Magistrates
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of applications to become a justice of the peace were successful in the last three years for which figures are available. [47534]
Mr Djanogly: Based on data from 88 of the 101 advisory committees responsible for the recruitment and selection of magistrates in England and Wales, in each of the two years 2007-08 and 2008-09, approximately one third of applicants were successful in becoming a justice of the peace. In 2009-10, approximately one quarter of applicants were successful.
Plants
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since his appointment. [48418]
Mr Djanogly: The MoJ does not have a budget for purchasing flowers for its buildings. Some buildings may have plants in reception areas to create a welcoming atmosphere for staff and visitors.
However, it would incur disproportionate costs to go to all the buildings the MOJ and its Executive agencies
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occupy (over 800 locations across the UK—mainly courts, tribunals, prisons and local offices) to find out if any trees or plants have been bought since May 2010.
Public Bodies Reform Programme
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 March 2011, Official Report, columns 9-10W, on the public bodies reform programme, what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department net of costs incurred in the assumption of additional departmental responsibilities to accrue from (a) the abolition of 11 public bodes within his Department’s area of responsibility, (b) the merger of four such bodies and (c) the change in function of four such bodies. [48147]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
Substantive answer from Kenneth Clarke to Lisa Nandy:
On 16 March 2011 the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Frances Maude) issued a Written Ministerial Statement updating Parliament on progress on public bodies reform. That statement also announced that departments estimate cumulative administrative savings of at least £2.6bn will flow from public bodies over the Spending Review period.
For the Ministry of Justice, I anticipate net overall cumulative administrative savings from structural reforms over the Spending Review period of £72.1 million. Overall cumulative administrative reductions from reform of all departmental public bodies are estimated to be £74.4 million over the Spending Review period.
Health
Freedom of Information
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to extend the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to GP pathfinder consortia. [48216]
Mr Simon Burns: Throughout 2011-12, a growing number of groups of general practitioner (GP) practices will become pathfinder consortia, and start to take on increasing responsibilities for commissioning on behalf of primary care trusts (PCTs) within the current statutory framework. PCTs will remain statutorily responsible and accountable during the transition period and will continue to be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Commissioning consortia established in accordance with the provisions proposed by the Health and Social Care Bill would be statutory public bodies and will become fully statutorily accountable from April 2013 onwards. The Bill amends the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to include commissioning consortia.
Blood : Diseases
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the merits of screening for pathogens for those at greater risk of being infected with such pathogens as a result of having received pooled blood products for the treatment of bleeding disorders. [46376]
Anne Milton: Clinicians are best placed to advise their patients and offer any appropriately validated tests that they believe to be necessary.
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Blood: Contamination
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the merits of screening those infected with hepatitis C for the extra-hepatic manifestations identified in the Government’s recent review of contaminated blood products. [46375]
Anne Milton: We would expect the need for investigation of possible extra-hepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C infection to be considered on an individual patient basis as part of clinical care.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason he has maintained the classification of the hepatitis C virus in two stages; and if he will make a statement. [46377]
Anne Milton: The two-stage payment scheme for eligible individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection, has been maintained because of expert advice on the impact on life expectancy and quality of life of those individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection and of those individuals who go on to develop related serious liver disease.
The “Review of the support available to individuals infected with Hepatitis C and/or HIV by NHS supplied blood transfusions or blood products and their dependants”, which has already been placed in the Library, has further details on this.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has plans to end the two-stage system of classification of Hepatitis C for patients who suffer from a bleeding condition or a condition which increases the risks arising from the liver biopsy required to ascertain whether a patient is in stage 1 or stage 2 of the disease. [47306]
Anne Milton: There are no plans to change the current two-stage system of classification of hepatitis C, for individuals applying to the Skipton Fund. The two-stage payment scheme for eligible individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection, is based on an expert review of the impact on life expectancy and quality of life of those individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection and of those individuals who go on to develop related serious liver disease. The “Review of the support available to individuals infected with Hepatitis C and/or HIV by NHS supplied blood transfusions or blood products and their dependants”, which has already been placed in the Library, has further details on this.
