Air Force: Redundancy
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he has put in place to assist those who are to be made redundant from the RAF as part of the redundancy programme announced on 1 March 2011 in their transition to civilian life. [44394]
Mr Robathan: All Service personnel selected for redundancy will qualify for resettlement support from the RAF, as if they had completed their commission or engagement. This includes a resettlement grant and training to enhance skills and gain qualifications to improve employment opportunities.
Details of RAF personnel selected for redundancy under Tranche one of the RAF Redundancy Programme will not be known until 1 September 2011.
4 Mar 2011 : Column 640W
Air Force: Training
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will assess the merits of providing support to allow Royal Air Force trainee pilots who lose their commissions as a result of reductions in public expenditure to become commercial airline pilots; and if he will make a statement; [43135]
(2) when his Department took the decision to end the commissions of 100 Royal Air Force trainee pilots; and if he will make a statement; [43137]
(3) what support he plans to provide to Royal Air Force trainee pilots who lose their commissions as a result of reductions in public expenditure; and if he will make a statement. [43134]
Mr Robathan: As part of the strategic defence and security review, it was announced that there would be a reduction in the number of airframes the RAF would be operating in future. This included the early withdrawal from service of the Harrier fleet, a reduction in the number of Tornado aircraft and the cancellation of the Nimrod MRA4. As a result of these decisions, the RAF’s requirement for future trained pilots has now reduced. In addition, there has been a reassessment of the required number of helicopter pilots due to there being fewer service leavers and the limited capacity of operational conversion units.
Accordingly, RAF trainee pilots were informed on 15 February 2011 of a decision to remove up to 170 student RAF pilots from the flying training pipeline. They are currently being briefed on the personal implications in one-to-one discussions. Those RAF trainee pilots who are removed from the flying training pipeline will be considered for potential re-selection for other ground based appointments. Those that are not successful will be put forward for redundancy and will receive support from the RAF by way of resettlement packages.
Armed Forces: Health Services
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of minimum payment guarantees for each independent treatment centre in each year since 2003. [43082]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence does not make minimum payment guarantees to independent treatment centres and therefore does not incur this cost.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of medical operations on armed services personnel performed by each independent treatment centre in each year since 2003. [43083]
Mr Robathan: Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTC) are free-standing surgical units which focus mainly on providing services for NHS patients.
There can be circumstances where a requirement exists to ‘fast-track’ the provision of care for service personnel so that they can be returned to fitness for task as quickly as possible, particularly in orthopaedic care for certain conditions.
4 Mar 2011 : Column 641W
This is achieved through a network of secondary care providers which includes NHS Trusts and the independent sector through individual Ministry of Defence contracts with these providers, which are completely separate to the NHS contractual relationships with ISTCs. As the MOD does not contract directly with ISTCs, it does not incur costs of this nature for medical operations on service personnel.
Armed Forces: Beds
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many new (a) beds and (b) mattresses were purchased for use by each member of the armed forces in each of the last three years; and what the cost was of such purchases in each such year; [42918]
(2) what the average cost of providing a (a) bed and (b) mattress was for each member of the armed forces (i) based in Britain, (ii) serving in Afghanistan and (iii) serving in another country in the latest period for which figures are available; [42919]
(3) how long a (a) bed and (b) mattress is issued for use by members of the armed forces before it is due to be replaced. [42920]
Mr Robathan: There is no business requirement to hold centrally details of the numbers and costs of beds and mattresses used by each member of the armed forces, or to monitor where they are located; this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, details of all new beds and mattresses purchased for use by the armed forces in the UK, Afghanistan and other overseas locations, as well as those not yet issued for use, are contained in the following table:
| FY | |||
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
|
Beds (for a rmed f orces in the UK, Afghanistan and other overseas locations) |
|||
|
Mattresses(for Armed Forces in the UK, Afghanistan and other overseas locations) |
|||
There is no specific time period for replacing used bed frames and mattresses as this will depend on the level of wear and tear.
Armed Forces: Housing
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what proportion of service family accommodation he expects energy efficiency measures to be installed through the Green Deal. [43039]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence is committed to improving the energy efficiency of all its property holdings, and is currently monitoring the consultation process in order to establish how the Green Deal may apply to service family accommodation.
4 Mar 2011 : Column 642W
Defence: Finance
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for spending by his Department in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15 on (a) sensors and (b) nanotechnology. [43941]
Peter Luff: The strategic defence and security review made clear that we will continue the most essential investment in science and technology, which will include focusing investment on developing capabilities in key areas, such as, sensors and nanotechnology. The Ministry of Defence is in the process of completing its annual planning round which will allocate programme budgets. This is expected to conclude in spring 2011, but as I have said previously in the answer I gave on 8 November 2010, Official Report, column 14, to the right hon. Member for North East Hampshire (Mr Arbuthnot) we expect the science and technology budget to rise slightly in cash terms over the comprehensive spending review period.
Departmental Conditions of Employment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of his Department's adherence to each of the principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication Principles of Good Employment Practice. [42625]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry Of Defence (MOD) informed its acquisition and human resource staff of the announcement of the introduction of the Principles of Good Employment Practice in December 2010. Since the beginning of the New Year, the Department has focused attention on implementing those principles most relevant to its role as a commissioner for service provision. It is too early to judge the adherence to each of the principles. It is intended that the Public Services Forum (PSF) assess the impact of these principles on good employment practices in the delivery of contracted out services in January 2012. The MOD will assist the Cabinet Office and PSF with that review.
Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects his Department to meet the Government’s commitment to source food that meets British or equivalent standards of production. [43323]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has two primary contracts for feeding service personnel; the first is a pay as you dine/catering retail and leisure (PAYD/CRL) arrangement covering most armed forces personnel ‘in barracks’. The second is a single food supply contract (FSC) for armed forces personnel serving on operations, exercises, submarines and ships worldwide as well as the remainder of armed forces personnel ‘in barracks’. All food purchased under these arrangements already meets or exceeds EU quality standards.
The MOD is in regular contact with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on food production standards and has provided comments as part of the consultation phase on the proposed Government Buying Standards (GBS) for food and catering. I can confirm that the MOD is committed to supporting the
4 Mar 2011 : Column 643W
coalition agreement on introducing GBS for food and catering within the constraints of EU procurement directives, operational feeding requirements and ensuring the product is fit for purpose.
HMS Victory
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to retain sovereign immunity for the wreck of HMS Victory 1744. [43741]
Mr Robathan: State vessels such as HMS VICTORY 1744 continue to enjoy sovereign immunity after sinking, unless the flag State has expressly relinquished its rights. Her Majesty's Government has not done so.
Plans for the future management of the wreck have been subject to public consultation; the report prepared by the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, will be published shortly.
Military Aircraft
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many missions involving (a) Harrier and (b) Tornado aircraft have been flown in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [43136]
(2) what the cost was of ground support crew for the (a) Harrier and (b) Tornado aircraft fleet in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [43138]
(3) how many crashes there have been involving (a) Harrier and (b) Tornado aircraft in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [43139]
(4) how many and what proportion of missions have been cancelled as a result of mechanical or software failure of (a) Harrier and (b) Tornado aircraft in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [43140]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 989W, to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr Lewis).
