France: Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on prosecutions for anti-Semitic comments in France; what recent discussions he has had with the Government of France on levels of anti-Semitism in France; and if he will make a statement. [45592]
Mr Lidington: The French Government do not record prosecutions for anti-Semitic acts separately from other forms of discrimination. We have not had any recent discussions with France on the levels of anti-Semitism in France. The UK is committed to fighting discrimination and intolerance. We have recently published the Government’s first progress update report on our work to take forward the recommendations of the 2006 All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Anti-Semitism.
Human Trafficking
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution his Department has made to the Government’s review of human trafficking. [46309]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Combating human trafficking is a key Government priority, as made clear in the coalition programme for Government. Officials from my Department have contributed to the review, led by the Home Office, into the Government’s approach to work on human trafficking, and are contributing to the development of the new human trafficking strategy. I sit on the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking, which will follow closely the strategy’s implementation.
Israel: Arrests
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his Israeli counterpart in relation to the arrest of Naji Tamimi on 7 March 2011. [46088]
Alistair Burt: We are aware that Naji Tamimi was arrested on 7 March during an army raid on the village and are concerned about what appears to be a rise in arrests in Nabi Saleh over the last five weeks. Staff from our consulate general in Jerusalem have also visited Nabi Saleh and met Mr Tamimi, as part of an EU delegation to the village.
We have been following the cases of people arrested in the village, including 14-year-old Islam Tamimi. A member of our consulate general staff will be attending Mr Tamimi’s first court hearing on 13 March. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond
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(Yorks) (Mr Hague) met non violent human rights defenders in Ramallah during his visit in November 2010.
The UK recognises the rights of Palestinians to protest peacefully against occupation including against the illegal route of the separation wall that cuts into the west bank, often severing villages from land on which their livelihoods depend. Peaceful protests form an important element of the Palestinian Authority’s two-year plan published in August 2009. This plan was explicitly supported by the 27 member states of the European Union in the December 2009 conclusions of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
Israel: Politics and Government
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with his US counterpart on the US veto of the proposed UN Security Council resolution of 18 February 2011 on Israeli settlements. [45327]
Mr Hague: The Government maintain close contact, at ministerial and official level, with the US Administration on the Middle East Peace Process. I discussed the resolution with the US Secretary of State in advance of the vote. The US decided to exercise their veto and set out their reasons in a statement following the vote.
Libya
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official visits Ministers from his Department have made to Libya since 1997; and for what purpose. [43980]
Alistair Burt: Previous visits to Libya by Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers since diplomatic relations were restored in 1999 include:
The former Member for North Warwickshire, Mike O'Brien, FCO Minister of State in August 2002.
The noble Lord Digby Jones, Minister of State jointly with the FCO and Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), 13 May 2008.
The former Member for Harlow, Bill Rammell, FCO Minister of State in February 2009.
The noble Lord Malloch-Brown, FCO Minister of State in July 2009 to attend the Africa Union Summit.
Ministers take part in regular meetings and overseas visits to discuss a range of matters with interlocutors. The last visit to Libya by a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister was that of the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend (Mr Bellingham) in November 2010, who attended the EU-Africa Summit in Tripoli.
Libya: British Nationals Abroad
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) British and (b) non-British nationals have used flights from Libya chartered by his Department. [43827]
Alistair Burt: Around 390 British nationals and 180 non-British nationals used the six flights organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which departed from Tripoli for the UK.
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Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what cost his Department has incurred on chartering aircraft to Libya to evacuate British nationals to date; and how many British nationals have been evacuated by such means. [43885]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) organised six flights which departed from Tripoli. The total cost of flights chartered by the FCO was £852,738. Around 500 British nationals were evacuated by these means.
As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, said in his statement on 7 March 2011, Official Report, columns 643-645, we continue to provide assistance and information for any more British nationals who decide they want to leave.
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of a new Palestinian state comprising both the west bank and the Gaza strip. [46305]
Alistair Burt: The Palestinian Authority has made progress in building institutions of state. The UK has long supported the creation of a Palestinian state, but it remains unclear when this is likely to come into being.
We continue to believe that the best way to achieve a lasting solution that delivers a sovereign, independent and contiguous Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel at peace with its neighbours is through a negotiated solution. We will be doing everything we can to achieve this by September and look to both parties to return to negotiations as soon as possible on the basis of clear parameters that we set out with France and Germany on 18 February.
Middle East: Politics and Government
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department plans to review its programme spending following recent unrest in the middle east. [45375]
Mr Hague: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office routinely reviews its programme spending plans to ensure that funds are being used most effectively to achieve our foreign policy priorities.
Recent events in the middle east will be considered as part of the review process.
Religious Hatred: Crimes of Violence
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of violent attacks targeted against people with a particular religious belief or ethnicity in other countries. [45315]
Mr Jeremy Browne:
We strongly support the right to freedom of religion or belief as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the
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full implementation of the 1981 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
Our high commissions and embassies receive information on human rights, including allegations of abuse, from a wide variety of sources. These include local non-governmental organisations, human rights defenders and local media. Our high commissions and embassies use this information in their assessment of the local human rights situation, and raise allegations of human rights abuses with host Governments on a case-by-case basis. Where possible our embassies take action on individual cases where persecution or discrimination has occurred. We also lobby for changes in discriminatory practices and laws and work with host Governments to encourage intercultural and inter-religious dialogue. We condemn all instances of violence and discrimination against individuals and groups because of their faith or belief.
Russia: Immigration
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Russian Federation on the entry into the UK of Russian citizens with criminal records. [45328]
Mr Lidington: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has held no such consultations with Foreign Minister Lavrov.
