20 Jun 2011 : Column 61W

Health: Screening

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been seen under the NHS Health Check programme in each primary care trust area since April 2009. [59934]

Mr Simon Burns: For 2009-10, we do not have the data requested. Based on strategic health authority (SHA) estimates, approximately 1 million NHS Health Check-type checks were offered to people and about 700,000 were delivered in that year.

The programme was included in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 NHS Operating Framework, but it was for local implementation and not national performance management. This meant that primary care trusts (PCTs) could decide locally when to start implementing the programme. In addition, there have been issues with establishing a new data collection and ensuring that reporting on the programme has been accurate. We estimate that during 2010-11 approximately 1.4 million checks were offered and about 820,000 were delivered.

In 2011-12, the programme has a supporting measure in the 2011-12 NHS Operating Framework. This has enabled us to work closely with SHAs to ensure that PCTs' plans for implementing the programme are aimed at reaching 18% of their eligible cohort and that the data they return are of better quality. This will enable the data on the number of NHS Health Checks carried out to be published on a quarterly basis from Quarter 1 of 2011-12 onwards.

Hospitals: Private Finance Initiative

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to exclude from the provisions of contracts under the private finance initiative charges to charitable organisations for the maintenance of wall-mounted items donated to NHS hospitals. [60143]

Mr Simon Burns: Private finance initiative contracts are held between a private sector consortium and the national health service procuring authority, which incurs the charges for services delivered under the contract. It is for the NHS body to agree at a local level the affordability and value for money case of any additional charges which it may incur under the contract through working with other third-party organisations such as charitable bodies.

Medical Equipment: EU Action

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will discuss with his EU counterparts steps to improve the scrutiny of high risk medical devices. [60843]

Mr Simon Burns: The European Commission have indicated that they intend to bring forward proposals to recast the existing medical devices directives (covering medical devices, active implantable medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices) in early 2012. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is actively involved in discussions with the Commission and other member states in advance of formal proposals being adopted.

20 Jun 2011 : Column 62W

The Government consider that the existing regulatory framework is fundamentally sound, striking an appropriate balance between fostering innovation and ensuring patient safety. The recast is an opportunity to address issues of variability across member states, by improving the oversight of notified bodies, ensuring uniform high standards of conformity assessment and strengthening post-market surveillance, all of which will have an impact on the scrutiny of high risk medical devices.

Mental Health Services: Prisons

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department expects to spend on measures to improve the mental health of prisoners in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [59895]

Paul Burstow: NHS primary care trusts have been responsible for commissioning offender health services for their offender population since 2006. Therefore, the distribution of funding for mental health services for prisoners will be determined locally by NHS primary care trusts who will take into account the needs of their offender population based on Joint Strategic Needs Assessments.

The Government's spending review committed us to taking forward proposals to invest in mental health diversion services at police stations and courts to intervene at an early stage, diverting offenders with mental health problems away from the justice system and into treatment where appropriate. These services will be rolled out nationally over the spending review period, subject to business case approval.

At a joint Health and Criminal Justice Programme/Revolving Doors Agency conference in March, I announced a programme of diversion pathfinder sites, supported with a £5 million investment in the coming year:

£3 million investment in 40 adult diversion sites in 2011-12; working with 20 of these diversion pathfinders to help build the business case for diversion; and

£2 million towards up to 60 youth sites for diversion, and extending pilots to other areas of the country.

NHS: Reorganisation

Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 442W, on NHS: reorganisation, what the (a) location and (b) date was of each of the listening events he attended. [59980]

Mr Simon Burns: As part of the listening exercise, the ministerial team, along with members of the NHS Future Forum, have visited every region in the country attending around 200 listening events, to listen to views of the public, staff and patients. The Secretary of State attended 35 of these events:

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20 Jun 2011 : Column 64W

Number of events Date Title of meeting Location

1

13 April 2011

Royal College of Nursing Congress—listening session

Liverpool

2

19 April 2011

Foundation Trust Network listening roundtable

London

3

19 April 2011

Listening meeting British Medical Association

London

4

20 April 2011

Listening visit—Bedford Hospital

Bedford

5

27 April 2011

Listening Visit to South Westminster Commissioning Consortium

London

6

3 May 2011

Listening event with Bishops

London

7

3 May 2011

Bishops Listening Event

London

8

3 May 2011

Listening meeting with Faculty of Public Health

London

9

3 May 2011

Listening Lunch with Lords Peers

London

10

9 May 2011

Listening meeting with Royal College of GPs

London

11

9 May 2011

Trade Union Listening event

London

12

10 May 2011

Ageing Population conference—National Council of Palliative Care—listening session

London

13

10 May 2011

Workforce education/leadership event—Delivering the Healthcare Workforce consultation—listening event

London

14

10 May 2011

Monitor listening meeting

London

15

11 May 2011

UK Medical Students Association—listening meeting

Bournemouth

16

12 May 2011

Listening Event at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital

London

17

12 May 2011

Clinical Fellows Event—National Leadership Council listening event

London

18

12 May 2011

NHS Employers Diversity Partners—listening event

London

19

12 May 2011

Nottinghamshire GP Principia Listening event

Nottingham

20

13 May 2011

Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland—Conference listening event

Bournemouth

21

17 May 2011

Listening event with Lords Peers

London

22

17 May 2011

Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprise listening meeting

London

23

17 May 2011

Listening Meeting for Neurological Charities

London

24

17 May 2011

Listening Meeting with Chief Nursing Officer nurses and Allied Health Professionals

London

25

17 May 2011

Listening event with Rethink Charities

London

26

17 May 2011

Listening session at the National Council for Palliative Care

London

27

18 May 2011

Kings Fund Leadership Conference—listening session

London

28

19 May 2011

East Anglia Cancer Network—listening session

Norwich

29

19 May 2011

Academy of Royal Colleges—council meeting—Listening session

London

30

19 May 2011

Patient listening Event with Health Charity Coalition

London

31

20 May 2011

Listening visit to Papworth Hospital Visit

Papworth

32

20 May 2011

Listening Event at University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, North West

Manchester

33

24 May 2011

GP Pathfinder event—listening session

London

34

24 May 2011

Listening event with Lords Peers

London

35

24 May 2011

Listening session at London wide GP commissioning council

London

Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 442W, on NHS: reorganisation, what the (a) location and (b) date was of each of the listening events. [59981]

Mr Simon Burns: As part of the listening exercise, the ministerial team, along with members of the NHS Future Forum, have attended around 200 listening events, to listen to views of the public, staff and patients.

