Rivers: Chalk Streams
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for river environment restoration of chalk streams (a) nationally and (b) in Hertfordshire. [66494]
Richard Benyon: As announced in the Natural Environment White Paper the Government intends to take steps to tackle the legacy of unsustainable abstraction more efficiently. Further details will be included in the Water White Paper.
The chalk streams in Hertfordshire suffer from low flows as a result of over abstraction. These are located on the Rivers Stort, Ash, Rib, Beane and Mimram. Through the Environment Agency's (EA) Restoring Sustainable Abstraction programme it is seeking to improve flows in these rivers and working with Veolia Water Central and a number of experts to establish how much water we need in these rivers to support good ecological status.
The EA is also undertaking habitat restoration where it has identified opportunities for improvement. For example, the removal of barriers to fish migration is a key element of delivering the Water Framework Directive and the EA has identified a programme of improvements over the next three years on the Rivers Beane and Rib.
To help protect and improve chalk stream habitats the EA works closely with other organisations, including the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, which has a chalk stream project officer in place to deliver improvements within the catchments.
Rivers: Kayakers
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has any plans to change river access rights for kayakers. [66485]
Richard Benyon:
We have no plans to legislate to change the access rights for kayakers and canoeists, and remain committed to the use of locally agreed, voluntary, access agreements as the means of increasing river access for non-powered craft. This fits very well with
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the Big Society agenda as it will give access where it is needed and meet the needs of all users and interested parties.
Rural Areas
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government's Growth Review in relation to rural communities. [67281]
Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has had recent discussions on the Rural Economy Growth Review with the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), through the course of normal business. Officials from both Departments have also met regularly to advance the Review, including through a cross-Departmental Project Board which met for the first time on 11 July.
Rural Communities Policy Unit
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants are employed in the Rural Communities Policy Unit; and where they are based. [67283]
Richard Benyon: The Rural Communities Policy Unit currently has 31 staff and is also able to draw upon dedicated support from DEFRA economists and social researchers. Eighteen of the unit's staff are based in London, 10 in Bristol and three in York.
Rural Development Programme
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the level of demand for funding available through the Rural Development Programme for England to support upland farming. [67292]
Mr Paice: We continue to monitor uptake of all agri-environment schemes, including Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS). Uptake of Uplands ELS currently stands at 4,600 agreements or 708,200 hectares of land in the Severely Disadvantaged Area.
In maximising the use of EU funds, and through the spending review settlement, we have successfully maintained planned levels of spend on agri-environment at above £400 million per annum. Within this amount, we remain committed to maximising uptake for Uplands ELS and have ensured that funding is available to enable all eligible famers to enter the scheme. Uplands ELS uptake is currently limited by the area of land that remains in Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Area agreements. These will be eligible to renew into Uplands ELS (and also in many cases Higher Level Stewardship) as agreements expire between now and 2015. We are working with Natural England to maximise such renewals.
As announced in the Uplands Policy Review on 10 March, the Government are working to develop an ‘uplands theme' for Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) delivery for the rest of the programme and will be discussing what this needs to deliver with
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industry representatives. In addition, some priority is being given to helping those Leader Local Action Groups (LAG) in uplands areas continue to deliver against their Local Development Strategies. The LAG and DEFRA RDPE delivery team will discuss and agree how best to deliver this support at the local level, based on demand and performance criteria.
Rural Development Programme: Yorkshire and the Humber
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding is available to the Yorkshire and the Humber region under the Rural Development Programme for England. [67290]
Mr Paice: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 20 July 2011, Official Report, columns 1083-84W.
Satellites: Technology
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to what extent her Department uses earth observation satellite technology in developing policy on (a) marine and agricultural monitoring, (b) resource management, (c) urban plannings, (d) biodiversity and nature conservation and (e) infectious disease risk management; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of earth observation satellite technology in each policy area. [66152]
Richard Benyon: My Department uses Earth Observation (EO) across a number of policy areas and also operationally within some arm’s length bodies.
(a) In the marine and agricultural monitoring areas examples include monitoring marine water quality, specifically algal blooms concentrations and extent. Annual cross compliance checks on agricultural subsidies claims are carried out by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) using satellite imagery.
(b) Satellite technology is used within the resource management processes by the Forestry Commission to create their UK forestry inventory. The Environment Agency has used satellite imagery in flooding management situations, such as the Tewkesbury floods in 2007.
(c) Urban planning is the responsibility of Department for Communities and Local Government and local authorities.
(d) Within the policy areas of biodiversity and nature conservation earth observation provides the source information for the UK Land Cover Map (LCM) and Countryside Survey. Examples of the Department uses of LCM data include generation of summary statistics of the extent broad habitats types, habitat distribution and connectivity, ecological modelling and assessments and animal disease transmission.
(e) FERA has used EO as an input to improve their understanding of plant disease and in particular “Phytophthora ramorum” modelling.
