North Africa: EU External Relations
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the European Commission's european neighbourhood policy to the transition process in (a) Egypt and (b) Tunisia. [59322]
Alistair Burt: The european neighbourhood policy was launched in 2004 with the objective of promoting stability, security and well-being in the countries in the EU's neighbourhood, including Egypt and Tunisia. European neighbourhood and partnership instrument assistance for 2011-13 stood at €240 million for Tunisia and €449 million for Egypt before the revolutions. In recent months the EU has committed additional financial resources to support the transition process in Egypt and Tunisia.
Discussions are continuing between the EU and the interim authorities in Egypt and Tunisia as to how these additional resources can be best used. In Tunisia, initial funding has been allocated for supporting elections; the work of the three commissions on political reform, human rights and corruption; and funding for civil society and judicial reform. For Egypt, the proposed package covers assistance to review laws relating to non-governmental organisations, media, association, political parties and the penal and criminal code; support for justice reform and review of the security system; support for elections and civil society; political capacity building; support for health and education reform; and vocational training.
As the Prime Minister made clear in March, we believe the EU needs to make a real and credible offer to its neighbours. We believe the joint European Commission and External Action Service communication of 25 May, reviewing the European neighbourhood policy, delivers that ambitious and far-reaching offer to the neighbourhood, including through further opening of EU markets.
Omar al-Bashir
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support the execution of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Omar al-Bashir. [59410]
Mr Bellingham:
The United Kingdom is a strong supporter of the work that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has undertaken to investigate the most serious crimes of international concern that are alleged to have been committed in Darfur. Together with European Union partners, we regularly make clear that we expect all countries to fulfil their obligations, either as ICC states parties or as United Nations members, to co-operate with this investigation, including the enforcement of arrest warrants issued by the court. I most recently made this clear in a statement on 11 May, where I
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expressed my disappointment that President Bashir had been able to visit Djibouti in defiance of his ICC arrest warrants.
Sudan: Peace Negotiations
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to support the All Darfur Stakeholders conference. [59415]
Mr Bellingham: I have regularly raised the UK's concerns about Darfur and the need for an early resolution to the conflict with Sudanese interlocutors, most recently with the Sudanese Foreign Minister on 6 June. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development, has made similar representations, including during his most recent visit to Sudan on 7-8 May. The UK has been in regular contact with the Darfur joint chief mediator, Djibril Bassole, the Government of Sudan and the armed movements throughout the Doha talks. In the final stages of the Doha process UK officials have been continuously engaged in Doha and with our international partners to help shape a constructive outcome. At the All Darfur Stakeholders conference the UK was represented by the UK's special representative for Sudan. We will work closely with our partners, including the United Nations and African Union, on the follow up to the conference, including the next phase of the Darfur peace process.
Syria: Politics and Government
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the number of (a) males and (b) females (i) slightly injured, (ii) seriously injured and (iii) killed in Syria since the start of the protests in that country; and if he will make a statement. [59037]
Alistair Burt: Obtaining independently verifiable information out of Syria is difficult given the Syrian Government's stance restricting the access of international humanitarian organisations to towns and cities affected by the current violence and by their barring entry to Syria of the international media. I am therefore unable to give any definitive answer to my hon. Friend other than that we have credible reports of 1,000 dead and as many as 10,000 detained.
As the Prime Minister said to the House of Commons on 8 June, Official Report, column 151, the violence being meted out to peaceful protestors and demonstrators is completely unacceptable. We must not stand silent in the face of those outrages, and we will not.
The EU has already frozen the assets of, and banned travel by, members of the regime, and President Assad is included on that list. We are exploring with our European partners the potential for further sanctions if the violence continues.
In New York, Britain has circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution condemning the repression in Syria and calling for the Syrian Government to meet their people's legitimate demands, release all prisoners of conscience, lift restrictions on the media and internet and co-operate with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. A resolution is not in our gift, and
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needs the support of nine UN Security Council members and no vetoes. We are working to persuade other countries that the Security Council has a responsibility to speak out. President Assad is losing legitimacy and should reform or step aside.
Tunisia: Egypt
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what programmes of assistance the UK is offering to (a) Tunisia and (b) Egypt. [59199]
Alistair Burt: Following the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, of the Arab Partnership in February of this year, £1.15 million of the initial fund of £5 million has been allocated for projects in Tunisia and £1.2 million for Egypt. Additional funding will become available, following the expansion of the Arab Partnership funding to £110 million over four years.
In Tunisia our programme focuses on three main themes:
political participation;
strengthening the rule of law, with a particular focus on tackling corruption; and
employment opportunities, especially for young people.
The embassy plans to work with a range of partners, including the British Council, the BBC World Service Trust, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Thompson Foundation, and local civil society organisations.
In Egypt, our embassy in Cairo is in close contact with Government officials, the opposition and activists to identify the most useful interventions. They are making progress in developing programmes that address Egypt's political, economic and structural needs. These include:
political participation;
employment and education;
investment and trade;
civil society development;
security sector reform; and
tackling corruption and conflict of interest and constitutional reform.
Cabinet Office
Big Society Bank
Dr Huppert: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the effects of funding from the big society bank on the operational viability of charities. [59392]
Mr Hurd [holding answer 13 June 2011]: The big society bank aims to boost the ability of civil society organisations, including charities, to deal with social issues. It will do this by supporting organisations that invest in civil society; helping them provide a greater range of financial services to charities; and helping them raise more money for onward investment into the sector.
The financial intermediaries supported by the big society bank are expected primarily to support charities that generate enough revenue through their activities to repay the investment they receive. The additional financial
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provision facilitated by the big society bank is likely to include increased access to working capital for charities, which is an important contributor to operational viability.
Increasing the financial options available to charities as well as the overall level of capital coming into the sector should also mean that grant finance can go where it is most needed.
The big society bank has not yet started operating, so no assessment has yet been made of its actual impact on charities.
Charities Act 2006
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what the (a) timetable and (b) process is for his Department's review of the Charities Act 2006; [58901]
(2) how charitable organisations can contribute to the review of the Charities Act 2006. [58902]
Mr Hurd: Section 73 of the Charities Act 2006 requires the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), to appoint a person before 8 November 2011 to undertake an independent review of the Charities Act 2006. The Act specifies some of the matters that must be considered in the review. The timetable for the review itself has not been finalised but the review is likely to take between six and nine months, concluding in 2012. Once completed, the report of the review must be laid before Parliament.
It will be for the person appointed to undertake the review to determine how charities can best contribute to it, but the terms of reference will ensure that there is a mechanism for charities to contribute.
Civil Service: Vacancies
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil service posts were (a) created and (b) lost (i) on Merseyside (ii) in each Government Department and (iii) in each constituency in each of the last six years. [59239]
Mr Maude: Information on the number of civil service posts (a) created and (b) lost (i) on Merseyside (ii) in each Government Department and (iii) in each constituency in each of the last six years is not centrally available.
