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14 Feb 2011 : Column 591W—continued
Carbon Emissions
Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the contribution of real time energy monitoring to achieving the Government's objective to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 10 per cent. year-on-year. [39495]
Mr Maude: The Government have committed to reduce carbon emissions from its office estate by 10% by May 2011. It is too early to determine the contribution of real time energy monitoring to achieving this commitment.
Progress is published monthly and is publically available at:
Departmental Pay
Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the salary is of the lowest paid member of staff working at (a) 10 Downing street and (b) Chequers. [39174]
Mr Maude: All staff working in No. 10 are paid on Cabinet Office pay bands, details of which can be found on the Cabinet Office website:
The Chequers estate does not employ any Cabinet Office staff.
Departmental Procurement
Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether all new contracts his Department has tendered over £10,000 have been published with associated tender documents on the Contracts Finder website since its inception. [39216]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office has published all relevant contract and tender documents within scope of the effective dates that have been authorised for publication.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much Barnett consequential funding his Department has provided to each devolved administration in (a) 2010-11 to date and (b) each of the last three years; and with which programmes such funding was associated. [39404]
Mr Maude: In the 2010 spending review changes in the DEL budgets of the devolved Administrations were determined by the Barnett formula in the normal way. The settlements for the years 2011-12 to 2014-15 were published in table 2.22 of the 2010 spending review document (Cm 7942).
Barnett consequentials relating to each of the devolved Administrations for the years 2008-09 to 2010-11 are published as part of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) Supplementary Material on the Treasury's website under the heading "House of Lords Select Committee on the Barnett Formula" see
Updated tables taking account of adjustments since the publication of the 2010 edition of PESA will be published alongside the next edition of PESA later this year.
Information on the block grants paid by the territorial offices to the devolved Administrations is published alongside the main and supplementary estimates.
Employment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of (a) men and (b) women are employed in (i) full-time and (ii) part-time jobs in (A) each region, (B) Scotland, (C) Wales and (D) Northern Ireland. [40157]
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 February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of (a) men and (b) women are employed in (i) full-time and (ii) part-time jobs in (A) each region, (B) Scotland, (C) Wales and (D) Northern Ireland. 40157.
The information requested is shown in the tables. The estimates are derived from the Annual Population Survey (APS) for the period July 2009 to June 2010. As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
| Employment, full-time and part-time by region 12 months ending June 2010, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | ||||||
| Employment level | ||||||
| Thousand | ||||||
| Male | Female | Total | ||||
| Full time | Part time | Full time | Part time | Full time | Part time | |
| Percentage employed of the population | ||||||
| Percentage | ||||||
| Male | Female | Total | ||||
| Full time | Part time | Full time | Part time | Full time | Part time | |
| Source: Annual Population Survey (APS) | ||||||
Energy Efficiency Competition
Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he has plans to extend the Government department headquarters energy efficiency competition to other government-owned buildings. [39493]
Mr Maude: There are no plans to hold another competition but the 18 Government headquarter buildings continue to publish their energy data online and in real time. These buildings are also included in the scope of the Government's commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 10% by May 2011.
The Energy data are publically available and can be viewed at:
Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the interdepartmental headquarters energy efficiency competition in reducing energy use by central Government Departments; and whether he plans to continue the scheme. [39494]
Mr Maude: The energy consumption in the 18 Government headquarter buildings over the period of the competition ranged from a 22% saving to a 14% increase. The real time energy performance data is published on data.gov.uk.
Financial Services
John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of total value-added in 2009 attributable to the financial sector. [40784]
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 February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of total value-added in 2009 was attributable to the financial sector. [40784]
The proportion of total value added in 2009 in respect of the financial sector was 7.1%.
Marriage: Females
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of women aged 56 are married. [39511]
Mr Hurd [holding answer 11 February 2011]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what proportion of women aged 56 are married (39511).
Of the estimated 320,300 women aged 56 in England and Wales in 2009, an estimated 69 per cent were married. 2009 is the latest year for which population estimates are available.
