Hospitals: Television
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the (a) average daily charge and (b) total charges incurred by patients and their families for watching television in hospitals; and whether he plans to take steps to reduce such charges. [57644]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not collect the information requested.
Charges for television services are agreed locally between national health service trusts and their chosen suppliers. The Department has no authority to impose price changes on the suppliers of these services.
Infectious Diseases: Herbal Medicine
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the treatment of echinococcus multilocularis following the implementation of the EU Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products. [57309]
7 Jun 2011 : Column 82W
Mr Simon Burns: No representations have been received in relation to the treatment of echinococcus multilocularis linked to the implementation of the European Directive 2004/24/EC on traditional herbal medicinal products.
Inspections
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of health and social care providers (a) will have received a site inspection in the inspection year to October 2011 and (b) will receive a site inspection in the year from October 2011 to October 2012. [58087]
Mr Simon Burns: Under the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) current methodology, every provider should be reviewed at least every two years. However, in line with the principles of proportionate, risk-based regulation, the CQC carries out site visits based on its judgment of risk where a site visit is the most effective way of gathering information about compliance. This enables the CQC to target its resources on providers where the risk is highest, while reducing the regulatory burden on providers where the risk is low. Site visits will therefore take place wherever necessary to gather information about compliance.
The CQC cannot predict the number of site visits which will take place or the proportion of providers visited, since decisions about whether a site visit is required are based on judgment of risk.
Leicester City Primary Care Trust: Diabetes
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Leicester City Primary Care Trust spent on diabetes in each category of expenditure in the last financial year for which figures are available. [57326]
Paul Burstow: The information requested is not held centrally.
Diabetes is a complex condition that can affect every part of the body, which means that it is difficult to calculate how much money has been spent on the treatment of diabetes. It is for national health service organisations to determine the needs of their local population and to allocate resources appropriately to meet these needs.
Leucodepletion
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on the decision to implement leucodepletion. [57200]
Anne Milton: There have been no discussions with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on the decision to implement leucodepletion. Leucodepletion, which removes the bulk of white cells from donated blood, was introduced in the United Kingdom in October 1999. The process reduces the risk of cytomegalovirus transmission, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease transmission, transfusion-related acute lung injury and transfusion-related fever.
7 Jun 2011 : Column 83W
Local Health Watch: Finance
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how Local Health Watch will be funded. [57716]
Mr Simon Burns: Local HealthWatch organisations will be funded through the local authority formula-based grant.
London Ambulance Service: AssetCo
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts the London Ambulance Service holds with AssetCo plc. [57333]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to approach London Ambulance Service NHS Trust directly for the information requested.
Medical Equipment
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have had recent discussions on the P-Capt filter. [57199]
Anne Milton: Ministers and officials have had no recent discussions on the P-Capt prion filter.
The recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) on the potential use of prion filters are dependant upon study results. Ministers and officials will consider SaBTO's recommendations and the evidence in early 2012.
Medical Treatments
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence topic selection procedure; and if he will make a statement. [57214]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) last reviewed NICE's topic selection processes for technology appraisals in 2008-09 and for clinical guidelines and public health guidance in 2006. Both reviews incorporated a public consultation.
Mental Health Services: Children
Mr Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days were spent by children on adult mental health wards in each region in 2010-11. [58044]
Paul Burstow: The number of days spent by children and young people aged under 19 on adult mental health wards in each region in 2010-11 was as follows:
| Number of occupied bed days spent by children on adult mental health wards in each region in 2010-11 | ||
|
|
|
Number |
7 Jun 2011 : Column 84W
| Notes: 1. Number of occupied bed days spent by children on adult mental health wards in each region in 2010-11 Vital Signs Monitoring Return—Provider Based (VSMR-P)—CAMHS Data—SHA and Self Trusts. Year: 2010-11 Period Name: MARCH VSMRType: CAMHS Extracted 25 May 2011 | ||
The figures include five bed days reported for under- 16s on adult psychiatric wards. Two bed days were reported in Q3 2010-11 and found to be a reporting error. Three bed days (at two locations) were reported in Q4 2010-11. These cases are being investigated. The Government believes that an adult psychiatric ward is not an acceptable place for an under-16-year-old to be treated.
There is a legislative requirement that hospital managers must ensure that patients aged under 18 are treated in an environment in hospital which is suitable having regard to their age (subject to their needs). There can be circumstances where an adult psychiatric ward is an appropriate place for a 16 or 17-year-old, e.g. overriding emergency, atypical case.
Multiple Sclerosis
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of Sativex in alleviating symptoms of spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients. [57493]
Paul Burstow: We have made no such assessment.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has not issued any guidance to the national health service on the use of Sativex.
In the absence of final NICE guidance on a particular treatment, it is for primary care trusts to decide whether to fund the use of such drugs and patients have a right under the NHS constitution to expect local funding decisions to be made rationally and after an assessment of the available evidence.
National Clinical Directors
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to make any national clinical directors redundant under his plans for NHS reorganisation. [57556]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government continue to value the contribution made by national clinical directors. The future provision of clinical and expert advice will be considered as part of the response to the current listening exercise on planned national health service reorganisation.
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John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) title and (b) post holder is of each national clinical director in his Department; and for how many staff each director is responsible. [57557]
7 Jun 2011 : Column 86W
Mr Simon Burns: The Department currently has 15.15 whole time equivalent (WTE) national clinical directors (NCDs). The following table provides a breakdown of their titles, the post holder and their WTE. The NCDs are not directly responsible for any Departmental staff.
| Title | Name | WTE |
|
National Clinical Director Medical Practitioners (Children, Young People and Maternity Services) |
||
|
Chief Scientific Officer and National Clinical Director (Respiratory) |
||
National Health Service Litigation Authority
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many cases the National Health Service Litigation Authority was successful in defending a claim of clinical negligence in each of the last three years; in how many such cases the authority recovered costs from the claimant or their insurers; and what the total costs recovered were, including disbursements and solicitors' costs. [57915]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Neuromuscular Services
Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by the NHS North East Specialised Commissioning Group in reviewing neuromuscular services in the region; and if he will make a statement. [57721]
Paul Burstow: This is a matter for the national health service locally.
The North East Specialised Commissioning Group is due to complete its review of neuromuscular services in the region in June 2011. We expect the findings of the report to be published.