However, Information on the number of leavers and new entrants at Government Departments are published annually by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as part of the annual civil service employment survey (ACSES). Information on the number of employees by Government office region is also published. The ACSES report is available at the ONS website at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=2899
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of civil service posts which will be (a) created and (b) lost (i) on Merseyside (ii) in each Government Department and (iii) in each constituency in (A) 2011, (B) 2012 and (C) 2013. [59240]
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Mr Maude: Information on the number of civil service posts (a) created and (b) lost (i) on Merseyside (ii) in each Government Department and (iii) in each constituency in each constituency in (A) 2011, (B) 2012 and (C) 2013 is not centrally available.
Departmental Equality
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what account he has taken of the effects of income inequality in the (a) formulation and (b) implementation of policy. [57152]
Mr Hurd: The Cabinet Office is committed to taking full account of equality issues in formulating and implementing policy. The Cabinet Office has a number of programmes which specifically focus on supporting citizens and communities from a range of socio-economic backgrounds, ensuring that the range of opportunities presented by the big society are open to all.
Government Departments: Internet
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) whether his Department plans to make available on the alpha.gov.uk website any information or services which are not available on the direct.gov.uk website; [58882]
(2) how much has been (a) spent on the alpha.gov.uk website to date and (b) allocated for its future development; [58880]
(3) what plans he has for future support of the direct.gov.uk website. [58881]
Mr Maude: The alpha.gov.uk website is an early prototype of a possible single Government domain. It is yet to be decided what content and services will be included on the final release of this single Government domain.
To date £261,000 has been spent on the alpha.gov.uk website. As yet, no funding has been allocated for any future development. This will be subject to the Cabinet Office approval process.
The Cabinet Office will continue to support the Directgov website providing citizens with Government information and services.
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the purpose is of the alpha.gov.uk website. [58884]
Mr Maude: The alpha.gov.uk website is an early prototype of a possible single Government domain. It has been developed as a step to help put Government services online and is aimed at making public services easier to use, as recommend by Martha Lane Fox in her review of Government digital services.
Older Workers
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of the work force that is aged over 60 years. [59229]
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Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what recent estimate has been made of the proportion of workforce that is aged over 60 years. (59229)
The proportion of economically active people aged 60 and over was 8%, based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the period January to March 2011, which is the latest period for which estimates are available.
Estimates of economic activity are available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). In accordance with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition, people are classed as economically active if they are in employment or unemployed.
Public Expenditure
Mr Meacher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much was spent (a) at current prices and (b) in constant prices on (i) general Government purchase of external goods and services and (ii) annually managed current expenditure, excluding welfare payments and debt servicing, in each year between 1987 and 2011. [58586]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011:
As Director General of the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was spent (a) at current prices and (b) in constant prices on (i) general government purchase of external goods and services and (ii) annually managed current expenditure, excluding welfare payments and debt servicing, in each year between 1987 and 2011. (58586).
In respect of (i), according to National Accounting conventions, ONS produces estimates of general government intermediate consumption expenditure in current prices. Intermediate consumption is a measure of all goods and services used as inputs in the process of further production. As such, for government, the measure covers not only goods and services procured from outside the government sector but also goods and services procured between departments within the government sector. The latest ONS figures for general government intermediate consumption expenditure in current prices are provided in the table overleaf from 1987 to 2010, the most recent year for which annual data are available. Figures are not available in constant prices in the absence of a suitable deflator to apply to the current price figures.
With regards to (ii), ONS does not produce figures on annually managed current expenditure as these are published by HM Treasury.
| General Government intermediate consumption expenditure, 1987 to 2010, United Kingdom | |
| Calendar year | Expenditure (£ million current prices) |
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Statistics
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what statistical data his Department ceased to collect in the past year; and what the (a) reasons for and (b) savings arising from each such cessation were. [59561]
Mr Hurd: The Cabinet Office does not currently produce any official statistics.
Unemployment: Coventry
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of people resident in Coventry who are economically inactive; and if he will make a statement. [59228]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the number of people who are economically inactive in Coventry. (59228)
The Office for National Statistics compiles estimates of inactivity for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
The number of people aged 16-64 who were economically inactive and resident in Coventry was 55,500, based on the APS for the 12 months ending in September 2010, which is the latest period for which estimates are available.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
Well-being
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, (1) pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 304W, on well-being, when the Office for National Statistics will publish the first results on regional and national variations in well-being; [59622]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, columns 305-6W, on well-being: children, on what date the papers from the MNW technical
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advisory group meeting on the measurement of children's well-being are to be published on the Office for National Statistics website; [59624]
(3) pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 304W, on well-being, whether the Prime Minister's invitation to the Office for National Statistics to provide subjective measures of well-being included subjective measures of well-being for children. [59625]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking, when the first results on regional and national variations in well-being of the ONS (59622), on what date the papers from the MNW Technical Advisory Group meeting on the measurement of children's well-being are to be published on the ONS website (59624) and whether the Prime Minister's invitation to the ONS to provide subjective measures of well-being included subjective measures of well-being for children (59625).
The first annual experimental results of subjective well-being from the Integrated Household Survey (IHS) are planned for publication in July 2012 and these will provide estimates by region and country within the UK. The IHS is a survey of people aged 16 and over.
In accepting the Prime Minister's invitation to produce wider measures of national well-being, and in launching the national debate on measuring national well-being, the National Statistician and the ONS recognise the importance of including children and young people. ONS held a number of events about children and young people's well-being during the national debate, including events in schools and with young people in other settings.
We will aim to publish papers from the Measuring National Well-being Technical Advisory Group meeting on children and young people by 19 July 2011. We publish papers on our website at
http://www.ons.gov.uk/well-being
International Development
Argentina: Overseas Aid
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) direct and (b) indirect aid the Government have given to Argentina in each year since 1982; and if he will make a statement. [59060]
Mr Duncan: Details of the Department of International Development (DFID) aid expenditure is published in Statistics on International Development (SID) which is available in the House Library or online at:
www.dfid.gov.uk
No aid to Argentina was recorded for the financial years 1982-83 to 1989-90 inclusive, or for the years 2002-03 to 2009-10 inclusive. Figures for the remaining years are reproduced in the table. No aid was provided directly to the Argentinean Government in any of the given years.
| DFID bilateral expenditure in Argentina | |
|
|
£000 |
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Bribery Act 2010
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent progress has been made on implementation of the Bribery Act 2010; what further steps are planned during the (a) remainder of 2011 and (b) 2012; what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on implementation of the Act; and if he will make a statement. [59043]
Mr Duncan: Responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the Bribery Act lies with the Ministry of Justice. I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 30 March, Official Report, column 21WS.
