Young Offenders
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were committed by juvenile offenders in each year since 1997. [53436]
Nick Herbert: There are two sources of statistics on crime in England and Wales: police recorded crime and the British Crime Survey (BCS). Police recorded crime is based on offences reported to and recorded by the police. The BCS is a sample survey restricted to the population resident in households but includes crimes not reported to the police. While both sources provide estimates of the number of offences experienced by victims they cover, neither source can be used to provide counts of the characteristics (e.g. age) of offenders.
Information on offenders dealt with by the criminal justice system is available from the Ministry of Justice. Latest figures including trends for juvenile offenders dealt with by formal police cautions, reprimands or warning, or criminal court proceedings in England and Wales appear in the annual statistical bulletin ‘Criminal Statistics: England and Wales 2009’ or ‘Youth Justice Board annual workload statistics 2009-10’. Copies of these reports are available from the House of Commons Library.
Education
Children: Day Care
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate he has made of the average cost of child care (a) nationally and (b) in each region in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14. [54398]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 9 May 2011]: The Department for Education has no estimate of the average child care costs for 2011/12 to 2013/14. However, annual statistics on the average fees charged by providers are published by the Department in the Childcare and Early Years Survey of Providers. The 2008 report includes national and regional figures. Figures for 2010 will be published in the autumn.
| Average hourly fees charged by region | ||||
| £ | ||||
| Full day care | Full day care in children's centres | Sessional | Childminders | |
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| (1) Figures should be treated with caution due to a low number of providers in the subsample. Note: No regional figures are available for full day care in children's centres. No figures are provided in relation to sessional providers in some regions owing to insufficient sample size. Base: Module B childcare providers 2008. Childminders 2008. | ||||
Discretionary Learner Support Fund
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding he has allocated to discretionary learner support for (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15. [54009]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 4 May 2011]: From September 2011, financial support for young people will be through the new 16-19 Bursary Fund, which will be worth £180 million each academic year. The following table shows the funding allocated to the 16-19 Bursary Fund—including transitional support for those currently in receipt of the education maintenance allowance—in each year of the current spending review period:
| £ million | ||||
| 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | |
Education Maintenance Allowance
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the saving to the public purse of reducing to £20 education maintenance allowance payments for the 2010-11 intake of students in the top payment band. [52669]
Mr Gibb: We estimate that just over 210,000 young people who received £30 a week EMA in 2010/11 will remain in learning in 2011/12 and be eligible for the £20 a week transitional payment for that academic year. Given the typical numbers of payments received by EMA recipients we estimate savings of around £56 million in the 2011/12 academic year through the reduction of the payment from £30 to £20.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students were enrolled on a course of study in 2009-10 will continue to receive the top rate of education maintenance allowance in the next academic year. [52670]
Mr Gibb:
All students who received the maximum education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the first time in 2009/10 and who remain in eligible education or training in 2011/12 will continue to receive that level of
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payment to the end of the 2011/12 academic year. We estimate that around 80,000 young people will continue to receive the maximum EMA payment on this basis in 2011/12.
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether Capita will be responsible for administering (a) 16-19 education bursaries and (b) continuing education maintenance allowance payments for those students. [54010]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 4 May 2011]:The 16-19 bursary funding will be administered locally by schools, colleges and training organisations. The weekly payments made under the transitional support scheme will be administered by Capita, under the contract it holds with the Young People's Learning Agency.
Education: Finance
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 281W, on education: finance, whether he has made an estimate of the likely cost to (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) other training providers of administering a discretionary support fund for 16 to 19 learners. [54418]
Mr Gibb: We do not anticipate that the cost to schools, colleges and training providers of administering the 16-19 Bursary Fund will be any greater, proportionally, than those incurred in relation to the current discretionary learner support fund. Schools, colleges and training providers are able currently to use up to 5% of their allocation of discretionary funds to meet the costs of administering the scheme; this will continue following the introduction of the 16-19 Bursary Fund. By way of comparison, the costs of administering the EMA scheme nationally are also around 5% of the total expenditure.
Further Education: Finance
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his assessment is of the effectiveness of conditional cash transfer schemes in post-16 education. [52920]
Mr Gibb: The Department for Education has not conducted a formal assessment of the general effectiveness of conditional cash transfer schemes in post-16 education. Evaluation and other evidence relating to the education maintenance allowance—an example of a conditional cash transfer scheme—was considered in making the decision to end that scheme and introduce, from September 2011, the new 16-19 Bursary Fund.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether 16 to 19 education bursaries will be paid directly to (a) the student or (b) a parent. [52921]
Mr Gibb: Under our proposed arrangements for the 16-19 Bursary Fund, schools, colleges and training providers will have discretion to award bursaries to students in ways that best fit individual needs and circumstances. We expect that, as under current learner support arrangements, support will usually be given directly to students.
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Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average household income is of those who will receive a full bursary from his Department’s 16-19 education fund who are in care. [52925]
Mr Gibb: Young people in care will receive a bursary of £1,200 a year under the new arrangements. The Department does not hold information regarding their household income and we do not expect providers to ask for evidence of household income for young people in this vulnerable group.
Further Education: Free School Meals
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of children (a) in receipt of and (b) not in receipt of free school meals went on to further education in each local authority area in each year since 2001. [53725]
Mr Gibb: The tables providing estimates of the number and percentage of young people who went on to further education at academic age 16(1), by local authority and free school meals (FSM) status in year 11, for each year between 2002/03 and 2009/10 have been placed in the House Libraries. The figures are based on young people in state-funded schools at age 15 for whom FSM status was known. The allocation to local authority is also based on the school attended at age 15.
(1) Academic age is defined as age at the start of the academic year. Academic age 16-year-olds are usually in their first post-compulsory year.
Two sets of tables are provided, based on slightly different definitions of further education. The first set of tables (1a and 1b) shows the number and proportion of young people who go on to full-time education at academic age 16. The second set (2a and 2b) shows participation based on a wider definition of further education that includes anyone studying for a qualification at academic age 16—which will additionally include those in part-time study and Apprenticeships.