Sudan: Politics and Government
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effects of humanitarian conditions in the Abyei region of Sudan on prospects for resolution of the status of the region. [45774]
Mr Lidington: We are concerned by the humanitarian impact of the recent fighting in the Abyei region. We estimate that 20,000 to 25,000 people have been displaced in the region between 27 February and 4 March due to violence. Such instability and suffering underlines the need for the Sudanese parties to find an urgent political settlement for the region.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the burning of villages in the Abyei region of Sudan. [45775]
Mr Lidington: We are very concerned at the recent clashes in the Abyei region. It is essential that the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has freedom of movement to monitor the situation on the ground. In a statement on 3 March 2011 the UN Security Council condemned the violence, underlined the urgent need for a political settlement on the status of Abyei and called on both Sudanese parties to allow full and unhindered access for UNMIS.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the judgment by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the borders of the Abyei region of Sudan. [45776]
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Mr Lidington: The Permanent Court of Arbitration issued its judgment on the Abyei boundary on 22 July 2009. Both the National Congress Party and the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement agreed to abide by the decision. We have received no recent reports on the judgment.
Tripoli: Embassies
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons he decided to close the British Embassy in Tripoli. [44890]
Alistair Burt [holding answer 9 March 2011]: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in his statement to the House on 28 February 2011, the decision of when to suspend operations at our embassy in Tripoli was an important one. It was based on concerns for the safety of our staff in the light of the deteriorating security situation and our wider decision to evacuate British nationals from Libya.
The Turkish embassy in Tripoli will look after British interests while our embassy's operations remain suspended.
Health
Abortion Act 1967
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the policy of the Government is on initiating legislative proposals to amend the Abortion Act 1967; and if he will make a statement. [45603]
Anne Milton: It is accepted parliamentary practice that proposals for changes in the law on abortion come from Back-Bench Members and that decisions are made on the basis of free votes.
Blood Transfusions
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many blood platelet transfusions there were in each region in 2010; how many units of platelets were transfused; and if he will make a statement. [45433]
Anne Milton: The information requested is not collected. Such information as is available is as follows.
The number of platelet transfusions carried out for patients specifically admitted to receive a blood platelet transfusion, excluding patients where this procedure was provided as part of a wider programme of treatment, is available from April 2009 to March 2010. This information is shown in the following table (verified information from April to December 2010 is not yet available). There is no information on the number of units of platelets transfused in each episode.
| N umber of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where there was a main or secondary procedure or intervention of intravenous blood transfusion of platelets by Strategic Health Authority (SHA) from April 2009 to March 2010 | |
| SHA of treatment | Number of FCEs |
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| Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. Data represent activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector. | |
Also known is the number of units of platelets NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) issued to hospitals in England and North Wales by each NHSBT stock holding unit region. This is not the same as a SHA region, as the data are not held in that format. The information is shown in the following table.
| Platelet Issues from NHSBT in 2010 | ||
| Region | NHSBT Stock holding unit | Total issues |
| Notes: 1. Date of extraction: 8 March 2010. 2. Data are shown as adult equivalent units and include neonatal, paediatric and adult units. 3. Data show units issued by NHSBT between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2010. Source: NHSBT Demand Planning Group database | ||
Blood Transfusions: Viruses
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the NHS takes to assess the risk of patient infection by virus or bacteria in blood platelet transfusion; and if he will make a statement. [45432]
Anne Milton: The National Health Service Blood and Transplant/Health Protection Agency joint surveillance programme monitors transfusion transmitted infections in blood and tissue donors and transfusion recipients, with the aim of protecting patient safety and public health. There have been three recorded viral transmissions from platelet transfusions since 1996, when the Serious Hazards of Transfusion scheme was established, and none since 2005.
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Bacterial contamination of platelet components is a serious, potentially life threatening, hazard of transfusion and the most common transfusion transmitted infection. Since 2002, a number of measures have been introduced to minimise this risk, including arm-cleansing to reduce contamination from the blood donor’s skin at the time of donation and diversion of the first 20-30 millilitres of the donation. In addition, screening of donated platelets for evidence of bacterial infection should be in place in England and North Wales by April 2011.
In addition to these steps, any suspected or confirmed serious adverse reactions arising from the transfusion of blood or blood components (including viral or bacterial infection from blood platelets) must be reported to the haemovigilance unit of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Blood: Donors
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the public purse was of blood collection from donation to usage in each of the last five years. [45959]
Anne Milton: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a special health authority and is responsible for the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood, organs, tissues and stem cells to the national health service.
The following figures are the cost of providing blood components (red cells, platelets and plasma) including support service functions from donation to the point of delivery to hospitals. As well as the number of blood units collected and the price of a unit of blood in each of the years requested, also included is the agreed blood price for 2010-11 and 2011-12.
| Total expenditure for 2005-10 including number of blood units collected and the price of a unit of blood to hospitals | |||
|
|
Total cost (£ million) | Whole blood collection | Price (£) |
| (1) Figures not yet available. Source: NHSBT, as at 10 March 2011. | |||
Primarily the reduction in 2006-07 related to negotiated reductions in the cost of consumable items.
The rise in 2007-08 was largely related to spend on one-off requirements such as blood safety initiatives and new equipment, as well as specific transformational projects—this was also a factor in the increases seen on 2008-09 and 2009-10 and reflects a multi-year programme of change projects designed to deliver longer term efficiency and effectiveness.
Through a sustained programme of transformation (to be continued over the next three years) NHSBT have reduced the price hospitals are charged for blood (red cells) from £140 in 2008-09 to less than £125 today. As a result the blood price in 2014 would be lower than the price in 2005-06.
