Defence
Armed Forces: Vehicles
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-combat vehicles leased or hired by his Department were manufactured in (a) the UK, (b) another EU member state and (c) a country outside the EU. [62675]
Peter Luff: Information on the origin of manufacture of vehicles leased to the Ministry of Defence is available only from the contractors in question, and I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as this has been provided. Information on the origin of manufacture of hired vehicles is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Capita
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) monetary value and (b) net worth was of each contract. [62728]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded five contracts to Capita or its associated companies since May 2010, with the following value ranges:
| Contract value banding (£) | Number of contracts |
This information was taken from the MOD's financial management shared service centre (FMSSC) contracts database as at 31 May 2011.
G4S
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department holds with G4S; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is. [58679]
Peter Luff: In the financial year 2010-11, the Ministry of Defence made payments against 11 contracts with G4S or associated companies, in the follow value ranges:
| Contract value banding | Number of active contracts |
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Detailed information on the specific purpose of each contract is not held centrally; I will write to the right hon. Gentleman with further details.
IBM
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department holds with IBM; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is. [58693]
Peter Luff: In the financial year 2010-11, the Ministry of Defence made payments against 24 contracts with IBM or associated companies, in the following value ranges:
| Contract value banding | Number of active contracts |
Detailed information on the specific purpose of each contract is not held centrally; I will write to the right hon. Gentleman with further details.
Military Aircraft
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Typhoon aircraft were grounded on (a) 23 March, (b) 6 April, (c) 20 April, (d) 4 May, (e) 18 May, (f) 1 June and (g) 15 June 2011 because parts had been removed to keep other aircraft airborne. [62614]
Peter Luff [holding answer 28 June 2011]:I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 30 March 2011, Official Report, column 389W. The three aircraft from the sustainment fleet, which were not available for flying, were used as donor aircraft for spares throughout the dates listed. In addition, one aircraft was declared temporarily unserviceable on 15 June, following the removal of a part to meet urgent operational needs.
Serco
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department holds with Serco; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is. [58656]
Peter Luff: In the financial year 2010-11, the Ministry of Defence made payments against 74 contracts with Serco or associated companies, in the following value ranges:
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| Contract value banding | Number of active contracts |
Detailed information on the specific purpose of each contract is not held centrally; I will write to the right hon. Gentleman with further details.
Unmanned Air Vehicles
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) who the partners in the Taranis project are; and what the timetable is for the project; [62280]
(2) how many unmanned combat air vehicle projects his Department is engaged in; and with which partners it is so engaged; [62286]
(3) what progress his Department has made together with its French counterparts on the development of an unmanned combat air vehicle. [62287]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is undertaking work on the Taranis technology demonstrator in partnership with a BAE Systems-led industry team comprising Rolls-Royce, QinetiQ and GE Aviation. Initial ground-based testing began in 2010 with flight trials scheduled to take place in either 2011 or 2012.
The Department is also engaged in a further unmanned combat air system (UCAS) concept design and engineering study with a BAE Systems-led team that includes Rolls-Royce and Selex. This will help inform new concept designs for a future operational UCAS.
Discussions have taken place, and will continue, between MOD officials and their French counterparts about the future development of unmanned combat air vehicles, but these are at a very early stage.
Cabinet Office
Civil Service: Pensions
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2011, Official Report, column 393W, on My Civil Service Pension, how many employees are standing for election to the Employee Partnership Council (EPC); whether trade unions will be represented on the EPC; and when the election results are expected to be announced. [63126]
Mr Maude: Thirteen employees stood for election to the Employee Partnership Council. Trade union members and representatives were able to stand for election; 340 members of MyCSP voted and the six successful candidates have now been elected.
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Mrs Glindon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1), pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2011, Official Report, column 393W, on My Civil Service Pension, how many (a) face-to-face, (b) written, (c) electronic, (d) telephone and (e) other consultations have been undertaken with MyCSP employees; how many employees have been consulted in total; and how many (i) supported, (ii) opposed and (iii) were undecided on the mutual joint venture; [63127]
(2) when he last consulted (a) MyCSP employees and (b) trade unions on the proposed mutualisation of MyCSP. [63129]
Mr Maude: Employee engagement at My Civil Service Pensions has been extensive. All employees have been consulted and open communication is a core part of everyday business. To support local engagement, the chief executive and his leadership team have conducted two rounds of face-to-face roadshows at all locations so far this year. The most recent all-employee conference call was on 21 June. The most recent all-employee newsletter was published on 27 June. Regular engagement with trade unions remains a priority; the most recent meeting was held on 15 June, with another planned for 4 July.
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to announce the private sector partner in the mutual joint venture proposed for the administration of MyCSP. [63128]
Mr Maude: I aim to announce the successful joint venture partner before the end of the year.
Life Expectancy: Older People
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average life expectancy was for people aged 65 years living in (a) Dartford constituency and (b) Kent in the latest period for which figures are available. [63287]
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 was for people aged 65 years living in (a) Dartford constituency and (b) Kent in the latest period for which figures are available. (63287)
Life expectancy figures are calculated as three-year rolling averages and are available for all current administrative and health areas. Figures for parliamentary constituencies are not readily available.
Table 1 as follows provides the period life expectancy at age 65 years for men and women living in (a) Dartford local authority district and (b) Kent county, for 2007-09 (the latest figures available). Ninety-five per cent of the area covered by Dartford parliamentary constituency falls within Dartford local authority district.