The total number of sorties flown by Harrier GR7/9 aircraft for financial year 2006-07 to financial year 2010-11 (to out of service date) is contained in the following table:
| Financial Year | Harrier GR7/9 t otal sorties flown |
The total number of sorties flown in each of the last five years involving Tornado GR4 and Tornado F3 aircraft is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We do however hold the total number of flying hours flown by each fleet for financial year 2006-07 to financial year 2010-11 (to end February 2011). These are contained in the following table:
4 Mar 2011 : Column 644W
| Financial Year | Tornado QR4 total flying hours | Tornado F3 total flying hours |
An average sortie length for Tornado GR4 is currently around one hour 45 minutes and for Tornado F3 is currently around one hour 30 minutes.
Information on the impact of aircraft unserviceability on planned sorties and costs of ground support crews is not available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
There have been nine Tornado and eight Harrier accidents during the last 10 years (since 1 March 2001) involving death, major injury, significant damage or total loss of the aircraft. These figures exclude the Tornado incident at RAF Lossiemouth on 10 February 2011 as the damage to this aircraft has not yet been categorised.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many of the 170 trainee pilots to be made redundant in the programme announced on 1 March 2011 fly (a) fast jets, (b) multi-engine aircraft and (c) helicopters; [44392]
(2) how many of the 344 trainee pilots who are to continue their training fly (a) fast jets, (b) multi-engine aircraft and (c) helicopters. [44440]
Peter Luff: No RAF trainee pilots have been selected for redundancy at this stage. The RAF is currently in the process of selecting up to 170 RAF trainee pilots to be removed from the flying training pipeline. This will be completed and the individuals informed by mid March. Those who will be removed from flying training will undergo a further selection process for possible transfer to ground based branches within the RAF. Those who are unsuccessful will then be considered for redundancy by the redundancy selection board which sits at the end of May this year. Until this process is complete we cannot announce any further details.
Military Bases
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent progress has been made on the review of army bases. [43033]
Mr Gerald Howarth: The Ministry of Defence is addressing the full range of issues affecting the future basing requirements for all three services, arising from the strategic defence and security review. This work will deliver a long-term, cost effective solution to enable the delivery of operational capability and provide value for money for the taxpayer. The complexity of the work means that it will necessarily take some time, but there will be an announcement before the summer recess.
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Navy: Training
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the civil nuclear industry on the role of Royal Navy nuclear personnel in providing training to the industry; and if he will make a statement. [43141]
Mr Robathan: There have been no discussions with the civil nuclear industry regarding the provision of training by Royal Navy personnel.
Northern Ireland
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent in Northern Ireland in each year since 2001. [43185]
Peter Luff: The costs of UK military activity in financial years 2004-05 to 2009-10 for Northern Ireland are provided in the following table. Information for financial years 2001-02 to 2003-04 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| Financial year | £ million |
| Notes: 1. Figures include costs associated with pay for locally employed civilians and Territorial Army, utilities, white fleet vehicle leasing and fuel. The figures do not include costs associated with military equipment, military personnel pay, or IT and communications. 2. Figures from 2005-06 onwards do not include estate works and maintenance. | |
Nuclear Weapons
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account he has taken of his assessment of the threat of State-on-State nuclear warfare in (a) implementing commitments under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and (b) discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. [43071]
Mr Robathan: In the October 2010 strategic defence and security review (SDSR) the Government assessed that while no state currently has both the intent and the capability to threaten the independence or integrity of the UK, we cannot dismiss the possibility that a major direct nuclear threat to the UK might re-emerge.
The Government are committed to fulfilling its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and to the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons. We therefore continue to work closely with partners from across the international community to progress realistic and balanced action to strengthen each of the NPT’s three pillars (non-proliferation, disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear energy). We will continue to work to create a safer and more stable world where all nations are able to relinquish their nuclear weapons.
4 Mar 2011 : Column 646W
The Minister for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey), has regular exchanges with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and other ministerial colleagues on a wide range of Defence security issues, including nuclear and NPT related issues.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to review the (a) scale and (b) capacity of the planned new warhead assembly and disassembly facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Burghfield against the conclusions of the Strategic Defence and Security Review in respect of the UK's future stock of nuclear weapons. [43351]
Mr Robathan: The scale and capacity of the planned replacement assembly/disassembly facility at Atomic Weapons Establishment Burghfield has been reviewed to take account of the decisions announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review in respect of the UK's future stock of nuclear weapons.
This review has confirmed that the proposed design remains the minimum required, in terms of scale and capacity, to meet the UK's deterrent programme.
Pigmeat
Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) pork and (b) bacon for use by service personnel on duty in the UK was procured from UK sources in the latest period for which figures are available. [43191]
Mr Robathan: Armed forces personnel are primarily catered for through outsourced Catering, Retail and Leisure (CRL) contracts which are being introduced across the UK Defence estate, Germany and Cyprus. Some 65% of armed forces personnel are catered for under these arrangements. The balance of our forces in UK and those serving on operations are catered for under a single Food Supply Contract (FSC).
The third (and most recent) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs report on the proportion of domestically produced food procured by government, covering 2008-09, showed that 1% of bacon and 47% of other pork products provided under CRL arrangements was British. The corresponding figures for personnel fed under the FSC were 0% of bacon and 100% of other pork products.
Education
Academies
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which unit of his Department is responsible for schools seeking to convert to academy status. [38426]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 4 February 2011]:The Academies Delivery Group within the Infrastructure and Funding Directorate is responsible for schools seeking to convert to academy status.
4 Mar 2011 : Column 647W
Academies: Teachers
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what minimum qualifications are required of teachers in academy schools. [21617]
Mr Gibb: Requirements for teaching staff qualifications are set out in each Academy’s Funding Agreement. Anyone who carries out ‘specified work’ (the teaching and planning of lessons) within an Academy must have Qualified Teacher Status or be ‘otherwise eligible’ to do specified work. This includes someone teaching a particular vocational skill who is not a qualified teacher in the traditional sense, but has relevant qualifications and experience. Individual Academy Governing Bodies will need to be satisfied that the qualifications and experience are relevant and appropriate to the post.
Teachers employed in Free Schools, which are also classed as Academies, are not required to hold Qualified Teacher Status.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Gateshead
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the oral answer from the Deputy Prime Minister of 21 July 2010, Official Report, column 341, when he expects to make arrangements to meet hon. Members from Gateshead Borough to discuss the future of schools in Gateshead following changes to the Building Schools for the Future programme. [17947]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 18 October 2010]: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend, met with the hon. Member for Gateshead (Ian Mearns) and the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr Anderson) on 15 December 2010.
Children's Centres: Operating Costs
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate his Department has made of the average administration costs of Sure Start children centres nationally. [40790]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 14 February 2011]: The Department for Education does not currently collect data on the administration costs of Sure Start Children’s Centres nationally. The National Audit Office (NAO) provided analysis of children’s centres administration costs to the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee in December 2009—it is available from the NAO website at:
http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/0910/sure_start _childrens_centres.aspx
We have consulted on changes to data which local authorities are required to report on their expenditure on children’s services. From 2011-12, local authority expenditure on Sure Start Children’s Centres will be published, including how much funding is held back for local authority central administration costs, and how much is spent on front line services.
4 Mar 2011 : Column 648W
College of Social Work
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the Social Care Institute for Excellence will have a role in the running of the College of Social Work. [35709]
Tim Loughton: In 2009 the Social Work Task Force recommended the establishment of an independent College of Social Work to articulate and promote the interests of good social work. It will give the profession itself strong, independent leadership; a clear voice in public debate, policy development and policy delivery; and strong ownership of professional social work standards.