Within the wider context of earth observation, DEFRA leads the UK contribution on the EU earth monitoring programme, Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES). The Department places a strong emphasis on meeting user needs within GMES and runs a number of ‘Network Groups’ to support the programme within the domains of Land, Marine, Atmosphere, Climate Change and Emergency' Response. These cross-community groups provide the Department with a platform for active consideration of the effectiveness and the
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potential of earth observation satellite technology in each associated policy area, both in the context of GMES and earth observation more widely. This is supplemented by a specialist forum which is co-chaired by JNCC and DEFRA.
Sewage: Waste Disposal
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria she plans to use to determine whether a septic tank qualifies for an exemption from a permit to discharge under the Environmental Permitting Programme Second Phase regulations. [66241]
Richard Benyon: Unless it is located close to sensitive environmental sites, including drinking water abstraction boreholes, only a septic tank discharging two cubic metres per day or less to groundwater need to be registered. If the tank is discharging more than two cubic meters per day, it would require a permit. Also, if it is located close to a sensitive site then a permit is required. The Environment Agency considers applications on a case by case basis to ensure there will be no adverse environmental impact guidance for on the requirements of the regulations for sewage discharges from septic tanks can be found on the Environment Agency website.
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the penalty is for failure to register with the Environment Agency the discharge of sewage effluent from a septic tank under the Environmental Permitting Programme Second Phase regulations. [66242]
Richard Benyon: Owners of septic tanks that discharge to ground do not legally need to be registered until 1 January 2012. There will therefore be no penalties before this date. After this date, the owner would be committing an offence under the Environmental Permitting Regulations if they do not have a registration or a permit. The Environment Agency will advise owners who do not have a registration or permit that they are committing an offence, and that they must apply for a registration at their earliest convenience. Further action will be considered on a case by case basis.
DEFRA is currently working closely with the Environment Agency to consider whether the current approach or an alternative one is the most appropriate.
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department plans to provide to householders required to register sewage discharge from a septic tank under the Environmental Permitting Programme Second Phase regulations. [66243]
Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency is responsible for implementing and administering the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010. Guidance for householders on the requirements of these regulations for sewage discharges from septic tanks can be found online at:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/water/default.aspx
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DEFRA is currently working closely with the Environment Agency to check whether the approach is the most appropriate and whether there might be opportunities for further simplification.
Sustainable Development: EU Action
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to respond to the European Commission Communication on the Rio 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development, COM(2011) 363. [67386]
Mr Paice: The Communication sets out the European Commission's initial views on what it thinks should be agreed at the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, 4-6 June 2102. It is a staff working document, and its contents have not been agreed outside the Commission. In October the Environment Council is expected to agree Conclusions on Rio+20, and the UK will be fully involved in the negotiating process leading up to those Conclusions being adopted. The Communication is the Commission's contribution to that process.
Trade Unions
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any staff of her Department are entitled to work full-time on trade union activities while receiving a departmental salary. [60251]
Richard Benyon: There are 10 members of staff in the Department (six in core DEFRA and four in the executive agencies) who are currently engaged in full-time trade union activities and whose salary is paid by the Department.
The total salary cost of full-time TU representatives in 2011-12 is forecast to be
Core DEFRA—£249,350
AHVLA—£25,903
RPA—£81,674.
The total salary cost of full-time TU representatives in 2010-11 was £564,821, consisting of:
Core DEFRA—£457,244
AHVLA—£25,903
RPA—£81,674.
Waste
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what timetable she has set for the development of her Department's waste prevention programme. [66495]
Richard Benyon: The waste prevention programme, as required by the revised EU waste framework directive, will be in place by December 2013.
Waste Management
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has recently examined the appropriateness of siting waste management sites which use mechanical and biological treatment in residential areas. [67429]
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Richard Benyon: Determining the location and type of new waste infrastructure is a matter for local authorities. Development plans set the framework for development in a local authority area, including what new waste infrastructure is needed and where it should go. In turn, these plans help the authority determine planning applications. The Environment Agency, in its role as a statutory consultee to the planning system, advises local authorities on development plans and planning applications to ensure protection of the environment and human health. This is done through its role as a planning consultee and helps to minimise the impact of waste facilities on the environment and human health.
Water Companies
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints her Department has received concerning each water utility company in each of the last five years. [66391]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not hold a central register of complaints concerning water companies. To produce a definitive list would involve disproportionate cost.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking in relation to geographical monopolies by water utility companies. [66393]
Richard Benyon: The Water White Paper, due to be published by December 2011, will look at the recommendations made by Professor Martin Cave in his independent review of competition and innovation in water markets to apply more competitive pressure to the sector. The Water White Paper will cover the geographical areas of the water companies that are wholly or mainly in England.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to simplify comparisons between the charges of water utility companies for (a) product and (b) installation costs. [66396]
Richard Benyon: Ofwat is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales. Its leaflet “Your water and sewerage bill 2011-12” sets out the charges for each water company in England and Wales.