The Department is preparing advice for staff on the implications of the Act for the Department's business. The Secretary of State discusses regularly with a range of colleagues matters relevant to the Department regarding the enforcement of the Act.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has received representations from the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development on the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010; and if he will make a statement. [59044]
Mr Duncan:
The Secretary of State for International Development has not received any representations from
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the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD) on the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010.
The Bribery Act 2010 will come into force on 1 July.
British Overseas Territories
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to visit British overseas territories in the next year. [59024]
Mr Duncan: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development, visited Montserrat in January this year. That visit was a chance to see at first hand the challenges and opportunities Montserrat faces. Many of these challenges—better access, ensuring sustainable growth, reducing aid dependency on the UK—are shared by other overseas territories.
The Secretary of State plans to visit St Helena once all the contracts related to the new airport have been signed and agreed, and the terms of the memorandum of understanding he signed with the Government of St Helena have been honoured.
British Overseas Territories: Overseas Aid
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department has given to British overseas territories in each of the last 10 years. [59036]
Mr Duncan: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID's) aid expenditure, including in the British overseas territories, are published in Statistics on International Development, which is available in the Library of the House and on DFID's website:
www.dfid.gov.uk
Bilateral programme expenditure in the British overseas territories for the last 10 years (since 2001-02) is reproduced in the following table. Figures for 2010-11 will be published in the next addition of Statistics on International Development.
| Total DFID Bilateral | ||||||
| £000 | ||||||
|
|
Montserrat | St Helena and Dependencies | Pitcairn | Anguiila | Turks and Caicos Islands | British Virgin Islands |
Central America
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to visit central America in the next year. [59130]
Mr Duncan: Ministers have no current plans to visit central America.
Central America: Environment Protection
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to promote environmental awareness in central American nations in each of the last five years; and what the cost to the public purse was of such promotion in each such year. [59125]
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Mr Duncan: The recent bilateral aid review (BAR) has enabled the Department for International Development (DFID) to better target UK aid where it will have the greatest impact on poverty. Central America was not identified as a region that should be a priority for receiving bilateral aid from the UK. The UK continues to support work in central America through contributions to multilateral organisations, including the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations. Moreover, a number of DFID's civil society partners are continuing to work with poor communities in parts of Latin America, including central America. Many of these organisations have been and will continue to promote environmental awareness in the region.
It would be a disproportionate cost to the Department to provide an annual breakdown of costs and activities undertaken in the region on environmental awareness over the last five years.
Central America: Politics and Government
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote good governance in central American nations. [59131]
Mr Duncan: The recent bilateral aid review (BAR) has enabled the Department for International Development (DFID) to better target UK aid where it will have the greatest impact on poverty. Central America was not identified as a region that would receive bilateral aid from DFID. The UK continues to supports work in central American through contributions to multilateral organisations, including the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations. Moreover, a number of DFID's civil society partners operate in Latin America's poorest countries, including those in central America. Many of these organisations have been and will continue to promote good governance in the region.
DFID's governance and transparency fund supports civil society and the media to make Governments more transparent and accountable to their citizens. This fund supports 37 programmes around the world, including in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The programmes in central America work on a wide range of governance issues such as public expenditure accountability, budget transparency and natural resource governance.
Central America: Sustainable Development
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with Governments of central American nations on environmental sustainability. [59123]
Mr Duncan: Ministers have not had recent discussions with counterparts in central American countries on environmental sustainability.
The UK does not have a bilateral aid programme in any central American country. The UK supports work in central America through contributions to multilateral organisations, including the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations. A number of
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DFlD's civil society partners also work with poor communities in parts of Latin America, including Central America.
Departmental Travel
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on private charter aircraft in each of the last 10 years. [58942]
Mr Duncan: In 2011, DFID has spent £4,513,253 so far on air charter, mostly for migrant repatriation flights at the beginning of the Libya crisis. In 2010, DFID spent £3,362,578 on chartering aircraft, mostly moving supplies and personnel to Haiti in the aftermath of the January 2010 Earthquake. In 2009, DFID spent £262,204 on chartering aircraft for similar purposes. These are the only years for which figures are available.
The costs detailed above represent those incurred through our central contracts, primarily covering humanitarian assistance. Details of costs incurred on local in-country charters could not be made available without incurring disproportionate cost.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on chartered boats in each of the last 10 years. [59120]
Mr Duncan: Available records show that the Department for International Development (DFID) has not chartered any boats in the last 10 years.
DFID provides budget assistance for aided territories, including payments for scheduled shipping subsidies.
Developing Countries: Climate Change
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has allocated to developing countries to assist with climate change mitigation programmes since 2009. [59127]
Mr Duncan: Between April 2009 and March 2011, the Department for International Development spent £668 million on climate programmes, of which £294 million was spent on low carbon development and £138.25 million on tackling deforestation.
Examples of results include: supporting investments to generate enough energy to power 16 million households through the clean technology fund; and in Nepal, increasing the incomes of 527,000 households by an average of 60% through the UK livelihoods and forestry programme.
The UK has allocated £2.9 billion, from April 2011 to March 2015, to support international poverty reduction by helping developing countries to adapt to climate change, take up low carbon growth, and tackle deforestation. DFID has been allocated £1.8 billion, the Department for Energy and Climate Change £1 billion and the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs £100 million.
The UK Government will aim to spend 50% of climate finance on adaptation. This will be kept under review. The remainder of climate finance will be spent on low carbon development and tackling deforestation.
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Developing Countries: Food
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects figures on funds distributed under the L'Aquila food security initiative in 2010-11 to be available. [59147]
Mr Duncan: The UK's financial commitment under the L'Aquila food security initiative is £1.1 billion over the three financial years 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. In the fiscal year 2009-10, the Department for International Development disbursed £326 million, which is 29% of its total pledge. Our expectation is that the Department will disburse funds at a roughly equivalent level during 2010-11, but final figures will not be available before October 2011.
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of funds disbursed under the L'Aquila food security initiative was spent on initiatives to support women farmers in 2009-10. [59148]
Mr Duncan: In the fiscal year 2009-10, the UK disbursed £326 million, 29% of its total pledge. The L'Aquila food security initiative review group presently monitors spending but not results or types of beneficiaries.
The Department for International Development does not currently monitor gender disaggregated beneficiary figures but is planning to do so in future. Identifying the exact number of women farmers who benefited in 2009-10 and the proportion of funds spent specifically on them would involve disproportionate efforts and would not be considered good value for UK taxpayers' money.
Developing Countries: HIV Infection
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department plans to provide for (a) prevention of and (b) research into HIV/AIDS in developing countries during the comprehensive spending review period. [59509]
Mr Duncan: In “Towards zero infections: the UK's position paper on HIV in the developing world”, the UK Government commit to significantly reduce new HIV infections. Over the comprehensive spending review period our focus on combination prevention will prevent at least half a million new HIV infections among women in Africa, and support to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria will put 37,000 HIV-positive women on treatment to prevent transmission to their babies.