The estimates are derived from the Department for Education’s “Young People’s Matched Administrative Dataset” (YPMAD), which links several sources covering student attainment and participation between 16 and 19. The YPMAD is not the source of the Department’s official estimates of post-16 participation, but has been used in this instance because it has information on learners’ FSM status from year 11. Data prior to 2002/03 is not available.
GCE A-level
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many and what proportion of GCE A-level students were entered for GCE A-level (a) accounting, (b) art and design, (c) business studies, (d) communication and culture, (e) dance, (f) design and technology, (g) drama/theatre studies, (h) electronics, (i) film studies, (j) home economics, (k) information and communication technology, (l) law, (m) media studies, (n) music technology, (o) sports studies, (p) travel and tourism and (q) environmental studies in (i) comprehensive schools, (ii) selective schools, (iii) independent schools and (iv) sixth form colleges (A) nationally and (B) in each local education authority area in the last year for which figures are available; [53098]
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(2) how many and what proportion of GCE A-level students were entered for at least one GCE A-level in (a) accounting, (b) art and design, (c) business studies, (d) communication and culture, (e) dance, (f) design and technology, (g) drama/theatre studies, (h) electronics, (i) film studies, (j) home economics, (k) information and communication technology, (l) law, (m) media studies, (n) music technology, (o) sports studies, (p) travel and tourism and (q) environmental studies in (i) comprehensive schools, (ii) selective schools, (iii) independent schools and (iv) sixth form colleges (A) nationally and (B) in each local education authority area in the last year for which figures are available; [53099]
(3) how many and what proportion of GCE A-level students were entered for at least two GCE A-levels in (a) accounting, (b) art and design, (c) business studies, (d) communication and culture, (e) dance, (f) design and technology, (g) drama/theatre studies, (h) electronics, (i) film studies, (j) home economics, (k) information and communication technology, (l) law, (m) media studies, (n) music technology, (o) sports studies, (p) travel and tourism and (q) environmental studies in (i) comprehensive schools, (ii) selective schools, (iii) independent schools and (iv) sixth form colleges (A) nationally and (B) in each local education authority area in the last year for which figures are available; [53100]
(4) how many and what proportion of GCE A-level students were entered for at least three GCE A-levels from (a) accounting, (b) art and design, (c) business studies, (d) communication and culture, (e) dance, (f) design and technology, (g) drama/theatre studies, (h) electronics, (i) film studies, (j) home economics, (k) information and communication technology, (l) law, (m) media studies, (n) music technology, (o) sports studies, (p) travel and tourism and (q) environmental studies in (i) comprehensive schools, (ii) selective schools, (iii) independent schools and (iv) sixth form colleges (A) nationally and (B) in each local education authority in the last year for which figures are available. [52961]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 28 April 2011]: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.
GCSE
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many GCSEs undertaken by students in year 9 were included in school league table results for 2010. [52942]
Mr Gibb: All qualifications awarded to pupils by the end of Key Stage 4 (KS4) in 2009/10 are included in the 2010 School Performance Tables.
Of the qualifications included in the 2010 tables for pupils who had completed KS4 studies that year, the equivalent of 106,889.7 GCSEs were taken in the academic year 2007/08. 36,978.5 of these are accounted for by short, full and double GCSEs courses, the others were equivalent qualifications such as BTECs.
Some of these qualifications taken early may have subsequently been discounted later by higher grade or level achievements eg if a pupil re-sat a particular GCSE or obtained an AS level in the subject before the end of the Key Stage.
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Music: Education
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects of reductions in local authority funding on the provision of (a) music services, (b) music trusts and (c) other local music education providers. [53266]
Mr Gibb: On 7 February, in response to Darren Henley's review of music education, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), announced that the overall level of funding for music education in 2011-12 is £82.5 million matching the level of funding to local authorities for music in 2010-11. He also guaranteed that the application of a fairer funding formula would mean that no local authority will receive a cut in funding of more than 10% compared to the 2010-11 allocation and that this funding provided by the Department for Education could only be used to provide music education.
Beyond this funding, it is a matter for local authorities to determine their levels of funding for music education. It is also a matter for local authorities to determine whether, using the total amount available for music, to fund music services, music trusts, or other local music education providers.
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding he has allocated to implementing the national plan for music education. [53268]
Mr Gibb: The Government will give details of music funding when we publish the national plan for music education later this year.
Pupils: Dyslexia
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department issues to local education authorities on assessing dyslexia among pupils in schools. [54227]
Sarah Teather: Guidance to local authorities on assessing children with special educational needs, including those with dyslexia, is given in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (2001). Further information and guidance for schools on recognising and supporting children with dyslexia is also given in online and DVD resources provided as part of the Inclusion Development Programme.
Special Educational Needs
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information his Department holds on the support provided by local authorities for children with special needs. [54989]
Sarah Teather: In 2010-11 local authorities planned net expenditure on the provision of education for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) was £5,477,522,509.
This covers planned expenditure on special educational provision and specialist support for pupils with statements and provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN. It includes:
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funding, identified as “notional SEN”, of additional resources directly to nursery, primary and secondary schools to help them support children without SEN;
the costs of additional resources provision and units in mainstream schools;
provision of a range of maintained special schools;
fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad;
the costs of support for inclusion;
the provision of the educational psychology service and of SEN specialist support services.
It also includes a range of additional local authority functions that impact on children with SEN, including child protection, therapies and other health-related services, parent partnership, guidance and information and monitoring.
Students: Finance
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the awarding of a guaranteed bursary to students defined as vulnerable will affect their entitlement for Care to Learn funding. [53576]
Mr Gibb: The awarding of a guaranteed bursary of £1,200 to students from the most vulnerable groups will not affect their eligibility for support under the Care to Learn programme.
International Development
Afghanistan: Armoured Fighting Vehicles
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many armoured cars his Department (a) owns and (b) leases for use in Afghanistan. [54612]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for international Development (DFID) in Afghanistan owns five armoured vehicles which are pooled with other HMG owned vehicles for use by British embassy staff in Kabul. DFID owns a further 13 armoured vehicles which are assigned to specific projects and programmes. None of DFID's armoured vehicles are leased for use in Afghanistan.