The Social Care Institute for Excellence has been asked to facilitate the establishment of the College of Social Work, providing administrative support and expertise in a developmental phase of two years. Neither Government nor SCIE seek to influence the form or function of the emerging college. SCIE will have no role in the governance of the college that emerges.
Departmental Correspondence
Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when his Department expects to reply to the letter sent by Mr Brian Gates, Chair of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales, dated 29 November 2010, on religious education and the national curriculum review. [35362]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 21 January 2011]: I responded to the letter from Professor Gates on 21 December .2010.
Early Intervention Grant
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what equality impact assessments his Department carried out in respect of the (a) establishment of and (b) funding allocated to the Early Intervention Grant; [32877]
(2) what recent representations he has received from (a) local authorities and (b) trade unions on the establishment and funding of the Early Intervention Grant. [32880]
Sarah Teather: The Early Intervention Grant and funding arrangements for it were established as part of the comprehensive spending review. as part of the spending review process, my Department considered carefully the equality implications of proposed changes to the funding it provides to local authorities.
The Government are freeing local authorities to focus on essential frontline services, and to invest in early intervention and prevention to produce long-term savings and better results for children, young people and families. A key element of this approach has been the creation of the Early Intervention Grant for local authorities in England. In a tight funding settlement, some reduction in central government support was inevitable. The grant will however provide a substantial funding stream, with new flexibility to enable local authorities to act more strategically and target investment early, where it will have the greatest impact.
4 Mar 2011 : Column 649W
Against the background of greater flexibility to decide priorities locally, there are key areas of early intervention where the Government have prioritised investment in the overall grant:
to maintain the existing network of Sure Start Children’s Centres—accessible to all but identifying and supporting families in greatest need;
to enable local authorities to build capacity towards our planned extension of free early education with an entitlement for disadvantaged two-year-olds from 2013 (subject to the will of Parliament); and
to provide respite to the most vulnerable families through provision of short breaks for disabled children.
When deciding the formula used for allocating the grant to local authorities we considered the equalities impact and for that reason selected an approach which is weighted to relative levels of social deprivation, given that families with disabled children and those from a number of other disadvantaged groups are over-represented in deprived areas. We have therefore created the conditions for local authorities themselves to consider locally where to invest to get the best outcomes, especially for the most disadvantaged groups.
The Department has a range of formal and informal contact and discussions with local government and trade unions, which cover many issues including funding.
Education Maintenance Allowance: Torbay
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people have received education maintenance allowance in Torbay local authority area since the scheme's inception. [35563]
Mr Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Torbay with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Peter Lauener, dated 25 January 2011:
I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question PQ35563 that asked:
“How many people have received education maintenance allowance in Torbay local authority area since the scheme's inception.”
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) take-up is defined as young people who have received one or more EMA payments in the academic year.
| EMA take-up for the Torbay local authority area | |
| Academic year | Take-up |
EMA take-up data showing the number of young people who have received one or more EMA payments during 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08 2008/09 and 2009/10 is available on the YPLA website, at the following address:
http://ema.ypla.gov.uk/resources/research/takeup/
4 Mar 2011 : Column 650W
Education: Research
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which local authorities participated in the National Foundation for Education Research study barriers to participation in education and training. [39127]
Mr Gibb: The local authorities that participated in the National Foundation for Educational Research study on Barriers to Participation in Education and Training have not been identified in the published report.
The report states that six local authorities took part in the study, which were selected to be broadly representative in terms of type of authority, rural/urban authority, level of deprivation and the proportion of young people who were not in education, employment or training.
English Baccalaureate
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to include music and religious education in his proposals for humanities GCSE options in an English baccalaureate. [39116]
Mr Gibb: We are concerned that the number of pupils, especially those in disadvantaged areas, who receive a broad education in core academic subjects is far too small. We want to encourage more pupils to take these core subjects and to bring about greater fairness of opportunity.
The English Baccalaureate does not include all the subjects we think are worthy of study. We recognise that study in other subjects will be just as valuable to pupils and we will encourage all pupils to study non-English Baccalaureate subjects alongside the English Baccalaureate in order to benefit from a well rounded education. This is why we have kept the number of core subjects small enough to allow wider study. Subjects, such as religious studies and music which do not count towards the English Baccalaureate, can and will play a part in a well rounded, rigorous education.
Achievement in these subjects, as with all GCSEs, will continue to be recognised in the performance tables as part of the A*-C measure and the teaching of religious education remains compulsory throughout a pupil’s schooling.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of long-term trends in (a) availability of and (b) participation in extra curricular activities in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools; and if he will make a statement. [35800]
Mr Gibb: The Department does not collect data on the availability of and participation in extra curricular activities. However, the Department for Education's Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents for 2009, published in October 2010, does give an indication of the proportion of children participating in some extra curricular activities beyond the school. The survey entailed interviews with a sample of just over 6,700 parents with children aged under 15. One-third of the sample of families used a breakfast or after-school club on a school site and 7% used a breakfast or after-school club off-site. Full details of the surveys can be found at:
http://publications.education.gov.uk/default.aspx?Page Function=productdetails&PaqeMode=publications &Productld=DFE-RR054
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Free Schools: Rotherham
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received on the establishment of free schools in Rotherham; and from whom such representations have been received. [32048]
Mr Gibb: To date, the Department for Education has received two proposals for Free Schools in Rotherham. As part of their Free School proposal, the Three Valleys Independent Academy provided the Department with petitions and short standard statements from 423 supporters. In addition, representations have been received from the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey) regarding Three Valleys.
Higher Education: Admissions
Mr Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the number of higher education places for pupils of independent schools. [41670]
Mr Willetts: I have been asked to reply.
Government policy is that access to Higher Education should be based on talent and potential, irrespective of background. Decisions about admission to university are a matter for individual universities, and not for Government. We have no policy view on the number of higher education places for pupils of independent schools.
Non-Mainstream Education
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils were educated out of mainstream education in the latest period in which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [35878]
Mr Gibb: Information on the number of pupils attending non-mainstream schools and on those funded under alternative provision is shown in the table. Information is not collected on elective home education.
| Non-mainstream schools: Number of pupils: As at January 2010— In England | |
|
|
Number of pupils |
| (1) Includes maintained, non-maintained special schools and general hospital schools. (2) Includes solely registered pupils. Excludes 2,470 dual main registered pupils and 1,670 dual subsiduary registered pupils. (3) There may be an element of double-counting of local authority-funded pupils in non-maintained special schools and independent special schools as some pupils may also be included under alternative provision. (4) Includes solely registered pupils. (5) Includes boarding pupils and pupils registered in other providers and further education colleges. Excludes 2,310 dual main registered pupils and 8,360 dual subsiduary registered pupils. (6) Includes sole and dual registered pupils. Note: Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10 Source: School Census, Pupil Referral Unit Census and Alternative Provision Census | |
4 Mar 2011 : Column 652W
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2011, Official Report, column 291W, on personal, social, health and economic education, if he will place in the Library a copy of each document held by his Department that relates to provisions of Clauses 11 to 14 of the Children, Schools and Families Act 2010 relating to sex and relationships education; and if he will make a statement. [36708]
Mr Gibb: I have placed in the House Libraries a copy of:
(i) the Review of Sex and Relationships (SRE) in Schools; and
(ii) the Independent Review of the proposal to make Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) Education statutory.