NHS Trusts
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the accountability of NHS trusts to the public. [57868]
Mr Simon Burns: Foundation trusts are locally accountable to their governors, mostly members of the public, elected by the public. We intend all national health service trusts to become, or be part of, a foundation trust by 2014. Part 4 of the Health and Social Care Bill would clarify and strengthen the internal governance of foundation trusts, further promoting transparency and accountability of foundation trusts to their governors, members and the public.
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment has he made of the process by which NHS trusts appoint (a) chairs, (b) directors and (c) non-executive directors. [57869]
Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Health delegates powers to appoint chairs and non-executive directors of national health service trusts to the Appointments Commission.
These appointments are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). To ensure the Appointments Commission comply with the Commissioner's code of practice throughout the
7 Jun 2011 : Column 87W
appointment process, they are regularly audited by OCPA and are required to submit an annual compliance statement to the Commissioner.
NHS trusts are expected to comply with existing employment legislation and good human resources practice in the appointment of chief executives and executive directors. In addition, they are expected to comply with guidance sent from Sir David Nicholson, NHS Chief Executive, on 18 October 2006, “Appointments to the most senior posts in Primary Care Trusts and NHS Trusts”.
NHS: Databases
Mr Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the name is of each (a) NHS Commissioner and (b) provider of NHS-commissioned care that is not yet compliant with the IG toolkit requirement for the pseudonymisation of patient data and records. [57956]
Mr Simon Burns: National health service commissioner and provider organisations publish on 31 March each year an information governance assessment using the online information governance toolkit. The published returns for the pseudonymisation requirement that represent the position at 31 March 2011 have been placed in the Library.
NHS organisations work continuously to maintain and improve performance in all aspects of information governance and those organisations that have not yet reached the required level of attainment are expected to have plans in place to do so during the course of this year.
NHS: Disadvantaged
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means (a) HealthWatch, (b) health and wellbeing boards and (c) Public Health England will ensure that (i) homeless persons and (ii) other excluded and disadvantaged groups are treated as a priority in the NHS. [57724]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government have made tackling health inequalities a priority as part of their commitment to fairness and social justice. Subject to the parliamentary process, Local HealthWatch organisations will be the local consumer voice for patients and the public. Local HealthWatch organisations will be inclusive and reflect the views and experiences of their diverse communities. For the local health and wellbeing boards' forthcoming guidance on the joint strategic needs assessments and Joint health and wellbeing strategies, there will be an emphasis on the need to look at the health and care needs of the whole population, including vulnerable groups such as rough sleepers. In addition, the new Public Health England will have an important role in working with the national health service, local government and other agencies to reduce inequalities, enabling and supporting individuals and communities to improve their own health.
NHS: Finance
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on reviewing funding for the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [57936]
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Mr Simon Burns: Funding for health, alongside all other public services, was reviewed and set for the next four years as part of the comprehensive spending review, published in October 2010. The majority of health funding is currently allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) and this was most recently reviewed and set for the current financial year (2011-12) in December 2010.
For next year (2012-13), the usual process for reviewing the allocations of national health service funding continues. The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) continually oversees the development of the weighted capitation formula which is used to allocate PCT funding. It makes recommendations to the Secretary of State for Health on potential changes to the formula between PCT allocation rounds.
NHS: Private Patients
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases were referred to the NHS from private health providers after (a) operations and (b) other treatment which were considered unsatisfactory by (i) the patient and (ii) their doctor in the latest period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such referrals to the NHS. [57106]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not collected centrally.
NHS: Reforms
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that national priorities and commitments are maintained and fulfilled at a local level following implementation of proposed reforms of the NHS. [57725]
Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State remains accountable for the national health service. Subject to parliamentary approval for the Health and Social Care Bill, the Government will set national objectives and requirements for the NHS Commissioning Board through a mandate, and will hold the board to account for its performance. In turn, the board will hold commissioning consortia to account for the outcomes they achieve and the NHS resources used to achieve those results. The Secretary of State will also make a limited number of “standing rules” setting requirements for the board and consortia through regulations.
NHS: Research
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill to establish a duty on the Secretary of State and all relevant NHS bodies to promote research. [57713]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government have used the natural break in the parliamentary timetable to take the opportunity to pause and listen to views on plans to modernise the national health service, including regarding the role of NHS bodies in promoting research. The Government will consider comments regarding the need to establish a duty on all relevant NHS bodies to promote research during the current pause and as the Bill progresses through Parliament.
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NHS: Sick Leave
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what levels of staff sickness there were in the NHS in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 for each (i) hospital trust and (ii) primary care trust. [57103]
Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Information Centre (NHS IC) has published monthly sickness absence rates in a quarterly publication derived from the Electronic Staff Record since April 2009. These can be found on its website at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/workforce/sickness-absence
Rates for individual hospital trusts and primary care trusts can be found in Table 5 of the Excel tables.
There are no published sickness absence data for before April 2009 and the NHS IC does not publish annual rates.
Older People: Domestic Accidents
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to improve access to fall prevention services for elderly people; [57062]
(2) what steps he is taking to encourage older people at risk of falling to take part in evidence-based exercise programmes; [57063]
(3) what steps he is taking to encourage physical activity in older people. [57065]
Paul Burstow: The Prevention Package for Older People comprises information for commissioners on several aspects of falls and falls prevention services, including “Effective Interventions in Health and Social Care” that provides guidance on: improving patient outcomes and efficiency of care after hip fractures through compliance with core standards; responding to a first fracture and preventing the second; early intervention to restore independence—through falls care pathways, linking acute and urgent care services to secondary prevention of further falls and injuries; and preventing frailty, promoting bone health and reducing accidents—through encouraging physical activity and healthy lifestyle, and reducing unnecessary environmental hazards.
The Prevention Package, and other resources such as NHS Choices and the “Be active, be healthy” initiative all actively promote the value to people of all ages of a healthy lifestyle, including weight bearing exercise, exposure to natural daylight and a balanced diet to promote increased bone mineral density and so reduce the risks of osteoporosis and frailty in later life.
Older People: Weather
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to protect vulnerable elderly people from the effects of cold weather. [57060]
Anne Milton: There is substantial public health planning in England before and during the winter season.