In terms of research, we are supporting the development of prevention technologies, microbicides and vaccines, against HIV through product development partnerships, including the international partnership for microbicides (IPM) and the international aids vaccine initiative (IAVI). In addition, the UK is supporting a wide range of other research into HIV, including the effect of HIV on co-infection with other diseases, on mothers and children and how to deliver HIV treatment in poor countries. A new research programme started in June 2011 to understand better the underlying drivers of HIV and find innovative solutions to halt its spread.
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Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is providing for provision of anti-retroviral drugs to combat HIV/AIDS in developing countries. [59510]
Mr Duncan: In “Towards zero infections: the UK's position paper on HIV in the developing world” the UK Government outline our aim to reduce the costs of diagnosis and treatment. The UK will work with the pharmaceutical industry to get even more people on life-saving treatment. We will drive down costs for medicines, securing lower prices and better value for money in order to increase access.
Through our support to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, we will put 37,000 HIV-positive women on treatment to prevent HIV transmission to their babies and provide 268,000 people with anti-retroviral treatment for HIV. Our work with the Clinton Foundation to drive down treatment costs will generate enough cost-savings to purchase medicines- for an additional 500,000 people by 2015.
Developing Countries: Tax Avoidance
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent estimate is of the effects of tax avoidance and evasion on GDP per capita in developing countries within the G77. [58983]
Mr Duncan: The Government have not carried out such an estimate. The Government recognise that tax evasion and avoidance is a serious problem, and we are committed to helping developing countries to protect and develop their tax base, but there are difficulties in calculating the exact impact of evasion and avoidance. A 2008 report “Tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax expenditures in developing countries: A review of the literature” by the Oxford University centre for business taxation for the Department for International Development highlighted the methodological and data difficulties with estimates of this type.
EU Aid
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department gave directly to EU member states in each of the last five years. [59032]
Mr Duncan: My Department has not provided any bi-lateral (direct) aid funding to EU member states during the last five years.
G8
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the development outcomes of the G8 summit in May 2011 were; and if he will make a statement. [58947]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Among the significant development outcomes at this year's G8 summit was the agreement of the Deauville partnership to support democratic transition in the countries in the middle east and north Africa. The UK also secured G8 commitment to increasing support for regional integration in Africa, aimed at enhancing growth opportunities for African countries.
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The summit endorsed the Deauville accountability report, which set out progress against G8 commitments on food security, maternal and child health and aid; and showed clearly—in real terms, excluding the impact of inflation—whether or not countries have met their aid commitments. The Prime Minister restated the UK's commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI as overseas aid from 2013 and strongly encouraged others to follow our example.
Government Procurement Card
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many disciplinary offences have been recorded in his Department for the improper use of a Government procurement card in each of the last five years. [59031]
Mr Duncan: No disciplinary offences have been recorded within the Department for International Development for the improper use of a Government procurement card in the last five years.
South America: Overseas Aid
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent in each country in south America in the last year for which figures are available. [59065]
Mr Duncan: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID) aid expenditure in developing countries to 2009-10, including aid to countries in south America are published in Statistics on International Development (SID), which available in the House Library or online at
www.dfid.gov.uk
Figures for 2010-11 will be published in DFID's annual report in July.
St Helena: Airports
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent progress has been made on the construction of an airport in St Helena. [58939]
Mr Duncan: By the deadline for submission of tenders for the St Helena airport at 5 pm BST on 10 June, we received a single tender from Basil Read (Pty) Ltd.
We will now proceed to evaluate this tender to assess whether the conditions set out by the Secretary to State in his written statement of 22 July 2010 can be met.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of the planned airport in St Helena. [59035]
Mr Duncan: A full environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the proposed St Helena airport was carried out to UK standards in 2006-07. The environmental statement was peer reviewed by the UK's Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and includes a comprehensive environmental management plan (EMP) for the construction and operation of the airport. The EIA and EMP were updated in 2011 to reflect revised runway proposals.
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Deputy Prime Minister
Ministers
Chris Bryant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on the number of Ministers the Prime Minister would be allowed to appoint to membership of the reformed second Chamber at any one time. [58838]
Mr Harper: The Government published proposals for a wholly or mainly elected House of Lords on 17 May.
In the White Paper the Government have said the Prime Minister should also be able to appoint a limited number of people to serve as Ministers who would be members of the reformed House of Lords only for the duration of their appointment. The draft Bill makes provision for the detailed arrangements to implement this to be set out in secondary legislation, though the Government are open to including this in the Bill itself.
Voting Rights: Prisoners
Priti Patel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 32W, on voting rights: prisoners, when he expects to announce what his next steps will be in response to the judgments on prisoner votes from the European Court of Human Rights. [59428]
Mr Harper: Under the terms of the Greens and MT judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, which became final on 11 April, the Government have six months to bring forward legislative proposals to end the current blanket ban on prisoners voting. The Government are considering the next steps and I will inform the House when decisions on the way forward have been reached.
Health
Abortion
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were performed in each of the last five years; and how many and what proportion of such procedures were performed (a) to save the life of the mother and (b) in cases of rape. [59042]
Anne Milton: Between 2006 and 2010 there were 966,206 abortions performed for residents of England and Wales. Of these, 3,373 were performed under sections 1.1 (b), 1.1 (c) and 1(4) of the 1967 Abortion Act i.e. to save the life of the pregnant woman, or to prevent permanent injury to her physical or mental health.
Information about abortions due to rape is not collected by the Department.
Burns: South East Network
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the review of the London and South East Burns Network. [58875]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not made any assessment of the review of the London and South East Burns Network. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the London Specialised Commissioning Group for further information, as it is leading the ongoing review.
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Cancer: Health Services
Mel Stride: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the capability of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to carry out appraisals for innovative inhibitor therapies for rare cancers in instances where the target population is insufficient for the institute's study criteria to be met. [58885]
Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has appraised, or is appraising, a number of inhibitor therapies for less common cancers. The potential size of the patient population is one consideration in determining whether NICE should develop guidance on a treatment. However, the overarching consideration is whether NICE guidance can add value in a particular case.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in implementing the new cancer strategy contained in his Department's report ‘Improving Outcomes: a Strategy for Cancer’. [58941]
Paul Burstow: We published ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’ in January 2011, setting out the Government's plans to tackle preventable incidence of cancer and to improve outcomes for cancer patients. The strategy set out a range of areas where it plans to improve outcomes, such as survival rates and patient experience, in line with the NHS outcomes framework and the draft public health outcome framework. We will be assessing progress against those outcomes but it is too early to do so.