The Department does not release internal documents related to the formulation or development of Government policy.
Poverty and Life Chances Review
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has for implementation of the recommendations of the report of the Independent Review on Poverty and Life Chances. [41436]
Sarah Teather: The Government welcomes the publication of the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) review. We are considering the review's findings in detail alongside the hon. Member for Nottingham North (Mr Allen) first report on Early Intervention which was published on 19 January, and responses to the consultation “Tackling child poverty and improving life chances: consulting on a new approach” which closed on 15 February. We will be responding to the findings in the coming months through the forthcoming Social Mobility strategy, Child Poverty strategy, and Early Years Policy statement.
Child Poverty
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to reduce child poverty; and what financial resources it has allocated to those steps in each of the next four financial years. [33370]
Sarah Teather: The Government will publish their plans for ending child poverty by 2020 in their child poverty strategy. This will be published in the spring, as required by the Child Poverty Act. The strategy will show how we aim to eradicate the causes of poverty rather than simply treating the symptoms as the previous Government did. This will show how we intend to support social mobility, ensure life chances are fair, and break the cycle of poverty and deprivation.
Pre-School Education: Personnel
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what estimate he has made of the proportion of individuals of each gender working in early years care in the (a) private, (b) public and (c) voluntary or non-profit sector; [32878]
4 Mar 2011 : Column 653W
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of people working in early years care in the (a) private, (b) public and (c) voluntary or non-profit sector; [32879]
(3) what recent estimate he has made of levels of demand for child care in the 30% most deprived areas. [32881]
Sarah Teather: The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey 2008 collected information on the gender of the childcare and early years workforce, but this information is not available by type of ownership (private, public and voluntary or non-profit sector) of the setting. Information on the gender of the childcare and early years workforce beyond 2008 will not be available until the publication of the 2010 survey.
Table 1 shows the proportion of staff of each gender in the childcare and early years workforce in England in 2008.
| Table 1: Proportion of staff by gender | ||
| Percentage | ||
| Type of setting | Male | Female |
| Base: Childcare providers 2008. Early years provision in maintained schools 2008. | ||
The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey 2009 collected information on the number of paid staff working in sessional and full day care by type of ownership of the setting.
Table 2 shows the number of paid staff working in sessional and full day care by type of setting ownership in England in 2009.
| Table 2: Number of paid staff by type of care and ownership of setting | |||||
|
|
Private | Voluntary | Local authority | School/college | Other |
| Note: All paid staff in settings 2009. (1) Signifies a cell where data should be treated with caution due to a low base size. (2) Signifies a cell where data has not been included due to a base of less than 50. | |||||
We are also aware from the Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents 2009 that 6% of children aged between three and four years old attend breakfast, after-school clubs or activities. However, we are unable to estimate the numbers of staff working in settings providing holiday and after-school clubs that work with this small proportion of young children.
The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey 2009 collects information on the number of childcare and early years places and vacancies in the 30% most deprived areas.
4 Mar 2011 : Column 654W
Table 3 shows the number of childcare and early years places and vacancies in the 30% most deprived areas England in from 2006 to 2009. Table 3: Number of places and vacant places in the 30% most deprived areas 2006
|
|
Places | Vacancies |
| Note: Childcare providers in 30% most deprived areas 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006. Early years provision in maintained schools in 30% most deprived areas 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006. | ||
Table 4 shows the percentage change in the number of childcare and early years places and vacancies in the 30% most deprived areas from 2006 to 2009.
| Table 4: Percentage change in the 30% most deprived areas | ||
|
|
Places | Vacancies |
| Note: Childcare providers in 30% most deprived areas 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006. Early years provision in maintained schools in 30% most deprived areas 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006. | ||
Religious Studies
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for future teaching of religious studies after its exclusion from the English Baccalaureate humanities list. [36030]
Mr Gibb: We consider religious education to be a very important subject and it will remain a compulsory part of the basic curriculum in maintained schools.
We have not included religious education (RE) as fulfilling the humanity requirement of the English Baccalaureate because it is already a compulsory subject. One of the intentions of the English Baccalaureate is to encourage wider take up of geography and history in addition to, rather than instead of, compulsory RE.
However we recognise, as many schools do, the benefits that religious education can bring to pupils. This is why the teaching of RE remains compulsory throughout a pupil's schooling. Success in all subjects studied at GCSE will also continue to be recognised by other performance table measures, as it has in the past. We are open to arguments about how we can further improve the measures in the performance tables and will review the precise definition of the English Baccalaureate for the 2011 tables.
School Leaving Age
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what support he plans to provide to people aged 16 to 18 years in extending the participation age to 18 years. [37857]
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Mr Gibb: We are committed to making sure that every young person remains in education or training until they are 18, giving them the opportunity to gain skills and qualifications that prepares them for Higher Education, work and adult life. The majority of 16 and 17-year-olds are already participating; latest figures show that 93.6% of 16-year-olds and 87.4% 17-year-olds were in education or work based learning at the end of 2009.
Over the current spending review period, 16-19 provision will be funded to allow schools and colleges to increase the number of places in education.
Schools will have responsibility for making sure that their students have access to independent, impartial careers guidance, to help them make decisions about the options that are open to them. Local authorities will continue to support young people who need more targeted support to overcome specific barriers to participation.
We know that some young people face genuine financial barriers to participation. We are currently considering the replacement for the education maintenance allowance and want to ensure that the funds we have are targeted on those young people who most need support to enable them to participate in education.
Schools: Discipline
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to meet organisations representing young carers to discuss his proposal to remove the requirement for 24 hours’ notice for detention in schools. [27654]
Mr Gibb: This matter was discussed at the Education Select Committee inquiry into behaviour, on 17 November 2010. I plan to meet with young carer organisations to discuss how schools can be more flexible and supportive in responding to young carer’s needs.
Helping to care for a family member is something that many young people are happy and proud to do. These young people play an important role both for their families and society as a whole and they deserve our recognition and support. The Department for Education with the Department of Health is committed to supporting local services including many voluntary organisations which have been set up to support these young people.
Removing the requirement for 24 hours notice of detention will allow detentions to be issued for the end of the same day, enabling a more immediate response to poor behaviour. Schools must act reasonably when issuing detentions and it is common sense that they should carefully consider whether an after school or Saturday detention is appropriate for certain pupils, including those with caring responsibilities. The Government trust teachers to make decisions such as these.
The Department for Education and the Department of Health are already working with National Young Carers Coalition to raise awareness within schools about how to identify and support young carers. The Government have also recently published “Recognised, valued and supported: next steps for the Carers Strategy”. It recognises that there are a number of ‘hidden’ young carers and encourages front-line services including schools, GPs, mental health and substance misuse to put in place systems to identify and respond to young carers needs.
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Schools: Rugby and Football
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many secondary schools had school sports partnerships with links to professional rugby league clubs in the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [35679]
(2) how many secondary schools had school sports partnerships with links to professional rugby union clubs in the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [35680]
(3) how many secondary schools had school sports partnerships with links to professional football clubs in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [35681]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 24 January 2011]:The most recent PE and sport survey showed that, in the school year 2009/10, 50% of schools reported that they had links with a rugby union club and 22% with a rugby league club, 79% of schools reported that they had links with a football club. There is no breakdown between primary and secondary schools. The Department published this information in September 2010.