Patients have never been required to undergo a liver biopsy in to establish whether they may be eligible for a stage 2 payment. There is a range of evidence that can be provided, including the results of liver function tests, ultrasound scans and radiological examinations.
Brain Cancer: Children
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to increase his Department's funding allocation for specialist care for children with brain tumours during the current Parliament. [47831]
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Paul Burstow: It is currently the responsibility of primary care trusts to commission services for the care of children with brain tumours from their funding allocations, including specialist care. From 2013-14, the National Health Service Commissioning Board (CB), will take over responsibility for commissioning guidelines and the allocation of resources from the Department.
During the transition to the NHS CB, the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation, an independent committee comprising general practitioners (GPs), academics and NHS managers, will continue to oversee the formulae for the distribution of NHS resources. Further detail on the allocations and processes will be announced in due course.
“Improving Outcomes - A Strategy for Cancer”, published on 12 January 2011, sets out a range of measures to improve outcomes for all patients, including children with brain tumours. A copy has already been placed in the Library. Backed by more than £750 million over the next four years, the Strategy sets out our plans to improve earlier diagnosis, access to screening and treatment and improve patients' experience of care.
This Strategy includes £150 million for the expansion of radiotherapy services, which includes funding for proton beam therapy (PBT). PBT is a very precise form of radiotherapy which has been shown to deliver improved outcomes and reduced acute and late effects in treating children with cancer, including those with brain tumours.
The Strategy also confirmed that the principles in “Improving Outcomes in Children and Young People with Cancer”, published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, will continue to be a feature of all commissioned services. This guidance serves to assist NHS trusts in planning, commissioning and organising services for children and young people with cancer.
Cancer
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the provision of (a) cancer services and (b) mental health services in South Devon. [47796]
Paul Burstow: We expect the national health service in South Devon to comply with the national policies on increasing the availability of cancer and mental health services. The national policies are outlined as follows:
‘Improving Outcomes—A Strategy for Cancer’, published on 12 January 2011, sets out a range of measures to improve the quality and efficiency of cancer services in England. Backed by more than £750 million over the next four years, the strategy sets out the Department's plans to improve earlier diagnosis, access to screening and treatment and improve patients' experience of care.
The Department published the national ‘No Health Without Mental Health’ Strategy on 2 February 2011. It has the twin aims of promoting and sustaining good mental health and well-being in the wider population, and improving the quality of existing services for people across the full range of mental health problems. It looks at prevalence of problems and effective approaches at different stages in life, stressing the importance of prevention and early intervention.
Copies of both publications have already been placed in the Library.
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Cataracts Treatment
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will re-introduce an 18-week waiting time target for cataract treatment; and if he will make a statement. [47611]
Mr Simon Burns: The right to start consultant-led treatment, including consultant-led cataract treatment, within maximum waiting times remains in the NHS constitution as set out in the NHS Operating Framework for 2011-12. Commissioners should ensure that waiting times performance does not deteriorate and, where possible improves during 2011-12.
Commission on Assisted Dying
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has been requested by the Commission on Assisted Dying to submit (a) oral and (b) written evidence to its inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [47705]
Paul Burstow: Professor Sir Mike Richards, National Clinical Director for End of Life Care, has met with the Commission to inform them of progress in implementing the End of Life Care Strategy. The Department has received no requests for written information.
Equality and Excellence: Liberating the NHS
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to paragraph 2.22 of his Department’s White Paper, Equality and Excellence: liberating the NHS, Cm 7881, July 2010, if he will make an assessment of personal health budget pilots and their effect on welfare provision. [47853]
Paul Burstow: An independent evaluation of the personal health budgets pilot programme is being led by the personal and social services research unit at the university of Kent. The overarching aim of the evaluation is to identify if personal health budgets ensure better health and social care outcomes when compared to conventional service delivery, and how they should be implemented. It does not include analysis of their effect on welfare provision. Full details of the evaluation can be found at:
www.phbe.org.uk
Personal health budgets are not income, and are not counted as such when calculating tax obligations or benefit eligibility, even when paid in cash to an individual as a direct payment.