Effective planning is dependent on joint partnerships with local government, the local civil society and the national health service. The Department also has worked with the Met Office on winter cold weather warning systems and a respiratory disease warning system for those working with vulnerable people.
7 Jun 2011 : Column 90W
The programme also includes the annual seasonal influenza vaccination programme which offers free flu jabs to people most at risk from potentially life-threatening complications of flu. The Government also ran a new website service, Winter Watch as well as its annual Keep Warm Keep Well Campaign for 2010-11 which provides advice on staying warm over the winter and staying in touch with people who may be vulnerable during cold weather, including the elderly, in order to reduce illness and deaths.
As part of our further work on effective public health for winter, the Department has been working with the Met Office, other Government Departments and public health champions in a number of regions to improve the way we communicate with people in local settings to accurately predict cold weather and provide an appropriate and effective response. A pilot project has been run this past winter of a draft cold weather plan with a view to having it in place for winter 2011-12.
Orphan Drugs
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that treatments for ultra orphan conditions are referred to the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services; and if he will make a statement; [57215]
(2) what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence memorandum “Appraising Orphan Drugs”; and if he will make a statement; [57216]
(3) what discussions his Department has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on its memorandum “Appraising Orphan Drugs”; and if he will make a statement. [57217]
Mr Simon Burns: We have no plans to ask the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to establish a separate appraisal system for drugs for very rare conditions, nor have we had any recent discussions with NICE on its 2006 report on this issue.
The great majority of new drugs and significant licence extensions are considered through the topic selection process for NICE'S technology appraisal programme. If NICE considers that by undertaking an appraisal it would not be able to add value, then for high-cost, low-volume drugs for very rare conditions, NICE can send the technology to the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services (AGNSS) for assessment for possible inclusion in the arrangements for national specialised commissioning.
The requirements for entry into the AGNSS arrangements are set out in the statement of scope and the decision-making framework which are available on the specialised services website at:
www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/info/new-technologies
Paramedical Staff: Crimes of Violence
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paramedics in each region have been injured as a result of assault while on duty in each of the last three years. [57005]
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Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the number of reported physical assaults against national health service staff is contained in the “Tables showing number of reported physical assaults on NHS staff from 2004-05 to 2007-08, broken down by NHS trust/PCT”, “Tables showing number of reported physical assaults on NHS staff in 2008-09, broken down by NHS trust/PCT” and “Tables showing number of reported physical assaults on NHS staff in 2009-10, broken down by NHS trust/PCT” which have already been placed in the Library.
The tables show the number of reported physical assaults, but do not specify professional categories, whether an injury was sustained, or whether the member of staff was on duty when the assault took place.
Passive Smoking: Infants
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to investigate the health effects on infants of exposure to passive smoke in cars. [57472]
Anne Milton: The evidence of the potential for harm to children is already clearly proven and published worldwide so we have no further plans. Our focus now will be to determine the best way to change the behaviour of smokers to stop them exposing children and infants to the harm caused by second-hand smoke.
This summer, the Department will publish a new marketing strategy for tobacco control. This will set out further plans to encourage people to recognise the risks of second-hand smoke and to make their homes and private cars smoke-free.
Physiotherapy
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department plans to take to ensure patients' right to self-refer to NHS physiotherapy services is maintained under the any qualified provider model; [57218]
(2) what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the any qualified provider model with patient self-referral to physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement; [57219]
(3) what steps his Department plans to take to assess the adequacy of access to clinically appropriate physiotherapy services for patients with (a) Parkinson's disease, (b) multiple sclerosis, (c) musculoskeletal conditions, (d) fragility fractures and (e) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease under the any qualified provider model; [57220]
(4) what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that patients (a) have access to physiotherapy services for as long as is clinically appropriate and (b) access to physiotherapy services is not restricted by reductions in NHS expenditure under the any qualified provider model. [57221]
Mr Simon Burns:
National health service physiotherapy services are provided on the basis of assessed clinical need. It is for local commissioners to decide how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health and to commission services accordingly,
7 Jun 2011 : Column 92W
in line with best practice guidelines. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community, including the provision of physiotherapy services.
We have published proposals for consultation on extending patient choice in the NHS. A copy of the consultation document, ‘Liberating the NHS: Greater Choice and Control’, has already been placed in the Library. However, we have since agreed to defer our response to this consultation in order to take account of the current listening exercise on NHS modernisation, including the report of the NHS Future Forum.
Prescriptions
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many addresses for the writing and dispensation of prescriptions are registered in (a) in Bradford district and (b) England. [57404]
Mr Simon Burns: In primary care, prescriptions are generally written by prescribers within general practitioner (GP) practices. The following table provides information on numbers of GP practices for the latest available month.
| Numbers of GP practices—February 2011 | ||
|
|
Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) (1) | England |
| (1) NHS Prescription Services do not hold figures for ‘Bradford district’. Data are held by PCT boundary. Therefore data have been supplied for Bradford and Airedale PCT. (2) GP dispensing practices are both prescribers and dispensers. Source: NHS Prescription Services | ||
Prescriptions in primary care may be dispensed by community pharmacies, dispensing doctors or appliance contractors. The number for each category of dispenser is provided in the following table for the latest available month.
| Numbers of dispensers | ||
|
|
Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT (1) | England |
| (1) NHS Prescription Services do not hold figures for ‘Bradford district’. Data are held by PCT boundary. Therefore data have been supplied for Bradford and Airedale PCT. (2) Dummy GP and dispensing practices are groups of prescribers set up by the PCTs, so that they can monitor the prescribing of contracted providers, such as out of hours providers, deputising services and clinics. (3) GP dispensing practices are both prescribers and dispensers. (4) Numbers of pharmacy and appliance contractors are accurate as at 31 March 2010. No reliable data are available for a later period. Source: NHS Prescription Services, NHS Information Centre | ||
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Respite Care: Finance
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department allocated for respite care in each local authority area in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement. [57399]
Paul Burstow: The carers grant was introduced in 1999 in recognition of carers’ need for support. Councils were able to use this money to support carers with breaks and other services. Between 2005-06 and 2010-11 the carers grant was worth £1.275 billion. Since 2008, the grant has been paid to councils as part of the area based grant.