Schools: Sanitation
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the use of outside lavatories in cold weather in junior and infant schools. [22639]
Mr Gibb: Individual local authorities and schools are responsible for deciding whether to retain outside toilets for pupils’ use. A number of schools and local authorities have chosen to use the capital funding devolved directly to them to invest in the removal of outside toilets. However some schools made local decisions to retain their toilets for use during playtime and breaks.
Schools: Warwickshire
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the funds that will be available to schools in (a) Warwickshire, (b) North Warwickshire borough and (c) Nuneaton and Bedworth borough as a result of the pupil premium in each year to 2014-15. [37703]
Mr Gibb: The pupil premium for 2011-12 will be allocated to local authorities and schools with pupils that are known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM) as recorded on the January 2011 school census, pupil referral unit census and alternative provision census. Each pupil known to be eligible for free school meals will attract £430 of funding which will go to the school or academy via the local authority or YPLA if the pupil is in a mainstream setting or will be managed by the responsible local authority if the pupil is in a non-mainstream setting.
Local authorities will also attract the looked after child pupil premium for 2011-12 which will be allocated to local authorities for pupils who at some point in the year to 31 March 2010 were looked after continuously for at least six months, and who were aged 4 to 15 on 31 August 2009 as recorded on the April 2010 local
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authority return. Each pupil will attract £430 of funding which will go to the responsible local authority who will pass it to maintained schools for pupils who have been in care for six months or more in the year to 31 March 2011.
The amounts allocated in 2011-12 will depend on the numbers of FSM and looked-after pupils recorded on the January 2011 censuses, so it is not possible to give precise figures for 2011 and subsequent years. We aim to extend the coverage of the pupil premium from 2012-13 onwards to pupils who have previously been known to be eligible for free school meals. We intend to consult on this, including the question of which deprivation indicator to use, in the summer.
The January 2010 school censuses allow an estimate of the number of pupils known to be eligible for FSM or to be looked-after children to be made. In Warwickshire in January 2010 there were 8,165 pupils known to be eligible, which would give rise to a pupil premium of £3,510,950. In addition to this there were 185 pupils known to be eligible for the service child premium, paid at a lower rate of £200 per pupil, which would give rise to a further £155,000. However, these are estimates only and are not necessarily indicative of how the pupil premium will be distributed.
At borough level again the January 2010 school census allows an estimate of the number of pupils known to be eligible for FSM to be made. This does not include looked-after children or service children as data for these is not available at borough level. In North Warwickshire in January 2010 there were 1,110 pupils known to be eligible, which would give rise to a pupil premium of £477,300. In Nuneaton and Bedworth in January 2010 there were 2,580 pupils known to be eligible, which would give rise to a pupil premium of £1,109,400.
Sixth Form Education
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he had with (a) the Sixth Form College Forum, (b) the Association of Colleges and (c) other bodies representing post-16 education providers before making his decision to reduce the funding for entitlement to 30 funded learning hours. [34896]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 January 2011]:The options for making savings on 16-19 participation unit costs were discussed in broad terms with the Sixth Form Colleges’ Forum, the Association of Colleges and other bodies representing post-16 education through the Technical Advisory Group of the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA), and also with the Board of the YPLA. These discussions informed the decisions which were taken.
A range of savings options were considered in order to achieve the unit cost savings necessary, given the fiscal position we faced. The decision to reduce the funding for additional enrichment activities was taken after due consideration of whether it provided value for money for all full-time students compared to other options and in order to deliver the priorities for 16-19 education. These included our commitment to deliver on full participation, the need to protect the core programme equivalent to four A-levels, and the need to protect tutorial provision as far as possible. The savings from
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the entitlement also made it possible to increase the funding for 16 to 19-year-old disadvantaged students where we have increased funding by one-third to £770 million.
Health
Audiology
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that a high quality audiology service will continue to be provided free at the point of delivery by GP commissioning consortia. [42837]
Mr Simon Burns: Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, general practitioner (GP) consortia will commission healthcare services (including audiology) that continue to be free at the point of use and based on need, not ability to pay. They will be supported by the NHS Commissioning Board, which will have a vital role in providing national leadership for driving up the quality of care across health commissioning. The board will do this by supporting GP consortia in a number of ways including publishing commissioning guidance and model care pathways, based on the evidence-based quality standards that it has asked National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to develop.
Contraception: Expenditure
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on the provision of (a) the contraceptive pill, (b) emergency hormonal contraception, (c) condoms and (d) long-acting reversible contraception on the NHS in each of the last five years; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of each method in reducing the rate of (i) teenage pregnancy and (ii) sexually transmitted diseases in each year; and if he will make a statement. [43742]
Anne Milton: Information on expenditure for prescriptions for the contraceptive pill, emergency hormonal contraception and long-acting reversible contraception dispensed in the community in England is shown in the following table. This does not include contraception supplied by sexual and reproductive health services (previously called family planning clinics) or issued under patient group directions. Condoms are not prescription only medicine items, and are supplied by the national health service via other routes and are funded by primary care trusts.
A clinical guideline, “Long-acting reversible contraception: the effective and appropriate use of long-acting reversible contraception”, published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, found that by raising the profile of different methods of contraception particularly long acting reversible contraception and increasing contraceptive choice, the number of unintended pregnancies would fall. Contraception is the best way of avoiding unintended pregnancies and condoms are the best form of protection against a sexually transmitted infection.
Healthcare professionals should have regard to the latest evidence based and guidelines when considering effectiveness and which method will be best for an individual patient.
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| Net ingredient cost | |||||
| £000 | |||||
|
|
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Notes: 1. PCA Data Prescription information is taken from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system, supplied by the Prescription Services Division of the NHS Business Services Authority (BSA), and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions. 2. Prescribers are general practitioners, hospital doctors, dentists and non medical prescribers such as nurses and pharmacists. 3. Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) NIC is the basic cost of a drug. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income. 4. Long-acting Reversible Contraception includes Intra-Uterine Devices and Diaphragms. Patches and vaginal ring products have been excluded from the figures. 5. Although figures are published by the NHS Information Centre on the number of patients accessing these services, the cost of such provision is not collected. Source: Prescription Cost Analysis (NHS Information Centre). | |||||
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated to provision of (a) the contraceptive pill, (b) emergency hormonal contraception, (c) condoms and (d) long-acting reversible contraception for people aged under 16 years in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [43743]
Anne Milton: The Department currently makes recurrent revenue allocations direct to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of a national weighted capitation formula which is used to determine each PCTs target share of available resources. The components of the formula are used to weight each PCTs population according to their relative need (age and additional need) for healthcare and the unavoidable geographical differences in the cost of providing healthcare (the market forces factor).
PCT recurrent revenue allocations are not broken down by policy or service area. Once allocated, it is for PCTs to commission the services they require to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations, taking account of both local and national priorities.
Between 2008-09 and 2010-11 the Department allocated £33,062,000 to strategic health authorities to improve access to and choice of contraception, for women of all age groups particularly young women, including those aged under 16.
Contraceptives: Children
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the pilot scheme to permit children on the Isle of Wight from the age of 13 years to obtain the contraceptive pill from pharmacies; what the evidential basis is for the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [43882]
Anne Milton: The Department has received representations about the Isle of Wight scheme but cannot provide a precise number as we do not index correspondence down to that level of detail.
