Housing Benefit: Greater London
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of housing benefit in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) the London borough of Enfield and (c) London received over £400 a week in the latest period for which figures are available. [41607]
Steve Webb: The information requested is not available at parliamentary constituency level. The information for the borough of Enfield and London is presented in the following table.
| Housing benefit recipients in October 2010 | |
|
|
Numbers who received more than £400 per week |
2 Mar 2011 : Column 477W
| Notes: 1. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract 100% individual level data (SHBE) |
Jobcentres: Sanctions
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) pursuant to the answer of 21 December 2010, Official Report, column 1193W, on jobcentres: sanctions what criteria Jobcentre Plus applies to determine those cases which are referred to decision makers for further investigation; [36455]
(2) what factors are considered by the decision makers in reviewing cases of entitlement to jobseeker’s allowance which are referred to them for further consideration. [36467]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions regarding the criteria Jobcentre Plus applies in order to determine which cases are appropriate for further investigation and the factors considered by the Jobcentre Plus Decision Maker to determine entitlement and whether a sanction is appropriate. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Where an Employment Adviser considers a doubt has arisen regarding an act or omission of a customer which might affect their prospects of employment the advisor will investigate further and ask a Decision Maker, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, to consider whether any action is appropriate. This might include consideration of entitlement to Jobseeker’s Allowance or the imposition of a benefit sanction.
Doubts can arise for a variety of reasons and from a variety of sources including the customer, employers or training providers. Doubts include leaving a job voluntarily; being dismissed from employment due to misconduct; failing to attend an advisory interview; refusing employment; and failure to attend a training scheme or employment programme. The doubt will be discussed with the customer.
Where we have doubts there are distinct criteria to determine whether customer’s entitlement has ceased or a sanction is appropriate. The criteria are set out in the Decision Makers Guide which is published and available on-line from the Department of Work and Pensions. This advice is also reflected in detailed staff guidance to ensure Jobcentre Plus staff are aware of the action to take when such doubts come to their attention.
The Decision Maker’s role is to consider the specific circumstances of the claim in the light of all relevant legislation and case law, taking account of all the individual circumstances of the case and any available information and evidence including that provided by the customer. Where appropriate the Decision Maker will request further information on which to base their decision.
Examples of the factors used by Decision Makers include the customer’s reasons for failing to apply for or accept a suitable vacancy; the requirements of a particular vacancy; a customer's religious or conscientious objection; and the impact of caring responsibilities. The Decision Maker will also give regard to the customer's comments in identifying whether the customer might have good cause for their action or omission. Similarly, the Decision Maker will consider whether a customer had just cause for leaving previous employment voluntarily (i.e. whether they acted reasonably in leaving that employment, or whether the circumstances of their departure justify reliance on public funds).
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I attach a link to the Decision Makers Guide which contains the advice to Decision Makers when dealing with questions of entitlement and sanction.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/decision-makers-guide/
Pension Credit
Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of not increasing the qualifying age for pension credit in line with the state pension age. [41123]
Steve Webb: Under existing legislation the qualifying age for pension credit was set to increase from 60 to 65 by 2020, along with women’s state pension age under the Pensions Act 1995. The difference to the public purse of continuing to follow this timetable for the qualifying age for pension credit rather than the one proposed in the Pensions Bill 2011 is estimated at £1.7 billion in 2010-11 prices between 2016-17 and 2025-26.
Pensions
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the effect on the monetary value of private pensions of the level of inflation. [42694]
Steve Webb: Like other forms of income and/or savings, the value of private pensions can be eroded over time by inflation.
Legislation under the Pension Schemes Act 1993 and the Pensions Act 1995 provides a measure of protection against the effect of inflation on private sector occupational pensions by requiring schemes to increase benefits under defined benefit arrangements year on year, both for pensions in payment and for deferred members who have left the scheme but have yet to start drawing a pension from it.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is required to publish an order each year setting out the percentages to be used to calculate the minimum revaluation of deferred pensions and minimum increases to pensions in payment. By law, these percentages have to be based on the percentage increase in the general level of prices in Great Britain, as determined by the Secretary of State. The latest order was laid before Parliament on 9 December 2010 and came into force on 1 January 2011.
From this year increases going forward have been calculated using the consumer prices index (CPI). Previous orders used only the retail prices index (RPI) as the basis for calculating the statutory minimum increases.
This legislation does not apply to personal pensions or defined contribution occupational pensions. In these schemes the individual member can choose the level of inflation protection.
The impact of inflation on the pensions of individuals will depend on their exact circumstances, the amount of increase provided by the scheme and the level of inflation over the long term, but for the purpose of illustration the occupational pension for a single pensioner in receipt of the median occupational pension of £70 per week would increase to £72.17 using CPI inflation as at September 2010.