We can, however, assess progress in relation to actions that the strategy committed to in order to support delivery of improved outcomes. There has been progress across a wide range of these. For example, we launched pilots for the first national bowel cancer symptom awareness campaign on 31 January 2011 and have also funded a range of local activity to encourage earlier presentation with symptoms which could be cancer. Subject to evaluation and the lessons learned, the bowel cancer campaign will be rolled out nationwide.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to ensure timely access to treatment by patients with rare forms of cancer; [59114]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to improve awareness amongst GPs of the symptoms of rare forms of cancer in children. [59150]
Paul Burstow: The cancer waiting time standard of a maximum 62-day wait, between urgent referral for suspected cancer from a general practitioner and the start of treatment, applies to all types of cancer, including those that could be considered rarer cancers. A review of cancer waiting times standards undertaken as part of the development of “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer”, published on 12 January, determined that this standard is beneficial for patients and that it should be maintained.
Consequently, the requirement to start treatment for these patients within 62 days has been retained in the “Operating Framework for the NHS in England for
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2011/12”. Statistics for the most recent period available (Quarter 4 2010-11) show that 87.3% of patients began cancer treatment within 62 days of urgent referral for suspected cancer. The expected level of performance for the 62-day standard is 85%.
“Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer” also set out our commitment to work with a number of rarer cancer charities to assess what more could be done to encourage appropriate referrals to secondary care and to diagnose rarer cancers earlier. Departmental officials have already met with a number of charities, including those concerned with cancers that affect children. The outcome of these discussions will inform our future work in this area.
Care Quality Commission
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instigate a review of the work and management of the Care Quality Commission. [58876]
Mr Simon Burns: A number of inquiries are under way following the abuse exposed at Winterbourne View. The Government are clear that any failings in care are unacceptable. These include both an independently chaired serious case review, led by South Gloucestershire council, which will examine all the agencies involved and reviews by the Care Quality Commission, the national health service and the safeguarding boards.
Departmental officials, assisted by Mark Goldring, chief executive of Mencap, will then draw together the key lessons from these reviews. Once we have all the facts and have examined the results of the various inquiries, we will report further to Parliament.
Carers: Equal Opportunities
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with carers' organisations on steps to ensure that carers have equal opportunities in access to (a) further and higher education, (b) leisure and (c) training; and if he will make a statement. [58830]
Paul Burstow: We have had no specific discussions with carers' organisations on these issues. However, in “Recognised, valued and supported: Next steps for the Carers Strategy”, we set out four priority areas for action. These included enabling those with caring responsibilities to fulfil their educational and employment potential and personalised support for carers and those they support, enabling them to have a family and community life.
The Department published “Carers and personalisation: Improving outcomes”, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, alongside the updated carers' strategy. This illustrates how the principles of personalisation have been applied to carers to enable them to live a life outside caring including taking up educational, leisure and training opportunities.
Cervical Cancer: Screening
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects human papillomavirus testing for triage and test of cure as part of the NHS cervical screening programme to be available to all women who are eligible for it. [59139]
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Paul Burstow: ‘The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011-12’ states that commissioners should work with their local services and national health service cancer screening programmes to implement human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as triage for women with mild or borderline screening test results, leading to a more patient-centred service and major cost savings.
NHS cancer screening programmes held a workshop with front-line cervical screening staff in March 2011 to develop recommendations on how this will be achieved. Advice to the service, including implementation guidance, will be issued later in the summer. The intention is that, subject to meeting certain criteria, local cervical screening programmes will implement HPV triage in 2011-12 and HPV test of cure in 2012-13. Implementing both improvements in the same year would risk the quality and safety of the current programme and put an unnecessary burden on colposcopy services.
Circle: Health
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the performance of Circle in providing NHS services in 2010-11. [59331]
Mr Simon Burns: Circle delivers both national health service-funded services and services for private patients from its hospitals.
Circle currently holds two contracts under the independent sector treatment centres (ISTC) programme. LP3 Burton (NHS South Staffs) is due to expire in July 2011 and GC5E Nottingham (NHS Nottingham City) is due to expire in July 2013. Circle previously held a contract for LP2 Bradford (NHS Bradford and Airedale). This contract expired in January 2010 and was re-procured locally by the NHS. Circle also delivers activity to NHS patients through the extended choice network (ECN) which is paid at tariff and has no guaranteed volume payment.
Responsibility for the day-to-day management of the contract resides with the local NHS. The Department collects and monitors financial and activity data in relation to the ISTC programme.
The following table sets out the total paid to Circle for all ISTC contracts and the total value of the activity provided. The table also includes data for activity provided through the ECN/FCN frameworks.
| Centrally procured IS activity total value paid to circle | |||||
| £ | |||||
| Financial year | Paid to provider (1) | Activity value | ISTC utilisation ( % ) | ECN/FCN | Total Wave 1 + ECN paid |
| (1) Wave 1 schemes LP2 Bradford, LP3 Burton, GC5E Nottingham Notes: 1. ‘Value of procedures performed’ is for is the monetary value of procedures performed under the pricing formula in the ISTC contract. 2. ‘Paid to provider’ is the guarantee amount plus any other activity charge under the contract. | |||||
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Directors: Pay
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the annual salary is of the managing director of NHS South West London; [58905]
(2) what the total cost to the public purse, including pension provision, was of the post of managing director of NHS South West London in the last year for which figures are available. [58906]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not held centrally. Approval of pay for very senior managers in NHS South West London is a matter for the London strategic health authority.
General Practitioners: Telephone Services
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the proportion of GP surgeries in England which use premium 0844 numbers for patients seeking appointment; and if he will make a statement. [59307]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has made no assessment of the proportion of general practitioner surgeries in England that use 0844 numbers for patients seeking appointments.
The Department issued guidance and directions to national health, service bodies in December 2009 on the cost of telephone calls, which prohibit the use of telephone numbers which charge the patient more than the equivalent cost of calling a geographical number to contact the NHS. It is currently the responsibility of primary care trusts to ensure that local practices are compliant with the directions and guidance.
Health Services
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health of 17 May 2011, Official Report, column 319, on public health observatories, what the purpose is of the Government's £12 million contribution to public health observatories. [58997]
Anne Milton: To clarify my statement further, the Government contributed around £12 million to public health observatories (PHOs) in both financial year 2009-10 and financial year 2010-11.
The purpose of this funding was to:
deliver and maintain the PHO leadership, management and infrastructure across its nine offices in England; and
deliver a work programme individually and collectively comprising national, regional and local components.
The primary activities of the PHOs are to:
analyse information and data to produce meaningful health intelligence;
work in partnership with practitioners, government, health and academic organisations at local and national level;
develop public health expertise and in-depth knowledge of health and health care at a regional level; and
monitor and forecast trends in health status and disease, and play a major role in showing how health inequalities are being tackled locally and regionally.
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Finally, the funding also supports the integration and interfaces of the PHOs and their staff with other elements of the public health information and intelligence infrastructure including the cancer registries, the national Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, quality observatories and congenital anomalies registers.
