Energy: Finance
Luciana Berger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the monetary value
12 July 2011 : Column 294W
was of his Department's investment in
(a)
alternative energy and
(b)
clean technology in each of the last five financial years. [65656]
Charles Hendry: The Department was created in 2008 and holds records for spending from 2008-09 onwards.
(a) Direct investment in alternative energy (primarily covering including solar, wind, marine, hydro, biomass, and geothermal energy) has been as follows:
|
|
£ million |
(b) Direct investment in clean technology (defined as Carbon Capture and Storage only and excluding spending on alternative energy included above) has been as follows:
|
|
£ million |
Green Economy Roadmap
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to publish the Green Economy Roadmap. [65653]
Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 July 2011, Official Report, column 153W, to the hon. Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch (Meg Hillier).
Gas: Infrastructure
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the energy industry on the future of the UK gas infrastructure network. [65448]
Charles Hendry: Details of meetings between DECC Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the DECC website.
DECC Ministers have had no recent discussions with the energy industry on the future of the UK gas infrastructure network; however, DECC officials have regular discussions with stakeholders on gas network issues.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has made an assessment of the potential effects on the energy market of an increased supply of gas from unconventional sources. [65456]
Charles Hendry: Last year DECC contacted a number of academic institutions, NGOs and private businesses to request evidence to help inform the Department's views on the prospects for global unconventional gas production. The responses are available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/int_energy/gas_markets/gas_markets.aspx
12 July 2011 : Column 295W
New supplies of gas, whether from conventional or unconventional sources are to be welcomed, as helping to underpin the open, liquid and competitive market from which all gas consumers benefit.
Natural Gas: Housing
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the future role of natural gas in domestic properties. [65447]
Charles Hendry: DECC frequently considers the future role of natural gas in the context of its goals to maintain energy security and reduce emissions. Analysis by the Committee on Climate Change in the Fourth Carbon Budget report suggests that natural gas will continue to play a significant role in the UK's household energy supply in coming decades. DECC will be responding to the Committee's report in the autumn.
Nuclear Power Stations: Decommissioning
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with devolved Administrations on the decommissioning of nuclear power stations. [65445]
Charles Hendry: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), maintains close links with the devolved Administrations on a range of energy related issues. Officials are in regular contact in relation to the decommissioning of nuclear sites and are working closely with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and the Shareholder Executive to ensure the effective delivery of the NDA strategy, which was approved in April 2011.
Oil: Arctic
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had any discussions with his counterparts from (a) Norway, (b) Russia, (c) Canada, (d) the USA , (e) EU member states and (f) other nations on the suitability of existing oilfield equipment for the drilling of oil in the Arctic. [64930]
Thorium
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will discuss the use of thorium with power-generating companies; and if he will make a statement. [64130]
Charles Hendry: Ultimately it is for the industry to propose what type of fuel to use in any future nuclear reactors, the designs of which would be subject to independent regulatory assessment and acceptance. To date, no potential operator has put forward proposals for a Thorium-fuelled plant.
That said, the Department is aware of the potential of thorium-fuelled nuclear reactor designs and is in the process of assessing claims regarding its suitability as an alternative to uranium-based reactors in the longer-term.
12 July 2011 : Column 296W
The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) undertook a recent independent assessment, in which it assessed a number of claims made by proponents of thorium fuel. The report can was published on the NNL's website:
www.nnl.co.uk/positionpapers
The conclusion was that, while the science is reasonably sound, developing reactors based on a thorium fuel cycle would carry major technological and commercial risks. The resources required to develop these technologies to the point at which they might be deployed successfully at a commercial scale are also very significant.
To date, both in the UK and elsewhere in the world, this has prevented private industry and government from investing significantly in the development of the technology. No thorium reactor design has been implemented beyond relatively small, experimental systems, while many either exist only on paper or have only had specific subsystems demonstrated. As an indicator of the challenge of taking this technology further, the Chinese Academy of Sciences estimates a development period of at least 20 years will be required before a demonstration thorium molten salt breeder reactor might be available.
While thorium does not appear to have a part to play in the UK's near to mid-term energy market, we do maintain an interest in its development. The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), has asked the NNL to look further into the wider benefits of next generation reactor designs and to compare the use of thorium and uranium fuels in them. We are expecting the findings to be available by the end of the summer.
Wind Power: Marine Sectors
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to co-ordinate contacts on offshore wind energy projects in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to address potential concerns from fishing and other marine sectors. [65164]
Charles Hendry: Potential concerns from the fishing sector are addressed at a strategic level by the Fishing Liaison with Offshore Wind and Wet Renewables (FLOWW) Group. This is a UK-wide group, comprising offshore wind developers, government and fishing industry representatives from across the UK. It has produced Best Practice Guidelines for Fishing Liaison,(1) that it is currently working to update.
Potential concerns from those sectors with a navigation interest are addressed at a strategic level with the Department for Transport via the Nautical and Offshore Renewables Energy Liaison (NOREL) Group. This also has UK-wide remit and includes developers and navigation representatives.
At the project level, the planning process takes into account concerns from fishing and other marine sectors on a UK-wide and international basis, where appropriate.