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Departmental Procurement
Stephen Barclay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many procurement projects with a monetary value greater than (a) £10 million, (b) £50 million and (c) £100 million (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is
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responsible was engaged upon in the latest period for which figures are available. [45565]
Mr Simon Burns: The following table shows data for the Department and for the NHS Commercial Medicines Unit for the period 1 April 2010 to date:
| Award value | Type of agreement | Awarding organisation | Number awarded 1 April 2010 to date |
Within non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and agencies, one contract was awarded by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency of value between £10 million and £50 million in the same period. No other NDPB or agency contracts were awarded.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which procurement projects engaged upon by (a) his Department and (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is responsible had a designated senior responsible owner in the latest period for which figures are available; and on what date each officer was appointed in each such case. [45566]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not held centrally. The role of senior responsible owner (SRO) is to ensure that a project or programme of change meets its objectives and delivers the planned benefits. It is the Department’s policy that an SRO will be designated for every major project in the Department and the non-departmental public bodies, and for smaller projects as appropriate.
Diabetes
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place under (a) the Quality and Outcomes Framework and (b) National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical standards to address the psychological well-being of diabetics. [45616]
Paul Burstow: There are no measures in place under the Quality and Outcomes Framework, however, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Clinical guidelines (CG) 15 “Diagnosis and management of type 1 diabetes in children, young people and adults” and CG87 “the management of Type 2 diabetes”, both refer to timely psychological support.
NHS Diabetes has worked with Diabetes UK to produce recommendations on “Emotional and psychological care for people with diabetes”. This guidance sets out the appropriate emotional and psychological care interventions for each facet of diabetes care. NHS Diabetes has also produced a Commissioning Care guide to support commissioners in commissioning these services.
NHS Diabetes, with contributions from Diabetes UK and other stakeholders have published an exemplar patient journey to support the national service framework (NSF) for children, young people and maternity services. This sets out information on a care pathway for a child with type 1 diabetes and includes references to provision of emotional and psychological support.
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reason is for the time taken for diabetics in Brighton and Hove to receive annual retinotherapy screening; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure timely delivery of this service. [45617]
Paul Burstow: The Department is providing support to primary care trusts (PCTs) that are not yet offering screening to 100% of people with diabetes to help them reach this standard.
We are advised that NHS Brighton and Hove PCTs activity levels for diabetic retinopathy screening services have increased over recent years. In 2010-11, the PCTs diabetic retinopathy screening has not been able to meet the increasing demand and a backlog of patients being invited for screening has developed. The reasons for this are a reduced screening service capacity in 2010-11 because of a number of difficulties including problems around recruitment and staff taking unplanned leave.
South East Coast strategic health authority is monitoring this closely and has worked with the PCT to develop and agree a recovery plan to improve access to diabetic retinopathy screening. We are advised that the PCT will be writing to the hon. Gentleman in the next few days to share its recovery plan with him.
Doctors: Working Hours
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in implementing the recommendations of the review of the Working Time Directive undertaken by Medical Education England in respect of encouraging junior doctors to participate in leadership and management training. [45988]
Anne Milton: The focus of the review undertaken by Professor Sir John Temple at the request of Medical Education England was the impact of training the future medical workforce with reduced hours available for learning. In this respect the aspect of encouraging junior doctors to participate in management and leadership training is only indirectly referred to. For example, by using more simulation in training, doctors will be able to develop skills around teamwork, leadership and management.
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Medical Education England has identified leadership as a unifying theme across its professional advisory boards, and this will help ensure that it is included in training throughout the professions.
Medical Education England has developed an action plan to implement the recommendations of the Temple report known as “Better Training, Better Care”, which will implement changes in clinical practices resulting in better supervision of trainees and increased consultant presence on the wards. This will encourage clinical leadership both in training and the delivery of care.
Medicines: Prices
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibilities Monitor will have in the setting of prices for medicines under his Department’s plans for NHS reform. [45388]
Mr Simon Burns: We are currently consulting on our plans for a new value-based system for the pricing of medicines. Our proposals do not envisage a role for Monitor in the setting of medicines’ prices.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether medicines will be included in his proposed national tariff; and if he will make a statement. [45434]
Mr Simon Burns: The costs of most medicines used by hospitals during an episode of care are included in the Payment by Results national tariff. There are some drugs, however, that are reimbursed outside of the tariff. These are typically specialist drugs used in a relatively small number of centres rather than evenly spread across all providers.
The Department publishes a list of excluded drugs each year alongside the national tariff. Information for 2010-11 can be found on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_112284
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to maintain mandatory funding direction for medicines approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; and if he will make a statement. [45437]
Mr Simon Burns: We are consulting on our plans for a value-based system of medicines pricing in “A new value-based approach to the pricing of branded medicines” and this exercise closes on 17 March 2011. A copy of the consultation document has already been placed in the Library.
Until we are assured that the improvements we want to see in access to medicines are realised, we will continue to ensure that the national health service in England funds drugs that have been positively appraised by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Provision is made in the Health and Social Care Bill to replicate the effect of the funding direction that currently applies to NICE-appraised drugs.
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Epilepsy: Brighton
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2011, Official Report, column 660W, on epilepsy: Brighton, what assessment his Department has made of progress towards implementation of the National Service Framework for long-term conditions; when he plans to publish the mid-term review of the framework; and if he will make a statement. [45614]
Paul Burstow: We have made no assessment of the progress being made towards implementation of the National Service Framework for long-term conditions (NSF). No mid-term review of the Framework has been undertaken.
It is the responsibility of local health bodies to implement the NSF within the 10 year timescale from publication.
