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19 Jan 2011 : Column 822W—continued
Prisons: Personnel
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison staff he expects to accept voluntary redundancy or early retirement in the next 12 months. [34258]
Mr Blunt: A targeted Voluntary Early Departure Scheme across NOMS closed to applications on 10 January 2011. We are currently assessing the applications received. Additionally we expect that we will need to offer voluntary exit terms to some prison staff as part of the recently announced closures of HMP Ashwell and HMP Lancaster Castle. The exact numbers will not be known for some weeks. Further organisational reviews are likely to identify additional requirements but we will not know the exact number until the reviews are concluded.
Prisons: Overcrowding
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate he has made of the level of overcrowding in the prison estate. [34550]
Mr Blunt: The average rate of overcrowding in the prison estate in England and Wales in 2009-10 was 24%.
Source:
National Offender Management Service Annual Report and Accounts 2009-10, Ministry of Justice;
Prosecutions: Tattooing
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions there have been of tattooists for the tattooing of children under the age of 16 in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [34386]
Mr Blunt: Data for offences under the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969 cannot be separately identified on the Ministry of Justice Court proceedings database as they form part of a miscellaneous group which cannot be separately analysed.
Tribunals
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what powers he has to monitor tribunal proceedings; what powers he has to remove members of tribunals; and if he will make a statement. [34437]
Mr Djanogly: Tribunal proceedings are overseen by independent members of the judiciary. The Secretary of State for Justice does not have powers to monitor tribunal proceedings. There are provisions in all jurisdictions which allow for decisions of a tribunal to be challenged by way of internal review, onward appeal or a judicial review.
The Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 provides the Lord Chancellor with the power to remove members of the Upper Tribunal or First-tier Tribunal on the grounds of inability or misbehaviour. The Lord Chancellor's power to remove other tribunal judges (such as those in the employment tribunal) is set out in other legislation. The exercise of the Lord Chancellor's statutory power of removal usually requires the concurrence of Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Lord President or the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland as appropriate.
Tribunals: Colchester
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many tribunals were held in Colchester under each chairman in the last 12 months; and how many appeals under each chairman were (a) upheld and (b) dismissed. [34436]
Mr Djanogly: The first-tier tribunal-Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) does not hold the information requested. The information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost by manually checking each individual case file.
However, the following table provides information on the number of SSCS cases heard in the Colchester venue during the period October 2009 to September 2010. This is the most recent period for which statistics have been published.
| Number | |
Defence
Armed Forces: Absence Without Leave
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel including those in training aged under 18 years (a) were recorded as absent without leave and (b) deserted in each year from 2001 to 2010. [33962]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Food
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel are on the Daily Ration Roll at Fort Blockhouse, Gosport. [33811]
Mr Robathan: There are 86 permanent service personnel on the daily ration roll at Fort Blockhouse, Gosport. In addition, as at week ending 14 January 2011, there were also 152 personnel undertaking training on the daily ration roll. This number is subject to change on a weekly basis due to course intakes.
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on the missed meals and meals out allowance at the Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit, Portsmouth in the latest period for which figures are available. [33812]
Mr Robathan: The latest period for which figures are available on the expenditure of missed meals and meals out allowance at Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit, Portsmouth is April to December 2010. The amount spent was £2,543.92.
Armed Forces: Pensions
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel who have served in Special Forces receive an armed forces pension. [34097]
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many service personnel who served as part of the Special Air Service are in receipt of both an armed forces pension and payment from a compensation scheme; [34304]
(2) what the (a) average, (b) highest and (c) lowest annual pension payment was to service personnel who served as part of the Special Forces in each of the last 10 years; [34307]
(3) what the (a) average, (b) highest and (c) lowest annual compensation payment was to service personnel who served as part of the Special Forces in each of the last 10 years. [34308]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 18 January 2011]: This information is not held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost and, in any event, it is the long standing policy of the Ministry of Defence not to comment on matters concerning Special Forces.
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) average, (b) highest and (c) lowest annual pension payment to service personnel who served in World War Two was in 2009-10. [34181]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 17 January 2011]: The average, highest and lowest annual pension payments under the Armed Forces Pension scheme (AFPS) to service personnel known to have served during World War Two are not held in the format requested.
Personnel who have an injury or illness caused by, or aggravated by their service can also qualify for a war disablement pension (WDP) under the War Pension scheme (WPS). The average, highest and lowest annual
pension payments under the WPS awarded specifically to World War Two veterans are not held in the format requested. Weekly amounts in payment as at 30 September 2010 are, however, available for all personnel in receipt of a WDP, irrespective of when they served, and these are set out in the following table:
| Weekly WPS pension (£) | |
| Note: Amounts quoted include any associated WPS allowances received. | |
Armed Forces: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces (a) are being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and (b) have been treated in each of the last five years. [34209]
Mr Robathan: The following table details the number of patients attending a Ministry of Defence Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) initially assessed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the period 1 January 2007 to 30 September 2010.
| PTSD cases | |
These figures report only new attendances and since July 2009 new episodes of care, but not all those who were receiving treatment. Equivalent verified data prior to 2007 are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
This answer incorporates data from the Annual UK Armed Forces Mental Health Report which includes statistics on PTSD.