Departmental Legal Costs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department paid in (a) damages, (b) claimant costs and (c) defendant costs in respect of all civil claims brought against his Department in which the claimant was successful or the Department settled in each of the last three years. [54631]
Mr Duncan: In answering this question, the Department has assumed that the term "civil claims" refers to claims issued in England and Wales, in the courts of civil jurisdiction (the High Court and the county courts). The figures provided do not therefore include employment-related claims pursued through the employment tribunals.
There have been no payments made by the Department for International Development for damages, claimant costs or defendant costs in respect of civil claims in any of the last three years.
10 May 2011 : Column 1145W
Departmental Pensions
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's budget he expects to be spent on staff pensions in each of the next five years. [54568]
Mr Duncan: The proportion of the total Department for International Development (DFID) budget spent on staff pension contributions in 2010-11 is estimated to be 0.21%. Future contributions will be dependent both on the level of contributions and the number of staff making them.
Developing Countries: Maternity Services
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he plans to take as part of the G8 commitment to provide additional funding for maternal and child health up to 2015 to address the global shortage of skilled birth attendants and health workers. [54836]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Government's ‘Choices for Women’ Framework for Results outlines how the UK will save the lives of at least 50,000 women during pregnancy and childbirth and 250,000 newborn babies by 2015. The framework has a focus on increasing access to skilled health workers and commits to supporting at least two million safe deliveries and ensuring long-lasting improvements in maternity services.
Department for International Development (DFID) country programmes are currently finalising their operational plans for the next four years which will contribute to the Framework for Results commitments. These plans are being released via the DFID website:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Media-Room/Publications/?p=OP
and it is anticipated that this exercise will be completed by the end of May.
Developing Countries: New Businesses
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department provides to people in developing countries to help set up their own businesses. [54839]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development provides a range of support which helps people in developing countries set up their own businesses. We are working on reform of developing countries' investment climates to reduce the 'costs' of doing business and increase the provision of loans and technical business skills to entrepreneurs and prospective business people.
For example UK aid has provided loans to 300,000 women from low-income communities in Pakistan to set up small enterprises and build their assets and supports a programme in Rwanda which has helped to cut the time it takes to register a business from 16 to three days.
Developing Countries: Solar Power
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to support the use of solar lamps in developing countries. [54373]
10 May 2011 : Column 1146W
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting a range of programmes to stimulate investment in the renewable technologies that can be life-changers for the world's poorest people, including solar lamps. For example, in India we are promoting solar lighting in remote rural areas through the Orissa Tribal Empowerment and Livelihoods Programme. Under this pilot, tribal woman are trained to fabricate and maintain solar lighting for homes, schools and streets. A feasibility study has been prepared for scale-up in 400 non-electrified Indian villages. Additionally, we are also about to start a five-year partnership with the Energy and Resources Institute which is focused on scaling up access to energy in Indian rural areas, including solar lighting.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has provided information to the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) on the effects on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals of the operations of businesses supported by the ECGD. [54370]
Mr O'Brien: All applicants for Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) support involving a low income or heavily indebted country are required to assess a project's contribution to the economic and social development of the recipient country. The Department for International Development (DFID) reviews this proposal and checks the validity of the assessment. This is in line with our commitment under the OECD, of which further details can be found at:
http://www.oecd.org/department/0,3355,en_2649_34179_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
For a list of projects assessed by DFID since summer 2006, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 29 March 2011, Official Report, column 318W, to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Dr Whiteford).
Overseas Aid
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria he applies to decisions on the grant of aid to developing countries. [54658]
Mr Duncan: The recently undertaken bilateral aid review has refocused the aid programme in fewer countries so that we can target our support where it will make the biggest difference and where the need is greatest. As a result, we will focus on programmes where the British Government are well placed to make a significant impact.
World Bank: Coal Fired Power Stations
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on World Bank support for unabated coal-fired power stations. [54372]
Mr O'Brien: The UK strongly supports the World Bank's proposed shift away from lending for coal-fired power stations towards cleaner energy sources where there is a greater need for concessional lending.
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We want to see the bank helping countries explore all reasonable alternative options to coal before concluding that it is the appropriate option. Where alternatives are not feasible we want to see efforts being made to ensure the cleanest possible technology is used.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Anti-Semitism: Germany
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of levels of anti-Semitism in Germany since May 2010; what recent discussions he has had with his German counterpart about anti-Semitism in Germany; and if he will make a statement. [54848]
Mr Lidington: I have not received any reports of anti-Semitism in Germany since May 2010, nor have I had any recent discussions with my German counterpart on this issue.
The UK is committed to fighting discrimination and intolerance. Combating all forms of racism remains an important part of the Government's human rights policy. In December 2010 we published the Government's first progress update report on our work to take forward the recommendations of the 2006 all-party parliamentary inquiry into anti-Semitism.
Chile: Press
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Government of Chile in respect of journalists at the La Nacion newspaper. [54995]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We have not made any representations to the Chilean Government on this matter.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on media plurality in Chile. [54996]
Mr Jeremy Browne: There is a degree of concentration of media ownership in Chile, and the two main press conglomerates (El Mercurio and La Tercera) manage more than 70% of the country's newspapers. Nonetheless Chile enjoys an independent press and functioning democratic political system which safeguards the rights to freedom of speech, of expression and of the press.
COE Commissioner for Human Rights: Finance
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what voluntary contributions the Government has made to the costs of the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights in (a) 2010 and (b) each of the previous five years. [51962]
Mr Lidington: The UK's voluntary contributions are given in the following table.
10 May 2011 : Column 1148W
Diplomatic Service
Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the future of his Department's global diplomatic network. [54216]
Mr Lidington:
Our plans for the future of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) network are now being finalised. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, will make a statement to the House later this week. But there will be no strategic
10 May 2011 : Column 1149W
shrinkage in our global presence. The FCO network is an essential part of the UK's economic recovery and will continue to play a vital role in maintaining our influence in the world.
Germany: Nazism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on neo-Nazi activity in Germany; and if he will make a statement. [54842]
Mr Lidington: I have not received any recent reports on neo-Nazi activity in Germany.