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
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| Table 1: Period life expectancy at age 65 (1) , Dartford local authority district and Kent county (2) , 2007-09 (3) | ||
| Years of life | ||
| Area | Men | Women |
| (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. | ||
National School of Government
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what courses the National School of Government has offered in the last 12 months; and how many Government officials have completed each such course in that period. [62947]
Mr Maude: The National School of Government has delivered 809 events to a domestic audience for the 12 month period from 1 June 2010 to 31 May 2011. These events were attended by 33,254 UK Government officials.
A copy of the table showing the events that the National School delivered during the 12-month period will be placed in the Library of the House.
Health
Accident and Emergency Departments: Closures
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidance his Department has provided to hospital trusts on the closure of accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement. [62945]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not issued any recent advice to hospital trusts on the closure of accident and emergency departments. In July 2010, the Department issued guidance setting out how the national health service should assure any proposals for significant service change against the Secretary of State's four tests. This guidance can be obtained from the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Letters andcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_117899
A copy has been placed in the Library.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS accident and emergency departments closed in each of the last three years; and how many such departments he expects to close in the next 12 months. [62946]
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Mr Simon Burns: This information is not available centrally. The hon. Gentleman may wish to contact each strategic health authority for the information.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department provides to (a) primary care trusts and (b) acute NHS trusts on the provision of suitable alternative provision following the closure of an accident and emergency department; and if he will make a statement. [62948]
Mr Simon Burns: It is for national health service commissioners to determine and secure the services necessary to meet the health care needs of their local populations, taking account of local and national priorities. When considering any reconfiguration of accident and emergency services, commissioners should ensure that the public can continue to access high quality care. Any such decisions should also be assured against the Secretary of State's four tests for service change, which are that proposals must demonstrate: support from general practitioner commissioners; strengthened patient and public engagement; a clear clinical evidence base; and support for patient choice.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department issues on the required level of public consultation prior to the closure of accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement. [62951]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department issued guidance entitled “Changing for the better” in 2008 on the process underpinning changes to acute NHS services. This guidance set out that under section 242 of the National Health Service Act 2006, national health service organisations must make arrangements that secure the involvement of people in the planning and development of services. This guidance was strengthened in 2010 through the Secretary of State's four tests, which included the requirement that commissioners must demonstrate evidence of strengthened patient and public engagement. The Secretary of State's tests ensure that service change must demonstrate:
a clear clinical evidence base underpinning and proposals, which focuses on improved outcomes for patients;
clear support for proposals from GPs as the commissioners of local services;
strengthened arrangements for public engagement; and
support for patient choice.
When planning involvement activity, commissioners need to think about proportionality and appropriateness. Should commissioners determine that a formal consultation is appropriate, this should follow the Government's code of practice on consultation. Copies of the “Changing for the better” guidance and the Government code of practice on consultation have already been placed in the Library.
Capita
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts his Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) monetary value and (b) net worth was of each contract. [62723]
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Mr Simon Burns: The Department has awarded 166 contracts to Capita and its related organisations since May 2010.
The following table shows the number of contracts and monetary value.
| Supplier name | Number of purchase orders | Purchase order value (£) |
| Notes: A purchase order represents an individual contract with Capita. | ||
Information and Communications Technology: Security
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many IT security breaches each NHS trust has reported to his Department in each of the last three years. [62950]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All national health service trusts should systematically record security breaches, but information on these is not collected by the Department or centrally within the NHS.
Malton Hospital
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications of the closure at short notice of operating theatres at Malton hospital. [62651]
Mr Simon Burns: NHS Yorkshire and the Humber has advised that on 20 June 2011 Scarborough and North East Yorkshire healthcare NHS trust (SNEY) suspended usage of the operating theatre at Malton community hospital on the grounds of patient safety. This is a matter for the national health service locally, and as such the Department has made no assessment of the implications of this closure. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the chief executive of SNEY for further information.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the level of maintenance of the operating theatres at Malton hospital in each of the last five years. [62652]
Mr Simon Burns:
Maintenance of the operating theatre at Malton community hospital is a matter for the national health service locally. As such, the Department has made no assessment of maintenance levels relating to this facility. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the
30 Jun 2011 : Column 927W
chief executive of North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust for further information.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the arrangements whereby the facilities at Malton hospital are owned by North Yorkshire and York primary care trust and services are provided by hospital trusts in York and Scarborough; and if he will make a statement. [62654]
Mr Simon Burns: Agreements of this nature are a matter for the national health service locally, and as such the Department has made no assessment of the effectiveness of this arrangement. NHS Yorkshire and the Humber has confirmed that Scarborough and North East Yorkshire healthcare NHS trust provides services at Malton community hospital, which is owned by North Yorkshire and York primary care trust. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the chief executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York for further information.
Mental Health Services
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish an implementation plan for his Department's mental health strategy, “No Health without Mental Health”, setting out the steps (a) the Government, (b) commissioners, (c) providers and (d) local authorities will take to deliver improved mental health outcomes for people of all ages. [62644]
Paul Burstow: The implementation of the mental health strategy, “No Health Without Mental Health” is being overseen by a ministerial advisory group of which I am chair. The group's papers can be found at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_127788?PageOperation=email
Commissioners, providers and local authorities are represented on the group and all will actively contribute to the development of the implementation programme plan, which will be published in due course. The group are next scheduled to meet on 5 July 2011.