(1 )The document can be downloaded from:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/what%20we%20do/uk%20energy%20supply/energy%20mix/renewable%20energy/policy/offshore/groups/file46366.pdf
12 July 2011 : Column 297W
Health
Funding of Care and Support
17. Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the recent report by the Commission on Funding of Care and Support. [65125]
Paul Burstow: I refer the hon. Member to the answer previously given.
As set out by the Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), in his statement to the House on 4 July 2011, Official Report, columns 1232-1234, the Government welcome the report of the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support and will consider its recommendations carefully.
21. Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the recent report by the Commission on Funding of Care and Support. [65129]
Paul Burstow: As set out by the Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), in his statement to the House on 4 July 2011, Official Report, columns 1232-1234, the Government welcome the report of the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support and will consider its recommendations carefully.
Decision-making: Consumer Involvement
20. Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that those affected by proposed changes in health and social care provision are involved in the decision-making process. [65128]
Mr Simon Burns: This Government are committed to putting patients and public at the heart of decision making about health and social care services. “No decision about me without me” is a fundamental thread running through this Government's plans for improving the nation's health and well-being.
Mixed-sex Wards
22. Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in reducing the use of mixed-sex accommodation in the NHS. [65130]
Mr Simon Burns: In just six months, the number of reported breaches of mixed-sex accommodation guidance has fallen by 83%, from 11,802 in December 2010 to 2,011 in May 2011. Across England, the reported ‘breach rate’ is now 1.4 per 1,000 Finished Consultant Episodes, compared to 8.4 per 1,000 FCEs in December 2010.
Access to Work Programme
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many disabled people are being supported in employment in his Department under its access to work programme. [65044]
12 July 2011 : Column 298W
Mr Simon Burns: The access to work (ATW) scheme is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions. The Department of Health does not receive ATW support for its disabled employees. None of the ministerial government Departments receive ATW support for their disabled employees.
The support given to disabled staff by the Department of Health falls within the provisions of the Department's ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ policy, which is compliant with the requirements of the Equality Act.
Departmental Dismissal
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in his Department were dismissed for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from his Department's staff appraisal system in each of the last three years. [64685]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has dismissed five or fewer employees for inefficiency in the last three years; five or fewer in 2009; five or fewer in 2010 and none to date in 2011.
Following Cabinet Office guidelines, exact numbers are not published where numbers are five or fewer to prevent individuals being personally identified in combination with other published information.
Diseases: Health Services
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to support improvements in the provision of therapies for patients with very rare non-cancer conditions [65577]
Mr Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill sets out the intention for the NHS Commissioning Board to take responsibility for the commissioning of specialised services for very rare conditions. Commissioning for these services is currently undertaken at both a national and regional level. Future commissioning arrangements will ensure that they are planned and delivered more consistently than at present.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will use to establish which therapies will be referred to the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services. [65578]
Mr Simon Burns: The majority of new drugs and significant licence extensions are considered through the topic selection process for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) technology appraisal programme, against published criteria. If NICE considers that by undertaking an appraisal it would not be able to add value, then for high cost, low volume drugs for very rare conditions, NICE can send the technology to the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services for consideration for possible inclusion in the arrangements for national specialised commissioning.
Details of the topic selection criteria and process for NICE technology appraisals can be found at:
www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/howwework/howguidancetopicsarechosen/how_guidance_topics_are_chosen.jsp
12 July 2011 : Column 299W
Glenfield Hospital
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing the number of adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation beds available at Glenfield hospital, Leicester, following the review of congenital heart services in England. [64817]
Mr Simon Burns: The national health service in England is currently undertaking a procurement exercise to increase the provision of respiratory extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (otherwise known as ECMO) for critically ill adults with potentially reversible severe respiratory failure. It is expected that the newly designated service will be delivered through a number of hospitals to ensure patients have equity of access and receive parity of service.
The consultation of the Safe and Sustainable review on the future of children's congenital services finished on 1 July 2011. This review has taken account of the need for the NHS in England to be able to continue to provide high quality ECMO for children with severe respiratory conditions but has no implications for the adult ECMO service.
Health and Social Care Bill
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make amendments to the designation and insolvency elements of the Health and Social Care Bill. [65800]
Mr Simon Burns: As confirmed at the debate on recommittal of the Bill on 21 June 2011, amendments to the designation and insolvency elements of the Bill will be brought forward either at Report, or in another place. Parliament will have full opportunity to debate these amendments.
Clinical Networks
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the benefits of clinical networks of operating as managed clinical networks; and what assessment he has made of the resource needs of managed clinical networks to carry out their roles. [64785]
Mr Simon Burns: Clinical networks take many different forms; some are discussion forums for clinicians and scientists, others work to improve clinical performance and patient care for a specific patient group, and others—called managed clinical networks—seek to manage patients through specific pathways of care. Resource needs vary according to the size and responsibilities of the network.
The NHS Future Forum report concluded that networks are:
“working well to support multi-professional input to deliver improved outcomes for patients”;
and the Government have committed to retain and strengthen existing clinical networks and to use clinical networks to help ensure that a range of professionals play an integral part in the clinical commissioning of patient care. Further work will be undertaken to define these networks and review their range, function and effectiveness to deliver strengthened clinical networks in the new system.