Osama bin Laden
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the assistance provided to Osama bin Laden by Pakistan in the past five years. [54520]
Alistair Burt: Pakistan has made huge sacrifices—both military and civilian—in the fight against terrorism. Both Pakistan and the UK have benefitted from recent action against militants taken by Pakistan. As the Prime Minister has already made clear, “searching questions” will need to be asked about what sort of support system Bin Laden had in Pakistan, and we need those questions answered. We would call on Pakistan to use Osama Bin Laden's death as an opportunity to bring greater stability and peace to Pakistan; and for Pakistan to make even greater strides in the fight against militancy.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what time he was notified of the US military operation against Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad; and whether his Department was involved in any aspects of the planning or execution of the operation. [54521]
Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, was made aware of the US operation against Osama bin Laden soon after the Prime Minister was informed, early on the morning of Monday 2 May 2011. The UK works very closely with the US military and intelligence services but we had no involvement in the planning or execution of this operation.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to prevent any reprisal attack on UK interests overseas following the death of Osama bin Laden. [54523]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office constantly reviews the threat of international terrorism to British nationals and UK interests overseas, working closely with the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), security and intelligence agencies and our network of overseas posts. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also contributes to the cross-Government effort to reduce the risk of terrorism. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that al-Qaeda and its affiliates will attempt acts of reprisal.
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The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, has therefore encouraged British nationals to regularly check our travel advice, to monitor the media carefully for local reactions, to be vigilant and exercise caution in public places, and to avoid demonstrations. He has also asked all our embassies and high commissions overseas to review their security and to make sure that vigilance is heightened.
Pakistan: Politics and Government
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Pakistan. [54522]
Alistair Burt: The Prime Minister's statement on 3 May 2011, Official Report, columns 453-55 set out some of the Government's assessment of the situation in Pakistan.
Pakistan is one of this Government's most important foreign policy, defence and development priorities. A stable, prosperous and democratic Pakistan, at ease with its regional neighbours and equipped with the will and capacity to tackle violent extremism, is of direct and critical importance to the security of the UK and its interests.
Pakistan is currently dealing with major domestic challenges, including how to: tackle a large militant insurgency in its border regions; achieve democratic and economic reform; and recover from the aftermath of last year's devastating floods. In addition, the Government of Pakistan are now grappling with the aftermath of the death of Osama Bin Laden. We will work with Pakistan's coalition Government in facing these challenges.
Pakistan's relationship with Afghanistan is pivotal to UK interests there. We are working with Pakistan to achieve our shared goals of lasting stability and security in Afghanistan. As the Prime Minister said in his statement on 3 May 2011:
“The death of Bin Laden provides a new opportunity for Afghanistan and Pakistan to work together to achieve stability on both sides of the border”.
Pakistan's relationship with India is also crucial for stability in the region. We welcome recent contact and discussions between India and Pakistan, including during the cricket World Cup semi-finals in Mohali. The pace, scope and substance of dialogue is for the two countries to decide.
Pakistan is a partner in tackling militancy, terrorism and extremism. We pay tribute to the sacrifices of ordinary Pakistanis and the members of the Pakistani armed forces, and the courage they have shown in tackling violent extremism. This is a shared fight, in which Pakistan is on the front line. We offer Pakistan our full support.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he made to the Vatican City State authorities in respect of the EU travel ban on President Mugabe and other representatives of the Zimbabwe regime; and if he will make a statement. [54537]
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Mr Bellingham: The Holy See is not a member of the EU. It conducts its own foreign policy and has a bilateral relationship with Zimbabwe. The UK did not make representations to the Holy See over President Mugabe's travel on this occasion.
Italy is bound by the Lateran treaty not to inhibit the passage of official visitors to the Vatican. The visa issued by Italy to President Mugabe was time-limited for the event in question and valid only for Italian territory. Our ambassador in Harare did however discuss this issue with his Italian colleague and other counterparts to ensure consistency with the EU Common Position.
Health
Allied Health Professions
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has for the involvement of representatives of the allied health professions in (a) commissioning and (b) service provision of public health at local level following the transfer of public health responsibility to local government; and if he will make a statement; [54477]
(2) what account he plans to take of the role of allied health professionals in public health in preparing advice and guidance to local government on their new responsibility for public health; and if he will make a statement. [54478]
Anne Milton: Our plans are for Directors of Public Health to have responsibility for leadership on public health at a local level and, through partnership working and collaboration with key partners, for example allied health professionals, local authorities will be able take innovative approaches to promoting and protecting the health and well-being of their local communities.
A wide range of professions, including allied health professionals, play a very important role in public health. The Department will ensure that any advice and guidance to local authorities on these new responsibilities reflects the multidisciplinary nature of public health.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he has taken of the role of allied health professionals in public health in preparing for the transfer of public health responsibilities to local government; and if he will make a statement. [54479]
Anne Milton:
We have enjoyed good involvement with representatives from key allied health professional bodies. Departmental officials working on public health commissioning, funding and outcomes policies met with colleagues from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, and the British Dietetic Association who together represented the Allied Health Professionals Federation. Following this meeting, responses were submitted by a number of allied health professional representative bodies to the consultation on the public health White Paper and associated documents. This consultation closed on 31 March and we will take the views expressed by these and all other stakeholders into consideration. Government's response to the consultation will be published in the summer of this year. The Government are committed to developing a public health work force strategy for consultation in autumn 2011 and have established a working group to advise and
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support this process. The Chair of the National Allied Health Professional Advisory Board is a member of the Public Health Workforce Strategy Group.
Following the end of the White Paper consultation period, the Department continues to involve the full range of health professionals, representatives of voluntary sector and the public in developing new public health arrangements. The Department regularly publishes updates on its proposals and plans on the Department's website and writes directly to national health service organisations, local government and others.
Aspartame
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to commission research to investigate a potential relationship between levels of aspartame consumption and adverse health reactions in children. [54801]
Anne Milton: We are advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that aspartame has been extensively tested and reviewed for safety by independent experts at national, European and international level and found to be safe at current levels of use. Despite this, some people consider they react badly to consuming the sweetener. The FSA has therefore commissioned a pilot study focusing on people who have self-reported bad reactions to the sweetener in order to understand why this is the case. Participants in the study will be at least 18 but the results should be applicable to people of any age.