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Pensions: Bradford
Mr Ward:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Bradford East
2 Mar 2011 : Column 480W
constituency and
(b)
Bradford district receive the state pension. [43254]
Steve Webb: The information is in the table.
|
|
Total number of state pension recipients |
| 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 3. State pension figure provided is the total state pension caseload. Around 1% of state pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic state pension, but are receiving additional pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 4. From April 2010, the age at which women reach state pension age started to gradually increase from 60. This will introduce a small increase to the number of working age benefit recipients and a small reduction to the number of pension age recipients. Figures from May 2010 onwards reflect this change. 5. These data are available on the Departments' tabulation tool at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at May 2010. | |
Social Fund: Television
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, column 683W, on Social Fund: television, how many Social Fund (a) budgeting loans, (b) crisis loans and (c) community care grants over the value of (i) £500 and (ii) £1,000 were made in (A) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (B) Scotland in each of the last five years. [43409]
Steve Webb: The available information is given in the following table.
| Number of initial awards made in Scotland in each of the last five years for budgeting loans, crisis loans and community care grants | ||||||
| Initial awards made over £500 | Initial awards made over £1,000 | |||||
| Financial year | Budgeting loans | Crisis loans | Community care grants | Budgeting loans | Crisis loans | Community care grants |
| (1) Less than five awards were made. Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, the numbers given do not include awards processed clerically which had not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. The number of initial awards is not available by constituency, but only by Government Office Region or Jobcentre Plus Social Fund budget area. 3. Scotland has been interpreted as the Government Office Region of that name. 4. Numbers are for initial awards only and do not include awards made after review. 5. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest ten. 6. During 2006-07 and 2007-08 the Budgeting loan baseline amount was at a level which gave a maximum amount which was above £1,000 (for single people or couples with children) in later years this has not been the case. 7. In 2006-07 the maximum loan amount was increased from £1,000 to £1,500 therefore allowing applicants to be awarded loans over the £1,000 level. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, and Budget Management Information System. | ||||||
Social Security Benefits
Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are in place to assist those who experience delays in benefit payments. [42596]
Steve Webb: The Secretary of State can make a discretionary payment, termed an “Interim Payment”, when there is a delay in payment and a customer is suffering hardship and it is impracticable for the benefit claim to be decided and paid in the normal way. In addition, a Social Fund Crisis Loan may be available to prevent serious risk to health or safety of anyone in a crisis.
Social Security Benefits: Fraud
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department provides to local authorities wishing to pursue (a) UK nationals, (b) A2 nationals and (c) A8 nationals who are suspected of housing benefit or council tax fraud. [42410]
2 Mar 2011 : Column 481W
Steve Webb: The fraud procedures and instructions guidance provides guidance for effective counter-fraud investigation to all staff who work on counter fraud activity in DWP and local authorities. This guidance is available on-line (via secure networks) to all local authorities free of charge.
All claimants, irrespective of nationality, who are suspected of housing benefit or council tax fraud are subject to procedures outlined in this guidance, including A2 and A8 nationals who may be entitled to UK benefits.
Social Security Benefits: Livingston
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken was to process notification of changes of circumstances of benefit claimants (a) resident in Livingston constituency and (b) nationally in the latest period for which figures are available. [42981]
Chris Grayling:
The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus,
2 Mar 2011 : Column 482W
Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what average time was taken to process notification of changes of circumstance of benefit claimants (a) resident in Livingstone constituency and (b) nationally in the latest period for which figures are available. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to Darra Singh as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. As Darra Singh is currently on annual leave, I am replying in his absence.
Jobcentre Plus monitor the average time taken to process changes of circumstance via internal measurement indicators using an Average Actual Clearance Time (AACT) for each benefit.
AACT measures the average number of working days we take to process changes of circumstance.
You have asked for details for claimants resident in Livingstone constituency. These are processed by Bathgate Benefit Delivery Centre.
The table below shows the latest AACT performance for changes of circumstance at both National level and for those processed in Bathgate. We have provided data by month in the current financial year (2010-11).
| Changes of circumstance, average actual clearance times | |||||||||||
| Working days | |||||||||||
| 2010 | 2011 | ||||||||||
|
|
Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Year to date |
| Source: Management Information System Programme (MISP) MISP is the departmental performance management, data capture and reporting tool. This type of internal management information does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority’s code of practice. | |||||||||||
Social Security Benefits: Pensioners
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has undertaken on the merits of using the consumer prices index in uprating benefits for people under pensionable age. [42873]
Steve Webb: The Consumer Prices Advisory Committee (CPAC) report released on 3 November 2010 recommended that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) should consider including owner-occupiers' housing costs in the consumer prices index (CPI). This proposed expanded index is referred to as ‘CPIH’ in the report.
Two potential approaches to the inclusion of owner-occupiers' housing costs are recommended for development, and the report suggests a programme of work that will take two years to complete.
We will monitor this work and assess the merits of using CPIH for uprating benefits once it is further developed.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of benefits and pensions enquiries and applications were made by people aged 65 or over in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [43127]
2 Mar 2011 : Column 483W
Steve Webb: The agency does not currently capture pensions enquiries information. In terms of benefits paid, as at May 2010 out of a total of 18.8 million customers receiving DWP benefits, 10.9 million are aged 65 or over (58%).
Source:
May 2010 latest published Work and Pensions longitudinal study
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent assessment is of the merits of reviewing the statutory standards in respect of overcrowding in social housing. [42867]
Andrew Stunell: We published on 28 February a summary of responses to our consultation on social housing reform, which includes an assessment of responses to questions on overcrowding. In the light of that consultation, we are proceeding with major reforms to the way social housing is managed, providing local authorities and social landlords with greater freedoms and flexibilities which will enable them to address overcrowding more effectively. The case for reform of overcrowding standards will be considered in the light of the impact of these wider reforms.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps he has taken to increase the provision of family-sized affordable homes. [42868]
Grant Shapps: The number and size of affordable rent homes delivered will be dependent on agreements between providers and the Homes and Communities Agency, in consultation with local authorities.
We expect providers of affordable housing and local authorities to work closely to identify the type of provision that will best meet local needs, including, where appropriate, family-sized housing.