12 July 2011 : Column 300W
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means allied health professionals will be able to provide advice and support through clinical senates and clinical networks. [64805]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government want the full range of health and care professionals to be involved in the new commissioning arrangements, supporting the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups to design pathways of care and shape services. The Government's response to the NHS Future Forum Report makes clear that they will strengthen existing duties on clinical commissioning groups to secure professional advice and ensure this advice is from a full range of health professionals where relevant.
Clinical commissioning groups will receive expert support and advice from clinical networks and senates on the design and delivery of services, in order to provide the best care and outcomes for patients. The Government's response to the NHS Future Forum report makes clear that clinical senates will provide advice on a range of issues and from a variety of health and care perspectives, including from allied health professionals. The NHS Commissioning Board will work with stakeholders and the NHS Future Forum on the detailed design of clinical senates, and we will publish further detail in due course.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what processes he intends to put in place to enable commissioners to receive advice and support from allied health professionals if they are not members of commissioning groups. [64806]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government want the full range of health and care professionals to be involved in the new commissioning arrangements, supporting the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups to design pathways of care and shape services. The Government's response to the NHS Future Forum Report makes clear that they will strengthen existing duties on clinical commissioning groups to secure professional advice and ensure this advice is from a full range of health professionals where relevant. Clinical commissioning groups will also receive expert support and advice from clinical networks and senates on the design and delivery of services. Clinical networks and senates will have a wide range of multi-disciplinary input, including from allied health professionals.
Clinical commissioning groups will be supported and held to account by a national NHS Commissioning Board. Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for issuing guidance to commissioning groups on their duty to obtain appropriate professional advice, for example in relation to working with clinical networks and senates.
Grahame M. Morris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times he has met (a) Professor Louis Appleby CBE, National Clinical Director for Health and Criminal Justice, (b) Dr Ian Barns, National Clinical Director for Pathology, (c) Professor Dame Carol M. Black, National Director for Health and Work, (d) Professor Alistair Burns, National Clinical Director for Dementia, (e) David Colin-Thome OBE, National Clinical Director for Primary
12 July 2011 : Column 301W
Care,
(f)
Professor Matthew Cooke, National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care,
(g)
Professor Lindsey Davies, National Director of Pandemic Influenza Preparedness,
(h)
Hugh Griffiths, National Director for Mental Health,
(i)
Dr Charles Gutteridge, National Clinical Director for Informatics,
(j)
Dr Rowan Hillson MBE, National Director for Diabetes,
(k)
Professor Martin Lombard, National Clinical Director for Liver Disease,
(l)
Dr Anne Mackie, National Clinical Director for Screening,
(m)
Jonathan Mason, National Clinical Director for Pharmacy,
(n)
Dr Donal J. O'Donogue, National Clinical Director for Kidney Services,
(o)
Professor David Oliver, National Clinical Director for Older People,
(p)
Professor Sir Mike Richards CBE, National Clinical Director for Cancer,
(q)
Chris J. Rudge, National Clinical Director for Transplantation,
(r)
Joan Sadler, National Director for Patient and Public Affairs,
(s)
Surinda Sharmer, National Director for Equality and Human Rights,
(t)
Dr Sheila Shribman, National Clinical Director for Children, Young People and Maternity Services,
(u)
Professor Keith Willett, National Clinical Director for Trauma Care,
(v)
Anne Williams, National Clinical Director for Learning Disabilities,
(w)
Martin Stephens, National Clinical Director for Pharmacy and
(x)
Professor Roger Boyle CBE, National Clinical Director for Heart Disease and Stroke since May 2010. [64985]
Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State and Ministers at the Department meet National Clinical Directors regularly in the normal course of business and have done so since May last year.
Kidney Transplants
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many kidney transplants took place in England in each of the last three years; and what proportion were from (a) live and (b) deceased donors. [65758]
Anne Milton: The information is provided in the following table.
| Kidney transplants performed in England, 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2011, by year | |||
| Financial year | |||
| Transplant type | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| (1) Multi-organ transplants involving kidneys (deceased organ donor). Source: NHS Blood and Transplant | |||
12 July 2011 : Column 302W
Maternity Services
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the NHS Commissioning Board will start to host neonatal networks; and what interim arrangements will be in place to secure existing neonatal networks until that time. [64784]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government's response to the NHS Future Forum report sets out that the NHS Commissioning Board will be established formally by October 2012 with a limited set of functions, in order to start considering applications for authorisation from clinical commissioning groups. It will take on its full responsibilities from October 2013.
Clinical networks are not organisations, but rather they are a managed way of bringing together the appropriate groups of al! relevant clinical professionals alongside other key stakeholders—especially patient representatives, to support clinical commissioning groups in improving outcomes for patients in specialist areas. Existing clinical networks will be retained and strengthened, and there will now be further work to define these networks and review their range, function and effectiveness in order to develop transitional and hosting arrangements.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to issue guidance to the NHS on the establishment of maternity networks and their relationship with existing neonatal networks. [64786]
Anne Milton: In June, the Government responded to the NHS Future Forum, where we agreed to retain and strengthen existing networks so that they cover many more areas of specialist care, and to give them a stronger role in commissioning in support of the NHS Commissioning Board and local clinical commissioning groups.