NHS: Accountability
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to publish guidance on the accountabilities and relationships between the NHS Commissioning Board, commissioning groups and health and wellbeing boards. [62643]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department published the response to the NHS Future Forum's report on 21 June 2011, which outlined in greater detail how we anticipate the future landscape of health care to develop. The Department continues to work closely with stakeholders to develop the arrangements of the NHS Commissioning Board, clinical commissioning groups and health and wellbeing boards, and further detail will be available shortly.
Pharmacy
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the role of community pharmacists in the NHS. [62941]
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Mr Simon Burns: We receive regular correspondence from the public and representative bodies, and questions from Members of both Houses, concerning the roles undertaken by community pharmacists in the national health service to optimise the use of medicines and support public health.
Primary Care Trusts
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the (a) rate of and (b) practice of (i) merger and (ii) transfer of responsibilities between primary care trusts in the last six months. [62980]
Mr Simon Burns: As set out in the 2011-12 Operating Framework, the 151 primary care trusts (PCTs) across England have come together to form 51 PCT clusters under single executive teams. These clusters are designed to ensure that the PCTs within them are able to sustain management capacity and capability to deliver their responsibilities while also reducing their administration costs until PCTs are abolished in April 2013, subject to parliamentary approval of the Health and Social Care Bill.
These new clusters are not statutory bodies and do not replace PCTs, which retain all their statutory responsibilities.
The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011-12 also stipulated that strategic health authorities would oversee the development of PCT clusters and ensure local coherence across the local development of the new architecture.
Primary Care Trusts: North Yorkshire
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will take ownership of the infrastructure and facilities in North Yorkshire and York currently owned by the primary care trusts after 2013. [62653]
Mr Simon Burns: On 6 January 2011, the Department announced that all aspirant community foundation trusts are to be given the opportunity to acquire the primary care trust (PCT)-owned estate required to support the delivery of services for which they have responsibility. Assets are not at this stage being made available to other potential providers. Consideration is being given as to what arrangements should be in place for the future ownership and management of the remainder of the PCT-owned estate.
Psychotherapy
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on psychotherapy; and if he will make a statement. [62768]
Paul Burstow: No such assessment has been made. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has not produced a clinical guideline specifically on the use of psychotherapy, although it has made recommendations relating to the use of psychotherapy in several condition-specific clinical guidelines. NICE is an independent body and its guidance is based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and is developed through wide consultation with stakeholders.
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Radiotherapy
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for the variation in the implementation of intensity-modulated radiation therapy among radiotherapy centres. [62949]
Paul Burstow: As with the majority of health services, the commissioning of intensity-modulated radiation treatment (IMRT) is the responsibility of individual trusts, taking into account the needs of local populations.
“The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011-12”, published in December 2010, sets out that to improve outcomes from radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients, commissioners should develop local plans to ensure that access rates to radiotherapy and the use of advanced radiotherapy techniques, such as IMRT, are appropriate for their populations. A copy of the operating framework has already been placed in the Library.
The National Cancer Action Team is working with providers to support the development of IMRT services and, at this time, 20 of the 28 cancer networks have at least one provider offering IMRT. “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer”, published on 12 January, also set out the commitment to investigate the potential development of a range of tariffs to incentivise high quality, cost-effective services, including the newest radiotherapy techniques, such as IMRT.
Roads: Accidents
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with (a) acute whiplash injury and (b) late whiplash syndrome in each of the last 10 years. [62955]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not collected centrally. The Information Centre for Health and Social Care has advised that its data collection codes do not include a dedicated code for whiplash injuries and therefore it is unable to identify these patients.
Smoking: Public Places
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which premises have been granted exemptions from the ban on indoor smoking in public places on the basis that they are a specialist tobacconists used by persons for sampling cigars under the provisions of the Smoke-free (Exemptions and Vehicles) Regulations 2007, (S.I., 2007, No. 765). [62796]
Anne Milton: The information requested is not collected centrally and is therefore unavailable. However, the Department understands from the Association of Independent Tobacconists that there are around 45 specialist tobacconist shops in England.
Transplant Surgery
Mr Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on elective ventilation as a means of securing organs for transplant; and if he will make a statement. [61920]
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Anne Milton: In November 2009 the Department published “Legal issues relevant to non-heartbeating organ donation”. A copy has been placed in the Library and it is also available on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_109864.pdf
This document sets out the Department's view of the legal position in relation to interventions taken prior to death to facilitate non-heartbeating donation, now more commonly called donation after circulatory or cardiac death. Any action taken prior to death where the patient lacks capacity must be in their best interests in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Although it is therefore not possible to say categorically whether a specific action or decision will always be in every patient's best interests, anything that places the person at risk of serious harm or distress is unlikely ever to be in the person's best interests.
Deputy Prime Minister
Prisoners: Voting Rights
Priti Patel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whether he has considered the merits of bringing forward amendments to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill to extend the franchise to prisoners; [62930]
(2) whether he has instructed officials to draft legislation to extend the franchise to prisoners. [62926]
Mr Harper: The Government are considering the next steps and will inform the House when decisions on the way forward have been reached.
Priti Patel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether officials in his Department have discussed prisoner voting rights with officials in the Ministry of Justice since 10 February 2011. [62929]
Mr Harper: Yes, officials are in regular contact on this issue.
International Development
Capita
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts his Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) individual monetary value and (b) net worth was of those contracts. [62721]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not awarded any centrally-let contracts to Capita since May 2010.