A copy of the NHS listening exercise table of events has been placed in the Library.

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date officials from his Department instructed Parliamentary Counsel to draft amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill to take account of the outcome of the NHS Future Forum consultation. [60818]

Mr Simon Burns: Ministers were actively involved in the listening exercise talking to a wide range of patients, staff and stakeholders, as well as meeting with the Future Forum members. In addition, the Future Forum leads made a number of public statements during the listening exercise about the ideas coming out of the process.

This enabled preparatory work to be undertaken in advance of the Government's response, including exploring potential amendments with Parliamentary Counsel. Final decisions about policy changes—and subsequent amendments—were made at Cabinet on 14 June.

Peak Oil

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to address the challenges posed by peak oil. [60098]

Mr Simon Burns: The issues posed by peak oil will affect all sectors of the economy including the NHS. The NHS will embrace Government strategies to manage any challenges resulting in a peak oil situation. The NHS is engaged in the Government's strategy to meet

20 Jun 2011 : Column 65W

the challenge of reducing and controlling the use of energy consistent with delivering high quality patient care.

Perinatal Mortality

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he plans to take to reduce the incidence of perinatal mortality and stillbirth; [59933]

(2) pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State, Department for Health, the right hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr Burns) of 18 May 2011, Official Report, column 106WH, on stillbirth, what steps he plans to take to reduce stillbirths. [59978]

Anne Milton: The Government have made reducing perinatal mortality, including stillbirth, an improvement area under domain one of the NHS Outcomes Framework for 2011-12. To support the national health service in improving outcomes in pregnancy, labour and immediately after birth, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will develop new quality standards, based on the best available evidence, on antenatal care, intrapartum care and postnatal care.

The Department encourages early access to maternity services and has included the maternity 12-week early access indicator as one of the measures for quality in the NHS Operating Framework for 2011-12. This will facilitate the dissemination of public health advice on how to minimise the risk of stillbirth and enable those women who can be identified as being at increased risk to receive additional support and monitoring.

The Department also continues to invest in research. A major focus of the Department's National Institute for Health Research programme on women's health is understanding the factors linked to stillbirth and to use that information to improve the clinical care of pregnant women.

Primary Care Trusts: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations were undertaken prior to the merger of Warrington primary care trust with other primary care trusts in Cheshire; where and in what form such consultations took place; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each response received to the consultations. [60951]

Mr Simon Burns: Primary care trusts (PCTs) across England have come together to form PCT clusters to ensure that they can sustain management capacity and continue to deliver their responsibilities until PCTs are abolished in April 2013, subject to parliamentary approval of the Health and Social Care Bill.

These clusters are not statutory bodies and do not replace PCTs, which will continue to exist. No formal consultation was required to create them but the strategic health authority engaged with key stakeholders, including writing to Members of Parliament in February 2011.

Psoriasis

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department has made of the care pathway for psoriasis patients; and if he will make a statement; [60961]

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(2) what assessment his Department has made of the physical, mental and economic effect of psoriasis on patients who are unable to work at times due to the condition. [60962]

Paul Burstow: The Department has made no formal assessment of the impact of psoriasis on patients but it fully recognises the importance of ensuring that patients receive the right care and support. In October 2009, the Department and the Welsh Assembly Government formally requested the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to prepare a clinical guideline on psoriasis.

Respite Care: Finance

Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the administration of funds for short respite breaks for carers following the proposed abolition of primary care trusts; and if he will make a statement. [61007]

Paul Burstow: The Department is making an additional £400 million available for carers' breaks between 2011-15.

The “NHS Operating Framework 2011/12” states that:

“It has not always been apparent how funding to support carers has been used in each PCT. The Spending Review has made available additional funding in PCT baselines to support the provision of breaks for carers. PCTs should pool budgets with local authorities to provide carers' breaks, as far as possible, via direct payments or personal health budgets. For 2011/12, PCTs should agree policies, plans and budgets to support carers with local authorities and local carers' organisations, and make them available to local people.”

This funding is currently available in primary care trust (PCT) allocations. Following the abolition of PCTs in 2013, subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, we expect that the money will be held by the new Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Blood, Tissues and Organs Safety

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) with reference to the answer to Baroness Masham of Ilton of 31 March 2011, Official Report, column WA301, on health: contaminated blood products, what measures he plans to put in place to safeguard the independence of the committee of experts which will supersede the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs from 2012; [61048]

(2) what plans he has for the constitution of the committee of experts which will supersede the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs from 2012; [61049]

(3) on what basis the programme of work will be decided for the committee of experts which will supersede the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs from 2012. [61050]

Anne Milton: The terms of reference and membership of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) will remain unchanged. SaBTO will continue to provide independent advice to United Kingdom Departments, and its work programme will continue to be set in agreement between the Health

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Departments and the Committee. The only change is in its designation, and by 2012 SaBTO will be designated a Department of Health expert committee.

Departmental Contracts: Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of contracts issued by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which he is responsible were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in (i) Scotland, (ii) South Lanarkshire and (iii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. [60202]

Mr Simon Burns: For financial year 2010-11 the proportion of contracts awarded by the Department to small and medium-sized businesses which supplied addresses for Scotland was 1.1%. No contracts were awarded to such businesses which supplied addresses for the areas of South Lanarkshire or Rutherglen and Hamilton West.