Detailed breakdown by local authority area are contained in the following local authority social services letters (LASSL):
LASSL (2004)—26;
LASSL (2005)—six;
LASSL (2006)—one; and
LASSL—(DH) (2007)—two
Copies of the LASSLs have been placed in the Library and are available on the following Department's websites at:
www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4097307.pdf
www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4124138.pdf
www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_063042.pdf
www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_081124.pdf
The funding for all existing Department of Heath revenue grants for adult social care continues and will rise in line with inflation during the current spending review period. This includes funding for the carers grant. In order to allow councils to be as flexible as possible and to reduce administrative burdens, this funding has been made available to councils through the local government revenue support grant.
Some £50 million was invested in primary care trusts' baseline allocations in 2009-10 and £100 million in 2010-11 for breaks for carers. We are providing additional funding of £400 million to the national health service over the next four years (2011-12 to 2014-15) to enable more carers to take breaks from their caring responsibilities.
School Milk
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has assessed the merits of extending the availability of the free nursery milk scheme to all children in reception class rather than ending it at their fifth birthday. [57536]
Anne Milton: The Department is not considering extending the scheme to children who are five years old and over.
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Smoking: Young People
Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to prevent youths harassing adults outside shops in order to encourage them to buy cigarettes for those youths. [57306]
Anne Milton: As set out in “Healthy Lives, Healthy People, A Tobacco Control Plan for England”, published on 9 March 2011, the Department has commissioned a review of the evidence about the sources of tobacco for children, which will report back later this year. Future policy options will then be considered in light of the review's findings. A copy of the plan has already been placed in the Library.
Following the Home Office review of antisocial behaviour, it launched a consultation which outlines proposals to reform the toolkit for dealing with antisocial behaviour. Its aim is to reduce the bureaucracy, delay and cost that currently hampers the police and their local partners. The consultation closed on 17 May 2011.
Social Services
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the eligibility criteria were for Fair Access to Care services for each local authority as at 1 April 2011; and if he will make a statement; [57400]
(2) which local authorities changed their eligibility criteria for Fair Access to Care services in 2010-11; and if he will make a statement. [57401]
Paul Burstow: The Department does not hold this information centrally. However, we are aware that councils have been restricting eligibility criteria for a number of years.
The recent Association of Directors for Adult Social Services survey, published on 12 May 2011, indicated that 19 of the 150 councils that responded had changed their eligibility criteria between 2010-11 and 2011-12.
In recognition of the pressures on the social care system in a challenging local government settlement, the spending review allocated an additional £2 billion by 2014-15 to support the delivery of social care. This means, with an ambitious programme of efficiency, that there is enough funding available to make it possible to protect people’s access to care, without tightening eligibility.
Ministers recognise that this is a challenging settlement for local government, but if authorities are prepared to reform their services and drive down costs, then we believe that the investment from the national health service to social care, announced in the spending review, will enable them to protect the care that people receive.
Some councils are making changes such as sharing back office services, and caring for people in their own homes instead of in expensive residential care. By making these types of changes, councils can protect other front-line services.
We know reform of the system is needed. That is why we established an independent commission to consider how we can ensure affordable and sustainable funding for care and support for all adults in England into the future. The commission will report to us in July and we will set out our plans for further reform in a White Paper later this year.
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Social Services: Finance
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was allocated by his Department for social care in each local authority area in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement. [57398]
Paul Burstow: The main source of Government funding for council services is formula grant which is distributed each year by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Formula grant is not allocated for separate service areas such as social care but provides general funding for all services. Details of all formula grant settlements are available at:
www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/ssas.htm
As well as formula grant, funding for social care comes from specific grants allocated by the Department of Health, council tax and fees and charges paid by social care clients.
A table showing the total of all grants provided by the Department for each local authority from 2005-06 to 2011-12 has been placed in the Library.
Southern Cross Healthcare: Older People
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the oral answer by the Leader of the House on 19 May 2011, Official Report, columns 509-10, what discussions he has had with (a) the management of Southern Cross Care Homes and (b) local authorities on contingency plans to safeguard the care and shelter of the residents of Southern Cross Care Homes. [57281]
Paul Burstow: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Warley (Mr Spellar) on 19 May 2011, Official Report, column 306W.
Stress
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department takes to assess levels of stress of its officials during pregnancy. [57136]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department adheres to the requirements of—and duties under—the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The Department, in conjunction with line management, monitors the ability and capability of pregnant and expectant mothers. Assessments of the relevant facilities in the workplace take place immediately, when notified. New or expectant mothers complete an Initial Pregnancy Risk Assessment, a Second Trimester Risk Assessment, a Third Trimester Risk Assessment and a Post-Natal Risk Assessment. The Health and Safety Unit conduct the assessments of the relevant officers' work environment, as does the Department's Occupational Health Service Provider, where necessary.
The Department provides guidance to all staff and managers, including those who become pregnant, on stress recognition and stress management by way of the departmental intranet. Specifically, the Department's mental health policy covers prevention, early dialogue and identification, mutual understanding of issues and concerns together with setting out the support available to individuals and managers to help employees remain
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at work and perform to the best of their abilities. The support in place includes an Occupational Health Service, which has been designed specifically to meet the needs of the Department's employees. There is also a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, offering a free counselling service on a 24 hours, seven day a week basis and a helpline for managers.
Subarachnoid Haemorrhages
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment the NHS has made of the long-term outcomes of coiling procedures for the treatment of subarachnoid haemorrhages. [57003]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has made no assessment of the long-term outcomes of coiling procedures for the treatment of subarachnoid haemorrhages.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, whose role it is to provide advice and guidance to the national health service on clinical procedures, issued guidance to the NHS on management of intercranial aneurysms in January 2005 (IPG106). This is available at:
www.nice.org.uk/ip_38
Sunderland Hospital: Manpower
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were employed at Sunderland City Hospital on 1 April (i) 1997 and (ii) 2011. [57295]
Mr Simon Burns: Information is not available in the format requested. Information on the numbers of medical and dental staff and qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed at City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust on 30 September 1997 and the same date in 2010 is shown in the following table.
