Incapacity Benefit
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on health interventions and programmes to reduce the number of claimants of incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement. [69640]
Chris Grayling: There have been no discussions with ministerial colleagues in the Scottish Government on this specific issue although our Departments work closely together on the Government's plans for welfare reform.
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The Department for Work and Pensions has an effective working relationship with officials in the devolved Administrations, including that in Scotland, and ensures that there are many opportunities to discuss issues and concerns in detail.
All those moving to employment and support allowance or jobseeker's allowance as a result of the incapacity benefit reassessment will be able to access the Work programme at an early stage of their claim. Work programme providers are free to innovate and design support that addresses the needs of individuals. They will be paid primarily for the results they achieve in supporting people into sustained employment, and they will be paid more to support people who are further from the labour market.
In addition, Work Choice, launched last October, provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most complex barriers to employment find and stay in work (including self-employment) and ultimately help them progress into unsupported employment, where it is appropriate for the individual. Work Choice is voluntary and available regardless of any benefits being claimed.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of individuals who have been on incapacity benefit and recently reassessed in Scotland have been (a) placed in the support group, (b) placed in the work-related activity group and (c) transferred to jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement. [69641]
Chris Grayling: The Department's Management Information indicates that since October 2010, around 7,300 incapacity benefits claimants in Scotland have been through the work capability assessment part of the incapacity benefits reassessment process. This includes those involved in the incapacity benefits reassessment trial, and those assessed face-to-face, cases assessed on paper scrutiny and therefore not requiring a face-to-face work capability assessment, and those that have had a recommendation based on their non-compliance with the assessment process.
However, information on the entire incapacity benefits reassessment process including the final outcomes and subsequent destinations of claimants being reassessed is not yet available at any geographical level. Data are being collected, but it will take time to complete because of the overall length of the reassessment process. The Department will publish data on the outcomes of the reassessment process, but only once they have been quality assured and are considered robust.
Independent Living Fund
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will ensure that no reductions are made in Independent Living Fund payments. [70293]
Maria Miller: As set out in my written ministerial statement on 13 December 2010, Official Report, 85-86WS, the Government are committed to safeguarding the position of the existing recipients of Independent Living Fund for the duration of this Parliament.
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Jobcentre Plus
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to increase the use of digital media and communication by Jobcentre Plus; and if he will make a statement. [69699]
Chris Grayling: The Department is fully committed to delivering more of its services online and has a target of delivering 80% of jobseeker’s allowance claims online. We are actively looking at how to extend and improve these services.
Currently it is possible to search for jobs, check potential entitlement for working age benefits, and to make a claim to jobseeker's allowance online through Directgov.
From 2012 working age benefit claimants will be able to register, via the Government Gateway, for a secure customer account which they can access through Directgov. This account will improve the online claim service for jobseeker's allowance and enable claimants of the main working age benefits to track their claim and payments and to notify some changes online. Some of these services will be available later this year to a limited number of jobseeker's allowance claimants by invitation.
In the future as we modernise our online vacancy posting service and jobsearch functionality we would also expect that claimants and non-claimants would be able to register online, search for vacancies and receive notifications of suitable vacancies through the customer account.
Jobcentre Plus: Internet
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Jobcentre Plus staff have access to social networking sites that are intended to assist with job searches; and if he will make a statement. [69700]
Chris Grayling: The Department recognises that social media are a valuable tool for engaging with jobseekers and partners. All staff have access to Linkedin and Twitter for business use, and the Department does actively use social networking to communicate with customers, for example through the ‘Job Coach’ on Linkedin aimed at unemployed professionals.
Access to some internet sites from departmental computers is restricted or blocked. This includes Facebook. However, access has been provided to staff in communications roles where their roles involve use of social media. We are also considering wider use of social networking by Jobcentre Plus staff.
While Jobcentre Plus staff do provide support for claimants looking for work, claimants are also required to use all appropriate jobsearch techniques and resources independently.
Jobcentre Plus: Telephones
John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of any profit made by his Department through use of 0845 numbers to call Jobcentre Plus in respect of each number provider in the latest period for which figures are available. [69807]
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Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not receive any revenue through the use of 0845 telephone numbers.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Social Workers
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many care workers are claiming jobseeker's allowance. [70301]
Chris Grayling: Although the Department can provide information on the number of jobseeker's allowance claimants who are doing some part-time work for less than 16 hours a week, the type of occupation they are undertaking is not available.
However extensive statistics on jobseeker's allowance claimants are published on the Nomis website at
https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/Default.asp
These include breakdowns of case loads and flows by occupation (both usual and sought). Occupation is categorised according to the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification, so, the number of JSA claimants whose usual occupation is in the group Caring Personal Service Occupations, in Great Britain, as at July 2011, is 72,450. The number seeking a job in Caring Personal Service Occupations in Great Britain at July 2011 is 73,205.
Pensions
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) monetary value of final salary pension schemes in the UK in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2011. [69601]
Steve Webb: Comparable data for the numbers of pension schemes are only available since March 2006. The numbers of active members of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes in 1995 and in 2009 are given at the end of this response.
Data earlier than 2006 are unavailable as aggregate statistics on private sector pension schemes have only been routinely collated following the launch of the statutory corporation—the Pension Protection Fund (PPF)—in April 2005.
Estimates are for DB schemes (or DB elements of hybrid schemes) in the UK, which are eligible for PPF protection.
These DB schemes include final salary schemes and others whose accruals are based on a career average or other average terms. According to the Occupational Pension Schemes Survey (OPSS), in 2009, 23% of private sector DB schemes were based on a career average.
(a) (i) According to the Purple Book 2010, there were 7,751 such DB schemes in the UK in March 2006.
(a) (ii) According to the PPF7800 Index, there were 6,533 such DB schemes in the UK in July 2011.