To conduct a similar search and analysis for the Department's agency (the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) would incur a disproportionate cost due to the nature of their information technology systems.

Southern Cross Healthcare Services: Care Homes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with (a) local authorities and (b) the Care Quality Commission on ensuring appropriate standards of care in homes run by Southern Cross; and if he will make a statement. [61058]

Paul Burstow: It is for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as regulator of health and social care services, to ensure that the care provided in all care homes meets essential standards of quality and safety. The CQC will pay particular attention to any care homes where there is a concern that quality may be at risk or inadequate.

As I stated to the House on 16 June 2011, Official Report, column 928, I have asked the CQC to undertake additional inspections to address concerns arising from the 3,000 proposed job losses at Southern Cross.

The Department is working closely with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Local Government Association, local authorities and the CQC to ensure that contingency plans are in place which will allow for the continuation of care under any eventuality. There are frequent discussions between the parties involved.

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government on Southern Cross care homes. [59953]

Paul Burstow: Departmental officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the devolved Administrations regarding this issue. I have spoken with all United Kingdom Ministers responsible for the matter to ensure a consistent and effective response across the country. We will continue to talk as the need arises.

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I last had discussions with Gwenda Thomas, AM, Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services in the Welsh Government, on 14 June 2011.

Tobacco Free Lancashire: Finance

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding from the public purse was allocated to Tobacco Free Lancashire in financial year (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12 to date. [60952]

Anne Milton: This information is not collected centrally.

Tobacco Free Lancashire is a multi-agency group which includes representatives from primary care trusts, local authorities and fire services among others, who use their own existing resources to work on joint projects to tackle particular aspects of tobacco control locally.

Transplant Surgery

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many (a) heart, (b) liver, (c) lung, (d) kidney and (e) other organ transplants were performed privately by each NHS foundation trust on patients from (i) the UK, (ii) the EU and (iii) outside the EU in the latest period for which figures are available; [60227]

(2) how many NHS patients are on a waiting list for a (a) heart, (b) liver, (c) lung, (d) kidney and (e) other organ transplant. [60231]

Anne Milton: Information is not held centrally on how many organ transplants were performed privately by each NHS foundation trust.

The number of national health service patients on the national waiting list for a heart, liver, lung, kidney and other organ transplants is provided in the following table.

Transplant type Total

Kidney

6,445

Pancreas.

35

Kidney/pancreas

207

Pancreas islets

24

Heart

129

Lung

206

Heart/lung

13

Liver

478

Other (multi-organ)

28

Total

7,565

Note: The table provides activity figures for the United Kingdom as at 9 June 2011 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Committees

Mr Spellar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on how many occasions the Coalition Committee has met since May 2010. [61127]

20 Jun 2011 : Column 69W

Mr Maude: Cabinet Committee meetings enable Ministers to discuss issues freely in private in accordance with the principle of collective responsibility, and the Ministerial Code (paragraph 2.3) requires that

“the internal process through which a decision has been made, or the level of Committee by which it was taken should not be disclosed” .

It is therefore longstanding practice not to disclose details of the number of times each Committee has met or the issues discussed.

Death: Cancer

Mrs Laing: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of deaths from cancer in the last three years were of people who were (a) teetotallers, (b) moderate drinkers and (c) heavy drinkers. [59927]

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 recent question asking how many and what proportion of deaths from cancer were in the last three years of people who were (a) teetotallers, (b) moderate drinkers and (c) heavy drinkers. (59927)

The table attached provides the number of deaths where cancer was the underlying cause, in England and Wales, for 2007 to 2009 (the latest year available).

However, it is not possible to provide the specific information requested. Lifestyle and behavioural factors, such as the deceased's alcohol consumption, are not recorded in the death registration.

The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age, cause, marital status, and place of death are published annually on the National Statistics website at:

www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15096

Table 1. Number of deaths where cancer was the underlying cause, England and Wales, 2007 to 2009 (1, 2, 3)

Deaths (persons)

2007

136,804

2008

137,831

2009

137,420

(1) Cause of death for cancer was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00-C97. (2) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Departmental Manpower

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [57617]

Mr Maude: The Government are committed to transparency and the availability of data and are currently exploring options for the more frequent publication of this type of work force management information across the civil service.

Information about the Cabinet Office that is already in the public domain is published on data.gov.uk at:

http://data.gov.uk/organogram

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Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress he has made on encouraging small businesses to bid for Government contracts. [60265]

Mr Maude: Further to the answer that I gave to the hon. Members for Stroud (Neil Carmichael) and for Bromsgrove (Sajid Javid) on 13 May 2011, Official Report, column 1365W:

By the week commencing 6 June 2011, we had published 1,477 procurement opportunities on Contracts Finder, with registrations from 1,801 supplier organisations.

Opportunities suitable for SMEs are now being flagged on Contracts Finder.

The Cabinet Office has either published on Contracts Finder or is preparing for publication, 100% of tenders issued since September 2010 and contracts awarded since January 2011.

351 business proposals were submitted to the Innovation Launch Pad and have been evaluated. Those companies that submitted the top ideas will pitch their products to Government on 19 July.

On 3 June I published on the Cabinet Office website specific action plans from all Departments to facilitate SME access to their procurement requirements:

www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/small-and-medium-enterprise-sme-action-plans

The Crown Representative for SMEs, Stephen Allott, is working with Departments to plan a series of SME Product Surgeries, which will increase constructive engagement between SMEs and Government.

EU Law

Julian Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which his Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010. [60684]

Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office is responsible for the following directives in force on 1 April 2010:

Council directive 89/665/EEC of 21 December 1989 on the coordination of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the application of review procedures to the award of public supply and public works contracts;

Council directive 92/13/EEC of 25 February 1992 coordinating the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the application of community rules on the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors;

Directive 2004/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors;

Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts.