A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Wood: Recycling
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to ensure that individuals are protected from pollution caused by wood recycling; and what assessment she has made of the risk to the public from carcinogens in wood dust. [67699]
Richard Benyon
[holding answer 19 July 2011]: The treatment and recycling of waste wood may only be carried out in accordance with an environmental permit issued by the Environment Agency or within the rules
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laid down in an exemption from the need for a permit for chipping, shredding, cutting or pulverising non-hazardous waste wood. The permitting and exemption controls are in place in order to prevent harm to human health and the environment from the recovery and disposal of waste.
The Health and Safety Executive has published an information sheet on its website on the hazards and precautions associated with wood dust in the workplace.
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the consultation process on altering the Yorkshire Dales National Park boundaries. [67678]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 25 July 2011]: In accordance with section 7 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, Natural England must consult with every local authority and parish council which has land in the area to be designated a National Park, as well as every local authority, parish council and the National Park Authority with land in any National Park whose boundaries are proposed to be varied. Natural England's total consultation costs for consulting with statutory consultees and the general public on proposed extensions to the boundaries of both the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks is just under £100,000 to March 2011 of which 50% is attributable to the Yorkshire Dales.
Work and Pensions
Disability: Young People
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to update the system of disability assessments for young disabled people. [67041]
Maria Miller: Personal independence payment will replace disability living allowance for working-age (16-64) adults from 2013 and a new, more objective assessment is being designed to gather information about adult needs. We want to build on the experience of developing an assessment and applying it to new and existing claimants of working-age to inform our decisions about the arrangements for children. Therefore we will not consider extending personal independence payment to new claims from children or to children already receiving DLA, until we have had an opportunity to consider the effectiveness of the new arrangements for working age people. We will consult on any substantive changes to the arrangements for children and regulations on this issue will be subject to the scrutiny of the House.
In developing the arrangements for children on DLA we also want to take account of ongoing work across Government to review more broadly the wide range of support for disabled young people. The Department for Education's Green Paper "Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability", published on 10 March, sets out the Government's aspiration to move towards a single assessment process
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for a child's social care, health and special educational needs. The Department for Education plan to test the approach starting this year and we will look at the findings of the pathfinders to explore whether the single assessment process might also be used to support claims for disability living allowance and personal independence payment.
Employment Services: British Sign Language
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport the potential assistance of a universal video relay service to British Sign Language users in finding and maintaining employment. [48246]
Maria Miller: Supporting disabled people, including those with a hearing impairment, into employment is a critical role for Government. Liz Sayce has undertaken an independent review of employment support available for disabled people and her report—Getting in, staying in and getting on—was published on 9 June. A full Government response and consultation was published on 11 July.
DWP provides a range of services and technology to enable communication for people who are speech or hearing impaired to support them in finding employment. These include Textphones, TexBox, Type-Talk and induction loops.
We are happy to explore how our services might be further improved. This may include exploration, with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, of the potential assistance of a universal video reply service. Any such exploration would need to take into account any mandate from Ofcom in relation to relay services for telecommunications, as well as the benefits and costs of video relay technology in delivering our services for disabled people.
Housing Benefit: Disability
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will consider exempting disabled tenants in adapted properties from his proposed reductions in the level of housing benefit where they have a spare bedroom. [67401]
Steve Webb: We are aware of concerns about the impact on some disabled people in adapted properties of our proposals to limit housing benefit for social sector tenants who are under-occupying their accommodation. We are looking at potential ways to limit the impact of these changes for this group.
Transport
Sky TV
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on subscriptions to Sky TV since May 2010. [67572]
Norman Baker:
The Department has spent £1,864.76 on subscriptions to Sky TV since May 2010. This compares with £2,743.13 in the financial year 2009-10. The central Department's subscription to Sky TV was cancelled in
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December 2010. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency continues to subscribe to the basic Sky TV package to enable them to view regional news coverage of incidents.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many meetings he has had with hon. Members of each political party since May 2010; [67157]
(2) if he will consider keeping data on the number of times (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have declined a request for a meeting from an hon. Member of each political party. [67180]
Norman Baker: I regret that the information requested is not held in the format requested.
The Department receives a large number of invitations from all sources and we do not consider that keeping records of the number of times that meeting requests are declined would be value for money or practical.
It is my general policy to accede to all requests for meetings requested by hon. Members, irrespective of party allegiance, unless there are exceptional reasons not to do so.
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking in respect of drivers from overseas who are uninsured. [66641]
Mike Penning: All drivers using roads in the UK must have at least third party insurance covering the use of their vehicle in this country. Under EU law all insurance policies issued in any EU member state must include the use of that vehicle for minimum third party risks for temporary visits to all EU member states.
Drivers must be able to produce evidence that they have the necessary insurance cover in place on request from the police.
Motorways: Wildlife
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to protect wildlife crossing motorways. [66635]
Mike Penning: The Highways Agency is responsible for the Strategic Road Network (SRN) in England, which includes motorways. The agency undertakes works to mitigate the impact of its operational, maintenance and improvement works, including the provision for wildlife crossing the network, and to reduce the risk of animals being killed or injured on the network.
