Armed Forces: Officers
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the ratio of officers to enlisted service personnel was in (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force in (i) 1981, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1995, (v) 2000, (vi) 2005 and (vii) 2010. [53219]
Mr Robathan: The ratio of officers to other ranks for the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force for the requested years is as follows:
|
|
1981 | 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| Note: Figures are for UK regular forces, trained and untrained, and exclude Gurkhas, full-time reserve service personnel and mobilised reservists. | |||||||
Armed Forces: Pensions
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the monetary value of payments which would be lost to (a) armed forces veterans, (b) war widows and (c) injured soldiers over (i) 10 years and (ii) 20 years as a result of the reduction in (A) armed forces pensions, (B) benefits for war widows and (C) benefits for injured soldiers. [52968]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Nick Smith) on 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 327W.
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reverse his decision to change the index used for armed forces pensions from retail prices index to consumer prices index. [52969]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Delyn (Mr Hanson) on 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 570.
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received on his decision to reduce pensions and benefits payments for war widows and injured soldiers; and if he will make a statement. [52970]
Mr Robathan: No decision has been taken to reduce pensions and benefits payments for war widows and injured personnel.
We have received a small number of representations relating to these groups and the using of the consumer prices index method to calculate increases to pensions and benefits rather than the retail prices index. This includes discussions with the Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation, a statutorily-established advisory committee made up of internal and external members.
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people resident in (a) Glenrothes constituency and (b) Fife are in receipt of (i) a war pension and (ii) payments from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. [52971]
Mr Robathan: The War Pension Scheme (WPS) provides no fault compensation to former service personnel and their dependants for illness, injury or death as a result of service from the start of the first world war in 1914 up until 5 April 2005.
As at 30 September 2010 (the latest date for which figures are available), 205 individuals in the parliamentary constituency of Glenrothes, and 1,495 individuals in Fife were receiving an ongoing pension under the WPS.
The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) was introduced on 6 April 2005 to provide compensation to service personnel and their dependants for illness, injury or death as a result of service from this date.
3 May 2011 : Column 675W
As at 31 December 2010 (the latest date for which figures are available), fewer than five individuals in the parliamentary constituency of Glenrothes, and 45 individuals in Fife were awarded lump sum compensation payments under the AFCS. No individuals in the parliamentary constituency of Glenrothes and fewer than five individuals in Fife were receiving either guaranteed income payments (GIP) or survivor’s guaranteed income payments (SGIP) under the AFCS.
Notes:
1. Guaranteed income payment (GIP)—regular payment to service person to provide a continuous income stream.
2. Survivor’s guaranteed income payment (SGIP)—regular payment to surviving dependant(s) to provide continuous financial support.
3. In accordance with DASA’s rounding policy, all figures of five or more have been rounded to the nearest five and figures fewer than five have been suppressed.
Armed Forces: Young People
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the legal advice received by his Department on the enlistment of minors in the UK armed forces. [52876]
Mr Robathan: Given that the recruitment of those under the age of 18 has been policy for decades, it is not possible to ascertain without incurring disproportionate costs what legal advice was received by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) or its predecessors. However, in recent years no external legal advice has been received by the MOD on this matter.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel under the age of 18 have required medical treatment for training-related injuries in each of the last five years. [52878]
Mr Robathan: Statistics on specifically training-related injuries are not held centrally. However, information held on the Defence Medical Information Capability Programme (DMICP) indicates that there were 1,220 UK regular forces personnel under the age of 18 who had an injury recorded in their DMICP primary health care record during the period 1 March 2010 to 28 February 2011.
Complete DMICP primary care data are not available prior to 2010, and to obtain equivalent figures for previous years would require analysis of individual medical records, which would entail disproportionate cost.
Departmental Buildings
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) name and (b) address is of each building owned by his Department; and what the estimated monetary value is of each such building. [53814]
Mr Robathan: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost given the extensive Ministry of Defence (MOD) estate.
The MOD accounts for its assets based on their existing use and depreciated replacement cost. Valuations are carried out every five years on this basis.
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It is not possible to give the estimated monetary value of each building as the department does not maintain that information. Given the size of the estate, such valuations would be expensive to commission, and require frequent updating to allow for changing market conditions and other factors.
Asset valuations of major Defence assets based on their existing use are included in the National Asset Register and can be found at the following website:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm70/7022/7022.asp
Ex-servicemen: Employment
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to help former military service personnel find civilian employment. [53734]
Mr Robathan: Prior to discharge, individual employment needs are identified from a mandatory interview with a trained service resettlement adviser who is able to signpost a number of organisations and services ranging from the ‘Flexible New Deal’ programme available at Jobcentre Plus to workshops and training delivered through the Career Transition Partnership. For those who have left, lifetime job finding support is available through the Officers' Association or the Regular Forces Employment Association. There are also various regimental associations, for example RAJA (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer (REME) Association Job Agency) that provide further help for former soldiers of certain regiments.
In addition, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions and armed forces champions have been appointed that aim to ensure Jobcentre Plus staff are providing the correct advice and support, not only to families of our armed forces but also to former service personnel. We shall also be conducting an early service leaver trial later this year (for those who leave with less than four years' service) which aims to improve the resettlement provision for this cohort.
Ex-servicemen: Travel
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place to enable servicemen and women who are discharged whilst overseas to travel home. [53584]
Mr Robathan: Service personnel whose service is terminated at their own request are not entitled to travel home at public expense unless they have completed more than four years’ service. In all other instances of termination or discharge, service persons (and their accompanying immediate family members) may travel home at public expense subject to the following rules:
When service personnel are discharged from overseas and choose to settle in the UK, they will be entitled to travel at public expense from their last place of duty to a selected place of residence in the UK (or the Republic of Ireland, if they were recruited from, or would normally live there).
When service personnel are discharged from overseas and choose to settle overseas, they will be entitled to travel at public expense from their last place of duty to the overseas location of their choice. However, if they choose to settle in a country that is more distant than the UK, the travel costs that they may claim are limited to the equivalent cost of travel to the UK.
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Additionally, service personnel who were attested overseas, and who were then conveyed to the UK at public expense may be returned to the country in which they were attested also at public expense on termination of their service.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) air to surface missiles, (b) air to air missiles, (c) ship to surface missiles and (d) ship to air missiles have been fired by UK forces deployed in Libya during the recent conflict. [53339]
Dr Fox [holding answer 28 April 2011]:We carefully select the type of weapon in every engagement to ensure the most appropriate munition is used to deliver the required effect, while minimising the risk to civilian casualties. From the start of recent operations in Libya up till 24 April 2011, UK forces have fired around 170 air to surface munitions and a number of ship to surface missiles.
Over the same period, UK forces have not employed any air to air or ship to air missiles.