Health Education: Schools
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to issue an invitation for expressions of interest in the Healthy Schools Programme. [48258]
Anne Milton: The Department of Health expects to publicly request expressions of interest for running Healthy Schools late in spring of 2011.
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Health Services
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to make a decision on the recommendations from the Co-operation and Competition Panel on regional health commissioning in the North West following the complaint from Hanover Healthcare; and if he will make a statement. [47523]
Paul Burstow: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake) on 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1156W.
Health Services: Privatisation
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) conducted and (b) commissioned which supports the proposition that the privatisation of healthcare providers will increase performance and healthcare provision. [47850]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government reject the notion that we are pursuing a programme of privatisation. We have no plans to privatise national health service providers, indeed this is not Government policy. Accordingly, there has been no research commissioned or conducted on this.
Heart Diseases: Children
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential risks arising from increased journey times to children’s heart surgery units. [47625]
Mr Simon Burns: Journey times have been looked at extensively as part of the review process. All of the options comply with the standards developed in 2010 by the Paediatric Intensive Care Society that stipulate maximum journey times for children who require emergency retrieval by ambulance.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what opportunity hospital trusts had to (a) comment on and (b) suggest corrections to the assessments undertaken by Sir Ian Kennedy in respect of children’s heart surgery units before the options for consultation were finalised. [47626]
Mr Simon Burns: The interim findings were shared with the centres in August 2010. Responses received by the national review team from the centres were shared with Sir Ian Kennedy’s panel members so that the panel could consider how to use this information in the preparation of its final report to the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts in December 2010.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of co-locating services for treatment and follow-on care of children's heart surgery patients. [47627]
Mr Simon Burns:
Sir Ian Kennedy and his panel assessed the centres on the co-location requirements with reference to the accepted definition of co-location
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as set out in ‘Commissioning safe and sustainable specialised paediatric services: a framework of critical inter-dependencies’.
This guidance, in addition to clarifying that co-location means services either on the same hospital site or on a neighbouring hospital site, also sets out which services should be co-located. The relevant professional associations endorse the guidance.
Sir Ian's findings and recommendations, including those on the extent to which the centres meet the co-location requirements, have been considered by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts in its deliberations. Sir Ian's full report is in the public domain and is available on the NHS Specialised Services website at:
www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/safeandsustainable
The review also proposes to reduce journey times for non-surgical care by bringing assessment and follow-on care closer to home through the development of congenital heart networks.
Heart Diseases: Surgery
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on cardiac surgical outcomes; and if he will take steps to maintain adequate time for the collection and benchmarking of data related to such outcomes in the job plans of consultants. [48134]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has received one representation about cardiac surgical outcomes.
The White Paper ‘Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS’ set out how the Government would introduce a new system of accountability for the national health service based around the outcomes achieved for patients. As part of this, the first ever NHS Outcomes Framework was published on 20 December 2010.
The collection and benchmarking of data on quality and outcomes in all clinical areas is an integral part of raising standards. However, it is for NHS organisations locally to ensure that clinicians have the time to participate in such activities.
Histiocytosis
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department funds research into histiocytosis. [47828]
Mr Simon Burns: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports medical and clinical research. The MRC is a non-departmental public body that receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The MRC provided funding for a recently completed research project entitled ‘Homeostasis of Langerhans and Dendritic Cells in Health and Disease’.
The Department's National Institute for Health Research welcomes applications for support into any aspect of human health. Funding is dependent on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The Department is not currently funding research specifically on histiocytosis.
Christopher Pincher:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans (a) his Department and (b) each agency or non-departmental public body for which it is
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responsible plans to raise awareness of histiocytosis among (a) health practitioners and (b) the wider public. [47832]
Mr Simon Burns: There are no such plans. Information about histiocytosis for health practitioners and patients is available from a number of sources, including “Clinical Knowledge Summaries” on NHS Evidence and the website Patient UK.