Mitigation measures include tunnels, culverts, underpasses, adapted farm crossings and species specific structures such as bat bridges. Appropriate fencing and planting may be included to encourage use of the crossings and/or to integrate them within the surrounding environment. The agency also undertakes research to support the development of advice in relation to the effectiveness of such measures.
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Further advice on mitigating this issue, is published within the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, and this is available online at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/ha/standards/dmrb/index.htm
Defence
Aircraft Carriers
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of when the first Future Carrier will be operational; and when it will be able to deploy fast jet aircraft from its deck. [66915]
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he expects the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers to be equipped with Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. [67316]
Peter Luff: The date that the operational Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier enters service with the Royal Navy will depend on which ship will be converted to operate the carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter. This in turn will inform when fast jets will be deployed from the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. We expect firm decisions to be taken on carrier conversion in late 2012 and it remains our intent to deliver a carrier strike capability from around 2020.
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether planned adjustments to the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers will make them compatible with French Rafale aircraft. [67315]
Peter Luff: The conversion of the operational Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier will allow the more capable carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter to be operated. The change in aircraft launch and recovery equipment will offer improved levels of interoperability with our allies' aircraft, including the French Rafale. Further work on interoperability will be undertaken as part of our conversion investigations, which are expected to conclude in late 2012.
Armed Forces: Gurkhas
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to equalising continuation of services rights for Gurkhas serving in the armed forces; and what discussions he has had on this matter with representatives of Gurkha and former Gurkha groups. [66842]
Nick Harvey: None, because following implementation of the 2007 review of Gurkha Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS), Gurkhas have served on the same TACOS as the rest of the British Army, including the regulations applying to continuance of service.
A survey of the views of serving members of the Brigade of Gurkhas was conducted during the course of the 2007 Gurkha TACOS review. There was also wide consultation among organisations representing the ex-Gurkha community.
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Challenger Weapons
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to upgrade the Challenger weapons system; [67320]
(2) what assessment he has made of the future of the Challenger weapons system. [67321]
Peter Luff: The Challenger 2 main battle tank provides the Army's principal organic precision direct fire capability. The strategic defence and security review set out an enduring requirement for this capability in the future.
The Challenger 2 capability sustainment programme is currently in the concept phase. We expect to take a decision on the assessment phase around the middle of the decade.
Defence Board
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when meetings of the Defence Board are scheduled to occur in the period to May 2015. [66898]
Dr Fox: I currently plan to chair Defence Boards on the following dates this year:
16 September
21 October
16 December.
As you might expect, the dates for these meetings are subject to change if required.
In addition I plan to hold a further strategy awayday for the Board in the autumn. The date for this is being finalised.
Details of meetings for 2012 and beyond will be published nearer the time.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to make the minutes of the Defence Board meetings available to hon. Members. [66899]
Dr Fox: The Ministry of Defence will routinely publish Defence Board agendas, unclassified summaries of conclusions, meeting dates, and lists of papers taken by the Board.
Defence: Procurement
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of UK small and medium-sized enterprises in its projects; and what account he takes of such steps in implementing a strategy of buying supplies off-the-shelf. [66706]
Nick Harvey: In the Defence and Security sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are often an important source of research and innovation, as well as offering adaptability and flexibility. The Government recognises that SMEs face a number of challenges when looking to supply goods and services to the Government. The forthcoming White Paper on Equipment, Support and Technology for UK Defence and Security will set out how the Government will encourage and enable SMEs to participate more fully in these sectors.
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Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with which partners and suppliers his Department is working; and on which projects. [66707]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence let around 22,000 contracts last year and uses over 30,000 suppliers, ranging in size from large multi-nationals to micro-enterprises, details of which are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We do, however, publish a list of our largest suppliers each year in Table 1.17 of “UK Defence Statistics”. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
Departmental Air Travel
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions he has flown on official business (a) by budget airline and (b) in economy class in the last 12 months. [67914]
Dr Fox: I have not flown on official business on a budget airline.
On 23 May 2011 I flew in economy class from Tampa to Washington DC.
Departmental Correspondence
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence his Department has received from Ministers in HM Treasury in respect of its RAF basing review. [67400]
Dr Fox: No. To do so would be prejudicial to the maintenance of the collective responsibility of Ministers of the Crown.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department's budget has been spent on (a) munitions, (b) urgent operational requirements, (c) personnel, (d) equipment, (e) major projects and (f) office costs since October 2010. [66900]
Dr Fox: The following table shows the spend between 1 October 2010 and 31 March 2011 on munitions, administration costs (excluding personnel), major projects, equipment and equipment support, and personnel, as a proportion of the total annual Defence budget for 2010-11.
|
|
Percentage |
Urgent operational requirements (UORs) are not funded from the Defence budget but from the Governmental Special Reserve. The cost to the reserve of UORs from 1 October 2010 to 31 March 2011 was £321 million.