Directives which have simply amended the above directives have not been included separately in the list.

The Cabinet Office is not responsible for any directives which have come into force since 1 April 2010.

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Government Departments: Billing

Mr Denham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that Government contractors pay invoices to any subsequent subcontractors on time. [60461]

Mr Maude: The Government are determined to do everything they can to help business manage cash flow and to transform the culture of late payment. We have a target for central Government Departments to pay 80% of valid invoices within five working days of receipt.

Since 25 March 2010, it has been mandatory for all Government Departments, agencies, non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) (and the bodies over which they have direct control) to include a contract condition requiring their prime contractors to pay their tier two suppliers within 30 days.

Furthermore, the Government’s “Guide to best ‘Fair Payment’ practices”, which applies to construction procurement, recommends best ‘Fair Payment’ principles and practices for adoption in the public sector:

www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Guide_to_Fair_ Payment_Practices.pdf.

Life Expectancy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average life expectancy was of (a) people of Irish ethnicity and (b) the UK population calculated in (i) 1985, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1995, (iv) 2000, (v) 2005 and (vi) 2010. [60347]

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 recent Parliamentary Question, what the average life expectancy was of (a) people of Irish ethnicity and (b) the UK population calculated in (i) 1985, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1995, (iv) 2000, (v) 2005 and (vi) 2010. (60347)

The table below gives the average period life expectancy at birth for males and females in the United Kingdom and in Northern Ireland.

  United Kingdom life expectancy at birth Northern Ireland life expectancy at birth

Male Female Male Female

1985

71.7

77.6

70.6

76.9

1990

72.9

78.4

72.1

78.0

1995

74.1

79.3

73.5

78.9

2000

75.3

80.1

74.8

79.8

2005

76.9

81.3

76.1

81.0

2010

78.5

82.4

77.6

82.2

The ONS does not produce life expectancy figures by ethnic group and so it is not possible to provide the average life expectancy of people of Irish ethnicity.

Life Expectancy: Older People

Alok Sharma: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average life expectancy is for people aged 65 living in (a) Reading, (b) Berkshire and (c) England. [60984]

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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 the average life expectancy is for people aged 65 living in (a) Reading, (b) Berkshire and (c) England. (60984)

Life expectancy figures are calculated as three-year rolling averages and are available for all current administrative areas. Figures for the historic county of Berkshire are not available. Table 1, attached, therefore provides figures for all unitary authorities within Berkshire. Figures are for 2007-09, the latest period available.

Period life expectancies at birth and at age 65 for males and females in the UK, constituent countries, regions, counties, and local areas, from 1991-93 to 2007-09, are published on the National Statistics website at:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=8841

Table 1: Period life expectancy at age 65 (1) , unitary authorities within Berkshire, and England (2) , 2007-09 (3)
Years of life
Area Men Women

England

18

21

     

Berkshire

   

Reading UA

18

21

Bracknell Forest UA

19

22

Slough UA

19

21

West Berkshire UA

19

22

Windsor and Maidenhead UA

18

21

Wokingham UA

20

22

(1 )Period life expectancy at age 65 is an estimate of the average number of years a 65 year old would survive if he or she experienced the area's age-specific mortality rates for that time period throughout the rest of his or her life. The figure reflects mortality among those living in the area in each time period, rather than mortality among those born in each area. It is not therefore the number of years a 65 year old living in the area in each time period could actually expect to live, both because the death rates of the area are likely to change in the future and because many of those currently living in the area will live elsewhere for at least some part of their lives. (2) Based on boundaries as of 2010. (3) Three year rolling average, based on deaths registered in each year and mid-year population estimates.

Minimum Wage

Mr Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were paid at the rate of the national minimum wage in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 2009. [60973]

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 recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people were paid at the rate of the national minimum wage in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 2009. (60973)

Estimates for the number of employee jobs paid below the national minimum wage are not available below the regional level of disaggregation. The table below gives the information requested for the North East and the UK in April 2009 and 2010. April 2010 is the latest period for which figures are available.

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A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles can be found on the National Statistics website at:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5837

Estimates of jobs paid below the National Minimum Wage for the North East and the UK in April 2009 and April 2010
  2009 2010

Thousand Percentage Thousand Percentage

North East

**13

**1.2

**11

**1.2

UK

237

0.9

271

1.1

Guide to quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220. Key: CV <= 5% * CV >5% and <= 10% ** CV >10% and <= 20% Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics

Older Workers: Scotland

Mr Donohoe: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of the workforce in Scotland that is aged over 60. [60587]

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 on what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of the workforce in Scotland that is aged over 60 years. (060587)

The proportion of economically active people in Scotland aged 60 and over was 7.4 per cent, based on Annual Population Survey (APS) for the period October 2009 to September 2010, which is the latest period for which estimates are available.

As with any sample survey, estimates from APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

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

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2011, Official Report, column 1173W, on the third sector, on which dates the 29 meetings his Department has convened with hon. Members and their VCSE groups took place; and which (a) hon. Members, (b) Ministers and (c) organisations were present at each meeting. [56627]

Mr Hurd: A full record of attendees at each meeting is not held centrally.

Mr Jenkin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what (a) market and (b) opinion research his Department has (i) conducted and (ii) commissioned on public expectations of Government in respect of provision of public services in the context of the Big Society. [60271]

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Mr Hurd: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Substantive answer from Nick Hurd to Bernard Jenkin:

The Government regularly takes account of a wide range of views from across society in respect of public services, including both users and providers. This information is gathered from a number of existing sources, including market and opinion research. However, no new research on this topic has been conducted or commissioned by the Cabinet Office since the formation of this Government.