To provide information relating to contracts that may have been awarded to Capita by our delegated procurement officers based in overseas locations would incur disproportionate costs.
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Developing Countries: Tuberculosis
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department plans to publish the objectives for restricting the spread of tuberculosis referred to in its business plan for 2011 to 2015. [62942]
Mr O'Brien: Combating tuberculosis (TB) is an important part of overall efforts to improve the health of the poor. As outlined in the recently published “UK Aid: Changing Lives, Delivering Results”, the UK Government are committed to reducing unnecessary suffering from TB by supporting global efforts to halve TB deaths by 2015.
We are committed to reducing the spread of diseases like TB, HIV and malaria, and DFID has therefore produced an HIV position paper, “Towards Zero Infections”, which also sets out our approach to tackling TB/HIV. This is available on DFID's website. We will set out our overarching position on health, including our approach to health systems strengthening, which is critical to addressing TB, later in the year.
Trade Unions
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether any funding from the public purse provided through his Department's strategic grant agreement with the Trades Union Congress was used to fund the Trade Unions and International Health and Safety workbook. [62589]
Mr Duncan: Between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2005, the Department for International Development (DFID) provided £416,387 to the Trades Union Congress under the strategy grant agreement. A final report on activities funded by this grant was presented to DFID in June 2006. The report provides a comprehensive description of the activities conducted by the ten unions funded by this grant. There is no reference in the report to funds being used for the Trade Unions and International Health and Safety workbook.
Transport
Biofuels
Mr Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to promote the use of biofuels. [60972]
Norman Baker: The renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) is the primary mechanism in the UK for incentivising the use of biofuels in road transport and has been in place since 2008.
We have recently concluded a consultation on amending the RTFO to implement the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The RED requires the UK to source 10% of energy used in transport from renewable sources by 2020 and that biofuels used towards this target meet mandatory sustainability criteria.
In our consultation we proposed no significant change to the current obligation levels set under the RTFO and to keep under review what additional measures will be required to ensure that the UK delivers the requirements of the RED and FQD in the period 2014 to 2020.
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We are carefully considering responses to our consultation proposals. Subject to that analysis, we hope to consult on possible trajectories for biofuel supply and greenhouse gas savings in spring 2012, with a further consultation on proposed legislative changes in late 2012. These actions would enable the legislative framework for the period 2014 to 2020 to be set in mid 2013.
Employment Law
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with (a) officials in his Department, (b) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and (c) outside organisations on the potential effects of changes arising from the review of employment law on matters within his Department's responsibilities. [60715]
Norman Baker: The review of employment-related laws is being co-ordinated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and is a cross-Government initiative.
The Department for Transport is engaged in the process, and relevant Ministers and officials are in contact with BIS on a regular basis in taking forward the review.
The Department is engaging with stakeholders on issues relating to the employment law review in accordance with the standard procedures for consulting formally and informally on policy development.
Departmental Procurement
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made in encouraging small businesses to bid for Government contracts. [60189]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has published its plan to increase engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Further information can be found at:
http://www2.dft.gov.uk/about/procurement/actionsimprovingsmebusiness/pdf/targets.pdf
Departmental Redundancy
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of redundancies in its non-departmental bodies (a) in 2011-12 and (b) over the comprehensive spending review period. [61724]
Norman Baker: I refer the right hon. Lady to my answer of 9 May 2011, Official Report, column 950W, to the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle).
In addition, BRB (Residuary) Ltd is estimated to have redundancy costs of around £1 million. Redundancy costs for Passenger Focus for 2011-12 are now estimated at £1.42 million.
Driving Instruction
Mr David: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the distance from home drivers are required to travel to attend driver awareness courses. [62937]
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Mike Penning: There is a national framework organised by the police for driver awareness courses, which enables motorists to attend courses near where they live. I strongly support a national framework, although it is for each police force to decide whether to participate. I welcome the choice of the vast majority of English and Welsh police forces to take part and would encourage the few forces that are not yet participating to follow this approach.
Driving Offences: Insurance
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the strategic framework for road safety, by how much his Department proposes to increase the fixed penalty for uninsured driving. [61280]
Mike Penning: There is no specific proposal to increase the fixed penalty of £200 issued by the police for using an uninsured vehicle. However, as stated in the strategic framework for road safety, we will consider the level of this along with other motoring offences and fixed penalties. At the same time, we are keen to see the courts make full use of the range of penalties for this offence. We do recognise there is a strong case for better correspondence between penalties and the cost of purchasing insurance.
A new offence of keeping a vehicle without insurance has recently been introduced. Under the continuous insurance enforcement scheme, keepers of vehicles which appear to be uninsured, but which have no statutory off-road notification in force, will be fined a fixed penalty of £100 by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, with further enforcement action—wheel-clamping, impounding and ultimately prosecution by the courts. The scheme, including the penalty, will be reviewed as part of the post-implementation review.
Driving Offences: Unpaid Fines
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the strategic framework for road safety, what measures his Department is considering for the recovery of unpaid motoring fines. [61277]
Mike Penning: The recovery of unpaid motoring fines is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice.
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Driving Under Influence: Drugs
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made in its work to establish that driving under the influence of drugs constitutes an offence of driving while impaired; and what progress it has made on research into (a) impairment of and (b) technology for the detection of drugs in drivers. [61278]
Mike Penning: There are complex issues associated with the introduction of an additional offence. Preparatory work is at an early stage following the Government's response to the North review on drink and drug driving in March.