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Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department’s budget has been spent on (a) operational costs for theatres of engagement and (b) running costs associated with offices, staff, training and logistics since October 2010. [66901]
Dr Fox: For the purpose of answering this question, I have taken ‘running costs’ to be the Ministry of Defence’s administrative costs regime, (ACR) which includes the costs of major headquarters and spend in certain categories such as office accommodation and travel and subsistence. The proportion of the 2010-11 annual Defence budget covered by the ACR between 1 October 2010 and 31 March 2011 was 3.01%.
The operational costs for theatres of engagement are not funded from the Defence budget but from the governmental special reserve. £1,458 million was charged to the reserve for the operating costs for operations (excluding capital costs) in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya from 1 October 2010 to 31 March 2011.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider keeping data on the number of times (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have declined a request for a meeting from an hon. Member of each political party. [67193]
Departmental Travel
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on travel since May 2010. [59547]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) spent some £190 million on travel and subsistence between May 2010 and May 2011.
This figure includes, for both service and civilian staff, the cost of travel and accommodation booked centrally, the reimbursement of expenses incurred when using their own vehicle for duty journeys, most rail fares not booked centrally and some car hire costs. The figures also include expenses reimbursed to civilian staff for overnight accommodation, subsistence, taxi, bus and underground fares, parking charges and road tolls, and most of their air fares not booked centrally. Costs of the MOD’s White Fleet are not included as they are not recorded on a monthly basis; however, we estimate that White Fleet contract and fuel costs averaged around £4.5 million a month. The figures also do not include all travel and subsistence costs reimbursed to service personnel, but we are currently improving the accessibility of these in the interests of transparency.
By whatever means staff travel, they must do so in a way that is the most economical in both money and official time.
I apologise for the delay in providing this information.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on first class rail fares for (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers since May 2010. [59615]
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Mr Robathan: Since 12 May 2010, the Department has spent £3,720.01 on ministerial first class rail travel in the UK. No departmental funds have been spent on first class rail travel for special advisers since that date.
Equipment: Defence
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the future use of equipment purchased under recent urgent operational requirements; and what his policy is on the future use or disposal of such equipment. [67322]
Peter Luff: Defence Ministers and officials have frequent discussions with colleagues from HM Treasury on a range of issues including equipment capability procured under Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) procedures.
UOR equipment is routinely reviewed after 12 months of initial deployment or at the end of the operation for which it was procured, whichever is sooner. If it is judged to have future utility to Defence, it may be taken into the core programme. Where a capability is judged to be effective for the operation but has no future utility to Defence, it is supported for the length of the operation. If a capability is no longer required it is either run into obsolescence while it retains limited utility, or is disposed of. We are currently assessing which UOR equipment capabilities have enduring utility.
European Fighter Aircraft: Pilots
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Typhoon pilots are trained to engage ground targets. [66894]
Nick Harvey: Currently, 61% of UK qualified Typhoon pilots are trained to engage ground targets. The Typhoon force has a sufficient number of pilots trained to engage ground targets for current operations.
Future Force 2020
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many infantry battalions will be required for Future Force 2020; [67318]
(2) how many infantry battalions will be required under Force 2020. [67392]
Nick Harvey: As the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) said in his statement to the House on 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 643-45, there will be a progressive adjustment to the regular/reserve balance of the Army as the capabilities of the Territorial Army improve in order to better meet the adaptable posture set out in the strategic defence and security review. This adjustment will require changes to the planned structures of the Army and work is now under way to define the detail. Before this work is complete it would be inappropriate to comment on the exact composition of Future Force 2020.
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Libya
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on transport of equipment during operations in Libya; and what modes of transport have been engaged. [66897]
Nick Harvey: The majority of Operation Ellamy freight has been moved by RAF military transport vehicles at a cost of some £700,000; this has been supplemented by commercial road haulage at a cost of some £250,000.
Similarly, the majority of movements of equipment by air have been by RAF C17 and C130 aircraft at a total cost of some £61.8 million. This was supplemented by commercial charter at a cost of some £460,000.
No sealift support has been used for Operation Ellamy.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision his Department is making for extended operations in Libya. [66903]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence routinely plans for a wide range of operational scenarios.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the effects of operations in Libya on military capabilities. [66948]
Dr Fox [holding answer 18 July 2011]: As the Chief of Defence Staff said on 14 June 2011:
“We can sustain this operation as long as we choose to. I am absolutely clear on that.”
Events in Libya have confirmed the Strategic Defence and Security Review decisions to adopt an adaptable posture with flexible forces—we can conduct a wide range of operations at considerable distance from the UK and we retain high readiness forces for air and naval operations. The outstanding work of our armed forces in Operation Ellamy demonstrates that the UK remains able to project power and influence.
Libya: Aircraft Carriers
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on the use by UK aircraft of foreign airfields for operations in Libya; and if he will estimate the comparable cost for the use of an aircraft carrier. [67381]
Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the letter I sent to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr Turner) on 7 July 2011, Official Report, columns 1355-56W.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of operations in Libya on the UK's standing defence commitments. [64871]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence has assessed that current operations in Libya are not impacting on the UK's standing defence commitments.