Armed Forces: Young People
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of armed forces personnel including those in training were aged under 18 years in each (a) corps and (b) regiment in 2009-10. [33961]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is provided in the following tables:
| Under 18 UK regular naval service personnel by branch at 1 April 2010 | ||
| Branch | Under 18s | Percentage under 18 |
| Under 18 UK regular army by arm/service at 1 April 2010 | ||
| Arm/service | Under 18s | Percentage under 18 |
Defence: Sales
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what serviceable (a) aircraft, (b) vessels and (c) weapons systems his Department has sold since 1997; and how much it received from each such sale. [33749]
Mr Gerald Howarth: I will write to the hon. Member shortly.
Departmental Art Works
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2010, Official Report, column 278W, on departmental art works, what budgetary provision he has made for covering the insurance costs of damage or loss of his Department's collection of fine arts and antiquities; and what proportion of the settlement for his Department for each year of the comprehensive spending review period this comprises. [33813]
Mr Robathan: No budget has been allocated to insuring the Ministry of Defence (MOD) art collection against damage or loss. In common with other Defence fixed assets, the MOD art collection is not insured. The risk of damage or loss is accepted by the Government.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2010, Official Report, column 8W, on departmental art works, what consideration was given to the value of his Department's art collection in his Department's submission to the Treasury as part of the comprehensive spending review process. [33815]
Mr Robathan: None. In line with the policy the Department for Culture, Media and Sport applies to the Government art collection, no estimate is maintained for the value of artwork and antiques in the Ministry of Defence art collection. There would be a high cost associated with valuing the collection that outweighs the value of holding the information.
HMS Ocean
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's contractual obligations are in respect of the refit of HMS Ocean; and if he will make a statement. [33747]
Peter Luff: The Prime Minister confirmed on 19 October 2010, Official Report, columns 810-11, that the refit for HMS Ocean will go ahead. In preparation for this work, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has placed contracts for some small preliminary studies to be conducted.
As part of the upkeep programme for all complex Royal Navy vessels, HMS Ocean's refit is subject to ongoing discussions involving members of the Surface Ship Support Alliance (the Ministry of Defence, Babcock Marine and BAE Systems Surface Ships). As no final decisions have yet been taken within the alliance, the MOD has not made any other contractual obligations for HMS Ocean's upkeep period, though we are committed to working closely with our industry partners to distribute upkeep work on a 'best for enterprise basis'.
Met Office
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the adequacy of the statistical and scientific evidence used by the Met Office in its predictions. [34310]
Mr Robathan: The adequacy of the statistical and scientific evidence used by the Met Office is regularly and independently assessed through the Met Office Scientific Advisory Committee and the Met Office Hadley Centre Science Review Group.
Ad hoc reviews are carried out from time to time. For example, the 2009 Sir John Lawton Review of the Met Office Hadley Centre concluded that it is one of the leading group of modelling institutes world wide and Sir John Beddington's 2010 Review of Climate Science Advice to Government confirmed it represents a critical national capability, with a central role of meeting the Government's requirements for climate evidence and advice.
In addition, Met Office science regularly appears as peer-reviewed articles in journals. In 2009, a survey published by the Times Higher Education ranked the Met Office Hadley Centre as the top institution in geosciences in the world, ahead of both Harvard and Princeton universities, based on the number of citations each research centre received for its peer-reviewed papers between 1999 and 2009.
Met Office: Privatisation
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on privatisation of the Met Office; and if he will make a statement. [33976]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence regularly reviews its trading funds to ensure that they have the most appropriate structure and status that deliver value for money to the taxpayer and government, without eroding their ability to support their government primary policy objectives.
I have commissioned a review of the Met Office which is looking at a number of options, including the privatisation of the Met Office.
This will report on its findings in the spring.
Met Office: Standards
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanism he has put in place to evaluate the performance of the Met Office. [34309]
Mr Robathan: The Public Weather Service Customer Group, which is funded by Government bodies and led by an independent chairperson, regularly monitors the Met Office's performance in terms of its public weather service outputs and forecasts.
The Met Office Board also monitors, scrutinises and challenges the Met Office's performance. The Board is led by an independent non-executive chairperson, supported by non-executive directors.
Additionally, I chair an annual Met Office Owner's Council which further reviews the Met Office's performance.
North Korea: Nuclear Weapons
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made an assessment of the range of ballistic missiles possessed by (a) North Korea and (b) Iran; and if he will make a statement. [34060]
Nick Harvey: We continually monitor the ballistic missile capabilities of non-NATO nations and are active participants in the Missile Technology Control Regime, which seeks to restrict the proliferation of missiles and related technology for those systems capable of carrying a 500 kilograms payload at least 300 kilometres.