Food: Labelling
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the future sale and labelling of food products containing genetically modified organisms. [45217]
Anne Milton: The Government believe that regulatory decisions on the sale of food products derived from genetically modified (GM) organisms should be based on a robust, case-by-case assessment of the potential impact on human health and the environment, taking full account of the scientific evidence. Consumers should be able to make an informed choice about whether to buy GM foods, through clear labelling rules.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 February 2011, Official Report, column 923W, on animal products: clones, what his policy is on the future sale and labelling of products containing food from the offspring of cloned animals. [45232]
Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has sought the views of interested parties on changing its interpretation of the novel foods regulation in respect of food obtained from the descendants of cloned cattle and pigs. The FSA is currently reviewing the responses it received and will announce its final position shortly.
General Practitioners
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of primary care-led commissioning. [45366]
Mr Simon Burns: The Impact Assessment that was published alongside the Health and Social Care Bill in January outlines how giving general practitioners (GPs) freedom to design services around patients will deliver benefits in terms of improved services that deliver better outcomes, improved patient experience, and more efficient management of national health service resources.
GPs, in partnership with other local health care professionals such as community nurses and pharmacists, are best placed to understand the health needs of local populations and how to design services that provide more effective, joined-up and preventive care.
The Impact Assessment has been placed in the Library.
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Hay Fever
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department (a) has issued and (b) plans to issue to (i) GPs and (ii) hospitals on the treatment of patients suffering with hay fever; and if he will make a statement. [45598]
Paul Burstow: Guidance to general practitioners is available from “Clinical Knowledge Summaries”, a collection of guidelines maintained by NHS Evidence and available on their website at:
http://www.cks.nhs.uk/allergic_rhinitis
More detailed clinical guidelines on the treatment of patients suffering with hay fever are available from the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (January 2008) and from an international group (the “ARIA” guidelines, revised June 2010). The Department has no plans to issue guidance in this area.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department issues to those with hay fever; how much his Department spent on provision of such advice in the latest period for which figures are available; what mechanisms his Department uses to disseminate such advice to members of the public; and if he will make a statement. [45643]
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Paul Burstow: Information and advice for people with hay fever is available from “NHS Choices” and from other popular sources, including a patient information leaflet published by the organisation Patient UK and available on their website:
www.patient.co.uk
The cost to public funds of preparing and updating the advice in “NHS Choices” cannot be separately identified.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of (a) males and (b) females with hay fever in each age group in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [45657]
Paul Burstow: The Department has made no such estimates. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is thought to affect about 10% of the United Kingdom population although the true prevalence may be higher. An analysis of the available epidemiological information, published with the Department's review of services for allergy in July 2006, estimated that the rates of general practitioner (GP) consultation for males and females by age group in 2004 were as in the following table. These figures will however understate the number of people suffering from hay fever, since many people with this condition do not consult a doctor.
| Proportion of patients consulting a GP for allergic rhinitis at some point during 2004 (rates per 10,000) | ||||||||||
|
|
Age standardised rate (95% CI) | All ages | <1 | 1-4 | 5-14 | 15-24 | 25-44 | 45-64 | 65-74 | 75+ |
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent (a) discussions he has had with and (b) representations he has received from the British Medical Association on the treatment of patients suffering with hay fever; and if he will make a statement. [45599]
Paul Burstow: There have been no such representations or discussions.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) males and (b) females in each (i) age group and (ii) health authority area were prescribed medication for the relief of hay fever in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [45658]
Mr Simon Burns: Information on the number, age and sex of patients prescribed a medicine and the indication for which a medicine was prescribed, is not collected centrally. The numbers of prescription items for medicines that can be used in the treatment of hay fever prescribed in England and dispensed in the community in the United Kingdom by strategic health authority (SHA) are shown in the following tables.
Antihistamines (British National Formulary (BNF) paragraph 3.4.1) are the main treatment for hay fever but topical nasal steroids (BNF paragraph 12.2.1) and other anti- inflammatory preparations for eye problems (BNF paragraph 11.4.2) are also used. It is not possible to know with certainty whether an item was prescribed to treat hay fever and all products included in these figures have indications other than the treatment of hay fever as follows.
| Prescription items for antihistamines prescribed in England and dispensed in the community in the UK, by SHA, July 2006-10 | |||||
| Thousand | |||||
| SHA | July-December 2006 (1) | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
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| Prescription items for topical nasal steroids prescribed in England and dispensed in the community in the UK, by SHA, July 2006-10 | |||||
| Thousand | |||||
| SHA | July-December 2006 (1) | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Prescription items for other anti-inflammatory preparations for eye problems prescribed in England and dispensed in the community in the UK, by SHA, July 2006-10 | |||||
| Thousand | |||||
| SHA | July-December 2006 (1) | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1 )SHAs were reorganised in July 2006, comparable data are not available for January-June 2006 (2) ‘Unidentified prescribing’ is prescribing which cannot be attributed to an SHA (3 )Figures may not sum due to rounding (4) England total for 2006 relates to full year January-December dispensing Source: Prescribing Analysis and Cost Tool (PACT) system | |||||
Heart Diseases: Children
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce his favoured reconfiguration option for children's heart surgery units; and what processes will be undertaken prior to making a decision. [45252]
Mr Simon Burns: The ‘Safe and Sustainable’ review of children's heart services in England is being conducted by the NHS Specialised Commissioning Team on behalf of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts. The committee has published four options for reconfiguration.
These options have been arrived at by a thorough and comprehensive process, including extensive engagement with clinicians, patients and the public, and those are currently out to public consultation until 1 July 2011. The public consultation will include a number of public consultation events planned across England and Wales as well as focused events with relevant professional associations. The outcome of consultation will be considered by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts in the autumn of 2011.
www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/safe_sustainable/public-consultation-2011
HIV Infection: Screening
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase early diagnosis of HIV. [45239]
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Anne Milton: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Pudsey (Stuart Andrew) on 27 January 2011, Official Report, column 462W.