Blood: CJD
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who have contracted variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease as a result of receiving (a) contaminated blood via blood transfusion and (b) non-leucodepleted contaminated blood via blood transfusion. [54618]
Anne Milton: There have been three cases of clinical variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) presumed to be associated with blood transfusion. These have occurred in people who have received blood transfusions from donors who themselves went on to develop clinical vCJD after they had made the blood donation. None of these patients were transfused after 1999, and all received non-leucodepleted blood.
Blood: Contamination
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) others in his Department on the implications of Lord Archer's report on contaminated blood and blood products in respect of compensation for future recipients of contaminated blood. [54619]
Anne Milton: The Archer Inquiry restricted itself to investigating the events in the 1970s and 1980s that led to the infection of haemophilia patients and others with HIV and/or hepatitis C by national health service supplied contaminated blood or blood products, and made recommendations regarding financial support only to those infected at that time.
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We have discussed the implications of Lord Archer's report in the light of provisions that should be made for people who contracted HIV and/or hepatitis C from contaminated blood.
CJD
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in England in each of the last five years. [54620]
Anne Milton: The National Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Research and Surveillance Unit (NCJDRSU) has provided the following information about deaths from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). This information is available on NCJDRSU website at:
www.cjd.ed.ac.uk
| United Kingdom definite and probable vCJD deaths 2005 to 2010 | |
| Number of Deaths | |
Doctors: Working Hours
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent discussions his Department has had with the NHS European Office social partner on the effects of the European Working Time Directive on (a) hospital doctors and (b) acute medical staff; [54376]
(2) what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the future implementation of the European Working Time Directive for (a) hospital doctors and (b) acute medical staff; [54452]
(3) what recent assessment he has made of the effects on (a) patient care and (b) staff performance, welfare and training of the implementation of the European Working Time Directive for hospital doctors and acute medical staff; and if he will make a statement. [54455]
Mr Simon Burns: I and departmental officials work very closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) on the application of the Working Time Directive to the United Kingdom Healthcare sector, meeting as appropriate. This directive is once again being considered by the European Commission and both Departments agree that we should pursue discussions in Europe with the intention of maintaining the individual’s right to opt-out of the 48 hour working week while seeking greater flexibility particularly in the areas of on-call time and compensatory rest. This strategy is in-keeping with the commitment in the Coalition Agreement to work to limit the application of the Working Time Directive.
The Department engaged with the national health service European Office as they formulated their response to the European Commission’s second stage Social Partner consultation on Working Time and, also, when the NHS European Office provided their contribution to
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wider social partner responses (such as those of the European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation and of Enterprises of General Economic Interest and the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association).
The NHS European Office are members of the Working Time Directive stakeholder group co-chaired by the Department and BIS. This group has convened to review the proposals put forward by the European Commission as part of its second stage consultation on Working Time.
Ensuring service rotas are compliant and assessing the effects implementation of the directive is having on patients and staff is the responsibility of individual NHS trusts.
In response to concerns about the directive, Medical Education England (MEE) commissioned an independent review chaired by Professor Sir John Temple. The review’s findings concluded that high quality training can be delivered in 48 hours but traditional models of training and service delivery waste training opportunities and will need to change. Additionally, it demonstrates that far more can be done to improve medical training by changing working practices and taking advantage of the increase in consultants working in the NHS.
The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), has asked MEE to take the lead in implementing changes to improve training practices in line with the aspirations in Sir John Temple’s report ‘Time for Training’ (2010). In response, MEE is taking forward a detailed implementation plan, ‘Better Training, Better Care’.
Health Professions: Higher Education
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places at each university in England NHS London commissioned for nursing and allied health professional education in (a) pre-registration education, (b) post-registration education and (c) continuing professional education in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; how many such places he expects there to be in (A) 2011-12, (B) 2012-13 and (C) 2013-14; and if he will make a statement. [54978]
Anne Milton: Information on nursing, midwifery and allied health professional places at universities is not collected by the Department. It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities to individually manage contracts with higher education institutions based on local workforce planning and education commissioning decisions. The hon. Member may wish to contact NHS London for the information requested.
Heart Diseases: Health Services
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to improve the early detection and treatment of atrial fibrillation. [54802]
Mr Simon Burns: It is for local national health service commissioners to determine the needs of their populations and ensure that appropriate services are available.
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NHS Improvement is working with the NHS in undertaking a programme of work to improve the detection and management of atrial fibrillation. This includes:
raising awareness of the condition by working closely with The Stroke Association who are planning a campaign on the subject this year;
promoting the use of the Guidance on Risk Assessment and Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (GRASP-AF) tool, which is designed to aid the identification of patients already known to have atrial fibrillation who are at increased risk of stroke and not on warfarin;
commissioning improvements to the GRASP-AF tool to include the latest clinical risk algorithms and the latest management options; and
working with the National Patient Safety Agency to create an anti-coagulation guide.
The Department has also responded to the recent National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence consultation on the quality outcomes framework with suggestions to revise the indicators promoting the evidence-based management of the stroke risk in atrial fibrillation.
Liphophilic Biotoxins
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether animals have been used for detection of liphophilic biotoxins in the UK since 10 January 2011; and if he will make a statement. [54611]
Anne Milton: We are advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which has responsibility for the monitoring of marine biotoxins in shellfish, that animals have been used for the detection of lipophilic biotoxins in the United Kingdom since 10 January 2011.
This testing is required by European Union legislation to protect consumers from the risk of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. However, recent changes to the legislation require member states to use an alternative chemical method by 31 December 2014. The FSA has advised that a chemical method has been validated and will be implemented as soon as technical issues associated with the practical application of the method have been resolved. They expect to implement the new method by autumn this year.
Lyme Disease
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to raise public awareness of the risks associated with Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. [54790]
Anne Milton: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) issues an annual press release to raise public awareness of ticks, tick bites and Lyme disease. The press release, issued this year on 14 April, is aimed at those living in or visiting areas where ticks are present, and gives advice on prevention of tick bites and what to do if you are bitten. This complements advice for the public and clinicians published on the HPA's website.