Both Iran and North Korea already possess a significant ballistic missile capability that can reach other countries within their respective regions and both countries are also pursuing technologies relevant to the development of significantly longer range ballistic missiles, potentially capable of reaching all of Europe, including the UK.
USA: AWE Management
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2010, Official Report, column 458W, on nuclear weapons, if he will publish the letter to the hon. Member for Newport West on visits to US establishments by AWE personnel in the last three years. [34160]
Peter Luff: Yes. A copy of my letter will be published in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
War Widows: Pensions
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many women are in receipt of a war widows pension from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme as a result of the death of a spouse serving in Afghanistan; [33994]
(2) how many men are in receipt of a war widowers pension from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme; [34077]
(3) how many men are in receipt of a war widowers pension from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme as a result of the death of a spouse serving in Afghanistan. [34078]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 17 January 2011]: The Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) is the occupational pension scheme for the three services including the reserves. The War Pension Scheme (WPS) is a benefit programme that provides no fault compensation to former service personnel and their dependants for injuries and death as a result of service before 6 April 2005.
Under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) financial support is available in the form of a Survivor's Guaranteed Income Payment (SGIP) for the surviving dependants of service personnel who have died as a result of service on or after 6 April 2005. Surviving dependants include spouses (husband/wife/entitled partner) and children.
The number of women and men in receipt of a pension under AFPS, WPS or a SGIP under AFCS, due to the death of a spouse or partner in Afghanistan, is set out in the following table:
| Widows | Widowers | |
| (1) Figures for AFPS are as at 14 January 2011. (2) Fewer than 5. (3) Figures for WPS and AFCS are as at 30 September 2010. Note: All figures have been rounded to the nearest 5. | ||
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what progress he has made on his Department's target of creating 50,000 additional apprenticeship places by April 2011; and if he will make a statement; [33680]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that its target of creating 50,000 additional apprenticeship places by April 2011 will be achieved; and if he will make a statement. [33681]
Mr Hayes: We have made a good start on delivering the additional 50,000 adult places this year and are working with the National Apprenticeship Service to encourage colleges and providers to prioritise the growth in apprenticeships. Final figures for the 2010-11 financial year will be published in a National Statistics First Release in January 2012.
We have set ambitious goals for expansion of the programme and remain confident that they will be achieved, not least through the National Apprenticeships Service's work to support employers, colleges and training organisations across the country to make these additional apprenticeship places available where there is local demand.
While the Government make funding available for apprenticeship training, the opportunities themselves must be offered by employers. Already 85,000 employers are involved in the programme but we want to make
apprenticeships an even more attractive offer to them. We are therefore reducing bureaucracy making the system simpler for employers and are considering how we might better support them through improved funding arrangements. The National Apprenticeships Service (NAS) is also continuing to promote the benefits of Apprenticeships to employers. For example, in November 2010, joining forces with business leaders in a campaign to urge more employers to take on apprenticeships. National Apprenticeship Week in February will also see apprentices, employers, and providers showcase the benefits of apprenticeship programmes and the value apprentices bring to organisations.
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the abolition of the Train to Gain programme does not reduce the number of apprenticeship places available; and if he will make a statement. [33682]
Mr Hayes: Apprenticeships are at the centre of the skills system. Surveys of learner and employers regularly show that apprenticeships are valued by employers and individual apprentices appreciate the fact that the apprenticeships given them both an entry route into work and a ladder to progress in their chosen career.
In May we announced that £150 million would be redirected to apprenticeships during the 2010-11 financial year to provide an additional 50,000 starts. As secured as part of the spending review (SR) settlement, we will be able to carry forward these additional 50,000 places into future years and an extra 25,000 by 2014-25(1). By the end of the current SR this Government will be providing sufficient funding to support 75,000 more adult apprenticeship places relative to the previous Government.
Since May 2010 we have repeatedly stated the focus of work based learning was shifting to apprenticeships and have set ambitious goals for expansion of the apprenticeships programme. We remain confident that these goals will be achieved, not least through the National Apprenticeships Service's work to promote apprenticeships and to support employers, colleges and training organisations across the country to make these additional apprenticeship places available where there is local demand. We have chosen to abolish Train to Gain and invest in longer and more comprehensive apprenticeships programmes because of the higher economic return apprenticeships yield.
( 1) Source
Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth, published by BIS, 16 November 2010.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the adequacy of the level of training available for apprentices in the housing industry; and if he will make a statement. [34260]
Mr Hayes: Construction Skills and Summit Skills are the Sector Skills Councils with responsibility for setting occupational standards and ensuring that suitable apprenticeship frameworks are in place for the housing industry.
The Department will ask for an assessment of the adequacy and sufficiency of apprenticeship training in the industry and I will write to the hon. Member when I have received and considered the response.