The primary aim of the pilot scheme is to provide education and support to inform young people who are already sexually active about future contraceptive options and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. This service neither condones nor promotes sex at any age, but seeks to link those who have been sexually active with the appropriate supporting care pathway including safeguarding issues to ensure that, if appropriate, they are provided with a safe method of contraception for a limited period. The pilot scheme will be carefully monitored by Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust to ensure that performance, engagement and referral pathways are robust.
Departmental Pay
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that his published departmental organisational chart includes the names and responsibilities of all staff paid over £58,200 per annum in his Department and in the non-departmental public bodies and agencies for which he is responsible. [43537]
Mr Simon Burns: The level of salary disclosure in organisational structure charts already helps to enable the public to hold departments to account for their use of public funds. There are no current plans to extend the scope of salary disclosure when structure charts are updated.
Epilepsy: Brighton and Hove
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the adequacy of provision of epilepsy specialist (a) nurses and (b) consultants in the Brighton and Hove area; and if he will make a statement. [43346]
Paul Burstow: It is the responsibility of local health bodies to commission services to meet the needs of those living with epilepsy, including the provision of specialist nurses and consultants where appropriate.
The “National Service Framework for long-term conditions” is the key tool for delivering the Government's strategy to support and improve services for those living with long-term neurological conditions, including epilepsy.
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Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects his Department to meet the Government's commitment to source food that meets British or equivalent standards of production. [43318]
Mr Simon Burns: Departmental officials are currently in negotiation with the Department's caterers to extend the food procurement contract for all its buildings by 31 March 2011. This will reflect the Government's commitment to source food that meets British or equivalent standards of production.
General Practitioners
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011, Official Report, column 607W, on general practitioners, which provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill are intended to establish that GP commissioning consortia are to be statutory public bodies. [42888]
Mr Simon Burns: Clause 6 of the Health and Social Care Bill would establish, by statute, commissioning consortia as bodies corporate with the function of arranging for the provision of health services in England. Clause 21 outlines further provisions for the establishment of commissioning consortia and their duties as statutory public bodies.
Health
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the budget for Public Health England was in 2010-11; and if he will make a statement; [43074]
(2) what account the proposed arrangements for public health spending will take of the public health needs of deprived areas; and if he will make a statement; [43077]
(3) what recent estimate he has made of the level of public expenditure on public health in the latest period for which figures are available; what effects the proposed reforms contained in the public health White Paper, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”, will have on the level of public expenditure on public health; and if he will make a statement; [43081]
(4) if he will estimate the level of funding to be allocated to each local authority after the implementation of the reforms in the public health White Paper, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”; and if he will make a statement; [43168]
(5) which local authority will be allocated the (a) largest and (b) smallest public health budget following the implementation of the proposals in the public health White Paper, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”; and if he will make a statement. [43169]
Anne Milton:
We are currently consulting on the functions and services to be funded through the public health budget and commissioning routes in “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”, consultation on the funding and commissioning routes for public health. The responses
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to the consultation on functions and services will be important in helping determine the size of future public health budgets.
Early estimates suggest that total current spend in areas that are likely to be the responsibility of Public Health England could be over £4 billion. Building on the proposed commissioning responsibilities in the consultation document the Department is continuing work to establish baseline spend on activities that will be funded from the public health budget in future. This will be subject to revision as responses to the consultation on the responsibilities to be funded from the public health budget lead to revisions in the design of the service.
From April 2013, upper tier and unitary local authorities will receive a new ring-fenced public health grant, in order to improve the health of their local population. The size of the ring-fenced grant will be based on relative population health need and weighted for inequalities. Apart from mandatory services, it will be for local authorities to determine how best to invest this funding to meet local priorities. We are consulting on the approach to developing the allocations, and it is therefore too early to say how much will be allocated to each local authority. Shadow allocations for the ring-fenced grant to local authorities will be issued by the end of 2011.
During 2010-11 and 2011-12, primary care trust (PCT) allocations are not broken down into sums for individual policy streams, and it is for PCTs to decide how much to spend in line with the requirements of the NHS Operating Framework.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the budget for vaccination and immunisation following the implementation of the proposals in the public health White Paper, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”; and if he will make a statement; [43078]
(2) what estimate he has made of the budget to be allocated to children's health following the implementation of the proposals in the public health White Paper, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”; and if he will make a statement; [43166]
(3) what the planned budget is for (a) health visiting, (b) nursing and midwifery and (c) fertility and embryology following the publication of the White Paper “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”; and if he will make a statement. [43294]
Anne Milton: We are currently consulting on the functions and services to be funded through the public health budget and commissioning routes in “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”, consultation on the funding and commissioning routes for public health. The responses to the consultation on functions and services will be important in helping determine the size of future public health budgets.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training and support he plans to make available to maintain adequate public health expertise; and if he will make a statement. [43079]
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Anne Milton: In the public health White Paper “Healthy Lives Healthy People”, it was announced that a detailed workforce strategy to support public health is to be developed by autumn 2011, working with representative organisations. Informed by the views of people on the frontline of public health delivery it will set out how a supply of highly trained and motivated staff, with the appropriate skills for understanding the range of public health interventions, providing public health advice and commissioning the services communities require, can be sustained and grown, as needed.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the accountability of local authorities for achieving public health outcomes under his proposals contained in the public health White Paper, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”; and if he will make a statement. [43080]
Anne Milton: Based on the principles of transparency and localism, local people and communities will hold their local authorities to account for the delivery of improved outcomes for health and well-being.
We are currently consulting on proposals for an outcomes framework for public health and will publish a final framework in the summer of this year. In due course Public Health England will publish information relating to outcomes available in one place enabling national and local democratic accountability for performance against those outcomes. Our aim is to make it easy for local areas to compare themselves with others across the country and thereby to incentivise improvements.
The proposed health premium will reward local authorities retrospectively for progress made against a sub-set of the public health indicators. We are currently consulting on the plans for the health premium.
Health Professions
Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2011, Official Report, column 965W, on healthcare science, when he expects to take a decision on his policy on the regulation of the healthcare science workforce; and what interim arrangements will be put in place until such a decision is made. [43164]
Anne Milton: The Command Paper “Enabling Excellence” laid before Parliament on 16 February 2011 sets out the Government’s overall strategy for the regulation of health care workers in the United Kingdom and social workers and social care workers in England. It makes clear that the extension of statutory regulation to currently unregulated professional or occupational groups, such as the health care science workforce, will only be considered where there is a compelling case on the basis of a public safety risk and where assured voluntary registers are not considered sufficient to manage this risk.
A decision on the appropriate model of regulation for the health care science workforce will be made following completion of the robust evidence-based cost-benefit risk analysis.
Departmental officials will be working with relevant professional bodies to establish interim arrangements.
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Health Services
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent changes to staffing levels at the Health Protection Agency on its ability to complete its programme on health economic modelling. [43433]
Anne Milton: Detailed staffing levels are a matter for the Chief Executive and Board of the Health Protection Agency.
