a) end the ban on homosexual and bisexual males donating blood, (b) increase the opportunities for blood screening for those wishing to donate blood and (c) fund a public education programme for homosexual and bisexual males for the purposes of raising awareness of opportunities for blood donation and screening; [33487]
(2) what the evidential basis is for prohibiting (a) homosexual and bisexual males, ( b) male homosexual couples in long-life monogamous relationships, (c) celibate homosexual and bisexual males, (d) heterosexual males who have had homosexual relations at school, (e) males who last had homosexual sex in the 1960s and (f) males in the aforementioned categories who have had a blood test to show they are HIV negative from giving blood; [33488]
(3) when the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs will publish its review to determine whether the ban on homosexual and bisexual men donating blood should remain in place; and what the reasons are for the time taken to complete and publish the review; [33489]
(4) whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in (a) New Zealand, (b) Spain, (c) Italy, (d) Japan and (e) Australia on their polices of allowing some homosexual and bisexual males to donate blood in certain circumstances; [33490]
(5) whether he has assessed the potential effects of his policy of banning homosexual and bisexual males from donating blood on the supply of donated blood available to the National Blood Service. [33491]
Anne Milton: The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) is currently reviewing the evidence base for donor deferral in relation to sexual behaviours, including the exclusion of men who have ever had sex with men.
SaBTO had initially expected to report by the end of 2010, but wished to wait for the results of an attitudinal study to current deferral policy, which only became available in late 2010.
The Committee is considering a wide range of data and information, including sufficiency of blood supply. The review has also considered both international practice and the outcome of other reviews around the world. SaBTO have also been in discussion with International experts. In different countries, the epidemiological, social and other factors are unique and as a result, the outcome of each review may differ.
SaBTO's report, summarising the work of the donor deferral group, and SaBTO's recommendations, once finalised, will be made public in due course. The report will include analysis of the evidence to support or refute a change in deferral criteria in relation to sexual history. The Department will consider SaBTO's recommendations once they have been made.
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the statement of 10 January 2011, Official Report, columns 33-35, on contaminated blood, what discussions he had with the Health Minister in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales prior to the statement. [33890]
Anne Milton: There was liaison between the departmental officials and their counterparts in each devolved Administration.
Departmental officials shared copies of the report of the clinical expert group and the cost estimates of the options under consideration with officials in each of the devolved Administrations during the course of the review of the support available to individuals infected with hepatitis C and/or HIV by national health supplied blood transfusions or blood products and their dependants.
There were no discussions with Health Ministers in the devolved Administrations prior to the Secretary of State's announcement on 10 January 2011.
The devolved Administrations have not yet decided how they intend to proceed on this issue.
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the statement of 10 January 2011, Official Report, columns 33-35, on contaminated blood, how many people with haemophilia who have been infected with hepatitis C have (a) received stage 1 relief payments and (b) received stage 2 relief payments to date. [33891]
Anne Milton: As at 31 December 2010, 2,173 people with haemophilia, who have been infected with hepatitis C, have received an ex-gratia stage 1 payment from the Skipton Fund, of which 354 people with haemophilia received a stage 2 payment.
Paul Goggins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the statement of 10 January 2011, Official Report, columns 33-35, on contaminated
blood, what estimate he has made of the number of people with haemophilia who have been infected with hepatitis C and who have received stage 1 relief payments who will qualify for stage 2 relief (a) in the next year, (b) in the next four years and (c) in the next 10 years. [33892]
Anne Milton: The measures announced in the Secretary of State's statement on 10 January 2011 apply to all patients who have been infected with hepatitis C by contaminated national health service supplied blood and blood products, not just haemophilia patients. We know of 4,675 people with haemophilia in the United Kingdom who were infected with hepatitis C by NHS-supplied blood products during the 1970s and 1980s. Published epidemiological estimates suggest that up to 28,043 other individuals might have been similarly infected with hepatitis C by whole blood transfusions in the UK.