The following table shows apprenticeship starts for the construction framework from 2002/03, to 2009/10 (provisional data). The number of people starting an apprenticeship in the construction industry has declined in recent years, which reflects overall employment levels in the sector.
| Apprenticeship starts for construction framework, 2002/03 to 2009/10 | |
| Construction | Apprenticeship starts |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Provisional numbers for 2009/10 are not comparable with previous years. There can be significant variation between provisional and final estimates and typically these numbers can be expected to be revised upwards. While subsequent revisions to 2009/10 data may be different from previous years, in 2008/09 the final number of starts was up to approximately 2.5% higher. Source: Individualised Learner Record | |
Business: North East
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support his Department has provided to small businesses in (a) the North East, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last three years. [33592]
Mr Prisk: The Department of Business Innovation and Skills funds business support which is currently delivered via the Regional Development Agencies through the Business Link regional advisory service. One NorthEast (ONE) the regional development agency (RDA) covering North East England, does not generally record information on a constituency basis. It is therefore not possible to source the relevant information by constituency on the grounds of disproportionate costs.
However, Annex A gives figures for the number of start-up and established business service users (excluding pre-starts) assisted by ONE in each of the last three financial years. It is likely that some of these businesses will have accessed both commercially available and publicly funded support in the North East, the Tees Valley, and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.
| Annex A | |||
| Business users | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11( 1) |
| (1) Up to December 2010. | |||
ICT: Departmental Responsibilities
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in respect of which digital economy and telecommunications matters the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries reports to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills as well as to the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport. [33620]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 17 January 2011]: The Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries no longer reports to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Job Creation: Renewable Energy
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in the low-carbon and environmental foods and services sector which will be created as a result of expenditure on renewable energy technology. [34510]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 18 January 2011]: In 2008/09 renewable energy in the UK was estimated to employ 266,000, generating a turnover of £33,000 million, equating to approximately 30% of employment and turnover in the low-carbon and environmental goods and services sector. The definition of renewable energy used includes; biomass, geothermal, hydro, photovoltaic, renewable consulting, wave, tidal and wind. This sub-sector is forecasted to grow annually at around 5% to 2015/16.
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to paragraph 2.33 of the Local Growth White Paper, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure the transfer of the regional development agency staff to (a) local enterprise partnerships and (b) other successor bodies. [34418]
Mr Prisk: It is not expected that staff will transfer from regional development agencies (RDA) to local enterprise partnerships as the LEPs are not necessarily expected to continue former RDA functions. The Department has issued guidance to the RDAs to be followed where functions will be transferring to successor bodies where either the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations or Cabinet Office Statement of Practice processes may apply.
Medicine: Education
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of graduates who completed a second degree in medicine received NHS sponsorship in each of the last five years. [33327]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 13 January 2011]: Providing information on NHS sponsorship is the responsibility of the Department of Health and they have provided the following response:
Information on the proportion of medical graduates who completed a second degree in medicine and received NHS support is not available centrally.
The table provides information on the number of English domiciled students and 'European Union fees only' students who received NHS support while studying on a graduate entry medical degree, in England, in each of the last five years.
| Academic year | Number of students |
| Source: NHS Business Services Authority Student Bursaries Scheme database | |
Regional Development Agencies: Redundancies
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the sum identified for winding down regional development agencies over the comprehensive spending review period he estimates will be used to (a) pay staff redundancies and (b) cancel operating contracts. [34565]
Mr Prisk: The spending review settlement for RDAs provides £464 million over four years, covering various salaries, redundancies, transition/closure costs and pension liabilities. Of this, the preliminary estimate is that up to 22% may be required to cover redundancy costs. It is not, however, possible to estimate this figure with certainty because the number of staff who will be working on continuing functions (such as European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) etc.) has not been finalised and staff are also leaving on other bases such as through resignation. The cost of cancelling or varying operating contracts is not yet known and will be subject both to negotiation with the parties concerned and securing the best value outcome for the taxpayer.
Royal Mail: Privatisation
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the likely effect on the Livingston and Bathgate sorting offices of implementation of his proposal to privatise Royal Mail. [34695]
Mr Davey: The current position, under Government ownership, is that decisions relating to Royal Mail's operational requirements, for example how delivery offices and mail centres operate, are matters for the Royal Mail Board. This will remain the case once private sector investment and disciplines have been introduced into the company.
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the likely effect on the Post Office network in Livingston constituency of implementation of his proposal to privatise Royal Mail. [34696]
Mr Davey: Operationally Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd are reliant on one another and will continue to be partners because of the overwhelming commercial imperative for the two businesses to work together.
The chief executive of Royal Mail, Moya Greene, has recently said:
"There is already a very strong and enduring commercial relationship between the Post Office and Royal Mail. It is clearly in the interests of us all that this strong relationship is maintained in the future. We are committed to securing as long an agreement with the Post Office as we are legally able to."
Students: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of offering tuition fee loans to part-time students in each of the next four years; and what proportion of the face value of those loans this cost represents in each such year. [33949]
Mr Willetts: The costs of extending tuition fee loan access to part time students will depend in large measure on the decisions higher education institutions take in setting their charges for tuition. These costs will be offset by the deficit reducing savings made through the phased withdrawal of direct teaching grant for part-time students.