It is important that maternity and neonatal services develop and maintain close relationships, but service providers will need to agree how this can best be achieved locally.
Medical Equipment: Safety
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the safety of surgical instruments used in the NHS. [64742]
Mr Simon Burns: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will assess and investigate any adverse incidents and allegations of non-compliance with the safety, quality and performance requirements of the EC Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EC which are received with respect to medical devices including surgical instruments.
At present there is no evidence that there is a widespread problem with the safety of surgical instruments.
Negligence
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to announce further details of the Government's proposals for a duty of candour in clinical negligence cases. [64807]
12 July 2011 : Column 303W
Mr Simon Burns: The Government have made clear their intention to strengthen transparency of organisations and increase patient confidence by introducing a “duty of candour”: a new contractual requirement on providers to be open and transparent in admitting mistakes. This will be enacted through contractual mechanisms. We will set out more details about this shortly.
NHS Commissioning Board
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how he intends to develop local arms of NHS commissioning boards to take on commissioning duties for shadow health groups; and if he will make a statement; [64794]
(2) how many sub-national structures the NHS Commissioning Board will have. [64795]
Mr Simon Burns: The National Health Service Commissioning Board will be free to take decisions about how best to discharge its responsibilities. It is anticipated that the areas covered by the primary care trust clusters now in place will be reflected in the initial arrangements for the local arms of the Board.
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS Commissioning Board staff deployed locally to perform direct commissioning and other associated functions will be permanently based in designated areas. [64796]
Mr Simon Burns: Details on the deployment of NHS Commissioning Board staff to local commissioning arms have not yet been finalised.
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means he intends to assess when a shadow commissioning group should become an authorised commissioning group. [64986]
Mr Simon Burns: Clinical commissioning groups that are ready and willing by April 2013 could be authorised to take on full budgetary responsibility. Some will only be authorised in part. Others will only be established in shadow form. This will be determined through a robust process of authorisation, run by the NHS Commissioning Board, with input from emerging health and well-being boards and local clinicians.
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds will be available to shadow commissioning groups prior to taking in their commissioning functions. [64987]
Mr Simon Burns: Primary care trust (PCT) clusters will support the development of clinical commissioning groups through offering support, including a fund of £2 per head to support them in the development of their consortia. Where clinical commissioning groups are able, and supported by their PCT cluster, they can take on delegated commissioning responsibilities prior to April 2013, within the current legislative framework.
12 July 2011 : Column 304W
NHS Commissioning Board: Finance
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the budget for the NHS Commissioning Board; and when he intends to publish that budget. [64989]
Mr Simon Burns: Sir David Nicholson, chief designate of the NHS Commissioning Board, published “Developing the NHS Commissioning Board” on 8 July 2011. As that document sets out, the Board is at the early stages of development. The Board is expected to assume its full responsibilities from April 2013, and we will publish further information on associated budgets in due course.
A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library.
NHS: Anniversary
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he attended any events to mark the 63rd anniversary of the creation of the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [64734]
Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), was pleased to mark the national health service's 63rd birthday by announcing the launch of the NHS Leadership Academy at NHS London's change through leadership conference on 5 July 2011.
NHS: Conditions of Employment
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 872W, on NHS: conditions of employment, what progress he has made on developing an HR Framework; and when he intends to publish it. [64988]
Mr Simon Burns: A national Human Resources (HR) Transition Framework which provides generic guidance covering the employment and human resources processes throughout the transition was published on 7 July 2011. This framework is intended to help provide consistency during the transition as well as encouraging best HR practice throughout.
A copy of the framework has been placed in the Library.
NHS: Reform
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what involvement national clinical directors have had in developing NHS reforms. [64990]
Mr Simon Burns: The national clinical directors meet monthly to provide their clinical input to policy development, including national health service reforms. The minutes of these meetings are available on the Department's website:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/Nationalclinicaldirectors/DH_089451
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Organ Donors
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that implementation of the recommendations of the Organ Donation Task Force are not affected by his plans for efficiency savings in the NHS; and if he will take steps to retain all the posts that are responsible for delivery of the programme; [65756]
(2) what steps he is taking to increase the proportion of donated organs that are transplanted as set out in the NHS Blood and Transplant Strategic Plan 2011. [65757]
Anne Milton: Implementation of the Organ Donation Taskforce recommendations has seen donor rates rise by around 28% since 2008 but work continues at a local, regional and national level to increase donor rates still further to the 50% by 2013 anticipated by the Organ Donation Taskforce.
Future action will focus on increasing consent rates; ensuring that the potential for donation can be optimised in all cases; and increasing donation from emergency medicine. This will be achieved through a variety of means, including through the clinical leads for organ donation, donation committees and donation chairs in acute trusts driving improvement locally; regional collaboration to share learning and ongoing work to raise the profile and benefits of organ donation and transplantation with the national health service, professional groups and with the public.
We will seek to ensure that measures to increase organ donation are appropriately incorporated into the new arrangements for the Department and the NHS as these are established.
Commissioning: Advice
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on whose instruction the Specialised Service Treatment Group (SSTG) was established; on what date the decision to establish the SSTG was taken; when the SSTG was formed; what the (a) name and (b) occupation is of each member of the group; and what advice the group has given to NHS commissioning bodies on the commissioning of stereotactic body radiotherapy treatment. [65082]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department is unaware of a Specialised Service Treatment Group that provides advice to national health service commissioning bodies.