Of the estimated 32,300 women aged 56 in Scotland in 2008, an estimated 71 per cent were married. 2008 is the latest year for which population estimates by marital status for Scotland are available.
Official Residences: Costs
Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of residences used by Ministers. [39173]
Mr Maude: The information requested is not held centrally. Cost of official residences are a matter for the occupying Minister's Department.
Older Workers
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the employment rate for 30 year old (a) women and (b) men was in 1984. [40181]
Mr Hurd [holding answer 11 February 2011]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the employment rate for 30 year old (a) women and (b) men was in 1984. 40181
For the spring quarter (March to May) of 1984 the estimated employment rate for women aged 30 was 52 per cent and the employment rate for men aged 30 was 85 per cent. These estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and are not seasonally adjusted.
Older Workers: Average Earnings
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the average earnings of (a) women and (b) men aged (i) 50, (ii) 55 and (iii) 60. [40179]
Mr Hurd [holding answer 11 February 2011]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the average earnings of (a) women and (b) men aged (i) 50, (ii) 55 and (iii) 60. (40179)
Average levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for all employees on adult rates of pay whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom.
I attach a table showing the median gross weekly earnings in 2010 for all, full-time and part-time male and female employees aged (i) 50, (ii) 55 and (iii) 60.
| Median gross weekly earnings-for all, full-time and part-time male and female employees jobs( 1) aged (i) 50, (ii) 55 and (iii) 60: April 2010 | ||||||
| £ | ||||||
| Age | All male | All female | Full-time male | Full-time female | Part-time male | Part-time female |
| (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. 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 population 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 | ||||||
Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assumptions he has made of the dropout rate from the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme attributable to (a) potential increases in contributions and (b) its indexation against the consumer prices index; what assessment he has made of the effect of the dropout rate on the future viability of this fund; and if he will make a statement. [40355]
Mr Maude: The Office for Budget Responsibility has estimated that some additional members, amounting to 1% of the value of the pay bill, would opt-out of all the public service schemes as a result of the increase in pension contributions.
Further consideration of the effects of this policy on the opt-out rate will be made as part of the process of determining the distribution of increases in contributions across members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. We are engaging with employee representatives on the principles to apply across public service schemes and wish to implement change in a way which minimises increases in opt-out rates. The Government have already committed to implementing contribution increases in a progressive way so that higher earners pay higher rates than lower earners. We expect also to take into account that the indexation changes are likely to impact more on members of the whole career scheme, nuvos, than on members of the final salary schemes.
No assessment has been made of the number of additional members that might opt-out as a result of the change in indexation.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the pension entitlement will be of a member of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme who retires after 30 years' full-time service on a salary of (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000, (c) £20,000, (d) £25,000, (e) £30,000, (f) £40,000 and (e) £50,000 if the pension is uprated in line with (i) the retail prices index and (ii) the consumer prices index. [40368]
Mr Maude: The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme rules set out the calculation of pensions payable to members on retirement. A copy of the rules can be found in the Library of the House and also on the civil service website. The pensions of classic and premium members are based on final salary and pensions at retirement are the same regardless of the index used for uprating. nuvos members have their pensions based on their salary in each and every year of their career, and each year's pension is uprated in line with inflation. It is therefore not possible to calculate nuvos pensions solely on the basis of salary at retirement.
Public Houses
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2011, Official Report, column 979W, how many (a) public houses and (b) clubs closed in each (i) region, (ii) local authority area and (iii) constituency in each year since 2002. [40194]
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 February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) public houses and (b) clubs closed in each (i) region, (ii) local authority area and (iii) constituency in each year since 2002. [40194]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise deaths are available from 2002 onwards in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
However, information by parliamentary constituency is only available from 2005 onwards. The latest statistics on the number of enterprise deaths for licensed clubs and public houses/bars have been provided in the tables. Table 1 gives information by country, region, county and county district. Table 2 gives information by parliamentary constituency.