(b) (i) The aggregate balance of these schemes on a s179 basis in March 2006 was—£22.7 billion. This balance represented assets of £769.5 billion, and s179 liabilities of £792.2 billion.
(b) (ii) The aggregate balance of these schemes on a s179 basis in July 2011 was—£67.3 billion. This balance represented assets of £1,001.4 billion, and s179 liabilities of £1,068.7 billion.
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A scheme's s179 liabilities represent the premium that would have to be paid to an insurance company to take on the payment of PPF levels of compensation. This compensation may be lower than full scheme benefits.
It should also be noted that estimates are volatile with equity markets and gilt yields being the main drivers of funding levels.
Membership of pension schemes from the ONS Occupational Pension Scheme Survey are given as follows.
In 1995, there were 4.1 million active members of DB pension schemes in the public sector. In 2009 there were 5.4 million active members of such schemes.
In 1995, there were 5.2 million active members of DB pension schemes in the private sector. In 2009 there were 2.4 million active members of such schemes.
Social Security Benefits: Students
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many higher education students have suspended their studies due to illness or incapacity in each of the last five years; and in how many such cases the allowance or benefit awarded on the first application was (a) applied for and (b) awarded (i) employment and support allowance and (ii) disability living allowance in that period. [70581]
Chris Grayling: Details of the number of higher education students who have suspended their studies is a matter for the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Department for Work and Pensions does not keep records of the number of applications or awards for benefit for higher education students who have suspended their studies due to illness or incapacity.
Telephone Services
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Southport of 13 June 2011, Official Report, column 487, on 0845 telephone numbers, what the terms of reference are of his Department's internal review of the use of 0845 numbers and the other options available; and if he will make a statement. [64095]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) uses both 0800 and 0845 telephone numbers. 0845 numbers carry a cost to members of the public, however a call-back is offered when they express a concern about the cost of the call.
A review of the use of these numbers has recently been carried out. Its terms of reference were to consider whether the Department could stop using 0845 numbers with the objective that all calls from members of the public to DWP be free.
A number of options were presented, and their feasibility is currently being considered. While this consideration is underway, DWP will continue to provide 0800 ‘free call’ numbers for benefit claim lines and 0845 numbers for other calls.
Option (i): Replacing 0845 numbers with 0800 numbers. This would provide free calls but at significant cost to DWP due to the additional charges associated with 0800 numbers.
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Option (ii): Migrate 0845 numbers now to the 03 range reflecting Ofcom's suggestion for chargeable calls to public services to be at a single national rate.
Option (iii): Retain existing 0845 numbers until Ofcom's final report on numbering in 2012.
Unemployment: Young People
Mr Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the level of youth unemployment in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Coventry local authority area in each of the last 12 months. [70346]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the level of youth unemployment in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Coventry local authority area in each of the last 12 months. (070346)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
However, estimates of unemployment of 16 to 24 years resident in the Coventry local authority area are not available. As an alternative in Table 1, we have provided the number of people aged 16 to 24 years who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) resident in England, the West Midlands and Coventry for each of the last 12 months.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and JSA count are available on the Nomis website at
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
| Table 1: Number of persons aged 16-24 claiming jobseeker’s allowance resident in England, the West Midlands and Coventry | |||
|
|
England | West Midlands | Coventry |
| Note: Figures rounded to nearest five. Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative sources | |||
Universal Credit
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what consideration he has given to the provision of welfare waivers for people starting their own businesses using micro-credit; and if he will make a statement; [69639]
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(2) what representations he has received on the provision of welfare waivers for people starting their own business using micro-credit; and if he will make a statement. [69701]
Chris Grayling: The Secretary of State had a meeting on the 13 July with representatives of the Grameen Scotland Foundation at which a proposal to introduce the ‘UK Enterprise from Welfare Transition Scheme’ to help people into self-employment was discussed. Part of the proposal was to waive or disregard micro finance and the income generated during participation on the scheme across the current benefit system for the first two years of participation.
While the Government welcome initiatives to improve the take up of self-employment as a route out of benefit dependency, it has no plans to introduce specific disregards for this proposal.
However, we are clear that more needs to be done to encourage and help unemployed people to see self employment as a viable route off benefits and into financial independence. We have therefore introduced the new enterprise allowance (NEA). The NEA provides mentoring and financial support in the form of a weekly allowance and small loan.
The NEA is just one element in our wide ranging programme of welfare reform, a major part of which is universal credit and the introduction of the Work programme, both of which will provide more flexible ways of supporting people into sustained work including self-employment.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to publish an estimate of how many staff will be required for the administration of universal credit. [70492]
Chris Grayling: The Welfare Reform White Paper sets out that the Department for Work and Pensions will be responsible for organising the delivery of universal credit. Universal credit is expected to be introduced in October 2013.
It is still too early to say how many staff will be required to administer universal credit. We are continuing to work with colleagues in HM Revenue and Customs, and local authorities, to test new ways of working and consider how, in the longer term, we can build on the best capabilities of current organisations to provide a consistently excellent service to claimants and ensure value for money.
Detailed plans will inform the introduction of universal credit in 2013.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether new applications for out-of-work support will be treated as claims for universal credit from October 2013 and for in-work support from April 2014. [70493]
Chris Grayling: The timescales the right hon. Member for East Ham refers to reflect the provisional timetable discussed in the White Paper, Universal credit, Welfare that works. These dates remain the Department's planning assumptions.
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Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will announce his plans for supporting the costs of child care in universal credit. [70494]
Chris Grayling: The Government have made a clear commitment to provide support for child care costs as an additional element within universal credit.
During the Commons stage of the Welfare Reform Bill, we held productive discussions with MPs, peers and stakeholder groups, and we are considering the advice and suggestions raised in those. We have promised to return to the House with more information when it is ready.