In June 2010 we removed the national minimum density target from Planning Policy Statement 3 (Housing), to give local authorities the flexibility to set density ranges that suit the local needs in their areas - particularly for family houses.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what level of New Homes Bonus will be payable for purpose-built student accommodation. [43574]
Grant Shapps: New Homes Bonus will link the level of grant for each additional home by measuring the change on the annual council tax base form submitted by all billing authorities in England in October each year.
Any new homes built and properties brought back into use, including student accommodation, which are recorded in the top line of the form, will be included in
2 Mar 2011 : Column 484W
the bonus calculations. This will help meet a wide range of housing demands which are appropriate to local circumstances.
Further details of the final scheme design along with provisional allocations can be viewed at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/newhomesbonus
Allotments
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the extent to which provision of allotments meets demand (a) nationally and (b) in each region. [43457]
Andrew Stunell: Central Government do not hold information on allotment waiting lists. The latest independent survey of principal local authorities in England on allotment waiting lists, by “Transition Town West Kirby” with the “National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners” in 2010, reported a waiting list of 94,124 people for 158,796 plots. DCLG is working with organisations such as “The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens” to promote non-statutory allotment space for food growing. A link to the survey is available from the “National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners’” website at:
www.nsalg.org.uk
Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the agenda for the next meeting of the cross-Government group working to tackle anti-Semitism; on what date he expects the meeting to take place; and if he will make a statement. [41803]
Andrew Stunell: The next cross-Government working group meeting to tackle anti-Semitism will take place in June, date to be set and the agenda for that meeting is yet to be finalised. However, the last group met on 22 February 2011 and today I have placed copy of that agenda in the Library of the House.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from (a) hon. Members, (b) Members of the House of Lords, (c) the Board of Deputies of British Jews and (d) members of the public on the incidence of anti-Semitism; what response each received; and if he will make a statement. [41804]
Andrew Stunell: The Department of Communities and Local Government regularly receives representations from hon. Members of both Houses, representative organisations and members of the public of incidences of anti-Semitism. The Department also receives regular updates from the Community Security Trust on incidents of anti-Semitism and through the cross-Government working group meets representatives of the Community Security Trust, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council on a quarterly basis. The Government’s latest response to tackling anti-Semitism can be found in the ‘Three Years on Progress Report’ which can be found at:
2 Mar 2011 : Column 485W
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/antisemitismresponse
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the achievements of the cross-Government working group to tackle anti-Semitism; and if he will make a statement. [R] [41989]
Andrew Stunell: The achievements of the cross-Government working group to tackle anti-Semitism can be found at the front of the Government’s recently published “Three Years on Progress Report”. A copy of the report is available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/antisemitismresponse
Biofuels: Avonmouth
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an assessment of the potential environmental effects of the construction of a proposed biofuels plant near Avonmouth. [43550]
Robert Neill: The Secretary of State's decision on this proposal was issued on 10 February and took account of the Inquiry Inspector's report dated 20 October 2010. Having considered the evidence put before the Inquiry, the Inspector was satisfied that an environmental statement was not required. The Secretary of State took into account the conclusions reached by the Inspector on environmental matters and all post-inquiry representations on the subject.
Community Development
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2011, Official Report, columns 207-8W, on community development, what consultations his Department undertook before identifying the subjects for the case studies, including the work of the big society vanguards; and when the case studies will be published. [40164]
Greg Clark: The Government have invited the public to come forward with innovative ideas for improving their communities and the support they need to put them into practice.
These illustrations of active local engagement will continue to be shared via departmental websites, the barrier busting website and through a range of traditional communications channels so that they are accessible to a wide range of communities across Britain.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff have left his Department's employment since May 2010. [42307]
Robert Neill:
Between 1 May 2010 and 31 January 2011 266 people, 258.5 full-time equivalent staff, have left the Department for Communities and Local Government. Figures provided are for employees and
2 Mar 2011 : Column 486W
include permanent, fixed-term contract, casual and staff loaned from other Government Departments and paid for via DCLG payroll.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff his Department employed on the latest date for which figures are available. [42388]
Robert Neill: As at 31 January 2011 the Department for Communities and Local Government employed 2,105 actual staff, 2,035.1 full-time equivalent. All data are compiled as at the end of the month and the latest data available are for 31 January 2011. These figures also include 102 staff who left the Department as at close of business 31 January 2011.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in May 2010. [42404]
Robert Neill: As at 31 May 2010 the Department for Communities and Local Government employed 2,108 staff, 2,046.2 full-time equivalent.
Departmental Interpreters
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for which services provided by (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies, interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available. [42223]
Robert Neill: In the last financial year—2009-10—the Department spent £3,003.45 on interpretation, all of which was for sign language interpretation. Details of the actual number of interpreters used are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Department does not have any civil servants employed specifically as language interpreters.
Information on the Department's arm's length bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Harrow East of 3 November 2010, Official Report, column 813W, on European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, if he will place in the Library a copy of the full unredacted invoice. [36943]
Robert Neill:
The list placed in the Library showed all the information relevant to the question asked by the hon. Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) on 3 November 2010, Official Report, column 813W. I have placed in the Library of the House a copy of the invoice with only the names of individuals redacted. None of the items listed under ‘Estimates of other work below’ were authorised by the Department and the charges
2 Mar 2011 : Column 487W
were disputed. The contract with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company has now been terminated, as I announced to the House on 20 December 2010,
Official Report
, column 141WS, and with the agreement reached over termination all issues concerning the company's provision of consultancy days have effectively been resolved.