Estimates of those moving from Skipton Fund stage 1 payments to Skipton Fund stage 2 payments over the next 10 years were calculated in two parts. First, the number of individuals whose diagnosis progresses to allow them to receive stage 2 payments. Second, there may be people who already qualify for a stage 2 payment who have not yet claimed it, and who now come forward to make a claim because of the recent increase. These two parts are presented as follows.
| Recipients from new diagnoses | Patients who already qualify but have not previously come forward to make a claim | |
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the statement of 10 January 2011, Official Report, columns 33-35, on contaminated blood, (1) if he will set out the criteria for additional discretionary payments to be made to people with haemophilia who have been infected with hepatitis C and are in serious financial need; [33893]
(2) what additional support will be available to those people with haemophilia who have been infected with hepatitis C who qualify for stage 1 relief payments and have other health problems. [33894]
Anne Milton:
The Secretary of State's statement of 10 January 2011, Official Report, columns 33-35, announced that any individual who has been infected with hepatitis C as a result of their treatment with contaminated national health service supplied blood or blood products, and who is experiencing serious financial hardship, will be eligible to apply for discretionary payments from a new trust which is being set up. This applies to both Skipton Fund stage 1 recipients and Skipton Fund
stage 2 recipients. The schedule for these new discretionary payments will be developed by the new trust, once it has been established.
The review report can be found at:
Care Quality Commission
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the future of the (a) Care Quality Commission and (b) General Dental Council; and if he will make a statement. [32986]
Mr Simon Burns: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent system regulator of health and adult social care services in England. The White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" stated that the role of the CQC would be strengthened as an effective quality inspectorate across both health and social care.
The General Dental Council is the regulator of individual dental care professionals in the United Kingdom, and is independent of the Department. The Department has no plans to change this.
Cataracts
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from the eye care industry on treating cataract patients with high technology lenses. [33164]
Mr Simon Burns: No such representations have been received.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the average cost of hospital treatment for elderly patients with poor vision; and if he will make a statement. [33165]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. While the Department does collect the average costs to national health service providers of eye treatments and procedures, they are not sufficiently detailed to show the costs of treating elderly patients with poor vision.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish his proposals to give cataract patients and other health service users greater choice and control over their eye lens treatment; and whether he plans to allocate funding for the implementation of those proposals. [33167]
Mr Simon Burns: As explained in the answers on 1 December 2010, Official Report, column 890W, and 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 1015W, we are currently consulting on proposals for giving patients and service users greater choice and control over their healthcare. The consultation closed on 14 January. We will publish our response along with further policy proposals in spring 2011. We are not planning to allocate funding for the implementation of the choice commitments.
Chronically Sick People
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of people aged 60 years and over who have been diagnosed with more than one long-term condition. [33073]
Paul Burstow: The Department does not collect data separately on the number of people who have been diagnosed with one or more long-term condition. Information from the General Lifestyle Survey (2008) suggests that 6.1 million people in England aged 60 years and over report themselves as having at least one long-term condition.
Source:
General Lifestyle Survey, 2008
Dentistry
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from the British Dental Association on arrangements for dental practices to register with the Care Quality Commission; and if he will make a statement. [33145]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has recently received correspondence from the chief executive of the British Dental Association (BDA) setting out their concerns over the registration process with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The BDA postcard campaign raised the following issues:
1. duplication of CQC's functions with those of other bodies;
2. registration fees; and
3. registration deadline.
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Earl Howe) met with BDA officials last year to discuss the arrangements for registration and a further meeting is scheduled in early February.
Dentists: Finance
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the average cost to dentists' practices of introduction of the HTM01-05 control regulations. [33263]
Mr Simon Burns: The cost of introducing the essential quality requirements detailed in Health Technical Memorandum (HTM) 01-05 should be minimal as they are very similar to the standards set in guidance on decontamination issued by the British Dental Association (BDA) with the support of the Department in 2003. For practices already compliant with the BDA guidance, the only capital costs incurred would be for the installation of an extra sink for rinsing of instruments.