The Open Public Services White Paper, due to be published this summer, will set out the Government's programme for public services over the next few years. The Government will consult and engage those who are or could be delivering public services about the best ways to achieve the Government's ambitions, and prioritise and pace its reforms to ensure that it balances the public's need for change with the capacity of public service providers to deliver any changes.

Unemployment

Mr Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average unemployment rate of the working age population in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK was in each year since 2008. [61035]

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 the average unemployment rate of the working age population in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK was in each year since 2008. (61035)

Table 1, attached, shows the unemployment rate of persons aged 16 to 64 resident in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK, based on the Annual Population Survey (APS). Figures have been provided for the 12 month periods ending December 2008, December 2009 and September 2010, the most recent period for which figures are available.

Table 1: Unemployment rate in Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and the UK
Percentage
12 months ending December 2008 December 2009 December 2010

Jarrow

5.9

7.9

11.5

South Tyneside

7.2

12.7

13.3

North East

7.6

9.8

9.9

UK

5.8

7.8

7.8

Source: Annual Population Survey

As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

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

Mr Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) single parents were (i) in employment and (ii) unemployed in (A) Jarrow constituency, (B) South Tyneside, (C) the North East and (D) the UK in each year since 2008. [61036]

20 Jun 2011 : Column 75W

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 how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) single parents were (i) in employment and (ii) unemployed in (A) Jarrow constituency, (B) South Tyneside, (C) the North East and (D) the UK in each year since 2008. (61036)

Based on the Annual Population Survey (APS), Tables 1&2 show the information requested. Figures have been provided for

20 Jun 2011 : Column 76W

the 12 month periods ending December 2008, December 2009 and September 2010, the most recent period for which figures are available. Figures for single parents are available only for 12 month periods ending in December 2008 and 2009. As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

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

Table 1: Employment in Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and the UK
Thousand
  12 months ending
  December 2008 December 2009 September 2010

Male Female Single p arent Male Female Single p arent Male Female Single p arent

Jarrow

20

20

n/s

19

18

****n/s

***18

***19

(1)

South Tyneside

34

32

3

33

31

***3

***32

***32

(1)

North East

612

545

47

589

537

**50

*593

*542

(1)

UK

16,764

13,452

1,068

15,421

13,374

*1,093

*15,423

*13,407

(1)

n/s = Data has not been supplied as it has been classified as unreliable. (1) Figures for single parents are only available for the 12 month periods ending in December. Note: Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220 Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey
Table 2: Unemployment in Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and the UK
Thousand
  12 months ending
  December 2008 December 2009 September 2010

Male Female Single p arent Male Female Single p arent Male Female Single p arent

Jarrow

n/s

n/s

n/s

n/s

n/s

****n/s

****n/s

****n/s

(1)

South Tyneside

n/s

n/s

n/s

n/s

n/s

****n/s

****n/s

****n/s

(1)

North East

53

41

8

74

45

***9

**78

**45

(1)

UK

1,027

738

140

1,448

939

*172

*1,459

*932

(1)

n/s = data has not been supplied as it has been classified as unreliable. (1) Figures for single parents are only available for the 12 month periods ending in December. Note: Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220 Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey

Treasury

Bank Services

Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an assessment of the likely effects on industry of the ending of fractional reserve banking. [31869]

Mr Hoban [holding answer 20 December 2010]: Fractional reserve banking is a term to describe how the modern banking system operates. Fractional reserve banking means that only a fraction of banks deposits are backed by actual cash on hand and available for withdrawal. A non-fractional reserve banking system would operate on the basis that where a deposit was lodged in a bank, the bank would safeguard this deposit, usually by placing in a vault. It would do nothing with the money and would charge a fee for the service.

20 Jun 2011 : Column 77W

Banking capital requirement guidelines are set by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. In November 2010, G20 Leaders endorsed the “Basel III” reform package proposed by the Committee. The package will more than triple the amount of high quality capital banks will be required to hold, helping them to survive losses and continue to lend. Ending the fractional reserve banking system has not been considered as a viable policy option for the UK economy; no assessment of the likely effects on industry has been made.

Banks

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what requirements exist for banks to recognise deputies appointed by the Court of Protection; [41257]

(2) what requirements exist for banks to recognise the carers of disabled customers. [41258]

Mr Hoban [holding answer 16 February 2011]: Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers, including high street banks, must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people in the way they deliver their services. This may include allowing the carer or the deputy to act for the disabled person. Service providers must not discriminate against disabled persons as to the terms on which they offer services, by not providing the service or subjecting the disabled person to any other detriment.

Child Benefit: EU Nationals

Mr Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking with his EU counterparts to reform the payment of child benefit to non-UK EU nationals whose children live outside the UK. [60950]

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for North East Cambridgeshire (Stephen Barclay) on 25 November 2010, Official Report, columns 444-45W.

Double Taxation: Israel

Mr Slaughter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2011, Official Report, column 325W, on double taxation: Israel, what mechanisms are in place to exclude income and company tax raised in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories or Golan Heights from the benefits of the 1962 Double Taxation Convention. [60550]

Mr Gauke: Claims for the benefit of the double taxation convention from persons claiming to be resident in Israel are checked to ensure that their residential address is not within the Occupied Palestinian Territories or Golan Heights.

Economic Situation

Mr Ellwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recent report by the IMF on the state of the UK economy. [60124]

Justine Greening [holding answer 16 June 2011]: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) holds bilateral discussions with each of its member countries, usually

20 Jun 2011 : Column 78W

every year, as part of its country surveillance function, under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement. IMF staff visited London in late May and early June and met with various institutions, including HM Treasury, to discuss issues relating to the economy. The IMF published the concluding statement for this Article IV consultation on 6 June. The IMF concluded that:

“The current settings of fiscal and monetary policy remain appropriate”.