HIV Infection
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to the merits of introducing two stages of classification of HIV; and if he will make a statement. [46378]
Anne Milton: No consideration was given to the introduction of two stages of classification for HIV.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish the submissions he has received in the course of his Department's recent review of the (a) morbidity and (b) quality of life of those diagnosed with HIV following the administration of contaminated blood products by the NHS; [47841]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the (a) morbidity and (b) quality of life of those diagnosed with HIV following the administration of contaminated blood products by the NHS. [47842]
Anne Milton: Hepatitis C was the focus of the terms of reference of the review in relation to the level of ex gratia payments. No submissions were received from independent experts on the morbidity and quality of life of patients infected only with HIV by contaminated national health service supplied blood and blood products, and no assessment of those issues was made, during the course of the review.
However, the expert group which provided advice on the spectrum and impact of disease associated with hepatitis C infection was asked to consider the comparison of living with HIV. The final report of the review (a copy of which has already been placed in the Library) acknowledges that the advent of more effective anti-retroviral therapy has improved the quality of life of individuals with HIV, and is likely to markedly improve the prognosis for their hepatitis C infection.
Meat: Hygiene
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the potential effect of proposed charges to recover the costs of meat hygiene inspection on the independent meat industry in (a) Wales and (b) Great Britain; [47741]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of small and medium-sized abattoirs in Wales at risk of closure as a result of proposed charges for the recovery of the cost of meat hygiene inspections; [47742]
(3) what proportion of the cost of complying with proposed charges for recovery of the cost of meat hygiene inspection he estimates will be met by (a) the abattoir and (b) customers. [47777]
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Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has consulted across the United Kingdom on proposals for full cost recovery by removal of current discounts, with options for a phased introduction and a reduction in charges for low throughput businesses.
On the basis of the information available prior to the consultation, the FSA estimated that full cost recovery for meat controls would cost the Welsh meat industry approximately £2.2 million, and the meat industry across Great Britain approximately £29.41 million. Of these amounts, the FSA estimates that £1.14 million would be attributable to low throughput, small, and medium meat plants in Wales, and £17.92 million would be attributable to low throughput, small and medium meat plants across Great Britain. The term ‘independent meat industry' has been interpreted as meaning the smaller scale businesses, and the low throughput, small and medium meat plants have been used as a proxy.
The FSA has identified 10 abattoirs in the small category in Wales which are considered most likely to feel the greatest impact of the proposed changes. Meetings or telephone discussions took place with nine of these businesses, and views expressed will be included in the consultation process.
In the draft impact assessment(1), the FSA notes constraints on the potential to pass costs forward along the supply chain, and has assumed that slaughterhouses will absorb approximately one-third of the cost associated with full recovery charging and farmers the remaining two-thirds. The FSA is currently refining the impact assessment in light of information received in responses to the consultation.
141 written consultation responses have been received across UK, 20 in Wales, including 11 from Welsh slaughterhouses of varying sizes. A number of stakeholder meetings have also taken place, and views expressed at these meetings have been captured. FSA is in the process of giving detailed consideration to all comments prior to determining its advice to Government.
(1) The FSA impact assessment has been published on the FSA website at:
http://food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/consultation/meatcharges1110eng.pdf
Medicine: Education
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many training places for medical students there were in each higher education institution in the academic year (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; how many he expects there to be in the academic year 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [48455]
Anne Milton: The number of medical undergraduate places is agreed with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) periodically. The current agreement is for around 6,200 places to be available in England each year.
The information (from HEFCE) in the following tables shows the intake of medical students (including overseas students) in each higher education institution (HEI) in the academic year 2009-10, provisional intake for 2010-11 and target numbers for 2011-12.