The recent Dental National Dental Decontamination Survey, which took place very soon after HTM 01-05 was published, demonstrated that 70% of practices in England were already compliant with these essential quality requirements, with approximately 20% very close to compliance. This demonstrates that for the majority of practices, compliance with the HTM 01-05 guidance has not been problematic.
We have not yet set a date set by which dental practices should comply with the best practice requirements set in the HTM. We wish to find out more about the extent and cost of the improvements that would be required.
Flu: Vaccination
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of doses of flu vaccines available for use in NHS facilities in (a) the London borough of Newham and (b) London. [33387]
Anne Milton: The information requested is not held centrally. General practitioners (GPs) in England order seasonal flu vaccine direct from the manufacturers, according to their patients needs.
About 14.5 million doses have been ordered from vaccine suppliers (both private and national health service) for the United Kingdom. Seasonal flu vaccine quantities each year are usually between 14 and 15 million doses.
The Department is aware of some reports of seasonal flu vaccine supply issues in some areas. The NHS is working to ensure that any local vaccine shortages are managed effectively.
The Department is working with the NHS at the local level to ensure available supplies of surplus vaccine are moved to where there is a need for them. The chief medical officer wrote to GPs in England on 6 January to confirm that they can use the H1N1 monovalent flu vaccine Pandemrix, which will help protect people most at risk against the H1N1 virus which is causing the most illness. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library.
There are potentially over 12 million doses of Pandemrix available to the NHS if needed.
Food Intolerances
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the most recent scientific advice he has received is on the effects on the health of (a) children, (b) the elderly and (c) pregnant women of exposure to dioxins through the food chain. [33355]
Anne Milton: In 2007 the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment confirmed the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for dioxins, which would protect humans including children, the elderly and pregnant women from all the toxic effects of these chemicals. In January 2011, the Food Standards Agency used this TDI as the basis for assessing the risks from food products arising from the use of liquid pasteurised egg made from eggs laid by hens exposed to contaminated animal feed from Germany.
Food Intolerances: Children
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what studies his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned in the last 10 years on food ingredients and their effect on children's behaviour; and whether he plans to (i) undertake and (ii) commission further such research; [33293]
(2) what research his Department has (a) undertaken, (b) commissioned and (c) evaluated on the relationship between food intolerances and the behaviour of children in the last 10 years. [33291]
Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has commissioned and funded two studies in 1997 and 2004 which focused on whether there is any association between consumption of certain mixtures of artificial food additives and hyperactive behaviour in children. The findings of both studies have been made available and were evaluated in 2007 along with other relevant information by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (the independent scientific committee that advises Government Departments and agencies on the toxicity of chemicals) as well as being discussed and reviewed by the FSA Board and Health Ministers.
In addition, the FSA commissioned and funded a systematic review of the evidence on the effects of nutrition, diet and dietary change on children's learning, behaviour and school performance. A total of 29 trials were taken forward in the review, including studies examining the effect of breakfast, sugar intake, fish oil supplements, vitamin and mineral supplements and good nutrition. This review was unable to reach firm conclusions on the effect of diet on children's performance and behaviour. The findings of the review were made available on the FSA website and published in a peer reviewed journal in 2008.
There are no plans to commission any further research.
Heart Diseases
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many planned admissions there were for heart surgery following acute myocardial infarction in (a) each primary care trust and (b) England in each of the last five years; [33651]
(2) how many finished consultant episodes there were following acute myocardial infarction in (a) each primary care trust and (b) England in each of the last five years. [33654]
Mr Simon Burns: A table showing the number of finished consultant episodes with a primary diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction by primary care trust of residence and England from 2005-06 to 2009-10 has been placed in the Library.
Data are not collected for planned admissions for heart surgery following acute myocardial infarction.
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were offered cardiac rehabilitation following acute myocardial infarction in (a) each primary care trust and (b) England in each of the last five years. [33652]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not collect information about the number of patients who are offered cardiac rehabilitation following an acute myocardial infarction.
However, there are data on cardiac rehabilitation available from the latest National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation's (NACR) report which can be found on the NACR's website at:
This includes information about the number of patients who have had cardiac rehabilitation following a myocardial infarction.