We will provide information as soon as possible, as child care plays an important part in the work decisions of those who have responsibility for children and therefore we are determined to take the time to get this right.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether local authorities will be compensated for any penalty charges they incur from the early termination of contracts for the administration of housing benefit when housing benefit is replaced by universal credit. [70495]
Steve Webb: My officials continue to work with colleagues in local authorities to assess the impact of introducing universal credit. This work includes the implications for local authorities' existing service contracts and deciding the appropriate action to take.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to announce how many staff will transfer from local authorities to his Department on the merger of housing benefit into universal credit. [70496]
Chris Grayling: The welfare reform White Paper sets out that the Department for Work and Pensions will be responsible for organising the delivery of universal credit. It also states that we will continue to pay housing benefit to working age customers until we can migrate them successfully on to universal credit, currently expected to be by October 2017. We are working on the precise details of how the transition will work and the effects on housing benefits staff. This approach will ensure an orderly transition and that we have people with relevant skills and experience to support claimants both in work and out of work as they migrate to the new credit.
We will continue to work with colleagues in HM Revenue and Customs and local authorities to test new ways of working and consider how, in the longer term, we can build on the best capabilities of current organisations to provide a consistently excellent service to claimants and ensure value for money.
It is still too early to say how many staff and what skills and experience will be required for universal credit. The impact on local authority staff will be affected by the design of the council tax benefit replacement and decisions about the delivery model for universal credit.
We expect to make an announcement on the delivery model for universal credit this autumn.
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Universal Credit: Poverty
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what modelling his Department has undertaken into the effect on rates of (a) poverty and (b) child poverty of the universal credit following its full introduction at each level of take-up; and if he will make a statement. [70398]
Chris Grayling: The estimate of numbers lifted out of poverty as a result of universal credit are based on an assessment of the impact of universal credit using DWP's policy simulation model. This model uses data from the 2008-09 family resources survey (FRS) and uprates incomes and demographics to the relevant year using projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility. The model is able to assess entitlement to universal credit, because of the wide range of personal characteristics reported to the FRS by respondents.
Our best estimate of the impact of take-up is included in the modelling, it is assumed that those currently taking up some, but not all of their benefit entitlements will take up in full under universal credit; and of those taking up none of their current entitlement, around half will do so under the new system.
The combined impact of entitlement changes and increased take-up leads to approximately:
(a) 950,000 individuals being lifted out of poverty
(b) 350,000 children being lifted out of poverty
Universal Credit: Telephone Services
Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of staff required to handle customer queries by telephone from universal credit claimants once the new system is introduced. [70518]
Chris Grayling: The welfare reform White Paper sets out that the Department for Work and Pensions will be responsible for organising the delivery of universal credit. Universal credit is expected to be introduced in October 2013, and individuals will be migrated to universal credit over the subsequent four years.
We are continuing to work with colleagues in HM Revenue and Customs, and local authorities, to test new ways of working and consider how, in the longer term, we can build on the best capabilities of current organisations to provide a consistently excellent service to claimants and ensure value for money.
It is still too early to say how many staff will be required to handle telephone customer queries during the transition period and in the longer term. Detailed plans will inform the introduction of universal credit in 2013.
Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of staff of his Department and its agencies who are engaged in telephone handling of customer queries in respect of each of the benefits to be replaced by universal credit. [70522]
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Chris Grayling: In preparation for the launch of universal credit the DWP is reviewing its current telephone handling processes. We are also continuing to work with colleagues in HM Revenue and Customs, and local authorities, to test new ways of working and consider how, in the longer term, we can build on the best capabilities of current organisations to provide a consistently excellent service to claimants and ensure value for money.
It is still too early to say how many staff will be required to handle telephone customer queries during the transition period and in the longer term. Detailed plans will inform the introduction of universal credit in 2013.
Work Capability Assessment: Atos Healthcare
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether staff employed by Atos Healthcare who are under investigation by the General Medical Council may continue to carry out work capability assessments whilst being investigated. [70294]
Chris Grayling: Where the allegations relate to professional misconduct, Atos will routinely stop the doctor from carrying out work capability assessments. For allegations of a less serious nature the decision is made on a case-by-case basis.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of Atos Healthcare to conduct the work capability assessment programme. [70504]
Maria Miller: The suitability of Atos Healthcare to conduct work capability assessments was assessed during the contract extension process in 2010. The continued suitability of Atos Healthcare to perform the assessments is reviewed regularly and performance monitored at least monthly.
Work Capability Assessment: Illnesses
Caroline Lucas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 19 July
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2011,
Official Report
, column 856W, on work capability assessment: illnesses, whether there are circumstances in which those in receipt of incapacity benefit who have a terminal illness may be sent an ESA50 form to complete as part of the migration process to employment and support allowance. [70240]
Chris Grayling: Individuals who are diagnosed with a progressive disease, where death is a likely consequence of that disease and where this is reasonably expected within six months, will be treated as having limited capability for work and limited capability for work- related activity. At any point in the incapacity benefits reassessment process, where there is sufficient evidence that an individual is terminally ill as defined, they will be placed in the support group and no further related information will be requested. However, cases are dealt with on a case-by-case basis, dependant on available evidence, and so a guarantee cannot be provided that an ESA50 will not be sent to the claimant in every case where insufficient information is available.
It should also be noted that existing incapacity benefits (IB) claimants will have already been in receipt of benefit for a period in excess of two years and as such, unless their circumstances have changed during that time, are unlikely to be subject to the provision covering terminal illness within employment and support allowance.