I am withholding the number of ship to surface missiles as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Prince William: Marriage
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) funding and (b) resources his Department has allocated to activities related to the royal wedding. [52738]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence allocated in the region of £75,000 in funding for the fly past as well as the transportation of military bands and route liners. The majority of service personnel were provided by London district from those employed on ceremonial duties and other London based units to minimise travel and subsistence expenditure.
The military elements comprised:
The 1st Battalion Irish Guards—The Queen's Guard.
A Guard of Honour of three officers and 101 other ranks from the Welsh Guards with a band of the Welsh Guards.
46 officers and 840 other ranks from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force who lined the route.
One band from the Royal Navy, four bands from the Army and one band from the Royal Air Force.
The Sovereign’s Escort and Captain’s Escort involving the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and some 160 horses.
24 personnel at the Great West Door.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane) accompanied by a flypast of four aircraft (two Typhoons and two Tornadoes).
Information on the full armed forces component of this historic occasion can be found on the MOD website at:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/History AndHonour/ArmedForcesRoleInRoyalWedding Announced.htm
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Treasury
Banks: Loans
Mr Denham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of how much and what proportion of the (a) total lending to businesses and (b) lending for 2011 above 2010 levels set out in the Project Merlin agreement to be provided by each financial institution subject to that agreement is to be attributable to (i) leasing and borrowing on the asset base, (ii) invoice financing, (iii) loans, (iv) intra-group finance and (v) actual drawn down overdraft balances; [53886]
(2) what the target level is for the proportion of (a) total lending to businesses and (b) lending for 2011 above the 2010 level set out in the Project Merlin agreement to be provided by each financial institution subject to that agreement for (i) leasing and borrowing on the asset base, (ii) invoice financing, (iii) loans, (iv) intra-group finance and (v) actual drawn down overdraft balances; [53887]
(3) how much and what proportion of the (a) total lending to small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) lending to such enterprises for 2011 above the 2010 levels set out in the Project Merlin agreement is to be provided by each financial institution subject to that agreement; and how much and what proportion (i) in total and (ii) by each such institution he estimates will be attributable to (A) leasing and borrowing on the asset base, (B) invoicing financing, (C) loans, (D) intra-group lending and (D) actual drawn down overdraft balances; [53888]
(4) what the 2010 target level for the proportion of the (a) total lending to small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) lending to such enterprises for 2011 above the 2010 level set out in the Project Merlin agreement is to be provided by each financial institution subject to that agreement for (i) leasing and borrowing on the asset base, (ii) invoice financing, (iii) loans, (iv) intra-group finance and (v) actual drawn down overdraft balances; [53890]
(5) how much and what proportion of the (a) total lending and (b) lending for 2011 above the 2010 level set out in the Project Merlin agreement is to be provided (i) in total and (ii) by each financial institution subject to the agreement as (A) gross loans, (B) net increase to existing loans and (C) new loans to (1) all businesses and (2) small and medium-sized enterprises. [53891]
Mr Hoban: As announced on 9 February 2011, Official Report, columns 310-13, by the Chancellor, the UK's five major banks have stated a capacity and willingness to lend £190 billion of new credit to business in 2011. This includes £76 billion of new lending to SMEs, which is a 15% increase on the amount lent in 2010. If demand exceeds this, the banks will lend more.
The Bank of England will report, on a quarterly basis, the banks' total new lending to all businesses (and within that, to SMEs) under the definitions used for Project Merlin. There is no further breakdown of the Project Merlin lending agreement either by institution or by type of lending.
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Business: Universities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many meetings representatives of his Department held with senior university staff in each month in 2011 at which the relationship between universities and business was discussed; [53090]
(2) how many meetings his Department had with representatives of the business community in each month in 2011 at which the relationship between universities and business was discussed; [53091]
(3) how many meetings his Department held with senior regional development agency staff in each month in 2011 at which the relationship between universities and business was discussed. [52684]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 28 April 2011]:Treasury Ministers and officials regularly meet with representatives from a wide range of public and private sector organisations, including the business community, regional development agencies and the university sector. Such engagement occurs throughout policy development and implementation. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.
Construction Industry Scheme
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of the abolition of the Construction Industry Scheme team on (a) the incidence of employees being wrongly designated as self-employed and (b) levels of revenue accruing to the Exchequer; what the outcome of that assessment was; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the assessment; [52901]
(2) what risk analysis his Department conducted in respect of the proposed abolition of the Construction Industry Scheme team; what the outcome of that analysis was; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the analysis. [52902]
Mr Gauke: The Construction Industry Scheme was not abolished, but continues under a different structure within local compliance.
The analysis was built from a number of intelligence briefings and strategic intelligence assessments which were protectively marked and only to be viewed with the permission of the author. It would not be appropriate to place the analysis in the Library.
Departmental Work Experience
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many students from (a) the UK and (b) Bassetlaw constituency have been offered internships in his Department since 8 May 2010. [53208]
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice his Department provides to those wishing to (a) work as an intern, (b) undertake a work experience placement and (c) work as a volunteer in his Department. [52819]
3 May 2011 : Column 680W
Justine Greening: HM Treasury does not have its own scheme for work experience or internships, but participates in schemes run centrally by the Cabinet Office. Any individuals enquiring about internships are directed to the schemes in operation at the time, including Summer Diversity Internships and Government Economics Services Internships, and to the civil service website where details are available of internships offered by other Government Departments.
In respect of the number of UK students offered internships at HM Treasury since 8 May 2010, I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger) on 22 October 2010, Official Report, column 896W. Data on the country of origin and parliamentary constituency of such students are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Equality Act 2010
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Financial Statement of 23 March 2011, Official Report, column 955, if he will publish the evidence on which the decision not to implement the dual discrimination rules under the Equality Act 2010 were based. [49728]
Lynne Featherstone: I have been asked to reply.
The decision not to take forward the dual discrimination provisions of the Equality Act 2010 was taken following assessment by the Government Equalities Office of the costs and benefits associated with the commencement of those provisions. A decision on publication of that evidence will be made in due course.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Nick Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what further plans he has for the level of fuel duty in each year to 2015; [52690]
(2) pursuant to the Budget Statement of 23 March 2011, what steps the Government have taken in relation to the passing on to consumers of the reduction of one penny in fuel duty; [52691]
(3) what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the reduction in fuel duty on the logistics industry in the UK. [52692]
Justine Greening: Budget 2011 abolished the fuel duty escalator and replaced it with a fair fuel stabiliser. Duty will increase by inflation only, when oil prices are high. If the oil price falls below a set trigger price on a sustained basis duty will increase by RPI plus 1p per litre. The Government will consult informally before setting the level and mechanism for the trigger.