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| Intake of medical students (including overseas students) in 2009-10 | |
| HEI | Intake |
| Provisional intake of medical students (including overseas students) in 2010-11 | |
| HEI | Intake |
| Target number of training places for medical students (including overseas students) 2011-12 | |
| HEI | Target |
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| (1) University of Brighton submitted a joint return with the University of Sussex. (2) University of Hull submitted a joint return with the University of York. (3) University of Leeds submitted a joint return with the University of Bradford. (4) University of Newcastle and Durham submitted separately but for comparison purposes have been combined here. (5) Joint return by University of Plymouth and University of Exeter as Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry. Source: HEFCE | |
NHS Accountability
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the existing framework of primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and other organisations to achieving the Government’s aims for efficiency, accountability and quality in the NHS. [47852]
Mr Simon Burns: When developing the White Paper “Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS” the Government considered whether their aims could be achieved through the existing framework of primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs), and concluded that they could not.
First, PCTs and SHAs lack accountability. The Government’s proposals will bring together elected councillors with decision-makers from the national health service, public health and social care on new health and well-being boards within local authorities. This will radically improve local democratic legitimacy, in a more effective and cost-effective way than the original proposal in the coalition agreement of introducing elected members on to PCT boards.
Second, our proposals will improve the quality of commissioning, which under the current system has failed to deliver sufficient improvements in outcomes for patients. General practitioner (GP) consortia will bring clinical expertise, with decisions made closer to patients, while a stronger role for local councils will bring greater expertise in assessing population needs, and greater integration between local services.
Third, our aim is to decentralise decision-making, to free front-line professionals from political interference and central targets that distort local priorities. It is not possible to achieve this aim through the hierarchical
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structure of SHAs and PCTs, which are entirely subject to the direction of Ministers. The Health and Social Care Bill creates a transparent legal framework where local organisations have their own clearly defined functions, with no ability for Ministers to micromanage.
Fourth, the management costs of PCTs and SHAs have risen disproportionately and are not sustainable. The Government’s plans will cut administration spending, saving £1.7 billion every year from 2014-15, to reinvest in front-line NHS services. Savings on this scale would not be possible while retaining the superstructure of PCTs and SHAs.
PCT and SHA staff will continue to play an important role during the transition. They will increasingly be involved in supporting the emerging GP consortia to ensure that existing skills are retained.
NHS Contracts
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to reduce barriers to the award of NHS contracts to small and medium-sized enterprises. [48257]
Mr Simon Burns: In terms of suppliers of goods and non-clinical services to the national health service, the Department is currently considering a number of measures to reduce the burden such suppliers face bidding for NHS contracts. These will be announced as part of ‘The Growth Review’ which will be published shortly by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).
In terms of suppliers of clinical services to the NHS, the Government's policy is that for most services, patients will have a choice of ‘any willing provider’. This will involve a qualification process for providers and means the need for tendering by commissioners for such services should diminish considerably. In addition, it is expected that the NHS Commissioning Board, when established, will be reviewing contracting and procurement procedures to both simplify them and ensure a greater focus on quality.
NHS Performance Standards
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) conducted and (b) commissioned which supports the proposition that establishing an independent commissioning board will increase performance and healthcare provision in the NHS. [47851]
Mr Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill builds on many of the reforms introduced by the previous Government and is based on setting the conditions to ensure quality and productivity increase in the national health service.
An independent commissioning board will be free to allocate resources in the best interests of patients based on clinical evidence, free from political distractions.
The consultation White Paper “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS” set out the Government’s vision to create a more autonomous and accountable NHS. We took on board responses which gave overall support for the health reforms outlined in the Command Paper “Liberating the NHS: legislative framework and next
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steps”. The impact assessment that was published alongside the Health and Social Care Bill in January details expected impacts arising from the reforms.
Copies have already been placed in the Library.
NHS Surgery
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the (a) collection and (b) publication of NHS (i) surgical audit and (ii) clinical outcome data; and what timetable he has set for this exercise. [47747]
Mr Simon Burns: The “NHS Outcomes Framework 2011/12” sets the direction for the national health service in focusing on outcomes, and sets out the high level outcomes, which the NHS as a whole will be aiming to achieve. Data for all of the indicators in the NHS Outcomes Framework will be published in an open and transparent way.