The specification for drug screening kits in police stations has already been published. Field trials for six devices are just being concluded and these will then move to laboratory testing.
Large Goods Vehicles
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of trends in the ratio of actual tonnes to capacity tonnes per kilometre carried for (a) articulated lorries over 33 tonnes and (b) all heavy goods vehicles under 33 tonnes since 1985. [62382]
Mike Penning: Statistics on heavy goods vehicle lading factors (the ratio of goods moved to the maximum achievable tonne kilometres) are available on the Department for Transport website. Figures are available from 1999-2009 in Table 1.12 of “Road Freight Statistics 2009” and from 1991-2001 in Table 7 of “Transport of Goods by Road in Great Britain 2001”.
Statistics prior to 1991 are only available in hardcopy format. A copy of Table 7 in Transport of Goods by Road in Great Britain 1995 is as follows.
The tables show statistics for rigid and articulated heavy goods vehicles and for different weight groups. However, the specific split for all heavy goods vehicles less than 33 tonnes is not available for this time period.
An assessment was made in research commissioned by the Department entitled “Longer and/or Longer and Heavier Goods Vehicles (LHVs)—a Study of the Effects if Permitted in the UK”.
| Table 7: Proportion of empty running and lading factors (1) : by vehicle type: 1985 to 19 95 | |||||||||||
| Vehicle type and size (gvw tonnes) | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
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| 1 The ratio of the actual goods moved to the maximum tonne-kms achievable if the vehicles, whenever loaded, were loaded to their maximum carrying capacity. | |||||||||||
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the changes in the average payload of heavy goods vehicles attributable to the introduction of maximum payloads for heavy goods vehicles in (a) 1999 and (b) 2001; [62383]
(2) what estimate he has made of the average payload of heavy goods vehicles in the latest period for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of trends in average payloads for heavy goods vehicles since 1985. [62384]
Mike Penning: Average domestic payloads for British-registered heavy goods vehicles from 1982 to 2009 (the latest year for which figures are available) are shown in the following table. These figures are derived from the Department for Transport Continuing Survey of Road Goods Transport.
An assessment was made in research commissioned by the Department entitled “Longer and/or Longer and Heavier Goods Vehicles (LHVs)—a Study of the Effects if Permitted in the UK”.
| Domestic road freight average payload: 1982 to 2009 | |
| Average payload (tonnes) | |
| Note: Average annual payload is calculated by total annual tonne-kilometres divided by total annual loaded kilometres. Source: Continuing Survey of Road Goods Transport, DfT. | |
Large Goods Vehicles: Safety
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his Department has given to the safety equipment to be (a) required and (b) recommended for use on any heavy goods vehicle over 16.5 metres long authorised for use on UK roads. [61232]
Mike Penning: Research commissioned by the Department for Transport considered the use of safety equipment, such as steering technology, on articulated lorries combined with semi-trailers over 16.5 metres long. Various options for such equipment were included in the Department's consultation on whether or not to allow an increase in the length of articulated lorries. The Government are now analysing the consultation response and will make an announcement later in the year.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will participate in the EU collaborative research project on truck safety. [61274]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport has no current plans to participate in an EU collaborative project on truck safety. Careful consideration will be given to any such proposals that would improve road safety in the UK.
Motorcycles: Safety
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken at EU level to encourage the development and deployment of safety technologies for motorcycles. [61275]
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Mike Penning: The Department for Transport part- funded the recently completed EU project, Powered Two Wheeler Integrated Safety (PISa). The aim of this project was to demonstrate the potential of a number of advanced safety systems, such as ‘active’ braking.
The Department is also satisfied that a proposal from the European Commission to require advanced braking systems on new motorcycles has the potential to prevent a significant number of accidents. We will continue to work with the Commission and other member states to develop the details of the proposal and seek a cost-effective approach to the introduction of these new braking measures.
Ports: Liverpool
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what state aid issues his Department considered in the award of a grant for the construction of the city of Liverpool cruise terminal. [62978]
Mike Penning: The main UK grant award for construction of the city of Liverpool cruise terminal was made under the previous Administration by the North West Development Agency, with parallel funding from the European regional development fund. The grant condition precluding the use of the terminal for turnaround cruise was agreed at the request of the Department for Transport, based on considerations of UK domestic competition.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria his Department is using to determine the application to use the city of Liverpool cruise terminal for turnaround calls. [62979]
Mike Penning: I am considering this request by Liverpool city council based on balancing the interests of potential economic regeneration and those of fair competition in the market for cruise calls.
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the effect of variations in the price of renewable transport fuel obligation certificates on the sustainability of the diesel industry. [61596]
Norman Baker: As part of the Government's measures to address climate change, the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) ensures a growing proportion of UK road transport fuels are from sustainable renewable sources. The RTFO includes a certificate trading mechanism to increase the efficiency of compliance. The value of individual renewable transport fuel certificates (RTFCs) is determined by the market and depends upon the relative cost of supplying biofuel and fossil fuels. RTFCs for the obligation period 2010-11 have sold at 15p to 24p at auction. We continue to monitor the market value of RTFCs and consider that to date the RTFO has met its objective of driving a market for renewable transport fuels in the UK.