A copy of the tables has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Teenage Pregnancy
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer 31 January 2011, Official Report, columns 645-46W, on teenage pregnancy, if he will publish rates of live births to mothers aged over 14 and under 18 years in each (a) local authority area and (b) primary care trust area in each year since 2001. [39913]
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 February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what were the rates of live births to mothers aged 14 and over and under 18 years in each a) local authority area and b) primary care area in each year since 2001 [39913].
The tables provide rates of live births in England and Wales to mothers aged under 18 in each (a) Local Authority District (Table 1) and (b) Primary Care Organisation (Table 2) for 2001-2008. The figures for 2009 were given in the answer to your previous question [35842] (31 January 2011, Official Report, columns 645-6W, on teenage pregnancy).
A copy of the tables has been placed in the House of Commons library.
Information on live births is routinely published by different characteristics of birth and is available at:
Health
Animal Feed: Genetically Modified Organisms
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the entry of animal feed containing genetically modified organisms into the food chain. [39555]
Anne Milton: The assessment and marketing of genetically modified (GM) varieties for use in animal feed is harmonised at European Union level by Regulation (EC) 1829/2003, which requires all materials to undergo a pre-market evaluation prior to a decision on their authorisation. The evaluation is carried out by the European Food Safety Authority and covers human and animal health, environmental risks and nutrition.
Government policy is that all GM applications should be assessed case-by-case on the basis of the science and that consumers should be able to exercise a choice on the basis of clear labelling and the provision of relevant information. However, there is no requirement to label animal products for human consumption-meat, milk and eggs-because these do not themselves contain GM organisms or GM-derived material.
Aspartame
Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the protocols relating to the research study commissioned by the Food Standards Agency into reports of alleged anecdotal complaints about the effects of aspartame. [39648]
Anne Milton: Aspartame is approved across the European Union for use as a sweetener in food. Its safety has been reviewed on several occasions by independent expert scientific committees in the United Kingdom, the EU and internationally. The most recent opinion from the European Food Safety Authority, updated in 2009, concluded that aspartame was safe at current levels of consumption.
There are anecdotal reports of adverse effects associated with aspartame consumption, but these have not been reliably reproduced in controlled investigations. The Food Standards Agency has commissioned research to establish whether there is a small group of consumers that are particularly sensitive to this sweetener but who have not previously been identified.
A copy of the protocol has been placed in the Library.
Asthma: Health Services
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to encourage GPs to follow British Guideline on the Management of Asthma recommendations on review the treatment of asthma patients on higher dose steroids every three months; and if he will make a statement. [39738]
Paul Burstow: The British Guideline on the Management of Asthma, developed by Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), is recognised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and is referenced in the general practice quality and outcomes framework indicators for asthma. As both SIGN and NICE guidelines are accredited sources of evidence, we expect national health service organisations to take them into account in treating patients and commissioning services.
On the advice of the National Quality Board, the Department has referred asthma to NICE for the development of a Quality Standard to ensure high quality care across the whole asthma care pathway.
Cancer: Drugs
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time taken for a decision to be made on an application for funding from the Interim Cancer Drugs Fund was in each strategic health authority in the latest period for which figures are available. [39953]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not available centrally.
In July 2010 the NHS Medical Director issued guidance to strategic health authorities which makes clear that arrangements for the distribution of the £50 million of additional cancer drugs funding made available in this financial year should support timely decision-making, bearing in mind the 31-day cancer treatment standard. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways the experiences of operating the Interim Cancer Drugs Fund has informed the planned structure of the permanent fund. [39954]
Mr Simon Burns: We held a three-month public consultation on our proposals for the Cancer Drugs Fund which closed on 19 January and responses to the consultation are currently being considered.
The implementation of the Cancer Drugs Fund from April will be informed by the consultation responses, and relevant experience from the operation of the interim cancer drugs funding arrangements.