The HPA has also produced a leaflet in conjunction with The Royal Parks and New Forest District Council on ticks and Lyme disease. The leaflet gives information on identifying ticks, tick removal, Lyme disease symptoms and prevention of tick bites. It is available at:
www.royalparks.org.uk/docs/richmondpark/Tick%20Leaflet%20%20final%20April%202010.PDF
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Malaria
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reported cases of malaria there have been in the UK in the last 12 months; what assessment he has made of rates of takeup of preventive medication for malaria; and if he will make a statement. [54904]
Anne Milton: In 2010, 1,761 imported cases of malaria were reported. None were acquired in the United Kingdom. Malaria figures are published annually.
4,148,701 prescriptions for malaria medication were dispensed in England in 2010. Medication used for treatment and prevention cannot be separated, as many drugs are used for both purposes. No assessment of rates of take up of preventive medication for malaria has been undertaken as it is not possible to establish this.
Medical Equipment: Hygiene
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department’s policy is on the sterility of (a) medical and (b) in vitro diagnostic devices for the containment or culture of specimens. [54646]
Anne Milton: The choice of devices for collecting or culturing specimens is made locally. Sterility is not required for the containment or culture of all specimens.
Multiple Sclerosis: Nurses
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to maintain the level of specialist nurse services for multiple sclerosis. [54800]
Paul Burstow: Specialist nurses provide an important source of support and advice to patients with multiple sclerosis and enable many patients to manage their condition effectively. It is the responsibility of local health bodies to make decisions on the funding of multiple sclerosis nurse posts.
Muscular Dystrophy
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by the NHS East of England Specialised Commissioning Group in recruiting and appointing three neuromuscular care advisors for the region; and if he will make a statement. [54780]
Paul Burstow: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) on 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 704W.
Further to that answer, we are advised that the posts will be advertised with a view to suitable candidates commencing the roles by the end of summer 2011.
NHS: Sustainable Development
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the public purse was of the NHS sustainable development unit in the last year for which figures are available. [54433]
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Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Sustainable Development Unit is hosted by the East of England Strategic Health Authority. Departmental officials have been advised by the strategic health authority that the annual expenditure of the NHS Sustainable Development Unit for the financial year 2010-11 was £505,706. This is the most recent financial year for which figures are available.
Organs: Donors
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to encourage people to join the Organ Donor Register. [54617]
Anne Milton: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) undertakes a variety of activities, working with a number of partners in the private, public and third sectors to encourage more people to join the organ donor register (ODR). this includes national initiatives such as joining the ODR when registering with a doctor.
Earlier this year NHSBT ran a campaign targeted specifically at black and minority ethnic (BME) communities highlighting the importance of people from black and Asian communities joining the ODR and discussing their donation wishes with family members. The campaign included a tour of shopping centres in areas with a high concentration of black and Asian communities, visits to Hindu, Sikh and Muslim faith organisations and places of worship, advertising on black and Asian television channels, radio stations and newspapers, a social media campaign and a poster display in community shops and outlets.
NHSBT is also working in partnership with the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency prompting people to make a choice about joining the ODR when applying for their driving licence on-line. If successful the approach may be rolled out to other areas.
During National Transplant Week, an annual event to be held 4-10 July 2011, NHSBT will work with partner organisations to plan activity under the theme of “what are you waiting for?”. The campaign will highlight how quick and easy it is to join the ODR. In the Department of Health in June 2011, donation events in London and Leeds will answer questions about donation and encourage Department of Health staff to join the Organ Donor Register.
St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations the North West Strategic Health Authority has received from St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust on (a) the financial conditions the Trust has been required to meet in order to become a foundation trust and (b) the potential effect of such conditions on patient services. [55022]
Mr Simon Burns:
Monitor (the Independent Regulator of NHS foundation trusts) wrote to national health service trusts, foundation trusts (FTs) and strategic health authorities to set out its revised financial assumptions on 27 April 2011. All NHS trusts applying for FT status will, as part of their application, be required to demonstrate
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how they will meet these financial requirements while at the same time ensuring the quality of its services meets national standards.
Work on the Tripartite Formal Agreement between St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust, North West strategic health authority and the Department has not yet been completed. When it has been finalised and the agreement has been signed by all parties, the trust will publish the agreement on their website. The agreement will identify the issues the trust faces and the actions that will establish them as sustainable providers of high quality health care services. These developments will enable them to meet the demanding requirements needed to achieve FT status. Any proposals for service changes will be subject to the normal process of consultation.
Strokes
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts (PCTs) are reviewing their support for Life After Stroke Services; which PCTs have reduced their support for such services for 2011-12; and what the size of any reduction is in each such case. [54987]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not held centrally.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he provides to local authorities to ensure their employees receive training in dealing with those who have communication difficulties following a stroke; and if he will make a statement. [54988]
Paul Burstow: It is the responsibility of individual social care employers (including local authorities) to ensure that their staff are appropriately trained for the work that they do. This may involve partnership working with the national health service. The Department encourages employers to upskill their existing staff to improve standards within social care.
Skills for Care, the Sector Skills Council, provides training materials in communications skills for all social care staff. These are included within the Common Induction Standards. Social Care Institute for Excellence has also produced a module on verbal communications on Social Care TV—a Department funded e-learning resource for social care staff.
Tobacco
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to require that organisations which engage with his Department on tobacco control issues disclose whether they are linked to or receive funding from (a) the pharmaceutical industry and (b) the public purse. [54656]
Anne Milton: The Government are under obligation to protect tobacco control from the vested interests of the tobacco industry, under The World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Our policy on this is set out in Chapter 10 of “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England”. This does not extend beyond the tobacco industry and the Department, as with all other policy areas, engages with a wide range of stakeholders including
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the pharmaceutical industry, organisations in receipt of funding from the pharmaceutical industry and organisations in receipt of funding from the public purse.
A copy of the plan has already been placed in the Library.
Work and Pensions
Child Care Tax Credit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of households (a) with parents who are reliant on formal child care in order to work but whose child care costs will be higher than the amount allocated for child care within universal credit, (b) with parents with children who will be subject to the overall benefit cap and (c) with parents with children who will be affected by both (i) high cost child care and (ii) the benefit cap. [53715]
Maria Miller: The Government have announced that support for child care costs will be provided in universal credit by an additional element, and we are considering what rates to set. We will match the same total amount of funding as in the current system, and are looking at how best this support can be allocated. In particular, we would like child care to support all working parents, so that those working under 16 hours can benefit. We are looking at different options and will be discussing them with stakeholders.