Taking the extension fee loans to part times students in conjunction with all the other changes being made to the student finance system, we estimate the resource account budget (RAB) charge will be around 30% overall. However this will be dependent on the level of fees that institutions decide to charge.
Deputy Prime Minister
Constituency Size
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects his proposals for fewer and more equal-sized constituencies to be implemented. [33903]
Mr Harper: The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, currently being considered by another place, requires the Boundary Commissions to submit their reports before 1 October 2013. The Secretary of State or Lord President of the Council is required to lay before Parliament an Order in Council to bring the Commissions' recommendations into effect.
Diamond Jubilee 2012: Urban Areas
Ian Lucas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new British cities will be created by the Diamond Jubilee City Status Competition. [34493]
Mr Harper: The Government's expectation is that only one new city will be created as a result of the Diamond Jubilee competition.
I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 1 December 2010, Official Report, column 77WS, and to the information that has been made available on the Diamond Jubilee Civic Honours Q&A page of the website of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport:
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what process will be followed to determine which local authority has been successful in its bid for city status following the deadline for applications of 27 May 2011. [33665]
Mr Harper: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 1 December 2010, Official Report, column 77WS, and to the information that has been made available on the Diamond Jubilee Civic Honours Q&A page of the website of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport:
Rupert Murdoch
Paul Farrelly: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether (a) he and (b) officials in his office have had meetings in an official capacity with (i) Rupert Murdoch, (ii) James Murdoch, (iii) Rebekah Wade, (iv) individuals representing News International, (v) individuals representing News Corporation and (vi) individuals representing BSkyB since 4 November 2010. [34115]
The Deputy Prime Minister: A list of my official meetings with external organisations are published quarterly by the Cabinet Office. My officials have meetings in an official capacity with numerous organisations and individuals on a range of subjects: a list of these meetings is not held centrally.
Treasury
National Insurance Contributions
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason employers are required to continue paying national insurance contributions for employees who have reached state pension age; and for what reason no contribution is required from the employee. [34100]
Justine Greening: A single rate of employer national insurance contributions for all employees is simple and avoids introducing distortions in the labour market. The absence of employee national insurance contributions for those over state pension age reflects that those above state pension age are not entitled to working age contributory benefits or to accrue basic state pension entitlement.
Banks: Bonuses
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2011, Official Report, columns 153-66, on bank bonuses, (1) what consultation he plans to undertake on banks making a greater contribution to local economies and local communities; [34230]
(2) what categories of potential recipients of the proposed greater contribution to local economies and communities from the banking industry he has identified; [34231]
(3) on what criteria he intends to distribute the proposed greater contribution to local economies and communities from the banking industry between regions; [34232]
(4) which bodies he expects to be charged with distributing funds raised from the proposed greater contribution to local economies and communities from the banking industry; [34233]
(5) what recent discussions he has held with (a) regional bodies, (b) ministerial colleagues and (c) Government agencies on banks making a greater contribution to local economy and communities; [34234]
(6) which bodies he expects to administer additional contributions from banks to local economies and communities; [34235]
(7) what meetings on what dates he has had with representatives of the banking industry on increasing the industry's contribution to local economies and communities; and which individuals from which banking organisations attended each such meeting. [34236]
Mr Hoban: As the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated to the House on 11 January 2011, Official Report, columns 153-66, we are working with the banks to ensure that they make a greater contribution to local economies and communities. We will provide more detail to the House when the negotiations have been finalised.
As part of the Government's response to the "Financing a Private Sector Recovery" Green Paper, the banks, through the British Bankers' Association Business Finance Taskforce, have committed to a number of actions that will aid local economies and communities. This includes providing enhanced data on lending at a regional level and the establishment of a £1.5 billion equity fund which will help provide finance to the SMEs that form a vital part of many local communities and economies. Further information on the taskforce can be found on the BBA's website:
Companies: Registration
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) would not oppose the striking off of a company from the Register of Companies; and whether each notice of intention to strike a company from the Register of Companies is reviewed by HMRC. [33955]
Justine Greening: Every notice of intention to strike a company from the Register of Companies received from Companies House is reviewed and risk assessed.
HMRC objects to a notice of intention to strike off where there is a material risk of loss of tax, for example where there are outstanding debts or an ongoing inquiry into the company.
Financial Inclusion Fund
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to make an announcement on the future of the Financial Inclusion Fund. [34671]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Inclusion Fund will close at the end of March this year. The Government will work closely with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that tackling financial exclusion remains a high priority.