Cancer: Mortality Rates
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mortality rate from (a) cancer and (b) heart attacks was in each year since 1995. [40872]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the annual mortality rate from (a) cancer and (b) heart attacks was for each year since 1995. (40872)
The table attached provides age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population, where the underlying cause of death was (a) cancer and (b) heart attacks, in England and Wales, for 1995 to 2009 (the latest year available).
In England and Wales, causes of death are coded using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 had a significant effect on mortality rates for some diseases, causing a discontinuity in mortality trends for these causes of death. However ONS practice is not to adjust the historical numbers of deaths shown in PQ answers. More information on this issue can be found at:
For all cancers (ICD-10 codes C00-C97) the introduction of ICD-10 caused an increase of 2.5% for males and 2.2% for females. An article specifically examining the changes for cancer trends was published in "Health Statistics Quarterly 23"(1). This article also presents comparability ratios (the ratio of the number of deaths coded to a cause in ICD-10 to the number coded to the equivalent cause in ICD-9) for the most common cancer sites. A copy of this report can be downloaded at:
For acute myocardial infarction (heart attacks) (ICD-10 codes I21-I22) the introduction of ICD-10 caused a decrease of 6.3% for males and 7.4% for females. An article specifically examining the changes for circulatory disease trends was published in "Health Statistics Quarterly 22"(2). This article also presents comparability ratios (the ratio of the number of deaths coded to a cause in ICD-10 to the number coded to the equivalent cause in ICD-9) for specific types of circulatory disease. A copy of this report can be downloaded at:
(1) Brock A, Griffiths C, and Rooney C (2004) 'The effect of the introduction of ICD-10 on cancer mortality trends in England and Wales.' Health Statistics Quarterly 23, 7-17
(2) Griffiths C, Brock A and Rooney C (2004) 'The effect of the introduction of ICD-10 on trends in mortality from circulatory disease in England and Wales.' Health Statistics Quarterly 22, 14-20
The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age and cause are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
| Table 1. Age-standardised mortality rates( 1) from (a) cancer and (b) heart attack,( 2) in England and Wales,( 3) 1995-2009( 4) | ||
| Rate per 100,000 population | ||
| (a) Cancer | (b) Heart attack | |
| (1) Age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population, standardised to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages. (2) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 140-209 (malignant neoplasms) and 410 (acute myocardial infarction) for the years 1995-2000; and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00-C97 (malignant neoplasms) and I21-I22 (acute and subsequent myocardial infarction) for 2001 onwards. Deaths were selected where these conditions were the underlying cause of death. The introduction of ICD-10 in 2001 means that the numbers of deaths from these causes before 2001 are not completely comparable with later years. (3) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non residents. (4 )Data are for deaths registered in each calendar year. | ||
Cataracts: Surgery
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an estimate of the proportion of cataract surgery treatment that was performed by the private sector in each primary care trust area in the last year for which figures are available. [39777]
Mr Simon Burns: The table provided by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care shows the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) for cataract surgery performed by the private sector in each primary care trust (PCT) for 2009-10.
The cataract surgery treatment performed by the private sector in each primary care trust area is defined as treatment provided within the independent sector which has been undertaken on behalf of the national health service. This analysis does not include private health care provided for private patients.
Clinical Trials
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether willing providers of hospital services will be required to join in medical science trials. [39727]
Mr Simon Burns: The White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" emphasises the Government's commitment to the promotion and conduct of research as a core role of the national health service. However, NHS organisations are not currently required to participate in clinical trials or other research, and there will be no requirement for willing providers of hospital services to do so.
Dentistry
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to repeal those parts of sections 36C and D of the Dentists Act 1984 which preclude the General Dental Council from individually assessing the qualifications of UK citizens to become dental care professionals. [40814]
Mr Simon Burns: The General Dental Council's (GDC's) practice of approving qualifications, which are awarded by recognised training institutions, for the registration of both dentists and dental care professionals (DCPs) protects the public by ensuring common standards of training and education. However, we have sympathy for DCPs who qualified some time ago and whose qualifications are no longer recognised.