Housing: Owner Occupation
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent research his Department has commissioned on links between home ownership and social mobility. [42595]
Grant Shapps: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not commissioned any research on links between home ownership and social mobility since publishing a report entitled “New Horizons Research Programme: Social Mobility And Home Ownership: A Risk Assessment” in 2007. Copies of this report are available from the Department's website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/newhorizonsresearch
Notwithstanding, I believe that housing is crucial in removing some of the barriers to social mobility, which is why the new Government are introducing programmes like the new national home swap scheme.
Localism
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to publish the report by the Minister of State responsible for decentralisation to the Prime Minister on localism and decentralisation; and if he will make a statement. [43163]
Greg Clark: “Decentralisation and the Localism Bill: An essential guide”, published in December 2010, makes clear that we will issue a progress report by summer 2011 that sets out what each Department has done to decentralise. The guide can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1793908.pdf
Properties at Risk
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what (a) powers are available to and (b) procedures are followed by local authorities to make properties at risk structurally sound. [43258]
Robert Neill: Local authorities have powers under sections 77 and 78 of the Building Act 1984 to require building owners to remedy structural defects in buildings, or alternatively to demolish them. Under section 77 the local authority must apply to the magistrates court to make an order for these purposes, and under section 78 may serve a notice directly on the owner. If the building owner does not take action as required, the local authority may do so itself and recover the cost from the building owner.
Local Government: EU Action
Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of
2 Mar 2011 : Column 488W
the cost to the public purse of promoting European Local Democracy Week in 2011; and what the cost to the public purse was in each previous year for which figures are available. [41904]
Robert Neill: We have made no such estimates, nor is information held centrally about the costs to the public purse of earlier European Local Democracy Weeks.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what Government funding is available to public bodies and other organisation to promote European Local Democracy Week 2011.[41905]
Robert Neill: No specific Government funding is available to support such participation.
Newspaper Press
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an assessment of (a) the level of newspaper readership in each decile of the population and (b) its relationship with levels of civic disengagement. [42126]
Greg Clark: Data held by the Government show that in terms of the relationship between newspaper readership and age, readership is prevalent across age bands, as illustrated by the following table.
| Table 1: Newspaper readership by age, England, 2009-10 | |
| Age band | Percentage citing newspaper as a main source of information on news and current affairs |
The relationship between newspaper readership and ‘civic disengagement’ can be seen in the following table.
| Table 2: Newspaper readership and ‘civic disengagement’, England, 2009-10 | ||
| Percentage of people civically ‘engaged’ or ‘disengaged’, 12 months prior to interview | ||
| Newspaper readership | Disengaged | Engaged |
Planning
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to amend Section 43 of the Planning Act 2008 to make parish councils statutory consultees for the purposes of section 42(b) of that Act. [43228]
Robert Neill: The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations (SI 2009 No. 2264) already make relevant parish councils statutory consultees for the purposes of section 42 of the Planning Act 2008. There is therefore no need to make amendment to section 43 of that Act.
2 Mar 2011 : Column 489W
Racial and Religious Hatred
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what arrangements his Department has put in place to measure levels of racial and religious hatred. [42114]
Andrew Stunell: The Department for Communities and Local Government is not responsible for measuring levels of racial and religious hatred. However, the programme for Government document includes a commitment to improve the collection of hate crime data. The Home Office has implemented this commitment and the formal collection of hate crime data across the five monitored strands (disability, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation) will begin in April of this year. The data are to be published in summer 2012.
Regeneration
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to respond to the conclusions and recommendations of the coalfields regeneration review report. [42198]
Andrew Stunell: The Government intend to formally respond to the coalfields regeneration review report and the recommendations shortly. The response will be published on the Department’s website.
The review of coalfields regeneration report is available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/regeneration/reviewcoalfieldsregeneration
Social Rented Housing
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking in respect of the under-occupation of social housing and the promotion of social mobility. [41786]
Grant Shapps: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Jonathan Lord) on 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 11.
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account he has taken of the Compact between the Government and Civil Society in policy development. [42605]
Greg Clark: The Department for Communities and Local Government follows the principles of the National Compact concordat between the Coalition Government and Civil Society in policy developments.
Voluntary Work
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of long-term volunteering rates among (a) men and (b) women as (i) formal and (ii) informal volunteers. [42111]
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Andrew Stunell: All Citizenship Survey data are publicly available on the Department’s website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/research/citizenshipsurvey/
Its assessment indicates a decrease in the levels of regular formal volunteering in England from 2005 to 2009-10 among both males (27% to 24%) and females (31% to 26%o) aged 16 years and over.
Similarly, levels of regular informal volunteering in England by gender show a decrease in participation from 2005 to 2009-10 among both males (32% to 26%) and females (41% to 32%).
The Citizenship Survey definition of formal volunteering is
“Giving unpaid help through groups, clubs or organisations to benefit other people or the environment”.
This excludes giving money and activities related to job requirements.
Formal volunteers are those who have given unpaid help through any UK groups, clubs or organisations via the following activities: raising or handling money/taking part in sponsored events; leading the group/member of a committee; organising or helping run an activity or event; visiting people; befriending or mentoring people; giving advice/information/counselling; secretarial, admin or clerical work; providing transport/driving; representing; campaigning; other practical help (e.g. helping out at school); and any other help.
The Citizenship Survey definition of informal volunteering is
“Giving unpaid help as an individual to people who are not relatives”.