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when nominations to the Specialised Services Patient and Public Engagement Steering Group were made; by what means (a) patients and (b) members of the public were selected to sit on the group; and on what dates the group has met. [65083]
Mr Simon Burns:
Nominations to the Specialised Services Patient and Public Engagement Steering Group were confirmed in April 2011. The patient representative organisations selected to sit on the steering group were
12 July 2011 : Column 306W
chosen in part for their interest in specialised services, for example, the Specialised Healthcare Alliance and Rare Disease UK. They were also chosen in part for their broad interests in public and patient engagement, for instance the Richmond Group, a coalition often major charities. The steering group met on 5 May and 27 May 2011.
Tuberculosis: Drugs
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the supply of anti-tuberculosis drugs. [65115]
Anne Milton: Although there have previously been occasional shortages of tuberculosis (TB) medicines, we are not aware of any current national shortages or of patients being adversely affected.
The Department is working closely with the pharmaceutical industry and the national health service to help ensure that patients continue to get the medicines they need.
We have set up a group including two of the authors of a recent survey of anti-TB medicine supply (on behalf of the UK Coalition to Stop TB) and other NHS experts to look at what can be done to ensure greater security of supply. We are also looking at improving communication to enable better planning for patients.
Education
Academies: Admissions
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education who will be responsible for ensuring equal access to academies under a fair admissions procedure. [64697]
Mr Gibb: All state funded schools, including academies, are required to comply with the School Admissions and Appeals Codes. It is the responsibility of admissions authorities to ensure that the admissions arrangements they set, having consulted with parents and others as specified in regulations, must comply with the code. Parents, local authorities and others as set out in regulations can refer any admissions arrangements they feel are unfair to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA). Currently for academies these objections are made to the Young Persons Learning Agency. In future, subject to clause 62 of the Education Bill, we intend to see all objections being made to the same body, the OSA. Local authorities have a duty, under the School Admissions Code, to refer any admissions arrangements they feel to be unfair or unlawful to the OSA.
The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), launched a full public consultation on proposed reforms to the codes and it is intended that a revised form of the codes, taking account of the consultation, will be made available for admission authorities to use from September 2011. Subject to the passage of the Education Bill, we anticipate bringing the final codes into force in early 2012. One of the proposals in the consultation is that we would wish to enable anyone who has concerns over the fairness of admission arrangements at any school, including academies, will be able to refer their objections to the OSA.
12 July 2011 : Column 307W
Academies: Sheffield
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 881W, on academies: Sheffield, what plans he has for the future position of head teachers who have recently taken over failing schools; and if he will make a statement. [64374]
Mr Gibb: My answer given on 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 881W, made clear that the Department does not intend to publish a list of the 200 worst performing primary schools in England. With regard to the future position of head teachers who have recently taken over failing schools, we will consider each school on a case by case basis.
Access to Work Programme
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many disabled people are being supported in employment in his Department under its access to work programme. [65048]
Tim Loughton: At the present time, no employees in the Department for Education are being supported in employment through Jobcentre Plus's access to work programme.
The Department for Education provided support for 58 disabled employees in the financial year 2010/11, through its own workplace assessment and ‘reasonable adjustments’ programmes.
Adoption
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of eligible children were adopted (a) within and (b) after 12 months in each local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available. [64569]
Tim Loughton: Local authorities are responsible for making decisions about whether looked after children should be placed for adoption. However, they have no authority to place the children with adoptive families unless a court has made a placement order or the birth parents have given their consent. Once placed, the prospective adopter may apply for an adoption order once the child has lived with them for at least 10 weeks.
A table showing the numbers and percentages of looked after children adopted (a)within and (b) after 12 months of a local authority's decision that they be placed for adoption has been placed in the House Libraries. These figures apply to England only.
Pupils: Disadvantaged
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to assist (a) disabled children, (b) children with special educational needs and (c) refugee and migrant populations who are not in education, employment or training; and if he will make a statement. [64053]
Tim Loughton
[holding answer 5 July 2011]: The latest data show that the overall proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds who are not in education, employment or
12 July 2011 : Column 308W
training (NEET) has fallen substantially from 9.4% at the end of 2009 to 7.3% at the end of 2010. More young people than ever before are participating in education or training, building towards the Government's commitment to full participation as we raise the participation age to 17 in 2013 and 18 in 2015.
The responsibility to secure education rests with local authorities who have a legal duty in England to ensure that education is available for all children of compulsory school age that is appropriate to their age, ability, aptitudes and any special educational needs they may have. This duty applies irrespective of a child's immigration status, country of origin or rights of residence in a particular area. Local authorities in England also have a duty to secure enough suitable education and training to provide for the reasonable needs of all persons in their area who are under 19 but over compulsory school age and to encourage, assist and enable them to participate. These duties apply to all young people who are resident in the local authority's area.
The Green Paper ‘Support and aspiration: a new approach to special education needs and disability’ sets out proposals to improve the outcomes of disabled young people and young people with special educational needs. These include access to better quality vocational and work related options, with good opportunities and support to get a job and early and well integrated support through the 0 to 25 single assessment process and the Education, Health and Care Plan.