We understand that, in the past, some training institutions have put on short courses to bring DCPs up to the standards set by the GDC. We will explore with the GDC whether we might encourage training institutions to look again at developing these courses.
Eyes: Health Services
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has assessed the merits of (a) reforming the structure of ophthalmic services for elderly patients and (b) introducing new eye lens technologies for cataract surgery. [39776]
Mr Simon Burns: No such assessment has been made.
Currently primary care trusts are able to commission eye care services as they judge them to be needed in their areas.
The Health and Social Care Bill currently before the House sets out our proposals to devolve power and responsibility for commissioning services to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices, supported by the creation of an NHS Commissioning Board.
Subject to parliamentary approval, GP consortia will be responsible for commissioning the great majority of national health service services including those for patients with cataracts. GP consortia will be responsible for managing their won commissioning budgets, and using these resources to commission services to achieve the best and most cost-efficient outcomes for patients. The NHS Commissioning Board will hold them to account for the quality of their commissioning.
General Practitioners
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether GP commissioning consortia will be required to become community interest companies; and if he will make a statement; [39445]
(2) whether GP consortia may be (a) unincorporated associations and (b) limited companies under his proposals for NHS reform; and if he will make a statement. [39575]
Mr Simon Burns: Commissioning consortia established in accordance with the provisions proposed by the Health and Social Care Bill would be statutory public bodies. They will therefore not be community interest companies, unincorporated associations or limited companies.
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he plans to put in place measures to prevent members of GP consortia from holding financial interests in any licensed healthcare provided; and if he will make a statement; [39446]
(2) whether he plans to put in place a mechanism to prevent members of GP commissioning consortia from awarding contracts to providers in which they have a financial interest. [39447]
Mr Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill proposes clear statutory duties on commissioners in relation to procurement and in relation to anti-competitive behaviours. A clear set of underpinning rules and guidance will be developed to apply to general practitioner (GP) consortia, so that they have the necessary support to make decisions that are fair and transparent and avoid any perceived conflicts of interest.
In addition, the Bill also includes a requirement that each consortium's constitution sets out arrangements for decision-making and managing potential conflicts of interest.
General Practitioners: Monitor
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether GP consortia will be liable for a 10 per cent. penalty of turnover in cases where Monitor rules that they have practiced anti-competitive behaviour in favouring a particular (a) healthcare provider and (b) NHS Foundation Trust under his proposals for NHS reform. [39571]
Mr Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill does not give Monitor powers to impose financial penalties on commissioners of national health service services.
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the role of Monitor in cases where an interested party makes an accusation of a GP consortium favouring an incumbent healthcare provider under his proposals for NHS reform. [39572]
Mr Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill would provide concurrent powers for Monitor, alongside the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), to apply the Competition Act 1998 within the health care sector. Monitor would be obliged to consider any complaint from an interested party alleging an infringement under the Act and would have concurrent powers under the Act to investigate and take enforcement action. Further guidance on prohibitions of anti-competitive behaviour and investigations and enforcement action under the Competition Act 1998 is published on the OFT website at:
In addition, the Health and Social Care Bill would provide that the Secretary of State may make regulations, subject to parliamentary resolution, to impose requirements on commissioners of national health service services in relation to procurement, patient choice or competition (see clause 63). Such regulations may also confer power for Monitor to investigate and take certain enforcement action regarding a failure by a commissioner to comply with a requirement imposed by the regulations (see clause 64).
General Practitioners: Pay
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether GP consortia will be permitted to pay bonuses to their members from NHS commissioning board budgets; and if he will make a statement; [39444]
(2) if he will require that (a) salaries and (b) bonuses of GP consortia staff are published; and if he will make a statement. [39574]
Mr Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill proposes that each commissioning consortium is to be a body corporate which may appoint employees on such terms and conditions (including remuneration) as they determine. 'Liberating the NHS: legislative framework and next Steps' set out that consortia will be required to make public their remuneration arrangements, and the Bill contains provision for this.