Informal volunteers are those who have given unpaid help to someone who is not a relative via the following activities: keeping in touch with someone who has difficult getting out and about; doing shopping/collecting prescription/paying bills; cooking/cleaning/laundry/gardening or other routine household jobs; decorating or doing any kind of home or car repairs; babysitting or caring for children; sitting with or providing personal care (e.g. washing, dressing) for someone who is sick or frail; looking after property or a pet for someone who is away; giving advice; writing letters or filling in forms; representing someone (e.g. talking to a council department or a doctor); transporting or escorting someone (e.g. to hospital).
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of long-term trends in formal volunteering by those with (a) a degree, (b) higher education below a degree, (c) A level or equivalent, (d) GCSEs at grades A* to C or equivalent, (e) GCSEs at grade D to E or equivalent, (f) foreign and other qualifications and (g) no qualifications; and if he will make a statement. [42117]
Greg Clark: Data held by the Government provide information on the percentage of people who participated in regular (at least once a month) formal volunteering in England, by highest qualification level over the last five survey years.
2 Mar 2011 : Column 491W
| Percentage | |||||
| Highest qualification (1) | 2003 | 2005 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| (1) Qualifications based on respondents aged 16 to 69 years. Respondents aged 70 or over are excluded. (2) ‘Total’ row based on all respondents, including those aged 70 or over. | |||||
The definition used of formal volunteering is
“Giving unpaid help through groups, clubs or organisations to benefit other people or the environment”.
This excludes giving money and activities related to job requirements.
Formal volunteers are those who have given unpaid help through any UK groups, clubs or organisations via the following activities: raising or handling money/taking part in sponsored events; leading the group/member of a committee; organising or helping run an activity or event; visiting people; befriending or mentoring people; giving advice/information/counselling; secretarial, admin or clerical work; providing transport/driving; representing; campaigning; other practical help (e.g. helping out at school); and any other help.
Voluntary Work: Young People
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2011, Official Report, columns 212-4W, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the reduction in the estimated level of volunteering by young people between 2005 and 2010. [40160]
Greg Clark: My Department holds no firm evidence suggesting the reasons for the decrease in volunteering from 2005 to 2009-10. However, the new Government, through initiatives such as the National Citizenship Service, and reforms to the vetting and barring scheme, are seeking to expand the opportunities for volunteering.
Health
Abortion: Private Sector
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that independent abortion providers have appropriate care pathways in place for women following abortions; [42352]
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(2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that counselling provided by independent abortion providers is impartial. [42353]
Anne Milton: Independent abortion providers are regulated by the Care Quality Commission and require the Secretary of State's approval to perform abortions. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists evidence-based guidelines, “The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion”, a copy of which is available in the Library, highlights the need for services to have clear care pathways for the management and referral of women. This will include referrals for counselling for those women who require it following abortion.
In addition, the guideline states that verbal advice should be supported by accurate, impartial, printed information that the woman can understand and may take away to consider further before the procedure.
The Department produced a model abortion service specification for commissioners in 2010. This specification also highlights the need for robust care pathways and access to impartial information, advice and support.
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many women have been re-referred to NHS antenatal units from independent abortion providers following a decision to continue with their pregnancy in the latest period for which figures are available; [42354]
(2) how many women (a) used the 24-hour helpline and (b) requested follow-up appointments following a pregnancy termination procedure in the last year for which figures are available; [42355]
(3) how many women were referred from independent abortion providers to adoption advisers following a decision to continue with their pregnancy in the last year for which figures are available. [42356]
Anne Milton: This information is not collected by the Department.
Abortion providers should ensure that women are given time and information to enable them to make an informed decision. This will include information covering alternatives to abortion, such as motherhood or adoption.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists draft evidence-based guidelines “The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion” proposes that “all women should be able to choose to return for routine follow-up if they so wish”. In addition, it proposes that they should be given a 24-hour helpline number to obtain advice and support after having an abortion.
Baby Care Units
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of children admitted to neonatal units who (a) died within (i) 24 hours, (ii) two days, (iii) three days and (iv) seven days and (b) survived and were discharged in each of the last five years. [41963]
Anne Milton:
Neonatal units use local data systems to collect information on date of birth/admission of babies and date of discharge or death to feed into local,
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and if appropriate national audits. This information is used to inform the development of services locally. It is not reported centrally to the Department.
Data on all admissions to neonatal units are captured on a central standardised electronic system known as the UK National Neonatal System. Anonymised patient data are collected daily from the majority of neonatal units in England, on data items such as: month and year of birth; date of admission; date of discharge; gestation length at birth; and birth weight. The Neonatal Data Analysis Unit (NDAU), an independent academic unit at Imperial College London, has National Information Governance Board approval to undertake analysis of neonatal electronic records. Any data requests for data from the System would have to be submitted to the NDAU.
Blood: Contamination
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors he took into account in determining how many hours of counselling should be provided to people who have been infected by contaminated NHS blood products; and which organisations will be providing such counselling services. [42773]
Anne Milton: Exactly how many hours of counselling might be required has not yet been determined because it is not known how many individuals might want to access this counselling and how many sessions each person may require. Uptake will be reviewed once arrangements are in place during 2011. A decision on which organisation(s) will provide the counselling has not yet been made.
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on improving access to insurance and financial services for people who have been infected by contaminated NHS blood products. [42774]
Anne Milton: There have been no ministerial discussions on this issue. However, officials were in discussion with officials in HM Treasury in October and November 2010.