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service: Sick Leave
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average number of days taken off sick per employee of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in England and Wales was in 2010. [65027]
Tim Loughton: This is an operational matter for which Cafcass is responsible. I have asked Cafcass's chief executive, Anthony Douglas, to write to the hon. Member with this information. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.
The Public Accounts Committee raised concerns about the level of sickness absence among Cafcass staff at its hearing on during its 2010 enquiry, Cafcass's “Response to Increased Demand for its Services”. As a result, the Department's 2011-12 remit letter for Cafcass made clear our intention to monitor progress in reducing sickness absence.
Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 7 July 2011:
I am writing to you in response to the three Parliamentary Questions that you tabled recently: The responses apply to England only.
PQ65027 - To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average number of days taken off sick per employee of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in England and Wales was in 2010.
The average number of days taken off sick per employee was 11.4 days in the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011.
PQ65028 - To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many persons employed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in England and Wales were classed as being on long-term sick leave in 2010.
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The number of employees classed as being on long term sick was 242 during the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011. Long term is classed as anyone being away from work for a period of 20 working days.
PQ 65029 - To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) individual and (b) group grievances were taken out by staff employed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in England and Wales in 2010.
The number of formal grievances was 39 of which 2 were group formal grievances during the period 1 April 2010-31 March 2011.
Children in Care: English and Mathematics
Mr Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of (a) looked after children and (b) other children achieved the expected standard in English and mathematics at key stage 2 in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2010. [64384]
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Tim Loughton: Information on the percentage of looked after children who achieve the expected standard in English and mathematics in Key Stage 2 tests is available in table 2.1 of the Departments Statistical First Release, Outcomes for Children Looked After by Local Authorities in England, as at 31 March 2010. This shows the percentage of children looked after continuously for 12 months at 31 March who achieved at least level 4 in English and mathematics Key Stage 2 tests for all years since 2006. Information on years prior to 2006 is not available from this data source. The publication can be found at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000978/index.shtml
Information taken from table 2.1 is shown in table 1; this follows the current practice of comparing the academic achievement of children looked after continuously for 12 months with that of all children. Information on the Key Stage 2 performance of children not looked after can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the Key Stage 2 attainment of children looked after continuously for 12 months for years prior to 2006 relates to children looked after continuously at 30 September each year. Because this data has been derived from a different data source and includes a different cohort of children, the percentages given in table 2 are not directly comparable with those shown in table 1 above. The earliest year for which this information is available is 2000; this is shown in the table 2 as follows:
| Table 2: Eligibility and performance of looked-after children in Key Stage tasks and tests, compared with all children, school years ending 30 September 2000 and 2001. England | ||||||
| Number and percentage | ||||||
| Looked-after children | All children (1) | |||||
| Number | Percentage | Percentage | ||||
|
|
2000 | 2001 | 2000 | 2001 | 2000 | 2001 |
| (1) Source—DFES statistical bulletin ‘National curriculum assessments of 7, 11 and 14 year olds in England—2001’. (2) Target level for age group. | ||||||
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Children: Autism
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps are being taken to ensure that children with autistic spectrum disorders receive the appropriate support in school. [65068]
Sarah Teather: Schools and local authorities have duties to identify children with special educational needs (SEN), including those with autistic spectrum disorders, and to make appropriate provision for them.
Consultation has recently finished on the SEN and disability Green Paper, “Support and aspiration”, which sets out wide-ranging proposals for improvement. The Green Paper says that the Department will make available free training materials on four areas of SEN, including autism. Outstanding special schools, including those which focus on providing for children with autism, will be able to apply to become teaching schools, or members of teaching school partnerships, developing their own staff alongside staff in schools in their network and sharing their expertise. The Department will also help local networks of schools develop teachers with specialist skills, such as skills in teaching children with autism, who can be deployed across clusters of schools.
Children: Protection
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many serious case reviews were carried out in each month from 10 June 2010 to the latest month for which figures are available. [61003]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 20 June 2011]: Data on the numbers of Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) initiated, following the notification to Ofsted of a death or serious injury of a child where abuse and neglect was known or suspected to be a factor between 10 June 2010 and 31 March 2011, is set out in the table.
It is the responsibility of LSCBs to decide whether to initiate SCRs, in line with regulations and statutory guidance.
Decisions taken by LSCBs on whether the criteria to undertake SCRs have been met are normally taken within one month of a case coming to the attention of the LSCB Chair. However, in practice decisions may take longer and may be revisited in light of additional information, such as new medical evidence or the outcome of a coroner's inquest, which may subsequently become available. Therefore, there may be variations in the data included in this table overtime.
The Munro Review of child protection has recommended how to strengthen the SCR process to enable lessons to be learnt more effectively and the Government will respond by the summer.
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Pupils: Traveller Communities
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many school age children from Traveller communities there are in (a) England and (b) Northamptonshire; and how many such children are registered at (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools. [64652]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 11 July 2011]: The number of school age children from Traveller communities is not available. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published population estimates by ethnic group, but these do not have a separate category for Travellers.