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the need for outcome measures in respect of readmission rates following acute myocardial infarction within the proposed NHS Outcomes framework. [33653]
Mr Simon Burns: On 20 December, we published 'The NHS Outcomes Framework 2011/12/, which set out the outcomes and corresponding indicators that will be used to hold the NHS Commissioning Board to account for delivering better outcomes for patients. The document is available at:
A copy has already been placed in the Library.
In determining the selection of the final indicators for the framework, the Department considered all suggestions and comments received through the public consultation, and analysed all potential indicators against a set of criteria. As part of this process, we have considered outcomes measures relating to readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Detailed explanations of the rationales for the selection of the outcomes and indicators are set out in chapter 2 of 'The NHS Outcomes Framework 2011/12' (pages 10-32).
The outcomes and indicators have been chosen with a view to creating a balanced set of national outcome goals, which reflect the breadth of treatment activity for which the national health service is responsible. It will therefore, not be possible to include outcome indicators for all specific diseases and long-term conditions. Instead, where appropriate, indicators have been selected which seek to capture those outcomes that an individual with any condition would consider important.
HIV Infection
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the variation between local authority areas in respect of infection rates for HIV. [33177]
Anne Milton: In our White Paper 'Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England', published on 30 November 2010, we set out ambitions for the future of public health. Core features are the establishment of a new body, Public Health England, as part of the Department, and the return to local government of public health leadership and responsibility. A copy of the White Paper has already been placed in the Library.
On 20 December 2010, we published the consultation document 'Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Transparency in Outcomes'. The document sets out how we will be shifting power to local communities, enabling them to improve health across people's lives, reduce inequalities and focus on the needs of the local population. We will make it easier for local areas to compare themselves with others across the country, and where possible how performance is changing within areas, and lever improvements. One of the proposed indicators is "Proportion of persons presenting with HIV at a late stage of infection". A copy of the consultation document has already been placed in the Library.
Hospital Beds
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to prevent bed blocking in NHS facilities; [33265]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the number of patients who are in hospital because of difficulty in determining a discharge destination. [33266]
Paul Burstow: Information on delayed transfers of care has never been collected in the level of detail necessary to estimate how many are due to difficulty determining the discharge destination, because the essential business needs of the Department cannot justify the additional administrative burden on the bodies that would have to provide the data.
It is the responsibility of the national health service and its local partners, including social service departments, to ensure that no patient remains in a hospital bed for longer than clinically necessary, and that any ongoing care and support can begin promptly and the individual is restored to independent living in the community as quickly as possible.
This requires better working across the NHS and social care and so we have provided the funding and clear direction in the NHS Operating Framework for the NHS and local government to make this happen. In October, we announced £70 million for re-ablement in 2010-11. From April, this will rise to £150 million and after that, £300 million each year has been earmarked for re-ablement up to March 2015. The NHS Operating Framework 2011-12 requires the NHS to work with its social care partners in developing plans for investing in re-ablement services.
In addition, we announced that following a successful efficiency drive, the Department is able to make an extra £162 million available to the NHS for transfer to social care to spend in this financial year on helping people to leave hospital more quickly, get settled back at home with the support they need, and to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital.
Influenza: Vaccination
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons GPs were not required to contact carers to offer an influenza vaccination in the winter of 2010-11; and if he will encourage GPs to provide vaccinations at home. [33674]
Anne Milton: There has been no change to the approach and guidance in respect of seasonal influenza vaccination and carers this winter. The chief medical officer wrote to the national health service on 23 June setting out the arrangements for the 2010-11 influenza vaccination programme. This advice stated that seasonal influenza vaccine should be offered to those in receipt of a carer's allowance, or those who are the main carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.
The place where the vaccination is administered is a matter to be determined locally. If patients or carers are unable to attend a surgery or clinic for vaccination, we would expect alternative arrangements, including home visits, to be undertaken.