With the exception of the management allowance, which is to cover management costs, the intention is that a consortium's commissioning budget must be used exclusively for the commissioning of patient care. It would be distinct from the income that general practitioner practices earn under their primary medical care contract, from which they both meet their practice expenses, and derive their personal income.
Health Services: Travellers
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanism he plans to put in place under his proposals for NHS reform to provide access to (a) healthcare and (b) hospital care for (i) a homeless person and (ii) a member of a Traveller community not registered with a GP practice. [39449]
Mr Simon Burns: Commissioning consortia will be responsible for the provision of health care to homeless and unregistered populations in their geographical area. As is currently the situation with primary care trusts, in future, subject to passage of the Health and Social Bill, a general practitioner (GP) consortium will be the responsible commissioner for any patients registered with its constituent practices, even if they live elsewhere. A wider choice of GP practice will mean that some consortia patients may live beyond their boundaries.
Access to health care for hard to reach groups is a key priority for the Department. Inclusion Health is a programme that focuses specifically on improving the health outcomes of vulnerable groups, including the homeless, and Gypsies and Travellers. Inclusion Health seeks to drive improvements through reform and clinical leadership, and strives to ensure policies and programmes across health and the wider determinants of health consider the needs of those with complex problems.
Health Visitors
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of new health visitors which will be allocated to each local authority. [39475]
Anne Milton: Health visitors will not be allocated to local authorities.
The 'Health Visitor Implementation Plan 2011-15' was accompanied by a national health Service management letter from the Deputy Chief Executive of the NHS and the Chief Nursing Officer of England to all chief executives at strategic health authorities (SHAs) in England and all chief executives of primary care trusts in England. The letter provides indicative trajectories of workforce
growth for 2011-12 at a regional, SHA level. It is for SHAs to decide how to plan the growth in their area.
Copies of the implementation plan and management letter have been placed in the Library.
Health Visitors: Training
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date he estimates his Department will complete the recruitment and training of 4,200 new health visitors. [39469]
Anne Milton: On 8 February 2011, the Department published the "Health Visitor Implementation Plan 2011-15-A Call to Action", a copy of which has already been placed in the Library. The plan sets out a four year programme which will create a bigger, rejuvenated work force with an extra 4,200 health visitors by 2015 and an improvement in the quality of the health visiting service for children and families.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding he has allocated to the recruitment and training of 4,200 new health visitors. [39471]
Anne Milton: The training budget for 2011-12 has not yet been set, however funding for health visitor training will be provided from the Multi-Professional Education and Training (MPET) budget. The MPET service level agreement will ensure that sufficient investment is made in training to deliver the 4,200 commitment by 2015.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of nurses who will become health visitors as part of his proposal to recruit and train 4,200 new health visitors; and whether nurses who become health visitors will be replaced. [39472]
Anne Milton: The Health Visitor Implementation Plan sets out a strategy to increase the work force through several routes. We expect that some new health visitors will come from nursing and midwifery roles. However, we will also be working to attract new recruits into direct entry programmes, to encourage former health visitors to return to practice and to improve retention in the current work force. A copy of the plan has already been placed in the Library.
Each national health service organisation is responsible for planning the size of their nursing work force and will need to reflect health visitor expansion in these plans.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to revise the application criteria and training requirements for health visitors. [39473]
Anne Milton: In order to achieve the best outcomes in health visitor education for both staff and patients alike, we are working closely with the Nursing Midwifery Council and the further and higher education sectors to review the application and training requirements of educational programmes.
The "Health Visitor Implementation Plan 2011-15, A Call to Action" sets out our intention to improve the quality of health visiting services for children and families. A copy has already been placed in the Library.