Hip Replacements: Waiting Lists
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for a hip replacement operation in (a) Birmingham, Ladywood constituency, (b) Birmingham and (c) England in each of the last 15 years. [43112]
Mr Simon Burns: The median time waited, in days, for hip replacement procedures, is shown in the following table. The data are not held at constituency level, therefore data have been provided for Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust (PCT), the closest to Ladywood constituency.
| Median time waited for hip replacement procedures | |||
| Days | |||
|
|
Heart of Birmingham PCT | Birmingham | England |
| (1) PCT data not available prior to 1996-97. Notes: 1. Heart of Birmingham PCT data are provided as a proxy for Ladywood constituency. 2. Birmingham data comprises data for Heart of Birmingham PCT; South Birmingham PCT; and Birmingham East and North PCT. Prior to 2006-07, Birmingham East and North PCT was made up of Eastern Birmingham PCT and North Birmingham PCT. 3. PCT level data are not available prior to 1996-97 therefore data for 1995-96 is provided at national level only. 4. The data include activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care | |||
Hospitals: Radio
David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for future support of hospital radio by the NHS (a) during and (b) after the proposed reorganisation of the NHS. [43101]
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Mr Simon Burns: Hospital radio stations have provided an invaluable service to patients for many years. It is for each national health service trust to determine the provision of hospital radio services within its area.
Learning Disability: Health Services
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Government’s response to “Raising our sights: services for adults with profound intellectual and multiple services”, what additional funding his Department plans to make available for implementation of recommendation 12 on providing protection of body shape. [42752]
Paul Burstow: The Government have not made funding available for specific recommendations. National health service bodies should be ensuring services meet the needs of all patients, including those with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Health and Social Care Bill will translate duty onto local authorities and general practitioner (GP) consortia and place them under a new duty to agree a Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. This is a new requirement through which the partners at the Health and Wellbeing Board have to agree a shared strategy for commissioning, which will have regard to their Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.
Annual GP health checks for people with learning disabilities are also a local way of ensuring all individuals with learning disabilities can access the right interventions for their health and well being.
Maternity Services
Ms Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of guidance issued by his Department on the creation of maternity networks; [41618]
(2) what the (a) legal status, (b) responsibilities and (c) powers of maternity networks will be under his proposals; [41619]
(3) whether each provider of maternity cover to the NHS will be required to belong to a maternity network; [41620]
(4) what mechanisms maternity networks will use to provide choice for women using maternity services. [41626]
Anne Milton: In the White Paper “Excellence and Equity: Liberating the NHS”, (which has already been placed in the Library) we made a commitment to extend maternity choice through maternity provider networks. Our vision is that provider networks will cover all the maternity services a mother may need throughout pregnancy, birth and postnatally, including arrangements to access services that may not be available locally, ensuring that the transitions between individual carers or organisations are as seamless as possible.
The White Paper set out how we will empower and liberate healthcare professionals to innovate, with the freedom to focus on improving healthcare services with greater autonomy from political interference and greater accountability to patients and the public. Service changes must be led by clinicians, patients, and users; and not driven from the top down.
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“Liberating the NHS: Legislative framework and next steps” (which has already been placed in the Library), proposes a distinctive approach to commissioning maternity services, that reflects the special nature and circumstances of maternity services, locating responsibility for commissioning maternity services with GP consortia, with the NHS Commissioning Board giving a particular focus to quality improvement and extending choice for pregnant women, and supporting consortia to work collaboratively to commission services.
Officials met with maternity and newborn professional and user organisations and commissioning organisations on 3 February 2010 to begin work to explore how best to support the development of these new arrangements, including the role of networks in this context. This work will draw on existing experience, including from areas with networks already in place, with structures varying from formal managed networks to informal networks. We expect commissioners and providers to build on these, and we anticipate that all maternity providers will want to benefit from network relationships that will enable them to extend choice and provide a seamless service for pregnant women and their families. Networks may look different in different geographical areas as they seek to meet local needs and circumstances. It will be for the providers to agree network arrangements and any support or management structures that they might want to adopt, and to identify how these could be resourced including any efficiency gains that might cover the costs.
There will be opportunities for developing networks to link with general practitioner consortia pathfinders and Health and Wellbeing early implementers to ensure their arrangements work well for women and their families.
Medical Equipment: Counterfeit Manufacturing
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2011, Official Report, column 267W, on medical equipment: counterfeit manufacturing, what recent steps the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has taken as part of its investigations into the use of counterfeit pulse oximeter sensors in NHS hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [43413]
Mr Simon Burns: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a medical device alert to all national health service trusts warning them that counterfeit pulse oximeter sensors are being placed on the United Kingdom market and asking them to report any confirmed counterfeit devices to the agency and the original manufacturer. The agency has also identified the source of the sensors. Steps are being taken in line with MHRA's anti-counterfeiting strategy which is a combination of communication, collaboration and regulation measures, to minimise the risk of further counterfeit devices reaching end users. There is no evidence that the counterfeit sensors already found are unsafe.
Mental Health Services: Ex-servicemen
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made since October 2010 on providing armed forces veterans with (a) physical and (b) mental health needs with access to a dedicated 24-hour support line. [43425]
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Mr Simon Burns: The Department has worked closely with its strategic partner, Combat Stress and the mental health charity Rethink to put the 24 hour support line in place. The helpline will offer a signposting service which will help veterans to access other relevant services, including those which are relevant to the improvement of physical and mental wellbeing for former service personnel. The formal launch of the helpline will take place this month.
Mental Health Services: Offenders
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what alternative forms of secure, treatment-based accommodation for the mentally ill and for drugs offenders he has considered; and what progress he has made on the Government’s commitment to explore alternative forms of secure, treatment-based accommodation for the mentally ill and for drugs offenders; [43430]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to divert (a) mentally ill offenders and (b) offenders with addiction problems to secure alternatives to prison. [43515]
Paul Burstow: The recent spending review announced by the Government committed to taking forward proposals to invest in mental health diversion services at police stations and courts to intervene at an early stage, diverting mentally ill offenders away from the justice system and into treatment where appropriate. The diversion service will be rolled out nationally over the spending review period, subject to business case approval.
Both the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health have committed to this work in their recently published departmental business plans, and this aim has been supported in the sentencing and rehabilitation Green Paper that was recently published by the Ministry of Justice. The recently published cross-Government mental health outcomes strategy “No health without mental health” clearly details diversion as a key policy contributing to the improved mental health of offenders.
This work on diversion includes the coalition commitment to explore ‘alternative forms of secure, treatment-based accommodation for mentally ill and drugs offenders’. To support the Health and Criminal Justice work programme an interdepartmental Offender Substance Misuse Board has been convened and met to take this commitment forward. A workstream has been formed that will examine alternative forms of secure, treatment-based accommodation for drugs offenders in detail and submit a report by December 2011. In addition, a linked piece of work to scope potential options for alternatives for the mentally ill will start in April 2011 with a view to reporting later in the year.
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made in implementing each of the recommendations in Lord Bradley's review of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system which his Department accepted. [43513]
Paul Burstow:
The coalition Government accepted the direction of travel set out by Lord Bradley's review for people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system, the
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recommendations of which have been carried forward into the cross-departmental health and criminal justice work programme.
The Government are working to improve health and social care outcomes for all people coming into contact with the criminal justice system—whether through the police, courts, probation or prisons. Its key aims are to improve commissioning, reduce health inequalities and re-offending through prevention and early intervention, and to introduce effective liaison and diversion services in police and court settings.
A Health and Criminal Justice Programme Transition Board has been established to oversee implementation of this ambitious programme. A National Advisory Group, comprising our key external partners, has also been formed to champion the programme and ensure the experiences of carers and service users inform its implementation going forwards.
The Board is considering the progress made against Lord Bradley's recommendations and a report on these, setting out our achievements and signalling the way forward for the Health and Criminal Justice Programme will be published shortly.