It is too early to provide complete details of how outcome data will be collected, but the majority of the outcome indicators are based upon existing data sources. During 2011-12, we will work to refine the indicators in the framework as well as finalising the approaches to measuring and reporting outcomes. We anticipate this detail will be included in the second NHS Outcomes Framework published for 2012-13.
The Department funds the national clinical audit and patient outcomes programme, comprising 30 national clinical audits covering a range of clinical conditions and interventions. The programme will be extended during 2011-12 to a wider range of conditions and interventions. However, the national clinical audits work independently of the Department. The audit suppliers determine methodologies, data collections and the timing of publications.
More generally, we are currently analysing responses to the consultation document “Liberating the NHS: An Information Revolution” and a Government response will be produced in due course. In this document, we stated our intention to move to a culture in information characterised by openness, transparency and comparability.
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in (a) the reform of the prescription charging system and (b) the extension of categories of long-term chronic conditions which are exempt from such charges. [47678]
Mr Simon Burns: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 17 March 2011, Official Report, columns 630-631W, to the hon. Member for Hove (Mike Weatherley).
Respiratory System: Children
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were admitted to hospital due to a respiratory condition in (a) England and (b) each primary care trust area in the last year for which figures are available. [47541]
Anne Milton:
The table shows the number of finished admission episodes (FAEs) where the primary diagnosis
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was diseases of the respiratory system for the under 18 age group in England and by primary care trust (PCT) in 2009-10.
| A count of FAEs where there was a primary diagnosis of diseases of the respiratory system for the age group 18 and under in England and PCT of main provider for 2009-10; Activity in English NHS h ospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | ||
|
|
PCT of main provider | 18 and under |
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| Notes: 1. Finished admission episodes (FAE) A FAE is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Primary diagnosis The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and 7 prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. ICD:10 codes used; J00-J99 Diseases of the respiratory system 3. PCT of main provider This indicates the PCT area within which the organisation providing treatment was located. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The WHS Information Centre for health and social care. | ||
South London NHS Trust
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance against objectives for productivity in the hospitals of the South London NHS Trust in the latest period for which figures are available. [47533]
Mr Simon Burns: Performance data collected centrally are published on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/index.htm
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This includes data on the performance of hospitals of the South London NHS Trust. The national health service is finalising integrated plans which will set out proposals for the NHS to meet the quality and productivity challenge of realising up to £20 billion of efficiency savings by 2014-15 while driving up the quality of services they provide. All savings will be reinvested back in front line care. These plans will be submitted to the Department by 25 March 2011 as set out in the 2011-12 Operating Framework.
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent reports he has received on the adequacy of staffing at the hospitals of the South London Healthcare NHS Trust. [47535]
Mr Simon Burns: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care services in England. Providers of regulated activities must be registered with CQC, and comply with registration requirements regulations that set out essential levels of safety and quality. CQC assesses how trusts comply with these legal requirements and it has the power to impose a range of sanctions where breaches are found. CQC published its review of South London Healthcare NHS Trust on 14 January 2011. It found moderate concerns for the three staffing standards which were assessed.
Squatting
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many buildings on his Department's estate were occupied by squatters in each year between 2006 and 2010; and on how many occasions his Department sought interim possession orders to remove squatters from such buildings in each of those years. [47614]
Mr Simon Burns: In 2006 one property on the Department's estate was occupied by squatters and a Possession Order obtained. In 2007 two properties were occupied of which a Possession Order was obtained on one. The properties have now been sold.