Mental Health Services
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether secure psychiatric facilities which are currently NHS trusts will become Foundation Trusts under his proposals for NHS reform. [39573]
Paul Burstow: The national health service trusts who currently host the three high secure hospitals in England have so far been eligible to apply for foundation trust status. The coalition Government have however committed to establishing statutory arrangements to be made that will enable these organisations to benefit from the independence of foundation trust status while retaining appropriate safeguards to reflect their role in the criminal justice system.
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether mental health care will fall within the commissioning responsibility of (a) GP consortia and (b) local authorities under his proposals for NHS reform. [39577]
Paul Burstow: Treatment of mental ill health, including Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, will fall under the commissioning responsibility of general practitioner (GP) consortia. Subject to public consultation, local authorities will take on responsibility for commissioning mental well-being promotion, anti-stigma and discrimination, and suicide and self-harm prevention public health activities. Health and well-being boards will bring together the key national health service, public health and social care leaders in each local authority area to work in partnership, and will help to ensure consistency and integration of commissioning of mental health services.
Mental Health Services: Low Incomes
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of the ability of those on low incomes to visit patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983; and if he will make a statement. [39591]
Paul Burstow: The ability of people on low incomes to visit patients detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 depends on the individual circumstances of the case. Under current arrangements, people in receipt of a qualifying benefit may be eligible for assistance in the form of a community care grant from the Social Fund.
Ministerial Meetings
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials have had with representatives of Bondcare Medical Services since 12 May 2010; [39640]
(2) what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials have had with representatives of Tribal since 12 May 2010; [39641]
(3) what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) his officials have had with representatives of Humana since 12 May 2010; [39642]
(4) what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials have had with representatives of Nestor Primecare since 12 May 2010; [39643]
(5) what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials have had with representatives of Serco since 12 May 2010; [39663]
(7) what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials have had with representatives of United Health since 12 May 2010; [39667]
(6) what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his official have had with representatives of Assura since 12 May 2010; [39665]
(8) what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials have had with representatives of Care UK since 12 May 2010. [39669]
Mr Simon Burns: Ministers have had the following meetings with independent sector organisations where Humana, Tribal, United Health and Care UK representatives attended. However, the Department does not maintain central records of 'officials' meetings with representatives of healthcare providers whether in the public, private or voluntary sectors.
NHS: Drugs
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2011, Official Report, column 845W, how many and what proportion of drug treatment patients who have been in treatment for three years or more are resident in each primary care trust area; and how many such patients in each area are being prescribed substitute drugs. [40896]
Anne Milton: The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System does not report data for numbers of people in drug treatment by primary care trust (PCT). Data showing people who have been in drug treatment for three years or more are available by local drug partnership area, most of which share boundaries with PCTs. These have been placed in the Library.
NHS: Managers
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the salary is of the Chair of each (a) NHS trust and (b) Foundation trust. [40509]
Mr Simon Burns: Levels of remuneration for national health service trust chairs have been determined centrally by the Government. On 10 March 2010, it was announced that there would be no increase to these rates for 2010-11.
NHS Trust Band 1: £23,366
NHS Trust Band 2: £20,896
NHS Trust Band 3: £18,437.
The Appointments Commission, an executive non-departmental public body manages appointments to NHS trusts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and publishes levels of remuneration on its website:
Information on remuneration of NHS foundation trusts chairs is not held centrally.
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) Chairs, (b) non-executive directors and (c) both Chairs and non-executive directors in the NHS are women. [40510]
Mr Simon Burns: The Appointments Commission is responsible for the appointment of chairs and non-executive directors of national health service trusts, primary care trusts (PCTs), and strategic health authorities (SHAs) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health.
The following table shows as at 1 February 2011, the proportion of chairs, non-executive directors and both chairs and non-executive directors in NHS trusts, PCTs, SHAs and provider PCTs who are women.
| Percentage | |||
| Female | Male | Not declared | |
It does not include information relating to foundation trusts, so is not a full representation of the NHS. Foundation trust governors are responsible for their own board appointments.
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the public purse was of pay for Chairs and non-executive directors in the NHS in the latest period for which figures are available. [40511]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally, but is included in the annual report of each organisation.