The concluding statement can be found on the IMF's website at:

http://www.imf.org/external/np/ms/2011/060611.htm

European Investment Bank: North Africa

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the proposals by the UN High Representative for Foreign Affairs for greater investment in North Africa from the European Investment Bank following recent political changes. [48335]

Mr Hoban: The proposals made by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs provided the European Council, meeting on 24-25 March with a sound basis for a thorough and detailed discussion of how the EU can best help the region following recent political turmoil.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the fuel duty derogation for those who refine less than 2,500 litres of biodiesel per year. [60644]

Justine Greening: The small producers' biofuel duty exemption was introduced in 2007 and continues to offer effective tax relief to low volume biofuel producers. The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review along Budget timelines.

Financial Policy Committee

Mr Darling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the conclusions were of the informal meeting of the Financial Policy Committee of the Bank of England held in May 2011; and if he will make a statement; [61000]

(2) what the schedule of meetings is of the Financial Policy Committee of the Bank of England; and if he will publish its minutes and proceedings after each meeting. [61001]

Mr Hoban: The informal meetings of the interim Financial Policy Committee (FPC) held in May 2011 were preparatory meetings for the formal interim FPC meeting held on 16 June 2011. A record of that meeting will be published on 24 June 2011.

The interim FPC will meet at least four times a year. The next formal meeting of the interim FPC will be held in September 2011; the date of the meeting will be published on 24 June, with the record of the meeting held on 16 June. A record will be published after each formal meeting.

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Financial Services Authority

Mr Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what objectives he has set for the working forum of mutual trade bodies to input collectively into the policy formulation process of the Financial Services Authority; and if he will make a statement. [60217]

Mr Hoban: This is a matter for the Financial Services Authority and the members of the forum. I understand that the objectives for the forum will be agreed when it meets for the first time later this year.

Financial Services: City of London

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to support the competitiveness of the City of London as a financial centre. [60164]

Mr Hoban: The Government are committed to a stable, predictable and competitive environment for financial services and one favourable to business more generally.

The Government have taken immediate action to restore tax competitiveness with a phased reduction in the main rate of corporation tax from 28% to 23% over the next four years. By 2014, and based on current plans, the UK will have the 5th lowest main rate in the G20 and will maintain its position as the lowest in the G7.

There are many factors which attract business to the UK—a robust and stable legal framework; high standards of transparency and accounting; excellent infrastructure; clustering benefits including associated business such as professional services; a deep and highly skilled talent pool; language; time zone; and quality of life.

Ensuring that London retains its position as the preeminent international financial centre is of critical importance to the UK economy. The UK is leading the argument in the EU and internationally for robust, internationally consistent regulatory standards that will benefit the economy and make the financial sector more stable. Strong regulation and effective supervision will increase investor confidence, supporting the competitive position of the city.

Financial Services: Taxation

Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of receipts from a tax on all cost conversions from one currency into another levied at (a) 0.005 per cent., (b) 0.05 per cent., (c) 0.5 per cent. and (d) 5 per cent. [60066]

Mr Hoban: There are many issues that need to be further explored around whether a currency transaction tax model offers a stable and efficient mechanism to raise revenue. These issues need to be resolved before the potential revenue could be forecast.

The UK Government believe a financial transactions tax would need to be applied globally to prevent the relocation of financial services and are willing to engage in further international discussions of such taxes.

20 Jun 2011 : Column 80W

Government Procurement Card

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) date of purchase, (b) gross amount, (c) level 3 line item detail and (d) supplier was in respect of each transaction undertaken by the Valuation Office Agency using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10. [59213]

Mr Gauke: Tables have been placed in the Library showing the spending by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) from the Government Procurement Cards (GPC) in 2008-09 and 2009-10. The tables list the dates of transactions, the amounts and the suppliers. VOA does not on the whole transact with suppliers with Level 3 detail transactions and any incidence of such transactions would be very small in relation to the overall number of transactions and therefore these data are only available at disproportionate cost.

The average annual spend is less than 0.05% of the VOA's overall spending.

Inflation

Ian Lavery: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of trends in the rate of inflation. [60518]

Justine Greening: The Government consider a range of factors when making their assessment of the UK economy. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts. The OBR published a full analysis of recent developments and the prospects for growth and inflation in their forecast at Budget, which can be found online at:

http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/

Loans: Republic of Ireland

Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from which UK-based banks he received representations on financial assistance to Ireland. [60425]

Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

Monetary Policy

Steve Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of quantitative easing on the cost of borrowing for small businesses and consumers. [48407]

Mr Hoban: The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England is operationally independent in setting monetary policy to meet the inflation target, including bank rate and the level of asset purchases under quantitative easing (QE). The MPC takes all relevant factors, including the cost of borrowing for businesses and consumers, into account in its assessment of the balance of risks to inflation in the medium term. The Bank's May 2009 Inflation Report explains how asset purchases work to stimulate nominal spending along various channels.

20 Jun 2011 : Column 81W

The Bank's analysis, for example in the Quarterly Bulletin 2011 Q1, is that QE has had a positive impact on spending by households and businesses.

National Insurance Contributions

Mr Binley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many occasions he has met representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses to discuss proposals to extend the national insurance contributions holiday to existing businesses with up to four employees. [60556]

Mr Gauke: In advance of the Budget Treasury Ministers met with a number of representative bodies to discuss issues faced by small businesses. The Federation of Small Businesses was one such body.

Northern Rock plc

Mr Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with UK Financial Investments on the priority to be given to the commitment in the coalition agreement to foster diversity and promote mutuals in the banking industry when evaluating options for the return of Northern Rock to the private sector; and if he will make a statement. [60218]

Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

The development and execution of strategies for disposing of the Government's shareholding in Northern Rock is part of UK Financial Institutions Ltd (UKFI) remit. UKFI has been looking at the full range of alternatives for divestment, and has been exploring options based on maximising value for the taxpayer, maintaining financial stability and paying due regard to promoting competition. UKFI will provide advice on the future of Northern Rock plc to the Chancellor, who will make the final decision.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer launched the sale process of Northern Rock plc on 15 June in his Mansion House speech. Any party, including mutuals are invited to enter a bid for Northern Rock. At this stage, all viable options, including remutualisation, remain available for further consideration; however, a sale is being explored as the first option.