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to provide additional support to people caring for individuals who have been infected by contaminated blood products. [42775]
Anne Milton: There is already support available for people caring for individuals who have been infected by contaminated blood products through social services and the carer’s allowance. There are no plans to provide additional support specifically for carers of this patient group, beyond that announced in the oral statement by the Secretary of State for Health on 10 January 2011, Official Report, columns 33-35.
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are circumstances in which the additional payments available through the Skipton Fund for people infected by contaminated blood products may be paid to the widow or widower of eligible recipients. [42776]
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Anne Milton: Where an eligible infected individual has died without making a claim, lump sum payments can be made into his or her estate. The representative of the deceased individual is required to claim payment in the same way as a living infected individual is required to claim. Anyone who considers they may be eligible to claim should contact the Skipton Fund. Details can be found on its website at:
www.skiptonfund.org
Discretionary payments will also be available to support the dependants of those infected with Hepatitis C, including the dependants of those who have since died. This includes bereaved spouses and partners.
Cervical Cancer: Smoking
Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the link between smoking and cervical cancer. [42858]
Paul Burstow: “Improving Outcomes in Gynaecological Cancers”, published by the Department in 1999, acknowledged the link between smoking and cervical cancer. The World Health Organisation also acknowledges this link.
Cancer-causing chemicals from cigarettes have been identified in the cervical samples taken from women who smoke. In addition to this, cells in the cervical lining that help combat disease have been found to be less effective in smokers.
Mortality Rates
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the years of life lost owing to mortality from (a) epilepsy, (b) asthma, (c) Parkinson’s disease and (d) multiple sclerosis in the latest period for which figures are available. [43190]
Paul Burstow: The Department has made no estimate of the potential years of life lost owing to premature mortality from epilepsy, asthma, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.
Drugs: Rehabilitation
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2010, Official Report, column 570W, on drugs: rehabilitation, what estimate he has made of the number of people prescribed daily doses of methadone of between 12 milligrams and 32 milligrams who have been on methadone for over one year. [43370]
Anne Milton: This information is not collected centrally.
The national drug treatment monitoring system collects information on the number of people receiving substitute prescribing interventions for substance misuse in England, but does not distinguish between methadone and other drugs, such as buprenorphine, which are also recommended for the treatment of drug misuse by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Nor does it record individuals’ daily doses.
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General Practitioners: Private Sector
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011, Official Report, column 608W, on general practitioners, whether a licensed private healthcare provider will be permitted to (a) provide services and (b) enter into a contract with GP consortia to carry out duties in relation to its work as a commissioning body. [42419]
Mr Simon Burns: Consortia will be free, within the legislative framework, to make the decisions that they judge are right for patients and provide value for money. This includes commissioning services from the public, voluntary or private sectors.
General practitioner consortia will receive a maximum management allowance to reflect the costs associated with commissioning. They will have the freedom to decide what commissioning activities they undertake for themselves, and for what activities they choose to buy in support from external organisations, including local authorities, private and voluntary sector bodies.
Hospitals: Construction
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the (a) re-building of the West Cumberland Hospital, (b) Keswick Cottage Hospital development, (c) Millom Cottage Hospital development, (d) Cockermouth Cottage Hospital development, (e ) Maryport Cottage Hospital development and (f ) Cleator Moor Health Centre to be complete. [43269]
Mr Simon Burns: Responsibility for delivering local health services lies with the national health service locally. The re-development of acute and community hospital facilities in Cumbria is a matter for the local NHS in Cumbria. Cumbria primary care trust and the north Cumbria university hospitals NHS trust are best placed to advise on the current position of any proposed developments locally.
Human Papilloma Virus
Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate the average cost to the NHS of treating a case of laryngeal papilloma; [42055]
(2) which wart viruses cause laryngeal papilloma. [42056]
Anne Milton: The genital warts that cause laryngeal papilloma are a result of the Human papilloma virus. Laryngeal papilloma is most commonly seen among young children and is transmitted from mother to baby at birth.
Information is not collected on the average cost to the national health service of treating a case of laryngeal papilloma.
Leeds General Infirmary: Heart Diseases
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received on the future of the child heart surgery unit at Leeds General Infirmary. [42684]
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Mr Simon Burns: A review of children's heart surgery services, known as the Safe and Sustainable programme, is being carried out within the national health service by the NHS national specialised commissioning team. We have been regularly updated on progress and briefed on the options for future children's heart surgery services which are due to go out to public consultation from 28 February until 1 July 2011. These options can be found at:
www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/news/view/25
MRSA: Screening
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the capacity of methods of screening against the MRSA bacterium used by NHS hospitals to detect new strains of the infection; and if he will make a statement. [42983]
Mr Simon Burns: Many laboratory methods are available to national health service hospitals to detect Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and these meet the European Commission standards for safety, quality and performance. NHS trust laboratories use simple tests to detect MRSA. These tests have been available for many years and are capable of detecting the emergence of a new MRSA on this basis.
National Drug Treatment Monitoring System
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who were reported as successfully discharged from treatment in the national drug treatment monitoring system who returned to GP methadone prescriptions in the latest period for which figures are available. [43268]
Anne Milton: Data from the national drug treatment monitoring system (NDTMS) records 24,969 adults who completed treatment successfully in England in 2008-09. Of these, 745 (3% of those who completed treatment successfully in 2008-09) re-presented for treatment in 2009-10 and were recorded as receiving a general practitioner prescribing intervention.