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The strategic defence and security review (SDSR) set out the need to retain high-readiness forces, including air and naval operations, which provide for the possibility of a military response to a wide range of potential crises, alongside continuing to fulfil our standing commitments. Events in Libya have confirmed the validity of the SDSR decision to adopt an adaptable posture with flexible forces.
The outstanding work of our armed forces in Operation Ellamy demonstrates that the UK remains able to project power and influence.
Maritime Environment
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the reports titled (a) Maritime Environment and (b) Air Environment, referred to in section 2.7 of the National Audit Office report on Carrier Strike, HC 1092. [67500]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence does not intend to place the reports in the Library of the House as their release would be prejudicial to effective conduct of public affairs.
Mull of Kintyre Review
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his oral statement of 13 July 2011, on the Mull of Kintyre review, whether he plans to meet the families affected to discuss the findings of the review. [67352]
Dr Fox [holding answer 18 July 2011]: I was glad to have the opportunity to speak to members of the families most affected by the findings of the review on the day of publication.
Nimrod MRA4 Aircraft
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated further costs are of decommissioning the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft. [66905]
Peter Luff: A settlement has been reached with BAE Systems for all of the terminated Nimrod MRA4 contracts. I am withholding the value of this settlement as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
It is not yet possible to estimate what the final costs or receipts will be for dismantling and disposing of the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft.
However, the decision not to bring the Nimrod MRA4 into service is expected to save around £2 billion over the next 10 years.
Redundancy
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what roles in his Department are being removed as part of the redundancy programme; and what steps he is taking to maintain the delivery of his Department’s functions during and following implementation of reductions in staff numbers. [66902]
Dr Fox:
Where specific capabilities have been removed under the strategic defence and security review, such as Type 22 Frigates, Harrier, and Nimrod MRA4 aircraft,
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the roles linked solely to the delivery of those capabilities are being removed. Some personnel previously in those roles will be reallocated to other functions. Reductions will be targeted at specific ranks, trades and branches where we currently have more personnel than we will need to support the future structure and capability, or where there is an imbalance in numbers.
We will direct, co-ordinate and drive forward implementation of all the changes to force structures, our organisation and the way we work through the Defence transformation programme. This is being taken forward under the direction of Mr Jonathan Slater, the newly appointed director general for transformation and corporate strategy, overseen by the Defence Transformation Board that I chair.
Royal Air Force
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent additional resources he has allocated to the (a) Royal Air Force and (b) Royal Navy for commitments in Libya. [66841]
Nick Harvey: Any additional costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence as a result of operations in Libya are charged to the special Treasury Reserve. Operations are co-ordinated and undertaken jointly. As a result, these costs are not readily broken down by service.
South Sudan: Military Aid
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a small military training and technical team to the Government of Southern Sudan to assist their military capacity building. [64155]
Nick Harvey: We will support capacity building by the Governments of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan through a variety of targeted training opportunities.
Special Air Service: Recruitment
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure appropriate recruitment of personnel to the Special Air Service. [66843]
Nick Harvey: The immense contribution of our highly-professional Special Forces is largely unreported, but this is necessary in order to protect operational capability. It is a long-standing policy that the Government do not ordinarily comment on matters relating to UK Special Forces.
Sri Lanka
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse was of (a) staff, (b) assistance and (c) accommodation in respect of his visit to Sri Lanka in July 2011. [66946]
Dr Fox [holding answer 18 July 2011]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 20 July 2011, Official Report, columns 1143-44W.
Accommodation and assistance was provided by the high commission at no additional cost; the cost to the public purse of the three accompanying staff was £5,858.23
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per person for international flights, which included an official visit to India en route to Sri Lanka.
Warrior Weapons
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the future of the Warrior weapons system; [67319]
(2) what plans he has to upgrade the Warrior weapons system. [67327]
Peter Luff: Warrior is the Army's principal infantry fighting vehicle and is integral to armoured manoeuvre, providing an unmatched combination of protection and mobility. The strategic defence and security review set out an enduring requirement for an armoured infantry capability, which the Warrior capability sustainment programme will deliver by extending the service life of the fleet.
The Warrior capability sustainment programme is currently in its assessment phase. The main investment decision is expected later this year.
Health
Sky TV
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on subscriptions to Sky TV since May 2010. [67565]
Mr Simon Burns: Since May 2010, the Department's Media Centre has paid £3,054.77 (which includes value added tax) to maintain its monthly subscription to Sky TV.
Cancer: Drugs
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time taken was to process applications to the interim Cancer Drugs Fund from the time of their receipt (a) nationally and (b) in each strategic health authority in the latest period for which figures are available. [67505]
Paul Burstow: This information is not being collected centrally.
In July 2010 the national health service Medical Director issued guidance to strategic health authorities which made clear that arrangements for the distribution of the additional £50 million of cancer drugs funding made available in 2010-11 should support timely decision-making, bearing in mind the 31 day cancer treatment standard. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.