The Government remain committed to promoting mutuals as outlined in the coalition document.

Peak Oil

Stephen Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to address the challenges posed by peak oil. [60094]

Justine Greening: The Government recognise the challenges of peak oil, including the analysis from leading energy organisations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA). HM Treasury engages actively with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) on these matters.

20 Jun 2011 : Column 82W

Tax Avoidance

Mr Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the (a) cost to the Exchequer and (b) potential administrative savings arising from reform and simplification of the administration of IR35 in a 12-month period; and if he will make a statement. [60229]

Mr Gauke: No estimate has been made of the cost to the Exchequer, or the potential administrative savings arising from a change in the way HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) administer IR35. Following the recent review of the legislation by the Office of Tax Simplification, the Government announced their commitment to making clear improvements in the way IR35 is administered. HMRC has established the IR35 Forum to advise on possible changes and to monitor progress. Details about the IR35 Forum are available on HMRC’s website at:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/consultations/ir35forum-home.htm

Taxation: Self-assessment

Jason McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has carried out into levels of satisfaction with assistance to persons contacting HMRC with queries about self-assessment. [58275]

Mr Gauke: HMRC has commissioned research from TNS-BMRB to measure the customer experience of dealing with HMRC. The survey has been running since 2008 and covers customer perceptions of a recent dealing relating to self-assessment.

The headline measure of customer experience is published quarterly on the HMRC website. A full report of HMRC and Line of Business results (2008-10) has also been published on the HMRC website:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/report108.pdf

UK Banks: Ireland

Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extent of the exposure of UK bonds to the banking and credit situation in the Republic of Ireland. [32133]

Mr Hoban [holding answer 21 December 2010]: A number of factors influence UK gilt yields and it is impossible to isolate the impact of any individual factor, including that of the banking and credit problems in the Republic of Ireland.

VAT: Channel Islands

Mr MacShane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 May 2011, Official Report, column 590W, on VAT: Channel Islands, whether he is taking steps to control imports of beauty products from the Channel Islands ordered over the internet. [60151]

Mr Gauke: All commercial imports from outside the EU, including those of beauty products from the Channel Islands, will be subject to the new restrictions announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his 2011 Budget statement.

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VAT: Tourism

Mr Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the likely effect on the UK economy of emulating the recent decision by the Irish Government to reduce the level of value added tax on services related to tourism to 9%. [60815]

Mr Gauke: There are no immediate plans to assess the cost to the economy of a reduced rate of VAT for visitor attractions, accommodation and restaurants.

All taxes are kept under review and any changes are announced by the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.

The Government are committed to supporting the tourism industry. A wide range of measures were announced, by the Department of Culture Media and Sports, in the Government's Tourism Policy in March 2011.

Working Tax Credits: Lone Parents

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of reductions in the level of tax credits on the willingness of lone parents to (a) continue working and (b) enter work. [60343]

Mr Gauke: It is the impact of the tax and benefit system as a whole that is important for work incentives, rather than particular aspects of the system in isolation, such as tax credits. Annex A of Budget 2011 provides information on work incentives under the current system, and how the Government's commitment to making work pay through universal credit will effect these.

The Government will clarify and increase work incentives by introducing the universal credit over the next two Parliaments. This will replace the current complex system of means-tested working age benefits with a new simple streamlined payment. It will strengthen work incentives—work will always pay and be seen to do so. The Department of Work and Pensions have set out proposals for the universal credit in a White Paper which they published on 11 of November 2010 and can be found at:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many lone parents in receipt of tax credits in each (a) region and (b) constituency will have the childcare element of such credits reduced as a result of changes to tax credits rules in 2011-12. [60351]

Mr Gauke: No estimate has been made.

The reduction in the child care element is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review.

Estimating the impact of an individual measure does not give a clear indication of the full impact on an individual household.

The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the whole package of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:

http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf

20 Jun 2011 : Column 84W

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the future levels of debt of lone parents of reductions to the childcare element of tax credits. [60431]

Mr Gauke: No assessment has been made of future levels of debt as a result of reductions to the child care element of working tax credit.

HMRC continue to monitor and forecast outstanding debt levels across all of tax credits. This includes the aggregate effect of the package announced at spending review 2010.

Justice

Assets

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the monetary value was of confiscation orders made by courts in each year since 1995; [59906]

(2) how many confiscation orders were made by the courts in each year since 1995. [60106]

Mr Djanogly: Statistics on confiscation orders are only available from 2005 when a multi-government agency database was introduced to record details of all confiscation orders.

The monetary value and number of orders granted in England and Wales from 2005 to 2010 is as follows:


Number of order granted Total value of orders granted (£ million)

2005

3,454

132

2006

3,914

146

2007

4,639

224

2008

5,682

219

2009

5,602

174

2010

6,126

449

The orders made in 2010 include two separate orders each for £92.3 million.

Belmarsh Prison

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of the category D prisoners in Belmarsh prison awaiting transfer to an open prison have been waiting for more than four weeks. [60168]

Mr Blunt: There are 24 Category D prisoners in Belmarsh, seven of whom have been waiting for a transfer to an open prison for more than four weeks.

Community Orders

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what budget his Department has set for the two-year local payment by results schemes in Greater Manchester and London. [59901]

Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has set aside up to £15 million to support the introduction of payment by results over the next two years.

In the local financial incentive pilots payments to local partners in these schemes will be made if there is a reduction in demand for Ministry of Justice's services in Greater Manchester and the participating London boroughs.

20 Jun 2011 : Column 85W

The reduction in demand will lead to savings in Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, the National Offender Management Service and the Legal Services Commission. The pilots have been designed so that these savings will be used to fund payments.