Financial Institutions
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the total cost to the public purse was of support and recapitalisation of financial institutions between September 2008 and April 2010; [34516]
(2) how much his Department expects to recoup of its outlay on supporting and recapitalising financial institutions between September 2008 and April 2010; and what the timescale is for the repayment. [34515]
Mr Hoban: Full breakdowns of financial support provided to UK banks are published by HM Treasury on a financial year basis. Details of the support provided for the years 2008-09 and 2009-2010 are set out in the Treasury's Resource Accounts for 2007-08 (HC 539) and 2008-09 (HC 611) and 2009-10 (HC261), respectively. For ease of reference I set out as follows total recapitalisations by year and institution.
| £ billion | ||||
| Institution | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Total |
The Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) published an updated estimate of the net direct fiscal cost of all financial sector interventions (including schemes other than bank recapitalizations, such as the Credit Guarantee Scheme) on 29 November 2010. The OBR's assessment of the net effect of these interventions forecasts a £2 billion profit for the taxpayer.
However, the eventual profit or loss to the taxpayer will only be realised on the sale of our shares and collection of all fees.
UK Financial Investments (UKFI) was set up by the Government to manage their investments in financial institutions (shareholdings in RBS and LBG; ownership of Northern Rock plc, Northern Rock Asset Management and Bradford and Bingley) at an arm's length and on a commercial basis. UKFI's remit is to devise and execute a strategy for disposing of the Government's investments in an orderly and active manner, within the context of an overarching objective of protecting and creating value for the taxpayer, paying due regard to financial stability and competition. UKFI will look at the full range of alternatives for divestment, and will make decisions based on market conditions, on an assessment of investor demand, and on value for money considerations at the time when considering a transaction.
Inflation
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the likely number of consecutive periods of higher than expected inflation necessitating a quarterly letter from the Governor of the Bank of England in 2011. [33964]
Justine Greening:
The independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England is responsible for inflation forecasts. The remit for the MPC requires the Governor to write to the Chancellor if CPI inflation
deviates from the 2% target by more than one percentage point. The remit requires a further letter after three months if inflation remains more than one percentage point above or below the target.
Members: Correspondence
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for York Central of 18 October 2010, reference 5/05681/10, on funding for environmental initiatives. [34238]
Justine Greening: I have replied to the hon. Member.
Multinational Companies: Accountancy
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the need for an international accounting standard for companies operating in the extractives industry to cover all listed multinational companies; and if he will make a statement. [33954]
Mr Davey: I have been asked to reply.
International accounting standards are the responsibility of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), which is independent of all Governments. The IASB is currently considering a standard for extractive industries.
Pensions: Teachers
Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he has had with the (a) Scottish Executive, (b) Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and (c) the Educational Institute of Scotland on the suspension of the 2009 valuation of the Scottish teachers' superannuation scheme; [34607]
(2) what plans he has for the (a) date and (b) criteria for his Department's next valuation of the Scottish teachers' superannuation scheme. [34610]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 18 January 2011]: I have had no discussions with the Scottish Executive, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Educational Institute of Scotland regarding the suspension of the 2009 valuation of the Scottish teachers' superannuation scheme. At the 2010 spending review, the Government announced their intention to carry out a public consultation on the discount rate used in unfunded public service pension scheme valuations to set contribution rates. Public service pension scheme valuations were therefore suspended until the review of the discount rate is complete.
Public service pension scheme valuations will recommence following the conclusion of the review of the discount rate used to set unfunded public service pension contributions. The timing and details of the valuation will be a matter for the responsible Department or devolved Administration, in this case the Scottish Executive.
Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time employees of HM Revenue and Customs at each grade were employed in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [34188]
Justine Greening: The number of part-time and full-time employees of HM Revenue and Customs employed in Northern Ireland in the last three years is shown in the following table.
| All headcount | ||||||
| 31 March 2008 | 31 March 2009 | 31 March 2010 | ||||
| FT | PT | FT | PT | FT | PT | |
Taxation: Digital Arts Industries
Simon Kirby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had on taxation of digital arts industries; and if he will make a statement. [34056]
Justine Greening: The Government's aim is to create the most competitive corporate tax regime in the G20.
The June 2010 Budget announced a package of reforms to business taxation, reducing rates of corporation tax for all companies. Companies in all sectors will benefit from these changes, including those in the digital arts industries.
VAT: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he made of the likely effects on the economy in Northern Ireland of the recent increase in the rate of value added tax before that increase came into effect. [34187]
Justine Greening: The answer to this question falls within the responsibilities of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and I have asked the OBR to reply.
Letter from Robert Chote, dated 14 January 2011:
As Chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee of the Office for Budget Responsibility I have been asked to reply to your recent question.
The OBR's November forecast incorporated the estimated impact of policy measures announced at or before the June Budget, including the increase in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent that took effect from 4 January 2011.
We have not assessed the impact of the change in VAT on the Northern Ireland economy. However, the OBR applied a range of fiscal multipliers to help inform its judgement on the impact of VAT on aggregate demand in the UK economy. These multipliers are set out in Table C8 of the interim OBR's June Budget document. A figure of 0.6, for example, means that a measure
which has a direct effect of raising revenue by 1 per cent of GDP is estimated to reduce aggregate demand in the economy by 0.6 per cent in the short run.