Average fuel price data suggest that generally there has been a pass through of the 1p per litre reduction in duty on deliveries from refineries, although ongoing increases in the price of oil have also impacted pump prices. The duty reduction potentially helps to ease the cost pressure of peaking oil prices on the logistics industry.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1166W, on excise duties: fuel, for what reasons
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he is not applying to the European Commission to implement the 5 pence per litre rural fuel duty rebate to cover North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [53180]
Justine Greening: A derogation request was submitted to the European Commission on Budget day for a rural fuel duty pilot scheme. This is intended to deliver a 5 pence per litre duty discount on petrol and diesel across the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, the islands in the Clyde and the Isles of Scilly.
Pump prices in these areas are particularly high compared to mainland areas because of the high cost of transporting and distributing fuel to remote rural island communities.
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he expects the fuel duty stabiliser introduced in the 2011 Budget will help stabilise petrol and diesel pump prices. [53921]
Neil Parish: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will establish a cross-departmental review of the tax incentives offered for biodiesel. [54069]
Justine Greening: The fair fuel stabiliser ensures that when oil prices are high, as now, fuel duty will increase by inflation only.
Biodiesel is supported through the Department for Transport-administered Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). Unlike the excise duty system the RTFO is able to distinguish the environmental sustainability of biodiesel supplies and therefore help to safeguard against deforestation and unsustainable impacts on food crop production.
Income Tax
Ed Balls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to page 26 of his Department’s Budget 2011 policy costings document, if he will publish the projections of future incomes based on the Survey of Personal Incomes. [53092]
Justine Greening [holding answer 28 April 2011]:The income tax base for policy costings is estimated using data on taxable incomes taken from the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI).
These estimates are based on the 2007-08 SPI using projections consistent with the OBR's March 2011 economic and fiscal outlook, details of which are available at:
http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/wordpress/docs/economic_and_fiscal_outlook_23032011.pdf
The estimated average total income of taxpayers in 2012-13 to 2015-16 taking account of all policy announcements up to 2015-16 is shown in the following table.
|
|
Taxpayers average total income (£) |
3 May 2011 : Column 682W
PAYE: Parish Councils
Mr Brine: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect on parish council budgets of the recent guidance issued by HM Revenue and Customs requiring such councils to operate the pay as you earn system on income received by parish clerks for the purposes of (a) tax and (b) national insurance contributions. [53168]
Mr Gauke: HMRC does not have an assessment of the effects on parish councils budget of operating pay as you earn (PAYE) scheme on payments made to parish clerks.
HMRC does recognise that employers, particularly small employers operating PAYE for the first time can find it daunting and offers significant help to all employers.
To help parish councils who need to operate PAYE for the first time HMRC set up a team of specialist advisers on the new employer helpline 08457 143 143 who have been specially briefed to deal with their queries.
HMRC also produces a free basic PAYE tool for small employers. It contains a calculator that works out the tax due and includes the forms that the parish council would need to run its payroll throughout the year and make annual returns. It will also allow the council to file any starter and leaver forms and its annual return online and this will help mitigate its costs.
HMRC also offers free workshops at many locations covering all payroll topics.
RBS and Lloyds TSB
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate UK Financial Investments has made of the level of debt removed from the balance sheet by (a) RBS and (b) Lloyds TSB due to customer insolvency in each of the last three months. [52917]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government’s shareholding in Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) on an arm’s length and commercial basis.
UKFI does not make estimates on the level of debt removed by investee banks but will set out a summary of LBG and RBS’s performance and key financials as reported in their annual report.
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on how many occasions (a) RBS and (b) Lloyds TSB have appointed insolvency practitioners in respect of small businesses since 8 May 2010; and what assessment he has made of the trends in the incidence of such procedures in the last 12 months; [52919]
(2) on how many occasions insolvency practitioners appointed by (a) RBS and (b) Lloyds TSB have sold companies as going concerns in the last 12 months. [52944]
Mr Hoban: The appointment of insolvency practitioners is a matter for the management of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group.
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Revenue and Customs: Correspondence
Mr Brine: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average time taken by HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor to (a) open mail received and (b) take the action required on the correspondence so received was in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) the last month of each of the last five tax years. [53170]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost as HMRC does not currently hold there data.
Revenue and Customs: Performance Standards
Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the length of time taken for HM Revenue and Customs to process (a) probate cases in England and Wales and (b) confirmation cases in Scotland; and if he will assess the potential effects on bereaved families of the time taken to process such cases. [53307]
Mr Gauke: HMRC is not involved in every application for a grant of probate or confirmation; the majority are dealt with via probate registries in England and Wales or the Sheriff Court in Scotland.
In the cases where HMRC is involved, where all the information relating to the application for a grant or confirmation is complete and correct, 98% are dealt with within five working days based on figures available for 2010-11.
In cases where payment of tax due has not been made or there is documentation missing HMRC prioritises the follow up contact with the personal representatives of the estate to correct the position as quickly as possible.
This work is treated as priority at all stages due to the sensitive nature of the work and the understanding that delays in issuing the grant of probate or confirmation can be distressing for the family of the deceased.
Stamp Duty Land Tax: Wales
Ian Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much and what proportion of stamp duty land tax he estimates was collected from transactions made in Wales in each of the last five years. [53326]
Mr Gauke: The estimated stamp duty land tax (SDLT) receipts for Wales are available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp_duty/menu.htm
| Annual estimates from 2005-06 to 2009-10 | ||
|
|
Estimated SDLT receipts (£ million) | Proportion of SDLT (UK) (%) |
Taxation
Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people in the UK his Department estimates have incorrect tax codes; [53177]
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(2) what the cost to his Department was of issuing incorrect tax codes in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [53178]
Mr Gauke: The exact number of incorrect coding notices issued by HMRC is not known. In any year, a small percentage of tax codes will be incorrect, as the codes may not always reflect changes in an individual's circumstances. That is why HMRC send out coding notices well in advance of the start of the new tax year so that customers can review them and report any changes.
Information relating to costs for the last 12 months in respect of incorrect coding notices is not available.
Taxation: Renewable Energy
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) community-owned renewable energy schemes and (b) investment in renewables of the withdrawal of enterprise investment scheme tax relief. [52931]
Justine Greening: Enterprise Investment Scheme tax relief has not been withdrawn for investments in companies engaged in community-owned renewable energy schemes or investment in renewables.
Legislation will be introduced in Finance Bill 2012 providing that companies whose trade consists wholly or substantially in the receipt of feed-in tariffs will only be eligible for the Enterprise Investment Scheme or Venture Capital Trusts where commercial electricity generation commences before 6 April 2012. The change will not apply to any shares issued before 23 March 2011.