Hospitals: Food
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS will be subject to Government buying standards for food; and if he will make a statement. [46129]
Anne Milton: The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011-12, published on 15 December 2010, makes it clear that national health service organisations are encouraged to consider the Government buying standards for food and catering when they are introduced at the end of March 2011.
Hygiene: Publicity
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the public purse was of his Department's Catch It, Kill It, Bin It respiratory hand hygiene campaign in each of the last five years. [46618]
Anne Milton: The costs of respiratory and hand hygiene campaigns are as follows:
2007-08: £688,453
2008-09: £1,877,181
2009-10: £3,710,044.
The expected costs for 2010-11 are £861,344. There was no campaign in 2006-07.
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates his Department's annual Catch It, Kill It, Bin It respiratory hand hygiene campaign was launched in each of the last five years. [46619]
Anne Milton: Respiratory and hand hygiene campaigns were launched on the following dates:
2007-08: November 2007
2008-09: November 2008
2009-10: April 2009
2010-11: January 2011.
The 2009-10 campaign started earlier in the year in readiness for an anticipated considerable increase in swine flu cases.
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he made in October 2010 of the merits of the proposed launch date for his Department's Catch It, Kill It, Bin It respiratory hand hygiene campaign in 2011. [46620]
Anne Milton: The ‘Catch It, Bin It, Kill It’ campaign is designed to encourage behaviours likely to slow the spread of flu.
Research from previous campaigns showed that advertising this message against a backdrop of an imminent health threat was more effective than maintaining a constant presence from a behaviour change perspective. Departmental officials therefore recommended, before October 2010, that the campaign should not run during 2010-11 unless the winter brought a severe flu season.
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The decision to run the campaign was taken during the Christmas holidays in response to data on rising rates of flu infection in England.
Medical Equipment
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appliance use reviews have been provided by the NHS since the introduction of such reviews. [45937]
Mr Simon Burns: The information held by the NHS Prescription Services records 11,162 appliance use reviews from April to December 2010.
NHS Foundation Trusts
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of NHS foundation trusts held their board meetings in public in the last year for which figures are available; [45445]
(2) what proportion of NHS foundation trusts publish the (a) agendas, (b) background papers and (c) minutes of their board meetings; [45446]
(3) whether his Department provides guidance to NHS foundation trusts to encourage transparency and public engagement in the decision-making process at board level. [45447]
Mr Simon Burns: We are informed by the chair of Monitor (the statutory name of which is the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) that Monitor does not hold or collect data on either the proportion of foundation trusts that hold board meetings in public; or on the proportion of foundation trusts which publish their board agendas, papers and minutes.
However, foundation trusts should follow a policy of openness and transparency in their proceedings and decision making. “The NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance”, produced by Monitor, sets out a framework for good governance and encourages openness from the board. The code also encourages foundation trusts to hold a meeting of their membership at least annually. Foundation trusts must either comply with the code, or explain clearly the reasons why they do not do so.
The Department is committed to making the national health service more transparent and accountable to patients and the public it serves. The measures we are taking in the Health and Social Care Bill would strengthen the accountability of foundation trusts and their directors to governors, the majority of whom are elected by the public.
NHS: Private Patients
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirement there is for NHS hospitals to set charges for the treatment of private patients at a level which results in a surplus over the cost of the treatment. [45540]
Mr Simon Burns: There are no requirements on national health service hospitals about how they set charges for private patients. Foundation trusts, unlike NHS trusts, do have a constraint on the total income they can earn from private charges.
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NHS: Reorganisation
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the likely effects of structural reorganisation on (a) service delivery in the NHS, (b) the efficiency of the NHS and (c) quality improvement in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [45405]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government published a full impact assessment alongside the Health and Social Care Bill.
The effects of the proposed changes upon service delivery, efficiency and quality improvement are discussed within the impact assessment. The impact assessment is available at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsLegislation/DH_123583
A copy has already been placed in the Library.
Obesity: Children
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children in each age group who were classified as (a) overweight and (b) obese (i) in Southend, (ii) in each borough in (A) Essex and (B) Kent, (iii) in Greater London and (iv) nationally in each year since 2008. [45596]
Anne Milton: Information is not available in the format requested.
Information on the percentage of overweight and obese children in England is available in the ‘Health Survey for England—2009 trend tables’, Child trend tables, Table 4. Information is provided for children aged two to 15 in England for the years 1995 to 2009. This information is available at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse09trends
The proportion of children aged two to 15 recorded as overweight and obese by strategic health authority (SHA) is available for 2008 in Table 13.3 (p327) of the ‘Health Survey for England—2008: Physical activity and fitness’. The information is available at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse08physicalactivity
Further information on the prevalence of overweight and obese children at a primary care trust (PCT) and local authority (LA) level is available through the National Child Measurement Programme. Information is available for children in reception (four to five years) and year six (10 to 11 years) for the years 2006-07 to 2009-10. Information showing prevalence of overweight and obese children in those two school years by LA, PCT, SHA and for England is available for each year from the following:
Tables 2 and 3 of the accompanying Excel file of the National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2009/10 school year report is available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/health-and-lifestyles/obesity/national-child-measurement-programme-england-2009-10-school-year
Tables 2 and 3 of the accompanying Excel file of the ‘National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2008/09 school year’ report is available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/health-and-lifestyles/obesity/national-child-measurement-programme-england-2008-09-school-year
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Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying Excel file of ‘National Child Measurement Programme: results from the 2007/08 school year, headline results’ report is available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/health-and-lifestyles/obesity/national-child-measurement-programme-results-from-the-school-year-2007-08
All these publications have already been placed in the Library.