The number of pupils of Traveller of Irish heritage and Gypsy/Roma ethnic origin in primary and secondary schools is shown in the following table.
| State-funded primary and secondary schools (1,2,3) : Number of pupils of Traveller of Irish heritage and Gypsy/Roma ethnic origin (4) . As at January 2011 in England and Northamptonshire local authority | ||||
| State-funded primary | State-funded secondary | |||
|
|
Traveller of Irish heritage | Gypsy/Roma | Traveller of Irish heritage | Gypsy/Roma |
| (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes primary academies. (3) Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies. (4) Pupils of compulsory school age and above were classified according to ethnic group. Includes pupils who were sole or dual main registrations. Source: School Census | ||||
Executive Agencies
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the name is of each Executive agency established by his Department since May 2010; and what the development cost was of each such agency. [64731]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education has not yet established any new Executive agencies. As part of our reforms of public bodies four new Executive agencies are being established to deliver our key priorities:
testing and assessment;
school funding;
teaching; and
school leadership.
We are planning for these agencies to be in operation by April 2012. The development costs of the new agencies will be available once they have been established.
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Curriculum
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether there are cost implications for his Department arising from the decision to split the National Curriculum Review into two stages. [64732]
Mr Gibb: We do not expect that our decision to phase the National Curriculum review will make a substantial difference to its overall cost, although it could make a difference to the way the costs are broken down between different financial years. We anticipate that, as this review is being managed by the Department for Education, the costs will be significantly lower than for previous reviews of the National Curriculum.
Departmental Dismissal
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials in his Department were dismissed for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from his Department's staff appraisal system in each of the last three years. [64691]
Tim Loughton: Information for the Department (in the last three full financial years) is set out in the following table:
|
|
Number of staff dismissed for under-performance |
| (1) Fewer than 5 | |
Departmental Redundancy
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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. [61722]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 23 June 2011]: To date, the Department has asked to carry out a voluntary redundancy scheme for one of its NDPBs. The scheme is for Qualifications, Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) staff affected by its closure in September 2011; the estimated cost is £2.6 million. In order to try and avoid compulsory redundancy, we are making significant efforts to redeploy QCDA people. The Department continues to do all it can to avoid redundancies in the rest of its NDPBs, but can not say they will not be required in future.
Departmental Sick Leave
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many days of sick leave were taken by staff of his Department in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [64729]
Tim Loughton: Sickness absence data for the Department for Education are available on the Department's website. This confirms 15,086 days sickness absence in the latest 12-month reporting period, ending 31 March 2011:
http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/transparency/a00448/sickness-absence
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Family Intervention
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many families received an intervention through family intervention projects in each of the last four financial years. [64957]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 11 July 2011]: Official statistics published for the first time in September 2010 shows that 3,518 families were either receiving an intervention or had received support from a family intervention project between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. Data for families supported between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011 will be published in September 2011. We do not have this information for previous years.
Free School Meals
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the cost to his Department was of the provision of free school meals for post-16 students in each of the last three years. [62963]
Mr Gibb: The Department does not collect information about the cost of free school meals. Local authorities and schools fund free school meals from their overall resources, including the Dedicated Schools Grant, which is the main source of DfE funding for schools.
Free school meals are provided to eligible pupils aged up to 18 years in schools maintained by a local authority, as defined in the Education Act 1996. Pupils aged 19 or over are also eligible as long as their course of study began before attaining the age of 18. Pupils attending FE or sixth form colleges that are not part of a school do not qualify for free school meals.
GCSE and A-level
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what subjects were available for study at (a) A level and (b) GCSE in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2010. [64205]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 6 July 2011]: Details of A level and GCSE examinations are presented in “Inter-Awarding Body Statistics” prepared by the Joint Council for Qualifications, copies of which are available in the House Libraries. These publications provide breakdowns of entries and results by subject and therefore indicate the subjects which were available to be taken in each year.
Head Teachers: Vacancies
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of vacancies for head teachers in maintained schools; and what account was taken of the likely effects of proposed changes to teachers' pensions in deciding upon such steps. [64579]
Mr Gibb:
We believe that the best schools and the best head teachers should take responsibility for developing the next generation of head teachers. We will continue to support the National College's existing approach to succession planning, which is focused on providing local solutions to find, develop and keep high-performing head teachers. Overtime we will increasingly work with teaching schools, as they become established, in order
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to ensure that promising leaders are identified in each local area and that they have the opportunity to learn from the best in the system.
Meetings are taking place between Government and public service unions to discuss pension reform in light of Lord Hutton's final report; no decisions have therefore yet been taken on changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS). However, in taking forward reform of the Teachers' Pension Scheme the Government will consider carefully the potential impact on head teachers, including recruitment and retention issues, in the context of the Government's wider education reform agenda.
Schools
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what powers local authorities have to control or direct state schools; and what powers he intends he should have to control or direct academy schools. [64479]
Mr Gibb: Local authorities have a wide range of powers and duties in respect of maintained schools. A full list of local authority duties is published on the DCLG website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/decentralisation/tacklingburdens/reviewstatutoryduties/
Local authorities are able to decide significant changes (prescribed alterations) such as enlargement, change of age range, closure and establishment, to all categories of maintained schools (i.e. community, community special, foundation, foundation special, voluntary aided (VA) and voluntary controlled (VC)) which are proposed either by the local authority or the governing body. Governing bodies have a right of appeal to the schools adjudicator, in most cases, where they disagree with the local authority's decision.