The interim OBR's June 2010 Budget forecast and the OBR's November forecast assumed that the increase in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent would reduce the level of real GDP in 2011/12 by around 0.3 per cent.
Cabinet Office
Public Bodies
13. Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent progress he has made on the implementation of his proposals for the reform of public bodies. [34293]
Mr Maude: Since setting out the proposals I have moved quickly to introduce the Public Bodies Bill which provides a clear and effective way to implement these much needed and extensive reforms. Work is under way in Departments on changes which do not require legislation.
14. Guy Opperman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what objectives he set for his Department's review of public bodies. [34294]
Mr Maude: The primary objective of these reforms is to increase accountability for the work of Government. The reforms will also reduce the number of public bodies, secure savings and cut out duplication of effort.
Housing: South Lanarkshire
Tom Greatrex: 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) South Lanarkshire and (ii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency (A) before and (B) after housing costs in the latest period for which figures are available. [29372]
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.
Manufacturing Industries: West Midlands
Chris White: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were employed in the manufacturing sector in (a) Warwickshire and (b) the West Midlands on the latest date for which figures are available. [33967]
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 manufacturing sector in (a) Warwickshire and (b) the West Midlands on the latest date for which figures are available. (33967)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
The number of people employed in the manufacturing sector for the 12 month period ending in June 2010 in Warwickshire was 32,000 and in the West Midlands was 324,000.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
Social Enterprises
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what information his Department holds on the number of non-profit organisations operating in each region of the UK. [35079]
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 the number of non-profit organisations operating in each region of the UK. [35079]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprises are available from the ONS release UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at www.statistics.gov.uk. The table below contains the latest statistics available, which show the number of non-profit making enterprises by Government Office Region.
| Count of non-profit making enterprises by Government Office Region | |
| GOR | Count of enterprises |
Health
Abortion: Young People
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on the provision of pregnancy terminations for teenage women in the last year for which figures are available. [34005]
Anne Milton: There were 37,957 abortions carried out on girls aged under 20 resident in England in 2009, the latest year for which data are available. Abortions performed by national health service hospitals are reimbursed through the national tariff. The 2010-11 tariff prices for abortions are shown in the following table. The guidance associated with the application of the tariff has been placed in the Library and is available at:
Blood: Cancer
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has he made of the effects of race on the likelihood of NHS patients surviving blood cancers. [34447]
Paul Burstow:
The Department has made no assessment of the effect of race on survival outcomes in patients with haematological cancers. The National Cancer
Intelligence Network has published a report on cancer incidence and survival by ethnic group, but survival data have only been presented for the four most common cancers, which do not include haematological cancer.
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to improve health outcomes for people diagnosed with blood cancers; [34448]
(2) what steps he is taking to improve health outcomes for people diagnosed with leukaemia; [34449]
(3) what steps he is taking to improve health outcomes for children diagnosed with cancer. [34450]
Paul Burstow: To improve outcomes for patients with cancer, including those with haematological cancers and children with cancer, on 12 January 2011 we published "Improving Outcomes-A Strategy for Cancer", which sets out a range of measures to improve cancer survival rates in England. It shows how we intend to tackle preventable cancer incidence, improve the quality and efficiency of cancer services and deliver outcomes that are comparable with the best in Europe. Through these approaches, the aim is to save an additional 5,000 lives every year by 2014-15.
The strategy makes clear that the improving outcomes in cancer guidance, published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, will continue to be a feature of all commissioned cancer services. "Improving Outcomes in Haematological Cancers", which makes recommendations on the treatment, management and care of patients with haematological cancer, will ensure that the planning and commissioning of cancer services are organised to deliver the best patient outcomes.
Specifically regarding improvements in the health outcomes for children diagnosed with cancer, "Improving Outcomes in Children and Young People" with cancer will continue to support commissioners and clinicians to make the right decisions about the care and treatment of children with cancer that deliver the best outcomes.
The strategy also sets out how children with cancer will benefit from improved access to proton beam therapy (PBT). We are investing around £50 million more over the spending review period so that all high priority patients with a need for PBT get access to this innovative treatment. Evidence supports the use of PBT in increasing numbers of children with cancer, for example those with brain tumours, to deliver improved outcomes. We anticipate that this will benefit 400 patients per year by 2014-15, the majority of whom will be children. A copy of the strategy has already been placed in the Library.
Cancer: Surgery
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts used cyberknife technology in the latest period for which figures are available. [34320]
Paul Burstow: Cyberknife is the manufacturer's name for a machine that delivers stereotactic body radiotherapy (SRBT). Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data available to the Department identify the treatments that the national health service provides but do not record the brand of equipment used.
In the vast majority of cases, SRBT cannot be identified from other forms of radiotherapy treatment using HES data.
Cord Blood
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many umbilical cords were disposed of as waste without the collection of blood stem cells in each of the past three years. [34451]
Anne Milton: The Department does not hold this information centrally.