Care Homes: Insolvency
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of providers in the social care sector at risk of insolvency. [67408]
Paul Burstow: The Department has not made any such assessment. It is for the Care Quality Commission, as the regulator of adult social care services, to satisfy itself that a care service provider is financially viable.
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Mental Health Services: Greater London
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the mental health performance data for NHS London for the third quarter of 2010-11, for what reasons the use of early intervention services and crisis resolution services increased. [67883]
Paul Burstow: In London, there were 3,992 people receiving treatment by early intervention teams at the end of the third quarter (December 2010) compared to 3,957 in quarter two and 3,928 in quarter one.
Data for Crisis Resolution services are collected cumulatively. In London, teams carried out 17,867 home treatment episodes over the first three quarters in 2010-11; of which 6,060 episodes were recorded for quarter one and 12,009 episodes for quarter two.
Data suggest that there was no noticeable increase in activities by the early intervention and crisis resolution services in London.
Data are collected by the NHS Information Centre; they are available on request but not routinely published.
Mental Illness: Offenders
Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the joint HM inspectorate of prisons and HM inspectorate of constabulary report into police custody suites in Avon and Somerset, what guidance his Department has issued to primary care trusts on the provision of places of safety for people detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983; and if he will take steps to assist South Gloucestershire primary care trust to improve its provision of such places. [67851]
Paul Burstow: The Department published guidance on places of safety in the revised Mental Health Act 1983 code of practice in May 2008, effective from November 2008. In addition, the Department issued guidance on section 44 of the Mental Health Act 2007 about transferring patients between places of safety. This came into force in April 2008.
The Department is working with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the National Police Improvement Agency to develop joint guidance on mental health which included a response to section 136 and a template for a service level agreement on how a health-based place of safety should be managed in accordance with the Mental Health Act 1983 code of practice.
Additionally, the Department is working with 10 police early adopter forces to transfer commissioning of police custodial health care. Complicit in this work will be care pathways for several cohorts of detainees into current community provision, including section 136 detainees into a health-based place of safety.
Commissioning responsibility for all national health service services, including the provision of places of safety for section 136 detainees, rests with primary care trusts (PCTs). Each PCT should decide which health care treatments and services to provide for its local population, and commission these from NHS or independent sector providers. The Department is not prescriptive about how individual PCTs spend their budgets.
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Palliative Care
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his end-of-life care proposals include any mechanism to measure and recognise the financial contribution of families to the care of vulnerable people. [67464]
Paul Burstow: We recognise the enormous contribution, including financial contribution, that families make to the care of people approaching the end of life.
We welcome the final report of the independent Palliative Care Funding Review, which was published on 1 July. This has made an excellent start in looking at the complex and challenging issue of funding for palliative care and has come up with a range of significant proposals. We need now to consider these recommendations in detail and expect to consult stakeholders on the way forward later this summer before running pilots.
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methods will be used to measure (a) quality and (b) access to services under his proposals for the provision of end-of-life care. [67465]
Paul Burstow: The independent Palliative Care Funding Review has looked at how Government can make sure that the money intended to help look after people who are approaching the end of life, and children who need palliative care, is spent in the right way. This will better enable people—children, adults and families—to choose how and from whom they receive the care they need.
The Review, which reported on 1 July, has made an excellent start in looking at this complex and challenging issue. It has come up with a range of significant proposals. We need now to consider these recommendations in detail and expect to consult stakeholders on the way forward later this summer before running pilots.
The Department has previously set out in the NHS Outcomes Framework its plans to develop a national indicator to measure the quality of end of life care. This will be informed by a national survey of the bereaved, which is currently being developed. We have also introduced an Indicator into the NHS Operating Framework for 2011-12 to measure the improvement on the proportion of people who die in their usual place of residence—that is, their home or their care home.
Physiotherapy: Fees and Charges
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 91W, on physiotherapy, and with reference to the NHS Future Forum report, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that prices set for physiotherapy services within the NHS do not lead to restrictions on the availability of services to patients; and if he will make a statement; [67388]
(2) what measures his Department plans to put in place for future oversight of prices set for physiotherapy services within the NHS; [67389]
(3) what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that prices set for physiotherapy services within the NHS (a) are consistent across geographical areas and (b) do not lead to competition based on price. [67390]
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Mr Simon Burns: We have proposed that future oversight of prices within the national health service would be undertaken by Monitor and the NHS Commissioning Board, as set out in the Health and Social Care Bill (Part 3, Chapter 5). Under the proposed legislation, it would be for the NHS Commissioning Board to agree with Monitor whether and to what extent prices for physiotherapy services were to be determined by the national tariff, or set locally.
Monitor would lead on developing the methodology for determining prices under the national tariff and agree this with the NHS Commissioning Board. We would expect Monitor to ensure consistency in the methodology for determining prices across different geographical areas, having regard to any unavoidable differences in the cost of providing services in different geographical areas.