For community and VC schools, the local authority acts as the admissions authority in respect of school admissions, the employer of staff in those schools and the owner and maintainer of the premises.
Local authorities may, under section 96 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (SSFA), direct the governing body of a foundation or voluntary aided school in its area to admit a child where, in relation to every school within a reasonable distance from the child's home, the child has been refused admission or has been permanently excluded. Under section 97A to 97C of the SSFA, a local authority may direct other admission authorities for any maintained school to admit a child in their care to the school best suited to their needs.
Local authorities have statutory powers of intervention in maintained schools that Ofsted has judged as requiring special measures or significant improvement or where the local authority itself has given a performance standards and safety warning notice. In such cases, local authorities may require the school to enter into arrangements with another school or body, appoint additional governors to the school, suspend the right to a delegated budget, or apply to the Secretary of State to replace the governing body with an Interim Executive Board.
Local authorities may also suspend the right of the governing body of a community or VC school to a delegated budget where it appears to the local authority that the governing body has failed to comply with a
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delegation requirement or is not managing expenditure properly. In those circumstances, the local authority, and not the governing body may appoint, suspend and dismiss teachers and other staff at the school as the authority thinks fit.
Local authorities are represented on all maintained school governing bodies, but are a ‘minority’ category unless the school is eligible for intervention, in which case the local authority can appoint such number of additional governors as it deems appropriate.
In respect of the Secretary of State's powers regarding an academy, the Secretary of State establishes an academy by signing a funding agreement, which provides the framework within which the academy must operate. The governing body of an academy is accountable to the Secretary of State through the requirements of its funding agreement. If an academy is in breach of its funding agreement, the Secretary of State may take legal action. If there should be a need for the Secretary of State to
intervene more directly in the running of an academy, the academy's Articles of Association make provision for him to do so by appointing additional governors to the governing body of the academy. The Secretary of State could also decide to terminate an academy's funding agreement if the grounds set out in the funding agreement apply. Academies continue to be subject to Ofsted inspections and are also accountable to parents through the achievement and attainment of pupils. The Secretary of State can ask Ofsted to carry out an inspection of an Academy causing concern. In addition, the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA), on behalf of the Secretary of State, plays a major role in overseeing the financial management of academies.
For both maintained schools and academies, the Secretary of State has reserved powers of direction.
Schools: Admissions
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of applicants to schools for entry in September 2011 were accepted by their (a) first choice and (b) second choice school. [64706]
Mr Gibb: Detailed statistics on the numbers of applications and offers for places at secondary schools in September 2011, at both national and individual local authority level, were published in the Statistical Release OSR 06/2011. This can be found on the Department's website at
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d000993/osr07-2011.pdf
Information is not collected for primary schools.
Teachers: Industrial Disputes
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department has given to schools on the payment of salaries to teachers who will be affected by school closures as a result of strike action, but who do not support that strike action. [61571]
Mr Gibb:
The Department has not issued any guidance to schools on the payment of salaries to teachers who did not take part in the strike action on the 30 June. It is
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a matter for individual head teachers to determine whether teachers who did not support the strike action should still attend school, even in circumstances where the school was closed to pupils. Regardless of any decision to close the school, teachers would still be able to carry out a number of key responsibilities such as planning and the preparation and marking of pupil's work and as such continue to be paid accordingly.
Teachers: Pensions
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what impact his Department expects changes to teachers' pensions to have on (a) head teachers near to retirement age and (b) other head teachers. [64578]
Mr Gibb: Meetings are taking place between Government and public service unions to discuss pension reform in light of Lord Hutton's final report; no decisions have therefore yet been taken on changes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS). However, in taking forward reform of the TPS the Government will consider carefully the potential impact on head teachers, including recruitment and retention issues, in the context of the Government's wider education reform agenda.
The Government have already given a firm and absolute commitment that accrued pension benefits will be protected; and that any changes to the provision of public sector pension schemes, including the TPS, would take effect from a future date and in respect of future service. In addition, benefits already accrued under existing schemes will still be payable from the normal pension age in existing schemes; this will be 60 for many members.
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This means that those close to retirement, including head teachers, are expected to see little, if any, change to their pension benefits.
Transport Subsidies
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information he holds on the number of local authorities that plan to change the transport subsidies for 16 to 18 year olds accessing education and training for academic year 2011-12. [64962]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education does not hold information on the number of local authorities planning to change transport subsidies for 16 to 18 year olds accessing education or training for the 2011/12 academic year.
Youth Services: Finance
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the level of reductions in funding for youth services in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England. [64949]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 11 July 2011]: The Department for Education's funding for youth services for 2011-12 and beyond is included in the Early Intervention Grant (EIG). The EIG allocation for Liverpool local authority has changed from £31.06 million in 2010-11 to £27.18 million in 2011-12, a reduction of around 12.5%.
Money for youth services is not ring-fenced within the EIG. Decisions on funding levels for youth services are for local authorities. It is for local authorities to assess and be accountable for them.