Health
Abortion: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women aged (a) 15 to 24 and (b) 25 years and over normally resident in the Peterborough Primary Care Trust area have undergone (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three and (iv) four or more terminations of pregnancy since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [68658]
Anne Milton: The information is shown in the following table.
| Number of previous abortions to women resident in Peterborough primary care trust (PCT) (1) 2002-10 | ||||||||||||
| Age under 25 | Age 25 and over | |||||||||||
|
|
0 | 1 | 2 | 3+ | Total age under 25 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4+ | Total age 25 and over | Total all ages |
| ‘—’ Suppressed value less than 10 (between 0 and 9) in line with Office for National Statistics guidance on the release of abortion statistics, 2005. (1) Peterborough PCT is used for years 2006-10. Between 2002 and 2005 Peterborough was covered by North Peterborough and South Peterborough PCTs. Prior to 2002 there are no boundary data relating specifically to Peterborough. | ||||||||||||
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Air Ambulance Services
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of (a) the quality of air ambulance service provision in England and (b) the value for money provided by such air ambulance services. [69497]
Mr Simon Burns: Between 2001 and 2003, the Department commissioned the University of Sheffield to conduct a survey of air ambulance service provision in the United Kingdom, and review the published evidence on the costs and benefits.
It found that the main benefit of air ambulances is for serious blunt trauma patients, particularly those injured in road traffic accidents with severe injuries. If an air ambulance responded to four or more of these patients per year, it could be seen as cost-effective in terms of quality adjusted life years.
However, there was not enough reliable evidence, relevant to England, to judge whether there is any benefit in any other groups of patients, and the targeting of helicopters to serious blunt trauma patients was deemed to be poor. Therefore the large number of non-blunt trauma cases attended by air ambulances currently reduces cost-effectiveness overall.
Cancer: Drugs
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been prescribed cancer drugs since the introduction of the Cancer Drugs Fund who would not otherwise have received such drugs in each strategic health authority area since 5 May 2010. [68175]
Mr Simon Burns: The Cancer Drugs Fund was launched on 1 April 2011. Over three years, the fund is providing £200 million a year to help thousands of cancer patients access the drugs their clinicians believe will help them. As an interim measure, an additional £50 million was made available to strategic health authorities (SHAs) in 2010-11 to support improved access to cancer drugs. Since October 2010, this funding has so far helped over 5,000 cancer patients in England to access the cancer drugs their clinicians recommended.
A final breakdown of SHA activity for 2010-11 is being confirmed and a copy will be placed in the Library when this information is available.
Cannabis: Mental Illness
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) under 18, (b) between 18 and 24, (c) between 24 and 30 and (d) 30 and above were admitted to hospital for mental illnesses attributable to the use of cannabis or skunk cannabis in (i) England, (ii) the North West and (iii) St Helens in each of the last 10 years. [69009]
Mr Simon Burns:
Data on the numbers of people admitted to hospital with mental and behavioural disorders due to the use of cannabis are available from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). The following tables provide information on the finished admission episodes with a primary diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders
7 Sep 2011 : Column 684W
due to use of cannabinoids (ICD10 code F12) in England and the North West by age groups
(a)
under 18,
(b)
18-23,
(c)
24-29 and
(d)
30 and above. HES analysis has established that no people were admitted to hospital for mental and behavioural disorders attributable to the use of cannabis or skunk cannabis in St Helen's primary care trust, so no data has been provided for this local area.
| All England | ||||||
| Age group | ||||||
|
|
Under 18 | 18 to under 24 | 24 to under 30 | 30 and above | Age not known | Total |
| Q31 North West strategic health authority | |||||
| Age group | |||||
|
|
Under 18 | 18 to under 24 | 24 to under 30 | 30 and above | Total |
| Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | |||||
Data Protection
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what occasions security breaches relating to official material stored on equipment owned by his Department's officials have been identified in each of the last five years; [70506]
(2) on what occasions security breaches of his Department's IT system caused by (a) loss of mobile devices provided by his Department, (b) loss of personal mobile devices owned by officials and used for Departmental business, (c) loss of laptops provided by his Department, (d) loss of personal laptops owned by officials and used for Departmental business and (e) malicious attacks on his Department's IT systems have been identified in each of the last five years; [70508]
(3) what security guidance he has issued to officials of his Department on the use of (a) mobile devices, (b) laptops and (c) e-mail accounts, (d) other IT equipment which are not supported by his Department's IT systems; [70509]
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(4) what security guidance he has issued to officials of his Department on the use of (a) mobile devices and (b) laptops which have been provided for official use by his Department. [70510]
Mr Simon Burns: In the last five years no instances have been identified of security breaches relating to official material stored on equipment owned by departmental officials, or of security breaches caused by:
(a) loss of mobile devices provided by the Department,
(b) loss of personal mobile devices owned by officials and used for departmental business,
(c) loss of laptops provided by the Department,
(d) loss of personal laptops owned by officials and used for departmental business,
(e) malicious attacks on the Department's IT systems.
The Department's Acceptable Use of ICT Policy states what staff are permitted and not permitted to do when using officially provided IT equipment, and is the foundation of security guidance to staff. The policy includes guidance on the use of email, including advice that staff should not use home or web-based personal email accounts for official business, and restrictions on sending sensitive or protectively marked messages to external email addresses. Complementary guidance (based on the website Get Safe online) includes information on how to protect home computers, personal mobile telephones and other devices. The Department has also issued specific guidance on the risks of mobile phone hacking.
Further security guidance is available on home working, use of departmental mobile devices, looking after portable equipment, and home computer protection.
Procurement
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methodology (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible used to estimate savings to the public purse made in respect of its procurement and purchasing since May 2010. [69271]
Mr Simon Burns: For value for money savings realised through procurement activity recorded in 2009-10 and 2010-11, the Department has used a methodology based on guidance issued to Departments by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). Using this, the Department has, since April 2009, tracked and reported savings, ensuring that firm evidence is in place to show when contracts are let at a lower cost than the baseline.
In addition, the Department has also realised savings as a result of procuring its non-pay spend through framework arrangements and contracts set up by the Buying Solutions organisation (now the Government Procurement Service) and the Central Office of Information (for marketing, advertising and communications spend). These organisations use their own methodologies to report the savings realised for each Department. Details of those savings methodologies can be obtained from the Government Procurement Service and the Central Office of Information directly.