In carrying out its functions, Monitor would have to have regard to the need for commissioners to secure access to health care services, to meet the needs of their populations, and to make best use of NHS resources in doing so. In this way, commissioners will remain responsible for securing services and making best use of NHS resources to meet the health care needs of their populations, including in securing access to physiotherapy.
We tabled amendments during the Public Bill Committee to make clear that the national tariff would be a fixed price, rather than a maximum price, so as to enable competition on quality, not on price, driven by patients' choices. For services outside the scope of the national tariff, we would expect commissioners to set prices on value for money criteria, as per guidance set out in the ‘Procurement guide for commissioners of NHS-funded services’, published in July 2010:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_118218
A copy of this document has already been placed in the Library.
Prostate Cancer: Screening
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to improve access to information on the prostate-specific antigen test for men at higher risk of developing prostate cancer including men (a) from African and African Caribbean backgrounds, (b) with a family history of the disease and (c) over the age of 50; and if he will make a statement; [67409]
(2) what steps his Department is taking, beyond the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme, to raise awareness of prostate cancer amongst men at higher risk of the disease including men (a) from African and African Caribbean backgrounds, (b) with a family history of the disease and (c) over the age of 50; and if he will make a statement. [67410]
Paul Burstow: “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer” highlights that the United Kingdom National Screening Committee has asked the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group (PCAG) to explore options for making the evidence-based Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP) information more accessible to all men. The Department is supportive of the principles of The Prostate Cancer Charity's “Testing Choices” campaign, and continues to work with the charity through PCAG, of which Owen Sharp, the chief executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, is a member.
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The patient information sheets on Prostate Specific Antigen testing in the PCRMP packs make it clear that prostate cancer is less common in men below the age of 50, and the risk is greater for men with a familial history of prostate cancer and black-African and black-Caribbean men.
To mark Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Week (11 to 17 July 2011), the National Cancer Action Team (NCAT) sponsored a supplement in The Voice newspaper which had a whole page dedicated to black men's higher risk of prostate cancer, including facts about prostate cancer and testing for prostate cancer. NCAT has now commenced a targeted awareness campaign, with 10,000 copies of the supplement being distributed across London, the West Midlands, the East Midlands, Bradford and Manchester. The supplement followed an editorial in The Voice in May 2011 that directly addressed the higher incidence of prostate cancer in black men.
The Department is working collaboratively with Newham primary care trust, Newham University Hospital National Health Service Trust, The Prostate Cancer Charity and NCAT on a pilot community walk-in clinic for men with prostate problems at the Newham African-Caribbean Resource Centre. The pilot, which also aims to increase awareness of prostate cancer among the local population, is being evaluated to find out whether providing such a service in a community setting can make a difference to the numbers of men accessing this type of service rather than more traditional services. The clinic also offers men a series of prostate related tests, if required, with most test results provided immediately.
Radiotherapy: Finance
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many applications (a) in total and (b) to each strategic health authority for selective internal radiation therapy have been (i) achieved, (ii) approved and (iii) denied under (A) the interim Cancer Drugs Fund and (B) the Cancer Drugs Fund; [67837]
(2) which strategic health authorities have included selective internal radiation therapy as a treatment to be reimbursed by (a) the interim Cancer Drugs Fund and (b) the Cancer Drugs Fund. [67838]
Paul Burstow: Decisions on which drugs, including radiopharmaceuticals; are funded from the additional cancer drugs funding arrangements are a matter for regional clinically-led panels based on the advice of cancer specialists.
Details of the arrangements that strategic health authorities have in place for the distribution of this funding are available on their websites.
Information on the number of patients treated through these arrangements is being collected by the Department and a breakdown of strategic health authority expenditure for 2010-11 is not yet available.
The Department is currently establishing monitoring arrangements for 2011-12.
Social Services: Finance
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost to local authorities (a) in Teesside and (b) nationally of the provision of social care. [67727]
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Paul Burstow: Our latest expenditure data show that, in 2009-10, net current expenditure across the three local authorities of Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees was £145.922 million. The equivalent figure for England was £14,435.275 million.
Social Services: Manpower
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social workers were employed by each local authority in (a) England and (b) Wales in each of the last 10 years. [67827]
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Paul Burstow: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care collects and publishes data relating to the number of social workers directly employed by social services departments within councils with social services responsibilities in England.
The following table shows the number of whole-time equivalent social workers employed in each council in England during the period 2000 to 2010 as at 30 September.
Data for Wales are not collected by the NHS Information Centre.
| Number of social workers (whole time equivalent) employed by social services departments in England by council from 2000 to 2010 | |||||||||||
| As at 30 September | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
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| n/a = Data not available. Estimates have been used to produce England figures. (1) The sum of the council data may not add up to the England total due to rounding. (2) In April 2009 Bedfordshire and Cheshire were split into four councils "Bedford" and "Central Bedfordshire", and "Cheshire East" and "Cheshire West and Chester" respective. Note: Data have been rounded to the nearest 5. | |||||||||||