HIV Infection: Reading
Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people newly diagnosed with HIV in Reading in the latest period for which figures are available; and what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people diagnosed with HIV. [58994]
Anne Milton: The information available is shown in the following table.
| Individuals newly diagnosed with HIV in Berkshire West Primary Care Trust (PCT) by year of diagnosis, 2006-10 | |
| Year of diagnosis | HIV diagnoses |
| Notes: 1. These data represent new HIV diagnoses made in Berkshire West PCT, within which Reading is located. The area of diagnosis is not necessarily the area of residence of an individual and therefore data are not currently presented lower than PCT level. 2. Diagnoses are from reports received by the HPA to the end of December 2010. Numbers will rise as further reports are received. 3. Patients may live with HIV for many years before they are diagnosed. Therefore, new diagnosis data do not necessarily reflect recently acquired infections. Source: Health Protection Agency (HPA) | |
In relation to reducing HIV diagnosis, we are now better able to target those communities whose behaviour puts them at increased risk of HIV. These are men who have sex with men and black African communities living in the United Kingdom. That is why the Department works in partnership with the Terrence Higgins Trust, the African Health Policy Network and other voluntary and community organisations in supporting targeted HIV prevention programmes.
In addition, the Department has funded eight pilot projects in high prevalence areas looking at new approaches to HIV testing in primary care, non-specialist hospital settings and community social settings. We are considering the findings from these projects.
Hospitals: Admissions
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of hospital admissions that are alcohol-related in the latest period for which figures are available. [59109]
Anne Milton: The information is in the following table. These data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion.
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| Estimate of alcohol-related admission episodes (1) , total eligible finished admission episodes (FAEs) (2) and total FAEs; 2009-10: Activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector | ||||
|
|
Total alcohol-related admissions | Total eligible FAEs | Total FAEs | Percentage of admissions that are alcohol-related (based on Total alcohol-eligible FAEs) |
| (1 )Estimate of Alcohol-related admissions: The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO), which uses 48 indicators for alcohol-related illnesses, determining the proportion of a wide range of diseases and injuries that can be partly attributed to alcohol as well as those that are, by definition, wholly attributable to alcohol. Further information on these proportions can be found at www.nwph.net/nwpho/publications/AlcoholAttributableFractions.pdf The application of the NWPHO methodology was updated in summer 2010 and is now available directly from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). As such, information about episodes estimated to be alcohol related may be slightly different from previously published data. (2) Finished admission episodes (FAEs): FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. It should be noted that the figures provided for eligible FAEs relate to English resident patients with a known sex and age only and not admissions in England of individuals who reside in other parts of the United Kingdom or foreign nationals. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients. Note: Data quality: HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | ||||
Leukaemia: Medical Treatments
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects second-line treatments for chronic myeloid leukaemia to be approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. [59185]
Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising dasatinib, high-dose imatinib and nilotinib for the treatment of imatinib-resistant chronic myeloid leukaemia. We understand that NICE expects to issue its final guidance to the national health service in autumn 2011.
Further information is available at:
http://guidance.nice.org.uk/TA/WaveR/99
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chronic myeloid leukaemia patients were prescribed standard dose imatinib in the last year for which figures are available. [59186]
Paul Burstow: Information on the number of people prescribed a medicine, the dosage or the medical condition being treated, is not collected centrally. Imatinib can be used to treat a range of medical conditions, including chronic myeloid leukaemia.
In the year 2010, there were 3,262 items for imatinib dispensed in the community in England, written in the United Kingdom, with a net ingredient cost of £8.9 million. This figure is taken from the prescription cost analysis database.
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Also, in 2010 the cost of imatinib used in hospitals in England, is estimated to be £55.2 million. This figure is taken from the hospital pharmacy audit index. Data on the number of items prescribed in hospitals are not available centrally.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of patients prescribed standard dose imatinib who are likely to become resistant to the treatment; [59187]
(2) what treatments are available on the NHS to chronic myeloid leukaemia patients who become resistant to standard dose imatinib. [59188]
Paul Burstow: No central assessment has been made of the proportion of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) treated with imatinib who are likely to become resistant to the treatment. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence issued guidance to the national health service in 2003 that recommends that imatinib can be used as a first-line treatment for CML patients meeting specific clinical criteria.
Treatment options for CML patients who have developed resistance to imatinib can include interferon alfa, busulfan and hydroxycarbamide, or a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
Life
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the organisation Life has been appointed to his Department's sexual health forum. [59141]
Anne Milton: Life has been invited to sit on the sexual health forum because it is important to ensure that a wide range of views and interests are represented.
Mental Health Services
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the right of mentally-ill patients not held under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 to discharge themselves from hospital in circumstances where they may be a danger to themselves. [59052]
Paul Burstow: Patients not detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 are free to discharge themselves from hospital at any time. Where it is considered that a patient may be a danger to themselves if they were to leave, there is provision under the Act for that patient to remain in hospital under holding powers. One power may be exercised by the doctor (or nominated deputy) or approved clinician in charge of the patient's treatment and can remain in force for up to 72 hours. In addition, in the absence of the doctor or the approved clinician, certain nurses may authorise detention for up to six hours.
National health service staff also have to consider the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which provide a framework for decision making for people who lack capacity to make their own decisions. This requires best interests decisions to be made and the
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deprivation of liberty safeguards to be applied if a deprivation of liberty is being considered.
NHS Blood and Transplant: Publicity
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been (a) requested by and (b) allocated to NHS Blood and Transplant's public awareness campaigns for 2011-12. [59369]
Anne Milton: In 2011-12, NHS Blood and Transplant has sought approval to spend £2.79 million on organ donation awareness campaigns, and £4.58 million on blood donation awareness. So far, approval has been given to spend to £615,000 on organ donation awareness, and £2.29 million on blood donation awareness.
NHS Walk-in Centres: Morecambe
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to assess the viability of an NHS walk-in centre in Morecambe. [59237]
Mr Simon Burns: No assessment has been made by the Department on the viability of a national health service walk-in centre in Morecambe. The provision of local NHS services, including walk-in services, is a matter for the local NHS to determine according to the health care needs of the local population.
NHS: Freedom of Information
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2011, Official Report, columns 120-1W, on NHS: freedom of information, where the information is held to which reference is made in the answer. [59055]
Mr Simon Burns: Individual statutory bodies, including national health service bodies such as special health authorities, strategic health authorities, primary care trusts, NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts, are responsible in their own right for their duties under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Department does not require NHS bodies to report their expenditure on providing information requested under the provisions of the Act. Local NHS organisations would be best placed to compile any estimate of these costs.