NDTMS collects information on the number of people receiving substitute prescribing interventions for substance misuse in England, but it does not distinguish between methadone and other drugs, such as buprenorphine, which are also recommended for the treatment of drug misuse by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
NHS: Finance
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the (a) monetary value and (b) value as a proportion of all NHS services of those NHS services which are subject to a set tariff. [43264]
Mr Simon Burns: In 2010-11 the national tariff covers an estimated £29 billion of national health service services, representing about 30% of estimated NHS revenue expenditure.
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North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has of the likely effects on the provision of acute hospital services at West Cumberland Hospital of (a) implementation of the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill and (b) NHS Trust mergers involving North Cumbria University Hospitals Acute Trust; and if he will make a statement. [43062]
Mr Simon Burns: It is for healthcare commissioners to plan, develop and improve local health services, taking into account the healthcare needs of their local populations and in accordance with national policy and guidance.
The decision taken by North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust to seek a partner organisation, through a merger or acquisition, is about ensuring the sustainable delivery of high quality healthcare. Taking this approach will, in turn, enable the organisation to meet the requirements needed to achieve foundation trust status by April 2014 and benefit from the independence this brings to further develop services to improve health outcomes for patients.
Nurses: Pay
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects on training and career development of the proposal to freeze the payment of annual increments in the salaries of NHS nurses. [42425]
Mr Simon Burns: We do not believe that a freeze in incremental progression will have an effect on the training and career development of nurses. The proposal to freeze incremental progression for national health service staff, via a national enabling framework, was made by NHS Employers to the NHS Staff Council. Although NHS trade unions rejected the framework, we understand that NHS Employers have not withdrawn the proposal and that they are encouraging employers to discuss with trade unions the financial challenges they face locally, so they are able to make informed decisions about job security and the potential benefits of the framework for staff and patients.
Ministers will of course consider very carefully any formal proposals that are made.
Effective appraisals are an essential part of NHS employment practice, leading to improved staff performance, higher staff satisfaction and better patient outcomes. The NHS Constitution also commits the NHS to providing staff with clear roles and responsibilities, and personal development and ‘line management support to succeed’.
The NHS knowledge and skills framework for staff subject to the Agenda for Change pay framework, provides a useful supporting framework to identify the knowledge and skills that staff need to do their job and their development needs. Such annual reviews should take place whether or not there is a pay or increment freeze.
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Obesity
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of long-term trends in (a) calorie intake and (b) exercise levels; and whether he has made an assessment of the relationship between such trends and levels of heart disease. [42551]
Anne Milton: The national diet and nutrition survey collects information on average daily calorie intakes from a random, representative sample of people across the country who are asked to complete a diary of food and drink consumption over a number of days. Information is available on intakes for adult men and women for 1986-87, 2000-01 and 2008-09. Calorie intake for men has fallen slightly, but for women has remained broadly similar. In 1986-87, intake for men was 2,450 kcal/day and for women was 1,680 kcal/day. In 2008-09, intake for men was 2,255 kcal/day and for women was 1,645 kcal/day.
Participation in physical activity in England is measured through the Health Survey for England. The Health Survey for England 2008 showed that 39% of men and 29% of women reported that they met the chief medical officer’s recommended guidelines for physical activity compared with 32% and 21% respectively in 1997.
The Department has not carried out any specific assessment of the relationship between the trends in calorie intake and physical activity and levels of heart disease.
The White Paper “Healthy Lives, Healthy People” sets out the Government’s vision and approach to improving health, including through better nutrition and increased physical activity levels.
Patient Choice Schemes
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of NHS expenditure in each region which will be spent on implementing his proposals on patient choice in the next 12 months. [42014]
Mr Simon Burns: The White Paper ‘Equity and Excellence: liberating the NHS’ set out a number of commitments on choice. The consultation on these proposals ‘Greater Choice and Control’ closed on 14 January. The replies are currently being analysed and a response will be issued in the spring. There will be a full impact assessment in due course.
Prostate Cancer: Health Services
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to address the variations between trusts in the experience of treatment and care reported by men with prostate cancer in the 2010 national cancer patient experience survey; and if he will make a statement. [42541]
Paul Burstow: It is the responsibility of national health service trusts to provide quality treatment and care for their patients.
In order to incentivise quality improvements in patient treatment, care and experience, all 158 trusts that took part in the 2010 cancer patient experience survey were
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sent a bespoke report showing their own results. Each report displayed the results for each question in the survey benchmarked against other trusts. The report also benchmarked by teams within trusts where numbers allowed.
In order to maximise opportunities for quality improvement actions based on the results of the survey, the trust level reports were sent directly to the chief executive of each trust, clearly identifying whether they were a low performer or not compared to other trusts.
Primary care trust chief executives and cancer network directors were also sent the local trust reports relevant to their areas to enable local action as appropriate.
The Department is also funding Quality Health, the survey provider, to offer free presentations to the trusts in the bottom 10% of performers, explaining their results and offering potential actions they can take to improve the experience of their cancer patients.
The survey has been identified as a possible exemplar Commissioning for Quality and Innovation payment incentive goal to support local quality improvement. A single composite, case-mix adjusted score for each trust based on the survey results is being developed to enable this.
In order to promote patient choice, the NHS Choices website has integrated three questions from the survey into comparative tools to allow patients to compare performance.