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the amounts paid to chairs and non-executive directors of health service boards. [40566]
Mr Simon Burns: Rates for remuneration for chairs and non-executive directors in national health service trusts (including ambulance trusts), strategic health authorities, special health authorities and primary care trusts were determined by the Public Sector Pay Committee in 2006. They have been uplifted in line with the pay increase for senior executive staff under the Pay Framework for Very Senior Managers in Strategic and Special Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and Ambulance Trusts, in line with the Government's response each year to the recommendations of the Senior Salaries Review Body. In line with the coalition Government's announcement of a two-year pay freeze for public sector staff earning over £21,000, there are no plans to review the amounts further.
NHS foundation trusts are accountable to their governors and members, including on the issue of remuneration. The remuneration rate of the chair and non-executive directors is for each NHS foundation trust to determine.
NHS: Redundancy Pay
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirements are placed on NHS trusts to disclose information related to special payments of (a) £250,000 and over and (b) under £250,000; and whether such payments which consist of a cash sum under £250,000 and pension contributions which raise the total value of the package above £250,000 are required to be reported in the same way as payments consisting of cash sums over £250,000. [40793]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department requires national health service trusts to disclose, in their annual audited accounts the total value and number of special payment cases. This includes all cases regardless of the amount paid.
In addition, the Department requires NHS trusts to disclose separately the value and number of any special payment of £250,000 or more and also provide a description of the payments, in their annual audited accounts.
Where the cash sum of a payment is under £250,000 but the value is increased by a non-contractual pension contribution, which raises the total value above £250,000, the special payment must be disclosed in the same way as any special payment of £250,000 or more.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether each compromise or confidentiality agreement between a member of NHS staff and an employer is defined as a special severance payment subject to the guidance in Annex 4.13 of Managing Public Money. [40794]
Mr Simon Burns: Special severance payments are paid to employees, contractors and others beyond above normal statutory or contractual requirements when leaving employment in public service whether they resign, are dismissed or reach an agreed termination of contract as defined in Annex 4.13 of Managing Public Money.
If a compromise or confidentiality agreement meets this definition then it is appropriately scrutinised by the Department.
Organs: Donors
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were listed on the organ donation register in (a) Norwich South constituency, (b) Norfolk and (c) England in each of the last 10 years. [39481]
Anne Milton: The number of people on the organ donation register in Norwich South constituency, Norfolk and England in each of the last 10 years is shown in the following table.
| Year of registration | Norwich South | Norfolk | England |
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new organs donors were registered in (a) Norwich South constituency, (b) Norfolk and (c) England in each of the last 10 years. [39482]
Anne Milton: The number of new deceased organ donors registered in the Norwich South constituency, in Norfolk and in England is shown in the following tables. However, because organ donor postcodes have only been fully reported in the last three years, information has also been provided on the hospital of donation.
| Deceased organ donors per year, based on postcode | ||||
| Year of registration | Norwich South | Norfolk | England | Completeness of postcode data (%) |
| Deceased organ donors per year, based on donor hospital | |||
| Year of registration | Norwich South | Norfolk | England |
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of people on the organ donor register. [39491]
Anne Milton: Currently over 17 million people have joined the organ donor register in the United Kingdom and there are a range of ongoing activities to promote organ donation. In autumn 2009, NHS Blood and Transplant launched a UK-wide public awareness campaign to encourage more people to join the organ donor register and to discuss their wishes in relation to organ donation with family members. NHS Blood and Transplant also work in partnerships with the national health service, commercial and third sector organisations to support local events around the country or national initiatives such as joining the register when registering with a doctor. From July 2011 we are running a pilot whereby all applicants applying for a driving licence online will be required to answer a question about organ donation. It is hoped that by ensuring applicants spend time reading the question and considering their response, a higher number of people will join the organ donor register. We will evaluate this pilot, and if it is successful in increasing the number of people on the organ donor register, we will consider rolling it out across other areas.
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