North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust: Finance
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department has allocated to the North East Ambulance Service for each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [58910]
Mr Simon Burns:
The Department has not allocated any funding directly to the North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust for each year of the comprehensive spending review period. Rather, the Department currently makes revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs). The most recent round of allocations to PCTs was for 2011-12. It is for PCTs to use the funding allocated to them to commission services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations, taking account
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of local and national priorities. NHS trusts primarily derive income through the provision of health services to PCTs.
Nurses: North East
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diabetic specialist nurses were employed in the north-east for each year since the creation of the post. [58969]
Mr Simon Burns: The employment of diabetic specialist nurses is a matter for the national health service locally and as such, the information requested is not centrally collected.
Nurses: West Midlands
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the planned reduction in commissioned nurse places in the west midlands in 2011-12. [59135]
Anne Milton: A search has been made of the relevant departmental databases which has found 13 items of correspondence and one parliamentary question about commissioned nurse places in the west midlands in 2011-12. It is likely that this figure will represent the majority of correspondence received, if not all of it.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential effects on patient care of planned reductions in nursing commissions in the west midlands; and if he will make a statement. [59142]
Anne Milton: Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are responsible for setting levels of nursing commissions. There is a service level agreement between the Department and SHAs for the multi-professional education and Training budget, which requires SHAs to base their education and training commissioning on the workforce plans of providers.
The West Midlands SHA has confirmed that it has finalised its plans based on workforce planning information and following discussions with national health service organisations and higher education institutions providing health professional training programmes. Departmental officials will work with the SHA to review the situation and ensure that the planned level of commissions remains appropriate.
Organs: Donors
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to (a) increase awareness of organ donation and (b) encourage the registration of organ donors. [59026]
Anne Milton: There are a number of initiatives planned or in place to raise awareness about the benefits of organ donation and to encourage more people to add their name to the organ donor register (ODR). Much of the work is led by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) in liaison with a number of partners in the private, public and third sectors to encourage people to join the ODR (for example, when registering with a doctor).
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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 of Transport and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to introduce “prompted choice” on 17 July 2011. The prompted choice approach requires people applying for a driving licence online to make a choice about organ donation. If successful, NHSBT will consider rolling out the approach in other areas.
National transplant week is an annual event to be held between the 4 and 10 July 2011. NHSBT is leading a consortium of partner organisations to plan activity under the theme of “What Are You Waiting For?” Through outreach events, case studies, media engagement and the use of social media tools such as Twitter, the campaign will also highlight how quick and easy it is to join the NHS ODR.
As local public figures, we would urge hon. Members to use every opportunity to raise this issue with their local media, to encourage people to discuss organ donation with their families, and to sign up.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were registered organ donors in each of the last five years. [59027]
Anne Milton: The number of people registered on the organ donor register (ODR) over the last five years has increased from 12.3 million to 17.7 million. Details are set out in the following table:
| Additions to the ODR, April 2006 to March 2011, by year | |
|
|
Number |
| Source: NHS Blood and Transplant | |
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used to assess the status of death in interpreting the wishes of holders of NHS Blood and Transplant organ donor cards. [59182]
Anne Milton: Death is confirmed by a doctor or doctors who are entirely independent of the transplant team. Death is confirmed in exactly the same way for people who donate organs as for those who do not. Donation will only proceed with valid consent.
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Most organ donors are patients who have died as a result of a brain haemorrhage, severe head injury, or stroke and who are on a ventilator in a hospital intensive care unit. In these circumstances, death is diagnosed by brain stem tests. There are very clear and strict standards and procedures for doing these tests and they are always performed by two experienced doctors.
The ventilator provides oxygen which keeps the heart beating and blood circulating after death. Donation following the irreversible cessation of brain-stem function is called donation after brain death or DBD.
Patients who die in hospital but are not on a ventilator can, in some circumstances, also donate. This is called donation after cardiac or circulatory death or DCD.
“A Code of Practice for the Diagnosis and Confirmation of Death 2008” is available on the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges website:
www.aomrc.org.uk/publications/reports-guidance.html
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the NHS Blood and Transplant strategic plan 2011-14, what plans he has to promote more widely the economic case for organ donation and transplantation. [59367]
Anne Milton: The NHS Blood and Transplant strategic plan 2011-14 states that in addition to saving and improving lives there is an economic case for organ transplantation. The existing transplantation programme realises gross annual savings in excess of £300 million versus alternative medical treatments.
It has been estimated that the impact of increasing the number of organs available by 50% for transplant by 2013 would increase the savings to the national health service by an additional £200 million a year. NHS Blood and Transplant is working closely with clinical leads for organ donation and donation committees within hospital trusts as well as the wider NHS to promote the economic case for donation.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the levels of compliance by coroners with its guidance on organ donation. [59373]
Anne Milton: NHS Blood and Transplant is in the process of collecting more detailed information about when coroners refuse permission for donation (either for all or specific organs) to gain a better understanding of current practice. These data will be collected for 12 months from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 but will be reviewed after six months to establish if any trends or significant differences in coroner practice are emerging.
Out-of-Area Treatment: Wales
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with Welsh Government Ministers on the effect of his proposed NHS reforms on cross-border service delivery. [59126]
Anne Milton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, met Ministers of the Welsh Assembly Government on 1 December 2010 to discuss the future of the cross-border commissioning protocol.
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It was agreed that until the forthcoming changes to the manner in which health care in England is commissioned are finalised in the Health and Social Care Bill currently going through Parliament, no substantial changes to the cross-border protocol should be introduced.
The intention was therefore that the protocol due to expire on the 31 March 2011 should be renewed with minimal changes for one year, to run seamlessly, and this is what has now been agreed.
Patients: Nutrition
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training and support is given to nurses in assessing the nutritional needs of patients. [59136]
Anne Milton: The content and standard of health care education is the responsibility of the independent regulatory bodies. In their role as custodian of quality standards in education and practice, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the regulatory body with responsibility for nursing and sets standards for nursing and midwifery education programmes.
The NMC has recently introduced new standards for nurse education and training that contain essential skills clusters that are incorporated into all nurse education programmes. The skills associated with these clusters include training and knowledge on nutrition and fluid management.
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to provide nutritional screening for vulnerable patients on admission to hospital. [59137]
Anne Milton: Local national health service organisations are responsible for nutrition screening policies. There are a number of initiatives in place to help organisations develop their policies. These include the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on malnutrition, in which all in-patients should be weighed, measured and have their body mass index calculated on admission; the “Essence of Care” benchmarking system which includes “food and drink” covering screening and assessment on initial contact; and the Council of Europe resolution on food and nutritional care in hospital covering screening of all patients on admission to hospital.
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the quality of data on malnutrition (a) collected by the NHS and (b) published by his Department. [59144]
Paul Burstow: The interpretation of national health service data on malnutrition, obtained from information on primary and secondary diagnoses recorded on hospital episode statistics, is not straightforward.