We are supporting an academic fellowship application to focus on further analysis of the 2010 dataset. If successful, this analysis aims to look further into the socio-economic findings of the survey and then provide analysis of the links between data from the cancer peer review programme and the survey. A key measure of the Cancer Peer Review programmes is that trusts should be able to demonstrate actions they have taken on the results of patient experience surveys.
The final anonymised dataset from the survey is being made available for research for other agencies to use for further analysis of the data to further identify where improvements need to be made.
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support the NHS provides to persons diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy. [43178]
Paul Burstow: It is for local commissioners to determine what services should be commissioned to meet the needs of their local populations, in the light of local and national professional advice.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), previously known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, is a complex and poorly understood condition. It seems to involve an excessive reaction to an injury, resulting in localised pain which is much more severe and lasts much longer than would normally be expected from the nature of the injury. It can occur at any age, although it appears to be more common between ages 45-60 and in women. The one available estimate of prevalence is some 21 cases per 1,000,000.
CRPS can resolve spontaneously, but where this does not occur treatment is more likely to be effective if it is
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initiated quickly (within three months of the initial symptoms). Diagnosis can be difficult especially in the early stages.
Treatment involves a combination of:
1. pain relief with oral medicines or, less commonly, injections or spinal stimulation;
2. physical therapy (exercises, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy) to restore normal functioning of the affected limb; and
3. patient education, so that the patient is fully involved in the therapeutic aims.
Many patients suffer from psychological side effects (depression, anxiety) so good practice involves a psychological assessment and, where needed, psychological interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy or relaxation techniques. A small number of centres in the United Kingdom can provide a specialist rehabilitation service for difficult cases.
Rotavirus Vaccine
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to receive a further recommendation on the rotavirus vaccine from the Joint Council on Vaccination and Immunisation; [43516]
(2) when he expects the Health Protection Agency to complete its modelling in order to provide the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation with information on the cost-effectiveness of introducing a rotavirus vaccine. [43517]
Anne Milton: Over the next few months, the Health Protection Agency will be completing a new modelling study on the cost effectiveness of a rotavirus vaccination programme. The study will then be peer-reviewed by a panel of independent experts before consideration by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). It is anticipated that the study will be completed and peer-reviewed in time for JCVI to consider the findings at its meeting scheduled for June 2011.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of (a) new and (b) repeat cases of (i) genital warts, (ii) pre-cancer and (iii) overt cervical cancer in the latest period for which figures are available. [42857]
Paul Burstow: In 2008, the most recent period for which statistics are available, 2,334 women in England were diagnosed with cervical cancer. National statistics reflect newly diagnosed cases of cervical cancer only. Instances of recurrence are not collected nationally.
Cervical screening only identifies abnormalities that could, if untreated, develop into cancer. We are therefore unable to provide the statistics on abnormalities that will not become cancer.
The number of diagnoses of genital warts (first episode) in genitourinary medicine clinics (GUM) clinics in England by age groups and years 1995 to 2009, the latest date for which figures are available, are given in the following table.
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| Genital warts: first episode | Genital warts: recurrence | ||||||||
| Age-group | <15 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-64 | 65+ | Total | Total |
| Notes: 1. Data by age-group are only available for the groups presented. 2. Data on unknown gender and age-group are included in the ‘Total’ row for 2009 data. 3. The data available from the KC60 (2008 and earlier) and GUMCAD (2009 onwards) returns are for diagnoses made in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics only. A recent study (pending publication) of genital warts cases (first and recurrence) seen in GUM clinics and in general practice in 2008 has found most cases seen in general practice were referred on to GUM clinics and estimated that only around 5% of cases were seen in general practice only, ie figures in table 1 may represent up to 95% of cases. 4. The data available from the KC60 and GUMCAD returns are the number of diagnoses made, not the number of patients diagnosed. 5. The information provided is based on reported data from GUM clinics in England that has been adjusted for missing clinic data. Source: Health Protection Agency, KC60 and Genitourinary Medicine Clinic Activity Dataset (GUMCAD) returns. | |||||||||
Data are unavailable for 2010.
South Central Strategic Health Authority: Manpower
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) registered nurses and (b) doctors are employed by the South Central strategic health authority. [42979]
Mr Simon Burns: Numbers of non-medical nursing staff and medical and dental doctors employed by NHS South Central can be found in the National Health Service workforce census, which also includes the numbers employed in the entire strategic health authority (SHA) area. 2009 data are the most recent census data available. 2010 census data will be published in late March 2011.
The census shows the number of qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed by NHS South Central (headcount) is two. The number employed in the entire SHA area (headcount) is 23,925.
The number of hospital doctors employed by the NHS South Central (headcount) is 11. The number employed in the entire SHA area (headcount) is 7,353.
The full census is available on the NHS information centre for health and social care's website at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/nhsworkforce
Swine Flu
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) incidences of and (b) deaths involving swine influenza there were in each of the last five years. [41756]
Anne Milton: Respiratory illness in humans caused by swine flu virus (influenza A H1N1 (2009)) was first identified in early 2009 in Mexico. United Kingdom data are thus available for 2009 onwards.
Influenza activity is monitored through various surveillance indicators including patient consultation incidence rates for influenza-like illness (ILI) in primary care. There are no routine national figures for the overall incidence of influenza infection (including swine flu) in the general population.
Data on swine flu deaths are summarised in the following table.
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Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of any internal background note prepared for the response to each parliamentary question tabled by the hon. Member for Southend West and answered by his Department since 1 July 2010; and if he will make a statement. [41721]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested has been placed in the Library.