Tobacco: Young People
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on the health of young people of secondhand tobacco smoke in confined spaces; [47538]
(2) what steps he is taking to reduce the level of exposure of children to secondhand tobacco smoke in cars. [47539]
Anne Milton: The Tobacco Control Plan for England, published on 9 March 2011, sets out the action Government will take across the six internationally recognised strands that make up a comprehensive, approach to tobacco control. This includes protection from exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. The Plan is informed by The Impact of Smokefree Legislation in England an academic review of the evidence on the effectiveness of the 2006 smokefree law (which was published alongside the Plan) and by Passive Smoking and children: a report of the Royal College of Physicians. The reports include evidence of the impact of the law on the exposure of children to secondhand smoke.
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Although the exposure of children to secondhand tobacco smoke has come down in recent years, there is no room for complacency. We want smokers to change their behaviour so as to make sure that they do not harm those around them, particularly children in the home or in family cars. We will work with national media to raise awareness of the risks in exposing children to secondhand smoke. The Department's new marketing strategy for tobacco control will set out further details of how we will support efforts to encourage smokefree homes and family cars.
A copy of both Departmental publications have already been placed in the Library.
Education
Academies
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials of his Department are employed or contracted to work with schools considering becoming or seeking to become Academies. [38484]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 4 February 2011]: There are currently 59 full-time equivalent officials working exclusively in the Department’s Academy Converter Division. Of these staff, the majority are Project Leads who work directly with schools seeking information about becoming an Academy or which have applied to convert.
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to allow academies access to his Department’s eligibility checking service. [46780]
Mr Gibb: The Department for Education has worked closely with other Government Departments to develop a free school meals eligibility checking system (ECS). This has made it much easier for parents to apply for free school meals (FSM) and to reduce the stigma that can be associated with applying for them. The ECS enables local authorities to check data simultaneously from the Department for Work and Pensions, Home Office and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in order to ascertain whether a parent qualifies for FSM and removes the need for paper proof of benefit. An increasing number of local authorities allow parents to apply online for FSM and receive immediate notification of their eligibility.
The ECS reduces the burdens on schools associated with FSM administration. This is as a direct result of a Cabinet Office study and report that called for a reduction in the involvement of school staff on administering FSM. As a consequence, the use of the ECS is restricted to local authorities.
Academies receive funding for FSM processing through their funding formula. Local authorities may check FSM eligibility on behalf of academies and schools and are entitled to charge for this service. Where an authority decides to charge, we would expect the charges to be reasonable so that parents of pupils in academies are also able to benefit from the ECS.
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of progress on schools acquiring academy status in (a) Rochester and Strood constituency and (b) England. [47188]
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Mr Gibb: At present, six schools in the Rochester and Strood constituency have expressed an interest in becoming an academy. Of these, The Rochester Grammar School and Fort Pitt Grammar School, have signed funding agreements in place and opened as academies on 1 November 2010. The Sir Joseph Williamson Mathematical School has an academy order and is due to convert soon. In addition, The Hundred of Hoo Comprehensive School is due to open as a sponsored academy on 1 September 2011. The Strood Academy opened as a sponsored academy in September 2009.
In England, as of 4 March the total number of academies now open is 467, of which 264 opened since September 2010, and 195 of these are converters.
Full details of schools that have formally applied for academy status, as well as a list of academies that have opened in the academic year 2010/11 can be found on the Department of Education’s academies website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/a0069811/schools-submitting-applications-and-academies-that-have-opened-in-201011
Academies: Rotherham
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of the proposal he has received for the Three Valleys Independent Academy, Rotherham. [45360]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 10 March 2011]: We intend to publish the funding agreements of successful free school proposals in due course because that is the point at which a project will definitely be going ahead.
Adoption
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to review guidance on forced adoption. [44205]
Tim Loughton: The term ‘forced adoption’ is a misleading one. The law and guidance on adoption make clear that children cannot be adopted without their parents' consent unless the court is satisfied that the welfare of the child requires their consent to be dispensed with. We have no plans to change this position but I am currently looking at ways we can ensure that contested adoptions are handled fairly and be seen to be handled fairly and always in the best interests of the child.