There will be evaluation costs for the pilots and these will be established following a competitive tendering process. These costs will be met from within the existing budget.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what measures of success his Department has set for the two-year local payment by results schemes in Greater Manchester and London. [59902]

Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice announced in the Green Paper, ‘Breaking the Cycle’, published in December 2010, that it will test a local approach to payment by results. The aim is to encourage local statutory partners to reduce crime and reoffending, and enable them to reinvest any savings that their success realises for the justice system in further activity to prevent reoffending in their communities. The pilots will be fully evaluated.

The evaluation will describe and explain what happened during the tests, what outcomes were observed across the criminal justice system, why these may have occurred, and what aspects of the schemes were successful. The evaluation will monitor reoffending and crime rates, as well as a wider range of criminal justice system data trends, in each local area. It will use a mix of qualitative and quantitative data.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which organisations have been appointed as national framework providers of Community Payback services. [60039]

Mr Blunt: Serco, Sodexo and com:pact (Mitie/A4e) were appointed to the national framework in August 2010.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to take steps to reduce the time between the sentencing of an offender and the commencement of that offender's Community Payback work placement. [60040]

Mr Blunt: In December the Government set out proposals for the reform of sentencing in the Green Paper, “Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders”. This was followed by a 12-week consultation period which closed on 4 March 2011, and I am pleased to say that we received over 1,200 responses. We are considering these responses, and will set out our more detailed plans in the Government's response to the consultation, which will be published shortly.

Compensation Orders

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many compensation orders were made in England and Wales in each year since 1995; [60105]

(2) what the monetary value was of compensation orders issued in England and Wales in each year since 1995. [60150]

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Mr Blunt: The number and total monetary value of compensation orders issued at all courts for all offences in England and Wales, 1995 to 2010, can be viewed in the table.

Number and total value of compensation (1) orders issued in all courts for all offences, 1995 to 2010 (2)

Number of orders made Total value of orders made (£)

1995

96,643

34,717,065

1996

98,955

20,367,908

1997

102,291

20,734,386

1998

106,492

21,461,333

1999

106,437

23,701,391

2000

104,791

21,864,642

2001

106,907

22,146,854

2002

118,342

24,205,611

2003

126,216

42,052,647

2004

130,200

25,925,424

2005

138,206

37,178,796

2006

144,448

30,778,980

2007

214,486

35,100,634

2008

244,282

33,451,977

2009

157,410

44,496,659

2010

154,428

44,620,426

(1) Including compensation orders given as second, third and fourth disposals for principal offences. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. Note:Revisions have been made to 2009 figures to account for the late receipt of a small number of court records. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice.

Compensation: Young People

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many out-of-court disposals for young people have been issued in each year since 1995; [59911]

(2) how many out of court disposals of each type there were in each year since 1995. [60108]

Mr Djanogly: The number of out-of-court disposals for young people that have been issued, and the number of out of court disposals of each type in England and Wales for the years 1995 to 2010 can be viewed in tables 1 and 2.

Table 1 shows penalty notices for disorder issued to persons aged 16 and 17, and all ages, by offence in England and Wales 2004 (earliest available) to 2010 (latest available); and table 2 shows offenders issued with a reprimand, warning, or caution for all offences aged 10 to 17 and all ages by offence type 1995 to 2010 (latest available).

Court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring of 2012.

20 Jun 2011 : Column 87W

20 Jun 2011 : Column 88W

Table 1: Penalty notices for disorder issued to persons aged 16 and 17, and all ages, by offence, England and Wales , 2004 to 2010 (1)
Number issued
Ages 16 to 17
Offence description 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Higher tier offences (£80)

             

Wasting police time

69

215

353

327

254

212

157

Misuse of public telecommunications system

6

24

79

106

88

45

53

Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority

8

6

15

15

7

9

7

Causing harassment, alarm or distress(2)

1,968

5,846

8,122

7,068

4,673

3,199

2,174

Throwing fireworks

20

90

101

102

82

57

55

Drunk and disorderly

1328

2,354

3,009

2,941

2,538

2,244

1,710

Criminal damage (under £500)(2)

103

1,408

2,866

2,796

1,815

1,241

659

Theft (retail under £200)(2)

167

1,806

3,861

4,474

4,040

3,817

2,682

Breach of fireworks curfew

0

4

7

3

3

0

2

Possession of category 4 firework

3

2

6

5

6

2

3

Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework

18

42

69

106

57

53

47

Sale of alcohol to drunken person(3)

0

2

1

1

2

2

0

Supply of alcohol to a person under 18(3)

0

0

5

1

2

4

1

Sale of alcohol to a person under 18

6

79

91

77

42

40

30

Purchasing alcohol for a person under 18

4

20

45

51

33

22

18

Purchasing alcohol for a person under 18 for consumption on the premises

3

21

17

13

10

15

4

Delivery of alcohol to a person under 18 or allowing such delivery

1

20

24

36

23

9

11

Possession of Cannabis

(4)

(4)

(4)

(4)

(4)

148

163

               

Lower tier offences (£50)

             

Trespassing on a railway

17

73

256

291

257

240

196

Throwing stones at a train/railway

2

5

4

10

8

8

6

Drunk in a highway

31

103

149

106

57

31

13

Consumption of alcohol in a designated public place

20

56

136

172

126

87

31

Depositing and leaving litter

11

185

253

301

241

181

119

Consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises

7

74

67

85

31

19

9

Allowing consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises

1

2

0

1

2

0

0

Buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18(3)

0

17

62

158

100

52

42

               

Total

             

Total higher tier offences

3,704

11,939

18,671

18,122

13,675

11,119

7,776

Total lower tier offences

89

515

927

1,124

822

618

416

               

Total all offences

3,793

12,454

19,598

19,246

14,497

11,737

8,192