Insulin: Finance
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage NHS healthcare trusts to provide funding and support for insulin pump therapy for children with diabetes. [33339]
Paul Burstow: The 2011-12 NHS operating framework highlights the provision of insulin pumps. It states that,
"NHS commissioners and providers must do more to ensure insulin pumps are available for those people with diabetes that meet the criteria recommended by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence".
The NHS National Technology Adoption Centre has published guidance to support national health service organisations in the adoption of insulin pumps. In addition, Dr Rowan Hillson, the National Clinical Director for Diabetes is currently chairing a working group that focus on the uptake of insulin pumps.
Interim Cancer Drugs Fund
Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that patients with rare cancers have equitable access to funding for their treatment through the Interim Cancer Drugs Fund. [33502]
Paul Burstow: Decisions on which cancer drugs are funded from the additional £50 million made available in this financial year are a matter for local clinically-led panels based on the advice of cancer specialists. We expect these decisions to be informed by the guidance issued by the Department to strategic health authorities in July 2010, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
We are currently consulting on our proposals for the Cancer Drugs Fund which will operate from April 2011. The consultation asks for views on what advice we can give the clinically-led panels on the specific challenge posed by rarity and whether guidance should be issued on prioritising the fund application process, for example to rarer cancers.
The consultation document "The Cancer Drugs Fund: A Consultation" is available at:
and a copy has already been placed in the Library. The consultation is open until 19 January 2011.
Ipswich Hospital: Manpower
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses and (b) auxiliary nurses were employed at Ipswich hospital in each of the last five years. [33017]
Mr Simon Burns: The following table shows hospital figures of nurses at Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust as at 30 September each year.
Lyme Disease
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data his Department holds on the number of people diagnosed with Lyme disease in each region in each of the last three years; what his most recent estimate is of the incidence of Lyme disease in the South East; and what recent steps have been taken to prevent the spread of Lyme disease in that area. [33208]
Anne Milton: Data on confirmed cases of Lyme disease are not routinely available by region. Data on laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales for the last three years are provided by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) as follows:
| Total reports received | Mean annual incidence per 100,000 population | |
Specific analysis of provisional data for 2009 by the HPA indicates that for the south-east health region, the incidence of confirmed cases of Lyme disease was 4.85/100,000.
Information for the public on prevention and control of Lyme disease is published on the Health Protection Agency's website and is also available for travellers on the National Travel Health Network and Centre.
Medical Schools
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the required national curriculum for medical schools relates to geriatric care. [33072]
Anne Milton:
There is no required national curriculum for medical schools. Each medical school is responsible for developing its own curriculum. The General Medical Council (GMC) has statutory responsibility to determine the extent and knowledge and skill required for the granting of primary medical qualifications in the United Kingdom. It is the responsibility of the medical schools to ensure that their detailed individual curricula meet
the standards set by the GMC, which are set out in their document Tomorrow's Doctors. This is available at:
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: Drugs
Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what modification criteria are applied by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence when appraising drugs with potential patient numbers of less than 500. [33501]
Mr Simon Burns: Following the referral of a topic to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), technology appraisal guidance is developed in accordance with NICE'S published process and methods guides.
In 2009, NICE issued supplementary advice to its Appraisal Committees to clarify the circumstances in which it might be appropriate to recommend potentially life-extending treatments licensed for terminal illnesses affecting small numbers of patients, as long as other criteria are also met.
Further information on NICE'S methods of technology appraisal, including the supplementary advice issued in 2009, is available at:
www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/howwework/devnicetech/technologyappraisalprocessguides/guidetothemeth odsoftechnologyappraisal.jsp
NHS Work Force Consultation
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the forthcoming NHS workforce consultation will include the adaptation of that work force to the requirements of an ageing population. [33071]
Mr Simon Burns: "Liberating the NHS: Developing the healthcare workforce", a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, was published on 20 December 2010. It proposes that responsibility for planning and developing the work force is devolved to healthcare providers.
Healthcare providers are best placed to determine the size and shape of their own work force to respond to the needs of their staff, patients and local communities.