| Headcount | ||
|
|
1997 | 2010 |
| Notes: 1. The new headcount methodology for 2010 data is not fully comparable with previous years' data due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the “NHS Workforce: Summary of staff in the NHS: Results from September 2010 Census” publication that has been placed in the Library. 2. Data are from the annual September Census. April data are not available for the requested years. Source: The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census | ||
Tobacco
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what peer review was undertaken on (a) the calculations of the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses contained in and (b) the research on the economic burden of tobacco use on society cited in the “Tobacco Control Plan for England”; [57511]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2011, Official Report, columns 1158-59W, on tobacco, what criteria he uses to determine the admissibility of representations on public policy from sectors with commercial interests in the policy outcome; [57701]
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(3) pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2011, Official Report, columns 1158-59W, on tobacco, what obligations the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control places on the Government to protect tobacco control from vested interests of other industries. [57702]
Anne Milton: “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England” included an appendix providing resources for tobacco control (pages 48-53). The references to the Policy Exchange’s “Cough Up” report and the Action on Smoking and Health website provide further information on the costs of treating smoking related diseases and the economic burden on society of tobacco use, and the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control regarding the obligations that this treaty places on parties. Representations on public policy issues, including in the area of tobacco control, are regularly received from a number of interested parties and are all considered with due diligence. For example, when the Department carries out public consultations on policy initiatives it adheres strictly to the Cabinet Office guidance on representations from all parties.
A copy of the plan has already been placed in the Library.
Walking
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a recommended average daily distance a healthy person should walk. [57135]
Anne Milton: We are not intending to publish guidance on the distance a person should walk daily to stay healthy, as this depends on individual fitness and other forms of physical activity they may undertake.
Brisk walking can contribute to achieving the recommended levels of physical activity either in its own right or in combination with other physical activities. At a walking pace of three to four miles per hour (considered to represent moderate intensity activity), an adult might need to walk 1.5 to 2 miles on five days a week to meet the chief medical officer's current guidelines for physical activity.
For general health benefit, adults should do a total of at least 30 minutes a day of at least moderate intensity physical activity on five or more days of the week.
Energy and Climate Change
Biofuels
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) with reference to his Department's publication, “UK and Global Bioenergy Resource-Final Report”, what conversion factor from oven-dry tonnes was used for estimating the price of UK wood feedstocks per gigajoule; [57478]
(2) with reference to his Department's publication, “UK and Global Bioenergy Resource-Final Report”, what estimate his Department made of the price per oven-dry tonne of UK wood feedstocks for the large-scale electricity sector; [57479]
(3) with reference to page 7 of his Department's publication “UK and Global Bioenergy Resource-Final Report” what feedstock is referred to as being likely to reach £6 per gigajoule in the short to medium term. [57480]
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Gregory Barker: The publication ‘UK and Global Bioenergy Resource’ was an independent report by AEA Technology plc, commissioned by DECC, to assess the potential supply of biomass in the UK from 2010-30. In order to do this, AEA used different price points—£4/GJ, £6/GJ and £10/GJ—and different assumptions about how far non-financial constraints to the development of the market are overcome. Figure 3.2 in the report shows the potential contribution that various feedstocks could make to biomass supply in the UK up to 2030, on the basis of different combinations of the assumptions. The £6/GJ price point does not refer to a specific feedstock but is one of the sensitivities set out in the report.
In estimating the price of UK wood feedstocks per GJ, the consultants used a conversion factor of 19 GJ/tonne for solid oven-dried wood, as listed on page xii of the report.
DECC will use the AEA report and other evidence to inform assumptions about the price of feedstocks for the large-scale electricity sector. We will publish these assumptions alongside the renewables obligation-banding review in the summer.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the average price of UK-sourced wood feedstocks for biomass energy generation. [57567]
Gregory Barker: DECC uses a range of assumptions for prices of biomass feedstocks given the range of current prices and uncertainty over future trends. Prices assumed in the heat sector were published alongside the details of the renewable heat incentive scheme in March 2011 at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk supply/energymix/renewable/policy/incentive/incentive.aspx
Assumptions for the large-scale electricity sector will be published alongside the renewables obligation banding review in the summer.
Carbon Emissions
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if his Department will undertake an impact assessment in respect of the effect of the Government's energy policy on global carbon emissions. [57053]
Gregory Barker: DECC looks at the impact of domestic climate change and energy policies on domestic carbon emissions. DECC’s latest assessment of the impact of policies on emissions can be found in the DECC emission projections document published in June 2010:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Statistics/Projections/67-updated-emissions-projections-june-2010.pdf
DECC will published new emission projections by the end of the year. It is important to note that the analysis above does not take into consideration the impact of UK International Climate Finance on emissions in developing countries.
Carbon Emissions: Academies
Joseph Johnson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what recent representations he has received from local authorities
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that have academy schools within their boundaries concerning proposals to fine councils for failing to reduce carbon dioxide emissions across their estate; [57473]
(2) what his policy is on imposing financial penalties on local authorities in respect of carbon dioxide emissions from academy schools. [57474]
Gregory Barker: The Government are not proposing any fines for local authorities in relation to carbon reduction but under the provisions of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme which started in April of this year those local authorities which meet the scheme's criteria will be required to purchase allowances reflecting the carbon content of their fuel use. A number of local authorities have provided views on the treatment of academies as part of the coalition Government's current simplification review of the scheme set up by the previous Administration. These representations are currently being analysed and will contribute to the simplification proposals on which we will formally consult in due course.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of his Department's employees categorised by (a) seniority, (b) number of employees taking voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy. [57612]
Gregory Barker: DECC will be complying with the new Cabinet Office requirement to publish details of numbers of employees by seniority on a monthly basis.
DECC has no plans at present to publish details of natural wastage or the numbers of employees taking redundancy.
District Heating
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to encourage local authorities to require that new buildings connect to existing district heating networks. [56420]
Gregory Barker: Local authorities are already able to drive development of district heating systems in their areas, for example by setting out their support for district heating in local plans or by requiring that new buildings connect to existing networks and co-locate heat supply with heat demand.
In order to encourage action in this area, the Department recently launched Community Energy Online, a web portal which provides local authorities and their communities with information and advice about the deployment of community scale energy infrastructure, including district heating networks. The web portal is
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developed in partnership with leading organisations including the Planning Advisory Service and the Town and Country Planning Association who, like others, provide information and advice on connecting to district heating networks.