The Department does not currently collect information on the methodology used to estimate procurement savings through its non-departmental public bodies.
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Disability: Children
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to improving respite care for parents of disabled children. [67616]
Sarah Teather: I have been asked to reply.
This Government have committed more than £800 million to support local authorities to deliver short breaks services over the current spending review period.
From April of this year all local authorities were required to deliver a range of short breaks services and to publish a statement to parents about the full service range and how services can be accessed. It is our intention that greater transparency about availability of services will drive improvements.
Local authorities will continue to receive practical support to deliver short breaks services through a Department for Education grant with an external organisation. The Department is in the process of recruiting a partner organisation to take on that role.
The Department for Education will continue to fund parent carer forums for the parents and carers of disabled children, which have access to support and training which enables them to work better with local authorities to design services that meet their needs.
Doctors: Communication Skills
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether practising doctors are required to undertake in-career training in communication skills. [68161]
Anne Milton: It is the responsibility of individual doctors and their employers to consider their continuing professional development needs.
In 2004 the General Medical Council (GMC) published its guidance “Continuing Professional Development”, which aimed to make explicit for the first time the ways in which doctors might identify their learning needs and fulfil their professional obligation to keep up to date.
The GMC's “Education Strategy 2011-13” includes a commitment to review its role in relation to doctors' continuing professional development (CPD). The review is being taken forward by a small working group which brings together the GMC and key interest groups, including the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, employers, postgraduate deaneries and others. One of the outcomes of this review will be a revised edition of their CPD guidance.
Continuing professional development is one of the proposed elements for the revalidation of doctors, which is currently being developed.
Eyesight: Testing
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the provision of free eye tests for people with certain conditions; what plans he has for the future (a) qualifying criteria and (b) provision of free eye tests; and if he will make a statement. [69742]
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Mr Simon Burns: Free national health service sight tests are available to people diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma.
Free NHS sight tests are also available to priority groups including children, people aged 60 and over, people on low incomes and defined categories of people at particular risk of developing eye disease.
There are currently no plans to change eligibility for free NHS sight tests.
General Practitioners
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of GP surgeries which have discontinued evening surgeries in (a) England and (b) Manchester in the last 12 months. [69805]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not held centrally.
Government Procurement Card
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Government Procurement Cards were used by staff of his Department between (a) May 2006 and June 2007 and (b) June 2009 and May 2010; and what the (i) name of the supplier, (ii) date and (iii) value was of each transaction during this period. [68354]
Mr Simon Burns: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hereford and South Herefordshire (Jesse Norman) on 13 June 2011, Official Report, column 634W.
Health Services: Standards
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the long-term effects of a reduction to 10 per cent. of the weighting for health inequalities in the primary care trust allocation formulae. [70282]
Mr Simon Burns: The Disability Free Life Expectancy (DFLE) adjustment (referred to by the previous Administration as the health inequalities adjustment) was introduced in 2009-10 to address the reduction in avoidable health inequalities’ objective of the weighted capitation formula for primary care trust (PCT) allocations.
The DFLE adjustment is based on a measure of health status which targets money at the areas where it will be most effective.
For the 2011-12 PCT allocations, Ministers felt that a weight of 10% of the overall formula strikes the right balance between ensuring that vital work on health inequalities, including public health, continues and that funding to support access to health care is sufficient.
This Government are committed to reducing health inequalities. Subject to the passing of the Health and Social Care Bill, once fully established, the NHS Commissioning Board would take over responsibility for the allocation of resources from the Department and will have a duty to have regard to reducing inequalities in access to, and the outcomes of, health care. In addition,
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the Department will allocate a ring-fenced public health grant to local authorities, based on relative population health.
Hepatitis
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the diagnosis and treatment rates of hepatitis C among south Asian communities. [70029]
Anne Milton: We expect local national health service organisations to take appropriate steps to improve the detection, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C among south Asian communities.
The Department is grant-funding the Hepatitis C Trust to increase hepatitis C testing in partnership with local NHS organisations through community pharmacies and an outreach mobile information and testing service, including for south Asian communities. NHS Choices hosts a dedicated website for south Asian communities at:
www.nhs.uk/hepatitisC/southasian
including essential information and advice about hepatitis C.
The Department has funded the Royal College of General Practitioners to produce an educational resource for GPs and other health care professionals on hepatitis C (and hepatitis B), involving online and face-to-face learning. The resource is intended to assist in increasing the detection, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C in groups at risk of infection, including south Asian communities.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is developing public health guidance for health care professionals and the NHS on promoting and offering hepatitis C (and hepatitis B) testing to those at risk.
Hip Replacements
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for a hip replacement operation was in (a) St Helens, (b) Merseyside and (c) England in each of the last 15 years. [68907]
Mr Simon Burns: The median time waited, in days, for hip replacement operations, is shown in the following tables.
| Median time waited , in days , for hip replacement operations | |||
|
|
Halton and St Helens Primary Care Trust | Merseyside | England |
|
|
St Helens PCT and Halton PCT | Merseyside | England |
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| (1 )PCT data not available prior to 1996-97. Notes: 1. From 2006-07 to present, Merseyside data comprise Halton and St Helens PCT, Knowsley PCT, Liverpool PCT, Sefton PCT and Wirral PCT. 2. Prior to 2006-07, Merseyside data comprised St Helens PCT, Halton PCT, Knowsley PCT, South Liverpool PCT, Central Liverpool PCT, North Liverpool PCT, Southport and Formby PCT, South Sefton PCT, Birkenhead and Wallasey PCT and Bebington and West Wirral PCT. 3. In 2006-07 the following mergers occurred: St Helens PCT and Halton PCT formed Halton and St Helens PCT; South Liverpool PCT, Central Liverpool PCT and North Liverpool PCT formed Liverpool PCT; Southport and Formby PCT and South Sefton PCT formed Sefton PCT; and Birkenhead and Wallasey PCT and Bebington and West Wirral PCT formed Wirral PCT. 4. PCT level data are not available prior to 1996-97. Therefore data for 1995-96 are provided at national level only. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | |||
Lung Diseases: Cardiovascular System
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of deaths attributable to (a) long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and (b) all cardiovascular causes in each local authority. [69631]
Anne Milton: The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) estimated, on the basis of 2008 data, that particulate air pollution (measured as PM2.5) had an effect on the mortality of the United Kingdom population equivalent to 29,000 deaths in 2008. However, the Committee considered it very unlikely that this represents the total number of individuals affected. Instead it speculated that, given that much of the effect of air pollution on mortality is linked to cardiovascular deaths, then PM2.5s acting together with other factors, may have made some smaller contribution to the earlier deaths of up to 200,000 people.