NHS: Older People
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made a recent estimate of the cost incurred by the NHS in respect of the treatment in hospital of elderly patients as a result of falls in the home. [33179]
Paul Burstow: Hip fractures remain the most serious consequence of a fall and the Department's recent estimate indicate that around 76,000 hip fractures occur in the United Kingdom each year, and cost the national health service around £1.4 billion.
Falls are not an inevitable consequence of old age; rather they are nearly always due to one or more underlying risk factors. Common risk factors include occurrence of a previous fall, gait and balance problems, muscle weakness,
cognitive impairment, for example from dementia or delirium, multiple medications (notably sedatives), visual impairment, fainting and acute medical illness.
The Government have not made a recent estimate of costs to the NHS in respect of the treatment in hospital of elderly patients resulting from falls in the home. The data that the Department collect on hospital admissions are based on diagnosis, as opposed to the cause of illness or accidents.
NHS: Recruitment
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the annual cost to the NHS of recruiting staff as a consequence of the implementation of the European Working Time Directive. [33262]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally. It is for individual national health service trusts to ensure that their service rotas are designed and staffed appropriately.
NHS: Waiting Lists
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information (a) primary care trusts, (b) GPs and (c) hospitals are required to provide to patients on their rights to access services within maximum waiting times; and if he will make a statement; [33668]
(2) what forms of redress NHS commissioners are able to offer to patients who are not treated within maximum waiting times; and if he will make a statement. [33669]
Mr Simon Burns: On 1 April 2010, the Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities (Waiting Times) Directions 2010 came into effect. These established the rights for a patient to start consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks from referral and be seen by a specialist within two weeks of general practitioner referral for suspected cancer, or where this is not possible, for the national health service to take all reasonable steps to offer the patient a quicker appointment at a range of alternative providers if the patient makes such a request.
Guidance for commissioners and providers on fulfilling their legal and contractual obligations in relation to patients' rights to access services within maximum waiting times was published on 8 March 2010. This includes good practice on raising patient awareness of their maximum waiting times rights.
Copies of the directions and guidance have been placed in the Library.
Patients: Transport
Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has he made of the effectiveness of the service provided by Savoy Ventures Ltd under its contract for non-urgent patient transport at the South London Healthcare Trust; and whether this level of performance differs from that of the previous contractor. [34118]
Mr Simon Burns: This is a matter for the local national health service.
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the number of people in England who (a) currently use a pre-payment certificate and (b) purchased a pre-payment certificate in each of the last five years. [32627]
Mr Simon Burns: Information is not collected on the number of people using a prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC). Information on the number of PPCs valid on 17 December 2010 is shown in the following table.
| PPCs active( 1) on 17 December 2010 (England)( 2) | |
| Certificate duration | Number |
| (1) The PPC expiry date was on or after 17 December 2010. (2) PPCs can have a start date one month prior to or one month after the date the application is received by NHS HwHC . Therefore the number of active PPCs on 17 December may increase if backdated PPCs are issued. Source: National Health Service Help with Health Costs (HwHC) PPC database | |
The number of PPCs issued or purchased since 2005-06 is as follows.
Primary Care Trusts: Prisoners
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal of 21 December 2010, Official Report, column 1288W, on primary care trusts: prisoners, (1) how much was paid to GPs for drug treatment in Ranby prison in each of the last three years; [33336]
(2) for what reason no figures were reported at Ranby prison in the last three years. [33337]
Paul Burstow: Information on payments to general practitioners (GPs) for providing prison health care services is not collected by the Department. Since 2006, primary care trusts (PCTs) have commissioned health services in publicly run prisons in England and available information about payments made to GPs for drug services in Ranby prison is held by Bassetlaw PCT.
In common with many other trainer prisons, Ranby prison did not disclose, any data to the National Offender Management Service about the number of prisoners receiving drug treatment in this prison in any of the last three financial years, thus this data is not collected by the Department in respect of Ranby prison.