Electricity Generation
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the generating costs of (a) solar power and (b) other power generation technologies over the next 10 years. [57202]
Gregory Barker: The information is as follows:
(a) Solar PV costs were estimated by Element Energy in 2009. A more recent estimate by Mott Macdonald in 2011 for the Committee on Climate Change is also provided in table 1 as follows.
(b) The following table is taken from Mott Macdonald (2010) and gives 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 these levelised cost figures are not directly comparable with the costs for solar PV in part (a), which are expressed in terms of cost per unit of capacity, not output.
It should be noted that for the purposes of presentation, the table only gives either FOAK (first-of-a-kind) prices or NOAK (nth-of-a-kind) prices for each technology: NOAK 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 CCG T | 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: Mott 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: Mott 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 | ||||||||||
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what cost-benefit analysis of demand-side energy market measures his Department has undertaken. [57321]
Gregory Barker: The Government published an impact assessment of the green deal and energy company obligation elements of the Energy Bill in December 2010. It can be found here:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/legislation/energybill/1002-energy-bill-2011-ia-green-deal.pdf
A further cost-benefit analysis will be included in the impact assessment to be published at the start of the formal consultation on green deal secondary legislation in autumn 2011.
The Government also published two impact assessments of the smart meter rollout programme in March 2011. The impact assessment for the domestic sector can be found here:
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http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/consultations/smart-meter-imp-prospectus/1485-impact-assessment-smart-metering-implementation-p.pdf
The impact assessment for the non-domestic sector can be found here:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/consultations/smart-meter-imp-prospectus/1484-impact-assessment-smart-metering-implementation-p.pdf
The consultation on Electricity Market Reform (EMR), published in December 2010 recognised that demand- side measures have an important contribution to make in supporting the transition to a low-carbon generating mix and ensuring security of supply. An impact assessment published alongside that consultation, which included qualitative analysis of demand-side response, can be found here:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/emr/emr.aspx
DECC is currently developing a White Paper which will set out proposals for EMR; a further impact assessment will be published alongside this document.
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received from the European Commission on the state aid implications of his proposals for electricity market reform. [58035]
Charles Hendry: We have not received any formal communications to Ministers from the Commission on Electricity Market Reform in general or on state aids specifically. Department officials are regularly in touch with the Commission. Discussions on EMR are in their infancy, and have focused on explaining the background to, and the scope of, the reforms. We expect discussions to continue following the publication of the White Paper.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to announce whether his proposals for electricity market reform are to be subject to the control framework for levy-funded expenditure by his Department; and what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this matter. [58040]
Charles Hendry: The decision on whether the electricity market reform proposals will be subject to the control framework for DECC levy-funded spending will depend on whether the policies are classified by the Office for National Statistics as tax and spend.
The principles governing the inclusion of policies in the control framework are set out in the question and answer document available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/What%20we%20do/UK%20energy%20supply/Energy%20mix/Renewable%20energy/1691-qa-info-levy-funded-spending.pdf
Electricity: Foreign Investment in the UK
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 234W, on electricity generation: foreign investment in the UK, what definition of negawatts his Department uses. [56198]
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Charles Hendry: Negawatts is a term used to describe electricity saved through demand reduction measures; both the permanent energy efficiency savings secured by policies such as the green deal, and dynamic energy reductions through policies such as the capacity mechanism.
Electricity: Prices
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has received representations from the European Commission on potential non-compliance with state aid provisions of the treatment of the nuclear industry by his Department's proposals for (a) contract for difference feed-in tariffs and (b) a floor price for carbon in its consultation on electricity market reform. [57723]
Charles Hendry: We have not received any formal communications to Ministers from the Commission on Electricity Market Reform in general or on state aids specifically. Department officials are regularly in touch with the Commission. Discussions on EMR are in their infancy, and have focused on explaining the background to, and the scope of, the reforms. We expect discussions to continue following the publication of the White Paper.
Energy
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has made to the World Bank on its draft energy strategy. [58060]
Charles Hendry: The UK has engaged with the World Bank throughout the period of its energy strategy review. Most recently, the International Development Secretary spoke to the Development Committee(1) at the Spring Meetings where he stressed that the bank needs to ensure that the Energy Strategy meets the twin goals of sustainable energy production and increasing the access of poor people to energy. The UK continues to support the inclusion in the strategy of a target to increase the percentage of lending for clean energy and a shift away from lending for coal fired power stations toward cleaner energy sources as it is here that we believe the financing challenges to be greatest.
(1) Full text of the Secretary of State for International Development’s speech to the Development Committee on 16 April is available at:
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DEVCOMMINT/Documentation/22891473/DCS2011-0035-UnitedKingdom.pdf
Energy Performance Certificates: Fines
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many fines have been levied on landlords of (a) commercial and (b) residential properties for non-compliance with regulations on the provision of energy performance certificates since the entry into force of such regulations. [57417]
Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.
The Department does not hold this information. Local authority weights and measures authorities have been given the responsibility for enforcing the duties relating to energy performance certificates through
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Regulation 38 of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007. Trading Standards Officers have discretion to determine the appropriate action in each case. This will range between providing information and assistance to issuing warnings or a penalty charge notice.
Energy: Billing
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which of his Department's policies are subject to the control framework for levy-funded expenditure by his Department. [58036]
Gregory Barker: Three policies are subject to the control framework for the levy funded expenditure. These are warm home discount, renewables obligation and feed-in tariffs.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential effects of classification of the Energy Company Obligation as levy-funded expenditure. [58037]
Gregory Barker: How new policies that entail levy-funded expenditure are accommodated within the control framework will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is classified as tax and spend then the Government would expect to make some increase to the levies cap to accommodate this. Controlling the impact of ECO on consumer bills and ensuring its aims are met cost-effectively will be central to its design irrespective of whether it is classified as tax and spend and subject to the control framework, or as regulation.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what discussions at (a) Ministerial and (b) official level were held within his Department on the control framework for levy-funded expenditure by his Department prior to the 2011 Budget; [58038]
(2) whether there were discussions at (a) ministerial and (b) official level between his Department and the Treasury on the control framework for levy-funded expenditure by his Department prior to the 2011 Budget. [58039]
Gregory Barker: DECC Ministers and officials have frequent meetings with their ministerial colleagues and officials as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has rejected any policies considered unviable under the control framework for levy-funded expenditure by his Department since the 2011 Budget. [58050]
Gregory Barker: No policies have been rejected on this basis.