Obesity: Economic Cost
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an estimate of the cost to the economy of illness, economic inactivity and premature death associated with obesity since August 2010; what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had on that matter since August 2010; and if he will make a statement. [45597]
Anne Milton: The estimated cost of overweight and obesity to the economy and to the national health service was set out in the report by Foresight, “Tackling Obesities: Future Choices—Modelling Future Trends in Obesity and the Impact on Health” (2007). This report is available from the following link:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.bis.gov.uk/foresight/our-work/projects/current-projects/tackling-obesities
Tackling obesity is a key public health challenge, and Ministers have had various discussions on the matter, as have officials. A document on obesity, following on from the White Paper “Healthy Lives, Healthy People”, will be published in spring 2011.
Paediatrics: Incontinence
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure consistency in the commissioning of paediatric continence services. [45456]
Anne Milton: The Department has published care pathways for children affected by incontinence, and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has produced dedicated good practice guidance on constipation and nocturnal enuresis in children and young people.
Sex and Relationship Education
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on sex and relationship education; and if he will make a statement. [46606]
Anne Milton: We have had discussions with the Minister of State for Children and Families, my hon. Friend the Member for Brent Central (Sarah Teather), at the Department for Education on a number of issues including education on relationships and sex.
Ministers of both Departments believe it is important that children and young people receive a high quality, age-appropriate programme of such education to enable them to make wise and informed choices in later life. Measures to improve the quality of delivery of relationships and sex education in schools will be considered in the
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context of the internal review of Personal, Social, Health and Economic education announced by the Department for Education in ‘The Importance of Teaching: The Schools White Paper 2010’. The document has already been placed in the Library.
Teenage Pregnancy: Family Planning
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effect on rates of teenage pregnancy of the use of birth control. [45426]
Anne Milton: The rate of teenage conceptions has been falling in recent years. In 2009 the rate was 38.2 per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 17, representing a 30 year low.
A clinical guideline, ‘Long-acting reversible contraception: the effective and appropriate use of long-acting reversible contraception’, published by the National Institute for Health and 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.
Health care professionals should have regard to the latest evidence based guidelines when considering effectiveness and which method will be best for an individual patient.
Tissue Viability Nurses
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many tissue viability nurses were working in each primary care trust or predecessor body in each year since 2000. [45458]
Anne Milton: The information requested is not collected by the Department.
Tissue Viability Sores: Infections
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treatment of secondary infections caused by (a) tissue viability sores and (b) incontinence in the latest period in which figures are available. [45457]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available because the Department does not collect the cost to the national health service of treating individual diagnoses.
Tobacco: EU Law
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the evidential basis of the RAND Europe Study, Assessing the Impacts of Revising the Tobacco Products Directive. [46082]
Anne Milton: The RAND Europe Study was prepared for the European Commission (EC) to support the development of an impact assessment for the possible revision of the Tobacco Products Directive.
While the Government have not commented on the RAND Europe Study, I understand that many interested parties in the United Kingdom have sent their comments directly to the EC. The Department and other interested
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parties responded to the public consultation on the possible revision of the directive ran by the EC over the period 24 September to 17 December 2010. The EC is currently considering these submissions.
Urology: Nurses
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS stoma care nursing posts were funded through industry support in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of the value to the NHS of this support. [45938]
Anne Milton: The information requested is not collected by the Department.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to encourage local authorities to increase the provision of family-sized affordable homes. [45367]
Grant Shapps: In setting out the framework for the Affordable Homes Programme, the Government have made clear that the programme must take account of local priorities, which in some areas will include the provision of family-sized homes. We will seek confirmation of local authority support for new supply proposals when schemes are identified or indicative proposals become firm.
The new homes bonus will also encourage local authorities to meet the housing need in their areas, including the housing need of families, by matching the council tax for the following six years. Family homes will tend to be in a higher council tax band than smaller houses or flats. In addition, every affordable home built will receive an additional premium of £350 per year, up to around 36% more than for an equivalent market home.
As outlined in my answer to the hon. Member on 2 March 2011, Official Report, column 483W, our removal of national minimum density targets now gives local authorities the flexibility to set density ranges that suit the local needs in their areas—particularly for family homes.
Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if he will make it his policy to place a duty on local authorities that prohibits the purchase of seafood which is included on the Marine Conservation Society List of fish to avoid; [45486]
(2) if he will make it his policy to require local authorities to purchase seafood that complies with sustainability standards as indicated either by (a) inclusion on the Marine Conservation Society list of fish to eat, (b) certification by the Marine Stewardship Council or (c) the terms of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. [45499]
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Robert Neill: DCLG fully supports the Government’s commitment to sourcing more sustainable food. However, in accordance with the decentralisation and localism agendas, we do not believe that the Government should place a further duty on local authorities in this respect as my Department is seeking to reduce the cumulative burden of legal duties imposed on local government.
Departmental Furniture
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much Government offices for the regions spent on office chairs in the last 24 months for which figures are available; and what the (a) make and model and (b) cost of each type of chair was. [43842]
Greg Clark: Information currently available on the purchase of seating within the Government offices for the regions in the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11 is as follows:
| Description | Item cost (£) | Number purchased | Total (£) |
The chair purchased in 2010-11 costing £1,072 was a highly specialised chair required for a member of staff with special needs. The Government's intention to close the Government offices for the regions was announced in principle on 22 July 2010 with the final decision announced as part of the spending review on 20 October 2010.
Departmental Legal Costs
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department paid for (a) external legal advice and (b) consultants in respect of the Cala Homes legal action in the last six months. [46318]
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Greg Clark: In respect of the Cala Homes legal actions over the past six months:
(a) The final legal costs for the Cala Homes case have not yet been determined as the legal challenge is ongoing and will be heard in May.
(b) No consultants were appointed.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which external legal advisers his Government engaged in respect of the Cala Homes legal action. [46319]
Greg Clark: Mr James Eadie QC and Mr James Maurici acted on behalf of the Government in Cala Home’s first legal challenge and Mr James Maurici and Mr Tim Mould QC on the second legal challenge by Cala Homes.