Diabetes: Screening
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve detection rates for diabetes. [34047]
Paul Burstow: Awareness of diabetes is increasing and general practitioners (GPs) are playing a major role in identifying people either at risk or who already have diabetes, ensuring that they receive appropriate treatment at the earliest opportunity. Diabetes is in the quality and outcomes framework (QOF), part of the GP contract. Since diabetes management was included in QOF the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has increased to more than 2.3 million. In order to qualify for these incentives, GPs are required to record all patients with diabetes aged 17 and over on a practice register and undertake a series of tests annually to help assess and manage the risk of complications from diabetes.
The NHS Health Check, a national risk assessment and management programme, will assess everyone between 40 and 74 for their risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. It will help individuals manage their risk of these diseases by appropriate follow up and so help them stay well for longer and save lives. Those diagnosed with previously undetected disease will receive earlier management, improving their health outcomes for the future. Identification of those at high risk of having or developing diabetes is included within the programme.
The NHS Outcomes Framework for 2011-12 includes a domain, which focuses on enhancing the quality of life for people with long-term conditions, such as diabetes. A NICE Quality Standard on diabetes is being developed to support those providing national health service care to deliver the outcomes set out in the NHS outcomes framework.
The Public Health White Paper proposes a public health outcomes framework which is currently out for consultation. This includes a domain on prevention of ill-health and this is where measures relating to the prevention and detection of diabetes would best fit. In order for this to be achieved the NHS and public health systems will be required to work more closely together.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) England and (b) Leicester who are using blood glucose testing strips to monitor their diabetes condition. [34387]
Paul Burstow: Information on the number of people using blood glucose testing strips is not collected centrally.
The following table shows the number of prescription items for blood glucose testing strips, dispensed in the community in England and in the primary care trust that best matches the geographical area of the Leicester East constituency, for the latest available 12 month period.
| Blood glucose testing strip prescription items written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community-November 2009 to October 2010 | |
| Geographic area | Items dispensed |
| Note: Blood glucose testing strips are defined as those products listed in British National Formulary Chapter 6.1.6 "Diagnostic and monitoring devices for diabetes mellitus" (excluding Urine Testing Reagents, Ketone Blood Testing Reagents and other screening and monitoring agent preparations). Source: Prescription cost analysis (PCA) system | |
Drugs: Mental Health Services
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in each NHS mental health hospital are recorded as using (a) cannabis, (b) methadone and (c) other controlled substances; [34693]
Paul Burstow: The information is not available in the format requested. However, a table which shows information on admissions to hospital where the primary diagnosis is one of mental and behavioural disorder due to psychoactive substance use has been placed in the Library.
Drugs: Rehabilitation
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of drug treatment patients who have been in treatment for three years or more are resident in each English region; and how many such patients are being prescribed substitute drugs. [34694]
Anne Milton: Proportion of adults in drug treatment being prescribed substitute drugs for more than three years in 2009-10.
| Region | Numbers in drug treatment for more than three years | Percentage of national | Numbers receiving substitute prescribing for more than three years |
| Source: National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) | |||
The goal of all treatment is for drug users to achieve abstinence from their drug (or drugs) of dependency. However, there is no single form of drug treatment that is effective for all people with opioid dependence and access to a wide range of treatment options is required to respond to the varying needs of problem drug users. The total number of adults in contact with treatment services in 2009-10 was 207,000.
General Practitioners
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his announcement of 52 GP Commissioning Pathfinders, what the (a) name, (b) management board members, (c) planned operational date, (d) NHS bodies involved in planning, management or operations, (e) independent or private sector organisations involved in planning, management or operations, (f) NHS bodies expected to be involved in future planning, management or operations, (g) independent or private sector organisations expected to be involved in future planning, management or operations, (h) organisational code and name of each (i) GP practice and (ii) primary care organisation which are active members and (i) number and proportion of (A) GP practices and (B) primary care organisations within the area which are not currently active members are for each GP Commissioning Pathfinder; whether each Pathfinder has appointed a (1) qualified or accredited senior finance manager, (2) organisational development expert, (3) individual with expertise in corporate affairs or governance and (4) commissioning expert; from which organisations such individuals were recruited; and if he will publish a copy of this information in machine-readable form. [34699]
Mr Simon Burns: The 52 pathfinders announced in December 2010 are already operational and assuming increased commissioning responsibilities from their primary care trusts (PCTs). A further 89 groups were announced on 17 January 2011. Both sets of names are in the following table.
The 'Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011/12' set out that clusters of PCTs will provide support to emerging consortiums through a qualified or accredited senior finance manager, an organisational development expert/facilitator, an individual with expertise of appropriate governance arrangements/ corporate affairs and a commissioning expert.
However, the Department is not collecting information on details of members and operational arrangements of pathfinders. The information may be best obtained through strategic health authorities, who are responsible for managing the selection process for the general practitioner (GP) pathfinders.
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