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Energy: Housing
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the likely average cost to the consumer of a green deal assessment. [57679]
Gregory Barker: The green deal is a market initiative, therefore we expect the cost of the assessment to be determined by the market. We also anticipate that some green deal providers will provide assessments at no upfront cost, as part of their broader green deal offer. Our legislation allows for this approach.
Energy: Prices
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on classification of expenditure on the Energy Company Obligation as part of his Department's levy control framework. [57687]
Charles Hendry: The Department is in regular discussion with HM Treasury over the levy control framework, and over issues relating to the future Energy Company Obligation (ECO). ECO will fall within the control framework for levies-funded policies only if it is classified as a tax and spend policy. Classification decisions are made by the Office for National Statistics which has yet to consider the classification of ECO.
Energy: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he received a request from (a) members of the Welsh Government or (b) the Secretary of State for Wales between 6 May and 20 May 2011 to meet to discuss issues relating to energy in Wales and its territorial waters. [57471]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State and Ministers in his Department regularly receive requests from members of the Welsh Government and the Secretary of State for Wales to discuss energy issues in relation to Wales.
Fuel Poverty
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to alleviate fuel poverty in (a) the north-east and (b) other rural areas. [57880]
Gregory Barker: There are a number of policies designed to help tackle fuel poverty across England. Examples of these are:
Warm Front—has assisted 83,299 households in the North East, and 184,472 households in rural areas in England since 2005.
The carbon emissions reduction target—has assisted 137,000 households in the north-east through professionally installed insulation measures (March 2008 to March 2010).
Community energy savings programme—there are a number of projects in the north-east providing energy efficiency measures.
Community energy solutions—a pilot scheme funded by DECC, installed around 500 air source heat pumps to rural communities in the north-east.
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We are developing green deal, including a new Energy Company Obligation, which will provide all households, including those in rural areas, with access to energy efficiency measures.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the potential of introducing rising block tariffs to reduce household gas and electricity consumption alongside mechanisms to protect fuel poor consumers from any resulting disadvantage; and if he will make a statement. [58056]
Gregory Barker: Under present arrangements, suppliers are free to respond to consumer demand in their pricing systems. The Government are keen to see a range of different tariff offers under these present arrangements rather than mandating any one particular pricing system which could constrain innovation. In addition, we share the concern that fuel poor consumers and others living in poorly insulated housing could be made worse off under a system of rising block tariffs.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the merits of (a) levying charges on the basis of kilowatt-hours of energy consumed to pay for the renewables obligation, feed-in tariffs, the warm homes discount and the energy company obligation and (b) introducing mechanisms to protect fuel-poor consumers from any adverse effects of levying charges in this way; and if he will make a statement. [58074]
Gregory Barker: The existing schemes mentioned have been established in law on the basis that they will be funded by the energy companies. The Government do not specify the precise approach energy companies can take to charging consumers and currently has no plans to revisit this principle.
The share that each relevant obligated company must contribute to the overall requirement is set in terms of share of overall customer numbers or, as is the case with the renewables obligation and feed-in tariffs, the volume of energy sold. The potential impacts of these approaches on lower income and vulnerable households is assessed prior to legislation. We will consult on these issues before secondary legislation for the new energy company obligation.
Ministerial Duties
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what meetings he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer since May 2010; and on what subjects in each case. [58041]
Gregory Barker: DECC Ministers and officials meet regularly with their counterparts in HM Treasury and other Departments to discuss a range of issues. As has been the case with successive Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Nuclear Power
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) whether he plans to have further discussions with his EU counterparts who are signatories to the Paris and Brussels Conventions on third party nuclear liability following the recent events in Fukushima; [57442]
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(2) what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the Paris Convention and Brussels Supplementary Convention on nuclear third party liability, including on the level of cover from nuclear companies to be provided following the recent events in Fukushima. [57444]
Charles Hendry: The discussions I have had so far with my EU counterparts have largely related to ensuring the safety of nuclear installations and making sure that we, together with the international nuclear community, learn the lessons from Fukushima. These discussions continue to evolve and they may in the future cover issues around third party liability.
Officials who are leading on the implementation of the changes to the Paris and Brussels conventions continue to keep contact with their counterparts in the EU states that are signatories to the conventions.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has assessed the merits of re-consulting on his proposals for implementing the 2004 Protocols amending the Paris Convention on nuclear third party liability and the Brussels Supplementary Convention following the recent events in Fukushima. [57445]
Charles Hendry: The consultation on the implementation of the revised Paris and Brussels conventions closed on 28 April and officials are now assessing the responses. We considered the merits of extending the consultation period following the events at Fukushima and concluded that it was in the best interest of the public to secure the benefits of the proposed changes at the earliest opportunity. There are no plans to re-consult.
The financial consequences of Fukushima will take some time to emerge and the right thing to do is to make improvements in the third party liability regime as soon as we can. Going ahead with our implementation of the revised Paris and Brussels Conventions will significantly improve the current liability regime: it will increase the financial responsibility placed on operators and increase the scope of damage for which victims can claim and the amount of compensation they can claim.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the proposals for implementing the 2004 Protocols amending the Paris Convention on nuclear third party liability and the Brussels Supplementary Convention. [57446]
Charles Hendry: The consultation on the implementation of the changes to the Paris and Brussels Conventions on nuclear third party liability ran from 24 January to 28 April 2011. The consultation set out the Government's policy in the area of nuclear third party liability including our clear commitment to implementing the changes to the Conventions that bring about significant improvements to the arrangements.
My officials are currently reviewing all the responses to the consultation that the Department has received. We intend to publish a summary of the responses and a Government response in due course.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received from commercial nuclear insurance companies on the extent of insurance coverage in the event of a nuclear accident in the UK. [57447]
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Charles Hendry: The Government published on 24 January a consultation on their proposals to implement the changes to the Paris and Brussels Conventions on nuclear third party liability. The consultation closed on 28 April. The consultation set out the Government's understanding of the extent to which commercial nuclear insurance would be available to cover the new liabilities, introduced by the revisions to the Conventions.
My officials are currently reviewing all the responses to the consultation received by the Department, including those from insurers. We intend to publish a summary of the responses and a Government response in due course.