A subgroup of COMEAP is currently considering whether estimates can be made for smaller areas of the UK.
We do not hold information on the estimated number of deaths attributable to all cardiovascular causes in each local authority. The Office for National Statistics holds data on mortality rates for cardiovascular diseases.
Mental Health Services
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to review the provision of in-patient secure accommodation for mentally ill patients following implementation of the proposals in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. [68837]
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Paul Burstow: The Department has no intention to review the provision of in-patient secure accommodation following the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. The provision of in-patient accommodation is a matter for the national health service.
Since the only proposed legislative change applies to Mental Health Treatment Requirements, which are unlikely to impact on secure mental health services, these impacts are unlikely to distort greatly the current interchange between the Criminal Justice System and Mental Health services. Planning for this interface will be a matter for NHS commissioners, based on local planning assumptions and Joint Strategic Needs Assessments.
Mental Illness: Drugs
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department (a) has commissioned and (b) plans to commission on the social, economic and health costs of brain damage as a result of excessive and long-term use of legally prescribed benzodiazepines. [70291]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not commissioned, and has no plans to commission research specifically on the social, economic and health costs of brain damage as a result of excessive and long-term use of legally prescribed benzodiazepines.
The Department's National Institute for Health Research welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including use of benzodiazepines. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.
NHS: Data Protection
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what security guidance (a) he and (b) NHS Connecting for Health have issued to NHS personnel on the use of (i) mobile devices, (ii) laptops, (iii) e-mail accounts and (iv) other IT equipment provided by NHS organisations for official use that relate to (A) non-patient-identifiable and (B) patient-identifiable information. [70507]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department of Health, which incorporates NHS Connecting for Health, has provided a wide range of information security guidance in the form of a code of practice supported by an online library of good practice guidelines and an information governance toolkit. The guidance reflects the Cabinet Office data handling review in 2008. A number of letters have also been issued by the NHS chief executive, which make it clear that patient-identifiable and other personal data must only be held on encrypted mobile devices and laptops and such information should not be e-mailed in an unencrypted form. Guidance on other types of information follows best risk management practice, which recommends that the protection provided reflects the sensitivity of the information held.
NHS: Microsoft
Dr Huppert:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS paid to Microsoft in annual licence
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fees
(a)
in total and
(b)
via subcontractors in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [69630]
Mr Simon Burns: The following table details the amount paid by the Department on behalf of the national health service to Microsoft for desktop licences for the fiscal years 2007-08 to 2010-11.
| Microsoft national agreements expenditure: 2007-11 | |
|
|
£ |
| Notes: 1. The figures are the total of sums paid to Microsoft by the Department on behalf of the NHS via appointed resellers (Trustmarque, Computacenter and Bytes) under central agreements held by NHS Connecting for Health on behalf of the NHS. 2. The figures exclude any additional local purchases of Microsoft products, for example Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Project and Microsoft server licences which may have been made by individual trusts via separate local agreements to which NHS Connecting for Health is not party. | |
Nottingham City Primary Care Trust: Finance
Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the financial effects of his recent changes to the NHS funding formula on Nottingham City Primary Care Trust. [69587]
Mr Simon Burns: In December 2010, Nottingham City Primary Care Trust (PCT) received total revenue allocations of £550.3 million for 2011-12. This represents a total cash increase of £21.6 million, or 4.1% which is 1.1% above the England average. The allocation includes a recurrent revenue allocation of £522.4 million and a non-recurrent allocation of £27.9 million for general ophthalmic services, primary dental services, pharmaceutical services and support for joint working between health and social care.
At the close of 2010-11, under the previous formula, Nottingham City PCT was 6.2% below target for the recurrent component of its allocation. At the opening of 2011-12, under the changes to the funding formula, the PCT was 5.7% below target.
Nottingham City PCT received higher than average funding growth in 2011-12 to move it towards target. At the close of 2011-12 the PCT will be 4.7% below target for recurrent funding.
Orphan Drugs
Andrew Rosindell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Institute for Health and
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Clinical Excellence is able to request a formal opinion from the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services when taking decisions on ultra-orphan treatments. [68816]
Mr Simon Burns: It is a matter for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to consider whether to consult the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services (AGNSS) during an appraisal for a high-cost, low-volume drug. However, the NICE topic selection team and the secretariat of AGNSS work very closely in considering the most appropriate route for looking at high-cost, low-volume drugs for the treatment of patients with very rare conditions.
Pharmacy
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he proposes any changes to the (a) commissioning and (b) monitoring of community pharmacy services. [69431]
Mr Simon Burns: Subject to the successful passage through Parliament of the Health and Social Care Bill 2011, it is proposed that, in England, functions that currently lie with primary care trusts (PCTs) in relation to the commissioning and monitoring of pharmaceutical services will pass to the NHS Commissioning Board when PCTs are abolished.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of supply of medicines for community pharmacies. [69491]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and pharmaceutical supply chain stakeholders are working collaboratively, within the Medicines Supply Chain Group, to better understand and mitigate the impact of supply difficulties so that patients receive the medicines they need in a timely manner. “Best Practice for Ensuring the Efficient Supply and Distribution of Medicines to Patients”, was published in February jointly by the Group. A copy has been placed in the Library.