Fire Services: Finance
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the percentage change in his Department's grant to each precepting fire and rescue authority is between 2010-11 and 2011-12. [46018]
Robert Neill: Percentage changes cannot currently be calculated as the total amount of Fire Revenue Grant for 2011-12 is not yet set. We are currently consulting on the future of fire and rescue control services and this will determine the total amount of Fire Revenue Grant.
Food: Procurement
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on placing local authorities under a commitment to source food that meets British or equivalent standards of production subject to no overall increase in costs. [43304]
Robert Neill: DCLG fully support the Government's commitment to sourcing more sustainable and nutritious food. Central Government can help promote best practice in local government; however, individual procurement decisions by councils will be a matter for local determination.
Housing: Overcrowding
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 17 February 2011, Official Report, column 890W, on housing: overcrowding (1) if he will make it his policy to collect data on the number of households who approached each local authority for homelessness assistance on the grounds that overcrowding made it unreasonable for them to continue to occupy their property; and if he will collect data on the number of such households for which the main homelessness duty was accepted; [45541]
(2) if he will make it his policy to collect data on the local authorities which award reasonable preference to overcrowded households in their allocations policy where overcrowding is based on the definition of overcrowding set out in the Housing Act 1985. [45542]
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Andrew Stunell: The Department for Communities and Local Government is not proposing to collect this information. We are seeking to reduce the burden of data reporting to central Government as outlined in my Department’s press notice of 17 December 2010.
As part of our proposed reforms of social housing, we will give local authorities greater flexibility to decide how best to meet housing need in their area and improve housing outcomes.
We have maintained homelessness grant at this year’s level, investing £400 million over the next four years, and we have made a further £190 million available to local authorities to assist households affected by welfare reform.
Local Government: Referendums
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his legislative proposals to allow petitions for local referendums are intended to allow for a referendum in (a) individual boroughs and (b) individual borough wards. [45459]
Robert Neill [holding answer 10 March 2011]: Our commitment in the coalition agreement is to give residents the power to instigate local referendums, and we have accordingly made provision in the Localism Bill allowing electors to petition for referendums within individual wards, or across an area which is one or more local government areas, or comprises a number of wards within one such area.
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Planning
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by what date he expects his proposals for reform of the rules in respect of contributions to planning decisions by local councillors to take effect. [45889]
Robert Neill: Provisions in the Localism Bill, currently before Parliament, to allow councillors to freely discuss important issues such as planning matters with their constituents, and to give their opinion on such issues without this being cited as evidence of having a closed mind on the subject, will come into force two months after the Bill's enactment.
Public Expenditure
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the job title is of each civil servant employed by the Government offices for the regions who had all or part of their (a) living and (b) accommodation costs met from the public purse in the latest period for which figures are available. [43868]
Greg Clark: I assume that the hon. Member is asking about costs covered by those in full-time accommodation away from their home such as detached duty.
As at the end of January 2011, 10 Government offices for the regions staff were in receipt of detached duty payments at the following grades:
|
|
Grade | Number |
One member of staff detailed above has since left the Government offices.
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the job title is of each civil servant employed by the Audit Commission who had all or part of their (a) living and (b) accommodation costs met from the public purse in the latest period for which figures are available. [43869]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct. However I also refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, columns 106-107W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock Chase (Mr Burley), detailing the benefits, including hotel costs, for the chief executive.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated March 2011:
“Parliamentary Question: what the job title is of each civil servant employed by the Audit Commission who had all or part of their (a) living and (b) accommodation costs met by the public purse in the latest period for which figures are available.”
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
Audit Commission staff are not civil servants.
In the last 12 months, the Commission has contributed to the living and/or accommodation costs of two members of staff, as follows:
an Audit Manager who moved from Carlisle to Solihull at a relocation cost of £2,600; and
an Audit Manager seconded from Northern to Central Region for a period of six weeks at a relocation cost of £780.64. This secondment ended at the end of March 2010.
These individuals were transferred to new posts and required to relocate, one on a permanent and one on a temporary basis.
Public Sector: Pay
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons teaching assistants who earn less than £21,000 a year will not receive the guaranteed public sector worker pay increase of £250 in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [45443]
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Robert Neill: The Government have no role in determining annual pay awards in local authorities. These are for the employers and unions to negotiate.
Shops: Empty Property
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many vacant shops there were in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what estimate has been made of the likely number of vacant shops in each of the next two years. [44094]
Robert Neill: This information is not held centrally.
Supermarkets
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what plans he has to modify Planning Policy Statement 4 to introduce a test to give local authorities greater powers to control the numbers of small supermarket outlets in town or city centres; [45618]
(2) if he will bring forward legislative proposals to give local authorities greater powers to control the numbers of small supermarket outlets in town or city centres. [45619]
Robert Neill: The Government are committed to supporting town centres which are at the heart of our communities and neighbourhoods. Current national planning policy within planning policy statement 4 “Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth” asks local planning authorities to plan for a strong retail mix so that the range and quality of retail on offer meets the requirements of the local area and, where appropriate, to take measures to protect and enhance the established character and diversity of their town centres.
Our “town centre first” policy will continue to be strongly expressed in the forthcoming national planning policy framework. Indeed, the Government’s firm intention in reviewing the policy is to make it more accessible and clearer. We will publish the draft framework for consultation in the summer.
Treasury
Bank: Loans
Dr Poulter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the merits of introducing a cap of 3% over the Bank of England base rate on the interest charged by banks on loans to profitable businesses. [45884]
Mr Hoban: Decisions about interest rates on loans are a matter for individual financial institutions to make on a commercial basis. The Government do not intervene in these decisions as a matter of course.