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Rescue Services: Manpower
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average length of service is of HM Coastguard staff employed at each Maritime and Coastguard Agency location in Scotland. [61584]
Mike Penning [holding answer 23 June 2011]: The information requested is in the following table.
| Average number of years in service | |
| MRCC | Median |
Roads: Safety
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding his Department will provide to Think! Education in (a) 2010-11 and (b) each financial year of the comprehensive spending review period. [61272]
Mike Penning: Think! road safety communications expenditure in 2010-11 was £2.3 million and the budget for each year of the comprehensive spending review period is £3.5 million.
Speed Limits
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the strategic framework for road safety, when he plans to revise and reissue guidance on speed limits in urban areas. [61276]
Mike Penning: Revised guidance is planned to be published in six to 12 months’ time. The revision and reissue of the guidance about speed limits may involve consultation and will be co-ordinated with the development of an economic tool to assist local authorities to make robustly defensible decisions about speed limits.
Trade Unions
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Esher and Walton of 17 June 2011, Official Report, column 1024W, on trade unions, what the budget was for (a) his Department, (b) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, (c) the Driving Standards Agency, (d) the Government Car and Despatch Agency, (e) the Highways Agency, (f) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (g) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and (h) the Vehicles Certification Agency in 2010-11; and what proportion of the budget in each case was used to fund trade union facility time. [62663]
Norman Baker [holding answer 28 June 2011]: For the agencies, the budget or latest forecast expenditures for 2010-11 can be found in the Business Plan publications on their respective websites. For the central Department, they can be found in HM Treasury's website under Main Estimates.
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The cost of funding trade union facility time was the subject of the answer to the hon. Member for Esher and Walton (Mr Raab) of 17 June 2011, Official Report, column 1024W.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Human Rights
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) human rights and (b) the rights of women are protected as part of any political settlement in Afghanistan. [60028]
Mr Hague: It is the UK Government's view that to be sustainable and durable, any political settlement in Afghanistan must be inclusive and respect the rights of all Afghan citizens, including women.
We work closely with our international partners to support the Afghan Government as they work to implement the commitments they made on human rights at the London and Kabul conferences. These include the development of a national priority programme for human rights and civic responsibilities. The UK provides financial support to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and supports a human rights support unit based within the Ministry of Justice.
UK representatives in Kabul continue to press the Afghan Government to implement their national and international human rights commitments, including the Elimination of Violence Against Women law and the UN Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what recent occasions he has discussed with his US counterpart the transfer of security responsibility to forces in Afghanistan. [56322]
Mr Hague: I am in regular contact with Secretary Clinton about the situation in Afghanistan. I met her most recently during her visit to the UK on 23 May 2011.
Internet
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department has given to UK nationals working overseas as online journalists in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [56393]
Mr Hague: We offer support to British nationals abroad when they get into difficulty. We do not hold specific statistics on support given to UK nationals working overseas as online journalists.
Mediterranean Region: Human Trafficking
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the risk to the health and well-being of irregular migrants presented by unlawful people trafficking over routes across the Mediterranean sea; and if he will make a statement. [62680]
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Mr Andrew Mitchell: I have been asked to respond to this parliamentary question on behalf of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Since the onset of violence in Libya, a number of migrant workers have sought to flee areas worst affected by conflict. The UK Government are working closely with partners such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who are supporting migrants to be repatriated to their home countries safely. Individuals have their health status assessed by medical teams before their repatriation takes place.
The majority of people fleeing Libya have been repatriated to their countries of origin, predominantly by the IOM, with UK support. More than 1.1 million people fleeing from Libya had crossed the border into Tunisia and Egypt. As a result of British and other international efforts, fewer than 7,500 people currently remain on both borders.
Sri Lanka: War Crimes
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2011, Official Report, column 156W, on Sri Lanka: war crimes, what monitoring his Department is undertaking to assess progress by the Government of Sri Lanka on addressing allegations of war crimes. [63081]
Mr Hague: Our high commission in Colombo is monitoring developments to assess any progress made, including the Sri Lankan Government's “Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission”. We work closely with the US and other EU missions in doing so, and draw on reports from civil society, the UN and others.
Since the end of the conflict, the UK has called for an independent, thorough and credible investigation of allegations of war crimes committed during the hostilities. If meaningful reconciliation between Sri Lanka's communities is to take place, Sri Lanka needs to investigate these allegations and hold accountable those responsible for war crimes.
Sudan: Overseas Investment
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to encourage British investment in Sudan and South Sudan. [61921]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The British embassy in Khartoum has a small UK Trade and Investment section which responds to inquiries from British companies interested in the Sudanese market. The British Government strongly support the Norway and Turkey initiative to co-host an international investment and engagement conference for Sudan later this year. We also support US plans for a similar conference to promote trade with the South. We are positively engaged with the Sudanese, and as the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made clear to Sudanese Foreign Minister Karti on 6 June, it is important to see both Sudan and South Sudan emerge at the end of the comprehensive peace agreement as two economically viable states, living in peace and stability. We remain committed to helping both sides make this happen.
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Syria: UN Resolutions
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions he has discussed a potential UN Security Council resolution on Syria with his (a) Russian, (b) Chinese and (c) US counterparts. [63018]
Mr Hague: I regularly raise our proposed Security Council resolution on Syria with my counterparts from other members of the United Nations Security Council. The Prime Minister, our ambassadors around the world, the UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York and other officials overseas do likewise.