Slaughterhouses: Closures
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many small to medium-sized slaughter houses in England closed in each of the last five years. [70315]
Anne Milton: The numbers of red and poultry meat slaughterhouses that have closed in the last five years is as follows:
| Size (1) | Type | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | Total |
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7 Sep 2011 : Column 694W
| (1) Size is based on the following classification: Small—throughput of up to 5,000 livestock units a year Medium—throughput of between 5,000 and 50,000 livestock units a year Large—throughput of between 50,000 and 125,000 livestock units a year Very large—throughput over 125,000 units a year | |||||||
Smoking: Public Places
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has provided advice to local authorities who wish to extend the smoking ban to parks and other public places. [69709]
Anne Milton: No such advice has been provided by the Department.
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure consistency in the (a) application, (b) scope and (c) operation of the smoking ban in England and Wales. [69712]
Anne Milton: The scope of smokefree legislation for England and Wales is set out within part 1, chapter 1 of the Health Act 2006.
‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England’ was published in March 2011, and sets out that the Government believe that the aims of smokefree legislation continue to be effectively achieved and that levels of compliance and public support for the law are high.
To support the application and operation of smokefree legislation by local authorities in England, Local Government Regulation, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Trading Standards Institute have jointly published guidance titled ‘Implementation of smokefree legislation in England: Guidance for council regulatory officers and Implementation of smokefree legislation in England: Associated issues’. Copies of both publications have already been placed in the Library.
The application and operation of smokefree legislation in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Government. A group convened by the Welsh Local Government Association has published guidance titled “Enforcement Guidance and Protocols for Smoke-Free Public Places: Guidance for officers in the enforcement of provision of the Health Act 2006 and Smoke-Free Premises etc”. A copy has been placed in the Library.
Specialised Service Transitional Oversight Group
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who instructed that the Specialised Service Transitional Oversight Group be established; on what date the decision to establish the group was taken; when the group 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. [69131]
Mr Simon Burns: The Specialised Service Transitional Oversight Group was set up in shadow form prior to formal approval for establishment from the Commissioning Development Board in April 2011. It’s members and their occupations are:
To date the Transitional Oversight Group has given no formal advice to NHS commissioning bodies on individual treatments and interventions of stereotactic body radiotherapy treatment.
Warwickshire Primary Care Trust
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many managers there were in Warwickshire primary care trust in each year since 2007. [69528]
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Mr Simon Burns: Information from national health service hospital and community health services on senior managers and managers in the Warwickshire primary care trust at 30 September each year is shown in the following table:
7 Sep 2011 : Column 696W
| Headcount | ||||
|
|
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Note: It should be noted that headcount totals are unlikely to equal the sum of components. Source: NHS Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census | ||||
International Development
Afghanistan: Reconstruction
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what major projects his Department has funded in Afghanistan which involve (a) government and civil society and (b) economic infrastructure and budget support since the start of UK military operations; and who the recipients were of such funding. [69902]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: All projects funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) in Afghanistan can be found using the Project Information Database which can be accessed via:
http://projects.dfid.gov.uk/
and selecting ‘Afghanistan’ as the location. You are then able to filter the search further by using the ‘Sector Groups’ function. The database does not include information on projects which ended before the website went live in August 2009. Obtaining complete programme information outside this period would incur disproportionate cost.
DFID does not provide budget support to Afghanistan.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on rail track construction in Afghanistan in each year since the start of UK military operations. [69903]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: To date the Department for International Development has not funded any rail track construction in Afghanistan since the start of UK military operations.
However, the UK Government have recently contributed £35 million to the new Afghanistan Infrastructure Trust Fund (AITF) which is managed by the Asian Development Bank. Future AITF programming is likely to include investment in rail, in line with the Afghan Government's National Priority Programmes on infrastructure.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many miles of rail track his Department has funded in Afghanistan in each year since the start of UK military operations. [69904]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development has not funded any rail track construction in Afghanistan since the start of UK military operations.
Africa: Agriculture
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions his Department has had on future levels of financial support for the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa. [68094]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no plans to fund the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) at the present time.
In December 2010, DFID considered FARA's request for new funding against the coalition Government's emphasis on demonstrating value for money and delivering results. Our decision, which was relayed to FARA in December 2010, was that we would focus our support to African research on the two African sub-regional organisations of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD) and the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA), which are more closely aligned to these priorities.
Africa: Droughts
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is providing to countries that are experiencing an influx of refugees arising from the drought in the Horn of Africa. [68471]
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Mr Andrew Mitchell: In response to the drought and population displacement in the Horn of Africa, the UK has directly allocated £124.29 million to humanitarian agencies working in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Of this amount, £10 million has been earmarked specifically for Somali refugees in Ethiopia and Kenya, who now number more than 500,000.
The UK's overall package of support will benefit more than 2 million people in the Horn of Africa, including hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees. In Ethiopia this includes over 1.6 million people, including Somali refugees, who will receive food and nutrition assistance for three months. In Kenya this includes over 130,000 Somali refugees now in Dadaab refugee camp who will benefit from clean water and health care services.
Burma: Refugees
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided to the United Nations Refugee Agency to assist refugees from Burma who are in Malaysia. [68686]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided no funding to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) specifically to assist refugees from Burma who are in Malaysia. From 2007 to 2011 DFID provided UNHCR with £96 million in core funding to enable it to respond to emergency situations wherever they arise.
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department has provided for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in each of the last three years; and what projects such funding was spent on. [68687]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development does not directly fund projects focused on Rohingya refugees but provides core contributions to the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) and United Nations agencies, who are active in Bangladesh in this area. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) manages the official camps. The World Health Organisation, the World Food Programme, UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund have also been working with Rohingyas within the camps and in the surrounding communities over the past three years.