Building Schools for the Future Programme
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any Building Schools for the Future projects which had reached financial close have since had their funding reduced. [14007]
Mr Gibb: When he announced the specific school projects that were cleared to go ahead under the Building Schools for the Future programme, the Secretary of State also announced that he would continue to look at the scope for savings in all these projects. To that end, Partnerships for Schools has been working with local authorities on a case by case basis to identify potential savings.
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Projects which had reached financial close when the process of identifying potential savings began have not subsequently had their funding reduced.
CAFCASS
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average time taken was for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service to (a) process and (b) complete care cases referred to it in the latest period for which figures are available. [47045]
Tim Loughton: The support that CAFCASS provides through the appointment of guardians is only one of the factors that contributes to the length of care proceedings. In public law the most reliable measure of case duration is the Ministry of Justice figures showing the average time from when a care application is made to the courts to its completion. Across all levels of court, the average case duration for care proceedings in England and Wales for the period June to September 2010—the latest period for which figures are available—was 51 weeks.
Child Services: Finance
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what funding his Department allocated to Sure Start children's centres in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; [40703]
(2) what funding his Department allocated to the Disabled Children Short Breaks scheme in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; [40705]
(3) what funding his Department allocated to the Children's Fund in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; [40606]
(4) what funding his Department allocated to the Early Years Workforce in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; [40699]
(5) what funding his Department allocated to the Early Years Sustainability schemes in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; [40700]
(6) what funding his Department allocated to the Two Year Old Offer in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; [40706]
(7) what funding his Department allocated to the Challenge and Support scheme in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; [40709]
(8) what funding his Department allocated to the Intensive Intervention Grant in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; [40712]
(9) what funding his Department allocated to the Children's Social Care Workforce in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; [40713]
(10) what funding his Department allocated to Key Stage 4 Foundation Learning in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; [40714]
(11) what funding his Department allocated for the Child Trust Fund as part of the Early Intervention Grants in financial years (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. [41275]
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Sarah Teather: The following table sets out the funding allocations for each of these programmes in 2008-09, 2009-10-and 2010-11.
Children: Missing Persons
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with (a) local authorities and (b) police forces on arrangements for safeguarding children and young people who run away or otherwise go missing from home or care. [45221]
Tim Loughton: The Secretary of State for Education and I have had no recent discussions with local authorities or police forces specifically on missing children and young people. However, the issue is extremely important to this Department, not least because we know that children who go missing or run away regularly are at risk of harm, including sexual exploitation. We are fully committed to working with the Home Office and other Government Departments to consider what further action is necessary. In so doing, we are taking account of relevant developments including the Munro Review of Child Protection and the transfer of responsibility for missing children from the National Policing Improvement Agency to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.
Child Protection
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children in each (a) local authority area and (b) parliamentary constituency in England were on the Child Protection Register in each year since 2006. [44597]
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Tim Loughton: Information on the rate of children who were the subject of a Child Protection Plan per 10,000 children aged under 18 years for 2006 to 2010 has been placed in the Library. Due to the small numbers involved compared to the overall population, rates per 10,000 children are used rather than percentages.
Rates have not been provided at a parliamentary constituency level due to comparability issues between the CIN census data and the ONS population estimates needed to calculate the rates, which are particularly evident with data at a parliamentary constituency level because of the small numbers involved.
| Children (1) who were the subject of a Child Protection Plan (2) at 31 March each year ; Years ending 31 March 2006 - 10 ; Coverage: Local authorities in England | |||||
| Rate per 10,000 children aged under 18 years | |||||
|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
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| n/a = No data available (1) Data include unborn children. (2) If a child is the subject of more than one child protection plan during the year, each will be counted. (3) These LAs provided aggregate data but did not provide data for the number of children who were subject to a child protection plan at 31 March 2010. (4) Data only available until 2009 due to local authority reorganisation. (5) The local authorities were formed as part of Local Government reorganisation and data were not available prior to 2010. (6) Figures have been suppressed to protect confidentiality. Sources: 2006 to 2009—CPR3 Survey 2010—CIN Census Mid-2009 ONS population estimates | |||||