Mental Illness: Prisoners
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many offenders in prison (a) have been diagnosed with a mental illness and (b) have been assessed as having severe mental health problems; and if he will make a statement. [43424]
Paul Burstow: This information is not collected centrally.
The “ONS Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity among Prisoners in England and Wales, 1997” estimated that around 90% of prisoners had at least one of the five disorders (personality disorder, psychosis, neurosis, alcohol misuse, and drug dependence) considered in the survey. Co-morbidity levels are also high. The same study found functional psychosis in 7% of sentenced male prisoners, 10% of males on remand and 14% of female prisoners. These figures are several times higher than those for the general population.
Source:
Singleton et al, ONS 1997
Midwives
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve midwifery provision. [42973]
Anne Milton: The Government are committed to training the numbers of midwives needed, and is considering several ways to improve midwifery provision, for example, by improving recruitment and retention and by providing preceptorships, mentors for newly qualified midwives and reducing attrition rates.
The planned number of midwives entering training in 2010-11 is 2,493—a record level. We expect there will be a sustained increase in the number of new midwives available to the service over the next few years
In the White Paper “Excellence and Equity: Liberating the NHS” (a copy of which has already been placed in the Library) we made a commitment to extend maternity choice through maternity provider networks. Our vision
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is that maternity provider networks will cover all the services a mother may need throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period, including arrangements to access services that may not be available locally, ensuring that the transitions between individual carers or organisations are as seamless as possible.
It will be for the providers to agree network arrangements and any support or management structures that they might want to adopt, and to identify how these could be resourced including any efficiency gains that might cover the costs.
Multiple Sclerosis
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department plans to provide for hippotherapy treatment for people suffering from multiple sclerosis during the comprehensive spending review period. [43698]
Paul Burstow: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to commission appropriate services to meet the needs of their local population living with multiple sclerosis. This includes making available hippotherapy if this is deemed appropriate.
NHS: Disclosure of Information
Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has assessed the effect of whistleblower rights and protections on safeguarding of (a) patients and (b) public funds; and if he will make a statement; [42746]
(2) what measures are in place to (a) protect and (b) encourage whistleblowers in the NHS with concerns over (i) the use of public funds and (ii) the competence of a doctor in (A) general practice and (B) a hospital trust; and whether he plans to introduce any new measures. [42748]
Anne Milton: The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) is part of the wider employment rights legislation and gives the full protection of the law to all staff who act in the public interest, providing they follow the procedures set out in the Act. It therefore applies to all staff working in the national health service.
Although PIDA does not in itself require organisations to set up whistleblowing policies and procedures, it does provide an impetus for doing so. The Department issued guidance to the NHS in 2003 (“So Long Silence—whistleblowing in the NHS: The policy pack”). This guidance made clear that NHS organisations should put in place local policies and procedures that comply with PIDA and set out minimum requirements for such policies.
Following the recommendation made in the Health Select Committee report on Patient Safety published July 2009, this guidance has been revised and published by the Social Partnership Forum, in conjunction with Public Concern at Work, who drafted the guidance. Published on 25 June 2010, “Speak up for a Healthy NHS” provides some simple steps to help NHS organisations ensure their whistleblowing arrangements work in practice.
On 9 June the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), announced a full public inquiry into the role of
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commissioning, supervising and regulatory bodies in the monitoring of Mid-Staffordshire Foundation Trust. As part of this, he also stated his intentions to undertake further work on whistleblowing and improve procedures for those who wished to raise concerns.
NHS: Public Bodies
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which will be the accrediting body for General Practitioner of Special Interest after the abolition of the primary care trusts and deaneries; and if he will make a statement; [44166]
(2) what arrangements will be made to accredit (a) nurses, (b) pharmacists and (c) podiatrists working independently as practitioners with a special interest under the any willing providers arrangements to be rolled-out following the abolition of primary care trusts. [44167]
Anne Milton: Future arrangements for the accreditation of doctors and pharmacists with a special interest are under review and no decisions have yet been taken. The Department will issue guidance in the spring about the implementation of the "Any Willing Provider" policy for community services, including the way in which providers will qualify. Key principles are that services should be aligned with evidence-based care pathways, that they should meet essential standards of quality and safety, and that individual practitioners should have and maintain the specialist skills needed.
Nurses and podiatrists are not covered by the current accreditation arrangements for practitioners with a special interest, but similar principles are likely to apply.
NHS: Reorganisation
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of the proposed restructuring of NHS commissioning in (a) Birmingham, (b) the west midlands and (c) England. [43113]
Mr Simon Burns: The costs of the proposed restructuring of NHS commissioning were published in the impact assessment alongside the Health and Social Care Bill 2011. It estimates a cost of £1.2 billion for the abolition of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities and the transfer of their functions to the new organisations.
The Department has not estimated a regional breakdown of these figures, as these will depend on local decisions.
The impact assessment is available at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsLegislation/DH_123583
A copy has also been placed in the Library.
North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what acute hospital services are provided by North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust; [43061]
(2) when he expects the rebuilding of West Cumberland Hospital to commence; and what services he expects will be provided at the hospital following its rebuilding. [43278]
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Mr Simon Burns: Responsibility for delivering local health services lies with the national health service locally. Both the re-development of acute hospital facilities in Cumbria and decisions on the provision of acute hospital services are a matter for commissioners in Cumbria, working in partnership with patients, the public and other interested stakeholders.
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 and the provision of local services.
Nutrition
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's budget for improving food, diet and nutrition is in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [43075]
Anne Milton: During 2010-11 and 2011-12, primary care trust (PCT) allocations are not broken down into sums for individual policy streams, and it is for PCTs to decide how much to spend in line with the requirements of the NHS Operating Framework. We do not therefore set an overall budget for expenditure on improving food, diet and nutrition.
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to create a system of prescription charges and exemptions which takes into account overall financing of the NHS. [42978]
Mr Simon Burns: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley East (Michael Dugher) on 27 January 2011, Official Report, column 469W.
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Psychiatry
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much on average NHS commissioners paid for NHS medium-secure psychiatric beds (a) to each provider and (b) in each day of the latest period for which figures are available. [43426]
Paul Burstow: The information is not available in the format requested. However, the following table shows total expenditure on the provision of low and medium- secure and high-dependency services for 2009-10 which is the latest period for which figures are available:
|
|
£ |
|
Secure and High Dependency Provision not allocated to service categories |
|
| Source: 2009-10 National Survey of Investment in Mental Health Services. | |
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average rate of occupancy was for NHS medium-secure psychiatric beds in each quarter of the last three years; [43427]
(2) what proportion of NHS psychiatric beds are (a) generic and (b) secure psychiatric beds; and if he will make a statement. [43428]
Paul Burstow: Information is not collected centrally in the format requested.
The following tables show the average daily number of available and occupied beds overnight by mental illness, in England, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. The format of collection changed in 2010 and the total does not include information from every national health service trust:
| Available | ||||||||||
| Mental illness | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Total | Children: short stay | Children: long stay | Elderly: short stay | Elderly: long stay | Other ages: secure unit | Other ages: short stay | Other ages: long stay |
| Source: Department of Health KH03 | ||||||||||
| Occupied | ||||||||
| Mental illness | ||||||||
|
|
|
Total | Children: long stay | Elderly: short stay | Elderly: long stay | Other ages: secure unit | Other ages: short stay | Other ages: long stay |
| Source: Department of Health KH03 | ||||||||