This change is designed to improve the focus of the schemes on smaller, higher risk companies. Draft legislation will be published for consultation before it is implemented.
Taxation: Self-employment
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the total (a) number and (b) monetary value was of financial penalties imposed on firms found to have incorrectly designated the status of employees in each year from 2005 to 2010; [52905]
(2) how many HM Revenue and Customs compliance reviews resulted in a change of employee status in each year from 2005 to 2010. [52906]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is not available.
Taxation: Solar Power
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the solar power industry requesting meetings to discuss the solar power sector (a) before and (b) after the announcement of the comprehensive spending review (CSR) settlement; and what such meetings Ministers in his Department had with representatives of the industry (i) before and (ii) after the CSR announcement. [52929]
Justine Greening:
Spending review 2011 included wide consultation and representations were received from a range of individuals and organisations. Departmental
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decisions relating to the implementation of spending review settlements have similarly sought to include discussions with interested parties.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff of his Department have expertise on solar power. [52930]
Justine Greening: The Department of Energy and Climate Change is the lead Department on solar energy issues. The Treasury works closely with that Department and with others inside and outside Government who have expertise in this area.
Unemployment: Young People
Alison McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what projection for business planning purposes HM Revenue and Customs has made of the number of 16 to 24-year-olds in employment in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17. [51071]
Mr Gauke: For strategic purposes HMRC does not use employment forecasts by age group as they do not always prove reliable and are not critical to its planning. HMRC bases its planning on population growth, and predicted churn in the working population. It does identify the assumed population reaching working age to forecast broad numbers of NI numbers issued. Employment levels by age band are not used, as even if employment is fluctuating HMRC will continue to experience “churn” in the PAYE, tax credit and self-assessment populations, and there is no clear correlation with employment levels that we can rely on.
Energy and Climate Change
Anaerobic Digestion
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has made an assessment of the anaerobic digestion (AD) biogas combined heat and power plant run by Alfagy Ltd at Hatherop; and what plans his Department has to support further AD development. [53309]
Gregory Barker: I understand from the South West Regional Development Agency, who have overseen the Hatherop AD plant, that this is an excellent project. I wish the project continued success.
In order to promote AD development more widely, DECC is supporting projects through the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme, the renewables obligation and the forthcoming renewable heat incentive. In response to low uptake of FITs for AD plants, we are currently seeking views on proposals to increase the tariffs for farm-scale AD as part of the fast-track consultation on FITs. DEFRA and DECC are also working closely with industry to draw up a joint programme of work to tackle other barriers to the deployment of AD. The aim is to publish this in an AD strategy in June.
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Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether energy purchased from a port landlord which is subject to a climate change agreement held by a tenant is also subject to the carbon reduction commitment energy efficiency scheme; and what steps he is taking to ensure that his Department provides consistent information to port operators on this issue. [53618]
Gregory Barker: It is the policy intent of CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme that there should be no double counting of energy use under CRC and climate change agreements (CCAs). CRC allowances are therefore not required to be purchased in respect of energy used by a CCA facility, irrespective of whether the CCA is held by the landlord or tenant.
However, a landlord will need to include the energy use from a tenant’s CCA facilities as part of their once per phase footprint reporting obligations.
Support and information on CRC’s implementation is provided to all participants by the administrators of the scheme (the Environment Agency in England and Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency). Guidance documents and details of the dedicated CRC help desk are provided on the Environment Agency’s webpage at:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/crc
Carbon Sequestration
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether steps to promote investment in carbon capture and storage in the UK were agreed at the clean emissions ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi; and if he will make a statement. [52973]
Gregory Barker: No actions to promote carbon capture and storage in the UK specifically were agreed at the clean energy ministerial meeting. Energy Ministers endorsed a suite of recommendations for action over the coming year to promote the global deployment of CCS, recognising the need for international cooperation to advance policies and financial mechanisms and develop regulatory frameworks for safe, long-term geologic storage of carbon dioxide. The Carbon Capture Use and Storage Action Group, led jointly by the UK and Australia, will report progress toward these recommendations at the third ministerial meeting, to be hosted in London in 2012.
Further details are available from the clean energy ministerial website:
www.cleanenergyministerial.org
Coal Fired Power Stations: Closures
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change by what date he expects the coal-fired power stations at (a) Kingsnorth, (b) Didcot A, (c) Ferrybridge and (d) Tilbury to close. [53753]
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Charles Hendry: The coal-fired power stations at Kingsnorth, Didcot A, Tilbury and two units of Ferrybridge C have opted to take a limited lifetime derogation under the large combustion plant directive. This allows them to run up to 20,000 hours between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2015. This capacity is therefore due to close by the end of 2015. Subject to permitting conditions, it is for the operators to decide how to make use of their 20,000 hours.
Departmental Procurement
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals for a standard ISO 9000 qualification for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking contracts from his Department or its contractors for work on nuclear projects. [53664]
Charles Hendry: The Government's role is to create the right conditions for investment by the private sector in new nuclear power stations and it will be energy companies, not the Government, who will build and operate them.
The legal responsibility to make and implement adequate quality assurance arrangements in respect of all matters which may affect safety falls on site licensee companies. This responsibility includes setting out the quality assurance arrangements for their supply chain including the accreditations that might be required by specific companies with specific roles.
We continue to work with the nuclear industry to increase the UK supply chain's understanding of quality assurance requirements and to further develop its capability and competitiveness through initiatives such as the Nuclear Industry Association's sc@nuclear programme, the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the Manufacturing Advisory Service and through national and local engagement events held by EDF and other major suppliers.
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received on the cost of ISO and Nuclear Standards certification required to meet pre-qualification requirements for contracts with his Department or its contractors. [53665]
Charles Hendry: I have not received any representations on the cost of ISO and Nuclear Standards certification as the Department is not responsible for procuring or letting contracts to build new nuclear power stations.
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The Government's role is to create the right conditions for investment by the private sector in new nuclear power stations and it will be energy companies, not the Government, who will build and operate them.
Departmental Work Experience
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what advice his Department provides to those wishing to (a) work as an intern, (b) undertake a work experience placement and (c) work as a volunteer in his Department. [52814]
Gregory Barker: There is no direct advice on these topics on the DECC's external website. Managers have authority to offer work as an intern: DECC does not have an intern scheme, so normal short-term contracts would be used and normal recruitment processes and authority levels apply.
Managers also have authority to offer individuals the opportunity to undertake a work experience placement, subject to authority limits. Internal guidance is available for managers who offer these placements.
DECC does not have a policy of allowing people to work as volunteers in the Department.
Electricity Generation: Costs
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the levelised cost of each electricity generating technology; and what modelling assumptions were made in reaching this figure. [52834]
Charles Hendry: The tables are taken from Mott MacDonald (2010) and give levelised cost estimates (average generation cost per megawatt-hour) for new build plants in the main large-scale electricity generation technologies in the UK, including both fossil fuel and low carbon plant, at current engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract prices.