We estimate that approximately 50,000 households are likely to be impacted by the introduction of the benefit cap of which about 95% will include children.
The estimated number of households affected by the benefit cap is based on survey data using the Department for Work and Pension's Policy Simulation Model. Sample sizes are too small to yield reliable results from analysis of child care costs incurred by those households affected by the benefit cap.
Child Support Agency
Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many consolatory payments in respect of errors and maladministration were made to clients by the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years; what the total amount paid out in consolatory payments was in each such year; and what the average sum offered to clients as consolatory payments was in each such year. [53826]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many consolatory payments in respect of errors and maladministration were made to clients by the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years; what the total amount paid out in consolatory payments was in each such year; and what the average sum offered to clients as consolatory payments was in each such year. [53826]
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Consolatory payments are compensatory amounts paid to parents on an ex-gratia basis where delays or administrative errors have resulted in lower than expected service standards. Compensation payments for lost interest are also classed as a consolatory payment.
The following table details the volume and value of Consolatory Payments (including interest payments) made in each of the last five years; including the average sum paid in each year. This information is published in the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's Annual Report and Accounts.
| Financial year | Consolatory payments—Value (£ million) | Consolatory payments—Volume | Average payment (£) |
| (1)The 2010/11 figures are unaudited and therefore may be subject to change. | |||
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Child: Maintenance
Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many responses his Department received to its consultation Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility; and how many of these were from (a) parents, (b) third sector organisations and (c) others. [53822]
Maria Miller: We have received a total of 652 direct responses to the consultation exercise. Of these:
578 responses were from individual members of the public;
66 responses were from organisations, including third sector organisations;
six responses were from honourable Members; and
two responses were from noble Lords.
In addition we have received a further 368 letters from hon. Members.
Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the Government Response to the Work and Pensions Committee's Third Report, Session 2009-10, on the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission and the Child Support Agency's Operational Improvement Plan, if he will provide details of the range of people recruited from the private and voluntary sectors to assist the Commission to ensure that the future scheme learns from the lessons of the past. [53823]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Government Response to the Work and Pensions Committee's Third Report of Session 2009-10 on the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission and the Child Support Agency's Operational Improvement Plan, if he will provide details
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of the range of people recruited from the private and voluntary sectors to assist the Commission to ensure that the future scheme learns from the lessons of the past. [53823]
One of the initial objectives when setting up the Commission was to recruit new talent, skills and thinking from other sectors primarily for head office functions including strategic planning and the design of the new child maintenance system.
The job designs and reward packages for the roles on offer were developed to attract expertise from the private and voluntary sectors—salaries offered in line with market rates, relevant to the specific role rather, than a grade and inclusive of all benefits. The approach has been very successful in attracting the right people with the skills needed. The total number of external recruits since November 2008, including temporary posts is 297 who have come from backgrounds including banking, insurance, management consultancy and the infrastructure sector as well as the voluntary sector.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Departmental Buildings
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [53812]
Chris Grayling: DWP does not own any buildings. The DWP estate was sold (freehold, feuhold and long leasehold interests) or transferred (short leasehold interests) to Telereal Trillium under a PFI contract known as “PRIME”.
The proceeds from the sale of Department of Social Security buildings were released to HM Treasury in April 1998, and a further transfer occurred in December 2003 when PRIME was expanded to include the Employment Service estate after the formation of the DWP.
However for the hon. Member’s information I have attached a list of current DWP locations with post codes. This information will shortly be published on Data.gov.uk via the Cabinet Office.
Disability Living Allowance
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Scotland have been in receipt of disability living allowance since 1992; how many of these have had their award reviewed under (a) the Benefits Integrity Project, (b) periodic reviews and (c) the Right Payment Programme since 1997; and how many of those reviewed had their award adjusted. [53617]
Maria Miller: We are unable to tell you how many people in Scotland have been in receipt of DLA since 1992; records only go back to 1996. The information that is available is in the following table:
| Region—Scotland | |
| As at August each year: | Cases in payment |
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| Note: Totals have been rounded to the nearest 1,000 and show the number of people in receipt of DLA, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. Source: August 1996 to August 2001: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5% sample, (the proportions derived have been applied to the overall 100% total for DLA); August 2002 to August 2010: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. | |
We are also unable to tell you how many people in Scotland have since 1997 had their award reviewed under (a) the Benefit Integrity Project, (b) periodic reviews and (c) the Right Payment Programme. Nor can we tell you how many of those reviewed had their award adjusted. This is because Management Information statistics have not been set up to go down to the level of detail that would enable us to identify customers living in Scotland.
Disability Living Allowance: Autism
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people with autism who are in receipt of the middle rate of disability living allowance. [54066]
Maria Miller: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available relating to learning difficulties is in the following table.
| Number of people in receipt of the middle care rate of disability living allowance where the main disabling condition is learning difficulties—August 2010 | ||
| All | Middle Care Rate | |
| Notes: 1. The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100% data sources. However, the 5% sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100% data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of DLA claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5% sample data, or disabling condition (DLA) is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100% total for the benefit. This has been done here. 2. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 3. Case load totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance and exclude those with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 4. Prior to October 2008 the codes used to record disabling condition for DLA included a category called "Learning Disability" which includes the following disabling conditions: ‘F86’—'Down's Syndrome', 'F87'—'Fragile X syndrome', ‘F90'—'Other Learning Disability', 'F91'—'Autism', 'F92'—'Asperger Syndrome', 'F94'—'Retts Disorder.' 5. In October 2008, new codes were introduced which provided more detail with respect to disabling conditions. The "Learning Difficulty" group was separated out into six categories, one of which is "Autism". 6. Codes for existing DLA claimants were not updated, so therefore the number of cases with new codes is extremely small compared to the total numbers in receipt of DLA. Therefore it is not yet possible to produce a reliable estimate of the total number of people claiming DLA with a main disabling condition of “Autism”. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate. | ||
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Disability Living Allowance: Parkinson's Disease
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of claimants of disability living allowance in the North East who are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease; and what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect on claimants diagnosed with Parkinson's disease of proposed changes to disability living allowance. [54287]
Maria Miller: The information is as follows:
| Number of people in receipt of disability living allowance in the North East where the main disabling condition is Parkinson's disease—August 2010 | |
| All | |
| Notes: 1. The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100% data sources. However, the 5% sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100% data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of DLA claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5% sample data, or disabling condition (DLA) is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100% total for the benefit. This has been done here. 2. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 3. Case load totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance and exclude those with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5% sample. | |
From 2013 we will introduce a new benefit, personal independence payment, to replace disability living allowance for people of working age. Key to personal independence payment will be a more objective assessment of individual need. We have been developing our proposals for the new assessment in collaboration with a group of independent specialists in health, social care and disability.