Turks and Caicos Islands: Corruption
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the final cost of Helen Garlick’s investigation into corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands. [62414]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The final cost of the investigation will not be known until it has concluded.
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects Helen Garlick’s investigation into corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands to conclude. [62415]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The special investigation and prosecution team (SIPT), led by Helen Garlick, is carrying out an independent investigation. The SIPT continues to make progress, but its activities have to be kept confidential to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Women and Equalities
Equalities and Human Rights Commission: Finance
John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities whether the spending controls announced by the Cabinet Office on 2 March 2011 apply to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. [62205]
Lynne Featherstone: The spending controls announced by the Cabinet Office on 2 March 2011 apply to the Equality and Human Rights Commission. They will be operated consistently with the commission's independence and status as a national human rights institution in the UN system.
Equalities and Human Rights Commission: Public Finance
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how much the Equality and Human Rights Commission spent from the public purse on legal fees in respect of support for the claimants in the case of Hall and Preddy v. Bull and Bull; and if she will make a statement. [62618]
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Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 28 June 2011]: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (The commission) is an arm's length body; the following is based on information it has provided.
The cost to the commission of representing the claimants in the case of Hall and Preddy v. Bull and Bull in the county court was £14,520.96.
The commission's costs to date of the appeal to the Court of Appeal totals £3,852.
Government Equalities Office: Pay
Mr Raab: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what the salary is of the highest earning official of (a) the Government Equalities Office and (b) the Equality and Human Rights Commission. [59773]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 15 June 2011]:At 31 March 2011 the salary of the highest earning permanent official at the Government Equalities Office was within the following pay range: £130,000 to £135,000.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (The commission) is an arm's length body; the following is based on information it has provided.
At 31 March 2011 the salary of the highest earning permanent official at the commission was within the following pay range: £130,000 to £135,000.
The commission also engages 34 interims through employment agencies. They do not receive a salary but are instead paid a daily rate.
The highest amount paid to an interim member of the commission's staff for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 was £200,813.
Human Trafficking
Mr Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of the implications for the Government's policy on equalities of the provision of care for (a) adult and (b) child victims of human trafficking. [61648]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government are committed to protecting all victims of human trafficking.
In respect of adults, victims of human trafficking are entitled to support as set out in the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which includes: accommodation, living expenses, access to counselling and medical treatment, interpretive services and resettlement support. The Government have introduced a new model for funding specialist support for adult victims of trafficking in England and Wales. Victims will receive support in line with the standards of the Council of Europe Convention and tailored to their individual needs. These support services will be equally available to all identified adult victims, regardless of their particular equality and diversity traits, or the type of exploitation they have suffered.
An equality impact assessment of this change in commissioning model identified primarily positive equality impacts.
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In relation to children, local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure that they safeguard and promote the welfare of all children under section 11 of the Children Act 2004, regardless of their immigration status or nationality. Trafficked children who become looked after have the same entitlement to care services as all other children. Where a child becomes looked after, local authorities must allocate the child a social worker who will assess their needs and draw up a care plan which sets out how the authority intends to respond to the full range of the child's needs. This must take into account the child's wishes and feelings.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Aerospace Industry
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make an assessment of UK competitiveness in the aerospace industry; and if he will make a statement. [57496]
Mr Prisk: The UK is one of only a few nations with capability across the entire aircraft product range, with strong positions in the most technologically advanced, high value-added segments. These include the design, manufacture and maintenance repair and overhaul of aero-engines, advanced wings and airframe structures, helicopters, avionics, landing gear, electrical and fuel systems, actuations and interiors. The supply chain comprises some 2,500 companies spread widely throughout the UK.
The UK has the largest aerospace industry in Europe and the second largest in the world (after USA), with a 17% global market share. It has a turnover of around £22 billion, of which about 70% is exported, which provides access to growing world markets such as China. The sector directly employs around 100,000 highly skilled people and supports a further 122,000 jobs indirectly. Some 36% of employees are educated to degree or equivalent level.
The Government and the UK aerospace industry are working together, primarily through the Aerospace Business Leaders (chaired by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Aerospace Growth Partnership (chaired jointly by the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Prisk) and Marcus Bryson, CEO of GKN Aerospace), to see how best the UK aerospace sector can strengthen its competitive position in the global market and maximise the opportunities for growth.
Business: Expenditure
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much small businesses spent on (a) capital projects and (b) innovation in (i) each year since 2005 and (ii) 2011 to date. [62025]
Mr Willetts: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects information on net capital investment through its annual business survey.
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| Annual business survey (ABS), small firms, net capital expenditure | |||||
| £ million | |||||
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Note: The ABS covers about two-thirds of the UK economy, including production, construction, distribution and service industries. | |||||
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills collects information on innovation through the UK innovation survey. The survey is run every two years and covers innovation behaviour over a three-year period. Businesses are requested to estimate their innovation expenditure data for the final year in the period.