It should be noted that for the purposes of presentation, the tables only give either ‘FOAK’ (first-of-a-kind) prices or ‘NOAK’ (nth-of-a-kind) prices for each technology. NOAK is given for established technologies and FOAK for those technologies which are yet to be built in the UK or benefit from learning. These are appropriate comparators for current costs.
The full report including methodology and assumptions can be accessed via this link:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Statistics/Projections/71-uk-electricity-generation-costs-update-.pdf
| Table 1: 10% discount rate, 2009 project start at today’s EPC prices, with mixed FOAK/NOAK | ||||||||||
| Levelised cost | Gas CC GT | Gas CCGT with CCS (FOAK) | ASC Coal | ASC Coal with CCS (FOAK) | Coal IGCC (FOAK) | Coal IGCC with CCS (FOAK) | Onshore wind | Offshore wind (FOAK) | Offshore wind R3 (FOAK) | Nuclear PWR (FOAK) |
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| Source: Matt MacDonald (2010), UK Electricity Generation Costs Update, available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Statistics/Projections/71-uk-electricity-generation-costs-update-.pdf | ||||||||||
It should be noted that the estimates of levelised costs for different types of electricity generation are highly sensitive to the assumptions used for capital costs, fuel and EU ETS allowance prices, operating costs, load factor, and other drivers, meaning that there is significant uncertainty around these estimates.
In the year 2017, assuming that all technologies have been built at least once in the UK, the following NOAK costs may apply to all technologies, however, it should be noted that these costs are not considered achievable today.
| Table 2: 10% discount rate, 2017 start at projected EPC prices, all NOAK | ||||||||||
| Levelised cost | Gas CCGT | Gas CCGT with CCS | ASC Coal | ASC Coal with CCS | Coal IGCC | Coal IGCC with CCS | Onshore wind | Offshore wind | Offshore wind R3 | Nuclear PWR |
| Source: Matt Macdonald (2010), UK Electricity Generation Costs Update, available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Statistics/Projections/71-uk-electricity-generation-costs-update-.pdf | ||||||||||
Electricity: Prices
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence (i) he and (ii) his officials have had on those parts of RIIO-T1 which relate to visual amenity in electricity connection and transmission schemes. [52711]
Charles Hendry: Ofgem is responsible for the next transmission price control (RIIO-T1). The Department's input on visual amenity has been through official level engagement with Ofgem and other stakeholders, involving discussions, correspondence and participation at stakeholder events such as the Price Control Review Forum and RIIO Working Groups.
Energy: Developing Countries
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he last discussed the UK's objectives for the World Bank energy strategy review with the Secretary of State for International Development. [52888]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State meets with the Secretary of State for International Development on a regular basis. Although they have not met specifically to discuss the World Bank energy strategy review, officials from both Departments meet regularly and discuss the review. The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is in contact with officials on the key issues relating to this process.
DFID officials have also been in regular contact with the World Bank throughout the process to feed in UK views. They have emphasised the need for the World Bank to take full account of all the relevant issues concerning use of renewable energy versus fossil fuels in developing countries, and to have greater consideration for the vulnerability of natural resources and energy assets in developing countries. The UK has also emphasised the importance of strengthening the World Bank's role in supporting developing country planning capacity for low carbon, climate resilient growth.
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Energy: Housing
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has made an assessment of the potential effects on a property’s value of a Green Deal finance package. [53835]
Gregory Barker: The impact assessment for the Energy Bill considered the impact of energy efficiency measures on house prices, and is available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/legislation/energy_bill/energy_bill.aspx
It noted that, in principle, in a well functioning market the property price should change to reflect at least the expected bill savings. There is some evidence from Australia and the USA that identified increases in some property values as a result of energy efficiency improvements. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors notes that:
“there are some promising early signs that a value differential is emerging for energy efficient buildings in the commercial sector in the US, which allows some optimism that it is possible for property markets to change to reflect energy efficiency.”
Currently, no empirical data set is available to assess the potential effects of a Green Deal finance package on a property’s value in the UK.
Hinkley Point Power Stations
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to increase the proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises in the South West able to bid for contracts at Hinkley Point power station. [53666]
Charles Hendry: The Government are committed to developing the capability and competitiveness of the UK supply chain and are already taking steps to achieve this through initiatives such as the Nuclear Industry Association's sc@nuclear programme which is focused on engaging with SMEs.
This and other initiatives such as the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and the Manufacturing Advisory Service are open to companies in the south-west as well as nationwide and are intended to put UK suppliers in the best possible position to compete for the opportunities that would be created by a new nuclear build programme.
As part of all of this EDF has been working with the local community in the sout-west and has set up a website with the Somerset Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ltd where local companies can get more information on the opportunities at the proposed site at Hinkley Point and can register as contractors (for work which is directly related to construction at Hinkley Point or associated development) or indirect service suppliers (for services to EDF Energy and main contractors that are not directly related to on site activity such as taxi firms, accommodation providers, office supplies, local retailers etc).
EDF has also invested £3 million in the Energy Skills Centre at Bridgwater college to help secure skilled jobs for local people on its project and plans to invest a further £1.5 million to establish a construction skills training centre at Bridgwater college, in partnership with the college. Other projects include an investment
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of £1.6 million in West Somerset Community college to support training in specific skills that will help people into employment on Hinkley Point and create an apprenticeship hub.
We will continue to encourage EDF and other prospective licensees to engage with the UK and local supply chains to ensure that UK companies have the opportunity to compete for the benefits presented by nuclear new build in the UK and overseas.
Nuclear Power Stations: Safety
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what mechanism he has put in place to provide for independent monitoring of the effect of low-level radiation from nuclear energy generation (a) on land and (b) in the marine environment. [53023]
Charles Hendry: The Environment Agencies (the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency), together with the Food Standards Agency, undertake independent monitoring programmes for radioactivity in the terrestrial and aquatic environments around nuclear installations in the UK. DEFRA, via the Environment Agencies, also funds seven extremely sensitive monitors for radioactivity in air, located across the UK, as our contribution to the Euratom monitoring programme.
The results of these programmes are published annually in the “Radioactivity in Food and the Environment” report series. The latest report can be found at:
http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/GEHO1010BTCY-e-e.pdf
RIMNET is the UK’s nuclear radiation monitoring and nuclear emergency response system, established in 1988, and operated on behalf of DECC by the Met Office. It includes 95 monitors stationed across the UK to detect increases in background levels of radiation. Any evidence of a nuclear incident abroad, of radiological significance for the UK, would result in a national alert being raised.