The assessment will take account of needs arising from physical, sensory, mental, intellectual and cognitive impairments. We believe it is right for the assessment to look at disabled people as individuals and not simply label them by their health condition or impairment. Therefore the assessment is being designed to consider an individual's personal circumstances and the support they need, rather than basing eligibility on any medical condition. Before finalising the assessment criteria we will be testing them and assessing their impact.
Housing Benefit
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) England, (b) the North East, (c) Teesside and (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency claimed housing benefit in each of the last 10 years. [47736]
Steve Webb: The information requested for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency is not available.
A copy of the available information on HB recipients has been placed in the Library.
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received (a) housing benefit but not council tax benefit, (b) council tax benefit but not housing benefit and (c) housing benefit and council tax benefit in each region in each year since 2007. [53403]
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Steve Webb: The following tables contain tabulations of housing benefit and council tax benefit data by Government Office Region and benefit combination (i.e. the number of claimants in receipt of either housing benefit, council tax benefit or both) since 2008. Earlier data held by the Department for Work and Pensions are based on clerical returns from local authorities and do not contain this level of detail.
| November 2008 | |||
| HB only | CTB only | HB and CTB | |
| January 2009 | |||
| HB only | CTB only | HB and CTB | |
| January 2010 | |||
| HB only | CTB only | HB and CTB | |
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| January 2011 | |||
| HB only | CTB only | HB and CTB | |
| Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. 5. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and January 2011 is the most recent available. 6. Council tax benefit figures exclude any single adult rebate cases. 7. Figures are at the second Thursday in each month provided. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) | |||
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what equality impact assessment he undertook on the effect of the provisions of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2010 on people aged between 25 and 34 years. [53970]
Steve Webb: An equality impact assessment has been carried out and will be published in May.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the contribution of the Minister for Employment to the Public Bill Committee on the Welfare Reform Bill of 31 March 2011, Official Report, column 335, how many of the 3,500 families receiving more than £25,000 a year in housing benefit are employed; and how many such tenancies are occupied by (a) a couple with (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four, (v) five and (vi) more than five children under 18 and (b) a lone parent with (A) one, (B) two, (C) three, (D) four, (E) five and (F) more than five children under 18. [55021]
Steve Webb: Of the 3,510 housing benefit claimants under local housing allowance rules with a weekly award exceeding £481 per week (£25,000 if expressed as an annual value), approximately 1,020 were in work, 1,380 were couples with children and 1,920 were lone parents with children. Data on the number of children are not available.
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The figure for recipients in work includes all non-passported claims where either the claimant or their partner has declared any income from employment or self employment. This excludes people who may be doing some permitted work while in receipt of a passporting benefit (income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income support, income related employment support allowance or guarantee credit).
Local Government Finance
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much each local authority received from each (a) revenue and (b) capital funding stream from his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; how much funding his Department allocated from each such stream in each year; and what the change was in the level of funding in each such stream between those years in (A) cash and (B) real terms. [49254]
Steve Webb: The information has been placed in the Library.
Social Fund
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level was of recovery of crisis loans in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms in each year from 2003 to 2010. [54150]
Steve Webb [holding answer 5 May 2011]: The information available is given in the following tables. Information for 2010-11 will not be available until after the Secretary of State's Annual Report on the Social Fund for 2010-11 has been published later this year.
| Level of recovery of crisis loans in cash terms in each year from 2003-04 to 2009-10 in Great Britain | |
| Financial year | Crisis loan recovery (£ million) |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is management information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using official/National Statistics but in this case we only have management information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, they do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the social fund computer system. 2. Information for 2003-04 to 2009-10 is also published in the Secretary of State's Annual Report on the Social Fund. Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System. | |
The information in the following table shows the percentage of expenditure in each year recovered in each of the subsequent years. For example, in 2003-04 22.6% of the expenditure in that year was subsequently recovered within the same year.
| Percentage | |||||||
| Year of recovery | |||||||
| Year of expenditure | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
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10 May 2011 : Column 1168W
| Notes: 1. The information provided is management information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using official/National Statistics but in this case we only have management information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, they do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the social fund computer system. 2. From April 2006 policy changes were made to the Loans scheme which included changes to recoveries. The changes made were to reduce the highest of the loan repayment rates of 15% and 25% to 12% and 20% respectively and increase the period of time in which a loan can be repaid. 3. Not all expenditure is recovered within five years and while recovery is still made after five years, it is not possible to break this down further. Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System. | |||||||
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government on proposals to localise the Social Fund. [54290]
Steve Webb: The social fund is not being localised. The Welfare Reform Bill includes proposals to abolish the discretionary social fund. It will be replaced with a combination of locally designed and targeted assistance for the most vulnerable in the community and a modernised and simplified national system of payments on account accessed through the benefit system.
Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform, has recently spoken to Leighton Andrews, Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning in the Welsh Assembly Government to discuss our welfare reform proposals, including the new local assistance.
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the planned abolition of the post of Social Fund Commissioner. [54291]
Steve Webb: I have discussed the abolition of the post of the social fund commissioner with the commissioner himself.
A number of organisations have raised the issue of disputes handling for the new local assistance that will replace community care grants and crisis loans for general living expenses.
The commissioner's statutory role is to appoint and train inspectors to provide a second tier independent review of discretionary social fund decisions. The proposed abolition of the post of the social fund commissioner will be a direct consequence of the abolition of the discretionary social fund.