Enterprise Investment Scheme
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of funding for small and medium-sized enterprises of raising the level of income tax relief in respect of the Enterprise Investment Scheme to (a) 30, (b) 40 and (c) 50 per cent. [46037]
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Mr Gauke: Total investment in companies qualifying under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) are published by HMRC as National Statistics at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/ent_invest_scheme/table8-1.pdf
Some but not all of this investment qualifies for income tax relief. No estimates have been made of the different effects on SME investment of changing the relief rate to these higher levels.
Financial Institutions
Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on foreclosures arising from decisions of (a) RBS Banking Group and (b) other financial institutions in the last 12 months. [45877]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government’s investments in financial institutions on an arm’s length and commercial basis.
Mortgage lenders’ policies on foreclosures are a matter for the board and management of those financial institutions.
The Government are determined that repossession should always be a last resort. Financial Services Authority regulation requires that, wherever possible, lenders and borrowers should work together to manage any difficulties. Home owners also have protection in the courts through the Pre-Action Protocol, which makes it clear what is required of lenders.
Gift Aid
Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on charities and voluntary groups of the ending of transitional relief on gift aid. [45999]
Justine Greening: Gift aid transitional relief was introduced as a temporary measure to give charities time to prepare their financial plans in response to a lower rate of relief from gift aid. By April 2011, when the relief ends, charities will have had four years since the announcement of the 20% basic rate of income tax to prepare for the change. In 2009-10 charities benefited by £105 million from this relief and it is forecast that they will benefit by £120 million in 2010-11. The Government believe the £100 million transition fund announced in the spending review will better target support on charities most in need.
Green Investment Bank
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what definition of a contingent liability of the Green Investment Bank his Department uses. [46061]
Justine Greening: For the purposes of departmental accounts, the accounting standard IAS 37 is applied in full. IAS 37 defines a contingent liability as:
a possible obligation depending on whether some uncertain future event occurs; or
a present obligation but payment is not probable or the amount cannot be measured reliably.
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Green Investment Bank: Scotland
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the Green Investment Bank; and on which date each meeting took place. [46185]
Justine Greening: Treasury Ministers have frequent meetings with their ministerial colleagues as part of the process of policy development and delivery. It is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Industrial Diseases: Compensation
Mr Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there has been any liaison between those responsible for administering the pleural plaques extra-statutory scheme and HM Revenue and Customs on the provision of employment history schedules by Special Section A for use by applicants to the scheme. [44369]
Mr Gauke: I can confirm that Ministry of Justice officials have been in contact with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about requests for employment history schedules related to the pleural plaque compensation scheme.
Internet: National Income
Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the contribution to the UK economy of (a) Google, (b) Yahoo, (c) Facebook and (d) other major internet companies. [46136]
Mr Gauke: The Government recognise the importance of the digital and creative industries which includes companies such as Google, Yahoo and Facebook. In 2008, the digital and creative industries contributed £18 billion to the UK economy, equivalent to 1.4% of total GVA and employed approximately 353,000 workers.
The Government are keen to ensure that the UK remains a desirable location for businesses of all size and are taking action by prioritising investment in key infrastructure, demonstrated in the National Infrastructure Plan and heading for a simpler and more competitive tax system through the Corporate Tax Roadmap.
Alongside infrastructure investment and the corporate tax reforms, the Growth Review contributes to the Government's drive to remove the barriers to growth and improve British competitiveness. The Government want to create the right conditions for businesses to succeed and are tackling barriers in several sectors where there are opportunities for growth, including the digital and creative industries. The Growth Review will report back at Budget.
Multilateral Information Exchange Agreement
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the multilateral information exchange agreement proposed in recent G20 communiqués. [45370]
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Mr Gauke: A Protocol opening the Council of Europe-OECD multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters to a potentially world-wide membership is expected to come into force on 1 June following ratification by existing members. It is anticipated that a number of new members, which may include developing countries, will subsequently join the convention.
National Insurance Contributions
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the (a) take up and (b) operation of the regional employers' national insurance contributions holiday for new businesses since its inception. [35759]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 24 January 2011]:We intend to publish details of the take-up of NI contributions holiday around the Budget later this month.
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the number of people employed by businesses eligible to receive relief for national insurance contributions for new businesses in each (a) local authority, (b) parliamentary constituency and (c) region; [39168]
(2) if he will estimate the number of businesses eligible to receive relief for national insurance contributions for new businesses in each (a) local authority, (b) parliamentary constituency and (c) region. [39169]
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many applications to the national insurance holiday scheme have been refused since June 2010; [40990]
(2) how many businesses have applied for the national insurance holiday in the (a) retail, (b) manufacturing and (c) service sector; [40992]
(3) how many businesses have applied for the national insurance holiday in each month since June 2010. [40993]
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have taken up the regional employers national insurance contribution holiday for new businesses since June 2010. [39151]
Mr Gauke: We intend to publish details of the take-up of NI contributions holiday around the Budget later this month.
Ed Balls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many businesses applied for the National Insurance holiday for new small businesses in each eligible region in January 2011; [40252]
(2) how many business have applied for the National Insurance holiday for new small businesses in each eligible (a) region, (b) local authority and (c) constituency to date; [40253]
(3) what steps he has taken to raise the level of awareness of the National Insurance holiday for new small businesses in eligible regions. [40254]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 11 February 2011]: We intend to publish details of the take-up of NI contributions holiday around the Budget later this month.
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Public Finance
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interest payments arising from the national debt in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [46617]
Justine Greening: Central Government gross debt interest payments for 2010-11 and 2011-12 can be found in Table 4.14 of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook, November 2010 (page 106).
http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/econ-fiscal-outlook.html
The OBR will publish an updated assessment of the public finances including debt interest payments at the Budget on 23 March 2011.