Additionally, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) carries out gamma spectrometry tests on samples collected from around the UK, including sites in Glasgow and Oxfordshire.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on (a) nuclear energy and (b) other aspects of energy policy. [53025]
Charles Hendry: The Prime Minister discussed the response to the events in Fukushima with other Heads of Government/Heads of State at the European Council on 24/25 March. Following that, DECC officials have been working closely with other governments, regulators and the Commission in developing the criteria for stress tests for nuclear installations.
I met Commissioner Oettinger on 10 February to discuss a range of issues including the Energy 2020 strategy. I also attended the Energy Council on 28 February where energy efficiency, renewable energy and the Internal Energy Market were discussed. I have discussed a wide range of EU energy issues, including nuclear, with my European counterparts at the Informal Energy Council on 2/3 May.
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Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) whether he plans to extend nuclear power station emergency evacuation zones; [53055]
(2) what plans he has for the future size of emergency evacuation zones for nuclear power stations in the UK. [53198]
Charles Hendry [holding answer 28 April 2011]: There are no plans at present to make changes to the emergency evacuation zones surrounding nuclear power stations. A review of DEPZs may be considered following publication of the Mike Weightman report.
Radioactive Waste
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what quantities of operational (a) low, (b) intermediate and (c) high level nuclear waste have been created to date as a result of the UK's civil nuclear power programme; and what assessment he has made of the volumes of decommissioning waste that will be created from (i) the existing nuclear programme and (ii) any future new build programme. [53689]
Charles Hendry: The United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory is currently updated every three years with the most recent update published on 22 March 2011. The inventory describes the stocks of radioactive waste and radioactive materials held in the UK at 1 April 2010 as well as those that are predicted to arise from the operation and decommissioning of current facilities in the future.
The inventory includes wastes produced from a number of programmes including the generation of electricity in nuclear power stations, the associated production and processing of nuclear fuel, the use of radioactive materials in industry, medicine and research, and from some military nuclear programmes. The following table sets out the waste volumes resulting from these programmes, stored in the UK at 1 April 2010, as well as estimated arisings from current facilities in the future. The table does not include waste which has already been disposed of. Further information is available in the inventory reports available at:
www.nda.gov.uk/ukinventory/
|
|
Stored waste at 1 April 2010 (m (3) ) | Future arisings (m (3) ) | Total (m (3) ) |
| Notes 1. Future arisings of HLW have negative volumes. This is because Sellafield has reported future arisings of HLW to show that the volume of accumulated waste (liquid plus vitrified product) will fall as liquid waste existing at 1.4.2010 and forecast in the future is conditioned to a vitrified product. 2. HL W is the product of reprocessing the spent fuel from current reactors. | |||
The amount of radioactive waste that would arise as a result of a future new build programme would depend on such issues as the number and the type of reactors. Based on an assumption of a new build fleet comprised of four AP 1000 reactors and four EPR reactors operating
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for 60 years and generating 10GW, disposability assessments undertaken by NDA suggest that the estimated amount of intermediate level waste could be of the order of 25,000 cubic meters and an estimated amount of spent fuel of about 20,000 cubic meters. Based on the same assumptions, the low level waste management company, LLW Repository Ltd, has estimated that approximately 80,000 cubic meters of LLW might be produced.
Renewable Energy
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of energy generation came from (a) wind, (b) solar, (c) biomass, (d) tidal, (e) hydropower and (f) biofuels in the last year for which figures are available. [53924]
Charles Hendry: The following table gives the proportion of UK electricity generated and UK energy demand from the specified sources.
| Fuel | Electricity (1) (%) | Primary energy supply (2) (3) (%) |
| (1) 2010 provisional. (2) 2009. (3) 2010 data for total energy will be available at the end of July in DUKES 2011. (4) Solar and tidal generation contributes less than 0.01%. (5) Includes co-firing, non-biodegradable waste is excluded. (6) Includes biomass used for heat. (7) biofuels used in transport. | ||
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what model his Department used to calculate the cost to the Exchequer of the Feed-in Tariff scheme for the purposes of the comprehensive spending review. [52832]
Gregory Barker: The projected costs of Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) that informed the spending review were those modelled for the FITs Impact Assessment that was published by the previous administration in February 2010. The model was developed on behalf of the Department by consultants. The Impact Assessment, together with a qualitative and quantitative report produced by the consultants, sets out the modelling methodology used. These reports are available from the Department’s website.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his estimate is of the likely change in the number of jobs as a result of the proposed changes to the Feed-in Tariff scheme. [52833]
Gregory Barker: The Department does not hold this information at present, but we will be looking at issues of this kind as part of the comprehensive review of the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme.
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Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) investor confidence and (b) risk perception of proposed changes to the feed-in tariff scheme; and what steps his Department is taking to minimise any negative consequences for renewables investment beyond the solar sector. [52933]
Gregory Barker: A key objective for the feed-in tariffs review is to provide industry with transparency, longevity and certainty to enable sustainable growth. The fast-track consultation reflects this, firstly through proposals to address the risk of larger solar photovoltaic installations distorting funding for other smaller and domestic scale installations as well as other technologies, and secondly through proposals to address the disappointing uptake of farm-scale anaerobic digestion plants to date.
The coalition remains committed to increasing the levels of renewable energy deployment in line with meeting the target for renewable energy set by the 2009 EU renewable energy directive. We are working to remove financial and non-financial barriers to deployment of all renewables and will be publishing a renewables roadmap by summer recess. This will clearly identify how the 2020 renewables target will be achieved, and will give clarity to markets of what will be required, helping to provide greater certainty to investors and the developers of new technology.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) if his Department will put in place transitional arrangements to minimise financial disadvantage to investors and project developers as a result of proposed changes to the feed-in tariff scheme; [52934]
(2) what assessment he has made of the level of financial loss in the solar power sector as a result of proposed new feed-in tariff rates coming into effect on 1 August 2011. [52972]
Gregory Barker: We are currently consulting on proposals to reduce feed-in tariffs for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations of more than 50kW. The consultation seeks views on the proposed timing of the change in tariffs. We will consider all views expressed as part of the consultation in finalising the policy and will confirm the outcome in due course.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department plans to offer compensation to individuals, community schemes and companies who may be financially disadvantaged as a result of proposed changes to the feed-in tariff scheme. [52935]
Gregory Barker: We are currently consulting on proposals to reduce feed-in tariffs for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations of more than 50kW. We will consider all views expressed as part of the consultation in finalising the policy and will confirm the outcome in due course.
Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the benefits to community interest companies and local charities from continuing the feed-in tariff for solar energy at its present rate. [53827]
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Gregory Barker: One of the aims of the fast-track review of feed-in tariffs is to rebalance the scheme back to its original purpose of encouraging deployment of additional small-scale low-carbon electricity generation by those who have not traditionally participated in the electricity market, including community groups and charities.