Nuclear Power Stations: Safety
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the proposal by the chairperson of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group that the European Union-wide stress tests for EU nuclear plants should include the implications of aircraft crashes. [58051]
Charles Hendry: Security arrangements at the UK's civil nuclear installations are kept under constant review as part of a continuous process to ensure existing arrangements are robust and effective.
However, security is the primary responsibility of member states and details of civil nuclear security arrangements are highly sensitive and cannot be disclosed widely or to an international audience. The UK Government therefore support the scope and modality of the EU stress test as proposed by ENSREG and agreed by the European Commission and EU member states which does not include security issues.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 9 May 2011, Official Report, column 983W, on nuclear safety, whether any changes have been made in security provisions at UK nuclear installations as a result of any internal review following the accident at Fukushima; and what guidance was given to the chief nuclear inspector in respect of the meeting of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group in relation to the scope of the proposed EU-wide stress tests. [58052]
Charles Hendry: Security arrangements at the UK’s civil nuclear installations are kept under constant review as part of a continuous process to ensure existing arrangements are robust and effective. We do not comment on the detail of operational security matters at civil nuclear sites.
The UK Government fully respected the independence of the chief inspector of the Office for Nuclear Regulation in discussions on the development of the scope and modality of the stress test criteria. However, security at nuclear facilities is outside of the scope of expertise of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG), so it is the UK view that security matters should not be dealt with in this forum.
Nuclear Power: Emergencies
Paul Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will initiate a review of the Japanese response to the Fukushima nuclear
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emergency to identify any lessons for public contingency planning for widespread nuclear emergencies including evacuation planning and execution. [57439]
Charles Hendry: In his interim report on the implications of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami for the UK nuclear industry, the chief inspector of nuclear installations, Mike Weightman, recommended that:
“The Government should consider carrying out a review of the Japanese response to the emergency to identify any lessons for UK public contingency planning for widespread emergencies, taking account of any social, cultural and organisation differences.”
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) is currently considering the interim report’s recommendations and will provide a formal response within the one month timetable suggested in the report.
Nuclear Power: Research
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will list the research and development programmes on (a) reactor safety, (b) Generation IV reactors and (c) radioactive waste management currently sponsored by his Department; how much funding his Department has allocated in each such case to date; if he will list those nuclear fission research and development programmes overseas for which his Department has a watching brief; what the monetary cost to his Department is of maintaining such a watching brief in each such case; and what value for money assessment has been made of such (i) research and development programmes and (ii) watching briefs. [56816]
Charles Hendry: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) does not directly sponsor research programmes on nuclear power or radioactive waste management.
However, nuclear-related analysis, research and development is conducted by Government organisations and comprises:
A study currently being undertaken for DECC under contract by the National Nuclear Laboratory, which aims to provide further analysis of the potential benefits of next generation reactor designs. The contract value of this work is £30,000.
The independent nuclear safety regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), commissions nuclear safety research across a wide range of areas associated with its remit to protect people and society from the hazards of the nuclear industry.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is a non-departmental public body sponsored by DECC. The NDA is required to carry out research in support of its functions through the 2004 Energy Act. The NDA’s research is essential to take forward the management of higher activity radioactive wastes.
DECC maintains a watching brief on three international nuclear programmes, for which there are no membership costs. The programmes are: Generation IV International Forum (GIF) which is looking to develop the next generation of nuclear reactors through international collaboration; International Atomic Energy Agency’s International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors
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and Fuel Cycles (INPRO); International Framework for Nuclear Energy Co-operation (IFNEC), which was formerly the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).
Further research into nuclear energy is funded by the research councils. These activities receive funding through the science budget administered by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
Nuclear Reactors
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether any potential nuclear operators have made applications to establish a funded decommissioning programme for new nuclear reactors. [57443]
Charles Hendry: The Energy Act 2008 requires any operator of a new nuclear power station to have a funded decommissioning programme, approved by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), in place before construction of a new nuclear power station begins and to comply with this programme thereafter.
No funded decommissioning programmes have yet been submitted by prospective new nuclear operators for approval by the Secretary of State. However DECC officials are in regular contact with prospective operators regarding possible future submissions.
Oil: Pollution
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what assessment he has made of the capacity of oil companies to cap wells in UK deep waters; [57458]
(2) what recent discussions he has had with the oil industry about the potential deployment of well capping devices in the North sea; [57459]
(3) what assessment he has made of the capacity of the oil industry to fund clean up of oil spills from deep sea rigs in the North sea without public funds; and if he will make a statement. [57460]
Charles Hendry: Following the Macondo incident, the UK's offshore oil and gas industry established a joint industry and Government Group—the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group (OSPRAG)—to review the UK's ability to prevent and respond to oil spills. This group, in which DECC participates, identified the need for a dedicated UK capping device that could be used on a variety of wells, not just those in deep water, and industry is currently constructing a device for deployment in UK waters. This should be ready for use by late summer.
In addition, Chevron, who are currently drilling on the UK continental shelf (UKCS), have developed a capping stack for the Stena Carron deepwater drilling operations that is located in Stonehaven (near Aberdeen) and can be deployed within nine days of an incident.
There are also other devices which are commercially available, that could be deployed to an incident worldwide, and one of the well control companies has decided to locate a device in Aberdeen to supplement the equipment that is currently located in Houston.
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In the UK, unlike the USA, there is no limit on companies' liability for clean-up and compensation. Operators on the UKCS maintain insurance or make other provisions to cover drilling and other operational risks together with the legal liabilities associated with clean-up or other remediation measures. For all new drilling operations, my Department requires confirmation that appropriate insurance cover is in place.
In addition, operators are parties to the Offshore Pollution Liability Association Ltd (OPOL). This requires operators to demonstrate separate provision to meet third party clean-up costs and associated damages of up to $250 million in the event of a pollution incident. OPOL members collectively also provide a back-up mechanism in the form of a guarantee in the event of operator default, to meet claims for clean-up and associated damages up to the same financial limits. The Department also carries out checks to confirm membership of OPOL.
OSPRAG has also set-up a sub-group to review liability, indemnity and insurance provisions that would be invoked in the event of a spill. This group is currently undertaking a study to look at estimates of the cost of oil spill clean-up in the UK and whether the OPOL limit is sufficient to cover these costs. DECC is participating in this work.