The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse collects data on the number of individual prisoners at Ranby prison who commenced drug treatment in 2008-09 and 2009-10 only and is shown in the following table.
| Ranby prison: number of individuals commencing drug treatment and clinical performance in 2008-09 and 2009-10 | ||||||||
| No. of new receptions (No. of initial health care screens) | No. entering drug treatment | % of new receptions entering drug treatment( 1) | No. of initial health care screens that result in clinical substance misuse assessment | No. receiving first night prescribing | No. of opioid stabilisations commenced | No. of opioid detoxifications commenced | No. of opioid maintenance prescriptions commenced | |
| (1) Data for numbers entering drug treatment may include alcohol clients and is the CARATS (Counselling, Assessment, Referral and Throughcare Services) caseload number of clients requiring non-clinical, lower level interventions. Source: National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse-Performance Data | ||||||||
Thame Community Hospital
John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support his Department has provided for the re-development of Thame Community Hospital; and what recent assessment he has made of the delivery of that project. [33024]
Mr Simon Burns: The Thame Community Hospital redevelopment is one of 28 schemes approved under the community hospital programme.
The primary care trust (PCT) schedule for the Thame scheme had previously indicated a requirement for funding of £4 million over the 2010-11 and 2011-12 financial years, and the Department had provisionally allocated £2.28 million for 2010-11. As a result of revisions made to the project timetable by the PCT, in the light of changing local priorities, the project no longer requires any financial support from the Department in the 2010-11 financial year. Capital allocations for 2011-12 have yet to be finalised.
With respect to an assessment of the delivery of the project, South Central Strategic Health Authority will assess this when they receive the outline business case later this year.
Tobacco: Retail Trade
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his timetable is for introducing the proposed ban on the display of tobacco products in retail outlets. [33752]
Anne Milton: The legislation ending displays of tobacco products is scheduled to commence for large shops on 1 October 2011 and for small shops on 1 October 2013.
The Government are looking at options around the display of tobacco in shops, recognising the need to take action both to reduce tobacco consumption and to reduce burdens on businesses.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Arab States: Overseas Trade
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on promoting trade with Arab countries and formulating strategic government assistance to UK companies trying to export to the Arab world. [33720]
Alistair Burt: The Government are committed to building closer relationships with all our partners in the Gulf and the wider middle east and north Africa, and promoting more UK trade and investment with the region. I am in close touch with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on this.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are working closely with my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Green, and colleagues in UK Trade and Investment, in delivering advice and assistance to UK exporters in line with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Gulf and Commercial Diplomacy Initiatives.
Australia: Floods
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to assist Australia in respect of recent flooding in Queensland. [33629]
Mr Jeremy Browne: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has spoken to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and offered UK assistance should it be required. Despite the scale of the floods, her advice was that they did not need international support at this stage.
Officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in coordination with Whitehall Departments, are actively engaged with the Australian authorities on what assistance the UK may be able to provide.
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received any requests for assistance from the Government of Australia in dealing with the recent serious floods in that country. [33906]
Mr Jeremy Browne: I can confirm that I have received no request for assistance from the Government of Australia in dealing with the recent serious flooding in Queensland, but we continue to stay in close contact with them.
British Nationals Abroad: Homicide
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department plans to discuss the Support After Murder and Manslaughter Abroad draft Memorandum of Understanding with the (a) Home Office and (b) Ministry of Justice. [33797]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Consular officials are discussing the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with the National Policing Improvement Agency, who are co-ordinating with the other possible parties-Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Coroners Society. We will discuss with the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office, if appropriate, in due course.
China: EU External Trade
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the EU embargo on exports of arms and military technology to China. [33595]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government's view is that the time is not right to lift the EU Arms Embargo on China.
Departmental Visits Abroad
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which foreign counties have not been visited by a Minister from his Department in the last three years. [29477]
Alistair Burt: The following table shows countries visited by Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers where costs incurred exceeded £500 in the last three financial years: 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. We do not hold records of trips under £500 centrally, and obtaining this information would incur disproportionate cost.
Between May and December 2010, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers visited the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Chile, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, New Zealand, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Yemen, and the British Overseas Territories of Anguilla and the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Further details on Ministerial visits can be found at:
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