Faster than anticipated reductions in the cost of solar photovoltaics (PV) mean that it does not need as much subsidy to be competitive. Under the proposed new tariffs for solar PV installations between 50kW and 250kW, community based projects should continue to benefit from the scheme but at a lower rate. We are currently consulting on these proposed new tariffs and will consider all views expressed, including any from community groups and charities, in finalising the policy. We will also be consulting on wider aspects of the scheme through the comprehensive review.
Solar Power: Finance
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received on the provision of renewable energy grants for those parts of the UK with suitable conditions for solar photovoltaic farms. [52786]
Gregory Barker: No such representations have been received. However, a number of representations have separately been received in response to proposals to reduce feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaic installations above 50 kW. These proposals are set out in the FITs fast-track review consultation which closes on Friday 6 May.
Warm Front Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the potential number of jobs lost as a result of the reduction in funding for the Warm Front scheme in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [53834]
Gregory Barker: Estimated job losses are a matter for the Warm Front contractors and their subcontractors. We expect contractors to continue to utilise the job opportunities that a number of other schemes provide; these include the carbon emissions reduction target extension, the Community Energy Saving Programme, feed-in tariffs and the renewable heat incentive.
Education
Children's Centres
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the national children's play strategy. [53014]
Sarah Teather:
The Government recognise how important it is that children have safe, free local places to play, and the benefits these places bring to the wider community more generally. However, it is not for central Government to determine what play facilities are available in local areas, or to tell the experts in the play sector how to
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deliver play provision. Children, parents, play professionals and local communities best know what is most needed in their local areas.
The play capital programme finished at the end of March 2011, as originally intended under the previous administration's Play Strategy. The Government are giving councils more freedom over how they spend their money, giving communities more control over developments in their neighbourhoods, and making it easier for volunteers and charities to get involved. This should provide the opportunities for committed people and local groups to continue to influence play provision in their areas, leaving responsibility for play provision where it belongs: with local areas and their communities.
Health
Abortion
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on proposals to widen the class of place in which abortions are permitted to take place. [52887]
Anne Milton: There are no plans to use the provision under section 1 (3A) of the Abortion Act 1967 to widen the class of place in which abortions are permitted to take place.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many abortions on the grounds of rectifiable disabilities were performed after 24 weeks' gestation in each of the last five years for which figures are available; [53009]
(2) how many abortions there were at (a) 26 weeks and (b) each week after the 26th in each category of grounds for termination in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [53010]
Anne Milton: Information on the number of abortions that are 24 weeks and over by principal medical condition, if performed under section 1(1)(d) of the Abortion Act, has been placed in the Library. Abortions performed under this section are those where
‘there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped’.
Medical conditions recorded under section 1(1)(d) are coded using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (10th edition) published by the World Health Organisation. This classification does not split diseases and related health problems into those that are rectifiable and those that are not.
Information on the number of abortions at 26 weeks and each week after the 26th can be found in the following table for the periods 2003 to 2005 and 2006 to 2008. The figures for individual years are too small to be released. For the periods 2003 to 2005 and 2006 to 2008, the total abortions performed under grounds other than E, for abortions at 26 weeks and over, was less than 10 (between 0 and 9).
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| Number of abortions by gestations at 26 weeks and over, 2003-08 | ||
| Three year total | ||
| Gestation weeks | 2003-05 | 2006-08 |
Alcoholic Drinks: Rehabilitation
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people being treated for alcohol addiction in each primary care trust are enrolled in (a) self help groups, (b) 12-step facilitation therapy, (c) cognitive behavioural therapy and (d) family therapy. [52444]
Anne Milton: This information is not collected centrally.
Anti-depressants
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) England, (b) Newham and (c) West Ham constituency were prescribed anti-depressant medication in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) 2011 to date. [52666]
Mr Simon Burns: Information on the number of people prescribed a medicine is not collected. The table shows prescription items prescribed in primary care in England and in Newham Primary Care Trust (PCT). This information is not available at constituency level.
| Anti-depressant (1) prescription items prescribed in primary care in England and Newham PCT areas | ||
| Thousand | ||
|
|
Prescription items England | Prescription items Newham PCT |
| (1) Anti-depressant medication has been defined as those products included in British National Formulary Chapter 4.3—anti depressant drugs. Source: Prescribing Analysis and Cost tool | ||
Bowel Cancer: Health Education
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to provide information to the public on the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer. [53237]
Paul Burstow:
We launched pilots for the first ever national public awareness campaign for bowel cancer in January 2011. The ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign was
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piloted in the east of England and in the south-west of England. It ran for seven weeks to raise awareness of the key signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and to encourage people with these symptoms to go to their general practitioners. The campaign ended on 18 March 2011 and, subject to evaluation and lessons learned, it will be rolled out nationwide.
Information on the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer is included with every invitation to take part in the NHS bowel cancer screening programme. Three million men and women aged 60 to 69 are invited to participate in screening every two years, and the programme is currently being extended to men and women aged up to 75.
The Department has worked with health professionals, patient groups and the voluntary sector to produce key messages for bowel cancer. These are available on the NHS Choices website at:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer-of-the-colon-rectum-or-bowel/pages/keymessages.aspx
The Department encourages charities and other stakeholders to use them widely in awareness raising activities.
Cancer
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has plans to support the development of holistic needs assessments and care planning for cancer patients to take account of individual needs related to (a) age, (b) gender, (c) ethnicity, (d) educational attainment, (e) disability, (f) sexual orientation and (g) socio-economic group; and if he will make a statement. [53354]
Paul Burstow: All people with long-term conditions, including those with cancer should have their needs assessed and be offered personalised care planning. This should be tailored to their specific needs and circumstance, taking account of age, gender, ethnic and cultural background, educational attainment, disability, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and mental health. The Government are committed to a patient-led national health service, strengthening the patient’s choice and management of their own care. Proactive, preventive and personalised care planning with a focus on shared decision making fully supports these aims and will continue to be supported.
Care Homes: Standards
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to (a) maintain and (b) improve standards of local authority-run care homes. [53637]
Paul Burstow: Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 providers of care homes must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and meet a set of essential requirements of safety and quality.
Failure to comply with the requirements is an offence, and CQC has a wide range of enforcement powers that it can use if the provider is not compliant.
The Care Quality Commission will shortly be consulting on the details of a new “Excellence” award for adult social care providers. This will enable the best care
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providers to gain recognition and will encourage others to go beyond the essential standards to deliver truly excellent care.