Commonwealth Development Corporation
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what date the Commonwealth Development Corporation first appointed a person designated as the appointed representative under Regulation 6 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2003. [69633]
Mr Duncan: CDC has not appointed any person as an “appointed representative” under Regulation 6 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 because appointed representatives are not applicable to the business that CDC carries out.
7 Sep 2011 : Column 698W
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what date the Commonwealth Development Corporation first appointed a person designated as the relevant person under Part 3 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007. [69634]
Mr Duncan: As CDC is itself a “relevant person” under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, CDC has not appointed anyone else for that purpose. CDC had a Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) prior to the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 coming into force and appointed a “nominated officer” (the term used for a MLRO in the regulations) on 8 April 2004 as required by both the 2003 and 2007 Money Laundering Regulations.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which months in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 the Commonwealth Development Corporation made no reports of suspicious activity. [69635]
Mr Duncan: As a matter of general practice, CDC does not disclose any information relating to suspicious activity reports (SAR) as it believes that were it to do so, it could be at risk of committing the offence of “tipping off” under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Consultants
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many senior civil servants in his Department at each grade had worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, Deloitte or KPMG immediately prior to taking up their appointment in each of the last four years; what consultancy agreements his Department had with those firms in each such year; and how many consultants from those firms have advised his Department in each such year. [68951]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no senior civil servants who have worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, Deloitte or KPMG immediately prior to taking up their appointment in any of the last four years.
A list of supplier contracts issued to these organisations in the past four years has been placed in the Library of the House.
DFID does not retain a central record of individual consultants who provide advice as part of a contract with a supplier organisation. To collate this information would incur disproportionate cost.
Departmental Correspondence
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many letters his Department received from hon. Members in June 2011. [68754]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) received around 550 letters from hon. Members in June 2011.
7 Sep 2011 : Column 699W
Procurement
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what methodology (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible used to estimate savings to the public purse made in respect of its procurement and purchasing since May 2010. [69269]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) uses its Procurement Efficiency Savings Benefits Policy as the methodology for recording procurement savings. This is based on the Benefits Methodology Guide published by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Markets and Collaborative Procurement (MCP) Programme. DFID adopted this methodology in October 2010; prior to that date no formal methodology was used.
Research
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's strategic research priorities are. [69258]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The research strategy for the Department for International Development has three broad aims: the first is to support the development of new technologies which would have an impact on poverty or the effects of poverty, such as new vaccines, drugs or drought-tolerant crops; the second is to find better and more cost-effective ways of delivering aid and development assistance to those who need it; and the third is to increase understanding of key development questions to support best policy choices.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on academic research since May 2010. [69259]
Mr Duncan: The amount spent on centrally funded research by the Department for International Development in the period 1 May 2010 to 31 July 2011 was £225,961,207.
Ministerial Overseas Visits
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what information his Department publishes on foreign visits to be undertaken by Ministers of his Department; how much prior notification is provided to external bodies of such visits; and how such information is publicised. [68559]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: For security reasons, the Department for International Development (DFID) does not publish information on foreign visits in advance. For the same reasons, only external bodies directly involved in a particular overseas visit would receive prior notification of DFID Ministers' travel proposals.
DFID submits quarterly returns to the Cabinet Office providing details of all ministerial visits that have taken place in that quarter.
7 Sep 2011 : Column 700W
Internships
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) persons undertaking unpaid work experience, (b) unpaid interns and (c) other persons in unpaid positions were working in his Department as of 1 July 2011. [69507]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The only internship programme currently being supported within the Department for International Development (DFID) is the Cabinet Office programme designed to provide work experience to ethnic minority and under-represented students aged between 16 and 18 years; DFID accommodated three students as part of this programme over a two week period in July 2011.
DFID has developed a ‘Business and Innovation Fellows Programme' designed to supplement the private sector skills and experience of DFID staff. This will involve short term and unpaid input from experienced private sector specialists. The first secondee, who is a knowledge and information specialist, started in DFID on 22 August 2011.
DFID departments also independently provide unpaid work experience for school aged students but these are not managed centrally nor formally recorded.
Developing Countries: Agriculture
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions his Department has had with its research partners on ensuring that agricultural research funded by his Department reaches smallholder farmers who would benefit the most from its findings in a timely, accessible and intelligible form. [68026]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Ensuring that the end products of research are what small holder farmers need is the best way of translating research into impact. This is why the UK is now leading efforts to increase the accountability of international, regional and national research organisations to small holder farmers and other users of research.
We recognise that products and technology have to reach famers. The UK has invested heavily in getting research into widespread use through better; communications. For example, the Research into Use Programme (RIU) commissions Kenya-based ShujaazFM to cover relevant agricultural messages in free comic books. The comic is focused on the needs of young people in both urban and rural areas and engages them through popular culture and combining accessible youth-focused media: the comic, daily syndicated FM radio and TV programmes and interactive SMS. Additional DFID investment in June 2010 raised circulation to 600,000 copies per month, with an anticipated readership of 12 million. ShujaazFM won the 2011 Special Award at the One World Media Awards.
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on extension services in developing countries to ensure that agricultural research funded by his Department reaches the end user in each of the last five years. [68028]
7 Sep 2011 : Column 701W
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not collect specific data on expenditure on agricultural extension services. However several country programmes have programmes that are seeking to improve agricultural production and the outcomes for smallholder farmers, and as part of these programmes may be contributing to building the capacity of extension services.
We also fund a number of specific agricultural research initiatives which will provide stronger evidence of how to get research into widespread use more quickly through effective partnerships with the national extension agencies and also with the private sector, NGOs and farmers organisations. This information is shared with others involved in agricultural development, including small-scale farmers themselves.