| UK innovation survey, small firms (10 to 49 employees), shares of innovation expenditure by activity | ||
| Percentage of all small business expenditure | ||
| Innovation activity | 2006 | 2008 |
| Notes: 1. Due to the quality of expenditure data, only proportions of total expenditure by size and activity are published. 2. (b) data for 2011 are not yet available. The most recent data are provided in response to (a) above. | ||
Business: Regulation
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on costs of compliance for (i) micro, (ii) small and (iii) medium-sized businesses. [62218]
Mr Prisk: The Better Regulation Executive published a report in November 2010, focusing on the experience of the UK's smallest businesses and summarised the experiences they reported in dealing with the overall regulatory burden. ‘Lightening the Load—The Regulatory Impact on UK's Smallest Businesses’ can be found at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/better-regulation/docs/l/10-1251-lightening-the-load-regulatory-impact-smallest-businesses.pdf
No other Government-wide research has been commissioned or evaluated on the costs of compliance for small and medium-sized businesses. However, Government Departments routinely consider the impact of small and medium-sized enterprises complying with regulations when drawing up impact assessments for proposed regulations and carrying out reviews of existing regulations.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many projects the Export Credits Guarantee Department has declined to support on the grounds of inadequate social, environmental and human rights screening processes in each of the last five years. [61914]
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Mr Davey: In the past five years the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) has not supported any projects that did not meet international environmental, social and human rights (ESHR) standards at the time ECGD gave its support, in accordance with its obligations under the OECD Recommendation on Common Approaches on Environment and Officially Supported Export Credits, which regulates the basis upon which export credit agencies address ESHR impacts of the projects they are asked to support.
ECGD has not refused to support any applications for projects which did not meet international standards; when deficiencies are identified it engages with project sponsors until it is satisfied that the project meets international standards or the application is withdrawn.
Patents: International Co-operation
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2011, Official Report, column 963W, on patents: international cooperation, what the steps are which he has taken to encourage the European Patent Office to pursue work-sharing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Japan Patent Office. [62711]
Mr Davey: The Government encourage the European Patent Office's (EPO) work-sharing activities through our seat on the EPO's administrative council. The UK has encouraged the EPO to get involved in foundation project work-sharing schemes with the other four biggest intellectual property offices (the United States, Japan, China and South Korea). In addition to these, the UK has encouraged the EPO's involvement in a number of schemes with USPTO and JPO exclusively:
JP First, launched in April 2008, in which the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) examines early applications which have also been filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the EPO so that the other offices can make use of the work of the JPO when they examine cases.
The Triway pilot program, in which the USPTO shares its search results, and search history, with the EPO and the JPO at an early stage, so that they may use them in their own searches.
Another important international work-sharing scheme is the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH), which allows applicants at a first office to benefit from accelerated processing of their application at a second office in exchange for behaviour which makes processing easier for the second office. The Intellectual Property Office of the UK signed its first PPH agreement with Japan in July 2007 and encouraged the European Patent Office to do likewise. The EPO signed a trilateral PPH agreement with Japan and the US, which came into effect in January 2010.
While these initiatives are a positive step forward, there remains much work to be done and we continue to encourage the EPO to engage in work-sharing.
Science: Industry
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the competitiveness of the UK life sciences industry. [57587]
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Mr Willetts: The Government announced their healthcare and life sciences growth plan in March 2011. The plan builds on the life sciences blueprint and contains a package of measures to strengthen the UK as a location for life sciences.
In the area of clinical trials and health research, measures include:
setting up a new Health Research Authority to streamline regulation;
making funding for providers of NHS services contingent on meeting a 70-day benchmark to recruit first patients for trials;
building consensus on using e-health record data to create unique opportunities for research in the UK;
opening up information on clinical research to promote collaboration and innovation, and
publishing prescribing data at a practice level, subject to an evaluation and impact assessment by the NHS Information Centre.
To encourage collaboration and innovation in the sector the Government will:
establish translational research partnerships from its £775 million investment in NHR biomedical research centres and units;
take actions to remove any barriers that limit the further development of geographical clusters for entrepreneurship and business growth;
launch a competition to form a cell therapy technology and innovation centre (TIC);
improve market signalling by bringing companies and educators together to ensure educators provide the skilled individuals the sector needs to grow;
ensure the intellectual property (IP) system supports life sciences businesses, and
encourage innovation in NHS procurement, including £10 million investment by the Department of Health in the small business research initiative on health care challenges.
Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS, will review how the adoption and diffusion of innovations can be accelerated across the NHS. Sir David will report his findings to the Government by November 2011.
In social care the Government will:
improve the take-up of assisted living technology, including an £18 million R&D investment programme through the Technology Strategy Board, and
strip out regulations that were never meant for the social care market and prevent market entry for small providers and flexible services.
We are investing in our world-leading research base by:
protecting the science budget;
supporting business-led technology innovation through the Technology Strategy Board's strategic programmes, i.e. collaborative R&D programmes in cell therapies and technologies for health, in regenerative medicine, in assisted living, in the detection and identification of infectious agents, and in stratified medicines.
We are establishing an attractive tax regime to encourage innovative business to invest in the UK through:
the Patent Box;
increasing the rate of SME R&D tax relief to 200 per cent in 2011 and 225 per cent in 2012, subject to state aid approval, as well as consulting on proposals to simplify the scheme; and to ensure relief is available when R&D project work is contracted out.
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UK Trade & Investment has identified the life sciences as a priority sector in its recent strategy, Britain Open for Business. UKTI has resources dedicated to the sector supporting both UK companies’ trade activity and encouraging high-value inward investment into the UK.
TheCityUk: Finance
Jim Fitzpatrick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department
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(a)
has provided and
(b)
plans to provide funding to the organisation thecityuk. [61948]
Mr Davey: Since 2003, the core Department and its predecessors have made only two payments to thecityuk. The first was made in July 2005 for £159 and the second was made in April 2010 for £633. There are no open commitments to provide any further funding.