CJD
Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many cases the presence of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease has been evident in biopsies carried out following the death of a patient with haemophilia in the last 20 years. [52333]
Anne Milton: Abnormal prion protein associated with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease has been found in a single spleen sample taken from one haemophilia patient at post mortem. Details can be found in “Peden A, McCardle L, Head MW et al. Variant CJD infection in the spleen of a neurologically asymptomatic UK adult patient with haemophilia.” Haemophilia 2010; 16: 296-304. The journal Haemophilia is available on line at:
www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=1351-8216
Dementia: Health Education
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish a public health campaign to provide information for the public on the links between lifestyle and risk of dementia. [53255]
Paul Burstow: The Government have recently undertaken a public awareness campaign on dementia, aimed at raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of dementia and urging people to seek an early diagnosis if they are concerned. The campaign was piloted in the north-west and Yorkshire and the Humber national health service regions, and it may be rolled out across the country once fully evaluated. There are no current plans to undertake a campaign focussed specifically on the links between lifestyle and dementia. However, guidance produced by the Department, including the National Dementia Strategy 2009, emphasises the links between lifestyle and dementia, and that what is good for your heart is good for your head.
Departmental Buildings
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) name and (b) address is of each building owned by his Department; and what the estimated monetary value is of each such building. [53809]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department owns two freehold properties, Richmond house and Wellington house. Address and valuation details are as follows. Valuation figures are for land and property combined.
Richmond house, 79 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2NS is valued at £77 million.
Wellington house, 133-155 Waterloo road, London SE1 8UG is valued at £42.5 million.
Diamorphine
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria an addict has to meet to be prescribed diamorphine by the NHS. [53593]
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Anne Milton: Only those doctors licensed by the Home Office for this purpose can prescribe diamorphine to treat opioid addiction.
Eligibility criteria for the use of diamorphine are set out in expert consensus guidance: ‘Injectable heroin (and injectable methadone)—Potential roles in drug treatment’.
A copy has been placed in the Library and is also available at the National Treatment Agency for substance misuse website at:
www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/nta_injectable_heroin_and_ methadone_2003_summary.pdf
Fluoride
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues to strategic health authorities on the factors to take into account in determining whether to use fluoride in the local water supply. [53621]
Anne Milton: The Chief Dental Officer's letter ‘Fluoridation of Drinking Water’, issued in February 2008 under Gateway reference 9361, refers to that matter. A copy has already been placed in the Library and is available at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_082666
The Health and Social Care Bill proposes that responsibility for consultations on proposals for fluoridation schemes should transfer to local authorities, in which case we will issue revised guidance on the conduct of consultations and taking account of public opinion.
Health and Social Care Bill
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations he has received on the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill from hon. Members representing constituencies in Scotland and Wales. [52417]
Mr Simon Burns: The following table sets out numbers of representations on the Health and Social Care Bill to the Department from hon. Members representing Scottish and Welsh constituencies.
| Hon. Members by constituency: | Letters | Parliamentary questions |
Limb Reduction Deformity: Babies
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies were born with limb reduction deformity in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [52325]
Anne Milton: The following table provides the number of live and stillbirths notified to the National Congenital Anomaly System for England and Wales (NCAS) with a mention of limb reduction defects for each year between 1999 and 2008 (the last year available). The number of notifications received by NCAS is likely to be less than the actual number of infants born with an anomaly.
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| Number of notifications to the NCAS with a mention of limb reduction deformity (1) , 1999-2008, England and Wales | ||||
| Registrations | ||||
| Limb reduction deformity (divided into register and non-register areas) (3) | ||||
|
|
Percentage of births covered by a local register (2) | Register | Non-register | Total |
| (1 )The table includes notifications coded to Q71 to Q73 using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10). Figures are based on data on NCAS on 20 October 2009. (2) Births to women resident in England and Wales. (3) Recording of congenital anomalies was more complete in areas with a local register because the register can obtain additional information. Consequently, the figures provided are presented separately for areas where a local register operated and for areas without a register in a particular year. (4) Figures for 2006 onwards exclude data for some areas that used to be part of East Midlands and South Yorkshire congenital anomaly register. (5) The North Thames (West) register ceased sending records to NCAS in September 2007 so the figures for 2007 and 2008 are an underestimate. Source: Office for National Statistics. | ||||
Mental Health Services
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the commissioning of (a) high security, (b) medium security, (c) low security and (d) community forensic mental health services by GP consortia and the NHS Commissioning Board. [52859]
Paul Burstow: The Health and Social Care Bill, which was presented to Parliament on 19 January 2011, completed its Committee Stage on 31 March. Clause 12 of the Health and Social Care Bill (subject to parliamentary approval) amends the National Health Services Act 2006 to remove from the Secretary of State the duty to provide high secure mental health services and places a duty instead on the National Health Service Commissioning Board to arrange for the provision of these services. The Secretary of State informed the House of Commons on 4 April that the Department is taking the opportunity of a natural break in the passage of the Bill to pause, listen, and engage with all those who want the NHS to succeed, and subsequently to bring forward amendments to improve the Bill further.
Following on from this, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State launched an engagement exercise on 6 April. To oversee the NHS listening exercise, the Department has brought together the NHS Future Forum, a group of patient representatives, clinicians and others from the health field, including frontline staff, to drive the process of engagement with staff, patients and communities. Further information about the NHS Future Forum and the listening exercise is available on the website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/healthandcare
People who wish to get involved can read more about the listening exercise and leave comments publicly on the website. By June, Ministers will decide how to take forward the Bill in a way that reflects what has been
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heard. Following this, decisions about the commissioning of secure and community forensic mental health services in the new NHS will be made.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve access to psychological therapies. [52987]
Paul Burstow: The Improving Access to Psychological Therapy programme (IAPT) continues to offer increasing numbers of people in England access to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence-approved therapy for mental health conditions. We will invest £400 million in the next four years to ensure the full roll-out of IAPT. We expect this will mean that between April 2011 and the end of the spending review period:
3.2 million people will access IAPT, receiving guided self help or therapy;
2.6 million of them will complete a course of therapy treatment; and
up to 1.3 million (50% of those treated) will move to measurable recovery.
This investment is in addition to the funding primary care trusts have already received for talking therapies.
Mental Health Services: Waiting Lists
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate has been made of average waiting times for cognitive behavioural therapy in NHS facilities in (a) Suffolk and (b) the rest of the country. [53263]
Paul Burstow: In Suffolk, based on Improving Access to Psychological Therapy programme (IAPT) referrals for March 2011, the average waiting time from referral to treatment for guided self-help is six days. The average wait for high intensity cognitive behavioural therapy is seven days.
At present, we do not measure the average waiting time nationally, however, we will be in a position to measure the average waiting time once the IAPT Data Standard comes into use in April 2012.