The Health and Social Care Information Centre has a role in reviewing and in seeking improvements in the quality of the data it collects. Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill through Parliament, the Secretary of State for Health or the NHS Commissioning Board will determine which data are collected by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. The Information Centre will also be able to consider additional requests from other arm's length bodies, and carry out those data collections if specific criteria are met.
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Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the report of 26 May 2011 by the Care Quality Commission on dignity and nutrition for older people, what progress his Department is making in reducing the incidence of malnutrition in acute healthcare settings. [59145]
Paul Burstow: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, requested the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a programme of unannounced inspections of hospitals providing care for older people. The CQC looked at compliance against the essential standards for dignity and nutrition. The first 12 reports were published on 26 May 2011 and 40 reports have been published so far. In instances where compliance problems were identified, the trusts concerned are required to submit reports to the CQC setting out the actions they will take to improve. Strategic health authorities will monitor progress locally and the CQC will check to make sure that improvements have been made.
Respite Care: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assistance his Department is providing to expand the provision of respite care in Peterborough constituency; and if he will make a statement; [59396]
(2) what assistance his Department is providing to extend the provision of respite care in Peterborough constituency; and if he will make a statement. [59398]
Paul Burstow: The Department is providing additional funding of £400 million to the national health service over the next four years to enable more carers to take breaks from their caring responsibilities. The money is not ring-fenced as primary care trusts have flexibility to decide how much to invest on individual priorities in the light of their local circumstances and priorities.
In the “NHS Operating Framework for 2011/12” we made clear that:
'PCTs should agree policies, plans and budgets to support carers with local authorities and local carers' organisations, and make them available to local people.’
Streptococcal Infections
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the merits of testing for group B streptococcal infections in pregnant women; [59110]
(2) what steps he is taking to prevent group B streptococcal infections in newborn babies. [59111]
Anne Milton: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy. The UK NSC reviewed the policy for screening for group B streptococcus (GBS) in pregnant women in 2009 and concluded that the evidence did not support its introduction. The UK NSC will review its policy position again on GBS carriage in pregnancy screening in 2012 or earlier if any significant new peer reviewed evidence emerges.
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The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has a green-top guideline, “Prevention of Early onset Group B Streptococcal Disease” which provides guidance for obstetricians, midwives and neonatologists on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS. The RCOG also produce parallel patient information, Preventing group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies (“Information for You”), for women and their families who are expecting a baby or are planning to get pregnant. Advice is also available on the NHS Choices website at:
www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/2580.aspx?categoryid=54&subcategoryid=137
Strokes: Children
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's stroke quality standard is to address the prevention and management of stroke in paediatric patients. [58720]
Mr Simon Burns: The stroke quality standard was published in June 2010 and addresses the care provided to adult stroke patients by health care staff during diagnosis and initial management, acute-phase care, rehabilitation and long-term management. It does not cover the prevention and management of stroke in paediatric patients.
A consultation on the library of quality standard topics will follow later this year.
Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust: Redundancy
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff of the Sunderland teaching primary trust took voluntary redundancy in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [58908]
Mr Simon Burns: Information is not centrally available for the period requested. The electronic staff record shows that during the period June 2010 to March 2011 there were 49 voluntary redundancies at Sunderland teaching primary care trust. This is the latest centrally available data.
Transplant Surgery: Waiting Lists
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of patients who died while waiting for a transplant in each of the last five years. [59106]
Anne Milton: The information is provided in the following table.
| Deaths while waiting for an organ transplant, April 2006 to March 2011, by year | |||
|
|
Died while waiting | Removed/died (1) | Total |
| (1) Patients who were removed from the list because they were too ill and subsequently died. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant | |||
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Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the number of people on a waiting list for a transplant. [59107]
Anne Milton: The information is provided in the following table.
| Patients listed for an organ transplant at 8 June 2011, by status | |
|
|
Number |
| Note: ‘Active’ means the patient is currently in a state to receive a transplant. ‘Suspended’ means they are temporarily unable to receive a transplant (though they ultimately need one) as they are too ill, away, etc. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant | |
Business, Innovation and Skills
Blackstone Group
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will institute an inquiry as to whether Blackstone is a fit and proper company to conduct business in the UK. [58389]
Mr Davey: The United Kingdom does not impose a general fit and proper requirement on companies or company directors. Specific business areas are subject to regulatory supervision, which may include a form of fit and proper test. Company directors may also be disqualified from acting as a director under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.
Business
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress his Department has made on simplification of Government support for businesses; and if he will make a statement. [58490]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 9 June 2011]: The new streamlined Solutions for Business products were announced in March this year. There are 13 products designed to help businesses identify and overcome key challenges as they grow and develop. It will target activities where a Government lead is required, such as providing access to strategic advice, helping companies reach international markets and supporting innovation. We are currently in the transition period and the 13 products should be available by early 2012.
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the name is of each business support scheme facilitated by his Department. [58492]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 9 June 2011]: In March 2011 the streamlined Solutions for Business portfolio was announced. This portfolio contains 13 products which are:
High Growth Coaching
Helping Your Business Grow Internationally
Manufacturing Advisory Service
Designing Demand
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Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Networking for Innovation
Collaborative Research and Development
Grant for Research and Development
Workplace Training, including Apprenticeships
Improving Your Resource Efficiency
Finance for Business
Understanding Finance for Business
Rural Development Programme for England Business Support
Other business support schemes facilitated by DBIS which are not included in the Solutions for Business portfolio are:
Enterprise Finance Guarantee
Export Credit Insurance
Maximising Foreign Direct Investment
Grant for Business Investment (only available for large exceptional cases)
Business: National Vocational Qualifications
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for future funding of the Business Improvement Techniques NVQ. [58211]
Mr Hayes: The Skills Funding Agency has confirmed that the Business Improvement Techniques NVQ will continue to be funded at least until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.
Work-based learning is vital to ensure that we stimulate the private sector growth that will bring new jobs and prosperity to Britain. As set out in “Skills for Sustainable Growth”, which was published on 16 November 2010, apprenticeships will be at the heart of the further education (FE) and skills system. Alongside apprenticeships and entitlements for the low skilled, we will prioritise Government funding for work place learning in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs; those with fewer that 250 employees). We have also given further education and training organisations increased freedoms and flexibilities enabling them to respond to the needs of the learners, employers and communities they serve.
Debts: Citizens Advice Bureaux
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people have requested help for debt-related problems from citizens advice bureaux in Wales in (a) the last 12 months for which figures are available and (b) the previous 12 months. [58930]
Mr Davey: The Department does not collect data from citizens advice bureaux (CAB) as it is a charitable membership organisation and not a direct agency of Government. However, data found on the Citizens Advice website show 145,265 individuals requesting help for debt related problems from CAB in Wales in 2010/11. In 2009/10 the figure was 132,015.
Further information can be found on the following webpage:
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/aboutus/publications/advice_trends.htm